To some, “Madden” is the name of the most influential sports video game of all-time. To others, the greatest color commentator in sports television history. And the most senior among us, the head coach who compiled the greatest winning percentage in modern NFL history. For decades, John Madden played a large part in one of America’s greatest rituals, becoming as much of a fixture in U.S. homes on Thanksgiving Day as turkey, stuffing and your crazy uncle. So on this special Thanksgiving holiday episode we look at what life would’ve been like had Madden never stepped away from coaching. How long would the Oakland Raiders have remained on top of the NFL? What network would abandon their sports division? Why would football players have a harder time learning their playbooks? And what would all of this have to do with beer, cholesterol and the life expectancy of U.S. men? On this episode of Alternate Routes we cover all that plus touchdowns and turduckens. Boom.

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Is there anything that destroys the fortunes of a franchise more than a premium draft pick going bust? Even worse, when the next player…or two…or three…go on to have Hall of Fame careers. That’s exactly the scenario for the 2003 Detroit Pistons. Eighteen-year-old LeBron James went to the Cavs with the first pick and Detroit was on the clock at no. 2. The reigning king of college basketball, Carmelo Anthony, was there for the taking (so were Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade). But instead, Detroit’s braintrust chose a different 18-year old, 7-foot Serbian Darko Milicic who, despite lasting 10 seasons in the league, became the epitome of an NBA draft bust. But what if the Pistons, who won the 2003-04 NBA title despite the pick, chose Carmelo instead? Would playing with veterans like Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace have silenced Melo’s critics and led to multiple Motor City rings? How would LeBron’s career have been altered with a young rival in the division? Would Darko have benefitted from being in a different locale? And what does all of this have to do with MTV and Eminem? Find out on Alternate Routes.

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Behind the closed doors of government offices and military compounds, are hidden stories and buried secrets from the darkest corners of history. Each week, Luke Lamana, a Marine Corp Reconnaissance Veteran, pulls back the curtain on what once was classified information exposing the secrets and lies behind the world’s most powerful institutions. From the hitmakers at Wondery and Ballen Studios, we bring you REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana. The stories are real, and the secrets are shocking.

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How many football games have you watched where the difference between winning and losing boils down to a made or missed field goal? The football kicker is the most outsized position in all sports where success leads to instant hero status while missing makes them a total goat. It’s those misses that are the focus of today’s episode. How many teams would’ve gone onto win championships had the ball just gone through the uprights? How would an idiot have stopped Pittsburgh's Bus before he got to the depot? How did something so right repeatedly go so wrong for one of the power programs in the Sunshine State? Who went from perfect in purple to the biggest punchline in Vikings franchise history? And would Buffalo have derailed the career of Bill (Belichick) if the most infamous miss in football history had been good? Find out on Alternate Routes.

Listen to Alternate Routes on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+ now. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/alternate-routes now.

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The boxing and social media worlds will collide on Nov. 15 when 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, takes on 27-year-old influencer-turned-boxer Logan Paul in one of the most highly anticipated fights in recent memory. A large portion of the audience will be YouTubers who have only heard about Tyson because he bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear…or maybe they saw him in The Hangover. But “Iron Mike” was once the baddest man on the planet, an undisputed undefeated fighting machine. But that all changed in 1990 when he faced journeyman James “Buster” Douglas in what was supposed to be a tune up before Tyson faced Evander Holyfield. Douglas, a 42-to-1 underdog, shocked the world and took away the title, and Tyson’s world spiraled out of control. But what would’ve happened if Tyson had defeated Douglas and faced Holyfield in the Fight of the Century? Would Tyson’s status as champ have helped him through his legal troubles? Would the UFC still have gone mainstream? And how would the careers of Schwartzenegger, Stallone and The Rock have been different? Find out on Alternate Routes.

Listen to Alternate Routes on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+ now. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/alternate-routes now.

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On today’s special Hot Routes episode, we’re getting into the Halloween spirit by looking at some of the scariest events, moments and people in sports. What happens if a Palace doesn't erupt in a melee that torches the title hopes of one of the NBA’s best teams and an all-time great? What if the NBA’s all-time worst owner isn’t unmasked? Which NFL trick looked like a treat but ultimately led to a Titanically horrifying Super Bowl result? Plus, who’s scarier? Philly fans, Raider Nation or soccer hooligans? Find out on Alternate Routes.

Listen to Alternate Routes on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+ now. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/alternate-routes now.

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There wasn’t much that Kobe Bryant didn’t achieve on the basketball court. National High School Player of the Year. NBA Most Valuable Player. Five-time NBA Champion. Two-time Finals MVP. 18-time NBA All-Star. Olympic gold medalist. Hall of Famer. He even won an Oscar! But the one thing Kobe didn’t accomplish - by his own choice- was to play college basketball. Under former draft eligibility rules, Bryant was one of a few dozen U.S. players who skipped college to declare for the NBA Draft straight out of high school. At 17, Bryant was selected with the 13th pick by the Charlotte Hornets but soon after was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The rest is history. But what would have happened if Kobe had gone to college instead? Would he have ended up on Tobacco Road? What dynasty would get an unexpected reboot by drafting him? What legendary college coach would have an unexpected homecoming? And how does J. Cole fit into all of this? Find out on Alternate Routes.

Listen to Alternate Routes on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+ now. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/alternate-routes now.

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The World Series is the most enduring team championship in North America. Not even, World War I, World War II or even the events of September 11 could postpone it. But in 1994 the World Series was canceled because of a labor dispute and players’ strike that prematurely ended what was well on its way to being an historic major league season. But what if baseball’s union and owners came to an agreement to save the season? Which franchise would never have said “bon voyage” to their longtime home? Which Hall of Famer would’ve reached heights not seen in over a half century? Which Giant (not named Barry Bonds) would’ve been the new home run king? And why would a meaningless September game on Chicago’s South Side be the toughest ticket in baseball history? Find out on Alternate Routes.

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