November 21, 2013
An Early Holiday Wish List for the Out-of-the-Running NFL Teams
Every season, Thanksgiving is about when we start figuring things out, and this year is no exception. Several teams made their playoff case last week, with the Saints, Panthers, Colts, and Eagles all gaining ground in either a division or wild-card race. But it’s also the time of year when teams finally come to the […]
Read moreWelcome Back to Master-Rod Theatre
Alex Rodriguez was the talk of the baseball world Wednesday, storming out of his own arbitration hearing, appearing on Mike Francesa’s show to proclaim his innocence against PED charges, and simultaneously pointing out real injustices in MLB’s attempt to suspend him while also coming off as incredibly disingenuous.
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NBA Shootaround: Coffee Is for Closers
So much amazing is happening, and the Shootaround crew is back to help you keep track of it all. You’ll find takes on moments you might’ve missed from the previous night, along with ones you will remember forever. This Garden Belongs to Paul George Chris Ryan: Is Paul George the third-best player in the NBA […]
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Why the Prince Fielder–Ian Kinsler Megadeal Is a Smart Trade for Both the Tigers and Rangers
In the first blockbuster trade of this offseason, the Detroit Tigers sent Prince Fielder and $30 million to the Texas Rangers for Ian Kinsler. This deal makes a ton of sense — for both teams. Still, a one-for-one trade has rarely been so complicated. Given all the repercussions likely to follow, let’s simplify this by […]
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About Last Night: Knicks Get George’d
In case you were busy clearing your name in the best place for levelheaded legal analysis: sports talk radio, here’s what you missed in sports on Wednesday: The Knicks failed to make a late lead stand up, as Paul George and the Pacers topped New York, 103-96, in overtime. “But dad,” a young boy in […]
Read moreNovember 20, 2013
Vegas Weekend Recap: Why Do So Many Sports Bettors Lose?
“The house always wins” is an often-used phrased, and when it comes to sports betting — over the long run, in aggregate — it’s true. Bettors must risk $11 to win $10, and though that equates to a seemingly surmountable 52.4 percent win percentage to break even, the consensus estimate is that less than 1 […]
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Duke Football: A Feelings Collage
No matter one’s primary rooting allegiance — or interest in basketball — steadfast hatred for Duke hoops is a national pastime. That antipathy has never migrated to the football program, which operates in a sphere that’s neither loathsome, nor enviable, nor pitiable. You can’t summon hostility for a team that hasn’t finished with a winning […]
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What If I Told You I Wanted to Make a 30 for 30 on the Dolan-Era Knicks?
Ever since James L. Dolan — scion of the Cablevision Dolans of Oyster Bay, Long Island — became chairman of the Madison Square Garden Company in 1999, the New York Knicks have been living in interesting times. Unfortunately, that interest has very rarely been generated by the quality of the basketball. The Knicks and their […]
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Freshman Watch: Jabari Parker Is Perfect, and Other Notes From November
This year of college hoops is already ridiculous. Everyone is fun, the good teams are all stacked, and there are too many stars to even keep track of on any given night. This is why I was huddled over a laptop at 5:30 in the afternoon in L.A. yesterday, watching two grainy ESPN3 feeds at […]
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The Portland Trail Blazers Are Scorching, But Can It Last?
Here’s the irony: The 2011-12 Blazers serve as my personal reminder against overreacting to any team trend over the first 10 or so games of the season. Those Blazers started 7-2, and the wins included an icy coldcocking of Oklahoma City on the road. LaMarcus Aldridge was cementing his status as one of the league’s […]
Read moreCristiano Ronaldo Is the Best Player in the World (Right Now)
Cristiano Ronaldo would probably have fought all of Sweden to get Portugal into the World Cup. Turns out he only had to fight 11 of them. And on Tuesday, just outside of Stockholm, he won.
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What Has Happened to the NFL’s Running Game?
It’s not exactly a secret that the NFL is continuing to move away from its running-friendly roots. Through Week 11, this has been the most pass-happy season in league history. Teams are averaging 26.9 rushing attempts per game, which would be the first time NFL teams would fail to hit 27 running plays per game. […]
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Philippine Basketball After the Storm: Amazing Happens
There’s not much to say here. Almost two weeks ago, Super Typhoon Haiyan — called Yolanda in the Philippines — made landfall, laying waste to coastal areas in Eastern Samar and Leyte provinces and leveling much of Tacloban City, a regional hub where more than 200,000 people lived before the storm. It was one of […]
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Grantland NFL Podcast: Week 11 and the Ravens
Barnwell and Mays break down the three league-shifting games of Week 11 before getting to their newly adopted Ravens. You can listen to this podcast on the ESPN Podcenter here, or subscribe to the Grantland Sports podcast network on iTunes here and the Grantland NFL Podcast here.
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About Last Night: Firing on All Pistons
In case you were busy demanding a recount of People’s Sexiest Man Alive voting, here’s what you missed in sports on Tuesday: Rodney Stuckey scored 21 points off the bench as the Detroit Pistons heaped more woe onto the New York Knicks with a 92-86 win. Meanwhile, in Bayside, Queens, a father and his son […]
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