The Notion

Jamaica Bolts to the Top Jamaica Bolts to the Top

  "All I can say is, 'Yo! Jamaican sprinters taking over the world!'" said Usain Bolt, who has, for my money been the preeminent star of these games--even bigger th...

Aug 22, 2008 / Dave Zirin

Remembering Gene Upshaw Remembering Gene Upshaw

  The last thirty years haven't exactly been kind to the labor movement. It's been a story of slow death, with decades of falling unionnumbers, stagnant wages and disappearin...

Aug 22, 2008 / Dave Zirin

NBC Makes Mockery of McKay Legacy NBC Makes Mockery of McKay Legacy

  This past year saw the death of legendary sports broadcaster Jim McKay.McKay made his mark in history when he anchored the round-the-clockcoverage of the killings of Israel...

Aug 21, 2008 / Dave Zirin

César Maxit: A Real Olympic Hero César Maxit: A Real Olympic Hero

  The Beijing Olympics will be remembered for people like Michael Phelps, UsainBolt and Nastia Liukin. But we should also remember César Maxit. Don't know César...

Aug 20, 2008 / Dave Zirin

MSNBC Taps Rachel Maddow for New Show MSNBC Taps Rachel Maddow for New Show

Popular pundit Rachel Maddow will host a new talk show on MSNBC, catapulting the Air America host and progressive favorite into a prime time field largely dominated by male and con...

Aug 19, 2008 / Ari Melber

US Misses Shot at Iranian Superstar US Misses Shot at Iranian Superstar

  Everyone knew these Olympics would be political. We knew the stadium-sized gapbetween the so-called Olympic ideals and the commercial feeding frenzyin Beijing would stagger...

Aug 19, 2008 / Dave Zirin

Is Michael Phelps Really the Greatest Olympian Ever? Is Michael Phelps Really the Greatest Olympian Ever?

  Eight gold medals. Seven world records. And most remarkably,transforming laps in a pool into must-see-TV. Michael Phelps has truly exceeded the hype and has derserved every...

Aug 18, 2008 / Dave Zirin

Blind to Bolt in Beijing Blind to Bolt in Beijing

  The ultimate Olympic event is the 100-meter dash. From the greatness of Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis, to the ignominy of Ben Johnson--it has in many ways come to define the ...

Aug 16, 2008 / Dave Zirin

No Free Press at Beijing Olympics No Free Press at Beijing Olympics

 "Are you arresting me? I am a journalist," said John Ray, of London-based ITV News, as he was arrested by the Chinese police. The pernicious crime perpetrated by Jo...

Aug 15, 2008 / Dave Zirin

Spain’s Basketball Team Sullies the Olympics Spain’s Basketball Team Sullies the Olympics

  There are some athletes who can't be bought. Some athletes who refuse tobecome commodities, valuing their humanity more than their wallets. Thenthere is the Spanish nationa...

Aug 14, 2008 / Dave Zirin

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