In which Mel tries to explain how the big, bad US government brings down FIFA. Sources:

- Red Card: How the US Blew the Whistle on the World's Largest Sports Scandal- by Ken Bensinger Red Card | Book by Ken Bensinger https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Red-Card/Ken-Bensinger/9781501133916

- FIFA Uncovered (Netflix Limited Series) - Producers: John Battsek, Miles Coleman, Director/Producer: Daniel Gorden - Ventureland/Passion Pictures Production (2022) – https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80221113

- Berryman Prime LLC. (2023). About. https://berrymanprime.com/about/

- Hosenball, Mark. Reuters (updated on 2015, September, 15). FIFA received no profit sharing from 2005 contract: letter. https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/fifa-received-no-profit-sharing-from-2005-contract-letter-idUSKCN0RF2V4/

- Smentkowski, Brian, P. Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d) https://www.britannica.com/topic/federalism

- Biography.com Editors. Biography.com (2021, April, 13). Al Capone. https://www.biography.com/crime/al-capone

- Fansided, David. Fox Sports. (updated 2020, March 5). Cincinnati Reds History: Pete Rose Released from Prison. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/cincinnati-reds-history-pete-rose-released-from-prison

- Agrawal, Nina. LA Times. (2017, January, 3). There’s more than the CIA and FBI: The 17 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community. https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-17-intelligence-agencies-20170112-story.html

- Cornell Law School. (n.d). Corruption. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/corruption

- SKT Law. (2025). What is a Proffer Agreement (or Queen for a Day) Letter? https://skt.law/blog/understanding-legal-terms-proffer-agreement-letter/

In which Mel tries to finish explaining the plight of Asian Football Association President Mohammad Bin and how his story connects to his nation of Qatar and the some of the other characters in this story. Again, there are too many sources here for me to add them all. I’ll keep adding sources to future episode notes.

Red Card: How the US Blew the Whistle on the World's Largest Sports Scandal- by Ken Bensinger Red Card | Book by Ken Bensinger https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Red-Card/Ken-Bensinger/9781501133916

FIFA Uncovered (Netflix Limited Series) - Producers: John Battsek, Miles Coleman, Director/Producer: Daniel Gorden - Ventureland/Passion Pictures Production (2022) – https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80221113

“FIFA’s Presidential race falls apart as Blatter’s rival quits” by Owen Gibson, Saturday May 28, 2011, https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/28/sepp-blatter-corruption-scandal-fifa

“FBI Examines US soccer boss’s financial records” by: Reuters, Reuters, August 16, 2011, https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/fbi-examines-u-s-soccer-boss-s-financial-records-idUSTRE77F6UT/

“How Much do NHL Refs get Paid?” by: Chuck McMahon, Boardroom.tv, July 1, 2023, https://boardroom.tv/nhl-referee-salary-breakdown/

“US Soccer History: 150 years and counting” by: Derek Reese, World Soccer Talk, January 9, 2023, https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/150-years-of-us-soccer-history-20221106-WST-406135.html

“The American Football Association”, by Roger Allaway, American Soccer History.org, November 8, 2023, https://www.ussoccerhistory.org/the-american-football-association/

“American Armature Football Association” by: Ed Farnsworth, Americian Soccer History.org, August 27, 2015, https://www.ussoccerhistory.org/tag/american-amateur-football-association

- “All Women’s World Cup winners: complete list” by: International Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee, https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-women-world-cup-all-winners-complete-list

PowerPlay Paralympic Explainer 2 Episode Description

In which Mel tries to explain the inner workings of both wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.

Sources:

Canadian Paralympic Committee. (2024) Wheelchair Basketball. Wheelchair Basketball- Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Committee https://paralympic.ca/sport/wheelchair-basketball/#:~:text=Each%20player%20is%20assigned%20a,range%20from%200.5%20to%204.5.

International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. (2024). History of Wheelchair Basketball. History of Wheelchair Basketball. https://iwbf.org/the-game/history-wheelchair-basketball/

World Netball. (2024). 2024 Rules Update. World Netball. https://netball.sport/game/the-rules-of-netball/

RulesofSport.com. (2022), Netball Rules. How to Play Netball. https://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/netball.html

History of Tennis. (2024, September 25). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_tennis&oldid=1246609819

International Paralympic Committee. (2024). History of Wheelchair Tennis. Wheelchair Tennis- About. https://www.paralympic.org/wheelchair-tennis/about

Joe Rivera (N/A) Tennis Scoring Explained: A guide to understanding the rules, tiebreakers, terms & points system. Tennis scoring explained. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/tennis/news/tennis-scoring-explained-rules-system-points-terms/7uzp2evdhbd11obdd59p3p1cx

Canadian Paralympic Committee. (2024). Wheelchair Tennis. Wheelchair Tennis- Canadian Paralympic Committee. https://paralympic.ca/sport/wheelchair-tennis/#:~:text=Classification%20Paralympic%20wheelchair%20tennis%20competition%20is%20open%20to,women%20are%20allowed%20to%20play%20against%20each%20other.

British National Anthem and German National Anthem curtesy of Free Beta Records

British Anthem: https://goo.gl/peHHCX

German Anthem: https://goo.gl/peHHCX

PowerPlay: Paralympic Explainer 1

In which Mel explains the epicness of the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. Not only a brief history of the Games themselves, but also explainers for two of the Games’ most unique sports: Goaiball, and Boccia. I ran out of space on sources again, I'll add those to next episode.

Sources:

International Olympic Committee (2024). History of the Paralympic Games. Olympics.

https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/the-games/olympic-paralympic-games/history-paralympic-games

International Paralympic Committee. (2024). Paralympics History. Paralympics.

https://www.paralympic.org/ipc/history

International Paralympic Committee. (2024). History of Boccia. Paralympics.

https://www.paralympic.org/boccia/about

BCC. (2024). Paralympics 2024: A guide to boccia at the Paris Games. BBC Sport.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/crgg0d8wr2do

Canadian Paralympic Committee. (2024). Get to Know Boccia. Canadian Paralympic Committee.

https://paralympic.ca/sport/boccia/

Ben Morse. (August 28,2024). What is boccia, the Paralympics’ ‘fastest-growing’ event? CNN Sport

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/28/sport/boccia-paralympics-2024-paris-explainer-spt-intl/index.html

International Paralympic Committee. (2024). Classification. International Paralympic Committee.

https://paralympic.ca/sport/boccia/#:~:text=Players%20are%20classified%20into%20four%20classes%20depending%20on,For%20players%20with%20other%20involved%20physical%20disabilities.%20

PowerPlay: Paralympic Explainer 1

In which Mel explains the epicness of the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. Not only a brief history of the Games themselves, but also explainers for two of the Games’ most unique sports: Goaiball, and Boccia. I ran out of source space. See next episode for more.

Sources:

International Olympic Committee (2024). History of the Paralympic Games. Olympics.

https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/the-games/olympic-paralympic-games/history-paralympic-games

International Paralympic Committee. (2024). Paralympics History. Paralympics.

https://www.paralympic.org/ipc/history

International Paralympic Committee. (2024). History of Boccia. Paralympics.

https://www.paralympic.org/boccia/about

BCC. (2024). Paralympics 2024: A guide to boccia at the Paris Games. BBC Sport.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/crgg0d8wr2do

Canadian Paralympic Committee. (2024). Get to Know Boccia. Canadian Paralympic Committee.

https://paralympic.ca/sport/boccia/

Ben Morse. (August 28,2024). What is boccia, the Paralympics’ ‘fastest-growing’ event? CNN Sport

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/28/sport/boccia-paralympics-2024-paris-explainer-spt-intl/index.html

International Paralympic Committee. (2024). Classification. International Paralympic Committee.

https://paralympic.ca/sport/boccia/#:~:text=Players%20are%20classified%20into%20four%20classes%20depending%20on,For%20players%20with%20other%20involved%20physical%20disabilities.%20

In which Mel tries to learn as much as possible about the small nation of Qatar and the systems that govern it. Editor Note: I used so many different sources in this episode that I can’t fit them all here. The rest will be in next episode’s notes

Sources:

Red Card: How the US Blew the Whistle on the World's Largest Sports Scandal- by Ken Bensinger https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Red-Card/Ken-Bensinger/9781501133916#:~:text=Red%20Card%20%7C%20Book%20by%20Ken,Official%20Publisher%20Page%20%7C%20Simon%20%26%20Schuster

FIFA Uncovered (Netflix Limited Series) - Producers: John Battsek, Miles Coleman, Director/Producer: Daniel Gorden - Ventureland/Passion Pictures Production (2022) - https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80221113

World Atlas. What Kind of Government does Qatar Have? (2017) https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-type-of-government-does-qatar-have.html

Geography Now. Geography Now! QATAR. (4, December 2019) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqfW7xn215o

AFP News Agency. Qatari camel robo-jockeys hope to attract World Cup crowd | AFP (11, November 2022). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_oe-nCTrX0

Ana P. Santos. How the Kafala System Enslaves Workers in Qatar. (11, September 2017). https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/how-kafala-system-enslaves-workers-qatar

Sammy Mngqosini & Chris Eldergill. FIFA confirms no alcohol to be sold at Qatar World Cup stadiums. (18 November 2022) https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/football/qatar-world-cup-beer-stadium-spt-intl/index.html

John Holmes. Q&A: Migrant Worker Abuses in Qatar and FIFA World Cup 2022. (18 December 2021) https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/12/18/qa-migrant-worker-abuses-qatar-and-fifa-world-cup-2022#Q1

Let's go to Brazil!

Sources:

- Red Card: How the US Blew the Whistle on the World's Largest Sports Scandal- by Ken Bensinger Red Card | Book by Ken Bensinger | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster Canada (simonandschuster.ca)

- FIFA Uncovered (Netflix Limited Series) - Producers: John Battsek, Miles Coleman, Director/Producer: Daniel Gorden - Ventureland/Passion Pictures Production (2022) - Watch FIFA Uncovered | Netflix Official Site

- Amber Pariona. What languages are Spoken in Brazil? (7, August 2018). https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-brazil.html

- Dan Robson. Crosby Inc. https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/big-read-sidney-crosby-built-hockeys-lucrative-brand/

- FIFA. 2020 Annual Report (1994-2022). https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2020/2020-at-a-glance/

- Mary Brown. (10, January 2023). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2023/01/10/mlb-sets-new-revenue-record-exceeding-108-billion-for-2022/?sh=2f0e3a2577ee

- Christina Gough, (2023). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205541/new-york-yankees-team-payroll/

- Associated Press. (20, December 2022). Aaron Judge, Yankees finalize $360 million, 9-year contract. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35293005/aaron-judge-yankees-finalize-360-million-9-year-contract

- Lorraine Murray, (17, November 2023). Christ the Redeemer. Encyclopedia Britannicia. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35293005/aaron-judge-yankees-finalize-360-million-9-year-contract

- Morbid Podcast Feed Link - https://wondery.com/shows/morbid-a-true-crime-podcast/

- Rogério Fernando Taffarello, Flávia Guimarães Leardini & Flávia Guimarães Leardini. (2023). Bribery & Corruption Laws and Regulations. Global Legal Insigts. https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/bribery-and-corruption-laws-and-regulations/brazil

In which we talk about the amazing accomplishments of one particular Women’s Football team and the movement which has followed them. Let’s make sure these women know that they’re not entirely defined by what happened after the trophy presentation but what happened in between.SourcesDavid Close, Patrick Sung & Kevin Dotson (25 August, 2023). World Cup Winner says she did not consent to kiss after Spanish soccer boss Luis Rubiales refuses to resign. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/25/football/spain-luis-rubiales-jennifer-hermoso-intl-spt/index.htmlCourtney Hill, (18, August. 23) FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Spain’s Journey from unrest to the brink of immortality. International Olympic Committee (IOC). https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-womens-world-cup-2023-spain-road-to-immortalityLe Mond with AFP. Spain’s 23 World Cup winner’s initiate strike against federation leadership. Le Mond. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/football/article/2023/08/25/spain-s-23-world-cup-winners-initiate-strike-against-federation-leadership_6108700_130.htmlThe Guardian Editorials. (29, August, 23) The Guardian view on Spanish Football’s #MeToo movement: a golden opportunity for reform. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/29/the-guardian-view-on-spanish-footballs-metoo-moment-a-golden-opportunity-for-reformTSN [TSN] (YouTube Channel) (20, August, 2023) Spain vs. England Full Highlights – FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2023 (I didn’t use audio from here, I just used it to help myself recap after I watched the game on TV. Please don’t sue me Bell Canada). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8EAliOtXbQ