The Lead

Roman Abramovich endeared himself to Chelsea fans almost immediately when he purchased the club back in 2003. He quickly spent more money than any Premier League club owner in history, and the results on the field followed: league titles, Champions League victories, and many more trophies. But now, in the wake of Russia's war against Ukraine, questions and concerns about Abramovich, his past, and his ties to Vladimir Putin have resurfaced, and the Russian billionaire announced last week that he will be selling the team. The Athletic's Matt Slater joins us to explain what we know (and don't know) about Abramovich's ties to the Kremlin, what the sale of Chelsea means for the future of the club, and if all of this will lead to a day reckoning for the Premier League and the question of who should be allowed to buy a team.

More from Matt Slater:

https://theathletic.com/author/matt-slater/

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NFL Free Agency is just around the corner, but the quarterback rumor mill is already in full flow. Today, The Athletic’s Mike Sando joins us to talk about the latest signal caller scuttlebutt from the combine and to tell us which team should feel the most angst about their quarterback situation headed into the 2022 season. Plus, the story of a retired NFL veteran who went from dishing out hits on the gridiron to dishing up food for kids.

Read all of Mike Sando’s NFL coverage: https://theathletic.com/author/mike-sando/ 

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This week, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced that for the first time since 1994, the league is canceling games due to a work stoppage. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Groke — who covers the Colorado Rockies — to look at why that team’s owner, Dick Monfort, has emerged as a key figure in the failed negotiations. And, with both sides currently at an impasse, exactly how long could this lockout last?

Follow Nick Groke’s coverage of the Rockies, and the MLB lockout: https://theathletic.com/author/nick-groke/?source=theleadpodcast

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There’s another superstar emerging for the USWNT — Catarina Macario. The excitement around the 22-year-old is at a fevered pitch after she scored two incredible goals against Iceland to help the Americans seal their third straight SheBelieves Cup. Today, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins us to talk about how the Brazilian-born forward came in to the national team setup and just how high her ceiling really is. Later, Meg tells us about the latest developments in the USWNT’s fight for equal pay.

Read Meg Linehan’s coverage of the USWNT and all things women’s soccer: https://theathletic.com/author/meg-linehan/ 

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In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, international sports organizations have issued unprecedented penalties against Russia, including a ban on playing in international soccer games. Today, reporter Tariq Panja joins us to explain how and why these dramatic actions were taken, and why FIFA took so long to make its decision. Plus, the inside story of a group of professional soccer players who were trapped in a Ukrainian hotel, and an American basketball player’s harrowing escape from Ukraine just days before her host city fell under Russian control.

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No NBA team has experienced more ups and downs this season than the Brooklyn Nets. The one-time favorites have gone from first place in the East to eighth, and have seen plenty of drama -- on and off the court -- along the way. Now, after a signature win over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, followed by a spectacular defeat by the Toronto Raptors on Monday, plenty of concerns remain around the squad. The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer joins us to break down the three biggest questions facing the Nets' three biggest stars -- but why there's also reason for optimism.

Follow Alex Schiffer’s coverage of the Nets: https://theathletic.com/author/alex-schiffer/?source=theleadpodcast

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The tallest man to ever play in the NHL, Zdeno Chara, set a record on Thursday by playing in his 1,652nd game -- the most ever by an NHL defenseman. And while the 6-foot-9-inch Slovakian has been a household name to hockey fans for nearly three decades now, his path to greatness was certainly not written in stone. Today, The Athletic's Kevin Kurz joins us to explain how Chara -- who turns 45 years old next month! -- went from lanky, mystery prospect to hockey legend through a combination of drive, perseverance, and, that's right, pull-ups.

Read Kevin Kurz's story about Zdeno Chara's path to the NHL:

https://theathletic.com/3142293/2022/02/23/zdeno-charas-path-from-islanders-mystery-prospect-to-the-nhl-record-books-he-made-himself-a-player

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Chet Holmgren is one of the most unique basketball players you will ever see. The Gonzaga freshman stands 7’1" but weighs just 195 pounds, he has the height of a big man but can play on the perimeter like a guard, and in spite of his slight frame he’s a defensive menace in the paint. Today, The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil joins us to talk about Holmgren’s journey from playing AAU with Jalen Suggs to following in his footsteps with the Zags and if this "unicorn" can become the first number one overall pick in Bulldogs history.

Read Dana O’Neil’s story about Chet Holmgren: https://theathletic.com/2922184/2021/11/03/hes-not-soft-gonzagas-prize-recruit-chet-holmgren-is-7-foot-1-195-pounds-and-backs-down-from-no-one/ 

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Last week in a courtroom in Fort Worth, Texas, a jury found Eric Kay, the former Los Angeles Angels communications director, guilty of distributing counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that led to the death of Tyler Skaggs in 2019. Today, The Athletic's Sam Blum tells us some of the key points that were argued in the trial, what we learned in explosive testimony from some of Skaggs’s former teammates, and what all of this could say about the impact of the opioid epidemic on Major League Baseball.

Follow Sam Blum’s coverage of the Eric Kay trial, and the Angels: https://theathletic.com/author/sam-blum/?source=theleadpodcast

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Lusia Harris is one of the best basketball players to ever live: a 3-time collegiate national champion, an Olympics silver medalist, and the only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team. But, chances are, you've never heard of her. A documentary about Harris's life drew upon mountains of previously unseen footage, and was recently nominated for an Academy Award. Today, the director of that film, Ben Proudfoot, joins us to discuss Harris's incredible journey from the Mississippi Delta to the pinnacle of basketball, and why her story has largely been lost to history.

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