Riker’s Block

  • Week 4 Read Option: OBJ flexes on Dallas, again, and Lamar breaks free

    Option 1, Week 4’s Burning Question: Can Tom Brady solve an elite defense? The Buccaneers entered Week 4 with a lead in the NFC South, but the surprising fact was more of an indictment on the rest of the division (2-7 combined) than the supposed superteam in Tampa Bay. I’ve been bullish on the Buccaneers,…

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  • Northwestern Day in the Life: Sophomore Edition

    A year ago, I wrote a “Day in the Life” feature about a random fall Wednesday. Though I am back at school now, a day in my life looks very different now than it did 12 months ago, and I figured it was time for an update. This year’s edition, recorded on Wednesday, September 23rd,…

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  • Week 3 Read Option: Josh Allen Gets His Due

    Option 1, Week 3’s Burning Question: What gives in Ravens-Chiefs megaclash? I delayed the publication of this weekly column, typically on Mondays at 1 pm central, for the sole reason of the week’s Monday Night Football clash. Normally, I disregard MNF — I have plenty of stuff to do during the week anyways. But I’m…

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  • Week 2 Read Option: Prescott Shines in Wild Comeback

    Welcome to the Read Option column, Week 2 edition! Prepare for plenty of Cowboys talk. Option 1, Week 2’s Burning Question: Which presumed contender will start 0-2? The 0-2 hole is dreaded in NFL circles, and for good reason — teams that have dropped their first two games have made it to the Big Game…

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  • Nostalgia Blast: My life as a sports fan as told in 15 momentous moments

    It’s about time that I push out a sports-themed Nostalgia Blast, because sports has definitely taken up a massive share of my time and headspace the past 19 years. I chronicled my time as an athlete in an earlier post, so here I will be diving into my experience as a fan. Rather than touch…

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  • Week 1 Read Option: Brees Tops Brady in Opener

    Option 1, Week 1’s Burning Question: How will Tom Brady look in Buccaneer red? Seeing Brady outside of New England and in Tampa Bay colors looked pretty spectacular after years of him beating up on AFC opponents in navy and red. His arm? Not so great. Brady threw two interceptions, one due to a miscommunication…

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  • NFL Preview 2020: 20 Storylines You Should Be Following

    I love NFL previews. The rush of picking up a thick magazine chockful of predictions and analysis has never left, whether it was the SI Kids in 2007 that got me hooked on football, the Sports Illustrated previews in the mail or the Athlon mega-previews from Barnes & Noble. And as long as I’ve been…

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  • 2020 Summer Reading Roundup

    The MVP of my summer of quarantine was my Kindle.  Given the unusual circumstances of quarantine this summer, it was no surprise that I turned to reading to fill a lot of my time and to learn a lot as well. And since libraries have been closed for most of the pandemic, I turned to…

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  • NFL Preview 2020: My All-Time NFL Squad

    I have seen a lot of NFL games in my times. Many times, my team wins. Fewer times, my team loses. But rain or shine, a couple of guys have won my heart as guys I’d want to go into battle with. These guys are A+ dudes, exciting football talents, and, occasionally, Hall of Fame…

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  • Big Ten, Pac-12 Postpone Fall Sports

    A month ago, my good friend Harrison introduced me to a “mod” for my Madden NFL football video game that would allow me to play a fan-created version of NCAA Football 20. Thankfully, it worked. Seeing and playing with the full rosters and team likenesses of around 30 college football teams was breathtaking. Sadly, the…

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