When perception matters more than reality. Also: Hagen Smith, Angel Reese, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Williams, and Luke Richardson.
Off the Lake: Will the Cubs Use Justin Steele in Relief This Weekend?
The turntables. Also: The White Sox’ draft plans, the Bulls’ draft future, and the haters are catching onto Angel Reese’s trick.
Stu’s Notes: The 2026 NIT Final Four Schedule & Location Are Set
Great, great news. Also: Beavs & Cougs, Jaylen Brown & Nike, Flavor Flav & water polo, Darwin Nuñez and Ron Artest, and The Killers & England.
Joe’s Notes: How College Football Will Separate From Other College Sports
We know the why. Yesterday, Brett Yormark dropped the how. Also: Kawhi Leonard, the Yankees, Wander Franco, and a little tennis.
Stu’s Notes: Craig Counsell Is Nothing Without Pat Murphy
Why the Brewers stayed the Brewers while the Cubs fell apart.
Joe’s Notes: Why There Will Always Be Another NBA Dynasty
Why Steph Curry’s wrong, and what makes up the NBA’s great gift.
Off the Lake: Learning to Be Angry at the Cubs
Plus the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade.
The NIT Fan’s Guide to NBA Summer League
Every NIT alum in action.
Off the Lake: The Cubs Need to Sweep the Angels. Here’s the Math.
Anything less than a sweep this weekend and the Cubs’ playoff chances are probably over. Also: Luis Robert Jr.’s gaffe, Angel Reese is an all-star, the Zach LaVine spat, and Cooper Rush as a possible Bear.
Joe’s Notes: What the Lakers Are Doing
The Lakers aren’t trying to win right now. They didn’t leave that as a choice.
Stu’s Notes: America Needs to Stop Caring About (Men’s) Soccer
We can care and win, or we can abstain and lose. At this point, the choice has been made.
Joe’s Notes: The Splash Brothers Showed How Millennial Athletes Can Thread the Needle
Klay Thompson and Steph Curry managed to be both competitive and cool.
Off the Lake: The Cubs Keep Losing Numbers Games
In catcher’s interference as in life. Also: Zach LaVine is not worth a first-round pick (it’s worse than it sounds).
Stu’s Notes: Will Chris Paul Ruin Wemby’s Vibes?
Have faith in San Antonio. Also: A rogue escalator, and Zach Edey might defect.
Joe’s Notes: Five World Series Contenders and the 25 Others, Entering the MLB Second Half
Categorizing baseball’s best (and worst) teams with the stretch run in sight.
Off the Lake: How Bad Are the Cubs’ Playoff Chances?
They’re bad, but *how* bad? Also: Matas Buzelis, Connor Bedard, a little Sky, and a little Sox.
Stu’s Notes: How Did College Basketball Fans Not Notice Kyle Filipowski’s Girlfriend?
A disappointing performance by the lifeblood of the sport.
Joe’s Notes: Who Are Baseball’s Biggest Stars?
Objectifying the subjective, as much as one can. Then: Rich Paul’s Australia threat, the USMNT’s failure, and Purdue Pharma’s House v. NCAA parallel.