Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel - Season 27 (2021)

Real Sports returns for its 27th season with detailed stories of COVID "long haulers," athletes who continue to suffer debilitating symptoms months after contracting the virus. Jon Frankel visits a group of Minneapolis police officers who coached a high school football team to victory while mending a community. Plus, a look at Nike’s controversial "Oregon Project."

Bryant Gumbel explores the NFL’s lack of diversity in its coaching ranks. David Scott unpacks the impact Covid-19 continues to have on youth sports. Jon Frankel meets with extreme athlete Wim Hof to witness his ability to withstand the cold. And Soledad O’Brien re-visits with chess revolutionary Rex Sinquefield.

Bryant Gumbel hosts a panel about reforming college athletics with Senator Cory Booker and former NCAA investigator Tim Nevius. Mary Carillo visits with former NBA star Jayson Williams, who after overcoming his own tortured past has dedicated his life to helping others. And Soledad O’Brien talks to Oksana Masters about her miraculous journey from being an orphan to becoming a Paralympian.

Kavitha Davidson reports on the rise of COVID-related anxiety, depression, and suicide among youth athletes. Andrea Kremer talks with Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray, who's using his event planning skills to organize major vaccine sites in Massachusetts. Mary Carillo profiles The Barkley Marathons, the most sadistic race on the planet. And Jon Frankel updates his story on backcountry skiing, a sport that's seen record growth amid the pandemic but contributed to making this ski season one of the deadliest.

Andrea Kremer sheds light on the challenges faced by female sports reporters in a male-dominated industry. Bryant Gumbel leads a panel discussion on the International Olympic Committee’s rule forbidding political protest at its events. And Jon Frankel reports on mini bull riders, little kids as young as 8 years old duking it out against raging bulls up to 15 times their weight.

Soledad O’Brien explores a new business that treats baseball players as investable commodities. David Scott examines the IOC’s relentless push towards the Tokyo Olympics no matter the cost to public health. Mary Carillo profiles one of the world's best female street skaters. And Bryant Gumbel updates his report on the global “Bike Boom” that took the world by storm during the pandemic.

David Scott speaks with former NBA player Al Harrington about his venture into the billion-dollar cannabis industry. Soledad O’Brien examines how numerous hunting contests across the country have been set up to help curb animal populations. Mary Carillo talks to 10-year-old chess prodigy Tani Adewumi about his Grandmaster title and more. And Real Sports revisits the unique, adaptive paragliding outfit that gives athletes who can’t walk the chance to fly.

Real Sports correspondant John Frankel explores the booming industry of sports card trading. Mary Carillo investigates allegations of rampant sexual abuse within the glitzy world of All-Star cheerleading. And David Scott examines the art of jiu jitsu in police training.

Andrea Kremer sits down with Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis. Jon Frankel checks in with Jerry Garcia, the firefighter who's played a vital role in the fight to save the forests of the American West. And Real Sports reconnects with NFL reporter Adam Schefter, who married the widow of a 9/11 victim and has raised their son as his own.

Jon Frankel reports on the NCAA allowing student athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. David Scott takes a look at some of the world’s tallest men and their odds of making it to the NBA. And Soledad O'Brien checks in with the now teenagers of Camp Abilities, a revolutionary sports program for blind and visually impaired children.

Segments: More than a thousand athletes at the Univ. of Michigan have accused a former doctor of decades of sexual assault; Former NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire now leads a devout Jewish life; Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament has built over two dozen skateparks to battle Montana’s high suicide rate; Wrongfully imprisoned Rams coach Marcus Dixon almost never found his NFL dream.

Real Sports returns with its annual year-end special that looks back at 2021 and recalls some of the most interesting, compelling and important stories it aired over the last twelve months. Featured stories include: DeMaurice Smith; sexual abuse at Michigan; NCAA Gold Rush; Mark Davis; Female Sports Reporters; Long Haulers; Wim Hof; and more.