Alex House Articles - Page 83

No empire was born under limited ambition. And make no mistake, SEC football is a full-blown empire ruling the NCAA with an iron fist. Commissioner Greg Sankey has comfortably sat in the throne since 1996, overseeing immense financial growth and on-field success during his storied tenure. And he remains as ambitious as ever. With Oklahoma […]

The long-term future of the NBA can be perceived in differing ways. There is the perspective that the league could have some trouble finding a truly transcendent superstar to carry the mantle after LeBron James retires. Then there is the opposing camp who is not worried, due to the plethora of young talent waiting to […]

Although athletes trolling is quite typical during the year, it can get a bit out of hand during the NBA offseason. Cryptic posts leave unsuspecting fans in suspense and needlessly amp up stress levels. Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid is a leading culprit. Though, the reigning MVP and Sixers’ superstar’s latest alleged trolling is just plain […]

When the New York Jets were announced as the featured team for Hard Knocks this year, an array of reactions emanated all throughout the NFL fandom. There are many who want to see what an Aaron Rodgers-led squad looks like up-close. Others are naturally gravitated to one of the most intriguing teams in the league […]

In a 2023 MLB season filled with historic pursuits, Shohei Ohtani trade and free agency speculation and massive flops, the Miami Marlins’ 53-42 record is unlikely to command the national recognition it deserves. They are not competing for a divisional crown like the Baltimore Orioles and have not electrified a crowd quite like the Cincinnati […]

Steph Curry’s range truly knows no bounds. Whether you give the man a basketball or a club, fans are going to be left speechless by his shot-making ability. The Golden State Warriors’ legend impressed everyone who witnessed him sink a hole-in-one at the American Century Championship celebrity tournament Saturday, including the always outspoken Patrick Beverley. […]

Holding off the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros for another two-and-a-half months will be a burdensome chore, but the Texas Rangers might just possess enough firepower and grit to pull off such a feat. The team was in great need of the All-Star break after dropping 11 of 16 games and seeing their American […]

Although the biggest question surrounding Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani is where he will be after the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline, fans and teams have been forced to shift their focus to his recent injury and subsequent struggles on the mound. Ohtani’s first start out of the All-Star break was disconcertingly similar to his […]

Not everyone is ready to take that leap and make a big commitment. The reason for hesitation, however, should not be influenced by what other people do. Following the herd does can lead you into utter catastrophe. This is not a sermon but rather another way to interpret New York Giants’ Darius Slayton’s viewpoint on […]

Before the season began, there were plenty of people who believed the Baltimore Orioles would build off their 2022 success (83-79) and take the next step in 2023. Though, the thing that held skeptics back from buying the O’s as a legitimate contender was their willingness to spend money on pitching. They did not exactly […]

While much of the NBA world is anticipating Victor Wembanyama becomes the next big thing in basketball and sports, San Antonio Spurs fans are hoping he can restore the franchise to its past glory. But they might have to wait a bit to see if all of that faith will be validated. That is, if […]

The St. Louis Cardinals have been in desperate need of some good news all season long. Throughout this unusual and unfortunate 38-52 campaign there have been silver linings that gave hope a turnaround was coming. A once weak National league Central is now a heated race between two solid teams and is 11 games out […]

The New York Yankees (49-43) have been tasked with weathering the storm all season. While roster depth issues are being painfully exposed through a recent rough stretch without superstar Aaron Judge, there was at least hope that things would get better when starting pitcher Carlos Rodon finally made his season debut after missing three-and-a-half months […]

With the All-Star break officially over, MLB fans will dive headfirst into the Shohei Ohtani trade hysteria. Each loss for the Los Angeles Angels will make such speculation louder and louder until no other baseball topic feels relevant ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline. LA does not have time to be preoccupied with all of […]

Fresh out of the MLB All-Star break, the Los Angeles Dodgers are making moves. Although they did not make a big splash Friday, the roster will look a tad different going into a road series against the New York Mets. Most notably, utility man Chris Taylor is returning to the club after a three-week stint […]

It should go without saying, but being a coach is extremely stressful. Yes, even in the NBA, where players have more power than in any other sport, manning the sidelines can take years off your life. Former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers is not taking for granted the free time he has to just […]

Ego and pride have no proper place in a front office. An executive has to be able to admit their mistakes instead of doubling down on a sizable investment. A refusal to do so can cannibalize a sports organization. The San Diego Padres are nearing the point where tough and humiliating decisions might need to […]

After a long tenure and an injury-ridden 2023, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is likely to be unfazed by any health updates. He has seen enough to not get ahead of himself and is again taking a measured approach in handling Clayton Kershaw’s recovery process. “I think for us it’s kind of trying to […]

With Aaron Rodgers leading the way, New York Jets fans are busting with anticipation for the team’s opening week Monday Night Football battle with the Buffalo Bills. Breece Hall might be more excited than anyone, though. The second-year running back has been strenuously willing himself through rehab after tearing his ACL last October. The injury […]

The second year for a quarterback is always a critical one. After going through the rigors of a rookie NFL season, the game should hopefully slow down a bit. Timing and preparation can be honed through experience, but a QB must still possess the right mental strength. Pittsburgh Steelers’ Kenny Pickett has that edge, according […]

College football has always been a wild and chaotic entity the NCAA has struggled to control. The addition of NIL has attempted to regulate the madness, but it still exists at full throttle. Disparity in wealth remains a growing problem for the sport, one that UCF football head coach Gus Malzahn believes must be directly […]

The Philadelphia Phillies have some work to do coming out of the All-Star break but are still well-positioned for another second-half surge. A healthy and balanced roster will be tantamount to them earning a National League Wild Card spot, however. They are not off to a great start in that department. After just losing Josh […]

NFL running backs get a smaller piece of the pie. That’s just the way it is in the modern game. Los Angeles Chargers’ Austin Ekeler knows and understands why owners would simply keep abiding by this growing market trend. But he is going to keep fighting against it. The touchdown machine was intent on seeking […]

2023 NBA Summer League is arguably as important to the Utah Jazz as it is to any other team. They have three first-round draft picks to evaluate, and while things have not gone quite as expected, the organization has gleaned plenty of information about their young prospects. While surprise All-Star Lauri Markkanen is Utah’s centerpiece, […]

Sacramento Kings fans entered this NBA Summer League with more optimism than they have had in a long time. A postseason appearance last season and a bright future ahead should make these Las Vegas exhibition games stress-free and quite enjoyable. Injuries can abruptly ruin any good vibes, though. Rookie Colby Jones exited the game after […]

After being overshadowed by college superstar Bijan Robinson while on Texas, Chicago Bears rookie running back Roschon Johnson is in danger of being lost in the shuffle again. The fourth-round pick will be battling free agent acquisition D’Onta Foreman and 2022 breakout Khalil Herbert for carries this season. However, he believes one specific quality will […]

After months of speculating if new head coach Sean Payton can revive Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos, the serious work begins for the former Super Bowl champion. July 28th marks the official start of Broncos training camp, and with it a new era of football in Mile High. Fans know that a lot must […]

A dark cloud is hanging squarely above Northwestern, with a downpour of bad optics and public judgment raining down on the university in Evanston, Illinois. The future of two of the program’s major sports teams could be in considerable turmoil after baseball head coach Jim Foster was fired following a “toxic culture” investigation, according to […]

Although Kyrie Irving remains among the most controversial players in the NBA, he has been showered with good fortune lately. His stepmother and agent Shetellia Riley Irving posted an emotional message to the Dallas Mavericks guard on Instagram. “I am so proud of my {love},” she wrote Thursday afternoon. “When I first met you at […]

The Detroit Pistons scored a big offseason victory before NBA free agency even started. Hiring Monty Williams to be their new head coach could end up being a franchise-altering move if he can accelerate this young roster’s development. His experience in reviving struggling teams makes him a sound investment, even at a historic rate. This […]

For a veteran journeyman like catcher Elias Diaz, just earning an invitation to the MLB All-Star Game is special. But hitting a clutch home run to end a 12-year drought for the National League is almost too good to be true. While Diaz’s emotions and excitement definitely left a strong impression, his Colorado Rockies teammates […]

The National League is a punching bag no longer after a 3-2 comeback win over the American League in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. T-Mobile Park played host to a strange but riveting Midsummer Classic that featured highlight reel catches in the very beginning of the game, memorable exchanges and a thrilling ending courtesy of […]

Shohei Ohtani has reached the level of stardom where even the most mundane things he says makes news. So, you could imagine how dialed in Los Angeles Angels fans were when he provided an injury update on his cracked middle fingernail. “Little hiccups here and there with the finger, but other than that, I’m healthy,” […]

Miami Marlins second baseman and National League All-Star Luis Arraez has captivated fans with his pursuit for a .400 batting average, one of the most immortalized feats in all of sports. Make no mistake, though, players are just as mesmerized by his contact-hitting mastery. Even one of the best hitters of this era is in […]

Torii Hunter was surely entertained by the start of the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, as fans were treated to a defensive clinic in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. As anticipated, Ronald Acuna Jr. was ready to lead things off with a bang in the first inning, smacking a ball to the opposite field near the wall before […]

When budding star Juan Soto was hopping around during the Washington Nationals’ thrilling World Series run in 2019, many fans were wondering when he conceived something so unique as the Soto Shuffle. The San Diego Padres left fielder ended the suspense ahead of the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. “It just came from myself when I […]

It was easy to overlook Mikal Bridges as just a top 3-and-D guy in the NBA while he was a member of the Phoenix Suns, but he showcased his all-around offensive talent after being traded to the Brooklyn Nets last season. Now, he is giving fans the chance to reassess his skills by posing an […]

When someone suffers a traumatic experience, many people will express sympathy and lend emotional support. That’s just what one does. Though, no one outside of the individual in question really knows how truly agonizing it is to assimilate back into society. Going through all of that as a professional athlete presents its own unique obstacles […]

The top and middle of the Eastern Conference is packed with intrigue and young talent that could make the postseason a wild free-for-all the next few years. At 37-45 and five games short of the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament, the Indiana Pacers feel tiers away from entering that conversation. A promising roster and an ambitious […]