Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel Season 27 Episode 7 Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (July 2021)

Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel is a long-running sports news show that features investigative reporting, human interest stories, and commentary on various sports. In season 27 episode 7, which aired in July 2021, the show covered a range of intriguing topics related to sports.

The program began with a segment on former NFL player Marshawn Lynch, who has become an advocate for the use of medicinal marijuana to treat pain. Correspondent Soledad O'Brien interviewed Lynch about his experiences with the drug, as well as medical professionals and government officials about the potential benefits and drawbacks of using marijuana for pain management.

Next up was a segment on the booming industry of sports card collecting. Correspondent Jon Frankel spoke with collectors, dealers, and industry experts about how the hobby has exploded in recent years, driven in part by the pandemic and a renewed interest in nostalgia. The segment also delved into the darker side of the industry, including fraud and counterfeiting.

The show then shifted gears to delve into the world of youth sports. Correspondent David Scott explored the issue of specialization and burnout among young athletes, speaking with parents, coaches, and medical professionals about the physical and mental tolls that come with year-round training and competition in a single sport.

Another segment focused on the story of Joe Darger, a former high school basketball coach in Utah who lost his job and faced criminal charges after he opened up to his team about his polygamist lifestyle. Correspondent Bernard Goldberg interviewed Darger about his experience, as well as legal experts and advocacy groups, to examine the legal and ethical issues raised by this case.

The program concluded with a feature on former NBA player Charles Oakley. Correspondent Mary Carillo sat down with Oakley to discuss his career, including his time with the legendary Chicago Bulls teams of the 90s, as well as his involvement with the Ice Cube-led Big3 basketball league.

Overall, Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel season 27 episode 7 offered a diverse and thought-provoking look at a variety of sports-related issues. From the intersection of marijuana and pain management in the NFL to the booming industry of sports card collecting, the show offered a wide-ranging exploration of the many ways in which sports intersect with larger social, cultural, and political issues.