Edge of Sports

This week we speak to author Howard Bryant about his recent column on the state of this country as well as his new book on the great Rickey Henderson. We talk about the Supreme Court, where the country is headed, and why Rickey Henderson continues to be a captivating figure, decades after his retirement.We also have Choice Words about developments on the Brittney Griner case in Russia. We also have a Just Stand Up award to Megan Rapinoe, who seems to be a perennial winner of this award. All that and more on this episode of The Edge of Sports Podcast! Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.Howard BryantTwitter: @hbryant42https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/34186311/baseball-barbecue-losing-freedom-fourth-julyZirin, Brittney Griner’s Show Trial Beginshttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/brittney-griner-russia-trial/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we speak to Kim Turner, the Director of the Gender Equity Initiative at the national nonprofit Positive Coaching Alliance about the impact of Title IX and how much further we have to go. We also have “Choice Words” about the new Saudi golfing tour and the hypocrisy of guys like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson who have jumped on. We also have an update on Brittney Griner's case and more. Kimberly Turnerhttps://positivecoach.org/team/turner-kim/Zirin, Golfers Gonna Golfhttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/golf-pga-saudi-arabia/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we talk to Robert Elias, author of two books, Baseball Rebels and Major League Rebels. Both are about hidden histories of resistance athletes in the National Pastime. There is so much interesting and useful history that is so worth checking out.We have “Choice Words” about the Tampa Bay Rays and Pride Night at the park and the players using religion as cover for their bigotry. We also have “Just Sit Down” awards to former PGA golfer Phil Mickelson, who is leaving the tour to join up with a new Saudi golf venture and appears to have no moral compunction about it. All this and more on this week’s show! Robert Eliashttps://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496217776/Zirin, The Tampa Bay Rays, Pride, and the Perils of Corporate Brandinghttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/tampa-bay-rays-pride/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we explore the significance or lack thereof, of Colin Kaepernick's tryout with the Las Vegas Raiders. We also talk about Gabe Kapler's decision to not stand for the anthem. We also have a special Jake's Takes where we discuss the politics of baseball and the lack of African American participation in the sport as well as whether the game is entertaining. Zirin, Colin Kaepernick Gets His Chance—and It’s Tough to Carehttps://www.thenation.com/article/culture/colin-kaepernick-gets-his-chance-and-its-tough-to-care/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)—Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In 2003, a Manhattanville College basketball player named Toni Smith caused a media frenzy when she turned her back on the National Anthem during President Bush’s wars in the Middle East. It was not received well. Now, two decades later, Toni Smith-Thompson was the commencement speaker at the Manhattanville graduation and received an honorary doctorate. We speak to Toni Smith-Thompson about that journey.In this episode, we have Choice Words about the silence from male athletes when it comes to Brittney Griner’s unjust detainment in Russia. We also have Just Stand Up to the US women’s soccer team for being victorious in their landmark suit for equal pay. We have a Just Sit Down award for sports bloviator Doug Gottlieb, who seems unable to recognize what real racism looks like, let alone a history book. All this and more on this week’s show! Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Toni-Smith ThompsonTwitter: @mstonijhttps://www.nyclu.org/en/biographies/toni-smith-thompsonZirin, The “Brutal Solidarity” Between Buffalo and Palestinehttps://www.thenation.com/article/politics/solidarity-buffalo-palestine/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The collapse of the Philadelphia 76ers has been one of the more curious dramas in sports. We speak to Michael Lee of the Washington Post about what the hell happened and what the ramifications are going forward. We also have Choice Words about athletes and the fight for abortion rights. We have Just Stand Up and Just Sit Down awards, an update on Brittney Griner’s case, and much more on this week's show!Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Michael LeeTwitter: @MrMichaelLeehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/people/michael-lee/Zirin, On Abortion Rights, the Athletes Will Not Save Ushttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/abortion-rights-athletes/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we speak to Andscape’s David Dennis Jr. about his new book “The Movement Made Us: A Father, a Son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride.” We talk about his writing process, his father’s influence over both the book and his life as well as his upbringing in the home of a Civil Rights legend.We have Choice Words about the overdue change in strategy in efforts to secure the release of jailed WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia. We have Just Stand Up awards for folks speaking loudly about the current assault on reproductive rights in this country and for former NBA player and ESPN analyst, JJ Redick, who called out the racist remarks of a fellow host. We have Just Sit Down awards for Tennessee Titans coach, Mike Vrabel for his involvement in a Trump rally. All that and more on this week’s show! Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. David Dennis, Jr.Twitter: @DavidDTSShttps://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-movement-made-us-david-j-dennis-jrdavid-j-dennis-srZirin, Finally a Change of Strategy in the Push for Brittney Griner’s Freedomhttps://www.thenation.com/article/world/brittney-griner-russia-prisoner/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's show, we talk to Simon Rosenblum-Larson, a minor league baseball player with the Tampa Bay Rays about the ugly realities of playing Minor League Baseball. We discuss the intricacies of organizing workers in minor league clubhouses and what it takes to work with international baseball players.We also got Choice Words about the latest news with Brittney Griner’s case. We have Just Stand Up awards for the people advocating loudly for Brittney Griner's release, and Just Sit Down awards for those who have decided to keep quiet on the matter. Also in this episode, we've got a Kaepernick Watch about how owners are trying to reinvent history as it relates to the blackballed quarterback. All this and more on this week’s show! Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Simon Rosenblum-LarsonTwitter: @simonrl18https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/25/minor-league-baseball-should-pay-living-wage/Zirin, Trevor Reed’s Freedom Should Spur Calls to Release Brittney Grinerhttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/trevor-reed-brittney-griner-russia/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We got a special episode this week as Jake Zirin joins the show to talk about the NBA playoffs as well as who he thinks is going to win the regular season awards.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Former NFL player, artist, and author Aaron Maybin has a new book about history, politics and his work doing mutual aid organizing and education in the communities of Baltimore. Aaron is always great to talk to and as usual, he doesn’t disappoint. On this week's show, we have Choice Words about the way that the North Carolina Tar Heels managed injuries in their national championship game against the Kansas Jayhawks. We have Just Stand Up awards for Brian Flores and the NFL coaches willing to tell the truth about the racist hiring practices employed by the league. For New York governor Kathy Hochul, who pushed for public welfare in the taxpayer funding of the Buffalo Bills new stadium, we have a Just Sit Down award. Additionally, I have special comment on the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line. All this and more on this week’s show! Aaron MaybinTwitter: AaronMMaybinhttps://t.co/ZHfA0dfUpuZirin, The Bad Aftertaste of the NCAA Men’s Tournamenthttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/ncaa-march-madness/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy