DEFENSE

February 8th, 2026, marked the 60th year of the Super Bowl. The annual halftime performance became the most watched in NFL history. Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio) generated 4 billion views within 24 hours of his performance, became the first solo Latino artist to headline the Super Bowl, and generated the first Super Bowl performed almost entirely in Spanish. Aside from these milestones, Bad Bunny put on an unforgettable performance that symbolized various aspects

“Most people think basketball is a way out, but for me it’s always been a way in.” -John Isaacs, African American player during the Big Five Era. In the current state of our country, democracy is a threatening power, and fascism is a prevailing unit. The people no longer harbor critical thinking skills that allow them to detect propaganda and to sympathize with those other than themselves. We are in a crucial period where the common people are louder than our own politici

2025 has been a successful year for women’s sports in America. The WNBA’s viewership is higher than ever, more and more WNBA teams are popping up across the country, and semi-professional leagues are finally getting the recognition they deserve. The Portland Thorns FC, Portland Fire, and Portland Cherry Bombs FC are three of some of the greatest upcoming sports teams in the Pacific Northwest. The Portland Thorns FC—a NWSL team—was established in 2012 and has since won three

The NBA and WNBA are arguably the most progressive American-made sports. Surely the NFL and MLB have done their part in charity work—but the percentage of diversity and activism are fairly low compared to basketball. Players are actively choosing to raise their voices about current issues, protest games, and donate to crucial causes. In addition to this, the percent of gender and race diversity amongst players and staff is comparatively higher than any other professional Amer