This week we look with the great Washington Post journalist Michael Lee at what makes the Denver Nuggets and their star player Nikola Jokic so special. Also, I have a lot of “Choice Words” about the passing of Jim Brown. 

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On this week's episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, we talk to Prof. Louis Moore, author of "We Will Win The Day," about Lamar Jackson's new contract, the NFL Draft, and what both say about the state of the Black Q.B. in the NFL.

I have some Choice Words about France on the precipice of both the Olympics and social chaos. We've got a Just Stand Up award for Miami Heat legend, Dwyane Wade, for his courage in the face of the anti-trans bigotry his family has been facing, which caused them to leave the state of Florida. We also have and Just Sit Down awards for the cowardly silence from some of the biggest stars in the Florida sports community.

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Lou Moore

Twitter: @loumoore12

https://www.profloumoore.com/

Zirin, The Protests in France Are About to Collide With the 2024 Paris Olympics

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/paris-france-olympics-protests/

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This week we speak to Washington media legend David Aldridge about the forthcoming sale of the Washington football team by its much-loathed owner Dan Snyder. 

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This week we speak to Theresa Runstedler, author of the book Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA.

We'll have Choice Words about what Caitlin Clark has taught us throughout the fallout after the NCAA women’s championship game. We also have Jake’s Takes on the NBA finals and more. 

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Theresa Runstedtler

Twitter: @DrTRunstedtler 

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/theresa-runstedtler/black-ball/9781645036951/

Zirin, Caitlin Clark’s Lesson for White Athletes: Don’t Be a MAGA Pawn

https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/caitlin-clark-basketball-ncaa/

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On this episode of Edge of Sports, we speak to Michael Lee of the Washington Post about why this has been the most dispiriting NBA season in recent history. We don’t just catalog the moments, though. We also try to understand the underlying issues.

We have Choice Words about the late Willis Reed, and what his life meant for the New York Knicks as well as the city. We have a Just Stand Up awards for the Maryland Terrapins lady women’s team that went on a great tourney run. We also have a Just Sit Down award for Silver who has not done a great job of handling the flame ups that have occurred during the NBA season. All that and more on this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast! 

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Zirin, Willis Reed Was the Best of New York City

https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/willis-reed-obituary/

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On this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, we speak to Daily Memphian columnist Chris Herrington about the personal troubles of Memphis Grizzlies point guard and budding icon Ja Morant. We talk about the Grizzlies, the city of Memphis, and what’s next for the superstar point guard.

We have Choice Words about the MVP debate going on between Embiid, Jokic, and Giannis. We also have a Just Stand Up award to Lamar Jackson for standing on his principle, and a Just Sit Down award for the NFL owners that are seemingly colluding against Lamar. All that and more on this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast!

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Zirin, Banning Trans Athletes Is Just the Beginning:

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/congress-sports-federal-ban-trans-athletes/

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On this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, we speak to author and sports opinionist Kate Fagan about her new illustrated history of the women in basketball, Hoop Muses: An Insider’s Account to Pop Culture and the (Women’s Game). The book is illustrated by Sophia Chang and curated by the legendary hoopster Seimone Augustus. Fagan and I talk about her inspiration, creative process and what it was like working with Seimone Augustus.

We'll have Choice Words about the effort to ban trans athletes from youth sports. We give a Just Stand Up award to the New York Knicks for looking like a legitimate, joyous playoff contender down the home stretch of the season. We also have a Just Sit Down award for Texas Tech basketball coach, Mark Adams for the wild comments he made to members of his team.

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Kate Fagan

Twitter: @katefagan3

https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/seimone-augustus/hoop-muses/9781538709146/

Zirin, Banning Trans Athletes Is Just the Beginning

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/congress-sports-federal-ban-trans-athletes/

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This week we speak to Program Manager for KGNU Community Radio, and founder of the decades strong Hip Hop group Council of Word, Dave Ashton about the legacy of David Jolicoeur aka Trugoy the Dove, who passed away last week, and his groundbreaking hip hop group De La Soul. 

We also have ‘Choice Words’ about this year’s Super Bowl.” We got ‘Just Stand Up’ and 'Just Sit Down’ awards to Ron DeSantis for banning books and being an awful governor and person and the U.S. alpine ski team for their climate change themed uniforms they put out, bringing awareness to such an important issue. 

David Ashton 

https://councilofword.bandcamp.com/album/indignorance

Zirin, Why People Don’t Even Trust the Super Bowl

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/super-bowl-rigged-trust/

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This week we speak to commentator and hoops legend Christy Winters Scott about the shockwaves that have roiled the worlds of hoop in both the WNBA and NBA. We talk about the Durant trade and the big moves in both the WNBA and NBA as well as why the DMV continues to produce incredible basketball talent. 

We also have ‘Choice Words’ about LeBron breaking Kareem’s all-time scoring record.” We got ‘Just Stand Up’ and 'Just Sit Down’ awards to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for being an incredible figure of political grace and the NFL media for the ways in which they didn’t question NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the state of the league press conference.

Christy Winters-Scott

Twitter: @ChristyWScott51

Zirin, LeBron James’s Double Burden

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/lebron-james-scoring-record-king/

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This week we talk to Ian Kennedy author of the new book On Account of Darkness: Shining a Light on Race and Sport. We also speak to Michael Lee of the Washington Post about the reaction by the NBA to the police murder of Tyre Nichols. 

We also have ‘Just Stand Up’ and 'Just Sit Down’ award to everyone lifting up their voice to protest the police murder of Tyre Nichols, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for her continuation of politics-as-usual in the City of Angels.

Ian Kennedy

Twitter: @IanKennedyCK

https://www.tidewaterpress.ca/on-account-of-darkness/

Michael Lee

Twitter: @MrMichaelLee

Zirin, The Enduring Stench of Jerry Jones’s Politics

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/dallas-cowboys-jerry-jones-americas-team/

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On this week's episode of Edge of Sports, we speak to 14-year NBA veteran and basketball analyst Kendrick Perkins about his new book, The Education of Kendrick Perkins, co-written with Seth Rogoff. We talk about Beaumont, his upbringing, and some NBA basketball. We also speak about Tony Dungy and his history of bigotry covered in “kindness.”

We have a Just Stand Up award for Cyd Ziegler, who uncovered Tony Dungy’s speech at the March For Life protest in DC, and we have a Just Sit Down award for the right-wing trolls who are attacking anyone who dares tell the truth about Dungy's bigotry.

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Kendrick Perkins

Twitter: @KendrickPerkins

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250280343/theeducationofkendrickperkins

Zirin, Tony Dungy Is a Right-Wing Zealot and the NFL and NBC Don’t Care

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/tony-dungy-march-life/

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This week we talk about the sports year that was 2022, in all its pain and promise. We also have ‘Choice Words’ about Damar Hamlin, the NFL’s response, and what all of this tells us about the game of football. We also have a special edition of Jake’s Takes, NFL Playoff Edition. 

Zirin, Damar Hamlin’s Pain Is Not a Feel-Good Story

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/damar-hamlin-nfl-football/

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On this week's episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, we interview radical educator Jesse Hagopian and how a crew of Seattle activists were able to get Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll to wear shoes with a bracing political message.

We also have Choice Words about Brittany Griner's release and some words about the lates sportswriting giant, Grant Wahl. We also have a Just Stand Up award for the person who ran on a World Cup field to protest the exploitation going on behind the games. We have a Just Sit Down award for Jerry Jones, not simply due to the leak of a 65-year old photo he’s in depicting classic American racism, but also because of his racist track record running “America’s team.”

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Jesse Hagopian

Twitter: @JessedHagopian

https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/t4bl-campaign-my-cause-my-cleats/

Zirin, A Vindication for Agitation: Brittney Griner Is Coming Home

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/brittney-griner-free/

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This week we speak to Tim Bella author of the new “definitive” biography of hoopster and hall of fame talker Charles Barkley. We talk to Bell about how Barkley’s upbringing and experiences shaped Chuck into the person that we see every week on our TV sets.

We also have Choice Words about I also have some choice words about the politics surrounding the push for Brittney Griner’s freedom. We have a Just Stand Up award to the person that ran on a World Cup field to protest the exploitation going on behind the games. We also have a Just Sit Down award for Jerry Jones, not simply due to the leak of a 65-year old photo he’s in which depicts classic American racism, but also because of his racist track record running “America’s team.”

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Tim Bella

Twitter: @TimBella

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/barkley-timothy-bella?variant=40128049512482

Zirin, The Response to Brittney Griner’s Capture Is an Indictment of the Right and the “Left”

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/brittney-griner-russia-putin-right-left/

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This week we speak to documentarian Isaac Solotaroff about his new project on Al Jazeera English, Bloodsport, a harrowing look at concussions and the NFL. We also talk about a new report that shows early CTE detection could be a scientific breakthrough very soon.

We also have ‘Choice Words’ about Kyrie Irving, anti-Semitism, and his frightening new allies. 

We also have a ‘Just Stand Up’ and 'Just Sit Down’ award to Jaylen Brown for rightfully pointing out the hypocrisies of many Kyrie critics and Jaylen Brown for not giving a stronger condemnation of the widely citied film’s antisemitism.

Isaac Solotaroff

Twitter: @Isaac_Solotarof

https://isaacsolotaroff.nyc/

Zirin, Will Players Help Raise Awareness About the Horrors Surrounding the World Cup?

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/human-rights-abuses-qatar-world-cup/

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This week we speak to New York City youth basketball coach - and one time NYC Marathoner - Arya Shirazi about the state of the NBA. We also have ‘Choice Words’ about Kyrie Irving, anti-Semitism, and his frightening new allies. 

Zirin, Kyrie Irving and the Fraught History of Our Collective Liberation

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/kyrie-irving-anti-semitism-film/

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This week we spoke to sportswriter Chuck Modiano about shock NFL MVP candidate Geno Smith, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Chuck predicted this for Smith when others did not. We talk about what he saw. Also I have a tribute to my favorite writer, the recently departed Mike Davis. 

Chuck Modiano

Twitter: @ChuckModi1

https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/insane-untapped-potential-giants-backup-qb-geno-smith-article-1.3653113

Zirin, Is Portland About to Have Two Supporter-Owned Soccer Teams?

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/portland-soccer-thorns-timbers-ownership/

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This week we talked to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, former NBA player and legendary athlete-activist about his new book In The Blink of an Eye, his new memoir put out by Kaepernick Publishing. Mahmoud talks about his decision to write about his story, who his influences are, and his decision to team with Kaepernick Publishing.

We also have ‘Choice Words’ about Brittney Griner's prison conditions and the pressure we must apply to bring her home. We also have a ‘Just Stand Up’ and 'Just Sit Down’ award to Iranian rock climber Elnaz Rekabi for her brave protest and Draymond Green for an act of inexcusable violence and Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder whose time may be coming to an end. We also have Jake’s Takes NBA edition. All this and more on this week’s show!

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Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

Twitter: @RaufMahmoud

https://www.kaepernickpublishing.com/in-the-blink-of-an-eye

Zirin, On Her Birthday, We Learned About Brittney Griner’s Suffering

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/brittney-griner-russia-prison/

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This week we talked to Derek Silva, co-author of an article in the Guardian about racial epithets, college athletics, and what occurred at BYU when Duke volleyball player Rachel Richardson faced racist taunts and was subsequently told by BYU officials that she did not in fact hear them.

We also have ‘Choice Words’ about the way that the media is covering Aaron Judge’s home run chase and the erasure of Barry Lamar Bonds. We also have a ‘Just Stand Up’ and 'Just Sit Down’ award to Cherelle Griner for courageously coming forward and talking about the plight of Brittney Griner in Russia and Draymond Green for an act of inexcusable violence. All this and more on this week’s show! 

Twitter: @derekcrim

https://www.ubcpress.ca/power-played

Zirin, Aaron Judge Is Great—but Don’t Erase Barry Bonds

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/aaron-judge-barry-bonds/

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Social movements tend to arise within the world of sports during periods of upsurge and upheaval. But what about times of authoritarianism, dictatorship, or even fascism? What is the social role of the athlete during periods of reaction?

I recently had the pleasure of giving a talk at the 2022 Socialism conference in Chicago, where I addressed all of these questions. This week's episode of the Edge of Sports podcast is a recording of that talk. 

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Zirin, Sue Bird Sets a Standard and Says Goodbye to the WNBA

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/sue-bird-retirement-wnba/

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