When Sports Icons Fall Short
In the wake of a murder charge against legless sprinter Oscar Pistorius, sportswriter Stefan Fatsis and Robert Siegel discuss the elevation of sports stars beyond acclaim for their physical gifts.
Sports
Pistorius In Custody After Girlfriend's Death
A woman was shot and killed Thursday at the home of South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius. Police tell South African news outlets that Pistorius is the only suspect.
An Oft-Told Tale: The Beauty Queen And The Quarterback
Last month, Brent Musburger was accused of being sexist when he gushed about "what a beautiful woman" Miss Alabama was during the BCS Championship game. Commentator Frank Deford says if Musburger was guilty of anything, it was failing to note what a cliche he was perpetuating.
Sports Fixing: When Gambling And The Game Collide
European officials say players and referees have fixed the outcome of hundreds of soccer games in recent years. The scandal has exposed the organized crime rings that cash in on cheating and has heightened scrutiny of the ethical questions that arise at the intersection of gambling and sports.
Super Bowl Underdogs, Are Stats On Their Side?
The Baltimore Ravens hope to top off their run to the Super Bowl with a win in the big game Sunday. If they do, they'll continue a trend of unlikely champions — six of the past eight Super Bowl victors weren't the top seeds in their conferences.
Week In Sports: NBA Season Hits Halfway Point
The NBA's All-Star Game is just next weekend, and it's a surprise which teams are hottest going into the break. In Pennsylvania, the Paterno family is gearing up to address last summer's devastating Freeh Report. Civil War-era baseball also made headlines this week. NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman shares all this with Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon.
It's The Dog Days For America's Sports Dynasties
We used to have three bona fide dynasties: the Yankees in baseball, the Celtics and Lakers in basketball, and the Cowboys in football. We even had dynasties in college sports. But no more. Commentator Frank Deford says our dynasties are melting as fast as the Arctic ice cap.
Keeping Those Jerseys Unwashed For The Big Win
On Super Bowl Sunday, there are likely a lot of unwashed Ravens and 49ers jerseys around. It's just one of many superstitions sports fans cling to in the belief it will bring their team victory. But superstitions may also be beneficial from an evolutionary standpoint.
Inside The Training Room: Uncovering Football's Scars
On the eve of Super Bowl Sunday, host Laura Sullivan speaks with former NFL lineman Tre Johnson and writer Tom Junod, whose piece in this month's Esquire takes readers into the training room, where players recover from their many injuries. And in many ways, those injuries last a lifetime.
For Super Bowl Ads, More Social-Media Savvy
For years, Super Bowl ads have gone viral after they've aired. But these days brands like Doritos and Volkswagen are turning to social media to crowdsource ad creation — and to boost the buzz long before the big Sunday kickoff.