Seven Wonders, Vol. 09
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.
Happy March Madness! Though we have a lack of upsets, we have at least had competitive games played at very high levels. Tight finishes remind us we don’t need a Cinderella run to tune in. If you’re looking at your bracket in tears, here are seven pieces of sports writing that will take your mind off your poor judgment.
But first, some of my recent posts and a few relevant oldies from the archive:
North London Forever. Arsenal lost in the Carabao Cup final, but they still have a shot at the treble. More importantly, they are in a commanding lead in the Premier League and have a favorable path to go deep in the Champions League.
I Think We Can Fix College Basketball. This is from last year, but it is still relevant today. I break down a few small changes that can make the college basketball product more enjoyable to watch.
The 100-Point Game. It seems like many weren’t impressed with Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game a few weeks ago. This piece breaks down how Wilt Chamberlain scored his 100 back in the day. Spoiler alert: it was probably more gimmicky than Bam’s 83.
Victor Wembanyama: The dominance of international players in the NBA. I reflect on the rise and dominance of the international player in the NBA. Though this is older, it’s a fun read, given Victor Wembanyama is closing in on being one of the best players in the world.
The Fouling While Up Three Problem. I break down what the statistics say about fouling while up three. Plus, I share my thoughts on the excitement (lol) of watching the best athletes in the world line up at the free-throw line.
Soccer In Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. You don’t know pressure until you have played for Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s reign.
The Evolution of Unethical Hoops. A video breakdown of how players have adapted over the years to draw fouls, deceive referees, and optimize their game in the era of analytics.
And now, here are the seven (ok, I cheated) nine best things I’ve read in sports recently:
Cinderella Isn’t Dead Yet, But She’s On Life Support by Elliott Crow. A case that the transfer portal, not NIL, is the real villain killing mid-major Cinderella runs, and what it would take to save the best underdog tradition in American sports.
Sweet 16 Possibilities by Ken Pomeroy. KenPom breaks down the Sweet 16 and makes a compelling case that the upset dam is about to break, whether you want it to or not.
March Madness (Live from Somewhere Else) by Katherine Rowe | The Playbook. A look at what we’re giving up when March Madness trades packed campus gyms for massive neutral-site arenas.
MAGIC MOMENTS by Aditya Iyer. A love letter to the magic of football’s most improbable moments told through a 16-year-old named Max Dowman.
Fly Midway by Tom Curren. A raw breakdown of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final collapse against Manchester City.
As Big as Chile by Nebojša Marković. The beautiful story of a tiny Serbian village football club that accidentally went viral in Chile and what it meant to a dying community.
VAR’s Crisis of Coherence by Alex Varghese. An argument for why VAR making soccer more accurate has somehow made it less enjoyable, and what we’ve quietly lost by obligating the game to be correct.
The Colonial Logic of Brazilian Football by Anna Olimpia de Moura Leite & Amanda Jorri. Brazil’s football decline isn’t a talent problem; it’s a structural one. Its best players are shipped abroad, leaving the domestic game hollow.
Game Management by @ Chris Gunther. A data-driven breakdown of how NBA teams deploy timeouts, challenges, and fouls.
thank you for the feature!