Alex House Articles - Page 74

Throngs of Los Angeles Dodgers fans lined up outside the stadium well before the start of Thursday’s game versus the Texas Rangers for the opportunity to bring home a Yoshinobu Yamamoto bobblehead. Unfortunately, however, the Japanese phenom is not on the mound for the series finale. Despite Yamamoto being originally scheduled to start against the […]

Although the Texas Rangers (32-35) cannot afford to overlook the Los Angeles Dodgers (42-27) in Thursday night’s rubber match, they are gearing up for a pivotal series against the American League West-leading Seattle Mariners. Consequently, manager Bruce Bochy is being careful in LA. Corey Seager, who enjoyed a notable return to Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, […]

There is perhaps no franchise that is currently inspiring less hope than the Chicago White Sox. They are 17-52 and already 27 and a half games out of first place in the American League Central. The MLB’s clear-cut worst team appropriately ranks last in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS, is 29th in ERA and […]

When the Los Angeles Dodgers (42-26) lost five consecutive games against sub-.500 teams in May, there was some talk about them being vulnerable. Such skepticism feels like a lifetime ago following their recent surge, which is highlighted by a road series victory over the American League-leading New York Yankees this past weekend. LA stayed on […]

The start of mandatory minicamp is raising more questions than answers for the Cleveland Browns. Uncertainty surrounds both the contract status of the absent Amari Cooper and the long-term health of Deshaun Watson. While the star wide receiver presumably seeks a sizable extension, the controversial quarterback is focused on meeting the high expectations the organization […]

For those who have become accustomed to watching Joey Chestnut demolish the competition at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July, so much so that it is a coveted part of their holiday tradition, Tuesday’s news was likely unsettling. The 16-time champion is banned from defending his title, known as the […]

Transcendent athletes often carry a double-edged sword. Their ability to resonate with people of all demographics and sports preferences prodigiously grows their respective league, but their widespread fame can also involuntarily move the conversation away from the competition. The women’s basketball world is currently experiencing this to full force, via the Caitlin Clark effect. The […]

The New York Jets’ offseason was defined by both promise and risk. They unquestionably upgraded their offensive line, pass-rushing attack and wide receiving room on paper but partly did so by acquiring injury-prone talents like tackle Tyron Smith and receiver Mike Williams, and a possibly dissatisfied one in Haason Reddick. Well, general manager Joe Douglas […]

Although the Denver Nuggets fell short in their bid for a second straight NBA championship this year, Nikola Jokic might still have less time to relax this summer. The superstar center is listed on Serbia’s preliminary roster for the 2024 Olympics, per DNVR Sports’ Harrison Wind. Those who follow Jokic closely know how much national […]

Storrs, Connecticut has been a hub of anxiety over the last several days, but now it should be engulfed in a frenzied celebration following the news that head coach Dan Hurley is turning down the Los Angeles Lakers and staying with UConn basketball. Fans are on a high that should carry them all the way […]

The last month in the life of Scottie Scheffler has had life-changing highs and shocking lows, but regardless of circumstance, the world No. 1 golfer continues to show fans and peers why he is a special talent. The Memorial Tournament served as the site of his latest conquest, one that was made much sweeter by […]

The Boston Celtics executed another effective game plan against the Dallas Mavericks in their 105-98 win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but the triumph did not come free of controversy. Once again, officiating is commanding some unwanted attention in the aftermath of a crucial contest. With the Mavs trailing by five with less […]

While the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to make one of the biggest head coach signings in recent memory, the City of Angels’ focus appears to be fixated on the Dodgers’ marquee series against the New York Yankees. So much so that fans have seemingly seized control of the Bronx ahead of Saturday night’s prime-time matchup. […]

The Texas Rangers (30-34) have been in start-stop mode all yearlong and desperately need to steady the ship before embarking on a challenging six-game road trip next week. In order for the reigning World Series champions to stay afloat by All-Star break,  a healthy roster is critical. The latest injury updates will have fans feeling […]

The Edmonton Oilers have the pressure of an entire country on their shoulders as they look to deliver Canada its first Stanley Cup in 31 years. Expectations for Connor McDavid, largely considered the best in the world, continue to mount as well. Jitters and emotions could spike to dangerously high levels in Game 1 of […]

When in Rome, right? Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies are embracing the energy and culture of London, England in their international clash with the New York Mets on Saturday. The slugger just checked off what looked to be an item on his MLB bucket list, giving a frenetic crowd a pride-inducing moment. With the […]

The Carolina Hurricanes’ season ended agonizingly short of a Game 7 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Chris Kreider carrying the New York Rangers to the conference finals. Now, they dive into a critical offseason that is expected to pack a great deal of stress for fans and the front office. […]

The 2024 season has been a mixed bag for Jon Rahm. It has unquestionably been kind to his bank account and the future of his family, with an absurdly lucrative contract with LIV Golf catapulting him all the way to No. 2 on Forbes’ annual richest athletes list. Conversely, he has not fared well at […]

The WNBA is more than a quarter through what is arguably the most important season in the league’s 28-year existence, reaping the benefits of the arrival of Caitlin Clark and a high-profile rookie class. More fans than ever are flocking to Indiana Fever games to watch the most prominent figure in women’s basketball compete. There […]

In an offseason lamented as unsatisfying and insufficient, the Boston Red Sox (32-31) attempted to address their pitching depth while simultaneously erring on the side of caution. This philosophy, which has become increasingly tiresome for the Fenway Faithful, resulted in former Chicago White Sox right-handed pitchers Liam Hendriks and Lucas Giolito signing short-term contracts in […]

Now that Alabama icon Nick Saban is officially retired from coaching, Georgia football surely sees an opportunity to firmly establish themselves as the sport’s world-beater for the next several years. That lofty but seemingly attainable mission begins by winning a national championship in 2024-25. But dynasties are not maintained without looking towards the future, in […]

The Oklahoma softball Sooners (58-7) are not just sitting comfortably at the pinnacle of the sport. They are gleefully dancing on it, with no other team even in sight of this unprecedented dynasty. For a brief time, it looked as if this would be the year that Patty Gasso and her squad would be thrust […]

Kristaps Porzingis has been labeled the X-factor in the long buildup to the 2024 NBA Finals. That might have been a big understatement. The veteran center returned to action in Game 1 for the first time in over a month, and in doing so, helped the Boston Celtics accomplish something that has never been done […]

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is doing his part to ensure that basketball legend Bill Walton is going to be honored in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Before tip-off, players from both the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks wore shirts with the Hall of Famer’s name on them during pregame warmups, per Tomer Azarly of […]

The first two months-plus of the 2024 MLB season have obviously been a major disappointment as far as Toronto Blue Jays fans are concerned. And yet, their glasses should be half full in early-June. The 30-32 club is only three and a half games out of an American League Wild Card slot. The Jays have […]

The future contract status of elite pass rushers will ideally never become a genuine concern among a fan base, especially if a sizable chunk of the team’s ceiling is tied to the player in question. It is undoubtedly one of the most important positions in the NFL, usually forcing owners to acquiesce to lofty demands. […]

In the award-winning drama “Breaking Bad,” the country “Belize” is mentioned to imply murder. Well, that is essentially what occurred following the 150-54 beatdown that Team USA unleashed on Belize in the Under-18 FIBA AmeriCup on Tuesday. Although this matchup was never expected to be competitive, such a lopsided outcome should give fans some belief […]

The New York Yankees (43-19) are about to have a first-world problem on their hands. An elite starting pitching rotation will soon welcome back the reigning American League Cy Young, Gerrit Cole. The veteran ace made a rehab start for the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Tuesday in what his first brush of in-game action since […]

Geno Auriemma does not have much left to accomplish and nothing to prove after leading the most historically prominent program in women’s basketball history. The 2024-25 season will amazingly be his 40th as UConn women’s basketball head coach, and apparently, it will not be his last. The 11-time national champion is agreeing to a five-year […]

Although Aaron Judge is consistently stealing headlines since erupting in the month of May, the New York Yankees’ American League-best 42-19 record must also be attributed to their offseason additions. Much of the focus is justifiably on Juan Soto and Marcus Stroman, but there is an unsung hero who is anchoring the defense. And he […]

Former NFL punter and prominent sports personality Pat McAfee is receiving serous backlash on social media after his latest comments about Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. He praised the WNBA sensation effusively while tearing down everyone who has downplayed her acumen and league-wide influence, but it is the NSFW manner in which he decided to […]

Despite there being chatter for the past year, the Justin Jefferson contract saga contained little suspense. Yes, he skipped voluntary workouts and was loosely mentioned in trade rumors, but the star wide receiver always seemed destined to remain with the Minnesota Vikings in the long term. Anticipation was nevertheless high, as NFL fans speculated on […]

The Dallas Stars were dealt a crippling dose of deja vu Sunday night, as they fell in six games in the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year. This Stanley Cup Playoffs run felt different, though. Despite earning the top seed, the bracket demanded that they battle the league’s last two champions for a […]

The NBA is a star-driven league, so it is only natural that the stars drive the narratives of the 2024 Finals. The focus is overwhelmingly on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, and Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks. But the game plan cannot be simplified to merely stopping […]

Let the chatter commence. With the NBA Finals still five days away, American basketball fans are shifting their attention to the international circuit for now. Consequently, they are becoming reacquainted with someone who was among the best at his position in the world for a period of time. DeMarcus Cousins has once again made himself […]

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. […]