Capitalism, as a couple of caustic observers once noted, makes everything solid melt into uncertain air, even collapsing the seasons one into the next. Under the stress of the economics of television advertising, the summer game of baseball now has its best games played on shivery autumn evenings, while the winter game of hockey has … Read more
In 1979, Pete Carroll, then twenty-eight years old, was a secondary coach at Ohio State. One former colleague remembered how he’d sit at his desk, listening to the Beach Boys with a smile on his face. But behind the smile was a ruthless competitor, a student of aggressive defensive schemes, and, the next year, he … Read more
In July, Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, scored tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs play. He wanted to meet her—and why not? He’s a stud: a two-time Super Bowl champion, eight-time Pro Bowler, maybe the greatest tight end in history. Strong jaw. He made … Read more
Behold the tush: the gluteus maximus, the largest muscle in the body, responsible for keeping the body upright. It has many names—buttocks, bum, derrière, fanny, rump, seat, keister, haunches, backside, buns—but, in the National Football League, tush is the term of the day. Butts can fumble and asses get whooped, but a pushed tush can … Read more
It was over before it was over. Last Sunday, in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the New England Patriots trailed 6–0 with just over two minutes remaining. The Patriots’ quarterback Bailey Zappe hurled a desperate pass to a double-covered receiver. It bounced off the crowd of bodies and to the ground—a turnover on … Read more
