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Simon Says

Lots Of Fish In The Sea, But One Great White In NYC

June 28, 2014 • A surprise catch-of-the day jumped straight out of a Stephen Spielberg movie and into a boat right off New York City's 116th Street.

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Wisconsin's Traevon Jackson at practice for the 2014 NCAA men's college basketball tournament. Commentator Frank Deford says that, despite NCAA claims to the contrary, most college players are not typical students — "their job is to play a sport."

Sweetness And Light

Deford: NCAA Says Amateurism Is Alive And Well, But The Jig Is Up

June 25, 2014 • In a trial underway in California, the NCAA is arguing that college ball players should not be paid. But every coach knows that many players are not typical students, says commentator Frank Deford.

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Picasso's The Blue Room, painted in 1901, hung in the Phillips Collection for decades.

Simon Says

Buried By Picasso, The Man Beneath 'The Blue Room' Tells A Story

June 21, 2014 • In Pablo Picasso's painting The Blue Room, infrared technology this week revealed the canvas' previous occupant: a portrait of a melancholy, mustachioed man.

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Remodeling the National Stadium Mane Garrincha in Brasilia, Brazil, for the FIFA World Cup cost the Brazilian government $900 million.

Sweetness And Light

Deford: How To Host A Sports Extravaganza That Won't Break The Bank

June 18, 2014 • Building new World Cup or Olympics facilities in different cities every several years is just too costly, says commentator Frank Deford. So why not, he asks, try something different?

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A U.S. soldier walks the halls of an American military base set up in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces in Tikrit, 2003.

Simon Says

In Tikrit, Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss

June 14, 2014 • In 2003, NPR's Scott Simon and Peter Breslow were in Iraq. Back then, the city of Tikrit had just been liberated by U.S. troops. Today, Islamic hardliners are once again in charge.

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In a recent Pew Reseach Center poll, 61 percent of Brazilians said hosting the World Cup, which begins Wednesday in Sao Paulo, is bad for the country, because it has diverted money from public services.

Sweetness And Light

Go Ahead, Host A Giant Sports Spectacular. But It Will Cost You

June 11, 2014 • Commentator Frank Deford compares FIFA, the organization that puts on soccer's World Cup, with the International Olympic Committee — and finds both lacking.

Listen Loading… 3:29

Students and faculty pray together following a shooting on the campus of Seattle Pacific University on Thursday.

Opinion

Heroes Among Us: When Ordinary People Become Extraordinary

June 6, 2014 • There are heroes on the battlefield, but there are also heroes like Seattle Pacific University student Jon Meis, who tackled a gunman and, with other students, held him down until police arrived.

Wednesday June 4, 2014

Even if California Chrome wins Saturday's Belmont Stakes, most Americans are too disconnected from horses to flock to the race track, says commentator Frank Deford.

Sweetness And Light

Will A Triple Crown Win Save Horse Racing? Don't Bet On It

June 4, 2014 • Many in the horse racing industry are looking to Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome to revive interest in the sport. He wants to believe it, but commentator Frank Deford says that's a fantasy.

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Saturday May 31, 2014

David Abbott brought strong opinions and a way with words to the advertising industry.

Simon Says

Adman Was King Of The One-Liners, But Knew Where To Draw The Line

May 31, 2014 • David Abbott brought his signature brand of crisp, catchy copy-writing to ads for The Economist magazine and Volvo. Abbott passed away this month at age 75.

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Wednesday May 28, 2014

Can I Just Tell You?

Choosing To Stay When 'Tell Me More' Ends

May 28, 2014 • Host Michel Martin reflects on the mission of Tell Me More as the program prepares to end production in August.

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Referee Mendy Rudolph officiates a Knicks-Pistons game in 1971. Refs often say it's best to go unnoticed, but an official who "makes a call with vigor and elan is really a beautiful part of the game," says Frank Deford.

Sweetness And Light

Don't Overlook The Unsung Umpire; Referees Can Be Pretty, Too

May 28, 2014 • In professional sports, it's the players who get all the attention. But commentator Frank Deford says referees, who so often go unnoticed, bring their own style and artistry to their craft.

Listen Loading… 3:44

Saturday May 17, 2014

Simon Says

A School Lunch Denied Prompts Powerful Action In A World Of Words

May 17, 2014 • Tweeting and blogging make it easy to complain in the virtual world. Instead, an outraged Michigan mom took a step to make a difference in real life.

Listen Loading… 2:51

Wednesday May 14, 2014

Newscaster Barbara Walters prepares for her debut on ABC's evening news on October 4, 1976.

Can I Just Tell You?

'Too Crisp And Self-Assured?' Take It As A Compliment, Ladies

May 14, 2014 • Tell Me More host Michel Martin reflects on the retirement of legendary broadcaster Barbara Walters, and what her career says about how society treats smart, ambitious women and girls.

Listen Loading… 3:42

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Comcast Corp. chairman Brian Roberts signed an agreement this month that secures U.S. broadcast rights for NBC Universal through 2032.

Sweetness And Light

The Olympics: A Modern Day World's Fair (And Money Magnet)

May 14, 2014 • World's Fairs still exist, but just two cities bid to host the 2017 Expo. In contrast, seven U.S. cities are vying for the 2024 Olympics, and the games just signed a $7.75 billion deal with NBC.

Listen Loading… 3:24

Saturday May 10, 2014

If Match.com and MLB's new collaboration works out, more couples could be rounding first base on the kiss cam.

Simon Says

Love Your Profile, Take Me Out To The Ball Game?

May 10, 2014 • Major League Baseball and Match.com have a new joint venture to connect fans looking for romance. But can they make lovers out of those with a passion for baseball?

Listen Loading… 2:24

Saturday May 3, 2014

If you've flown, you've very likely also thumbed through the SkyMall catalog stuffed in the seat pocket. The catalog's captive audience is reported to be nearly 20 million readers.

Simon Says

Want A Tour Of The American Psyche? Flip Through SkyMall

May 3, 2014 • That catalog stuffed in the seat pocket during your flight is one of America's best-read publications. What does that say about us?

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Wednesday April 30, 2014

Can I Just Tell You?

First Lady Not First Priority For Graduates

April 30, 2014 • Host Michel Martin reflects on the recent controversy over first lady Michelle Obama's upcoming speech to high school graduates in Kansas.

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Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling at a game against the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 7, 2012, in Los Angeles.

Sweetness And Light

Bad Behavior From A Sports Franchise Owner? That's Not New

April 30, 2014 • As the Donald Sterling controversy unfolds, commentator Frank Deford recalls scandals surrounding other team owners, and penalties they did or didn't pay.

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Saturday April 26, 2014

Simon Says

Home Of Second City Comedy Ranks First In Humor

April 26, 2014 • Chicago is the best place to have a good laugh, according to a report from the Humor Research Lab in Colorado. But don't be fooled — you can't precisely calculate a city's sense of humor.

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Wednesday April 16, 2014

Frank Deford says there'll never be another Tiger Woods of any sport.

Sweetness And Light

Despite Everything, Tiger Will Always Be No. 1

April 16, 2014 • Tiger Woods hasn't won a major in six years, and at 38, says commentator Frank Deford, he's past even a golfer's prime years. Still, no one can touch the reigning king of golf.

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Saturday April 12, 2014

"Tie" has a limp, but seems conspicuously spirited and friendly after her race down the Metro-North Hudson Line.

Simon Says

Dog Races The Rails To Manhattan — And Wins New Yorkers' Hearts

April 12, 2014 • Rush hour took on new meaning this week when a dog jumped in front of a commuter train and began to run.

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Wednesday April 9, 2014

Derek Jeter (left) of the New York Yankees on July 11, 2013 at Yankee Stadium. Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig (Right) speaks during a news conference on Aug. 15, 2013, in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Sweetness And Light

Time To Root, Root, Root For Final Innings

April 9, 2014 • A baseball odd couple ends their careers this year: Commissioner Bud Selig and Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter.

Listen Loading… 4:00

Saturday April 5, 2014

Firefighters salute the funeral procession for Lt. Ed Walsh, a Boston firefighter who died in a nine-alarm fire late last month.

Simon Says

Firefighters Face Danger Head On (Whomever They're Rescuing)

April 5, 2014 • Firefighters are often called upon to risk their lives. NPR's Scott Simon reflects on a week that demonstrated the extraordinary and surprising sacrifices they make.

Listen Loading… 2:56

Wednesday April 2, 2014

Paycheck Players: Love of the game may no longer be enough motivation for college athletes.

Sweetness And Light

Deford: Paying College Athletes Would Level The Playing Field

April 2, 2014 • The sports commentator renders his verdict on the recent National Labor Relations Board ruling that Northwestern University's football players are employees and have the right to unionize.

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Saturday March 29, 2014

What legally makes whiskey taste like Tennessee?

Simon Says

A Bill To Distill Simmers In Tennessee

March 29, 2014 • Does a legally mandated recipe ensure Tennessee whiskey's quality, or does it violate the spirit's moonshiner roots? NPR's Scott Simon says that further study, and a sampling, is in order.

Listen Loading… 2:59

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The Two-Way

BNP Paribas Agrees To Pay $8.83 Billion In Sanctions Probe

Technology

An Algorithm Is A Curator At The Sept. 11 Museum

"Timescapes" finds words in the news associated with Sept. 11, and weights them according to prominence in a story — not just how often they appear.

Health

Hobby Lobby Ruling Cuts Into Contraceptive Mandate

Customers walk into a Hobby Lobby store in Oklahoma City on Monday.

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Wednesday June 4, 2014

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Saturday March 29, 2014

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The Two-Way

BNP Paribas Agrees To Pay $8.83 Billion In Sanctions Probe

Technology

An Algorithm Is A Curator At The Sept. 11 Museum

Health

Hobby Lobby Ruling Cuts Into Contraceptive Mandate