Sports In America with David Greene

WHYY | PRX
  • 4.2 (310)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Sports in America explores stories that shape athletes and fans alike. Each week, David Greene hosts in-depth conversations with people across the world of sports  – from the star who hits the game winner to the millions of us whose lives are touched by the game. From WHYY and PRX.

  1. 20h ago

    Matthew Berry Can Fix Your Fantasy Roster

    The MLB season is almost ending, but a new investigation will keep us talking way into the offseason. We’ll hear from Gus Garcia-Roberts, a national reporter from ProPublica who’s been investigating the business surrounding baseball academies in the Dominican Republic. He’ll tell us how MLB teams circumvent recruiting rules, how money is taken from young players and families, and how some of our favorite baseball stars are connected to the system. Then, we’ll dive into the strangely wonderful world of fantasy football, with expert Matthew Berry.  Matthew started his career as a writer, working on shows like Married…with Children and Desperate Housewives. But he traded a ticket to Hollywood for a chance to chase his real dream: fantasy football. We’ll see all the places this leap of faith took him, and how his obsession with fantasy became a career, community, and now, his own company. Show Notes The Dominican Baseball Factory | ProPublica Fantasy Life: The Outrageous, Uplifting, and Heartwarming World of Fantasy Sports fron The Guy Who Lived It | Matthew Berry What Is Rotisserie Baseball? Your Beginner’s Guide to the Roto Format in Fantasy Baseball | Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football In The Age of Sports Betting | FantasyPros Want to dive into the world of fantasy football? Check out Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life Show CreditsHost: David GreeneExecutive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaTalent Booker: Britt KahnEngineers: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingTheme Song: Emma MungerSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

    Matthew Berry Can Fix Your Fantasy Roster

  2. Sep 10

    Craig Woodall’s Not Defined by 9/11

    The NFL is finally back, so we’re talking to friends of the pod Madeline Hill and Charlotte Wilder from “The Sports Gossip Show” about the storylines they’re watching as the new season gets underway, the teams and players they’re most curious about, and how we as fans should deal with off-field drama. Then, as we observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we’ll talk with Craig Woodall about the loss of his older brother Brent, an accomplished athlete who died in the South Tower that day. We dive deep into the role sports, teammates and resilience have played in Craig’s life in the years since and the many gifts his grief has given him.  Show Notes Overcome: Rebuilding Hope After Losing My Brother on 9/11 Brent Woodall Lives On | Cal Athletics Face the Storm: Lessons Learned form Loss on 9/11 | TED Talks If you can, support the Brent Woodall Foundation  How Sports Helped a Nation Heal After 9/11 | Yahoo Sports Show Credits Host: David Greene Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Talent Booker: Britt Kahn Engineers: Mike Villers Tile Art: Bea Walling Theme Song: Emma Munger Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

    Craig Woodall’s Not Defined by 9/11

  3. Sep 3

    Mary Cain Was the Fastest Girl in America. Then Nike Called.

    Elle Duncan is back on the show, and this week, we’re prepping for her upcoming trip to Melbourne, Australia, for Week 1 of the NFL season. Elle will be leading Netflix’s broadcast of the matchup between the LA Rams and San Francisco 49ers, which is the first regular-season NFL game ever to be played in Australia.  Then, we’re sitting down with Mary Cain. In her prime, she was one of the fastest girls in the country. She signed to run professionally with Nike before she even graduated high school. Mary’s future in the sport looked bright — that is, until 2016, when she suddenly quit.  But Mary didn’t just lose interest in running. She says she experienced abuse by her coaching staff at Nike, and that they ignored her pleas for help when her mental health declined. She went on to sue Nike and came out with a memoir about her experience called “This is Not About Running.”  Content warning: This episode discusses emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as extreme weight loss practices, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. Please listen with care.   Show Notes This is Not About Running | Mary Cain I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike | NYT Distance runner Mary Cain files $20M lawsuit against ex-coach Alberto Salazar, Nike over alleged abuse | ESPN Mary Cain’s nonprofit Atalanta Show Credits Host: David Greene Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Talent Booker: Britt Kahn Engineers: Mike Villers Tile Art: Bea Walling Theme Song: Emma Munger Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

    Mary Cain Was the Fastest Girl in America. Then Nike Called.

  4. Aug 27

    Why Are 24 Million Americans Obsessed With Pickleball?

    The US Open is in full swing, and injuries have knocked out some of the biggest athletes in the men’s tournament. But there’s no shortage of star power on the women’s side: Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is on fire, inspiring “Eala-mania” all over the world. To get us up to speed on the tournament, we chat with Giri Nathan, senior correspondent at the tennis outlet The Second Serve.  After that, we attempt to answer one of the inescapable questions of our time: Why are so many people obsessed with pickleball? Clare Frank was a firefighter for more than 30 years. When she retired, she stumbled into the game. At first, she didn’t quite get the hype — but like so many retirees who came before her, Clare quickly became captivated by pickleball. In her latest book, “Just One More Game: A Pickleball Quest,” Clare dives headfirst into the world of pickleball to try to figure out how it has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States. Spoiler alert: It’s not just your grandmother’s game anymore. Show Notes Just One More Game: A Pickleball Quest by Clare Frank How Pickleball Got Its Name | USA Pickleball Wanna play? Find a pickleball court near you Pickleball is the Worst | Rick Reily Alex Eala is Catching The WTA’s Best Off Guard | Defector  Show Credits Host: David Greene Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Talent Booker: Britt Kahn Engineers: Mike Villers Tile Art: Bea Walling Theme Song: Emma Munger Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

  5. Aug 20

    Think you could kick a field goal? Meet the writer who actually tried

    We are officially in the NFL preseason. Players are competing for spots while coaches are tasked with building their rosters — and trimming the fat. Today we’re joined by The Athletic’s senior football writer Nick Baumgardner to talk NFL roster cuts. Who’s on the chopping block, and what is the preseason is telling us so far? Then, have you ever screamed at the TV after your kicker missed a field goal? Ever said to yourself, “Man, even I could’ve made that”? Well, journalist and author Stefan Fatsis actually convinced the Denver Broncos to let him try. He joined the team as placekicker for preseason training camp, and then went on to write a book about it called “A Few Seconds of Panic.” He shares what it’s like when you get the chance to get off the couch and attempt to play one of the highest-pressure, most make-or-break positions in football.   Show Notes “A Few Seconds of Panic: A Sportswriter Plays in the NFL” | Stefan Fatsis A Sport Writer’s Stint as an NFL Kicker | The Wall Street Journal Paper Lion: Confessions of a Last-String Quarterback | George Plimpton Welcome to Detroit: A Detroit Lions Podcast  Show Credits Host: David Greene Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Talent Booker: Britt Kahn Engineers: Mike Villers Tile Art: Bea Walling Theme Song: Emma Munger Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

    Think you could kick a field goal? Meet the writer who actually tried

  6. Aug 13

    Dan Le Batard and the Insane Cauldron of Emotions

    This week, Elle Duncan joins us to talk about the culture wars engulfing the WNBA, and how political noise is obscuring amazing play on the court. We’ll also discuss the startup energy around Netflix’s live sports coverage, as well as the nostalgia of baseball’s Field of Dreams game. Then we’ll sit down with the man who’s making sports talk feel like equal parts newsroom, comedy club and family dinner. Dan Le Batard is the co-founder of Meadowlark Media, the company behind award-winning shows like Pablo Torre Finds Out. A longtime sports journalist and broadcaster, he’s built a career around bringing curiosity, humor and humanity to sports. We’ll talk about why he founded Meadowlark, how loss has shaped his drive to keep going, and why sports make us act in strange ways. Show Notes Like What You Heard? Check out the LeBatard Show on YouTube Podcaster, former MLB exec David Samson mourns loss of daughter: ‘The magic of Kyra’ For LEBO | Dan LeBatard’s eulogy for his brother David “LEBO” LeBatard Father knows Dan Le Batard best: ‘Papi’ Gonzalo on working with son | ESPN Elle Duncan Joins Netflix to Lead Live Sports Coverage » TUDUM  Show Credits Host: David Greene Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Talent Booker: Britt Kahn Engineers: Mike Villers, Charlie Kaier Tile Art: Bea Walling Theme Song: Emma Munger Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

    Dan Le Batard and the Insane Cauldron of Emotions

  7. Aug 6

    Is Atlanta the Worst Sports Town? Killer Mike Doesn’t Think So

    Let’s talk about one of the most unexpected developments in sports right now: how did the Boston Red Sox turn their season around? Today we’ve got journalist Jamie McClellan on the show, who produces a podcast for the Ringer about Boston sports called Off The Pike. He’s going to help us understand how the team turned what looked like a lackluster season into one that just might be worthy of a championship run. Then, we are talking to one of the biggest sports fans I know: Killer Mike. Yes, the rapper Killer Mike. If you’re wondering why we’re bringing a Grammy-winning musician onto this sports show, it’s because he rides for Atlanta sports teams harder than anyone I know.  We’re going to talk to Killer Mike about why Atlanta gets a bad rap as a sports town, and why he disagrees wholeheartedly. Plus, what sports and music have in common, and offer us as a people — especially when we feel the most divided. Show Notes Listen to Killer Mike’s music  Sid Bream’s Iconic ‘92 Slide | MLB Deion “Prime Time” Sanders Career Mini Movie | NFL Throwback City of Atlanta doesn't deserve win | ESPN Off the Pike with Brian Barrett | Ringer NFL Show Credits Host: David Greene Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Talent Booker: Britt Kahn Engineers: Mike Villers Tile Art: Bea Walling Theme Song: Emma Munger Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

    Is Atlanta the Worst Sports Town? Killer Mike Doesn’t Think So

  8. Jul 16

    Why Landon Donovan Forgave his Father

    As the 2026 World Cup comes to a close, we sit down with two key figures in bringing the beautiful game to the United States. First, we hear from former U.S Soccer President Alan Rothenberg, the architect of the 1994 World Cup, who was a key figure in the World Cup back to the United States this year. He walks us through what this year's competition could mean for the future of soccer in our country. Then, we dive deep with U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan. Six-time MLS Cup Champion and the U.S. men’s all-time leader in goals and assists, Landon has single-handedly changed how we view soccer in America. But after his 16-year career, one of the toughest challenges he faced was confronting his relationship with his father. We’ll get into Landon's new self-titled memoir, which shows how an under-privileged kid from Southern California can grow up to be one of the best soccer players the United States has seen.  Show Notes Landon: A Memoir  Final 6 Minutes of USA v. Algeria | FIFA Every Single Landon Donovan World Cup Goal | FIFA Landon Donovan opens up about forgiving his father | FOX Landon Donovan’s 2010 World Cup goal: the moment that changed soccer in the United States | Onefootball Show Credits Host: David Greene Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Talent Booker: Britt Kahn Engineers: Mike Villers Tile Art: Bea Walling Theme Song: Emma Munger Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

    Why Landon Donovan Forgave his Father
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4.2
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Sports in America explores stories that shape athletes and fans alike. Each week, David Greene hosts in-depth conversations with people across the world of sports  – from the star who hits the game winner to the millions of us whose lives are touched by the game. From WHYY and PRX.

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