Is Atlanta the Worst Sports Town? Killer Mike Doesn’t Think So

We are officially in the NFL preseason. Players are competing for spots while coaches are tasked with building their rosters — and trimming the fat. Today we’re joined by The Athletic’s senior football writer Nick Baumgardner to talk NFL roster cuts. Who’s on the chopping block, and what is the preseason is telling us so far?Then, have you ever screamed at the TV after your kicker missed a field goal? Ever said to yourself, “Man, even I could’ve made that”? Well, journalist and author Stefan Fatsis actually convinced the Denver Broncos to let him try. He joined the team as placekicker for preseason training camp, and then went on to write a book about it called “A Few Seconds of Panic.” He shares what it’s like when you get the chance to get off the couch and attempt to play one of the highest-pressure, most make-or-break positions in football.  Show Notes “A Few Seconds of Panic: A Sportswriter Plays in the NFL” | Stefan Fatsis A Sport Writer’s Stint as an NFL Kicker | The Wall Street Journal Paper Lion: Confessions of a Last-String Quarterback | George Plimpton Welcome to Detroit: A Detroit Lions Podcast  Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

This week, Elle Duncan joins us to talk about the culture wars engulfing the WNBA, and how political noise is obscuring amazing play on the court. We’ll also discuss the startup energy around Netflix’s live sports coverage, as well as the nostalgia of baseball’s Field of Dreams game.Then we’ll sit down with the man who’s making sports talk feel like equal parts newsroom, comedy club and family dinner. Dan Le Batard is the co-founder of Meadowlark Media, the company behind award-winning shows like Pablo Torre Finds Out. A longtime sports journalist and broadcaster, he’s built a career around bringing curiosity, humor and humanity to sports. We’ll talk about why he founded Meadowlark, how loss has shaped his drive to keep going, and why sports make us act in strange ways.Show Notes Like What You Heard? Check out the LeBatard Show on YouTube Podcaster, former MLB exec David Samson mourns loss of daughter: ‘The magic of Kyra’ For LEBO | Dan LeBatard’s eulogy for his brother David “LEBO” LeBatard Father knows Dan Le Batard best: ‘Papi’ Gonzalo on working with son | ESPN Elle Duncan Joins Netflix to Lead Live Sports Coverage » TUDUM  Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike Villers, Charlie KaierTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Let’s talk about one of the most unexpected developments in sports right now: how did the Boston Red Sox turn their season around? Today we’ve got journalist Jamie McClellan on the show, who produces a podcast for the Ringer about Boston sports called Off The Pike. He’s going to help us understand how the team turned what looked like a lackluster season into one that just might be worthy of a championship run.Then, we are talking to one of the biggest sports fans I know: Killer Mike. Yes, the rapper Killer Mike. If you’re wondering why we’re bringing a Grammy-winning musician onto this sports show, it’s because he rides for Atlanta sports teams harder than anyone I know. We’re going to talk to Killer Mike about why Atlanta gets a bad rap as a sports town, and why he disagrees wholeheartedly. Plus, what sports and music have in common, and offer us as a people — especially when we feel the most divided.Show Notes Listen to Killer Mike’s music  Sid Bream’s Iconic ‘92 Slide | MLB Deion “Prime Time” Sanders Career Mini Movie | NFL Throwback City of Atlanta doesn't deserve win | ESPN Off the Pike with Brian Barrett | Ringer NFL Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

As the 2026 World Cup comes to a close, we sit down with two key figures in bringing the beautiful game to the United States.First, we hear from former U.S Soccer President Alan Rothenberg, the architect of the 1994 World Cup, who was a key figure in the World Cup back to the United States this year. He walks us through what this year's competition could mean for the future of soccer in our country.Then, we dive deep with U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan. Six-time MLS Cup Champion and the U.S. men’s all-time leader in goals and assists, Landon has single-handedly changed how we view soccer in America. But after his 16-year career, one of the toughest challenges he faced was confronting his relationship with his father. We’ll get into Landon's new self-titled memoir, which shows how an under-privileged kid from Southern California can grow up to be one of the best soccer players the United States has seen. Show Notes Landon: A Memoir  Final 6 Minutes of USA v. Algeria | FIFA Every Single Landon Donovan World Cup Goal | FIFA Landon Donovan opens up about forgiving his father | FOX Landon Donovan’s 2010 World Cup goal: the moment that changed soccer in the United States | Onefootball Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

The 2026 All-Star Week is officially underway in Philadelphia, and we’re talking about it with John Stolnis. He’s the co-host of a podcast called Hittin’ Season, which is all about baseball and especially the Philadelphia Phillies. He’ll tell us what to expect from the exhibition game and what it means as we head into the rest of the baseball season.Then we’ll speak with an eight-time All-Star himself: Darryl Strawberry. He spent 17 years in the MLB playing for the Mets, the Dodgers, the Yankees, and the Giants. He won three World Series and racked up 335 home runs and 1,000 RBI’s. But his legacy isn’t as simple as those exceptional stats.Since he retired in 1999, Darryl Strawberry has lived a million lives: from a Florida state prison, to cancer treatment, to the pulpit as a newly minted minister. In this episode, he tells us about each chapter in his life story.Show Notes Another Life: Discovering the Healing Power of Purpose on My Long Journey from Player to Preacher | Darryl Strawberry with Jerome Preisler Remembering when Mets star Darryl Strawberry hit a HR off the roof in Montreal | SNY Take a look back at some of Strawberry’s best moments | MLB Fame, fortune, failure: Darryl Strawberry’s story of addiction and redemption | WAPT Hittin’ Season Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Long before he became the governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro was just a kid calling into radio stations to talk through the highs and lows of being a sports fan. In this special episode, recorded live at the World Cup, we spoke with Governor Shapiro to talk about what it means for the city of Philadelphia to host a global event. We’ll dive into his earliest sports memories, hear about the rise in sports gambling on kids' phones, and learn if sports really bring us together in the way we think they do.Then, we sit down with journalist Colby Itkowitz, who has covered Governor Shapiro for years. We’ll talk about what to look out for in 2028 and the authenticity of sports fandom in politics.Show Notes Gov. Josh Shapiro on antisemitism, Trump and 2028 | Washington Post Rahm Emanuel shares why Chicago said no to the FIFA World Cup & talks possible presidential run | NBC Chicago How much of an economic boom is the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the U.S. hosting cities? | NPR Dr. J famous "Rock the Baby" Cradle Dunk against the Lakers Governor Josh Shapiro speaks at Eagles Super Bowl Parade | FOX 29 Philadelphia Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Some of the best athletes in the world are in the United States right now, competing in World Cup games all over the country. For American athletes, the pressure to perform on their home turf can be intense. But that’s nothing new. Dominique Dawes has been there before. She was a part of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team in 1996, when the Olympic Games came to Atlanta. She competed on a squad that became known as the Magnificent 7, who the world believed had a shot to win the first team gold medal in women’s gymnastics in American history. To get to the top, Dominique would have to survive racism, abuse, and the all-consuming pressure of the world stage, all while she was still a teenager.In this episode, we’re going to turn back the clock 30 years, when all eyes were on seven American teenagers hoping to make history — and on U.S. soil. If the pressure didn’t get to them first.Show Notes The Chicago mayor who said ‘no’ to the World Cup – a dome on Soldier Field was the last straw | The Athletic Dominique Dawes 1996 Floor Final | The Gym Spot Kerri Strug Vaults at Atlanta 1996 | Olympics Olympian Dominique Dawes shares emotions, details about recent miscarriage | TODAY The Dominique Dawes Academy Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaAdditional Production: Sherri Daye ScottTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is in full swing in North America — but unlike the U.S. women’s team, the men’s national team has never won the tournament. They’ve never even made it to the finals. This week, we sit down with ESPN soccer writer Ryan O’Hanlon to figure out why the men’s team always falls short. And with last week’s dominant win against Paraguay, could this year’s World Cup be any different?Then, we’ll hear from one of the best players that the U.S. men’s national team has ever seen: Jozy Altidore. A son of Haitian immigrants, Jozy is the third-best scorer in the team’s history. We’ll hear how Jozy learned to put the world’s expectations off to the side, and remember his legendary goal that helped the USA beat an undefeated Spain in 2009.Show Notes When the USA stunned super Spain | FIFA Jozy Altidore’s best goals, highlights, skills | Major League Soccer Jozy’s stanky leg 13 Stats that prove USMNT will win the World Cup | ESPN The USMNT is a mess. That's the price of the U.S. becoming a 'soccer country' | ESPN Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup officially kicks off this week and for the first time it will be hosted by three countries across North America. First, we preview the epic tournament with global soccer reporter Meg Swanick to learn what we can expect from this year's Cup, the key players to watch, and which country is likely to take home the title.Then, we’ll sit down with one of the most influential voices in sports, a man who’s been at the forefront of bringing soccer to American audiences. Roger Bennett is a British-American journalist and founder of Men In Blazers, the largest independent soccer media network in North America. We’ll hear about his latest book, We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Sporting Event, where he shares his favorite memories from World Cups past and the ways soccer tournaments can help unite a divided world.Show Notes We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Sporting Event | Roger Bennett Check out the Men in Blazers Podcast  A World Cup for a continent that’s falling apart | POLITICO From national pride to fascism: how countries have used the World Cup to build identity | The Guardian The Swan Dive with Megan Swanick on Substack Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike Villers, Charlie KaierTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network

There are just two teams left in the fight to become NBA champions this year, and they are two teams that no one expected to get this far: the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. What can we expect from this underdog matchup? We’ll talk it out with Marcus Thompson, a lead columnist who covers the NBA at The Athletic.Then we’ll hear from someone who’s no stranger to NBA championships: Michael Cooper. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the ‘80s, during an era of basketball defined by flashy moves and a run-and-gun style of play. Powerhouse players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson were at the forefront. But in the background was Michael Cooper, silently but consistently delivering a defense that cemented their legacy.This week, we sit down with Michael Cooper to learn about how he turned a behind-the-scenes role into one worthy of a highlight reel. He’ll also talk through the insecurity he faced as a young player making it in the league, and how he moved past it to become an NBA Hall of Famer. Show Notes COOP: The Making of a Showtime Lakers Legend | Michael Cooper and Jake Uitti Michael Cooper’s Defensive Career Highlights | Basketball Action Despite His Success in 12 Years With Lakers, Michael Cooper Never Quite Believed He Was Good Enough For them | LA Times The Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals seemed unlikely before the playoffs. They saw it coming | The Athletic Victor Wembanyama on Gregg Popovich after Game 7: "He goes through some things we can't even imagine | YouTube Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike Villers, Charlie KaierTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.