Samer Kalaf
Deadspin
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Past articles by Samer:
Highly Desired Talent Squandered In Crucial Moment, Wastes No Time Thinking About Future
The Washington Nationals won the World Series, which feels like an insane thing to write. (Be happy for them at your own discretion.) But let’s talk about Gerrit Cole. The Astros pitcher, one of the best in baseball, was nowhere to be found as Houston lost Game 7, 6-2. Manager A.J. Hinch revealed that it was part of a restrictive plan, and Cole revealed shortly thereafter that he had already… → Read More
Freddie Kitchens Made An Absolute Brain-Genius Move With The Browns Down Three Possessions
You know how every so often, we’ll get a story about Bill Belichick exploiting some obscure loophole in order to give the Patriots a better opportunity in a certain scenario? What Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens did in Sunday’s 27-13 loss to New England is the opposite of that. → Read More
Sports Illustrated Eventually Holds "Transition Meetings," Lays Off Half Its Staff
After setting then canceling “transition meetings” today amid reports of substantial layoffs, Sports Illustrated management rescheduled the two meetings and finally went through with them just before the end of the day. This was despite a last-minute public plea from employees to nix a deal with TheMaven, a seedy platform that would replace a number of SI staffers with contract work. → Read More
Stefon Diggs Returns To Vikings Practice, Is Vague And Grumpy
While Vikings QB Kirk Cousins somewhat patched things up with his WR Adam Thielen on a podcast this week, the other prominent guy who catches his passes is in a different mood. Stefon Diggs, who was also frustrated about the offensive strategy during Sunday’s loss to the Bears, was absent from Wednesday’s practice for reasons unrelated to an injury. He returned today and talked to media for the… → Read More
Bruce Bochy's Retirement Ceremony Was—Holy Shit, It's Tim Lincecum!
The final game of the San Francisco Giants’ season was the final game of manager Bruce Bochy’s career. The skipper had planned to retire at the conclusion of the 2019 season, so after Sunday’s 9-0 loss to the Dodgers, many of Bochy’s former players showed up at the stadium to send him off, including the elusive and beloved pitcher Tim Lincecum. He did something to his hair. → Read More
Adam Thielen Tries Very Hard To Not Say Anything Mean About His Bad Quarterback
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins’s play through the first four games of this season has resembled his center’s pants after a few snaps. His biggest problem is that he struggles to throw a deep, accurate ball. Both the defense and his own receivers know it. → Read More
Welcome To The Tomsula Index
For my money, there’s no better exercise during the NFL season than to look at the bottom of the standings in order to wonder, Would Jim Tomsula, right now, be better than that team’s head coach? → Read More
Here's A Lovely Newspaper Photo Goof
Look closely at this past Saturday’s sports page of the Washington County (Penn.) Observer-Reporter. There’s something off about that photo accompanying a recap of the game between between Peters Township and North Hills. → Read More
Local Columnist Woefully Out Of His Element
One possible explanation for the existence of this Albany (Georgia) Herald column, in which Carlton Fletcher fields all the questions a “female person” might have watching her first baseball game, could be that it was accidentally sucked through a wormhole decades ago and finally reappeared on Sept. 7, 2019. That would also lend reason as to why Fletcher is holding a corded telephone in his… → Read More
Sign Up For The Deadspin Newsletter, Then Sign Up Your Enemies
Many people have come up to me—on the street, at a restaurant, in my bathroom—with tears in their eyes, and they’ve asked, “Sir, when is the Deadspin newsletter coming back?” Great news for them: It’s back. Sign up here. → Read More
Radio Lunk Dan Sileo Loses Three Gigs Within A Year
When last we left Dan Sileo, the radio host who has a tough time not being racist, he was the main attraction on 97.3 The Fan, the San Diego sports radio station that had to quickly rebrand after its original lineup fell apart. He’s since been tossed from three stations including that one, all within this year, which is honestly impressive. → Read More
Least Loyal Coach In Recent Memory Demands Total Loyalty From His Recruits
Manny Diaz, who was very briefly the Temple Owls’ head coach before he abandoned his contract without coaching a single game because he found a more appealing job with the Miami Hurricanes, would be better served staying away from demanding pledges of fealty from college football recruits, especially when they’re not prevented from taking visits elsewhere. → Read More
Just So You're Up To Speed, This Is Gardner Minshew
Quarterback Nick Foles fractured his clavicle in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first game of the season, and his injury meant the door was wide open for rookie Gardner Minshew to strut right through it, because Gardner Minshew looks like a guy who struts, or at least saunters. → Read More
Looks Like They Still Haven't Gotten All The Bugs Out Of Madden
Just when you thought Madden glitch season was over, here’s another entry sure to astound and amaze. A fumble after the catch turned into ... well, I’m not really sure what the hell happened. → Read More
Red Sox Fire Team President Dave Dombrowski Nearly A Year After Winning World Series
Not even a full year after the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, they’ve fired president Dave Dombrowski, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Dombrowski had been with the team since August of 2015. → Read More
Jets Start Their Gagging Early In The Season, Blow 16-0 Second-Half Lead To Bills
Adam Gase had a chance to set the tone for the Jets’ season. He was in position to win the first game with an impressive defensive performance, make everyone stop with the eyeball jokes, and show that he was different than former head coach Todd Bowles. Instead, Week 1 looked like more of the same. → Read More
Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill Taken To Hospital After Shoulder Injury
Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill was taken to a hospital after he suffered a shoulder injury early in today’s 40-26 win over the Jaguars. He won’t need surgery, but he’ll be out for a few weeks, according to Pro Football Talk. → Read More
The Dolphins Were The Perfect Confidence Builder For The Ravens
It was very clear at the end of preseason that the Dolphins had no desire to seriously compete this year, even if head coach Brian Flores planned on it. Judging from the roster as well as the trade of Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills, the Fins seemed destined to suck mondo ass. Today’s game did not disprove that prediction, as the Ravens took a 21-0 lead after one quarter and never looked back in… → Read More
Browns Lineman Ejected For Treating Opponent's Head Like A Soccer Ball
Cleveland Browns left tackle Greg Robinson had his day end in the second quarter when unwisely decided to boot Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro in the head. Way to be a dick, Greg. → Read More
Vernon Davis Hurdles Defender, Burns Eagles For 48-Yard Touchdown, Walks Off In Pain
With Jordan Reed inactive, Washington started Vernon Davis at tight end today against the Eagles. It paid off early with this spectacular 48-yard touchdown, but that might’ve used up all the remaining gas in the 35-year-old’s tank. → Read More