Steve Politi

Every single North Jersey town’s sports claim to fame, Part 1 What is your New Jersey town's claim to fame in sports? We have the answer!

What is your New Jersey town's sports claim to fame? We have the answer! North Jersey, Part 1: www.nj.com/sports/2025/...

Giants GM Joe Schoen must get his franchise quarterback with a bold NFL Draft move | Politi The Giants should trade back into the NFL Draft and take Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Here is the very first column that anyone has put on the internet about the NFL Draft, and specifically, what the Giants should do to solve their quarterback troubles. www.nj.com/giants/2025/...

It’s still second wildest to that year you made omelettes with my leftover Sunday gravy

Can it still be prestige TV if it's actually bad? That is the existential question of our time, and also, how I reply to my wife when she asks if I want to watch Yellowjackets.

Trip advisor: One star — too many murders and, honestly, can someone clean up the poisonous fruits outside my villa?

Greetings from Homeschool Hell: The coronavirus has given me a greater appreciation of our teachers The coronavirus quarantine has proven to me -- and no doubt countless others -- that educating our children should be done by the professionals.

Five years ago today, I was trying — and failing — to teach my kids math in our basement. No matter what happens in the next 24 hours, I promise not to complain!
www.nj.com/coronavirus/...

Ohhh. So this is where you've all been.

The last of the lifers Jeff Jasper has coached girls basketball at Pascack Valley High for 52 years — and his longevity offers insight for how newcomers can persevere.

Jeff Jasper, who has coached girls basketball in New Jersey for 52 years, is one of the most interesting people I've interviewed lately. His thoughts on the coaching profession are worth reading.
www.nj.com/highschoolsp...

The last of the lifers Jeff Jasper has coached girls basketball at Pascack Valley High for 52 years — and his longevity offers insight for how newcomers can persevere.

Jeff Jasper, who has coached girls basketball in New Jersey for 52 years, is one of the most interesting people I've interviewed lately. His thoughts on the coaching profession are worth reading.
www.nj.com/highschoolsp...

Rutgers’ interim AD dishes on hoops struggles, plans to pay athletes and optimism about the ‘new world’ | Politi Ryan Pisarri, who took over as interim Rutgers athletic director in August when predecessor Patrick Hobbs resigned, sat down with NJ Advance Media for his first interview last week.

Rutgers is going "all in" with revenue sharing with its athletes. Will Ryan Pisarri be the guy to lead the Scarlet Knights into this new world? The interim AD sat down with me for his first interview. www.nj.com/rutgersfootb...

“We can give you 25 twos” and “do not taunt Happy Fun Ball” are two things I say regularly out of context for no reason even I can understand

N.J. boxing legend faces his toughest opponent yet — cancer | Politi Bobby Czyz, a two-time world champion who fought Evander Holyfield before a series of setbacks derailed his broadcasting career, is fighting cancer.

I first wrote about Bobby Czyz in 2018. The colorful former boxing champ was working as a cashier at ShopRite after a serious of life setbacks — some his own doing — had left him seven figures in debt. Now, the face that made him a star is etched with a scar from his toughest fight yet — cancer.

The Star-Ledger had the best damn sports section in the country (okay, we’re biased) For decades, New Jersey readers depended on The Star-Ledger sports section to be their eyes and ears at the biggest sporting events in the state and beyond.

I was honored to write this remembrance of The Star-Ledger sports section. If you grew up reading it like I did, you understood just how (bleepin') great it was in its heyday. I had only one dream as a paperboy, and that was to have my words grace its pages someday.

www.nj.com/sports/2025/...

I spent $73.96 on ‘snow’ from Eagles playoff win and got sent a cup of dirty water instead Buyer beware: Not every sports collectible is worth the money.

So I went souvenir shopping ... www.nj.com/eagles/2025/...

Steve Politi's HOF Ballot: Beltran, Andruw, Pettitte, Manny, A-Rod, Rollins (+1), CC, Ichiro

Ballot #177 is from Steve Politi. He adds Rollins and pushes Rollins to +11. CC and Ichiro additionally join five holdovers.

Politi's column: www.nj.com/yankees/2025...

In the Tracker: tracker.fyi

I already have a copy of your NEXT book

Steve Pikiell must keep Rutgers’ dream season from devolving into a total nightmare | Politi The dream season for the Rutgers basketball team is fast becoming a nightmare.

I knew there were many potential outcomes when two NBA lottery picks landed at Rutgers this season. Complete, unmitigated disaster was not on my bingo card.
www.nj.com/rutgersbaske...

CHRISTOPHER: hey you hear they found the guy flying these drones?

SILVIO: oh yeah?

CHRISTOPHER: turns out he’s Italian and when they caught him he said “OH! MAHDRONES!”

PAULIE WALNUTS: [points finger in rage] this is fuckin’ serious!

TONY: okay, settle down

Dylan Harper adds to his family’s Rutgers big-shot legacy — and saves the season | Politi Rutgers and Seton Hall met for the 75th time in this New Jersey basketball rivalry with the Scarlet Knights needing a win to stay on track for March Madness.

This Rutgers team is a lot of fun to watch — if your idea of fun is bungee jumping off a 500-foot cliff over jagged rocks and shark infested waters. Dylan Harper saves the day. Get used to it needing to be saved. www.nj.com/rutgersbaske...

Rutgers-Seton Hall rivalry is losing its passion in a college sports world gone mad | Politi Rutgers and Seton Hall renew their basketball rivalry on Saturday at Jersey Mike's Arena, but in this era of free agency, only the fans harbor any hatred.

How can anyone in the Rutgers-Seton Hall rivalry muster hatred for each other when they've barely met? Welcome to college basketball in 2024.
www.nj.com/rutgersbaske...

Bill Belichick’s move to UNC is a watershed moment for college sports. Is Rutgers ready? | Politi The professional model in college sports is here to stay, and Rutgers has to adapt or die.

I think we're going to remember Bill Belichick's arrival at UNC as one of those watershed moments when college football became an unrecognizable NFL knock off. Are we ready for that? More importantly for Jersey readers: Is Rutgers?

"Bill Belichick, being asked to shake the hand of a human dressed as a toaster pastry." LOL, @lukedecock.bsky.social www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-c...

John Mara owes Giants fans an apology — or even a refund — for this ‘dumpster fire’ | Politi Giants co-owner John Mara should offer his season ticket holders a refund — or, short of that, an apology.

I thought the guy who flew this message about MetLife Stadium was being kind. On top of everything else, Giants owner John Mara has a credibility problem.
www.nj.com/giants/2024/...

Cliff Omoruyi left Rutgers for a payday just as the program arrived. He has no regrets. | Politi Cliff Omoruyi was a fan favorite at Rutgers, but in the new landscape of college basketball, he left for greener pastures in Alabama.

I talked to Cliff Omoruyi about his decision to leave Rutgers, receiving his degree in a Las Vegas casino and the world that his NIL payday has opened up for his family.
www.nj.com/rutgersbaske...

Dylan Harper’s coming out party in Las Vegas was an unforgettable night for Rutgers | Politi Rutgers faced Notre Dame in the first game of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.

I have no idea who will go first in the NBA Draft this spring, but if I were building a team for a game tomorrow? Rutgers star Dylan Harper is my No. 1 pick, and his absurd performance in Vegas last night was one for the ages. Column:
www.nj.com/rutgersbaske...

Fire Brian Daboll? ‘Soft’ Giants are making that decision easy for owner John Mara | Politi The Giants looked awful in a 30-7 loss to Tampa Bay. Then came the real problem for head coach Brian Daboll.

Brian Daboll won't survive the Giants' fracturing locker room. Column: www.nj.com/giants/2024/...

Rutgers star Ace Bailey is right: New Jersey needs a Waffle House The star Rutgers freshman, who grew up in Tennessee, is adapting to life in New Jersey. He misses Waffle House. Preach, Ace.

Let's make Rutgers star Ace Bailey happy and bring Waffle House to New Jersey. Who's with me? www.nj.com/rutgersbaske...

Rutgers Rant: Would Senior Day win over Illinois mark successful 2024 season for Scarlet Knights? The Rutgers Rant is back to preview Saturday's Senior Day matchup with Illinois.

What do the belted kingfisher, Hugh Hefner and the woke mind virus have in common? They were all topics on the latest episode of the Rutgers Rant. In the same segment. www.nj.com/rutgersfootb...

How Rutgers crashed the Big Ten: The inside story 10 years later Rutgers was invited to join the Big Ten 10 years ago, a transformative moment for the university that many believed would never happen.

Rutgers should declare Nov. 20 an official holiday. Here's what I wrote about the Scarlet Knights crashing the Big Ten on the 10-year anniversary a couple years ago.

www.nj.com/rutgersfootb...

Woody Johnson is the Jets’ real problem — and the worst owner in N.Y. sports history | Politi Joe Douglas is the latest general manager to get fired by Woody Johnson, whose disastrous ownership of the Jets continues.

Woody Johnson is the worst owner in New York/New Jersey sports history. Does Antarctica need an ambassador? www.nj.com/jets/2024/11...