Venkataraman: Sharks poised for playoff breakthrough
The San Jose Sharks are no stranger to postseason heartbreak. As a Bay Area transplant, having moved to Cupertino in 2004, my first interaction with the franchise was through my...
Venkataraman: Take Gronk off Madden cover
The fact that Rob Gronkowski is this year's Madden cover athlete is ... wait for it ... maddening. Now that we have gotten this tailor-made pun out of the way,...
Venkataraman: Leicester who?
Like Worcestershire sauce or Gloucester, Massachusetts, the apparent birthplace of the pink lawn flamingo, the "ces" in Leicester is silent. Located in the East Midlands of England, in the ceremonial...
Venkataraman: Quick hits on the NFL Draft
There is a huge advantage to turning in columns late – you occasionally get the opportunity to react on events that most others have no chance to write about. Take...
Venkataraman: QB gamble too risky
The quarterback position has always been the most glamorous in football. From the days of Namath and Unitas to the present, the quarterback has always been the erstwhile face of...
Venkataraman: 73, 60
Folks more capable than I will analyze, comment on and wax poetic about the Golden State Warriors and their mind-melding 73rd win of the season, about Stephen Curry's induction into the...
Venkataraman: The pressure of history
I've seen many a team spring a leak due to unmanageable expectations. I've watched with my own eyes as passes that would otherwise be caught uncharacteristically bounce off the hands,...
Venkataraman: The many faces of LeBron James
Few players in the NBA command as much attention as LeBron James has over the course of his storied career. From making the jump to the NBA straight from high...