Deron Snyder
Articles by Deron Snyder
SNYDER: Lessons provided by winning, losing more important than participating
When Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison made it known he would return his son's participation trophies, he addressed a trend of rewarding children merely for showing up, not for their actual achievement. Published August 17, 2015
SNYDER: Johnny Manziel hopes similar path to Robert Griffin III ends soon
Griffin and Manziel have a lot in common, but two years behind Griffin in experience, Manziel, who will meet his counterpart in a preseason game on Thursday, will try to avoid a similar fate. Published August 12, 2015
SNYDER: Stain of legal matters can follow athletes even if charges are cleared
Suspects should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but part of being a star is dealing with the spotlight, which Patrick Kane and Aldon Smith each learned last week. Published August 10, 2015
SNYDER: Participation in athletics still a vital part of educational system
As school districts continue to cut funding from their athletic budgets to preserve other vital programs, research shows that 27 percent of American high schools will not offer athletic programs by 2020. Published August 5, 2015
SNYDER: When getting a second chance, it always helps to be talented
Football players, executives and entertainers all have one thing in common when it comes to getting another opportunity: Somehow, they "deserve" that chance. Published August 3, 2015
SNYDER: Nationals’ trade for Jonathan Papelbon about smarts, not heart
Papelbon has been lights-out in the postseason over his career and is 12th all-time with 342 saves, and his acquisition late Tuesday showed general manager Mike Rizzo has his team's best intentions on his mind. Published July 29, 2015
SNYDER: Colin Cowherd’s rant about simplicity of baseball took ugly, wrong turn
Cowherd's questioning of baseball tactics veered in the wrong direction last week when, in an attempt to prove the simplicity of the game, he singled out players from the Dominican Republic as being uneducated. Published July 27, 2015
SNYDER: Only one man can free Washington of Robert Griffin III
Griffin has overshadowed his entire organization and served as a lightning rod for controversy ever since his arrival in 2012. If a recent poll of NFL insiders is accurate, only Griffin can rescue himself. Published July 22, 2015
SNYDER: Oversaturation of coverage makes cutting the cord increasingly realistic
It's not difficult to find the latest results or highlights regardless of the magnitude of the sporting event, making it even more likely that networks such as ESPN will have to find a way to hold on to the viewers they covet. Published July 20, 2015
SNYDER: Regardless of appearance, Serena Williams a champion who still can’t win
Williams is proud of her muscular and toned body, but that she continues to deal with criticisms about the way she looks is reflective of our society's obsession with norms for beauty and femininity. Published July 15, 2015
SNYDER: Confidence, not cockiness, has lifted Bryce Harper to new heights
Reviled around the league for his antics, much of which are magnified and miscast, Harper's performance for the Nationals this season has turned him into a man that fans love to hate. Published July 13, 2015
SNYDER: In heading to Spurs, David West showing he’s only thinking about himself
By passing up a $12.6 million contract with the Pacers, his former team, to chase a championship on a $1.6 million contract with the Spurs, West has shown that his focus is only on one thing. Published July 8, 2015
SNYDER: In today’s NBA, players don’t need bright lights to become superstars
Gone are the days when a player could market his brand by playing in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago. For players like LaMarcus Aldridge, it's possible to remain a star while tucked away in San Antonio. Published July 6, 2015
SNYDER: Difficult to see why Paul Pierce would be a villain if he leaves Washington
Pierce, who opted out of his contract with the Wizards last week, has a chance to return to his native Los Angeles and finish his career with the Clippers and Doc Rivers, his former coach. Published July 1, 2015
SNYDER: As NASCAR has learned, use of Confederate flag simply bad for business
CEO Brian France made it clear this weekend that the organization wants to "eliminate the presence of that flag," knowing that its use, while not in an official capacity, has tainted the perception of the sport. Published June 29, 2015
SNYDER: Roger Goodell trying to avoid embarrassment in Tom Brady appeal
Goodell served as the arbiter during Brady's appeal of a four-game suspension on Tuesday, likely because he knew that anyone else would have overruled his haphazard discipline. Published June 24, 2015
DERON SNYDER: Media’s false racial perceptions can skew reality on courts and in churches
If you wonder why some folks harbor such negative perceptions, here's a good place to start: That's what they're fed on a routine basis. Published June 22, 2015
SNYDER: On and off the field, we should all be color blind
The portrayals of black men in mainstream media outlets, especially in athletics, have only helped to foster sentiments and the vitriol espoused by Dylann Roof last week in Charleston, South Carolina. Published June 22, 2015
SNYDER: LeBron James didn’t get ending he wanted, but the rest of the NBA did
While James leading the Cavaliers to their first NBA title would have been a better narrative, the Warriors' championship victory, and how they earned it, provided an ending to the season that was just as fitting. Published June 17, 2015
SNYDER: By not going big, versatile Warriors show unwillingness to go home
Andre Iguodala's emergence, and Andrew Bogut on the bench, provided a new dimension and a new life as the Warriors moved one win away from their first NBA title in 40 years. Published June 15, 2015
