Sport

Gary Bettman isn’t paid for this, and it shows

Maybe it’s only people of older generations, of which I’m a part, who still perceive the position of “commissioner” as some sort of custodian of a particular sport. Even though we know in our minds that all they’re just the hand of the owners, and exist to ensure maximized profits, our hearts still cling to […]

Tech

Pirate-site operator hacked MLB and tried to extort $150,000, feds say

Enlarge (credit: MLB) A pirate-website operator named Joshua Streit was charged with hacking into Major League Baseball (MLB) computer systems and trying to extort $150,000 from the league by threatening to publicize security vulnerabilities, the US Department of Justice announced yesterday. Streit also “is alleged to have illegally streamed sports content online from MLB, the […]

Sport

‘Analytics understander’ A-Rod logs on and fails in October once again

Does Alex Rodriguez know what “analytics” means? You would think he should, being a television commentator for baseball in 2021, but life is full of surprises — such as A-Rod praising the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the World Series for an “anti-analytics inning.” Read more…

Sport

For one moment, Carli Lloyd had it all

It’s strange. For all the absolute world-class players the USWNT has had, and still does, we still think of them as a “team. ” Maybe that’s a testament to their absurd depth, and their dedication to being the best like a unit, that all of us rarely single one out. Megan Rapinoe may have won […]

Sport

Even on MLB’s biggest night, Rob Manfred can’t keep his thumb out of his ass

I understand at the dawn of every league’s championship that the commissioner has to do something of a state of the union. Roger Goodell, Gary Bettman, Adam Silver… they all have a press conference before Game 1 or the Super Bowl. Given the daily nature of baseball, Rob Manfred has to do it on the […]

Sport

It’s time to send Bob Nightengale to a farm upstate

It’s not much of a story that Bob Nightengale was once again spewing out lava of baseball drivel. That’s been his gig for years now, essentially just acting as a conduit for whatever bullshit the powers that be want out there in exchange for his beloved “access.” Access which he’ll use to lord over everyone […]

Sport

Sometimes you have to just sit back and appreciate what’s on offer

Perhaps I’m feeling wistful because last October, we didn’t have our normal schedule. There’s a clock to this, a rhythm, that we have spent our entire lives attuned to. Hockey and basketball start during the MLB playoffs. Go a year without it, and suddenly the axis is off, red lights are blinking, there’s a weird… […]