The Sports Column

The Sports Column

Home
Archive
About
IS CAITLIN CLARK TIRED OF THE WNBA SCENE? SHE SHOULD START HER OWN LEAGUE
In search of labor peace, the players and an unpopular commissioner are a maddening look for Clark, who has the major endorsements — and can find…
 • Jay Mariotti
THE CLASH WAS REMARKABLE — BUT WHY WAS THE FINAL U.S. PITCH CALLED A STRIKE?
The superpowers let no one down, playing riveting ball as Henderson and Anthony and Witt helped Skenes and the bullpen, but the Dominican Republic…
 • Jay Mariotti
IN THE RIGHT CITY, NOTHING IS MORE THRILLING THAN REAVES, LUKA AND … LEBRON
The Lakers won’t win an NBA championship — Charles Barkley is very correct — but Saturday night brought the Play of the Year from Reaves, a body slam…
 • Jay Mariotti
THE ONLY MADNESS LEFT IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL IS $3.3 BILLION OF BETTING MONEY
I’m not sure if any of the gamblers know the players — maybe they know a few coaches — but March remains popular only because America is in a wild…
 • Jay Mariotti
IF DEROSA’S TEAM DOESN’T WAKE UP, AMERICANS MIGHT SHUT DOWN THE HALL OF FAME
The manager lives on, despite a curious pregame choice to inspire his players, but his team doesn’t score enough runs when the next foe — the Dominican…
 • Jay Mariotti
THE ITALIAN WAY IS BETTER THAN THE AMERICAN WAY WHEN A MANAGER ROYALLY MESSES UP
The best-ever U.S. team is on the brink after losing to Italy, thanks to manager Mark DeRosa, who mistakenly thought the Americans already had advanced…
 • Jay Mariotti
BAM ADEBAYO SCORED 83 POINTS, AND BETTER, HE DID SO AGAINST A TEAM OF TANKERS
His total is the second-best in NBA history — or, the greatest if you don’t believe Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game — and it came joyfully against a…
 • Jay Mariotti
BEAR DOWN WITH MAXX CROSBY, CHICAGO — IT'S WORTH A TRY AFTER HIS PHYSICAL FAILED
Only Tom Brady can finish 3-14 and watch Baltimore “back out” of a trade for the wicked edge rusher, allowing the Bears to pick up his $106 million…
 • Jay Mariotti
LUKA DONCIC HAS PERSONAL PROBLEMS, BUT ON THE LAKERS, SO DID MAGIC AND KOBE AND WEST
He is split from his fiancee, who won’t let him see his two daughters in a custody battle — and on top of it, Doncic is said to be dating an American…
 • Jay Mariotti
WHAT IF AMERICA LOSES BECAUSE SKUBAL LEFT — AS YAMAMOTO REMAINS FOR JAPAN?
The WBC isn’t an all-time global event because pitchers abide by major-league restrictions — unless you are Yamamoto, who had serious discussions with…
 • Jay Mariotti
THE SUPER BOWL MVP IS IN KANSAS CITY, AS JOHNNIE WALKER RED, WITH TRAVIS KELCE
The running back remains oddly undervalued, even after Walker helped Seattle win a championship — and while Tagovailoa ends up in Atlanta, here’s an…
 • Jay Mariotti
JORDAN DOESN’T CARE ABOUT GOATS, BUT IN FACT, HE HAS BECOME THE DOUBLE GOAT
He started the NASCAR season with three straight victories, as the owner of 23XI Racing, and while crowds race to see him at tracks, Jordan said…
 • Jay Mariotti
© 2026 Jay Mariotti · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture