Edge Of Sports

In the run-up to Brazil’s year of mega-events, Theresa Williamson made her website RioOnWatch.org into an essential independent news source. In our final Olympics podcast, Theresa Williamson joins me for a wide-ranging and insightful talk that you will not find on any other show. We’ll also stop by a party at the oft-discussed Vila Autódromo, site of a high-profile battle for over residents rights that is just a stone’s throw away from Olympic Park. My ‘Choice Words’ are about the stalwart Brazilian teachers who went on strike in Rio, and the ‘Just Stand Up’ award goes to Anthony Ervin, 35-year-old gold medalist and author of: “Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian.” Special thanks to our youngest guest, nine-year-old Kay, who summed up the Olympic effect on Rio so well: “It means so many things, and most of them aren’t good.”Edge of Sports Hotline: (401) 236-3343 (EDGE). This week, we want to know: What would you do if the Olympics came to your town? Buy tickets? Volunteer? Perhaps protest?Theresa Williamson:

We are in Olympic Rio shining light on the dark corners of these games. First up: Jules Boykoff, a razor-sharp critic of sports culture and the author of “Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics.” Then, Stephanie Reist, a PhD candidate from Duke, based in Rio and writing about the Rio suburbs for the essential site RioOnWatch.org. ’Choice Words’ is a column about the intoxicating nature of the Olympics - and resistance to them. The ‘Just Stand Up’ award goes to Gabby Douglas in response to utterly inane criticism of this great athlete. Finally, we share messages from you, our listeners, left on our our Edge of Sports hotline: 401-236-3343 (EDGE.) We asked: were you still going to watch the Olympics, or had the controversies dampened your excitement? Thank you to Sam, Toby, Jacob, Andy and Candace. This week, the question is: what during the Olympics has inspired you, and why?—Boykoff: http://julesboykoff.org | https://www.versobooks.com/books/2105-power-gamesReist: http://www.rioonwatch.org/?s=Stepha

The Olympics are here and as I head to Rio, Edge of Sports has David W. Larkin, an attorney who focuses on the corruption of sports organizations like the International Olympic Committee, about the decision to not suspend Russia from the Olympics. We ask him which is more corrupt: the IOC or FIFA? His analysis may surprise you. We also have some "choice words" about the Rio Olympics - of course - and why ten years ago, almost no one thought having Brazil as a host was a bad idea. But I start the show by speaking about the Khan family, and remember when a Gold Star Mother was attacked ten years ago because she stood up to the war that took her son's life. I speak about Cindy Sheehan. The Just Stand Up award goes to activist WNBA players who refused to bow to NBA and WNBA chiefs Adam Silver and Lisa Borders, and won.David W. Larkin, esq. https://twitter.com/SportCorruptionLarkin’s talk at the American Bar Association Meeting: “Corruption’s New Arena: International Sports in a Post-FIFA World” 3:30 P

In response to North Carolina’s discriminatory HB-2 'bathroom bill,' NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stood up for LGBTQ rights and pulled the 2017 All-Star game from Charlotte. Yet in the very same week, Silver and WNBA President Lisa Borders levied fines on female players who donned black t-shirts in pregame warmups to support the Black Lives Matter movement. To understand this tricky political moment, we have Howard Bryant, a friend of the show, author, commentator and columnist for ESPN. Then, in ’Choice Words’ we have a column about this new era of player power in basketball, and the ‘Just Stand Up’ award goes to WNBA players Tina Charles, Tanisha Wright and Swin Cash for standing up and speaking out.Howard Bryant twitter: http://twitter.com/hbryant42Zirin Column: The NBA Moves the All-Star Game, but Also Punishes Players for Political T-shirts?: http://bit.ly/2ajI699The Olympics and the Battle for Rio’s Future: http://bit.ly/1WsiXdK—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports |

Today there is largely universal praise for the ESPY statements of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. But what about athletes who stood up in much more difficult environment? Today we take a critical look at the ESPY statement with 2012 NBA first round draft pick Royce White. This is an NBA-level talent who has been pushed out of the league for standing up. We talk to Royce about the ESPYS and his future. I also have some "Choice words" about the way this discussion of athlete activism is being framed in the #BlackLivesMatter era.Royce White twitter: http://twitter.com/highway_30Royce White & Dave Zirin have an event together on September 21 in St. Paul at East Side Freedom Library: http://eastsidefreedomlibrary.org/Dave Zirin article on Royce White from 2013: https://www.thenation.com/article/sports-interview-non-sports-fans-have-read-my-talk-nba-player-royce-whiteESPYs opening: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=17061524Carmelo Anthony's statement: https://instagram.com

The police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, followed by the sniper attack on police in Dallas, unleashed a wave of protests throughout the country. It also produced numerous responses by athletes who spoke out strongly in support of the black lives matter movement. Why is this happening now and why does it matter? Our guest is Scoop Jackson of ESPN, former editor of SLAM magazine.Scoop Jackson twitter:https://twitter.com/iamscoopjackson—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Sports World is buzzing about NBA star's Kevin Durant's move from Oklahoma City to the Golden State Warriors. We break it down - the basketball and the political sides of this deal - with NBA.com's own Sekou Smith. Then, in front of a live audience, I do a talk about the political lessons of the Mizzou football strike against racism. Finally, the Just Stand Up award to Olympic swimmer Anthony Ervin.Sekou Smith: http://twitter.com/SekouSmithNBA/Hang Time blog: http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/tag/sekou-smith/Hang Time podcast: http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/category/podcast/Socialism 2016 conference: http://wearemany.org/Anthony Ervin: http://twitter.com/anthonyervin/Anthony Ervin’s book, “Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian” http://akashicbooks.com/catalog/chasing-water/—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/pr

Our final tribute to Muhammad Ali features Bill Siegel, director of ‘The Trials of Muhammad Ali,’ as well as cultural commentator and author Bijan C. Bayne, and finally, one icon says goodbye to another as 1968 Olympic hero, Dr. John Carlos honors Ali.Hear our entire series of Ali tributes at http://EdgeOfSportsPodcast.com. Thank you to all the guests who participated and to the city of Louisville for hosting such a touching tribute.Bill Siegel film: https://twitter.com/MuhammadAliDoc | http://kartemquin.com/films/the-trials-of-muhammad-ali | http://hulu.com/watch/617383Bijan C. Bayne: http://twitter.com/bijancbayneDr. John Carlos: http://johncarlos68.com | The John Carlos StoryThe Sports Moment That Changed the World http://haymarketbooks.org/hc/The-John-Carlos-StoryMusic by Yusef Lateef “Like It Is” & “Love Theme from Spartacus" http://yuseflateef.com—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com Advertising Inquir

The ascendancy of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James to the top of the mountain has captivated hoop fans everywhere, including us. First, Dave Zirin sings the praises of LeBron and the Cavs, and then speaks with Cyd Zeigler, founder of the website Outsports and author of the new book ‘Fair Play: How LGBT Athletes Are Claiming Their Rightful Place in Sports’ about how the sports world responded to the massacre of LGBT people in Orlando. Finally, we take it to church…seriously…with a recording of Dave’s Father’s Day sermon, as delivered to Plymouth Congregational Church in DC on "Muhammad Ali, Orlando, and the Light of Understanding."Cyd Zeigler: https://twitter.com/CydZeiglerFair Play: How LGBT Athletes Are Claiming Their Rightful Place in Sportshttp://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/fair-play/Outsportshttp://www.outsports.com/ | https://twitter.com/outsportsPlymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler http://www.plymouth-ucc.org/ | Zirin Sermon: https://www.spreaker.co

Today we bring you the emotions, sounds, and voices of Muhammad Ali's funeral in Louisville. This was a day that will go down in history as the last act of resistance by the 20th century’s most iconic fighter. People came to pay respects from near and far, both young and old, in every shade of color, media professionals and everyday folks alike; all bound together by a love for Muhammad Ali. This show is dedicated to our LBGT - and specifically Latino LGBT - brothers and sisters who were killed in Orlando the very day after Ali's funeral. We address this horrific juxtaposition with a statement against anti-LGBT and anti-Muslim bigotry.Column: ‘Sleep Easy, My Brother’ http://thenation.com/article/sleep-easy-my-brotherColumn: ‘The Orlando Killings and the Message of Muhammad Ali’s Funeral’ http://thenation.com/article/the-orlando-killings-and-the-message-of-muhammad-alis-funeralThe Ali Center: http://alicenter.orgAli’s entire interfaith memorial: https://youtu.be/NBX59J-ltuAAli’s Muslim Janazah memorial

All week we are releasing interviews about the remarkable and singular legacy of The Champ, Muhammad Ali. Today we have Canadian sports journalist and social justice activist Shireen Ahmed, then Baltimore poet and founder of #NoJusticeNoLeBron, Tariq Toure. They speak about the Ali's support of the Palestinian liberation and what it has meant to them to share the faith of the King of the World. Shireen Ahmed: https://twitter.com/_shireenahmed_|  http://shireenahmed.comTariq Toure: http://twitter.com/tariqtoure | http://tariqtoure.comMusic: McCoy Tyner - Search For Peace http://mccoytyner.com | Faithless - Muhammad Ali http://faithless.co.uk—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Only one man who could write the New York Times obituary of Muhammad Ali. Bob Lipsyte covered Ali for 52 years and continues our special week of coverage for The Champ. Then, writer and commentator Kavitha Davidson speaks about Ali’s cultural impact and examines the possible link between two degenerative brain diseases: Parkinson’s, which plagued Ali, and CTE, which is detected in the brains of more and more football players. Our closing song today is by Johnny Wakelin & The Kinshasa Band, “Black Superman, Muhammad Ali.”Lipsyte: Muhammad Ali Dies at 74: Titan of Boxing and the 20th Century http://nyti.ms/1sUHBHjLipsyte articles in the Times: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/robert_lipsyte/index.htmlKavitha Davidson: http://twitter.com/kavithadavidsonKavitha Davidson articles in Bloomberg View: http://www.bloomberg.com/view/contributors/ARmrUVik0io/kavitha-a-davidsonMuhammad Ali, Black Superman: https://youtu.be/cq04qeVMCQE—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edg

The world shook last week as the greatest sports figure of the 20th Century, Muhammad Ali, passed away. Today begins a week of special podcasts devoted to The Champ, which will end with a trip to Louisville for Ali’s memorial. We originally booked today’s guest, Chuck D, to talk about his new supergroup ‘Prophets of Rage,’ which also features B-Real from Cypress Hill and members of Rage Against The Machine. Today, Chuck D talks about this rebellious musical project, their summer tour that starts July 19th in Cleveland, and offers his insights into Ali’s indelible legacy. Then, ‘Choice Words’ from Dave’s latest column for The Nation.Be sure to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any of this week’s special Ali programming. Search for Edge of Sports on on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or your podcast app of choice. For more information, visit http://EdgeOfSportsPodcast.comProphets of Rage: http://prophetsofrage.com | http://fb.com/TheProphetsofRage | http://twitter.com/prophetsofrageChuck D: http://twi

Fifi Nomenon (say the name quickly) is a star of the Texas Rollergirls and team USA Roller Derby, and is one of the most prominent trans athletes in the United States. We break down roller derby, why it has proven to be more hospitable to trans athletes than other sports, and what it's like to be trans in Texas - a place where scapegoating has run rampant. In addition to Fifi, I have some Choice Words about anti-trans bigotry and the 2017 Super Bowl. Finally my Just Stand Up award goes to an icon of my sports-loving youth, NFL Hall of Famer Harry Carson, and his efforts to ban tackle football for kids.Fifi Nomenon: http://fb.com/fifinomenon | http://twitter.com/fifinomenonTexas Rollergirls: http://texasrollergirls.orgTeam USA Roller Derby: http://fb.com/usarollerderbyZirin: Fight Transphobia and Move the Damn 2017 Super Bowl http://thenation.com/article/fight-transphobia-and-move-the-damn-2017-super-bowl/This NFL Hall of Fame Member Won’t Let His Grandson Play Football http://thenation.com/article/this-nf

The Washington Post caused a furor when they released a new poll, claiming that 90% of Native Americans are not offended by the home football team’s controversial name. We read this article with great interest and came away with more questions than answers. Today, we offer the Post, and our listeners, a moral reality check with Jacqueline Keeler, Navajo/Yankton Dakota Sioux writer and co-founder of the group ’Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry.’ Then, Dave reads a response from Washington Post polling manager Scott Clement, and finally, Dave updates his open letter to Dan Snyder, originally published in Grantland.Washington Post: “New poll finds 9 in 10 Native Americans aren’t offended by Redskins name” http://wpo.st/P4ec1The Nation (Keeler) “On the Shameful and Skewed ‘Redskins’ Poll” http://thenation.com/article/on-the-shameful-and-skewed-redskins-poll/Grantland (Zirin) “Enough” https://grantland.com/features/rename-washington-redskins/Music by A Tribe Called Red: Braves, The Road ft. Black Bear, Differe

This is the Olympics edition of the Edge of Sports podcast, and it is a news making edition of the show. I am just back from Rio de Janeiro snd the show reflects this in rather dramatic fashion. I sat down face to face with the mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes for a no holds barred discussion about the Olympics, displacement, and corruption and whether Rio is ready to host the games. Then, I sit down with Rio-based activist Theresa Williamson from Catalytic Communities. Theresa does a point-by-point rebuttal to Mayor Paes. Then I have some 'Choice Words' about the Zika virus and the removal of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff. And lastly, the 'Just Stand Up Award' goes to the independent journalists of RioOnWatch.org.Eduardo Paes: http://fb.com/eduardopaesRJ | http://twitter.com/eduardopaes_ Theresa Williamson: http://twitter.com/greencitiesRio On Watch: http://RioOnWatch.org | http://twitter.com/rioonwatch Catalytic Communities: http://catcomm.org | http://twitter.com/catcommColumn:

This week, an extensive interview with Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters on Israel, Palestine, US politics, and the power of music. We also discuss the role of sports in these ongoing discussions. The impetus for this interview was a new documentary that Waters narrates called The Occupation of the American Mind" put out by the Media Education Foundation.  I also have some choice words about traveling to Rio - where I will be when you are listening to this pod - to look at the pre-Olympic planning. Will report back! Lastly, our Just Stand Up Award goes to the resistors on the ground in Rio, still standing up for working people in the face of the Olympics.The Occupation of the American Mind: http://occupationmovie.com | http://fb.com/occupationmovie | http://twitter.com/OccupationMovieRoger Waters: http://rogerwaters.com | http://fb.com/rogerwaters | http://twitter.com/rogerwatersMusic by Pink Floyd: ‘Time,’ ‘Another Brick in The Wall,’ ’Money,’ ‘Us and Them’ http://pinkfloyd.com & Ocupa Carnaval ‘Cachaç

Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL, tells his fascinating story to Dave Zirin, on-stage at University of Colorado Denver. Despite a great college career at Mizzou and slot in the 2014 draft, Sam hasn’t found a home in the NFL. Today on Edge of Sports, Michael Sam weighs the undeniable good he has done for society with honest reflections on what could have been different. Then, our ‘Just Stand Up’ award goes to Julie DiCaro,who, along with fellow journalist Sarah Spain, helped to call out sexist internet trolls with the powerful video ‘More Than Mean’ shot by the ‘Just Not Sports Podcast.’ We salute you.Our host, the intrepid DZ, is on the road this week in BRAZIL! To the Cariocas, please take care of our boy, and tweet Dave or friend of the show Zach Zill with interesting leads http://twitter.com/zachzill. Special thanks to Avery Balano & Sean Lawton. Music by Aika https://soundcloud.com/i-am-aikaMichael Sam: http://fb.com/MichaelSamNFLJulie DiCaro: http://twitter.com/JulieDiCar

Despite heavy hearts due to the passing of Prince, we are honored to welcome one of the most prominent journalists of our time, co-founder of The Intercept, Glenn Greenwald. We speak to Greenwald primarily about the political crisis roiling Brazil and the effect it could have on the 2016 Summer Olympics… as well as the effect the Olympics could have on this political crisis. Greenwald is based in Rio and his recent writings on this subject are vital for anyone seeking to understand what is happening, with the Games less than 100 days away. Dave also pays a heartfelt tribute to Prince, reading a column about what it meant to go to college in the Twin Cities, the place Prince ruled. And sure enough, our ‘Just Stand Up’ award is to his Purple Highness for turning the 2007 Super Bowl on its head.--http://twitter.com/ggreenwaldhttp://theintercept.com/staff/glenn-greenwaldhttp://glenngreenwald.net--Column: Good Night, Sweet Prince: The death of the musical legend has me reeling, and remembering vividly what it was

This week, a show for all the student-athletes, student-activists, and the advocates like us who cheer them on. Isabelle Teare is a member of the Georgetown University Sailing Team. She’s also a leader in ‘Athletes and Advocates for Workers,’ a movement that’s pressured Georgetown’s administration and athletic department to confront Nike sweatshop abuses. Despite the school's long and entwined relationship with Nike, Teare and her cohort are winning. Then, comedian W. Kamau Bell has a new CNN program, ‘United Shades of America,’ debuting Sunday at 10 Eastern. We will find out why he is interviewing Klansmen on deserted country roads and what the mission is of this altogether original show. Then, a column read about Steph Curry's small- but significant- stand against anti-LGBT legislation in North Carolina. Finally, our ‘Just Stand Up’ award comes in defense of Cardale Jones, a man who deserves nothing but a larger platform for his critical views of big time college football. We thank our intern Dustin