https://www.sports-central.org/ en-us Copyright 2026 Wed, 13 May 2026 11:49:08 -0500 Wed, 13 May 2026 12:57:12 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=6.8.8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss While SC's Ross Lancaster won't be rooting for the Thunder in the West Finals. He's come to the conclusion that they're the type of heel the NBA needs. He also discusses how the Thunder might line up alongside the most despised teams in NBA history.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/13/embrace_it_thunder_are_nbas_new_supervillain_.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/13/embrace_it_thunder_are_nbas_new_supervillain_.php NBA Wed, 13 May 2026 11:49:08 -0500 Every time a game turns into a 5-2 slog with 12 strikeouts and three meaningful plays, the same reflex kicks in — blame the bullpen, blame the starters, blame the pitching. It's an easy narrative. Pitchers look dominant, so they must be the problem.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/12/stop_blaming_pitching_mlb_offenses_are_real_problem.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/12/stop_blaming_pitching_mlb_offenses_are_real_problem.php MLB Tue, 12 May 2026 09:14:06 -0500 SC's Jeff Kallman says au revoir to the winningest manager in Braves history.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/11/bobby_cox_rip_come_on_kid_you_got_this.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/11/bobby_cox_rip_come_on_kid_you_got_this.php MLB Mon, 11 May 2026 11:13:11 -0500 In this week's edition of the Slant Pattern, SC's Kevin Beane gently contemplates a mid-spring Thursday night baseball doubleheader on ESPN.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/08/musings_on_espns_mlb_coverage.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/08/musings_on_espns_mlb_coverage.php Slant Pattern Fri, 08 May 2026 11:46:31 -0500 The NFL has "re-seeded" its playoffs since at least 1990, including the 1982 season that was defaced by a strike. And did they have to endure any kvetching because of it? SC's Anthony Brancato confidently assures that neither will the NBA or the NHL.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/07/nba_playoffs_proving_to_be_doubly_unfair.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/07/nba_playoffs_proving_to_be_doubly_unfair.php NBA Thu, 07 May 2026 13:38:26 -0500 Well, April didn't bring a lot of showers. May hasn't been yielding too many flowers, yet. But take what we can get over weekend one. Even if a few thorns showed up among them. SC's Jeff Kallman observes MLB's April closing/May opening weekend.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/04/april_into_may_a_few_thorns_in_the_flowers.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/04/april_into_may_a_few_thorns_in_the_flowers.php MLB Mon, 04 May 2026 11:45:35 -0500 It's time for 20 horses to do something that they have never done before, and at a distance over which the vast majority of them will never run again. Only one horse will emerge victorious. SC's Anthony Brancato tries to shed some light as to who that horse might be, or won't be.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/28/which_horses_can_handle_derby_distance.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/28/which_horses_can_handle_derby_distance.php Other Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:37:49 -0500 Manager Alex Cora, five coaches. Beheaded. And this hot Red Sox mess wasn't their making, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/27/as_the_red_sox_turn_the_saturday_massacre.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/27/as_the_red_sox_turn_the_saturday_massacre.php MLB Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:07:07 -0500 SC's Kevin Beane tells you what's going on in the world of men's heavyweight boxing, particularly at the top, in the U.S. (stock down), the UK (stock sadly up), and this weekend in this edition of the Slant Pattern.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/23/heavyweight_boxing_pulse_check.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/23/heavyweight_boxing_pulse_check.php Slant Pattern Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:26:41 -0500 An award-winning, well-respected sportswriter is voicing objections to the NHL's playoff structure. SC's Anthony Brancato evaluates his argument.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/21/whats_wrong_with_having_division_rivalries_in_nhl.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/21/whats_wrong_with_having_division_rivalries_in_nhl.php NHL Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:53:36 -0500 SC's Jeff Kallman remembers the longtime Angel glory-years mainstay who died last Thursday at a too-soon 53.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/20/garret_anderson_rip_the_quiet_infectious_angel.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/20/garret_anderson_rip_the_quiet_infectious_angel.php MLB Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:12:48 -0500 SC's Ross Lancaster looks at the good, the bad, and the ugly of an NBA regular season that wasn't the league's finest campaign.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/16/the_good_bad_and_ugly_of_2025-26_nba_season.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/16/the_good_bad_and_ugly_of_2025-26_nba_season.php NBA Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:30:40 -0500 With Monday night's win over Carolina, the Flyers evaded tying their longest consecutive playoff drought in franchise history. And with the Sixers also rebounding strongly from last year's bitterly disappointing season, things are finally looking up in the City of Brotherly Love.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/15/wow_flyers_in_playoffs.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/15/wow_flyers_in_playoffs.php NHL Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:48:16 -0500 SC's Jeff Kallman says au revoir to the feisty infielder/clubhouse character turned pennant-winning manager/character.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/13/phil_garner_rip_two_sides_to_scrap_iron.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/13/phil_garner_rip_two_sides_to_scrap_iron.php MLB Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:03:58 -0500 It's time for another round of shorter takes from SC's Kevin Beane. What's the latest on college basketball coaching changes? Who won the men's curling championship? What's hoppin' on Twitter? He'll tell you.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/08/slant_pattern_odds_and_ends.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/08/slant_pattern_odds_and_ends.php Slant Pattern Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:35:46 -0500