The Lead

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are about to begin, and there has never been an Olympic Games like this before. Today, we dive into the political controversies around the host nation, China, including their atrocious record of human rights abuses, as well as their approach to staging the games during the pandemic. Then, on a happier note, we look at some the most interesting storylines and athletes on Team USA, including which athletes are likely to medal, and an early contender for heartwarming story of the Olympics. Our guests are Sean Fitz-Gerald, senior national writer for The Athletic, and Zack Pierce, managing editor for The Athletic Minnesota.Sean Fitz-Gerald's story about China's grim shadow over the Games:https://theathletic.com/3099762/2022/01/31/as-2022-olympics-begin-chinas-human-rights-abuses-cast-a-grim-shadow/Zack Pierce's full rundown on Team USA:https://theathletic.com/3067167/2022/01/28/team-usa-at-the-2022-olympics-every-athlete-every-event-schedules-and-what-to-know-for-beijing/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NFL Playoffs have been one for the ages and Championship Weekend brought even more drama with clutch kicks, costly turnovers, and heroic comebacks. Today, The Athletic’s Stephen Holder breaks down all the action and gives us his favorite to bring home the Lombardi Trophy. Plus, a discussion of Tom Brady’s retirement saga as it stands after an eventful Saturday.Read Stephen Holder’s NFL coverage here: https://theathletic.com/author/stephen-holder/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Sunday, when the San Francisco 49ers take on the L.A. Rams in the NFC Championship Game, it’s no secret that the Niners want to get the ball early and often to their most indispensable offensive player: Deebo Samuel. Today, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tells us the origin story of one of the most explosive players in the NFL, a story that can be traced all the way back to a very aggressive baby, and the iconic 1995 comedy Friday. Plus, what to expect when Samuel and the 49ers face the Rams for the third time this season, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Read Matt Barrows’s story about Deebo Samuel: https://theathletic.com/3070072/2022/01/14/bully-in-the-building-all-eyes-on-deebo-samuel-as-49ers-begin-their-playoff-run/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you think about Canada and sports, soccer probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But the country is emerging as a force, with the Canadian women winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and the men currently sitting atop the CONCACAF standings. With World Cup qualifiers resuming today, The Athletic's Joshua Kloke joins us to discuss how a "golden generation" of young players, including Alphonso Davies, is pushing Canada toward greatness -- and picking up a lot of new fans along the way. Plus, why Canadian soccer officials believe the man who took the women's program to new heights will do the same with the men.More from Josh Kloke:https://theathletic.com/author/joshua-kloke/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2021-22 women’s college basketball season has ben one of the most chaotic in recent history. There’s been major upsets, devastating injuries, incredible record setting performances–and we haven’t even gotten to March. Today, The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins us to make sense of all the madness and tells us about some of the key players for the top teams come tournament time. Later, we go inside Becky Hammon’s seismic move back to the WNBA and discuss whether or not the former-WNBA star can bring an elusive championship trophy back to Vegas.Read all of Chantel Jennings’ WNBA and College Basketball coverage here: 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 have about seven weeks to go until the start of March Madness, and there’s a surprise team at the top of the rankings: the Auburn Tigers, who are holding the No. 1 spot for the first time ever. Today, The Athletic’s Seth Davis tells us three key reasons why the Tigers have emerged as one of the best teams in the nation. And on the opposite end of the Tiger spectrum: a close look at all the turmoil surrounding Penny Hardaway’s Memphis program, and how a season that started with big expectations is threatening to spiral out of control. Follow Seth Davis’s coverage of college basketball: https://theathletic.com/author/seth-davis/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This was, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining weekends in the history of the NFL. Four games, every single one decided on the final play, frigid temperatures, walk-off field goals, upsets, squandered leads, and an epic, record-setting showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. The Athletic's Mike Sando joins us to break down all of the action, and to look at what comes next for the four teams -- Chiefs, Bengals, Rams and 49ers -- left standing.More from Mike Sando:https://theathletic.com/author/mike-sando/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the course of his career, Karl-Anthony Towns has faced questions over his toughness, his willingness to defend, and his maturity. Those questions have been a millstone over the former-Kentucky star as the T-Wolves struggle year after year. But that reputation might finally be changing. Today, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski tells us about how tragic events in his personal life reshaped the 26-year-old's approach to life and basketball and why his new mindset could be the key to getting the lowly Timberwolves back to playoff basketball.Read Jon Krawczynski’s story about Karl-Anthony Towns here: https://theathletic.com/3078860/2022/01/19/wolves-karl-anthony-towns-is-making-an-all-star-push-with-growth-in-his-game-and-peace-in-his-mind/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Monday night, in the Rams’ playoff win over the Cardinals, running back Cam Akers came up just short of 100 yards from scrimmage, which wouldn’t register as that remarkable of a feat — except that Akers wasn’t supposed to be playing in that game at all. Today, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue takes us behind the scenes of Akers’s incredible comeback, returning from one of the most devastating injuries in sports — a torn Achilles tendon — in just five and a half months. Plus, what to expect when the Rams take on Tom Brady and the reigning Super Bowl champs this weekend. Read Jourdan Rodrigue’s full story about Cam Akers: https://theathletic.com/3069918/2022/01/17/write-your-own-destiny-inside-cam-akers-remarkable-return-to-rams-5-1-2-months-after-achilles-tear/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NHL star Corey Perry has built a career out of doing two things really well -- scoring goals, and getting under the skin of opponents. In fact, the former Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup Champion is widely seen as one of the most frustrating players to line up against. But it turns out the one-time Anaheim Duck -- now with the Tampa Bay Lightning -- has a sentimental side that the public rarely, if ever, gets to see. The Athletic's Joe Smith dug into Perry's past, speaking with family members, former coaches and teammates, and Perry himself, to understand what makes him tick and how he developed a sort of Jekyll and Hyde personality. Plus, why Perry might be the key to the Lightning winning a third straight Stanley Cup.Read Joe Smith's full story about Corey Perry:https://theathletic.com/3071139/2022/01/17/no-one-gets-to-see-the-real-him-when-the-skates-come-off-corey-perry-goes-from-nightmare-to-emotional/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.