ESPN Daily

The explosion of women’s basketball over the last few years has pulled plenty of new names – and teams – into the national conversation. Among them? USC and UCLA women’s basketball teams, two programs that have spent decades living in the shadow of past legacies, to say nothing of LA’s true love, the Lakers. But now they are playing to sold out crowds with household names like JuJu Watkins and Lauren Betts making all of their games must-see TV. And all of that drama is just setting the stage for an epic clash between the two top 10 teams on Thursday. So today, Paolo Uggetti joins the show to tell us how these teams got here, where they are going, and why loving women’s hoops is the new normal in LA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

The American football season may now be over, but the drama in Europe’s club football season, aka soccer, is just heating up. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad has been England’s most dominant club, with six home league trophies in the past seven years and a Champions League title in 2023. But this year’s campaign has been a struggle, as they sit five spots back in the English Premier League and barely qualified for the Champions League playoff. And now, having drawn defending champions Real Madrid in their first playoff matchup, things won’t get any easier.  So with the two teams playing the first of two legs on Tuesday, Luis Miguel Echegaray tells Clinton Yates what to watch for in yet another clash between these two storied clubs. Will City’s recent $223 million spending spree help them right the ship? Can Real Madrid overcome their own crucial injuries? Has Kylian Mbappé finally found his groove in Madrid?  Plus, a look at how this tournament is a crucial part of World Cup 2026 preparation for Christian Pulisic and other American players.  Previous coverage on Atalanta’s emotional journey through the pandemic: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

There was little debate about the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles were the more complete team heading into Super Bowl LIX. Better up front on defense and offense. Better at running back and wide receiver than the Kansas City Chiefs. But the Chiefs still had Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. So the Chiefs were still dangerous. Well that proved to not be anywhere near enough, as the Eagles cruised to a 40-22 win on Sunday, claiming the franchises’ second ever Super Bowl victory. So today Ben Solak and Michele Steele breakdown what went exceptionally right for the Eagles, and immensely wrong for the Chiefs in the NFL’s final game of the season. And take a look at what comes next, for a Chiefs team that heads into the offseason, with more questions than we expected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2025

Super Bowl LIX is literally just a couple of days away, and after a long season, it’s down to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles battling for the Lombardi Trophy…Again. Our own Ben Solak has made the trip down to New Orleans, and with so many of the people that we love to talk ball with in town alongside him, he was able to get Kevin Clark, the host of This is Football, to join him ahead of the big game. It’s the buddy cop movie that you didn’t know you needed in your life, as they breakdown what you need to know about the Eagles plan of attack, and the Chiefs inevitability, ahead of Super Bowl LIX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

The Super Bowl is one of the most high attended events in the American cultural landscape every year. And New Orleans, the site of this year’s game, is a city known for letting folks have a good time. But in the wake of the New Year’s Day domestic terror attack on Bourbon Street, concerns about safety and security at the NFL’s biggest game are at an all time high. So today, ESPN investigative journalist Tisha Thompson goes behind the scenes with NFL security to explain how ramped up the security apparatus surrounding the Superdome and the city itself is for Super Bowl LIX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs may not be the offensive juggernaut they once were, but they keep raising trophies nonetheless. And though every member of this franchise would love to become the first in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row, their ultimate plan goes far beyond this season.  So today, Adam Teicher, our man on the Chiefs beat, tells Michele Steele how the team’s unique approach to building a winner, and why this dynasty may be just getting started. Plus, with retirement approaching this summer, Adam looks back at his 32 years on the job, and his front row seat to the winning culture Andy Reid has built.  Adam’s report: Three-peat or not, this Chiefs team is built to last Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2025

Last offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles were confronted with countless questions about the future of the franchise. The biggest one being just how the Birds could overcome the lingering hangover from a loss in Super Bowl XLVII and then a flameout in the playoffs the following year. But an offseason that started in chaos, ended with the signing of MVP candidate Saquon Barkley, a restructuring of the coaching staff, and a culture change that permeated throughout the Philadelphia locker room. So today, Tim McManus joins us to show just how the Eagles were able to go from a team in turmoil to a return trip to the Super Bowl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2025

On Saturday night, the sports world got hit with the news of the Dallas Mavericks’ shocking decision to trade superstar Luka Dončić, as well as Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and their 2029 first-round draft pick. Senior ESPN NBA writer Tim Bontemps joins host Clinton Yates to discuss the Mavericks’ motives and the long history of Lakers Exceptionalism that set the stage for this trade, and how the seismic shift will reverberate throughout the NBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2025

It goes without saying that January is a high stakes time of year for the football world, and this year, that was more true than ever. The first 12-team College Football playoff brought us three compelling rounds, mirroring the NFL’s own longtime playoff tradition.  We of course covered all of it on ESPN Daily. But there are often other stories, or different angles on stories, that we don't always have room for in the show. So today, as we say farewell to January, we're trying something new.  Michele Steele and Harry Lyles Jr. join Clinton Yates to further unpack some of the biggest stories of the month. As a chorus of voices begin calling for the Bills to fire Sean McDermott, does Josh Allen deserve more scrutiny? How did Marcus Freeman make Notre Dame cool? And why do so many people care about Ichiro Suziki falling one vote shy of a unanimous Baseball Hall of Fame selection? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2025

If there’s one name to know in men’s college basketball this season, it’s probably Cooper Flagg. The nation’s number one recruit is playing in his freshman season at Duke, and living up to all of the hype. But his college career is about to experience a new chapter on Saturday, when Flagg and the Blue Devils host North Carolina on ESPN. Jay Bilas, the voice of college basketball at ESPN, joins the show today. He’s bled Duke blue since joining the team in the early 1980’s. And while he’s no longer on the team, or on the coaching staff, he knows a thing or two about the most storied rivalry on the college hardwood. He breaks down what Flagg has brought to the Duke lineup, and explains what the latest one-and-done in college basketball is about to experience, in his first taste of the rivalry on Tobacco Road. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2025

When the lights go down at recess at KIPP AMP Middle School in Brooklyn, it’s not time to zone out or to take a nap. It’s showtime. It’s time for The Wrestling Club. Founded by an innovative teacher looking to connect with his students during the pandemic, this club turns watching pro wrestling inside out to teach students about storytelling, conflict resolution, inclusion and more. And it doesn’t stop there, because you never know which WWE superstar is going to walk through the door when the club is in session.  So today, Andreas Hale joins us fresh from his visit with all the members of what is now the most famous junior high school club in the world. A club where life lessons and, most importantly, possibility are being taught one match at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2025

For years, the NFL has been trying to make the hiring of people of color in leadership positions a more fair and more equitable process. Through initiatives like accelerator programs meant to introduce prospects to owners and other people with hiring ability, alongside the widely controversial Rooney Rule which literally mandates that people of all backgrounds get interviews, the league has been marginally successful at changing who is in the room when it comes to coordinators, head coaches, and general managers. Today ESPN senior NFL writer Kalyn Kahler reports on a new speed bump in the road: the trend of "package deals," whereby an agent places multiple clients in coaching or front office roles with the same team. She details her reporting on where this practice comes from, why it’s hurting the prospects of minorities to get these jobs and what, if anything, the NFL can do to fight against it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2025

Super Bowl LIX is set. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will meet in New Orleans, for a rematch of Super Bowl LII. Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, Travis Kelce and the rest set their sights on becoming the first NFL team to ever win three consecutive titles, while Saquon Barkley looks to put a championship stamp on an MVP-level first season in Philadelphia. But before we set our sights on the big game, Ben Solak, Seth Walder, and Michele Steele go through how those two teams got past their opposition in the conference championships and look at what’s next for the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders after a heartbreaking end to their seasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2025

The championship round is upon us. Sunday, in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City for another showdown with the Chiefs –– their fourth playoff date in five years. And in the NFC, the upstart Washington Commanders will try to knock off Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s all for the right to play in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.  So today, Bill Barnwell breaks down these matchups to help answer all our burning questions. Is the time finally right for Josh Allen’s Bills? Can Patrick Mahomes patch over the Chiefs’ flaws? Is Jalen Hurts capable of clutch quarterbacking? And can Jayden Daniels complete the greatest run we’ve ever seen from a rookie? We get into all of it and lots more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced its latest class of enshrinees on Tuesday evening. Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner, will join Dick Allen and Dave Parker in the MLB Hall of Fame Class of 2024.  But as those stars are enshrined in Cooperstown, we remember a baseball legend we lost recently. RIcky Henderson passed away on December 20th, at 65 years of age, just days before his 66th birthday.  The game’s greatest lead off hitter, base stealer, and as the inventor of swagger, Rickey’s impact can still be felt now. So today we are joined by Howard Bryant - The author of Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original, who breaks down Ricky’s career, legacy, and impact on the game he changed forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 January 2025

When Jimmy Butler arrived in Miami in 2019, the initial thought was that this was a perfect marriage. You had a fanatically driven, yet volatile, All Star linking up with a celebrated NBA institution, better known as Heat Culture. And with two NBA Finals appearances in four years, everything was going as planned. But then stories of special treatment and feelings of disrespect started to bubble to the surface and suddenly Butler found himself at odds with the architect of Heat Culture – the indomitable Pat Riley.  Today, Ramona Shelburne joins us to break down how this went from bad to worse in Miami and how Jimmy Butler might have finally met his match. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2025

Last night, we saw a champion crowned in college football. Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes got the proverbial monkey off their backs with a clutch performance over Notre Dame. And there to witness it all, live and in person, were our friends from the College Gameday podcast, Rece Davis and Pete Thamel. So today, we’re turning our show over to Rece and Pete, plus special guest Harry Lyles Jr., as they take stock of Ohio State’s win and consider whether Notre Dame has now made itself a perennial contender.   Check out our favorite episodes of 2024.  College Gameday Podcast: Apple | Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

For college football blue bloodsNotre Dame and Ohio State, the realities of modern big time college football are a whole new ball game. As NIL deals and the transfer portal give players more control over their careers than ever, and big money collectives blur the lines between amateur and professional athletics, the Buckeyes and Irish need to balance the new against decades of tradition. The challenges can be as simple as trying to change the seating at Notre Dame Stadium, or as complicated as justifying the NIL money needed to pursue the best talent in the field.  So today - ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee, reports from the site of tonight’s College Football Playoff National Championship, to explain how for coaches Ryan Day and Marcus Freeman getting to this point means having already triumphed over the expectations of the past. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2025

For many people, the NFL’s divisional round is the most exciting weekend of football on the calendar all year long. Eight teams, four games, with trips to the conference championships on the line. And this year’s matchups are bangers. Whether it’s an MVP showdown between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, or the dynamic Jayden Daniels vying for an upset of the Lions in Motor City, or Saquon Barkley continuing his push for a ring in year one outside of the Meadowlands, these games figure to deliver the goods. So Ben Solak joins the program to give Michele Steele a preview of all the action, and to explain why it’s just plain unfair that the Chiefs are rounding into their ultimate form at the season’s most crucial point. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2025

As the NFL season comes to a close, some teams are scrambling to find new coaches, kicking off the frenzy known as the NFL coaching carousel. ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano joins ESPN Daily’s own NFL expert Michele Steele to analyze the Patriots’ signing of Mike Vrabel, and look at some of the other choices that are more up in the air. Could these meetings between Jerry Jones and Deion Sanders land Prime Time in Dallas? Is the NFL’s Rooney Rule — intended to increase the number of coaches of color — being ignored by teams? Will Detroit’s highly sought-after coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn pass up another year with the Lions? Will Tom Brady use his clout to poach a coach for the Raiders? And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2025

When Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors won 12 of their first 15 games this season, it seemed they might have solved what's ailed them the past few years. But in the ensuing weeks and months, wins have been exceedingly hard to come by, and with Curry playing fewer minutes than ever. Warriors fans are growing increasingly restless. So with Golden State taking the national TV stage against the Timberwolves Wednesday night, Tim Keown shares what he learned from a sit down with Curry and explores whether this team is doing right by him. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2025

This weekend marks the debut of The Unrivaled, an ambitious 3-on-3 women’s basketball league loaded with WNBA talent. This new venture has spared no expense to build their cutting edge venue in Miami. And thanks to a series of A-List investors, these athletes will have every amenity they could ever ask for. But what happens when these players finally take the court? Will the players buy in? And will the fans tune in? Or will we once again find ourselves writing an obituary for another upstart sports league? Today, Kendra Andrews joins us to break down how The Unrivaled could surprise us all and why it just might be what the WNBA offseason needs. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2025

The NFL playoffs are underway, and aside from tonight’s Monday Night Football clash between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, we know who is moving on. But before next week’s divisional round matchups suck up all of the air in the room, ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder and Ben Solak breakdown how the winners punched their tickets to the next round. Before previewing tonight’s super wild card finale. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2025

The NFL playoffs are set to begin tomorrow. 14 teams still have a chance at lifting the Lombardi Trophy in a few weeks, some with better odds than others. But it all starts with the Wild Card round. Six games over three days to determine who will move on. So before the action kicks off our old friend Mina Kimes breaks down each matchup with host Michele Steele to make sure that you know everything you need ahead of all of the games. And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2025

New Year’s Day’s Peach Bowl brought us an all-time classic, as Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo grew his legend, helping the Sun Devils to storm back in the 4th quarter, only to fall short against Texas in double-overtime. Beyond that, there hasn't been much drama in this inaugural twelve team College Football Playoff.   But with two compelling matchups Thursday and Friday, that may be about to change. Spencer Hall joins guest host Michele Steele to explain why Ohio State v. Texas could be more competitive than you may think, why they’re even more excited for Penn State’s showdown with Notre Dame, and how this playoff is setting the stage for every playoff to come. Check out Spencer’s newsletter, Channel 6, and his podcast, Shutdown Fullcast.  And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Capital One Orange Bowl Penn State Nittany Lions Notre Dame Fighting Irish Thursday, Jan 9 | 7:30 ET | ESPN Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Texas Longhorns Ohio State Buckeyes Friday, Jan 10 | 7:30 ET | ESPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2025

It’s no secret that times are hard for fans of Chicago sports. The White Sox, Cubs, Bulls, and Bears are all in the midst of middling, or worse, performance in recent years. And the same is true of the team that used to be the reliable winner, the Blackhawks. When they drafted generational prospect Connor Bedard first overall in the 2023 NHL draft, the future appeared to be bright. An idea seemingly confirmed when Bedard brought home the Calder Memorial Trophy - the NHL’s rookie of the year award - in his first season on the ice. But year two has only added more angst to the situation. Bedard suffered through a sophomore slump to start the season, and Chicago is at the bottom of the standings in the NHL. So today, ESPN senior hockey reporter, Emily Kaplan tells Michele Steele, during an in person conversation, what the problem has been with Bedard and the Blackhawks in year two. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2025

Every year the NBA Draft produces a crop of rookies that are full of expectations. And some are stamped with labels like “can’t miss” or “generational”. But where their careers go from there aren’t always inline with the guarantees they come into the league with. So today we talk with veteran NBA reporters Tim MacMahon and Michael Wright about two of the most recent prospects to have been deemed “can't miss”. Players who appear to be at crossroads in their careers – but heading in opposite directions. First, there’s Zion Williamson, the phenom prodigy from Duke, who can’t seem to stay on the court. And then there’s Victor Wembanyama, the wunderkind from France that seems to be living up to all the hype. And while these two former No. 1 draft picks still have plenty of basketball left, the final verdict on their legacies is yet to be determined. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2025

The NFL regular season has come to a close. And the league saved the best for last, with the hunt for the NFC’s one seed coming down to a Sunday night matchup between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. So with all of the byes determined, and playoff pairings set - Ben Solak and Michele Steele explore how the 14 playoff teams locked down their spots, and what the offseason holds in store for those who didn’t make it. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2025

As we settle into the new year, the phrase “deer in headlights” feels like an apt description for the state many members of “sports Twitter” currently find themselves in. More than two years after Elon Musk took over Twitter, now known as X, the platform has become an increasingly unpleasant space for sports conversations. While many users have already migrated to other platforms like Threads and Bluesky, plenty more are staying put—unhappy with the current state of affairs but reluctant to abandon the communities they’ve carefully curated and built. Today, we’re joined by three guests who have been notable contributors to the sports Twitter community for more than a decade. TJ Adeshola (X, Instagram) formerly oversaw sports partnerships at Twitter, Reeta Hubbard, aka “The NFL Chick” (Bluesky, X), is a longtime sports commentator currently hosting Gridiron Gals, and Jason Concepcion (Bluesky, Instagram, X) is the Emmy-winning host of Six Trophies. They spoke with David Dennis Jr. to reflect on the glory days of sports Twitter, explore how and why it took a turn for the worse, and discuss where the community goes from here. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2025

The sports world is transforming in 2025, with new rule changes, new playoffs formats, and many other innovations across the landscape. So we brought on some of our favorite regular guests — Katie Barnes, Bill Barnwell, Elle Duncan, Luis Miguel Echegaray, Andreas Hale, Ryan McGee, Jeff Passan — and Clinton Yates, who will be back in the host’s chair later this month, to tell us not only what they’re most excited to cover in 2025, but also what they’re most excited to watch as fans.  Plus, guest hosts Michele Steele and David Dennis, Jr. share their hot takes for the year and our team of ESPN Daily producers reveal what they’re most looking forward to covering on the show. Check out this playlist featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2025

On September 26th, 2024, the Athletics played their final game ever in Oakland, the city they’ve called home for 57 years. As friend of the show Jeff Passan wrote, baseball in the East Bay was “killed by greed… John Fisher did not have to move this team… This was a choice. A wrong one. History will sneer.”  For the conclusion of our Death of a Sports Town series, we trekked to the Oakland Coliseum and bore witness to the sights, sounds, and emotions of a city’s last gasp as a big time pro sports town.  It was a poignant and passionate display from a vibrant and rich fanbase, defiant to the very end. Today, we share that experience with you.  Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Death of a Sports Town Episodes: Apple Podcasts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, & Part 4 Spotify: All episodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2025

In covering Oakland’s unraveling as a big time sports town, we’ve documented the greed, the loss, the dubious decisions, and the rich sports community soon to be left behind. But we’ve yet to fully examine the most pertinent question of all––does the Athletics planned move to Las Vegas make any sense at all?  Today, in part four of our series Death of a Sports Town, we take stock of why the A’s (and MLB) are so enamored with Las Vegas––a city soon to be the smallest market in the league––why this move will be extraordinarily messy, and why Oakland is America’s most-underappreciated sports town.  Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Death of a Sports Town Episodes: Apple Podcasts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, & Part 5 Spotify: All episodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 December 2024

The loss of three professional sports teams in five years has thrust Oakland into the media spotlight, with coverage focusing on every twist, turn, stadium proposal, and relocation rumor. But amid all that noise, a central experience has been overshadowed: the story of the fans. In part three of our series, Death of a Sports Town, we turn our attention to the diehard Oakland sports fans who refuse to let their city’s reputation define them. We explore the thriving, tight-knit community that grew within the walls of the Coliseum and how, even after the teams have left, those bonds strive to endure in the face of an uncertain future. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Death of a Sports Town Episodes: Apple Podcasts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, & Part 5 Spotify: All episodes Statement from the Athletics: ESPN emailed the Oakland Athletics, asking “What does the team feel it owes its fans and the city of Oakland as September 26th approaches?” The team responded with the following statement:  “We are deeply grateful to Oakland for being home to the A’s for nearly 60 years. In that span, the team and its fans celebrated four World Series championships, served as home to seven American League MVPs, made countless lasting memories, and achieved a storied place in baseball history. After an earnest and unprecedented effort to bring a visionary ballpark to downtown Oakland, we were unable to reach a deal, and more importantly, secure a reliable path to a fully approved project. We appreciate the community members, local leaders and staff who worked diligently to build a new home in Oakland and applaud the fans who passionately advocated for the team to stay. The A’s time in Oakland will always be a cherished part of this franchise’s history, and we carry that spirit forward on this journey to Sacramento and eventually to our new home in Las Vegas. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the loyal fans for their unwavering support throughout the years.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2024

Any time a franchise owner threatens to leave a city, the pressure and scrutiny on civic leaders intensifies. But in Oakland, a parallel story emerged—a group of activist fans who refused to let the Athletics go quietly. In the second part of our series, Death of a Sports Town, we examine the three men who led the Warriors, Raiders, and Athletics away from “the Town,” the reasons behind their decisions, and the intimate story of one fan who launched a movement to fight back. The multipart series: ‘Death of a Sports Town’ is being re-published in the feed for the next 3 days. If you don’t want to wait, you can check out all of the episodes of this series from when they originally aired at the links below. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Death of a Sports Town Episodes: Apple Podcasts: Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, & Part 5 Spotify: All episodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 December 2024

On the afternoon of September 26th, the Oakland Athletics played the Texas Rangers in their final game ever in the city they’ve called home for 57 seasons. Following the lead of the Warriors and Raiders, they are the third major sports franchise to leave the city in just five years. This exodus is the culmination of decades of decisions, negotiations and missteps. And now, Oakland is no longer a big-time sports town.  So how exactly did we get here? How does this all look and feel on the ground in the East Bay? And when a city loses all its teams, what’s left behind? With the help of lifelong Bay Area resident Tim Keown, we’ve been exploring these questions for months. And today, we kick off our multipart series Death of a Sports Town with a look at the ironically rich history of sports in “The Town,” and we unearth the 30-year-old decision that doomed sports in the gritty-city-by-the-bay.   The multipart series: ‘Death of a Sports Town’ is being re-published in the feed for the next 4 days. If you don’t want to wait, you can check out all of the episodes of this series from when they originally aired at the links below. Apple Podcasts: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, & Part 5 Spotify: All episodes Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 December 2024

It’s one of the most infamous fan stories in sports history: when Eagles fans booed Santa at halftime of a game played at Franklin Field. But who was the Santa in question - and why was he booed and pelted with snowballs? It’s ESPN Daily’s Christmas tradition to bring you this episode, so hear an encore with Jeremy Schaap and Mina Kimes as they reflect on the enduring legacy of the Philadelphia Santa. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2024

By the time the end of the year rolls around, it’s easy to forget what has gone down in the previous 365-ish days. A story that felt like the center of the world in February, is lost to the passing of time as winter turns to spring turns to summer turns to fall turns to winter. But don’t fear, because today Michele Steele, David Dennis Jr., and Greg Wyshysnki hand out their awards for the biggest and best sports stories of the year. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2024

After months of games, upsets, rankings, arguments and prognostications – the College Football Playoff is finally here.  And tonight the race for the national championship starts in earnest in the heart of college football: Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. That showdown between Indiana and Notre Dame is just an appetizer for a full meal of games this weekend that could somehow create more questions than answers as we enter year one of this new 12-team bracket. So today, our intrepid expert Ryan McGee joins us to break down the first round and beyond in the CFP and also tells us why he hopes we will soon say bye-bye to all these byes. Check out the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2024

The 1970s were a tough decade for the New York Jets. After winning the Super Bowl in 1969, they quickly became the laughing stock in the NFL, unable to post a single winning season throughout the decade. But in 1981, four promising young defensive lineman changed everything. Mark Gastineau, Adbul Salaam, Marty Lyons and Joe Klecko became such a prolific force on the Jets defense that they earned the moniker ‘The New York Sack Exchange’. These players are the subject of the newest ESPN 30 for 30 Film 'The New York Sack Exchange' which debuted last Friday, and is available right now on ESPN +. Today Rich Cimini, a Jets beat reporter for ESPN, and a lifelong Long Islander, gives host David Dennis Jr. the inside scoop on the New York Sack Exchange. He describes the interpersonal tension that brewed alongside their incredible success on the field, and explores a legacy that persists to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2024

It's hard to believe that Indiana, which has lost more college football games than any other FBS program, has earned a spot in the inaugural twelve team college football playoff. And no matter what happens in their instate showdown with Notre Dame Friday night, it's already been a dream season for head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers. A decade ago, Cignetti made a risky bet on himself, moving from a title-winning assistant role under Nick Saban at Alabama to head coach at little-known IU-Pennsylvania. But now his confident style has completely changed the culture in Bloomington.  Today, Adam Rittenberg joins Harry Lyles Jr. to introduce us to the man himself and explain how Cignetti’s already thinking far past this season, with a vision to make Indiana a powerhouse for years to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2024

It started out as a rumor — one that most people thought was a joke — but now it’s all very, very real: Bill Belichick is the new head coach of the University of North Carolina football team. Just what would make someone with eight Super Bowl rings decide that an ACC afterthought should be the next stop in his career? And while many people could argue that the transfer portal and NIL deals are making the college game look more like the NFL every year, there is still one more important question: Can someone with a notoriously frigid demeanor handle the glad-handing and booster-hugging world of NCAA football? Ryan McGee joins host David Dennis, Jr. to answer all those questions and to spell out just what a Belchick Era in Chapel Hill might look like and also to remind everyone that there’s nowhere to go but up for a team that hasn’t really mattered for over a century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

After 15 weeks of NFL football, the playoff picture is becoming more clear. But almost as important as who is going to get in, is how they are going to get there. We saw both the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks finish their games with questions about the health of their signal callers. While in Detroit, the Lions, already seriously injured on defense, suffered through more pain in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. But that’s what happens at this time of year. Nobody is playing healthy. Except for Ben Solak and ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder. Ben switches into the hosts chair, while Seth subs in as guest. The pair make sure you understand how the action unfolded on Sunday, and why it went down the way that it did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2024

Few rivalries are as bitter as the ones that exist between two teams in one city.  Ask New York Mets fans and New York Yankees fans, where the hatred can divide households. Or Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox fans whose team alliances mix with the pride in their neighborhoods. While out west, Los Angeles Lakers fans play the big brother, to their neglected stepsiblings, Los Angeles Clippers fans. Well across the pond on Sunday, in the United Kingdom, Manchester will be the site of one of those rivalries as Manchester United and Manchester City will meet in the Manchester Derby for the 195th time. Today Luis Miguel Echegaray, himself a former resident of the U.K., describes how these two clubs have defined the city for decades, and explores the modern challenges each of them are facing on and off the pitch, before explaining to Michele Steele how Liverpool is perched atop the Premier League standings, happy with whatever outcome emerges. You can honor Jim Valvano and support ESPN’s V Week with a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2024

In 2008, Lisa Salters reported an E60 documentary called Blood Brothers about the family of former NBA star Carlos Boozer and their quest to save their son, Carmani, from sickle cell disease. But it turns out that journey was just the tip of the iceberg, because in April of this year — 16 years later — Blood Brothers was back on for a very different reason. ESPN NBA Draft Analyst Jonathan Givony joins host David Dennis, Jr. to take us through Lisa and E60’s reporting from 2008 and April of this year, and explain how a story of medical triumph ultimately landed in his own jurisdiction as the Boozer’s younger sons, twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer, became top NBA draft prospects. You can stream the E60 Documentary Blood Brothers on ESPN+. You can honor Jim Valvano and support ESPN’s V Week with a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2024

The field for the College Football Playoff is set and with a new expanded 12-team format, this looks to be the most exciting path to the title that we have ever seen. And as we are quickly reminded, no matter how big the playoff bracket gets, someone is always going to be left out, and that someone is always going to have something to say about it. But what about those other 36 bowls? The ones that have nothing to do with winning a national title? Are they nothing more than a big show of pomp, circumstance and giant Pop Tarts? David Hale joins David Dennis Jr. to tell us what we can expect to see this bowl season, and beyond, as college football, in its second century of tradition, is evolving faster than it ever has. You can honor Jim Valvano and support ESPN’s V Week with a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2024

The Emirates NBA Cup is now in year two and we're all still trying to feel out what place it will take in the league’s attention economy. But one thing is clear –– nearly everyone is thrilled to have some bigger stakes on the table this early in the NBA season. Are the Oklahoma City Thunder ready to avenge their playoff elimination against the Dallas Mavericks? Can the New York Knicks prove their new offense-first approach to be a winning formula? Are Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors ready to contend for another title?  With the cup quarterfinals happening Tuesday and Wednesday, Tim Bontemps joins David Dennis Jr. to preview what to watch for and why this week will give us our biggest indication yet as to which contenders are for real. Tue, Dec. 10  Magic vs. Bucks | 7 p.m. ET (TNT)  Mavericks vs. Thunder | 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT) Wed, Dec. 11  Hawks vs. Knicks | 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) Warriors vs. Rockets | 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT) You can honor Jim Valvano and support ESPN’s V Week with a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2024

14 weeks into the 2024 NFL season, and the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. The Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles are in. And both the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers are sure to punch their tickets to the postseason soon. In the NFC, the competition for the rest of the landscape is fierce, while in the AFC, all but one of the teams currently slated for the playoffs has more than a 90% chance of making it in. So today, Michele Steele and Ben Solak break down how the teams that are in got there, and what everyone else needs to do in order to have a shot. You can honor Jim Valvano and support ESPN’s V Week with a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2024

The 2024 Formula 1 season wraps up this weekend in Abu Dhabi and in many ways nothing is different, but at the same time, everything has changed. First off, you have Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver wrapped up his fourth straight title a couple weeks ago. But his team, Red Bull, has somehow fallen off the map. And now legendary names like McClaren and Ferrari – who haven’t won a team title in decades – have once again raced their way to the top of the standings. Now, just add a mix of reality TV magic and a little bit of Brad Pitt, and you have yourself the modern Formula 1 package. So today, Laurence Edmonson joins David Dennis Jr. to explain all the drama from the garage to the track and tells us why the resurgence of F1 is just getting started. You can honor Jim Valvano and support ESPN’s V Week with a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

In recent years MLB’s Hot Stove has been kind of lukewarm. Even with big ticket free agents on the market, the pursuit of free agents dragged well into the New Year each winter. But ESPN’s Jeff Passan tells today’s host, David Dennis Jr., that won’t be the case with Juan Soto this offseason. The transcendent lefty slugger has virtually every big market owner chasing after him with a blank checkbook, looking to change the fortunes of their team with one big transaction. And with Soto looking to find his new home by the end of next week’s winter meeting, and Scott Boras leading negotiations for him - and a bevy of other big name free agents - the dominos should start to fall soon. You can honor Jim Valvano and support ESPN’s V Week with a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2024

It’s been more than a decade since the Philadelphia 76ers began their so-called “process” to tank-the-team, earn high draft picks, and set themselves up for a bright future. This strategy has now become the norm across sports, and for the Sixers’ sake, it did yield them Joel Embiid, the team’s first MVP winner in 22 years.  But it’s also been filled with crisis after crisis. Two number one picks that flopped and big time trades, first for Jimmy Butler and then James Harden, that ultimately went nowhere. This year, the offseason acquisition of Paul George plus the retention of breakout star Tyrese Maxey was supposed to give Embiid his best shot at a title. But with the big man missing 15 of 19 games and George and Maxey also missing time, Philadelphia finds itself near the bottom of the standings. From the outside, it looks to have brought about a complete breakdown in the locker room and major question marks about team president Daryl Morey’s best laid plans.  Today, Ramona Shelburne takes inside the latest, and possibly biggest Sixers crisis yet.  You can honor Jim Valvano and support ESPN’s V Week with a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2024