<description>&lt;p&gt;People love a scapegoat. In the wake of Liverpool's failed title chase in 2013-14, many fans and pundits pointed to their captain's infamous gaffe in their match against Chelsea as the reason for their demise. He's been blamed nearly exclusively ever since, by both friend and enemy alike. History and psychology, however, would recommend against that approach.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

People love a scapegoat. In the wake of Liverpool's failed title chase in 2013-14, many fans and pundits pointed to their captain's infamous gaffe in their match against Chelsea as the reason for their demise. He's been blamed nearly exclusively ever since, by both friend and enemy alike. History and psychology, however, would recommend against that approach.

In Defense of Steven Gerrard

<description>&lt;p&gt;Sometimes thing happen in sports that look highly questionable, and sometimes those things happen at the most pivotal moment possible. In Fall 2005, Matt Leinart scored a game-winning touchdown that initially seemed fine, but upon further review, it became clear that he'd gotten some significant (and at the time illegal) help. In this new segment, we look at how and why calls like this don't get made, and how it impacts the way the view sports.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Sometimes thing happen in sports that look highly questionable, and sometimes those things happen at the most pivotal moment possible. In Fall 2005, Matt Leinart scored a game-winning touchdown that initially seemed fine, but upon further review, it became clear that he'd gotten some significant (and at the time illegal) help. In this new segment, we look at how and why calls like this don't get made, and how it impacts the way the view sports.

It Shouldn't Have Counted: The Bush Push

<description>&lt;p&gt;From 2008 to 2011, the Phillies enjoyed one of the most fruitful periods in their franchise's history, and their pitching staff was largely responsible. In this Team Building Exercise, we look back at how the Phillies built their dominant rotation, and how the famed "Four Aces" came together for a memorably dominant 2011 season.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

From 2008 to 2011, the Phillies enjoyed one of the most fruitful periods in their franchise's history, and their pitching staff was largely responsible. In this Team Building Exercise, we look back at how the Phillies built their dominant rotation, and how the famed "Four Aces" came together for a memorably dominant 2011 season.&nbsp;

Team Building Exercise: The 2011 Phillies' Four Aces

<description>&lt;p&gt;Athletic Bilbao has maintained a Basque-only policy for recruitment for decades. That stance, however, got pushed to its limits when the club wanted to sign French (read: not Basque) starlet Aymeric Laporte. &amp;nbsp;This episode of SotG explores the baffling, ambiguous dance that Laporte and the policy have done around each other over the years, and what it can tell us about what it really means to be "from" somewhere.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Athletic Bilbao has maintained a Basque-only policy for recruitment for decades. That stance, however, got pushed to its limits when the club wanted to sign French (read: not Basque) starlet Aymeric Laporte. &nbsp;This episode of SotG explores the baffling, ambiguous dance that Laporte and the policy have done around each other over the years, and what it can tell us about what it really means to be "from" somewhere.&nbsp;

The Curious Case of Aymeric Laporte

<description>&lt;p&gt;This episode will make you want to twist and shout for sure. In an SotG first, we venture across the pond to talk to Dr. Simon Warner about music, soccer, and the deepest roots of England's biggest rivalry. And we provide a theory of how with music, no matter how deep the divide between fanbases, ultimately, we can work it out (get it?).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. Warner's Paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970.2011.530468&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;YouTube videos incorporated:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Luis Suarez Your Teeth are Offside - Misha Cherchinyan&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Harry Kane Chant - The12thMan&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"You only sing when you're winning" - BVB Borussia Dortmund Manchester City CL 2012 Fans - Borrusen.TV&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

This episode will make you want to twist and shout for sure. In an SotG first, we venture across the pond to talk to Dr. Simon Warner about music, soccer, and the deepest roots of England's biggest rivalry. And we provide a theory of how with music, no matter how deep the divide between fanbases, ultimately, we can work it out (get it?).&nbsp;
Dr. Warner's Paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970.2011.530468
YouTube videos incorporated:
Luis Suarez Your Teeth are Offside - Misha Cherchinyan
Harry Kane Chant - The12thMan
"You only sing when you're winning" - BVB Borussia Dortmund Manchester City CL 2012 Fans - Borrusen.TV

S1E2 - "You Only Sing When You're Winning"

It's time to elevate the quality of the water cooler discussion. Let's be smarter about sports. Student of the Game looks at the biggest topics in sports according to the smartest people currently studying them. 

Student of the Game

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