2013 Irish are Louis Nix's team

April 23, 2013

Louis Nix sauntered up to the podium following the Blue-Gold game, a place usually reserved for head coach Brian Kelly and the Irish QB, a fact not lost on Lou.

Diggins follows in footsteps of another legend

April 4, 2013

NOTRE DAME - Beth Cunningham knows a thing or two about walking in Skylar Diggin's shoes.  The current Notre Dame assistant coach has been where Skylar Diggins now is.  She too, was once the best player in program history.

Thank you, Skylar

March 7, 2013

A legend walked off the court Monday after delivering one final legendary performance. Skylar Diggins gave her hometown fans a curtain call in the form of triple overtime. The final act ended, just like nearly every one prior to it – With a win.

Oh, What a Night

February 19, 2013

An Irish Instant Classic

February 12, 2013

Super Bowl XLVII, was SUPER indeed

February 7, 2013

It was the most bizarre scene, on the biggest stage, in American sports.

Kelly belongs at Notre Dame

January 14, 2013

It's an inevitable part of the coaching industry. Successful college coaches get courted by the pros. After a fantastic season in which he orchestrated a major turnaround at Notre Dame, everyone knew that Brian Kelly was going to be a hot item.

Style Points Matter

November 13, 2012

When the dust settles, there may be only two undefeated teams left to play for the national championship.  In fact, there may be fewer than that.  But as it stands right now there are three, and Notre Dame appears to be on the outside looking in.  I never thought I'd see the day where an undefeated Irish team would be on the outskirts, but that's another column, (and hopefully not for another day).

Golson Grows Up

October 29, 2012

Notre Dame has had a championship-caliber defense all season long. But the emergence of Everett Golson allows us to talk about Notre Dame as a championship team.

Built Irish Tough

October 23, 2012

Before looking forward to Saturday's showdown with the Sooners, it's appropriate to look back one last time on how the Irish have arrived at 7-0.

The numbers don't lie

September 24, 2012

Notre Dame as relevant as ever

September 17, 2012

The announcement Wednesday that Notre Dame will join the ACC shook the sports world.

Redemption for Rees

September 10, 2012

If you build it, they will come back

August 29, 2012

NOTRE DAME - The brand new Notre Dame Compton Family Ice Arena is hosting an event, the likes of which campus has never seen before.  More than a dozen former Notre Dame hockey players currently playing professionally, are back on campus this week for the first ever Notre Dame pro hockey camp.

My favorite things about high school football

August 14, 2012

A new season of high school football kicks off in just a couple of days...and optimism is high in locker rooms, weight rooms and class rooms all across northern Indiana.

Brian Kelly taking 'hands on' approach

August 6, 2012

Lay off LeBron James

June 25, 2012

LeBron James has spent the better part of the last two years as public enemy number one in the sports world.  And why?  Because he announced he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers on national television?  Because he showed a little too much arrogance in proclaiming that he would lead the Heat to not one or two...but something like seven NBA titles?

Brey and Notre Dame: A Perfect Match

June 19, 2012

There are many great coaches in college basketball, but I firmly believe, there's no better fit than Mike Brey at Notre Dame.

Is Tiger back?

June 5, 2012

What Tiger did over the weekend was remarkable. He did a whole lot more than win a golf tournament. He won it like only he could.

Class basketball debate

May 15, 2012

Hoosier Hysteria is not what it used to be. The question many are asking lately is: Can it ever be that way again? The question we ought to be asking ourselves is: Should it be that way again?

Irish QB Derby

April 24, 2012

Brian Kelly delivered a pretty accurate assessment of his team after the Blue-Gold game Saturday, and the statement rings particularly true for his quarterbacks.

No shame in 2nd place

April 4, 2012

There's no shame in being the 2nd best team in the country. It should be celebrated. Not in a confetti dropping, net cutting, trophy raising, Freddie Mercury singing We are the Champions sort of way. But Muffet McGraw and the Notre Dame women's basketball team should feel extremely proud of what they accomplished this season, and proud of how they did it. And fans of college athletics should be proud too.

Hoops Heaven

March 8, 2012

As I sit at my desk at 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon, Indiana playing Penn State in the Big Ten tournament on one television monitor, Georgetown vs. Cincinnati in the BIG EAST on another, all the while, keeping tabs on the ACC, SEC & BIG XII tournaments, it hits me that this week is actually the best week of the year to be a die-hard college basketball fan.

Irish loss comes at the right time

February 13, 2012

This is no time for followers or members of the ND women's basketball team to panic.

Putting the 'ELI' in Elite

February 6, 2012

Sunday night at Super Bowl 46, in a game that featured two great quarterback performances, Eli Manning was the better man. I'm beginning to think he's the better Manning too.

The Recruiting Circus

January 17, 2012

There's only one word to describe the last 48 hours of the college football recruiting cycle in South Bend: Crazy.

Steroid users should not be banned from the Hall of Fame

January 9, 2012

Can you imagine the Baseball Hall of Fame without the greatest home run hitter in the history of the game? How about the most dominant pitcher of a generation? That's what likely to be the case next year, when Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens join the ballot for the most exclusive club in sports.

Draft Luck, Dump Manning

January 3, 2012

I never thought I would ever say this, but the Colts have to let Peyton Manning go.

Mile High Meltdown

December 12, 2011

I don't know if I have ever been as disgusted watching a football game as I was watching the Bears choke on Sunday.  I am still sick to my stomach thinking about it a day later.

The BCS failed

December 5, 2011

Are you looking forward to the BCS national championship game?

Urban Meyer was born to coach

November 28, 2011

I knew Urban Meyer long before he was a household name. Before he was the national coach of the year. Before two national titles. Long before today's announcement that Urban will be taking over at Ohio State.

NIC is state's best

November 21, 2011

I think it’s pretty clear that the NIC is the strongest football conference in Indiana right now.

Cheer, cheer for...Who is that team?

November 15, 2011

Who were those two teams on the football field Saturday night?  If you took down the scoreboard that read Notre Dame-Maryland, you wouldn’t have any clue who those teams were.  My daughter actually asked during the game:  Are there three teams playing?  I don’t see Notre Dame.

Don't overlook Brey's Irish

November 1, 2011

Notre Dame is NOT widely expected to have a great season this year in men’s basketball. With three starters to replace, I can see why. But I’ve also learned that when Mike Brey is faced with his biggest challenges…that’s usually when he surprises us the most.

The last night game at Notre Dame Stadium

October 17, 2011

I was at the last night game played at Notre Dame Stadium. September 15^th, 1990. I'll never forget it.

HendriX could be the X-factor

October 10, 2011

Sophomore QB Andrew Hendrix made the most triumphant debut for a Notre Dame QB since Ron Powlus’ four-touchdown arrival in 1994. Before we go anointing Hendrix with two Heismans…let’s not forget he’s NOT the starter, and barring something unforeseen, he WON’T be at any point this season.

Sox will miss Ozzie

October 3, 2011

The White Sox are going to miss Ozzie Guillen. The two sides parted ways last week, after Guillen demanded a contract extension, and the Sox politely declined.  And Ozzie walked…actually sprinted to Miami, where he had a new job about 60 seconds later. 

Irish defense is for real

September 19, 2011

The old sports cliché goes, “Defense wins championships.” With two losses, Notre Dame won’t be in that discussion this season, but they do have an elite defense. 

Notre Dame still hasn't learned how to win

September 13, 2011

According to Brian Kelly, “We’re not good enough.”

Irish loss isn't as bad as it looked

September 6, 2011

After taking 48 hours to get over the utter disbelief in what I saw...and to dry out...I've come to the conclusion that Notre Dame's loss to South Florida on Saturday isn't necessarily as bad as it seems.

Why I love college football

August 31, 2011

A brand new college football season kicks off this weekend.  And with all due respect to Christmas, this is the most wonderful time of the year.  

Five things to watch in high school football

August 16, 2011

The first week of high school football is here!

Five things to watch in high school football

August 15, 2011

The first week of high school football is here!

Peyton's future, not his paycheck, is in question

August 3, 2011

Peyton Manning's actions over the weekend are commendable.

Bears need a WR

July 27, 2011

It’s the busiest week ever for NFL free agency, and the Bears could make themselves a much better team by making one or two aggressive moves.

When good things happen to good people

July 19, 2011

Darren Clarke’s triumph at Royal St. George’s gets my vote for the feel good story of the year so far in sports.

A mid-summer classic without the stars

July 12, 2011

Remember when the baseball all-star game, was a real spectacle?  A chance to see the VERY best the game has to offer, on the same field, in one glorious night?  It wasn’t that long ago.

Fireworks and Baseball

July 4, 2011

Fireworks on the 4^th of July. 

If Brett builds it, they will come

June 28, 2011

Over the weekend, South Bend teenager Brett Banasiewicz held the grand opening for his brand new, state-of-the-art skate park in South Bend.

The Reign of Rory Begins

June 21, 2011

Rory Mcilroy’s wire-to-wire victory at the U.S. Open this weekend was so impressive, the 22-year old champion immediately began drawing comparisons to Tiger Woods.

No Longer Loathing LeBron

June 14, 2011

It’s been at least a decade since I can remember an NBA Finals that was so much fun!

Time to trade Zambrano

June 7, 2011

Carlos Zambrano's temper has gotten him in trouble again. He ripped his teammates after Sunday's loss, calling their play “embarrassing.”

Loss for Buckeyes & Trojans is Notre Dame's gain

May 31, 2011

The final week of May is not usually reserved for lots of college football talk.  But thanks to the transgressions of USC & Ohio State, the college football landscape changed a lot over the past seven days.  And Notre Dame stands to be one of the programs that benefits.

Happy Birthday, Season's Over

May 23, 2011

After 45 games the Chicago Cubs are 20-25. And with 117 games ahead of them, theoretically, there’s still PLENTY of time for the Cubbies to turn things around and make the playoffs. Theoretically. The world didn’t come to an end this weekend, like someone predicted. But history tells me the Cubs’ playoff hopes will come to an end in a few short days.

End of the Tiger Era

May 17, 2011

For the past decade and then some, Tiger Woods dominated the sport of golf like few individuals have ever dominated any sport. But as of this weekend, golf is ready to move on, without Tiger Woods. When Woods withdrew after nine holes at the Players championship on Thursday – the so-called 5th major – after shooting a 6-over par 42 on the front nine, it signaled the end of Tiger as we knew him.

Carleton Scott: Taking a chance either way

May 9, 2011

"At age 22, you’re a man. Make a decision.”

A Message to NFL Players and Owners

May 2, 2011

The on-again, off-again NFL lock-out is back on.

Blackhawks Finish Like Champs

April 27, 2011

Did you see game 7 in Vancouver Monday night?

Some Neighborly Advice from the Blackhawks to the Bulls

April 25, 2011

They are, perhaps, the TWO most difficult things to accomplish in  the playoffs, in professional team sports.

Skylar Diggins and the Price of Fame

April 18, 2011

Skylar Diggin’s fame sky-rocketed when she led the Irish women’s basketball team to the national title game two weeks ago.

Is Tiger Woods Back?

April 11, 2011

On Sunday, Tiger Woods was back on top of the leader board in a major for the first time since the summer of 2008.  But is Tiger really back? 

Best Week of the Year, Part I

April 4, 2011

For years, I've referred to the first week of April as the best week of the year for a sports fan. And every year my wife responds with, "You say that 4-5 times every year!" 

Night Games at ND Stadium

April 3, 2011

I was at the last night game played at Notre Dame Stadium. September 15^th, 1990. I'll never forget it.

Women's Final Four No Fluke

March 29, 2011

The Notre Dame women's basketball team is going to the Final Four. And it's no fluke!