The Upshot

Darts was once a humble pub game where tubby punters hustled pensioners for pork scratchings.But in the 1970s, everything changed.As darts went prime time, a rabble of chain-smoking boozehounds were catapulted to a life of mega stardom, from bathtubs of wine to sex-starved American groupies.Laaaaaaaaaaadieeeeeessss and gentlemeeeeeeeeeeen. Let’s. Play. Darts. With guest Ruth Husko.Links from the pod:Bobby George nipple flap shirt: https://x.com/joshpearson180/status/1692225614252552702  Jocky Wilson popping out false teeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zau1C6wtcc0

You’ve opened your presents, polished off the miserable turkey detritus and your racist aunt has finally gone back to Tarrington St Clement.So treat yaself to a quick hit of sporting scandal. It’s Extra Shot…Get ya pubes in order for grandma and 20% off when you use code UPSHOT at http://www.manscaped.com Subscribe to our newsletter and get a five min rundown of the funniest stories in sport in your inbox every Friday:https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=pod Links from the pod:Jason Tindall Last Christmas: https://x.com/FtblJoe/status/1871811440937709874Tindall Wham jumper: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2024/12/27/TELEMMGLPICT000406353430_17353020956200_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqxMck747CUKptGWAGQbw16Ke11_axAzbecJbmqTci52M.jpeg?imwidth=350Jordan Henderson long read in Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6012945/2024/12/23/jordan-henderson-ajax-year-of-living-differently/Spanish Scrabble champion: https://d.latintimes.com/en/full/564771/nigel-richards-scrabble.jpg?w=736&f=bf7d84cbcfd8ab9f3fcc429d50488d74

The word ballet conjures images of dead-eyed aristocrats peering through tiny binoculars at neurotic gymnasts.But behind the velvet curtain, lies a sinister world of hard drugs, poison attacks and cannibal scientists.From vaginal magic shows to Prince Philip’s mistress, welcome to the dark side of the dance…With guest Erica North.Links from the pod:Clip from The Crown when the Queen discover’s Philip’s mistress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIcpK34jzcU“You had your own ballerina’s for that”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P9Mz1WqqHQ  Prince Philip’s boys club scene: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10930861/prince-philip-thursday-club-the-crown-real-story-inside-sex-secrets-spies/

Referees in sex tapes. Neymar slashing his teammate’s tyres. And Cole Palmer’s naked surprise.It’s been a vintage year for sporting scandal.And today we celebrate it all, as we look back on the funniest stories in sport this year. Links from the pod:Billy Vunipola tasered in Majorca: https://x.com/MailOnline/status/1785230252253302802  Jamie O’Hara dating show: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13443863/jamie-ohara-love-undercover-peacock-soccer.html Neymar slashing Renan Lodi’s tyres: https://x.com/porqueTTarg/status/179586197904892349Neymar playing poker at his daughter’s birthday: https://x.com/kykyszn/status/1778461735663342062Geoff Hurst loves a glass of Budweiser: https://x.com/WeahsCousin/status/1805564686147960989La Liga ref’s interview crashed by his parrot: https://x.com/elchiringuitotv/status/1848150321006342508 

Plus: A top flight ref drugged by an escort, why Wolves can’t trust their new manager and Hamaroaui and Diallo come face to face at last.Join Zach and Jack for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.Get ya pubes in order for grandma and 20% off when you use code UPSHOT at http://www.manscaped.com Subscribe to our newsletter and get a five min rundown of the funniest stories in sport in your inbox every Friday:https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=pod Links from the pod:Matheus Cunha stealing glasses: https://x.com/WolvesTalk/status/1868233601248047137 Gary Neville hates Christmas dinner: https://x.com/AMonFootball/status/1560409480390664192 Avram Glazer’s strange haircut: ​​https://images.app.goo.gl/JL6quekmMgU7tKM69

Welcome to part two of our George Best special.At end of part one, both Best and Man United had sunk into a spiral that would drive them apart.The year is 1974. Now more devoted to sex and booze than football, George has walked out on the club. And his insatiable appetite for booze and shagging is about to get him into real trouble…With guest Vittorio Angelone (https://www.instagram.com/vittorioangelone)Vittorio’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@guidetoparentingLinks from the pod:Alex Best talking about his ghost: https://youtu.be/RTI8Nsv_jMc?si=q0pn7IzfcIMZpZSJ&t=267 

Plus: Club president gets his secretary pregnant at the Xmas party, Cucurella tanks Puma’s big launch and Jim Ratcliffe cancels Christmas.Join Zach and Jack for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.We’re hiring a video producer, details here: https://www.upshot.email/p/we-re-hiring-a-video-producerGet ya pubes in order for grandma and 20% off when you use code UPSHOT at http://www.manscaped.com Links from the pod:Michail Antonio emerging unscathed from car crash in a snowman outfit: https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/c40708cc924fa7bcb0b8d06f022ed526Get a five min rundown of the funniest stories in sport in your inbox every Friday:https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=pod 

George Best once said: “If I had to choose between scoring from 40 yards at Anfield or shagging Miss World, it’d be a hard choice. Thankfully, I’ve done both.”And he did far more than that.The United legend knocked out Michael Caine, bedded Bond girls and partied so hard his wife stabbed him in the arse.From “postal sex” to stints in the slammer, this is the story of Georgie Best…With guest Vittorio Angelone (https://www.instagram.com/vittorioangelone)Vittorio’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@guidetoparentingLinks from the pod:David Healy mural: https://www.davidlyonsphotography.com/image/I0000A8sFl96uB8kGeorge Best dancing at Top of the Pops: https://youtu.be/27ouOE4RvUc?si=onvOxflonQBvYg4x&t=84 Wondergoal against Benfica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoL3m8KF8Y4  Eggs advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXlaN8hUZM Push up bra advert: https://www.retrojunk.com/c/90LGxlnzJX/body-language-bra-by-playtex-feat-george-best 1968 cup final highlights:   https://youtu.be/WMZ9EVFJRZk?si=_1KaxdsTaAAuQzYk&t=239 

Plus: The Pogba witch trials begin and the teetotal snooker star KO’d by a pre-match spliffJoin Zach and Jack for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.We’re hiring a video producer, details here: https://www.upshot.email/p/we-re-hiring-a-video-producerGet ya pubes in order for grandma and 20% off when you use code UPSHOT at http://www.manscaped.com Links from the pod:Ozil’s mugger speaks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnTwnz9IG0k&t=951s Get a five min rundown of the funniest stories in sport in your inbox every Friday:https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=pod