Bush League

Lacrosse’s path from being a sport played by Native American tribes to the rapidly growing modern day game - a sport played by an estimated 800,000 youth players in the US alone, is an incredible journey that tells a larger story about the people whom originated and played it. We'll look at it through the lens of an early American painter and pioneer who came across the sport at each turn in his travels across the American frontier.

In America, using the word "football" normally doesn't lead to much confusion. But in other countries, there are many types of "football," which are called football codes. Each of these codes have their own professional leagues with specializes athletes. But what happens when an athlete decides to leave one football code and try their hand at another? These are called football code converts, and in this episode we'll go around the world, and through history, to examine this unique phenomenon. All of the music heard in this episode comes from the Sounds Like and Earful studios.

For 30 years, a sports rivalry split the Cleveland Irish community so deep that some considered it a kind of civil war. In this episode, we examine what happens when having one team isn't enough for Cleveland's gaelic football community. You'll hear what the players say about the moment when this rivalry spanning 30 years, culminated on the sport's biggest stage, and the surprising story of what happens after.    

In this bonus episode, we explore the other side of the hero vs villian wrestling story arc staple and hear from Joshua Singh as he discusses match preparation, performing acrobatic aerial moves and what's at the top of his wrestling bucket list. Please make sure to listen to the episode titled, The Heel, prior to beginning this one. Featured Track: Bring Me Night by Dienst & Schulter

This week's episode comes with a challenge. In these divisive times, can you accept all sports as equal? Can you do away with the pre-conceived notions that needlessly isolate us from people with strikingly similar athletic passions and desires? Featured tracks: Drone Thistle by Blue Dot Sessions Two Dollar Token by Blue Dot Sessions Fantasy Trashwave by Tobacco You're So Very Far Away by Clem Leek  

On this bonus episode, we'll hear more from Ryan Bahl, hockey's global nomad. Listen as he describes a second trip to the Falkland islands and some surprising signage at the Serbian ice rinks. Feature track: Ladies Take Me With You by Doctor Turtle    

Ryan Bahl is an American hockey player who's stepped foot on ice rinks in six different continents. Hear what it was like to play, and live, in a few exotic locations and listen as he explains what he's doing to be the first person to play on all seven continents. Featured tracks: Mi Plato De Barro by Chicha Libre The Soul of Mbira by Pavel Dovgal

In this episode you'll hear more from Mickey Wilson. We talk about how he choose to pursue slacklining full time, additional benefits of the sport, and more. Make sure that you listened to our last episode, Slackline Destiny, before starting this one. Featured track: Lick Skillet by Radio Moscow