Social movements tend to arise within the world of sports during periods of upsurge and upheaval. But what about times of authoritarianism, dictatorship, or even fascism? What is the social role of the athlete during periods of reaction?I recently had the pleasure of giving a talk at the 2022 Socialism conference in Chicago, where I addressed all of these questions. This week's episode of the Edge of Sports podcast is a recording of that talk. Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Zirin, Sue Bird Sets a Standard and Says Goodbye to the WNBAhttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/sue-bird-retirement-wnba/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)—Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we talk to Prof. Abdullah Al-Arian, editor of the new book Football in the Middle East about everything from the Qatari World Cup to Palestinian soccer and resistance.We also have “Choice Words” about Serena Williams's retirement, incredible longevity, and unsurpassed dominance in her sport. We also have “Just Stand Up” and “Just Sit Down” awards to the NBA for taking a stand and providing calendar space for voting on the midterms this year and their attempt at controlling the tenor of politics coming out of the league. All that and more on this episode of The Edge of Sports Podcast! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we speak to David Maraniss, one of the great journalists of our time, who has written a new book on the extremely well-known but frankly little-known athletic superstar Jim Thorpe and what he faced as a trailblazing indigenous athlete. We also have Choice Words about the 100th birthday of the legendary Rachel Robinson. We also have a Just Stand Up award for South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston for calling out ESPN’s disrespect of women athletes and we have Just Sit Down awards for the Cleveland Browns, who have cast their loss with Deshaun Watson and seem to have no shame about it. All that and more on this episode of The Edge of Sports Podcast! Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. David MaranissTwitter: @davidmaranisshttps://davidmaraniss.com/library/path-lit-by-lightning-the-life-of-jim-thorpe/Zirin, Aliyah Boston Makes ESPN Look Smallhttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/aliyah-boston-espn/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we speak to author Howard Bryant about his recent column on the state of this country as well as his new book on the great Rickey Henderson. We talk about the Supreme Court, where the country is headed, and why Rickey Henderson continues to be a captivating figure, decades after his retirement.We also have Choice Words about developments on the Brittney Griner case in Russia. We also have a Just Stand Up award to Megan Rapinoe, who seems to be a perennial winner of this award. All that and more on this episode of The Edge of Sports Podcast! Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.Howard BryantTwitter: @hbryant42https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/34186311/baseball-barbecue-losing-freedom-fourth-julyZirin, Brittney Griner’s Show Trial Beginshttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/brittney-griner-russia-trial/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we speak to Kim Turner, the Director of the Gender Equity Initiative at the national nonprofit Positive Coaching Alliance about the impact of Title IX and how much further we have to go. We also have “Choice Words” about the new Saudi golfing tour and the hypocrisy of guys like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson who have jumped on. We also have an update on Brittney Griner's case and more. Kimberly Turnerhttps://positivecoach.org/team/turner-kim/Zirin, Golfers Gonna Golfhttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/golf-pga-saudi-arabia/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy