Join celebrated UNC professor Matt Andrews to learn how sports have reflected various facets of American identity throughout our nation’s history. Whether you love sports or find the American sports obsession confounding, this course will help you answer the fascinating question of why sports have mattered so much to this country. Although today’s sporting events bear little resemblance to the bloodsports of the early colonies, the passion with which Americans play and watch sports remains alive and well. Available on the Curiosity Audio Network, the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-untold-history-of-spo-99800523/

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Introducing a new podcast from Diversion Podcasts & iHeartRadio. What if we could go back in time, before he became the icon, and ask him: how did you become Kobe Bryant? “I Am Kobe” tells the story of Kobe Bryant’s early life through his coaches, his family, his friends. With never-before-heard intimate tapes of Kobe himself. His thoughts, his dreams, his goals from his teenage years, revealed for the first time. Listen to “I Am Kobe” for free on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and all the places you get podcasts. Listen to his voice.

Cover photo © Eileen Blass – USA TODAY NETWORK

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In this second bonus episode, Jeff Van Gundy suggests that Pat Riley's political battles with the NBA might've had something to do with the fact that he never coached the national team, while Zach Lowe theorizes that we're bound to have a reduced NBA schedule in the future. Our takes on the state of the NBA game--are there just too many threes being hurled up unless Steph Curry is shooting them?- are also covered in this loaded discussion.

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Special guests Jeff Van Gundy and Zach Lowe agree on whom they would choose to take the last shot between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. (It might be a surprise.) That and many other topics, such as the uphill battle the U.S. faces in the upcoming Olympic Games, are rolled out on the first of two bonus episodes.

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At last the gold medal game is here, and Spain, led by Kobe Bryant’s new Los Angeles Lakers teammate Pau Gasol, is the formidable opponent. Back and forth they go, and at crunch time it’s going to be up to LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and, of course, the late, great Mamba. Interviews with Craig Miller, Mike D'Antoni, Chris Bosh, Coach K, Sean Ford, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams.

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As the Redeem Team tears through the Beijing Olympics, we meet some of the lesser-knowns on the team, like Tayshaun Prince and Michael Redd; deconstruct the quarterbacking and athletic brilliance of LeBron James and even ponder the relative merits of Whitney Houston vs. Mariah Carey, Olympians in their own way. Interviews with Jerry Colangelo, Chris Bosh, Deron Williams, Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, Jim Boeheim, Craig Miller and Mike D'Antoni.

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In the days leading up to the 2008 Games, Kobe Bryant gets away (barely) with tardiness but not with questionable shot selection. Once in Beijing, Yao Ming hits an opening shot heard throughout the land, but the U.S. at last gets the chance to flex its Olympic muscle.  Starring Chris Bosh, Coach K, Craig Miller, Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, Jerry Colangelo.

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LeBron James led a so-so team into the Finals during the regular season, but Kobe Bryant, by the measure of most, including Coach Mike Krzyzewski, is the league’s best player. So when Mamba joins the Redeem Team in the summer of 2007, which one is really in charge on the court? Starring Chris Bosh, Phil Jackson, Anthony Carmelo, Deron Williams, Coach K, Jason Kidd.

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While an injury keeps Kobe Bryant away from USA Basketball after his highest-scoring season, newly crowned champion Dwyane Wade joins LeBron James for version 1.0 of the Redeem Team. But trouble awaits in the semifinals of the FIBA World Championships.

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We unlock the secret of why players like Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Chris Bosh buy into the coaching style of Mike Krzyzewski. Why, Coach K’s not some gentleman from Duke; he’s a swearing machine from the mean streets of Chicago.

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