The Lead

This past weekend, the Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North title, and their dominant offense came up big in the red zone once again. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman to look at why Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and many other Packers players draw motivation from the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember, and just how far this team’s high-powered offense could take them.

Read Matt Schneidman’s story about the Austin Powers-Green Bay Packers connection: https://theathletic.com/2232543/2020/12/03/how-an-austin-powers-character-inspired-the-packers-red-zone-offense/?source=theleadpodcast

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When the NBA season tips off next week, the Washington Wizards will have a very different look -- with new franchise point guard Russell Westbrook. The Athletic’s Fred Katz, who has gotten to know Westbrook well over the years, joins us to talk about how the former MVP landed in D.C., what he brings to the team, and why he's likely to flourish under Wizards head coach Scott Brooks.

More from Fred Katz:

https://theathletic.com/2249306/2020/12/09/russell-westbrook-scott-brooks-reunion/?source=theleadpodcast

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Skyler Badillo, a former athletic training intern with New York City FC, wrote a series of social media posts this summer about harassment from -- and frequent touching by -- the team’s former superstar striker, David Villa. She also wrote that her bosses at the time thought it was “great comedic material.” Last month, she opened up further about her experience to The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer. Today, we’re joined by both Pablo and Skyler to talk about what Skyler says happened to her at NYCFC, how it impacted her, and the response she has received since speaking out publicly.

Read Pablo Maurer's story about Skyler Badillo, David Villa, and NYCFC:

https://theathletic.com/2213536/2020/11/23/david-villa-nycfc-alleged-harassment/?source=theleadpodcast

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Last week, Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns spoke with a group of reporters for the first time since his mother passed away due to complications from Covid-19 in April. Towns revealed during that interview that he has lost even more loved ones since then. Today, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski on the 25-year-old’s painful journey, and the role that his coach, Ryan Saunders, and teammate, Ricky Rubio, could play as he tries to move forward.

Read Jon Krawczynski’s story about Karl-Anthony Towns: https://theathletic.com/2240589/2020/12/05/karl-anthony-towns-timberwolves-covid/?source=theleadpodcast

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One of the unheralded keys to the New Orleans Saints' recent success is defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn. The Athletic’s Dan Pompei recently interviewed Glenn and his former coach (and long-time mentor) Bill Parcells, and joins us to explain why the legendary coach sees something special -- including NFL head coach material -- in Glenn.

Read Dan Pompei's profile of Aaron Glenn:

https://theathletic.com/2229281/2020/12/01/saints-aaron-glenn-nfl-coaching-candidate/?source=theleadpodcast

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Forty years ago today, the world was rocked by the news of John Lennon's tragic killing in New York. Through a roundabout series of events, the person to break the news to the country was legendary sports announcer Howard Cosell, who was broadcasting live from the studio of Monday Night Football. The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd joins us to remember that historic day, to explain how Cosell became the one to break such a big story, and to reflect on the unlikely friendship between these two countercultural icons.

Read Rustin Dodd's story about John Lennon and Howard Cosell:

https://theathletic.com/author/rustin-dodd/?source=theleadpodcast

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The San Francisco 49ers came into this season expecting to make a second straight trip to the Super Bowl, but so far they’ve been hit by a wave of injuries to star players, including Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Matt Barrows to look at all of the issues that have derailed the 49ers season — including the recent news that they have to play their upcoming home games in Arizona — and how Kyle Shanahan’s team has managed to stay alive. 

Follow Matt Barrows’s coverage of the 49ers: https://theathletic.com/author/matt-barrows/?source=theleadpodcast 

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The pandemic threw the NFL into a bit chaos this week, when an outbreak on the Baltimore Ravens caused their Thanksgiving Day game against the Steelers to be rescheduled multiple times, and eventually played the following Wednesday (with a severely depleted Ravens squad). The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to talk about one of the stranger games in NFL history, how the Ravens held up in these challenging circumstances, and what the game revealed about the league’s approach to dealing with the coronavirus.

Follow Lindsay Jones's NFL coverage:

https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/?source=theleadpodcast

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The Ohio State Buckeyes have played just one game in the last three and a half weeks, but in his limited opportunities this season, Justin Fields has been spectacular. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bill Landis to discuss what the shortened season means for Ohio State’s national title hopes, how Fields has brought a baseball skill set to football, and whether the star QB still has a chance to win the Heisman.

Read Bill Landis’s story about the impact of baseball for Justin Fields: https://theathletic.com/2196977/2020/11/16/justin-fields-ohio-state-buckeyes-quarterback-baseball/?source=theleadpodcast

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The Los Angeles Clippers lost a key player from their rotation recently when Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell decided to join LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rival Los Angeles Lakers. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Jovan Buha to look at how Harrell’s replacement, Serge Ibaka, might make the Clippers even better as a team, and how his rare friendship with Kawhi Leonard could be the missing ingredient to solve the chemistry issues that plagued the team last year.

Read Jovan Buha’s story about Serge Ibaka and Kawhi Leonard: https://theathletic.com/2213637/2020/11/22/serge-ibaka-clippers-kawhi-leonard/?source=theleadpodcast 

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