Chuck Culpepper
Chuck Culpepper
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article May 22, 2013

There Will Be Lights

MooreWar
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»
GrinerMulkey article May 20, 2013

Don't Tell

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»
preakness1980x1100 article May 19, 2013

The Fabulous Preakness

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»
orb1980x1100b article May 16, 2013

Solid Orb

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»
blog May 16, 2013

Preakness Picks

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»
beckham article May 16, 2013

That's A Good Guy Right There

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»
volvo_race article May 14, 2013

Life at Sea

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»
tiger_sergio1980x1100 article May 13, 2013

Cats and Dogs

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»
alexferguson article May 8, 2013

Alex Ferguson's New Reality

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»
SaudiArabia article May 8, 2013

Small Steps in Saudi Arabia

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»
blog May 8, 2013

Jimmy Connors: What a Jerk

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»
orb_tiplecrown article May 6, 2013

Orb Chases History

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»
orb1980x1100 article May 5, 2013

Justice Comes to Orb

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»
funny_cide_derby article May 3, 2013

Derby Daydreams

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»
McGaughey_1980x1100 article May 2, 2013

Heartwarming at the Derby

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»
derby_drugs1980x1100 article May 1, 2013

Can Anyone Stop Big Stan?

We are gathered in Louisville for the biggest thing in horse racing, except it's the second-biggest thing in horse racing at the moment as the world's largest, richest stable implodes in a gripping multinational doping scandal. More»
jason_collins article April 30, 2013

Just the Beginning

You spend a good long while in life just hoping for a lack of derision, maybe some measure of distant understanding, and then so much of the nation gives a big embrace. To a gay person -- well, this one, anyway -- it means a great deal. But there is so much more to go. More»
monicaseles article April 29, 2013

Giving Monica Seles Her Due

Twenty years ago, Monica Seles' life was forever changed at a tournament in Germany. Before the stabbing, she was on track to make a run for the greatest women's tennis player ever, and she still deserves to be recognized among the all-time greats. More»
munich1980x1100 article April 24, 2013

Take the Long View, Barca Faithful

Just because after a while Barcelona started looking like a bunch of guys who borrowed the shirts and ran out into Munich, doesn't mean we should get carried away, overreact and forget the long view. Barcelona will rebound and menace again in 2014. More»
ferguson article April 22, 2013

Maladjusted in Manchester

Let's celebrate an overlooked aspect of sports: they provide a domain where the maladjusted can stay off the streets and earn a great living. As exhibit A, take Sir Alex Ferguson, on the cusp of his 13th Premier League title in 21 years, and still desperately hungry. More»
londonmarathon article April 19, 2013

The Stoicism of the London Marathon

Only six days after Monday's Boston Marathon tragedy, the London Marathon will run as scheduled. Nobody should be surprised. England has been forced to adapt to tragedy over and over in the past, and its citizens have earned their resolve through time. More»
adamscottmasters article April 18, 2013

Golf Needs A Fifth Major

Adam Scott's Masters win was yet another victory for an international golfer, furthering the rapid globalization of the game. As such, holding all but one major in the U.S. has become antiquated, so why not add a fifth major somewhere new? More»
summerall1980x1100 article April 17, 2013

The Voice of the Season

I hear the voice, still, and I just know it's Sunday in the United States. I still hear Pat Summerall saying something spare -- "Third and ten . . ." -- and I know the light has been fading outdoors. I know what I'm wearing, I know summer is drawing to a close. More»
westering1980x1100 article April 13, 2013

Uniquely memorable

Did you know one of the most remarkable American coaches died on Friday? Did you know that Frosty Westering had 32 seasons at Pacific Lutheran, never mentioned playoffs or titles to his players but won four national championships? Please know. More»
TianlangGuan article April 12, 2013

In The Nick Of Time

Nothing livens up a Friday like another referee controversy. On day two of the Masters, an official caused an uproar by penalizing 14-year-old Tianlang Guan for slow play, proving that even golf can't escape our need to complain about refs. More»
blog April 12, 2013

Justice for Westwood

It's simply unjust that Lee Westwood, who is playing in his 60th career major at this week's Masters and has 14 finishes in the top 10, nine in the top five, seven in the top three and two in the top two, has never won a major tournament. More»
blog April 12, 2013

Charlotte Smith's Informed Vote

Brittney Griner and Baylor may have lost unexpectedly in the NCAA tournament, but that doesn't mean the Bears didn't have the best season. So instead of criticizng Elon's Charlotte Smith for voting No. 1, let's praise her for making sense in an odd system. More»
blog April 11, 2013

Messi Boxscore Haiku

On Wednesday night, with Barcelona down 3-2 in total goals against Paris Saint-Germain and in danger of not advancing to the Champions League semifinals, Lionel Messi came in at 62 minutes and changed everything. More»
Dortmund1980x1100 article April 10, 2013

Springtime in Europe

If you could have been anywhere in the world on Monday night, you might have picked Atlanta and the Georgia Dome. On Tuesday night, the place to be was Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, Germany. Wednesday, your path should lead to Barcelona. More»
blog April 8, 2013

Race and the Jeremy Lin Story

So many basketball scholars on so many levels missed for so long on Lin that an absence of ethnic or cultural bias seems just about mathematically impossible. So can we all finally agree that racial stereotyping factored into the Jeremy Lin narrative? More»
Ralph_Sampson article April 5, 2013

The Other Side of The N.C. State Story

The 1983 North Carolina State basketball team revisited in Jonathan Hock's marvelous "Survive and Advance" for ESPN Films is known as the all-time March Madness story. But for me, and Ralph Sampson's Virginia team, they were the Grim Reapers. More»
Andy_Enfield article April 2, 2013

The Real Madness of March

Two wins. Eighty minutes. That's why Florida Gulf Coast Andy Enfield is going to USC and increasing his salary sevenfold. He's a talented coach -- but how many other anonymous guys are also very good, and fated to never get a similar chance? More»
Hardaway_Jr article April 2, 2013

Not Far From The Tree

For all its advantages, being an elite college basketball player with an ex-NBA father can't be entirely easy. But Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr., and his teammates Glenn Robinson III and Jon Horford, are showing they're tough enough. More»
blog March 31, 2013

Old School

On Sunday afternoon in 2013, Florida and Michigan face off in a futuristic football stadium as a nation watches in HD... and the main topic of conversation is the pick-and-roll, a play that's anything but innovative and yet the key to the Final Four. More»
elijahjohnson_michigan article March 30, 2013

The Agony of Defeat

Nobody in the NCAA tournament on Friday had a worse night than Kansas' Elijah Johnson, who delivered a cheap shot early, then left everyone baffled on the final play to cap the Jayhawks' collapse in a Sweet 16 overtime loss to Michigan. More»
treyburke article March 29, 2013

Basketball Protection Program

Nobody ever talks about being excited to see a team that avoids turnovers, but it's one of the most admirable qualities in basketball. And no team protects the ball better than Michigan. More»
miami_dance1980x1100 article March 28, 2013

Feel the Love

They're uncommonly engaging. They're unusually aware. They're unquestionably ambassadors. They're bonded in a way you can feel in the air. They might remind you why you ever liked sports. They are the Miami Hurricanes, my all-time favorite team. More»
florida_players article March 27, 2013

The Sunshine Boys

This is a watershed moment for college hoops in Florida: Three teams from the state have made the Sweet 16, including a Cinderella, a perennial favorite and a program at its peak. Will one of them soon call themselves national champs? More»
jozyaltidore article March 26, 2013

Europe's Unfriendly Confines

While Europeans may shudder at violence in America, Americans may shudder at the ugliness in European soccer stadiums. Jozy Altidore, Mario Balotelli and Kevin-Prince Boateng are among the black soccer players who have dealt with racism from fans. More»
blog March 24, 2013

The No. 1 Problem With Gonzaga

The selection committee got all gooey over the Zags' 31-2 record, after which they played Southern and Wichita State and almost never resembled a No. 1 seed in those 80 minutes. Who should have been the top seed out West? Miami. More»
wilbkin1980x1100 article March 24, 2013

Gator Warning

Do you like low-scoring, hard-rebounding games? Then this is your year, and Florida guard Scottie Wilbekin, who just likes "stopping a player" and gets his kicks out of frustrating opposing teams' offenses, should be one of your emblems. More»
blog March 23, 2013

Wait, How Old Are You?

You could while away the hours of the UCLA-Minnesota game wondering what prized Bruin freshman Shabazz Muhammad might say about how old he is. Is he 19 today? Or 20? Even his own father seems to be confused. More»
tubby_howland article March 22, 2013

The Art Of The Hot Seat

Either UCLA's Ben Howland or Minnesota's Tubby Smith could coach his last game as they meet in the tournament Friday night. But no matter what happens, the two have shown a knack for navigating difficult waters in the face of public scorn. More»
hunter_t1980x1100 article March 20, 2013

Welcome to Tigertown South

Of all the developments over the past few years, maybe nothing trumps this: the energy around the Detroit Tigers. Less than 10 years ago the laughingstock of the AL Central, the Tigers are now building a dynasty... and Michigan fans are streaking to Lakeland. More»
floridagulfcoast article March 19, 2013

Putting Themselves On The Map

Florida Gulf Coast University may have opened in 1997, but it's starting to have it all, from the campus beach to 14,000 students to an NCAA tournament bid in just its second year of Division I eligibility. Just remember: Don't feed the alligators. More»
1980x1100_ncaa_tournament2013_west_v2 article March 18, 2013

Proving Their Worth

It's the West's lot to be questioned about NCAA tournament seeds, with a small-conference No.1 in Gonzaga, and questionable players behind that, from New Mexico to Notre Dame to Pittsburgh. But out of this clutter, one team will still head to Atlanta. More»
RyanHoward article March 15, 2013

Ryan Howard's Spring Revival

Ryan Howard has begun to look like Ryan Howard again, batting .333 with four home runs and a 1.036 OPS in spring training. Could it be a sign that the slugger is ready to bounce back from a lost season -- or is it just a tease for the Phillies faithful? More»
josereyesjays article March 14, 2013

Toronto's Time is Now

Blue Jays fans have spent the twenty years since Joe Carter's October homer waiting patiently for a team with promise and stars like R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to arrive in Toronto, and the wait is almost over. More»
1980x1100_soe_nyy article March 12, 2013

Wish Upon a Star

As Derek Jeter heals, Yankees GM Brian Cashman daydreams about Chipper Jones, a moment both meaningless (pie-in-sky hopeless) and meaningful (emblematic of the Yankee moment). Scott Rolen and Derrek Lee are starting to look good too. More»
Orioles_spring_training article March 11, 2013

So-So Expectations

The Orioles get a rare, rare athletic opportunity. In a world full of athletes who desperately wish people would doubt them, the Orioles might get to play a second consecutive season amid low expectations. But does that matter in baseball? More»
marianorivera_1980x1100 article March 9, 2013

Gratitude Class

Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, who announced Saturday that he will retire following the 2013 season, may go down in history as the best closer ever. But in addition to stellar command and stymieing cutters, he could school the league in thankfulness. More»
harper1980x1100 article March 7, 2013

Smells Like Team Spirit

It's hard not to gush over the Nationals. The enthusiasm in their dugout, where there's great team chemistry among young stars such as Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, and where the players refer to each other as family, is infectious. More»
manu_redcard_1980x1100 article March 6, 2013

Legacy in Red

A little-known Turkish insurance man has wrought a global sports miracle. He has made it possible to feel sorry for Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager and sometime bully, by delivering a terrible call at a pivotal moment. More»
nats_pitchers1980x1100 article March 4, 2013

Spring in Viera

Among all the Florida spring training sites, Viera stands alone both in its nearness to Cape Canaveral and in its coolness in 2013, for suddenly it hosts probably the most alluring team in the Florida half, the Washington Nationals. More»
yankeecatchers_1980x1100 article March 1, 2013

New 'D' Behind the Plate

For welcome levity in a hostile world, there's always the New York Yankees' catching situation, up in the air after 16 seasons of Jorge Posada and Russell Martin, an amusement possible without sneering at the actual humans catching. More»
DavidPrice article February 28, 2013

Follow the Leader

Winning a Cy Young award or fronting an AL East title-contending pitching staff hasn't made David Price different. He's as humble as ever, an engaging interview, with no interest in becoming a celebrity -- and that suits the Rays just fine. More»
sammontgomery article February 26, 2013

Good Job, Good Effort

Every college football season delivers some farcical record-padding games between powers like LSU and also-rans. So don't criticize Sam Montgomery for saying he didn't try as hard against weak opponents. He gave those games the effort they deserve. More»
gardenhire1980x1100 article February 26, 2013

Managerial Marvel

Ron Gardenhire's long tenure with the Twins, both as manager and as a coach, is something of a marvel, and so is the man himself -- he's not just a winning leader but also compassionate. More»
Rousey_UFC article February 24, 2013

'These Chicks Can Fight'

It sounds ludicrous... but what if the deepest esteem for the female athlete winds up stemming from UFC, beginning with UFC 157 Saturday night, when Ronda Rousey defeated Liz Carmouche? UFC aims its arrow right for the hardcores. More»
1980x1100_SOE_miami_Bball article February 21, 2013

Eye Of The Storm

If you were previously unaware of the existence of college basketball in Miami, you weren't far off. For years, the program toiled in obscurity. But suddenly, even amid NCAA turmoil, the second-ranked Hurricanes are the talk of the town More»
AP791869729411 article February 19, 2013

Tragic Trappings

The Oscar Pistorius murder case would be grim anywhere, but it's especially so when set against the backdrop of South Africa, illuminating the continuing violence in a country that harbored one of the great acts of human thinking and courage of our times. More»
noel1980x1100 article February 14, 2013

The Meaning of Noel

What will happen to the NBA chances of Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel after his devastating injury, one that provides yet another commentary on why college athletes should be paid for their efforts, and not just with scholarships? More»
barber1980x1100 article February 13, 2013

All Square

Honesty may have prevented Blayne Barber from earning his PGA Tour card during qualifying school last year, but this week the former Auburn All-American gets his long-awaited shot at a Tour event after qualifying for the Northern Trust Open at Riviera. More»
dogshow_021113_1980x1100 article February 11, 2013

'Most Unusual' Habit

When competitors at the Westminster Dog Show are preparing for the ring, their benching area is open to the public. Anyone can pet, coddle, photograph and admire these top canines, leading the writer to ask: What is the most unusual thing dog show owners will do for their dogs? More»
US_Honduras article February 7, 2013

Let the Fretting Begin

Many would-be managers will wring their hands about the lapses that helped the U.S. men's soccer team lose to Honduras 2-1 on a humid Wednesday afternoon in San Pedro Sula. But here's the ultimate truth -- there's still a long way in the World Cup qualifiers. More»
gaysuperbowl article February 7, 2013

The Gay Super Bowl

I am that exotic creature, a gay male sportswriter, and from Chris Culliver to the blowback he received, I never expected a Super Bowl week like it, just as I never expected to be standing around wondering whether to approach somebody like Brendon Ayanbadejo. More»
USA_Soccer article February 6, 2013

Taking On The World

The other football season may be over, but the drama is just beginning in Honduras as the United States hopes to qualify for the the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The process carries from Wednesday on into October. More»
JoseAldo article February 4, 2013

Taking Our Breath Away

Part of MMA's appeal are the involuntary gasps that the sport can produce. And nobody takes this spectactor's breath away more than Brazilian sensation Jose Aldo, who made his mark against Frankie Edgar at UFC 156. More»
tiger_phil_020413_1980x1100 article February 4, 2013

Driving Toward Excitement

After the season-opening success of Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, I'm looking forward to watching the pair renew their major championship rivalry with Rory McIlroy at Augusta in April. More»
silvaovereem article February 3, 2013

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Arrogance, disrespect and hype aren't always bad things. Saturday night, they served as an indispensable backdrop for UFC 165 in Las Vegas, where heavyweight Antonio Silva turned the tables and knocked out the talkative Alistair Overeem. More»
UFC_Fans article January 31, 2013

For UFC, A Super Saturday

Mixed martial arts isn't quite like any other sport, but it does share fans with other sports — especially the NFL, which is also built on barely controlled aggression. As UFC 156 approaches on Super Bowl eve, the link between the two worlds grows. More»
ray_lewis_super_bowl article January 30, 2013

The Slow Death of Naivete

Americans are waking up and smelling the deer antler velvet spray. Now we get a Super Bowl week in which we learn Ray Lewis possibly used a banned substance for a ballyhooed recovery from a torn triceps, and it hardly counts as a jolt. More»
AustralianOpen article January 28, 2013

Game, Set, Match

Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka took the Australian Open titles this weekend. But there are still many questions that remain open-ended. For one, was Sloane Stephens denied a finals apperance by a panicked Azarenka injury timeout? More»
siblingsportstop10 article January 24, 2013

Top 10 Sports Siblings

This is hard. Get your Harbaugh on and start rummaging around sports siblings seeking an all-time top 10, and you'll find more than you ever imagined. There are dozens of extraordinary contenders -- but we managed to narrow it down. More»
sloanestephens article January 22, 2013

Living The Dream

Across the Pacific, 19-year-old upstart Sloane Stephens upset Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinals, a match that served as an homage to a more barren time when their pioneer parents rustled. More»
SuperBowl_preview article January 22, 2013

Spare Us the Super Hype

The Super Bowl is still two weeks away, but the forecast for the big event already calls for continued televised segments featuring Ray Lewis with an 80-percent chance of schmaltzy music. And that doesn't even factor in the Harbaugh brothers narrative yet. It's enough to make any football fan want to tune out the noise. More»
bradyravens article January 22, 2013

Reversal of Fortune

After the Patriots lost another home playoff game to the Ravens, we have a paradigm where we're going to have to stop revering the Patriots just because we're used to revering the Patriots. We're going to have to stop succumbing to glamour. More»
1980x1100_old_patriots article January 18, 2013

Before Brady

Anyone born since 1990 might assume that the Patriots have an automatic berth in the AFC Championship Game: They will play there for the seventh time in 12 years on Sunday. But there was a time when the Pats were a goofball operation. More»
1980x1100_SOE_top11shams article January 18, 2013

The Top 10 Sports Hoaxes of All Time

Lance Armstrong and Manti Te'o rocked our worlds, but they have some stiff competition on our list of the Top Sports Hoaxes of All Time -- including a pretend sheikh, a not-so-disabled Paralympic basketball team and a figure skating "fixer." More»
federer1980x1100 article January 16, 2013

No More Words

When it comes to describing Roger Federer's brilliance, vocabularies are exhausted and the thesaurus is tapped out. As he makes his near-record 53rd consecutive Grand Slam appearance, the No. 2 ranked player in the world looks ready to continue defining the word extraordinary. More»
mancityravens article January 15, 2013

Masterpiece Theatre

The world's two most popular leagues decide championships in much different fashions. While Manchester City won a true season EPL championship, one can't help but marvel at the unpredictable drama created by the NFL's playoff system. More»
samantha_stosur article January 14, 2013

Hungry Down Under

No country is more sports-mad than Australia -- and yet no Australian man has won the Australian Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976, and no Australian woman has won the Australian Open since Chris O'Neil in 1978. Why not, and when will the draught end? More»
1980x1100_nfl_best_playoff_games2 article January 11, 2013

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

We have reached the greatest NFL weekend of the year, one better than the conference championship games and even the Super Bowl. The divisional playoffs bring a weekend of important games, and, looking back for the 10 best, bring deep history with them. More»
Gatorade_Shower article January 9, 2013

Soaking It Up

Drenching a coach in Gatorade has become a football tradition since the mid-80s. But haven't we evolved since then? Not if the recent bowl season is any indication, as even arcane games saw their share of celebratory showers. Time to start thinking outside the bucket. More»
uspw_6903754 article January 4, 2013

All in for Chip

After a decisive victory over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl ran Chip Kelly's record with Oregon to a gaudy 46-7 in four years, Ducks fans are holding onto slim hopes that their head coach will remain in Eugene instead of heading to the NFL. More»
Jim_Boeheim article January 3, 2013

Live Long And Prosper

How best to portray the survivor-hood of Jim Boeheim, who over 37 seasons has gone from everyone's idea of a whiny grouch to (almost) cuddly? The best measure of how much he's achieved may not be the 903 wins, but all the losses. More»
Snyder_Kelly article January 3, 2013

The Sham Bowl

It may not be the BCS Championship Game, but Thursday night's Oregon-Kansas State Fiesta Bowl is a commendable runner-up, featuring Bill Snyder's efficiency against Chip Kelly's frenzy. So why are we calling it the Sham Bowl? Read on. More»
Stanford_Rose_Bowl article January 2, 2013

Cardinal Rule

Not only has Stanford gone 35-5 over the last three seasons, and suffered Andrew Luck's departure by going 12-2 with a Pac-12 title and its first Rose Bowl win in 40 years, but it has slaughtered a stereotype. The Cardinal leaned on a hard, hard defense. More»
Culpepper_2013 article January 1, 2013

Ring in the New

From the energized fanbase in reborn World Cup hopeful Colombia, to the venues in New Orleans and England prepping for the year's most epic events, here's one sure prediction for 2013: Somewhere in the world, horns will blare, flags will fly ... and there will be victory. More»
southlakecarroll article December 27, 2012

Embedded In The Soul

Football faces an uncertain future thanks to increased awareness of health risks associated with a violent sport. But in places like Texas, football is woven into the fabric of communities, and it seems clear that the game isn't going anywhere anytime soon. More»
Spain_YearEnd article December 24, 2012

Reign In Spain

Could this be the best team of any sport? Spain took the 2012 European title, becoming the first squad to win three straight international cups. But, as impressive as Spain's accomplishments are, the best may still be on the horizon. More»
pagano_1980x1100 article December 23, 2012

It must be something

There are some teams and some seasons that leave you with the feeling that it must be something to belong to that team. This autumn in Indy, as their coach battled cancer and the Colts raced to the edge of the playoffs, was one of those seasons. More»
cutlerthreepanel article December 19, 2012

The Many Faces of Jay Cutler

The Jay Cutler story is a cautionary tale of being famous, of how complex human beings can get pegged for one trait. But then, if you actually see Cutler’s hometown of Santa Claus, well, you start to get a different picture of the heavily scrutinized QB. More»
1980x1100_mannypacquiao02b article December 13, 2012

The Power Of One Punch

Manny Pacquiao's fourth bout with Juan Manuel Marquez has reminded us that boxing is fascinating, and that one punch can relight the past, overwhelm the present and change the future. We'll soon find out what all that means for Pacquiao. More»
158,030,738 article December 10, 2012

Supernatural

Lionel Messi, who has scored 86 goals this year, breaking Gerd Müller's 40-year-old record, has to be seen to be believed. He's the best, most momentous athletic show on Earth, and possibly the most artistic show as well. And he's still only 25. More»
pacquiao article December 9, 2012

An About-Face

Whether squinting to punch someone or taking a punch, that face had always stayed five-plus feet above the ground, atop Manny Pacquiao’s small frame. But after one right hand by Juan Manuel Marquez, the famous visage just ... vanished. More»
hornetslakers article December 8, 2012

Don't Mess With The Pelicans

Further evidence that people are really weird came this week with the resistance to the prospective new NBA team name 'New Orleans Pelicans,' in a league that already features some of the goofiest, most feckless team names imaginable. More»
pacquiao article December 7, 2012

We Meet Again

When you realize that Manny Pacquiao is about to turn 34, and you wonder about his last two blasé bouts and how he'll do against Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday, trainer Freddie Roach reassures you: This great story will continue on. More»
Derrick_Rose article December 5, 2012

Specter of the Rose

Injuries happen in every sport, but with a fresh NBA season underway, the prolonged absence of Bulls star Derrick Rose has left Chicago looking woozy, in a manner to which it might not even realize now that it has grown accustomed. More»
rickmajerus article December 3, 2012

Razing Arizona

You keep thinking about the outsized American life of Rick Majerus that ended on Saturday and coursed through coaching stints at Marquette, Ball State, Utah and Saint Louis -- and one game starts to get deluged. But that one game should not be forgotten. More»
Saban article November 30, 2012

Eyes on the Prize

Alabama's Nick Saban is one of our national leaders in clarity. From his very first head coaching job at Toledo, that stood out. And going into Saturday's clash with Georgia, he still knows exactly what he wants from his team -- and how to get it. More»
chizik article November 25, 2012

What Have You Done For Me Lately?

The world just took two big steps toward a coach or manager winning a title one day -- and getting fired the next. Auburn canned Gene Chizik not two years after his national title; Chelsea's Roberto Di Matteo was 186 days from a European Champions League title. More»
nd_usc article November 25, 2012

Waking Up the Echoes

Another spirited goal line stand sparked one more signature win, this time at rival Southern Cal, and now Notre Dame — which began the season unranked and has lost 10 of its last 12 bowl games — is 12-0 and playing for the national title. More»
Luck_and_Brady article November 19, 2012

Taken to School

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck may have hit his rookie nadir on Sunday, the one that had not really visited him over the first nine games. But this thudding rookie nadir just wasn't all that horrible in the long annals of thudding rookie nadirs. More»
andrewluck article November 15, 2012

Don't Call Him A Rookie

Andrew Luck was put in an almost impossible situation as the No. 1 overall pick replacing Peyton Manning in Indianapolis. Only halfway through his rookie year, Luck has looked mature beyond his years for a team that was supposedly rebuilding. More»
bears_rain article November 12, 2012

Chicago Style

What an idyllic Chicago football Sunday. The rain came at a menacing slant, just like they draw it up in the city planning. The Bears lost. It was like walking through a museum biosphere aimed at depicting essential Chicago football. More»
1980x1100_ftod_oregon article November 8, 2012

Duck and Cover

Why Oregon? Oregon wins. It thrills. It reels off points that read like a fan's good dream: 57, 42, 63, 49, 51, 52, 43, 70, 62. It lends tranquil fourth quarters full of steady pulses. And it upgrades public health. Worry, like sedentariness, is bad for you. More»
Guan Tianlang article November 6, 2012

Boy Wonder

Guan Tianlang could be just one remarkable boy or he could be some sort of golf signpost. By qualifying for the Masters at 14 years old, he certainly sends the brain running off and scampering around and turning up with crazy thoughts. More»
McCarron article November 4, 2012

Emotional Rescue

A guy from Mobile, quarterbacking Alabama, against LSU, under the lights, rough night, looks doomed, comes through, then starts crying? If that scene doesn't end up in a national championship, then no storyteller had any say in the matter. More»
clippers article November 3, 2012

Lords of the Realm

The capital of basketball is always on the move, and this year, the place to be is Los Angeles. But while much of the attention continues to be on the Lakers, who are a surprising 0-3, the Clippers are the ones leaving fans breathless. More»
perez article November 2, 2012

One Of A Kind

In our mysterious memory banks, incidents often outweigh longevity. That's certainly the case when remembering the career of former pitcher Pascual Perez, who was found dead this week in the Dominican Republic at the age of 55. More»
bama_lsu article November 1, 2012

Dog Eat Dog

The Alabama-LSU rivalry spent most of its first 111 years in varying states of tepidity. It didn't preen or scream for attention the way it's doing right now, when the first Saturday in November shouts from the Alabaman and Louisianan calendars. More»
lakers_mavs article October 31, 2012

Opening Night Flop

Doubt, melodrama, rancor and molar-grinding are already underway 1/82nd of the way through the overwrought Lakers season, which began with a 99-91 loss to the Mavericks. This year's team offers the tantalizing possibility of implosion. More»
tj yeldon article October 28, 2012

Flying High

The last weekend in October was filled with college football drama, except in Tuscaloosa. Alabama keeps rolling, beating undefeated Mississippi State 38-7, to the point where a simple No. 1 ranking no longer feels fitting for Nick Saban's unstoppable squad. More»
lin6 article October 25, 2012

Believing in Lin

If we watch sports for every feeling, from joy to entertainment to inspiration to horror to contempt for the rival down the road, the greatest would be disbelief, and last winter Jeremy Lin supplied a heap of that. But in Houston, it may finally fade away. More»
us_guatemala article October 16, 2012

An End to the Suffering

Five. Five little minutes. That's all the time that was spent by American fans fearing their men's soccer team would falter against Guatemala and be disqualified from the '14 World Cup. But then a dominant, likable U.S. team showed up, just like that. More»
peyton_article article October 16, 2012

One Too Many 'I Love You's

We are quarterback people, a quarterback culture. We love quarterbacks in high school, quarterbacks in college, quarterbacks when they're old. We love them because they've taken the hits and earned it, but we also love them all out of proportion. More»
1980x1100_SOE_NFL_Sean_Payton article October 11, 2012

A World Removed

On a Saturday when six Super Bowl-winning NFL coaches readied for their next game, Sean Payton whipped out his playbook and visor for the start of his … with his team of sixth-graders. Welcome to the Surreal Life in Springtown, Texas. More»
lance article October 10, 2012

Living a Lie

If 26 witnesses including 11 former teammates have it right, then Lance Armstrong has spent the last decade-plus feeding us one big lie. We've lied before, but you would have to feel awe at this level of lying -- at its length, breadth and doggedness. More»
chiefs article October 9, 2012

Crossing the Line

Surliness has a legacy in sports, but more often than not, the misbehavior contains a sliver of hope, reminding us all that fans really do care. But Sunday in Kansas City, the contempt went across a line and gave hints of devolution. More»
orioles article October 6, 2012

And They Said It'd Never Last

It's a good thing the Orioles got in that epic champagne-soaked locker-room celebration on Friday. Because their improbable and thrilling run will officially end here, with their AL wild card playoff win over the Rangers. It just has to. Right? More»
Adam Greenberg article October 2, 2012

A Second Chance

Adam Greenberg gets another shot tonight. After getting hit by a pitch -- the first pitch -- in his only major-league at-bat in 2005, the Marlins have offered him a single plate appearance. It's a do-over that ends a 12-round scuffle between the heart and mind. More»
Texans article October 1, 2012

Catch the Fever

You can feel it in the parking lots at Reliant Stadium, where grills hiss and music blares, and especially in the crowd of nearly 72,000, cheering Houston's first-ever 4-0 NFL team. It's Texans fever, and if you love football, then you'll catch it too. More»
refs_culpepper article September 27, 2012

You Guys Are So Freaking Hot

Refs, we love you. We always have, even when it didn't seem that way. You are the first-string NFL officials, and now you get your turn as the coolest people in America. As fans, we're sorry for how we treated you ... until tonight's game, anyway. More»
Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather article September 25, 2012

Fool Us Once ...

We've been teased too many times by the on-and-off-then-on-again-then-off-again talks between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Sure, we would all love to see this fight, but really? We know better than as to really expect it'd happen. Right? More»
USA vs. Jamaica article September 13, 2012

U.S. Fans: Irrational, Still Not Rabid

USA's win over Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday was, well … blah. Not to American fans, though. At a rowdy bar in New York's East Village, it became quite apparent that the U.S. has evolved in its attempt to join the world at the world's game. More»
Big Four article September 12, 2012

Fantastic Four

For years men's tennis had a Big Two with one almost-there (Novak Djokovic). Then it had a Big Three with an almost-there (Andy Murray). But with his first Slam title, Murray created the promise of something even more extravagant in 2013. More»
Andy Murray article September 11, 2012

Too Great to Grasp

It took nearly five hours and many astonishing rallies before Andy Murray finally beat Novak Djokovic at the U.S. Open. But really, it took decades. He became the first British male to win a Slam title in 76 years, a feat even he struggled to grasp. More»
Serena Williams article September 10, 2012

Lost and Found

There's no word to describe it, really, but Serena Williams has something that allows her to pluck her game from the wreckage and immediately right the ship. It's what makes her great. It's also what makes her a four-time U.S. Open champ. More»
Andy Roddick, Roger Federer article September 6, 2012

Over and Out

On a day for road warriors at the U.S. Open, Juan Martin del Potro sent Andy Roddick sadly into retirement, and Tomas Berdych sent Roger Federer unexpectedly packing. And both winners sent the New York crowds disappointedly home. More»
David Ferrer article September 5, 2012

The Fifth Element

Most people wouldn't know David Ferrer if he knocked on their door. But those who do, those who have sat through an entire Ferrer match, can tell you that at No. 5 in tennis' big-four era dwells a game that’s both barely watchable and hugely admirable. More»
Serena Williams article September 3, 2012

Lights Out

Serena Williams has plowed through the U.S. Open competition, rendering the tournament all but over just midway through. But where suspense fails, bedazzlement compensates. Her dominance is simply mesmerizing. More»
Andy Roddick article August 30, 2012

One and Done

Andy Roddick, who announced his retirement on Thursday, his 30th birthday, will be remembered as much for the Grand Slam title he did win -- the 2003 U.S. Open -- as for the one he almost did: an epic five-setter at Wimbledon three years ago. More»
Kim Clijsters article August 30, 2012

An Unfit Ending

One of the most stirring two-act careers in tennis came to an abrupt end in the second round of the U.S. Open, with the upper deck almost empty and the lingering fans failing to muster a 'One More Year' chant. This wasn't how it was supposed to end for Kim Clijsters. More»
Venus Williams article August 29, 2012

Meet Venus Williams, All Grown Up

Fifteen U.S. Opens ago, when she was just 17, Venus Williams spoke of her hair beads and how she liked geometry over Algebra 2. She charmed but would also throw fits. She was a kid. But at this year's Open, the maturation of Venus is made quite apparent. More»
Roger Federer article August 28, 2012

In Search of the Long-Lost Volley

As another Grand Slam unfurls, it helps to spend the first couple of days on an expedition. The quest at this year's U.S. Open: to comb through the Flushing Meadows wilds to seek a glimpse of a volley, just one, measly volley. More»
Rafael Nadal article August 26, 2012

A Grand Slam Without Rafa is Wrong

As incredible as this era's top tennis players have been, they've also been remarkably good at showing up. But not for this year's U.S. Open. There will be no Rafa, and frankly, that just feels wrong. More»

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