Football

The story of the Hurricanes and what it means for the NCAA

It’s been a scandal-plagued offseason in NCAA football, with Ohio State, Oregon and North Carolina all landing in hot water to one degree or another. The biggest story of all happened in Florida, though, where an 11-month Yahoo! Sports investigation into repeated NCAA violations by booster Nevin Shapiro at the University of Miami may have […]

Baseball

Alex Avila impressive for division-leading Tigers

Splitting time with Gerald Laird last season, Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila struggled offensively. So when Laird departed via free agency – after managing an atrocious .567 OPS in 2010 – the Tigers addressed their lack of production behind the plate by acquiring the best offensive catcher available, Victor Martinez, in free agency. Martinez has […]

Hockey

NHL experiments with new rules at RDO camp

For the second year in a row, the NHL’s Research, Development and Orientation camp provided a venue for the league to experiment with new rules and ideas that could potentially improve the game and the way it’s played down the road. Over 30 2012 draft eligible major junior and collegiate players gathered in Etobicoke, Ontario […]

Basketball

Shawn Kemp: The Cleveland Years

The narrative of Shawn Kemp’s life is familiar. The name alone instantly yields memories of substance abuse, grabbed crotches, punch lines of illegitimate children and the 1996 NBA Finals. One chapter that often gets lost among the confusion of the overwhelming tale, however, revolves around a three-year stint in which the dominating forward uncharacteristically donned […]

Hall of Fame

Drew Doughty and something to prove

Drew Doughty has been hammered by the media all summer long due to lingering contract negotiations with the Kings. But who cares, right? At 21, a contract hold-out would be relatively unprecedented, and certainly unruly, so it’s safe to say Doughty will wear the black, silver and purple of the Los Angeles Kings for the […]

Basketball

King Kobe: No changing of the guard in California

Professional basketball is celebrated all over the world, but very few places can claim to be the true capital of the sport. The state of Indiana once considered itself worthy, but now is a fading basketball ancestral land. Springfield, Massachusetts, is an option to due to fact that the hall of fame is there, but […]

Baseball

Alex Gordon finally playing like a No. 2 pick

Calling Alex Gordon a bust is tempting, but ultimately false. The second-overall pick by the Royals in the 2005 MLB Draft, Gordon’s professional career has been littered with lofty expectations and unfortunate injuries. The third baseman was compared to George Brett upon his arrival in Kansas City, which probably wasn’t the best way to introduce a prospect to a […]

Football

Size doesn’t matter: Darren Sproles’ unlikely success

Of all the positions in football, one might think that running back would be one where size isn’t a requirement. After all, a smaller player would seem to have an easier time squeezing through tight gaps and bursting down the field. However, as shown by both the recent success and limitations of former San Diego […]

Basketball

Can Reggie Miller save the Pacers yet again?

The NBA is no stranger to rumors. Every once in a while you come across a rumor that may actually be true, and it peaks your attention and has you contemplating every angle. This is what happened to me the other when I heard that the Indiana Pacers were considering Reggie Miller for a front office job, […]

Hockey

Pressure in the crease: Two netminders on the brink of stardom

It has been said by many in the hockey industry that goaltending is the most important position in the sport. This is especially true if a team relies on its goaltending on a nightly basis. For two Original Six franchises like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks, they will need their masked netminders […]