How many layers of refereeing and re-refereeing does English football need before it can reach a correct decision? When Bruno Fernandes stretched to tackle James Maddison at Old Trafford on Sunday, slipped, then caught him with his studs, referee Chris Kavanagh was quick to produce a red card for serious …
Read More »$100,000 or $3,000? Inside UNLV and Matt Sluka’s NIL dispute and what it could mean for college football
On the morning of Sept. 23, UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka walked into offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s office before practice with a shocking announcement. Sluka, a Holy Cross graduate transfer in his first year at UNLV, said he had not received the name, image and likeness money his agent said …
Read More »NFL QB stock report, Week 5: Is Justin Herbert underutilized? Jayden Daniels surges up ranks
Lamar Jackson’s second prime-time quarterback showdown went much better than the first. The two-time MVP’s Baltimore Ravens drubbed Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, 35-10, on Sunday night. Jackson amassed three touchdowns but didn’t need to do it all himself, as the running back tandem of Derrick Henry and Justice …
Read More »MLB Postseason Tiers: Which teams are contenders and which ones are just happy to be here
The Athletic has live coverage of the MLB Wild Card Series. You don’t need some pointy-headed baseball writer to tell you that the postseason can be unpredictable. The Arizona Diamondbacks won the pennant last year. Every generation gets their perfect example of a team that rides a wave all the way …
Read More »Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact in Minnesota goes deeper than basketball as a promise is kept
BLAINE, Minn. — Not even 15 hours after having his socks knocked off by a trade that ended his nine-year run in Minnesota, Karl-Anthony Towns strolled onto Field 49N at the National Sports Center, a sprawling youth soccer complex that was playing host to over 300 teams from across the …
Read More »Reflections on Pete Rose, the Hall of Fame and the spot where his plaque will never hang
I know exactly where Pete Rose’s Hall of Fame plaque should have been hanging — for the past three decades. You’d have found it in the middle of a powerhouse cluster in the plaque gallery — nestled in between the plaques of Tom Seaver and Reggie Jackson. Among others. Thousands …
Read More »WNBA players say the troubling side of its rise is racism and threats
As the WNBA has reached wildly successful highs this season in viewership and attendance, players say the boom long coveted throughout women’s basketball has come with unfortunate consequences. During these playoffs, athletes who would normally be focused on winning have instead shared a swell of complaints of being targeted with …
Read More »Atletico Madrid’s links with radical ultras is a story of violence, emotion and change
Sunday night’s dramatic derby with city rivals Real Madrid put Atletico Madrid’s relationship with the radical block of fans that gather inside their ground under a new global spotlight. After Real Madrid took the lead, Atletico captain Koke and manager Diego Simeone pleaded for calm with balaclava-wearing supporters, who had …
Read More »Postseason Prognostication: Our MLB experts make their 2024 World Series picks
The Athletic has live coverage of the MLB Wild Card Series. The postseason begins with no clear favorite, as MLB finished the regular season with no 100-game winner for the first time since 2014. Every team seemingly has a path to a title, and every team also appears to have a …
Read More »NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Believing in the Vikings and rookie check-in
In honor of Jayden Daniels’ historic start to his NFL career, the Power Rankings are checking in on rookies this week. Daniels, the No. 2 pick in April’s draft, has overshadowed top pick Caleb Williams and given Washington Commanders fans hope that they’ve finally found their savior. The news is …
Read More »