The NFL Tries to Push Protest Out of Sight

The league’s new policy on how teams should behave during the national anthem adopts a familiar strategy: Focus on the spectacle of the game, and hide the rest.

• Robert O'Connell
• May 24, 2018

The NBA’s New Age Is on Full Display

Inspired by the dominance of the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, a new generation of superstars-to-be looks to unseat them—sooner or later.

• Robert O'Connell
• May 3, 2018

The Yankees’ Biggest Strength May Be Their Greatest Weakness

New York’s power-hitting duo, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, have set high marks in both homers and strikeouts—underscoring one of baseball’s most pressing issues.

• Robert O'Connell
• Apr 10, 2018

The Issue at the Heart of MLB's Free-Agency Debate

Baseball’s labor rules are at odds with the larger, evolving understanding of the worth of aging superstars.

• Robert O'Connell
• Feb 22, 2018

Who to Watch at the Winter Olympics

A guide to some of the Games’ most exciting contenders—whether they’re making highly anticipated debuts or returns

• Robert O'Connell
• Feb 7, 2018

An Unforgettable Super Bowl Win for the Eagles

The underdog Philadelphia team overcame the New England Patriots in a nail-biter of a game that was pure spectacle.

• Robert O'Connell
• Feb 5, 2018

There Will Never Be Another Vladimir Guerrero

The 2018 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee played with an originality that outshone even his incredible statistics.

• Robert O'Connell
• Jan 25, 2018

Do Super Bowl Hopefuls Still Need Star Quarterbacks?

Though the best signal-caller ever remains in the playoffs, his also-ran counterparts may suggest the rise of a more well-rounded sport.

• Robert O'Connell
• Jan 20, 2018

Baker Mayfield Will Not Go Down Quietly

After infusing college football with a jolt of bravado, the outspoken Oklahoma quarterback can close out his amateur career with a championship.

• Robert O'Connell
• Dec 29, 2017

Against All Odds, LeBron James Is Still Getting Better

Forced to carry a heavier burden than ever this season, the 15-year NBA veteran is showing the basketball world he’s not yet finished adding to his game.

• Robert O'Connell
• Dec 19, 2017

Will the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani Experiment Work?

After years of hype, the young Japanese star has finally arrived stateside. For his new team, the pitcher-slugger is a source of pure potential.

• Robert O'Connell
• Dec 11, 2017

The Never-Ending Story of the Tiger Woods Comeback

Despite years of setbacks and controversy, the embattled golfer can still capture the sports world’s attention with one weekend of competence.

• Robert O'Connell
• Dec 4, 2017

The 76ers' Great Basketball Experiment Is Paying Off

After years of frustration and controversy, Philadelphia finally boasts a core of young talent—led by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons—that has become the NBA’s most exciting upstart.

• Robert O'Connell
• Nov 29, 2017

The NFL Is Making Colin Kaepernick’s Collusion Case for Him

As weeks pass and league-wide quarterback play worsens, the athlete-turned-activist’s continued absence on Sundays is becoming impossible to rationalize.

• Robert O'Connell
• Nov 15, 2017

Remembering Roy Halladay, Baseball’s Steady Marvel

Few pitchers were more committed to the daily work of the sport—and more present in the moment—than the eight-time All-Star who died at age 40.

• Robert O'Connell
• Nov 8, 2017

How Kristaps Porzingis Became New York’s New King of Sports

The fans booed his arrival. He bided his time behind a hometown star. Now, this 22-year-old Latvian’s breakout moment is finally here—and the NBA may never be the same.

• Robert O'Connell
• Nov 6, 2017

An Astros Win Ends a Wildly Entertaining World Series

Baseball will endure late-night finishes and endless mound visits if it gets the kind of drama and passion that Houston and Los Angeles provided in a seven-game classic.

• Robert O'Connell
• Nov 2, 2017

Doris Burke’s Expertise Is Finally Paying Off

After a quarter-century working on the sidelines, ESPN’s newest full-time NBA announcer has broken through in a big way.

• Robert O'Connell
• Oct 31, 2017

World Series Hopes Ride on a Pair of Aces

Despite sluggers aplenty on Houston and Los Angeles, each club's title chances hinge on the pitching prowess of Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw.

• Robert O'Connell
• Oct 24, 2017

Kyrie Irving, the NBA’s Singular Star

While players around the league team up to chase the Warriors, the Celtics’ new point guard looks for a heavier burden.

• Robert O'Connell
• Oct 17, 2017