Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
February 25, 2021

Sports

COURTESY OF HOPKINSSPORTS.COM The men's lacrosse team couldn't overcome an early run from Ohio State in their first game of the season.

Men's lacrosse falls short in season opener against Ohio State

By ERIC LYNCH | Yesterday

After nearly a year, the Hopkins men’s lacrosse team was finally able to return to playing Big Ten games on Homewood Field. On Saturday, the team faced off against the Ohio State University Buckeyes. The Blue Jays were expecting a challenge, as the Buckeyes are currently ranked 10th in the nation while Hopkins is ranked 20th. Additionally, this was the debut of new head coach Peter Milliman after the departure of Dave Pietramala in April of last year.

COURTESY OF HOPKINSSPORTS.COM The Jays spent 351 days waiting and preparing for legitimate Big 10 competition. 

Women’s lacrosse drops opener against Rutgers

By MATTHEW RITCHIE | 2 days ago

The women’s lacrosse team waited for almost a full calendar year to take the field once again for legitimate competition. Weeks and weeks of social distancing and constant preparation through scrimmages and workouts culminated in a Big 10 matchup against the visiting Rutgers University Scarlet Knights at Homewood Field. 

COURTESY OF CHRIS H. PARK The Rec Center will reopen on Feb. 22 after delays due to a COVID-19 cluster.

Students react to the Rec Center's re-opening

By DAVID BAIK | 3 days ago

Director of Athletics and Recreation Jennifer S. Baker and Director of Recreation and Facilities Bill Harrington wrote in an email to students on Feb. 1 that the Recreation (Rec) Center would remain closed in light of a recent COVID-19 cluster.

CC BY 2.0/Larry Maurer Russell Wilson is one of the quarterbacks who expressed mild disinterest in his situation during the offseason.

Predicting the 2021 NFL quarterback carousel

By CYNTHIA HU and TAD BERKERY | 6 days ago

The crown jewel of this year’s free agent class, on the surface it seems crazy to think that Dak Prescott could be wearing another uniform. The Dallas Cowboys desperately need him with no internal replacement and Prescott seems to like Dallas. Yet Prescott, despite coming off a serious injury, is going to break the bank, and will Dallas, with a problematic defense to fix and a team near the upper limit of the salary cap, be the team to pay?

ALL-PRO REELS/CC BY-SA 2.0 For the third time in his career, Donald won the Defensive Player of the Year Award this year.

Aaron Donald deserves his Defensive Player of the Year Award

By ALEX FORLENZA | 6 days ago

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald won his third NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) Award this season. But right after he won, J.J. Watt, also a three-time DPOY, and many others took to social media to advocate for his younger brother, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt.

Keith Allison/CC BY 2.0 Joel Embiid is widely considered to be a top MVP candidate this season.

The NBA MVP race is still close as second half of the season begins

By ERIC LYNCH | February 17, 2021

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is the most prestigious individual honor given to an active player. While many try to predict each year’s winner, most of the players projected to be the MVP this season have fallen out of the conversation completely. 

CC BY 2.0/All-Pro Reels Tom Brady and the Buccaneers' offense dismantled the respected Kansas City defense on Sunday.

The Buccaneers' innovative game plan helped them win Super Bowl LV

By JOSH FELTON | February 12, 2021

While the box score won’t show it, Super Bowl LV was historic for several different reasons. It was the first time one of the teams in the big game actually hosted the event in their home stadium. The game featured Sarah Thomas, the first female to officiate a Super Bowl in National Football League (NFL) history. It was the first time a Super Bowl included a team with all Black coordinators on the sideline.

LAKSHAY SOOD/LAYOUT EDITOR After being canceled in November, the NBA All-Star Game will be played in Atlanta.

An NBA All-Star Game this year makes little sense

By DAVID BAIK | February 12, 2021

After originally deciding to cancel the 2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game back in November of last year, the league, in agreement with the Players Association, changed its mind and decided that the game will take place on March 7 in Atlanta. Aside from the fact that the league may want to recover from its loss of revenue last season, having an All-Star Game this year makes little sense. 

KEITH ALLISON / CC BY-SA 2.0 Quarterback Dak Prescott headlines this offseason’s loaded free agency class.

This year's NFL free agency class is the best in recent history

By JOSH FELTON | February 5, 2021

The 2021 National Football League (NFL) offseason is set to be one of the most entertaining in recent history. The number of game-changing free agents at multiple positions is substantial. There will certainly be tight competition for landing elite free agents in hopes of franchise improvement. Trades are already underway, with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams swapping quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jarred Goff in a blockbuster trade. With the offseason one week away, which NFL free agents are popular targets?

COURTESY OF ROSIE JANG Super Bowl LV has the potential to be one of the greatest Super Bowls in recent memory.

Highlights and predictions for this weekend's Super Bowl

By ERIC LYNCH | February 5, 2021

The Super Bowl is the most watched event in America year after year, and there’s no reason to expect this year to be an exception. A great matchup, an exciting halftime performer and nothing better to do on a Sunday evening: These things are all a part of the formula that makes the Super Bowl so fun to watch. Let’s dive into my expectations for this weekend’s event.

MOGAMI KARIYA/CC BY 2.0 The Wizards superstar deserves better than toiling on a sinking franchise.

Realistic trade options for Bradley Beal to escape to

By ALEX FORLENZA | February 5, 2021

Bradley Beal is the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) leading scorer, averaging four points per game more than Kevin Durant, who is second, and he  plays even fewer minutes than KD. Beal is also currently playing out of his mind on the worst team in the NBA.

CC BY 2.0/ALBERT HERRING Chris Paul, a leader in the NBA Players Association, has been involved in talks to hold an in-person All-Star Game this season.

Once the paragon of pandemic safety, the NBA is now failing to put safety first

By ERIC LYNCH | January 29, 2021

Over the summer, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was able to continue playing its season during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to its innovative “bubble” approach. The experiment was a resounding success, as it ran from July to October without recording a single case of COVID-19. At the time, public health officials and fans alike viewed the NBA as a model for how to responsibly run a sports league during this public health crisis. 

Quintin3265 / CC BY-SA 4.0 Despite a turbulent season, this year’s Super Bowl will take place in Tampa Bay, Fla. on Feb. 7.

Super Bowl LV features a clash of generations

By DAVID BAIK | January 29, 2021

In a season fraught with delays and multiple positive COVID-19 cases, the NFL has been able to finish the season without too many hitches, as its prime moneymaker — the Super Bowl — will be played on Feb. 7.

STEELCITYHOBBIES/CC BY 2.0 Mike Tomlin is one of the few minority head coaches the NFL has seen in the past two decades.

The NFL missed the mark with its new diversity rule

By ALEX FORLENZA | December 10, 2020

About a month ago, the National Football League (NFL) approved a new adjustment to their compensatory pick formula. Now, any team that develops a minority head coach or general manager for another team gets an extra third-round pick. For example, say the Chiefs’ Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy becomes a head coach next year; the Chiefs will get an extra third-round pick in the following draft. 

COURTESY OF VANDERBILT ATHLETICS Fuller's groundbreaking appearance reverberated throughout the football world. 

Sarah Fuller's talent shows the need for female representation in male-dominated sports

By CYNTHIA HU | December 9, 2020

One of America’s greatest pastimes is sports, but as the popularity of sports increased, so has the divide between genders. There are clear categories for sports based on which gender is most represented. For example, football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, boxing and hockey are examples of male-dominated sports because they are thought of as being more “masculine.” On the other hand, gymnastics and figure skating are thought to be female-dominated sports because they are more “feminine.”

Javier Mendia García / CC BY 2.0 Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is a favorite to win Most Valuable Player this season.

This NBA season could see first-time winners for every award

By JOSH FELTON | December 9, 2020

The National Basketball Association (NBA) season is just a few weeks from starting. With training camp arriving, there is speculation as to who will take home the hardware and awards of this NBA season. Based on player performances from last season, promising offseason transactions and optimistic expectations, here are my favorites to win each award this season.

ELEVEN WARRIORS / CC BY-SA 2.0 Cade Cunningham is bound to be a top pick in next year’s draft.

Freshmen live up to the hype in first week of college hoops

By DAVID BAIK | December 3, 2020

At the heels of the 2020 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft, this year’s college basketball season tipped off last week. Based on an extremely limited sample size, I was really impressed with the play of some of the five-star recruits. If their level of play continues, next year’s draft could certainly live up to its prediction that it is loaded with talent.

CC0 The NFL has left the safety of each player up to chance by trusting each individual in the league.

The NFL and failure of personal responsibility

By MATTHEW RITCHIE | December 3, 2020

If one word could be used to describe the National Football League’s (NFL) handling of its season in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’d be farcical. A mess, characterized by mistake after mistake with no redeemable aspects or moments through Week 12 of the season.  

Erik Drost/CC BY 2.0 Gordon Hayward was one of the best players to switch teams this offseason, but the contract he received has been heavily criticized.

The good and the bad of the 2020 NBA free agency

By ERIC LYNCH | December 3, 2020

The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) 2020-2021 season is set to begin this month, meaning most teams’ rosters have stabilized. While there are still some interesting names that haven’t been signed yet, free agency is largely over. As usual, NBA general managers made some incredibly tactical moves while others made agonizingly questionable ones. I’m going to break down some of the best and worst moves made during the 2020 NBA free agency period.

Editor's Picks
News-Letter Special Editions