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The War of the McCourts
Sep 28, 2010 The story of Frank and Jamie McCourt, who turned the Dodgers into their own piggy bank, lived a life of mortgaged royalty and then decided to destroy one another, is like something out of Tom Wolfe.The story of Frank and Jamie McCourt, who lived a life of mortgaged royalty and then decided to destroy one another, is like something out of Tom Wolfe.
ESPN Is the Diva, Favre Is Just an Old Pro With a Bum Ankle
Aug 23, 2010 In the 10 months from September to July, at least two of the four major leagues are playing In July and August, we’re on our own and the Big Paparazzo does what it does when it has nothing guess at something, blow it up, project from it and comment on itIn July and August, we’re on our own and the Big Paparazzo does what it does when it has nothing guess at something and comment on it.
George Steinbrenner’s Evil Empire
Aug 5, 2010 The Boss didn’t leave his heirs a baseball team but a financial empire that can never be rivaled, villains you can depend on and a legacy like Sherman's to Georgia.
What ESPN’s Bill Simmons Superdeluxe Media Empire Means for Facts, Fans and Sports
Jul 8, 2010 Going bonkers, lionizing winners and dumping on losers is fun, even if the cycle is accelerating to absurdity and beyond with modern 24/7 reportage That’s today’s price of fame Privileged as they are, today’s starry-eyed young athletes pursue their dream through a driving shitstormThat’s today’s price of fame.
How Baseball Became America vs. the Damn Yankees
May 20, 2010 Baseball has always proceeded according to the law of the jungle with the Yankees as King Kong, but in the past even they never dominated financially as they do now.
Role Models for the Id
Apr 26, 2010 If the conduct of sports stars represents “values,” there never were any. In any case, it’s better to raise your kids yourself.
An Icon Without a Clue
Apr 8, 2010 Tiger Woods is finally getting on with his life, not that Tiger’s life can ever be what it was when he was the unquestioned, untainted, most famous, most admired, richest, greatest athlete of all time Unfortunately, that’s exactly what he was raised to aspire toTiger’s life can never be what it was when he was the most admired, richest, greatest athlete of all time.
March Mildness: How the NCAA Tournament Lost Its Swagger
Apr 1, 2010 The NCAA Tournament is the highest-level single-elimination event in basketball, making it special. Nevertheless, in the Big Dance’s present incarnation, other words come to mind, like bloated, over-commercialized and bland. In the Big Dance’s present incarnation, words like bloated, over-commercialized and bland come to mind.
The Winner and Still Champion, the Olympic (Ka-Ching!) Movement
Mar 11, 2010 In the wake of the just-concluded Winter Games -- aka They Can Even Sell This Stuff? -- it’s amazing to think how little was left of the Olympic movement in 1984, when it crawled into Los Angeles on its last legs.It’s amazing to think how little was left of the Olympic movement in 1984, when it crawled into Los Angeles on its last legs.
Shock and Aw: Getting Over the Sins of ’98
Feb 11, 2010 This just in: With all forgiven, Mark McGwire makes Hall of Fame. Who knows, it may even happen in his lifetime.