Sally Jenkins (not surprisingly) with a profoundly wonderful example of how feature writing can take you places you don't expect to go and understand people you can't imagine understanding.
washingtonpost.com/sports/interac…

What happened to Colorado's castoffs?

One year later, I caught up with the players who got cut or transferred out after Deion Sanders took over the Buffs.

Story on where all 53 of them went and what they went through: bit.ly/3xXttV2

i love him already 😭😭

It’s hard to imagine a better time for Detroit and its NFL franchise to showcase itself to a national audience, Colton Pouncy writes.

“This is going to be a party that everyone will want to be at.”

More on Detroit's big moment ⤵️
theathletic.com/5443391/2024/0…

Saban < Baumgardner

I promise, you won't regret having The Beast by your side for the next 3 days and 257 draft picks. The most comprehensive NFL Draft guide available.

Included for all The Athletic subscribers:

theathletic.com/5399690/2024/0…

think it’s full

A mid-major star who stays is the ultimate romance in this new era of college basketball. Erik Reynolds is a dude to root for 2024-25.

Interesting exercise here from Craig Meyer, pondering if blue-blood coaching jobs mean what they once did. From his always excellent Front Porch newsletter: open.substack.com/pub/frontporch…

Their dominance is almost comical, and the numbers prove it. Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda are just that good.

A fun collab with Brody Miller for The Athletic, with some cool visuals that really say it all (H/T Hugh Kellenberger):
theathletic.com/5437002/2024/0…

Sources: A Group of 5 playoff or G5 reorganization is being talked about among admins.

Derek Dooley is pitching them on private equity.

The SEC/Big Ten strong-arming the CFP was a tipping point.

theathletic.com/5439967/2024/0…

More big things from early aughts Hawks

Congrats John Bryant! thwnd

The level of access Dawn Staley gives local media is not common for any coach at any level, nor is the amount of local coverage that the women's basketball team gets.

I talked to Staley and local reporters to learn more.

'The local media, they know.'

frontofficesports.com/dawn-staley-so…

I missed this article amidst everything going on with UConn’s title celebrations, but this is a must read. Between this and his work at Augusta Brendan Quinn has been absolutely on fire. Bonus points for the Rocky Hill shoutout! theathletic.com/5401629/2024/0…

Happy birthday to college basketball LEGEND and class of '63 graduate, Bill Raftery🧅

#GoExplorers 🔭

Breaking: Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark – the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft – is nearing a lucrative, eight-figure endorsement deal with Nike, per industry sources. Clark is set to receive a signature Nike shoe as well.

Story w/ Shams Charania, Ben Pickman theathletic.com/5424729/2024/0…

Now that Caitlin Clark is a member of the Indiana Fever, it’s time to turn the page on the 2024 WNBA Draft and look ahead to what could be an even more talented class.

Where will Paige Bueckers go in 2025?

Sabreena Merchant big board projections ⤵️
theathletic.com/5421511/2024/0…

this is a great read and applies to many many many lines of work. Listen up, young people: