May the Best Dog WinWhy We Root for Underdogs in Sports From “Ted Lasso” to the women’s hockey team, social interest in underdogs comes from a desire for inspiration and relatability. By Saumya Kalia
Stitching PeaceThe Buzz Cut: What Makes Tom Daley’s Mindfulness Routine of Knitting Fascinating to Watch? This week in The Buzz Cut, we unpack the history of Brazilian butt lifts and the nostalgia of cheeseburger-flavored chips. By Saumya Kalia
We Are the ChampionsThe Women’s Hockey Team Performance Is a Historic Moment For Indian Sports The team lost to Great Britain 3-2, but the match was hard fought — on the fields and beyond it. By Saumya Kalia
Myth of a Casteless SocietyHockey Player Vandana Katariya’s Family Faces Casteist Abuse After Women Team’s Semi‑Final Loss Men from oppressor castes burst firecrackers and said "the Indian team lost because too many Dalits have made it to the team." By Rohitha Naraharisetty
Double StandardsThe Buzz Cut: Women Athletes Continue to Shape a More Inclusive Definition of Greatness This week in The Buzz Cut, we look at a sport more popular than football and the curious obsession with collecting vinyls. By Saumya Kalia
To Speak Or Not to SpeakOlympic Committee Issues ‘Rules of Protest’ for Athletes, Sparking Freedom of Speech Debate The controversial ‘Rule 50’ initially banned Black Lives Matter and other forms of protest, before amending the rules to allow protest in certain contexts. By Rohitha Naraharisetty
Weighted DecisionNew Zealand Picks First Trans Athlete for Olympics, Sparking Debate About Inclusivity Laurel Hubbard will compete in the women’s super heavyweight category -- a decision set to trigger debate over inclusion and fairness in sport. By Saumya Kalia
Important PrecedentNaomi Osaka Quitting French Open Sets an Example to Prioritize Mental Health at Work While quitting is a privilege, the decision sets a precedent to normalize seeking accommodations for one’s mental health, just as one would for physical health. By Devrupa Rakshit
Will They Or Won't They?Tokyo Olympics Still Set To Take Place Despite Covid19 Concerns by Experts, Citizens The Committee's "determination to proceed with the Olympic Games is not informed by the best scientific evidence," experts say. By Saumya Kalia
All OutESPN’s Cricket Site Announces It Will Use Gender‑Neutral Sports Terms The term 'batter' will replace 'batsmen,' and the 'man of the match' will now be called 'player of the match.' By Saumya Kalia
Restrictive RulesGerman Beach Volleyball Players Opt Out of Qatar Event Over Bikini Ban “We are there to do our job, but are being prevented from wearing our work clothes.” By Rajvi Desai
Not Tolerating It AnymoreAthletes Are Calling Out Racist Trash Talk in Real‑Time, Forcing Sporting Culture to Adapt Players like cricketer Mohammed Siraj are challenging the traditional advice to ignore racist abuse. By Rajvi Desai
End Sex TestingBlack and Brown Women Athletes Are ‘Overwhelmingly’ More Likely to Have Their Sex Challenged, Says Human Rights Watch A new report by the watchdog reveals the racism that influences forced sex testing among elite women athletes. By Aditi Murti
BenchedPay Cuts, No Plan to Restart Play — Women’s Football Faces Pandemic Setback Women's football faces an “existential threat” amid Covid19, warns Fifpro, a global union of football players, in a new report. By Rajvi Desai
No Justice No PeaceUS Athletes Boycott Major Sporting Events to Protest Jacob Blake Shooting Blake was shot in the back by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the incident has sparked widespread outrage. By Aditi Murti
Break The CycleHollywood Stars and U.S. Soccer Champions Just Invested in a New Women’s Soccer Team in L.A. Looking at you, Indian celebrities. By Rajvi Desai
Kick It OutStudy Says Football Commentators Praise Black Players For Power, White Players for Work Ethic, Leadership Hearing racist descriptors from commentators also greatly influences the way fans think about these players. By Rajvi Desai
Leap of FaithIn Court Filing, Simone Biles Identifies Herself as Plaintiff In U.S. Gymnastics Abuse Civil Case While the civil case against US Gymnastics has been active since 2018, this is the first time Biles' name appeared in a public court filing. By Aditi Murti
