I was today years old when I learned that Rudy did not, in fact, make it to the NFL after his Notre Dame days. Thank you Ted Cruz.

This is also a good time to mention that this will be a diverse feed going forward. Nationals, sports + politics, the college sports-Capitol Hill crossover (as you see this morning). If you like any of those things, I'm your guy. If you like all of them, seek help.

Nationals Park last night, Hart building this morning. The duality of the modern sportswriter.

I newsletter'd about this, too: collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/jesse-doug...

A coup for @notus.com — be certain to follow Jesse.

Really exciting news for Jesse and for DC sports fans!

Some personal news, as they say: Excited beyond belief to be joining @notus.com as a sports reporter, covering a mash-up of familiar topics for me: the overlap of sports + politics, the overlap of college sports + Capitol Hill, and ... wait for it ... the Nationals!

???

*taps mic* I've been texting and calling around about The Protect College Sports Act, b/c very soon, I'll tell you all about a new job that gets me back in the colleges/Capitol Hill/sports + politics world (among other worlds). But for now, some thoughts + stray tidbits (lengthy thread):

OK here we go. I am tired of "here's how I let AI run my life" exaggerations and wanted to write, honestly, about how I find it helpful as a professional writer who works for myself. Hint: It's really useful but not for writing. @slate.com: slate.com/technology/2...

The best reporter in college sports and it’s not particularly close.

At a loss for words, man. Howard was just the best.

An incredible person. An incredible journalist. An incredible, unparalleled friend. Rest in peace, Howard Fendrich. apnews.com/article/howa...

In one year from now.

Today, the Library of Congress officially opens The Source, a dazzling new gallery designed to show kids that research can be creative, tactile and adventurous. I visited before the opening & came away unexpectedly moved by the whole idea. My new newsletter: roncharles.substack.com/p/the-most-e...

BAD COMPANY Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream bookshop.org/a/109816/978...

Sam come to Bluesky.

I said what I said.

When I wrote about the Cardinals for @baseballprospectus.com in early April, this was the kicker:

The Sunday Times just gave St. Louis a rave review. This bloke LOVES frozen custard! www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...

This Mike Tomlin interview, set against a FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA backdrop, is really jacking me up for my team to play in the — *checks notepad* — NBA playoffs on April 26.

While recognizing that New Parent Offers Take On Classic Baby Book is an insufferable genre of post, I feel compelled to note that, on my first re-read this morning, Where The Wild Things Are leaves a lot to be desired. Would have guessed it had more juice.

I am ready for the Philadelphia 76ers’ title run. I will be taking no questions at this time.

Tennis people, correct me if I’m wrong: But they don’t ever use the ball-tracking technology to show close shots that WEREN’T challenged, right? I’m finding it a bit too much in baseball. Not sure why, but I feel like it should be reserved for challenged pitches only? Anyone else?

Or, did you know that Ohio State no longer shares CCTV camera footage with DHS after our reporting? The school was live-streaming video of campus protesters directly to the feds. Until we reported on it, when they told us the partnership just so happened to be "no longer in effect."

Making Pitbull jump isn't the only thing we've done! Did you know UCLA's NIL collective straight up disappeared from the web after we reported it was using a sham charity to steer donations? It brought in $4 million last year. Told us everything was on the level. It's gone.

I can't think of a better paid subscriber pitch than "we ruined Pitbull's Thursday." But how about "Independent journalism that actually forces the rich and powerful to act." www.foiaball.com/p/pitbull-at...

For this to work, I need your help. There are three subscription tiers -- I'd like to think they are affordable and worth the work. This will ensure 1. I can bring you coverage from the road 2. I can keep doing this full-time along with my other coverage. www.valkyriesbeat.com/subscribe

For transparency I estimate I need around 360 paid subscribers to hit my goals this year. I believe that is doable because I believe in this audience.

Ranch That I Had So Little Interest In The College Application Process That On The Last Day To Apply To Northwestern The Guidance Counselor Said To Me Okay Now All We Need Are The Required SAT2 Scores And Then I Said What The Fuck Are The SAT2s? Nice ring to it.

My 50th anniversary of All the President’s Men story: The glass walls of the Washington Post’s team rooms are covered in classic headlines (or at least they were as of early February. I’m not allowed in the building anymore.)

And everyone who does anything well did it the right way, of course, which means they gave up MILLIONS at every turn for the love of the damn game. It’s beautiful, really.

I'm not usually a critique The Shot guy, but ... I can't remember a network totally skipping the immediate on-court championship celebration to watch the coach calmly walk through the handshake line. What the hell was that?

Disrespectful to Kobe

Have thought a lot about this more generally. I flew to North Dakota for a story in Montana, shopped at a Bismarck Walmart because the airline lost my luggage, then ate at an Arby’s before driving to Montana. And I still don’t feel like I was REALLY in North Dakota? But it does count?

For @baseballprospectus.com, an essay on baseball fandom, relocating to a new city and whether it's possible to recalibrate your sports brain when you know much more than you did as a kid: www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...

Jesse writing about baseball! Yes, please.

A sample of what I saw, heard and felt — and eventually wrote — after going to Opening Day at Busch Stadium last week: www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...

Living Among the Best Fans in Baseball. Checking For Their Pulse. by Jesse Dougherty (@jessedougherty.bsky.social) www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...

This is such an interesting, thoughtful read from @jessedougherty.bsky.social. Wouldn't expect anything less:

What a great piece to read as a #STLCards fan in unfamiliar (recently) territory on @baseballprospectus.com by @jessedougherty.bsky.social. www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...

For @baseballprospectus.com, an essay on baseball fandom, relocating to a new city and whether it's possible to recalibrate your sports brain when you know much more than you did as a kid: www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...

Andrew is the authority on the Nationals’ rebuild and this new phase of it (Part 2?). Really enjoyed getting to peek inside his head here.

Very good read here.

Preferred location: London, England. First assignment: Kris Bubic profile.

CBS turned their news operation into propaganda, kicked Colbert off the air for making too much trouble, and all that just to have Charles Barkley go on the air on one of their most-watched telecasts of the year and say this lmao

That was one of the best halves of basketball I’ve ever seen. I’ve begun work on the Tarris Reed Jr. biography.

Freelance pitch from St. Louis: Find out what was in the water Tarris Reed Jr. drank as a kid.

@eliassportsbureau? @god?

I have not been following other games while at Busch Stadium, but ... did I just see the first at-bat in baseball history with two pitch challenges? Anyone?