Sports Poets Society

https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-2022/preview/ Old rituals endure, but the Pogacar Era promises a fresh stamp By Barry Ryan A recent survey conducted by L’Équipe suggested that Milan-San Remo was the least popular Monument among professional riders . The question was posed in the context of the debate over Strade Bianche 's place in the hierarchy of one-day races, but the relative ambivalence towards Milan-San Remo was a striking outcome of the straw poll. It’s true that if professional cycling were starting from scratch today, nobody would think to make an interminably long and largely flat race from Milan to the Riviera one of the cornerstones of the calendar, but therein lies a large part of its mystique.  There are no cobbles. There is no gravel. There are no gimmicks. There is nothing else quite like it. Milan-San Remo is cycling’s best anachronism. Despite growing up in San Remo, Italo Calvino never showed much interest in cycling . He never joined the queu...

Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos/Getty Images (Smith);  Streeter Lecka/Getty Images (Knight) https://www.si.com/college/2022/03/02/dean-smith-bob-knight-basketball-bromance-daily-cover On the surface, they couldn’t have been more different . One was a progressive pioneer and the picture of dignified reserve: Dean Smith . The other was, well, Bob Knight . And yet, they forged one of the most enduring—and most unlikely—friendships in college sports, Christmas cards and all. JON WERTHEIM MAR 2, 2022 Dean Smith was fuming. This North Carolina team he was coaching was supposed to be better than this. Playing in Los Angeles at the Bruin Classic, the Tar Heels gave up open shot after open shot and lost to Minnesota, 76–60. ACC play was opening in barely a week, and this was not an auspicious sign.  Bob Knight was fuming. This Indiana team he was coaching was supposed to be better than this. Playing in Honolulu at the Rainbow Classic , the Hoosiers gave up open shot after open shot and los...