Podcast / Edge of Sports / Apr 7, 2025

What to Learn From a Yearbook

On this episode of Edge of Sports, Author Michael Messner and friend of the pod Arya Shirazi join the show.

Edge of Sports
Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

What To Learn From A Yearbook
byDave Zirin / The Nation

This week, we talk to Michael Messner, author of the fascinating new book, about what we can learn by looking at sports and yearbooks over the course of a century. It’s called “The High School: Sports, Spirit, and Citizens, 1903-2024.” Also, I’m talking to the savant, Arya Shirazi, about the days when March was truly mad. 

The High School

https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/the-high-school/9781978839533/

Zirin, With ICE Out of Control, How Can the US Cohost the 2026 World Cup?

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/ice-fifa-world-cup-north-america/

http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

NCAA Final Four, Villanova team victorious over Georgetown, in Lexington, Kentucky, on April 1, 1985.

NCAA Final Four, Villanova team victorious over Georgetown, in Lexington, Kentucky, on April 1, 1985.

(Richard Mackson / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

This week on Edge of Sports, we talk to Michael Messner, author of a fascinating new book about what we can learn by looking at sports and yearbooks over the course of a century. It’s called The High School: Sports, Spirit, and Citizens, 1903–2024. Also, I’m talking to the savant Arya Shirazi about the days when March was truly mad

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

Edge of Sports
Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

How Racism Shadows the 250th with Eddie Glaude… and The Knicks!
byDave Zirin / The Nation

This week, we speak to the great bestselling author Dr. Eddie Glaude about his new book America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries.” We also speak to Hoops Savant Arya Shirazi about the Knicks-Spurs NBA finals. 

From Brunson to Wemby, truly hoops nirvana. 

Zirin, Soccer’s Shadow and Sunlight: the Fascist History of the World Cup and 20 Years of Soccer Without Borders

https://www.thenation.com/podcast/culture/eos-052826/

http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Dave Zirin

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.

More from The Nation

The New York Knicks celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130–93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

How Racism Shadows the 250th—With Eddie Glaude... and The Knicks! How Racism Shadows the 250th—With Eddie Glaude... and The Knicks!

Author and Professor Eddie Glaude joins the show to talk new book and Arya returns to talk about the NBA Finals.

Dave Zirin

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk attends a state banquet for US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping.

The SpaceX IPO Gives Elon Musk Even More Power—With Sean O’Kane  The SpaceX IPO Gives Elon Musk Even More Power—With Sean O’Kane 

Paris Marx talks to Sean O’Kane about how Elon Musk is justifying SpaceX’s massive valuation and the way corporate governance rules are giving him even more power.

Paris Marx

A man checks in to vote at a polling location at the Los Angeles County Registrar during early voting in the state's primary election.

The Dems After Tuesday’s Primaries, plus Elmore Leonard’s Bad Guys The Dems After Tuesday’s Primaries, plus Elmore Leonard’s Bad Guys

John Nichols analyzes this week’s primary results in California and elsewhere, and, from the archives, Elmore Leonard talks about where his characters and plots came from.

Jon Wiener

Mickey Mouse in festive costume interacts with visitors at Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, China.

Disneyland: Cold War Factory—With Roland Betancourt Disneyland: Cold War Factory—With Roland Betancourt

Danny and Derek speak with Roland Betancourt, Chancellor's Professor of Art History at UC Irvine, about Disneyland and the rise of automation in the US.

Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

Demonstrators participate in a “March on Wall Street” to call for economic justice on August 28, 2025, in New York City.

Monopoly v. Democracy—With Matt Stoller & Zephyr Teachout Monopoly v. Democracy—With Matt Stoller & Zephyr Teachout

Matt Stoller and Zephyr Teachout on how democracy is an economic issue.

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre as Israeli forces continued to expand their invasion in south Lebanon.

Israel Escalates Lebanon Strikes, Taiwan Arms Sale Stalls, US Stockpiles Run Low Israel Escalates Lebanon Strikes, Taiwan Arms Sale Stalls, US Stockpiles Run Low

The AP UFC dome is regrettably being held up by producer Jake’s HOA

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

x