The Lead

Longtime Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon are reportedly selling the team to billionaire hedge fund manager (and minority owner) Steve Cohen. Mets fans have long had a contentious relationship with the Wilpons, often criticizing them for mismanagement and not spending as much on free agents as their cross-town rivals the Yankees. The Athletic's Tim Britton joins us to talk about the sale and how it could shake up the organization.

Read Tim Britton and Marc Carig's story on Steve Cohen's bid to buy the Mets:

https://theathletic.com/1434004/2019/12/04/the-wilpons-are-negotiating-to-sell-the-mets-to-steve-cohen-what-does-it-mean-for-the-franchise/?source=theleadpodcast

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The Bengals have accused the Patriots of filming their sideline ahead of Sunday’s matchup between the two teams. Meanwhile, the Patriots say the hired cameraman was just shooting B-roll of a team scout for a documentary film. The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to break down the accusations, the Patriots’ history of spying, and what the NFL might do next.

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David Fizdale became the latest in a long line of head coaches to be fired by the New York Knicks on Friday. After missing out on the number one draft pick and free agent targets Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this summer, the Knicks began the season with a sense of disappointment -- and then got off to a 4-18 start. Kavitha and The Athletic's Frank Isola break down Fizdale's short tenure, two decades of franchise dysfunction, and whether or not any coach can resuscitate the long-suffering Knicks.

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The Ravens rattled off their ninth straight win on Sunday, defeating the Bills 24-17 and moving to first overall in the AFC. In the process, Lamar Jackson became just the second quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, and the 22-year-old is seen by many as the leading candidate for league MVP. The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia joins us to talk about how the Ravens gambled on Jackson in the off-season by rearranging their offense to suit his incredible rushing skills, and to discuss whether the Ravens’ success with a dual-threat QB will become a blueprint for other teams in the future.

Read Sheil Kapadia's story about Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' new-look offense:

https://theathletic.com/1432135/2019/12/05/i-play-lamar-jackson-ball-how-the-ravens-built-the-nfls-scariest-offense/?source=theleadpodcast

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Andy Ruiz Jr. shocked the world in June by knocking out heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden. Joshua is 6'6" and sculpted, with endorsement deals from Hugo Boss and Beats (among others), and the Brit was considered by many to be the next great heavyweight. Meanwhile, Ruiz was a relatively unknown Mexican-American with a noticeably pudgy build who grew up fighting in the street. Now, the two heavyweights meet again on Saturday in a highly anticipated rematch. The Athletic's Mike Coppinger is in Saudi Arabia for the fight and joins us to talk about what to expect and why Ruiz's first victory might not have been a fluke.

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The Pistons-Pacers brawl known as “Malice at the Palace” rocked the NBA fifteen years ago. Many people saw it as a low point for the league. The melee, which included flying beer bottles and fans getting punched in the face, forced the league to implement new rules in an attempt to recreate its image. With the Palace now being deconstructed, The Athletic’s Michael Lee joins us to look back at the infamous incident and to explain how the NBA bounced back from the bedlam to be bigger than ever.

Read Michael Lee's story about "Malice":

https://theathletic.com/1387698/2019/11/18/fifteen-years-after-the-malice-at-the-palace-how-the-nba-bounced-back-from-bedlam/?source=theleadpodcast

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A massive, state-sponsored doping program was unearthed in Russia several years ago, leading to the country being banned from the 2018 Olympics. Last week, it was reported that Russia had violated the terms of its new oversight, by submitting bogus data to the World Anti-Doping Agency. There is now the possibility that Russia will be banned from international sports competitions for four years. Reporter Tariq Panja joins us to talk about this latest chapter in the Russian doping scandal and what the future might hold for Russia and its athletes.

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Luka Doncic is one of the hottest players in the NBA right now, and the hype around the 20-year-old Slovenian is reaching a fever pitch. Some are now comparing him to LeBron, and he even got some high praise from King James on the court earlier this season. The Athletic’s Tim Cato traveled to Slovenia to try and understand what makes the Mavericks star tick, and he joins us to talk about Luka’s origins, how he is seen back home, and just how good this kid can become.

Read Tim Cato's story about Luka and Slovenia:

https://theathletic.com/1315663/2019/10/23/slovenias-enormous-passion-is-willing-luka-doncic-to-superstardom/?source=theleadpodcast

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Weeks after their vicious late-game brawl, the Steelers got revenge against the Browns thanks in part to an unlikely hero: rookie quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges, who also happens to be, that's right, a champion duck caller. The Athletic’s Sean Gentille joins us to talk about Hodges's rapid ascent to the spotlight and the Steelers prospects with "Duck" as their new starter. Plus, The Athletic’s Zac Jackson talks about the aftermath of the Pittsburgh-Cleveland brawl and performs a post-mortem on the hapless Browns.

Read Sean Gentille's story on "Duck" Hodges' unusual connection with James Washington:

https://theathletic.com/1423890/2019/12/01/gentille-in-duck-hodges-james-washington-has-a-hunting-buddy-and-a-qb-connection/

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Joel Embiid and Hakeem Olajuwon have never met, but the 76ers star idolized 'The Dream' when he was growing up in Cameroon and taught himself Olajuwon's moves by watching a DVD of his highlights on repeat. The Athletic's Michael Lee recently sat down with both superstars to talk about their careers, their journeys from West Africa to the NBA, and what Embiid wants his own legacy to be.

Read Michael Lee's story about Joel Embiid and African centers in the NBA:

https://theathletic.com/1372227/2019/11/19/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-joel-embiid-is-determined-to-build-a-new-legacy-of-greatness-by-an-african-center/?source=theleadpodcast

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