While we’ll still have to wait until Monday to determine who will be crowned the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions, there is no doubt that we can proclaim social media to be a winner when it comes to its growing involvement and popularity in the sporting realm. By providing fans with up-to-the second type access and an avenue for interaction with athletes, media members and other fans, the use of social media has become an adjunct to our sports watching experience. March Madness has only stoked the fire, but how? And why?

Kevin Ware has become a household name, and not for reasons that he would have hoped for. When Ware gruesomely broke his leg on national television fans, players and consumers of March Madness in general were forced to take a step back and evaluate the game and the role that student athletes play in it.

Sidney Crosby was on pace to put forth one of the most impressive campaigns of his career – which, knowing the level of quality we’ve seen from him over the better part of the past decade, says a lot. One errant shot to the face later and the superstar is on the sidelines nursing a broken jaw. Will Crosby’s absence take him out of the running for the Hart Trophy? It shouldn’t.

Remember the other recently ended NBA streak, the one not getting as much buzz? The Denver Nuggets just ripped off a 15-game win streak, which unfortunately happened to coincide with that of a certain other club’s. It’s too bad the Nuggets aren’t getting more attention: they’re one of the best teams in the tough Western Conference and they’re ripping through opponents without any superstars. They’re a team any basketball fan could love. A team you should love. Allow me to explain.

Every team has that one character guy, the one who is the glue of the team, the heart and soul. It’s not necessarily always about the numbers, or the amount of All-Star appearances, but the intangibles. Amir Johnson is that guy for the Toronto Raptors. Dwayne Riley-Grant explains just how far the young big man has come in 2012-13.

The Sacramento River Cats are cracking down on individuals who misspell their name in print. From Rivercats to RiverCats and everywhere in between, perpetrators will be issued a $1 fine that will be donated to charity. The press release has Jesse Goldberg-Strassler contemplating the rest of the quirks of the world of baseball team names.

We all know about the 1984 NBA Draft, Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon have made sure of it. Then 1996, with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Allen Iverson, is hard to forget as well. If we can assume that 2003’s offering of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony reaches that same level, then does 2008’s with Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love?

I’ve never hidden the fact that I love the New England Patriots franchise. My Twitter background has the Patriots logo image. My Google+ profile – not that I use it regularly – says that the only thing that I prefer to the Patriots is The Wire, and that the only thing I prefer to The […]

Running back has long been an important position in the NFL, but as a title, it’s a bit of a misnomer. In reality, the position’s often about much more than just running ability, especially in today’s league where there’s such an emphasis on passing. This year in particular, with a new head coach on board in Chicago, Bears’ RB Matt Forte stands to cash in on the air game.

It’s not always easy to be a Houston Astros fan. Now that the franchise boasts a miniscule $20 million payroll, a mark smaller than 20 different individuals in professional baseball, they’ll have their work cut out for them dealing any sort of damage on the diamond. Still, with hew boss Jim Crane calling the executive shots, it may not be long before we start seeing signs of life from the classic club. A new league and new look are only the beginning.