Zena, Robert and Jason are kicking off the New Year by digging into the seismic shifts rocking the football world. Madeline Hill and Charlotte Wilder from The Sports Gossip Show join the show for a special "Vibes-Only" NFL Playoff Preview. We’re ranking every playoff team from "Immaculate" to "Horrific" and spilling the tea on the off-field drama you might have missed—from front-office feuds to Jordon Hudson’s latest correspondences. Plus, after Indiana’s historic 38-3 dismantling of Alabama in the Rose Bowl and Miami’s upset over Ohio State, The Athletic’s Chris Vannini joins the set to answer the question: Is the SEC’s era of untouchable dominance officially over? We also turn our attention to the disaster in the desert. After a 3-14 season, Pete Carroll is officially one-and-done with the Las Vegas Raiders. We examine the enigma of owner Mark Davis: Why can he build a dynasty with the WNBA’s Aces but can’t find his footing in the NFL and is Tom Brady the only person who can save the Silver and Black.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Chris Vannini @ChrisVannini

Chalotte Wilder @TheWilderThings

Madeline Hill @mad_hill

Editor: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Stephen Lorenzo

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zena Keita sits down with Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr for a remarkably candid conversation about the "inevitable" end of the Warriors' dynasty. Kerr opens up about the "beauty in the struggle" of chasing one last ring, facing his own retirement, and what life looks like after coaching Steph Curry. Then, The Athletic’s senior writer Sam Amick joins the crew fresh from Las Vegas to break down the NBA Cup results. The team plays a game of "Save It or Scrap It"—debating whether the league should keep the In-Season Tournament, how to fix the load management crisis, and if rule changes are needed to bring intensity back to the game. Plus, a look at the imminent "passing of the torch" from the league’s aging superstars to the next generation, a trade market preview, and a new edition of "Learning Feels Good."

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Sam Amick @sam_amick

Editor: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Stephen Lorenzo

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Zena, Jason, and Robert for a brand new episode of The Athletic Show as they tackle the biggest existential question in sports right now: What exactly is "football" and who gets to play it?

Rundown:

-Old man Rivers - The Colts have signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers to save their season. We debate if this is a brilliant move or an experiment destined to crash and burn.

-Should we kick the term soccer to the curb? - With the World Cup coming to the US next year, the debate is heating up: Should we finally start calling "soccer" by its global name?

-Is flag football the future? - The NFL wants in on the Olympics, but the pioneers of Flag Football aren't rolling out the red carpet. The Athletic’s Tim Graham joins us to break down the tension

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

Tim Graham @ByTimGraham

Editor: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Stephen Lorenzo

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.