Deron Snyder
Articles by Deron Snyder
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers draft pick, puts sports and politics back in the mix
Another athlete has made national headlines for his political views, for stances that drew attention from the White House. But this time, President Trump is singing the player's praises. Published April 29, 2019
Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins destinations make this NFL draft super intriguing
It's possible that Arizona's best offers will come after Murray is off the board, essentially putting Rosen on the market against the likes of Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins, Missouri's Drew Lock and Duke's Daniel Jones. Published April 24, 2019
Russell Westbrook feud with reporter dings NBA
Athletes who are rudely uncooperative with the press do a disservice to their league, in general, and to emotionally invested fans, in particular. That's not good for business or public relations. Published April 22, 2019
Alex Ovechkin shouldn’t be blamed for fighting in hockey
If the league opts to eliminate the practice, fine. But Monday night's main event shouldn't be the deciding factor. That would be a classic overreaction to an unfortunate set of circumstances, a knee-jerk decision fueled by optics, not a clear-headed move based on facts. Published April 17, 2019
Tiger Woods, back on top, reminds us that wannabes need not apply
What can we say about the 43-year-old golf star, fresh off his first Masters win since 2005 and first major triumph in 11 years? Try this: No one else is Tiger Woods. Published April 15, 2019
Magic Johnson did the Lakers — and himself — a favor by stepping down
There's something to be said for realizing you're unhappy and taking steps to change it. There's no getting around the fact that he handled his departure poorly. But whether he "owed" it to James, Buss and/or the franchise to stick around longer is debatable. In fact, you could argue that Johnson has done the Lakers a favor, removing himself as an absentee executive whose heart wasn't in the job. Published April 10, 2019
Tom Dundon goes down as AAF’s killer instead of rescuing the league
Tom Dundon came to the AAF bearing gifts -- a $250 million investment in February -- which just so happened to give him complete control. Then he took the fledgling spring league by the throat and choked it to death. Published April 8, 2019
Wizards cast Ernie Grunfeld aside, now await rescue leader
The Wizards ditching Ernie Grunfeld doesn't come close to fixing everything that ails the franchise. It just represents a chance to right some wrongs. Published April 3, 2019
Bryce Harper deserves best unless he’s in D.C.
It's funny to me -- and kind of sad -- when grownups get their feelings hurt, as if an athlete signing elsewhere is a personal affront. Published April 1, 2019
Scherzer, deGrom create feeling of mutual respect in opposing dugouts
The Washington Nationals' margin for error was razor-thin against an ace like Jacob deGrom, and mistakes were magnified. Published March 28, 2019
Bryce Harper gone? No problem for reloaded Nationals
Bryce Harper is gone and the Nationals' streak of fruitless postseasons remains. Nothing is going to change the first fact, but obliterating the latter is well within the realm of possibilities. Published March 27, 2019
Rob Gronkowski is irreplaceable and Rendon isn’t far behind
Once again, it's time to check off some items on Deron Snyder's "TIDU List" -- Things I Don't Understand. Published March 25, 2019
SNYDER: On money, athletes take heat either way
Folks use baseball contracts to mock Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray for choosing football with its nonguaranteed deals. And then those same folks criticize athletes like Bryce Harper and Antonio Brown for chasing the last dollar. We can't have it both ways. Published March 20, 2019
NCAA Tournament a nice distraction from admissions scandal, other issues
These issues will take a back seat as the tournament gets underway Tuesday with the First Four. The matters will be far from our minds in three weeks, when the Final Four ends and "One Shining Moment" begins. Published March 18, 2019
John Dorsey has transformed Browns
Like Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady," Cleveland was a guttersnipe, one of the league's most raggedy franchises for nearly a quarter-century before John Dorsey showed up as Professor Henry Higgins. Published March 13, 2019
Siding with players like Antonio Brown should be your natural inclination
One moment, Brown had zero dollars in guaranteed money over the next three years, plus a dysfunctional relationship with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The next moment, Brown was headed to the Raiders with $30 million in his pocket and a coach who gushes over him. Published March 11, 2019
Prosecutors taking wrong approach in NCAA probe
We still have a long way to go in what's essentially United States v. College Basketball As We Know It. Tuesday's development -- in which two former Adidas executives and an aspiring NBA agent received jail time -- was nothing compared to what might lie ahead. Published March 6, 2019
Antonio Brown can go bonkers somewhere else
If Antonio Brown's acting up with Pittsburgh -- where he has reached the playoffs in six of nine seasons and never experienced a losing record -- he's liable to go completely bonkers with Washington. Published March 4, 2019
Bryce Harper’s excellent adventure now looks more like a bad horror flick
Surely, the finale is approaching and the credits are about to roll as "Bryce Harper's Unfortunate Offseason" fades to black. Expected to be a blockbuster adventure, it has been a dud of a horror flick, with Harper and agent Scott Boras as the victims and the market playing the killer. Published February 27, 2019
No good reason to bar high school players from NBA draft
I ask the question for the umpteenth time: Is prohibiting high school basketball players from the draft REALLY about their welfare? If so, why isn't there equal concern about delaying professional paychecks for prep golfers, actors, tennis players, singers, etc.? Published February 25, 2019