On March 18, the men’s football international break began and hundreds of footballers joined their senior and youth national teams for international friendlies to prepare for the Copa America and European championships this summer. Wearing the badge, if only once, is their ultimate aspiration. Most can only dream of standing[Read More…]
Behind the Bench
Public subsidies for sports facilities are a misuse of public funds
In recent decades, city and state governments across North America have earmarked huge amounts of public funds for sports infrastructure projects. As part of the legislative session that ended on Mar. 1, Utah’s state lawmakers passed bills approving $900 million in funding for a baseball stadium and $500 million for[Read More…]
A costly renovation of the Olympic Stadium benefits nobody
If Quebecers thought a $7 million handout for the Los Angeles Kings to play some preseason games in Quebec City was insulting, here comes the latest public sports subsidy fiasco. In an announcement on Feb. 5, Quebec tourism minister Caroline Proulx handed taxpayers an $870 million bill for the replacement[Read More…]
AI writers cannot be the future of sports journalism
The future of sports journalism is incredibly bleak at the moment. The New York Times disbanded their sports section in July 2023, electing to rely solely on The Athletic after having bought the sports outlet for $550 million in 2022. In what was suspected to be preparation for the shift,[Read More…]
Speeding in the Spotlight: A Review of the Las Vegas Grand Prix
On Nov. 16, Formula 1 (F1) made its first stop in Sin City since 1982. As the third and final American race of the calendar, the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix (LVGP) is the penultimate race of the F1 season, one week before the Abu Dhabi GP[Read More…]
Do not hold your breath waiting for an NBA team in Montreal
In an appearance on the broadcast of a game between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics on Nov. 13, National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver was asked about the league’s plans for expansion. Silver mentioned the possibility of the league one day further expanding internationally, potentially adding[Read More…]
Beyond the Stands: A Tribute to Percival Molson Stadium
There are a few places you encounter in life that you know will imprint on you forever. For some, these places are marked by unimaginable beauty; for others, it’s the unforgettable memories sunk into the very ground. Often, you cannot predict the impact these places will leave on you––whether it’s[Read More…]
The NHL must clarify its stance on player gambling in the next CBA
In the past month, the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Ottawa Senators have made headlines for a slew of undesirable reasons. One of the sources of controversy involving the club was forward Shane Pinto’s 41-game suspension for sports wagering activities, announced on Oct. 26. This came as a surprise[Read More…]
Voided races, national desertion, and the mess that was the 2023 Pan American Games
From Oct. 20 to Nov. 5, Chile hosted the 2023 Pan American Games (PAG) in Santiago. The competition included a total of 33 sports, with 28 being part of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The PAG are held every four years among athletes from North, Central, and South[Read More…]
FIFA dropped the ball with the 2023 Ballon d’Or
Each year, professional soccer players’ achievements culminate in the Ballon d’Or ceremony. At the event, invitees witness the presentation of the Ballon d’Or––the most prestigious award in soccer. Considering both national team and club accomplishments, the best player from the past year receives the Ballon d’Or. This year’s celebration took[Read More…]
