A good, solid, hard-working, proud and deserving team will emerge from the West to reach the NBA Finals. Notice we didn't add "exciting" and "fun to watch," which neither the Grizzlies nor the Spurs are -- not that they should apologize. More»

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber obviously didn't have a plan for getting a second team into the New York media market. What he had was a single goal, one that he has finally achieved, albeit in a roundabout fashion. More»

Of all the energy expended over PEDs in sports, far too little has been devoted to assessing team penalties. There's a presumption that teams pay intangibly in depletion of reputation, but something more substantial needs to be done. More»

Orioles closer Jim Johnson recorded 35 straight saves. Then, suddenly, he blew three in a row. After throwing a scoreless inning Tuesday night, is he back on track, or is he just showing that he's neither as good or as bad as he looked? More»

The Reds have built their team primarily through the draft, allowing players like Devin Mesoraco, Zack Cozart and Todd Frazier to grow up together, so that they view their teammates as family and want to win for the fans and for each other. More»

Welcome to the Hashtag Edition of Laboratories of Hypocrisy, where the NCAA doesn't want any sort of athletic department-endorsed hashtags sullying its sacred football fields, and where athletes' health coverage isn't exactly comprehensive. More»

Civil wars, family squabbles and boardroom politics often overshadow IndyCar to such a degree that stories about IndyCar are more likely to focus on front office skullduggery than on Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves' efforts to win a fourth Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. More»

Life after LeBron is looking brighter now that the Cavaliers have extended their incredible draft lottery roll with the top pick in this year's draft. This gives them the option to take Nerlens Noel or trade down. Here's how we see the rest of the first round shaping up. More»

On Sept. 6, two high schools in Moore, Oklahoma will face off in a region recently devastated by an EF5 tornado. It's an event that helped the town heal once before, back in 1999, when a similar disaster hit. And things should be no different this time around. More»

When the Rangers signed Brad Richards to a nine-year contract in 2011, he was supposed to be one of the final pieces of a Stanley Cup contender, maximizing a brief window of opportunity. Instead, this spring could be Richards' last in New York. More»

Imagine you're an NBA general manager. Then imagine you have to sit on national television and beg fate and luck to help bail you out from your mistakes. This is the basic premise of the NBA draft lottery, an event unlike anything else in sports. More»

Jurickson Profar made his 2013 debut on Monday, knowing that this stint in the majors won't be permanent. But at some point, the Rangers have to decide what do with baseball's No. 1 prospect, and that day's coming sooner rather than later. More»

We knew before the season even started that Don Mattingly would be managing for his job -- and the Dodgers are looking dreadful. Part of a manager's job is to be a scapegoat, but Mattingly isn't even one of L.A.'s top 10 problems right now. More»

The feeling is palpable through the long summer months of the offseason: Alabama Fatigue has set in. But even if there's no cure, fans of other teams have to admit that college football is more entertaining when Nick Saban and the Tide are at the top of their game. More»

Who needs seats behind home plate when you can liven the atmosphere of a stadium from the right-field bleachers? Section 149 at the Coliseum in Oakland has become the never center of A's games, and even opposing players are in on the fun. More»

The Bobcats are changing their nickname when they really need to change their unofficial motto: "Everything seems so right, and yet everything goes so wrong." Bad luck in the lottery and the draft, combined with poor decisions, is a franchise-killer. More»

There's something noble about being brilliant in a loss. Miguel Cabrera's 4.250 single game OPS in a loss this weak reminded this writer of a former Brave great who was similarly brilliant in a losing effort and memorable for his monster blasts. More»

Tony La Russa hasn't managed a baseball game since Game Seven of the 2011 World Series, except for last year's All-Star game. Maybe that's because his style isn't in vogue in baseball today, where coaches are expected to smile and go with the flow. More»

Jay Jaffe, writer for SI.com & Baseball Prospectus, looks at the baseball season after the first month and a half with Will. Plus, robot umpires vs. Angel Hernandez. More»

In Brian Matusz, the Orioles have an elite bullpen option for many years to come. But the team didn't select him with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft -- right between Eric Hosmer and Buster Posey -- hoping for a situational lefty. Will he ever return to the the rotation? More»

Brittney Griner recently said that Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey preferred that Griner not disclose her homosexuality in public while the star was enrolled in school, lest it hinder recruiting. After all, recruiting brings the avoidance of losing, and losing is unacceptable. More»

The Red Sox are surprise contenders, and they've been propelled their by their old leader, David Ortiz. Since coming of the DL, Ortiz has looked like the Big Papi of old, which is exactly what Boston needs. So, at 37, can he keep it going? More»

In almost any other profession, Andy Dalton would be thought of as one of the world's best at what he does. In the NFL, he's average. That label is loaded with paradoxes, and where Dalton goes from here could depend on the Bengals around him. More»

Rob Gronkowski will undergo forearm surgery on Monday, and he may need back surgery after that, putting him in doubt for the start of the season. With that in mind, we assembled the Tailgater Team of Experts to provide comprehensive May injury analysis. More»

It's hard to believe now that Miami was Dwyane Wade's team even after LeBron James signed in 2010. Times have changed, though, and heading into the Eastern Conference Finals, Wade is trying to re-establish his stardom on LeBron's Heat. More»

You can learn a lot from perusing the Bed Bath & Beyond wedding gift registry of Robert Griffin III and his fiancée. For example: Hey, I prepare my chicken with the same cutlery that RGIII wants! Really, we are all alike under the oven mitt. More»

The Western Conference finals may come down to a bunch of countermoves and adjustments, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich left the starting blocks with Usain Bolt-like speed. San Antonio had Memphis all figured out before the ball went up. More»

J.R. Smith, Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks didn't play like either their November or April selves in May, and were booted from the playoffs, falling one game and seven points short of facing the Heat for the Eastern Conference title. More»

It was another silly day at the annual Triple Crown chase, a cold dud that ruled out the Kentucky Derby winner Orb as a behemoth for the ages, defining him as merely fantastic, not historic, as once again there will be no Triple Crown winner. More»

Many top prospects in a weak NBA draft class didn't suit up for drills at the combine, meaning there hasn't been much to watch in Chicago. But no player has more to prove than Shabazz Muhammad, and he's trying to make the most of his opportunity. More»

Thursday night's 85-75 victory over the Pacers can't really be called a ringing triumph by the Knicks offense, but nearly every development in Game 5 favored New York and hurt Indiana. If those are trends, the Knicks stand a chance Saturday night. More»

For Tim Duncan, now in the fourth stage of his career, many things have stayed the same since he won his first title. But to take home another trophy this year, he and the Spurs will have to out-defend the Grizzles in the Western Conference Finals. More»

Nick Saban keeps being referred to as Satan, not just by his SEC rivals but by former assistants and, tellingly, even Alabama football fans. Is there more to this nickname than just a letter switch in his last name, or is Saban just a football coach? More»

Are Tiger Woods' ethics slipping, or just his concentration? The petty scandals around Tiger on the golf course lately are almost as exasperating as the policing of his marital fidelity a few years ago, but at least these allegations are about his public actions. More»

Everyone expected Felix Hernandez to anchor the Mariners' staff, but Hisashi Iwakuma's great season is more surprising. He's the only other guy keeping the Mariners' rotation in anything resembling working order -- and he's doing it on a bargain of a contract. More»

Throughout his racing career, if Dick Trickle was known by the casual sports fan, it was because of his name. But every old NASCAR driver is a great story, and Trickle was no different, until his life came to a sad end on Thursday. More»

Outside the Baltimore area, skeptics abound about whether the Orioles are a real contender in the AL East. But for a team living on so-called "destiny," these Orioles are playing pretty well. Should we look for the bottom to drop out soon? More»

Preakness favorite Orb has always been solid and strong, say the managers at the farm where he was born, and owes his temperament to his pedigree. They knew Orb's mother, Lady Liberty, had the ability to produce a champion. More»

Chuck Culpepper correctly called Orb's magnificent Kentucky Derby win. Only one horse since 1961 (Tabasco Cat, 1994) has won the Preakness from the rail, but it's just too hard to pick against this one, or against trainer Shug McGaughey. More»

David Beckham announced his retirement on Thursday, and despite the world-class talent and worldwide fame, there might be something even more impressive: He managed to always just seem like an all-around decent guy, someone you'd want to know. More»

Despite a poor shooting in Game 5, Kevin Durant is getting a pass for OKC's elimination. Sure, it seems reasonable, given that the team was missing a key piece in Russell Westbrook. But why didn't LeBron get the same treatment two years ago? More»

In an age of constant stimulation, the break that halftime is supposed to provide us is anything but. After soliciting suggestions on Twitter, we ranked the most entertaining halftime shows in basketball. (In GIF form, of course.) Enjoy! More»

It's May 2013, one year after many people (and his previous employer) had written off Jason Marquis for the third time in his career. And yet Marquis is still busy figuring out how to get major league hitters out, and largely succeeding. How? More»

Preakness mascot Kegasus is dead, joining the worst all-time mascot fails. Any giant buckeye or talking orange can be annoying, but the mascots on this list are absolutely misguided: they draw attention away from the event and send the wrong message. More»

The amazing halftime entertainer best known as Red Panda Acrobat, who performs an incredible balancing routine on a unicycle, chats with Will. More»

Nothing breeds optimism quite like May in the NFL, where we get our first chance to be impressed by rookies and new coaches in minicamps. From Chicago to Buffalo to Dallas, hope springs eternal and anything seems possible, even if it isn't. More»

NBA owners voted to keep the Kings in Sacramento, meaning Seattle needs either expansion or another relocation candidate to emerge to bring the Supersonics back. Seattle deserves an NBA team, but it must keep waiting -- possibly for a long time. More»

If you are old enough to remember Mike Tyson as Mike Tyson -- that is, as both a churning and terrifying and brilliant champion, as well as a loathsome criminal -- then it is strange in the extreme to watch him become quite literally a cartoon. More»

For years, former Jets doctor Elliot Pellman tried to stand in the way of concussion research progress ... while he chaired the NFL's Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee. Six years after resigning amid criticism, why is he still working with the NFL? More»

College football may be ruled by a class system, but every year a few teams manage to break the ranks, thanks to coaching, recruiting or generous donors. Which teams will break out of mediocrity in the next five seasons? More»

Twitter makes it easier than ever to discover hateful comments, and the Internet trend is to gather them for a public shaming -- a practice that doesn't help anyone. In reality, the world isn't as bad as the Internet makes it look. More»

Few NFL quarterbacks escape dissection by their team's fans, but no athlete of recent vintage has seen his accomplishments so distorted and his character so unjustly maligned as Donovan McNabb. Is it finally time for sanity in Philadelphia? More»

The Texas Rangers sit comfortably atop the AL West -- again. Most expected this year's script to unfold somewhat differently. But not only has their pitching been good, they've gotten key contributions on offense from some unexpected places. More»

These are not your 2012 Pacers. Paul George and the Pacers are coming into their own, just in time, as they look to knock the Knicks out of the NBA Playoffs. This team has a strut, a sharper sense of purpose, a feeling that anything is possible. More»

NBA announcer Mike Breen talks (mellifluously, of course) about being a color analyst for Marist, being Imus' sports guy, working with Walt Frazier and the keys to good broadcasting, which includes letting the game speak for itself. More»

Today, Dan Klores (director of the 30 For 30 documentary "Winning Time") joins the podcast to talk Knicks-Pacers, the traveling roadshow of Reggie Miller, why no one messed with Charles Oakley and whether that fire from the old rivalry is missing now. More»

Until recently, I knew almost nothing about sailing. Then in 2011 I burrowed into the Volvo Ocean Race, a nine-month, 39,000-nautical-mile, 10-stopover grind of 70-foot yachts. And I began to realize that sailors are tough -- as tough as anybody playing anything. More»

After a long wait, No. 1 recruit Andrew Wiggins finally chose Kansas, a rare recruiting defeat for John Calipari and Kentucky. Not only does Wiggins instantly make Kansas a contender, but his choice makes the upcoming season even more interesting. More»

For Zack Hample, there's a science to catching baseballs. From switching jerseys during batting practice to his jury-rigged glove, the ball hawk (and his followers) bring a incredible level of devotion to a sideline "sport" often populated by little kids. More»

The Western Conference Semifinals have made one thing clear: The Thunder can't win in the playoffs without Russell Westbrook. Kevin Durant may be the league's second-best player, but Memphis is too tough for him to carry OKC by himself. More»

Context matters when evaluating professional athletes, which is why it's impossible to ignore how much money they make. No matter how well Vernon Wells plays, he's still the guy who will forever be known for his ridiculous contract. We can't help it. More»

They will remember this night in Boston for a long time. Down 4-1 in the third period of Game 7 against the Maple Leafs, the Bruins stormed back to win in overtime, capping a remarkable 24 hours with one of the craziest games you will ever see. More»

The Chicago Cubs are signing their young first baseman, Anthony Rizzo, to a seven-year year, $41 million deal. It's a nifty little deal that could save the Cubs a bit of money in arbitration ... or it could backfire. It all depends on who Anthony Rizzo really is. More»

Gus Johnson hollered his way back into our hearts this weekend, while in the booth for the FA Cup final between Wigan and Manchester City. He isn't perfect, but Johnson is the greatest announcer alive when you're not sure exactly what's going on. More»

How can a clever, spontaneous, entertaining football story be crafted from the rhymes, stylized language, and subtle imagery of poetry? There are many possible answers to these questions. Rick Reilly should not try poetry again until he finds some. More»

After signing a big contract in the offseason, Roy Hibbert underwhelmed this year for the Pacers. But he's turning it on when it matters most. And now the tallest guy on the floor (once considered the stiffest) is finally noticing how high his ceiling is. More»

Regardless of whether you interpret the NHL's wording on the Hart Trophy to mean "most outstanding" or "most valuable to his team," one of the three candidates -- Sidney Crosby, John Tavares and Alexander Ovechkin -- stands out as both outstanding and valuable. More»

Does Sergio Garcia's collapse at The Players Championship make him a rival for Michelle Kwan's title of biggest choker in sports history? Not even close. But what does our collective love of the "choker narrative" say about all of us? More»

The element of danger America's Cup promoters were looking for by introducing thriller 72-foot catamarans capsized into San Francisco Bay along with the Artemis Racing AC72, and cost the life of one sailor, Andrew Simpson. More»

Rulon Gardner joins Will to talk about wrestling being removed from the Olympics, and what the winner of the gold medal for Greco-Roman wrestling in 2000 is doing to get his sport back in the Olympics -- and in the public eye. More»

Amy Trask resigned as Raiders CEO on Saturday, but she will find a new job in sports, if she wants one -- perhaps even at NFL headquarters -- assuming she can adjust to a more functional organization than the one in Oakland. More»

The Players Championship, like the rivalry between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, began with such promise. But it ended with Woods on top... and Garcia all wet, after the trash-talking Spaniard fell into insults (and the water). More»

The Mets are in an on-again, off-again war with their own part-time outfielder, Jordany Valdespin. After he pimped his home run while the Mets got blown out, his own manager set him up for a beaning. There has to be a better way to make a point. More»

Had enough of Tim Tebow? Let's talk about NFL moves that have slipped through the cracks but should actually matter this season, from the Texans' field position to the Rams finding a tight end to the Bears acknowledging their O-line problems. More»

It's hard to know what's stranger: that the Yankees are getting by on scraps at key positions, while the Pirates are thriving with two major pieces that New York practically gave away ... or that this may just be the new normal in Major League Baseball. More»

Shorthanded and against the ropes, the Bulls are doing everything they can to try to knock LeBron James off his game. They're out for blood, and they call it playoff basketball. The problem? LeBron and the Heat aren't about to become rattled. More»

From Bronson Arroyo to Cannonball Titcomb, from Turkey Gross to Stubby Clapp, it's far to easy to become lost in the history and clever advertising at Baseball-Reference.com. More»

Senior correspondent for SB Nation Amy K. Nelson joins the podcast today to talk about what it was like going to cover a marathon in Palestine, the side of Jim Leyland nobody ever gets to see, the gay athlete issue and cursing on podcasts. More»

Dan Snyder can yell all he wants about how the Washington Redskins' nickname won't change, but the math says otherwise. If the franchise loses a trademark suit, go ahead and start thinking of alternative names, because too much money is at stake. More»

Josh Hamilton showed admirable restraint when asked whether the Bible mentioned how to hit more home runs. Of course it doesn't, and of course athletes aren't saying God favors them over anyone else when they thank God for their successes. More»

Pitchers aren't an automatic out at the plate. Just ask Barry Zito, who's batting .333 so far this season and knocked in two runs last postseason, what he thinks of adding the DH to the National League: Having pitchers bat makes the game "more pure." More»

Judging by the comments on our previous free agency pieces, a lot of you had opinions (reasonable or ... less so) about signings we didn't mention. So here's a rundown of a few more free agent disappointments and pleasant surprises. More»

Three years ago, Amar'e Stoudemire was one of the biggest prizes of an all-time great free-agent class. Now he's just getting in the way. The banged-up forward is set to return Saturday, but the New York Knicks barely have a role for him anymore. More»

Derrick Rose could change the complexion of the Bulls-Heat series, but, to the dismay of many fans, the star guard still hasn't declared himself ready to play. Of course, only Rose can know, and we need to remember that he's only human too. More»

Chatting with Newsday's Neil Best about the New York media scene (always an adventure), social media and media reporting, along with what it takes to be a good sportswriter. More»

There's something about missing a call on replay that feels a thousand times worse than missing a call in real time. And that's exactly what Angel Hernandez did when he cost the Oakland A's a game-tying home run. But it's hard to argue with a brick wall. More»

Reggie Miller's status as our least popular NBA broadcaster is in no way owed to some lack of knowledge about the game on his part, but because he can't help himself. Just like in his playing days, Miller delights in trolling, needling, annoying -- and he's really good at it. More»

Vijay Singh's attorneys might advise him to do so, but he shouldn't settle his PED lawsuit against the PGA Tour, not because he didn't know what he was taking or thought it was OK, but because the Tour has very selectively enforced PED bans against its players. More»

Stan Van Gundy, Brian Shaw and Mike Malone: It's more about these guys than Phil Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. Where will these hot commodities end up? We analyze the needs of the most likely teams in the market for a new head coach. More»

The 49ers are really naming their stadium after jeans? Their new stadium in Silicon Valley will bear the name of a tangible product, something you can hold and wear and rip at the knees. More»

Golf is the only sports that readily takes phone calls from fans complaining of rules violations, and does something about it. From Tiger Woods at the Masters to Sergio Garcia in Charlotte, maybe the PGA Tour should set up a dedicated 800-number. More»

Today's guest Rany Jazayerli talks all things Kansas City Royals -- what their prospects (both actual and abstract) look like, the benefit of low expectations and why the team still needs to make the playoffs in order to justify the Wil Myers for James Shields trade. More»

When the Knicks drafter Iman Shumpert, it seemed like a bad fit: a developing young player on a team built to win as soon as possible. But Shumpert has come back from injury and blossomed into just the player the Knicks need right now. More»

If anybody in the Premier League would manage forever, it would be Alex Ferguson. But after a 13th league title, the legendary Manchester United manager is retiring, and one can't help but wonder what he'll do away from the sidelines. More»

NBC announced Monday that Faith Hill was out at "Sunday Night Football," and Carrie Underwood was in. The two are more or less indistinguishable... except that Underwood is 15 years younger. This is how modern America works, and not just in sports. More»

The soft goal allowed by Marc-Andre Fleury was a fitting end to a nightmare of a game for the Penguins, in what has become a nightmare of a series for the netminder. What's scariest for Penguins fans, though, is that this isn't totally unexpected. More»

It seems impossible that this situation with Alex Rodriguez -- a huge star openly disparaged and unwanted by his own team, fans and league -- could possibly endure at this high pitch for another five full years. And yet that's the scenario we're facing. More»

In almost every aspect of baseball, the pursuit of objective analysis and practical solutions should be seen as progress. Except during no-hitters. We all know we can't actually affect the no-hit bid of someone like Matt Harvey, but it's part of the fun anyway. More»

We can't always be so negative. After examining some free agent busts, this writer decides to look at three players who hit free agency in the offseason and are now looking like steals on their brand new teams. Can they sustain their positive production? More»

The Saudi Arabian government recently announced that female students in private schools could now compete in sports. While this doesn't sound like a huge leap forward, it will mean a lot for brave young women throughout the region who have been looking for encouragement. More»

Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens are competitors. Absolutely, 100 percent. But Serena as Obi-Wan Kenobi to Sloane's Luke Skywalker? No one should expect any active competitor to mentor someone with whom they are competing. More»

Jimmy Connors, who for the last two decades has mostly been known for his gutsy plan at age 39 in the 1991 U.S. Open, has written a book to remind everyone of his foremost aspect, his longstanding identity as a jerk. More»

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich hilariously said he went from cutting Manu Ginobili on the spot to offering to cook him breakfast in a matter of minutes. That happens when a player shoots an airball at a crucial time in a game, then turns around and nails the game-winner. More»

In a much-anticipated move, former Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier was finally elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday. While his numbers might not be as good as you remember, he's undoubtedly one of the best to ever play the game. More»

As criticism of Derrick Rose builds, a somewhat unlikely savior has emerged in his place for the Bulls: Nate Robinson. The embattled 5-foot-9 guard has put his fearlessness on display, coming through when it matters most and taking his job seriously. More»

Will catches up with MSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-host Willie Geist about his path to media stardom (which included Tucker Carlson and driving a liquor truck … not necessarily related), "selfie" news, the identity of Brooklyn Nets fans and Illini basketball. More»

Who is J. R. Smith? The question has been hanging over his career since he was drafted. Now it is joined by two other, opposing questions: Can the Knicks afford to keep J.R. Smith? And will J.R. Smith ever get his shot back? More»

On Monday, USA TODAY Sports reported that Ben McLemore's former AAU coach accepted cash, trips and other benefits to steer the former Kansas guard toward future representation. There are lots of questions, but one thing is clear: The NCAA shouldn't care. More»

In the past eight months, first baseman Nate Freiman has gone from Padres farmhand, to Team Israel in WBC qualifiers, to the Peoria Javelinas, to Rule 5 draft pick by the Astros, to A's acquisition. It's been quite a trip -- just ask his mom. More»

Oklahoma City and Memphis made it this far after trading James Harden and Rudy Gay. Maybe they weren't exactly the heart and soul of their teams, but they were at least the liver. Both teams have thrived -- but the playoffs are a different beast. More»

Evan Gattis may be the best story in baseball this year. But now that Brian McCann is back in the mix for the Atlanta Braves, the rookie catcher's role on the team is suddenly up in the air. What's a manager in a pennant race to do? More»

It's an annual college football tradition: ranking a team higher in the preseason because it notched an impressive win to end last season. This year's beneficiary, the Louisville Cardinals, appear like a possible top-five team. But looks can be deceiving. More»

The recent incident when a high school track team was disqualified for a mild celebration is an extreme example of pro and amateur sportsmanship policing. But it's still not right. And to attempt to push behavior modification on such an instinctive activity is madness. More»

The Vikings cut outspoken punter Chris Kluwe on Monday, and hopefully its not the end of his NFL career. In a league full of hard-to-know caricatures, Kluwe has never been afraid to stand out and show his true personality, which is something we should encourage. More»

Will catches up with Chuck Culpepper, who covered the Kentucky Derby this weekend and lived to tell about it. They talk Orb, Triple Crown and whether there should be a dress code at Churchill Downs. More»

For Warriors coach Mark Jackson, love is at the center of his philosophy, not just off the court -- where he is an ordained minister -- but on it as well, where he can be heard telling his players, "In case I forget to tell you guys, I love you." More»

Twitter loves controversy, and being outraged over the one mystery vote that denied LeBron James the first unanimous MVP in NBA history is just the type of social media storm at which the 140-character platform excels. More»

It's still early, but the baseball season and its narratives are beginning to take shape. Now we can start taking a more informed look at the big free agent signings of the offseason, and see which ones aren't exactly living up to their promise. More»

How could anyone not notice Joakim Noah? Over the last week, he's announced his arrival in these NBA playoffs with the subtlety of a thunderstorm. His energy and leadership pushed the depleted Bulls beyond into an expected grudge match with Miami. More»

This is how it always happens, right? A good horse wins the Kentucky Derby, and thus the hopeful Triple Crown talk begins. Since 1978, it's always ended in disappointment. But maybe, just maybe, Orb is worth getting excited about. More»

The hit that Ottawa defenseman Eric Gryba laid on Montreal's Lars Eller was certainly brutal. But did it deserve a suspension? The NHL finds itself in a tough spot, marketing the violence the league is known for -- without drawing too much blood. More»

LeBron James has just finished an incredible 16-month stretch in which he's won a pair of MVPs, a championship, a Finals MVP, an Olympic gold medal and 27-straight games. The scariest part? This may just be the beginning. More»

Year after year, NFL draft analysts make the same mistakes, refusing to learn from what went wrong in past years. At the forefront in 2013 is Geno Smith, who can provide many lessons in scouting and reporting that need to be addressed in the future. More»

Here came justice, bolting surely through the slop like a bullet train from the top of the stretch, demanding the attention of the neck hairs, as the best horse in the Kentucky Derby, trained by a Hall of Famer Kentuckian, proved that life can be fair. More»

Take your time reading this, because I know how you're feeling right now. Dizzy. Disoriented. Wobbly-kneed. The first round of the NBA playoffs was a wild ride. Well, here's some good news: The next round promises to be quite a snooze-fest. More»

Mike Breen is the best broadcaster working right now, and just watching him attend a sporting event, it's easy to see why. You wouldn't even notice him, if you weren't looking for him; and he's there, but only when you need him to be. More»

The Warriors knocked off the Nuggets, thanks to a huge series from Steph Curry and the emergence of Andrew Bogut, stepping up in David Lee's absence. But will it be enough against the veteran Spurs? And can Lee make an improbably comeback? More»

Ask Pirates or Braves fans about Nate McLouth and you'll get curses. But the man Pittsburgh released in April 2012 is now one of the top-ten outfielders in baseball for the Orioles. How did that happen? Can his health, and luck, change? More»

Break out the brooms? Not so fast. The Celtics and Rockets were on the brink of getting swept out of the playoffs by the Knicks and Thunder, only to come back and win the next two. Now, they have their eyes on history-making comebacks. More»

It's the same old story: A group of people in college sports are about to make a bunch of money, but that group doesn't include the athletes. The new SEC Network was announced on Thursday, and the SEC and ESPN will swim in even more cash. More»

Outsports co-founder Cyd Zeigler talks to Will about Jason Collins, John Amaechi, changing attitudes in sports and the positive reaction to gay professional athletes coming out. More»

Views from high above Churchill Downs once made for some of the best stories about the Kentucky Derby. But times have changed, and now writers are stuck watching the race on TV as high rollers take over what used to be the press box. More»

Here it comes again, the big old cornucopia of hope, the 139th Kentucky Derby, sprinkling its visions across owners, trainers, jockeys, exercise riders, stable workers. Just look at 2003 winner Funny Cide and his owners, the "Sackets Six." More»

Joe Sheehan, baseball writer extraordinaire for Sports Illustrated, talks with Will about the problems with MLB managers, Ron Washington's relative handsomeness to Mike Matheny and how Jeffrey Loria is the product of a broken system. More»

Football makes people say some pretty gobsmacking things. But a quote from a University of Missouri neuropsychologist may be the most ridiculous things yet. In a piece about youth football and cognitive risks, brain damage is compared to … knee injuries. More»

Sure, fans of the Knicks are running scared, while citizens of both New York and Boston are having flashbacks to a certain other 3-0 playoff series involving those two cities that became historic. But man is that comparison stupid -- in the plainest possible way. More»

The prospect of the end for Tim Tebow would, had Tebow just been left alone and not transformed into some culture war totem, mean just what it means: That this particular scatter-armed passer can't find a NFL gig. Instead, we have this Tim Tebow Thing. More»

George Karl is in a familiar situation on Thursday night: facing first-round NBA playoffs elimination. While Karl's career has been stigmatized, he's done more with less this year, and maybe we should ask if he's been a victim of circumstances. More»

Giants manager Bruce Bochy credits AlVera Paxson's hypnosis with putting an end to his desire for smokeless tobacco. But could she help me with my writer's block? I sat down with the therapist for a session to find out. More»

How'd your team do in the NFL draft? Grading drafts less than a week after the fact is always arbitrary and premature, but luckily our former teacher is here to evaluate teams on different terms and hand out report cards that are recognizable to any parent. More»

Trainer Shug McGaughey is a sentimental favorite at the Kentucky Derby, where his horse, Florida Derby winner Orb, has a good chance of victory. But Shug knows how much relies on chance once the 20-horse cavalry charge begins on Saturday. More»

The anti-NCAA activist can never run out of material. From the Ed O'Bannon case to frequent absurd comments from Mark Emmert, the hypocrisy of big-time college sports is never hard to spot, so we're here to semi-regularly chronicle it. More»

A 19-inning game comes with both yawns and punch lines. In the Oakland A's clubhouse after their win over the Angels early Tuesday morning, the latter seem to be far more abundant. Just ask 3-year-old Jayden Moss, son of extra-innings hero Brandon. More»

When Jason Collins told the world he was gay, he was embraced by just about everyone. Some skeptics actually criticized him for trying to enhance his profile. To which I say: Fantastic. That's the best signifier of how much progress we have made. More»