ESPN Daily

When the lights go down at recess at KIPP AMP Middle School in Brooklyn, it’s not time to zone out or to take a nap. It’s showtime. It’s time for The Wrestling Club.Founded by an innovative teacher looking to connect with his students during the pandemic, this club turns watching pro wrestling inside out to teach students about storytelling, conflict resolution, inclusion and more.And it doesn’t stop there, because you never know which WWE superstar is going to walk through the door when the club is in session. So today, Andreas Hale joins us fresh from his visit with all the members of what is now the most famous junior high school club in the world. A club where life lessons and, most importantly, possibility are being taught one match at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years, the NFL has been trying to make the hiring of people of color in leadership positions a more fair and more equitable process.Through initiatives like accelerator programs meant to introduce prospects to owners and other people with hiring ability, alongside the widely controversial Rooney Rule which literally mandates that people of all backgrounds get interviews, the league has been marginally successful at changing who is in the room when it comes to coordinators, head coaches, and general managers.Today ESPN senior NFL writer Kalyn Kahler reports on a new speed bump in the road: the trend of "package deals," whereby an agent places multiple clients in coaching or front office roles with the same team.She details her reporting on where this practice comes from, why it’s hurting the prospects of minorities to get these jobs and what, if anything, the NFL can do to fight against it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Super Bowl LIX is set. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will meet in New Orleans, for a rematch of Super Bowl LII.Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, Travis Kelce and the rest set their sights on becoming the first NFL team to ever win three consecutive titles, while Saquon Barkley looks to put a championship stamp on an MVP-level first season in Philadelphia.But before we set our sights on the big game, Ben Solak, Seth Walder, and Michele Steele go through how those two teams got past their opposition in the conference championships and look at what’s next for the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders after a heartbreaking end to their seasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The championship round is upon us. Sunday, in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City for another showdown with the Chiefs –– their fourth playoff date in five years. And in the NFC, the upstart Washington Commanders will try to knock off Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s all for the right to play in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. So today, Bill Barnwell breaks down these matchups to help answer all our burning questions. Is the time finally right for Josh Allen’s Bills? Can Patrick Mahomes patch over the Chiefs’ flaws? Is Jalen Hurts capable of clutch quarterbacking? And can Jayden Daniels complete the greatest run we’ve ever seen from a rookie? We get into all of it and lots more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howard Bryant, author of "Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original," pays tribute to baseball legend Rickey Henderson, who recently passed away. Bryant discusses Rickey's monumental impact on the game, from his record-breaking stolen bases to his unique swagger that redefined the leadoff hitter. He shares heartfelt anecdotes reflecting Rickey's deep connection to Oakland and the community's emotional response to his legacy. The conversation captures the essence of what made Rickey irreplaceable, blending personal stories with baseball history.

When Jimmy Butler arrived in Miami in 2019, the initial thought was that this was a perfect marriage.You had a fanatically driven, yet volatile, All Star linking up with a celebrated NBA institution, better known as Heat Culture. And with two NBA Finals appearances in four years, everything was going as planned.But then stories of special treatment and feelings of disrespect started to bubble to the surface and suddenly Butler found himself at odds with the architect of Heat Culture – the indomitable Pat Riley. Today, Ramona Shelburne joins us to break down how this went from bad to worse in Miami and how Jimmy Butler might have finally met his match.And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last night, we saw a champion crowned in college football. Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes got the proverbial monkey off their backs with a clutch performance over Notre Dame. And there to witness it all, live and in person, were our friends from the College Gameday podcast, Rece Davis and Pete Thamel. So today, we’re turning our show over to Rece and Pete, plus special guest Harry Lyles Jr., as they take stock of Ohio State’s win and consider whether Notre Dame has now made itself a perennial contender.  Check out our favorite episodes of 2024. College Gameday Podcast: Apple | Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For college football blue bloodsNotre Dame and Ohio State, the realities of modern big time college football are a whole new ball game.As NIL deals and the transfer portal give players more control over their careers than ever, and big money collectives blur the lines between amateur and professional athletics, the Buckeyes and Irish need to balance the new against decades of tradition.The challenges can be as simple as trying to change the seating at Notre Dame Stadium, or as complicated as justifying the NIL money needed to pursue the best talent in the field. So today - ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee, reports from the site of tonight’s College Football Playoff National Championship, to explain how for coaches Ryan Day and Marcus Freeman getting to this point means having already triumphed over the expectations of the past.And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many people, the NFL’s divisional round is the most exciting weekend of football on the calendar all year long.Eight teams, four games, with trips to the conference championships on the line. And this year’s matchups are bangers.Whether it’s an MVP showdown between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, or the dynamic Jayden Daniels vying for an upset of the Lions in Motor City, or Saquon Barkley continuing his push for a ring in year one outside of the Meadowlands, these games figure to deliver the goods.So Ben Solak joins the program to give Michele Steele a preview of all the action, and to explain why it’s just plain unfair that the Chiefs are rounding into their ultimate form at the season’s most crucial point.And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the NFL season comes to a close, some teams are scrambling to find new coaches, kicking off the frenzy known as the NFL coaching carousel. ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano joins ESPN Daily’s own NFL expert Michele Steele to analyze the Patriots’ signing of Mike Vrabel, and look at some of the other choices that are more up in the air.Could these meetings between Jerry Jones and Deion Sanders land Prime Time in Dallas? Is the NFL’s Rooney Rule — intended to increase the number of coaches of color — being ignored by teams? Will Detroit’s highly sought-after coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn pass up another year with the Lions? Will Tom Brady use his clout to poach a coach for the Raiders?And don’t forget the playlist, featuring our favorite stories of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices