sports

The University of Miami Hurricanes basketball team will head to its first Final Four in the school's history after defeating the Texas Longhorns on Sunday in the NCAA March Madness tournament’s Elite Eight round.

ESPN was widely criticized on social media over the weekend after it ran a segment celebrating Women's History Month by spotlighting transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

Nebraska cheerleader Katrina Kohel demonstrated incredible courage and perseverance when her entire squad quit just before the championships. Rather than back out, Katrina stunned the crowd by bravely performing the team’s routine all on her own!

This week, the worldwide governing body for track and field approved a new rule prohibiting transgender women from competing in women's events if they have gone through male puberty, calling it an issue of "fairness."

A Pennsylvania State University wrestler is facing backlash for discussing his Christian faith and calling Muhammad a "false prophet" after winning an NCAA title on Saturday.

A goalie for the San Jose Sharks hockey team boycotted pregame warmups last weekend over the team's decision to wear NHL pride-themed jerseys.

Why do millions love March Madness?

One reason relates to the sense of chaos that infuses the games with an air of unpredictability. Upsets are common and, unless they happen to your school, we get to embrace the seeming randomness of each game’s outcomes without being personally invested in the results. We can root for the underdogs without any sense of disappointment when they lose. There aren’t many other areas of our lives where we can emotionally invest in something without any real risk if it doesn’t go our way.

However, the second reason is, perhaps, more relevant to our larger calling as Christians. March Madness—and, more specifically, the brackets, competitions, and good-natured fun that frequently accompany it—creates a sense of community for those who take part. It gives people a common interest to unite around and experience together. Even people who don’t care all that much about the sport can be included alongside those who live and breathe basketball.

Texas Tech's athletic department has suspended head basketball coach Mark Adams after he quoted a Bible verse in an interaction with a player that the school deemed "racially insensitive."

As a cultural apologist, I would add that the parallels between watching American football and participating in American religion are noteworthy. On a typical Sunday, 100 million Americans (30 percent) watch an NFL game, roughly the same percentage as attend worship (28 percent). Most who participate in either activity engage in a transactional experience.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who will lead the team against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday in Super Bowl LVII, said he is "blessed to be in this position" and hopes to use this opportunity to glorify God.