Welcome to Atlanta: How my journalism residency at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports desk compared to expectations

June 28, 2022June 28, 2022 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

ATLANTA — This spring, school looked a lot different. I can’t remember any other year when my day started at 2 p.m., when my homework was circulated to thousands of people I had never met or when watching sports was a welcome obligation, rather than a midday distraction. So I don’t think it’s hyperbole to … Continue reading Welcome to Atlanta: How my journalism residency at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports desk compared to expectations

2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 – Edge rushers dominate top five picks

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The NFL Draft is the Super Bowl of the offseason calendar, and there's no better way to get in the mood than with mock drafts. Obviously there's never going to be a perfect mock draft, but for the third consecutive year, our crew of NFL Draft experts went at it, splitting up selection duties for … Continue reading 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 – Edge rushers dominate top five picks

Read Option: Super Bowl LVI Edition

February 12, 2022February 12, 2022 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

We’re entering the biggest football weekend of the year, and all signs point to an all-time classic Super Bowl LVI. After divisional and conference championship rounds that had all six games decided by a field goal, the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals survived and will have the opportunity to win their first Super Bowl … Continue reading Read Option: Super Bowl LVI Edition

Baseball won’t be the same without Jon Lester

January 15, 2022 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

This week has been one of the busiest on the sports calendar, from the Georgia Bulldogs knocking off perennial power Alabama in the College Football Playoff title game in college football to Black Monday and the start of playoff football in the NFL to some marquee matchups in the NBA and college basketball. In comparison, … Continue reading Baseball won’t be the same without Jon Lester

2021 NFL Preview: Another valiant attempt at predicting the NFL season, and my picks for Super Bowl LVI

September 8, 2021 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The 2021 NFL season kicks off tomorrow night with one of the most electric matchups I can recall from my time as a fan — Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers against Dak Prescott and my Dallas Cowboys (I just want the Boys to escape Florida without any major injuries, though a miracle would be … Continue reading 2021 NFL Preview: Another valiant attempt at predicting the NFL season, and my picks for Super Bowl LVI

Bucs stop here: Brady completes legendary season in Tampa Bay with Super Bowl win

February 7, 2021February 7, 2021 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

When Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I was in absolute shock. The look of 20-year New England Patriot and owner of a record six Super Bowl rings in the red and black of the Buccaneers was jarring, the rare instance of an all-time legend joining a small-market, side note of a team. When … Continue reading Bucs stop here: Brady completes legendary season in Tampa Bay with Super Bowl win

Week 17 Read Option: The Final Column

January 4, 2021 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

Option 1, 2020’s Burning Question: Which 10-win team is left out in the AFC? The NFL voted to expand the playoffs from six to seven teams per conference during the offseason. Yet entering Week 17, one double-digit team was guaranteed to miss the playoffs, a rarity even in a six-per-conference year. Baltimore left little doubt … Continue reading Week 17 Read Option: The Final Column

Coast 2 Coast Episode IV

October 15, 2020October 15, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

This fall I have been working on a variety of projects, from the Read Option column to film reviews for The Daily Northwestern. Today, I wanted to share the most recent episode of Coast 2 Coast, a weekly sports commentary show that I host with John Volk for 8 in the Box Productions. 8ITB is … Continue reading Coast 2 Coast Episode IV

Sports Pantheon: My Favorite Sports Books

May 11, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ 1 Comment

A quick scan of my Goodreads profile will reveal a clear trend — I read a lot of sports books. That should come as no surprise, as I hope to be a sports journalist and have goals of writing books in the future. Reading about sports was as formative to my fan experience as watching … Continue reading Sports Pantheon: My Favorite Sports Books

Where’d the Love Go? The Ultimate Quarantine NFL Mock Draft

April 20, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ 1 Comment

10 NFL megafans. 32 first round selections. 10 trades. 60 minutes. Zero Jordan Love. Unlimited fun. In the barren landscape of professional sports, the NFL Draft, which starts this Thursday on ESPN, is a tantalizing oasis. But even though the draft goes on, it will be a draft like no other. To prepare for the … Continue reading Where’d the Love Go? The Ultimate Quarantine NFL Mock Draft