2008

• Mark Cuban Libre

  Dave Zirin

  Billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been accused of insider trading. Is he guilty or just a target because of his larger-than-life persona and populist appeal?

• No Obamamania for Brandon Marshall

  Dave Zirin : Barack Obama

  All the Denver Broncos wideout wanted to do was celebrate Obama's victory--but his teammates censored him and the media ridiculed him. Why?

• Merrittocracy

  Dave Zirin : U.S. Economy

  Merritt Paulson, son of Henry Paulson, asks the city of Portland to fund his new sports stadiums even though he can afford it.

• Palin Drops the Puck

  Dave Zirin & Daniel Denvir : Presidential Election 2008

  The best-known hockey mom in the country gets booed at a game in Philadelphia's Wachovia Center. Failing candidate, failed bank, failed stunt: you can't make this stuff up.

• Sarah Palin's Extreme Sports

  Dave Zirin : Presidential Election 2008

  Politicians routinely manipulate Americans' fixation with sports. But Sarah Palin plays an extreme--and disingenuous--version of the game.

• Remembering the Bear

  Dave Zirin

  Don Haskins made his mark on college basketball and on America, as he fought to make the hardwood a level playing field for all.

• Q&A with Jim Brown

  Dave Zirin : Youth Violence

  The Hall of Fame football legend discusses his experiences working with gangs in the black community and why the death penalty just doesn't work.

• Seam Stress

  Andrew Rice : Non-Fiction

  Two new books explore the states of wonder and mortification evoked by baseball.

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  Beyond Beijing: China's Toughest Competition

  Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom & Kate Merkel-Hess : China

  How will the Olympics play in the Chinese equivalent of Peoria, among a populace skeptical of the government's intent and eager to tout their own economic clout?

• Ali G Takes on the Olympics

  Funny or Die

  Big up yourselves! In this clip, Ali G keeps it real with John Naber, US Olympians President. Respect!

• Why He Fears the Fist: A Response to Jonah Goldberg

  Dave Zirin

  You can tell right away that Goldberg didn't read a book, an article, even a fortune cookie, about the 1968 Olympics before whipping out his laptop.

• Olympic Trials

  Dave Zirin : Human Rights

  If China's leaders believe they've released enough steam for a smooth Olympics, they could be in for a surprise.

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  Hall of Fame Shut-Out

  Peter Dreier & Kelly Candaele

  A conspiracy of management cronies is blocking 91-year-old union pioneer Marvin Miller from the Baseball Hall of Fame.

• Hold China Accountable on Darfur

  Ruth Messinger & Jerry Fowler : Darfur

  Don't let Olympic fever obscure the role China plays in the Sudanese government's reign of terror, rape and killing.

• Can NASCAR Be Saved From Itself?

  Dave Zirin

  Mauricia Grant, the first black, female inspection official in NASCAR history, is suing her former employer for sexual and racial misconduct. It may be the best thing that's ever happened to the sport.

• Grand Theft Hoops: The Stealing of the Sonics

  Dave Zirin

  Two Oklahoma corporate raiders have stolen one of Seattle's most beloved sports franchises with an unlikely accomplice, the NBA's commissioner, David Stern.

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  Nader Tackles Sports

  Dave Zirin : Ralph Nader

  It's a little known fact, but Ralph Nader is seriously interested in sports, which is why he believes there should be a Bill of Rights just for the fans.

• Well, There You Go. Imus the Bigot Is Back

  Dave Zirin : Race, Ethnicity & Religion

  Is Don Imus irredeemably stupid or just a run-of-the-mill racist?

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  The Last Angry Man

  Jeff Kisseloff : Books

  Eliot Asinof, blacklisted author of Eight Men Out, created a lifetime of work celebrating rebels and victims of injustice.

• Did You Know The Nation Has a Sports Writer?

  Habiba Alcindor

  Sports make a great framework for examining politics.

• A Conversation With NBA Union Man Billy Hunter

  Dave Zirin : Unions

  Billy Hunter has a progressive spine and a background that has taken him from working with Huey Newton to sitting across the table from the most formidable commissioner in sports, David Stern.

• Can Soccer Stop the Violence?

  Dave Zirin : South Africa

  In South Africa ethnic violence against foreigners is beginning to spread and the growing voice of opposition comes from an unlikely source--soccer stars.

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  'Like He Died Twice': Mary Tillman's Lonely Quest

  Dave Zirin : Iraq War

  The mother of Pat Tillman reflects on how the Pentagon has distorted the truth about his death and the NFL has exploited the tragedy.

• Blogged Down

  Dave Zirin

  Some sportswriters just don't get it.

• Why Do We Care About the NFL Draft?

  Dave Zirin

  For fans, the pigskin meat market is mindless fun, but for young players, football is no fantasy.