var Page 32 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

How Big Brown's People Nearly Pulled Off Horse Racing's Biggest Scam
As 95-degree temperatures baked a crowd of nearly 100,000 at the 2008 Belmont Stakes—the hottest June 7 on record—the only person who seemed unfazed was Richard Dutrow Jr., the trainer of Big Brown, an undefeated colt just 12 furlongs from the first Triple Crown in three decades. With history agains...

The Nassau Coliseum Was Not A Dump: What The Isles Are Leaving Behind
In October 2012, a month into the NHL lockout, with the schedule already beginning to crumble, the New York Islanders made a big announcement: Upon expiration of their lease in 2015, the Isles would be leaving the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, their publicly owned home of 40 years, for Brooklyn...


The Lions Signed That Norweigan Kicker Who Was A Big Deal On YouTube
Until December, Havard Rugland was just some guy in Norway with a YouTube video that showed him kicking footballs in all sorts of crazy ways. It was fun while it lasted, but then the Jets gave him a tryout because they're the Jets. That didn't work out, and we all went back to forgetting about Havar...


Former NBA Player Javaris Crittenton Indicted On Murder Charges
You've probably forgotten about Javaris Crittenton by now. He's the guy who threatened to shoot Gilbert Arenas in the knee over an unpaid boo-ray debt in January of 2010, and was then accused of murdering a 22-year-old mother of four in August of 2011. Crittenton has been out on bond since being cha...

Harvard's Basketball Team Works Better Than Harvard
Sometimes Harvard Yard literally smells like bullshit. The grass takes a regular beating from the weather and the footsteps of mathematicians eager to find the shortest path to class. So, a few times a year, to spruce it up for the brochures and the visiting parents, the grounds crew gives it a fat ...

We Need To Talk About The Harvard Band
This picture is art. I can't stop looking at it. It almost made me happy for Harvard, in some demented, twisted way—that is, until I looked up the Harvard athletics band, to find more about those wondrous facial expressions, and found this informational paragraph:...

After Cheating Allegations, Harvard Stripped Of Four National Titles (In Quiz Bowl)
Good morning, Harvard. You're feeling quite pleased with yourselves today, aren't you? A good old underdog-triumphs-over-preseason-adversity-and-superior-opponent kinda thing happened last night. And to you, of all institutions. Congratulations....

Fucking Harvard Wins First NCAA Tournament Game, Upsets New Mexico
Prior to tonight, the last time a No. 14 seed beat a No. 3 was 2010 when Ohio beat Georgetown....

The 13 Most Annoying Men Of March Madness
We've done enough loving on March Madness this week. March Madness is a wonderful time of the year, but it is also to be hated on: The fluffy mascots dancing around like they own the place, the pepped-out pep squads cheering like they actually believe in something, the crabby coaches, the clueless a...

A Text Message From A South African Rugby Player May Be At The Center Of The Pistorius Shooting
Over the weekend, we learned of a South African rugby player, Francois Hougaard, who may or may not have once dated the woman Oscar Pistorius shot and killed, Reeva Steenkamp. According to one report, Pistorius and Steenkamp were fighting over a text message from Hougaard early Thursday morning, sho...

Anderson Varejao Is Out For The Season With A Blood Clot In His Lung
I'd express sympathy for Cleveland fans, but they're probably pretty used to this sort of thing by now. Anderson Varejao, who with averages of 14 and 14 was putting up the best year of his career, is done for the season. The Cavs announced today that Varejao developed a blood clot in his lung, becau...

A Rusty Barry Alvarez Struggled With Some Of The More Complicated Aspects Of Coaching, Like How To Wear Sunglasses
Barry Alvarez ascended himself to the post of Wisconsin Badgers head football coach for the Rose Bowl, filling in for a Bret Bielema who'd abandoned his team for the bright lights of Fayetteville. (He gave himself quite the Christmas bonus for the trip, too.) Alas, Alvarez let the natives of Cheese...

Anderson Varejao Wig Night Was Exactly The Whimsical Clown-Nightmare You Would Hope For
The Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday gave away 10,000 wigs to fans for "Wild Thing Wig Night," a.k.a. Anderson Varejao Wig Night, a.k.a. Sideshow Bob Appreciation Night, a.k.a. Bill Walton Merkin Night, a.k.a. Beyoncé Perm Re-enactment Night, a.k.a. Mad Hatter Cosplay Night, a.k.a. Will Ferrell as Ja...

Here's The Youtube Video That Got A Norwegian Kicker A Tryout With The Jets
Back in September, a 27-year-old from a tiny Norwegian town named Havard Rugland uploaded this video to Youtube. Despite only ever having played soccer, he's able to do some crazy things with a football: Over-the-head kicks, drop kicks, kicks across gorges, kicks onto a moving boat, kicks from the ...

If You're In New York Tonight, Come Hear Some Splendid Writers Talk About Some Sports Lightning Rods
The November installment of Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters reading series is tonight. Seth Wickersham, Eric Kester, and Bill Strickland are talking, respectively, about Michael Vick, Harvard, and Lance Armstrong, three beloved American institutions. The reading is tonight, 7:30, at Le Poisson Rouge...

How Anderson Varejao Quietly Lit Up The Nets Last Night
Anderson Varejao scored 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds last night in a loss to the Nets. It feels crazy to write that, because Varejao isn't the kind of center you expect to put up such fat numbers. He's the "energy guy," the big man who never stops moving, fighting for rebounds, tipping balls t...