The Upshot

Mario Balotelli was the Premier League’s most notorious nutcase.From lobbing darts at teammates to burning his own house down, the striker wreaks havoc wherever he goes.But you haven't heard it all.Buckle in for the full manic story of Mario Balotelli… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Extra Shot, our new Thursday show where we discuss the funniest stories in sport this week.On the pod this week: footballers dragged into the Epstein scandal the real reason James Rodriguez quit Qatar, and *that* Sadio Mane rumour… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

These days, snooker crowds are full of dozing pensioners nibbling corned beef sandwiches.But the sport was once a hotbed of booze, crack pipes and shagging.From foursomes with fans to benders with the Rolling Stones, meet the bad boys of snooker… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Diego Maradona and Napoli: it was football's wildest romance.A head-spinning cocktail of devotion, chaos and glory - plus enough drugs to kill a horse.From prosthetic penises to doing coke in the Pope's bathroom, this is the story of Diego in Naples… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cocaine-fuelled car chases. Ultras invading orgies. And Kyle Walker waving his willy around a Manchester bar.It’s been a wild year in the world of sport. And today we celebrate all of it, with our annual awards ceremony: the Shotties…If you’re enjoying the pod, please answer this quick survey to help us improve. It’s all multiple choice and takes 30 seconds:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4IEGuJLGn8V0TvfEXY2hjVr-oC2bRgsiWY3fLS7jWzfveXQ/viewform?usp=sf_link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He fights gangs, pens murder mysteries and once served a stint in the slammer.Steve Bruce is not who you think he is.From con tricks to cabbage crimes, this is his story…For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joey Barton is fucking mental.He punches children, quotes Nietzsche, and once sunk his teeth into his own club captain. And that’s just the tame stuff.From cigars in eyes to zoo animals on the loose, this is the story of the Premier League’s biggest wrong’un…For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was football’s wildest fairytale: in ten years ramshackle Wimbledon went from non-league to the top flight and FA Cup glory.But that’s only half the story. Vinnie Jones, John Fashanu and co were a bunch of absolute animals.They torched cars, held press conferences naked, and hospitalised each other with dressing room beatings.This is the story of the Crazy Gang…For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The year is 1999 - Real Madrid are at war.Legendary striker Raul brands the dressing room “a cesspit of lies, treachery and whispers”.Something has to change...From murderous hitmen to pigs heads on the pitch, this is the story of the Galacticos…For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erling Haaland isn’t like other humans.He gorges on chicken livers, raps about world peace, and wakes up to the Champions League anthem. Every day.As the Robo-Viking smashes every record under the sun, we’re joined by Haaland expert Lars Sivertsen to explore the weird world of Erling Haaland…If you’re enjoying The Upshot podcast, please share it with your friends. It really helps us grow.For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices