The Lead

Much of the debate around this year’s NFL draft, which kicks off on Thursday, has been about the talented group of quarterbacks at the top of the class. From Clemson's Trevor Lawrence to BYU's Zach Wilson, and Ohio State's Justin Fields to North Dakota State's Trey Lance, many NFL teams will be betting big on a potential franchise QB -- and hoping their pick pays off. The Athletic's Andy Staples joins us to break down what makes each of these quarterbacks special, where they're likely to end up, and what surprises we could see on draft day.More from Andy Staples: https://theathletic.com/author/andy-staples/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just three seasons ago, the Colorado Rockies won 91 games and reached the postseason. Now, in 2021, they are considered by many to be the worst team in baseball. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Groke to look at the series of missteps that took the Rockies from contender to punchline, and how they went from one of the proudest days in their history — the signing of Nolan Arenado to a massive contract extension in 2019 — to a dramatic falling out between Arenado and the front office less than a year later. Read Nick Groke and Ken Rosenthal’s story about the Rockies-Nolan Arenado saga: https://theathletic.com/2467223/2021/03/22/communication-failures-poor-decisions-and-messy-breakups-how-it-all-went-wrong-for-the-colorado-rockies/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It has been one of the most spectacular collapses in sports history. On Sunday, many of the world's largest soccer clubs announced that they were forming a new 'Super League' -- by invitation only, and accessible only to the wealthiest and most historic teams in the land. But then came the backlash. Fans, players, managers, sponsors, pundits, and non-participating teams cried foul and created such an uproar that, within just two days, the league had all but fallen apart. The Athletic's Adam Crafton has been covering the fast-moving story up close, and he joins us today to discuss the remarkable rise and fall of Europe's most ambitious -- and most short-lived -- soccer league.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Mike Trout signed his record breaking contract with the Los Angeles Angels two years ago, some people were surprised that the best player in baseball was choosing to stay with a team that had only made the playoffs once in a decade, and didn’t look like it would be a World Series contender any time soon. Since then, things have arguably gotten even worse, with the Angels finishing below .500 for the past two seasons. The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya recently did a long interview with Trout, and he joins us today to talk about the superstar's commitment to the Angelss, the questions around his will to win the World Series, and whether the Angels are finally building a contending team around him.Read Fabian Arday's story about Mike Trout's loyalty:https://theathletic.com/2487459/2021/04/01/mike-trouts-baseball-genius-has-a-gaping-void-october-he-knows-you-know-what-its-time/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Brooklyn Nets have gone all-in on winning the NBA title this year, but for much of the season, their Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving has had a hard time just staying on the floor. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer to look at how Steve Nash and the Nets have tried to weather a storm of injuries and absences, and whether time is running out on their quest to build chemistry between their superstars. Read Alex Schiffer’s story about the Nets and chemistry: https://theathletic.com/2508915/2021/04/09/the-nets-are-running-out-of-time-to-develop-chemistry-history-isnt-exactly-on-brooklyns-side/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NFL Draft is fast approaching and LSU's Ja'Marr Chase is widely expected to be the first receiver to come off the board. Chase burst onto the national scene during the Tigers undefeated championship run in 2019, but he raised some eyebrows by choosing to opt out of the 2020 season over COVID-19 concerns. Today, we're joined by The Athletic's Larry Holder to talk about how Ja'Marr and his family decided to forgo his junior season of college football and whether this might be a model for prospects in the future.Read Larry Holder's story about Ja'Marr Chase here: https://theathletic.com/2504321/2021/04/13/lsu-jamarr-chase-is-so-good-that-defenders-and-his-dad-agree-the-nfl-draft-has-a-clear-wr1-but-chase-wont-hear-it/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last weekend, there was a fresh new voice calling out the starting lineups inside Chase Center, and getting Golden State Warriors fans hyped in the process. It belonged to Aaron 'Showtime' Taylor, a man who cut his teeth as a basketball announcer inside San Quentin State Prison -- and who spent more than 25 years behind bars. The Athletic's Marcus Thompson II has been following Taylor's incredible journey for years, and he joins us today to explain how Taylor went from nerdy kid to armed robber, to prison play-by-play guy, to NBA announcer -- and how he believes his fate was sealed by a botched robbery that nearly cost him his life.Read Marcus Thompson II's full story about Aaron Taylor: https://theathletic.com/2506509/2021/04/09/from-san-quentin-to-chase-center-the-voice-of-aaron-showtime-taylor-is-just-getting-warm/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major League Soccer is still not making money, and only about a quarter of the league’s teams turn a profit, according to Forbes. And yet the cost of buying an MLS team, or buying into the league, is skyrocketing -- and growing at a much faster rate than the NFL, NBA, or MLB. We've also seen celebrities like Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, Magic Johnson, James Harden and others become partial owners of MLS teams. The Athletic’s Sam Stejskal joins us to explain why, and to break down some of the biggest storylines to follow during the 2021 MLS season, which kicks off on Friday.More from Sam Stejskal: https://theathletic.com/author/sam-stejskal/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While the defending champion L.A. Lakers are trying to stay afloat until they get LeBron James and Anthony Davis back, the team that shares an arena with them has been taking things to another level. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Law Murray to look at why things have really started to click for Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. Plus, the challenges that this pandemic — and empty seats — have presented to the team’s famous super fan, Clipper Darrell.Read Law Murray’s story about Clipper Darrell: https://theathletic.com/2467946/2021/04/02/clipper-darrell-and-a-superfans-separation-anxiety/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the best teams in the NHL this year and goalie Jack Campbell has been a major factor in their success. As a teenager, Campbell was touted as the next great phenom in American hockey, but his time with the Dallas Stars was derailed by injury and a loss of confidence. After getting traded to Los Angeles, Campbell met Dusty Imoo, a coach who is described as a sort-of "hockey shaman," and who helped steer Campbell away from potentially ending his professional career. Today, The Athletic's James Mirtle joins us to talk about the special relationship Imoo forged with Campbell and how it helped put the goalie back on the path to greatness.Read James Mirtle's story about Jack Campbell here: https://theathletic.com/2494891/2021/04/05/im-not-gonna-lie-about-my-life-how-jack-campbell-was-saved-on-his-way-to-the-maple-leafs/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.