I’d be hard-pressed to find two NFL teams that had different trajectories this season than the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys. They also happen to be my favorite teams. As Baltimore established itself as the best team in the NFL and unbelievably fun to watch, the Cowboys became the most excruciating. For every … Continue reading A Tale of Two Teams
NOTE: This is a spoiler-free review, until the final paragraph where I ramble on my spoiler-filled thoughts. Thursday marked the culmination of not only the Star Wars saga, but also an era in my Star Wars fandom. The trailer for the latest and final installment, The Rise of Skywalker, started with a short montage of … Continue reading Star Wars sequels meet exhilarating end with Rise of Skywalker
I've seen a lot of great games as a sports fan. I picked my top ten favorites earlier this week in a column, and choosing those brought many smiles to my face. Today's ranking wasn't so cheerful of a chore. Today, I'm selecting the ten greatest games that I never saw. The catch -- they … Continue reading The Ten Greatest Games I Wish I Had Seen
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
NOTE: These are spoiler-free reviews. The sports world is ablaze with action and excitement, and in nowhere more than Baltimore itself. Not-so-subtle flex: the Ravens are as great as I’ve ever seen them — four straight wins against teams with winning records, with a total margin of 104 points among those wins — and rank … Continue reading Read Option: Box Office Roundup
Earlier this fall I gave a sneak peak into various aspects of my initial weeks in college. Today comes the immersive “Day in the Life” feature, which more closely resembles a “Choose Your Own Adventure” novel than your typical itinerary. I’ll give insights into what happened on the day of October 30, but also the … Continue reading A Day in the Northwestern Life
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
T-minus one year until Kevin Durant and the Nets take the league by storm.
One of my favorite inventions of the modern magazine has been the heat index. On the top, the hottest item in the category, while the bottom is reserved for the coolest of the cold. And it works with just about anything, sports or otherwise. With one month of college in the books, I'm going to gauge the … Continue reading First Month of College Heat Index
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
Riker's Block 