The Upshot

Plus: Pep’s bollocking teenagers, Ray Parlour’s WW2 punditry and Lazio sack their mascot over his penis operation photoshoot.Join Zach and Jack for another edition of Extra Shot, the weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.If you’re enjoying the pod please share it with your friends on WhatsApp etc so our audience numbers shoot up faster than Juan Bernabe’s prosthetic.Links from the pod:Lazio falconer’s prosthetic penis (NOT suitable for work): https://x.com/Zenxkami/status/1878780545376948298Ray Parlour’s WW2 punditry: https://x.com/AJ_909/status/1878021868940071212 Graeme Souness “that cat’s done nothing wrong”: https://x.com/SkySportsPL/status/1492913779151151105 Pep bollocking autograph hunters: https://x.com/Football__Tweet/status/1878518572357501283 Joe Biden Black and Tans blunder: https://x.com/DazmanOnline/status/1646233718544007187  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to part two of Diego in the dugout.At the end of part one, Maradona had left football behind to wallow in a life of booze, burgers and booty.But in 2008, he returns to Argentine football for the biggest job of all. And that’s where the chaos really starts…With guest JP Lockwood.Links from the pod:Belly sliding down the touchline against Peru: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4sdPODn4S0 Running over a reporter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU_QQBoSphc&t=6s Diego off his face at the 2018 World Cup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY7S4ex-7BM Post match interview for Dorados: https://x.com/ESPNUK/status/1066991711929466880 Doing coke on the touchline: https://www.reddit.com/r/DanLeBatardShow/comments/f63x9t/diego_maradona_getting_a_bag_of_coke_on_the/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plus: The FA Cup manager keeping crocodiles in his bungalow, Brazil striker Hulk finally marries his niece, and what do Adrian Mutu, Friedrich Nietszche and Hitler have in common?Join Zach and Jack for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.Subscribe to our newsletter and get a five min rundown of the funniest stories in sport in your inbox every Friday:https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=pod Links from the pod:Messi speaking English in the Bad Boys 4 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY1K5pxcX5k Southampton fan booed for predicting 5-0 defeat: https://x.com/HugoScheckter/status/1875613672359522817  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you unleash the pure chaos of Diego Maradona in the dugout, it's going to be a wild ride.As a manager, Diego ran over reporters, threatened to kill Liam Gallagher and snorted coke on the touchline.Meet Maradona the manager...With guest JP Lockwood.Links from the pod:Giving two middle fingers to the crowd at Racing Club: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AU1jy8Af1EI Liam Gallagher recalls meeting Diego: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUNHaq_xOEk Partying at Rio Carnival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWlLEdgP2EA Shooting journalists with an air rifle: https://youtu.be/bGDhj26Onq4?si=nYujSHOoDQphgDPs&t=25 Maradona at 19 stone: https://images.app.goo.gl/hw79TiRxmbgSX2ZW9 Doing headers with Pele: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjtA1J9XxpA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darts was once a humble pub game where tubby punters hustled pensioners for pork scratchings.But in the 1970s, everything changed.As darts went prime time, a rabble of chain-smoking boozehounds were catapulted to a life of mega stardom, from bathtubs of wine to sex-starved American groupies.Laaaaaaaaaaadieeeeeessss and gentlemeeeeeeeeeeen. Let’s. Play. Darts. With guest Ruth Husko.Links from the pod:Bobby George nipple flap shirt: https://x.com/joshpearson180/status/1692225614252552702  Jocky Wilson popping out false teeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zau1C6wtcc0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into the quirky realm of Amsterdam's sauna culture and the hilarity that ensues in holiday pranks and family antics. Experience the chaos of a Secret Santa mishap involving a fake scratch card, and explore odd gift exchanges in the gaming world. The discussion humorously examines the dynamics of team bonding through sauna shenanigans and the eccentricities of celebrity hires. Plus, tune in for amusing takes on recent football management woes and festive nostalgia, wrapped in a playful narrative of camaraderie and sports absurdities.

Join Erica North, an influencer marketing expert and former contortionist, as she uncovers the sinister side of ballet. Explore shocking stories of acid attacks and cutthroat rivalries, revealing the intense pressures faced by ballerinas. Discover ballet's tumultuous history, from its frivolous aristocratic roots to its propaganda role in socialist regimes. With dark humor, they contrast the elegance of dance with bizarre practices like consuming mummies. Prepare for a wild ride through a world where beauty meets danger!

Referees in sex tapes. Neymar slashing his teammate’s tyres. And Cole Palmer’s naked surprise.It’s been a vintage year for sporting scandal.And today we celebrate it all, as we look back on the funniest stories in sport this year. Links from the pod:Billy Vunipola tasered in Majorca: https://x.com/MailOnline/status/1785230252253302802  Jamie O’Hara dating show: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13443863/jamie-ohara-love-undercover-peacock-soccer.html Neymar slashing Renan Lodi’s tyres: https://x.com/porqueTTarg/status/179586197904892349Neymar playing poker at his daughter’s birthday: https://x.com/kykyszn/status/1778461735663342062Geoff Hurst loves a glass of Budweiser: https://x.com/WeahsCousin/status/1805564686147960989La Liga ref’s interview crashed by his parrot: https://x.com/elchiringuitotv/status/1848150321006342508  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast dives into a wild Liverpool Christmas party scandal involving drugs and chaotic antics. It humorously recounts memorable moments from footballers' festive celebrations, including outrageous incidents and culinary quirks. A comparison between boxing and football reveals unexpected rivalries and unpredictability, while a shocking referee misconduct story adds another layer of intrigue. Plus, discussions around leveraging controversy in sports and a nod to holiday festivities keep the tone light and entertaining.

Welcome to part two of our George Best special.At end of part one, both Best and Man United had sunk into a spiral that would drive them apart.The year is 1974. Now more devoted to sex and booze than football, George has walked out on the club. And his insatiable appetite for booze and shagging is about to get him into real trouble…With guest Vittorio Angelone (https://www.instagram.com/vittorioangelone)Vittorio’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@guidetoparentingLinks from the pod:Alex Best talking about his ghost: https://youtu.be/RTI8Nsv_jMc?si=q0pn7IzfcIMZpZSJ&t=267  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.