Meet the first Black baseball players

Apr 8, 2024
We're watching “The League,” a documentary about the contributions that Black baseball players and the Negro Leagues made to America’s pastime.
A magazine cover featuring Jackie Robinson in 1952.
Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

What if they held a bake sale for women's pro sports?

Oct 4, 2017
Without big sponsors, women's football survives on school-style fundraising, the NFL's first female coach says.
Jen Welter worked in the NFL as a coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Brain injury revelations are nothing new for the NFL

Sep 22, 2017
The news that former Patriot Aaron Hernandez suffered advanced brain disease will do little to hurt the business.
Aaron Hernandez sits in the courtroom of the Attleboro District Court during his hearing on August 22, 2013 in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.  An autopsy showed Hernandez had advanced-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E.
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

The NFL looks to China for a few hundred million fans

Aug 24, 2017
The NFL this week said it was partnering with Chinese tech giant Tencent — which attracts more than a billion users to its platforms, including social network WeChat — to build its base of football fans in China as U.S. audiences decline.  Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

Sports teams try to accommodate special needs fans

Jul 24, 2017
The Kansas City Royals have created quiet zones for fans on the autism spectrum.
The Bennett family had a difficult time locating the quiet zones and special concession stands the team has created this year for those on the autism spectrum.
Laura Ziegler/for Marketplace

Can the Hollywood baseball movie make a comeback?

Jul 19, 2017
The strike and steroids " purged a lot of the sentimentality" from the game, says Jay Caspian Kang of the New York Times.
Kevin Costner and Ray Liotta in "Field of Dreams."
IMDB

Auto racing goes electric

Jul 14, 2017
The Formula E circuit lets car makers test their electric vehicles and promote their products to buyers.
A race car for Formula E.
Courtesy of Formula E

For public good, not for profit.

Why do pro sports teams get tax breaks to build new stadiums?

Jul 11, 2017
It's become the norm for pro sports franchises to count on tax-free municipal bonds for building stadium projects.
 A general view of Marlins Park.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

For NBA stars, branding goes beyond the court

Jun 22, 2017
Nowadays, how good you are on the court is only one factor in your earning potential as a star athlete.
NBA Prospect Lonzo Ball speaks with the media after a workout with the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Sports Center on June 7 in El Segundo, California.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

A multi million dollar company that sells one thing

Nov 3, 2016
Brooks Running doesn't have the name recognition of Nike or other big shoe-makers, and that's by design.
Jim Weber, CEO of Brooks Running.
Brooks Running