It’s like clockwork. Maybe 1-2 hours before any given big game, the text messages and phone calls will begin. “Kinfolk, where you at?” “Yo, where we watching the game at?” “Fam, you want to link up at the bar to watch the game?” “Come thru, got a few...

Phil Jackson’s latest book, “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success,” hit bookstores last week, and based on reviews from many in basketball media, it’s a worthwhile read by the retired coach who won’t ever stray far away from the spotlight. Though some lament the lack of salacious fodder...

Call it personal preference. Maybe it’s inability to embrace the mainstream. It could be disappointment or fatigue. Regardless of reason, what Bill Simmons became seems wrong. Make it clear from the start. Simmons is popular, rich and cutting-edge. He’s been willing to explore the vague intricacies...

In October 2005, Lance Armstrong — several months removed from announcing his then-retirement from cycling — hosted an episode of “Saturday Night Live.” Of course, armed with a serious case of revisionist history of what’s happened to his career and legacy since, there’s almost too...

Like “The Hangover,” yes, there’s a Part III to this. (If you missed the first two installments of TSFJ’s “Player Loyalty Fan Debate” series, here’s PART 1 and PART 2.) Loyalties to a specific player go back to the days of Babe Ruth, whose home runs and off-field...

There’s no worse feeling in the world than feeling like you didn’t get your money’s worth. There are three instances where I supremely felt cheated about the money I spent for a particular item or service: When I spent $22 on a date to go see “A Vampire In Brooklyn” (good...

With all due respect to one of the most respected play-by-play announcers in the business, Mike Tirico kinda ticked me off this weekend. Something he does quite often – whether on ESPN’s Monday Night Football or on NBA telecasts – is bring up a handful of storylines that have been discussed endlessly...

I had a job interview on Monday afternoon. With my corporate square suit on, my wingtips shined up and my game face ready to roll, I was headed to a second-round interview with an organization that would hopefully like to pay me for my services. Seeing that I wanted to focus on the individuals in front...

A close friend lives in Oklahoma. He works in Oklahoma City. My Gmail account sent him an email recapping a conversation about the NCAA tournament. It sent before a deadly tornado swept through Oklahoma City. Fear overtook any rationale for the email. A joke about the NCAA tournament could be the last...

This is a tantalizing look at the employment struggle of black men, whether it be a law graduate or a head coach looking for work in the NFL. If potential racism, white favoritism and the acknowledgment of unfairness make you uncomfortable … just keep reading. A little discomfort never hurt anybody. Let’s...

You ask any person who has played any version of the world famous Grand Theft Auto video game franchise how many hours they’ve logged playing said game, they’d probably answer one of two ways: - “I’ve probably played hundreds and hundreds of hours.” - “Dog, I’m...

In case you haven’t heard, J. Cole, aka “light-skinned Jermaine,” dropped off another EP last week titled “Truly Yours 2.” It’s the second version in this series, which finds Cole trying to re-establish himself with the listeners and ramp up new interest in his sophomore album, “Born Sinner.”...