The Upshot

Sure, Jamie Carragher gobs on children and had a Christmas sex party with Ronald McDonald.But we all lose our heads sometimes... don't we?From hotel room "hand shandies" to Yokohama police chases, this is the story of the Red who lost his head…Links from the pod:Steven Gerrard goal v Olympiakos: https://x.com/AnythingLFC_/status/1072561378542653440 Jamie calls into TalkSport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnOOOfyctGw“There” catchphrase: https://x.com/UpshotTowers/status/1758147069812850842 Spitting on 14-year-old girl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAo6SNt4lLg Apology on Sky Sports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GEBm3YdKuo Suggesting Kate Abdo cheated on her boyfriend on CBS: https://x.com/The_Forty_Four/status/1767796941742596472 

Plus: Brooklyn Beckham’s latest brainwave, Glen Johnson shoplifting from B&Q, and a Man City midfielder arrested in Madrid.Join Zach and George for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.Links from the pod:Aston Villa choir: https://x.com/MitchellinMan98/status/1841079920811737265 Cardi B at PSG: https://www.instagram.com/the18soccer/reel/DAj-4bdyZzU/ Bournemouth v Southampton train cancelled: https://x.com/OptusSport/status/1840919811531874312 And fan chant: https://x.com/AFCBdave/status/1840884074035999052 John Terry playing piano: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAbDILEsROP/?igsh=MXJ0bmJlMzUzYTNnbw%3D%3D 10 thing Brooklyn Beckham can’t live without: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_E1f2HGylk

The Champions League is back, and the competition is packed with absolute wrong’uns.Slum landlords. Warmongering paramilitaries. And a man accused of snatching Maddie McCann.Pull up a padded corporate seat and pour yourself a glass of Gazprom, as we dine at the top table of European scandal…Links from the pod:Diego Simeone playing chess with no king: https://images.app.goo.gl/tXX7UaY1nimyHmgV7 Sparta Prague stealing West Ham flag from Durham Uni students: https://x.com/ffwtbol/status/1666763342688526338 Kolasinac fighting knife wielding muggers: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2901924446487152 Dino Drpic’s Maddie McCann lookalike baby: https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/couple-try-to-rescue-maddy-lookalike-6896215.html 

Plus: Jim Ratcliffe turns the axe on the boffins, Daniel Dubois’ terrifying dad, and the FA Cup winner smuggling two tonnes of cocaine.Join Zach and George for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.Links from the pod:AFC Wimbledon flooded stadium: https://x.com/eurofootcom/status/1838561522001281374 The darts shart: https://x.com/SwearingSport/status/1838628472589029871Marshawn Lynch interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g2ZAhopQU8 

Sven-Göran Eriksson.The name alone transports you to an era of WAGs, fake sheikhs, and a national fixation with Wayne Rooney's metatarsal.And today we’re celebrating the man himself.From a fling with Ulrika to being held at gunpoint in North Korea, this is the story of England’s unlikely national treasure… Links from the pod:Boy with Sven haircut: https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article24304609.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_js236978138.jpgSven Sven Sven song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q33sNrncVmIBlank cheque he gave to Ulrika: https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7a44a4b7-2e41-4ad3-bd64-e42c83ce33f9.jpg?strip=all&w=640

Plus: Eamonn Holmes sleeps on Fergie’s sofa, Katie Price scraps with beloved broadcasters, and the meth dealer doing pilates with Reece James…Join Jack and Zach for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.Links from the pod:Tom Brady greeted by Wrexham fans: https://x.com/MenInBlazers/status/1835755990878175372Unc’s Instagram Live bonk: https://x.com/AhmadAl18429902/status/1833925309009474003Eamonn Holmes and Fergie painting: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FiUpjSlXwAIWT8c.jpg

They call him the greatest footballer who never played: Carlos Henrique Raposo, aka Kaiser.The Brazilian had a glittering career in the 1980s... without ever kicking a ball.From orgies with Berlusconi to gun-wielding gangsters, meet football's finest conman…Links from the pod:Kaiser’s wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Kaiser_(footballer)Watch the excellent documentary on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kaiser-Bernado-Paula/dp/B07J1Z1VXCPhoto with Renato Gaucho: https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/35043d050bed1fd82c78a1332217047d39c12256/0_659_5905_3543/master/5905.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=noneWorking as a personal trainer for women: https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/uQoaC3Qz7P_jg54MUnPV2Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTQyNQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en-CA/homerun/article.442.com/ee8ce4c31ed81eccf53b4319a4062a0c

Plus: Wayne Rooney’s on the ciders, Richard Keys is settling old scores and the Old Bill are arresting players on the pitch…Join Jack and George for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.Links from the pod:Richard Keys v Nigel Farage: https://x.com/richardajkeys/status/1831668295348449648Richard Keys v Jamie Redknapp: https://x.com/richardajkeys/status/1831777661812928645Rooney karaoke acapella: https://x.com/ladbible/status/1829260770850590902Rooney “make some fucking noise baby”: https://x.com/secondtierpod/status/1829142846516961489Steve McClaren at Jamaica training: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_i4x0Xv13Z/Paralympic marathon injustice: https://x.com/Pilar_Alegria/status/1832750956749926743?

**With returning guest Josh Berry.**Not many athletes can win sport’s biggest prizes while in the grips of a crystal meth addiction or weighed down by a comedy wig.But Andre Agassi isn’t most athletes.The American hothead hated tennis, munched amphetamines aged 10 and terrorized the cast of Friends.And he still won 8 grand slams.This is his story…Links from the pod:The pirate era: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fd933bkocp3g71.jpgBrooke Shields Friends scene: https://youtu.be/hwkRDVQI7l8?si=9hc29U1LLita2aIR&t=53Things get ugly with Sampras at charity match: https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/wqkaai/things_get_ugly_between_two_legends_at_charity/