Pass It Down
Since launching his career as a journalist three decades ago, Michael Silver has demonstrated an uncanny ability to connect with the sports world’s most compelling figures—and to get them to open up about their most cherished convictions and experiences. From Dennis Rodman to Anna Kournikova, from Joe Montana to Marshawn Lynch, Silver’s interview subjects have consistently delivered, and no one in his field has a more diverse and impressive array of relationships. Now the award-winning writer (Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports, GQ) and television personality (NFL Network) is set to launch a podcast which will bring these interactions to life on a recurring basis. At a time when the intersection of sports, politics, pop culture and social media has never been more crowded, Pass It Down will take listeners on an entertaining and enlightening joyride. Riding shotgun will be Silver’s daughter, Natalie, a UC Berkeley graduate (like her parents) who has experience in the realms of music, national politics, journalism, comedy, film, social media and college-football recruiting. Natalie’s ability to filter her father’s exploits through a contemporary prism while processing pro football and other mainstream sports through a fresh set of eyes will lend a multi-generational layer to the conversations and infuse them with a tinge of humor.
Show episodes
The end of Pass It Down’s unannounced hiatus starts off with a bang, as Natalie details Mike’s untimely head-bang and its chilling effect on his co-host. After commemorating this year’s relatively tame Blocktober, Mike talks about his eight-year NFL Network journey and why that unlikely partnership ended last summer. W
Kettman retraces the emotional whirlwind that began in February, when he learned of his close friend’s sudden passing, and continued as he spearheaded and edited the book that would hit the shelves in July. We hear about Pedro’s cynical conscription of the “Berkeley Guy” into the baseball beat writers’ fraternity, thei
After explaining his motivation for bringing Mike on as a Washington Football Team content contributor, Ron heartily endorses the ‘Clean Slate’ plan that will unblock fans of the team on Twitter (at least for now). That leads to a healthy discussion about Ted Lasso, binge-watching and which WFT player has Jamie Tartt t
We pick up with Dr. Edwards’ recounting of the long history of athlete activism in the U.S., from baseball-playing Civil War soldiers to Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the anthem and beyond. He expounds upon the power--and inherent danger--of social media, and why it is an important protest tool. Dr. Edwards recall
After years of concealing evidence about the dangers of head trauma, the NFL settled a class-action lawsuit with former players… and employed “race norming” as a criteria, a practice racist in both its premise and systemic impact. Dr. Edwards, who regards race norming as part of the “medical apartheid” with which Black
The San Francisco 49ers’ star tight end weighs in on his team’s wild offseason, which he likens to “a tornado after a hurricane after a thunderstorm,” explaining which teammate “sweats olive oil” and assessing the pre-draft trade that landed quarterback Trey Lance. After addressing his Panda Express obsession in very s
