The Lead

Baseball season is just a week old, but we’ve already been hearing a lot about a new technology that allows MLB pitchers and catchers to communicate with the push of a button, and thereby prevent sign-stealing -- PitchCom. And it turns out, the seemingly magical technology was, in fact, invented by two magicians. Today, The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan introduces us to those two magicians, describes how their gizmo works (without giving away all of its secrets), and explains why these two, of all people, are the ones who seem to have solved one of baseball’s oldest problems.Read Zach Buchanan's full story about PitchCom:https://theathletic.com/2951011/2021/11/18/its-magic-right-meet-pitchcom-the-device-created-by-two-magicians-to-solve-baseballs-sign-stealing-problem/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have some exciting news to share! We are in the process of developing a new spin-off podcast, and as part of that process, we're shifting The Lead to two days per week instead of five, beginning this week. We'll now be publishing new episodes of The Lead on Wednesdays and Fridays. It'll still be the same show, but with a different publishing schedule. And stay tuned for more updates on the new spin-off!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last summer, the world watched in shock and disbelief as Danish soccer star Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a Euro 2020 game, broadcast on live television. Doctors rushed onto the field and resuscitated him from what was later identified as cardiac arrest. Now, ten months later, Christian Eriksen is back on the field -- and looking better than ever. The Athletic's Jay Harris, who covers Eriksen and his club team, Brentford, joins us today to explain how the Danish star has somehow managed to pick up where he left off, why he chose tiny Brentford of all places to make his return, and why, after such a traumatic experience, he’s playing the game at all.More from Jay Harris:https://theathletic.com/author/jay-harris/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After all the chaos of the lockout, and the sprint through an abbreviated spring training, Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is here. To get ready for the season, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris, who breaks down five bold predictions for 2022, including his expectations for the always-overachieving Tampa Bay Rays, and the wildly intriguing — but often injured — Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. Also on this episode: an almost 40-year-old with 40-plus homers in sight, and Eno's picks to win the American League, National League, and World Series.Read Eno Sarris’s bold predictions for 2022: https://theathletic.com/3187448/2022/03/25/sarris-ten-bold-predictions-for-a-wacky-mlb-season/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After enduring a tough start to the season, the Dallas Mavericks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last 3 months. Luka Doncic is back to his MVP-level form and with the help of some key additions at the trade deadline the Slovenian star is hoping to reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time in his career. Today, The Athletic’s Tim Cato joins us to talk about how Doncic rebounded from his own early season struggles and just how far this Mavericks team could go in the postseason.Follow all of Tim Cato’s Dallas Mavericks coverage: https://theathletic.com/author/tim-cato/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There was a time when high school football players would decide where they wanted to go to college by visiting a few schools, talking to coaches, and then making a decision with their family. But those days are long gone. Today, The Athletic's Ari Wasserman takes us inside the over-the-top world of college football recruiting, and explains how one specific aspect of recruiting -- the photoshoot -- has become an important part of getting blue chip prospects. Plus, why arguably the most hyped high school football player in history, Arch Manning (the nephew of Peyton and Eli) is taking a very different approach, and keeping his recruiting activities low-key and simple.Related stories from Ari Wasserman:https://theathletic.com/3217713/2022/03/30/arch-mannings-unique-approach-to-recruiting-and-the-coach-behind-it-all-theres-no-red-carpet/https://theathletic.com/3103611/2022/02/01/horses-luxury-cars-and-the-photo-shoots-growing-influence-in-college-footballs-recruiting-landscape/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This year's race for NBA Most Valuable Player is one of the tightest in recent memory. Two-time winner Giannis Antetokounmpo is making a strong push to become just the ninth three-time winner. The reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, is putting up historic numbers night after night. And in Philadelphia, Sixers center Joel Embiid kept his team at the top of the East through a tumultuous year while averaging 30 points a game. Today, The Athletic’s Sam Amick joins us to talk about his recent exclusive interview with Embiid, where the Cameroonian big man shared his thoughts on the Ben Simmons saga, the acquisition of James Harden and if Philly has enough to go all the way. Plus we break down this historic MVP race by making the case for each of the top contenders.Read Sam Amick’s full interview with Joel Embiid: https://theathletic.com/3213386/2022/03/28/joel-embiid-unplugged-on-the-mvp-trusting-daryl-morey-his-new-partner-james-harden-and-still-having-a-long-way-to-go/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Women's Final Four tips off tonight, and there are some mouth-watering matchups: Top-ranked South Carolina, led by national player of the year Aliyah Boston, square off against relative underdogs Louisville, led by fiery guard Haley Van Lith. Then, UConn will play in its fourteenth consecutive Final Four (yes, you read that correctly), and will hope that shooting sensation Paige Bueckers can lead them to victory over the defending champion Stanford Cardinal amd reigning Final Four MVP Haley Jones. The Athletic's Chantel Jennings joins us to break down the key matchups and storylines to follow, and to discuss how the electric slide, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Kimmel have factored into the tournament. Plus, after the uproar over inequality during last year's NCAA tournament, how much have things really changed?More from Chantel Jennings:https://theathletic.com/author/chantel-jennings/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are in unprecedented territory in the men’s NCAA Tournament, with a March Madness matchup we’ve never seen before: Duke vs. UNC, on Saturday night, in New Orleans. Today, The Athletic’s Brendan Marks — who covers both teams for The Athletic — takes us behind the scenes to look at key turning points for the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels, and how Mike Krzyzewski and Hubert Davis have gotten the most out of their rosters at the exact right time. Also on this episode: We break down the key performers for both teams, from Paolo Banchero to Mark Williams to Brady Manek and Armando Bacot. Follow Brendan Marks's coverage of Duke and UNC basketball: https://theathletic.com/author/brendan-marks/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After dispiritingly missing out in 2018, The U.S. Men are once again on the brink of World Cup qualification thanks in large part to the play of star forward Christian Pulisic. The Chelsea winger has endured an up and down campaign with his club in recent months, but on the back of a recent upturn in form the 22-year-old came into the National Team setup with a point to prove. Today, The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio takes us through the match against Panama where Pulisic’s talismanic performance helped drive the USMNT to a decisive victory and tells us just how high this team’s ceiling can be if Pulisic is firing on all cylinders.Read all of Paul Tenorio’s U.S. National Team and MLS coverage: https://theathletic.com/author/paul-tenorio/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.