Bryan Curtis

NBA Sliding Doors: The What-Ifs That Changed Everything Forget Oden vs. Durant or ‘The Decision’—these five forgotten twists altered the course of the league forever

Every dynasty starts with a missed train. For the Ringer's quarter-century project, I explored some of the biggest sliding-doors moments of the 21st century. (h/t Gwyneth Paltrow)

Buried it in the segment about the Gallup poll?

Bari Weiss’s First Day at CBS, Reporting on Mark Sanchez, and the GOAT-dom of Chris Berman

New PRESS BOX w/ @davidshoemaker.bsky.social:

Bari Weiss's First Day at CBS
Mark Sanchez Reporting
People Doesn't Trust the Media. Now What?
Football Audio
Chris Berman
America's Softest Target
open.spotify.com/episode/2C1W...

Bari Weiss’s First Day at CBS, Reporting on Mark Sanchez, and the GOAT-dom of Chris Berman

New PRESS BOX w/ @davidshoemaker.bsky.social:

Bari Weiss's First Day at CBS
Mark Sanchez Reporting
People Doesn't Trust the Media. Now What?
Football Audio
Chris Berman
America's Softest Target
open.spotify.com/episode/2C1W...

If James Franklin can’t win with this Penn State team, could both sides do better? If this Penn State team can't get it done, what James Franklin-led PSU team can?

COLUMN: Penn State can't fire James Franklin, but the cost for him to leave for another job isn't much.

After an inexcusable loss to UCLA put CFP hopes on life support, it's time to wonder if an amicable parting of ways would be better for both sides.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

For those not scoring at home, a one-win Clemson team is beating UNC 35-3. In the first half.

When does Bill Belichick move from a haha to genuine sadness, if such a thing is possible?

The Ezra Klein and Ta-Nehisi Coates Showdown, Floating Paul Finebaum for Senate, and the Meaning of Kamala’s Book Sales

New PRESS BOX w/ @joelanderson.bsky.social:

The Ezra Klein-Ta-Nehisi Coates Showdown
Can Paul Finebaum Go to Washington?
The Meaning of Kamala’s Book Sales
J School
A Peacetime Visit to Cracker Barrel
open.spotify.com/episode/7sqZ...

Amazing. What happened to the line?! Did the rest of the bbq world just close the gap?

Can ESPN’s Paul Finebaum matriculate to the U.S. Senate?

And what would a GOP primary do to the tao of Paul?

We discuss on a new episode: open.spotify.com/episode/7sqZ...

The Ezra Klein and Ta-Nehisi Coates Showdown, Floating Paul Finebaum for Senate, and the Meaning of Kamala’s Book Sales

New PRESS BOX w/ @joelanderson.bsky.social:

The Ezra Klein-Ta-Nehisi Coates Showdown
Can Paul Finebaum Go to Washington?
The Meaning of Kamala’s Book Sales
J School
A Peacetime Visit to Cracker Barrel
open.spotify.com/episode/7sqZ...

The Ezra Klein and Ta-Nehisi Coates Showdown, Floating Paul Finebaum for Senate, and the Meaning of Kamala’s Book Sales

New pod w/ @joelanderson.bsky.social:

Ezra Klein/Ta-Nehisi Coates
Senator Paul Finebaum (R-AL)
The Meaning of Kamala’s Book Sales
J School
A Peacetime Visit to Cracker Barrel
open.spotify.com/episode/7sqZ...

The Ezra Klein and Ta-Nehisi Coates Showdown, Floating Paul Finebaum for Senate, and the Meaning of Kamala’s Book Sales

New pod w/ @joelanderson.bsky.social:

Ezra Klein/Ta-Nehisi Coates
Senator Paul Finebaum (R-AL)
The Meaning of Kamala’s Book Sales
J School
A Peacetime Visit to Cracker Barrel
open.spotify.com/episode/7sqZ...

Rarely. But when it’s done right…

Some more bbq trekking, at the phenomenal Dayne’s Craft Barbecue in Aledo, Texas.

We got brisket, turkey, jalapeño and havarti sausage, plus a number of green sides (not pictured for thematic clarity).

I saved the berry gouda sausage for “next time.”

Can journalism school replace the apprenticeship reporters used to have with a cigar-chomping city editor?

@joelanderson.bsky.social’s full interview with Columbia’s @jelaniya.bsky.social here: open.spotify.com/episode/3PIU...

A 25 for 25 Double Feature: Dean Jelani Cobb on the Future of J-School. Plus, Spencer Hall on “Weird Internet.”

New PRESS BOX w/ @joelanderson.bsky.social

A 25 for 25 double feature:

@jelaniya.bsky.social on the Future of Journalism School

@edsbs.bsky.social on the Weird Internet
open.spotify.com/episode/3PIU...

Can journalism school replace the apprenticeship reporters used to have with a cigar-chomping city editor?

@joelanderson.bsky.social’s full interview with Columbia’s @jelaniya.bsky.social here: open.spotify.com/episode/3PIU...

A 25 for 25 Double Feature: Dean Jelani Cobb on the Future of J-School. Plus, Spencer Hall on “Weird Internet.”

New PRESS BOX w/ @joelanderson.bsky.social

A 25 for 25 double feature:

@jelaniya.bsky.social on the Future of Journalism School

@edsbs.bsky.social on the Weird Internet
open.spotify.com/episode/3PIU...

Thank you!

A Report From the Cowboys-Packers Tie, the Rise of the Bernie Bio, and Barbecue Notes From Texas

New PRESS BOX:

A Report from Cowboys Packers
w/ an assist from @bobbybelttx.bsky.social
Rise of the Bernie Bios
How the Celebrity Interview Sausage Gets Made
Golf Twitter's Finest Moment
Texas Barbecue Notes
open.spotify.com/episode/18hx...

Inside the Jerry Jones Media Bubble: Is He Winning or Losing the Narrative in Dallas? Spotify video

New Ringer NFL Show with @bryancurtis.bsky.social: Inside the Jerry Jones media bubble. Has he lost the narrative in Dallas?

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4h7l...

YouTube: youtu.be/X1jeKc-ftbs?...

Thanks! @patrizioa.bsky.social @indianadave.bsky.social

A Report From the Cowboys-Packers Tie, the Rise of the Bernie Bio, and Barbecue Notes From Texas

New PRESS BOX w/ @davidshoemaker.bsky.social:

A Report From the Cowboys-Packers Game
Bernie Bios
Ryder Cup + Golf Twitter
How the Celebrity Interview Sausage Gets Made
BBQ Notes from Texas
open.spotify.com/episode/18hx...

A Report From the Cowboys-Packers Tie, the Rise of the Bernie Bio, and Barbecue Notes From Texas

New PRESS BOX w/ @davidshoemaker.bsky.social:

A Report From the Cowboys-Packers Game
Bernie Bios
Ryder Cup + Golf Twitter
How the Celebrity Interview Sausage Gets Made
BBQ Notes from Texas
open.spotify.com/episode/18hx...

The Micah Parsons Revenge Game Wasn’t Really About Jerry Jones Packers-Cowboys was billed as the final reckoning of the preseason trade that sent Parsons to Green Bay. Instead, the tie was much more about former teammates—and missed opportunities.

New column from me:

I went to the Cowboys-Packers tie last night and wrote about what revenge games are really about. www.theringer.com/2025/09/29/n...

The Micah Parsons Revenge Game Wasn’t Really About Jerry Jones Packers-Cowboys was billed as the final reckoning of the preseason trade that sent Parsons to Green Bay. Instead, the tie was much more about former teammates—and missed opportunities.

New column from me:

I went to the Cowboys-Packers tie last night and wrote about what revenge games are really about. www.theringer.com/2025/09/29/n...

The Sept. ‘79 issue includes the John Hughes short story that became the movie “Vacation.”

When someone dumps their 70s/80s National Lampoon collection at a used bookstore, you buy it, that’s what you do.

When someone dumps their 70s/80s National Lampoon collection at a used bookstore, you buy it, that’s what you do.