Sunday Stories

Jane Smiley, a guest writer for The New York Times, writes about the tragedy of Eight Belles collapse after the Kentucky Derby... "This is what we saw in Eight Belles — she was more resolute and competitive than was good for her, and she literally ran herself to death. When the race was finished, every part of her was exhausted, including, I am sure, the support apparatus of ligaments and tendons that were keeping her bones together. She probably stumbled and broke one ankle, then stepped hard on the other and broke that one. Then she fell." ...

Jane Smiley

Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe writes how the Celtics should be embarrassed to be playing in a Game 7... "But not today. Today is a Game 7 embarrassment. It is a Game 7 that was never supposed to happen. The Celtics and their fans just want to take their victory today, move on to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and pretend none of this ever happened." ...

Dan Shaughnessy

Bill Livingston of The Plain Dealer writes how former Ohio State head football coach is heading to the College Football Hall of Fame despite his dismal record against Michigan... "Fans wanted a coach more like Hayes. They got one in Cooper, who got as uptight as Woody in the big games. That was Michigan's hole card against Hayes and Cooper. Both of them would grow more conservative in a tight game, refusing to take risks. It was playing not to lose that made Cooper lose to Michigan and in bowl games. Cluelessly, he tried to downplay the season-making/season-breaking nature of the Michigan game." ...

Bill Livingston

Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times writes how Laker Derek Fisher deals with a tougher battle of the court... "Quietly, typically, with neither fanfare nor complaint, he has spent the last year helping his 22-month-old child fight retinoblastoma while trying to help the Lakers fight for a championship. The man known for his uncanny vision -- both on the court and in the locker room -- has exhausted himself trying to save his little girl's eye." ...

Bill Plaschke

Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star writes how guns and athletes do not mix... "Do I need to spell out for you which particular type of professional athlete feels most compelled to arm? Here’s a hint: It’s the same group that looks most like me and is most likely to die by gun violence. It’s a vicious little cycle. Black athletes carry guns to protect themselves, but they fail to realize or choose to ignore that their decision to carry escalates the potential for trouble." ...

Jason Whitlock