The Lead

On today's Starting Five (the new podcast we're developing at The Lead), we run down five of today's biggest sports stories, including: what comes next for the Brooklyn Nets, why Georgia's Travon Walker is suddenly the odds-on pick to go #1 in the NFL Draft, a high school basketball player who is going pro but not taking a paycheck, and more.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we're giving listeners a sneak peek of the new spin-off podcast we've been developing: 'The Lead: Starting Five.' We break down five of the biggest sports stories of the day, in 10 minutes. On today's episode, we preview the Nets' do-or-die game against the Celtics, explain why beers and insults were flying in Yankee Stadium over the weekend, look at why fans of French club PSG walked out on their team...while they were winning a championship, and more. We'll be running episodes of The Lead: Starting Five here on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for the next few weeks.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the NFL Draft gets underway next Thursday, one of the most intriguing prospects to hear his name called will be Malik Willis, the cannon-armed — and very fast — quarterback out of Liberty University. Today, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tells us how Willis went from unheralded high school passer in Atlanta, to third-string QB at Auburn, to now potentially the first quarterback off the board in the 2022 Draft. Jeff also explains why, despite all of Willis’s upside, there are still questions about what his future looks like in the NFL.

Read Jeff Howe’s full story about Malik Willis: https://theathletic.com/2933235/2021/11/04/how-malik-willis-of-liberty-became-one-of-the-hottest-qb-prospects-for-the-nfl-draft/?source=theleadpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in the day, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, a defensive tackle on the 1985 Chicago Bears, was known for his bone-crunching hits and colorful off-the-field endeavors -- including rattlesnake hunting and professional wrestling. But now, at age 64, the former Super Bowl champ is in a very different kind of fight. The Athletic's Dan Pompei recently spent time with McMichael and those closest to him at his house in suburban Chicago, and he joins us today to discuss McMichael's illustrious career, his devastating diagnosis of ALS, and how he's now reflecting on -- and finding new meaning in -- his life.

Read Dan Pompei's full story on Steve McMichael:

https://theathletic.com/3174997/2022/03/31/i-pushed-myself-to-the-limit-bears-great-steve-mcmichael-as-tough-as-they-come-on-the-field-is-in-the-fight-of-his-life/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NBA Playoffs get underway on Saturday, and there are intriguing storylines in every direction, from Giannis Antetokounmpo trying to lead the Bucks to a repeat, to star players — including Steph Curry and Luka Doncic — racing the clock to return from injuries. Today, The Athletic’s Zach Harper helps us break down the key subplots in every first-round matchup, and makes his picks to reach — and win — the NBA Finals.

Follow Zach Harper’s coverage of the NBA: https://theathletic.com/author/zach-harper/?source=theleadpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Baseball season is just a week old, but we’ve already been hearing a lot about a new technology that allows MLB pitchers and catchers to communicate with the push of a button, and thereby prevent sign-stealing -- PitchCom. And it turns out, the seemingly magical technology was, in fact, invented by two magicians. Today, The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan introduces us to those two magicians, describes how their gizmo works (without giving away all of its secrets), and explains why these two, of all people, are the ones who seem to have solved one of baseball’s oldest problems.

Read Zach Buchanan's full story about PitchCom:

https://theathletic.com/2951011/2021/11/18/its-magic-right-meet-pitchcom-the-device-created-by-two-magicians-to-solve-baseballs-sign-stealing-problem/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have some exciting news to share! We are in the process of developing a new spin-off podcast, and as part of that process, we're shifting The Lead to two days per week instead of five, beginning this week. We'll now be publishing new episodes of The Lead on Wednesdays and Fridays. It'll still be the same show, but with a different publishing schedule. And stay tuned for more updates on the new spin-off!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last summer, the world watched in shock and disbelief as Danish soccer star Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a Euro 2020 game, broadcast on live television. Doctors rushed onto the field and resuscitated him from what was later identified as cardiac arrest. Now, ten months later, Christian Eriksen is back on the field -- and looking better than ever. The Athletic's Jay Harris, who covers Eriksen and his club team, Brentford, joins us today to explain how the Danish star has somehow managed to pick up where he left off, why he chose tiny Brentford of all places to make his return, and why, after such a traumatic experience, he’s playing the game at all.

More from Jay Harris:

https://theathletic.com/author/jay-harris/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After all the chaos of the lockout, and the sprint through an abbreviated spring training, Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is here. To get ready for the season, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris, who breaks down five bold predictions for 2022, including his expectations for the always-overachieving Tampa Bay Rays, and the wildly intriguing — but often injured — Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. Also on this episode: an almost 40-year-old with 40-plus homers in sight, and Eno's picks to win the American League, National League, and World Series.

Read Eno Sarris’s bold predictions for 2022: https://theathletic.com/3187448/2022/03/25/sarris-ten-bold-predictions-for-a-wacky-mlb-season/?source=theleadpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After enduring a tough start to the season, the Dallas Mavericks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last 3 months. Luka Doncic is back to his MVP-level form and with the help of some key additions at the trade deadline the Slovenian star is hoping to reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time in his career. Today, The Athletic’s Tim Cato joins us to talk about how Doncic rebounded from his own early season struggles and just how far this Mavericks team could go in the postseason.

Follow all of Tim Cato’s Dallas Mavericks coverage: https://theathletic.com/author/tim-cato/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.