Sports and politics are interwoven in increasingly complex ways. From Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ powerful silent protest on the podium during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics to Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games, athletes have used sport to have their voices heard. In the weeks[Read More…]
Tag: Behind the Bench
Professional soccer continues to prioritize commercial interests over safety and ethics
Content warning: Mentions of sexual violence, assault, and rape. The narrative that rape accusations ruin the lives of the accused is dangerous, untrue, and often not the case, especially with high-profile alleged abusers. Athletes, managers, and coaches across the sporting world have faced allegations of sexual violence and face minimal[Read More…]
Champion Reform: If it wasn’t broken, why’d they fix it?
The 2024-2025 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL) season saw the first dramatic change to the league’s format since the second group stage—introduced in 1999—was dropped in 2003. The UCL is an annual, elite showcase for Europe’s most storied clubs. Since its inaugural edition in 1955, the[Read More…]
Northern Super League makes exciting new signings ahead of first-ever season
The Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, was officially announced in May 2024 and is set to launch in April 2025. This new league fills a major gap in Canadian sports by providing a top-tier platform for women athletes, previously missing in Canadian soccer. Spearheaded by[Read More…]
Jack Draper and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard claim ATP 500 titles in Vienna and Basel
On Oct. 27, Jack Draper and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard continued to set the stage for a new era of young tennis stars, claiming their maiden Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) 500 titles in the Vienna Open and the Swiss Indoors Basel. Both players won their finals in narrow straight sets,[Read More…]
FIFA accused of “sportswashing” by women’s soccer stars over Saudi deal
This past April, soccer’s governing body, FIFA, announced a landmark partnership and sponsorship deal with the Saudi Arabian Oil Group, Aramco. Owned almost entirely by the Saudi Arabian government and the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), this collaboration between FIFA and Aramco marks another milestone in FIFA’s continued relationship with[Read More…]
The end of an era: The Oakland A’s relocate to Vegas
On Sept. 26, the Oakland Athletics (A’s) played their final game in the storied yet crumbling Oakland Coliseum ahead of their relocation to Las Vegas, defeating the Texas Rangers 3-2 in a bittersweet victory. Despite the triumph and a sold-out stadium, the Coliseum was filled with a kaleidoscope of emotions,[Read More…]
Chelsea FC Ltd.’s most recent financial gambit
This past May, Chelsea Football Club was a bustling machine of termination and change. For the second consecutive season, the men’s team saw a finish outside of the English Premier League’s (EPL) top four—something that had not occurred since the league’s first two seasons—1992-1993 and 1993-1994. The women’s side stood[Read More…]
Canadian Sail Grand Prix team sees growing popularity and prowess
Every year, 10 teams from different nations compete on F50 foiling catamaran sailboats at some of the most incredible sailing venues around the world in the Sail Grand Prix (SailGP). Fans of all ages come out to watch the world’s best sailors race the fastest sailboats ever made against beautiful[Read More…]
Alex Morgan’s most iconic moments
American soccer player Alex Morgan announced her retirement on Sept. 5, signalling the end of an era as she closes off her well-decorated career with the San Diego Wave match on Sept. 8. Morgan spent most of her playing career in the United States, playing for teams in the National[Read More…]
