Sports In America with David Greene

Last year, Shayla Smith broke Philadelphia’s all-time scoring record for girls and boys basketball. That’s a huge deal, especially in Philly — a city known for basketball legends like WNBA guard Shawnetta Stewart, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, and NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. None of them scored as many points in high school as Shayla did.

We sat down with Shayla and her coach, Kevin Slaughter, to hear how she became a high school phenom and changed the reputation of her high school’s basketball program. We’ll find out what it takes to score more points than anyone who came before her, and how Shayla enters a flow state on the court — and makes it look easy.

We’ll also talk to Coach Jackie Johnston, known on social media for her obsession with women’s sports, to talk through what to expect at the NCAA finals this weekend.

Show Notes

1. Shayla Smith guides her team to Philadelphia Public League Championship | Rare Footage Sports
2. High school basketball star Shayla Smith hopes to become first WNBA player to wear hijab | CBS Philadelphia
3. Penn State Commit Shayla Smith Imhotep Charter Highlights | Rare Footage Sports
4. Shayla Smith Penn State Player Profile | ESPN
5. Follow Coach Jackie on TikTok

Show Credits

Executive Producers: Tom Grahsler and Joan Isabella

Senior Producer: Michael Olcott

Producer: Michaela Winberg

Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa

Engineer: Mike Villers

Talent Booker: Britt Kahn

Tile Art: Bea Walling

Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Baseball season is officially in full swing, and with every home run robbery, oppo taco, and walk-off eruption, it feels like, even for a few hours, baseball restores our faith in humanity. But outside of the stadium, life is anything but calm.

A country gripped by fear, a heightened sense of political suspicion, and athletes pulled into the discourse. Any of this sound familiar? This week, we talk with award-winning sports historian Howard Bryant to take us into the moment America asked its biggest sports hero to prove his loyalty

We also sit down with Tim Lambert, a Pittsburgh sports writer, to talk about the irrational hope that all of us feel at the beginning of baseball season and ask the question on everyone’s mind: could this be our year?

Show Notes

1. ‘The most dangerous man in America’: how Paul Robeson went from Hollywood to blacklisted | The Guardian
2. Paul Robeson Biography | PBS
3. The Story Behind Jackie Robinson’s Moving Testimony Before the House Un-American Activities Committee | TIME
4. Venezuela’s historic WBC title fueled by power, pitching — and passion | The Athletic
5. Kings and Pawns | Howard Bryant

Show Credits

Host: David Greene

Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler

Senior Producer: Michael Olcott

Producer: Michaela Winberg

Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa

Talent Booker: Britt Kahn

Engineer: Mike Villers, Adam Staniczeski

Tile Art: Bea Walling

Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

Just after the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in Milan, we sat down with Emmy award-winning commentator Bomani Jones for a special live recording.

We get into FBI director Kash Patel’s locker room antics after the US men’s team won gold, why Bomani calls them the “whiter Olympics,” and we ask who gets to define America as the US gets ready to host the World Cup this summer.

We also sit down with producers Paula Lavigne and Dan Arruda from ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcasts to discuss their latest true crime series, “Murder at the U,” which investigates the killing of former Miami Hurricanes star Bryan Pata and the 20-year saga of trying to find justice for him and his family.

Show Notes

1. FBI director joins US men's hockey team celebration | ABC
2. Why is ICE going to the Winter Olympics in Milan | The Guardian
3. Trump discourages Iranian soccer team from attending the World Cup, citing safety concerns | PBS
4. The Right Time with Bomani Jones Podcast
5. Introducing: Murder at the U | 30 for 30 Podcasts

Show Credits

Host: David Greene

Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler

Senior Producer: Michael Olcott

Producer: Michaela Winberg

Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa

Talent Booker: Britt Kahn

Engineer: Mike Villers, Adam Staniczeski

Tile Art: Bea Walling

Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.