I know we shouldn’t mix sport and politics, but here goes. Donald Trump’s excuse that his grope-boast was just “locker room talk” is an insult to locker rooms. It provoked some great responses, and at least one open letter that may later be regarded as a classic of the genre. Here’s the killer line (with added emphasis):
Oh, sure, we had some dumb guys, and some guys I wouldn’t want to hang out with on any sort of regular basis, but we never had anyone say anything as foul and demeaning as you did on that tape, and, hell, I played a couple years with a guy who later turned out to be a serial rapist. Even he never talked like that.
Do read. It’s brutal and worth every moment.
Here’s the best of the rest…
F1
Lewis Hamilton. Oh dear. Not content with arseing about on Snapchat, he doubles down. Here’s my longer take on it.
FOOTBALL
Here’s a fantastic question. England don’t produce No. 10s, so why the hell do they keep trying to play with one? (Squawka)
Fifa Presidente Infantino, what great ideas you have. Just as wise as your predecessor. The Guardian do a quick take-down of the 48-team World Cup “plan”.
BASKETBALL
A deep dive into the art of shooting. It’s good. (The Ringer)
ICE HOCKEY
To big to fail: what are we going to do about giant goalies? (NYTimes)
RUGBY
Ireland vs New Zealand… in Chicago? A look at how rugby is trying to go global.
CRICKET
Australia have an identity problem: is the team too too nice to kick ass? (ESPNCricinfo)
BASEBALL
Two from Quartz. First – how fastballs are getting faster. And then how “soft skills” matter, even in this age of Moneyball.
That’s it. You can get on with something else now, something more important.
