The Patriots’ Super Bowl Victory Was Boring—Yet Inimitable
In a tedious championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, New England confirmed that the ingredients of its success can’t be replicated by the rest of the NFL.
Frontiers of Sports
Where athletic pursuit can lead
Rob Gronkowski and the Cost of Greatness
As the ageless Tom Brady and Bill Belichick lead the Patriots to another Super Bowl, the star tight end shows signs of wear and tear.
Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open Victory Shatters the Status Quo
How the 21-year-old Japanese phenom cemented her position as a bona fide superstar—plus a look at what lies ahead for the men’s final
How the Showtime Saints Became Championship Favorites
With shrewd drafting and a style adjustment, New Orleans built a team capable of helping out its star quarterback—and winning a Super Bowl.
A Book That Honors an Underrated Sport
The Circuit, Rowan Ricardo Phillips’s latest book, deftly chronicles tennis’s 2017 season with a joyful reverence.
The End of the NBA’s G.O.A.T. Era
LeBron James has just started his next act with the Lakers. But when he retires, what will become of the endless debate over which player is the Greatest of All Time?
In the New College Football, Alabama Is Still Out Front
As the sport gets faster and scores climb higher, a formerly traditionalist program and its star quarterback embrace the future.
LeBron Returns to Cleveland, This Time as a Laker
With a match against the Cavaliers looming, James could be on the brink of taking a big step forward with his new team.
The Murky Path Forward for U.S. Olympic Gymnastics
Officials are trying a “nuclear option” to fix the culture of sexual assault within the elite sport. But can it actually work?
Why Eli Manning Is Still a Giant
He’s maybe the least respected good quarterback there ever was. But for all his obvious faults, no one can say he fell short of expectations.