The Lead

Over the past year and a half, Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland has established himself as one of the best goal scorers in world soccer. At just 20 years of age, the Norwegian is already rewriting the record books and hoping to carry his team to Champions League glory. Today, the Athletic's Raphael Honigstein describes how a combination of preternatural athletic prowess and an extreme dedication to his craft has put Haaland on the fast track to superstardom.

Read Raphael Honigstein's story about Erling Haaland:

https://theathletic.com/1669047/2020/03/22/erling-haaland-borussia-dortmund/

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Rudy Gobert played in his second consecutive NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, further cementing his reputation as one of the league's very best players. But while many basketball fans today think of Gobert as a powerhouse shot blocker and an inevitable superstar, there was a time when his success in the league was much more uncertain. The Athletic's Christopher Kamrani recently interviewed Gobert and he joins us to talk about the two-time Defensive Player of the Year's rise from skinny, unknown French teen to back-to-back NBA All-Star, and how he was able to succeed where so many others have failed.

Read Chris Kamrani's story about Rudy Gobert:

https://theathletic.com/2425030/2021/03/04/rudy-gobert-transformation-into-utah-jazz-all-star-started-in-the-d-league-you-have-to-be-able-to-show-you-dont-belong-there/

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The NBA has officially arrived at the All-Star break, and before the season hit its halfway point, we saw — among other things — another huge performance from Joel Embiid. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Wosny Lambre to break down the big man’s case for MVP, consider why LeBron and the Lakers are still the front runners (on the court and in fashion), and why he’s excited to watch Steph Curry above anyone else during the strange All-Star Weekend ahead.

Follow Wosny Lambre’s coverage of the NBA: https://theathletic.com/author/wosny-lambre/?source=theleadpodcast

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In February, 2020, Baltimore Orioles' first baseman Trey Mancini figured his life couldn't get much better. He was coming off a breakout 2019 season, he had signed a big new contract with the Orioles, and he was a few months into an exciting new relationship. But a month later, baseball had shut down and Mancini, who had never had an operation in his life, was wrestling with a new colon cancer diagnosis. The Athletic's Dan Connolly began chronicling Mancini's journey a year ago, just before the diagnosis, and he joins us today to describe the slugger's strength and struggles along the path to recovery, and his triumphant return to the O's lineup last week.

Read Dan Connolly's full story about Trey Mancini:

https://theathletic.com/2413122/2021/03/01/orioles-trey-mancini-cancer-recovery/

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Los Angeles-based doctors Nilesh Vora, Rahim Govani and Salima Thobani were three of the 7,500 vaccinated frontline healthcare workers invited to attend the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay. But what started as a relaxing getaway from the stresses of fighting Covid-19 abruptly devolved into another harrowing brush with death. The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue tells the story of the doctors who stepped up in a crisis and helped prevent a tragedy.

Read Jourdan Rodrigue's full story about the three California doctors:

https://theathletic.com/2389949/2021/02/19/super-bowl-flight-doctors-saved-life-healthcare-workers-vaccinated/?article_source=search&search_query=Super%20Bowl%20doctors

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Last season, Julius Randle was arguably the Knicks' most despised player. Last week, fans gave him a standing ovation and chanted "MVP" at Madison Square Garden. The Athletic's Mike Vorkuov, who covers the Knicks, walks us through his remarkable journey from Lakers castoff to Knicks underachiever to NBA All-Star -- and explains how a new off-season training program helped him take his game to the next level.

More from Mike Vorkunov:

https://theathletic.com/author/mike-vorkunov/

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Last week, some big news came out of Seattle, with multiple reports suggesting that Russell Wilson could be seeking a trade to another team. Today, The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar takes us inside the rift between Wilson, head coach Pete Carroll and the team, with a look at some of the key steps that have driven them to the brink of a possible divorce.

Read the full story about Russell Wilson and the Seahawks by Michael-Shawn Dugar, Mike Sando and Jayson Jenks: https://theathletic.com/2409212/2021/02/25/russell-wilson-trade-seahawks/?source=theleadpodcast

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In the early 1960s, the country was still highly segregated and Black athletes, particularly those growing up in the South, didn't have a lot of options when it came to college football. Most ended up at HBCUs, which were largely overlooked or ignored by professional football scouts. But Lloyd Wells, a newspaperman and raconteur from Houston, helped change that when he became a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs. Under the direction of legendary team owner Lamar Hunt, Wells used his vast network of contacts to identify and recruit top Black players to Kansas City, which ultimately helped the Chiefs win the 1970 Super Bowl. The Athletic's Rustin Dodd joins us to tell Wells's remarkable story, which has largely been lost to history.

Read Rustin Dodd's story about Lloyd Wells:

https://theathletic.com/2356066/2021/02/04/the-legacy-bowl-how-a-bold-scout-hbcu-talent-elevated-chiefs-and-football/

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Last season, San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was among the most electric players in all of baseball. Last week, the team signed their emerging star to a massive 14-year, $340 million contract extension. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Dennis Lin to look at how the idea for Tatis Jr.’s deal was inspired by a pair of statues, and the unique bond between player and general manager that helped this contract become a reality.

Read Dennis Lin’s story about Fernando Tatis Jr.: https://theathletic.com/2404908/2021/02/22/padres-fernando-tatis-jr-statue-contract/?source=theleadpodcast

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In the aftermath of Tiger Woods's shocking car crash on Tuesday morning, Brendan Quinn joins us to discuss what we know about the accident, the latest on Tiger's condition, and the uncomfortable parallels (and differences) between this accident and his infamous car crash of 2009. We also discuss what the injuries he sustained in the crash could mean for Tiger's life and legacy, and why it's important to separate the man from the myth.

Read Brendan Quinn's story about the Tiger Woods car crash:

https://theathletic.com/2407281/2021/02/23/tiger-woods-accident-car-crash/?source=theleadpodcast

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