Edge of Sports

We speak this week to Michael Meeropol, whose parents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, were executed by the US government in 1953. We talk about his efforts to clear his mother's name and the importance of the Brooklyn Dodgers in their lives. Meeropol reads from the letters of his parents where they discuss baseball. I also have choice words about rap icon Kurtis Blow and his underrated importance to the development of the NBA as a global phenomenon. Finally we have a tribute to the late Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, via a t-shirt on our weekly Kaepernick watch.Dave in Seattle with Seahawk Michael Bennett on January 5, 2017: https://townhallseattle.org/event/dave-zirin/ http://fb.com/events/1139387102852694Michael and Robert Meeropol, We Are Your Sons: The Legacy of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Exonerate our Mother, Ethel Rosenberg: http://www.rfc.org/ethelChange.org petition: https://www.change.org/p/president-obama-exonerate-our-mother-ethel-rosenbergThe Assassination of Fred Hampton: http://www.hamptonbook.com/The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution: http://theblackpanthers.com/music: The Show - Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew | We the People.... - A Tribe Called Quest | Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday (Words & music by Abel Meeropol) | Blood on the Leaves - Kanye West | Basketball, 8 Million Stories  - Kurtis Blow | Peter Piper - Run DMC | Starboy - The Weeknd Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we speak to the most influential person in basketball who never laced up sneakers or coached on a sideline: former Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro – the guy who connected sneaker money to so-called amateur hoops. He is also is the person who has become perhaps the most important spokesperson against the injustices the NCAA. I also have some "choice words" about an event I moderated last week with San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Dr. Cornel West in front of 350 San Antonio high school students and most of the Spurs team. We also have our "Just Stand Up" award and a new segment we are titling Kaepernick Watch! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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Legendary sports sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards has been working with Colin Kaepernick and speaking in locker rooms around the country. We speak with him about the recent elections and the challenges as well as the opportunities it creates for this new generation of athlete-activists. We also ask Dr. Edwards what inspiration can be drawn from the life of his old friend Muhammad Ali. In addition, I have some choice words about critics of Colin Kaepernick's decision not to vote, we have an extended just stand up award section for every athlete already standing up to Trump and we take calls about how folks are dealing with the altered political landscape.Full notes at http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com—http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-428-3343 (EDGE) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

ESPN The Magazine's Howard Bryant joins the podcast to talk about the only issue that matters. The election of Donald Trump was a slap in the face to anyone who believes that racism, sexual assault and anti-immigrant sentiment are are bad. But the election of Trump - with a minority of the vote remember - is far more complicated that just saying it's racism. It's the Democratic Party, it's the Clinton campaign, and it's the way working class people - white, black and brown - have been crushed in this country. We also have an inspiring Just Stand Up award to the only three-time winner Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes.Full notes at http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com—http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-428-3343 (EDGE) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We are honored to speak with Reverend Jesse Jackson about his trip to North Dakota to fight the Dakota access pipeline (DAPL,) giving Jackie Robinson's eulogy, and playing one-on-one against Marvin Gaye. We are equally honored to speak to native American journalist Jackie Keeler about her experiences in North Dakota, its connection to a Native American mascots in sports, and why the DAPL resistance has produced, in her mind, "the most unified native response since Little Big Horn." We also have Choice Words about what politics could look like in the NBA locker room after their greatest fan leaves the White House, the Just Stand Up goes to two Wisconsin players with their eyes on the prize: Bronson Koenig and - again - to Nigel Hayes.https://twitter.com/RevJJackson | http://rainbowpush.orghttps://twitter.com/jfkeeler—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-428-3343 (EDGE)—music: “I Am Somebody” by DJ Greg Street (http://twitter.com/DjGregStreet) | “Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye (Autograf remix http://soundcloud.com/autografmusic) | “Crazy Horse” by John Trudell (http://johntrudell.com/) | “We Are the Halluci Nation” by A Tribe Called Red ft. John Trudell (http://atribecalledred.com/) | “So Wat Cha Sayin” by EPMD  | “Power,” “Saint Pablo” (remake by Jehf Slaps https://twitter.com/JehfSlaps) “Touch The Sky” by Kanye West | “Work It” by Missy Elliott (http://missy-elliott.com/) | “Got Nowhere” by State Property  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In a week dominated by stories about former New York Giants place kicker Josh Brown and the NFL's continual coverup of domestic violence, we speak to Jessica Luther, author of the book “Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape.” This week I also have some choice words of my own about the Giants’ shameful handling of the Josh Brown incident and why Roger Goodell should, in my opinion, no longer be employed. Lastly, the ‘Just Stand Up’ award goes to Denasia Lawrence, a National Anthem singer with a purpose.Jessica Luther: http://jessicawluther.com | https://twitter.com/scATX Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/unsportsmanlike-conduct/Zirin column, ‘Another Shocking Domestic Violence Case Is Rocking the NFL’ https://www.thenation.com/article/another-shocking-domestic-violence-case-is-rocking-the-nfl—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-428-3343 (EDGE)—music: “Safe From Harm” - Massive Attack http://massiveattack.co.uk | “U.N.I.T.Y.” - Queen Latifah http://queenlatifah.com (Kay Gee & Mufi production) | “FML” - Kanye West http://www.kanyewest.com (Erik Giovani remake https://soundcloud.com/erikgiovani) | “Warning” - Notorious B.I.G.  (Easy Mo Bee production) | “All the Way Up” - Fat Joe & Remy Ma (Edsclusive Cool & Dre production) | “Basketball” - Kurtis Blow (J.B. Moore & Robert Ford Jr. production) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

John Cusack is a renowned actor, best known for classics like Being John Malkovich, Better Off Dead, Say Anything, and for my money, the greatest sports movie of all time, Eight Men Out. Cusack is also a serious political thinker with a new book “Things That Can and Cannot Be Said: Essays and Conversations,” co-written with Indian author Arundhati Roy about a range of subjects from patriotism, war, resistance, and empire – most centrally a reflection on a trip Cusack took with Roy and famed whistleblower of the Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg to meet with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. We speak with Cusack on his book, his beloved Chicago Cubs, patriotism, the anthem protests of Colin Kaepernick and I slip in a couple of movie questions as well. I also have some "choice words" about Kaepernick's first start of the season in Buffalo and “Just Stand Up” awards go to Wisconsin Badger Nigel Hayes and LA Dodger Adrian Gonzalez.Things that Can and Cannot Be Said: Essays and Conversations by Arundhati Roy and John Cusack http://www.haymarketbooks.org/pb/Things-That-Can-and-Cannot-Be-Said
Freedom of the Press Foundation https://freedom.press/‘The Woke Tailgate’: The Brave of Buffalo Kneel in Solidarity With Colin Kaepernick https://www.thenation.com/article/the-woke-tailgate-the-brave-of-buffalo-kneel-in-solidarity-with-colin-kaepernick/—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com—music: “The Magnificent Seven” by The Clash http://www.theclash.com/ | “Coolie Dance Riddim” - Cordell "Scatta" Burrell | “Step Into a World (Rapture's Delight)” - KRS-ONE (Jesse West production) | The Swanky Modes (Sam Moore and Junior Walker) - Ordinary Man (Tapeheads Soundtrack) | “In Your Eyes” - Peter Gabriel (Orchestral version) http://petergabriel.com |   “Hail Mary” & “Keep Ya Head Up” - 2Pac (Hurt-M-Badd & DJ Daryl production) | “All the Way Up” - Fat Joe & Remy Ma (Edsclusive Cool & Dre production) | “Slow Down” - Brand NubianAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In an attempt to excuse his own repugnant behavior, Donald Trump unwittingly started a real conversation on what he dubbed “locker room talk” about sexual violence against women. Our guest, Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy, is the rare pro athlete who is awake to this issue. Levy writes, advocates, and fundraises to fight domestic and sexual abuse. We also speak to him about the Kaepernick protests. Then, we have ’Choice Words’ about my own experience with "locker room talk" and the ‘Just Stand Up’ award goes to Mets broadcaster Ron Darling for speaking out against the “rage of the inarticulate.”The Nation column, Not in My Locker Room https://www.thenation.com/article/not-in-my-locker-room‘Man Up,’ DeAndre Levy essay http://www.theplayerstribune.com/deandre-levy-sexual-assault-awareness/‘Our Issue’ T-Shirts, benefiting the Michigan Women’s Foundation and ‘Detroit Hustles Harder’ https://www.crowdrise.com/our-issueDetroit Hustles Harder https://fb.com/detroithustlesharderofficialTo purchase 'Our Issue' merchadise, visit Detroit Hustles Harder: https://divisionstreetboutique.com/collections/our-issueEnough SAID (Enough Sexual Assault in Detroit) http://enoughsaiddetroit.orgEdge of Sports was featured on Episode 1 of ’The Big Listen’ from WAMU-FM/NPR. Thank you, Lauren Ober. http://biglisten.org/shows/2016-10-08/episode-1-santa-is-a-big-fan—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com—Please take our survey: http://panoply.fm/survey—music: “Ike’s Mood” by Isaac Hayes https://isaachayes.com | “Take It Easy” by Mad Lion (produced by KRS-One) http://www.krs-one.com | “Midnight in a Perfect World,” “Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt,” “Nobody Speak” by DJ Shadow http://djshadow.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We speak to Dr. Walter Beach, starter on the Cleveland Browns 1964 Championship team and member of the famed Muhammad Ali Summit about the politics of sports and racism: what has changed and what remains the same from his days in the NFL. He is as deep a thinker as you will find and this will "wow" you. We also speak about Colin Kaepernick's comments about the Trump=Clinton elections, the gorilla taking the field with an All Lives Matter sign, and we have a Just Stand Up award for a player released from the NFL after taking a knee in London, and the East Carolina band.The Nation, Colin Kaepernick Has a Right to Hate Both Candidateshttps://www.thenation.com/article/colin-kaepernick-has-a-right-to-hate-both-candidates/—Please take our survey at http://panoply.fm/survey—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com—music: “Classic Man” - Jidenna http://jidenna.com (Jidenna, Nana Kwabena, Nate "Rocket" Wonder production) | “They Don't Care About Us” - Michael Jackson http://michaeljackson.com | “One Love” - Nas (Q-Tip production) & “Destroy & Rebuild” (Mike Risko & Baby Paul production) http://nasirjones.com | “Clique” - Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Big Sean (Hit-Boy production) http://www.hit-boy.com/ | “All the Way Up” - Fat Joe & Remy Ma (Edsclusive Cool & Dre production) | “Hot Sauce to Go” - Jadakiss (The Neptunes production) | Starboy - The Weeknd (Daft Punk production) http://theweeknd.com http://daftpunk.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy