Pass It Down

It’s been awhile since the last Pass It Down episode, and like Lucy Ricardo, Mike and Natalie have some splainin’ to do. It turns out they both have new jobs (kinda/sorta, in Mike’s case), one of them is going Hollywood… and blatant racism–from the mouths of NFL owners, or otherwise–pisses them off as much as ever. Oh, and they believe that a certain fictional British sportswriter should have his testicles placed under the guillotine. Happy Blocktober, everyone.

When ESPN’s Pedro Gomez died of sudden cardiac arrest on Super Sunday, it sent shock waves through the sports world. His close friend, author and journalist Steve Kettmann, was particularly crushed--and he channeled his grief into an ambitious and emotional project. Five months later, Kettmann joins us to discuss ‘Remember Who You Are,’ a book featuring 62 essays about Gomez’s rich and remarkable 58 years on the planet. If you knew Pedro, this book (and episode) will resonate with you deeply; if you didn’t, you’ll get a strong sense of why the esteemed baseball journalist was revered by so many.

In the wake of the Washington Football Team’s announcement that Mike will come aboard as a content contributor and preseason sideline reporter, the WFT’s First Family rolls out the welcome mat--and four proud Cal alums talk Twitter clemency, Ted Lasso, secret flights to the Bahamas on Daniel Snyder’s luxury jet and much, much more. We also discover how Snyder won over Stephanie while wooing Ron as his next head coach and why Daddy’s Little Girls are always clutch, whether they’re carrying a podcast or caring for a cancer-stricken coach.

The Civil Rights icon and esteemed sports sociologist educates Mike (his former UC Berkeley student) and Natalie on some of the most important issues of our time, including climate change, gun control, women’s rights and the racial divide that spawned the Trump presidency. Beginning with a blistering assessment of the NFL’s reliance on “race norming” in a concussion-lawsuit settlement--and his charged conversations with commissioner Roger Goodell--Dr. Edwards speaks truth to power and reminds us why he has been one of the most significant American activists of the last 60 years. He also talks about being a target--from the moment he began organizing the iconic black-glove salute by American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics--and explains why, despite our societal struggles, he’s optimistic about the future.

The Civil Rights icon and esteemed sports sociologist educates Mike (his former UC Berkeley student) and Natalie on some of the most important issues of our time, including climate change, gun control, women’s rights and the racial divide that spawned the Trump presidency. Beginning with a blistering assessment of the NFL’s reliance on “race norming” in a concussion-lawsuit settlement--and his charged conversations with commissioner Roger Goodell--Dr. Edwards speaks truth to power and reminds us why he has been one of the most significant American activists of the last 60 years. He also talks about being a target--from the moment he began organizing the iconic black-glove salute by American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics--and explains why, despite our societal struggles, he’s optimistic about the future.

Three years into his career at the University of Iowa, George Kittle was a hard-partying screwup who barely played on Saturdays. Then Kittle shifted his approach, turned his career around and went on to become one of the best--and most colorful--football players on earth. In our unguarded and slightly unhinged conversation, the San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro tight end covers his pivotal epiphany and much, much more: From feeling an opponent’s soul leave his body, to his impact on the Panda Express menu, to his youthful social-media rants toward NFL players, to whether his head coach’s dog is named after him. We also talk about the 49ers’ eventful offseason, Jimmy G’s looks, Trey Lance’s arm and his post-draft text to Kyle Shanahan.

Whether throwing an elbow to the throat of an opponent on the college soccer pitch or lighting up an NFL PR staff for reneging on a star player’s interview, Dianna Russini has never been a dainty flower. Not surprisingly, the ESPN reporter eschews subtlety in his no-holds-barred conversation, touching on her early obsession with journalism, how her family’s 9/11 scare impacted her career path and why the toughest part of her transition to covering the NFL had more to do with anatomy than aptitude. The Jersey girl also has plenty to say about her close-knit family, from her dad’s velcro shoes to her husband’s “average” qualities to her mom’s dating advice.

In September 1997, a young Sports Illustrated writer got banned from the Oakland Raiders’ training facility by owner Al Davis, then hopped a plane to Kansas City and went on a 72-hour bender with Chiefs star Derrick Thomas. Among Mike’s adventures was attending a memorable (wait for it) house party hosted by the late, great pass rusher the night before he led the Chiefs to a victory over the Raiders, during which they watched Mike Tyson defend his heavyweight title and enjoyed the uproarious commentary provided by another guest: hip-hop star Christopher (Kid) Reid, he of the unmistakable hi-top fade. Part 2 of our expansive conversation covers the early days of Kid N’ Play, their star turn in “House Party” (and the dubious decision that cost them a shot at sitcom success), Kid’s relentless clowning of Martin Lawrence, his defense of close friend Bill Maher after the “Real Time” host dropped an N-bomb and why he thinks Mike and Aaron Rodgers are an iconic NFL duo.

In September 1997, a young Sports Illustrated writer got banned from the Oakland Raiders’ training facility by owner Al Davis, then hopped a plane to Kansas City and went on a 72-hour bender with Chiefs star Derrick Thomas. Among Mike’s adventures was attending a memorable (wait for it) house party hosted by the late, great pass rusher the night before he led the Chiefs to a victory over the Raiders, during which they watched Mike Tyson defend his heavyweight title and enjoyed the uproarious commentary provided by another guest: hip-hop star Christopher (Kid) Reid, he of the iconic and unmistakable hi-top fade. In Part 1 of our expansive conversation, we talk about why Thomas was both the NFL’s pied piper and a very special human, Kid’s unique fashion sense as a young artist (and why he hoped none of his fans would copy it) and his profound belief that friend and fellow rapper Tupac Shakur was invincible.

Fresh off his first significant work trip in 14 months--to Denver, where he covered the Broncos’ draft (and got caught smack-dab in the middle of the Aaron Rodgers drama and the 49ers’ pre-draft hysteria)--Mike has no time for wannabe media flexers, Kyle Shanahan’s secrecy, people who value winning over friendship, perpetually working from home and a whole lot of other things. With Natalie drawing him out on a multitude of topics, including Matt LaFleur’s predicament, the Niners’ attempt to trade for Rodgers before drafting Trey Lance and John Elway’s thoughts on the Rodgers/Packers feud, Mike empties the notebook, unloads the chamber and issues a warning to all those who might be shook by his return to in-person journalism.