4 Sports Leagues Whose New Scandals Explain Modern America
There is no way to "stick to sports." Because here's one way being alive is more interesting than people think it is: a sport like football intersects with everything from social justice to global empire-building to organized crime. Also not all American like sports, but did you know all Americans pay taxes that fund pro sports leagues? Did you know basketball caused an international incident this month? And ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBAAAAAAAALL INJUSTICE DRESSED UP AS A JOB OPPORTUNITYYYYYY?
On this episode of The Cracked Podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by Dan Hopper (Cracked, The New Yorker) and David Roth (Deadspin, The Best American Sportswriting) for a deep dive into the deeply ridiculous current scandals in each major American sport. They'll look at the ways the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL revealed major truths about our society by majorly shooting themselves in the foot. Also listen for a uniquely insane announcer who somehow isn't American, a baseball team so vile it makes the Yankees kind of likable, and the perfect approach to watching sports without being taken advantage of by them.
Footnotes:
The Only Pittsburgh Sports Podcast
How Deadspin Imploded (The New York Times)
Sports Stadiums Are A Bad Deal For Cities (The Atlantic)
NFL stadiums have received an estimated $6.7 billion from taxpayers (ProFootballTalk)
Alex stopped watching the NFL after the 2016-2017 season.
The 49ers would've cut Colin Kaepernick if he hadn't opted out of his contract (CBS Sports)
What Was the NFL Trying to Achieve With Its Bizarre Colin Kaepernick Workout Plan? (Slate)
Inside the waiver proposed by the NFL to Colin Kaepernick (ProFootballTalk)
Why Colin Kaepernick wore a 'Kunta Kinte' shirt to his NFL workout (CNN)
"After today's workout in Atlanta, an NFL executive at Colin Kaepernick's throwing session said his arm talent is "elite" and is the same as when he came out of college. He said that Kaepernick threw the ball well." -- Adam Schefter on Twitter
Panthers' safety Eric Reid calls for QB help from friend Colin Kaepernick (For The Win)
NFL Passer Rating Career Leaders (ProFootball-Reference.com) -- Colin Kaepernick was ranked 23rd in NFL history as of this taping
"Every day there's a headline like "TRUMP CORNERED: He's Never Been More Scared And Alone" then that night he's at some rally yelling "whatever happened to 'nobody beats The Wiz?' We're bringing back The Wiz, folks" to 7,000 hooting Dick's managers" -- Dan Hopper on Twitter
Big Game: The NFL In Dangerous Times by Mark Leibovitch
Vikings Owners Must Pay $85 Million For "Organized Crime-Type" Fraud (Deadspin)
The Pilot Flying J Fraud Scandal Hasn't Touched Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam (The Ringer)
Deadspin tag for "The Big Wet President"
The day Donald Trump's narcissism killed the USFL (The Guardian)
NFL owners donated big money to Trump (CNN Money)
box score for Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS (Astros defeat Yankees)
"The Astros Are Not In The Apology Business" by David Roth (Deadspin)
No answers - or remorse - as Roberto Osuna's domestic assault case settled (The Houston Chronicle)
The Astros Fire Brandon Taubman, but the Real Problem Remains (The Nation)
Why Buttigieg's Shadowy Consultant Past at McKinsey Matters (VICE)
Ex-Astros pitcher Mike Fiers: Team stole signs with camera (ESPN)
Astros using cameras to steal signs, a breakdown (Jomboy Media / YouTube)
MLB rules on Red Sox-Yankees sign stealing and fines both teams (CBS Sports)
Why Two Houston Astros Champions Skipped the White House Visit (People)
The image of Nats players cozying up to Trump was jarring for many fans (The Guardian)
Deadspin tag for "The Great Layup Forward"
Inside the NBA's silent tension surrounding Daryl Morey (ESPN)
"Listen....@dmorey does NOT speak for the @HoustonRockets. Our presence in Tokyo is all about the promotion of the @NBA internationally and we are NOT a political organization. @espn" -- Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta on Twitter
Houston Rockets GM Apologizes For Tweet Supporting Hong Kong Protesters (NPR)
LeBron James Finally Takes Question About China, Responds By Licking The Boot (Deadspin)
How Transformers 4 Became the No. 1 Film in Chinese History (Time)
Marvel is censoring films for China, and you probably didn't even notice (CNET)
"In siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly-owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime." -- Vice President Mike Pence (via ABC News)
12 Bizarre Mike Pence Stories Nobody Ever Brings Up (The Cracked Podcast)
'I MEANT IT': Don Cherry fired over controversial poppy comment (The Toronto Sun)
initial statement from Canada's SportsNet after Cherry's comments (Twitter)
Don Cherry has a new show: 'Evidently, I said something that upset Sportsnet' (National Post)
Don Cherry says people who believe in climate change are 'cuckaloos' (GlobalNews.ca)
CBC removes 'inappropriate' video from Web site (ESPN story on Cherry's Iraq War comments)
Don Cherry's Most Memorable Suits (Entertainment Tonight Canada)
