The Lead

Friday marks seven months to the day since Kansas pulled off its stunning comeback over UNC in the men’s college basketball national title game. And, at the start of this upcoming week, college hoops — and some of its most celebrated stars — are back. Today, The Athletic’s Eamonn Brennan gives us a crash course on the upcoming season, including the landscape for Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, and UNC’s Armando Bacot, as all three chose to return to school for another year. Plus, the credentials of some of the top contenders, the biggest potential surprise of the upcoming year, and a looming threat to the game’s most prized possession — the NCAA Tournament. Follow Eamonn Brennan’s coverage of college basketball: https://theathletic.com/author/eamonn-brennan/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This past weekend, the Portland Thorns won their third NWSL championship -- a league record. But what made the achievement even more remarkable is the fact that it came less than a month after a bombshell report, conducted by former Acting US Attorney General Sally Yates, revealed systemic abuse and misconduct within the NWSL and within the Thorns organization. Today, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan, whose reporting helped trigger that investigation, joins us to discuss the report’s deeply disturbing findings, what it means for the future of the league, and how the Thorns players were able to rise above and reclaim the narrative on championship weekend.More from Meg Linehan: https://theathletic.com/author/meg-linehan/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plus: A chaotic finish in Atlanta puts a new team atop the NFC South. And why there’s real reason to worry about a hyped NBA team in Los Angeles… and we’re not talking about the Lakers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For many full moons, a famous hotel in Oklahoma City has been keeping NBA players up at night -- and perhaps even influencing the outcome of their games. And the sheer number of players that say they've had paranormal experiences there is enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Today, on a special Halloween episode of our show, Steve Lackmeyer, co-author of a book about the Skirvin Hotel, walks us through the historic building's eerie history and explains the legend of the ghost that supposedly haunts it. Then, he tells us about some strange experiences he had at the hotel that even he, a staunch ghost skeptic, cannot explain.Check out Steve Skirvin and Jack Money's book about the Skirvin Hotel:https://www.amazon.com/Skirvin-Steve-Lackmeyer/dp/B00316Q3ECSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For more than a decade now, and basically since their last playoff game all the way back in 2011, being a New York Jets fan has been a special kind of football agony. But so far in 2022, it’s been a much different story, as the team sits at 5-2 — right behind Josh Allen and the mighty Buffalo Bills — in the AFC East. Today, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt tells us about the young defensive stars (Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams) who have helped power this surprising turnaround. Plus, the long, winding football journey of the coach they call “Smash”, who is in Robert Saleh’s ear during some of the game’s most critical moments. Follow Zack Rosenblatt’s coverage of the Jets: https://theathletic.com/author/zack-rosenblatt/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plus: A tough weekend for the NFL’s old guard, while some young stars shine bright. And a former-MLS superstar is making waves in the Premier League.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tennessee turned a whole lot of heads last weekend, outlasting previously undefeated Alabama in a 52-49 shootout for the ages. And among the throngs of students and clouds of cigar smoke that enveloped the field after the win was head coach Josh Heupel, who took a moment to savor the win -- and perhaps experience some deja vu. That's because what Heupel has done in his first two years in Tennessee is eerily similar, at least so far, to what he did in his first two years as a quarterback at Oklahoma. The Athletic's Joe Rexrode joins us today to explain the uncanny parallels, and to discuss whether Josh Heupel of today can do what Josh Heupel of 2000 did, and win an improbable national championship.Read Joe Rexrode's full story about Josh Heupel, past and present: https://theathletic.com/3639769/2022/10/05/tennessee-josh-heupel-sec-football/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Zion Williamson, Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets marks his first regular season NBA game in 17 months and more than 500 days. Today, The Athletic’s Will Guillory tells us about Zion’s long road back from a broken foot, the workouts that have reportedly left him in peak physical condition, and the inspiration he drew from an album that was released before he was born: Ready to Die from The Notorious B.I.G. Follow Will Guillory’s coverage of the New Orleans Pelicans: https://theathletic.com/author/william-guillory/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plus: The Yankees face a win or go home game in Cleveland. And Liverpool turn back the clock against Manchester City.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Will the Colorado Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions? Will Connor McDavid reclaim his MVP crown? Can the Toronto Maple Leafs actually win a playoff series? With the 2022-23 NHL season now officially underway, The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek joins us to discuss these and other burning questions, and to try and replicate his previous feat of successfully predicting the two Stanley Cup finalists.More from Eric Duhatschek: https://theathletic.com/author/eric-duhatschek/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.