On the Bleachers

We’re back! A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss what happened while the show was on break, NFL storylines shaping up this season, Shohei Ohtani making history, and how thirsting after people doesn’t have to be demeaning.

Links:

Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff 

Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris (Instagram)

JD Vance went viral for ‘cat lady’ comments. The centuries-old trope has a long tail (NPR)

Maggie Haberman On Trump's Turbulent 2024 Campaign (Fresh Air)

Trump Promotes A.I. Images to Falsely Suggest Taylor Swift Endorsed Him (NYT)

Every Game Day Outfit Taylor Swift Has Worn to Cheer on Travis Kelce (People)

What’s Going On With Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce After She Skipped Games? ‘Nothing Has Changed’ (Exclusive) (Us Weekly) 

NFL analyst criticizes Chiefs TE Travis Kelce: ‘He’s been partying all offseason’ (ChiefsWire)

The WNBA players' unprecedented stand against 'biased' reporting (Out of Your League - Substack) 

MLB reverting to old uniforms after player complaints, will also use hometown jerseys for All-Star Game

Hottest Dodger bracket (Linktree)

We’re just here to find love. A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss a non-toxic NFL conspiracy, Joe Burrow’s glow-down, Olympics are here!!!, the pop music presidential campaign, athletes and private equity, and we talk about gender, sports, and equity with cultural analyst and author Frankie de la Cretaz.

Links:

Bengals QB Joe Burrow explains viral bleach-blond buzzcut: 'I got bored' (NFL.com)

Why Olympic surfing events are in Tahiti, thousands of miles from Paris (NPR)

The High Stakes of Broadcasting the Olympics (The Town)

Ilona Maher (TikTok)

Faster-Higher-Stronger ’Splainer: The Ringer’s Guide to the 2024 Paris Olympics (The Ringer) 

The Olympic Myth (w Jules Boykoff) (Sports Politika)

Taylor Swift - It’s Time To Go x Better Man live at Gelsenkirchen 19/7/24 (YouTube)

Major news story? Let’s tune in to Nick Castellanos’ next at-bat (The Athletic)

From the Playing Field to Wall Street (NY Times)

The Proud, Fashionable WAGs of Women’s Sports (Vogue)

How stylists are helping WNBA players elevate their drip (Andscape)

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)

Being Nikki Hiltz (Runners’ World)

Living Nonbinary in a Binary Sports World (Sports Illustrated)

Tested podcast

The Other Olympians (Macmillan) 

Postcard from Camp Gaylore (Cosmopolitan)

The PR ‘Mastermind’ Behind Taylor Swift’s World Dominance (The Daily Beast)

Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League (Hachette)

Sports makes us cry. A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss an arguable new sports “power couple,” elder millennial excellence, the Home Run Derby, stats about female sports fans, and a conversation with Rams beat reporter, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue.

Links:

Liam Payne is back! with Nick Grimshaw on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show (YouTube)

Andy Reid, Trey Smith, Mecole Hardman among Chiefs to join cast of Hallmark movie (NFL.com)

MLB’s Newest Power Couple: Skenes, Dunne Make Waves Beyond Diamond (Front Office Sports)

Livvy Dunne (TikTok)

How Paul Skenes' splinker helped propel him to instant MLB dominance (Yahoo! Sports)

2024 Home Run Derby Full Highlights (YouTube)

Ingrid Andress announces she’s going to rehab (Twitter)

You’re Probably Getting Screwed (Substack)

Iowa State Lawmaker Makes His Pitch in a Pinch (Sports Illustrated)

If You Call Him, He Will Pitch (Effectively Wild)

One of the Hottest Celebrity Wait Lists Is a Golf Tournament (Front Office Sports)

Sports Audio Report: Female Fans (Edison Research Group)

‘Finding Rams’: One year behind the scenes of the NFL Draft scouting process, Part I (The Athletic) 

The Playcallers (The Athletic)

Let’s Ram It (YouTube)

We heed the call  . A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss the Drake curse, national anthem stand-offs, whose idea it was for Travis to go onstage at Eras, Hallmark movies cash in on Traylor, Hard Knocks, feeding Olympians, and fabulous celebrity doctors. 

Links:

Christian McCaffrey Defends Olivia Culpo's Wedding Dress from Stylist's Harsh Critique: 'What an Evil Thing to Post' (People)

Copa América: Argentina hit back after Drake loses $300K bet (ESPN)

Reds & Yankees have a minute-long post-anthem standoff 😅 | ESPN MLB (YouTube)

Baseball Bar-B-Cast (Apple Podcasts)

A national anthem standoff! Mariners' Robbie Ray and Royals' Luke Weaver have lighthearted showdown (YouTube)

MIL@LAD: Kershaw holds six baseballs in one hand (YouTube)

Jason Gets Heckled, Travis Golfs with The Great One and the Kelces London Era | Ep 96 (YouTube)

How Harry Styles Became the World’s Most Wanted Man (Rolling Stone)

Fore Play (Apple Podcasts)

Hallmark teams up with the NFL and Kansas City Chiefs to release a holiday romance (NPR)

Falling for Football (YouTube)

NFL’s Calendar Takeover Continues With Expanded ‘Hard Knocks’ Series (Front Office Sports)

Aaron Rodgers' Egypt trip, explained: Why Jets QB skipped team's mandatory minicamp for vacation (The Sporting News)

Flavor Flav agrees to be U.S. women's water polo team hype man (ESPN)

Maggie Steffen’s Instagram post (Instagram)

The Doctor Tom Brady and Leonardo DiCaprio Call When They Get Hurt (The New Yorker)

Everybody’s Getting Off the Scooter (New York Magazine)

We’re hard launching this show now. A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss the Stanley Cup’s adventures, the NBA draft, Joe Burrow bares his back, the NFL owes the Mucky Duck, and DUH the London shows (!!!). We also chat with pro basketball reporter Katie Heindl!

Links:

Reggie Jackson talks about returning to Rickwood field (Twitter)

Florida Panthers party hardy at Elbo Room in Fort Lauderdale after winning Stanley Cup (YouTube)

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk jumps into ocean with Stanley Cup (YouTube)

22 Things You Might Not Know About the Stanley Cup (MentalFloss)

@KeeperoftheCup (TikTok)

Everywhere the Panthers have been with the Stanley Cup since their championship win (NBC6 South Florida)

The Craziest Places the Stanley Cup Has Visited (CBS News)

How Mexican-Themed Bar La Cita Bridges L.A.'s Diverse Communities (PBS)

Tom’s One Hour Photo and Lab (Instagram)

Buck Showalter shares scouting wisdom: No full beards or pancake rears (Awful Announcing)

Zaccharie Risacher (Instagram)

Matas Buzelis survived his NBA audition. Now he’s ready for the show (SBNation)

Black Woman Says JJ Redick Called Her The N-Word During His Time At Duke; New Lakers Coach Denies Claims (Yahoo! Sports)

Fans in China use 'polite booing' for Sixers' JJ Redick (ESPN)

KENDRICK LAMAR UNITES CRIPS & BLOODS ON STAGE IN L.A.: 'THIS IS UNITY AT ITS FINEST' (Hip Hop DX)

Joe Burrow’s back (TikTok)

NFL ordered to pay over $4 billion in Sunday Ticket lawsuit: Reports (The Athletic)

The royal families (Instagram)

Travis on stage at Eras (TikTok)

Travis Kelce Talks Dating Taylor Swift + Winning Back To Back Super Bowls (YouTube)

Basketball Feelings (Substack)

Scoop Dreams (New York Magazine)

Bad Gays: Violette Morris (Apple Podcasts)

Caitlin Clark’s New Reality (The New Yorker)

The Spy Who Signed Me (30 For 30)

Diana Taurasi Kisses Seimone Augustus (YouTube)

We’re always saying the quiet part loud. A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss the Drake curse, the Stanley Cup finals, the Grimace Mets, Jell-O rally shots, JJ Redick, Bill Belichick, an Around the NFL status update, Olympics + billionaires, the pending End of Eras, and a sneak peek at this week’s Patreon episode featuring Sophie Brookover.

Links:

Willie Mays Was the Greatest Baseball Player Who Ever Lived (The Ringer)

Willie Mays is a monument to an era of Black baseball gone but never forgotten (The Athletic)

Drake on Brink of $1M Bitcoin Loss as NHL and NBA Bets Sour (CoinDesk)

What’s the deal with the Grimace Shake? (Reddit)

WFAN’s Sal Licata rips Grimace for stealing Mets’ spotlight: ‘Fat, purple a**’ (Awful Announcing) 

The story behind the most famous Jell-O shots in America (Yahoo! Sports)

How Kentucky's 'Get Weird' mentality got the Wildcats to the MCWS (ESPN)

Bill Belichick Dating a 23-Year Old Cheerleader (TMZ)

Sources: Lakers hiring JJ Redick to four-year deal to coach team (ESPN)

Roger Goodell Rips ‘Below Standard’ NFL Network Broadcasts in Trial Testimony (Front Office Sports)

NFL Declined ESPN Offer to Drastically Reduce Sunday Ticket Price (Front Office Sports)

The World’s Richest Family Is About to Remake the Olympics. Here’s How (GQ)

We want to talk to people in bars about lots of things. A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss the important sports stories we haven’t talked about at all, women’s basketball in the Olympics, competitive eating, what the Taylor v Billie says about the difference between pop and sports fandom… and an ongoing NFL podcast mystery.

Links:

Kyrie Irving explains why he burned sage around TD Garden court prior to Nets preseason game against Celtics (CBS Sports)

What Was Kyrie Irving Thinking? (New York Magazine)

Connor McDavid shows off ultra-modern mansion, immediately gets heckled (New York Post)

McDavid’s House is the Death Star (Reddit)

The ugly, gory, bloody secret life of NHL dentists (ESPN)

The $21 Billion Lawsuit That Could Break the NFL (Wall Street Journal)

Whatever You Think of Caitlin Clark Snub, NBC Sports Cannot Be Happy (Front Office Sports)

Dave Portnoy slams ‘unreal dumb’ Caitlin Clark 2024 Olympics snub that stunned sports world (New York Post)

Nathan’s Famous Splits From Joey Chestnut Over Vegan Hot Dog Beef (Eater)

Jamie Loftus on Joey Chestnut (TikTok

Competitive eating legend Takeru Kobayashi retires, says he no longer feels hungry (The New York Post)

Chestnut vs. Kobayashi announcement (Twitter)

Designing Niche Social Media-Driven Sports (Front Office Sports)

Mailbag for June 7, 2024 (The Squawk)

Get your vents checked everyone! (Twitter)

The Around the NFL subreddit (Reddit)

We’re releasing three different vinyl versions of this episode. A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss Simone Biles, Matt and Ben OTP, Travis at the White House and Taylor in TikTok comments, the battle for Billboard dominance and the shitstorm around Catilin Clark, plus a conversation with Slate’s Scaachi Koul. 

Links:

Simone Biles’ floor routine (YouTube)

Chiles channels Beyoncé and Pucci. Biles evokes Chanel. In gymnastics, leotards bridge fashion and sport (The Athletic)

Which Could Mean Nothing (The Squawk / Substack)

MLB bans Padres’ Tucupita Marcano permanently for betting on baseball (The Athletic)

Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, pleads guilty (ESPN)

Travis Kelce spotted at birthday party for Taylor Swift’s BFF Jack Antonoff (Page Six)

Secret Service Says Warning to Travis Kelce That They Would 'Tase' Him Was Just 'Friendly Banter' (Exclusive) (People)

Jason Sudeikis Asks Travis Kelce When He's 'Going to Make an Honest Woman' of Taylor Swift During Big Slick Skit (People)

Taylor Swift Defends Lady Gaga Against 'Invasive' Pregnancy Rumors: She 'Doesn't Owe Anyone an Explanation'  (People)

Bills sign Olympic gold medalist wrestler Gable Steveson (The Athletic)

GABLE STEVESON CLEARS THE AIR AFTER PAST ASSAULT ALLEGATION RESURFACES (Ringside News)

Louis Rees-Zammit Takes Another Step Toward Becoming Chiefs' Best Special Teamer (KC Kingdom)

Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift Race for No. 1 (The New York Times)

Sky's Angel Reese thanks Alyssa Thomas for 'sending a message' after veteran was ejected for flagrant foul (CBS Sports)

Caitlin Clark blasts Chennedy Carter’s blatant shove on hard foul: ‘Not a basketball play’ (Page Six)

Angel Reese deserves better: Sky rookie's Caitlin Clark comment went viral for all the wrong reasons (The Sporting News)

Caitlin Clark's boyfriend and brother like tweets SLAMMING Angel Reese as WNBA beef escalates in the wake of brutal bodycheck (The Daily Mail)

Column: The latest WNBA discourse is downright messy — and it’s not about basketball (The Chicago Tribune)

The One Downside of Gender Equality in Sports (The Atlantic)

ESPN host Pat McAfee apologizes for calling Caitlin Clark ‘White b*tch’ (CNN)

Chicago Sky players harassed outside team hotel: ‘Couldn’t even step off the bus’ (The Athletic)

Scaachi Koul (Slate)

One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter (Bookshop.org)

Sucker Punch (Macmillan)

In the Belly of the Barbz (Vulture)

Drake Curse and History Complete Timeline (FanDuel)

How Did Lauren Duca’s Revolution Backfire? (BuzzFeed)

Don’t Piss Off Trisha Paytas (BuzzFeed)

We're on a bye this week, so we opened up the Patreon vault and let everyone hear Professor Stephanie Burt on The Bolter! 

We find it hard not to be romantic about baseball… and the WNBA and so many sports, really. A podcast about where pop culture and sports culture collide… inspired by the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss WAG swag, our new favorite WNBA players, update on the NCAA paying athletes, and a conversation with The Atlantic’s Kaitlyn Tiffany about the shift from obsessing about boy bands to obsessing about baseball. 

Links:

Meryl Streep (Instagram)

NHL stars' significant others continue custom jacket playoff tradition (ESPN)

Lexi LaFleur Brown (TikTok)

The NFL scheduled around Taylor Swift (Twitter)

How Big is Taylor Swift? (NY Times)

Is “Love Is Blind” a Toxic Workplace? (The New Yorker)

California Love (SLAM Magazine)

WNBA Stars in the Skims Spotlight (The New York Times)

DiJonai Carrington (Instagram)

A normal way to help someone up off the court (Twitter)

LSU star Angel Reese’s world of double-doubles, trash-talking, winning and stardom (The Athletic)

LSU's Angel Reese rejects Jill Biden's White House invite explanation: 'I don't accept that' (USA Today)

Angel Reese is Taking Her Talents to the WNBA (Vogue)

Sky rookie Angel Reese named newest owner of DC Power Football Club (The Athletic)

From Revenue Sharing to Private Equity: Breaking Down the NCAA’s Historic Week (Front Office Sports)

NCAA, Power Five Conferences Approve Settlement to Allow for Revenue Sharing (Front Office Sports)

‘A Breathtaking Lobbying Campaign’: The NCAA’s Sophisticated Effort to Save Amateurism (Front Office Sports)

Everything I Need I Get From You: How Fangirls Created the Internet As We Know It (Bookshop.org)

A Bloop and a Blast (Bookforum)

Gentle Sports Touches (Twitter)

Sean Murphy (not Mark Canha) gets hit by a pitch on the butt (TikTok)

Why the Internet Hates Amber Heard (The Atlantic)

Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend: Women Writers on Baseball (ThriftBooks)