A couple of Saturdays ago, I tuned in to one of the greatest rivalries in sports, the Iron Bowl, an annual battle between Auburn and Alabama (often for SEC supremacy). The game didn’t let me down, as each quarter was packed to the brim with exciting moments and breathtaking plays I’d never seen before … Continue reading The Ten Greatest Sports Games I’ve Ever Seen
In today’s column I discuss different perspectives I’ve encountered recently across different sports, from the spectator to the “hater” to the half-asleep flag football referee. Option 1: The Joys of Rooting Against Rivals Entering the league championship round of the MLB playoffs this month, three of the four teams remaining were my least favorite teams: … Continue reading Read Option: The Views from the Sideline
Hey guys! I’ve written a lot of series over the years, and their names have ranged the spectrum from cringy (Professor Sports) to clever (Varsity Letter) to fitting (Nostalgia Blast). Today, as I kick of the college era of Johnriker.com, I’m resurrecting one of my favorite formats/names, the Read Option. Quick history lesson -- my … Continue reading Read Option: On the ‘Cats, Cubs, Ravens and Cowboys
Before I head off to the next chapter of my life at Northwestern University, I want to take a trip back down memory lane with the Nostalgia Blast series. Each column will focus on a certain part of my childhood and explain how it made my last 17 years so unique and fun. Kicking things … Continue reading Nostalgia Blast: Number One Fan
As a major consumer of sports media, I’ve developed refined tastes preferences for a variety of different forms of sports media, from magazines to newspapers to books to websites to talk shows to broadcasts and everything in between. Each one can come with a different role or purpose, but regardless of its role a great … Continue reading The best of the best in sports media
There seemed to be a first time for everything in 2018. Eagles winning a Super Bowl behind the arm of Nick Foles? Check. Capitals not only reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, but winning it? Check. A 16-seed routing one of the most dominant 1-seeds of the past couple years in March Madness? Check. U.S. Curling … Continue reading 2018 highlighted by exciting firsts
Around the 12th inning of last night’s (and morning’s) NL Wild Card game between the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies, I came upon the realization that for one team, the result of this marathon of a baseball game was going to absolutely stink. Of course, it didn’t cross my mind that the loser would … Continue reading Rox rock Cubs in thrilling and lengthy NL Wild Card battle
One of the best parts of the baseball season is the All Star Game, an element that is simply off the mark in the other sports leagues but carries significant value on the diamond. With the Midsummer Classic coming to my local ballpark, Nationals Park, in a couple weeks, I wanted to release my ballot … Continue reading My 2018 MLB All-Star Ballot
Baseball is back! The 2018 MLB season will make for an entertaining summer with intriguing storylines across the board, from the loaded Bronx Bombers on the East Coast to the Shohei Ohtani show on the West Coast. These are the storylines that will captivate baseball fans this summer and make it impossible to turn the … Continue reading MLB Preview: Ten Storylines to Watch in 2018
If the sporting year of 2017 is remembered by one moment, it will be the lopsided, otherwise forgettable score of 28-3. That was the score midway through the third quarter of Super Bowl LI, with the red-hot Atlanta Falcons demolishing the powerhouse New England Patriots. It was all for naught, as New England quarterback Tom … Continue reading Year in Review: 2017 a whole lot more than 28-3
Riker's Block 