On Sept. 27, 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was stripped of his 100-meter gold medal when tests showed a performance-enhancing drug in his system. As Alex Rodriguez appeals his illegal doping ban from Major League Baseball, Frank Deford reflects on a historical moment of drug use among athletes.

Hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin was among the first torch bearers for the 2014 Olympics that will be held in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. David Greene talks to Ovechkin about the various challenges ahead for the Winter Games, as well as the upcoming hockey season.

Some sports fans' lives depend on how well their teams are doing. In one theory, sports allow us to deeply identify with the athletes so it feels like we are playing the game.

During the Steelers' glory years in the '70s when the team won four NFL Super Bowls, Greenwood teamed with "Mean" Joe Greene, Ernie Holmes and Dwight White on a much-feared defensive line. Greene is now the sole living member of that famous foursome.

The regular season ended with a dramatic no-hitter and a tie that will force an elimination game. But the season's finish also means that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez can start his formal appeal of a 211-game suspension.

This was the final season for New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. His number is being retired by the only team he has ever played for during his 19-year Major League Baseball career. Rivera with his signature pitch, the cut fastball, was one of the most successful closers in baseball history.

Wilson Kipsang of Kenya set a new world record time in the marathon of 2 hours 3 minutes 23 seconds at the Berlin Marathon.

In 2002, the Oakland A's made the playoffs with a fraction of the budget of other clubs. The economics of the team became the foundation for Moneyball, the book by Michael Lewis and the film starring Brad Pitt. That same team is in the playoffs again, with perhaps an even thriftier roster. Host Arun Rath speaks with sports writer Allen Barra.

Kevin Helliker, senior sports editor for The Wall Street Journal, argues that young runners have lost the competitive spirit in running, making them the "slowest generation." He tells host Arun Rath that many young people value camaraderie more than finish times, and some competitions, like the "Tough Mudder" race, explicitly avoid the focus on finish times.

Many teams making baseball playoffs this year are among those with smaller budgets. NPR's Mike Pesca tells host Rachel Martin that they're winning because they're craftier.