The Lead

The NFL playoffs kicked off on Saturday, and the Super Wild Card Weekend was memorable right from the jump, with Joe Burrow and the Bengals breaking their long playoff drought, Josh Allen putting on a flawless performance to beat the Patriots, and an unforgettable finish between the 49ers and Cowboys in Dallas. Today, The Athletic’s Arif Hasan joins us to break down the milestones, surprises and s...

NBA fans were treated to one of stranger and more hilarious moments of the season earlier this week, when Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker took exception to the actions of the opposing team's mascot, The Raptor. What made the situation especially ridiculous was the fact that there were no fans in the arena -- just a lone red dinosaur in a basketball jersey, jumping around and trying to distract Book...

The longest playoff win drought in American sports belongs to… The Cincinnati Bengals. It’s been 30 seasons (and counting) since fans in Southern Ohio could celebrate an NFL postseason victory, and it all started with a tackle on one of the league’s most legendary players. Today, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. and Jay Morrison take us through the history of the so-called 'Curse of Bo Jackson'...

We’re almost halfway through the final season of Mike Krzyzewski’s legendary 42-year run at Duke, and his hopes for one last title are resting in part with Duke’s latest freshman star: the dynamic 6-foot-10 big man, Paolo Banchero. Today, The Athletic’s Brendan Marks tells the story of Banchero’s unconventional path from aspiring drummer to potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. And, after a chall...

Before Sunday night, it had been almost two and a half years -- I repeat, two and a half YEARS - since Klay Thompson last suited up for an NBA game. After tearing his ACL in 2019, he returned to health in 2020, only to rupture his achilles tendon. Now, after diligently rehabbing both injuries for months on end, he's back in the lineup for the Golden State Warriors. The Athletic's Anthony Slater, w...

After an absolutely wild finish to the NFL's Week 18, The Athletic's Greg Auman joins us to discuss the team that is once again poised to make a deep run in the playoffs -- the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucs. Can they overcome a slew of injuries to once again make the Super Bowl? Plus, we recap what the playoff picture now looks like, how the stars somehow aligned for Big Ben and the...

We’re heading into the final week of the 2021 NFL regular season, and for a number of teams — including the 49ers, Raiders, Chargers and Titans, to name a few — there is a lot to play for on Sunday. Today, The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia breaks down what’s at stake in the NFC and AFC this weekend. Plus, the story of a football fan, a lost wedding ring, and the team that came to the rescue.&...

It turns out 36 is the new 20 -- at least for Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin. The aging Russian is off to the best start of his career this season, and is inching closer to a record once thought untouchable -- Wayne Gretzky's career goal scoring record. So what exactly is behind The Great Eight's white hot start? And how has he taken his game to yet another level? The Athletic's Tarik...

The Lakers started the year as one of the NBA title favorites. Now, nearly halfway through the season, they're still struggling to stay above .500 and out of the play-in for the second consecutive year. Today, The Athletic's Bill Oram tells us why the Lakers' bet on Russell Westbrook has not paid off and whether LeBron James can carry this team back to the promised land at 37-years-old. Read all o...

The College Football Playoff National Championship is just six days away, a showdown between the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, and the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs — who have made it this far with a QB who wasn’t even supposed to be their starter: Stetson Bennett. Today, The Athletic’s Seth Emerson tells the story of Bennett’s unlikely journey from walk-on to junior college to QB1 for a national titl...

After blowing out Cincinnati on Friday, the Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban are in yet another national championship game. So how exactly do Saban and 'Bama keep winning? A big part of the answer is recruiting -- Saban has brought in the top-ranked recruiting class in nine of the past 11 years. So how exactly does he do that ? The Athletic's Aaron Suttles joins us today to explain w...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #1 we have 'The Afghan Women's Soccer Team's Incredible Escape From Kabul.' We hear from two women who helped orchestrate the evacuation of the Afghan Women's Soccer Team -- long a symbol of defiance to the Taliban -- just before the Kabul Airport was shut down and the ultra-conservative religious group regained complete contr...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #2 we have 'From San Quentin To The NBA: 'Showtime' Taylor's Redemption.' The Athletic's Marcus Thompson joined us to discuss the incredible story of Aaron 'Showtime' Taylor, who went from calling basketball games for fun in San Quentin State Prison to calling a Golden State Warriors game at Chase Center. See Privacy Policy at...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #3 we have 'Reflections On Henry Aaron.' Five baseball writers from The Athletic joined us shortly after Aaron passed away to share their memories of him as a player and a human being, and to reflect on how he was shaped by -- and helped shape -- American history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #4 we have 'The Friendship That Changed An NHL Superstar And A Rock Legend.' The Athletic's Joshua Kloke joined us to explain the unlikely friendship between hockey star Joe Thornon and Canadian rock legend Gord Downie -- and how each drew inspiration from the other right up until Downie's final days. See Privacy Policy at htt...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #5 we have 'NWSL Coach Fired Over Sexual Coercion Accusations.' The Athletic's Meg Linehan spent months investigating claims made against former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley and joined us to discuss what she found. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.co...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #6 we have 'The 101-Year-Old American Who Made Judo An Olympic Sport.' The Athletic's Daniel Brown joined us to discuss the incredible life of an American sports icon. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #7 we have 'What A Sportswriter's Coming Out Story Tells Us About Carl Nassib.' The Athletic's Steve Buckley joined us to talk about his own coming out story, and how it might help us understand what lies ahead for Carl Nassib, who became the NFL's first openly gay active player earlier this year. See Privacy Policy at https:/...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #8 we have 'How Italy Came Back From The Brink.' The Athletic's James Horncastle joined us to explain how a charismatic coach helped guide the Italian Men's Soccer Team from an apocalyptic failure to the pinnacle of European success. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #9 we have 'The Brian Snitker Story Begins And Ends With Loyalty.' The Athletic's David O'Brien joined us to discuss Braves manager Brian Snitker and how he guided Atlanta to an elusive World Series title. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-...

To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #10 we have 'Why The NBA Hates, And Loves, The Ben Simmons Saga.' The Athletic's Sam Amick joined us back in October to discuss the drama around Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons, and why his situation is so fraught. Read Sam Amick's story on Ben Simmons here: https://theathletic.com/2854156/2021/09/28/ben-simmons-believes-p...

2021 is coming to a close. So, today, we are sharing five sports stories that brought a little happiness to another difficult year. From an epic championship celebration in Milwaukee to the year's most delightful hockey announcer, these stories will hopefully bring a smile to your face as we head into 2022. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://ar...

In Denver on Sunday, the Broncos lined up for their opening series with just 10 men on the field, a tribute to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who died last week at age 33. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones and Nick Kosmider to look at Thomas’s improbable rise to the NFL, his Hall Of Fame-caliber career in Denver, and the personality that so many people won’t forget. Follow Linds...

New York City FC won its first MLS Cup on Saturday, defeating the Portland Timbers inside a packed (and sopping wet) stadium in Portland. And while the game was quite a spectacle, with fans lining up for seats almost a WEEK in advance, the game itself was somewhat reflective of Major League Soccer -- lots of excitement, lots of fan support, but not the best on-field product. The Athletic's Sam Ste...

When Ja Morant went down in late November with a scary looking knee injury, it seemed like the Grizzlies season could be headed into a tailspin. Then, in the absence of their star, Memphis transformed into one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Today The Athletic's Joe Vardon tells us how a combination of drinking water, hibernation, and a strong defensive road map have propelled the Grizz to the to...