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December 6, 2025 December 6, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Sports

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.

MARC GRÉGOR CAMPREDON/CC BY 2.0 Senior forward Luka Garza for the University of Iowa is considered to be the favorite for the 2021 Player of the Year award.

Predictions for the NCAA basketball season

By ERIC LYNCH | November 19, 2020

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball season begins on Nov. 25, only a couple of weeks after its usual early November start. Among the major American sports leagues, college basketball wasn’t too impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the big NCAA March Madness tournament was canceled, most conferences had already finished their final tournaments by the time things began to shut down in March. Before I begin with my predictions for the season, I think it’d be useful to provide some brief context for the NCAA’s COVID-19 plan. 

TOADBOY123/CC BY-SA 4.0 Kim Ng is both the first woman and the first Asian American general manager in MLB history. 

Kim Ng finally gets the recognition she deserves

By MATTHEW RITCHIE | November 19, 2020

For the first time in a long time, something unequivocally good happened in baseball. There was no catch, no fallback, no phantom menace behind the curtain waiting to squash any hope of progress. Kim Ng, a baseball woman of legendary stature with a resume to match, was named as the Miami Marlins’ new general manager (GM) last Friday.  

BIKERIDE / CC BY 2.0 The 2020 NBA draft will be held on Nov. 18.

After over a year's wait, the NBA draft is here

By DAVID BAIK | November 18, 2020

For the first time this century, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is holding its draft in November, a few months removed from the usual June date. Besides its unusual timing and the fact that it will take place over video conference, this year’s draft seems to be a question mark for many teams.

KEITH ALLISON/CC BY 2.0 Star players like Christian McCaffrey can be more valuable than a group of three mid-level players combined.

Three tips to improve your fantasy football team before the season ends

By TAD BERKERY | November 12, 2020

It’s that time of year in which fantasy football general managers are reflecting on their rosters. Ten weeks into the season, they have a rough picture of where their teams stand. But regardless of how well their teams are living up to expectations, it’s instinct to want to make them better and to be on the hunt for moves that will put their teams over the top.

VIC CHERUBINI // CC BY-SA 3.0 Major League Baseball confirmed in January of 2020 that the Houston Astros stole signs in their 2017 World Series run.

Cheaters have no right to act as victims

By ALEX FORLENZA | November 5, 2020

Remember when the Houston Astros cheated their way into a World Series ring? Well, this season, the Astros and their fanbase used a brand-new, never-before-seen rallying cry: us against the world.  

GREG GOEBEL / CC BY SA 2.0  The basketball facilities in Disney World likely will not be reused for the upcoming season.

The NBA's December start date can work

By ERIC LYNCH | October 29, 2020

If 2020 were like any other year, the National Basketball Association (NBA) 2020-2021 season would already be underway. Instead, the 2019-2020 season has just ended. Now, Commissioner Adam Silver is scrambling to adjust the league’s schedule to balance all the unique factors at play.  

BETP // CC BY-SA 3.0 The Philadelphia Eagles are currently in first place in their division with a record of 2-4-1.

No NFC East team should go to the playoffs this year

By DAVID BAIK | October 29, 2020

The Philadelphia Eagles took on the New York Giants in some National Football League (NFL) intra-division play on Oct. 22. No team seemed to have a clear advantage over the other, as evidenced by the back and forth nature of the game. This aspect, however, did make for an exciting game.

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