Fans boo Swift Remarkably, the biggest story in the NFL this season has nothing to do with the game. Instead, it has everything to do with the budding relationship between pop star Taylor Swift and tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. Every game Swift attends becomes more about her than the game. This holds even when fans… Read more.
Sports
Victor Wembanyama’s NBA Career Gets Off on Losing Streak
Veteran Jokic schools rookie Wemby On Sunday night, the Denver Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 132-120. Nikola Jokic, the NBA’s two-time MVP, led the Nuggets with 39 points. But all eyes were on the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama. He, of course, is the league’s most-celebrated rookie since LeBron James. He played well, except that nobody was more… Read more.
Verstappen Slams Vegas F1 Grand Prix as ‘99% Show, 1% Sport’
F1: more show than sport Corporate barons are more interested in promoting Formula One than in making races more interesting or competitive. This has been the case for years. That’s why it’s surprising that Max Verstappen is the first driver to complain about the rank marketing of F1 at the expense of the sport itself. As Las Vegas… Read more.
Rugby World Cup Final: South Africa Defeats New Zealand 12-11 in Thriller
South Africa world champs again Given the myriad ills that beset it, South Africa has little to brag about these days. And so this World Cup win will seem like a panacea – at least for a day or two. No one had ever won four men’s Rugby World Cup titles. And, even on a soggy Parisian… Read more.
South Africa Stuns England to Face New Zealand in Rugby World Cup Final
Springboks: Long way from Apartheid, stone’s throw from fourth title During Apartheid, the South African national rugby team, the Springboks, was nearly all-White. Back then, Black South Africans would have seen it as treason to support that team. Then, South Africa released Nelson Mandela. His Christ-like inclination to turn the other cheek was as disarming as inspiring.… Read more.
Now Taylor Swift Is Tackling Travis Kelce
Stop the presses! That’s what all the news media did today to report on Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s budding relationship. Because what the world needs now is more Pavlovian coverage of the symbiotic relationship between pop and sports stars. Theirs is a match made in heaven or Hollywood, given its scripted nature. Travis and Taylor (TNT) are… Read more.
Oregon Defeats Colorado: Ducks Take Prime Cut of Buffaloes
Hailing Colorado’s Coach Prime Six days ago, everyone was so effusive in their praise for Coach Prime that they seemed like cult worshippers. His Colorado had just defeated Colorado State 43-35 in a thrilling double-overtime game. But, as my Facebook Notifications will attest, I sounded this sobering note at Yahoo Sports: Yeah, but all the analysts had Colorado winning by ‘at least… Read more.
Coco Gauff Wins US Open
‘Call Me Coco Champion’ I couldn’t have been happier or prouder this afternoon as I watched 19-year-old Coco Gauff win her first Grand Slam at the US Open. It was merely a matter of time before Coco Gauff won a Grand Slam title. … Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus on Saturday, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, shrugging off… Read more.
Sha’Carri Richardson Is World Champion! Redemption? No, She Seeks Reclamation
Sha’Carri’s redemption Sha’Carri Richardson won the Women’s 100m last week at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Many are hailing it as her redemption. I understand why, but I disagree. They are hailing it as her redemption because of what happened at the 2020 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Richardson won the Women’s 100m. And she did so with speed… Read more.
A Kiss Upsets Spain’s Women’s World Cup Victory
The kiss that ruined Spain’s football fiesta Everyone was ecstatic. Hell, even Queen Letizia rushed down to the field to lead the Spanish players in jumping for joy – complete with fists punching in the air. After all, they had just defeated England to win Spain’s first Women’s World Cup. Who could’ve foreseen the scandal a jubilant… Read more.