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The Long Game with LZ & Leitch

MLB teams under the most pressure, the NBA's heir apparent, and what to do with Deshaun and Trevor

On this episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, while Will spends a miserable vacation in Florida waiting for his luggage to arrive, he and LZ discuss which MLB teams are under the most pressure to win this year; make their NBA MVP picks and then debate who will be the future face of the league; and break down how the leagues should handle two players accused of sexual harassment and assault, Deshaun Watson and Trevor Bauer. Then they wrap up the show with a “This Week In Sports History” segment about Tiger Woods’ iconic Master’s win in 1997 and whether the media would cover it differently if it happened today, and with a listener Q&A.


The Long Game drops every Wednesday. Listen, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.

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  • The Buffalo Bills and LAFC are due, an NBA team needs to hire a female head coach, 'The Devil Wears Prada' owes us a sequel, and the Cards must deliver for Will's son

    01:10:26|
    On the final episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, Will and LZ reveal the teams they most want to see win a championship next; offer one change they hope will occur in the sports world one day; and explain the single event they'd love to see take place in their personal lives in the future (and no, it's not winning the lottery). Then they wrap up the show with a fond farewell — not goodbye — share a few memorable stories, and talk about what The Long Game and their growing relationship has meant to them.Thank you for listening to The Long Game with LZ & Leitch!
  • NBA Conference Championships preview, sports fans should care more about Brittney Griner, the worst person in sports (continued), and why Michael Jordan is the most miserable superstar of them all

    54:34|
    On this episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, Will and LZ break down the NBA Conference Championships and make their predictions; talk about how the sports world would react if a male superstar athlete was incarcerated in Russia instead of Brittney Griner; and after their epic takedown of Skip Bayless last week, the two hosts continue their discussion of the worst people in sports, this time focusing on Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Then, they wrap up the show with their weekly "This Week In Sports History'' segment, explaining that the biggest difference between Michael Jordan and LeBron James is that LeBron is happy, while Michael seems decidedly miserable.The final episode of The Long Game drops next Wednesday. Thanks for listening!
  • NBA Playoffs Round 2 takeaways, why the NFL, NBA, and MLB should stay silent on Roe v. Wade, and the worst person in sports

    58:46|
    On this episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, Will and LZ talk about the best moments of Round 2 of the NBA playoffs; explain why it's smart for the NFL, NBA, and MLB to avoid making statements about the Supreme Court's possible repeal of Roe v. Wade; and discuss their choice for the worst person in sports. Then they wrap up the show with their weekly "This Week In Sports History'' segment, going back to 2006 when Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro suffered catastrophic injuries during the Preakness Stakes, which led to a nationwide 8-month vigil as the horse struggled in vain to return to health.The Long Game drops on Wednesdays. Listen, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.
  • Jack Flaherty on the fight between the Mets and the Cardinals, a preview of Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs, and the NFL Draft's best and worst moves

    01:06:01|
    On this episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, Will and LZ are joined by Jack Flaherty, star pitcher of the St. Louis Cardinals, to discuss MLB's unwritten rules and what happened in last week's fight between the Cards and the Mets. Will and LZ also preview the second round of the NBA playoffs; nominate the smartest and dumbest moves in the recent NFL Draft; and weigh in on the latest news about the Supreme Court and Roe v. Wade. Then they wrap up the show with their weekly "This Week In Sports History'' segment, going back 41 years to when tennis great Billie Jean King became the first athlete to be publicly outed when she was sued by a former girlfriend for money and property.The Long Game drops every Wednesday. Listen, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.
  • The NFL Draft is losing its luster, the NBA Playoffs are a war of attrition, and a fierce debate over the Wimbledon bans

    01:10:50|
    On this episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, Will and LZ discuss why the NFL Draft matters less now than it ever has; break down the wild and crazy NBA Playoffs and explain why the next champion will hail from the East; and engage in a hot debate over Wimbledon's ban of Russian and Belarusian players. Then they are joined by Josh Kantor, the organist for the Boston Red Sox, to wrap up the show with their weekly "This Week In Sports History'' segment on the 81st anniversary of the first live organ music played at a baseball game.The Long Game drops every Wednesday. Listen, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.
  • The high-stakes business of NFL quarterbacks, Daniel Snyder has finally gone too far, and NIL deals are scaring Nick Saban

    01:04:58|
    On this episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, Will and LZ discuss why some NFL quarterbacks have more leverage in contract negotiations than ever while others may not get paid what they expect; break down the alleged financial misdeeds of Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder and how Snyder's actions reveal what matters most to the league; and explain why Alabama head football coach Nick Saban is starting to get very worried about student athletes getting paid for their names, images, and likenesses. Then they wrap up the show with their weekly "This Week In Sports History" segment, imagining how the world would be different if George W. Bush was named MLB commissioner instead of Bud Selig.The Long Game drops every Wednesday. Listen, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.
  • NBA playoff preview, the rising costs of sports fandom, and how NFL owners get their stadiums

    01:07:28|
    On this episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, Will and LZ preview the NBA playoffs and predict the next league champion, break down why it costs more every year to watch our favorite sports and explain why this trend will continue, and discuss the pros and cons of the public funding of NFL stadiums, most specifically the newly approved $1.4 billion facility in Buffalo, with New York State Senator Sean Ryan. Then they wrap up the show with a "This Week In Sports History" segment debating the merits of presidential ceremonial first pitches and the visits of athletes to the White House.The Long Game drops every Wednesday. Listen, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.
  • The joy of sports hate-watching, Major League Baseball finally gets the message, and a Chatterbrain rivalry begins

    01:10:31|
    On this episode of The Long Game with LZ & Leitch, LZ and Will discuss sports hate-watching and explain why, even though they loathe Coach K, they will miss him when he retires; unpack why baseball has been so resistant improving the entertainment value of the sport by making changes to its rules; and play a spirited game of Chatterbrain, The Recount's new game show premiering on Twitch on Wednesday, March 30th, at 4 PM ET on twitch.tv/therecount. They wrap up with a memorable "This Week in Sports History" segment about the Baltimore Colts leaving town in the dead of night for Indianapolis, and answer a poignant listener question.Watch The Long Game with LZ & Leitch Monday, April 4th at 12:30pm ET at www.therecount.com or on Twitch at twitch.tv/therecount, or on The Recount's YouTube or Twitter platforms.