Lauren Smith
@laurensmith.bsky.social
Professor, Rowan University | Research Director - Center for Sports Comm & Social Impact | Researching effects of narratives & portrayals of gender, race, & social issues in sport | Triathlete | Ironman x 3 | Traveling the 🌎 w/ Kenny Smith | War Eagle
“We can’t get married in July or August,” he said. “Your Yankee friends and family will melt.” So we picked a June day. It turned out to be the hottest day of the year in the country. And that day, my friends, was the day Kenny learned that “summer wool” is a crock.
Kenny Smith@kennysmith.org · 2d agoY’all. We are almost approaching heat index temperatures like those we enjoyed the day @laurensmith.bsky.social and I got married.
I’m just saying, @brianrosenworcel.bsky.social had the song of the summer last night, and if you weren’t there to see it, your summer is now officially lacking.
You know what makes me happy? The Thunder God @brianrosenworcel.bsky.social absolutely NAILING “If it Makes You Happy” at the end of Guster’s show last night at Penn’s Peak. 1000 out of 10 stars. Highly recommend.
This bag had to fly all by its lonesome on a new plane to Philly last night. Except it went this morning. It was put on two different planes. It’s set up for delivery. But the file is also closed. I’m not going to see my bag again, am I?
Kenny Smith@kennysmith.org · 2mo agoAt Atlanta, when you dump your checked bags for the re-check, you give them to a man who puts them on a conveyor belt, destination mostly known. Our three bags all went into that man’s tender embrace simultaneously. Two of our bags made the second flight. One stayed in the Dirty Dirty. 20/
Look. People need to stop making TV shows based on books when the book series isn’t done yet. My god.
Kenny Smith@kennysmith.org · 3mo agoWe are watching the final episode of Outlander and I am sorely tempted to transcribe @laurensmith.bsky.social’s reaction to all this. (She’s having GoT finale PTSD.)
Diana Gabaldon hasn’t finished the Outlander series. George RR Martin hasn’t finished the Game of Thrones series. If we don’t watch the final episode of Outlander, I don’t risk become absolutely enraged over another stupid Bran-like ending.
Kenny Smith@kennysmith.org · 3mo agoWe just watched the penultimate episode of Outlander. Me: You know, if we don’t watch the finale, Jamie won’t die.* @laurensmith.bsky.social: Maybe he won’t die. Me: You’re right. Maybe he goes far into the future where people don’t die. Ren: He can’t go through the stones, remember? 1/
The second most amusing reaction was my dad, who called me and could do nothing but sputter.
Kenny Smith@kennysmith.org · 3mo agoIt was an epiphany at the very beginning of that episode, I had a whole sequence of plots and through lines. It all made perfect sense for TV and had Martin twists. She, having read the books, played along.
We’ve been rewatching Game of Thrones, and just got to the Red Wedding. Before we watched the first time, @kennysmith.org said he knew what would happen. Rob and Jon would unite, win the war, and rule. I said it was as good a theory as any (I knew the ending.) It was a good theory for 50 min.
I tried really hard to guess too.
Kenny Smith@kennysmith.org · 3mo agoJust played the audio for @laurensmith.bsky.social. I said, “I need you to just visualize who is singing this.” She did her part. Closed her eyes. Listened intently. At the ‘home of the brave’ part I flipped the screen around. “WHY WOULD I EVER GUESS THAT?” Why, indeed. This is the way.
Had an easy 20-miler with @laurensmith.bsky.social in between grading finals. Beautiful day for it. #bikes #cycling #LetsGoRideBiked #TheMilesAhead
If your team's not in a postseason run, or if they are and you need a break from the stress of playoffs, @kennysmith.org talks about 10 sports documentaries celebrating their 10th anniversary this year that should make it on to your queues this summer.
Sport Stories Worth Watching
10 sports documentaries celebrating their 10th anniversary this year.
open.substack.com
Today on Substack, @kennysmith.org looks at the crossover between AI and sports, and why media literacy matters open.substack.com/pub/notjusta...
When Sports Meets AI Slop
"This sort of manufactured outrage is as profitable as it is corrosive"
open.substack.com
You should all go read this post from @bmoritz99.bsky.social - not just because he graciously featured @kennysmith.org’s and my research - but because it provides a great and interesting look at some research around gambling and fantasy sports.
Brian Moritz@bmoritz99.bsky.social · 5mo agoNew at Sports Media Guy: The first of two research roundups from the IACS Summit on Communication and Sport. This one focuses on gambling and stars my friends @laurensmith.bsky.social and @kennysmith.org. sportsmediaguy.substack.com/p/honestly-i...
Tommy Tuberville is a stupid piece of human garbage. When I was in college *mumble* years ago, this was EXACTLY the rule. I sat a season because I transferred 2x. I appealed to show my grades were fine, & the NCAA denied me. So he’s trying to play savior to a system the NCAA broke? Sit down.
Just presented some new research with @laurensmith.bsky.social. Turns out there’s not a lot of work done studying why people stop playing fantasy sports. Let’s dive in! #IACS26
This semester, I have started doing trivia at the start of my mega events class. Today? "Name three people who have won March Madness as both a player and a coach?" I really want to give the answer as "Three people who have never been in my kitchen." IYKYK.
Good things happen when you support and invest in women’s sports, rather than laugh at them. notjustagame.substack.com/p/when-women...
When women AREN'T the punchline
What happens when women's sports are taken seriously.
notjustagame.substack.com
I hope the entire women’s team tells him to take his invite and shove it, and then to go F himself. 🤷🏼♀️
Newsweek@newsweek.com · 6mo agoTrump told the US men’s ice hockey team that he would have to invite the women’s team to the White House as well, or be impeached.
NBC10 Philly reporter Ted Greenberg - who got the short straw and is down the shore - hates life right now.
And this afternoon there are new American flags over Johnny and Matt Gaudreau’s ghost bikes, marking where they were killed. #USAhockey #Olympics #Gaudreau #bikes #cycling @bikesky.social
Kenny Smith@kennysmith.org · 6mo agoThat’s touching. Gold medalists are skating a sweater with Johnny Gaudreau’s name on it. Gaudreau, and his brother Matt, were killed by a drunken motorist while riding bikes in August 2024.
Today’s post by @kennysmith.org explores the notions of fan identity, nationalism, and how quickly a fan will turn on “their” athletes if that athlete dares to use their voice in a way the fan doesn’t agree with.
We Love A Winner...
Unless we disagree with them.
notjustagame.substack.com
We had a conversation about indoor drafting techniques while watching the individual races last night because @laurensmith.bsky.social and I know how to party.
NPR@npr.org · 6mo agoU.S. Team Pursuit speed skaters will top speeds of 30 mph by pushing themselves around the track mere inches from each other. n.pr/4bXHJit
When Simone Biles pulled out from the Olympics in 2021 due to not being in the right mental place, critics piled on. When Lindsay Vonn stayed in the Olympics with a torn ACL, critics piled on. Women: make your choices on your own terms. @josiecox.bsky.social www.thepersistent.com/milan-cortin...
There’s a Lot the Skier Lindsey Vonn Can Teach Us.
First Off, Know Thyself.
thepersistent.com
Is that a tree coming out of it? Or a bone? Why do people ruin food like this?
The Athletic@theathletic.com · 6mo agoThis burger at Super Bowl LX is $180 👀
Why did Bon Jovi introduce the Patriots? BON JOVI. The same Bon Jovi who is from NJ. Who has a friggin rest stop on the Jersey Turnpike named after him. THIS IS NOT OK. #superbowlLX
