Topic: ESPN Inc.

Featured

Evolution of the NFL: 16 ways the game has changed

Forty-seven years after the first Super Bowl was played in Los Angeles before a less-than-capacity crowd, let’s look back at some of the ways the NFL has changed.

All Content

Keith Olbermann comes back to ESPN to host late-night show

Keith Olbermann rose to prominence as a 'SportsCenter' anchor from 1992-97 before one of several contentious departures that have marked his career.
USA Update Joey Chestnut triumphs, again, at Nathan's annual hot dog pig-out

Joey Chestnut, aka 'Jaws,' a seven-time winner (a record), maxes out at 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes (another record). In the women's competition, Sonya Thomas, at 36-3/4 dogs, edged out the No. 2 by a bite.
Ryan Braun, A-Rod face MLB suspensions. How is this doping scandal different? (+video)

Baseball could be facing another huge doping scandal after the founder of the Biogenesis clinic reportedly agreed to cooperate with an MLB investigation. Dozens of players, A-Rod and Ryan Braun among them, could face long suspensions.
ESPN layoffs: Trying to 'manage costs,' cable sports giant cuts jobs

ESPN layoffs: An unspecified number of staffers at the Bristol, Connecticut-based cable sports network are expected to be let go. The ESPN layoffs are the latest in the Disney entertainment family.
Fred White dies: Longtime Kansas City Royals announcer recently retired (+video)

Fred White dies: After spending time as the voice of Kansas State University athletics, Fred White moved into the Royals radio broadcast booth in 1973. Fred White is also remembered for his TV work as a college basketball play-by-play announcer.
33-year-old GM hired: Will Phoenix regret it?

Phoenix has hired a 33-year-old to replace GM Lance Blanks. The new 33-year-old GM 'distinguished himself' at the Boston Celtics, says Suns President Lon Babby.
Tim Tebow released from Jets. Is Tebow time over? (+video)

'Tim Tebow released' is the news the football world knew had to be coming after the New York Jets drafted a quarterback Saturday. Going forward, however, neither Tim Tebow nor the Jets seem to have a lot of good options.
NFL draft 2013: Without the quarterbacks, will fans tune in? (+video)

NFL draft 2013 won't have a quarterback as the first overall pick; it's possible there won't be one in the first round, and household names are few. Will the NFL draft's perennially strong TV ratings suffer?
NFL Draft 2013: The next generation of NFL stars takes the stage

The 2013 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Saul Bellow's Heart

Greg Bellow's memoir of life as Saul Bellow's son offers unique insights into the author and the man.
Pat Summerall dies, leave TV sportscasting legacy (+video)

Pat Summerall dies: The former football player turned sportscaster, Pat Summerall delivered the details on 16 Super Bowls, the Masters, and the U.S. Open tennis tournament with a simple, understated style.
Fox threatens to leave network TV in protest over Aereo lawsuit

A court has sided with Internet TV start-up Aereo over the big networks. Now, Fox threatening to cut its broadcast signals.
Masters 2013: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson looking for another green jacket

The Masters golf tournament, the season's first major event, gets started Thursday morning. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and defending champ Bubba Watson are part of another impressive field that includes Chinese teenager Tianlang Guan.
USA Update Know what 'campestral' means? National Spelling Bee introduces a vocab test.

For the first time in its 86-year history, the National Spelling Bee, to begin May 28, is taking account not only of whether participants can spell the words, but also whether they know what they mean.
FBI investigating possible extortion at Rutgers

Eric Murdock, the Rutgers employee who provided video of ex-coach Mike Rice verbally and physically abusing basketball players, may have tried to extort the university before releasing the video.
Mike Rice defended by Rutgers players

Mike Rice was fired Wednesday, the day after a video aired on ESPN showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs.
Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice and the evolution of 'tough love' (+video)

The reaction to video footage of the tirades by Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice suggests that the public is no longer willing to give coaches broad leeway when they turn to abusive tactics.
Modern Parenthood Parenting a chess player may be harder than playing the game

Soccer moms get all the attention. But what about the chess moms and dads who can't shrug off their outside voice outbursts when inside at a silent chess tournament? With an event that demands self-discipline, parenting a chess player is no easy task.
Rutgers fires coach Mike Rice for abusing players: Will more heads roll?

Senior administrators at Rutgers were aware of a videotape of the Mike Rice tirades against players, but opted not to fire him. That decision is under heavy scrutiny now.
Whom does Obama read? Ezra Klein, Taylor Branch, Bill Simmons.

President Obama escapes his White House bubble by reading widely on the web, sometimes late at night, following links like the rest of us, says senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer.
Rutgers fires basketball coach Mike Rice after abusive video is broadcast by ESPN

Rutgers University in New Jersey suspended coach Mike Rice after a videotape of him physically and verbally assaulting players on the men's basketball team was presented to university officials last fall. After the tape was broadcast on ESPN Tuesday, the university terminated Rice's employment.
Modern Parenthood Mike Rice fired by Rutgers, Pernetti: Parents, tell kids what bad coaching is

Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice was fired by athletic director Tim Pernetti after Mr. Rice's practice behavior was exposed on a video released by ESPN. The video came from a former team aide, not a player, which begs the question: Do your kids, tweens, and teens know how far a coach can go?
Mark Cuban: Brittney Griner could play in the NBA

Mark Cuban: Brittney Griner would get a shot at joining the Dallas Mavericks says the owner. Mark Cuban said: 'If she is the best on the board, I will take her.' Brittney Griner responded: 'I will hold my own!'
Rutgers coach Mike Rice in jeopardy: How powerful is public opinion?

Rutgers coach Mike Rice's questionable tactics might cost him his job — four months after Rice's bosses saw it and gave him a slap on the wrist — in the wake of the video's ESPN airing and the ensuing public outcry.
USA Update CBS broken leg replay: Did the network handle it right?

CBS broken leg replay happened twice immediately following the fall by Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware. Sportscasters had to make a rapid decision about airing the footage.