Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
May 8, 2021

Sports

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.

mark6mauno / CC BY 2.0 The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has long been the most lenient hall of fame of the four major American sports leagues.

The Basketball Hall of Fame should remain inclusive

By ERIC LYNCH | October 22, 2020

In the wake of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, fans have been debating how this year’s playoff results affect certain players’ chances of making it into the Hall of Fame. For players like LeBron James, even an NBA Championship doesn’t do much to increase his already guaranteed Hall of Fame chances. But for players like Rajon Rondo and Jimmy Butler, their success in this year’s playoffs could be the factor that pushes them over the hump. 

Courtesy of HOPKINSSPORTS.COM Swimming programs across the country have been victims of budget cuts, as athletic departments view them and other non-revenue sports as expendable. 

Non-revenue sports should not be scapegoats for budget cuts

By CYNTHIA HU | October 22, 2020

Hello, budget cuts; goodbye, college sports. Well, not all of them. Due to the impact of COVID-19, many universities have been experiencing financial problems. One solution that they have found is to cut or cancel sports programs — but only some of them. 

The Los Angeles Lakers come out on top in an NBA season like no other

By ELISE STANLEY | October 15, 2020

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game Six of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals to win the NBA championship. This triumph comes during a season that has been dramatically impacted by the fourth month COVID-19 interruption and the death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant in January.

Keith Allison / CC BY-SA 2.0 NFL teams, such as the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Giants and the New York Jets, are having a rough season.

Where do the NFL's worst teams go from here?

By ERIC LYNCH | October 15, 2020

No National Football League (NFL) fan wants to see their team lose. But for three unlucky fanbases, that’s all they’ve seen this season. Whether it’s injuries, a bad coaching staff or underperforming players, there’s plenty of blame to go around. But no matter how the season has begun, these fans want to know one thing: Where do they go from here?

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