You Hear About Sarkisian?

Hiring an Armenian Football Coach Is the Most Brilliant Move USC Has Ever Made

“Sarkisian” is one of the most common Armenian last names. But when my cousin Greg called this week and opened with “You hear about Sarkisian?” I knew he wasn’t talking about Serge Sarkisian, president of the Republic of Armenia.

He was calling to tell me about Steve Sarkisian, who had been named the head football coach of the USC Trojans. Sarkisian’s hiring may be the single most brilliant move in the history of the 133-year-old South Los Angeles institution—at least, to Armenians living in Southern California.

Henry Sahakian, a salesman from Glendale, …

The Diminished USC-UCLA Rivalry

In a Global City, a Local Football Fight, Too Often Lopsided, No Longer Packs the Same Punch

I confess: I’m a diehard USC football fan. I braved 29-degree temperatures in Boulder last Saturday night to witness my Trojans conquer Colorado. This week we—I’m class of 1995 and …

Why I’m Boycotting the NFL

Let the Players Sue. Let the Pundits Rant. But This Fan Is Taking a Stand and Reclaiming His Sundays.

The air chills, the humidity departs, the school bell rings, the shofar blows … all signs that the football season has begun to eat my Sundays. Or would be eating …

Indian Cricket Fans, Prepare To Get Crushed

Football Has Come To the Subcontinent. And People Like It.

Now that the Super Bowl has come and gone, we can all now turn our attention to India’s Elite Football League (EFLI). That’s right: Football, the most quintessential of American …

Hearts All Atwitter, if Only on Twitter

These Days, Virtual Relationships Like Manti Te’o’s Are Not All That Crazy

“What I went through was real. You know, the feelings, the pain, the sorrow—that was all real, and that’s something that I can’t fake.” So said Notre Dame football player …

A Super Bowl of Guilt

Should We Feel Bad About Watching Football Players Concuss Their Brains?

Forty years ago, as pro football blew past baseball in popularity, NFL players were more relatable. Franco Harris, the 1972 Rookie of the Year, used to hitchhike to practice. The …