sports Archives

‘Just part of your resume’: Professional athletes now must work on their social media game as well as their game

Today’s professional players have to think about how they show up online—and how they represent their identities.

On Sep 28, 2023 by Jon Arnold

IRL Sports

Popeyes meme kid aka Dieunerst Collin (l) Dieunerst Collin 2023

Where is the Popeyes meme kid now? And did he really get an NIL deal with Popeyes?

'I didn't know the internet was like that, bro. Now I know to never doubt the internet, ever.'

On Sep 26, 2023 by Phil West

Trending

DraftKings goes viral for 9/11-themed parlay

DraftKings under fire for pushing ‘Never Forget’ 9/11-themed parlay with Jets, Mets, and Yankees: ‘We respect the significance of this day’

More than 800 people placed the 'Never Forget' parlay bet, according to screenshots.

On Sep 11, 2023 by Katherine Huggins

Tech

Pat McAfee brings his YouTube show to ESPN

Why produce your own show when you can buy one from YouTube?

On Sep 7, 2023 by Lon Harris

Passionfruit

‘She humbled him real quick’: Alix Earle turns away from John Summit’s rizz at Messi game. It’s a look women know too well

'The way he follows her lead & starts looking around too is sending me.'

On Sep 1, 2023 by Jack Alban

Trending

‘Leaning into the uncomfortable moments’: How Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf paved the path for Colin Kaepernick and other Black athletes moved to protest

Twenty years before Colin Kaepernick made a pre-game national anthem an occasion for protest, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf did the same.

On Jul 18, 2023 by Adama Munu

IRL

Textile arts meet Futurism: On making unique Juneteenth soccer jerseys and creating an online auction for uplifting Black communities

Saying he was 'always intrigued about the power of soccer,' an artist with a Futurist vision collaborated with Major League Soccer for a unique Juneteenth project.

On Jun 19, 2023 by Jacob Schneider

Trending

‘0-3 since honoring these God mockers’: Christians influencers see divine hand in Dodger’s post-Pride event losing streak

The fate Dodgers' losing streak will be determined by the Angels.

On Jun 19, 2023 by Katherine Huggins

Tech

How ‘Soccer Twitter’ helped lead Folarin Balogun to play for the U.S.

"Soccer fans and alternative media alike have never been more passionate than now" — according to a fan who became part of an incredible piece of U.S. soccer lore.

On Jun 16, 2023 by Justin Ruderman

IRL

‘Outright remarkable’: The rising wave of combat sports in Nigeria

Combat sports are enjoying a wave of popularity in Nigeria — largely thanks to two stars, each with a massive social media presence.

On May 30, 2023 by Demi Phillips

IRL

‘Get uncomfortable’: How Renee Hess and her Black Girl Hockey Club are making space for hockey fans of the future

Renee Hess noticed something amiss when she attended her first hockey game in 2016. She started Black Girl Hockey Club to address that.

On May 26, 2023 by Beau Paul

IRL

‘Beyond despicable’: On the heels of a controversial World Cup, soccer in 2023 is being plagued with racism and xenophobia

Soccer is dubbed the beautiful game, but some truly heinous incidents in the U.S., Europe and Indonesia are putting a stamp on the sport in 2023.

On May 8, 2023 by Jacob Schneider

IRL

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England - May 5th 2019: Sheffield United Premier League Promotion Party 2019

We’re up, we’re down: How promotion and relegation impacts fan-created content and fan identity

Sheffield United content creators, who know the joy of promotion and the pain of relegation, are on the rollercoaster once again.

On May 5, 2023 by Katey Lovell

IRL

‘Good, clean fun’? How social media continues to make men’s and women’s soccer two very different experiences

Soccer’s inability to understand female soccer fans is costing the sport more than $4 billion a year.

On May 3, 2023 by Yara El-Shaboury

IRL

The internet is pointing out the hypocrisy in response to Angel Reese’s victory taunt

She made the same gesture that a white player did last week and is getting a much different reception for it.

On Apr 3, 2023 by Michelle Jaworski

Internet Culture