Sports

Sports

History Sometimes Rewards Those Who Are Sidelined

5:26am June 15, 2013

by Scott Simon

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith will be on the sidelines of the Super Bowl this weekend, after suffering a concussion midway through the season. Now he's counseling teammate Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback who replaced him. "The good ones stay ready," he says.

Queue Listen Now

Sebastien de la Cruz gave an encore performance of

11-Year-Old Keeps Singing In Face Of Hate

7:59pm June 14, 2013

by Hansi Lo Wang

Sebastien de la Cruz sang the national anthem at a second game of the NBA Finals after his first performance spurred a flurry of racist tweets.

Queue Listen Now

In basketball, as in life, we may dutifully celebrate the aggregate, but we're always spellbound by the exceptional.

Basketball: The 'Ultimate Contradiction'

5:53am June 13, 2013

by Frank Deford

No matter who is playing, the art of basketball is a paradox for fans. "In basketball, as in life, we may dutifully celebrate the aggregate, but we're always spellbound by the exceptional," says Frank Deford.

Queue Listen Now

The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins are two of the NHL's oldest teams, but have never before faced off in a championship.

Hockey's Hottest Teams Hit The Ice In Stanley Cup Final

7:03pm June 12, 2013

by David Schaper

After a bitter lockout that shortened the season, the National Hockey League is finally gearing up for the Stanley Cup Final. The series features two of the league's six original franchises, the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks, and both teams come into the series on a roll.

Queue Listen Now

Sports

Heat, Spurs Prepare For NBA Finals Showdown

11:25am June 12, 2013

NPR's Mike Pesca talks to All Things Considered host Robert Siegel about the Miami Heat, who will defend its NBA title against the San Antonio Spurs. It is the third consecutive trip to the finals for the Heat and though they had a tough series with Indiana, many still consider them the favorite. The best of seven championship series starts Thursday.

Queue Listen Now

Sports

The Power Behind The Push

12:52pm June 11, 2013

The strength and weakness of a team often rests on these shoulders.

Queue Listen Now

Sports

Week In Sports: Spurs Take First Game Of NBA Finals

5:39am June 09, 2013

Weekend Edition Saturday Scott Simon talks to NPR's sports correspondent Tom Goldman about NBA star Tony Parker's spectacular performances of late, and the latest on the French Open Tennis championships.

Queue Listen Now

Sports

NBA Purists Swoon Over Spurs' Style Of Play

6:02am June 06, 2013

by Tom Goldman

The NBA Finals begin Thursday night in Miami. Though they haven't won a championship since 2007, the San Antonio Spurs have remained in the hunt because of their style of team play. The Spurs will face the Miami Heat.

Queue Listen Now

Write This Down: Keeping your own score does not make you more noble, says Frank Deford.

Sports

Take Golf Out Of The Rough, Into The 21st Century

9:20am June 05, 2013

by Frank Deford

When the St. Jude Classic opens on Wednesday in Memphis, Tenn., Frank Deford will be paying attention to the action on the course. He has some gripes about the requirement that players must tally their own shots.

Queue Listen Now

Sports

Raleigh Basketball, Hockey Teams Clash Over Schedule

7:30am June 05, 2013

Word of a dispute between the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State University hit the news over the last week.

Queue Listen Now