If there were ever two better examples illuminating how modern sports journalism has changed, they will be hard-pressed to match what took place this weekend. First, the bad: former Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti was arrested in Venice, CA on a felony assault charge following a night of domestic altercations with his girlfriend. The good: about a day later, legendary broadcaster Vin Scully announced he would be returning to broadcast L.A. Dodger games for a 62nd season. Read the rest of this entry

Tony Reali is the guy who has had a career path that is easy to envy: a New York kid out of Fordham who started off at ESPN as an entry-level researcher/writer, then became “Stat Boy” and soon thereafter, fell into the “Around the Horn” chair.  On television, he comes across as a jovial guy who plays the perfect foil to Tony and Mike on “PTI” while corralling the likes of Bill Plaschke on “Horn” (he gets major points for this).  Apparently, he’s also an extremely passionate intramural soccer player.

A close friend from way back in the day plays in the same co-ed intramural soccer league.  On Monday night, her team faced off against Reali’s in a playoff game.  Here is her story about going up against “Stat Boy:” Read the rest of this entry