The hottest Sports Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Sports Topics

Toohey’s Hot Start and Traore’s Champions League Debut Highlight Top International Prospect Performances

Chad Ford's NBA Big Board • 59 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Basketball International Prospects Performance
  1. Nolan Traore had an impressive debut in the Champions League, showing his talent despite earlier struggles. His performance helped his team win a big game.
  2. Alex Toohey is off to a strong start in Australia, making a name for himself early in the season. His skills are catching the attention of scouts.
  3. Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue continue to excel in Germany, proving they are top prospects. Their consistent play is making them standout players in their league.

Luke Kornet vs. Magic City: An Atlanta Hawks Controversy

House of Strauss • 29 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🎾 Sports Basketball Fan culture Race relations Gender Politics
  1. Luke Kornet publicly criticized the Atlanta Hawks for promoting Magic City, arguing an NBA team shouldn’t endorse a strip club because it risks objectifying women and clashes with a family-friendly image.
  2. The backlash was mixed and heated: some people called his stance moral grandstanding or racially awkward, while others across lines of opinion supported his request to cancel the promotion and defenders framed Magic City as cultural and artistic.
  3. Magic City is a powerful local brand and the Hawks likely pushed the promotion to seem cool and reconnect with Black fans, but using an NBA platform for a strip-club tie‑in feels inappropriate and speaks to the franchise’s desperation for local relevance.

COVID Masks Are Back At Winter Olympics, Because We Refuse To Learn Anything

Unmasked • 111 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🎾 Sports Olympics Health Policy
  1. Authorities and organizations keep reinstating COVID protocols like masks and handshake bans even though the author argues those measures failed to stop transmission.
  2. The Netherlands Olympic team is using phased precautions — masks in crowded areas, no handshakes, and possible escalation — despite no confirmed athlete cases.
  3. The argument is that lockdowns, masks, and vaccine claims didn’t prevent spread and that measures aimed at contact transmission (like handwashing or avoiding handshakes) offer little benefit against aerosol spread, per cited evidence.

All or Nothing

JoeBlogs • 2889 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NFL Tournaments Championships Players
  1. The past featured many consolation games and exhibition matches that crowned champions without being for meaningful championships.
  2. Players sometimes competed in consolation games for the extra money.
  3. Reflecting on whether the past system of consolation games was better than the current approach.
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What's Wrong With College Sports?

Points And Figures • 532 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🎾 Sports College sports Governance Economics Football Basketball Contracts
  1. The messy controversies in college sports are largely the free market playing out, not a failure caused by NIL, and a lightly regulated market will likely produce better outcomes over time.
  2. Treating players like professionals with enforceable contracts, agents, and insurance gives them real choice and financial safety nets, and it fixes many problems of the old scholarship system where coaches could lock or cut players.
  3. Dismantling centralized NCAA control in favor of conference- and sport-specific market solutions will let schools and TV demand shape schedules and playoff systems, preserving rivalries and creating formats fans actually want.

The CASEY Award!

JoeBlogs • 2712 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Baseball Books Awards History Biographies
  1. The CASEY Award is a prestigious honor for baseball books, with a history dating back to 1983.
  2. MLB sponsorship for the CASEY Award could be beneficial in promoting baseball literature.
  3. The list of past CASEY Award winners showcases a diverse range of baseball books over the years.

Two Drinks with. . . the College Football Booster Who Paid the Players

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 227 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🎾 Sports College Football Recruiting Scandals
  1. Nevin Shapiro secretly paid and lavishly supported Miami football players with money, parties, trips, and other perks, directly breaking NCAA rules.
  2. He views himself as a pioneer whose actions foreshadowed later legal changes that let college players earn money from endorsements and compensation.
  3. He avoided detection for a long time, and now with Miami succeeding and players getting paid, he’s speaking openly about his role.

Block Party

JoeBlogs • 4992 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🎾 Sports Golf
  1. The author explains why they like golf even though they don't play it.
  2. The post includes an option for a 7-day free trial to access more content.
  3. The author last played a full round of golf in 1992.

Signals Gold Q&A, Week 5

Stealing Signals • 39 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Betting Analysis Fantasy Events News
  1. A weekly livestream Q&A session will be held for subscribers. It's a chance for members to ask questions and engage in discussions.
  2. The livestream is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET, which sets a clear time for attendees.
  3. Subscribers can upgrade to the Signals Gold plan for access to exclusive content and features.

Remember My Name! Fame!

JoeBlogs • 2437 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Baseball Fame Players History
  1. Fame in baseball is based on recognition by many people, without judgment on worthiness.
  2. Different levels of fame scale in baseball include being a big-league starter (3), an All-Star (5), or an MVP candidate (7-8).
  3. Becoming a 9 or 10 on the fame scale in baseball often involves achievements, unique skills, force of personality, or charisma.

SBSQ #28b: Maye vs. Stafford and Yelp vs. Google

Silver Bulletin • 212 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎾 Sports NFL College Football Analytics Playoffs Team Strategy
  1. Advanced metrics give Drake Maye the edge for MVP because they count all QB plays (passes, sacks, scrambles) and show he leads in QBERT, EPA, and net yards per dropback; his mobility and rushing production offset Stafford’s better raw passing and TD totals.
  2. Google ratings are generally higher and easier to leave while Yelp is stricter and skews toward foodie, urban reviewers, so scores can differ; when picking restaurants, prioritize the number of reviews over the average, check the menu to match your tastes, and don’t oversearch for perfection.
  3. The College Football Playoff selection is broken because the committee mixes inconsistent goals (picking the most ‘deserving’ teams vs. the objectively ‘best’ teams) and applies criteria unevenly; they should clarify their objective, include more diverse and data-savvy members, or use a transparent algorithm.

Playing your best, up to the end

The Leap • 339 implied HN points • 19 Jul 24
🎾 Sports Games Competitions Events Athletes Strategy
  1. Playing your best is important, even when things look tough. It helps you learn and grow, no matter the outcome.
  2. Tracking your progress can give you valuable insights, especially when it comes to unexpected results. It’s a great way to see where you stand.
  3. Life can be like poker; sometimes you don't win, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t play well or that you can’t improve for next time.

Who Are the Most Famous Baseball Players of the Last 50 Years?

JoeBlogs • 2338 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Baseball
  1. The author reevaluated their initial list of the most famous baseball players from the last 50 years.
  2. They went through Sports Illustrated covers to assess player fame, excluding certain types of covers.
  3. The author acknowledged some bizarre and memorable baseball covers from Sports Illustrated over the years.

So, who’s going to win the Super Bowl?

Silver Bulletin • 280 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🎾 Sports NFL Football Playoffs Analytics Forecasting Injuries
  1. This NFL season was unusually chaotic, with most preseason co-favorites failing to make the playoffs and standings flipping because of close-game variance and injuries.
  2. A new predictive model that updates through the season and accounts for quarterback play, injuries, weather, home-field and rest gives refined playoff odds and currently rates Seattle as the likeliest Super Bowl contender, though no team has anywhere near a 50% chance.
  3. Turnover margins are often driven by luck and are less reliable for prediction than efficiency stats like yards per play or sacks, while injuries can meaningfully reduce a team’s rating and playoff prospects.

Irish Dance: Inconveniently, Boys Are Stronger Than Girls

Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) • 2220 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Gender Competition Athletics Inclusion Strength
  1. In Irish Dance competitions, boys have demonstrated superior strength compared to girls.
  2. The governing body allowed a boy to compete in the Girls U14 category based on gender identity.
  3. There is a call for an 'open' category in Irish Dance competitions to ensure fairness for all competitors.

Heartbreak and Heroes

JoeBlogs • 2319 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football Championship
  1. The Detroit Lions suffered a heartbreaking loss in a game against the 49ers after leading 24-7 at halftime.
  2. Dan Campbell made three key coaching decisions in the second half that impacted the outcome of the game.
  3. The author reflects on the emotional impact of the game, mentioning a young woman crying and expressing deep empathy for Lions fans.

So When Are We Allowed to Ask the Patrick Mahomes Question?

Freddie deBoer • 5321 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🎾 Sports Football Analysis Athletes Statistics Media
  1. Patrick Mahomes has had a noticeable decline in his performance over the last two seasons, which is surprising for someone viewed as one of the best quarterbacks. People should be allowed to discuss this drop in stats and performance even if his team continues to win.
  2. Despite still being a good quarterback, his recent numbers do not match the elite standards he set earlier in his career, which raises questions about his current ability. His style of play has shifted from aggressive to more conservative, leading to fewer big plays.
  3. Sports media often avoids criticizing star players like Mahomes due to their past success and the team's winning record. However, if other quarterbacks experienced similar declines, they would likely face significant scrutiny, suggesting that it's time for a more honest conversation about Mahomes.

Jürgen Klopp: A Liverpool Legend

Original Football • 818 implied HN points • 20 May 24
🎾 Sports Football Legacy Community Leadership
  1. Jürgen Klopp transformed Liverpool from an average team to a European football powerhouse through his passion, unity, and attacking style of play.
  2. Klopp's legacy goes beyond trophies, as he deeply connected with fans, embraced Liverpool's culture, and championed important social causes.
  3. Klopp's mentorship and emphasis on values like resilience and humility have groomed future leaders within the Liverpool squad, leaving a lasting impact even after his departure.

Hall of Fame Breakdown: Shortstop

JoeBlogs • 2456 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Baseball Hall of Fame
  1. No shortstops are fully qualified Hall of Famers based on the survey.
  2. Home Run Johnson and Maury Wills are fringe candidates for the Hall of Fame.
  3. Players like Nomar Garciaparra and Dave Concepción had admirable but not Hall of Fame careers.

NFL & Fox: The $1.6B Deal That Changed Everything

SatPost by Trung Phan • 127 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🎾 Sports Broadcasting Media Rights Sports Business Television American Football
  1. Rupert Murdoch’s 1993 $1.6B bid for the NFC turned Fox into a major broadcast network and set a precedent that pushed NFL and other sports media rights values dramatically higher.
  2. Fox reinvented how football is shown by adding the constant score box, many more cameras and microphones, a lively one-hour pregame, a memorable theme, and star commentators, making sports TV feel like entertainment.
  3. Modern media trends now include live spectacle streaming (like Netflix’s Honnold event) and the rise of self-hosted personal AI assistants (OpenClaw/Moltbot), which offer big convenience gains but also create significant security and privacy risks.

Free Friday: Choose the Hall of Famer

JoeBlogs • 2044 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Football Baseball Basketball Hall of Fame Statistics
  1. The game 'Choose the Hall of Famer' challenges perceptions about player value based on stats and accomplishments.
  2. Comparison between players like Jim Plunkett and Joe Namath shows that stats alone may not dictate Hall of Fame worthiness.
  3. Analyzing players like Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds reveals how defensive contributions can impact Hall of Fame considerations.

I Am Begging Sports Media to Stop Misusing Regression to the Mean

Freddie deBoer • 2165 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🎾 Sports Football Analytics Media Statistics Performance
  1. Regression to the mean means that extreme results are unlikely to happen again without some change in conditions. If a team's situation changes, it’s not just luck but a new factor affecting performance.
  2. Using regression to the mean incorrectly can lead to confusion. If someone thinks a team will do worse because they lost players, that’s not regression to the mean; it’s a different kind of prediction.
  3. There’s a risk of making mistakes by assuming past results will always influence future ones, like betting based on past game outcomes. Each situation should be treated by its own conditions.

Free Friday: Filling the Void

JoeBlogs • 2299 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football Baseball Athletes Coaching Writing
  1. Nick Saban and Bill Belichick are two legendary football coaches facing retirement and the question of finding happiness in the future.
  2. Coaching greats like Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno faced the difficulty of retiring from their passion.
  3. The writer discusses the disappearance of old writings and the upcoming decision about staying on Substack.

A Complicated Man

JoeBlogs • 3852 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🎾 Sports Football
  1. The article discusses the influence of two superheroes from the author's Cleveland hometown: Superman and Jim Brown.
  2. Jim Brown, a significant figure in the author's life, passed away at age 87.
  3. Readers can subscribe for a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives on JoeBlogs.

Free Friday: Let's Talk Hall of Fame Catchers!

JoeBlogs • 2142 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Baseball Hall of Fame Players History
  1. Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, and Yadier Molina are likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, marking a golden age for catchers.
  2. Thurman Munson is a strong Hall of Fame candidate, but doesn't quite match up to some of the other legendary catchers in history.
  3. Different eras in baseball history have seen peaks in catcher talent, with gaps in the 1950s and 1980s for Hall of Fame catchers.

Preseason Sunday: Fantasy Football is Much More Fun When You Accept What You Can't Control

Freddie deBoer • 1392 implied HN points • 24 Aug 25
🎾 Sports Football Fantasy Entertainment Community Analytics
  1. Fantasy football is a game influenced by factors beyond your control, like player injuries or unexpected coaching decisions. Understanding this makes it more enjoyable instead of stressful.
  2. Many people take fantasy football too seriously, often leading to conflicts and anxiety. It's best to see it as a fun way to connect with friends rather than a high-stakes competition.
  3. Embrace the randomness of the game; it's part of what makes it exciting. Celebrating small wins, like a lucky player pick, can enhance your enjoyment of the season.

My Hall of Fame Predictions

JoeBlogs • 2024 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Baseball Hall of Fame Predictions
  1. The author predicts Adrián Beltré will be elected into the Hall of Fame with a high percentage.
  2. The author introduces the concept of 'Hock Score' to measure a player's popularity at the Hall of Fame.
  3. The author plans to engage readers with a discussion thread and video related to the Hall of Fame ballot.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

JoeBlogs • 3695 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Baseball
  1. The article discusses changes in baseball this year and their impact.
  2. The writer has a story about baseball changes in _Esquire_.
  3. Readers can sign up for a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives.