Alex House Articles - Page 52

Before the 2024 NBA Playoffs started, most people thought the biggest threat to the Boston Celtics was themselves. Their balance and experience deservedly earned them the status as the clear championship favorites. The Dallas Mavericks have changed fans’ perception a bit, however. A Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving-led backcourt, solid defense and exquisite chemistry now […]

Just as smiles begin to form on the faces of Toronto Blue Jays fans, the club absorbs another crushing blow. Alek Manoah is being placed on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow sprain, according to MLB.com. The 2022 All-Star and second runner-up for American League Cy Young is trying to put together a […]

There are a bunch of things that can go wrong over the course of a season, some of which are completely out of a team’s control. How one responds to the bad luck element that plagues all franchises at one point or another can have a deeply profound impact on a locker room and on-court […]

A small-market baseball team that has missed the playoffs in eight straight seasons and is currently below .500 does not generally receive much national coverage. And yet, the Pittsburgh Pirates (26-30) are gaining some precious exposure on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” courtesy of their two most prized pitching prospects, Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. […]

The sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant against the company’s former chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon, is being paused in accordance with a pending federal investigation, per The Athletic’s Alex Andrejev, Jenna West and Chris Vannini. This move comes at the request of the Justice Department and is being complied to […]

Former champion and current Dallas Mavericks executive Michael Finley surely remembers how it felt punching a ticket to the NBA Finals back in 2007. After years of toiling in the gym and honing one’s craft, the feeling of finally getting over the hump is indescribably special. A glorious celebration ensues, with alcohol typically being in […]

Although the Dallas Stars have faced overwhelming odds throughout these Stanley Cup Playoffs, they are somehow only two wins away from competing for their second championship in franchise history. Resilience is propelling head coach Pete DeBoer and his squad forward amid incessant adversity. Dallas won a war of attrition versus the Vegas Golden Knights after […]

Although many people considered the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2023 National League Pennant run to be a fluke, the team’s exceptional amount of promise was undeniable. Earning a second straight trip to the World Series is obviously a daunting task for this group, but sustained success definitely appears achievable. Needless to say, 2024 is not going as […]

Drew Gordon, the older brother of Denver Nuggets forward and 2023 NBA champion Aaron Gordon, has passed away in a tragic car accident in Portland, Oregon, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. He was just 33 years old. Gordon excelled in New Mexico (also spent two years at UCLA) before turning professional in […]

The Sacramento Kings have pressing matters to address this offseason, as they try to avoid becoming stagnant in a relentless Western Conference. Before the front office tends to the roster, though, it is determined to nail down a new contract extension for the team’s head coach. After it was initially reported that talks cooled off […]

The New York Mets are getting hammered on the field and skewered in the headlines, as they continue their free fall in the National League. Wednesday’s bad optics tornado, which saw relief pitcher Jorge Lopez have a meltdown after being ejected and throw his glove into the stands, feels like rock bottom. In his postgame […]

When a young star is facing suffocating pressure to save his team from postseason elimination, he may need a calming and reassuring voice in his ear. For Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, it was one of the people who helped prepare him for the NBA. Former Georgia basketball head coach Tom Crean texted the two-time All-Star […]

Aside from blooming into a genuine superstar at just 22 years old, one of the reasons Anthony Edwards is being tabbed as the future face of the NBA is because of his big personality. He has not shown it off much during the Western Conference Finals, but the All-NBA Second-Team selection flipped on the switch […]

Rudy Gobert has garnered his share of critics over the years, but one specific gripe is prompting a passionate response from the Minnesota Timberwolves big man. In the team’s Western Conference Semifinals series against the Denver Nuggets, a seven-game thriller that seemingly suggested a changing of the guard, Gobert missed the second matchup to witness […]

Caitlin Clark commands significant attention no matter where she goes, both on and off the court. But a particular instance in the Los Angeles Sparks’ 88-82 road win versus the Indiana Fever (1-7) illustrates just how much focus is on the rookie phenom. After making the first of two free throws, Aari McDonald immediately rushed […]

The MLB is trying to right the gross injustices of its past with its latest decision, one that will vastly alter the record books. The statistics of players in the Negro Leagues will be integrated into the big league’s historical account, per Yahoo Sports’ Russell Dorsey. Stars who were banned from competing in the MLB […]

Following a season marred by injuries, a rational person would conclude that the Memphis Grizzlies deserve a mulligan for the 2024-25 campaign, at least as far as management is concerned. While that is obviously true to some degree, their head coach may be in a precarious spot. Taylor Jenkins joins the New Orleans Pelicans’ Willie […]

Basketball legend and one of sports’ biggest personalities, Bill Walton, has passed away at the age of 71 after enduring a “prolonged battle with cancer,” according to NBA Communications. Walton’s talent and commitment on the court allowed him to become one of the greatest players in collegiate history and a multi-time NBA champion. His passion […]

There are good vibes all around the Dallas Mavericks. Before Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving successfully closed out another fourth quarter in a 116-107 Game 3 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team’s social media department made sure to have some fun. Texas native and three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and all-time great tight […]

Josef Newgarden raced his way into rarefied air when he thrillingly captured his second straight Indianapolis 500 title on Sunday afternoon. He is only the sixth driver to ever go back-to-back at the iconic event, and the first to do so since legend Helio Castroneves in 2001-02, per NBC Sports. The special feat is made […]

After watching the Lombardi Trophy slip through their grasp and land in the possession of the Kansas City Chiefs for the second time in five years, the San Francisco 49ers should be completely focused on finally finishing the job in the 2024-25 season. Though, that is a difficult declaration to make when they are still […]

The Indiana Pacers have eagerly disrupted the 2024 NBA Playoffs, taking advantage of an injury-plagued Eastern Conference while overcoming their youth and rabid opposing crowds. Though, as has been the case many times in postseason history, order is on the verge of being restored. A supremely-talented and skilled Boston Celtics team is not sympathetic to […]

The NFL Draft is perceived differently depending on your team of choice. For Kansas City Chiefs fans, these proceedings are a cherry on top of the towering sundae the franchise has constructed. The Gang Green are busting with excitement now that the New York Jets have a sturdier wall of protection to shield Aaron Rodgers […]

The San Diego Padres (27-26) still have their share of flaws, but one area they excel in is compiling infield depth. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller prides himself on being able to acquire a versatile position player who can pack some pop at the plate. The philosophy has not always translated to wins, but […]

On the surface, the Los Angeles Kings appear to be content with the status quo. After being eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third year in a row, ownership is retaining general manager Rob Blake and promoting interim head coach Jim Hiller for the 2024-25 season. LA is also […]

Aside from trading John Collins to the Utah Jazz last offseason, the Atlanta Hawks have delayed major roster reconstruction over the last two years. Instead, they trusted that their talent and head coach Quin Snyder could smooth out the bumps and lead the franchise back towards a promising trajectory. Porous defense, injuries and a lack […]

Bronny James’ NBA Draft stock continues to be a hotly debated topic among the league and fans. There are those who passionately believe his defense and instincts can quickly translate to the next level, while many others think he is a second-round pick at best. Even if the latter does end up holding true, however, […]

It goes without saying that a massive underdog has to capitalize on its opportunities. David only had so many chances to slay Goliath with his slingshot before the giant would have likely pulverized him, but he came through. The Indiana Pacers inexplicably misfired at close range in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, allowing […]

Because dynasties are more prevalent in basketball than in most other major sports, it is easy to take for granted how difficult it is to sustain excellence in the NBA. The Denver Nuggets showed signs of vulnerability throughout the 2023-24 season and even in the first round of the playoffs, but they were still understandably […]

The San Diego Padres have a tendency of not living up to the immense hype they generate for themselves in the offseason. A momentous National League Division series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 stands out as one of the lone bright spots in what has been an overall dark, or at least […]

Guy Fieri might have been in attendance at TD Garden for the Boston Celtics’ showdown with the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but he still managed to take an exhilarating detour to Flavortown on Tuesday night. And it came courtesy of Jaylen Brown. The three-time All-Star saved his team from […]

LeBron James is revered for his basketball IQ, with some believing he should be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the Purple and Gold have been eliminated from the NBA Playoffs for weeks now, he has had plenty of time to share his thoughts and dissect every key in-game decision. The […]

The Chicago Cubs (26-22) made a few significant moves this past offseason, most of which have produced fruitful early returns, but the team is still chasing the young Milwaukee Brewers. This organization signed manager Craig Counsell to a record-breaking contract for the purpose of vaulting it back to the top of the National League Central. […]

Barry Bonds is still waiting for his bust to be constructed and immortalized in Cooperstown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. That day may never come, as a once fierce ethical debate gradually fades into the background with each passing year. His fate, along with that of a few other alleged steroid […]

Scottie Scheffler has experienced more in the last five weeks than many people do in a lifetime. The world No. 1 golfer won his second Masters title, welcomed the birth of his first child shortly after and was arrested this past Friday for what he calls “a big misunderstanding.” Lost in the shuffle of all […]

Whether the public likes it or not, Caitlin Clark is the most prominent topic in women’s basketball today. She has instantly been tapped as the face and savior of the WNBA, who can elevate the product to levels of popularity and financial growth it has never been able to realistically visualize. But she is not […]

The NBA hierarchy continues to undergo drastic change from year to year in what has been a surreal age of parity for the sport. Though, Denver Nuggets fans are not interested in considering the effect that their postseason exit has on the product as a whole. It will take them a while to recover from […]

Madison Square Garden might as well be operating as a time machine these days. The New York Knicks are squeaking out victories over the Indiana Pacers, and the New York Rangers are looking like the team to beat in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This city has been transported back to spring of 1994, also known […]

“They’ll figure it out, just give them some time.” These words are invariably proclaimed whenever a great team has a slow start to its season. Talent and a proven track record of success typically serve as justification for such steadfast belief. People are still  expressing this same sentiment towards the scuffling Houston Astros, but their […]