The Lead

Plus: Tyrann Mathieu finally finds a new home. And is this the last dance for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the Steel City?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plus: Can the Suns find a way to slow down Luka Dončić? And the round one NHL playoff matchup you don’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

During a dominant first-round sweep over the Brooklyn Nets, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics started to look like a legitimate threat to win the NBA title. Today, The Athletic’s Jason Quick tells us how the Celtics — and first-year head coach Ime Udoka — found their way after a rocky start, with the help of two of Udoka’s longtime friends, and some swagger borrowed from a professional boxer. Plus, what to expect when the Celtics meet Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Read Jason Quick’s full story about Ime Udoka and the Celtics: https://theathletic.com/3230403/2022/04/11/how-ime-udoka-became-the-can-man-behind-the-scenes-of-how-a-portland-connection-reshaped-the-celtics/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plus: Will James Harden shoot the ball tonight?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For weeks now, we've been hearing a lot about the supposedly scandalous 'Yankee Letter' -- sent by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to the New York Yankees back in 2017, and related to possible sign stealing violations. But now that the contents of that letter have come to light (as of Tuesday), it's clear that the story behind the letter is more interesting than the letter itself. Today, we dive into that story, which involves an unlikely lawsuit filed by a fantasy baseball player -- a case that unintentionally set off a media firestorm directed at the Yankees. Then, Maggie Gray of CBS Sports Radio joins us to discuss the contents of the letter and what all of this means for the Bronx Bombers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's Starting Five (the new podcast we're developing at The Lead), we run down five of today's biggest sports stories, including: what comes next for the Brooklyn Nets, why Georgia's Travon Walker is suddenly the odds-on pick to go #1 in the NFL Draft, a high school basketball player who is going pro but not taking a paycheck, and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we're giving listeners a sneak peek of the new spin-off podcast we've been developing: 'The Lead: Starting Five.' We break down five of the biggest sports stories of the day, in 10 minutes. On today's episode, we preview the Nets' do-or-die game against the Celtics, explain why beers and insults were flying in Yankee Stadium over the weekend, look at why fans of French club PSG walked out on their team...while they were winning a championship, and more. We'll be running episodes of The Lead: Starting Five here on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for the next few weeks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the NFL Draft gets underway next Thursday, one of the most intriguing prospects to hear his name called will be Malik Willis, the cannon-armed — and very fast — quarterback out of Liberty University. Today, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tells us how Willis went from unheralded high school passer in Atlanta, to third-string QB at Auburn, to now potentially the first quarterback off the board in the 2022 Draft. Jeff also explains why, despite all of Willis’s upside, there are still questions about what his future looks like in the NFL. Read Jeff Howe’s full story about Malik Willis: https://theathletic.com/2933235/2021/11/04/how-malik-willis-of-liberty-became-one-of-the-hottest-qb-prospects-for-the-nfl-draft/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in the day, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, a defensive tackle on the 1985 Chicago Bears, was known for his bone-crunching hits and colorful off-the-field endeavors -- including rattlesnake hunting and professional wrestling. But now, at age 64, the former Super Bowl champ is in a very different kind of fight. The Athletic's Dan Pompei recently spent time with McMichael and those closest to him at his house in suburban Chicago, and he joins us today to discuss McMichael's illustrious career, his devastating diagnosis of ALS, and how he's now reflecting on -- and finding new meaning in -- his life.Read Dan Pompei's full story on Steve McMichael:https://theathletic.com/3174997/2022/03/31/i-pushed-myself-to-the-limit-bears-great-steve-mcmichael-as-tough-as-they-come-on-the-field-is-in-the-fight-of-his-life/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NBA Playoffs get underway on Saturday, and there are intriguing storylines in every direction, from Giannis Antetokounmpo trying to lead the Bucks to a repeat, to star players — including Steph Curry and Luka Doncic — racing the clock to return from injuries. Today, The Athletic’s Zach Harper helps us break down the key subplots in every first-round matchup, and makes his picks to reach — and win — the NBA Finals.Follow Zach Harper’s coverage of the NBA: https://theathletic.com/author/zach-harper/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.