Column Archive

Fernando Valenzuela’s Magical Life and Tragic Death Reminds Us That Immigration Is Beautiful

The Dodgers pitcher had a legendary rookie year in 1981 in which he helped defeat the Yankees in the World Series.

Chiefs Placekicker Harrison Butker Goes Wide Right and Finds Political Power

The Kansas City Chiefs kicker has started a far-right super PAC to encourage conservatives to vote for “traditional Christian values.” He is part of a terrifying political trend.

In a Glaring Double Standard, FIFA Fails to Suspend Israel

FIFA banned apartheid South Africa. It banned Russia for invading Ukraine. But about Israel, FIFA does nothing.

Behind the Harris Campaign’s Quest for the Mythical “Cheney Democrats”

Kamala Harris is trying to appeal to centrist Republicans, but what if they don’t exist? And what if the search for them leads her to abandon the Democratic base?

Gambling Is an Addiction. So Why Was Pete Rose an Outcast?

The baseball legend was an example of not only the perils of gambling but also why the sports leagues’ embrace of the online-betting industry makes them predatory hypocrites.

Macklemore Is a Seattle Sports Superfan. Now, He Is Also a Target.

The Seattle sports establishment loved the Grammy Award–winning rapper until he dared criticize the United States for funding Israeli war crimes.

NFL Head Injuries Are Part of the Product

The league creates spectacles that distract from the dangers—but that doesn’t mean they’re not there.

Police Violence, Tyreek Hill, and the NFL Owners Who Bankroll Brutality

The NFL does not cross the police. The NFL partners with the police.

The Dark Side of the Democratic Party’s Embrace of Football

The hypermasculinity and violence of football connects to Kamala Harris’s bellicose convention speech. It could repel young voters.

What Was the Paris Olympics?

The Olympic Games supercharge the problems that already exist in a host city. We saw that in Paris—but what will happen in LA?