Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Slate’s Alex Kirshner discuss the quarterback frenzy at the top of the NFL draft and Anthony Edwards’ star-making performances in the NBA playoffs. Then, Josh and Stefan Fatsis are joined by cross-country skiing broadcaster Chad Salmela to talk about the remarkable Jessie Diggins.

QBs in the NFL draft (4:23): Was the Falcons’ Michael Penix pick a big mistake?

Edwards (18:44): The Timberwolves guard looks ready for the spotlight.

Diggins (34:06): Why everyone should root for the American skiing sensation.

Afterballs (56:38 ): Joel on "Machine Gun" Molly Bolin and WNBA.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by writer Tom Haberstroh to discuss Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban from the NBA for gambling. The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh also joins to talk about the scourge of pitcher injuries in Major League Baseball and what MLB should do to get the crisis under control.

Jontay Porter (2:51): What his ban augurs for the future of pro sports and betting.

Pitcher injuries (26:17): What is MLB doing about them? Is it too late?

Afterball (47:02): Stefan on why the Ivy League’s best basketball players are transferring.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin, discuss the death of O.J. Simpson and everything his life and his murder trial dredged up. They’re also joined by Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports for a breakdown of the NBA playoffs.

O.J. Simpson's legacy (2:05): Reckoning with the meaning of O.J.

NBA Playoffs (23:45): Breaking down the upcoming playoff picture.

Afterball (41:42): Joel on O.J. Simpson’s long and not so successful sportscasting career.

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Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings to talk about South Carolina’s victory over Iowa. They also ponder Caitlin Clark’s WNBA future, John Calipari’s reported move to Arkansas, and Tennessee’s decision to move beyond the Pat Summitt coaching tree. Finally, Sam Koppelman joins to discuss Hunterbrook Media’s new report on Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s mortgage company and how Hunterbrook is trying to use journalism to make money in the stock market.

South Carolina-Iowa (1:42): How the Gamecocks took down the Hawkeyes.

Caitlin Clark and big coaching moves (14:45): How will the Iowa star perform in the pros? And what’s next for the Kentucky men’s and Tennessee women’s basketball programs?

Ishbia (34:26): Breaking down a new story on the NBA and mortgage lending and assessing a new journalistic business model.

Afterball (55:51): Josh on Sports Illustrated’s 1955 baseball preview, featuring Willie Mays, Leo Durocher, and Laraine Day.

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Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by USA Today’s Lindsay Schnell to talk about the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament and by Buzzer’s Eamonn Brennan to discuss the men’s tournament. Finally, the Washington Post’s Kent Babb joins for a conversation about his profile of Kim Mulkey.

NCAA women (5:55): Can anyone beat South Carolina?

NCAA men (23:02): Why everyone loves North Carolina State’s DJ Burns Jr.

Mulkey profile (38:31): Kent Babb on his reporting process and everything that came after.

Afterball (1:00:33): Stefan on chess pioneer Lisa Lane.

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Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Ben Mathis-Lilley talk about whether college hoops has passed by John Calipari and why Oakland’s Jack Gohlke became a folk hero. They also discuss Kim Mulkey’s preemptive strike against the Washington Post and what to make of the strange story of Shohei Ohtani, his interpreter, and massive gambling debts.

NCAA tournament (4:06): The strangeness of tourneys that have mostly gone to form.

Mulkey (23:07): The LSU women’s basketball coach goes on the attack … over a story that hasn’t been published.

Ohtani (39:24): Trying to make sense of a very confusing series of events.

Afterball (50:56): Josh on Kobe Elvis.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the top storylines going into March Madness. They also assess the NFL’s big quarterback moves. Finally, they discuss the greatest Scrabble play of all time and the fascinating Kiwi who made it.

March Madness (5:20): Brown’s Ivy League loss, the possible showdowns in the women’s bracket, and more.

NFL QBs (26:56): Were the Steelers smart to get Russell Wilson AND Justin Fields?

Nigel Richards (41:44): A singular moment of Scrabble genius from a singular player.

Afterball (51:23): Joel on the Mississippi Valley State men’s basketball team’s lone victory and the student announcers who called it.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Great Expectations author Vinson Cunningham to talk about the fracas between the LSU and South Carolina women’s basketball teams. They also discuss Steve Garvey, DEI in Florida, and other intersections between sports and politics in 2024.

Women’s hoops (3:24): In so many ways, this weekend showed that this sport has the juice.

Sports and politics (22:07): How athletes are influencing politics and policy this election year.

Afterball (43:01): Josh on the U.S. women’s national team’s Gold Cup victory and what it all means.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by NFL reporting legend Peter King to talk about the Chicago Bears’ quarterback dilemma, what he’s seen in his four decades covering pro football, and why Bill Belichick refuses to speak to him.

Justin Fields and Caleb Williams (4:02): What are the Bears going to do?

Peter King looks back (29:48): What stories did he screw up? Which ones does he wish he got to cover?

Afterball (50:38): Stefan on D.C. public school basketball powerhouse Jackson-Reed.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss whether court-storming should be banned for good. The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins also joins to explain why she believes the NCAA is cheapening Caitlin Clark’s scoring records. Finally, they assess the NCAA’s latest legal trouble and what comes next.

Court-storming (4:41): Is it even possible to stop students from rushing the court?

Clark’s records (22:48): The AIAW’s Lynette Woodard and Pearl Moore deserve respect and attention.

NCAA (41:20): How much longer can the house of cards stay standing?

Afterball (56:18): Joel on the precarious existence of the NBA’s G League Ignite.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss whether the NBA All-Star Game is fixable. They also talk about whether Fanatics and Nike are destroying the sports uniform. Finally, writer Abraham Josephine Riesman joins to explain the allegations against wrestling impresario Vince McMahon and why they matter.

All-Star Game (3:16): What can the league do to revive what used to be a showcase event?

Uniforms (22:53): Baseball players say their new clothes are the pits. What happened?

McMahon (42:37): What’s next for pro wrestling and the man who’s controlled it for decades?

Afterball (1:01:43): Josh on the time the mayor of San Francisco insulted the 49ers’ backup quarterback.

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