Zach Harper (The Athletic) joins Jason Concepcion as a special guest host to talk through the first round match ups of the NBA Playoffs. Memphis Grizzlies sideline reporter Kelcey Wright Johnson gives Jason and Zach the court side vantage point of Memphis' trash talk laden series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Josh Eberley (NBA.com Canada) joins the guys from north of the border to discuss the Toronto Raptors' series against the Philadelphia 76ers, and whether the ligament damage in Joel Embiid's hand gives Toronto space to dream of returning for the 3-0 abyss.

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For a transcript of this episode, go to crooked.com/takeline

With Jamel Johnson (Air Buds) as special guest, Chris Mannix (Sports Illustrated) joins Jason Concepcion to help unpack a contentious Celtics-Nets first round series and Andy Larsen (The Salt Lake Tribune) returns to talk Jazz-Mavericks, Luka’s calf injury and Donovan Mitchell & Rudy Gobert’s futures in Utah.

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For a transcript of this episode, go to crooked.com/takeline

Jason talks to Robert Mays (The Athletic) about coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton joining Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL. Shalise Manza Young (Yahoo! Sports) discusses access journalism in the wake of Dwayne Haskins' sudden death. And Take Survivor is back, where we settle what the best championship item is, with: Wosny Lambre (The Ringer), C.J. Toledano (Follow Through Media), Dave Schilling (LA Times) and our very own Elijah Cone (Crooked Media).

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For a transcript of this episode, go to crooked.com/takeline

Jason welcomes Lindsey Adler (The Athletic) as a special guest as Mike Petriello (MLB.com) joins the show to unpack decades of change in Major League Baseball & predict where the game is headed. Jesse Washington (Andscape, formerly The Undefeated) comes on to explain why on-field African American representation in baseball continues to decline. 

Subscribe at http://youtube.com/takelineshow for exclusive video clips and to watch ALL CAPS NBA. New episodes every Friday!

For a transcript of this episode, go to crooked.com/takeline

Jason Concepcion and special guest Jamel Johnson (Air Buds, Sorry We Love Football, NBA Storytime) talk to University of Illinois law professor Peter Maggs, who helps explain the legality of Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia. Wall Street Journal sports reporter Joshua Robinson breaks down the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals and why Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich was poisoned during peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. To finish up, Take Survivor makes its triumphant return featuring four first-time competitors!

Subscribe at http://youtube.com/takelineshow for exclusive video clips and to watch ALL CAPS NBA. New episodes every Friday!

For a transcript of this episode, go to crooked.com/takeline

Jason Concepcion breaks down the cringeworthy optics of the Cleveland Browns' acquisition of quarterback Deshaun Watson- while the former Texans signal caller faces a bevy of sexual assault and misconduct allegations- with Andrew Beaton, NFL reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, the controversy that surrounds transgender collegiate swimmer Lia Thomas’ competitive swimming career boiled over after Thomas won the NCAA swimming championship last Thursday. ESPN’s Katie Barnes joins Takeline to discuss what Thomas’ victory means for the future of trans and women’s sports. Boxer Evan Holyfield (8-0, 6 K.O.), son of four-time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield, joins the podcast to discuss his part of the new Discovery+ Series LEGACY: In the Shadow of Greatness, which chronicles the beginning of the young fighter’s professional career.

Subscribe at http://youtube.com/takelineshow for exclusive video clips and to watch ALL CAPS NBA. New episodes every Friday!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/takeline

Andrew Beaton of The Wall Street Journal joins Takeline to discuss Tom Brady’s surprise return from brief retirement and Calvin Ridley’s indefinite suspension after gambling on NFL games. Joshua Robinson of The Wall Street Journal reports on the sale of Chelsea Football Club from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich amid war on Ukraine. But first, USA Today’s Dan Wolken helps us fill out our brackets. 

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/takeline

In Renee’s final episode with Takeline, Kevin Baxter of the LA Times joins the show to talk about how Major League Soccer continues to grow and Hannah Keyser of Yahoo! Sports checks in to give an update on Major League Baseball’s lockout.

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/takeline

Tariq Panja of the New York Times joins Takeline to talk about how war in Ukraine is affecting British football economy, most notably Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich's stake in Chelsea. And Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News helps break down how New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ recent comments on vaccine mandates in the city might affect Kyrie Irving’s availability. 

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/takeline

Jason talks to National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux and Wall Street Journal reporter Stu Woo about Max Parrot, Kamila Valieva, Eileen Gu, Nathan Chen and how the Winter Olympics become a stage for global politics.

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For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.