Seven Wonders, Vol. 08
The best things I’ve read in sports
You know that feeling when sports writing just hits different? Every so often, I round up the best content I’ve consumed. “Seven Wonders” is a Butterflies series where I share my favorites.
The air is crisp, and the evenings carry a gentle chill. It is definitely fall, one of the best times of the year for sports fans. We just finished up a classic World Series that has brought the conversation back to baseball. The NBA has started, and football and soccer are in full swing.
I haven’t shared some of my favorite articles I’ve come across since the summer, so here they are for your reading pleasure.
But first, here are some of my recent posts you may have missed:
The NBA Gambling Problem Will Continue. We will see more gambling-related scandals. Adam Silver has a lot to do to make things right.
The Kevin Durant Paradox. KD is one of the best to ever play. But why does his career feel so unfulfilled? I identify some of the weaknesses in his game and share why his journeyman career is sad, but shouldn’t be the focus of his legacy.
How England’s Top Flight Became Europe’s Super League. A few years ago, a proposed European Super League was abandoned in part due to the backlash from fans. Now, a Super League is being built right under our noses.
Liverpool and the Anfield Cauldron. A look into the effect Anfield plays in Liverpool’s success by breaking down the numbers.
FC Red Bull: More Than an Energy Drink. How Red Bull has built a multi-club empire that both disrupts traditional football models and raises ethical questions.
Dame Time, One Last Time. As a Blazers fan, I reflect on Dame’s move back to Portland and how I love the move despite it not making a ton of sense from a roster-building perspective.
ICYMI: Check out my new series, “Replays,” where I revisit a special sports memory, add context, and share commentary and reactions surrounding it.
And now, here are the seven best things I’ve read in sports recently:
The Utah Jazz Killed NBA Black Uniforms? by Tom O'Grady. A fascinating inside look from the NBA’s first Creative Director on the evolution of the black uniform and why David Stern banned it for 14 years.
Ghana’s broken football dreams: why an African nation will never win the World Cup by Sporting Intelligence (Howard Akumiah and James Corbett). Having spent some time in Ghana myself, this is an engaging read on the history of Ghanaian soccer and the challenges facing the game in the West African country.
Scattered Scandal Thoughts: The Vision Imperative by Hardwood Paroxysm. Amidst the NBA betting scandal, explore the moral dilemmas and the impact of visibility into what is happening in the gambling world.
Breaking down ‘The Decision’ by Joe Posnanski. My wife and in-laws are big Mariners fans, so this hits close to home. Joe breaks down the crucial choices that doomed the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the ALCS, leaving them to head home for the winter.
Alisson Becker and German Emigration to Brazil by Gëzim Qadraku. Learn how Alisson Becker’s German ancestry and the broader history of German migration to Brazil reflect deeper threads of identity, sport, and diaspora in Brazilian society.
Why the Copa Libertadores Is a Greater Club Competition Than the Champions League by Austen Dace. Experience the sights and sounds of the Copa Libertadores, South America’s biggest and most prestigious club tournament.
Do Timeouts Stop Opponent Runs? by Kevin Dewandeler. A great breakdown for data nerds on the effectiveness of calling timeouts to stop scoring runs in the NBA.
Many thanks, Austin!
Much appreciated!
Really appreciate the shoutout from a fellow Austen/Austin!