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U.S. Fascination With Football Met With Concerns About Safety

NPR - Mon Nov 9, 12:00 PM ET

Football remains the most watched sport in the U.S., and ratings for this season are better than ever. But NFL team owners opted out of a collective bargaining agreement, putting labor relations, along with players' longtime health concerns, back in the spotlight. Host Michel Martin speaks with DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, for more.

  • In New Orleans, Undefeated Saints Go Marching On NPR - Mon Nov 9, 6:00 AM ET

    The New Orleans Saints are undefeated in their first eight games of the season, and the city is ecstatic. Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers marks New Orleans' best start ever.

  • At Poker World Series, Unlikely Player Poised To Win NPR - Sat Nov 7, 4:00 PM ET

    At the tournament's final table this weekend, first-timer Darvin Moon had the most chips and stands to win $8.5 million. Moon, who owns a logging operation in Maryland, has never been to Las Vegas or played poker online before entering the tournament.

  • Giving Athletes A Heads-Up On Concussions NPR - Fri Nov 6, 1:00 PM ET

    Football players take a lot of hits, but when does hard-headed play go too far? New research suggests that head trauma can do lasting damage. Two brain researchers talk about what happens in the brain when a player gets hit, and how athletes can better protect themselves.

  • Game 6: Yankees Clinch Series Title Over Phillies NPR - Thu Nov 5, 6:00 AM ET

    The New York Yankees have won their 27th World Series. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6. Yankees designated hitter Hideki Matsui tied a 49-year-old World Series record by driving in six runs and was named Series MVP.

  • Yankees Top Phillies For World Series Title NPR - Thu Nov 5, 12:06 AM ET

    The New York Yankees are baseball's best again. The Yankees won their 27th championship Wednesday night, beating the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 behind Hideki Matsui's record-tying six RBIs.

  • Tonight's '30 For 30': 'Without Bias' NPR - Tue Nov 3, 1:52 PM ET

    Tonight's entry in ESPN's outstanding documentary series is "Without Bias," a look at the death of a young basketball player within 48 hours of his big break.

  • The White House, Sports And 'Jock-ocracy' NPR - Tue Nov 3, 1:33 PM ET

    In her weekly commentary host Michel Martin gives her take on whether President Obama's off-hour golf outings and pickup basketball games are sexist and exclusionary to female staffers at the White House. Martin suggests the criticism is displaced.

  • Magic And Bird: A Rivalry Gives Way To Friendship NPR - Tue Nov 3, 11:26 AM ET

    In the 1980s, the "golden era" of the NBA, basketball superstars Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson had an intense rivalry that elevated the entire league. But after years of hating each other, they developed a close friendship, chronicled in a new book, When The Game Was Ours.

  • 'Battle Of The Blades' Draws Huge Audience In Canada NPR - Tue Nov 3, 6:33 AM ET

    One of the most popular TV shows on Canadian public television pairs figure skaters and hockey players in a weekly ice dance-off. Only one Canadian program — Little Mosque on the Prairie — has debuted with more viewers than the CBC's Battle of the Blades. The show says it's been getting calls from producers in the U.S., Russia and Czech Republic who want to copy the show.

  • Holy Cheesesteaks! The Phillies Are Still Alive! NPR - Tue Nov 3, 6:25 AM ET

    The Philadelphia Phillies held off a late rally by the New York Yankees Monday night to win Game 5 of the World Series. The 8-6 victory sends the series back to Yankee Stadium Wednesday. The Phillies have to win the next two games to take the title — and keep New York from claiming its 27th championship.

  • Phillies Top Yankees, Stay Alive In World Series NPR - Mon Nov 2, 11:51 PM ET

    Chase Utley hit two home runs to raise his World Series total to a record-tying five, backing Cliff Lee once again as Philadelphia staved off elimination with an 8-6 victory Monday night and set up a Game 6 for the first time since 2003.

  • L.A. Dodgers Fans Worry About Owners' Divorce NPR - Mon Nov 2, 3:01 PM ET

    First, the Los Angeles Dodgers saw their World Series dreams dashed by the Philadelphia Phillies. Now, the boys in blue have a potentially bigger worry — getting caught up in what could be a nasty divorce battle between team owners Frank and Jamie McCourt.

  • Yankees 1 Game Away From Clinching Series Title NPR - Mon Nov 2, 6:00 AM ET

    The New York Yankees are one victory away from winning their 27th World Series. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 Sunday night in Philadelphia. The Yankees take a 3-1 lead in the series. New York can clinch the title with a victory in Game 5 Monday night in Philadelphia.

  • A-Rod Lifts Yankees To 3-1 Lead In World Series NPR - Mon Nov 2, 12:02 AM ET

    Alex Rodriguez doubled in the top of the ninth inning, driving in the go-ahead run, and the New York Yankees went on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 Sunday in Game Four of the Fall Classic. The Yankees are now one win away from capturing their 27th World Series title.

  • Favre, Vikings Beat Green Bay At Lambeau Field NPR - Sun Nov 1, 11:20 PM ET

    Quarterback Bret Favre was back on familiar turf Sunday — at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. But after 16 years with the Packers, Favre returned wearing white and purple — and throwing passes for the Minnesota Vikings, including four touchdown passes.

  • American Meb Keflezighi Wins NYC Marathon NPR - Sun Nov 1, 5:15 PM ET

    Meb Keflezighi became the first U.S. man to win the New York City Marathon since 1982 on Sunday, while Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia captured the women's race. Two-time defending champ Paula Radcliffe placed fourth, grabbing her left leg in pain after crossing the finish line.

  • World Series Safe From Philly Transit Strike NPR - Sun Nov 1, 9:06 AM ET

    The Philadelphia transit system's largest union agreed Saturday not to go on strike as contract talks continued hours before the start of Game 3 of the World Series, Pennsylvania's governor and the city's mayor said.

  • Reversed Homer Call Helps A-Rod, Yanks Beat Phils NPR - Sun Nov 1, 8:59 AM ET

    Guess who showed up for Halloween dressed as sluggers? The New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez, whose double clanked off a television camera in the right-field corner and was ruled a home run in the first instant replay call in World Series history.

  • Favre Returning Home, But On The Rival Team NPR - Sun Nov 1, 8:50 AM ET

    There will be drama on and off the football field this weekend as the Green Bay Packers face their longtime rival, the Minnesota Vikings. The game will be the first time Vikings quarterback Brett Favre will come back to play at his one-time home, the storied Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Some fans feel betrayed that the former Green Bay legend now wears a Minnesota jersey, and it remains to be seen how he will be welcomed back.

  • World Series Game Three Opens On A Draw NPR - Sat Oct 31, 8:00 AM ET

    How do you know it's Halloween in Philadelphia? Everyone's got on the same costume: Phillies gear! Game three of the World Series happens Saturday night in Philly and Howard Bryant is there covering the game. Host Scott Simon talks with Bryant about the Yankees and the Phillies.

  • U Of Akron Advertises For College Quarterback NPR - Fri Oct 30, 4:14 PM ET

    University of Akron's new $61 million stadium was supposed to be its big step into big-time football. Instead, the team is 1-6, and trying to figure out how to cover for the loss of 14 players, including the starting and backup quarterbacks. A true freshman is starting, and the team had to put an ad in the student newspaper to come up with a scout-squad backup.

  • Yankees Tie World Series, Beat Phillies 3-1 NPR - Fri Oct 30, 6:30 AM ET

    The Yankees and Phillies have Friday off after New York tied things up in Game 2 of the World Series Thursday night. After Philadelphia won Wednesday's opener 6-1, the Yankees came back with a 3-1 win. Game 3 will be at Philadelphia Saturday night.

  • New Cubs Owner Feels Fans' Pain, Promises Relief NPR - Fri Oct 30, 12:00 AM ET

    There's an old joke: How do you become a millionaire? Have $1 billion — then buy the Chicago Cubs. Well, Tom Ricketts did buy the storied franchise and its famous ballpark, Wrigley Field, spending almost $900 million. And it's a team that hasn't won a World Series for more than a century.

  • World Series: Phillies Take Game 1 Over Yankees NPR - Thu Oct 29, 6:20 AM ET

    The Philadelphia Phillies won the first game of the World Series Wednesday night, behind the pitching of their ace reliever Cliff Lee. The Phillies beat the Yankees 6-1. Game 2 is in New York Thursday night.

  • World Series Pitchers Have A 'Tribe' In Common NPR - Wed Oct 28, 6:28 PM ET

    Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee not only won back-to-back American League Cy Young awards; they also both did it while pitching for the Cleveland Indians. But money got in the way.

  • House Hears Testimony On Football, Head Injuries NPR - Wed Oct 28, 6:17 PM ET

    The suspected link between football head injuries and brain problems has been the subject of great debate, and it played out again at a hearing Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league and said that the care of retired players was a priority.

  • Phillies Off To Fast Start In World Series NPR - Wed Oct 28, 4:30 PM ET

    The defending champion Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Yankees 6-1 in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee threw a complete game, while second baseman Chase Utley hit two solo home runs.

  • India Reality TV Show Searches For Next U.S. Baseball Star NPR - Wed Oct 28, 12:00 PM ET

    More than 60 years after Jackie Robinson became the first major African-American baseball player, racial barriers are still being broken in the world of baseball. Rinku Singh, a javelin thrower, became a baseball player after signing up for an Indian reality TV show titled "The Million Dollar Arm." The game show was out to find the next great Indian baseball player. Singh did not win the contest, but he was recently recruited to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team. Rinku Singh talks about his newfound fame and his journey to baseball field.

  • In Book, Agassi Admits Using Crystal Meth In 1997 NPR - Wed Oct 28, 8:18 AM ET

    Andre Agassi's upcoming autobiography contains an admission that he used crystal meth in 1997 and lied to tennis authorities when he failed a drug test — a result that was thrown out after he said he "unwittingly" took the substance.

  • Yankees, Phillies Begin Quest For Baseball's Best NPR - Wed Oct 28, 6:18 AM ET

    Game 1 of the World Series gets under way Wednesday night in New York. The Yankees host the Philadelphia Phillies. Both teams lead their leagues in home runs. But the best team may come down to the closer — the last man in the bullpen.

  • A-Rod's New Success: Enough To Put Demons To Rest? NPR - Wed Oct 28, 12:56 AM ET

    When the New York Yankees won the American League title, Alex Rodriguez was embraced by his teammates. The moment marks a turnaround for A-Rod, who has struggled in past post-seasons — and hasn't always had the affection of teammates and fans.

  • Former NBA Coach Switches Gears At Charter School NPR - Tue Oct 27, 4:49 PM ET

    Joe Carbone is the gym teacher at a small New York Charter School called The Equity Project, based in Manhattan's Washington Heights. The former NBA strength coach has given up the big league to teach gym at the innovative charter school where the kids are only somewhat impressed with his NBA credentials.

  • Tell Us About The Time You Caught A Foul Ball NPR - Tue Oct 27, 2:27 PM ET

    Baseball aficionado Zack Hample, author of How To Snag Major League Baseballs, knows better than anyone the thrill of catching a foul ball. He's caught more than 4,000, and offers tips to help you snag fouls from the stands.

  • Mark McGwire Back In Baseball As Hitting Coach NPR - Mon Oct 26, 12:44 PM ET

    The man who electrified fans by hitting 70 home runs in 1998 has since fallen out of favor with many after refusing to answer questions about steroid use during a 2005 congressional hearing. He will return to the St. Louis Cardinals for the 2010 season as an aid to former manager Tony La Russa.

  • Yankees Beat Angels 5-2, Advance To World Series NPR - Mon Oct 26, 1:59 AM ET

    The New York Yankees, baseball's biggest spenders, finally cashed in with their first pennant in six years Sunday night, beating the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 in Game 6 of the AL championship series behind the savvy pitching of that old October pro, Andy Pettitte. New York hosts defending champion Philadelphia in the World Series opener Wednesday night.

  • USOC Under Fire For Olympic-Sized Missteps NPR - Sun Oct 25, 6:01 PM ET

    Three weeks after Chicago's first-round rejection in the bidding for the 2016 Summer Games, Olympic athletes and sports executives are demanding major change in the U.S. Olympic Committee. At stake, some say, is support for American athletes and the quest to host Olympic Games in the United States.

  • Sports-Tacular Sunday NPR - Sun Oct 25, 4:00 PM ET

    Baseball hits its high point this week with the start of the World Series, and basketball is at the starting point, with the season opening Tuesday night. Host Guy Raz talks with Kevin Blackistone of AOL FanHouse about the flurry of fall sports highlights.

  • Baseball Warms Up For World Series Play NPR - Sat Oct 24, 8:00 AM ET

    The temperatures are dropping, but baseball is heating up. The Philadelphia Phillies are waiting to see if they'll face the Yankees or the Angels in the World Series starting next Wednesday. Also starting next week: the NBA regular season. Host Scott Simon talks baseball playoffs and bad football teams with NPR's Tom Goldman.

  • A Brain Battered By Football NPR - Fri Oct 23, 5:59 PM ET

    The years of hard hits have left former NFL player George Visger with severe memory loss. His doctors warn his brain problems could get worse quickly. While he struggles with his short-term memory, his days as a star high school lineman are vivid and special.

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