November 13, 2012
Fourth-and-Short: Gut-Check Time for Flacco
If there’s a silver lining to the injury bug that’s bitten the Baltimore Ravens this season, it comes in the form of being able to finally evaluate Joe Flacco as the team’s leader and star player. Against the Raiders on Sunday, Flacco was clearly up to the task, putting up one of the best games […]
Read moreIn Praise of Fired College Football Coaches
Kevin Sumlin beat Alabama on the road Saturday. He did. I didn’t think he could, but he did. Was I the only one thinking about Mike Sherman — Sumlin’s white-maned, low-talking predecessor — and the supporting role he played? Sherman was fired as the Aggies coach last year. If not for his cameos on Hard […]
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Mario Chalmers Releases a Rap Video [UPDATED]
Mario Chalmers released a rap video. I am now going to ruin your day. Upon further investigation: Grantland has learned that Mario Chalmers is not, in fact, the man rapping in the video (now taken down) of Mario dribbling in slacks and living amongst the flames. Consider this fake-out the next level beyond fake celebrity […]
Read moreAbout Last Night: K.C. Can’t Stop Steelers
In case you were out living a life of leisure, here’s what you missed in sports on Monday. Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons intercepted Chiefs QB Matt Cassel in overtime to set up a game-winning field goal in a 16-13 win, but Pittsburgh lost Ben Roethlisberger with a sprained shoulder in the third quarter. “I feel […]
Read moreNovember 12, 2012
Computer vs. Computer: Team USA vs. the Dream Team
It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from Anthony Richardson. If doing commentary on computer vs. computer video-game simulations is an art form, he is truly said art form’s Picasso. And if Anthony is Picasso, this video is his Guernica. This may come as a surprise to many, but this video was actually a […]
Read moreThe B.S. Report: Cousin Sal
Cousin Sal joins Simmons to guess the Week 11 NFL lines. Then Bill’s 7-year-old daughter offers her brief analysis of the NHL lockout. To listen to this podcast, you can download it on iTunes here or go to the ESPN.com PodCenter here.
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We Went There: San Francisco’s Flugtag Festival
“We’re all just fans of R. Kelly,” said Luke Welch, standing in front of a 5-foot-high papier mâché rendering of the musician’s head. It was Friday afternoon, and in less than 24 hours this made-with-love work of art would be hurled off the edge of a 30-foot-high ramp and into the chilly water right behind […]
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Three Observations From College Basketball’s Opening Weekend
Local radio stations are playing Christmas music, the Chiefs are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, and Dick Vitale went into an on-air rant that ended with him talking about Barbra Streisand’s high school classmates. This can only mean one thing: College basketball is officially back! In case you missed the opening weekend of the greatest […]
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NFL Run & Shootaround: Rising Up and Rising Down
On any given Sunday (or Monday, or Thursday), your NFL Run & Shootaround crew will be gathered around multiple televisions, making inappropriate jokes and generally regressing to the mean. Catch up on all the NFL action right here. Comeback Season The day before Christmas last year, Adrian Peterson was lying on the field in Washington […]
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Mike D’Antoni May Be Second-Best, But He Can Lead the Lakers
Shawn Marion, fiercely proud and a little defensive, was fond of telling reporters during the height of the Seven Seconds or Less Era in Phoenix that players made “genius” coaches like Mike D’Antoni look good. Marion is obviously oversimplifying. Head coaches are hugely important, maybe third on the importance hierarchy in any franchise, behind only […]
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A Brief Look at Notable Moments in NBA Free-Food History
On Wednesday night, in a victory against the Magic, the Bulls’ Joakim Noah tried to feed the people. Up big with seconds left, he chucked up a 3 — just the fifth attempt of his career. If it had rattled in, the Bulls would have cracked 100 points and everyone at the United Center would […]
Read moreAbout Last Weekend: D’Lakers Pick D’Antoni
In case you were out living a life of leisure, here’s what you missed in sports over the weekend. The L.A. Lakers hired former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni to replace Mike Brown. In his basement, Dwight Howard took down the complex pyramid of surveillance photos and connection lines and case […]
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