Not by the Playbook

Arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Diego Maradona, passed away aged 60 this week after suffering a heart attack. Maradona won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 – scoring the 'goal of the century' and becoming renowned for his controversial ‘Hand of God’ goal, both of which came against England in the quarter-final of that tournament. The footballing world has been brought to a stands...

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton is known for his love of fashion and Alberto Hernandez is the man responsible for making his hats. Hernandez makes Newton a new fedora or Fez every week and tells us they began collaborating after Pharrell Williams recommended him to Newton. He breaks away from making Newton’s hat for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans to tell us how his grandfathe...

Former boxing world champion Heather Hardy – gives us an insight into the realities of making a living from boxing ahead of a huge night at Wembley Arena, which sees two women’s world title fights on the same bill. Hardy believes the sport still has much to do in terms of the gender pay gap and that the time has come for women to stop thanking men for opportunities to showcase their skills. Hardy...

Seth Gottesdiener has spent the last six weeks cycling across America to gauge the mood of his nation in 2020. He started in Los Angeles, where he owns a gym, and finished in Washington D.C in time for election night. Along the way he spoke to a cross section of society and asked each person the same ten questions – including: Are you proud to be an American? The conversations will form the basis...

Former three-time Olympic gymnastics medallist - Danell Leyva - revealed his sexuality on National Coming Out Day in the United States earlier this month. The 29-year-old tells us his mum is the only member of his family he is out to and he feels he is “almost cheating” by talking to us, because most of his family can’t speak English. He recalls things family members have said, not knowing his sex...

With the both the men's and women's NRL Grand Finals taking place this weekend, we preview both matches which will be played as a double header in front of a 40,000 person crowd. Current captain of the Brisbane Bronco's Ali Brigginshaw joins us to look ahead to what we can expect from both matches and how Brisbane are looking for their third win a row. How diverse is the sport of cheerleading? Car...

Former Kenyan Premier League player Jacob Viera tells us how a Tanzanian gang almost killed him after he refused to be a drugs mule. He was electrocuted in the attack and his doctor felt he would need a miracle to survive. A subsequent trial at Newcastle United led to him seeking asylum in England. While waiting to gain UK residency he suffered a serious injury that ended his hopes of becoming a p...

“I don’t see it as trying to hit new milestones as a female” – Joy Neville on making history. The Irish referee will become the first woman to take on Television Match Official duties in a men's international game when Wales face Georgia next month. Neville tells us how she initially needed some convincing to become a referee, how other people’s doubts over whether a woman could make it as a top o...

Los Angeles gym owner Seth Gottesdiener is cycling across America to assess the mood of his nation as they approach the 2020 presidential election. Following the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, he’s speaking to a cross section of society to see if America has more that unites it than divides it. His conversations will form the basis of a documentary, which will be released in ti...

Madison Hammond is the first Native American woman to sign a professional contract with an NWSL club. She joins us ahead of OL Reign’s opening game of the season and her potential debut against Utah Royals to discuss how she is hoping to inspire more Native American girls to play the sport. She also tells us about the financial barriers players from ethnic minority backgrounds can face as they try...

Tiara Brown joins us to discuss balancing life as a black athlete and police officer in the USA in the wake of George Floyd’s death and the shooting of Jacob Blake. The former amateur world champion boxer tells us she decided to join the police after her brother was murdered. Brown worries that police brutality is something that will never stop and she reveals she has considered leaving the force....

We examine life in a sporting bio-bubble, with Eleanor Oldroyd presenting the programme from inside the England Cricket bubble at Old Trafford. Steve Elworthy from the ECB was responsible for planning the return of international cricket in England and he tells us what kept him up at night, his belief that a World Cup could be held under the current conditions and how cricket in 2021 could look. Th...

With the new NFL season set to restart how different will the landscape look? With Coronavirus and protests we will see an NFL season like no other. We speak to Stephania Bell who is the ESPN's injury analyst and has covered the Leagues’ plans to return to play extensively. We also hear from former American Footballer and BBC pundit Jason Bell on player protests. 'Some people are afraid of what th...

This week on Sportshour with Caroline Barker, we take an in-depth look at the situation in American sport after players in the NBA, WNBA, MLS and MLB refused to play this week following the shooting of Jacob Blake. Two time NBA Champion Shannon Brown joins us to discuss the events of the last week and what needs to change. His brother – Sterling – plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. They were the first...

We speak to seventeen time Paralympic medallist Tatyana McFadden and director Ian Bonhote ahead of the release of a major new film about the Paralympic movement. McFadden is one of nine athletes featured in Rising Phoenix and she recalls spending time in a Russian orphanage, being adopted and moving to America and then being reunited with her birth mother at Sochi 2014. McFadden tells us she isn’t...

We take an in-depth look at the issues surrounding the upcoming college football season after two of the game's major conferences - the Pac-12 and Big Ten - announced they won’t play this Autumn due to concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic. Super Bowl winner and former University of Notre Dame player Rocky Boiman believes the season should go ahead, telling us “If anybody is looking for a 100% saf...

I asked myself ‘if it’s not me, then who is it?’” - Farid Noori on his dream of becoming the first mountain biker from Afghanistan to compete at an Olympics. Farid Noori grew up as a refugee in Pakistan after his family fled the Taliban when he was just two years old. He tells us about his early life in Pakistan, his return to Afghanistan and how he’s hoping to grow the sport in his homeland. Noor...

Australian ultra-marathon swimmer Chloe McCardel joins us after she swam the English Channel for the thirty second time this week. She’s aiming to break the men’s record for channel crossings, which currently stands at thirty four and received an exemption from the Australian government to travel to the UK amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Former Orlando Magic, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers player...

Alyssa Nakken on making history in Major League Baseball. San Francisco Giants assistant coach Alyssa Nakken joins us to reflect on becoming the first woman to coach on field in an MLB game. She coached first base during this week’s exhibition against the Oakland A’s and tells us she’s grateful for the opportunity but “it’s not like we won a World Series”. Nakken also says she doesn’t feel she’s l...

“What story are we telling about America?” – Washington’s NFL team agree to change their name. We discuss the Washington Redskins decision to change their controversial name and logo following years of opposition from Native American communities and recent pressure from major club sponsors. Mark Trahant - who is a member of Idaho’s Shoshone-Bannock Tribe and editor of Indian Country Today - tells...

We go live to Southampton where it is day four of the first test match between England and the West Indies. It has been four months without International cricket and we bring you the latest action from our team who are at the ground. It’s not just listening to cricket that has made a welcome return this week, in the next few hours cricketers up and down the UK will be pulling on their whites for t...

We go live to Epsom in the South of England where the Derby will be held for the first time behind closed doors. Our racing commentator John Hunt will tell us about the importance of the race and we hear from jockey Oisin Murphy who has overcome many hurdles to ride in the big race today. We speak to Lee Kershaw who is a professional Rugby League player with Wakefield in the Superleague. But, like...

Liverpool and the end of their long wait for the Premier League title - For some Liverpool fans, seeing their side end a thirty year wait to be crowned English Champions was bittersweet as they had loved ones who didn't live to see it. Mark McVeigh joins us to talk about his son Owen, who died of leukaemia at the age of eleven. Father and son travelled home and away together to watch Liverpool and...

The Premier League returned this week following a one hundred day hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Ahead of the opening round of fixtures: players, managers, coaching staff and officials took a knee to highlight racial injustice. The BBC's football correspondent John Murray, former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie and Liverpool fan and broadcaster Lizzi Doyle discuss the significance of Engli...

Chicago Fire forward - CJ Sapong - tells us he welcomes the US Soccer Federation's decision to repeal it's policy requiring national team players to stand during the national anthem. Sapong - who has played for the US Men's National Team - believes a situation has been created around the national anthem, which equates to: "if you're not loyal to this flag...you deserve to die". He also recalls an...