The NFL regular season is nearly upon us and football-mad America is primed for another season of its favorite sport. But have you ever wondered which country outside the US is second-best at American football? It’s not Canada or the UK. Senior producer Harry Swartout has the surprising answer – which traces all the way back to a big international game in the 70s and includes no small amount of booze-fueled hijinks.

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On this episode of Sports Illustrated Weekly John Gonzalez sits down with SI Staff Writer Emma Baccellieri for an old-fashioned baseball double-header. First, when the benches clear it's not long before the brawl starts, unless you're a reliever and  have to run all the way in from the bullpen. Then, no L.A. Dodgers game is complete without a signature Dodger Dog, but what makes these franks so fantastic...or not?

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Legendary Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith remembers what it was like to make his iconic Sports Illustrated covers and describes how the present-day Cowboys can return to the glory days.

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 In the shadow of Manchester United's legendary Old Trafford stadium, an almost mythic crime boss amassed power against a backdrop of drug trafficking, hooliganism, and rave music. Writer Reid Forgrave tells the story of Paul Massey, the Red Army, a grisly murder, and the one tiny mistake that landed two men in prison for life.

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The 2022 WNBA Playoff season begins with a new (old) format, eight hungry teams, and some incredible women bidding a fond farewell. John Gonzalez is joined by the host of Spinsters and Buckets, Jordan Ligons, to talk predictions, possible upsets, and the unique way some all stars will be living out their retirement.

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World-class hurdler Devon Allen's track season ended with a controversial call at the World Championships in Eugene. Now, the 27-year-old is trying to make a name for himself at Eagles training camp as roster cuts loom. Producer Jess Yarmosky checked in with NBC Sports Philadelphia's Reuben Frank and performance coach Steve Magness about how Allen's prowess on the track may make him indomitable in Philly...or not.

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Everyone sees the broken bones, torn ligaments and bloodied bodies of injured athletes, but many of their deepest scars are mental. A small group of athletes are pioneering the treatment of their mental health issues with psychedelic drugs, but as Julie Kliegman reports it's going to be a while before the sporting community rejects the taboo stigma and embraces psychedelic medicine.

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With the upcoming additions of USC and UCLA, the Big 10 stretches from sea to shining sea, but what does that mean for college football? John Gonzalez is joined by SI Senior Writer Pat Forde to break down if the Big 10's West Coast expansion is good for the fans, the schools, the conference and college football as a whole.

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2022 marked 50 years of Title IX, the landmark legislation that set the stage for gender equality in sports. SI staffers Kristen Nelson, Jamie Lisanti, Emma Baccellieri, and Julie Kliegman reflect on how far we've come, and what barriers are still preventing women in sports from achieving true equality.

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What are the odds of catching a foul ball at a game, or being dealt a Royal flush in poker, or even being struck by lightning? Some things are rarer than others, and on this episode SI Senior Writer Jon Wertheim tells the unlikely tale of how Phillies OF Nick Castellanos became a meme by hitting oddly and hilariously-timed home runs again and again and again.

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