THE BAG GAME Episode 3: The Sting

THE BAG GAME Episode 3: The Sting

Author: ESPN April 19, 2023 Duration: 42:45
The NCAA’s amateurism rules kept schools from paying players like Billy, so money wouldn't sway their college decision. But Paula learns how the youth teams delivering top recruits could serve as a go-between, where influence could be peddled. We hear one youth coach in Florida court much-needed funding from big-time shoe companies, only to land in hot water for what he promises in return. He didn’t know he was being recorded. The bag game unravels, as the feds’ secret investigation comes to light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the team behind ESPN's celebrated documentary series comes 30 for 30 Podcasts, an audio journey that digs deep into the narratives often left on the sidelines. Each episode is crafted as a standalone documentary, pulling you into tales where sports intersect with culture, history, and human drama. You’ll hear about forgotten legends, improbable triumphs, and scandals that reshaped entire communities, all presented with a cinematic attention to detail that makes every story feel immediate and vital. This isn't just a replay of highlights; it's an exploration of how competition and athleticism echo far beyond the final score, influencing everything from personal identity to global politics. Whether you're a lifelong sports fan or simply drawn to compelling true stories, this podcast provides a unique lens on the world. The storytelling invites you to lean in and listen closely, revealing the profound and sometimes unexpected ways the games we play shape the lives we lead.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

30 for 30 Podcasts
Podcast Episodes
HEAVY MEDALS Part 6: The Rise of Martha [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:58
For years, Martha Karolyi avoided the spotlight — appearing only as the mysterious and subservient partner of her boisterous husband. But when she is tapped to take over the national team, Martha finally comes into full…
HEAVY MEDALS Part 5: The Karolyi Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:27
After the glory of winning gold in Atlanta, the U.S. National Team slips on the world stage, finishing last in the finals at the 1999 World Championships. With the next Olympics less than a year away, USA Gymnastics turn…
HEAVY MEDALS Part 4: Home Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:54
Pulled back onto the world gymnastics stage by the precocious talent of their newest protege, Dominique Moceanu, Bela and Martha are all in on winning gold at the Atlanta Games. But when Dominique falls on vault, everyth…
HEAVY MEDALS Part 3: The Bela Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
Growing his image as the most well-known coach in gymnastics, Bela builds his brand and aims for more gold medals with a new star athlete. But after his champion fails at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Bela announc…
HEAVY MEDALS Part 2: American Hustle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:32
After defecting from Romania, the Karolyis begin to build their gymnastics empire in the U.S. But they need a champion. Enter Mary Lou Retton, the bubbly teenager whose perfect 10 at the 1984 Olympics will make her and h…
HEAVY MEDALS Part 1: Made in Romania [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:39
In the middle of the Cold War, Romanian gymnastics coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi turn Nadia Comaneci, a 14-year-old gymnast from a Communist country, into a global symbol of excellence at the 1976 Olympics when she sco…
TRAILER: HEAVY MEDALS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:07
For 40 years, as athletes came and went, there was one constant presence in Olympic gymnastics: Bela and Martha Karolyi — the most successful coaches in the sport's history, and the most controversial. The Karolyis wield…
S6, E4: CURSED AND BLESSED [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:32
According to local legend, the Louisiana Superdome was always a haunted place. First plagued by construction problems, then years of bad luck for the host Saints team -- by 2005 those Saints were prepared to abandon the…
S6, E3: THE FALL OF THE CONDOR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:39
During qualifying for the 1990 World Cup, Chile's national team felt that it needed to be "more bandits than the bandits." Driven by an intense desire to eliminate rival Brazil, goalkeeper Roberto Rojas pushed his team p…
S6, E2: OUT OF THE WOODS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:00
World-class biathlete Kari Swenson was on an afternoon trail run in the mountains near Big Sky, Montana in July 1984 when two men blocked her path. Reported by ESPN's Bonnie Ford. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. | For more on th…