Today's Iran-U.S. World Cup Match Is Even More Politically Fraught Than Famous 1998 Meeting
Both teams are better than they were in 1998, but the political situation between the two countries has not improved.
Sports
It's Bodies vs. the State
Plus: The editors ponder the lack of women’s pants pockets in the marketplace.
Teaching math through World Cup soccer
FIFA rules give you a good opportunity to explore combinatorics and logic puzzles.
Be Thankful for Low-Skilled Workers
These are the people who showed up when the economy was shut down by the government, working in jobs labeled "essential."
The Qatar World Cup Is a Celebration of Authoritarianism
By consenting to Qatar's illiberal policies for residents and guests alike, FIFA has further besmirched its already tainted reputation.
How to Fix the Dark Side of the World Cup
Like the Olympics, the World Cup is rife with human rights abuses and glorification of authoritarian host regimes. It doesn't have to be that way.
The Brutality of Brittney Griner's New Home
"People die from hard physical labor and inability to access medical treatment that they need," said one former inmate.
The Election Betting Markets Fell Short. They're Still the Most Flexible Predictor.
People with money on the line try harder than pundits to be right, and they adjust quickly when they've made a mistake.
Russian Court Denies Appeal From Brittney Griner
The WNBA player's nine-year sentence was upheld on Tuesday, paving the way for her transfer to a Russian penal colony.
Blame Qatar's Illiberal Migrant Labor Laws for Its Mounting World Cup Death Toll
Thousands of people from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have died while working on enormous infrastructure projects in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Education Department Asked for Public Comments on Sex Discrimination. It Got an Earful About Trans Athletes Instead.
Of the over 84,000 public comments available on the proposed Title IX regulations, a third included references to both “sex” and “sports.”
Gaming Tribes Battle Online Corporations for Control of California Sports Betting
Messy, dueling ballot initiatives await voters in November.
Brett Favre Goes on Welfare
How the former NFL quarterback convinced Mississippi to spend its public assistance money on a volleyball facility.
'I Have My Own Life': The Case for Legalizing Sex Work
It would be far easier to prosecute sex trafficking if voluntary sex work were legal.
Enes Kanter Freedom on the NBA's Relationship With China: 'We Have To Expose This'
“While we’re dribbling the ball on the other side of the ocean, people are losing their loved ones, lives, and hope,” says the former Celtics center.
How Tariffs Are Making Summer Fun More Expensive, Less Safe
The U.S. International Trade Commission will hear from businesses harmed by tariffs at a hearing on Thursday.
Boris Johnson Is Out as Britain's Prime Minister. Who Will Replace Him?
Plus: Why one pitcher wants the MLB to stop COVID testing, how shipping industry protectionism is slowing aid to Ukraine, and more...
Brittney Griner's Russian Detention Is a Reminder of What Happens When You Declare War on Drugs
The WNBA player has been detained in Russia on drug possession charges since February.
Supreme Court Says High School Coach's Postgame Prayers Are Protected Free Speech
A 6–3 majority sees it as noncoercive and not a violation of the Establishment Clause.
Title IX Didn't Make College Sports Equal, It Made Them Contentious
After 50 years, not only has Title IX failed to deliver on its promises for female athletes, it also made men's sports worse.
Ohio Lawmakers Want To Subject Female Athletes to Genital Inspections
There’s reportedly only one trans female athlete competing in the state, but this sports ban can be used to harass cis girls as well.
How a Baseball Non-Fight Illustrates Our Weird Journalistic Discourse on Racism
White player suspended for calling black player "Jackie"; many journalists conclude that the player (and Yankees fans!) are racist.
Denver Drops Effort To Criminally Prosecute Pickleball Enthusiast Who Made Small 'X's on City-Owned Gym Floor
The city is insisting that 71-year-old Arslan Guney pay nearly $5,000 to cover the alleged costs of restoring the gym floor.
Planes, Buses, and COVID Tests: How the NHL Playoffs Are Spotlighting America's Dumb Border Rules
There's no reason to have one set of rules for airline passengers and another for people who cross the border in a bus, train, or car.
America's Best College Basketball Player Might Earn $2 Million Without Going Pro
Now that the NCAA can't stop student-athletes from making money, it can pay to stay in school.
Surfers Chase Freedom in Cuba
Havana Libre tells the story of Cuba’s underground surfers struggling to practice their sport.
The Boston Marathon's Ban on Russian Athletes Is Hypocritical Xenophobia
The world isn't made a better place by treating individual athletes as appendages of their governments.
The Atlanta Braves Won the World Series. Their Stadium Is Still a Taxpayer Boondoggle.
The economic benefits are a home run that never came, and never should have been expected.
Major League Baseball: Don't Nationalize it, Privatize it!
Opening Day and a bad New York Times op-ed are timely reminders that much of what ails professional baseball is the intrusion of government.
Department of Education Prepares Rules Prohibiting School Discrimination Against Gay and Trans Students
It’s about a lot more than transgender girls’ participation in sports under Title IX, but expect that controversy to dominate the discussion.
Taxpayers To Be Billed a Billion Dollars for Buffalo Bills' New Stadium
If approved by the New York legislature, it would be the biggest public handout in NFL history.
71-Year-Old Pickleball Enthusiast Armed With Sharpie Arrested for Felony Criminal Mischief
Arslan Guney spent 10 hours in jail for making a few marks on a gym floor. He could still get three years in prison.
Kyrie Irving Can Finally Play, but New York City's Vaccine Mandate Double Standard Remains
If the rules don't apply to everyone, they ought not apply to anyone.
Two Republican Governors Veto Bans on Trans Athletes Competing Against Girls
Both argue that the bills open the state up to costly lawsuits for very little, if any, gain.
Lia Thomas Swims to Victory Under NCAA's Controversial Standards for Trans Competitors
Clocking in at a time of 4:33.24, Lia Thomas becomes the first trans swimmer to win gold at the NCAA Division I women’s swimming championship.
New York City to Unvaxxed NBA Star Kyrie Irving: You Can Come to the Arena, but You Can't Play
The city's private employer vaccine mandate is not just an overreaching policy; it's now a completely nonsensical and ineffective one.
Ohio's Taxman Is Tailgating NASCAR
The state's tax commissioner claims NASCAR owes Ohio more than $549,000 in unpaid taxes merely because the state's residents watched NASCAR races on television.
D.C. Managed To Lose $4 Million on Its Own Sports Betting App
Despite having a near-monopoly on districtwide betting, poor decisions and mismanagement led to millions in losses on GambetDC.
Olympic Athletes Can Take Drugs so Long as They Also Get an Unfair Advantage
Allowing Kamila Valieva to compete evokes memories of Sha'Carri Richardson, who was suspended from competition for using marijuana.
Someone Placed a Record-Setting Super Bowl Bet From His Phone
But he still had to drive two hours to do it in a legal state.
Life Gets Better for Sports Bettors
But placing a wager on your favorite team is still illegal or too complicated in many states.
Pot Won't Be Advertised at Super Bowl, Though Players Will Probably Use It After
A proposed commercial by dispensary-locator company Weedmaps was sacked by NFL and NBC suits.
Homeland Security Is Already Mobilizing Against Potential Protests by U.S. Truckers
Plus: The EARN It Act advances, against climate despair, and more...
Celebrate Your Right To Ignore (or Watch) the Olympics
Born in nationalism, the Olympic games are fading into a niche entertainment option.
