Matthew does a solo dive into how FIFA's defense of the Qatar World Cup resembles 1930s Argentinian defenses of Hitler & Mussolini, why the biggest threat to MLB's cabal of owners is the richester one of them all, the reason rooting for the Knicks is like supporting socialism, the NHL's sadly predictable behavior in the Mitchell Miller scandal and the Brittany Griner injustice going from bad to worse.

Are socialists less selfish playing basketball than others? Which early NBA surprise teams are most likely to continue surprising? Why are Matthew & Jonah rooting for different sides in the World Series? Plus sympathy for Tom & Gisele and a challenge to Ye.

The wonderful New Yorker writer Louisa Thomas joins the show as we consider the significance of the interest & lack of more in Aaron Judge's home run chase, bask in the sunny decency of the majestic Roger Federer, consider the legacy of Venus Williams in light of Serena's career, and sympathy for the devil, i.e. Tom Brady. 

Howard Beck (Sports Illustrated; The Crossover pod) joins us as we consider the evolving Ime Udoka story, how Robert Sarver's conclusion in Phoenix could have impacted Boston's with Udoka, why would the Cs issue such a strict punishment but not fire him, morality clauses for owners, how the Brooklyn Nets are a footnote unto a footnote unto a footnote, and which will New York City see first: a good Knicks point guard or a good mayor?

The NBA slaps Suns' owner Robert Sarver on the wrist after decades of racist/sexist/bullying behavior. Hockey Canada somehow finds a way to embarrass itself even beyond paying hush money to victims of rape. And listener emails wanna know what we make of the Toronto Raptors organization plus how much money can someone have before inevitably becoming a rich asshole.

Matthew & Jonah consider the overreaction to the Queen's death in both sports and the world at-large. That plus feelings re: MLB's new rule changes, the MLBPA joins the AFL-CIO and it's hard to see why that even matters, our admittedly premature NBA feels as far as title contenders, and a reminder that Margaret Court is basically Marge Schott with a forehand. 

Matthew praises the now-retired Serena Williams as the greatest athlete they've ever seen. We then move on to less admirable characters, including Gilbert Arenas & the bizarre slander directed Giannis Antetokounmpo's way, the callous look of the Buffalo Bills in light of the Matt Araiza rape charges, Barcelona soccer modeling how different the world of debt is for the rich than the rest of us, and BYU's demonstrated lack of perspective or empathy after racial slurs and threats of violence against a visiting volleyball player.

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We share our feelings after the deaths of two sports icons. We lament the continuing grotesquerie that is Pete Rose. Are the Arizona Cardinals racist for telling Kyler Murray he needs to study more? Plus the EPL season gets underway, the marvel that is Sabrina Ionescu and more, including Jonah singing the Hartford Whalers song.

Why are the Knicks the only team in sports that bans the press from press conferences? How realistic are the Donovan Mitchell trade rumors? How is Russell Westbrook becoming like Jason Voorhees? Plus beating the dead horse that is MLB's All-Star Game and Matthew & Jonah discuss whether it's fair to bodyshame Elon Musk.

Matthew talks with Jonathan Macri of Knicks Film School fame about life as a working sportswriter. What led Jonathan to trade practicing law for pontificating about basketball? How do the professional demands of the job create incursions into one's personal life? How are the biggest positives & negatives he's encountered in the business one and the same? The last few minutes we talk about the strange behavior of late by the L.A. Lakers and a bit more NBA.