The Lead

Last week, we got the long awaited — and widely expected —answer of who would go first in the NFL Draft, when the Carolina Panthers selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. But the questions about Young, and specifically his height (5-10 1/8), are not going away soon. Today, we dive deep into the history of undersized quarterbacks to find out why some have succeeded where many others have fa...

Miami Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra has long been known as a fiery competitor who does not shy away from confrontations -- even with his own players. Today, with the Heat cruising through the playoffs, we explore the method to Erik Spoelstra’s madness and explain why the confrontations, along with a heavy dose of compassion, are all part of the plan. Guest: Jason Quick, The Athletic Read Jason' f...

Plus: The Bruins’ historic season ends with a whimper and the defending champs go down to a first timer. And a father-son phone call that will warm even the staunchest Cowboy hater’s heart.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

On Thursday night, the Boston Celtics — one of the favorites to win the NBA title — moved on to the Eastern Conference semifinals. But during their not-always-so-smooth first-round series against Atlanta, we got a reminder that there are still questions when it comes to their 34-year-old head coach, Joe Mazzulla, who took over after Ime Udoka’s sudden suspension in September. Today, we look a...

Hockey fans are used to Connor McDavid being the undisputed best player in hockey. But this past season, he somehow took things to an even higher level, doing things that haven't been done since the 1980s. Today, how McDavid’s evolution off the ice has helped him reach new heights on it -- and how his growth can be traced, at least in part, to a six-year-old boy. Plus, what stands between McDavid...

Plus: Steph Curry manages to avoid his own Chris Webber moment. And after more than decade, a career minor leaguer finally gets to The Show. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

So far this season, the Seattle Mariners have been getting big production from a former top prospect who roams their outfield. But if you're thinking of reigning AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez — think again. The guy who's been stealing the spotlight in Seattle so far is Jarred Kelenic. The 23-year-old came to Seattle in a blockbuster trade five years ago, but up until now, he has looked lik...

Alyssa Thompson's incredible soccer talent has already made her look like a future global star, even though she's just 18 years old. And her path to greatness, which included becoming the first girl to play on an MLS Next boys academy team (along with her sister, Giselle), has changed minds -- and the way that youth soccer clubs operate. Guest: Gwen Oxenham Read Gwen's full story about Alyssa Thom...

Plus: Two of hockey’s greatest rivals produce another in epic championship final. And A Yankees ace continues his electric start. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

When the NBA playoffs get underway on Saturday, basketball fans will be witnessing history, as the Golden State Warriors are playing the Sacramento Kings in the postseason for the first time ever. These two teams famously share the same highway — the I-80 — but they took very different roads to get here. The Kings emerged as an offensive juggernaut under their defensive-minded head coach...

There was a time when it looked like China was going to be the next big thing in world soccer. After the government published an elaborate 50-point plan back in 2015, billions of dollars was spent developing China's professional league, building youth soccer academies across the country, and recruiting foreign stars to China for huge sums of money. But now, that ambitious program is all but dead....

Plus: The Timberwolves get punch drunk on the final day of the NBA season. And a baseball team manages to give up a crooked number while not allowing a hit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

LeBron James's final wish as an NBA player is to suit up with his son LeBron James Jr, a.k.a. Bronny. When he made that intention clear last year, it was just the latest development in the incredibly well-documented basketball life of the 18-year-old Bronny, who has amassed a huge following of supporters, doubters, and people questioning what his dad is doing. Luca Evans, a reporter with the...

With three weeks to go until the NFL Draft, there's a clear cut top four at the quarterback position, featuring Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and the former Kentucky Wildcat, Will Levis. Levis emerged as a college star — and likely first round NFL pick — during the last two years in Lexington. But before that, he was a college football journeyman, known more for his viral...

Plus: KD shows why he makes the Suns the most dangerous team in the West. And a new spooky pitch has MLB hitters running in fear. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The Boston Bruins have been making history this season. After becoming the fastest team in NHL history to rack up 50 wins, they might soon break the record for total points in a season. But what makes their success so incredible is the fact that almost no one saw it coming -- in fact, many people predicted they would miss the playoffs. Today, we break down the keys to Boston's unexpected greatness...

Major League Baseball Opening Day is Thursday, and the upcoming season begins with a lot of intriguing questions: Can the Astros repeat as World Series champs? What feats will we see from Shohei Ohtani (and Mike Trout) in Ohtani's final year before free agency? And, what does baseball’s wave of new rules mean for our experience watching the game? Today, the forecast for what 2023 could look like —...

Plus: Iowa’s maestro guides the Hawkeyes to its first Final Four in 30 years. And the Seahawks bring in an old stalwart to solidify their defense. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The World Baseball Classic, a tournament that many fans once viewed as a bunch of meaningless exhibition games, captivated the world over the past two weeks and culminated with an epic showdown between the two best players in the game. Today, how the WBC went from an afterthought to the best thing to happen to baseball in ages. Guest: Nick Groke , The Athletic Read more of Nick's WBC coverage here...

With five weeks to go until the NFL Draft, there’s one player who’s arguably the most polarizing and intriguing prospect in the entire field: the dual threat quarterback out of the University of Florida, Anthony Richardson. Richardson wowed during his lone season as a full-time starter with the Gators, and at the NFL Combine, but the questions about how he’ll perform at the next level won’t go awa...

Plus: One of college basketball’s most storied programs misses the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in over a decade. And Trea Turner catches fire at the WBC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Angelo Cataldi became Philadelphia's most popular sports radio personality by giving voice to the joys and frustrations of Philadelphia sports fans. And, along the way, he even saved a life or two -- literally. But his show was also criticized for being homophobic and misogynistic, and an event he founded, "Wing Bowl," eventually became a drunken public party that many Philadelphians despised. Tod...

The NCAA tournament is finally here, which means that for the next three weeks, our lives will be consumed by college basketball’s biggest stars, its most surprising teams, and — hopefully — a bunch of buzzer beaters along the way. Today, we break down the favorites, surprises and some of the biggest storylines to follow in the men’s NCAA tournament, including an incredibly daunting West...

Plus: It’s time to fill out those office brackets after another Selection Sunday. And the Rams keep their ‘remodel’ going by sending a former-All Pro’s talents to South Beach. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In September of 2020, things began mysteriously disappearing from an MLB team's equipment bags. The ensuing investigation spanned six weeks and involved five Major League baseball teams, two police departments, and several very frustrated clubhouse managers. Guest: Stephanie Apstein , Sports Illustrated Read the original story: https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/02/27/mlb-great-jersey-caper-daily-cover S...