Author: Don Yaeger

One of the most storied programs in NCAA basketball history just hired a new head coach. The press release quoted UCLA’s athletic director, Dan Guererro, as “excited to welcome him to Westwood.” I should hope so. Especially since former Cincinnati Mick Cronin was the only coach who seemed willing to say yes when offered the chance to lead UCLA. The Bruins search for Steve Alford’s replacement took almost four months...

If you and I went to an empty basketball gym, and I walked you to the free throw line, handed you a ball, and asked you to make one free throw, would you feel good about your chances of sinking it? What if I asked you to make three in a row? Would you still feel good?

   Listen to the full podcast

For the last few weeks, the internet has been abuzz over a Netflix show called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. The premise of the show is simple—our lives are better when we’re surrounded by things that “spark joy.” Well, pardon my French, but if you want to learn how to “spark joy”, then to hell with watching Marie Kondo. Who you need to be watching is Duke’s Zion Williamson.

Imagine for a moment: you’re on a tight deadline at work. Much is on the line, and things have been trending against you for most of the project’s duration. Just as you start to make progress towards a solution, one of your teammates gets frustrated. Like, really frustrated. Suddenly, your teammate is venting to anyone who will listen about how unfair things are—calling out perceived slights by administrators, railing...

Sunday afternoon I found myself at a restaurant with my wife. Not a fancy restaurant, mind you, but the kind of place that has sports playing on large televisions. On the TV nearest our table was the Boston Celtics versus the Houston Rockets. Perfect Sunday afternoon NBA action. Because the place was crowded, the volume was muted on the TV. As a result, I wasn’t able to hear the broadcasters analyze the game, but...

This week, dozens of young athletes will put their best foot forward during the world’s largest televised job interview. They will run, jump, and conduct interviews with executives, all with the goal of securing one of the most coveted jobs on the planet. NFL player.

James Harden is on a historic run. The Houston Rockets shooting guard is currently on a streak of 31 games with more than 30 points—something no one has done in the NBA since Wilt Chamberlain. Harden, who’s averaging 41 points per game during the streak, has become one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA.