Edge of Sports

This week we talk to the best selling author of the new book Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty, Jeff Pearlman. Pearlman talks about all the big personalities around the team, the tensions, and how he assesses the legacy of Kobe after his death. We also have Choice Words about Breonna Taylor and Muhammad Ali, and the city that binds them. In addition, we have Just Stand Up and Just Sit Down awards to Lebron James for recent comments pledging solidarity to black women and NBA owners for their hypocritical support of Donald Trump in the wake of the league’s black lives matter branding. All this and more on this week’s show! Jeff Pearlman Twitter: @jeffpearlman Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty Zirin On Louisville, Breonna Taylor, and Muhammad Ali Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. — 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 one of the leading critics of revenue-producing college sports, journalist Patrick Hruby. Hruby goes into detail about the Big Ten’s decision to proceed with the college football season after deciding not to. We also have Choice Words about the incredible marriage of WNBA legend Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons. In addition, we have Just Stand Up and Just Sit Down awards to the Seattle Seahawks/Atlantic Falcons for their symbolic statement during kickoff and the video producers at NFL Films. All this and more on this week’s show! Patrick Hruby Twitter: @patrick_hruby Zirin Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons: More Than a Love Story Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. 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 have audio of a webinar that I did with NBA legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf for the show Talking BLM hosted by Felicia Eaves for the organization American Muslims for Palestine. Rauf brings all the wisdom. In addition, we have Just Stand Up and Just Sit Down awards to the Miami Dolphins for a terrific video they put together addressing white supremacy that cuts to the core, and the fans that booed the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs for linking arms in unity as well as the NFL for enabling this kind of culture. All this and more on this week’s show! Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Twitter: @RaufMahmoud AMP Twitter: @AMPalestine Zirin A New Study Exposes Just How Racist College Sports Have Become Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. — 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 acclaimed sportswriters Jessica Luther and Kavitha Davidson about their new book Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back: Dilemmas Of The Modern Fan. It’s a tremendous book that really speaks to the current moment in a myriad of ways.  We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the NFL’s push to avoid a players’ strike and what that could mean for player power. In addition, we have a “Just Stand Up” and “Just Sit Down” awards to Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul for his incredible performance on the court as well as his role as president of NBPA and the Miami Heat for their incredibly tone deaf approach to fighting police violence and systemic injustice. All this and more on this week’s show! Kavitha Davidson Twitter: @kavithadavidson Jessica Luther Twitter: @jessicawluther https://utpress.utexas.edu/books/luther-davidson-loving-sports-when-they-don%27t-love-you-back Zirin, The NFL Is Desperately Trying to Avoid a Players’ Strike https://www.thenation.com/article/society/the-nfl-is-desperately-trying-to-avoid-a-players-strike/ — 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 Full Dissidence author and ESPN columnist Howard Bryant about a historic week in the world of sports and what it could mean going forward. Howard is a must listen and he has some trenchant words about everything happening.  We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about how these sports strikes against racism could influence the labor movement. In addition, we have a special ‘Just Stand Up’ segment that consists of a great interview with the legendary freedom fighter and NBA three-point champion Craig Hodges. All this and more on this week’s show! Howard Bryant The Reality of Black Pain Is Breaking American Sports’ Status Quo Twitter: @hbryant42 Zirin Professional Athletes Are Showing America Just How Powerful Labor Really Is — 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 2014, the first athlete to bring the Black Lives Matter movement to a place of protest during the National Anthem wasn’t an NBA or NFL player. It was Ariyana Smith of Knox College. We speak to her about the recent explosion of BLM activism in sports. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the state of college football and the move by some athletes to move forward with the season. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Lebron James and others for keeping the focus on the killing of Breonna Taylor. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Ariyana Smith https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/interview-ariyana-smith-first-athlete-activist-blacklivesmatter/ Zirin, College Football Should Be Totally Shut Down, Even if It Hurts https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/interview-ariyana-smith-first-athlete-activist-blacklivesmatter/ — 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) — Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the show we speak to NBA.com’s Sekou Smith about the NBA’s return, black lives matter, and protest. Smith gives us his take on activism coming out of the NBA’s bubble as we think about where we go from here.  We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the surge in activism from NCAA athletes, particularly in some of the country’s most powerful institutions. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to the always brilliant Boston Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown and recurring terrible person, Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Sekou Smith Twitter: @SekouSmithNBA https://www.nba.com/writer/archive/sekou-smith Zirin, The NCAA Finally Faces a Reckoning https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ncaa-strike-covid/ — 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 on the show we speak to rapper/actor/mogul Ice Cube about his recent postings of anti-Semitic cartoons and how he answers for them. We also speak about his new political project: The Black Contract with America.  Ice Cube Twitter: @icecube https://thehill.com/changing-america/opinion/509563-with-an-energized-civil-rights-movement-on-the-streets-ice-cube — 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 on the show we speak to Layshia Clarendon of the New York Liberty about a protest Layshia was at the forefront in organizing. We also talk to them about the return of the WNBA, activism within the ranks of WNBA, and centering the voices of black women. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the courage of WNBA athletes in protesting racial injustice and the attempt by the right wing to demonize these athletes. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to NBA star Kyrie Irving for donating 1.5 million dollars to help pay WNBA players that are sitting out and players that are protesting with no political convictions at all. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Layshia Clarendon Twitter: @LayshiaC https://time.com/5871954/wnba-national-anthem-breonna-taylor/ Zirin, WNBA Players—Again—Show the Meaning of Radical Dissent https://www.thenation.com/keyword/anti-racism-activism/ — 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 on the show we speak to Michael Lee of The Athletic about the prospects of playing the remainder of the NBA season in the Orlando bubble. We also talk about Stephen Jackson's anti-Semitic comments and discuss what that could do to the movement for player empowerment. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about how athletes are fighting the Olympic ban on protests. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to the wave of dissent and protest taking place in the sport of Cricket in recent weeks and a couple of deplorable GOP senators. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Michael Lee Twitter: @MrMichaelLee https://theathletic.com/author/michael-lee/ Zirin & Boykoff, Athletes Are Fighting the Olympic Ban on Protests https://www.thenation.com/article/society/athletes-are-fighting-the-olympic-ban-on-protests/ — 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