https://www.sports-central.org/ en-us Copyright 2026 Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:39:35 -0500 Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:22:34 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=6.8.8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss SC's Kevin Beane laments how the World Cup brings out the worst and most arrogant among the Greek Chorus of sports fandom. He explains why you're probably overreacting on anything to do with Folarin Balogun, why we need an offisde rule, and more in this edition of the Slant Pattern.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/07/08/world_cup_odds_and_ends.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/07/08/world_cup_odds_and_ends.php Slant Pattern Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:39:35 -0500 49ers tight end George Kittle would like to see the use of artificial turf end in the NFL. The NFL owners would like to see an 18th game added to the regular-season schedule. Why not do both?]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/07/07/natural_grass_for_18_games.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/07/07/natural_grass_for_18_games.php NFL Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:12:38 -0500 Despite being rendered nearly irrelevant, SC's Jeff Kallman notes the usual issues, but decides it can't hurt to watch the game.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/07/06/another_year_another_mlb_all-star_game.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/07/06/another_year_another_mlb_all-star_game.php MLB Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:54:06 -0500 MLB's owners have finally chimed in with a proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement. But will the players accept it? Doubtful, says SC's Anthony Brancato.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/30/why_the_mlbpa_will_never_accept_a_salary_cap.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/30/why_the_mlbpa_will_never_accept_a_salary_cap.php MLB Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:49:54 -0500 The Mets executed a manager, the Angels a General Manager. SC's Jeff Kallman says both may have hanged the wrong men.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/29/the_gallows_poles.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/29/the_gallows_poles.php MLB Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:50:32 -0500 Remember not being able to figure out how one baseball team could be "percentage points" ahead or behind another? And, relatedly, why it mattered why one team was ahead of (or behind) another "in the loss column?" Let SC's Anthony Brancato be your tour guide down memory lane.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/25/percentage_points_and_the_loss_column.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/25/percentage_points_and_the_loss_column.php MLB Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:39:15 -0500 Tired of the World Cup and baseball? First off, what's wrong with you, but also, you have options you surely didn't realize you had. SC's Kevin Beane has your options.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/24/what_else_to_watch_this_weekend.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/24/what_else_to_watch_this_weekend.php Slant Pattern Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:53:22 -0500 SC's Jeff Kallman remembers his father, who passed 60 years ago Monday.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/23/song_for_my_father.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/23/song_for_my_father.php MLB Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:52:28 -0500 Horses that win the Kentucky Derby should never bypass the Preakness unless they are injured. How do you prevent that from happening? The answer's obvious.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/16/horse_racing_must_break_from_tradition.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/16/horse_racing_must_break_from_tradition.php Other Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:54:08 -0500 They both resembled threshing machines Sunday. But they still have issues to resolve, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/15/slaughter_on_sunday_the_mets_and_nats.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/15/slaughter_on_sunday_the_mets_and_nats.php MLB Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:57:43 -0500 With the NBA Finals ongoing, and the Knicks' 13-game playoff win streak just ending, SC's Ross Lancaster counts down the NBA's five greatest team playoff runs.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/11/the_nbas_five_greatest_playoff_runs_of_all-time.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/11/the_nbas_five_greatest_playoff_runs_of_all-time.php NBA Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:21:48 -0500 In the Slant Pattern, SC's Kevin Beane explains that while he loves the upsets in postseason college baseball, the lack of snow teams to root for, going back longer than you think, make him gnash his teeth.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/10/a_snowcapped_lament_on_the_college_world_series.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/10/a_snowcapped_lament_on_the_college_world_series.php Slant Pattern Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:59:11 -0500 Every MLB season produces a few surprises, but 2026 has delivered more than most. Preseason conversations focused on familiar contenders, deep-pocketed organizations, and proven stars. However, several teams have rewritten the script.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/09/unexpected_teams_reshaping_world_series_expectations.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/09/unexpected_teams_reshaping_world_series_expectations.php MLB Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:57:54 -0500 The bottom of the order doing the heavy lifting, that is. SC's Jeff Kallman says that's how the hapless Angels ducked a Dodgers season series sweep Sunday.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/08/what_a_way_to_make_a_living.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/08/what_a_way_to_make_a_living.php MLB Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:18:58 -0500 With the MLB owners and the union trading proposals on how to evade what would be a devastating lockout, people are starting to wonder what a 32-team MLB would look like. And while SC's Anthony Brancato would prefer to hold off on the speculation, 32 does sound like a good number, as both the NFL and NHL already have that number.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/03/expansion_realignment_in_baseball.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/03/expansion_realignment_in_baseball.php MLB Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:48:27 -0500