March 15, 2012
It’s OK to Hate Wisconsin
OH MY GOD, BROS OF MADISON. Speed. It. Up. Look, I get it. That’s your thing. But I am not the only person in the world who is frustrated with the Wisconsin Badgers. This, from Shane Ryan’s appropriately headlined blog post: Wisconsin: The Most Boring Team in America: Let’s say the following happened: 1. You […]
Read moreGrantland Archives: Davidson’s Chase
Earlier this year, after the Davidson Wildcats fell to Wichita State in February, Grantland’s Michael Kruse wrote of his alma mater’s 2008 tournament run, and the program’s journey in the years since. Kruse wrote: I don’t really know the kids on this team, but I feel like I do, because I know where they go […]
Read moreLet’s All Learn Some Things About Wichita State
“Where is this Wichita State?” I bet you are not actually asking yourself, because clearly it is in Wichita. (Kansas.) (Not, like, the state of Wichita.) (That is not a state.) (Come on, guys.) Well, if you are really asking, that’s OK! For the answer to that question — and the answers to many others […]
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Why You Should Cheer for K-State
Perhaps you remember young Emma Burton, my favorite kindergartner. Long story short: Wee Emma was reportedly told to color a picture of a Jayhawk with the rest of her class on Kansas Day, but she kinda did the opposite, by which I mean she totally refused and then THREW THE PAPER AWAY. LIKE A CHAMP. […]
Read moreAn NCAA Tournament Viewing Guide for NBA Draft-Watchers
Do you only care about the NCAA tournament because you want a look at the best players in the upcoming NBA draft? Wonderful news. You are in the right place. Here’s a handy viewing guide for March Madness this year. A note: The numbers represent players’ placement in the latest DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects rankings. […]
Read moreGrantland Archives: Murray State Primer
Murray Staaaaaattteee!!!! The Racers are one of my favorite mid-majors in the Dance this year, because a beloved high school teacher went there. (I think. WHAT UP, MRS. BALDRIDGE. I REALLY ENJOYED FIRST HOUR.) The thing is, I can never pick a winner, and my support in this tournament means they’re basically doomed, so sorry, […]
Read more2012 MLB Season Preview: Atlanta Braves
For the fourth time this offseason, it’s time to get (re)acquainted with the term, hara hachi bu: In the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, locals practice a special kind of diet. It’s called hara hachi bu, and it basically means they eat until they’re 80 percent full. Sounds both logical and awful, right? Okinawans eat less […]
Read moreThe Official Grantland March Madness Knockout Pool
Three years ago, I created a March Madness knockout pool that none other than Cousin Sal (one of the great gamblers of all time, or at least one of the least successful) called “the best office pool ever.” I don’t know anyone who doesn’t absolutely love this pool. Anyway, here’s how it works. Let’s say […]
Read moreNCAA Tournament Predictions: Buzzcuts Edition
We asked Mark Titus for five predictions before Thursday’s March Madness games. Here’s what he had to say about tonight’s matchups … Half of last year’s Final Four will lose This year, the most popular 12-over-5 pick seems to be VCU over Wichita State. This might be partially because people don’t know how good Wichita […]
Read moreAbout Last Night: Obama the Heel
In case you were out living a life of leisure, here’s what you missed in sports on Wednesday. President Barack Obama picked his official March Madness bracket, putting Kentucky, Ohio State, North Carolina, and Missouri in the Final Four, with the Tar Heels winning the championship. At least that’s what ESPN is reporting; according to […]
Read moreMarch 14, 2012
Are You Tournament Challenge Challenged?
The Tournament Challenge Challenged from Stan Verrett You’re sitting there and you can’t help but feel your pen moving toward writing in Detroit over Kansas. Everything in the world is telling you it’s the wrong call, but you can’t help yourself. Well, why not let some of these concerned celebrities — Glee‘s Matthew Morrison, NCIS: […]
Read moreDwight Howard: The Indecision
The most miraculous thing about this entire will-he-won’t-he Dwight Howard ordeal is that it has somehow made LeBron James and his decision to make his decision with The Decision look like a good decision! At least he made a decision, right? Howard has been holding the Magic, and in a way the rest of the […]
Read moreCarmelo Anthony: Joy Wrecker
So this challenge just hit my inbox from one Bill Simmons: “Yo, Koppelman,” it began, “… write a Carmelo rant for our sports blog today.” It was followed by an e-mail from Grantland editor Dan Fierman, also calling me out for “whine, whine, whining” on Twitter instead of really saying something. OK, boys, if it’s […]
Read moreA Very Serious List of New York Knicks Coaching Candidates
Deuces, Mike D’Antoni. Here’s who might get your spot in the firing line … Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Isiah Thomas, Isaiah Thomas, John Calipari, Phil Spector, Rick James, James Naismith’s ghost, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Danny Aiello, the “Rent Is Too Damn High” guy, the original cast of Rent, Dr. Dre, Dr Pepper, the doctor […]
Read more28 Days Later: Re-Throning of the Kings
With the Lakers, Clippers and Kings hosting a whopping 28 home games in 28 days from March 11 through April 7 — all happening at Staples Center, which is only a wind-aided Andy Lee punt from Grantland’s headquarters — we couldn’t resist attending these 28 games and writing about as many of them as possible. […]
Read moreA Statistical March Madness Extravaganza
If the First Four comebacks from Tuesday night are any kind of omen for the rest of the tournament (and I don’t think we have the science to prove that yet), we are in for an absolute humdinger. If you thought your hums were gonna go un-dinged, think again, kemosabe. This is March, and every […]
Read moreQ&A: Former Temple Coach John Chaney
Philadelphia native John Chaney led the Temple Owls to 17 NCAA tournaments in 18 years. During his Hall of Fame career, the Owls played an unorthodox and physical matchup zone that no other team could replicate, forcing far more talented teams to leave contests against Temple both bruised and befuddled. Temple’s offense was often equally […]
Read moreFree Agency Day 1: The Insightful and the Incoherent
On Tuesday morning, word around the NFL was that the Bears were basically formalities away from locking up Vincent Jackson and Mario Williams. By 5 p.m., the Bears had acquired Brandon Marshall, but the Bills were now going to host Robert Meachem and Mario Williams and sign them both before their fans woke up the […]
Read moreRankonia: The Triangle Power Rankings
1. Brandon Marshall, Will Now Winter in Chicago Bill Simmons chimes on in on the Bears’ big trade acquisition: “When you’re an All-Pro WR on a team that’s trying to do everything it can to sign Peyton Manning, only you get dumped for two third-round picks right in the middle of the courting process … […]
Read moreGrantland Network Podcast: Men in Blazers
What an uneventful weekend of football it was. Nothing to see here. Particularly not Tottenham’s latest lapse against Everton, and definitely not Manchester City handing pole position to crosstown rivals Manchester United following their 1-0 loss to Welsh Barcelona, Swansea City. In fact, it was so uneventful that Michael Davies took the weekend off to […]
Read moreAbout Last Night: Uh-oh, the Madness Has Begun
In case you were out living a life of leisure, here’s what you missed in sports on Tuesday. The BYU Cougars staged a furious comeback — the largest in NCAA tournament history — to erase a 25-point deficit and beat the Iona Gaels 78-72. “What a great night for Mormons!” said head coach Dave Rose. […]
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