The Jacobin Sports Show

Japanese baseballers push for more rights. The National Women's Soccer League implements the most humane CBA in all of sports. Caitlin Clark is the most impactful rookie since?? And Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea . . .

From Imane Khelif's joyful light to Simone Biles' endless exceptionality to Manizha Talash's selfless sacrifice, there are Olympic stories worth celebrating . . . and castigating. Also, Dearica Hamby's calls out the WNBA as unjust -- will its media do the same? Finally, a few days after a gay baseball icon dies, bigotry in Boston.

This episode features all things Kings hoops with Sacramento icon Jrue. How do fans there feel after two turnaround regular seasons without playoff success? What key offseason issues does the team face? How is it that the "small-town" Kings and the big-city Knicks are such perfect spiritual cousins? This was a fun one!

Man City's four-peat and the Knicks in a Game 7 lead to questions about the WNBA's direction. Then Alford Corriette (HerHoopStats) breaks down half the league plus questions about charter flights, the in-season tournament and if the W would welcome a young star pushing for early draft eligibility.

One of sportswriting's brightest minds & clearest communicators, Caitlin Cooper talks transitioning from covering sports for a corporation to starting her own supporter-based site & the challenges and rewards that brings. Then we talk Knicks/Pacers playoffs -- what happens when a team that struggles with switches meets one that hates switching? Which player in the series is like a pebble in your shoe? What philosophy did Tyrese Haliburton wear a T-shirt celebrating that Tom Thibodeau would angrily rip off any of his players? That and more!

How are the Mat Ishbia Suns like the Jonestown cult? Why doesn't Reggie Bush's retro-Heisman matter? Also: NBA playoff talk, Candace Parker leaves the WNBA, Jurgen Klopp nears the end at Liverpool and somber numbers regarding death and boxing.

Matthew on when losing is like fish sauce, the NBA's 3-body problem and how the Atlanta Hawks are Swedenborg's Hell. Kris Pursiainen talks today's sports media landscape as well as NBA play-in/playoff topics.

In this very special episode, part 1 discusses LSU/Iowa's Elite 8 blockbuster, the Minnesota T'Wolves fussin' billionaires, the EPL's 3-horse home stretch and the tsunami of sports gambling red flags. In part 2 Matthew interviews a very special guest and announces the show's new name.

The 99th episode centers on the impacts #99 has had on Matthew over the years.

Chris Herring talks Usher, a little NBA and Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. Sometimes titles are throwaways, but this episode's really did cover it all.