Today’s topic is social awareness and activism in sports.

What does it mean for an athlete, a coach or a league to be “socially aware” in 2018? How has the internet and social media changed the game for athletes and the sports they play?

Has the reach and influence of today’s sports superstars grown?

To tackle these questions and more, we will debate the greatest comparison of them all: MJ vs Lebron. 

Highlights (with time codes):

On the court vs off the court (0:52)

Michael Jordan in the Italian attire (3:47)

No Muhammad Ali or Jim Brown (05:15)

All MJ ever aspired to be was a great basketball player and someone who acquires a lot of wealth (06:25)

Does a star athlete, internationally known, have a responsibility to address issues? (07:04)

When is enough money enough? (07:48)

Sports Illustrated Cover in 1996 -”1 Man Game”- first cover story Rick wrote about MJ (08:06)

Lebron as an activist. (18:13)

MJ has started to give back (23:45)

Gambling: Lebron vs MJ (26:03)

You cannot separate success and social activism (31:57)

Tom Brady (35:32)

The Man LBJ Has Become (37:23)

The Only Tarnish on LBJ Record (39:25)

Living with Dignity (40:35)

MJ is not done yet (44:23)

With the Winter Olympics wrapping up, Rick Morrissey and Rick Telander couldn’t help but ask the greatest question of them all.

What makes an activity a sport?

Some sports require athleticism. Some are decided by judges. Some are ruled by time while others are ruled by space. Sports decides whose best. But here’s the problem. What is and what isn’t a sport is an argument that brings out our most tasteful biases as a collective consciousness.

So you be the judge.

Tune in to episode 3 of “The 2 Ricks: Unfiltered” brought to you by the Sun Times Sports.

Highlights (with time codes):

Curling (2:15)

London Olympics biking almost getting killed (7:16)

Ferret legging (08:49)

Extreme ironing (12:07)

Speed golfing (12:57)

Trap shooting (13:56)

Wearing a speedo (23:16)

Body building (24:40)

Arnold (25:15)

Sydney Olympics driving on wrong side of road (34:55)

Competitive Eating (38:04)

In episode 2 of “The 2 Ricks: Unfiltered”, the topic is parenting in youth sports.

The growing business of kids’ sports is a $15.3 billion industry that has nearly doubled in the last 10 years. Nearly 20% of U.S. families spend more than $12,000 a year, or $1,000 per month, on youth sports, per child.

We’ll discuss names like Tiger Woods, Ichiro Suzuki, Manny Pacquiao, Dennis Rodman, Todd Marinovich and Lavar Ball. Sub-topics include parents and college scholarships, using your sport as a safety net and a concept known as delayed adolescence.

Tune in to episode 2 of “The 2 Ricks: Unfiltered” brought to you by the Sun-Times Sports.

highlights (with time codes):

- Tiger Woods and Earl Woods (2:47)

- Ichiro (03:51)

- Manny Pacquiao (05:52)

- Karl Malone (09:16)

- Dennis Rodman (10:27)

- Todd Marinovich (11:46)

- Parents and College Scholarships (13:06)

- Identifying With A Sport As A Safety Net (17:58)

- Lavar Ball (23:57)

- Derrick Rose (25:43)

- Delayed Adolescence - the longer you’re in a sport the less morally developed you will be (34:32)

- Being happy as a professional athlete (36:51)

- Living off the grid (35:19)

- A waste of time and money (40:52)

- What do you get out of playing sports? (42:11)

In today’s episode the Two Ricks pull back the curtain on all this and much more:Rick T recalls beating a 3 year old phenom at golfDoes being a college football player help you succeed at pop-a-shot?Press box hotdogsChicago newspaper warsShamrock emojisTelander’s surprise barber — plus, why is hair such a big deal in sports? Combovers, hair dye and athletes who are super stylin'Caddyshack: the road from golf caddy to sports columnists plus Bill & Brian Doyle MurrayTODAY’S HOT TOPIC: Is Chicago the epicenter of tanking (or do you call it rebuilding?), and are the Chicago Cubs to blame? (36:07)The RICKS’ FIX: If we ruled the world, here’s what we would do about tanking. (49:51) Rick T’s trip to the carnival including 700 pound hogs and someone called dog boy. (59:20)Rick M’s hunt for Dennis Rodman at a tattoo convention

Thanks for listening and good luck at pop-a-shot!

— The Two Ricks