Sports

Cameras, a trash cans, code — maybe even buzzers. The ingredients of a cheating scheme by the Houston Astros, who won the World Series in 2017, and narrowly lost it last year.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to ESPN senior writer — and regular Weekend Edition contributor — Howard Bryant about his new book, Full Dissidence: Notes from an Uneven Playing Field.

The NFL playoffs resume this weekend, when the Tennessee Titans aim to continue their surprising romp against some of football's best teams. One reason for their success? Brett Kern — their punter.

The Senate impeachment trial will begin in earnest. Virginia ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment. The Houston Astros are caught cheating.

The NFL has 32 head coaches, but only four of those coaches are people of color — in a league whose players are around 70% black. NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with DeMaurice Smith of the NFLPA.

The fallout continues from a sign-stealing scandal involving the Houston Astros during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Beltrán was part of the team in 2017, and a league investigation said he was involved.

The Women's National Basketball Association announced a new collective bargaining agreement that will provide significant pay increases, additional benefits and maternity leave for athletes.

"Given the findings and the commissioner's ruling, we collectively decided that it would not be possible for Alex to effectively lead the club going forward," the team said in a statement.

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Shams Charania, senior NBA correspondent for The Athletic, about Spencer Dinwiddie's plan to create a digital investment channel — and what it means for his contract.

Slovenia's Dalila Jakupovic was trying to make the first round of the tournament set to open next week. She had trouble breathing and later told reporters, "I was really scared that I would collapse."

Clemson went in with a 29-game winning streak, but wasn't able to stand up to Louisiana's withering offensive led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow.

Major League Baseball penalized the Houston Astros for its sign-stealing controversy. The league suspended the general manager and the team manager for a year, and then the Astros' owner fired them.