The What If Sports Pod

In 2016, the Oklahoma City Thunder were trying to pull off the impossible and upset the record setting Golden State Warriors in the NBA's Western Conference Finals. But after the Thunder lost a 3-1 series lead in epic fashion, the offseason decision of Kevin Durant leaving for the team that just beat him sent waves across the NBA. If the Thunder completed the upset, would that summer of 2016 look different?

In 2016, the Oklahoma City Thunder were trying to pull off the impossible and upset the record-setting Golden State Warriors in the NBA's Western Conference Finals. But after the Thunder lost a 3-1 series lead in epic fashion, the offseason decision of Kevin Durant leaving for the team that just beat him sent waves across the NBA. If the Thunder completed the upset, would that summer of 2016 look different? 

What if I told you there was a soccer player that rivaled the skill of Pelé ... who actually played alongside him? Garrincha was a Brazilian winger whose dribbling skills embodied the flair and beauty we associate with Brazilian futebol today and who helped win his country two FIFA World Cups. But what if a life-long addiction to alcohol did not shorten the career and life of the adored player mourned by all of Brazil whose epitaph reads "Here rests in peace the one who was the joy of the people"?

It’s hard to believe that Italy will miss its second straight World Cup. To some, this is a tragedy. To others, this is absolute bliss. Regardless of which side you are on, we thought, well what if Italy did in fact qualify for the 2022 World Cup? What impact would it have had on the national team and domestic leagues? Tune in to find out!

Many European soccer teams have had strong ties to oil superpowers, for better or for worse. But, what if this trend continues and we see a greater oil influence in the coming years? Would this be good or bad for the sport as a whole?