https://www.sports-central.org/ Original and intelligent sports fan commentary since 1998. en-us Copyright 2026 Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:50:55 -0500 Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:11:31 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=8.8.5 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss What have you done for me lately? John Harbaugh found that out the hard way in 2025., losing his job. Now it looks as if it's his brother Jim Harbaugh's turn in 2026.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/29/jim_harbaugh_on_the_hot_seat.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/29/jim_harbaugh_on_the_hot_seat.php NFL Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:50:55 -0500 The future Hall of Famer and his daughter were the hits of closing weekend.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/28/retirement_verlander-style.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/28/retirement_verlander-style.php MLB Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:51:50 -0500 The Bills host the struggling Chargers at Highmark Stadium, while the Texans and Colts battle for AFC South mediocrity. The Steelers' anemic offense looks for blood when the Bengals come to Pittsburgh, the Ravens and Cowboys battle in Brazil, and the Bears host the Eagles on Monday night.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/24/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_3.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/24/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_3.php NFL Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:59:38 -0500 SC's Kevin Beane went 3-0 with his picks in his last column, so he's going to try to keep it goin' and keep it flowin' this week, once again with one CFL, NFL, and CFB pick apiece. It's the latest Slant Pattern!]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/23/football_picks_for_fourth_week_of_september.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/23/football_picks_for_fourth_week_of_september.php Slant Pattern Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:33:06 -0500 The plight of the AL Central, and even more so, the AL West, should persuade, if not outrightly force, MLB Commission Rob Manfred to reconsider his idea of four 4-team divisions in each league. SC's Anthony Brancato hopes someone can talk people from jumping off this building.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/22/the_state_of_the_american_league_west.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/22/the_state_of_the_american_league_west.php MLB Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:49:11 -0500 This weekend brought one nasty Cub injury amidst a shrunken postseason clinch magic number, plus clinches by the self-resurrecting Red Sox and the NL East-owning Braves, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/21/turning_to_the_final_stretch.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/21/turning_to_the_final_stretch.php MLB Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:42:38 -0500 Mike Vrabel and the Pats look to "be better" against the Steelers, while the Bucs look to finish off Deshaun Watson and the Browns. The Texans host the Bengals, the Broncos look to tackle their shortcomings versus the Jags, and the Rams look to rebound.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/17/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_2.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/17/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_2.php NFL Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:22:21 -0500 SC's Ross Lancaster hasn't been able to stop thinking about the similarities between college football in 2026 and pro wrestling. With that in mind, he looks at a few of the sport's biggest "heel" teams.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/16/college_footballs_biggest_wrestling_heels.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/16/college_footballs_biggest_wrestling_heels.php College Football Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:13:17 -0500 The Browns picked up right where they left off in Week 1 with a 34-10 loss at Jacksonville that was nowhere near as "close" as the final score would suggest. Even a salary cap does not promise to guarantee competitive balance. SC's Anthony Brancato hopes MLB is watching.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/15/its_always_gloomy_in_cleveland.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/15/its_always_gloomy_in_cleveland.php NFL Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:06:59 -0500 Effervescent Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle started Sunday with the team's first game-opening immaculate inning since 2002, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/14/the_immaculate_intro.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/14/the_immaculate_intro.php MLB Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:49:08 -0500 The NFL season is back, with the usual mix of rivalries, new coaches, new players, illicit affairs, and legal issues. The Rams and 49ers square up down under, and the Sunday slate features a Giants and Cowboys Sunday night battle.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/10/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_1.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/10/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_1.php NFL Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:23:03 -0500 We pick NFL games! We pick college football games! We pick CFL games! Okay, we pick one of each. And "we" is SC's Kevin Beane. It's all in this week's Slant Pattern!]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/09/football_picks_for_second_week_of_september.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/09/football_picks_for_second_week_of_september.php Slant Pattern Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:38:23 -0500 Three months after the Dodgers win the World Series, L.A.'s two NFL teams will slug it out in Super Bowl LXI. Damn Dodgers, damn Rams, and damn Chargers? That's what everyone will be saying.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/08/2026_nfl_preview_super_bowl_lxi_will_be_la_confidential.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/08/2026_nfl_preview_super_bowl_lxi_will_be_la_confidential.php NFL Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:18:40 -0500 Arte Moreno is selling his beleaguered Los Angeles Angels, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/08/this_time_its_for_real.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/08/this_time_its_for_real.php MLB Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:50:11 -0500 Week 1 has a habit of making the offseason feel very long, very quickly. Expectations that have spent months building finally meet a real-world opponent, and not every assumption survives the weekend.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/01/week_1_college_football_preview.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/01/week_1_college_football_preview.php College Football Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:09:28 -0500