The 19.73 seconds it took Usain Bolt to break the tape in the 200 meter finals of the Diamond League meet in Paris was the quickest 200 meters anyone has run this year, edging Tyson Gay's 19.74 in the U.S. World Championships in June. For as fast as that is, it's still more than a half-second off Bolt's own world record of 19.19, so you've indeed seen him run faster. Quite likely you will again next month at the World Championships, in Moscow. Until then, here is Bolt jutting out of car that is visibly tilting to one side beneath his weight. Awkward, perhaps, but we may forgive the Parisians. Apparently it was the first victory lap they'd ever hosted. Diamond League: Usain Bolt admits he is not invincible [BBC Sport] Photo credit: Associated Press …

The narrative of Clayton Kershaw’s playoff failure was always something bigger and more intense than it had any logical right to be. It conveniently ignored key context of managerial decisions and bullpen strength, not to mention brushed aside the number of perfectly fine and even good postseason starts that he has made. But simply reciting the facts on their own is almost never enough to unravel a story like this once it’s taken hold—in the minds of media, fans, maybe even the player himself. Kershaw pitched four innings of scoreless relief last night on just two days’ rest. The Dodgers lost to the Astros anyway, unable to climb out of the hole they’d put themselves in before Kershaw ever took the mound. And here is what he told USA Today about it: “Maybe one of these days…

data-mm-id=”_5gzfvq29f”>The inaugural XFL season kicks off on February 8th. The league will feature multiple former NFL players, including one veteran who has worn 13 different jerseys and another who started a playoff game, and one guy with a Super Bowl ring.Landry JonesJones, who appeared in five NFL games, suffered a knee injury in training camp that will keep him out at least a month. When he returns he will have a chance to line up under center for his old college coach, Bob Stoops.Kenneth FarrowAfter a couple seasons around the NFL, Farrow won an AAF Offensive Player of the Week award. Will HillThe 2009 BCS national champion hasn't played in the NFL since 2015. He most recently played in the AAF. Sterling MooreMoore started 12 games for the 2016 New Orleans Saints. The team …

data-mm-id=”_3dsyn1wxw”>Skepticism is growing around the idea that the NBA will be playing any more meaningful basketball games this year. They are trying to keep the league in the front of people's minds with video game tournaments and H-O-R-S-E competitions. And that's all well and good. But if the NBA really wanted to create a buzz for the future, they'd look to the past. Way back into the past, to 1891, when Dr. James Naismith dreamed up this crazy sport. Tell me you wouldn't be interested in watching a bunch of players — ideally the ones who have successfully beaten coronavirus off already — get together and put on some long pants with belts and play an exhibition under the original rules with peach baskets. Those rules, originally published in the January 15…

data-mm-id=”_laz8rga2m”>Major League Baseball is back. The NBA is having scrimmages. Sports are back on television and zero NBA players have tested positive for COVID-19 since entering the Disney bubble over the last week. I'm actually allowing myself to get a little excited. I'm cautiously optimistic that somebody might be able to pull this off. It's a feeling I have really only experienced once in the the last few months, when it started to look promising that there would be a vaccine by late 2020 / early 2021. Yeah, shit's been dark. And I've been fortunate This hasn't affected me personally aside from being trapped in a house with small children and having our entire routine upended. Still, being in the Northeast it's not reassuring to hear that t…

data-mm-id=”_lu04nhra3″>Heading into the extremely-delayed 2020 NBA offseason, the Atlanta Hawks' biggest need was somebody to run the offense when Trae Young hit the bench. Last season, they tried Evan Turner and then Jeff Teague in the role, and neither worked out. It was part of the reason Atlanta was not successful in their playoff push even after acquiring Clint Capela at the trade deadline. So, naturally, when the draft rolled around, the Hawks took… a center. Their selection of USC's Onyeka Okongwu isn't bad, per se. Draft pundits love Okongwu's potential as a switchable five that can defend everywhere on the court and earn hustle points offensively. It's just confusing. They already have Capela as their presumed center of the near future. And then the…

data-mm-id=”_yezkmzjkk”>Trey Lance might be on the move before he ever got a real shot with the San Francisco 49ers. On Wednesday morning Ian Rapoport tweeted out that teams had been calling the Niners asking about a potential trade for Lance. Sources: The #49ers have received inquiries from several teams looking into a potential trade for former No. 3 pick QB Trey Lance. The conversations have been the result of SF fielding the calls, not making them, with teams aware that Brock Purdy is likely the future starter. pic.twitter.com/ddOZjZq5Xn— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 19, 2023Rapoport obviously does not say that a trade is imminent nor that San Fran is seeking out a trade on their own. But the fact that discussions have gotten loud enough that one of the league's top inside…