The Lead

Feel brighter every day with The Best One Yet, a 20-minute pop-biz podcast that serves up the top 3 stories spanning pop culture & business news, every morning, with fresh takes you can pretend you came up with — Pairs perfectly with your morning ritual. Follow The Best One Yet on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Best One Yet ad-free right now on Wondery plus. Wondery.fm/IP_TBOY For more deep dive and daily business content listen to Wondery– the destination for business podcasts. With shows like How I Built This, Business Wars, The Best One Yet, Business Movers and many more, Wondery Means Business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the NBA never vetoed the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers? What if the Seahawks ran the ball on the one yard line in the Super Bowl? Could a coin flip have landed Magic in Chicago, Michael in LA and made Charles Barkley the first Black President? Wait, what?!! Questions like these have broken the brains of sports fans since the beginning of time. Enter Wondery’s newest sports show, Alternate Routes, a weekly leap into the sports multiverse where former SportsCenter anchors, Trey Wingo and Kevin Frazier pry open the sliding doors of a different “what if'' moment from the world of sports. In these alternate sports realities, dynasties will fall! Legacies will change forever! New GOATs will emerge! Join Trey and Kevin every week as they travel every path, go down every rabbit hole and follow every alternate route, no matter how far-flung or far-fetched. Enjoy Alternate Routes with Trey Wingo and Kevin Frazier wherever you get your podcasts: https://wondery.fm/AltRoutesxWondery See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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A lot of sports stories caught our attention in 2023. But when we stepped back and looked at the year as a whole, there was one storyline that rose above them all -- the incredible growth of women’s sports. Today, we’re looking back at the moments that made 2023 such a historic year, and looking forward to what the future might bring. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When we think about innovative teams that have shaped the way offense is played in the NFL today, one of the first that comes to mind is the Bill Walsh-era San Francisco 49ers. However, there’s another trailblazing team from the same era that has arguably had just as big an impact on the sport. Today, we tell the story of the high-flying, but somewhat forgotten San Diego Chargers of the late 1970s and 80s, led by a brash quarterback (Dan Fouts) and visionary coach (Don Coryell). Plus, the stories of drug-fueled performances — and a mysterious gunshot wound — that still follow the team today. Guest: Zak Keefer, The Athletic Read the full story here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the last four years, Armando Bacot has been a double-double machine for one of college basketball’s most storied programs. But the reminders of what Bacot hasn’t accomplished at UNC continue to hang over him. Today, we dive into why Bacot decided to come back for one last high-stakes season at Chapel Hill. Plus, how his fame off the court as one of the faces of NIL could influence a potential championship run. Guest: Brendan Marks, The Athletic Read the full story here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Baseball has always had a special place in the hearts and minds of fans -- of all ages. But what if the power of baseball memories could help aging baseball fans heal and live healthier lives? Today we explore a little known practice known as 'Baseball Reminiscence Therapy.' Reporter: Tiffany Oshinsky Learn more about Baseball Reminiscence Therapy See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He’s the coach who makes slightly offbeat comments during press conferences, orchestrates the NFL’s most dynamic and explosive offense, and sometimes — decides to leave his high-pressure job out of the blue to see his family. Bottom line: Mike McDaniel does things differently. Today, we look at how the Dolphins head coach became someone who was willing to challenge the conventional wisdom of the NFL. And, whether his approach will backfire — or, potentially change the league. Guest: Kent Babb, The Washington Post Read the full story here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lior Asulin was a star player on a soccer team that was once a powerful symbol of peace and unity in Israel -- a team where Jews and Arabs played side by side. Nearly twenty years later, he was killed by Hamas in the October 7th attacks. This is the tragic story of his life and death. Interviewees: Adi Rubinstein, Eyal Lahman, Gabriel Lima Watch a documentary about the aftermath of Bnei Sakhnin's championship season, After The Cup: Sons of Sakhnin United, courtesy of the Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival. Special thanks for this episode: Chris Browne, Daigo Oliva, Itai Anghel, Rund Abdelfatah, Greg Lalas, Geoff Walker See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs was the author of one of the most dramatic wins of the NFL season, leading his team to a victory over the Falcons — and learning plays on the fly — just five days after coming over from the Cardinals in a trade. Today, we look at why Dobbs — an actual rocket scientist — was in the rare position to rise to that occasion. And, after a disastrous performance against the Bears on Monday night, where does Dobbs’s story go from here? Guest: Alec Lewis, The Athletic Read the full story here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1983, musical legend Marvin Gaye stepped to the microphone at The Forum in Los Angeles, to sing the national anthem before the NBA All-Star Game. What happened next set in motion a cultural transformation within the NBA that still reverberates today. (This episode first aired on March 1, 2023) Guests: David Aldridge and Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic Read David and Marcus's story about Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Travis Kelce might be the most talked-about man in all of American pop culture right now. But his rise from football star to A-List celebrity actually began months before he began courting Taylor Swift with a friendship bracelet. Tom Kludt spent time with Kelce earlier this year and wrote an in-depth profile of him for Vanity Fair, and Tom joined us to discuss Kelce's remarkable ascent, the origins of his off-field ambitions, and just how bright his star could become. (This episode originally aired in July.) Guest: Tom Kludt, Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair Read Tom's profile of Travis Kelce here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At age 14, Mikey Williams was considered by some to be the best basketball player his age in the country. He had millions of followers on Instagram and celebrities like Drake asked for his jersey and invited him backstage. He even had LeBron James serving as a mentor. But questions about his basketball abilities began to pile up. And then, earlier this year, his life took a very dark turn. Today, we bring you a cautionary tale about pressure, fame, and basketball in the age of social media. Guest: Jeff Eisenberg, Yahoo! Sports Read Jeff's full story about Mikey Williams here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You might not guess it from watching him play football, but for much of his life, the odds have not been in C.J. Stroud’s favor. He saw his father go to prison at age 13, and reportedly did so poorly on the S2 cognition test that many people expected him to fail in the NFL. Today, we look at how Stroud’s self-belief helped propel him past the obstacles in the path, and redefine what’s possible for a rookie quarterback as he powers a Houston Texans renaissance. Guest: Zak Keefer, The Athletic Read the full story here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’ve watched a Philadelphia Eagles game recently, chances are you’ve gotten a close look at arguably the NFL’s most controversial play. The Tush Push (or Brotherly Shove, or Two-Cheek Sneak, if you prefer) has become the Eagles not-so-secret weapon, a play that’s been both criticized — and imitated — across the NFL. Today, we look at why the play has become so polarizing in such a short amount of time, how Jalen Hurts and the Eagles do it better than anyone else, and what the future holds for this particular kind of shove. Guest: Kalyn Kahler, The Athletic Read the full story here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A living nightmare finally came to an end for Liverpool's Luis Diaz on Thursday when his father was released by kidnappers in Colombia. Luis Manuel Diaz had been held captive for nearly two weeks, despite a massive push by the Colombian government to have him set free. Today, we look at how the kidnapping took place, the group behind it, and how Diaz’s teammates -- and the soccer community -- ultimately rallied around the man they call 'Lucho.' Guest: James Pearce, The Athletic Find more of James's coverage here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At age 22, in his fourth year in the league, Anthony Edwards is on the verge of making the leap to NBA superstardom — a journey that can be traced back to the gritty neighborhood in southwest Atlanta that made him who he is. Today, we look at Edwards’s unlikely rise, and full circle return to his hometown, and the loving family that propelled him forward in the aftermath of tragedy. Plus, the hope that Edwards is bringing to long-disappointed Timberwolves fans in his new home city of Minneapolis. Guest: Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic Read the full story here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Week 8, Joe Burrow boarded the Bengals' team plane in an alien mask — then went into alien mode in a dominant performance against one of the NFL's best teams. That was a welcome sight for the Bengals, eight weeks into a season where the franchise QB has mostly looked like anything but himself. Today, we revisit the team's tumultuous start, and the injury that threatened to derail Cincy’s Super Bowl hopes before the season got underway. Guest: Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic Listen to Hear That Podcast Growlin’ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iowa's Caitlin Clark rewrote almost every individual record in women's college basketball last season, and led the Hawkeyes to within a game of a national championship. What followed can only be described as "Caitlin Clark Mania" -- a series of honors that included everything from bobblehead dolls to a butter sculpture. lToday, we break down Clark's evolution as a player and her contributions to the rich legacy of women's basketball in Iowa. Plus, can she take her team to the promised land in what might be her final college season? Guest: Emma Baccellieri, Sports Illustrated Read Emma's full story about Caitlin Clark here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It is the World Series showdown that basically no one saw coming: Bruce Bochy’s Wild Card Texas Rangers, against a team that finished 16 games back in their own division — Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today, we break down the low points that both of these teams had to navigate just to get here. Plus, the story of the journeyman outfielder (Adolis Garcia) who knocked out the reigning champs, and the rookie outfielder (Corbin Carroll) whose power/speed combo helped lead Arizona to their first World Series trip in more than two decades. Guest: Stephen Nesbitt, The Athletic See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.