Whatever Happened to Big Van Vader?

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 Pro wrestler Big Van Vader’s feats of strength are one of Oliver Lee Bateman’s few distinct childhood memories.  Here’s why. I refuse to dwell on my childhood, which means I’ll probably never be able to write the kind of abuse-laden bildungsroman that winds up getting selected by Oprah’s Book Club.   That’s a shame, because I could really [...]

In Defense of Hipsters

HipsterGuys

What’s so awful about being a hipster? Noah Brand looks into the issue.

The Errant Heel: Episode Five

The Errant Heel

In Episode Five, Brian and Tom do their best to recap what was truly a strange and depressing week in sports. They also continue to compulsively make Game of Thrones references.

AM Gold

Photo by Asim Bijarani/Flickr

CJ Kaplan tries to foist the music of the 70′s on his unsuspecting children.

Michael Oriard: Ordinary NFL Player, Extraordinary Man

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Michael Oriard spent only four years in the NFL, but he has left behind a far more notable legacy than many of his contemporaries: the best memoir written by a professional football player, and one that’s more relevant now than ever.

Why I Don’t Care If The President Has an Affair …With an Emu …In Rubber Pants.

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Mark Greene has had it with all the self-righteous indignation over rich and famous people having affairs.

The Errant Heel: Episode Four

The Errant Heel

In Episode Four, Tom and Brian talk team fragrances and bigoted dummies. Brian also cries at Friday Night Lights and Tom laughs in his face.

The Errant Heel: Episode Three

The Errant Heel

In Episode Three, Brian and Tom discuss ESPN’s nattering about marijuana, murderous hockey players, and the Ultimate Disc League.

Screw Hockey, I Want My Kid To Learn To Be Creative

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Jay Palter wants his children to grow up knowing how to unleash their creativity.

The Good, The Bad, and The Unconscious: MMA and Brian Stann

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Former MMA fighter Cameron Conaway explains why Brian Stann’s victory in Sweden, and the subsequent viral video, prove that he is a good man.

An Expansion Family

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Michael J. Chandler wanted a father to complete his family. What he got instead was a baseball team and a good man.

The Errant Heel: Episode Two

The Errant Heel

Brian and Tom discuss The Masters, Ozzie Guillen’s misstep, Bobby Petrino’s philandering ways, and attempt to nickname Eric Hosmer for unknown reasons.

Fathers, Sons, and Sports Fandom

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Jacob Tucker’s father did more than just teach him how to be a good fan–he also showed him how to be a good man. Here’s his story.

Buyer’s Remorse: Free Agency and Bad Food Choices

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Think you could do a better job than the GM of your favorite professional sports team? Oliver Lee Bateman has his doubts.

The Errant Heel: Episode One

The Errant Heel

In Episode One, Brian and Tom discuss baseball’s opening day, the NCAA championship game, and pick their Good and Bad Sportsmen of the Week.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Athletes as Cancer

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Our access to athletes continues to grow, yet the language we use to describe them remains the same.