The Black Athlete

In this episode, we are back with Dr. Letisha Engracia Cardoso Brown to speak about the recent attacks on Black women athletes. From Venus and Serena, to gymnasts at UCLA, the brilliant Dr. Brown breaks it down.

On this episode, we bring on historian, and leading scholar of HBCU history, Jelani Favors. Favors, the author of the award winning book, Shelter in a Storm: How Black Colleges Generations of Leadership and Activism, discusses the recent bomb threats that a number of campuses have faced and the future of sports at HBCUs.

In this episode, we discuss the latest news in the NFL regarding Brian Flores suing the league for racial discrimination. To help us talk about this subject, we have Dr. Carl Suddler as our guest. We put in context the meaning of the law suit and what Black head coaches have to go through in the NFL.

In this episode, to begin 2022, we start where the NFL left off with their time tested tradition of using Black coaches as clean up men, but firing them before they can finish the job. Specifically, we take a look at Brian Flores and the Miami Dolphins, and David Culley of the Houston Texans.

On this episode, we had to hop on the pod for an emergency show. As one of the leading experts on HBCU football, Derrick had to breakdown what it meant for Deion and Jackson State to sign top recruit Travis Hunter. Is this sustainable? Who knows? But this move has the chance to shake the foundation of the sport.

In this episode, we discuss the latest news in college football as it relates to the Black coach. We talk about what the hiring of Marcus Freeman and Hue Jackson mean, and also all the money these coaches are getting. Most important, we're back!

In this episode, we discuss some recent headlines involving owners, coaches, and players and their questionable decisions. We look at Suns owner Robert Sarver, University of Washington football coach Jimmy Lake, and Aaron Rodgers and how they used public trust to do bad things. To be clear, Aaron Rodgers is the name, so we gave him top billing.

In this episode, we discuss the problems that Urban Meyer and Jon Gruden are having. We talk about their whiteness and privilege and how that has protected them all these years. Gruden's racist trope was not just a one off thing that should be left in the past.

In this episode, we talk about NBA players refusing to get the vaccine and why they might be. We give some historical context to how Black folks and the grapevine, and why, because of the history of medicine and mistrust, some might be hesitant to get vaccinated. In the end, however, that's not enough.

In this episode we preview the 2021 season for the NFL. More than just our hot takes on fantasy football, we dive into the new social justice helmet approval list and ask "what happened to the movement?" We reference Vince Evans several times, so you don't want to miss that. And briefly discuss the career of Tyrod Taylor.

In this episode we discuss the significance of HBCU football on primetime TV. We go over the history of television contracts and how HBCUs were left out, and what being on TV can mean for their programs. We tell you why Grambling and Tennessee State are significant in the history of college football. Derrick breaks down the history of the Orange Blossom Classic. And we also chop it up about Bishop...

In this episode, we have Dr. Kishonna Gray on again to help us breakdown the latest Fortnite venture, as they put a MLK module into their game. We discuss the implications of this e-learning, both pros and cons. But before we get started, we talk Fantasy Football and Covid.

In this episode we get you up to speed on the wee that was (August 4-11), from the ending of the Olympics to the death and legacy of Bobby Bowden. We salute Allyson Felix as an all-time great and we discuss the legacy of Bobby Bowden.

In this episode, we start off season 3 with a discussion of the end of the NBA season, then we give our thoughts on the NFL and the new covid discussion. We end the episode discussing the Olympics and highlighting the importance of a growing mental health conversation.

In this episode, we have guest Dr. Carl Suddler on to discuss his recent Washington Post Op-ed on George Floyd, his murder, and what it meant for athlete activism. In our conversation, we discuss the meaning of the Black athletic body and how it becomes criminalized. We also briefly discuss the impact of Lee Evans.

It has been a good 6 weeks since we recorded. Sorry we left you. In this episode, we discuss the newest information on the Eyes of Texas, Tennessee State's Hiring of Eddie George, and why LeBron James is right to be angry over police brutality, including why he should have left up his tweet.

In this episode, we discuss the recent controversies in college sports surrounding racism, exploitation, and the Black athlete. Specifically, we discuss donors at Texas forcing players to stay on the field for "Eyes of Texas," and Creighton's basketball coach Greg McDermott telling this players to stay on the plantation.

In this episode, we jump into the GOAT debate and discuss whether Tom Brady is really the greatest of all time. But first, we spend 20 minutes discussing the Jaguars signing of Chris Doyle and what it means for BLM in pro football going forward.

In this episode, we touch on the lives of Hank Aaron and John Chaney, discuss the problem the NFL has with hiring Black coaches, and give our predictions for Super Bowl 55.

In this fun episode, we are joined by the brilliant Dr. Kishonna Gray to discuss race and gaming. Along the way Dr. Gray breaks down E-sports as a college sport, racial disparities in gaming, and discussing Black women and gaming. Trust us, you don't want to skip this episode.

In this episode, we take a quick look at a startling recent trend; the firing of Black college coaches. With 3 power 5 Black coaches fired in the last 3 weeks, we discuss what has to happen moving forward to increase the number of Black coaches on the sidelines.

In this episode, we bring on Dr. Jermaine Scott (Black Soc Doc) to discuss the life and legacy of Diego Maradona. We discuss his life on and off the pitch along with class, race, and colorism in Argentina. There's also a Mike Tyson comparison.

In this episode, we sit down and discuss the latest happenings in sports. From the move to add Negro League stats to MLB, to the Russell Westbrook-John Wall trade. Along the way, we talk Covid and sports leagues. If you ever wanted to know what a phone call between us was like, this is it. Like me being shocked in real time that South Carolina lost.

With the NBA draft approaching, we chopped it up with Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood about his battle with the NBA. In a very open interview, Haywood, who is one of the most significant basketball players in history, discussed his upbringing in Mississippi, playing ball in Detroit, his Olympic success, and his fight for the right to play in the NBA. As listeners will learn, it's because of this son...

In this episode, we chop it up with Dr. Charles McKinney of Rhodes College about the power and the limits of the vote. The good Doc breaks it down for our listeners and drops some gems about the importance of political education. We also take the opportunity to dish on Ice Cube and Black capitalism.