The hottest Sports Substack posts right now

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Links for February

By Reason Alone • 118 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Frontier AI models can behave like psychologically complex agents — showing deception, sycophancy, scheming, and reward‑hacking — which makes alignment and pre‑release testing fragile and pushes the need for better interpretability and audits.
  2. Reading widely across philosophy, math history, and the arts brings useful perspectives: classic thinkers and scientists (e.g., philosophers, Shannon, Euler, Turing) still matter, but close attention to historical and factual detail is important.
  3. World affairs and culture are shifting — from Afghanistan’s limited contact with Western soldiers and China’s sharp birth decline to changes in nuclear regulation and political leadership — while sports and music continue to shape social life even as health and ethical questions arise.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 90

Why is this interesting? • 120 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Watching football on television isn’t just more convenient—it’s often the only way to see the whole game and understand what’s happening on the field.
  2. Restaurants can use loss-leading deals like very cheap oysters to bring customers in, who then spend on drinks and other higher-margin items.
  3. Recent iOS updates are increasingly frustrating for users, highlighting how phone software changes can damage the everyday user experience.

A Week in the War on Women: Monday 29th January - Sunday 4th February

The Glinner Update • 2338 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Sports
  1. Children in unregulated online chatrooms are exposed to harmful advice and behavior regarding gender issues.
  2. Institutions like the NHS and Environment Agency are altering policies to be more gender-neutral under the influence of organizations like Stonewall.
  3. Instances of individuals facing consequences for expressing views on gender identity and discrimination, including bans from events and investigations by legal authorities.
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Your December Questions, Answered (2 of 2)

Singal-Minded • 148 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. This is a follow-up Q&A answering readers’ December questions on topics like Bari Weiss, Jewishness, the NFL, and The Simpsons.
  2. A reader asked about the Bari Weiss/60 Minutes controversy over a delayed segment on an El Salvadoran prison, and the writer said they’d devote a full article to that topic.
  3. The rest of the responses are behind a paywall, but the post offers a way to claim the free continuation or subscribe to read the full piece.

Don't watch sports

Becoming Noble • 4504 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Sport has historically been a vital part of society, representing values, nobility, and community.
  2. Modern commercialized sports have shifted the focus from active participation to passive observation, leading to a loss of essential virtues and identity.
  3. Engaging in sports through active participation is essential for cultivating virtues, joy, honor, and a sense of community.

Ancient Wisdom: My Second Act Gave Me a Second Life

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1901 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Switching careers can bring new purpose and joy to life. Finding something you love, like teaching or writing, can really change your outlook.
  2. Great experiences, like working for a top magazine, come from both luck and hard work. It's important to take chances and be open to new opportunities.
  3. Aging doesn't mean you stop growing. Staying curious and trying new things can help you continue to learn and feel fulfilled.

How Netflix Turned Alex Honnold's “Life-or-Death” Climb Into a Calculated Business Bet

Huddle Up • 110 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
💼 Business Sports
  1. Alex Honnold free-soloed Taipei 101 in front of thousands and tens of millions more on Netflix, turning an extreme solo climb into a global, televised spectacle.
  2. He was paid roughly $500,000, which after fees and donations left him with far less than top athletes earn for much lower risk, raising ethical questions about compensation and incentives.
  3. Netflix treated the event as a calculated business bet, exploiting a gap between perceived on-screen danger and the climber’s actual assessment of risk to create a favorable risk/reward arbitrage.

Baseball Players in the Wrong Profession

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1383 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Some baseball players have names that sound like they should be doing something else in life. It's fun to think about what other professions they could have had instead.
  2. For example, one player could be a mystery novelist while another might be playing music in a mariachi band. These alternative stories highlight their unique names.
  3. Imagining these players in different careers shows the charm of their names and adds a creative twist to how we see them beyond baseball.

The Presidential Fitness Test Was Humbling. I’m Glad It’s Back.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1112 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. The Presidential Fitness Test taught kids that hard work can lead to improvement and strength. It showed how physical challenges can help boost confidence.
  2. Recalling old memories of the test highlights how it was often a mix of fun and embarrassment for students. It’s a reminder that everyone has different abilities and experiences in sports.
  3. Reinstating the test aims to tackle the growing health issues among Americans. It encourages people to get active and strive for better physical fitness.

11 Best Things of 2025

SatPost by Trung Phan • 244 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Deep, long-form storytelling — from multi-hour documentaries to investigative podcasts and narrative books — still cuts through and gives people context and payoff that short-form streaming often doesn’t.
  2. Scarcity and presence drive cultural and commercial value: phone-free live shows and limited-schedule events (like major sports) command attention, higher prices, and more memorable experiences.
  3. The online attention economy is split between AI-generated "slop" and nostalgia-driven viral moments, yet original films, breakout songs, and solid investigative work can still break through and shape culture.

Playlist Thread #1: Workout/Pump-Up Songs

Culture Study • 1256 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Workout songs can really boost your energy and motivation. Listening to upbeat music can make exercising more enjoyable.
  2. Creating a playlist for workouts can help you stay focused and push through tough moments. It’s great to have favorite songs ready for those challenging times.
  3. Sharing your go-to pump-up songs with others can build a sense of community. It's fun to swap song recommendations and discover new tracks together.

What did Casey Wasserman Actually Do?

House of Strauss • 35 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Politicians and others are pushing Casey Wasserman to resign from LA28 after revelations he exchanged flirtatious emails with Ghislaine Maxwell, but those revelations aren’t presented as a specific criminal charge.
  2. His earlier workplace/philanderer scandals plus the Maxwell-related emails led to client departures and his decision to sell his agency stake, showing how reputation damage can quickly upend careers even without proven illegal conduct.
  3. There’s a broader concern about punishing people for vague associations or social-media-driven hysteria; critics should state clear, provable wrongdoing before demanding firings or resignations.

Politics and Sports Attention Surplus Syndrome

donaldjeffries • 1120 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Sports
  1. The author's life has been strongly influenced by politics, sports, and the bond with their father through shared interests.
  2. They have a deep passion and knowledge for baseball history, sports, and politics, which shaped their childhood and adult life.
  3. Their voting history reflects a transition from die-hard Democrat to independent thinker, aligning with various Third Party candidates and ultimately expressing skepticism towards traditional politics.

A Series of "Parodies," If That's the Right Word, of Podcasts on the Ringer Podcast Network

Freddie deBoer • 2722 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🎙 Podcasts Sports
  1. Podcasts can be both entertaining and repetitive. It’s easy to notice when hosts keep saying the same phrases or jokes.
  2. Hosts often joke about the pressure to create content and meet audience expectations, feeling like they're stuck in a loop.
  3. There's a lot of fun in playful banter among podcast hosts, showing that behind-the-scenes discussions can be just as amusing as the main content.

Job listing: Associate Editor

Silver Bulletin • 39 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
📰 News Sports
  1. An associate editor position (initially part-time, with the potential to expand) will focus on editing others' work, commissioning and editing freelancers, shaping style and editorial planning, and doing quality control on data, charts, and models.
  2. Applicants need at least two years of editing experience, a strong interest in topics like electoral politics and sports, and a precise, statistics-savvy eye for data and factual accuracy.
  3. The job pays $45–55/hour for roughly 15–20 hours per week with a 50-hour minimum guarantee, requires US work eligibility and weekday availability, and has an application deadline of Feb 24 with interviews in early March.

EXCLUSIVE: Female Athletes Sue NCAA Over Transgender Competitors in Sports

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 5467 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Sports
  1. Female athletes are suing the NCAA over transgender athletes competing against them and using female locker rooms, claiming violations of Title IX.
  2. The lawsuit aims to change the rules so that biological males are ineligible to compete against female athletes, demanding awards be revoked from trans athletes and given to female contenders.
  3. The suit highlights concerns about gender inclusion in sports, citing the advantage biological males have over females even with hormone therapy, and questions the existing eligibility rules set by the NCAA.

Cultivating the Heroic Spirit

Becoming Noble • 1315 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Sports
  1. Merely playing sports may not convey the full spectrum of virtue and spiritual experience sought; modern sports lack metaphysical significance and encounters with the transcendent.
  2. Sport is a vehicle for developing essential virtue, such as discipline and hardiness, which underpin the pursuit of higher goals.
  3. True sport is a fundamentally spiritual quest, calling for a connection between physicality and spirit, ultimately leading to transcending oneself through play, beauty, action, prayer, and devotion.

The World Series of Poker Starts Tomorrow

Matt’s Five Points • 219 implied HN points • 27 May 24
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Poker isn't just a card game; it's a gambling game that really depends on money decisions. Unlike other card games, poker's fun mostly comes from the stakes involved, not the actual cards.
  2. No-Limit Hold'em is super popular but not ideal for casual games. It's better to play games with betting limits to keep it fun and relaxed among friends.
  3. The poker scene has changed a lot in the past 20 years. Players today have access to sophisticated strategies and tools, making the competition tougher and more global than ever.

An Exquisite Panorama of Links & Recs

Culture Study • 2103 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. The author discusses women's sports and gender issues in a recent podcast episode, offering a unique perspective compared to mainstream media.
  2. They are taking a break for a cycling trip but have gathered some recommended readings to share, focusing on topics outside of politics.
  3. Paid subscribers can access additional content and discussions each week, which includes in-depth threads and personal insights.

Numlock News: February 6, 2024 • Vesuvius, Vegas, Zeppelin

Numlock News • 589 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
📰 News Sports
  1. Former New York Jets icon Brett Favre has been ordered to repay $1.1 million received as speaking fees from a nonprofit.
  2. An LED sphere in Las Vegas has faced financial losses, with the Sphere Entertainment losing $193.9 million on revenue of $167.8 million.
  3. The original contract Led Zeppelin signed in 1968 revealed they received $104,100 upfront from Atlantic Records and had specific terms designating Jimmy Page as the band's leader.

Simply the Best

Not On Your Team, But Always Fair • 1139 implied HN points • 28 May 23
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Tina Turner played a significant role in promoting Rugby League and making the sport more popular among viewers and players.
  2. In the 1980s, Australia had a unique sports landscape with different football codes in different states and a strong class divide between rugby league and rugby union.
  3. Attending a Tina Turner concert in Australia in the 1980s involved navigating issues of gambling, age restrictions, and the unique cultural and political climate of the time.

What makes women strong?

Archedelia • 1139 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Women in the motorcycle racing sport start young and compete with boys, showing toughness and skill early on.
  2. In the world of dirt bike racing, there is no special treatment or separate classes for women, they just participate and race alongside men.
  3. Engaging in activities like riding dirt bikes can create a different dynamic in gender relations compared to more traditional environments.

Channeling Curiosity

Range Widely • 530 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎙 Podcasts Sports
  1. Pablo Torre's podcast _Pablo Torre Finds Out_ covers a wide range of topics beyond sports, aiming to entertain and inform across various subjects.
  2. Pablo Torre's show structure includes deep-dive episodes, talk show-style segments with friends, and one-on-one interviews with notable personalities, allowing for a diverse range of content.
  3. Balancing investigative reporting with entertaining content, Pablo Torre's podcast provides insightful stories while treating sports fans like adults.

Farewell Canada

Splattern • 239 implied HN points • 18 Apr 24
🏝 Travel Sports
  1. The journey involved running and skiing over 1,200 miles, showing a real commitment to adventure. It was not just about the distance but also the experiences along the way.
  2. The support from strangers and friends was incredible, with many people offering help and kindness. Each act of generosity made the journey feel less lonely.
  3. The author felt grateful for the adventure and the people who contributed to it. It was a reminder of how important community and human connections are.

Day 2 is in the books

Splattern • 79 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
🏝 Travel Sports
  1. Running in Tanzania can be a tough but rewarding experience. It's a chance to bond with local people and learn about their lives.
  2. The local community is very supportive, often providing food and water along the way. It shows how hospitality plays a big role in their culture.
  3. The journey makes you appreciate what others go through, especially when facing challenges like poverty. Connecting with the locals can really change your perspective.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 66

Why is this interesting? • 301 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Sports
  1. Many people dislike their jobs but often dream of doing something simpler or more fun, like running a coffee shop. It's worth thinking deeply about what would truly make you happy in your career.
  2. Working multiple jobs can lead to burnout and stress, especially in the tech industry where hustle culture is common. It's important to find a balance that works for you.
  3. Golf can be more enjoyable if beginners bend the rules a little. Cheating might actually help newcomers feel more relaxed and included in the game.