The Lead

The Rooney Rule requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate when hiring a head coach or senior executive. But there are currently just three black head coaches in the league and the most recent round of hiring saw only one minority candidate get hired for five open positions. The Athletic's Mike Sando joins us to talk about the Rooney Rule’s effectiveness (or lack thereof) and the potential path forward.

Read Mike Sando's story about the Rooney Rule:

https://theathletic.co.uk/1572032/2020/01/30/where-do-we-go-from-here-with-the-rooney-rule/?source=theleadpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Friday, there was yet another development in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal. The Wall Street Journal reports that the team used a powerful algorithm called "Codebreaker" to figure out their opponent's signs. How much did the sign-stealing scheme help the Astros on the field? The Athletic's Jayson Stark and Eno Sarris recently ran the numbers to answer that question. Stark joins us to explain their findings, and to argue that despite their elaborate cheating scheme, the Astros should not have their 2017 World Series title vacated.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you go back to the very FIRST season of the NFL -- a hundred years ago -- there were just a handful of black players. And one of them was Duke Slater. Slater was the first black lineman to suit up for the NFL. He was known for being unstoppable. And now, he will finally be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As part of our Black History Month coverage at The Lead, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman to talk about Duke Slater’s legacy, from his college football days in Iowa to his achievements as a lawyer and a judge, and what it means that he will finally be honored in Canton.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There was a time when Portland belonged to Brandon Roy. The former Trail Blazer's career was cut short by knee trouble and he has been more or less invisible ever since. But after years of trying, The Athletic’s Jason Quick finally tracked him down. Today, Quick joins us to talk about Brandon Roy’s short but remarkable career and how he has overcome an identity crisis, a divorce, and a drive-by shooting to find peace (or something close to it).

Read Jason Quick's profile of Brandon Roy:

https://theathletic.com/1531666/2020/01/16/brandon-roy-talks-retirement-inner-peace-shooting-portland-trail-blazers-return/?source=theleadpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Houston Astros hired Dusty Baker to take over in the dugout just weeks after firing manager AJ Hinch in the aftermath of the team's sign stealing scandal. At 70 years old, Baker is the oldest manager in baseball, but with that comes a wealth of experience and stability the Astros desperately need. Baker is known as a players' manager and has a stellar reputation in the league. So how will he do as he inherits a team mired in controversy but also built to win the World Series? The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli joins us to talk about Baker's hiring, his historic career as a player and manager, and why he's just what Houston needs.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Connor McDavid has been shredding defenses since he entered the league five seasons ago. But there are signs that the NHL's most talented player has grown frustrated with his team’s lack of success. The Athletic's Jonathan Willis joins us to talk about McDavid's incredible skills, his secretive recovery from a devastating injury, and whether or not the clock is ticking on his Edmonton career.

Follow Jonathan Willis's coverage of the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL:

https://theathletic.com/author/jonathan-willis/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions. It was another impressive comeback for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who trailed 20-10 in the fourth quarter before rattling off 21 unanswered points. Kavitha breaks down the game for us from Miami, discusses what it means for the legacies of Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, Jimmy Garoppolo and Patrick Mahomes, and talks about the reactions of Chiefs fans at the game.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Football stars, celebrities, and fans have descended upon Miami for the greatest side-show on Earth. Kavitha wades into the madness of Radio Row to speak with former Super Bowl winner turned spiritual guru Martellus Bennett, Giants running back Saquon Barkley, omnipresent fan "Marlins Man," former NBA journeyman Stephen Jackson, and a host of other characters. We also hear how people are betting on the color of the Gatorade bath that will rain down upon the winning coach and how Kobe Bryant's death feels like a dark shadow over the weekend.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tyreek Hill has a history of domestic violence charges that many people find disturbing. The wide receiver has been an integral part of the Chiefs' offense all season long and is expected to play a major role in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but some people have trouble rooting for the team when he's on the field. The Athletic's Lindsay Jones joins us to talk about Hill's past, how the Chiefs organization has dealt with his case, and the dilemma that reporters and fans face when trying to separate the art from the artist.

Follow Lindsay Jones's NFL coverage:

https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Superstar QB Patrick Mahomes and veteran head coach Andy Reid complete each other's sentences in team meetings. Chiefs fans are on their way to the Super Bowl after 50 years of suffering. And defensive tackle Mike Pennel broke down sobbing after Kansas City's victory over the Tennessee Titans, knowing he'd be playing for his hometown team in a Super Bowl. The Athletic's Nate Taylor joins us to talk through these (and other) Chiefs love stories.

Follow Nate Taylor's coverage of the Chiefs:

https://theathletic.com/author/nate-taylor/?source=theleadpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.