Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the top storylines going into March Madness. They also assess the NFL’s big quarterback moves. Finally, they discuss the greatest Scrabble play of all time and the fascinating Kiwi who made it.

March Madness (5:20): Brown’s Ivy League loss, the possible showdowns in the women’s bracket, and more.

NFL QBs (26:56): Were the Steelers smart to get Russell Wilson AND Justin Fields?

Nigel Richards (41:44): A singular moment of Scrabble genius from a singular player.

Afterball (51:23): Joel on the Mississippi Valley State men’s basketball team’s lone victory and the student announcers who called it.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Great Expectations author Vinson Cunningham to talk about the fracas between the LSU and South Carolina women’s basketball teams. They also discuss Steve Garvey, DEI in Florida, and other intersections between sports and politics in 2024.

Women’s hoops (3:24): In so many ways, this weekend showed that this sport has the juice.

Sports and politics (22:07): How athletes are influencing politics and policy this election year.

Afterball (43:01): Josh on the U.S. women’s national team’s Gold Cup victory and what it all means.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by NFL reporting legend Peter King to talk about the Chicago Bears’ quarterback dilemma, what he’s seen in his four decades covering pro football, and why Bill Belichick refuses to speak to him.

Justin Fields and Caleb Williams (4:02): What are the Bears going to do?

Peter King looks back (29:48): What stories did he screw up? Which ones does he wish he got to cover?

Afterball (50:38): Stefan on D.C. public school basketball powerhouse Jackson-Reed.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss whether court-storming should be banned for good. The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins also joins to explain why she believes the NCAA is cheapening Caitlin Clark’s scoring records. Finally, they assess the NCAA’s latest legal trouble and what comes next.

Court-storming (4:41): Is it even possible to stop students from rushing the court?

Clark’s records (22:48): The AIAW’s Lynette Woodard and Pearl Moore deserve respect and attention.

NCAA (41:20): How much longer can the house of cards stay standing?

Afterball (56:18): Joel on the precarious existence of the NBA’s G League Ignite.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss whether the NBA All-Star Game is fixable. They also talk about whether Fanatics and Nike are destroying the sports uniform. Finally, writer Abraham Josephine Riesman joins to explain the allegations against wrestling impresario Vince McMahon and why they matter.

All-Star Game (3:16): What can the league do to revive what used to be a showcase event?

Uniforms (22:53): Baseball players say their new clothes are the pits. What happened?

McMahon (42:37): What’s next for pro wrestling and the man who’s controlled it for decades?

Afterball (1:01:43): Josh on the time the mayor of San Francisco insulted the 49ers’ backup quarterback.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the 49ers, the performances of Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy, and how the new overtime rules played out. CNBC’s Alex Sherman also comes on to explain whether a new multi-network streaming deal will change how we watch sports.

How the Chiefs won (3:41): This Mahomes guy is pretty good.

Overtime (20:07): Did the 49ers screw up by taking the ball first?

Streaming (35:47): What you need to know about the new service and the future of sports TV.

Afterball (51:49): Stefan on the Chiefs’ legendary Black scout Lloyd Wells.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings to discuss women’s college basketball stars JuJu Watkins and Caitlin Clark. The Washington Post’s Will Hobson also joins to talk about his piece on the broken promises of the NFL’s concussion settlement. Finally, U.S. senator and New York Knicks legend Bill Bradley discusses his one-man show Rolling Along.

Watkins and Clark (4:29): The biggest stars in women’s hoops are living up to the hype.

Concussion settlement (23:50): Retired players with dementia aren’t getting the money they believe they’re owed.

Rolling Along (44:24): Why the politician and basketball star is telling the story of his life.

Afterball (1:03:22): Josh on Zach LaVine, L.T. Levine, and athlete name homophones.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the 49ers’ comeback win over the Lions and the Chiefs’ victory over the Ravens. The Washington Post’s Ben Golliver also joins to talk about the spate of high-scoring games in the NBA.

49ers-Lions (3:44): Did Dan Campbell’s coaching moves cost Detroit?

Chiefs-Ravens (18:50): Patrick Mahomes won again. Lamar Jackson flopped.

NBA scoring (35:36): Are all these amazing point totals bad news for the league?

Afterball (56:56): Joel on meeting Andrew Luck at the playground.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Kansas City’s win over Buffalo in the NFL playoffs. Adam Duerson also joins to talk about the collapse of Sports Illustrated and ESPN’s Myron Medcalf comes on for a conversation about second-generation athletes (and how they make us feel old). 

Chiefs-Bills (5:00): How Patrick Mahomes took down Josh Allen again.

Sports Illustrated (21:49): Is there a path forward for SI?

Second-generation athletes (39:36): Wait, there’s a Jameer Nelson Jr. now?

Afterball (1:02:11): The time Buddy Ryan ran up the score on the Cowboys.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs. They also talk about the departures of coaching legends Nick Saban, Bill Belichick, and Pete Carroll. Finally, Ben Rothenberg joins to discuss his new biography of tennis star Naomi Osaka.

NFL playoffs (3:17): How did the Detroit Lions franchise turn itself around?

Saban, Belichick, and Carroll (26:03): What do these coaching greats have in common and how do they differ from each other?

Osaka (48:09): A deep dive into a modern sports icon.

Afterball (1:14:22): Remembering Chris Laskowski.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices