brian blickenstaff
Bribery, Slave Labor, 106-Degree Heat: Why Qatar Wants the World Cup in the First Place
Why in God’s name does Qatar even want to host a World Cup? It's all about (soft) power.
American Soccer Star's Father Accused of Running Multimillion Dollar Scam in Norway
When it comes to negotiating contracts, the Diskeruds do not fuck around. It looks like those skills extend to the world of loan sharking as well.
Climate Change Is Creeping Into Sports
As the realities of climate change set in, American sports leagues are bracing for change.
Life as Struggle: How Iceland Became the World’s Best Pound-for-Pound Soccer Team
The population of Iceland is the same as as Riverside, California. How did it get so damn good at soccer?
Aron Johannsson's Injury Hell Is Finally Over
Aron Johannsson, the Icelandic-American striker, is finally back on the field after a long World Cup hangover that hardly anyone knew about.
Trolling Giants: FC Basel's Unbelievable Rise to Prominence
FC Basel has always been looked down upon by Europe’s elite, seen as more squire than knight. After last night’s match, it revealed itself to be a troll.
The Badass Women Who Are Changing Bobsledding
Humphries and Meyers-Taylor were the first women to medal while piloting four-man bobsleds. They certainly won’t be the last.
Is Surfing a Sport? An Investigation
A former surfer tries to untangle the modern nature of surfing: a weird blend of legitimate sport and marketing strategies that don't fit a sport.
Drugs, Hidden Cameras, and Whistleblowers: The Russian Doping Scandal
Hajo Seppelt said it “could be the biggest scandal in the history of athletics.” He might be right.
Idiots on the Field: A Debriefing
A crew of pitch invaders is learning that their pranks come with the kind of collateral damage they can do nothing about.
Are Concussion Sensors Selling A False Sense of Security?
Welcome to the wildly unregulated world of helmet sensor technology and all the empty promises it has to offer.
Don't Fire Arsene Wenger or Jurgen Klopp
The world isn’t full of proven coaches, so hold on to the ones you got.