With the NBA draft approaching, we chopped it up with Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood about his battle with the NBA. In a very open interview, Haywood, who is one of the most significant basketball players in history, discussed his upbringing in Mississippi, playing ball in Detroit, his Olympic success, and his fight for the right to play in the NBA. As listeners will learn, it's because of this son of a sharecropper, that young men have an opportunity to earn a living in the NBA without having to wait 4 years in college. This is about the soon to be "Spencer Haywood Rule," one of the most significant rules in sport.

The Spencer Haywood Rule

This is a podcast by Louis Moore and Derrick White. As trained historians and leading scholars on sports and race, we discuss the history of the black athlete in a contemporary conversation. Moore is the author of I Fight for a Living: Boxing and the Battle for Black Manhood, and also We Will Win the Day: The Civil Rights Movement, The Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality. White is the author of The Challenge of Blackness: The Institute of the Black World and Political Activism in the 1970s, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Jake Gaither, Florida A&M, and the History of Black College Football

Sports

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Carl Suddler to help us break down the meaning of CJ Stroud's latest post-game interview discussion about the unjust criminal justice system.

CJ Stroud and the Carceral State

In this episode, Dr. Carl Suddler joins us to discuss Bishop Sycamore and also Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffalos. We give our thoughts on the exploitation that was BS High School and the meaning of Coach Prime's victory at Colorado.

Coach Prime

In this episode, in the first half we discuss our thoughts on men and women's college basketball and March Madness. We dedicate the last 30 minutes talking JA, the NBA, and the difference between David Stern and Adam Silver.

Ja and the NBA

In this episode, after getting caught up on LeBron's scoring record and the NBA trade deadline, we dive into the Super Bowl that features two starting Black quarterbacks. But before we dish out on Mahomes and Hurts, we talk the legacy of Ken Riley, a black college quarterback that is now in the NFL Hall of Fame as a cornerback.

The Black Super Bowl

In this episode, we're joined by Cultural Anthropologist Dr. Tracie Canada to discuss Black bodies, family, and football. During our conversation, she discusses her recent article "Damar Hamlin’s Collapse Highlights the Violence Black Men Experience in Football." The brilliant scholar provides insight into what it's like for Black men playing football and why she wrote her article.

The Spencer Haywood Rule

Download our free app to listen on your phone