The Lead

The Brooklyn Nets have gone all-in on winning the NBA title this year, but for much of the season, their Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving has had a hard time just staying on the floor. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer to look at how Steve Nash and the Nets have tried to weather a storm of injuries and absences, and whether time is running out on their quest to build chemistry between their superstars. 

Read Alex Schiffer’s story about the Nets and chemistry: https://theathletic.com/2508915/2021/04/09/the-nets-are-running-out-of-time-to-develop-chemistry-history-isnt-exactly-on-brooklyns-side/?source=theleadpodcast

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The NFL Draft is fast approaching and LSU's Ja'Marr Chase is widely expected to be the first receiver to come off the board. Chase burst onto the national scene during the Tigers undefeated championship run in 2019, but he raised some eyebrows by choosing to opt out of the 2020 season over COVID-19 concerns. Today, we're joined by The Athletic's Larry Holder to talk about how Ja'Marr and his family decided to forgo his junior season of college football and whether this might be a model for prospects in the future.

Read Larry Holder's story about Ja'Marr Chase here: https://theathletic.com/2504321/2021/04/13/lsu-jamarr-chase-is-so-good-that-defenders-and-his-dad-agree-the-nfl-draft-has-a-clear-wr1-but-chase-wont-hear-it/

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Last weekend, there was a fresh new voice calling out the starting lineups inside Chase Center, and getting Golden State Warriors fans hyped in the process. It belonged to Aaron 'Showtime' Taylor, a man who cut his teeth as a basketball announcer inside San Quentin State Prison -- and who spent more than 25 years behind bars. The Athletic's Marcus Thompson II has been following Taylor's incredible journey for years, and he joins us today to explain how Taylor went from nerdy kid to armed robber, to prison play-by-play guy, to NBA announcer -- and how he believes his fate was sealed by a botched robbery that nearly cost him his life.

Read Marcus Thompson II's full story about Aaron Taylor: https://theathletic.com/2506509/2021/04/09/from-san-quentin-to-chase-center-the-voice-of-aaron-showtime-taylor-is-just-getting-warm/

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Major League Soccer is still not making money, and only about a quarter of the league’s teams turn a profit, according to Forbes. And yet the cost of buying an MLS team, or buying into the league, is skyrocketing -- and growing at a much faster rate than the NFL, NBA, or MLB. We've also seen celebrities like Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, Magic Johnson, James Harden and others become partial owners of MLS teams. The Athletic’s Sam Stejskal joins us to explain why, and to break down some of the biggest storylines to follow during the 2021 MLS season, which kicks off on Friday.

More from Sam Stejskal: https://theathletic.com/author/sam-stejskal/

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While the defending champion L.A. Lakers are trying to stay afloat until they get LeBron James and Anthony Davis back, the team that shares an arena with them has been taking things to another level. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Law Murray to look at why things have really started to click for Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. Plus, the challenges that this pandemic — and empty seats — have presented to the team’s famous super fan, Clipper Darrell.

Read Law Murray’s story about Clipper Darrell: https://theathletic.com/2467946/2021/04/02/clipper-darrell-and-a-superfans-separation-anxiety/?source=theleadpodcast

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the best teams in the NHL this year and goalie Jack Campbell has been a major factor in their success. As a teenager, Campbell was touted as the next great phenom in American hockey, but his time with the Dallas Stars was derailed by injury and a loss of confidence. After getting traded to Los Angeles, Campbell met Dusty Imoo, a coach who is described as a sort-of "hockey shaman," and who helped steer Campbell away from potentially ending his professional career. Today, The Athletic's James Mirtle joins us to talk about the special relationship Imoo forged with Campbell and how it helped put the goalie back on the path to greatness.

Read James Mirtle's story about Jack Campbell here: https://theathletic.com/2494891/2021/04/05/im-not-gonna-lie-about-my-life-how-jack-campbell-was-saved-on-his-way-to-the-maple-leafs/

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It's been an eventful few days for the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Thursday it was revealed that MLB was inspecting baseballs used by the team's new star pitcher, Trevor Bauer, in a game against the Oakland A's -- and that the balls had visible markings and were sticky, according to an exclusive report from The Athletic. The following day, the team played its home opener in Dodger Stadium, in front of thousands fans (for the first time in more than a year), and hoisted its 2020 World Series championship banner. The Athletic's Molly Knight joins us to break down the Dodgers' up-and-down start to the 2021 season, why players from a former dynasty think the Dodgers will repeat as champions, and the dilemma that Major League Baseball faces as it tries to rein in the widespread use of sticky substances.

More from Molly Knight:

https://theathletic.com/author/molly-knight/

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If you’ve been near a screen in the last six months or so, there’s a pretty decent chance you’ve heard the terms NBA Top Shot and NFT, which have star athletes ranging from Rob Gronkowski to Patrick Mahomes to Bryson DeChambeau getting in on the action. Today, The Athletic’s Bill Shea explains exactly what NBA Top Shot and NFTs are, why pro sports leagues are supporting them, and whether the whole thing — like Beanie Babies — is a bubble.

Read Bill Shea’s story about NBA Top Shot and NFTs: https://theathletic.com/2484646/2021/03/30/bitcoin-crypto-nfts-ethereum-sports-business/?source=theleadpodcast

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By 1989, the Chicago White Sox knew they needed to refresh their image. The team had struggled for years and became known for their constantly changing uniforms. Then, thanks to some savvy marketing and a team of high-profile stars, the South Siders managed to create a brand that has survived the test of time. Today, The Athletic's Jon Greenberg joins us to talk about why the White Sox logo resonates across the hip hop community and how the team's current crop young stars are bringing some of that swagger back to baseball.

Read Jon Greenberg's story about the White Sox logo change here: https://theathletic.com/2482781/2021/03/31/look-good-play-good-tim-anderson-and-the-white-sox-are-ready-to-take-over-every-bit-of-the-baseball-world/

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On Friday, many people were caught off guard by Commissioner Rob Manfred's decision to move the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game out of Georgia, in response to the state's controversial new voting law and growing public pressure. And on Tuesday, MLB announced that the game would instead be held in Colorado. Amidst all the noise and political posturing surrounding the decision, The Athletic’s Evan Drellich joins us to break down what actually drove Manfred's decision to move the game, and what it reveals about the state of Major League Baseball.

More from Evan Drellich:

https://theathletic.com/author/evan-drellich/

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