Dear Sports Fan is oriented around answering questions people have about sports. Whether it’s “what’s happening this week in the sports world?” or “what does third down and six mean?” if you’ve got a question, we want to have an answer. Of course, sometimes one curiosity leads to another and you end up wanting to learn a bunch about a single sport. If that’s the case, then this table of contents should provide a good map for your exploration. Enjoy!
Learn about Football
Football 101
Why do people like football?
What are down and distance?
How does scoring work?
How does fantasy football work?
Football betting
TV Graphics: NBC and ESPN NFL
TV Graphics: Fox and CBS NFL
Play the run/pass game
Football 201: Positions
Quarterback
Running Back
Wide Receiver
Tight End
Offensive LIne
Defensive Line
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Kicker
Football 202: Offense
What is a snap?
Why does a lineman slap the center’s butt?
What is a false start?
What does it mean to throw the ball away?
Why do quarterbacks slide?
What is a spike? Why would you fake it?
How does kneeling work?
Football 203: Defense and Special Teams
What is a blitz?
What is identifying the Mike linebacker?
How do punts work?
How are punts exciting?
Football 220: Fantasy Football
How does fantasy football work?
How to enjoy a fantasy football draft
What are some tips for your first draft?
What is a trade in fantasy football?
What does it mean to start/sit someone in fantasy?
Why do fantasy football playoffs start so soon?
Football 301: Brain Injuries
What do we know about brain injuries?
How do brain injuries or concussions happen?
Why should football care about brain injuries?
Why can’t we fix football by changing its rules?
How to save football: the solution
Learn about soccer
Soccer 101
Why do people like soccer?
How does the World Cup work?
Why do soccer players dive?
Why do soccer players pass the ball back so much?
Soccer 201: Positions and Logistics
How do substitutions work in soccer?
What is a goalie or goaltender?
What is a defender or fullback?
What is a midfielder?
What is a forward or striker?
What is stoppage time in soccer?
How do overtime and shootouts work?
Soccer 202: Culture
What do the 20 most common strange soccer terms mean?
Why do soccer fans whistle?
What’s the difference between playing well and playing good?
Is soccer liberal? Why?
Why do soccer players blame the ball?
Soccer 203: Crime and Punishment
How do red and yellow cards work?
What is a set piece?
What kinds of set pieces are there?
What is a penalty kick?
What is being offside?
What does advantage mean in soccer?
Soccer 204: Events/Leagues
How does European Club soccer work?
How does the Champions League work?
Why is Major League Soccer like an NYC co-op?
What is El Clasico?
Soccer 301
How does the away goals tie-breaker work?
What is a nutmeg and where does the word come from?
Learn about hockey
Detailed posts coming soon. Click the “learn about” link for a full list of all hockey posts.
Learn about basketball
Detailed posts coming soon. Click the “learn about” link for a full list of all basketball posts.
Learn about baseball
Detailed posts coming soon. Click the “learn about” link for a full list of all baseball posts.
Learn about tennis
Detailed posts coming soon. Click the “learn about” link for a full list of all tennis posts.
Learn about golf
Detailed posts coming soon. Click the “learn about” link for a full list of all golf posts.
Learn about car racing
Detailed posts coming soon. Click the “learn about” link for a full list of all car racing posts.
Learn about the Olympics
Detailed posts coming soon. Click the “learn about” link for a full list of all Olympics posts.
Learn about other sports
Detailed posts coming soon. Click the “learn about” link for a full list of all posts about sports not already mentioned.