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sam4tr.bsky.social
Sam Fortier
@sam4tr.bsky.social
6.8K followers 190 following 79 posts
National sports feature writer @washingtonpost.com.
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Sam Fortier @sam4tr.bsky.social · Nov 17
New: How Kawhi’s "Uncle Dennis" helped spark the sports scandal of the year.

▶️ Steve Ballmer, Jerry West depositions
▶️ Private texts, Magic voicemails
▶️ An equity fight involving a Knicks star
▶️ Kawhi's private airport

Investigation w/ @samaha.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
The rise of ‘Uncle Dennis,’ the adviser at the center of an NBA scandal
Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and adviser helped him build his business -- and courted controversy in the process.
www.washingtonpost.com
Reposted by Sam Fortier
jessedougherty.bsky.social
It was The Year of the Massive Coaching Buyout.

But in only one state, and with only one major school, did the governor make himself the main character.

Inside Jeff Landry's clash with LSU and the school's pursuit of Lane Kiffin (w/ @sam4tr.bsky.social): www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
An excerpt of a Washington Post story about Louisiana governor Jeff Landry, who was very involved with LSU football this fall, even with people across the state unhappy about that involvement.
December 31, 2025 at 2:43 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
News: As LSU pursued Lane Kiffin, Gov. Jeff Landry backchanneled w/ school officials to request — in writing — a contractual provision that put someone other than the school on the hook for any potential buyout.

Inside LSU's plan w @jessedougherty.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
LSU, a governor and a $91 million lesson in college football’s power
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has long used sports as a political cudgel, but nothing riles up his state like Tigers football.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:38 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
The Cincinnati Bengals broke Joe Burrow’s spirit
December 8, 2025 at 2:32 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
The most famous middle-school QB in America just scored his first NFL TD — 15 years later:
November 24, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Sam Fortier
jessedougherty.bsky.social
I profiled Azzi Fudd.

After all the injuries and doubt, and dealing with that as her life became more and more public, here's a story of getting back to once was — mentally, physically — then becoming even better: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
Azzi Fudd was a can’t-miss basketball star. Then she had to prove it again.
Injuries and self-doubt nearly derailed a prodigy. Now in her final college season, she has rediscovered just how good she can be.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Sam Fortier
jessedougherty.bsky.social
Read the story, linked below, from @sam4tr.bsky.social, @jorgeribas.bsky.social and me.

These ads tell a story about 2025 and how universities leverage the precious ad space during college football games.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
November 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Sam Fortier
jessedougherty.bsky.social
You know those university ads?

The ones with shots of the leafy quad + students looking into a microscope?

A lot of them look different this football season, focusing more on specific research initiatives.

And one reason why is the reason for a lot of things in this country.

An example:
November 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
College ads, a staple of sports TV, are changing in response to Trump's attacks on higher ed.

Unis are replacing rah-rah spots w/ specific stories about how research improves life in their communities.

W/ @jessedougherty.bsky.social & @jorgeribas.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
November 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Sam Fortier
samaha.bsky.social
Kawhi Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson has left a trail of conflict through the NBA. 

@sam4tr.bsky.social & I spoke w dozens of ppl & got biz filings, property records, texts, voicemails & court docs, including a Steve Ballmer deposition.

Our story in @postsports.bsky.social: wapo.st/4oNuTXM
The rise of ‘Uncle Dennis,’ the adviser at the center of an NBA scandal
Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and adviser helped him build his business -- and courted controversy in the process.
wapo.st
November 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
New: How Kawhi’s "Uncle Dennis" helped spark the sports scandal of the year.

▶️ Steve Ballmer, Jerry West depositions
▶️ Private texts, Magic voicemails
▶️ An equity fight involving a Knicks star
▶️ Kawhi's private airport

Investigation w/ @samaha.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
The rise of ‘Uncle Dennis,’ the adviser at the center of an NBA scandal
Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and adviser helped him build his business -- and courted controversy in the process.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:55 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
That was the worst NFL Sunday in decades.

I did the math to prove it:
October 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
One of the best pieces of sports writing of the year.

Great work by @jessedougherty.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
This basketball prospect is making millions – backed by a sports dad like no other
Want a piece of AJ Dybantsa, basketball’s next big thing? ‘You have to go through’ his dad.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
I wrote about the Holy War.

▶️ Inflection point for the BYU-Utah rivalry
▶️ Seismic shifts roiling the state and sport
▶️ Man arrested for threatening to shoot Utah fans at the game
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
Utah leaders pleading for peace ahead of tensest ‘Holy War’ game in years
The rivalry between BYU and Utah has been amped up by an influx of NIL money, public bickering and even a threat of violence.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:27 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
I ranked famous sports press conference moments with my boy (and former TA) @dereklikessports.bsky.social.

🥉 I’m just here so I won’t get fined
🥈 They are who we thought they were!
🥇??

Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/16G1...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Sam Fortier
tomschad.bsky.social
And lastly: If you missed it last winter, be sure to check out this @sam4tr.bsky.social story on today's starter Marcus Mariota.

The QB went deep on injury anxiety, perfectionism and his time here in ATL: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/...
Marcus Mariota confronted his anxiety, then found peace in Washington
No longer a perfectionist, the Commanders’ veteran quarterback is offering true life experience as Jayden Daniels’s backup.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 28, 2025 at 2:51 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
When the WNBA playoffs tip off today, the future of women’s hoops will shine bright.

But off the court, tension between the players and team owners threatens to derail their progress.

I dug into the league’s labor negotiations w/ @kareemcopeland.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
How much are WNBA players worth? The league’s future lies in the answer.
Players want half of league revenue. The WNBA is preaching “sustainability.” With the current deal set to expire next month, who will blink?
www.washingtonpost.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:33 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
The Washington Commanders started sloppily. For the first time in years, ‘that’s exciting.’

A dispatch from the locker room.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
‘There’s plenty to clean up’ for a Commanders team with big expectations
What worked in Sunday’s season-opening win against the Giants won’t necessarily work again Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:22 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
Everything went well for Commanders newcomers in Week 1 — including @tomschad.bsky.social:
September 8, 2025 at 12:19 AM
sam4tr.bsky.social
Breaking: NFL owner Jim Irsay secretly relapsed, got ketamine from 'luxury' doctor before death.

➡️ Irsay and Colts execs misled the public
➡️ Irsay overdosed three times between 2020 and May death
➡️ Serious concerns raised about his doctor’s care
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
NFL owner secretly relapsed, got ketamine from private doctor before death
As a recovery doctor provided ketamine and opioids, Colts owner Jim Irsay spent his final years suffering through a relapse that he and executives hid from the public.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by Sam Fortier
jessedougherty.bsky.social
This is a fascinating read from @sam4tr.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
D.C. wants 200 events a year at its new stadium. Should bar mitzvahs count?
From bar mitzvahs and weddings to board meetings and conferences, private events increasingly shape the debate over NFL stadiums.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
I dug into the world of modern NFL stadium event planning to parse a heated debate:

How much are NFL stadiums used?

I found the gap between numbers used by critics (eight) and boosters (200) comes down to mostly private events — like an epic bar mitzvah.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
D.C. wants 200 events a year at its new stadium. Should bar mitzvahs count?
From bar mitzvahs and weddings to board meetings and conferences, private events increasingly shape the debate over NFL stadiums.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Sam Fortier
postsports.bsky.social
What are the next steps toward a new stadium? What would it be called? How much would the city of D.C. pay toward stadium costs?

Here’s what you need to know about the deal between D.C. and the Commanders. (via @nickijhabvala.bsky.social and @sam4tr.bsky.social)
What to know about the Commanders’ stadium deal with D.C.
There is a long way to go before fans are streaming down East Capitol Street on game day.
washingtonpost.com
April 29, 2025 at 9:56 PM
sam4tr.bsky.social
D.C., Commanders plan to announce deal for new stadium at RFK.

Reporting w/ Meagan Flynn and @nickijhabvala.bsky.social:
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
D.C., Commanders plan to announce deal for new stadium at RFK
Details of the deal — which must be approved by the D.C. Council — are expected to be announced by Commanders principal owner Josh Harris and Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) at a news conference Monday mor...
www.washingtonpost.com
April 28, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Sam Fortier
postsports.bsky.social
✅ OL Josh Conerly Jr.
✅ CB Trey Amos
✅ WR Jaylin Lane
✅ LB Kain Medrano
✅ RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt

The Commanders made five picks in this year’s NFL draft. Here’s how they’ll fit. (via @sam4tr.bsky.social)
Analysis | Commanders 2025 draft tracker: How every Washington pick fits
Washington picked Oregon T Josh Conerly Jr., Mississippi CB Trey Amos, Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane, UCLA LB Kain Medrano and Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 27, 2025 at 2:04 AM
sam4tr.bsky.social
I analyzed how all five of the Washington Commanders draft picks fit in …

… and explained the complicated eligibility issue that cost 7th-rd RB Jacory Crowley-Merritt nearly all of last season:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
Analysis | Commanders 2025 draft tracker: How every Washington pick fits
Washington picked Oregon T Josh Conerly Jr., Mississippi CB Trey Amos, Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane, UCLA LB Kain Medrano and Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 27, 2025 at 12:29 AM