On the Bleachers
We’re using sports to connect with the youth. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the results of NFL’s Divisional Round; Travis Kelce’s charity and aren’t all athlete charities a scam, really?; Fandom culture continues to crash into hockey culture, with mixed results; Russians are once again freelancers at the Olympics; and female millennial excellence is coming for the Olympic Games. Links: (The Arizona Republic) (ESPN) (Reddit) (Twitter) (Yahoo! Sports Canada) (NHL.com) ...
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
We are a bowling ball covered in knives. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss Notre Dame’s college playoff snub and how the post-season teams are decided; Fernando Mendoza and the unreal story of the Indiana Hoosiers; we break down the NFL Wild Card weekend and look ahead to the divisional round. Links: Mike Golic Jr’s daily TV show, Mike Golic Jr. on (Sports Illustrated) (NBC Sports) (The Athletic) (The Athletic) (ESPN) (ESPN) (Bill Snyder’s story on NCAA’s...
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
We’ll give you all our disagreements for free. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss O Line Christmas gifts; NFL Narrative Fantasy final scores; the Sabres don’t suck?!; Kalshi, Polymarket, and commodifying every feeling or thought you’ve ever had; US Men’s Hockey snubs IRL Shane Hollander; Puka Nakua and Mookie Betts choose to spend their one precious life with Andrew Tate’s bestie; and Phillip Rivers continues to ride his unexpected renaissance. Links: (The Athletic) (ESPN) ...
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
Have we got the Patreon for you! A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the backstory and first episode of HBO's new gay hockey show, Heated Rivalry. Links: (Patreon)
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
All civic duties should include good gossip. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the NASCAR settlement; Phillip Rivers’s return is Millennial Excellence; the NFL Narrative Fantasy Draft update; skyrocketing World Cup ticket prices; IOC seeks to ban trans athletes; the best and least popular PNWL player looks to beat the transphobe allegations; Lando Norris wins F1, experiences feelings. Links: ! (ESPN) (The Athletic) (The Daily Mail) (Disney+) (TikTok) (The...
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
And we take that personally! A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the FIFA peace prize; Trinity Rodman and NWSL’s self-own; Michael Jordan, text messages, and other drama from the NASCAR trial; reality stars on an alternate NFL broadcast; George Pickens goes off; Lane Kiffin quits, internet rejoices; and athletes getting hurt in all-too-human ways; an LPGA golfer is curing her anxiety with fantasy novels. Links: (The New Yorker) (The Athletic) (The Athletic) (Defector) (SB...
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
We believe it could also always be better. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss NFL narratives (Brosmer woes; shirtless locker room victory chants; Jauan Jennings gets what’s coming to him); a bald man solves a hair care crisis; people are packing stadiums for women’s hockey; get ready for pro women’s baseball; the gross right-wing incentives driving anti-trans athlete narratives; and a cyclist takes a stand. Links: (The New York Times) (NFL) (The Athletic) (Twitter) (ESPN) ...
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
We’ll find the romance. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss MLB’s MVPs; more sports brothers with podcasts; the NBA’s mob ties; Nico is out in Dallas; YouTube TV and ESPN make up; and (57:00) we talk to Wide Left’s Arif Hasan about JJ “Nine” McCarthy and his future with the Vikings. Links: (ESPN) () (Vanity Fair) (The Athletic) (True Hoop / Substack) (CBS Sports) (Front Office Sports) (Torched / Substack) (Awful Announcing) (Awful Announcing) (Cord...
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
We’ve got pucks in our pants A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss LAPD’s reaction to Dodgers fans celebrating doesn’t bode well for the big sports events the city is set to hold; Pitchers indicted in sports gambling scandal; a Narrative Fantasy update; Cooper Flagg learns about losing; transphobic op-ed roils the NWSL; Ovechkin scored 900 goals; and (51:20) we talk to Céspedes Family BBQ co-host Jordan Shusterman about how he picked the Mariners, covering this postseason, and how to occupy...
info_outlineOn the Bleachers
We also played in the 18-inning game! A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the incredible end to the World Series and the continuation of the Drake curse; the ongoing Tyler Skaggs trial and what would it take to make an MLB owner sell; and are shirtless men at college football games curing the male loneliness epidemic? Links: (MLB Glossary) (The Athletic) (Sports Illustrated) (The Los Angeles Times) (Yahoo! Sports) (The Athletic)
info_outlineWe’ll give you all our disagreements for free. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss O Line Christmas gifts; NFL Narrative Fantasy final scores; the Sabres don’t suck?!; Kalshi, Polymarket, and commodifying every feeling or thought you’ve ever had; US Men’s Hockey snubs IRL Shane Hollander; Puka Nakua and Mookie Betts choose to spend their one precious life with Andrew Tate’s bestie; and Phillip Rivers continues to ride his unexpected renaissance.
Links:
FIFA, after backlash to World Cup ticket prices, creates new $60 category for small number of supporters (The Athletic)
Joe Burrow gifts offensive linemen authentic fossils for Christmas (ESPN)
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld Gifted His Offensive Lineman a 'Quarter of a Cow' for the Holidays (People)
Chiefs agree to deal to play in dome in state of Kansas in 2031 (ESPN)
Dream come true (TikTok)
God is great (Instagram)
Jack Eichel, Sabres saga explained: How a medical disagreement led to the star's trade to Vegas (CBS Sports)
Kekalainen named Sabres general manager, replaces Adams (NHL.com)
Former NHL player sues Blackhawks and speaks out about sexual abuse (NPR)
The Kalshi-fication of everything (Yahoo! Finance)
Sunak aide admits placing bet on general election (BBC)
Two originals join forces: Kalshi and the Chicago Blackhawks announce partnership (Kalshi)
Venezuela Trades, Not Sports, Drive New Prediction-Market Legislation (Front Office Sports)
Kalshi Shrugs Off Affiliates Spreading Fake Sports News (Front Office Sports)
Scandals, prediction markets: Is 2025 a turning point for sports betting? (ESPN)
Jason Robertson Is Everything Team USA Needs, Whether or Not They Know it (D Magazine)
Stars' Jason Robertson Breaks Silence on Olympic Roster Snub (Sports Illustrated)
Puka Nacua Did An Antisemitic Little Dance (Defector)
Rams’ Puka Nacua shares baffling concussion take in controversial livestream (Reddit)
Mookie Betts controversy: Why Dodgers star is in hot water over antisemitic comment on Adin Ross live stream (Yahoo! Sports)
Rams star Puka Nacua apologizes for antisemitic dance on livestream (The Athletic)
All eyes are on the NFL’s most atypical owner. Where will her curiosity lead her next? (The Athletic)