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Pablo Torre Finds Out
The Sporting Class: Hydration Breaks, FIFA Trials and a Condo Full of Cats
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Ex-ESPN president John Skipper was once the most important soccer fan in America. But then he lost the World Cup to FOX — and became a federal witness. So we wanted to know what it’s been like to watch America fall in love with the very tournament Skipper wasn’t allowed to win. And whether federal corruption trials, nine figures worth of commercials and a Trump Tower apartment full of cats can slow the spread of the world’s favorite game.
• Donate to the Kyra Fund, which will support research on Glioblastoma, one of the deadliest cancers
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Uncovering Phil Mickelson's Misconduct Allegations, with Alan Shipnuck
52:38|After months of rumors, journalist Alan Shipnuck investigates why Phil Mickelson has basically vanished from the LIV Golf Tour — and social media. Leading us down a rabbit hole of hidden misconduct claims and exits from three different golf clubs. Not to mention 19 sources, an off-shore oil pipeline and an ex-friend's ex-wife: Ashley Perez.Read Alan Shipnuck’s reporting at Skratch Golf: https://www.skratch.golf/news/pro-golf/phil-mickelson-misconduct-women-madison-club-bridges-farms-exitsRead Phil Mickelson’s spokesperson’s statement: https://x.com/_davidrumsey/status/2072655169792225420?s=46Read Skratch’s response: https://x.com/_davidrumsey/status/2072696394997981241?s=46
“Please Enjoy It Or You Are Fired”: Inside PTFO, with Dan Le Batard
42:59|PTFO keeps winning awards. But what do we do for an encore? How do you make something special without losing our standards — or our minds? Do you guys even enjoy this? Pablo visits Miami to see his friend/boss, Dan Le Batard, and Dan’s producer, Chris Cote. They discuss balancing real life; perspective in the face of grief; Oprah; and figuring out how to serve an audience without missing the point.• Donate to the Kyra Fund, which will support research on Glioblastoma, one of the deadliest cancers
The Missing Ambassador of the World Cup
49:56|He covered soccer before it was cool, promised to go WikiLeaks on FIFA, then got detained and mysteriously collapsed in Qatar. If there was ever someone we needed to hear from, as a global conduit during this corrupt World Cup on American soil, it's Grant Wahl. So his former co-host, Chris Wittyngham — along with his family and one of the many stars he inspired — helps Pablo listen back to Wahl's lost tapes, re-live his fearless run for office and the rainbow target on his chest... then put the conspiracies to rest.• Previously on PTFO: America Signed Up for the World Cup. FIFA Stuck You with the Tab.• Listen to Le Batard & Friends re-live Grant Wahl's LeBron cover story• Subscribe to The Athletic
What the World Cup Can Teach the American Fan, with John Green and Daniel Alarcón
40:32|We are numb, as Americans, to the attention of the globe and the power structures of our sports leagues. But what if love of country could be simple again? And what if fans had more power than we thought? Pablo feels the football osmosis from the (banned) bestselling author and his old friend turned MacArthur Genius, as they offer a liberal-arts education in the beautiful game — from the fault in our superstar interviews to the damage wrought by Alexi Lalas upon our would-be Neymars and Messis. Plus: a pump-up speech that Ted Lasso would never, ever fantasize about.• Subscribe to "The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green"• Previously on PTFO: How John Green Turned Celebrity into Obsessive Optimism• Subscribe to The Athletic
Sarah Jessica Parker on the Seductive Power of Sports and the City
46:02|New York is palpably horny right now. And happy. So we invited the patron saint of sex and this town to chase euphoria, appreciate the romance of the American idea, advise these young Knicks, remember the halcyon days of HBO... and make the case for reading books in the crowd.• Previously on PTFO: Celebrating These Knicks Title Vibes, with Desus Nice• Subscribe to The Athletic
USMNT's Tim Weah on World Cup Dreams, the American Idea... and Wu-Tang
41:09|He is the realest member of Team USA — an activist athlete, from Brooklyn and the African diaspora, choosing to represent a divisive nation as it tries bringing the globe a little closer together. In a rare sit-down ahead of the U.S. men's national team match against Australia, Timothy Weah explains the pressure of this moment, the power of soccer over politics... and why the Knicks' good-luck charm might need to strike again.• Listen to The Athletic FC Podcast• Listen to Tifo Football Podcast• Subscribe to The Athletic
The (Summer School) Sporting Class: Sex, Dolan and Contract Haircuts
49:15|Did the Knicks owner's pump-up speech help them win it all? Did their players stop fornicating because of it? How much do billionaires matter to championships anyway? And should superstars sacrifice millions for the greater good? David Samson and Domonique Foxworth chart the power and powerlessness of the billionaire class.• Subscribe to "The Domonique Foxworth Show"• Subscribe to "Nothing Personal with David Samson"
"Reverse 9/11": Celebrating These Knicks Title Vibes, with Desus Nice
50:56|Transcendence on the court. Dancing in the streets. And a drunk Instagram Live for the ages. Why wait 'til the parade? Pablo raises a glass (while devouring an egg-and-cheese) with Desus — his fellow New Yorker and bard of Knicks nation — to the commute of a champion and the beauty of a bandwagon; to the drip of Landry Shamet and the sweat of Patrick Ewing; to KAT and OG and Wu-Tang and, yes, even Coldplay. Just not that traitor from Sesame Street.• Subscribe to "Desus Pieces"• Subscribe to Pablo's newsletter • Subscribe to The Athletic