The Lead

In today's Champion's League semifinal match between Paris St. Germain and Manchester City, one player in particular will be heavily scrutinized and critiqued -- PSG's Brazilian superstar, Neymar. For years, he has dazzled the soccer world with his incredible skills, and simultaneously enraged many fans and opponents with his over-the-top antics. The Athletic's Jack Lang, who has written extensively about Brazilian soccer, joins us today to talk about how Neymar became one of the most polarizing players in history, what's at stake for him in today's highly anticipated match, and why much of the hatred directed toward Neymar -- particularly from British soccer fans -- is misguided.

Read Jack Lang's story about why you might want to rethink the way you feel about Neymar:

https://theathletic.com/2518636/2021/04/14/seriously-what-is-it-that-makes-you-hate-neymar/

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The 2021 NFL Draft is officially behind us, and over the course of three days in Cleveland, we saw the expected (Trevor Lawrence to the Jags), the unexpected (the Bears trading up to get Justin Fields) and the confusing (the Raiders). Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia, who hands out his letter grades for some of the best, worst and strangest moves from the 2021 NFL Draft — and to offer his perspective on the ongoing Aaron Rodgers-Packers saga. 

Follow Sheil Kapadia’s coverage of the NFL: https://theathletic.com/author/sheil-kapadia/?source=theleadpodcast

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The 2021 NFL Draft started out as everyone expected, with Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson going first and second overall to the Jaguars and Jets. From there, things got interesting. Today, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue joins us to break down the biggest and most surprising moments of the night, including the 49ers choosing Trey Lance, the Bears’ bold trade up for Justin Fields, the Bengals reuniting Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, and the Patriots landing Alabama QB Mac Jones.

Follow Jourdan Rodrigue’s coverage of the Rams: https://theathletic.com/author/jourdan-rodrigue/?source=theleadpodcast 

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The NFL Draft always brings intense speculation, insight and analysis. But it also brings some of the most emotional moments in sports -- moments when players and their families realize a lifelong dream and see their futures transformed in a single moment. Today, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner brings us the story of Western Michigan wide receiver D'Wayne Eskridge, a converted track star who has followed an unlikely path from a small town in Mississippi to the NFL Draft, and the remarkable sacrifices and support his family found along the way.

Read Nick Baumgardner's story:

https://theathletic.com/2529614/2021/04/23/dwayne-eskridges-nfl-draft-dream-became-reality-thanks-to-his-village-i-dont-do-anything-alone/

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Just three years ago, the Carolina Hurricanes were in the midst of a decade-long NHL playoff drought. Today, they have the best record in the league and have already clinched a playoff berth. Along the way, the team captured the hearts and minds (and in some cases, the ire) of the hockey world with their elaborate 'Storm Surge' celebrations. Sara Civian, who covers the 'Canes for The Athletic, joins us today to explain how those celebrations, along with new leadership and a whole lot of resilience, have transformed the Hurricanes into a true Stanley Cup contender.

More from Sara Civian: https://theathletic.com/author/sara-civian/

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Stephen Curry put up historic numbers in April and almost single-handedly dragged this Warriors team into playoff contention. The two-time MVP has made a strong case for a third trophy, and silenced many of his critics in the process. Today, The Athletic's Zach Harper joins us to talk about Curry's incredible performances over the past few weeks and to break down the rest of the NBA's Western Conference playoff picture.

Read all of Zach Harper's NBA coverage here: https://theathletic.com/author/zach-harper/

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Much of the debate around this year’s NFL draft, which kicks off on Thursday, has been about the talented group of quarterbacks at the top of the class. From Clemson's Trevor Lawrence to BYU's Zach Wilson, and Ohio State's Justin Fields to North Dakota State's Trey Lance, many NFL teams will be betting big on a potential franchise QB -- and hoping their pick pays off. The Athletic's Andy Staples joins us to break down what makes each of these quarterbacks special, where they're likely to end up, and what surprises we could see on draft day.

More from Andy Staples: https://theathletic.com/author/andy-staples/

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Just three seasons ago, the Colorado Rockies won 91 games and reached the postseason. Now, in 2021, they are considered by many to be the worst team in baseball. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Groke to look at the series of missteps that took the Rockies from contender to punchline, and how they went from one of the proudest days in their history — the signing of Nolan Arenado to a massive contract extension in 2019 — to a dramatic falling out between Arenado and the front office less than a year later. 

Read Nick Groke and Ken Rosenthal’s story about the Rockies-Nolan Arenado saga: https://theathletic.com/2467223/2021/03/22/communication-failures-poor-decisions-and-messy-breakups-how-it-all-went-wrong-for-the-colorado-rockies/?source=theleadpodcast

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It has been one of the most spectacular collapses in sports history. On Sunday, many of the world's largest soccer clubs announced that they were forming a new 'Super League' -- by invitation only, and accessible only to the wealthiest and most historic teams in the land. But then came the backlash. Fans, players, managers, sponsors, pundits, and non-participating teams cried foul and created such an uproar that, within just two days, the league had all but fallen apart. The Athletic's Adam Crafton has been covering the fast-moving story up close, and he joins us today to discuss the remarkable rise and fall of Europe's most ambitious -- and most short-lived -- soccer league.

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When Mike Trout signed his record breaking contract with the Los Angeles Angels two years ago, some people were surprised that the best player in baseball was choosing to stay with a team that had only made the playoffs once in a decade, and didn’t look like it would be a World Series contender any time soon. Since then, things have arguably gotten even worse, with the Angels finishing below .500 for the past two seasons. The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya recently did a long interview with Trout, and he joins us today to talk about the superstar's commitment to the Angelss, the questions around his will to win the World Series, and whether the Angels are finally building a contending team around him.

Read Fabian Arday's story about Mike Trout's loyalty:

https://theathletic.com/2487459/2021/04/01/mike-trouts-baseball-genius-has-a-gaping-void-october-he-knows-you-know-what-its-time/

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