2020-21 College Basketball Preview: Big Ten has its share of contenders, but they’ll have to survive the sport’s deepest conference first

November 28, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The last time that March Madness crowned a Big Ten team as champion, I had not even been born. Now, I’m covering the league. Sure, they’ve been close — Michigan as runner-up in 2018, Wisconsin in 2015 and Michigan State in 2009 — but no Big Ten squad has taken it all the way since … Continue reading 2020-21 College Basketball Preview: Big Ten has its share of contenders, but they’ll have to survive the sport’s deepest conference first

Big Ten, Pac-12 Postpone Fall Sports

August 11, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ 1 Comment

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 … Continue reading Big Ten, Pac-12 Postpone Fall Sports

The 10 Greatest, Most Hollywood-Worthy Sports Stories of the 21st Century

August 9, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

Confetti. Newspapers. Tears, kisses and raised fists. The sight of a sports championship victory is one of the sweetest sights that sports have to offer (one sadly robbed from us by COVID-19 the past couple of months). Year after year, the crowning of a champion also marks the culmination of a season-long narrative. These teams … Continue reading The 10 Greatest, Most Hollywood-Worthy Sports Stories of the 21st Century

The Ten Greatest Games I Wish I Had Seen

December 18, 2019 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

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

The Ten Greatest Sports Games I’ve Ever Seen

December 16, 2019 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

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

Organized Chaos: My Wild College Application Experience in 12 Stages

June 9, 2019 ~ jrike10 ~ 2 Comments

In most stories, there is a pit so deep that the protagonist of the story sees all hope as being lost. My college process was no different. And on one February evening, I had reached the exact point that I made it my goal to avoid. Yet there I was, late at night, on the … Continue reading Organized Chaos: My Wild College Application Experience in 12 Stages

The Best and Worst of My 2018 Football Predictions

February 17, 2019 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

Even with championship games that pitted the best teams in their respective sports, this football season has had its fair share of intrigue and unpredictability. While all of the new developments have been exciting in the NFL and NCAA, they’ve also torn apart many of my predictions. These are the best and worst of my … Continue reading The Best and Worst of My 2018 Football Predictions

The best of the best in sports media

February 10, 2019 ~ jrike10 ~ 1 Comment

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

2018 highlighted by exciting firsts

December 31, 2018 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

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

College Football Preview: Alabama, Clemson teams to beat

August 27, 2018 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The college football season officially kicks off this weekend and storylines abound across the CFB landscape. Alabama and Clemson are heavyweights that look primed for another championship bout, but teams such as Washington, Ohio State, Georgia, and Oklahoma have the potential to make things interesting. Dark horses like Penn State, Michigan, Miami, and Wisconsin are … Continue reading College Football Preview: Alabama, Clemson teams to beat