The hottest Sports Substack posts right now

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Top Sports Topics

The Fine Art of Losing: Redux

The Contender • 1277 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Fan culture Hope Support
  1. The writer discusses the experience of being a fan of a tragic sports team like the Lions.
  2. Fans were warned about possible heartbreak if the Lions achieved success, which later proved true.
  3. Despite the pain, fans are advised to endure and continue supporting their team.

I Hate That I Hate the Chiefs

House of Strauss • 40 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🎾 Sports Football Athletes Teams Fan culture Competitions
  1. Many fans dislike the Chiefs despite recognizing their talent and success. It’s common to root against the best teams because of the competitive spirit in sports.
  2. The Chiefs have a smart strategy as a team, making clever choices like investing in undervalued positions. This shows they are not just relying on big names but are focused on building a strong overall team.
  3. People often blame luck or outside factors for a team's success, but successful teams like the Chiefs are usually better and make fewer mistakes during important games.

The Profile Dossier: Nick Saban, America's Most Successful Coach

The Profile • 1665 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Coaching Success Leadership Psychology Techniques
  1. Nick Saban focuses on constant improvement and attention to detail in all aspects of preparation and leadership
  2. Saban believes in investing time in habits that align with your goals and identity
  3. To be successful, one should focus on persistence, a champion's attitude in all endeavors, and taking personal responsibility for outcomes

The Enshittification of Manchester United

Grace on Football • 1159 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Football Finance Management Commercialization Ownership
  1. The Glazers' ownership of Manchester United has led to mismanagement on and off the pitch, creating a downward trajectory for the club.
  2. The concept of 'enshittification' can be seen in how tech platforms first cater to users, then prioritize business customers over users, and eventually focus on extracting maximum value for themselves before declining.
  3. Manchester United's shift towards prioritizing commercial success over sporting success has negatively affected the club's growth and standing, leading to concerns about the future of the team.
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Upcoming Release: The Hunden Files

Richard Lewis • 2338 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Esports Scandal Investigation Coaching
  1. The Hunden Files reveal private communications shedding light on the behavior of Nicolai 'Hunden' Petersen.
  2. Petersen faced consequences for cheating in competitive matches and leaking strategic documents to Astralis.
  3. Legal actions against Petersen are ongoing, with evidence showing his involvement with Astralis while still employed by Heroic.

Premier League Money: The Economics of Winning, Relegation and Promotion

Original Football • 459 implied HN points • 14 May 24
🎾 Sports Soccer Economics Competition Finance
  1. Winning the Premier League not only brings glory but also substantial financial rewards through broadcasting revenue and merit payments.
  2. Relegation from the Premier League can have severe financial consequences for clubs, leading to reduced revenue and parachute payments to soften the impact.
  3. Clubs in the Championship strive for promotion to the Premier League due to the financial windfall it brings, especially through the lucrative Championship Playoff Final.

Gonzo Awards: Worst Decision Of The Year

Richard Lewis • 1316 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Esports Gaming Athletes
  1. Esports can be full of drama and downfalls due to incompetent narcissists.
  2. Astralis made a series of questionable decisions involving a coach named Hunden.
  3. Astralis' actions resulted in denigration of their own legacy, angering the community, lawsuits, fines, and no improvement in tournament results.

Psyched Out

The Leap • 299 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
🎾 Sports Poker Psychology Decision-making Cognitive Bias Tournaments
  1. The gambler's fallacy is a common mistake. People often think that after a losing streak, they're 'due' for a win, which isn't how probabilities work.
  2. Rumination can hurt your game. If you keep thinking about past bad hands, you're wasting mental energy that could be used to make better decisions now.
  3. Anchoring is when you focus too much on past chip counts. It's important to play based on your current stack, not how much you had before.

Jude Bellingham: A Star With the World at His Feet

Original Football • 439 implied HN points • 12 May 24
🎾 Sports Football Athlete Inspiration Youth Character
  1. Jude Bellingham is a young football star known for his talent, humility, and maturity, making him both a formidable player and a commendable individual.
  2. Bellingham stands out for his dedication, fearlessness in making mistakes, and understanding of what's truly important, showing a relentless pursuit of greatness and a love for the game.
  3. He embodies a balance of humility and confidence, displays maturity beyond his years, and has a good support system, setting him apart as an exceptional talent with integrity and unwavering determination.

Momentum and the Gambler's Fallacy

Admired Leadership Field Notes • 1022 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Analysis Performance Strategy Trends Statistics
  1. Momentum in sports can lead to a shift in energy and positivity, affecting the outcome of a game.
  2. Even though statistical experts claim momentum is not real and linked to the gambler's fallacy, it is a common occurrence in sports that can impact a team's performance.
  3. Teams that effectively harness momentum by maintaining a streak of positive outcomes have a higher probability of winning, as seen in data analysis of NFL games.

Unfamiliar Territory

Knicks Film School • 1190 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Basketball NBA Team Trade
  1. Knicks are now viewed as a strong contender in the NBA East.
  2. The team made strategic trades to strengthen their roster for potential success.
  3. Maintaining flexibility and having a clear plan have put the Knicks in a promising position for the future.

My latest from NBA Trade Season

Marc Stein • 1022 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎾 Sports NBA Trade Basketball
  1. Updates on more than half of the NBA's 30 teams are coming as the trade deadline approaches
  2. Expect the unexpected in the NBA trade season; surprises often happen last minute
  3. Past unexpected trades, like Irving and Durant's, hint that more surprises could be on the way

The Hunden Files 2: The Leak

Richard Lewis • 2044 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Esports Team Dynamics Ethical considerations
  1. Nicolai "Hunden" Petersen faced a ban for sharing strategic materials with a rival team.
  2. The leaked Google Drive incident involved detailed strategies used by Heroic, possibly shared with Astralis.
  3. The court filings suggest Petersen may have shared confidential material irresponsibly, influenced by his desire to join Astralis.

Gonzo Awards: Biggest Scam Of The Year

Richard Lewis • 1120 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Esports Scams Gaming
  1. Esports can be a world of hustles and scams, attracting both opportunists and grifters.
  2. Overwatch 2 and the Overwatch League faced significant challenges and failures in 2023.
  3. The Overwatch esports league experienced financial troubles and controversies, ultimately leading to its downfall.

Super Bowl Spewing

Malt Liquidity • 12 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🎾 Sports Football Super Bowl Fan Experience Sports Commentary
  1. The excitement of the Super Bowl is felt by fans worldwide, regardless of where they watch it. It's a unique event that draws people together, even in places far from home.
  2. There is a growing feeling of disappointment among some fans, especially with teams that have struggled over the years. Many experience frustration as they repeatedly face letdowns in their favorite team's performances.
  3. Pop culture influences like Taylor Swift and rap music seem to be changing, with some people believing they may not hold the same appeal. Fans are curious about the direction of entertainment following these shifts.

The Appropriately Mediocre Send Off For CS:GO

Richard Lewis • 1749 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🎾 Sports Esports Tournament Broadcasting Teams
  1. The competitive scene for CS:GO is stagnant, and a true farewell may not be around the corner.
  2. The format of CS:GO Majors and the seeding system have major flaws that impact the fairness of the competition.
  3. The broadcasting, show concepts, and overall production quality of CS:GO events have become bland and lack the excitement and innovation of the past.

Project Mbappe & PSGs European Headache

Original Football • 339 implied HN points • 16 May 24
🎾 Sports Football Players Finances
  1. Kylian Mbappe's departure from PSG highlights the club's struggle to achieve Champions League success despite domestic victories.
  2. PSG's significant financial investments in star players like Neymar and Messi underscore the challenge in winning the Champions League.
  3. Winning the Champions League is incredibly difficult due to the fierce competition, unpredictability of knockout matches, and the need to balance domestic and European commitments.

Did Ohio State Buy A National Championship?

Huddle Up • 25 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🎾 Sports College sports Championships Football
  1. Some people think Ohio State's national championship win isn't genuine because they spent a lot on player payments through NIL deals. Money plays a huge role in college sports today.
  2. Investment in facilities and player support affects performance and team success. Teams are spending big to attract talent and improve their chances of winning.
  3. Discussion about 'buying' championships raises questions about fairness in college football. Many fans debate whether money truly influences the outcome of games.

How the NFL Sent me to Photograph My First Ever Football Game

In the Flash • 979 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Photography American culture Visual storytelling
  1. The author had an unexpected opportunity to photograph an NFL game despite not being a fan of American sports, offering a unique perspective on capturing the event.
  2. Preparation for the photography shoot involved visual research on American football imagery, using different equipment from the usual professionals to create distinctive photos.
  3. The experience of photographing the game provided insight into the community bond and excitement of sports events, drawing a parallel between the fervor of sports fans and religious followers.

My Sports Business Predictions For 2025

Huddle Up • 53 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🎾 Sports Business Media Events Trends
  1. UFC's media rights deal is expected to change how fans access fights. This could make it easier or harder for viewers to watch events.
  2. College sports programs are likely to be sold, which could shift the focus on how universities manage their athletic departments. This might impact student athletes as well.
  3. The Chicago Bears plan to build a new stadium, which could affect their fan experience and the local economy. There may be a lot of discussions about that in the coming years.