In 1996, a bomb exploded at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. In the immediate aftermath, a hero emerged who had saved lives by warning people to flee to safety. Within a matter of days, that hero unjustly came under suspicion. He was tried and condemned in the press and in the court of public opinion. When the truth finally came out, no one was paying attention anymore, and a man’s life was ruined by a false accusation. The ESPN documentary above tells the story of Richard Jewell. It’s a tragic example of what happens when we act as if news reports are flawless depictions of reality. They are not.…
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Draft hopes dimmed by coming out of the closet?
You have no doubt heard that news that the SEC’s defensive player of the year has come out of the closet. This revelation could potentially make Missouri’s Michael Sam the first openly gay player in the NFL. But first, he has to get drafted. That is why one particular report caught my eye today. It says that Sam’s draft prospects are dimmed by his revelation. NBC Sports reports: Sam publicly announced that he is homosexual, putting the 2013 SEC defensive player of the year in position to be the first openly gay player in the NFL after May’s draft. Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans of SI.com spoke to eight NFL…
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Dude Perfect drains it from 500 feet
Dude Perfect took their mad skills atop Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas and drained the nuclear three from 500 feet. Neato!
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Tim Tebow signs with ESPN
It was announced today that Tim Tebow is joining ESPN to be an analyst for its SEC Network. While he still wishes to play professional football, this is his gig for now. In a statement, Tebow says this: I am so excited that ESPN has given me this incredible opportunity… When I was 6 years old, I fell in love with the game of football, and while I continue to pursue my dream of playing quarterback in the NFL, this is an amazing opportunity to be part of the unparalleled passion of college football and the SEC. I know nobody wants to hear this, but I just thought I remind…
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The greatest college game ever?
There have been some epic finishes in the history of college football, but has there ever been one bigger than what we saw tonight between Auburn and Alabama? It’s an unlikely win off a most unlikely play–a returned field goal for a touchdown. I guess lightning strikes twice in the same place after all because this is the second miracle that Auburn has pulled off this this season. There really isn’t much to be said. What a great game for the ages. Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers!
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We had us a ballgame!
I was on an airplane when LSU and Arkansas were finishing their epic battle earlier today, so I didn’t get to see the finish in real time. But man oh man have I been drinking in the replays since landing. What a game! In case you missed it, the Tigers were trailing the Hogs late in the fourth quarter when Zack Mettenberger, the starting quarterback, was injured and had to leave the game. LSU’s freshman backup QB, Anthony Jennings, entered the game with 99 yards between him and a touchdown. What happened next will go down in LSU lore. Watch the highlights below to see it for yourself. Unbelievable! Congratulations…
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Nebraska’s Hail Mary win over Northwestern
The best play of the 2013 season happened with Nebraska’s Hail Mary win over Northwestern yesterday. With four seconds left in the game and Nebraska trailing by three points, Nebraska tosses-up a 56-yard pass into the endzone. Somehow, a receiver in red came down with it in the endzone with no time left on the clock. This play almost never works, but it is sweet when it does! Watch above. (HT: Justin Taylor) Postscript: Can someone explain to me why Bo Pelini looks disappointed?
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What I learned after week one of college football
Here’s what I learned yesterday after watching week one of college football.
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Was “The Battle of the Sexes” a fix?
Next month will be the fortieth anniversary of the famed “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King. In 1973 just as feminism was getting its sea legs in the wider culture, the heroine Billy Jean King vanquishes the chauvinist Bobby Riggs. It was an irresistible storyline, and it still stands today as one of the most iconic moments in the history of American sports. Or does it? ESPN is reporting that the match was fixed. In short, a witness has come forward to say that Riggs threw the match in order to pay off a gambling debt to the mob. If you want the…
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Pick-up basketball stereotypes
Dude Perfect put out a video yesterday of pick-up basketball stereotypes. Instant classic. You can put me in the “looks can be deceiving” category. (HT: Alex Medina)