Edge of Sports

This week, we speak about the joy and politics of baseball movies. First, we speak to Noah Gittell, author of the terrific romp of a book Baseball: The Movie. Then we speak to movie savant Arya Shirazi about the five most essential baseball movies of all time and whether they will hold up in 2024.  Zirin, Trump Invites a Killer to His Luxury Box https://www.thenation.com/article/society/trump-army...

This week, we join longtime, award-winning Hollywood Makeup artist Spring Super to discuss teen film villains in the 1980s and how they affect our politics!  Zirin, What the Bosa/Kaepernick Double Standard Tells Us About the 2024 Elections https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/nick-bosa-maga-colin-kaepernick/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/  |  http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod  |  htt...

This week on the Edge of Sports podcast, savant Arya Shirazi joins Dave to discuss what they have learned ten games into the season and what predictions they would do over if they had to do it again.  Zirin, What the Bosa/Kaepernick Double Standard Tells Us About the 2024 Elections https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/nick-bosa-maga-colin-kaepernick/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/  | ...

This week, we are joined by Bill Fletcher. We talk about the story, the 2024 presidential election, and what to make of it. We discuss the appeal of Trump’s revanchism, why the election turned out the way it did, and what we can do. You don’t want to miss this episode. Zirin, Your NBA Eastern Conference Preview https://www.thenation.com/podcast/archive/eos-102124-nba/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodc...

This week, we are joined by savant Arya Shirazi. We talk about the upcoming NBA season, specifically the Western Conference. Are the Thunder going to level up? Has the Denver Nuggets’ title window passed? What are we to make of this year’s Lakers? You won’t want to miss this one. Zirin, Your NBA Eastern Conference Preview https://www.thenation.com/podcast/archive/eos-102124-nba/ — http://www.edgeo...

This week, we are joined by savant Arya Shirazi. We talk about the upcoming NBA season, specifically the Eastern Conference. How much of the needle moved with the Karl Anthony Towns addition in New York? Are the Boston Celtics the prohibitive favorites in the East? Is this the year that the Philadelphia 76ers finally break through? You won’t want to miss this one. Zirin, Chiefs Placekicker Harriso...

This week, we talk to New York Times bestselling author   Andrew Maraniss. His latest is a  nonfiction chapter book series about athletes who have stepped up beyond sports to make a difference in the world: the first three books in this series, all written by Andrew, are about  Pat Tillman, Maya Moore, and LeBron James.  Zirin, In a Glaring Double Standard, FIFA Fails to Suspend Israel https://www...

This week we speak to Dr. Louis Moore about his groundbreaking new book: The Great Black Hope:  Doug Williams, Vince Evans , and the Making of the Black Quarterback. You don’t want to miss this episode. Zirin, Tyreek Hill and Player Policing, NBA Off-Season Intrigues https://www.thenation.com/podcast/archive/eos-091324-tyreekhill/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/  |  http://twitter.com/EdgeOf...

This week I have choice words about the police treatment of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and the NFL franchise owners who endorse it. We also talk to basketball savant Arya Shirazi about an intriguing off-season time in the NBA. Zirin, Police Violence, Tyreek Hill, and the NFL Owners Who Bankroll Brutality https://www.thenation.com/article/society/police-violence-tyreek-hill-miami-dolphins/...

This week, we have a particular installment of hoops talk with my friend Arya Shirazi, where we talk about Olympic basketball, Team USA, their incredible final against France, and the future of international basketball. We talk about Steph Curry, Lebron James, and Victor Wembanyama and we theorize about where it could all be going.  Zirin, What Was the Paris Olympics? https://www.thenation.com/art...

This week we speak to Michael Waters, author of the book The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports. An incredible eye-opening discussion about a part of Olympic history we are simply not taught  Zirin, Palestinian Olympians Are Competing as Their World Burns https://www.thenation.com/article/world/palestinian-olympians-paris-olympics/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast...

This week on Edge of Sports we have our last in a series with Arya Shirazi about the NBA playoffs in the victory of the Boston Celtics over the Dallas Mavericks. We discuss what we both got wrong, the larger playoffs, and more. Zirin, “Reg-GIE! Reg-GIE! Reg-GIE!” https://www.thenation.com/article/society/reggie-jackson-jim-crow-baseball/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/  |  http://twitter.com...

Arya Shirazi joins the show to review the NBA Conference Finals and preview the NBA Finals Body:  This week basketball savant Arya Shirazi joins the Edge of Sports Pod to talk about whether the Dallas Mavericks can shock the world and beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Zirin, Counting the Negro League Records Is About More Than Numbers https://www.thenation.com/article/society/baseball-mlb...

This week, Dave Zirin brings back Arya Shirazi to discuss round one of the playoffs and what we learned. Zirin, “Macklemore Dares Others to Stand Up for Palestine” https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/macklemore-hinds-hall-palestine/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/  |  http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod  |  http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod  | email us:  edgeofsports@gmail.com  | Edge of Sp...

After more than 50 years, the Oakland A's announced their departure from the city last year, leaving Oakland bereft of its sports teams after the flight of the Warriors in 2019 and the Raiders in 2020. To the dismay of fans, the A's plan to temporarily relocate to a minor league stadium in Sacramento before permanently moving to Las Vegas in the 2028 season. Former A's catcher Bruce Ma...

This week we discuss why New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson should not be seen is anybody’s underdog. Also, we break down who is going to win the first round playoff, matchups, with an eye on the politics of the games. Zirin, “The 2024 Olympics Are Already Dealing With Multiple Political Crises” https://www.thenation.com/article/world/2024-paris-olympics-political-crises/ — http://www.edgeofsports...

Dallas Mavericks’ backcourt of Luka Doncic and Kyrie is the most thrilling guard combo in the league and perhaps ever. Yet very few thought their coming together would work. We explore why. Zirin, “Coaching Great Dawn Staley Defends Trans Athletes” https://www.thenation.com/article/society/dawn-staley-trans-athletes/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/  |  http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod  | ...

Arya joins the pod again to talk about the rising of the international influence of the NBA, it’s early roots, and where the game may be headed.  Zirin, “Online Gambling Has Swallowed Professional Sports” https://www.thenation.com/article/society/online-gambling-sports-shohei-ohtani/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/  |  http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod  |  http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod  | e...

Arya Shirazi joins the show to talk about the current state of the NBA, and we discuss what the implications of this game are moving forward and how we feel about the direction it’s heading aesthetically and as an entertainment product.  Zirin, “Jonathan Glazer’s Brave Oscar Speech Represents the Best of Judaism” https://www.thenation.com/article/world/jonathan-glazer-oscar-speech-gaza-israel-juda...

Rebecca O'Keeffe helped spark an international firestorm within the world of sports when she called on the Irish women’s basketball team to boycott its Feb. 8 match against Israel. While O'Keeffe's calls for a boycott ultimately went unheeded, her actions have provoked serious debate within Ireland and internationally on the responsibility of athletes to stand up against genocide.  O&#...

In this episode, we talk about the truly forgotten players of the NBA, particularly during the 1980s, such a unique era in the history of the NBA, and theorize on why they are not remembered as intently as others.  Zirin, “What the Super Bowl Parade Shooting Has to Do With the Empire of the Gun” https://www.thenation.com/article/society/super-bowl-parade-shooting-guns-colonialism/ — http://www.edg...

The 1980s and 1990s were defined by basketball dynasties like the Lakers, Celtics, and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Yet in the midst of this unprecedented stretch of dominance, the Detroit Pistons won two and could’ve very easily won four NBA titles. How did they do it? And why do we discount this incredible accomplishment? Zirin, When Wearing a Sweater Is Antisemitic https://www.thenation.com/...

 New York is the Mecca of basketball. So what explains the city’s inability to score an NBA championship in the last half-century. Arya Shirazi joins the show to talk about this historical oddity. Zirin, What Naomi Klein Taught Me About Aaron Rodgers https://www.thenation.com/article/society/naomi-klein-aaron-rodgers-colin-kaepernick/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/  |  http://twitter.com/Ed...

Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are two of the most defining players of their generation and NBA history. While a considerable portion of their careers overlapped, the two never met in the NBA finals. Why? What would have happened? Arya and I discuss on this week’s episode.  Zirin, “Will the IOC Do Anything About the Killing of Palestinian Athletes?” https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ioc-isra...

In Part 6 of our series, Basketball Butterfly Effect, Arya Shirazi joins the show again to discuss the 2009 NBA draft and the Knicks coming close to getting Davidson sharpshooter Steph Curry, the most revolutionary player of his generation. You don’t want to miss this episode! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy