Money Is Ruining Youth Sports - The Atlantic

As a die-hard Lakers fan, the 2010s will always stand out to me as the time when I began to love basketball. I watched because I actually cared about the teams, players and action on the floor. From watching the Lakers and Celtics rivalry to Kobe Bryant’s prime performances, my desire to watch solely stemmed from the love of the game at a time when betting apps weren’t even remotely prevalent. As I got a little older and entered the early 2020s, I began feeling like some things in basketball were becoming more questionable. Between 2019 and 2026, the league had eight different champions without a repeat winner.

Another gem from ace Drew Rasmussen and just enough offence from their high-pressure lineup paced the Rays to a win over the Guardians on Sunday.