Mike Vorkunov for REDEF 7y

Lombardi's drive, an eSports arena and Avery Bradley's pain

Sports Redef

sports + biz + culture + life
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rantnrave:// Mike Trout isn't just a generational talent -- he has few precedents in baseball history. He is Sidney Crosby on grass and dirt. The best player in MLB is still getting better. And yet, there is something missing in the conversation about Trout. He deserves the hosannas he has received but he is, in some ways, still bound by the old rules of superstars. His greatness gets lost in the Angels' mediocrity, even at a time when we know (or should know) that one player does not equal team victories. His public profile suffers, robbing baseball of a pitchman. And he doesn't mind. Trout is the best -- and most overlooked -- player in baseball. By choice. Meet the man who doesn't want to be talked about. SportsSET: "Baseball's Forgotten Superstar". ... The NFL is bringing fun back. Kind of. In bits and pieces. Congrats, TD-scoring NFL players, you can celebrate without fear again. Group celebrations are back. The football can be used as a prop. Snow angels are legal. The NFL needs more Terrell Owens and Joe Hoe Horn, not less. No league benefits if we have to ask "Why so serious?" When it looks more like a business than a sport, a league has lost its way. The NFL suits seemed to forget for a while that they're selling football. This is a positive step. But TD dances alone won't do it. And there's still no twerking. ... I've bought more Broadway tickets this year than game seats. So this stat isn't surprising. But I still can't get seats to "Hamilton." ... An ode to Uncle Charlie. ... Where did the great Hollywood baseball movie go? ... There is no need to lament the loss of "The Great Hollywood Baseball Movie". ... My favorite baseball movie. It makes my heart sing. ... Jeff Pearlman's story of the high school football team that ran into Tupac hours before he was fatally shot is the best thing I read all day. The reporting is rich and the idea unique. ... If Manu Ginobili played his last game in the NBA on Monday night, it's a huge loss for basketball. Ginobili is a rare breed. He's unique and improvisational, all while sublimating himself to the Spurs' greater good. His flair made every game more fun. He made basketball more fun -- which is the biggest compliment. His feats with the Argentinian national team helped globalize basketball's popularity. This is the Manu I'll remember.


Vince Lombardi's secret? An overwhelming desperation to prove his value

Square-jawed and gap-toothed, with dark half-framed glasses and a buzz cut, Lombardi wasn't slick or elegant. On the sideline, he liked to wear suits with white shirts, a skinny tie, and a brown Borsalino hat. He looked like a fire hydrant dressed for a job interview.
Sam Walker | LinkedIn


Big game hunting: the rise of the purpose-built eSports arena

eSports has emerged from its online roots to become an increasingly sophisticated live arena experience. Purpose-built eSports facilities are the logical next step.
Michael Long | SportsPro


Van Gundy's victory

A former Rockets coach without a team, Jeff Van Gundy becomes a Houstonian with a charter school cause.
Hunter Atkins | Houston Chronicle


After heartbreak and healing, dreams come true for Avery Bradley

The Celtics guard lost his mother but built a family and is right where he wants to be now.
Adam Himmelsbach | The Boston Globe


Exploring China's football culture at the Shanghai Derby

The humid Shanghai air crackled with anticipation as hordes of sweating football fans burst out of the subway. The giant Hongkou Stadium loomed above the exit, scaffolding still in place.
Matt Stanger | The Set Pieces


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