Grantland

Grantland Network

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: Men in Blazers

By Men in Blazers at

It's the time of the season when the competitions start to bleed together. In the span of only a week, connoisseurs of association football can dabble in the eclectic delights of the FA Cup, take in the seductive Champions League, slum it with Europa, obediently return to the Premiership, and then cap it all with Sunday's critically important/slightly meaningless Carling Cup final.

Somehow, the Men in Blazers manage to cover it all in this week's pod, even making time to analyze the latest big stories emerging from the Puerto Rican and Malagasy leagues for good measure. Their paramount concerns surround the London clubs in crisis — Arsenal and Chelsea. Michael and Roger delve deep into EPL management psychology as they consider the fates of Arsenal's bewildered wizard, Arsene Wenger, and Chelsea's very own Doogie Howser, Andre Villas-Boas.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: The Jalen Rose Show

By David Jacoby at

Once again, Jalen Rose came by the studio to record the show, slung his trusty baseball bat over his shoulder, and started breaking down the NBA. He reviewed the New York Knicks offense and discussed how they will incorporate all their new pieces into Mike D’Antoni's "system." He then explained that even though Kobe said he wished the Lakers front office would "come out and either trade [Pau Gasol] or not trade him,” what he really means is “TRADE PAU RIGHT NOW.” When the conversation turned to the All-Star Game, Jalen explained his grudge over the event. Unless you are Jamal Mashburn, I think you will really enjoy this pod.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: The Basketball Jones

By The Basketball Jones at

Join The Basketball Jones on the sonic journey that is The Overdose. On today's show, we examine Linsanity. (Can Melo and Jeremy Lin coexist? Should the Knicks have "thrown" that game against the Wolves? And who will star in the inevitable Jeremy Lin movie?) We also discuss New York's J.R. pickup, list some overlooked NBA storylines, and break down the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest participants.

All that, plus Leigh's "Tweet of the Weak," an enthusiastic edition of "The Pun-Gun Game," Shaq's latest comments about Dwight, 3-point gunners, and more.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: Men in Blazers

By Men in Blazers at

Love is in the air in the crap part of Soho as Roger and Michael celebrate their union with a Valentine's Day Special. Luckily, it's a mix of business and pleasure. The blazered men cover last weekend's Handshakegate between Liverpool's Luis Suarez and Manchester United's Patrice Evra, reconcile after Roger's lionhearted Everton dispose of Michael's woebegone Chelsea, and uncover some inspiring tabloid journalism involving Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey. We advise romantic partners to relish these suboptimal sounds before the FA Cup makes its underwhelming return Saturday.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: The Jalen Rose Show

By David Jacoby at

We included video in this week’s podcast because we think it is important for people see what happens behind the scenes, like the fact that Jalen will record an entire pod with a baseball bat in his hands. Everyone has their thing. Now that the NFL season is over and we have sworn off football topics (sorry, Randy Moss), we took a deep dive into Jeremy Lin’s rise to stardom, J.R. Smith’s impending impact, and Carlos Boozer’s hairline.

Seriously, as you listen, remember Jalen has a baseball bat in his hands the entire time. It changes everything.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: Men in Blazers

By The Men in Blazers at

England remains engulfed in drama, and not the good kind on PBS. Everyone's favorite illiterate, 'Arry Redknapp, appears poised to take over from the recently resigned Fabio Capello as England manager, Wayne Rooney and Manchester United recovered from a three-goal hole to draw Chelsea, and U.S. judicial scholar Kenny Dalglish opted to "plead the Fifth Amendment" to reporters following Liverpool's drab 0-0 match against Tottenham. BUT DID YOU SEE THE ANFIELD CAT? It's really all just white noise in comparison.

The Men in Blazers review all these titillating developments and end this week's pod in homage to the passing of former national team captain Harry Keough, who helped the U.S. beat England 1-0 at the 1950 World Cup.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: The Jalen Rose Show

By David Jacoby at

Jalen Rose is done talking about football. Methinks my pod partner is a little upset with the attention that the NFL gets during the offseason, so after briefly reviewing the Super Bowl (read: defending Gisele and Gronkowski), we turned our attention to the NBA. There was no shortage of NBA stories to tackle, what with Kevin Love stomping on people, Jeremy Lin scoring on people, and Shaquille O’Neal “sneak dissing” people. We also discussed Allen Iverson’s rumored return to pro basketball in Puerto Rico, and Jalen details exactly how NBA players can end up in financial trouble. The math might not work out down to the cent, but you will catch the gist of what he is getting at. Enjoy.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: The Basketball Jones

By The Basketball Jones at

Join The Basketball Jones on the sonic journey that is The Overdose! On today's show, we attempt to pick our 2012 NBA All-Star Reserves. Is Paul Millsap a lock? Do you go with Tony Parker or Kyle Lowry? And who in hell do you pick in the East?

All that, plus NBA Yearbook Awards, Leigh's "Tweet of the Weak," Bill Simmons' concept of NBA "chemists," a rough round of "The Pun-Gun Game," Super Bowl predictions, Kobe vs. LeBron, and more.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: Men in Blazers

By Men in Blazers at

The Premier League race is blown wide open thanks to the defeat of Manchester City at the hands of America's Team, and Michael Davies and Roger Bennett couldn't be happier. This latest turn in the EPL's made-for-TV script features An MLS's St. Landon of Donovan. A month into his second loan spell, Donovan has dished out one miracle after another, turning assists into the new goals.

But after examining the rest of the midweek action and deciphering the cryptic meaning behind the latest round of FA Cup, the Men in Blazers turn their attention to matters of graver import. Michael and Roger are joined by American footballing legend Gerry Baker. The New Rochelle, N.Y., native scored hat tricks in the English top-flight long before Clint Dempsey was a twinkle in his mother's eye. Now a forgotten figure in U.S. soccer lore, Gerry even remains ineligible for the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame. To help right such an injustice, MiB launch their newest campaign, encouraging listeners to e-mail halloffame@ussoccer.org and lobby on Baker's behalf. Let's all do our part to make sure soccer remains America's Sport of the Future.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: The Masked Man

By David Shoemaker at

On today's podcast, David Shoemaker is joined by former WWE writer/producer Court Bauer to talk about what life is like backstage, from the lead-up to the Royal Rumble on through to Wrestlemania. He also nerds out with Brandon Stroud from WithLeather.com and guesses wrestlers ages with The Roommate.

Listen to Tuesday's podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

Previously on the Grantland Network:
The Jalen Rose Show
The Basketball Jones
Jonah Keri with Tyler Kepner
Men in Blazers

The Masked Man is David Shoemaker, author of the "Dead Wrestler of the Week" column. You can follow him on Twitter at @AKATheMaskedMan.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network: The Jalen Rose Show

By David Jacoby at

Jalen and I decided that the Super Bowl is boring. Not, like, the game. We mean the lead-up to the game. Gronkowski is going to play, Eli is “elite,” and Bill Belichick is a great coach. Ho-freaking-hum. So instead of going over tired Super Bowl storylines, we dove right into the exciting NBA season. We talked about the Heat and how their depth is going to win them the East. We talked about how close the West was. We talked about Kobe and the Lakers' trouble on the road. And we talked about Dwight Howard because you really can’t say anything about the NBA without talking about Dwight Howard. We tried.

Oh yeah, we also talked about the Souper Bowl, which I am way more excited about than the Super Bowl.

Listen to Monday's podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

Previously on the Grantland Network:
The Basketball Jones
Jonah Keri with Tyler Kepner
Men in Blazers

Follow Jalen Rose on Twitter at @jalenrose.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: The Basketball Jones

By The Basketball Jones at
The Basketball Jones

Join The Basketball Jones on the sonic journey that is The Overdose. Today's topics include the pros and cons of a shortened NBA season, whether we should crown Oklahoma City the Western Conference champs now, a roundup of deadline extensions and non-extensions, and a wacky and weird rumor roundup with a bunch of 14-year-old high school girls.

All that, plus Leigh's "Tweet of the Weak," another exhilarating round of "The Pun-Gun Game," and so much yogurt talk.

Listen to Friday's podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

Previously on the Grantland Network:
Jonah Keri with Tyler Kepner
The Jalen Rose Show
Men in Blazers

The Basketball Jones is a daily video/audio podcast that discusses the NBA's biggest games and stories. Follow TBJ on Facebook, Twitter (@JESkeets, @TasMelas, @TreyKerby), and e-mail them at tbj@thescore.com.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: Jonah Keri with Tyler Kepner

at
Al Bello/Getty Images

By the grace of Tebow, Jonah Keri has landed at his new home in Denver and is back with a new podcast. He and New York Times national baseball writer Tyler Kepner go around the majors to break down the Prince Fielder deal, the loaded AL East, and the twin towers of the AL West.

Shifting to the National League, we run through the much-improved Reds, the maybe-one-player-short Nats and Marlins, and an NL West division that might not have a 90-win team in the bunch. All that plus Scott Boras' target-the-owner negotiating strategies, why Matt Kemp should have won the MVP last year, and a tribute to the great Gary Carter.

Listen to Thursday's podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

Previously on the Grantland Network:
The Jalen Rose Show
Men in Blazers
The Basketball Jones

Follow Jonah Keri on Twitter at @jonahkeri.

GRANTLAND NETWORK

Grantland Network Podcast: The Jalen Rose Show

By David Jacoby at

Jalen Rose stole Patrick Ewing’s television. For real. Patrick Ewing fouled Jalen, it wasn’t called, and then Jalen exacted his revenge by stealing the man’s television. Not just any old television, a television-VCR combination. These are the types of stories that Jalen drops week after week that make recording this podcast so much fun.

Aside from Jalen’s criminal history, we also discussed the Super Bowl, the hot topics around the NBA, and the recent photos of Rihanna that have been all over the Internet. Have a listen.

Listen to Wednesday's podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

Previously on the Grantland Network:
Men in Blazers
The Basketball Jones
The Hollywood Prospectus Podcast: American Idol Edition

Follow Jalen Rose on Twitter at @jalenrose.

Top Stories