Advertisement
A Yale biologist has managed to prove that players like Nate Robinson are "on fire" for a reason. But do actual sports teams really care about the phenomenon of heating up for a few games? The MLB and the NHL would say no — and so would Derrick Rose.
Perhaps the biggest worry about the future of gay rights on the biggest of stages for American role models was not if or when a gay pro athlete would come out. It was how the acceptance (or lack thereof) might follow. And based on the early reaction to the historic coming-out party of Jason Collins today, the NBA is ready for out sports, and so is (almost) everybody else.
Before today, Jason Collins was known as a 34-year-old center on the NBA's Washington Wizards. But after an historic public admission sure to redefine sexuality in sports, Collins has now become the first openly gay athlete playing in one of the four major sports in North America. As Collins writes in his cover story for this week's Sports Illustrated: "Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?"
Though the N.C.A.A. remains immensely popular, its older brother has recently lost ground to the 20-year-old MLS. Yes. soccer. The inevitable New York Times trend piece almost writes itself.
A new coach can allow the Nets to reach the moderately lofty heights they seemed destined to reach back in the heady days of last month.
Where NBA players make shots during games may seem random, but when you put it all together, a pattern emerges, according to this chart by Court Vision Analytics blogger Kirk Goldsberry of every shot in the 2011-2012 NBA season.
The Jeremy Lin fiasco may have finally pushed New York basketball fans over the edge, but for the first time in a long life of disappointments they finally have another option besides quiet rage: Move to Brooklyn.
The Knicks are declining to match a $25 million offer from the Houston Rockets for point guard and sensation Jeremy Lin Tuesday, so off he will go to Houston, leaving nothing but five-month-old memories of Linsanity.
Today in Sports: Finding pretty patterns in NBA shooting, basketball ratings go up, and a legendary coach is accused of shady dealings.
Today in Sports: Picking an NBA Finals villain, a kidnapping drama in Nigeria, and Rafa still owns the clay.
The NFL gets tough on its knee injury problem, Babe Ruth's jersey sells for $4.4 million, and Phil Jackson won't be coaching the Knicks next year.
People are still talking about Manchester City's improbably EPL title, Donovan McNabb has lost weight, corrected his form, and wants one more shot, and David Stern acknowledges flopping is marring the NBA playoffs
The Nets prepare for their final game in New Jersey, Metta World Peace lets out his inner-Ron Artest, and Roger Clemens scores a win on the first day of his perjury retrial.
The NBA in Sacramento looks unlikely, Rick Santorum talks up his fantasy baseball team, and Londoners worry long airport lines will ruin the Olympics.
Today in sports: Kentucky's basketball coach swears he's not interested in a jump to the NBA, Sacramento's NBA future looks murky, and Jack the Georgetown bulldog gets an heir.
The basketball sensation is undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery that will require a six-week recovery, putting the remainder of his season in question.
A nasty hockey brawl at Madison Square Garden won't do much to ease concerns about fighting in hockey, fed-up fans of the Golden State Warriors turn a celebration into an evening of lusty boos, and dissecting Peyton Manning's new contract.
Today in sports: Peyton Hillis considered dumping the Cleveland Browns for The Company, U.S. soccer finally shows Italy who's boss, and the bidding war for the right to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III could be wrapping up early.
Also: why Daytona 500 organizers used Tide detergent to clean up after last night's spill, Donald Driver and Martina Navratilova will be the sports types on Dancing With the Stars, and the Angels are sorry for offending Albert Pujols with their promotional billboards
Today in sports: The former Washington Wizards star checks in from NBA exile, that homey touch is missing in Green Bay, and a reason for Seattle to curb its NBA enthusiasm
The sports network has taken swift and decisive action against two employees who used the phrase "chink in the armor" in describing the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin's NBA team.
Today in sports: Concussions sideline star Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby once again, history is not on Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun's side as he prepares to appeal his positive drug test, and the NFL coaching fates claim Todd Haley.
Today in sports: More fallout from the NBA blockbuster trade that wasn't, Fox is a strange position when it comes to the trying to get the Los Angeles Dodgers TV rights, and Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy's dad has harsh words for the way the team treated his head injury last night.
NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed a major trade that would have sent superstar Chris Paul to the L.A. Lakers, after small-market owners revolted over the deal.
Today in sports: The strange habits of super marathoners, new Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine comes in from the cold, and Mark Cuban is back in the hunt to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Today in sports: The Minnesota Vikings release Donovan McNabb, a Michigan State cheerleader is out of the hospital after a scary fall during last night's game against Florida State, and NBA players in China are stuck there until March.
Today in sports: FIFA is worried about Brazil's "nightmare" traffic jams, Urban Meyer returns to college football after a 355-day hiatus, and the NFL offers China an olive branch (and Tony Dorsett).
Agreement still needs to be passed by a majority of owners and players.
The NBA eyes a Christmas start date as labor talks continue, college football's post-season has the potential to be historically messy this year, and American Samoa's soccer team snaps a 17-year streak of futility.
Today in sports: Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander is the American League's most value player, an arrest in the stabbing death of Seattle Mariners outfielder Greg Halman, and a tough weekend for NBA players overseas
Today in sports: The last best chance of saving the NBA season has come and gone, the UFC brings in big numbers for Fox, and a fair price for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Also in sports: the NFL Players Association cops out on testing for human growth hormone, Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped in Venezuela, and the NBA lockout talks are riding a "wave of optimism" as they head into the evening.
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno released a statement saying he will retire at the end of the season, ending his 46 year tenure with the Nittany Lions, but to fully understand what he lost in the Jerry Sandusky abuse scandal, you need to understand the kingdom he built.
NBA owners fight one other as the lockout drags on, the former heavyweight champ dies of liver cancer, and nobody wants to buy a piece of the New York Mets.
Also in sports: Jack Abramoff recalls his correspondence with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, and the NFL's smartest quarterback has figured out how to wear a wedding ring on the field.
Also in the day in sports: Tony La Russa exits the castle, why college football's "game of the century" is bound to disappoint, and Iran suspends two soccer players indefinitely for an "immoral" post-goal celebration.
Today in sports: Optimism that the NBA lockout is on its last legs, ESPN's ombudsman explains its tricky relationship with the University of Texas, and NFL games are taking 89 seconds longer this year.
The NBA will reportedly cancel two more weeks of the upcoming regular season as the ongoing lockout continues to drag on with no end in sight
Today in sports: Baseball's TV ratings topped the NFL last night, the NCAA is backing a proposal that would increase the value of athletic scholarships by $2,000, and the NBA lockout has already cost nearly 400 people their jobs.
Today in sports: Fox wins the television rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup, the University of Missouri is likely moving to the SEC, and the rise and fall of the football neck roll.
Today in sports: the first game of the World Series will be wet, cold, and windy; NBA players are planning a well-paid, multi-continent exhibition tour; and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would like to be England's NFL team.
Plus: The Oakland Raiders won't be for sale anytime soon
The players union and owners still aren't seeing eye to eye on revenue sharing
Plus: Plasma replacement therapy is a miracle cure, except for the blinding pain
Plus: There's suddenly reason for optimism in the NBA lockout talks
Plus: How European soccer spending got so out-of-control
Then maybe there wouldn't be a lockout next season, suggests one commenter
The NBA's labor Cold Warsomehow manages to be worse than advertised
The owners and players failed to reach a deal. The lockout could affect next season
Haters, today's your day
Have a story we missed? A link we have to click? A sharp opinion about the news? Instead of waiting for us to post it, tell us on the Open Wire.
Submit your news and ideas | See all reader postsThe Atlantic Wire is your authoritative guide to the news and ideas that matter most right now. Our team tracks newsmakers and opinions across the entire media spectrum: newspapers, web sites, television, radio and magazines.
But we do more than just collect information. By synthesizing, analyzing and summarizing what’s out there, and adding new information when we can, we are a news engine that gives you a quick and valuable account of the issues of the day.
Have a hot tip? A story we missed? Tell us on the Open Wire
How to send us editorial or technical feedback
Get Five Best Columns in your inbox each morning (preview)
