1 Page 310 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Paraplegic In Robotic Exoskeleton Performs World Cup First Kick
OK, so after all the hype about the mind-controlled exoskeleton performing the first kick in the World Cup, it turned out to be kind of disappointing. (The opening ceremony broadcast only showed a few seconds of it, seen above.) But still, a paralyzed man controlling a robot suit with his mind kicke...

Fallen Rangers Fan Is The Saddest Subway Rider
A reader sends along this photo of a prone Rangers fan, fittingly adorned in a Rick Nash jersey and camo Rangers hat, lying prone on the Q train at 2:00 a.m. last night. We are told that this guy "barely moved" for at least three stops, at which time our tipster had to get off the train....

How Big Is Brazil's Home-Field Advantage At The World Cup?
Santos da casa não fazem milagres. At home, saints do not perform miracles. —Brazilian proverb...

It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times
Send stories, photos, and anything else you might have to [email protected]....

Brazil-Croatia: An Early Trap Game For The Hosts?
Let's stop ourselves for a second. A Brazilian coronation is the most likely outcome. Those masters of the universe over at Goldman Sachs say so. And they're never wrong. But what if, for just a moment, we think skeptically about this opening match of the World Cup 2014?...

Milwaukee Bar Celebrates World Cup In Most Tone Deaf Way Possible
There's a bar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, called The Nomad, and like most bars in America, it is putting on all kinds of airs in an effort to lure people inside of it to watch World Cup games this month. But The Nomad is offering potential patrons one thing that other bars are not: tone deaf cultural t...

Everyone Named Their Kid After Maradona During The 1986 World Cup
Diego Maradona in 1986 was essentially an archangel, razing down everything but Argentina on the way to winning the World Cup. This sparked any number of legacies, from a merchandising empire based chiefly on t-shirts with his and Che Guerva's face on them, to, it seems, thousands and thousands of k...

Here's What The Top Prediction Models Say About The World Cup
The World Cup kicks off in a few hours, which means the results of the many, many prediction models that have popped up in the last few weeks will finally be tested. Below are some of the best examples; this is a good time to remind you that betting markets are usually the strongest predictors of al...

The Non-Soccer Fan's Guide To The 2014 World Cup
We get it. Soccer is confusing, and it's hard to know where to start. You know what a big deal the World Cup is, and this is the year you're finally going to get into it, and then you check in over at Deadspin and, well, fuck no, you're not reading 3000 words about Algeria. Don't worry about it! Thi...

Everything You Need To Know About Every World Cup Team
Here's your full World Cup preview hub, where you can find our breakdowns for all 32 teams throughout the tournament. ...

Your Ultimate Guide To Streaming Every World Cup Match Live
Want to watch the World Cup? We're here to provide you with the ultimate, comprehensive guide to watching every match of group play—either on a television, computer, or mobile device....

World Cup Group H Preview: A Dark Horse, A Couple Mules, And A Goat
Here's your Group G hub and open thread where you'll find our previews and predictions....

How Russia Evolved Into One Of The World Cup's Most Dangerous Teams
Russia's march to Brazil began at the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland/Ukraine. The Russians, led by Dutch manager Dick Advocaat captured the attention of Europe with a comprehensive 4-1 thrashing of the Czech Republic in their opening game. The free-flowing, explosive Russian attack, a product of Ad...

The Brilliance And Madness Of Dutch Wizard Johan Cruyff
From Eduardo Galeano's classic, now available as an ebook. We'll have excerpts throughout the week....

Hey, At Least Getting Bashed In Group Play Won't Break Algeria's Heart
Algerians, like many former French colonies, are used to watching some of their most promising potential internationals playing for the old rulers. Algerian fans will probably cheer Karim Benzema due to the French-born striker's Algerian heritage. They might also rue, or maybe sardonically snicker a...

What FIFA Gets Right About Nationality
In April, Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj finally picked his country. The oddsmakers were right, and he selected Belgium over a palette of other national shirts: Albania, Serbia, and Kosovo (through his parents), Turkey (through his grandparents), and, if you asked the English, maybe even...

This Technicolor Footage Of The 1966 World Cup Is Incredible
This essay appears in the new issue of Howler...

Three Days Out, The World Cup Stadium In Manaus Is A Disaster
That photo up there is from Arena Amazonia in Manaus. The turf is patchy, sandy, and as acknowledged by the groundskeeper, in no way ready to host soccer, let alone a World Cup match. Too bad, because the crucial opener between England and Italy is on Saturday....

The Hater’s Guide To The 2014 World Cup
Soccer! Football! The Beautiful Game! OL’ NETTY! Yes, it’s time again for 31 contending nations (plus England) to gather together for the World Cup. Now, soccer people (very much to be confused with pod people) will remind you that the World Cup is the most popular sporting event in the world. ...