Sports In Society

We start this week talking about the London Marathon and our disappointment in the NBA Finals. It is indeed still a strange sports world! We dig into this more with our main topic: What positive things has Covid revealed to us about the sports world? We touch on the way we consume sports, how important they feel and the hypocrisy that is being shown (amongst other things). Music: Trad Godsey

As usual, we start off by talking about what we are paying attention to. The sports world just keeps getting more crazy! Then we move into a conversation about whether ignorance is ever an adequate defense. How do we understand people who don't have the reasoning capacity? What about people without access to information? Is education a viable option? How ignorant are we? Should we sympathize?

This week we start off intending to have a normal show, but we wound up just talking about Pogacar's transcendent performance at the Tour de France. It was a truly stupendous experience! Music: Trad Godsey

This week we dive right into all that has been going on recently. First, of course, we talk about the NBA strike and the complicated nature of everything involved. We spend a while looking at the complexity of it all and how we learn to live in the grey. Then we discuss a few other odds and ends, including the Messi saga, the Tour de France and a pervasive sense of uncertainty. Music: Trad Godsey

This week, we start off with a discussion of the disaster of college football and the interesting ways smaller clubs are staying relevant. Then we move into a conversation about adventure racing and why it might be compelling. Finally, we come to our main topic this week, disc golf. How is it packaged and presented? What about the money of it? What do we like or dislike? What could the future hold if growth is upcoming? How do you grow a sport without losing its soul? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start off talking about golf, the NBA and how we watch sports. Why do we prefer a slightly less polished production? Then we move into a discussion of our main topic of decoding how we talk about youth and age in sports. What euphemisms do we see all the time and gloss over? What does how we talk about it mean for how players and fans interact with the game? What might be better? Should we be looking at how we make sense of this in our context? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start off talking about the proliferation of violence on the ESPN homepage and the absurdity of MLB trying to make things work. Then we dig into our main topic, the new look of the NBA. We spent some time watching this weekend's games and reflect on the experience. How do we feel about the look and feel? What about the quality of play? How are they handling social justice issues? Are we likely to watch more? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start off trying to be a bit positive with some spotlights for good stuff. We mention that the NBA, unsurprisingly, seems to be coming back in a good way and what we might get re-engaged with sports for. Then we move into our main conversation about corruption in sports. What does it even mean to be corrupt in sports? Why is there so much of it? Why do we put up with it? Is any of it justifiable? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start out talking a bit about soccer and the rise of Pulisic. Then we move into a conversation about golf and divergent visions of how it should look moving forward. This is followed by a discussion of how we should probably be more naturally curious about things that are interesting to others. For our main topic, we share some thoughts about the state of corporate social responsibility and how it intersects with sports. When can it be a tool for good? When does it fall short? Should we ever appreciate the good a corporation's pressure can produce? How do we balance the complexities of the current world versus where we think the world should be heading? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start off with a discussion of Woj going off and how much we should be talking about sports right now. It's a strange time and we see both positive and negative things coming to the front. Then for our main topic, we discuss what would we do if we were to take over the MLS (not that anyone asked...). Would we start from scratch? What about relegation? Would we maintain a single entity? How would we approach growth? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we starting off talking UCLA and Under Armour and the coming disastrous restarts. We spend a bit of time on controversy in the disc golf world and then move into some talk about our appreciation for Adam Silver. Our main topic this week is the Netflix show Sunderland Til I Die. How does it glorify and perpetuate problematic narratives of sports teams as saviors? What happens when an owner stops investing? Why should we humanize leadership? How much does leadership matter? Why do we love English soccer? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start off talking about the complete absurdity of college sports, the ways we expect the NBA to fail in its bid to restart and Djokovic being a fool. It remains a strange time for sports and it only seems to be getting more complex! Our main topic this week is how sports impacts our thinking about aging. Does it feed into how we dismiss the elderly? How does it limit the impact of both the young and the old? What does it tell us about peaking? Is there almost a class distinction? How are some sports different from others? Are there better models? Music: Trad Godsey

We missed you all last week! We're back this week with a discussion of how Covid is changing the sports landscape with each passing day. Every week seems to complicate plans and make sports seem farther away. And maybe that's ok... Our main topic this week is how we understand player's unions and labor disputes during this time. We start off with Kyrie asking if the league should even play during a time of momentum for Black Lives Matter and Covid. Even without the social justice sense of things, the MLBPA and MLB can't come to an agreement. How do we these arguments look in the context of mass unemployment? How about in the face of increased risk to players? How do they fall into the bigger conversation of unions? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start off declaring that Black Lives Matter and that we endeavoring to educate ourselves and act in the ways most appropriate. Then we move onto the NBA restarting and MLB potentially not. It's a weird time in the sports world as we look to what the future might be. Then we move into a conversation about Drew Brees being stupid and how his teammates have responded. How do teams cope with this friction? How do individuals deal with this racism everyday in the locker room? Why is it tolerated by ownership? How is it shifting at this time? Then we get off track talking about all kinds of stuff related to protests and creating change. We are clearly trying to figure out how to make sense of everything that is happening at the moment. It's clearly positive, but we see complexity everywhere we look. Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start out with a discussion of the golf match featuring Tiger, Phil, Brady and Manning. It was a strange event and we have a lot of feelings! Then we move into a discussion of the current high profile police brutality incidents and athlete responses. We are not sure how to respond to this ongoing unacceptable situation, but we really appreciate those taking stands and speaking out. Finally, we move into our main discussion of anger in sports. Why do both Jordan and Lance seem so angry? Is it productive? How do we teach a more healthy way to respond to emotions? Can sports be a tool for understanding and tempering our emotions? But, seriously, why is everyone in professional sports so angry? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we welcome special guest Sam Lev back to the show. He joins us as we start off with a discussion of golf in quarantine and what the NBA is thinking about. Then we move into talking about both Lance and Jordan. We share final thoughts on The Last Dance and how we feel about Jordan now. Then we move into our main topic, cheating in amateur sports. Why do people do it? How should we respond? How are they doing it? How has social media changed things? How should our institutions be responding? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start by discussing the strange reality of the Bundesliga. Is this what we should expect from sports without fans? We also talk about baseball and our continued interest in The Last Dance. Finally, we get into discussing the world of trading cards and how it has impacted our lives as fans. Is this world as capitalistic and exploitative as it seems? What is happening now? Why did it feel so important to us as kids? How do we think about that time now? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start by discussing how we are coping without sports. We also talk about reopening and what golf could do. Then we move into a discussion of Jordan and how to understand Jordan's extreme competitiveness. Finally, it's time for our main topic... Which 5 rules or regulations would we like to see changed or implemented? How would they impact the game? Why do we need a change? Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start by noting that the sports world was quite boring this week. Nothing grabbed our attention and maybe that's a good thing. Then we move into a discussion of The Last Dance. How do we understand Rodman in our context? How did Jordan become who he is? How valuable was Jerry Krause to this team? Then we move into our main topic: the 1980 Olympic Boycott. How do we understand Jimmy Carter's decision to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics? How has the decision aged? How did it impact Carter's legacy? Was it effective? Could it ever happen again? Lastly, we finish with a new trivia segment! Music: Trad Godsey

This week we start with an exciting new intro. Thanks Trad! Then we move into a discussion about this past week's developments. Kyle expounds upon his love of Formula 1, while Brad supports the French Sports Minister's claim that sports isn't important right now. Then we take some time to think about the first two parts of "The Last Dance" and how it has influenced our thinking. Then we move into a conversation about who we are as spectators and fans these days. Why is it so compelling to be a sports fan? What do we get out of it? How do the television and internet change things? Why are so many of our best memories about sports? Music Credit: Trad Godsey

This week we start off talking about how there might be some positive implications of limiting sports activity. We are humanizing our athletes and seeing benefits in the climate change fight. Then we move into a multi-faceted conversation about Michael Jordan. What is his legacy? How do we understand him then and now? Was he a positive influence? What do we expect from this new documentary? How did he change the world of sports? Music: purple-planet.com

We start off bemoaning the events that seem to be leading to Sports Illustrated quickly losing all of its status so quickly due to poor management. Then we continue a discussion of what we are paying attention to before getting into our conversation about "All For One" and the Orica - Greenedge Cycling Team. We were both captivated by the sincerity and passion of the storytelling. Then we get into a discussion of what it's like to be a cycling fan these days and why Orica (now Mitchellton - Scott) is so compelling. Music: Purple-planet.com

We start this week with our weekly look at the sports world on Covid-19. This includes a discussion of Trump's intervention, NBA stars playing horse and the strange world of Wrestlemania. Then we dig into a comparison of the Astros sign stealing controversy and the infamous Black Sox of 1919. We look at similarities and differences and how the power dynamics have changed. Why was the response look so different? Who was impacted? How has the sport changed over the years? What does this mean for baseball? Then we close out with a discussion of how we hope this crisis will impact the baseball world. Music: www.purple-planet.com

We start by looking back again at this past week in a new landscape. This includes a look at the NFL doing NFL things and auto racing turning to eSports. Then we dig into a look at the movie Fire in Babylon which looks at the West Indies Cricket during the 1970s and 80s. It documents their rise into being the best test match team in the world that went undefeated for 15 years and their struggle against colonialism and racism. We ask how if cricket can be an emancipating tool and how do we understand the this complex time. Further, we dig into what colonialism in sports looks like and how entrenched it remains. Finally, we try to come to grips with how we understand this truly transcendent team that contained some of the best players ever to play the game. Music: www.purple-planet.com

This week we again start looking at how Covid-19 is impacting the sports world. The move to online gaming and the fact that chess keeps going is quite intriguing. Then we move into our main discussion of Jackie Robinson and his impact on the sports world. How did we learn about Robinson and has he been whitewashed? Was he who we think he were told he is? How, again, do we allow our athletes to be complex and multifaceted individuals? In the end, we come to a better and more complete understanding of this historical icon.

This week we start by looking at our first week without sports. It is an unprecedented occurrence and we will be tracking it as we look to future weeks. Hint: We are super grateful to the NBA for being proactive and taking the lead! We will also be looking at historical events and inviting new guests in the coming weeks. But, then we move into a discussion of the first summit of Mount Everest and how we understand it in today's context. What did it lead to? How do we understand the need to climb mountains? What does Everest look like now. Unfortunately, we don't have anything to look forward to in the sports world this coming week, but we will keep learning and exploring some new aspects of things. Music: Https://www.purple-planet.com

This week we start out talking about women in sports and what a great time of year it is for the sports we love. Then we get into a discussion of what the state of the MLS is. What would a successful MLS look like? What changes would we institute? Is it good for US soccer? Do we enjoy it? Finally, we wrap up by looking at sports for empty stadiums and what we are looking forward to this coming week. Music: purple-planet.com

This week we start off by talking about stardom and the brutal (and stupid) world of bare knuckle boxing. Then we dig into our main topic of how to understand Coronavirus and its impact on sports. What historic events put sports in perspective and how do they reflect today? What will the potential curtailing of professional sports mean for society? What will the next few months look like? Finally, we dig into women in cricket and politics as sport. Music: purple-planet.com

This week we start off by talking about Man City's predicament and the way athletes isolate themselves. Then we move into a discussion of about the mental health of today's athletes. More and more athletes are speaking out about their struggles. Is this leading the way to a better understanding of the toll of elite athletics? Are we doing enough to address the issues? How does it impact our young people? What has precipitated this change in tone? Finally, we wrap up by discussing what we are looking forward to this coming week! Music: www.purple-planet.com

This week we start off talking about rugby and how we understand it. Then we talk a bit about youth sports before getting to our main topic. This week we dig into the trend of athletes also being business people. Is this a new trend? Why is it happening? Why is it more prevalent in some sports than others? Is there something that naturally helps bridge this divide? Finally, we wrap it up with Pete Rose and sports history, Music: www.purple-planet.com

This week we start by analyzing our thoughts about Kobe and how we understand his tragic death and ongoing legacy. From there, we go into a discussion of Nike's new marathon shoe and how it will essentially be banned moving forward. How do we understand the ongoing progression of technology in sports? How has it changed the game? Should it be allowed to continue? Does it change how we experience the sport? In the end, who should get to decide? Then we finish up by talking about disc golf and changes coming for golf. Music: www.purple-planet.com

We're back with a discussion of how climate change and sports interact. How is climate change impacting the sports we love? How is our love of sports contributing to climate change? What can be done and how much should we expect our favorite teams to do? We also dig into an exploration of memory in sports and how a 4 point line could change basketball. Join us next week for more! Music: www.purple-planet.com

This week we are honored to joined by Steve Almond for a discussion of fandom and how we understand modern sports. What does the commodification of sports mean for our experience of it? How do we understand the negative nature of the modern sporting world while still understanding the joy we have all experienced while watching the game? What role do sports play in our modern relationships and what alternatives exist? We also dig into the impact of climate change on sports and how Becky Hammon is being treated differently. Music: purple-planet.com

This week we are back and ready to dig into what we hope to do with regards to sports this year. In a shocker, we both want to explore new and different sports. But, what else is on our minds? Further, we talk about climate change and sports, how video games impact the world and Jeopardy!

We're back for a special episode exploring just what to make of the NBA's recent issues in China. It touches so many important issues we just couldn't leave it alone. So, we hope you enjoy! Music: www.purple-planet.com

This week we dig into one of the more social media savvy sources around, Barstool Sports. This site seems to growing like crazy. Further, they are leading the zeitgeist through their social media presence. They have really understood how to capture our attention by using viral moments. But, where does a media platform with little original content stand? How will they respond to the changes in social media? Is this a sustainable model? Further, we talk about the Women's World Cup, the Cricket World Cup and Wimbledon. Thanks for listening! Music: www.purple-planet.com

This week we dig into one of the more controversial sports media sources, Barstool Sports. This blog site unabashedly caters to frat boys & young men and has a lot of really ugly content. They have a history of mistreating women and often seem to see just how much they can get away with. What does this kind of site mean for sports and our society more broadly? Is there anything redeeming about it? Is is sustainable? Further, we talk about the Women's World Cup, the Cricket World Cup and just how complex these endeavors are. Thanks for listening! Music: www.purple-planet.com

(FYI: We had some technical difficulties and lost half of this week's episode. Sorry!) This week we dig into the most exciting sports media startup out there, The Athletic. This endeavor has really sought to change the local media scene across the country and is now expanding into the UK. They are seeking to take the place of local newspapers by hiring away their talent and offering a new subscription model. Is this the way forward? Can a startup that is focused on being a money maker build the audience loyalty they need? Are they willing to deal with the hard stuff and embrace complexity? Further, we talk about the Women's World Cup, the Cricket World Cup and just how busy the sports calendar is. Thanks for listening! Music: www.purple-planet.com

This week we dig into Bill Simmons's project, The Ringer. This website and podcast network bridge the divide between sports and pop culture. They also bring a certain amount of snark and humor to the conversation. They are also really leaning into the podcasting side, which is much more profitable for them. So, where does a media source focused so much on podcasts fit in? How do we feel about that mix of pop culture and sports? Is this model sustainable? Further, we talk about the Women's World Cup, the Cricket World Cup and the French Open. Thanks for listening! Music: www.purple-planet.com

Second in our The State of Sports Media Series! The Guardian is one of our favorite news sources in general and their sports coverage is quite good as well. They are one of the most prominent left-leaning newspapers in the world. So, where does a newspaper fit in our modern sports media world? Can a platform be political without being overbearing? How does a European outlet differ from American outlets? We dig into all of this as we grade them out and spend a lot of time with them this week. Further, we talk Women's World Cup, Boxing and much more! Music: www.purple-planet.com

Second in our The State of Sports Media Series! Sports Illustrated did a ton to create the sports media world that we love today. They helped launch the long-form sports journalism that turned us into life long fans. But, what is their role these days as they face more and more competition? They clearly are losing out to ESPN in some areas, but where are they holding strong? What niche do they fill now? We dig into all of this as we grade them out and spend a lot of time with them this week. Further, we talk NBA playoffs, Champions League, Brooks Koepka and the world of Sports! Music: www.purple-planet.com

First in our State of Sports Media Series! First, we look into ESPN, the foremost name in sports media. We discuss where this behemoth came from and just what they mean in the market now. Then we walk through our rubric looking at how they well they compete with other outlets with regards to content, sustainability, willingness to discuss politics, etc. Additionally, we spent a little time on Formula 1, the NBA playoffs and the joy of the Mumbai Indians. Music: www.purple-planet.com

We are excited to share our newest podcast: The State of Sports Media We will be do a 14 week run of this new podcast before returning to our standard Sports in Society podcast. But, we hope you will subscribe to our new endeavor. We'd love you to come on this new journey with us. In this first episode, we take a moment to share some of the questions we are asking and frame the conversation. How have things changed in the last twenty years? How do we digest news now? What are some of the major trends that we are interested to explore? We are setting the stage for the next 12-14 weeks of inquiry and evaluation. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

This week we dig into Wright Thompson's piece on what Liverpool FC's season means for the Liverpool community. We dig into the difficulty inherent in trying to tell such a big story and the real issues with ESPN trying to tell such a story. How important are sports really? Isn't a sign of how important sports are an indication of problems elsewhere? What do we leave out when we use sports as our exclusive sense to understand the world? We also talk about complaining in the NBA and Caster Semenya's mistreatment. We also share our enthusiasm for the upcoming Giro d'Italia and Champions League matches.

This week we discuss the ongoing drama between Mo Farah and Haile Gebreselassie. They have been engaging in a remarkably petty public feud. There have been numerous allegations thrown back and forth and, inevitably, doping allegations have sprung up again. We're interested about how we respond to these kinds of feuds, why athletes need this kind of fuel and how we truly can't understand life in Ethiopia. There is so much to unpack in this little story. We also talk about a number of niche sports, the nature of modern golf in the Middle East and some playoffs (Champions League and NBA). Thanks for another week!

This week we discuss Michael Lewis' new podcast, Against The Rules, and the state of fairness in the NBA. We take issue with his method and the presumptions he starts from, but the question remains an interesting one. How fair can we make sports? Why do we care so much about fairness in sports? Does money fix or break things? We also discuss Tiger, the NBA Playoffs, chess and Jeopardy. Please give us a rating and review wherever you listen!

This week we take a look at the Netflix show, Cricket Fever: Mumbai Indians. This is the Netflix and IPL answer to HBO's Hard Knocks show about the NFL. It's fascinating to see how this new league operates and the fervor that already surrounds it. We talk about these kinds of shows, the role of a sports owner, bad coaching and what it means to be an Indian cricket player. There is just so much to break down and it is a truly interesting series. Further, we spend some time on the Masters, the greatest redemption story in college basketball history, Paris-Roubaix and the dumpster fire LA Lakers.

Kyle isn't able to join us this week, but we are lucky to have Sam Lev as a stand-in cohost. That made it the perfect week to dig into the running world and, specifically, ultrarunning. Why are so many people now so excited about running 100 mile races? What does growth in the space mean for the future of the sport? When is Sam going to run the Barkley Marathons? Additionally, we discuss the oddities of free agency, sports on Netflix, and Masters division runners. Join us next week for even more!

This week, we focus on what it means to be a famous athlete and who the most famous in the world are. We parse our way through ESPN's Fame 100 list of that lays out the most famous athletes in the world via search frequency, social media following and endorsement income. We dig into the social media side of things, the massive gender imbalance and the intriguing prevalence of Indian athletes. This is a long dive into a world that we can only begin to understand. Additionally, we spend some time talking Jim Furyk, Real Madrid and March Madness. Just another week of trying to understand the sports world a little better.

This week we delve into the murky waters of how marijuana is treated by the NHL and other major sports leagues. The NHL is taking a forward looking approach that does not involve punishment. As our societal norms change, how will this stand up? How will other leagues deal with the fact that we are more accepting of weed? We also touch on F1, cricket and the state of college basketball. It was a busy week in the sports world!

This week we dive into an article about the 3 point shot in the NBA. The Rockets were the first team ever to shoot more 3s than 2s last year. But, there is a suggestion that this will be the norm before long. What does that mean for basketball? Does it make things boring? What happens when a sport is no longer recognizable from what it used to be? We also discuss cycling, baseball contracts and the shortcomings of the MLS. Enjoy!