UPDATE: With the addition of a bonus segment, the season finale is now over an hour long! Dylan Sinn and Adam Zielonka take you behind the scenes of the “More than a Mascot” project, which they and other Capital News Service reporters spent three months reporting. Sinn and Zielonka, the lead reporters on the project, are joined by Capital News Service reporter Julia Karron and Capital News Service data editor Sean Mussenden.
This is the 12th episode and season finale of Capital News Service’s sports podcast, “WAR on Hot Takes,” with Dylan Sinn and Adam Zielonka. We approach Washington and Baltimore professional sports from an outsider’s perspective and have data-driven discussions.
On this episode…
1:14 — Dylan introduces Capital News Serivce’s “More Than a Mascot” project
2:12 — Capital News Service editor Sean Mussenden joins the program
4:35 — Dylan discusses the California Racial Mascots Act
5:33 — Adam explains the NFL team’s foundation and lobbying efforts
7:24 — Sean discusses the behind-the-scenes of the project’s reporting and editing
8:36 — Adam dishes on how the title “More Than a Mascot” was chosen
10:15 — What is something Sean would want to do should there be another follow-up someday?
11:31 — “More Than a Mascot” Julia Karron joins the program
13:02 — How did a quilt factor into the process at Red Lodge High School in Montana?
14:05 — Julia, Dylan and Adam discuss the reporting challenges they faced
20:20 — Dylan owes Adam an apology
22:28 — Recapping Washington football’s recent skid and projecting the future
24:53 — The Kirk Cousins question
26:24 — Adam teases an upcoming CNS project about FedEx Field
32:27 — Recapping the Baltimore Ravens’ three-game winning streak since their bye
34:19 — Is the Ravens’ defense actually the best in the league? DVOA says so
36:13 — CNS reporter Chris Rogers joins the show to talk about Joe Flacco’s career-worst season
37:35 — Recapping Joe Flacco’s season-best performance against Detroit
39:18 — How well does Flacco need to play for the Ravens to stay successful?
43:11 — CNS reporter Daniel Chavkin joins the podcast to discuss his article on Shohei Ohtani
43:41 — What was the methodology for Daniel’s article?
45:36 — Are the Angels the right fit for Shohei Ohtani?
48:05 — Will Ohtani trying to pitch and hit make his transition more difficult?
49:04 — How does Ohtani compare to Madison Bumgarner, the best hitting pitcher in the game?
50:43 — CNS reporter and basketball enthusiast Chris Miller joins the show
51:47 — Bradley Beal scored 51 points on Dec. 5
59:35 — Are the Wizards a threat in the playoffs?
1:02:22 — A blooper reel of our mistakes, bad takes and awkward moments!
1:06:39 — Thank you for listening this season!
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