Edge of Sports

This week we talk to Eric Nusbaum, author of the new book, “Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between.” We talk to him about his new book, the history of how Dodger Stadium came to be, and the displacement of people of color in the process of building it.  We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the NCAA and the prospect of college football coming this fall as well as its decision to announce support for college athletes to sign endorsement deals. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to former Bulls sharpshooter Craig Hodges, who has been erased from the Last Dance documentary but remains an important part of the early Bulls championship teams and some ESPN announcers who are saying, “Gosh, I’m seeing a different side of Jordan” in the wake of the documentary. We also got a brand new Kaepernick Watch featuring an announcement from me! All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Eric Nusbaum https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/eric-nusbaum/stealing-home/9781541742192/ Twitter: @ericnus Zirin, The NCAA Is Poised to Allow Players to Benefit From Their Labor https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ncaa-players-pay/ — 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 we talk to Jared Ball, professor of Communication Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore. We talk to him about his new book, The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power, the history of the concept, and its connection to black radical politics. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about The Last Dance for its uncritical look at Michael Jordan, and it’s lopsided attack on Jerry Krause. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to the 1st draft pick of the 2020 draft, Joe Burrow, for using his platform to talk about poverty, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league for the way they presented the NFL Draft, particularly the self-serving celebration of first responders. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Jared Ball https://imixwhatilike.org/category/the-myth-of-black-buying-power/ Twitter: @IMIXWHATILIKE Zirin, The Unfortunate Ugliness of ‘The Last Dance’ https://www.thenation.com/article/society/michael-jordan-last-dance/ — 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 we talk to friend of the show Michael Lee to talk about Last Dance, a documentary on Michael Jordan and the ’98 Chicago Bulls. We talk about the NBA of the ‘90s, Michael Jordan’s drive to be great, and why people continue to be fascinated by MJ.  We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about WWE and its decision to resume live programming in the midst of the coronavirus. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Megan Rapinoe for her fantastic livestream with W. Kamau Bell and Trump’s committee to reopen sports. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Michael Lee https://theathletic.com/1752209/2020/04/17/sports-take-a-back-seat-why-basketball-africa-league-was-first-to-cancel-games/ Twitter: @MrMichaelLee Zirin, Trump’s Sports Advisers Represent the Worst of the Sports World https://www.thenation.com/article/society/trump-sports-advisory-coronavirus/ — 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 we take a sidestep from sports and talk to Maurice Cook from the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Network. We talk about coronavirus’ impact on DC, how it’s affected people of color in the city, and what can be done about it.  We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the dystopian plans to reopen the sports world that are floating around right now. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Jalen Rose on the anniversary of his shellacking of Skip Bayless and Maven Media for their decision to fire friend of the show Grant Wahl and their pathetic decision to slander him on his way out. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Maurice Cook https://www.serveyourcitydc.org/ Twitter: @mcSYCdc Zirin, The Plans to Bring Sports Back Are Truly Dystopian https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ufc-baseball-arizona-coronavirus/ — 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 we speak to the preeminent soccer journalist in the United States, Grant Wahl, about the role of soccer amidst the coronavirus pandemic. We talk about coronavirus, an update on USA women’s soccer lawsuit for equal pay, and more. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the bribery scandal that should be rocking the IOC. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to members of the FC Barcelona team for taking pay cuts to help club employees, and people making racist attacks on sports journalist Jemele Hill. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Grant Wahl https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCae1JCaKGwUV_x6OAaP5blg/featured Twitter: @GrantWahl Zirin & Boykoff, A Bribery Scandal Hits the ‘2020’ Tokyo Olympics https://www.thenation.com/article/world/tokyo-olympics-bribery-scandal/ — 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 we speak to Rod “Slasher” Breslau,  and Erin Ashley Simon, two experts on Esports. We speak to them about the impact of coronavirus on Esports, the political economy of the sport, and why traditional sports fans that aren’t on board yet should give them a look.  We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the activist athlete in the time of coronavirus. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Joel Embiid for both donating money to employees of Sixers while implicitly shaming team ownership to do the same, and Tilman Fertitta, Houston Rockets owner, for furloughing 40,000 employees and downplaying COVID-19 among other heinous actd. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Erin Ashley Simon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCae1JCaKGwUV_x6OAaP5blg/featured Twitter: @erinasimon Rod Breslau https://www.facebook.com/Breslau Twitter: @Slasher Zirin, Athlete Activists Respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coronavirus-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) — 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 we speak to NBA veteran Wilson Chandler about how he is maintaining amid the pandemic as well as his experience playing on basketball’s biggest stage, his stint in China, and the rhetoric of Donald Trump. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the Coronavirus and athletes. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Jeremy Lin for calling out Trump for racist rhetoric and the IOC for dragging their feet on doing the right thing and cancelling the 2020 Olympic games. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Wilson Chandler https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/wilson-chandler-the-iso-brooklyn-nets Twitter: @wilsonchandler Zirin, Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp Shines Amid the Coronavirus Crisis https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coronavirus-liverpool-jurgen-klopp/ — 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 ace NBA journalist Ethan Sherwood Strauss about his new book The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty. We talk to Ethan about that Warriors dynasty, Kevin Durant, and the price of success. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the Coronavirus and sports. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to the players of the NFL fighting for fair contracts and egomaniacal Knicks owner James Dolan. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports! Ethan Sherwood Strauss https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/ethan-sherwood-strauss/the-victory-machine/9781541736214/ Twitter: @SherwoodStrauss Zirin, The Coronavirus Is Coming for Professional Sports https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coronavirus-nba-sports/ — 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 are talking to Power Plays sports reporter Lindsay Gibbs about the promising albeit volatile state of women’s sports and then to Kevin Powell about his experience at Kobe Bryant’s memorial service at the Staples Center. We also have a Kaepernick watch about two volleyball players who took a knee for Palestine. And this week I read a poem! By Kevin Powell! Lindsay Gibbs https://www.powerplays.news/ Twitter: @linzsports Kevin Powell Kevin's Poem Instagram: KevinPowellBrooklyn Zirin, Athletes Take a Knee Against Israel’s Occupation https://www.thenation.com/article/society/dwyane-wade-trans-child/ — 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 we speak to retired NBA All Star David West about his life, politics, and support for the Bernie Sanders campaign. We also talk about his work to challenge the NCAA with the Professional College League.  We have ‘Choice Words’ about NBA legend Dwyane Wade and why his love and support for his trans daughter Zaya is an act of resistance. We got ‘Just Stand Up’ and “Just Sit Down” awards to Colin Kaepernick for launching a publishing house and the East Moline police. All that and more on this week’s episode of The Edge of Sports Podcast! David West Twitter: @D_West30 Zirin Dwyane Wade’s Love for His Daughter Is an Act of Resistance — 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