New issue of is out! It has more than 125 job and internships listings in there for reporters, editors, social media gurus, and others. Also, 11 wonderful stories I loved — on Santa, the Taylor Ham dynasty, Franzia wines, and many more. Read: dub.sh/DfQyUsT Subscribe: t.co/tKOtcPQaI2

“I’m tired of the sleeping giant narrative. I’m tired of the concept of, ‘Man, they have so much potential.’ I want us to be the group — athletic department, coaching staff, fan base, community — that wakes it up once and for all.” ⤵️

Kenny Dillingham’s Michigan situation puts Arizona State back in familiar place ⤵️

“The way you handle things is who you are. It’s not about what you say when things aren’t serious. It’s about whenever the (expletive) hits the (expletive), who are you?” Good story from Oxford on Lane Kiffin by Joe Rexrode & Chris Kamrani: www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

Arizona State, Kenny Dillingham discussing pay raise amid interest from other schools ⤵️

“Do Pete's statistics say that he should be in? Yeah. But I think character has a lot to do with it.” He’s 2 years away from his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot. So is baseball ready for Pete Rose, Hall of Famer? @TylerKepner.bluesky.social and I wrote about that! www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

We polled 36 executives around the NBA, asking them to rank their top five front offices. Here are our findings: www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...

We are 28.8 percent of the way through the NBA regular season. So it’s time for our writer, Law Murray, to grade teams based on their progress so far.

A Trey McBride story you may not have heard. “He’d call me up, and we’d have this relationship, and it was like, ‘You know, this is silly. We should get to know each other.” One tight end from Fort Morgan, Colo., helping another. ⤵️

I wrote about Dillon Brooks and his old mates. ⤵️

Sam Leavitt’s possible transfer from Arizona State an all-too-familiar loyalty lesson for fans ⤵️

If you watch Holly Rowe’s work on ESPN, you know one thing: She exudes joy. So @rustindodd.bsky.social reached out to her with a simple question: What has she learned about joy? @sportsiren.bsky.social

I returned to Bloomington and covered an Indiana football game for the first time since I was a student there 30 years ago. I was amazed at what I found. ⤵️

I wrote about one possession last night that symbolizes this young Suns season — 10 passes, few dribbles. And, of course, it ended in a Grayson Allen 3-pointer. ⤵️

Kyler Murray’s uncertain present, and the Cardinals’ uncertain future at QB ⤵️

Emari Demercado made one of football’s most ‘boneheaded’ mistakes. Here’s how he got past it. Link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

From @theathletic.com: Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland died Thursday morning, the team shared in a statement. Kneeland, 24, was in his second season with the team after being drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

I'm starting a weekly coaching carousel notebook on intel I'm hearing + interesting nuggets. This week: - Agents don't buy the Louisiana gov's bluster - Latest at Florida State - Some names at Colorado State - Another Cignetti raise? And a lot more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Suns coach Jordan Ott has taken over a rebuilding team in the desert, one that still isn’t sure what it can do and what it cannot. Sunday’s defense against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was an encouraging sign. 🔗⤵️

The Suns this summer gave up one of the league’s best scorers but have yet to see the returns because of injuries. Until Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks are healthy, they’re doing all they can to improve. Friday was a positive step. 🔗⤵️

A Game 4 loss leaves the Dodgers no choice: As usual, they’ll have to clinch a title on the road www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

At Arizona State, Kenny Dillingham has his dream job. Even so, outside interest in the young coach will rattle nerves in the desert, mostly for one reason: ⤵️

Arizona State’s loss to Houston shows how vulnerable mistake-prone Sun Devils have become ⤵️

Forty-one years after 1984 and 37 years after 1988, Kirk Gibson is in the midst of his biggest October yet. Here’s how Parkinson’s disease changed a World Series legend. And here’s how the new Kirk Gibson Center is helping change lives. www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

On opening night in Phoenix, new head coach Jordan Ott didn’t want to make it about him. But the foundation he has worked to build was a big factor in the Suns’ comeback win. ⤵️

The Cardinals have lost five games by a combined 13 points, but the margin isn’t as important as the results. Losing is a habit. ⤵️

The Houston Rockets and star forward Kevin Durant have agreed to a two-year, $90 million extension. www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Teams that survive in college football have the ability to quickly self-correct. Arizona State showed as much in Saturday’s win over No. 7 Texas Tech. 🔗⤵️

Predictions! Here are my top eight teams in the Western Conference, with projected win-loss records and some deeper thoughts on each: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

The benching of Kyler Murray would have to be an organizational decision, and the Cardinals are not in the place to do it. But that day is coming. ⤵️

James Franklin's Penn State was ranked in the top five just 16 days ago 😳 On Sunday, he was fired after three straight losses. H/T @slmandel.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

The TEAM position rankings @theathletic.com has many purposes* These are also starting lineup predictions Even though I had the Celtics where I had them, I was already ready to see a Boucher-Queta front court *rage is not one of them www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

I showed Marvin Harrison Jr., this photo. “This you?” “That’s me.” On Sunday, the Cardinals receiver returns to the city where his dad became a star. www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

I showed Marvin Harrison Jr., this photo. “This you?” “That’s me.” On Sunday, the Cardinals receiver returns to the city where his dad became a star. www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Newcomers Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green have gotten the most attention, but Mark Williams could be the key to the Phoenix Suns season — if he can stay healthy. 🔗⤵️

This week's Athletic 136: 1. Miami 7. Alabama 21. South Florida 40. Penn State 93. North Carolina 135. Sam Houston Full rankings: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

“How to Lose a Game 101,” a textbook the Cardinals have authored all season. Sunday’s chapter was the best yet. ⤵️

The latest AP Poll Top 25 is here 👀 Three of the top four teams to start the season are now unranked one week into October: Texas, Penn State and Clemson.

After experiencing a blood clot diagnosis, Victor Wembanyama set out to experience the world. When he returned, he trained with a vengeance. http://dlvr.it/TNSDfH

Steve Nash is with the Suns as a senior advisor. But he’s not the only one in the building with a new role. On Devin Booker’s first days as Phoenix’s undisputed leader. ⤵️

Champions of chaos? Masters of misfortune? Describing 4-1 Arizona State is difficult so I asked fans for help. One nailed it. ⤵️

What’s it like to restore your confidence in front of 60,000 people? Marvin Harrison Jr. never showed up at his locker after the game to explain. But his teammates did. ⤵️

Suns owner Mat Ishbia embraces team’s identity shift, defends company culture ⤵️

Arizona State was so frustrated with its kicking last season, coach Kenny Dillingham called for open tryouts. After the season the Sun Devils found the solution in a transfer from Eastern Michigan. On Saturday, Jesus Gomez kicked a game winner.⤵️

From last night: I wrote 900 words on one play. “How in the wide world …” ⤵️

“Man, you got a great opportunity to go down as one of the all-time greats here. The opportunity is there.” How Jordyn Tyson has blossomed at Arizona State ⤵️

For Arizona State’s first opening home sellout since 1998, I watched from the top row of Mountain America Stadium, where the program’s growth couldn’t be missed. ⤵️

For Arizona State’s first opening home sellout since 1998, I watched from the top row of Mountain America Stadium, where the program’s growth couldn’t be missed. ⤵️

✍️ Rising names: The 25 coaches you should know before they find themselves moving up the carousel come December. Featuring Arizona State, Oregon, Iowa State, Tulane, Navy, Texas State and more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

In Arizona, the Kyler Murray question that never goes away inches closer to an answer. 🔗⤵️