The Lead

Following the NBA's lead, MLB, the NHL and MLS all suspended or delayed their respective seasons because of coronavirus. And, in a shocking move, the NCAA canceled the men's and women's basketball tournaments. The sports world is effectively canceled for the time being. For the NBA, things could get worse before they get better. The Athletic's Sam Amick joins us to talk about how a lack of testing kits is creating more problems for the NBA, how long this suspension of games could drag on, and what the economic implications are for players and owners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NBA has suspended all games until further notice after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. We recap how one of the most historic days in sports history unfolded at breakneck speed, and are joined by The Athletic's Joe Vardon to discuss how the NBA abruptly changed its position after Gobert tested positive and what comes next for the league and its players. (Note: Gobert's teammate Donovan Mitchell has reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus as well. It's unclear at this time who the NBA's "patient zero" actually is.) Follow Joe Vardon's NBA coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/joe-vardon/?source=theleadpocastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the coronavirus continues to spread, more and more sporting events are being canceled or postponed. There is now a possibility that NCAA Tournament games could be played without fans. But it turns out, this has happened before. The Athletic's Dana O'Neil joins us to discuss a 1989 measles outbreak that caused conference tourney games to be played in empty arenas, what that was like for players, and how TV broadcasters found a way to have some fun in a tough situation (hint: cardboard cutouts were involved).Read Dana O'Neil's story about the 1989 Siena Saints:https://theathletic.com/1658080/2020/03/06/a-disease-forcing-tourney-games-to-be-played-in-empty-arenas-its-happened/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steph Curry recently returned to the Golden State Warriors' lineup after missing most of the season with a broken hand. But during his absence, his brother Seth emerged as a key member of the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks.  The Athletic’s Tim Cato, joins us to talk about Seth Curry’s gradual rise from un-drafted free agent to Mavericks X factor, and what it’s like to finally emerge from his superstar brother’s shadow. Follow Tim Cato's coverage of Seth Curry and the Dallas Mavericks: https://theathletic.com/author/tim-cato/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers went on a local radio show on Friday to talk about his frustrations with the NFL. In a rather remarkable series of comments, he also sounded off on his fellow players, who he said don’t care enough about the new collective bargaining agreement that players are negotiating with the league. The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to talk about why things have reached a new boiling point, why Rodgers is speaking up at this late stage of his career, and how some players aren’t buying what Rodgers is selling.Follow Lindsay Jones' coverage of the NFL:https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is on a mission to win over more fans in a city that is synonymous with the Lakers. And the franchise has doubled down on those efforts lately, through everything from a slick marketing campaign to building and renovating hundreds of basketball courts around the city of Los Angeles. With the Clippers and Lakers set to square off on Sunday, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha joins us to talk about how the ex-Microsoft CEO's quest to build his team's fanbase is going, how these two teams match up against each other on the court, and whether or not Los Angeles might actually start to become a Clippers town. Follow Jovan Buha's coverage of the Clippers: https://theathletic.com/author/jovan-buha/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of alleged sexual abuse and sexual trauma and the content might be emotionally upsetting for some listeners.In the second part of a special investigation, a former player of junior and college hockey coach Thomas "Chico" Adrahtas joins us to tell his story. Brent Cary played for Adrahtas as a teenager and, like many young hockey players, looked up to the well-known coach, almost like a father figure. And though Cary himself ultimately didn’t accept Adrahtas’s proposition, he was deeply disturbed to learn what his mentor is accused of doing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Content Warning: This episode contains details about alleged sexual abuse and sexual trauma and might be emotionally upsetting for some listeners.Multiple former hockey players have accused a former University of Minnesota and Robert Morris University Illinois hockey coach of sexual abuse. They say the coach, Thomas “Chico” Adrahtas, tricked them into having sexual encounters with someone they were told was a woman, when, in fact, it was the coach. The Athletic's Katie Strang, who spent months investigating Adrahtas, joins us talk about how, despite multiple reports against the coach over more than two decades, he was able to keep coaching. Read Katie Strang's investigative report: https://theathletic.com/1591547/2020/02/21/former-players-say-chicago-area-hockey-coach-sexually-abused-them/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, Maria Sharapova announced her retirement. She won five grand slams during her 19-year career — including a signature win over Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2004 — but also leaves behind a complicated legacy. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare to discuss Sharapova’s reputation as a ruthless competitor, the fallout from her late-career doping suspension, and her intense — but actually one-sided — rivalry with Serena Williams.Follow Charlie Eccleshare's writing at:https://theathletic.com/author/charlie-eccleshare/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded away Russell Westbrook and Paul George, the basketball world more or less left them for dead. A lot of people also thought there was no way Chris Paul — sent to OKC in the Westbrook trade — would ever stay. But the Thunder are well on their way to a playoff berth, with CP3 at the center of it. Today, Erik Horne of The Athletic joins us to talk about how the Thunder have defied expectations, and how Paul, at age 34, is showing everyone he has a lot left. Follow Erik Horne's coverage of the Oklahoma City Thunder: https://theathletic.com/author/erik-horne/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.