The Upshot

George Cooper, returning Upshot contributor and football lore expert, revisits Ashley Cole’s scandal-filled rise. Short scenes cover his Arsenal breakthrough, wild off-field antics, the Old Trafford rivalries and pizza incident, Euro 2004 defensive acclaim, tabloid-fuelled romance with Cheryl, lurid nightlife rumours, and the lawsuits that followed.

A deep-dive into the rise and fall of a sports legend, from intense parental pressure and early fame to a lucrative public image. Scandals, secret affairs, and the shocking incidents that exposed them get recounted. Career-restoring comebacks, severe injuries, and recent legal fights are also explored.

The pair are destroyed by a series of videos showing them at their absolute worst.   We revel in the fall out and the recovery, as Keys and Gray decamp to Qatar, settle old scores with their enemies, and both are rocked by more sex scandals. And of course, we answer the big question: Smash It? Download SAILY in your app store and use our code UPSHOT at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/upshot Links from the episode: Slagging off Sian Massey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV0oWNVG7Mw  Andy Gray “tuck me in”: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fYvlpPwNocw  “Smash it?”: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2107649813077188  Richard Keys Talksport “apology”: youtube.com/watch?si=8K26y4_ECt-K_Yct&t=40&v=fkTNQuWaETE&feature=youtu.be  “Get your tits out for the lads”: https://www.independent.ie/videos/sport/old-footage-of-sky-sports-presenters-chanting-get-your-tts-out-at-female-reporter/29967075.html  Richard Keys “It was just banter”: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RfiKA6-XbEE  Keys home tour: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x35lcdp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A scandalous look at two famous broadcasters and the studio culture they created. Stories of nightlife excess, tabloidy antics and cringe-worthy on-air moments. Career highs, controversial commentary lines and the events that hinted at a bigger problem. Teases of explosive material to come in part two.

On the show today: - Joey Barton is in trouble with the law twice in one day - Wayne Rooney trousers down - Boris Beckers tales of Diddy’s freak-offs.  Download SAILY in your app store and use our code UPSHOT at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/upshot  Links from the pod: Eni Aluko’s Declan Rice conspiracy theory: https://talksport.com/football/1479711/eni-aluko-declan-rice-man-city-arsenal/ Wayne Rooney doing his trousers: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/38375142/wayne-rooney-boozed-mystery-women-pre -brit-awards-bash/  Boris Johnson on Louis Theroux: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DEeh05oNNkLcP7KEAlTDJ?si=ZqAej3bNSoWzvu-a8_M3_g&nd=1&dlsi=acbc3b22514e4556 Stu McGill’s podcast meltdown:  https://www.youtube.com/live/d-GV9ay86OA?si=5A8h28HwGg8kRqtI&t=1152  Jamie O’Hara’s walk out: https://x.com/now_arsenaI/status/2031496474580672980  The OnlyFans triangle: https://dispatch-media.com/inside-the-onlyfans-triangle/ Brawl in Brazil: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1rojrgv/brawl_breaks_out_between_cruzeiro_and_atletico/  Get Extra Shot every week when you join our Patreon: www.patreon.com/upshottowers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They don't make managers like Neil Warnock anymore.  He gave team talks naked, cut his players' toe nails and picked the team based on his wife's dreams.  So by all means enjoy this podcast, but "enjoy it by being fucking disciplined"... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drink. Drugs. Explosive benders. And the inspiration for a rock band’s hit single. Nope, it’s not an iconic supermodel, it’s a hellraising winger from west London. From robbing graves to LSD before kick off, meet Robin Friday, the original rock 'n' roll footballer… Links from the episode: Highlight reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X64i1bunpKo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the end of part one, Conor was on a high: the most feared MMA fighter in the world, and about to take on Khabib in the most eagerly anticipated UFC fight of all time. But things are about to get ugly… Access content not available in your region with Nord VPN: Go to https://nordvpn.com/upshot - our link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan.  There's no risk with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee!  Live Show Tickets: https://www.livenation.co.uk/the-upshot-live-tickets-adp1637635 Links from the episode: Throws trolley through bus window: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63OCvuC-GSY On a coke comedown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBjoDOvyYf0 Punches bloke in pub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYMfSI9cZQw Jacob Hawley talking about McGregor shagging in disabled loo: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2zxzSkovyz/ Knocked off his bike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7Yg1mmcSX4 Posts video getting a blowie on a boat: https://x.com/markyjustbets/status/1563558573115711489?s=21&t=z7nqxzI_V2x6XrkhgnRT8g Breaks mascot’s nose: https://x.com/FOS/status/1667636830827696130 Chewing Ronaldo’s ear off: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FQamo6r7BHY Playfighting with Saka: https://x.com/StokeyyG2/status/1841617894901231662 Traffic police rant: https://youtu.be/HLEA8XoxPIg?si=Cr27QTZTJ_Ud3znS&t=1180Ranting at Mike Tyson: https://x.com/CasualMMA/status/1997733884637978708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Conor McGregor was once considered a combat genius who ranked alongside Sun Tzu, Bruce Lee and Fionn mac Cumhaill. But then came the cocaine, convictions and carnage. As his mask slipped, the unhinged Irishmen turned into a frothing beast, smashing up buses, punching grandads and peppering popstars with dick pics. From ayahuasca in the jungle to shagging at funerals, this is the story of Conor McGregor… Get part 2 instantly when you join The Upshot’s Patreon: www.patreon.com/upshottowers Download SAILY in your app store and use our code UPSHOT at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/upshot Links from the episode: Pocketwatch: youtube.com/watch?v=MJl-O2KYYHU&ab_channel=ClippedMMA Crocodile walk: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=818213015007557 Taking the piss out of Uriah Faber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=yJRJEvFU3Ac&ab_channel=UFC Forces translator to tell Jose Aldo he’s his daddy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YezMl2zi5Gs Red panty night: https://youtu.be/BV57_OEDU1s?si=jDhSf3T0vNiV1ZtB&t=28 Taking the piss out of Nate Diaz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6wn99sp4Tc Apologise to absolutely nobody: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1239067553130795 After party in a tree: https://www.reddit.com/r/ufc/comments/cqvb44/coked_up_conor_enjoying_an_after_party_in_a_tree/ Floyd Mayweather: https://youtu.be/UiPlPFzFkDo?si=SiHo7nyxYEq_Id2v&t=201  Ruins friend’s victory by jumping into the octagon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXx8WQPjYpo  Speeding out of car park: https://x.com/rtenews/status/936233874815897600 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You don’t make it to the top without getting a little weird. Just ask Cristiano Ronaldo. He scraps with teenagers, had an orgy with his taxi driver, and keeps a handwritten list of his silverware in his pocket. From fivesomes with teammates to getting throttled by Ryan Giggs, this is his story… Links from the episode: As a youngster: https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/SPORT-PREVIEW-young-cristiano.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=1500&h=1000&crop=1 Man United debut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73DuUGJWuzo Throws journo’s microphone in a lake: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mIgNSppc4zg Statue at madeira airport: https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/1424D/production/_95390528_ronaldobust.jpg Pat Butcher mural: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRiuR02MyRWY99xd4N7AG770iIyiQ-kjWCV1A&s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices