Column Archive

The Death of Socrates: Celebrating a Sports/Politics Soccer Legend

International soccer lost a hero last weekend when Socrates, the masterful Brazilian midfielder who captained Brazil’s famed 1982 World Cup squad, died from an intestinal infection at age 57.  The death of the lanky, bearded, 6-foot 4-inch field general with a philosopher’s name will be felt far beyond the sports world. Socrates--full name Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira--was one of those rare athletes whose outsized personality and effervescent humanity transcended the game.

Chris Paul: The Occupier and the Occupied

Will Chris Paul become a Laker? The question speaks to the unresolved heart of the NBA Lockout.

Saluting a Sick System: Sports Illustrated Honors Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski

In a year where the NCAA has been mired in crisis, crippled under the weight of its own culture of corruption. Sports Illustrated has chosen to honor Coach K, giving reassurance to a rotten system.

Bobby Valentine's Last Stint as Manager

In perhaps the most bizarre baseball managerial hiring since Ted Turner employed himself, the Boston Red Sox tapped Bobby Valentine to be their manager for the 2012 season. But Valentine's last stint as a "manager" should give everyone in Quinzee pause.

Syracuse, Penn State and the Problem with Sun Kings

Last week, Syracuse University men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim walked onto his home court at the Carrier Dome and received a rousing standing ovation. This wasn’t because he was starting his thirty-fifth season as the team’s head coach, or to commemorate the Hall of Famer’s forty-ninth year in association with the school as student, athlete and coach. It was a community-wide show of support for their embattled leader now facing pressure to resign after his longtime assistant coach was accused of being a pedophile. If that sounds like a horrible echo of the happenings at Penn State University, the similarities don’t end there. Not by a long shot.

NBA Lockout Ends and Players Get Played

I’m an NBA junkie and I’m thrilled to be watching ball sooner rather than later. But with every game of this warped, bastardized 66 game season, I’ll remember that we had a lockout where the rich got richer, the players got played and the fans didn't get a damn thing.

Two Scandals, One Connection: The FBI link between Penn State and UC Davis

Two shocking scandals. Two esteemed universities. Two disgraced university leaders. One stunning connection.

Tebow Redeemed?

“You are what your record says your are.” It’s a classic lunchpail NFL phrase, courtesy of retired coach Bill Parcells. It means forget how good you or your team think you are. Forget your stats. Forget all the ways you came up just short. The end results define the entire journey. It’s the amoral slogan of the sports world’s soul. It allows us to cheer for unsavory individuals and root for teams that vacuum our wallets clean. You are what your record says you are, and winning excuses all. But this consecrated commandment of sports is being challenged like never before. If you are what your record says you are, what does that possibly tell us about the man with the top jersey sales in the NFL, Tim Tebow?

NBA Players: Welcome to the 99 Percent

If I were an NBA player, I’d be mighty confused right now. I wouldn’t be confused about why the entire 2011–12 season is now in jeopardy. I wouldn’t be confused about rejecting the ultimatums and “last, final offers” of NBA Commissioner David Stern. Instead, I’d be confused as hell by the media’s reaction to my union’s collective and unanimous stand.

The World Joe Paterno Made

This is the world Joe Pa made. It’s a world where libraries, buildings, and statues bear his name. It’s a world where the school endowment now stands at over $1 billion dollars. It’s a company town where moral posturing acted as a substitute for actual morality. In such an atmosphere, seeing the players and fans gather to bow their heads and mourn Saturday wasn’t “touching” or “somber” or anything of the sort. It was just sad. It was sad because they still don’t get it.