npr Page 15 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Oklahoma's Kicker Was The Most Disastrous College Player This Week

Down 31-24 early in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight threw a touchdown pass that brought the Sooners one point within Kansas State. But kicker Micheal Hunnicutt's extra point was blocked. The Sooners later failed to take the lead when Hunnicutt missed a 19-yard field goal wit...

NPR: Ebola Might Make Chocolate Expensive (While Killing Lots Of People)

Yeesh. Lotta scary Ebola news these days. Between the situation in Africa seemingly spiraling beyond anyone's control, a botched containment job at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, and exposed people breaking quarantine to go strolling around New Jersey, presumably barfing Ebola blood on school...

Mike Nugent's Missed Field Goal Was The Costliest Play Of Week 6

On the last play of a tied overtime game Mike Nugent missed a chip-shot field goal, which would have won the game for the Bengals. The miss led to the first tie in the NFL this season and was the most detrimental play of the week. According to data from Brian Burke of Advanced Football Analytics...

The Thinking Fan's Guide To The 2014-15 NHL Season

We enter a very different NHL after the "Summer of Stats," and we have the Maple Leafs to thank....

Matt Forte's Fumble Was The Most Damaging Play Of Week 5

With under fives minutes to play in a tie game, Chicago possessed the ball with an opportunity to control the clock and take the lead. But Matt Forte fumbled in what was the most detrimental play of the week. According to data from Brian Burke of Advanced Football Analytics the fumble lowered th...

How Hulk Became The World's Most Underappreciated Superstar

If there's one good thing about the handful of great players plying their trade in Russia—and it would be the only good thing, mind you—it's that their home Champions League ties often start a few hours before the rest. That timeslot gives their abilities at least a modicum of the attention they des...

E.J. Manuel Was The Most Catastrophic Quarterback Of Week 4

E.J. Manuel played poorly Sunday, completing only 47.7 percent of his passes and throwing two interceptions. While box score summaries can sometimes hide clutch play in critical situations that wasn't the case here. According to data from Brian Burke of Advanced Football Analytics, Manuel accounte...

Vince Wilfork's Ping-Pong INT Was The Most Disruptive Play In Week 3

Deep in New England territory with less than a minute to go, the Raiders had a chance to send the game into overtime with a touchdown. But Derek Carr's pass bounced out of the hands of his receiver Denarius Moore and wound up in the arms of Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. The interception...

Colin Kaepernick Was The Most Disastrous Quarterback In Week 2

Colin Kaepernick had an awful game Sunday night throwing three interceptions, fumbling once, and getting sacked four times. Sometimes, broad game stats can mask situational competence, but not here. According to data from Brian Burke of Advanced Football Analytics, Kaerpernick's interception at th...

Jay Cutler Was The Most Catastrophic Quarterback Of Week 1

Sunday's box score shows that Jay Cutler threw two interceptions and his team lost to the Bills. What it doesn't show is just how much of a nightmare Cutler inflicted on his team's chances. According to data from Brian Burke of Advanced Football Analytics, Cutler was responsible for three of the...

Washington Players Paid Tribute To Michael Brown

Last night, Washington's defensive backs entered the field with their hands held high, a silent but striking tribute to Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old shot to death by police in Ferguson, Mo., earlier this month....

32 Paragraphs About 32 Teams: A Thinking Fan's Guide To The NFL Season

The following is excerpted from the team chapters of the always-excellent Football Outsiders Almanac. Buy it here....

NBA Rookies Are Receiving The Best Advice

The New York Times's Sarah Lyall is at the NBA Rookie Transition Program, where the most talented young basketballers in the world learn the important things about their sometimes-rocky transitions to the pros. They're receiving advice on everything from fashion to fan relations to celebrity, an...

Why Your Classic Children's Television Program Sucks: <em>Saved By The Bell</em>

Time for another look at the awful children’s programming you’re forced to endure before you can finally kick the kids out of the TV room to watch sports for eight hours. Previous installments in this series can be found here. ...

Good News, U.S. Fans: Ghana Are A Mess Right Now [Updating]

The four Group G teams—Germany, USA, Portugal, and Ghana—play today in the final Group of Death matchday. We all know the stakes. If the U.S. lose to Germany and Ghana beat Portugal by a couple of goals, Ghana will advance with Germany to the knockout rounds. That's why the news that not one, but tw...

The "Voodoo Science" Behind A Nike Running Program: An Insider Talks

Vern Gambetta is afraid he comes off as a grouchy old man. He's not that old. And those statements about lifetime bans for drug cheats and Nike Oregon Project's "innovations"? That's straight shooting from a guy who might be the most influential person in sports conditioning today. ...

Everything is happening: Brandon Prust will have his over-the-phone DOPS hearing today, Derek Stepan is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a broken jaw, and now Daniel Carcillo has received a 10-game suspension for physically abusing an official. No matter Prust's suspension, I'd say the ...

This Fluke Backheel Goal From 35 Yards Out Is Just Hilarious

While you MLS truthers and Eurosnobs were watching soccer last weekend, this absolute gem of a goal happened in the Jordan Premier League. ...

Man In Mike Vick Jersey Hauls Ass To Rob Children Of Home Run Ball

Jurickson Profar hit a monstrous home run to the grassy knoll in right-center field during the Rangers game against the Padres this afternoon. Many families were enjoying a little picnic while watching a ballgame on that knoll and thought for a split second, hey, we might get a souvenir! But then Br...

With Ukrainian Soccer League Suspended, Rival Fans Play Each Other

With all the political turmoil in Ukraine, officials of their top soccer league have suspended play until things quiet down. Thus, yesterday's scheduled derby pitting rivals Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk against each other didn't happen. Well, it did happen, just not as planned....