Author: Michael

1. Bob Kravitz has been a sports columnist for nearly 40 years. Most known for his work at the Indianapolis Star, the award-winning Kravitz has also written for the Rocky Mountain News, Sports Illustrated (our paths never crossed) and The Athletic.
Kravitz, as he put it, “got whacked by The Athletic in early June” when the company parted ways with 20 writers.
That line comes from Kravitz’s first column on his new Substack page.

My debut column on Substack, in which I hammer away at The Athletic and share how I’m going to make a go of it on this platform. https://t.

The easiest way to spark a baseball brawl is for a pitcher to throw a fastball high and tight on a batter. Whether or not the batter is actually hit by the pitch, it’s only natural for him to be angry—sometimes angry enough to drop his bat and charge the mound. 
Game 2 of Japan’s NPB All-Star Series on Thursday began with a variation on that script. The very first pitch that Hiroshima Carp pitcher Aren Kuri threw to Orix Buffaloes outfielder Yutaro Sugimoto whizzed right past his head. Sugimoto immediately dropped his bat and sprinted toward Kuri.

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
From the locks, to the lol no’s.
The amount of quarterback talent in the NFL right now is obscene. Not only are we in a golden age of young QBs, but pass-friendly rules and a 17-game regular season has pushed air yards through the roof.
This depth of young talent could very easily have a profound effect on franchise records. Today we look at all 32 teams, their current all-time leader in yardage, and whether we can expect that record to topple with the team’s current starter.

As NBA free agency slows to a crawl, and we enter the mid-summer doldrums from a transaction standpoint, there isn’t all that much to explore from one day to the next anymore.
But there are several teams that still appear to have a number of key, unresolved roster choices to make; preferably before training camp begins in early October for most clubs.
With that in mind, here are the five teams most in need of a move or two.

Travis Hunter followed Deion Sanders to Colorado from Jackson State and could play both corner and wide receiver again in 2023.

USC football enters the fall with a sour taste in its mouth after blowing a lead and losing to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl. A large part of that collapse, as well as the Trojans’ two losses to Utah, stemmed from the defense.
Rather, a lack thereof.

@TYassmin21 ARE YOU KIDDING?@Utah_Football makes it a 2 score game pic.twitter.com/LEphhNMUsI
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 3, 2022

Lincoln Riley’s offense was cooking last season. Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy.
The other side of the ball was not as successful. USC’s defense ranked 106 out of 131.

Burn these now.
I’m normally a fan of the alternate uniform, and love seeing them revealed — but the Colts decided to rob me of that joy on Thursday morning.

As crisp and cool as the Indiana Nights. pic.twitter.com/dsxWC4secT
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 20, 2023

What in the ever-loving world of Kentucky-ass football are these? We’ll get back to this whole “Indiana Nights” thing, because it’s hilarious. For now, let’s focus on these uniforms, which look like Cookie Monster decided to cosplay as Darth Vader for an evening.

The Jets have agreed to trade wide receiver Denzel Mims and a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Lions for a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Northwestern has had discussions with former NFL and college coach Dave Wannstedt and others about a special assistant role for the 2023 season.

NFL teams have unveiled a number of new looks over the last few days, and on Thursday it was the Colts’ turn. Unfortunately, their new “Indiana Nights” uniforms aren’t getting the best reception.
Indianapolis’ new alternate look features heathered blue jerseys and a franchise-first black helmet. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they will first wear them for their Oct. 22 game vs. the Browns, and will continue to be worn “for select games in future seasons.