Sports
American Major League Soccer (MLS) has long struggled to sustain an engaged and spirited fan base like its sister leagues in South America, Europe, and other regions of the world where soccer has a stronger foothold — no pun intended. Since his debut in July 2023, it is indisputable that Messi has quickly transformed Inter Miami. He scored in his first seven appearances, catalyzing Miami to unseen success in the MLS-LIGA tournament and MLS bracket. There is no question that Messi is one of the most talented individuals to grace our fields. Still, some might question whether or not he is capable of bringing about the transformative change needed to popularize MLS in America.
At a party recently, I heard a friend of mine, a non-athlete, say something along the lines of, “I don’t have any idea what goes on in Skidmore athletics.” When I asked her why she thought that was, she responded that she just didn’t care that much about sports. This refrain is common among many Skidmore students who do not participate in sports. Compared to other, larger schools, this is odd. Student spectator turnout at games is low, as it is at many liberal arts colleges, but why is this the case? Why don’t Skidmore students care about sports?
At the beginning of October, the Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season wrapped up and moved on to postseason games. The MLB postseason is a high stakes series of playoff games spanning the month of October to determine which teams will compete in the World Series. This October so far has been a postseason of ups and downs with unexpected teams taking the top spots. If you haven’t been paying attention, fear not. This is a comprehensive and rather simple guide to the postseason, so you can jump right on the bandwagon when the World Series rolls around at the end of the month.
For the first time since the 2017-2018 season, the Thoroughbreds took home the Liberty League title with an impressive 54-52 win on the road at #1-seed Ithaca College on February 26. The team ended the season with a 22-5 record, marking the program record for most wins in a season. The team then celebrated Skidmore women’s basketball’s first-ever NCAA tournament win, defeating Johns Hopkins University 62-59 with an incredible comeback in the fourth quarter. Though the historic playoff run was cut short by a 59-50 loss to Tufts University the next day, there is no doubt that this Thoroughbreds team was dynamic, energetic, and committed.
I was extremely fortunate to catch up with Michael Thorbjornsen, the world’s third-ranked amateur golfer. We discussed overcoming adversity on the golf course, having his best friend as his caddie, and competing in professional events against his childhood idols.
On Monday, February 13, Czech Republic’s Jakub Jankto came out via an earnest video posted to his social media accounts. The third active male soccer player, and some claim the highest-profile one, to come out, ever. Jankto is currently playing for the Czech Republic’s AC Sparta Prague club, on loan from Spanish club Getafe, where he will return next season. He has been a part of the Czech national team since 2017 and has made 45 appearances for them at the international level.
New York Red Bulls and U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) defender John Tolkin is only 20 years old, but has matured into a world-class professional soccer player. I was lucky to have the chance to discuss many topics with him, including the importance of “betting on yourself,” being process oriented, and recognizing mental health. As impressive as his performances on the field are, the elite mentality of the rising star is equally inspiring.
The long awaited 2022 FIFA World Cup is now here and being hosted in Qatar from November 20th to December 18th. Games will be played across eight stadiums, all within a 22 mile radius of Doha, the capital city. Qatar won the right to host after a controversial bidding process in which several FIFA members were accused of bribery, amongst other corrupt practices. Not only was the bidding process problematic, but Qatar's suitability to host has repeatedly been called into question for a number of reasons, including the hot climate and more concerningly, their human rights record.
Tua Tagovailoa rejoined the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, 10/23, following a two-week absence due to multiple head injuries. The quarterback was brutally sacked in a game during Week 3 of the National Football League (NFL) season against the Buffalo Bills, where his head was hit with immense force on the turf and he struggled to walk after. The team’s medical staff, however, cleared Tagovailoa to play for the rest of the game. The next week, the 24-year-old suffered a concussion in Cincinnati during a game, this time with much more serious consequences. After an intense hit, he was seen lying on the field unmoving with his fingers clenched in stiff, unnatural positions.
Skidmore 2022 Fall Sports are off to an incredible start, with many teams exceeding expectations and thriving as the midway point of the season approaches. On behalf of Skidmore News, we wanted to give an update on the fall sports teams, as well as sharing an interview with an athlete from each team to give some insight into how our student athletes are approaching the season. We hope you enjoy it!