Football’s best up-and-coming managers: Thiago Motta, a fascinating tactician
This is the first article in a six-part series looking at some of European football’s most innovative up-and-coming managers. Thiago Motta knows a thing or two about success. When your CV includes two La Liga titles, one Serie A title,…
Jamie Cassidy – the Liverpool prodigy who became a cocaine conspirator
He appeared in the dock at Manchester Crown Court like a familiar-looking stranger, a vivid memory from a distant past. Jamie Cassidy had once been one of the most promising young footballers at Liverpool, England’s most successful club, a player…
March Madness upset picks: Bracket Breakers chooses its 10 most likely first-round stunners
Welcome back to Bracket Breakers! We know you’ve missed us, and we can’t wait to overwhelm you with our unique take on NCAA tournament upsets, powered by our proprietary statistical model, Slingshot. Hopefully, you’ve been following our work for years….
As the Dodgers enter their Shohei Ohtani Era, failure is not an option
PHOENIX — Flags only fly forever if you raise them. At Dodgertown, the ancestral home of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Vero Beach, Fla., a mural celebrating six World Series winners greeted visitors. No such signage exists at Camelback Ranch….
Feeding the ‘demon inside’: Ex-employee tells how and why he stole $22 million from Jaguars
Feb. 2, 2023 began like any other morning for Amit Patel. He was sitting in his cubicle on the ground floor of EverBank Stadium, home to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Patel, a manager in the team’s financial department, was closing out…
Nottingham Forest handed four-point deduction for breaching Premier League’s financial rules
Nottingham Forest have been handed a four-point deduction following a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs). Forest were referred to an independent commission in January after the club reported losses that exceeded the allowed amount over…
What happened to the 2021 NFL Draft QBs? Why Justin Fields and others are with new teams
They entered the NFL with great fanfare and lofty expectations of one day ranking among the best collections of talent the NFL had seen at their position. But just three years later, the 2021 quarterback draft class instead largely looks…
Carlos Alcaraz is making magic again. Watch out.
It happens every time that guy Carlos Alcaraz takes the court. One outrageously zany point where he does something that people who have been watching tennis for decades will swear on the life of their favorite doubles partner that they…
The Angels adjust to life after Shohei Ohtani: ‘Like being kicked out of the band’
TEMPE, Ariz. — Every morning for the past six years, no matter how early Angels players and staff got to Tempe Diablo Stadium, they saw a throng of Japanese media standing on the Tempe Butte mountain overlooking the team’s spring…
How did Juwan Howard and Michigan basketball fall so far?
Editor’s note: The University of Michigan announced Friday afternoon that Juwan Howard will not return as head basketball coach next season. Crisler Center was mostly empty the night of March 4, 2021, but Michigan basketball brought the place to life….
The gap-year road trip that healed an Ivy League hoops star
NEW YORK — She stopped working at the sushi restaurant, laid two mattress pads in the back of her Jeep and drove away from Florida with her new girlfriend, bound for a small town in the Cascade Mountains that looks…
From unknown to underdog: Qwan’tez Stiggers’ storybook rise as an NFL Draft prospect
Qwan’tez Stiggers sat alone in a dark hotel room, a thousand miles from anything familiar. He drew the curtains tight to block out the world so he could focus on the avalanche in his head. It was spring 2023, and…
2024 MLB ‘Wild-Card Era’ Franchise Rankings: Rangers break into top 10, Cubs fall out
As Jonah Heim squeezed the final strike of the 2023 postseason and Josh Sborz spiked his mitt on the mound to celebrate the Texas Rangers’ first World Series title, a thought crossed my mind: How will this change the franchise…
What we know about Kamilla Cardoso’s suspension, the NCAA Tournament implications of South Carolina-LSU fight
The rivalry between SEC foes LSU and South Carolina reached new heights when an altercation broke out during the conference championship game Sunday. Multiple players were ejected, and Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso has been suspended for the first game of…
A mysterious illness halted his promising NHL career. Eight years later, hope and a comeback
The game was already won when the puck slid to Cody Hodgson for the tap-in. The Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, the Nashville Predators’ top minor league affiliate, had a comfortable 3-0 lead over the Chicago Wolves. On…
Dissecting Haaland vs Van Dijk: When the league’s best striker took on its best defender
The best striker in the Premier League versus the best defender in the Premier League in a one-on-one showdown with millions of people watching across the world? Liverpool vs Manchester City had far bigger things at stake on Sunday (it…
NAACP urges current, future college athletes to reconsider public Florida schools
In an open letter published Monday, the NAACP urged Black college athletes to “reconsider any potential decision” to attend a public university in Florida following last week’s news that the University of Florida is eliminating its Diversity and Inclusion office….
Michael Edwards – the Liverpool visionary FSG simply cannot live without
This is an updated version of an article first published in June 2020. Perhaps the best place to start is the story Harry Redknapp tells when he is asked about Michael Edwards and the remarkable chain of events that first…
Thirty years ago, Chris Farley and college basketball collided in an unforgettable way
Thirty years later, Christian Laettner isn’t sure he knew it was coming. In 1994, he was in the NBA, his second season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Maybe someone had informed his agent but he doesn’t think so. The former Duke…
How Paul Mullin – via a text from Rob McElhenney – ended his rare goal drought
Rob McElhenney takes the duty of care he has as Wrexham’s co-owner seriously. When Phil Parkinson was still coming to terms with what remains the nadir of the club’s return to the EFL after a 15-year non-League exile, the co-owner…
How love, Warriors basketball and poetry brought Tom Meschery back
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The poet has been upstairs in his office, tapping at the keyboard on various projects. Most of his mornings begin this way … so much work to do. Some days he tends to his blog, and on…
Max Verstappen’s father: Red Bull could be ‘torn apart’ if Horner stays amid controversy
Stay informed on all the biggest stories in Formula One. Sign up here to receive the Prime Tire newsletter in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. Fractures within Red Bull Racing appear to have grown after Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, warned the…
NFL Scouting Combine: What we’re following for all 32 teams in Indianapolis
Draft season kicks into high gear this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis as teams will put prospects under a microscope during private interviews, news conferences and workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Quarterbacks always dominate conversations at the…
Neville’s ‘blue billion-pound bottle jobs’ line will immortalise Chelsea’s pain
Not all losses are created equal — and no defeat in football is worse than a banter one. “In extra time, it’s been Klopp’s kids against the blue billion-pound bottle jobs,” said Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville, succinctly and indisputably…
Jerry Reinsdorf’s White Sox era takes another turn with new stadium push
For all his mishegas and misdirection, Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is right on one thing: It’s either now or later. Either he’s asking the city and state for more than a billion bucks of public money for a…
Jordan Chiles stepped up at the Tokyo Olympics — now it’s time for Paris
Jordan Chiles is smiling, the beam nearly as bright as the green sweatshirt she’s wearing and the Olympic ring flex of a necklace dangling at the base of her neck. This is not necessarily a departure. Effervescence tends to be…
Which MLB teams, front offices and managers are feeling the most pressure? Insiders weigh in
As the February sunshine beams down on all of baseball, and the standings say that everyone is undefeated, it’s easy to melt into a zen state of spring training nirvana. But there’s one question in our annual spring survey that…
The public shouldn’t pay to rebuild Manchester United’s stadium for a billionaire
“I think if it’s a national stadium and is a catalyst for the regeneration of that part of southern Manchester… there has to be a conversation with the government.” While much of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s round of media interviews on…
Eli Manning’s popular ‘Chad Powers’ skit to be made into Hulu comedy series starring Glen Powell
The name’s Powers. Chad Powers. And he’s coming (back) to a screen near you. Hulu ordered Eli Manning’s character “Chad Powers” to be made into its own comedy series, according to a company press release. Manning created and transformed into…
Dani Alves – from 43 trophies to four years in prison
Dani Alves, who was this morning sentenced to four and a half years in prison in Spain after being found guilty of sexual assault, was, until very recently, one of global football’s golden boys. An exuberant, technical right-back, he was…
Man on a mission: NFL great Alan Page’s quest for justice in football and beyond
MINNEAPOLIS — A few times each month, Alan Page visits Justice Page Middle School, one of two schools named in his honor. As the first African American to become a Minnesota Supreme Court justice and the first African American elected…
Sir Jim Ratcliffe on Manchester United, Old Trafford, Sheikh Jassim and Mason Greenwood: Full transcript
On Tuesday evening, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS completed their purchase of a minority stake in Manchester United, as the British billionaire acquired a 27.7 per cent stake in the Premier League club in a deal worth over $1.3bn. On…
Robert Lewandowski was Barcelona’s big post-Messi gamble. It hasn’t entirely paid off
“Everything Robert won at Bayern Munich, the goals he scored, it was all with the aim of ending up where he is now: playing for Barcelona.” Robert Lewandowski’s career has been full of targets, but two summers ago he fulfilled…
The fearless mindset of the Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski: ‘He’s got a delusion to him’
SAN FRANCISCO — Nearly a year ago on the dot, Mike Dunleavy, the Golden State Warriors’ future general manager, and Kent Lacob, an ascending front office personnel voice, hopped in a car and made the quick 50 mile trip south…
2024 NFL free agency rankings: Brian Burns, Saquon Barkley, Kirk Cousins lead top 150
NFL free agency is fast approaching, offering the first window for teams to improve this offseason, provided they sign the right players. These are my rankings and scouting reports of the top 150 free agents available, shaped by a ton…
‘His legs have gone’: Unpicking the four words no footballer wants to hear
Last season, it was a Brazilian midfielder at Liverpool. This season, it’s been his international team-mate at Manchester United. “I think Casemiro’s legs have gone,” Jamie Carragher told the Covering Liverpool podcast in October. “I noticed it last season at…
For Juwan Howard and Michigan basketball, facts say patience may soon run out
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Warde Manuel is a patient man. Patient to a fault, some would say. The job of an athletic director, as Manuel sees it, is to avoid knee-jerk reactions. Sports fans are fickle. They want what they…
Does the PGA Tour have a juice problem, and will Sunday solve it?
LOS ANGELES — It was all going to be so perfect. It had stars. It had records. It had one of the most beautiful stages in all of sports in prime time. It was supposed to be the PGA Tour’s…
Intensity, alter egos and ‘Benjamin Button’: Dan Hurley’s quest to become king of two in a row at UConn
STORRS, Conn. — It is 1 p.m. on a dismal January afternoon and, aside from a few managers, Gampel Pavilion is empty. The Connecticut players have finished reviewing film but have yet to shuffle in from the practice facility across…
Kylian Mbappe is leaving PSG: Thank god that’s finally over
Ice ages haven’t lasted as long as this. Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid… it has been a thing for about a decade at least. The Athletic was not even in existence when the pair began courting each other. Twitter was…
Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in and the row that dislocated a finger and rocked South Korea’s Asian Cup
The physical altercation that left Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea captain Son Heung-min with a dislocated finger had been a good few weeks in the making. The South Korea camp for the Asian Cup played in Qatar over the past…
Patriots ‘Dynasty’ documentary reveals how bad Brady-Belichick relationship had gotten
In the video, Tom Brady sits with his legs crossed and looks into the camera. He’s trying to express just how bad things had gotten between him and Bill Belichick in the late 2010s, toward the end of their 20-year…
Bay FC sign Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF for world-record fee
National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Bay FC have signed Zambia forward Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF for a world-record fee. A source with knowledge of negotiations, who is granted anonymity to protect relationships, confirmed to The Athletic that the…
How Maple Leafs staff helped save a rec-leaguer from a skate cut to the throat: ‘I thought I was going to die’
It was inside the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room that Ike Werner first allowed himself to believe he was going to survive. After having his throat cut accidentally by a skate blade during a Sunday afternoon rec league game at…
Lakers honor Kobe Bryant with statue outside Crypto.com Arena
The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue to honor Kobe Bryant outside of Crypto.com Arena in a ceremony Thursday. The bronze statue is 19 feet high and 4,000 pounds. Bryant is the seventh Lakers legend commemorated with a statue in…
Super Bowl 2025 odds: 49ers are early favorites; Chiefs, Ravens and Bills among top teams
The Chiefs beat the 49ers in overtime to win Super Bowl LVIII. Is it too early to start looking ahead to Super Bowl LVIX held in New Orleans? Never. The San Francisco 49ers are Super Bowl favorites at +500 on…
Caitlin Clark’s green-light range made her the gold standard in women’s college basketball
IOWA CITY, Iowa — It’s impossible to pinpoint the exact moment when it was determined in Iowa that any shot that left Caitlin Clark’s hands was not just a reasonable shot, but also a good shot. Because there are green…
Fake Man United news: Tracking down the people making thousands out of fictitious stories
Did you know Manchester United have agreements in place to sign superstars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior? Or that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the man investing millions into the club, sensationally plans to bring Mason Greenwood back into the fold? No?…
New ESPN, Fox, WBD streaming venture won’t solve much — at least not yet
LAS VEGAS — One day, the brilliant TV executives are all going to unite and put their programming under one roof. It will solve all your sports viewing problems. They will call it cable. This new ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros….
The remote Swedish town that produced a generational NHL talent
LANDSBRO, Sweden – There are no signs for Landsbro on the long road from Stockholm. This village in southern Sweden is so remote, so small, I was told, I would pass it if I didn’t keep my head up. Not…
What are the NFL’s gambling rules for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas?
The NFL’s rules on gambling have generated widespread criticism and questions leading up to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, as the league aims to balance its sportsbook partnerships and policies preventing players from betting on games. Gambling was a…
LIV Golf had a big opportunity Sunday. Did it take advantage?
LIV Golf was given an opportunity on Sunday. The PGA Tour’s final round was pushed off due to some truly gnarly weather conditions at Pebble Beach, giving LIV’s first event of the 2024 season the full stage. And it was…
From Salah to Neymar to Kimmich: The big stars with contracts expiring in 2025
What do Mohamed Salah, Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Lionel Messi have in common? Their contracts are all expiring in 2025. While the summer transfer window looks set to be headlined by Kylian Mbappe and the saga of…
Six days on the bubble with America’s most eclectic team
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s 9:40 a.m. in the southeast parking lot at The Pit, and a man in black-and-white face paint circles on a dirt bike. This is Snake. He arrives early for New Mexico men’s basketball games, hypes up…
NHL player poll: Why 78 percent say there should be no neck-guard mandate
Mandatory neck guards are coming to youth hockey in the United States. Already required in Canada and many other countries, USA Hockey, which governs the sport at the amateur level in the U.S., has long held its line at “recommending”…
Hey NBA, Knicks’ Jalen Brunson is damn good and proving the naysayers wrong
After yet another disappointing, early-season loss, Jalen Brunson stood at his locker, ready to speak with the media in Milwaukee. As the point guard turned around, straight-faced as usual following the Knicks’ fourth defeat in six games, he donned a…
Anonymous NHL player poll 2024: Who’s the best player? Most overrated? Best goalie? Worst road city?
Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon or Nikita Kucherov: Who’s the NHL’s best player? It’s gotta be McDavid, right? Not so fast, a surprising number of NHL players say. “McDavid’s going to get all the votes, I’m sure,” one player told The…
Why Joel Embiid deserved better, and what his injury says about NBA’s 65-game rule
SAN FRANCISCO — Joel Embiid didn’t speak. Not with his words, anyway. The Philadelphia 76ers big man who had been ridiculed for three days after his latest disappearance, and whose MVP defense is in such early peril because of the…
How the PWHL’s youngest player is adjusting to a new league — and a new language
OTTAWA — Nearly 6,000 miles away from her hometown in Hokkaido, Japan, Akane Shiga was being asked about the weather. Mike Hirshfeld, general manager of Ottawa’s PWHL team, was sitting with Shiga and coach Carla MacLeod in the team office…
After Jackie Robinson statue is destroyed, Wichita rallies around a baseball league
It was around noon last Thursday when Bob Lutz walked outside of his work and headed home before the start of his daily radio show. He looked across 17th Street in Wichita, Kan., from the offices of League 42, the…
Adam Johnson: Coroner suspends investigation into death of former NHL player
A senior coroner probing the death of former NHL and Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson has suspended her investigation as police enquiries continue. Johnson, 29, died after being cut in the neck by a skate during a Challenge Cup match…
Thompson: LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry is still the NBA’s best theater
SAN FRANCISCO — The frustration seethed in Stephen Curry. Until it boiled to the surface. Until he let out a roar. Until he ripped his jersey from the collar to the 30. He’d scored 46 points on 35 shots, getting…
Mike Macdonald lets the Ravens defense do his talking
If Mike Macdonald’s ascent to one of the NFL’s hottest coordinators and a legitimate head-coaching candidate feels meteoric, that’s probably because he has never embraced the art of self-promotion. The 36-year-old second-year Baltimore Ravens defensive boss has consented to side…
‘Don’t move … improve’: Can L.A.’s newest star revive a storied women’s basketball program?
LOS ANGELES — JuJu Watkins’ hands didn’t feel quite right. They were tingling in a way that seemed unnatural, and when she looked down at them, though they were physically there (all 10 fingers — check; perfectly manicured nails —…
Where are all the January transfers in the Premier League?
The rumour mill is still. The gossip columns are sparse. The Sky Sports News totaliser sits dormant. Fabrizio Romano seems to be tweeting more about deals that aren’t happening than ones that are. The Athletic has given David Ornstein the…
Gary Sheffield, one of baseball’s great offensive forces, is still defending himself
However you perceive Gary Sheffield — icon or problem child, steroid user or public-opinion victim — one image almost certainly springs to mind. It’s that waggling bat, the pulsating motion that for 22 seasons radiated so much swagger. Through eight…
How a Stanford professor helped lay the foundation for this 49ers era
For his first few frenetic months as the San Francisco 49ers’ general manager in 2017, John Lynch left his family behind in San Diego. His temporary home at the Santa Clara Marriott became a brainstorming center for reversing the fortunes…
Medvedev’s 3.40am finish is latest absurd example of why tennis has to change
It happened again. Of course it did. Two tennis players, starting near midnight, battling nearly to sunrise in front of a scattering of fans, with a squad of kids in their early teenage years scurrying after balls at nearly four…
Remembering the Zambia air disaster – ‘The boys would say: ‘This plane will kill us”
“The spirit of the 1993 team will always be there for Zambia.” Kalusha Bwalya, Zambia’s former football captain, is reflecting on the day that changed his life forever. On April 27, 1993, a military aircraft taking 18 of his team-mates…
As Draymond Green returns, can he and Warriors wind down a dynasty the right way?
In the backyard of Draymond Green’s $10 million home in the Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood, where white columns and a marble patio overlook the greenest of grass, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr chatted with the heartbeat of his…
Christian Pulisic interview: ‘I want to show the world what the U.S. can do’
Christian Pulisic is perched on a bar stool in the old clubhouse overlooking the first-team training pitch at Milanello, AC Milan’s training ground. He makes a hand gesture, one he didn’t need the past six months living in Italy to…
Cutter Gauthier’s teammates and coaches speak out after death threats, criticism: ‘Just a humble kid’
Nikita Nesterenko had awakened from an afternoon nap on Monday when he received a cellphone notification. Nesterenko, a former Boston College forward now playing for the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls, saw the name of former college teammate Cutter…
Peacock’s wild-card game likely just the start of the NFL’s playoff streaming era
The only place a reverse happens in the NFL is on the field. The league rarely moves backward when it comes to increasing its media rights coffers. If you were to place a wager on whether Saturday’s first-ever exclusive, live-streamed…
The footballers who escaped one of the most dangerous countries on Earth
“We see potential spies and enemies everywhere,” says David. “It can be at border control or it can be in a cafe. The other day, a guy was looking at me strangely, so I left without finishing my breakfast, and…
Cutter Gauthier received death threats for not wanting to play for Flyers, says he wouldn’t wish them on ‘worst enemy’
From the moment he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, Cutter Gauthier has been pilloried in some circles, with social media-fueled attacks on his character after the Philadelphia Flyers effectively said good riddance to their former prize prospect….
Naomi Osaka, The Comeback Interview: A tale of pregnancy, fear and a ballerina
It was late September when Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion and transcendent star of her sport, finally got on the phone with her former coach to talk about her next comeback. Wim Fissette is a cerebral Belgian who…
Elina Svitolina: Ukraine’s unbreakable spirit is a big motivation for me
By now, nearly two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is a familiar rhythm to Elina Svitolina’s days. The missile attacks from Russia generally happen overnight, so in the morning, just after she opens her eyes, she grabs…
Alabama hires Washington’s Kalen DeBoer to replace Nick Saban as coach
By Christopher Kamrani, Bruce Feldman, Kennington Smith III and Chris Vannini The man chosen to succeed the greatest college football coach in the history of the sport is from rural South Dakota, who certainly some Crimson Tide fanatics have never…
Lakers coach Darvin Ham’s standing in question amid locker room disconnect: Sources
LOS ANGELES – Following their ninth loss in 12 games, the Los Angeles Lakers have hit a new nadir in their season, amplifying concerns about the direction of the season from both inside and outside the organization. There’s currently a…
There’s no world juniors for women. What would it take to make it happen?
The top under-20 men’s players from Czechia, Finland, Sweden and the United States will vie for a spot in the gold medal game during the semifinals of the 2024 World Junior Championship on Thursday. The best women in that age group…
The Super Bowl winning coach and his family who have fallen in love with Wrexham
Where does a former NFL coach with a Super Bowl title to his name go on holiday for the new year? Wrexham, of course. Paul McCord and his family swapped Florida for north Wales to take in the League Two…
Why Wayne Rooney was sacked by Birmingham City – 15 games into ‘long-term project’
When Wayne Rooney was told his time as Birmingham City manager was up after just 15 games, he was shocked. Having signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, the former England striker was under the impression he had joined a long-term project. Rooney…
Behind the scenes with Curt Menefee, ‘leader’ and ‘therapist’ for ‘Fox NFL Sunday’
LOS ANGELES — Terry Bradshaw spills a cup of coffee, but Curt Menefee doesn’t flinch. Menefee leans toward a tray not visible on television for some tissue to help clean up as Bradshaw continues to make a point about the Cincinnati…
Why the Patriots’ Bill Belichick-Robert Kraft partnership is on the verge of a breakup
Confetti rained down around Bill Belichick and Tom Brady as the two hugged near midfield, Super Bowl champs together for the sixth time. It was Feb. 3, 2019. Belichick patted Brady’s shoulder pads twice. Robert Kraft, the longtime owner of…
Regan Smith’s long road back to the Olympic spotlight
Editor’s note: This article is part of our “Origin Stories” series, focusing on the backstories of athletes and topics around the Summer Olympics. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — After the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Regan Smith returned to her home state of…
Six teams, one draft and loads of Ikea furniture: How the PWHL was made in six months
TORONTO — The line began at the gates of Mattamy Athletic Centre and stretched a full city block. Women’s hockey fans, after decades of waiting for a best-on-best league, were happy to wait a little longer for the doors to…
Valencia’s Nou Mestalla ‘ghost ground’: After 15-year delay, will it finally be built?
The cheers rang long and loud around Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium as fans celebrated Hugo Guillamon’s late equaliser against Barcelona in their final home match before La Liga’s Christmas break. Four kilometres away, on the other side of Valencia’s old city…
One year of Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia
It was one of those rare days when nothing comes off for Cristiano Ronaldo and he cannot conceal his rising frustration. An offside flag denied him a goal and a VAR intervention denied him a penalty before he sent a…
Michael Penix Jr. led Washington to soaring heights while overcoming deep lows: ‘I was scared to play’
The Athletic has live coverage of Texas vs. Washington in the College Football Playoff at the Sugar Bowl. He has come further than any star player in college football the last two years — 3,064 miles and from two wins…
Ever wonder what NFL travel is like? Take a peek behind the scenes with the N.Y. Giants
When Giants rookie running back Eric Gray took his first NFL road trip in August for joint practices and a preseason game in Detroit, he expected to have a roommate in the team hotel — like he had in college….
Professional tennis is broken. Here’s how to fix it
Tennis is doing what it does every 10-15 years or so — having a reckoning with its endless schedule, its nonsensical governing structure, and a competitive format that even devout fans struggle to understand. The sport is played across the…
Israeli sisters find strength, support and safe place in college basketball
In the days after Oct. 7, in which Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people, Yarden Garzon struggled to eat and sleep. The outbreak of war in Israel and the Gaza Strip was all-consuming to her, as she watched the news…
The football stadiums that never were
Peter Storrie can remember visiting the London studio of Herzog & de Meuron, the renowned Swiss architects, and being shown a striking vision of Portsmouth’s future. “It was something else,” he tells The Athletic. “They put it up on the…
Spurs’ Jeremy Sochan finds success with quirky one-handed free-throw style
SAN ANTONIO — It has been difficult for San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan to find much to laugh about in a season that on Tuesday night produced yet another double-digit loss for his team. Somehow, it seems that everyone…
MLB’s weirdest injuries of 2023, from a pool basketball mishap to a toilet setback
Every year at this time, we marvel at the many creative ways baseball players find to make an appearance on the ever-popular Strange But True Injuries of the Year leaderboard. So we’d like to thank this year’s baseball population for…
NFL’s best touchdown celebrations of 2023: A favorite from all 32 teams
Scoring touchdowns during each offensive possession is the unspoken goal for every NFL team. For decades, celebrations have been the norm in accompanying touchdowns. It goes back all the way to the 1960s with Homer Jones and his touchdown spike….
MLB’s 20 most mind-blowing hitting, pitching feats of 2023 — with Kyle Schwarber leading off
It’s the most wonderful time of the year … except for one thing: It’s no longer baseball season! But that’s where we come in. It’s our not-so-solemn duty to get you through these long, chilly, baseball-free months by helping you…
First World War Christmas truce: How much football was actually played?
It’s one of the best-known stories about the First World War: the Christmas truce of 1914, when soldiers from both sides spontaneously laid down their guns and, for a few hours at least, acted as if they weren’t trying to…
NFL playoff picture after Week 16: Ravens close in on AFC’s top seed; NFC up for grabs
The Baltimore Ravens scored their most impressive victory of the season Monday night, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 33-19. Along with making them look like worthy Super Bowl contenders, the victory puts them in a fantastic position in the AFC….
Who is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and why is he getting $325 million from the Dodgers?
Yoshinobu Yamamoto might be the best pitcher alive right now. That’s who he is, and it’s why he’s getting a 12-year, $325 million deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers. If that seems hyperbolic to you, then you’ve come to the…
Shorter pitch clock, new runner’s lane among MLB’s rule changes for 2024
A tighter, 18-second pitch clock with runners on base … a new, wider runner’s lane between home and first base … one fewer mound visit. All those rule changes are coming to Major League Baseball in 2024, as part of…
In a league of offensive masterminds, this NFL coach stands out
Todd Monken has been predictable enough for the Baltimore Ravens coaches and players to know what was coming next. So after John Harbaugh handed his new offensive coordinator a game ball following a 38-6 victory over the Detroit Lions in…
The tragedy of Wayne Harrison, Liverpool’s teenage wonder
The scrapbook is meticulously preserved, a series of newspaper clippings saved and collated by a proud father. It charts almost every step on Wayne Harrison’s journey towards the big time, from first kicking a ball for Woodsmoor Colts and goalscoring…
Kenny Payne returned to save Louisville. Now a school and a city wonder what’s next
LOUISVILLE — Kenny Payne sounded like a man looking for hope in a hard reality. His Louisville basketball team came close, so painstakingly close, to finally doing it — winning one of those games upon which corners are turned. Instead,…
Dunking hurts: Why players hate — and love — the NBA’s greatest feat
The dunk is basketball’s most lionized play. The most iconic ones are canonized, referenced fondly and often, debated for their merits and significance. The sport’s language has created so many names for it: jam, yam, slam, poster, stuff, hammer. It’s…
Golf with a purpose: How The Park dared to be different
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It’s lunchtime on a mid-November Saturday afternoon and the word of the day is eclectic. I’ve just finished my morning round at The Park with a three-putt for par on the forgiving 18th hole, and…
No Hit League? The ‘lost art’ of body checking in the NHL
Seventeen years and more than 1,200 games ago, Andrew Cogliano remembers how difficult it was to traverse the state of California. The Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks were three of the biggest, heaviest teams in the…
Data dive: Caitlin Clark vs. Steph Curry and other top shooters
In a nearly empty arena in late November 2020, Caitlin Clark shot her first college 3-pointer. Time was ticking down in the first quarter of the Hawkeyes’ matchup against Northern Iowa. Clark forced a steal at midcourt and weaved her…
Football conspiracy theories: Are we in a ‘golden age’ of fan paranoia?
One of the most eye-catching bios on X, or Twitter as we all know it, belonged to a sports writer with one of the UK’s biggest national newspapers. It was plain and simple and boiled down to five words: “Biased…
Mary Earps: Goalkeeper, brand, icon
If you take a stroll along Sir Matt Busby Way, heading towards Old Trafford, and take a left down Railway Road, Mary Earps is waiting to greet you. Not in physical form, obviously, but in her iconic celebratory pose, arms…
NFL Power Rankings Week 16: 49ers, Ravens on top, plus a surprise from every team
We’re coming down the stretch of the NFL season, and the playoff seedings and Power Rankings are starting to sort themselves out, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some surprises along the way. Today, we’re going to look at…
Michigan vs. Alabama: Big Ten coaches predict tough battle for Wolverines in CFP semifinal
Despite a dramatic regular season punctuated by an investigation over alleged sign-stealing, No. 1 Michigan rolled to a 13-0 record heading into the College Football Playoff matchup in the Rose Bowl against No. 4 Alabama. But college football coaches The…
How Celeste Taylor found the perfect fit at Ohio State
Celeste Taylor did everything she could at Duke. The 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor was a big reason why Duke reached its first NCAA Tournament since 2018. From the moment she arrived in 2021, she was the…
Warriors’ Draymond Green starts counseling, expected to miss at least 3 weeks: Sources
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has started counseling and is expected to remain sidelined via suspension for at least the next three weeks, league sources said. The NBA announced an indefinite suspension for Green on Wednesday for striking Phoenix…
Sean Payton’s flare-up at Russell Wilson puts coach-QB relationship back in spotlight
(Editor’s note: This is excerpted from Mike Sando’s Pick Six of Dec. 18, 2023.) Sean Payton blasting quarterback Russell Wilson on the sideline, then suggesting he was merely upset about officiating, invited all sorts of speculation. It’s hard to fault Payton for…
Dodgers trade for top starter Tyler Glasnow, but risks abound — Law
Trade details: The Los Angeles Dodgers acquire RHP Tyler Glasnow and OF Manuel Margot from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for OF Jonny Deluca and RHP Ryan Pepiot On the same day when they introduced Shohei Ohtani as a…
Washington Spirit, Lyon owner Michele Kang buys London City Lionesses
On Friday, Michele Kang announced she has acquired London City Lionesses FC, an independent club competing in the FA Women’s Championship. The English club is another “foundational block” in her vision to grow her global multi-club organization, following her agreement…
Can Kyle Neptune get Villanova back on the Wright track?
VILLANOVA, Pa. – The new block of cement, untouched by time or the elements, proudly proclaims in all capital letters the space between the Finneran Pavilion and the Davis Center as Wright Way. It is an homage to Jay Wright,…
Alcoholism, ayahuasca and the enlightenment of an NFL player
LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. — The Buffalo Bills have a new safety this season. He sometimes plays close to the line of scrimmage, even lining up in the gaps and banging helmets with interior linemen. They use him as a hybrid linebacker…
Jesse Lingard is a non-footballing footballer – he won’t be the last
It’s Jesse Lingard’s birthday. He turns 31 today and, at this stage of his life, he must realise it is not going to be easy shifting some of the perceptions that come from being a non-footballing footballer. For now, at…
‘For the District?’ Yeah, right; Ted Leonsis will take Wizards, Capitals angst across the river
WASHINGTON — The Prince of Potomac Yard spoke of water. “When I first came to this site,” Ted Leonsis said Wednesday, “and stood on top of the roof of the building next door, and looked over, we forget the power…
The Detroit Pistons have lost 20 straight games. How did they get here?
DETROIT — Some faces were defeated, others in shock. Some eyes peered down at the floor, others gazed into the abyss. The only noise heard was that of players taking off their shoes. The spirit of a young, vibrant Detroit…
Cho Gue-sung on how his life has changed a year on from the World Cup
There can’t be many footballers who have gone from playing for a military team to the cover of Vogue in a few months. But that’s just one of the ways South Korean striker Cho Gue-sung’s life has changed in the…
Amanda Serrano wants to fight 3-minute rounds. Will boxing respond?
Amanda Serrano was overcome with pure joy. Her face lit up as the scorecards were read and several featherweight championship belts were placed on her right shoulder and waist. She had dominated Danila Ramos en route to a unanimous decision…
The flight of N616RH: When Shohei Ohtani’s contract saga jumped the shark (tank)
On Friday morning, Robert Herjavec was tracking to be on time for a 9 a.m. flight out of John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., until his 5-year-old twins, Hudson and Haven, announced in the car that they were hungry….
WNBA 2024 mock draft: Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Cameron Brink headline
The 2024 WNBA Draft order is set. Indiana won the draft lottery Sunday, giving the Fever the first pick in what could be one of the deepest drafts in league history. Could is the operative word, as every draft-eligible senior…
Unai Emery and Aston Villa: Inside a stunning transformation
In the refurbished gym at Aston Villa’s training ground, players are regularly put through their paces, spend time building up their strength and flexibility and develop the team bond that is such a key part of their incredible current form….
DK Metcalf’s sign language TD celebrations a ‘hot topic’ in Deaf community: ‘He has the swag with it’
It’s not just that DK Metcalf is learning American Sign Language and using it on a national stage — it’s that, even as a discernible novice, he’s doing it with a level of finesse that shows he just gets it….
What we learned in NFL Week 14: The Cowboys make a statement, frustrations bubbling over in K.C. and more
It might be time to start taking the Dallas Cowboys seriously as Super Bowl contenders. Because they’ve never looked better in the Dak Prescott era, and their quarterback’s never played better. The knock that’s trailed the Cowboys throughout this season…
Grieving her father’s death and battling lung cancer, Southern Miss’ coach pulled off a defining upset
In 2017, Joye Lee-McNelis began writing her obituary. Where she was born. In the southern Mississippi community of Leetown. Preceded in death by. Then a blank space, not knowing if she would die before her parents. A note of thanks…
What Jon Rahm’s shocking move to LIV means for golf’s future
This is the moment it all becomes normal. When it’s no longer a spectacle, controversial, or even taboo. When it’s not about right or wrong or strong opinions or sticking it to the man. Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf…
Shohei Ohtani, most coveted free agent in baseball history, to sign $700 million contract with Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani’s singular pursuit of history, one man’s quest to rewrite the baseball world’s understanding of what is possible, reached another summit on Saturday when he agreed to the largest contract in the annals of major North American team sports,…
The life of Ben: Meet Kirk Herbstreit’s jet-setting golden retriever
Ryan Miller hears the whispers each weekend on college campuses across the country. There’s Ben. Is it Ben? That’s Ben! Miller is usually behind the scenes, handling logistics and working with ESPN talent as a production coordinator on “College GameDay,”…
The Tyrese Haliburton show is bringing a smile to Pacers’ faces: ‘He’s special’
LAS VEGAS — Remember when it seemed as if everybody wanted off the Indiana Pacers? Big man Myles Turner was yearning for greener pastures so badly in December 2021 that he spoke publicly about his desire for “more opportunity” — a…
Two Undrafted Players, an Unbreakable Bond and the N.F.L.’s Best Backfield
Raheem Mostert and Alec Ingold have been doubted by fans, opponents and even their own teams. It’s why they could never doubt each other.
What happened with the Panthers? ‘Hunger Games’ culture, backstabbing and another fired coach
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — David Tepper thought he’d nailed it this time. After firing Matt Rhule in October 2022, the Carolina Panthers owner was determined to get his second head-coaching hire right. Tepper, the hedge-fund billionaire who bought the team in…
MLB trade grades: Taking stock of the Yankees-Padres Juan Soto megadeal
By Tim Britton, Grant Brisbee and Stephen J. Nesbitt The trade Yankees get: Juan Soto, OF, Trent Grisham, OF Padres get: Michael King, RHP; Drew Thorpe, RHP; Jhony Brito, RHP; Randy Vásquez, RHP; and Kyle Higashioka, C Tim Britton: Every team…
What the golf ball rollback means for professional, recreational golfers
NASSAU, Bahamas — At least one person says it’s monstrous. Others say they don’t understand the anger. But everyone has opinions. The decision by the USGA and R&A to “roll back” golf balls universally across all levels of golf is now…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asks for $1 million for Florida State to sue CFP committee over snub
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the College Football Playoff committee Tuesday and said he is asking for $1 million in the state’s budget to let Florida State sue the committee over its decision to exclude the team from the Playoff….
Corey Perry’s contract termination, explained: How the NHL process works and what comes next
Corey Perry’s focus is not on hockey right now. As the veteran forward made clear in a statement released after the Chicago Blackhawks terminated his contract for a material breach, Perry is prioritizing his family and his health in this…
Erling Haaland photo: What our writers think of Manchester City striker’s reaction to Simon Hooper
It’s the photo that has defined the weekend’s Premier League action — and caused debate across the world. Erling Haaland reacted wildly to referee Simon Hooper’s decision not to play an advantage in the final moments of Manchester City’s 3-3…
The MVP race through 13 weeks and Brock Purdy’s growing case: Sando’s Pick Six
Cover 7 | Monday A daily NFL destination that provides in-depth analysis of football’s biggest stories. Each Monday, Mike Sando breaks down the six most impactful takeaways from the week. Football fans love a good MVP discussion. We are going to have one here…
Can a former NBA player return a once-proud ACC program to relevance?
ATLANTA — The head coach bent over at the waist and rested his forearms on the press table, seemingly pressing all of his weight into his elbows. His ears covered by headphones as he prepped for a postgame interview, he…
What the College Football Playoff got wrong: Leaving out Florida State
Next year, all this College Football Playoff arguing will be moot with the CFP expanding to 12 teams. Arguing over Nos. 3, 4 and 5 is very different than 10, 11, 12 and 13. You lose your benefit of the…
Why Cristiano Ronaldo is being sued in $1bn lawsuit by people who bought his NFTs
Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a $1billion class action lawsuit in the U.S. after promoting his non-fungible token (NFT) collaboration with cryptocurrency exchange Binance on social media. Binance has recently taken a hit to its reputation. Last week, Binance chief executive…
Hall of Fame plans to speak with Andre Dawson about switch to Cubs hat on plaque
The National Baseball Hall of Fame is planning to evaluate Andre Dawson’s request to change the cap on his Cooperstown plaque from the Montreal Expos to the Chicago Cubs. Dawson has long believed that Wrigley Field and the bright spotlight…
Tiger Woods changed professional golf. Now he’s trying to save it
NASSAU, Bahamas — The last decade of Tiger Woods’ career has been a series of stops and starts, the golf world grasping for each and every comeback before he goes away once more. The promise of another new beginning has…
Marie-Louise Eta, Union Berlin’s quiet Champions League trailblazer
This season, The Athletic is following Union Berlin, a Bundesliga club from the former East Germany who were playing regional-level football less than 20 years ago, on their inaugural Champions League journey for our series Iron In The Blood. GO DEEPER Is the Premier League…
Katie Grimes, a two-time Olympian at 17, is U.S. swimming’s rising new star
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — With their 12-year-old daughter, Katie, swimming nearby, Shari and Christian Grimes stood on the pool deck talking to Sandpipers of Nevada coach Chris Barber. Christian had just been offered the deputy fire chief job in Logan,…
Tennis’ Grand Slams plot deal for ‘premier tour’ that would revolutionize the sport
Tennis’ Grand Slams are attempting to partner with a collection of the sport’s other best-known tournaments in what could become the most revolutionary transformation of the game since the 1990s. Their goal, according to five people who have been both…
Utah State QB Levi Williams led his team to a bowl berth. Next up? Navy SEAL training
From an outside perspective, Utah State’s dramatic, double-overtime, bowl-clinching 44-41 win over New Mexico on Friday may have looked like the beginning of quarterback Levi Williams’ comeback story. The third-string QB broke out with 351 all-purpose yards and five total…
Why are football stadiums so expensive to build?
Manchester United and Chelsea share a problem they cannot hope to run away from. Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge might be able to narrate storied chapters of the Premier League’s history, but neither can project a compelling future. At least…
Mark Cuban to sell majority stake in Mavericks to Miriam Adelson, but keep hand in operations: Sources
By Shams Charania, Mike Vorkunov and Tim Cato Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is selling a majority stake of the franchise to Miriam Adelson and her family for a valuation in the range of $3.5 billion, league sources said. Cuban,…
Ranking 133 college football teams after Week 13: Conference title clashes will tell all
The 2023 season comes down to conference championship weekend. We could have the simplest and most impressive College Football Playoff field in the 10-year history of the event, we could have complete chaos or we could have something in between,…
Patriots may be the worst team in the NFL and Bill Belichick may no longer have the answers
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Bill Belichick was done. He had been asked 22 questions over four minutes and muttered his way through them with brief answers about how everyone on his struggling team had been told to be ready to…
Ohio State’s Ryan Day loses sight of who he is when he coaches against Michigan
Every Saturday night, Ari Wasserman and David Ubben react to the weekend’s slate of games on “Until Saturday.” On Mondays, they revisit the biggest takeaway from Saturday night’s instant reaction. This week: Ari wonders why Ryan Day changes his coaching style…
Panthers fire Frank Reich after 11 games, shortest head-coaching tenure since 1978
The Carolina Panthers have fired Frank Reich after 11 games, owner David Tepper announced Monday morning. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as interim coach. pic.twitter.com/ewX2UsICZM — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 27, 2023 The move comes two weeks after…
Heartbreaking trade to new home: Mike Conley embraces role of ‘Minnesota Mike’
The weeks leading up to the NBA’s February trade deadline were anxious times for Mike Conley and his wife, Mary. They had spent the past three-and-a-half years in Utah, making a home in Salt Lake City for their three children…
Jessie Diggins, America’s cross-country ski star, battles on after eating disorder relapse
It’s July, a time of year when Jessie Diggins, the greatest American to ever click into a pair of cross-country skis, is usually deep into her offseason training, the hours of roller skiing and running and strength work that she…
Pressing questions for the Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers and six other NFL contenders: Sando’s Pick Six
Cover 7 | Monday A daily NFL destination that provides in-depth analysis of football’s biggest stories. Each Monday, Mike Sando breaks down the six most impactful takeaways from the week. The Athletic has live coverage of Chiefs vs Eagles in Monday Night Football action….
The harrowing accident that almost ended an NFL player’s career
The first two weeks after the surgery were the worst, the pain so crippling, so unceasing, that Nyheim Hines couldn’t even imagine climbing from bed. The mere thought of ordering takeout made him cringe — that would require hobbling all…
Anonymous NFL player poll 2023: Best player? Biggest trash talker? Most annoying fans?
Spoiler alert: Players around the NFL think Patrick Mahomes is pretty good. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and two-time MVP was our runaway winner as the best player in the game today, according to the 85 players our beat writers…
‘We’re scientists right now’: Wisconsin volleyball’s unconventional path to success
WAUNAKEE, Wis. – A few hours after practice begins with players juggling tennis balls and Def Leppard rattling through the gym, a little while after serving groups are divided into Packers fans and non-Packers fans, Kelly Sheffield sits in a…
How LeBron James keeps raising the bar in his 21st season: ‘It’s me vs. Father Time’
Father Time remains undefeated, but LeBron James has him hanging on the ropes. The moment the 2023-24 NBA season tipped off in Denver, James was already playing at a higher level than any player in league history had after their…
Ohio State-Michigan, pure hatred and the apex of the greatest rivalry
Jim Harbaugh was asked at his news conference earlier this week if he respects Ryan Day and his staff. Harbaugh, as he often does when asked something that makes him uncomfortable, hesitated before dodging the question. “It’s all about our…