The Off Court Podcast

Eytan and Abdul discuss one of the most interesting and controversial figures in professional fighting, UFC President and two-time Donald Trump presidential campaign supporter, Dana White. We discuss the history of Dana White's ascendance to UFC president, his political track record, and how his weird bromance with Donald Trump was established and flourished when Trump secured the 2016 presidential nomination. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

On this episode, we chat with Sean Woodley about the hierarchy and needs of sports media. What does it do right? Wrong? In what ways is it failing us, and in what ways could it be better? Be sure to check out Sean's other podcasts, Uhh, basketball? and Locked On Raptors. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Guest: Sean Woodley (T: woodleysean) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

Abdul Malik and Eytan Tobin discuss the history and current controversies pertaining to the Special Olympics, including the organization's connection to the Kennedy family, its bizarrely paternalistic and sometimes eugenicist nature and how the the Special Olympics can do better in its mission to liberate the disability rights movement. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

We invite Tony Boswell from The Minion Death Cult Podcast (@miniondeathcult) to discuss Kobe Bryant and his Mamba Mentality as an ethos, a brand, and social media movement. Bryant's novel of the same name serves as our framework as we discuss everything from his career, controversies on and off the court, the psychology of the Mamba mentality, and the online trend of success posting that the hashtag has inspired. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Guest: Tony Boswell (T: wordisbond) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

This episode is part two of our look at Cuba and explore the emergence of Cuban Sports in the post-revolution era!. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

For this special two parter, Abdul and Eytan discuss the life and tragedy of Pat Tillman, an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army after the September 11 attacks. He subsequently was killed by friendly fire in 2004 in the US war in Afghanistan and a cover up of his death was attempted and coordinated by both the military and leaders within the U.S. Government. We discuss the history of war and international interventionism in Afghanistan as a parallel to Pat's football career as his path took him to enlistment and his eventual tragic death. Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, a 2009 book written by Jon Krakauer, serves as our guide for the discussion. Part 2 focuses on Pat Tillman's depolyment to Iraq and Afghanistan, the cover-up of his murder by friendly fire, as well as closing thought on the military-industrial complex and some of the more philisophical questions forward by Krakauer in his novel. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

For this special two parter, Abdul and Eytan discuss the life and tragedy of Pat Tillman, an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army after the September 11 attacks. He subsequently was killed by friendly fire in 2004 in the US war in Afghanistan and a cover up of his death was attempted and coordinated by both the military and leaders within the U.S. Government. We discuss the history of war and international interventionism in Afghanistan as a parallel to Pat's football career as his path took him to enlistment and his eventual tragic death. Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, a 2009 book written by Jon Krakauer, serves as our guide for the discussion. Part 1 focuses on Pat Tillman's pre-enlistment career, Afghanistan in the 80's and 90's, and the beginning of the Bush Administration's war on terror. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

WARNING: This episode contains frank conversations and descriptions of sexual assault. This week, we're joined by Clinton Hallahan from Alberta Advantage to talk about DeShaun Watson and the greater athmosphere of sexual assault, athletic labour, and the varying degrees of what the NFL considers "acceptable crime" in the name of profit. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Guest: Clinton Hallahan (T: StoicRomance) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

This episode is part one of our look at Fidel Castro & how the weaponization of sports became a key to El Jefe's revolutionary identity. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

In this episode, Abdul and Eytan interview @Julesboykoff and GIgi from @NOlympicsLA to talk about how to organize and resist the Olympics - an organization that ultimately an exercise in settler colonialism and human displacement, anathema to any ideas of the commons, and oppositional to the moral values of sport. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

For the first episode of our second season we invited Adam from Means TV and Southpaw Sports to partake in our first ever full blown slander episode. The focus? Everyone's favourite racist hockey uncle and CBC top 10 Canadians finalist, Don Cherry. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

On the Season One finale of The Off Court Podcast Adbul and Eytan continue to explore the wider history and political context that lead to the massacre of nine Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

This episode we explore the wider history and political context that lead to the massacre of nine Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

This week we discuss racial and sexual politics with one of the stars of the Esports world, Mychal Ramon Jefferson aka, Trihex. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Guest: Mychal Ramon Jefferson (T: trihex) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

On this episode we're breaking down the politics of Mahmoud Abdul Rauf - one of the NBA's most highly touted prospects - whose career was affected for being a vocal supporter of social justice. Sound familiar? Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Episode Topics: Introducing Mahmoud Abdul Rauf - The proto Colin Kaepernick Breaking into the NBA Life as a Muslim Outspoken on Social Justice Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

This episode Abdul and Eyton explore the relationship between hockey and national identity. They'll dive deep into the the games roots in colonialism and indigenous appropriation, the racial and economic disparity in the sport and its roll in the negative aspects of nationalism. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Episode Topics Native roots Role in nation building Hockey and the Cold War Hockey and Canada's national identity Economic disparity Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

This episode Abdul and Eytan are joined by Nashwa Lina to discuss the role of cricket in decolonizing India. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Nashwa Lina (T: nashwalina) Episode Topics Cricket: The civilized game The Natives adopt Cricket Native India's surpass the wngoish Cricket as protest Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

This episode Eytan and Abdul look at Israeli basketball and the role of African-American players in the Ligat Ha'Al through the lens of retired NBA all-star Amare Stoudamire. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Chapters: (01:35) - The Ligat Ha'Al (15:45) - Racism in Israeli Basketball (34:41) - Amar'e Stoudamire's Playing Career (48:49) - Amar'e Stoudamire's Faith Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

This episode Eytan and Abdul look at the politics of labour in the Canadian Football League. They're going to dive into the collective bargaining agreement, the leagues profitability and the sustainability of CFL player salaries. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Chapters: (00:45) - Introduction (02:34) - The CFL collective bargaining agreement (28:26) - CFL players and offseason jobs Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

During its peak, Major League Baseball consisted of 17-19% African American players. For a sport that was aggressively segregated well into the 40's, this statistic represented progress. However, at the start of the 2019 season just 7.7 percent of all active MLB players were African American. During this episode Abdul and Eytan dive deep into the social-political forces that are fueling the troubling decline in African American baseball players. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Chapters: (04:52) - Jackie Robinson and desegregation in Baseball (19:03) - Economics and the decline in African-American baseball players (28:43) - Baseball development in Latin America + players as a global commodity (44:45)- Baseball in the inner-city Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

Dropping the hammer. Postering. Phi slama jama. The slam dunk is basketball's signature move. It has captured the sporting world's imagination, finding its way on posters taped to kids walls, shared all over social media and stamped onto shoes and apparel. But what is the significance of the dunk? How has it gone from a form of black expression to a fundamental part of sports capitalism. In the first episode of The Off Court Podcast, Abdul and Eytan explore the history and political significance of the most exciting moment in sports. Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Chapters: Introducing the Slam Dunk (01:40) The History of the Dunk (08:04) Banning the Dunk (14:00) The Politics of the Dunk (37:10) Dunking and Capitalism (49:00) Produced by The Mind Refinery: www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha and visit the Tailored Pants Design Website

Welcome to The Off Court Podcast! In this short introductory episode Abdul and Eytan discuss the process of making the show, what you're going to hear over the course of season one and some shout-outs to the people who helped make this possible. Hope you enjoy - look out for episode one dropping soon! Hosts: Abdul Malik (T: socialistraptor) Eytan Tobin (T: rabbiDieHardman) Produced by The Mind Refinery www.themindrefinery.com Executive Producer/Mix: George Lagos (T: geo_lag42) Executive Producer/Edit: Kyle Bodanis: T: (@KyleBodanis) I: (@flowdanis) Design: Samantha Clark eMail Samantha or visit Tailored Pants Design Website