February 7, 2013
Kobe’s Reaction to Everything Dwight Howard Has Said in the Past 24 Hours, Through Surrogates
In an interview Wednesday with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, Kobe Bryant made a few comments about his large-shouldered teammate, Dwight Howard. “We don’t have time for [Howard’s shoulder] to heal.” “We need some urgency.” “[Dwight] has never been in a position where someone is driving him as hard as I am, as hard as this organization […]
Read moreWill Smith, Alone, Watching Hockey
Why won’t anyone at this Bruins-Canadiens game talk to Will Smith? Can’t they see that Will Smith is perhaps a little insecure about being at this sporting event by himself? What about you, guy in the red-and-blue shirt? Why aren’t you talking to Will Smith? Did Will Smith insult Canada? If so, isn’t Canada used […]
Read moreThe Weirdest Life Choices Made on College Football Signing Day
Yesterday, in a glimpse into the inner sanctum of the reigning NBA champs, LeBron James tweeted about how Ole Miss became the story of Signing Day — no mean feat considering the sagas of Reuben Foster and Alex Collins — and probably violated some arcane NCAA recruiting violation by having an opinion on the subject. […]
Read moreNew City, New System, Same Old Andrei Kirilenko
In Russia, Andrei Kirilenko says, there’s an old maxim about changing jobs every six years. He’s not sure where it comes from, but since 2008, it’s applied to even the office of the Russian president. It doesn’t matter who you are — six years, and it’s time for something new. Maybe it’s that idea that […]
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NBA Shootaround: The Washington Monument
So much amazing is happening, and the Shootaround crew is here 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. Back to the Wall (All GIFs by HeyBelinda) The Wizards beat the Knicks last night, in Washington, […]
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The Trenches NFL Podcast: Robert Mays and Ephraim Salaam
Robert Mays and Ephraim Salaam talk Super Bowl XLVII, NFL free agency, and which teams are set to succeed next season.
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We Went There: USMNT’s World Cup Qualifying Campaign Hits a Snag in Honduras
For the past three days, we’ve been told repeatedly that San Pedro Sula, a city of almost 900,000, is the most dangerous place in the world. The United States Soccer Federation informed journalists who were covering the Americans’ first game of the final round of World Cup qualifying of this fact before we arrived. A […]
Read moreAbout Last Night: Boom, Boom, Pau
In case you were busy settling up with Alamo Rent A Car after just driving, man, went horribly awry, here’s what you missed in sports on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Lakers’ troubled season continued, as forward Pau Gasol has been ruled out for at least six weeks after tearing his plantar fascia. Back in the […]
Read moreFebruary 6, 2013
Ole Miss and the Pack Mentality of National Signing Day
1. I should declare up front that I am firmly entrenched in the strata of college football fanatics who find National Signing Day to be a weird and discomfiting phenomenon, and that I do not frequent any message boards, and that I believe that the hat dance has really run its course. I am of […]
Read moreB.S. Report: Chuck Klosterman
Chuck Klosterman calls in for one of the best podcasts to date, as he and Bill focus on Royce White and performance-enhancing drugs. To listen to this podcast, you can download it on iTunes here or go to the ESPN.com PodCenter here.
Read morePoll Says Jay Cutler Is Somehow More Hateable Than Ever
Every year, Forbes puts out a list of the 10 most disliked athletes in sports. Usually, that list is pretty much what you’d guess. A year ago, Michael Vick, Tiger Woods, and Plaxico Burress stood (or sulked) at the top. In this year’s version, released yesterday, the top three again didn’t provide much of a […]
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Men in Blazers: USMNT World Cup Qualifying and Premier League Action
The Men in Blazers go global in this week’s pod as Roger Bennett reports live from the most violent city in the world (in 2011) ahead of the United States’ World Cup qualifier against Honduras. Merry Hexmas one and all! Meanwhile, over on the other continent, the Blazers recap a weekend of Premier League football […]
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Are the Celtics Really This Good Without Rajon Rondo?
The Celtics are 4-0 without Rajon Rondo and have scored 102.4 points per 100 possessions in that stretch, a mark that would rank 12th overall — about a dozen spots and 2.5 points better than what Boston’s putrid offense has done for the season, per NBA.com. This has resulted in a predictable rush of instant […]
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10 Thoughts on Aaron Craft, Trey Burke, and Michigan’s Big Win Over Ohio State
1. First and foremost, there’s no avoiding the question surrounding Aaron Craft’s last two shots. It began with nine seconds remaining and Ohio State trailing 75-74, when Craft drove by Trey Burke, pulled up for a jumper, and had his attempt blocked. After intentionally fouling Glenn Robinson III and watching him make one of two […]
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Miami’s Steroids Case Just Keeps Growing
Ryan Braun’s name appeared in records kept by Biogenesis, a report by Yahoo’s Tim Brown and Jeff Passan revealed, marking the latest star player to be connected to the controversial Miami anti-aging clinic. Braun, along with Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and Orioles infielder Danny Valencia, had their names turn up on a list that includes […]
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So You Want to Be an NHL Fan
Football season is over, which means NFL fans are now facing the depressing prospect of going months without their favorite sport. But there’s good news — another professional sports league is perfectly suited to fill that void, and its season just started! I’ve prepared this handy NHL FAQ for football fans in withdrawal, who are […]
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The Cards’ Latest Challenge: Carpenter Is Gone
Chris Carpenter will likely miss the entire 2013 season, casting further doubt on the Cardinals’ rotation and raising concerns over the team’s ability to make a third straight trip to the playoffs. Carpenter’s loss is one of several potential pitfalls awaiting the Cardinals’ staff this year. Jaime Garcia’s supposed to be ready for Opening Day […]
Read moreDanilo Gallinari’s ‘Shot of the Century’
Best part about this other than JaVale McGee’s reaction (which is not quite this, but pretty close) is how the Nuggets announcers go from calling it the shot of the century, to the shot of the year, to “guessing” it’s going to be in the top 20 shots of the season. HAVE THE COURAGE OF […]
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Time Expands: FSU’s Michael Snaer Hits Another Buzzer-Beater
When something statistically improbable keeps happening to someone, does it cease becoming statistically improbable? Do we have to throw our previous conceptions of probability out the window and, at least for this one blessed, cursed soul, accept reality on separate terms? Take Phil Connors in Groundhog Day. As far as we know, no human in […]
Read moreAbout Last Night: The Rockets’ Red Glare
In case you were out just driving, man, just hitting the open road, here’s what you missed in sports Tuesday. The Houston Rockets tied the NBA record for 3-pointers but were denied the record outright after a flurry of ejections marred the end of their 140-109 win over the Golden State Warriors. Houston point guard […]
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