Listen Now

Start off by begrudgingly talking about Donny boy and how he just can’t stop talking about sports. Then we talk about CTE, the Tour Championship and the meaninglessness of streaks in baseball. For cricket and cycling, we touch on the significance of playing in Pakistan and a new UCI president. Our main topic for the week is what it means to be a world champion. When is it legitimate? Does it matter? Finally, we end of “I think” pieces on conferences and the baseball playoffs. https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/episode-60-what-does-it-mean-to-be-world-champion.mp3

We return this week to touch on the NFL’s seemingly purposeful ineptitude and the NBA trade cycle. Further, we touch on the US Open semifinals and the ridiculous idea that most golfers take risks by turning pro. Then we discuss greatness in cricket bowling and the potential for salary caps in cycling. Our main topic this week is how to understand selfishness in the context of sports. When is it good or bad? Our “I think” pieces both touch on why we shouldn’t separate sports from politics. https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/episode-59-how-do-we-perceive-selfishness-in-sports.mp3

We come back after a few weeks off to discuss the week’s news, including Serena’s brilliance and Aaron Rodger’s interesting ESPN article. Then we move into updates on cycling and cricket. Finally, our main topic for this week is what positions matter most in sports. Further, how does this change and what does it say about what matters most to us? Finally, we share our first “I think” segments in quite awhile! https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/episode-58-which-positions-are-most-important.mp3

We start this week with the news, including Curry’s adventure on the golf course and Neymar to PSG. Further, we dig into the NBA abroad and the progression of CTE research. Then we announce our first book club selection, Selection Day by Aravind Adiga. Join us in reading and discussing this book about cricket team selection in modern Mumbai. In our cycling and cricket updates, we talk about unions and Lance’s legacy. The main section this week is on how harmful euphemisms can be in sports and how coded our language is when we talk about athletes. Lastly, our I think pieces are on Kaepernick and longevity in sports. (The irony was completely unintentional.) https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/episode-57-euphemism-in-sports-our-book-club.mp3

This week we start with a lengthy discussion of the news. We touch on the turmoil in Cleveland, Jordan Spieth & the British Open and Federer’s amazing longevity. In both the cricket and cycling updates, we touch on how the women’s sports are growing, but still struggling. Our main topic for the week is how we consume sports and the ways that things are changing. We talk about how computers and AI are going to change reporting. Further, we talk about how revenue is down for sports broadcasters and what that means for big contracts and sustainability in sports. Finally, our I think pieces touch on amateur sports and the benefits of world tours for soccer teams. https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/episode-56-how-we-consume-sports-and-a-lot-of-news.mp3

We start this week by looking into the crazy NBA summer and a bit of college basketball news as well. We also touch on the soccer transfer market and the Ronaldo vs. Messi conversation. Finally we have a few thoughts about ESPN’s body issue and Sergio at Wimbledon. Then we discuss the strike of the Aussies in the cricket world and Sagan being out of the Tour de France. Our main topic today is whether we should be subsidizing sports, especially stadiums. For our “I think” pieces, we discuss the joy of amateur sports and cycling while wishing for more. (Our thoughts go out to Richie Porte.) https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/episode-55-should-we-be-subsidizing-sports.mp3

We start this week with the craziness of the NBA offseason, including what we think about Phil Jackson. Then we move on to Steph playing golf and how we might have been wrong about Bruce Arena. Finally we close out the news with a discussion of Wimbledon and the Isle of Man TT. Then we move into the cricket spin bowlers and the start of the Tour de France. Our main topic this week is how to combat the idea of winning being everything and a recognition of the importance of losing. We kept coming back to how important coaching and parenting is in the discussion. Finally our “I think” pieces touch on ESPN’s asinine coverage and the beauty of moments in sports. https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/episode-54-is-there-something-more-important-than-winning.mp3

This week we start off with the news, as always. And this week that means: NBA draft, Sarah Spain, Rick Pitino, 3-on-3 basketball and the interesting divide between east and west coast teams. Then we discuss TDF buildup in cycling and the importance of commentary in cricket. Our main topic for the week is retirement and what it means in the sports world. This means touching on athletes that do it well and those that don’t. It also means discussing what it means to give up your identity as an athlete and become a regular person. Finally, our I think pieces touch on women in coaching and why we should watch sports in person. https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/episode-53.mp3

After a week off, we have a ton to catch up on. We touch on the ongoing US Open and the recently finished NBA Finals, including the ongoing LeBron and Draymond chatter. Then we move through the great French Open finish, Mayweather vs. MacGregor, Pitino, Pulisic and more! Finally, we share about the ICC Champions Cup Final and the run-up to the Tour de France. Then, our main topic for the week is dominance vs. parity. What is best for sports? How do you build balance? Finally, we finish with our “I think” pieces on how TV has changed fandom and the need to speak out against the MMA. https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/episode-52-catching-up-on-the-news-parity-in-sports.mp3

After a week off, we take a look at the news. This week that means talking about the NBA finals, the Champions League Final and Tiger Woods. Lastly, we pay homage to Frank Deford. Then we move into a discussion of legitimacy in cycling and cricket and where it comes from. For our main topic, we look into just what toxic masculinity means to us and how it plays out in the sports world. It clearly has some seriously negative impacts throughout our culture. Finally, our “I think” pieces focus on the toxicity of youth sports and the incredible world of Gaelic football. https://sportsinsocietydotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/episode-51-toxic-masculinity-in-sports.mp3