James Kratch

Reporting on the business of youth sports for @BuyingSandlot. Former NFL and college sports beat writer. Daily Gamecock alumni. Mike Francesa ripped me once.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

It’s hard to say it’s about making money when they’re going to cut six-figure checks to import tomato cans instead.

[Dana O'Neil @DanaONeilWriter]

I get that the Big 5 is tricky to keep alive. I get that schools need $$ more than ever. I also hate that absolutely nothing matters anymore - not tradition, not fan interest, not commitment to peers, not the greater good - except making money.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

Kevin Willard finally succeeds at killing a northeastern college hoops institution.

[Sam Federman @Sam_Federman]

INBOX: Villanova is out of the Big 5.

Round robin format is back for the other five schools.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

I had this happen while covering Rutgers — university flaks should not be releasing statements on behalf of campus police departments. They are a law enforcement agency. They should speak for themselves with no coordination.

[Testudo Times @testudotimes]

Official statement from a Maryland spokesperson on behalf of UMPD and Maryland Athletics regarding a police dispatch's interaction with Testudo Times reporters:

"UMPD was contacted today, October 21, 2026, about two individuals who were standing outside of Jones Hill House. Due to heightened concerns for staff and player safety around the football program in recent weeks, there has been increased security around athletics facilities. A UMPD officer approached the two individuals, learned they were with a campus media organization, recorded student IDs, and no report was taken.

UMPD and Maryland Athletics respect the First Amendment rights of all journalists reporting in public spaces."

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

Hopefully someone can FOIA the call to campus police and post it on the internet.

[Nolan Rogalski @NolanRogalski]

For @testudotimes, @JudeWilkenfeld and I were outside Jones-Hill House trying to get players to comment. An athletics staffer took pictures of us, and a police dispatch was called for suspicious activity; a cop and 2 cop cars pulled up, and officers ID’d us and asked us to leave.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

I now would like to go back in time and inform 14-year-old me that when we're 37, the Rays will have appeared in the World Series more times than the Yankees in the time that will elapse.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

Mike Francesa endorsed Donald Trump for President. I wish I could go back in time and tell 14-year-old me I'd write that sentence someday.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

AI can’t do this!

[Patrick Reusse @Patrick_Reusse]

Ability of SID dept. to put positive headlines on its college’s Website is endlessly impressive.
Yeah, Oles:

Dillon runs for long touchdown, football bested by No. 15/17 Bethel https://t.co/RP2DoI0Rto

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

Why is this not public information?

[Central Jersey Sports Radio @CJSportsRadio]

Gonna throw this out there because I know you all know the behind the scenes stuff. There are FOUR #NJFootball teams ineligible for the playoffs due to DQs. We know Lindenwold and Buena. Who are the others? Gotta be some coaches out there who know. Need to know who to leave out, if at all, for our projections. Otherwise, we can't give accurate projections. Anyone? If you want to stay private, DM us. -Mike @WJFCA2020 @NJICathletics @SFCFootballNJ @JSSInsider @ShoreSports_NJ @bigstatesports @MikeKinneyHS @SimeonPincus @bordenfb4ever @guy_kipp

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

The universe is paying Rutgers back 48 years after the Chinese national team refused to play OT at the Garden. https://t.co/5oXnQWoy5d

[Zach Braziller @NYPost_Brazille]

You're not going to believe this ... Quadruple OT. #sjubb

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

@GrahamCoffeyDC The one counter I would offer as an SEC graduate and former Big Ten beat reporter: Every SEC game still has emotional stakes for the fanbases. It’s still a real conference. The Big Ten is a soulless TV contract.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

A great use of the diplomatic skills he honed while dealing with Luis Severino's arbitration case.

[Nick Reisman @NickReisman]

Yankees President Randy Levine floated as a possible Trump chief of staff…

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

The Giants have shifted from pretending he's moments away from becoming Reggie White to now explaining how the uneducated world just cannot appreciate his value.

[Jordan Raanan @JordanRaanan]

Coach John Harbaugh thinks people are "underestimating" Kayvon Thibodeaux's contributions. He said the tape is what tells the story, not just the stats. Thinks there are plenty of good and physical plays.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

@raaahhvamp No, it was complete bullshit. It was denied by the team and his attorney. The FBI would have confirmed it if true and it would have been a massive national story.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

The 2023 tweet where McAfee falsely reported an FBI raid on an NFL coach's home is, incredibly, still up.

https://t.co/nZYSOfOZ8h

[Front Office Sports @FOS]

Pat McAfee is "a journalist at heart," says Mike Foss, who oversees McAfee's show for ESPN.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

@richdemarco That makes sense. But if they're concerned about making it they should have been more eager to get two cracks at moving closer?

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

If so, Washington obviously has no excuse for not knowing the rules. But NFL overtime is unnecessarily complicated and confusing.

There should be no OT in the regular season. But since that will not happen, they should just play a full 10-minute period to conclusion.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

I am now convinced the Commanders somehow thought the Giants would get the ball back if they kicked a field goal.

It was second-and-8. If they wanted to get closer, they had two plays to do so. Why drain unnecessary clock, including putting a man in motion?

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

I am now convinced the Commanders somehow thought the Giants would get the ball back if they kicked a field goal.

It was second-and-8. If they wanted to get closer, they had two plays to do so. Why drain unnecessary clock, including putting a man in motion?

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

The game ends on the field goal. You have no timeouts. Why are you taking all that sweet time? Putting men in motion?

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

Dan Quinn should be fired for that.

[James Kratch @JamesKratch]

@TJHitchings There should a federal law banning alternate uniforms in rivalry games. I also cannot understand why schools use them in conference title games and when they are trying for big upsets.