Table of Content
Akintoye explains the mental makeup and leadership potential of a young man who's not afraid to play the villain. While NBA players and their style of play have changed drastically in the league's 75 years of existence, the rules that govern the game have mostly stayed the same. The popularity of the All-Star Game's "Elam Ending" shows that changing many of basketball's long-standing rules could improve the game for fans, players and the league. ESPN's Kirk Goldsberry dives deep into which rules should get scrapped and what to do instead. Oh, and Ben Simmons will be there too, though he won't be playing due to an injury. Zach Lowe tells us all about this possible conspiracy and catches us up on what's been going on around the league, including a couple of pantheon performances by LeBron James.
Alyssa Roenigk breaks down how the sport is being transformed, as well as the names and teams you need to know before this weekend's championship. For all the strides Title IX helped women make in sports, it's never been a more contentious time for who gets to compete as a woman. In Part 4 of the documentary "37 Words," filmmaker Clare Marash met transsexual kids whose right to participate in society as themselves is in question by dozens of state legislatures - on the field and in life. And in our final episode to mark 50 years since Title IX became law, host Allison Glock and Clare Marash look at the future of civil rights around education and sports through families fighting for their kids to play. Losing night after night isn't easy for any athlete, but veteran UFC fighter Sam Alvey's winless streak is something to behold. Alvey, whose nickname is "Smile'n," hasn't won a fight since 2018.
Curse of the Pharaoh: Napoleon's Secret Game Walkthrough
After being named a captain in this year's Pro Bowl, Michael Vick faced a new wave of criticism. Animal advocates and football fans alike point to Vick being sent to federal prison for his involvement in dogfighting. Between Vick's initial NFL run, his time served and his return to football following that sentence, he has a complicated story. Ahead of tonight's "30 for 30" documentary, ESPN's Bomani Jones explores the context of Vick's career, his ongoing path to redemption and what his legacy will be.
After Jimmy Butler's dominant performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals and the trash talk that came with it, Tuesday's Game 4 promises to turn up the heat on the Lakers. Miami has ruined LA's chances of a sweep, and now hopes to ride the wave of momentum to even the series. The Heat are also looking to get their injured stars Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic back from injury. Malika Andrews joins the show from inside the bubble, where she's been for nearly 100 days, to tell us what she expects to see in Game 4, and what she's learned from covering the strangest postseason in NBA history. Sunday's slate of NFL games ranged from the completely normal to increasingly bizarre. Aaron Rodgers aimed to send the Bears back to hibernation, with a dominant Packers victory.
Our expert team
Doc shares how the sports world at large reacted to the verdict and the riots that followed, and how the social responsibilities of an athlete have changed in the 30 years since. The NBA Finals tip off tonight, and we caught up with Bob Voulgaris. The alleged former shadow GM of the Dallas Mavericks is of course also one of the most successful bettors in NBA history. Voulgaris tells us what each team needs to do to get their hands on the Larry O'Brien Trophy...and lets us in on his favorite to win it all. The WNBA playoffs tip off tonight, after a season dominated by stories about Brittney Griner's detainment in Russia. On the court, legends such as Sylvia Fowles and Sue Bird are retiring and stars like A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are lighting up the next generation.
The Brooklyn Nets were the talk of the NBA offseason, and as their season tips off tonight, it seems like the dust has settled...for now. But what's Kevin Durant's future just months after he requested to be traded away? And what will Ben Simmons look like after more than a year away from the game? Nick Friedell shares his conversations with Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons with us, and he takes us for a ride through the Nets' offseason drama as they take the court for a new season.
Refs must treat Morant like star he is
The Celtics-Nets series started off as one of the more intriguing matchups in the first-round of the NBA playoffs. But after a pair of late-game meltdowns by Brooklyn, the herculean efforts of Jayson Tatum, and a blowout at home in Game 3, the Nets find themselves facing a sweep at home. We called up our Nets correspondent Nick Friedell ahead of Game 4 to get a sense of what's at stake for Brooklyn in this series...and why a broom might not be enough to clean up this mess. But there's a lot more to it than scouts simply gossiping about gluteals. There's plenty of science behind why rear ends matter for athletic performance.
The 49ers started to get their groove back, beating the LA Rams on a last-second field goal. COVID chaos was in the mix, too, with the Broncos starting a wide receiver at QB due to a team coronavirus outbreak, and the Ravens-Steelers game moved yet again. Bill Barnwell breaks down everything we saw on Sunday, and what to expect as the league grapples with its biggest bout of COVID chaos yet. Then, Pablo examines a different kind of chaos in Saturday's boxing bouts. He sits number 3 on the all-time rushing list behind only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton.
Switch Joy-Con drift is 'design flaw' and gamers should get free replacements – watchdog
In anything resembling normalcy, Judge would be a shoe-in for American League MVP. And yet, Shohei Ohtani exists. The Angels' pitcher/designated hitter/unicorn is once again doing something that no player has ever done...playing all-star caliber baseball as a pitcher and a hitter. Jeff Passan, a man who is not afraid to make tough decisions, settles the debate once and for all.
But now, in his 16th NFL season, Gore finds himself on a team that might not win a single game. Then, Ryan McGee joins the show to talk about tomorrow's surprising matchup between BYU and Coastal Carolina, and educate us on the ways and customs of Myrtle Beach, SC. Tonight, the Golden State Warriors start a two-game home stand against the Los Angeles Clippers, on the heels of a hot streak from star Steph Curry. After 18 months of bad luck, this Warriors team still finds itself uncertain of when they'll be real title contenders again.
ESPN Senior Writer and tennis encyclopedia Howard Bryant looks back on Serena's legendary career one more time...before it comes to a close. As the NFL preseason rolls along, we're getting a look at several of this year's rookies, both hyped and unsung, franchise saviors and camp invites fighting for a roster spot. But when it comes to evaluating these prospects, there is one BIG feature that NFL scouts have been obsessed with. "Thicc Six." It's a phrase that exploded across Twitter last season in the NFL, usually when a quarterback throws a touchdown to an open...and eligible...offensive lineman.
That included "Stat Boy" Tony Reali to correct them, a cast of singular journalists who joined them on set, and legendary pranks that were so convincing they rocked the sports world. The allegations range from racially insensitive and lewd language to conduct some employees felt was inappropriate and misogynistic. ESPN's Baxter Holmes shares his reporting on this story, the NBA's response, and what happens from here. The Winter Olympics begin this week, but if you're anything like us, you probably need some help getting up to speed on who to watch out for in Beijing.
