The Replacements
A few observations on the NFL "replacement ref" situation: 1. The locked-out refs hold a very weak bargaining position. Unlike the players, the refs possess no rare set of skills ...MLB Umps: Evaluated but not Incentivized
The egregiously poor call against in the Yankees-Orioles game when Mark Texeira slid into first base throws attention back on to several issues with MLB umpiring: 1. Umps utilize "models" ...Dodgers Buying the Pennant?
For me as with most fans and observers, the Dodgers-Red Sox trade that brought Gonzalez, Crawford, and Beckett west created an initial wow factor especially in view of the acquisition ...Olympic Distance Running -- Dominated Strategies?
In Thursday's 800m final, David Rudisha set the track on fire with a new world record -- the first ever under 1:41. He led from start to finish and pulled ...Olympic Stew
A few random thoughts related to the Olympics: 400 Implosion for U.S. For the first time since WWII (excepting 1980), the U.S. will not medal in the men's 400 meters. ...Olympic Athletes -- Real Life Avengers
The Olympics hooked me from my earliest memories of Bill Toomey, Lee Evans, and Jim Hines in Mexico City in 1968. The Super Bowl, The Tour de France, the ...NCAA: Posturing and Power-Grabbing
Phil's post offers an analytical view of the sanctions imposed on Penn State regarding the Sandusky affair. I'm going straight to polemics. While a number of writers have made similar ...Of Coaches and Kings -- Connecting Sean Payton to Joe Paterno
In the aftermath of the Penn State scandal, references to Joe Paterno as emperor or king abounded. The recently released Freeh Report details and comments on the discretion and deference ...New NCAA Playoff: Next Step or End Game?
Although it took about 10 years longer than I thought it might, the big-time football schools in college football finally adopted a genuine playoff. In spite of the BCS's flaws, ...NCAA World Evolving but Toward What?
As Skip reminded readers in his recent pieces on realignment, the current drama fits into a larger historical framework. I thought it useful to review some of the major developments ...