Dave Zirin

Sports Editor

Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is also the coproducer and writer of the new documentary Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL.

Fans of German soccer team Sport-Club Freiburg display a banner about boycotting the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar prior to a Bundesliga league match against FC Bayern München.

Will Players Help Raise Awareness About the Horrors Surrounding the World Cup? Will Players Help Raise Awareness About the Horrors Surrounding the World Cup?

We are seeing some people from the soccer world speak out about the Qatar World Cup. We need more.

Nov 16, 2022 / Dave Zirin and Jules Boykoff

Unpacking Kyrie Irving

Unpacking Kyrie Irving Unpacking Kyrie Irving

This week on the Edge of Sports podcast, basketball coach Arya Shirazi joins the show to talk about the young NBA season, plus Dave Zirin revisits Irving's anti-Semitism. 

Nov 8, 2022 / Podcast / Dave Zirin

Brooklyn Nets basketball player Kyrie Irving looks on from the bench during the third quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on October 31, 2022.

The NBA’s Hypocrisies Are Sabotaging Its Response to Kyrie Irving The NBA’s Hypocrisies Are Sabotaging Its Response to Kyrie Irving

The league won't acknowledge its own culpability for the current climate of hate. 

Nov 7, 2022 / Dave Zirin

Brooklyn Nets basketball player Kyrie Irving claps looking into the camera at a pre-season game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staplers Center in Los Angeles.

Kyrie Irving and the Fraught History of Our Collective Liberation Kyrie Irving and the Fraught History of Our Collective Liberation

Kyrie's anti-Semitism isn’t new, but his allies are. And that’s terrifying.

Nov 1, 2022 / Dave Zirin

Why Did the Football World Reject Geno Smith?

Why Did the Football World Reject Geno Smith? Why Did the Football World Reject Geno Smith?

On this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, sportswriter Chuck Modiano joins the show to talk about Geno’s success.

Oct 31, 2022 / Podcast / Dave Zirin

Portland Thorns women's soccer fans light a smoke bomb as part of a protest of the sex scandal in the National Women's Soccer League during a Thorns game against the Chicago Red Stars at Providence Park on November 14, 2021, in Portland, Oregon.

Is Portland About to Have Two Supporter-Owned Soccer Teams? Is Portland About to Have Two Supporter-Owned Soccer Teams?

Forcing a franchise owner to sell the team? Community ownership? It’s on the table for the raucous fans of the Portland Thorns and Timbers.

Oct 24, 2022 / Dave Zirin and Jules Boykoff

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Speaks!

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Speaks! Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Speaks!

On this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, former NBA star and activist Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf joins the show to talk about his new book.

Oct 24, 2022 / Podcast / Dave Zirin

US WNBA player Brittney Griner is escorted to the courtroom to hear the court's final decision in Khimki outside Moscow

On Her Birthday, We Learned About Brittney Griner’s Suffering On Her Birthday, We Learned About Brittney Griner’s Suffering

In an interview with her attorneys, the WNBA superstar revealed more details about her conditions in a Russian prison cell.

Oct 20, 2022 / Dave Zirin

Racism and the College Athlete

Racism and the College Athlete Racism and the College Athlete

Professor and author Derek Silva joins the Edge of Sports podcast to talk about racism in college sports.

Oct 11, 2022 / Podcast / Dave Zirin

A man holds a black sign with white font that says,

Merritt Paulson Must Go Merritt Paulson Must Go

It is past time for the soccer impresario to sell the Thorns and Timbers, and Portland would be the perfect city to install public ownership.

Oct 10, 2022 / Dave Zirin and Jules Boykoff

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