On the Bench: Equal pay for equal play

It’s no secret that professional athletes earn quite a hefty salary. Athletes can earn millions of dollars each year just for playing sports. However, like many other jobs in the U.S., gender plays a huge part in an athlete’s pay grade. The U.S. women’s national soccer team is taking a stand against the pay inequality […]

On the Bench: Sharapova’s doping disappointment

Maria Sharapova, one of the world’s most renowned female athletes, has marred her nearly perfect tennis career after testing positive for the drug meldonium. The tennis superstar failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open and could possibly face a four-year suspension. The World Anti-Doping Agency placed meldonium on its ever-growing list of banned […]

On the Bench: The NFL should play it safe

New stadiums, relocations, rule changes and, of course, money are currently the big issues taking the National Football League by storm. However, there is a more pressing issue that the NFL should consider first: player safety. The NFL has avoided the issue of player safety for years, only taking small, mostly ineffective steps to solve […]

On the Bench: A tribute to Peyton Manning

After a show-stopping 18-year career, Peyton Manning bid the National Football League farewell. Following his second career Super Bowl win against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, the 39-year-old ended his career in style and left the league as a true champion. Manning has been a part of most American’s sacred Sunday afternoon ritual […]

On the Bench: Sponsors should drop Pacquiao

High-profile individuals are constantly a source of conflict in the media. It seems like our favorite public figures are always causing controversy and saying outlandish things to get themselves in trouble. This trend of public controversy has been especially prominent with athletes. From social issues to politics, athletes are always offering their opinions, even when […]

On the Bench: Fans matter, too

Fans are the most important element of professional sports leagues. Without fans, there would be no one to fill the stands or buy the merchandise and, generally, no reason for professional sports to even exist. Therefore, a majority of sports leagues like to include their fans in a number of different events and activities throughout […]