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☆ College Basketball’s Winter of Chaos
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jared Diamond | Laine Higgins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

With March Madness two months away, college basketball is officially a complete and utter mess. The reason: None of the teams that are purportedly the good ones appear to have much interest in actually winning basketball games. In an unprecedented stretch of chaos, four top-five teams lost to unranked opponents in the span of 48 hours last week, including No. 2 Houston, No. The carnage continued into the holiday weekend, with Houston falling for a second consecutive time, alongside No.

Organizations: Purdue, Houston Locations: Houston, Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arizona

☆ Padres Owner Spent Big—and Leaves an Expensive Legacy After His Death
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Peter Seidler wanted to win the World Series more than anything. It would be nice to believe that every baseball team owner shared that sentiment, but nobody proved it more than Seidler in the way that truly matters: with his wallet. Seidler became the controlling owner of the San Diego Padres following the 2020 season and fundamentally reshaped the idea of what a small-market franchise could be. While his peers retrenched and cried poverty, Seidler spent gigantic amounts of money to attract superstar talent that never before would’ve imagined joining a team like the Padres.

Persons: Peter Seidler, Seidler, retrenched, would’ve Organizations: San Diego Padres, Padres

☆ What the Big Ten’s Tony Petitti Learned From the Houston Astros
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Jared Diamond | Laine Higgins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tony Petitti had a front-row seat to what had been the biggest sign-stealing scandal in American sports history. He was Major League Baseball’s deputy commissioner in late 2019, when his boss, Rob Manfred, began investigating the Houston Astros’ now infamous trash-can banging scheme. From his spot within the game’s inner circle, Petitti saw up close how Manfred’s probe unfolded, how he decided to impose discipline and how the public ultimately reacted afterward.

Persons: Tony Petitti, Rob Manfred, Houston Astros ’, Petitti Organizations: League Baseball’s, Houston Astros

☆ At 22, She Led UNC to a Championship. At 23, She’s the Coach.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Erin Matson marched into North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham’s office in August 2022 to suggest a candidate for the school’s next field hockey coach: herself. It was an audacious proposition—because Matson was still an active member of the team.

Persons: Erin Matson, Bubba Cunningham’s, Matson Locations: North Carolina

☆ The Late-Blooming Slugger Having the Best October Ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Lindsey Adler | Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

PHOENIX—Before the 2021 season, the Texas Rangers arrived at a conclusion that two years later seems impossible to fathom: that Adolis García wasn’t one of the 40 best players in their organization. The Rangers needed a spot for a free-agent pitcher named Mike Foltynewicz. They made room by removing García from the roster, allowing any other team that wanted him to have him for nothing. García went unclaimed and returned to the Rangers as a minor-leaguer. He was weeks away from celebrating his 28th birthday, ancient for a rookie in an industry dominated by superstars in their early 20s.

Persons: Mike Foltynewicz, García Organizations: Texas Rangers, The Rangers, Rangers

☆ The World Series Without Baseball’s Best Teams or Best Players
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Jared Diamond | Lindsey Adler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Major League Baseball fundamentally reshaped its rules this season in a drastic effort to improve the product on the field and attract younger generations of fans who had abandoned the sport. The changes largely worked: The once-controversial pitch timer resulted in shorter and more action-packed games. Limiting pitcher pickoff throws led to a record 41% increase in stolen bases. Attendances climbed to their largest total since 2017, reversing years of decline that started even before the pandemic disrupted the live entertainment market. Nearly two-thirds of teams saw their local television ratings rise.

Persons: pickoff Organizations: Major League Baseball

☆ The Texas Rangers Finally Have a Chance to Wake Up From a Nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HOUSTON—Twelve years after one of the most devastating losses in baseball history, the heartbreak of the 2011 World Series still looms over the Texas Rangers. On two separate occasions in Game 6—in the ninth inning and then again in the 10th—the Rangers needed just one more strike to claim a championship over the St. Louis Cardinals. Both times, they blew the lead, punctuated by David Freese’s legendary walk-off home run that destroyed a generation of Rangers fans. “For a couple of years after that I would probably have a moment every day where I would think about it,” said Michael Young, the Rangers’ all-time hits leader and a key member of that 2011 squad. “If that ball goes off the end of his bat instead of smack dab on the barrel, this whole thing is different.”

Persons: David Freese’s, ”, Michael Young Organizations: HOUSTON, Texas Rangers, Rangers, Louis Cardinals

☆ Jose Altuve Wins the Wildest Baseball Game of the Year, Of Course
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

ARLINGTON, Texas—As the ninth inning of a wild American League Championship Series game progressed on Friday night, the players in the Houston Astros’ dugout could see the future. The events unfolding on the field conjured memories of the past. Game 5 of the ALCS at Globe Life Field had already featured an electric home run, a bench-clearing scuffle and three ejections—with a trip to the World Series at stake.

Organizations: American League, Houston Astros Locations: ARLINGTON , Texas

☆ Welcome to the American League Championship Series, Presented by Steve Cohen
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/justin-verlander-max-scherzer-steve-cohen-astros-rangers-mets-f95df035

Persons: Dow Jones, justin, cohen Organizations: astros

☆ He Was a Phenom. Then a Bust. Now He’s a Minnesota Twins Legend.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Royce Lewis barely played baseball for three years. The beginning of the pandemic canceled the minor-league season in 2020. A torn ligament in his knee cost him all of 2021. When he finally reached the majors in 2022 after a grueling rehab in, he lasted just 12 games before he blew out the same ACL again.

Persons: Royce Lewis

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-nfl-eras-tour-movie-c50c1419

Persons: Dow Jones, taylor

☆ Been Caught Stealing? You Aren’t Trea Turner
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Jared Diamond | Lindsey Adler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ A Rejected Bet in Ohio, on an Alabama Baseball Game, Got Him Banned in Indiana
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/a-rejected-bet-in-ohio-on-an-alabama-baseball-game-got-him-banned-in-indiana-79d61be4

Persons: Dow Jones, 79d61be4 Locations: ohio, alabama, indiana

☆ The Sweeping, and Puzzling, Crackdown on College Athletes’ Betting in Iowa
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

DES MOINES, Iowa—In early May, agents from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation fanned out across the state and beyond with search warrants in hand. Their mission was to seize the mobile phones and other electronic devices belonging to a group of current and former athletes from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

Organizations: DES, Iowa Division, Criminal Investigation, University of Iowa, Iowa State University Locations: DES MOINES, Iowa

☆ The Rejected Bet That Launched a Gambling Scandal in College Sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/sports-gambling-college-baseball-brad-bohannon-66a6cd6

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Suspended NFL Player Faces Criminal Probes for Betting On His Own Team
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Andrew Beaton | Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/hunter-dekkers-iowa-state-sports-betting-eyioma-uwazurike-denver-broncos-4b710e3f

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: denver, broncos Locations: iowa

☆ She Just Finished Her Freshman Year of High School. Now She’s in the World Cup.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

She Just Finished Her Freshman Year of High School. Now She’s in the World Cup. Casey Phair became the youngest person, man or woman, to play in the World Cup. The New Jersey 16-year-old playing for South Korea is one of more than 20 teens who have already played in the tournament.

Persons: Casey Phair Organizations: High School, The, South Locations: The New Jersey, South Korea

☆ A Reporter’s Tweet Moved NBA Draft Odds. He Also Works for a Gambling Company.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In the days leading up to the NBA Draft, college student Brandon Blank was so confident that Brandon Miller would be the second overall pick that he planned to put money on it. Then about eight hours before the first selection was announced on Thursday, Blank received a notification on his phone that forced him to rethink everything.

Persons: Brandon Blank, Brandon Miller, Blank Organizations: NBA

☆ Pitch Counts Are Only Suggestions at the College World Series
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jared Diamond | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/pitch-counts-college-world-series-lsu-paul-skenes-d05a793d

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: lsu

☆ Opinion | If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably ‘WEIRD’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +83 min

You’re probably very weird, and not just for all the obvious reasons you’re thinking of. Because, obviously, there’s going to be some overlap in the curve here. How you’re going to behave with your professor is quite different than how you’re going to behave with your friends. But it’s really kind of faceless, and you’re not really helping anybody you know. I think things are dynamic, and directions are changing, and that sort of thing.

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