Colin Cowherd Podcast - J.A. Adande On Steelers + Dodgers Dynasties, The Myth Of Michael Jordan, NIL, LIV Golf Crashes Out

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd is joined by J.A. Adande, director of sports journalism at Northwestern University and co-host of the podcast Dynastic with Chuck Todd. The conversation dives deep into the legacy of sports dynasties, beginning with a detailed exploration of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers—highlighting their racial progressiveness, drafting innovation, and the cultural impact of players like Mike Webster. Adande also discusses the Dodgers’ dynasty, emphasizing the team’s integration of diverse cultures and the mythic status of Sandy Koufax. The discussion then shifts to the controversial rise and fall of LIV Golf, with Adande reflecting on its business model, ethical concerns tied to Saudi sponsorship and the Jamal Khashoggi case, and the media’s failure to treat it as a legitimate competitor to the PGA Tour. Cowherd and Adande debate the myth of Michael Jordan’s mystique, contrasting his pre-1991 accessibility with LeBron James’ social media omnipresence, and argue that Jordan’s legendary status might have been diminished by today’s digital scrutiny. They also examine the transformative impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), praising its empowerment of athletes while expressing unease over the commercialization of college sports and the erosion of amateurism. Finally, the conversation turns to the future of sports journalism, with Adande expressing cautious optimism about new media platforms and podcasting, while warning of the dangers posed by declining trust in traditional news and the dominance of social media as a primary news source.