Zlatan Was Never Arrogant. We Just Could Not Handle the Confidence.
We called it ego because humility is the price we usually charge for greatness. He refused to pay it — and was…
Combat Sports Correspondent
Ray Okafor
Stories by Ray Okafor
Sarah Kaufman and the Fighters Who Built the Cage Before Anyone Watched
Before the arenas and the contracts, there were fighters competing in front of a few hundred people for the love of it.…
Eight Limbs, One Ring: A Muay Thai Education
In Thailand the sport is not entertainment laid over fighting; it is a discipline with a century of grammar. A reported feature…
The Ground Game Is Chess. Most Fans Only See Checkers.
When two grapplers stall against the cage, the crowd boos. They are booing the most sophisticated thing happening all night. An analysis…
The Arena Goes Dark, the Game Stays Lit
Before the spotlight intros and the pyro, the building is just a room. A feature on the strange minutes before tip-off.
Friday Night Cathedral: A Town, a Team, a Stadium
In some towns the stadium is the largest room anyone will ever stand in together. A feature on football as a civic…
Cold Cathedral: The Last Outdoor Rink in Town
Before the arenas and the academies, the game lived on frozen ponds and neighbourhood rinks. A feature on where it still does.
The Cathedral of Green: A First Walk Up the Tunnel
Everyone who loves the game remembers the first time the field opened up in front of them. A feature on that particular…
Six Minutes of Honesty: Why Wrestling Hides Nothing
No ball, no teammates, no luck to blame. A feature on the most honest six minutes in sport.