We re-welcome Katie Herzog of Blocked and Reported, the hilarious podcast that explains Internet meltdowns while weaving them into a spellbinding narrative. I asked Katie on because a) She’s a great guest, but also b) BAR-worthy topics of controversy are knocking into the sports world.  Specifically, baseball’s awkward embrace of Pride celebrations and the broader societal conversation about trans in sports are both current hot topics. So we get into those and a lot more.  This podcast discussion includes but is not limited to… * We talk about my dumb controversy vs. the Cavinders * The trans sports issue is popping up a lot. Is it a Waterloo for one political side?  * Are there influential people who really don’t know that males have a sports advantage?  * Pride Nights in baseball and player resistance  * “Acceptance isn’t enough” * The Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence * Who’s offended by nipples at the White House? 

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HoS: Katie Herzog Returns

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We are joined by Mike Pesca, host of The Gist, and (much to his great shame), House of Strauss super fan. On today’s pod we unpack the various overlapping dramas surrounding Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s commencement speech. The NFL has disavowed Butker’s words. But has “the NFL” really disavowed his words? Topics include but aren’t limited to… * Mike and I like a good hypocrite * Is there any throughline to the social justice causes (Why is Greta Thunberg now protesting an Israeli singer’s inclusion on Eurovision?) * The Harrison Butker media freakout * Can fervently followed religion co-exist with the secular ideology of institutions? * The modern issue with telling women to “be a homemaker” * Bill Simmons succeeds because he still has takes (and others don’t) * A take or two on Glenn Greenwald * Mike questions me on my NBA takes over the years

HoS: Mike Pesca

Grant Cohn is a) The originator of the now multimillion dollar media ecosystem known as “49ers Youtube” b) Most prolific critic of 49er coach Kyle Shanahan and, now, c) In a beef with Athletic reporter David Lombardi.  We start with that last part, because it’s an intriguing entry point. Why are Cohn and Lombardi openly fighting? Does Grant represent the gate crashing threat of New Media? Or is Lombardi heading him off at the pass by taking team-friendly coverage to Grant’s Youtube territory?  We get into all of this, plus discuss hurting athlete’s feelings, Kevin Durant’s personality type, my least favorite 2024 Niner draft pick, and, who else? Brock Purdy. Enjoy! House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.  

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HoS: Grant Cohn vs. The Media

Ben Kaplan and Danny Parkins are best friends and co-creators of this particular passion project. It turns out that the ranks of NBA decision makers and coaches are replete with guys who cut their teeth in obscure Division 3 college programs. The sheer amount of influence out of D3 is pretty incredible, as the book chronicles and conveys. So why has this happened? How come the lowest level of college competition is fueling the highest level of decision making in pro competition?  We get into that, plus question big shot Chicago radio host Danny about Caleb Williams… House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.   

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HoS: Danny Parkins & Ben Kaplan

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Ryan, our nation’s preeminent sports media critic, is here to discuss reports that NBC wishes to offer the NBA a tremendous amount of money. What does this mean, other than that Adam Silver is our lord and savior?  Topics… * Can Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT) possibly come up with a competing offer? * What’s with WBD CEO David Zaslav sitting at Knicks-Sixers with Goldman Sachs tycoon Lloyd Blankfein? * Do Barkley and the other TNT guys join NBC in this scenario?  * Irony of WBD needing the NBA most, but being most likely to be forced out * Oddness of young Thunder players doing that “What a pro wants” ad * Which TNT halftime guy is least essential? * NBA playoff ratings are all over the map. New Nielsen system or something else? * That traditional space at end of pod where we talk Israel/Gaza campus protests  * Are these protests being received by the public in a totally different way had Elon not bought Twitter?

HoS: Ryan Glasspiegel on NBA TV Deal

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Ace New York politics reporter, all around culture writer and crazed baseball fan Ross Barkan objected to my “Is Baseball Dying?” article. Naturally I had him here to say his piece and boy did we hit on a range of other topics.  * Contra conventional wisdom, is baseball more international than basketball?  * Why might baseball survive the future?  * Pete Rose was insanely famous in the 1970s, and we’ve forgotten * Is household name sports celebrity over, post LeBron James and Steph Curry? * Is Patrick Mahomes anywhere near as famous as prime Tom Brady was?  * Taylor Swift and parasocial fandom * Will Swift exist outside her time?  * Travis Kelce’s obvious bid for fame * Tucker Carlson vs. Bari Weiss on Israel * Campus fight over Israel 

HoS: Katie Herzog Returns

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