The hottest Sports Substack posts right now

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The NFL has entered the Scorigami Era

Silver Bulletin • 334 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🎾 Sports Football Analytics Strategy Scoring Players
  1. The NFL is scoring more points than ever, leading to strange final scores that were rare before. Think of scores now being like high school locker combinations rather than traditional ones.
  2. New strategies for 4th down plays are changing how teams approach scoring. Teams are going for it more often, which is helping them build longer drives and creative scoring.
  3. Kicking has become easier with new rules, allowing for higher accuracy and longer field goals. Fans are seeing kickers make amazing plays that impact the game's outcome.

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.

A view from the Pinnacle

networked • 143 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🎾 Sports Betting Football Analytics Prediction Markets Market structure
  1. Pinnacle has long been the sharpest football bookmaker, so using its odds as a baseline lets bettors spot expected-value edges by taking better prices at softer bookies.
  2. Since about 2023, Pinnacle’s closing odds have become less reliable and produced lower-than-expected returns, which could be down to randomness, arbitrage-driven moves, or a decline in their model accuracy.
  3. Prediction markets offer low house take and no bans so they attract sharps, but limited liquidity and wider spreads create an effective vig and stake limits, meaning Pinnacle’s deep liquidity and high limits still keep it relevant.
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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.

The NBA Needs Reforms, Not Gimmicks

House of Strauss • 30 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🎾 Sports Basketball Scheduling Revenue Fan engagement Labor relations
  1. The league keeps rolling out gimmicks—like the Play-In, NBA Cup, and All-Star tweaks—instead of fixing underlying problems.
  2. The Play-In has diluted the prestige of the playoffs and hasn’t stopped tanking, because expanding the playoff field reduces incentives to avoid mediocrity.
  3. Meaningful fixes—shortening the season, equalizing lottery odds for non-playoff teams, scrapping the Play-In, and holding players accountable in All-Star selections—would take real sacrifice but would address root causes. The league prefers easy money and half-measures, which is why it keeps choosing gimmicks over hard reforms.

KD Burner Gate

House of Strauss • 31 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🎾 Sports Basketball Social media Sports Media Scandals
  1. Leaked messages tied to a Kevin Durant burner account reportedly insulted teammates and other high-profile figures, sparking a public scandal.
  2. Durant seems to favor being candid and keeping only a slight buffer between his private thoughts and the public, rather than strict secrecy.
  3. Media and NBA insiders reacted strongly and assume there’s some truth to the leaks, which raises awkward questions about team chemistry and trust.

Inside The Savannah Bananas: $80M+ In Ticket Sales, $50M+ In Merch, And A $1B Valuation Debate

Huddle Up • 61 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🎾 Sports Business Finance Marketing Operations Merchandise Ticketing Valuation
  1. The Savannah Bananas sold about 2.2 million tickets across 113 games. That likely generated roughly $75–80 million in ticket revenue, putting them on par with many MLB teams.
  2. Merchandise became a massive revenue stream, with 787,000 buyers purchasing nearly 2 million items and driving over $50 million in sales. That likely exceeds retail revenue for many MLB clubs.
  3. Big revenues hide big costs: high player salaries, 700+ employees, and large travel and production budgets make the operation resemble a touring show more than a single-stadium team. Those expenses complicate profit margins and any claim of a $1 billion valuation.

RIP Ryno

Points And Figures • 826 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🎾 Sports Baseball Athletes Health History
  1. Ryne Sandberg was a beloved baseball player known for his smooth style and talent as a second baseman. Many fans remember him fondly.
  2. He had a significant impact on Cubs baseball, especially in the 1980s, and his Hall of Fame speech is still praised today.
  3. His passing at 65 due to cancer serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing moments with loved ones.

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 Clubs 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.

Keep Houston weird

Silver Bulletin • 243 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🎾 Sports Basketball Teams Players Analysis Statistics
  1. The Houston Rockets are playing an exciting, unconventional style of basketball, featuring a young team that is currently one of the best in the league. Their success is partly due to smart team-building and embracing unique strategies, like focusing on offensive rebounds.
  2. Players like Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson are showing impressive growth, helping the team perform well. Thompson's athleticism and ability to score create opportunities, while Şengün’s improved efficiency makes him a key player.
  3. Despite their strong start, there are questions about their long-term success, especially with injuries and how teams will adapt to their tactics. The Rockets' future looks bright, but they still need to figure out the best way to work together.

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 American Football 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.

The Swiss Ramble - Announcement

The Swiss Ramble • 1650 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Finance
  1. The Swiss Ramble is a blog about football finance by Kieron O'Connor.
  2. Kieron O'Connor has been writing online about football finance since 2009 and has won awards.
  3. Readers can get a 7-day free trial by subscribing to The Swiss Ramble.

Sports Betting And The Zero-Sum Trap

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 25 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🎾 Sports Sports Betting Gambling Economics Personal Finance Prediction Markets Regulation
  1. Sports betting is financially bad for typical bettors because the house takes a cut and the game becomes negative-sum, so most participants lose money over time.
  2. Market efficiency and information asymmetry mean insiders and professional bettors usually have an edge, so average people are unlikely to win consistently.
  3. Modern prediction markets and short-term trading on retail apps blur investing with gambling, encouraging churn and engagement that benefits intermediaries rather than long-term wealth creation.

The Endless, Perplexing Controversies Over (How We Talk About) Lamar Jackson

Freddie deBoer • 2691 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🎾 Sports Athletes Media Performance Controversies Football
  1. Lamar Jackson is an outstanding quarterback, but he faces unique scrutiny compared to others, especially regarding his playoff performance. Many see criticism of his playoff games as unfair, considering he has had a strong regular season.
  2. The media often treats Jackson differently than other quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, despite similar playoff records. This shows a possible double standard in how these players are discussed.
  3. Winning a Super Bowl is crucial for a quarterback's legacy, and both Jackson and Prescott need to prove themselves in the playoffs to be considered among the best. Fans and analysts should recognize this reality instead of making excuses.

13% of British athletes admit to doping, new study finds

Honest Sport • 99 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🎾 Sports Doping Athletics Research Health Policy
  1. A study found that 13% of British athletes admitted to using banned substances. This suggests that doping may be more common in sports than people think.
  2. UKAD, the organization in charge of anti-doping in the UK, needs more responses from athletes to better understand the full scale of the problem.
  3. The study reveals a big gap between how many athletes might be doping and how few get caught. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of current anti-doping efforts.