By Ken Reed

Over-the-top “adults” — parents and coaches — are driving game officials/referees to quit at unprecedented rates at the youth and high school levels due to the verbal and physical abuse they are increasingly receiving from parents and coaches.

As a result, many states are now having trouble finding enough qualified officials […]

By Ken Reed

I often say there’s too much “adult” in youth sports.

It’s parents and coaches that push kids to specialize in a single sport at age 9 or 10, which too often leads to overuse injuries and emotional burnout. It’s parents and coaches that bring win-at-all-cost (WAAC) attitudes to youth sports fields, courts […]

By Ken Reed

The NFL salary cap is $224.8 million per team in 2023. That’s a pretty big investment for owners. Yet, for some reason, half of the NFL’s owners continue to use artificial turf fields that have proven to be more dangerous for players than natural grass fields.

Aaron Rodgers’ recent season-ending achilles injury […]

By Ken Reed

The number of pitchers getting Tommy John surgery continues to increase, from youth leagues to the Major Leagues.

According to USA Today research, of the top 64 hardest throwers this year in Major League Baseball (MLB), 30 have undergone reconstructive Tommy John surgery on their pitching elbows, or are expected to […]

By Ken Reed

A few years ago, I wrote a book called “Ego vs. Soul in Sports: Essays on Sport At Its Best and Worst”. The stories about sport at its best (when Soul-driven) are inspiring. The stories about sport at its worst (when ego-driven) are depressing.

This week, we were given another depressing […]

By Ken Reed

The disturbing situation of multi-billionaire pro sports owners demanding that local taxpayers fund — or at least partially fund — new sparkling sport palaces in which the team’s value can appreciate and owners can become even wealthier continues unabated.

The new owner of the Washington Commanders, Josh Harris, a multibillionaire worth $7.69 […]

By Ken Reed

I like golf. I like playing it and watching it, especially the major tournaments.

As such, I’ll occasionally watch the Golf Channel. Brandal Chamblee is one of the biggest personalities on the Golf Channel. He is very opinionated. Sometimes I agree with him and sometimes I don’t. But he’s smart, and […]

By Ken Reed

What is wrong with the Los Angeles Chargers? Or, the NFL league office for that matter?

Despite flash flood warnings issued throughout the L.A. area, residents being advised not to travel by city authorities, a 5.1 earthquake earlier in the day that included after shocks felt throughout the area, MLB’s Dodgers and […]

By Ken Reed

We have long written about the negatives associated with young athletes playing only one sport year round, namely a high risk for overuse injuries as well as psychological burnout.

Moreover, single sport athletes tend to quit playing competitive sports sooner than multi-sport athletes.

On the other hand, in addition to both […]

By Ken Reed

Sandra Klatt was hit in the face at a Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball game several years ago. At the time, Dozer Park, home of the Chiefs, only had protective netting directly behind home plate. While team management has long promised to add protective netting down the foul lines past the dugouts […]