Albert Samaha
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samaha.bsky.social
Albert Samaha
@samaha.bsky.social
810 followers 42 following 60 posts
Washington Post journalist & author of “Concepcion” & “Never Ran, Never Will” / Albert.Samaha@washpost.com
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samaha.bsky.social
Jeff Bezos Could’ve Saved The Post But He Didn’t open.substack.com/pub/samaha/p...
Jeff Bezos Could’ve Saved The Post But He Didn’t
I thought my time in local newspapers and digital media had desensitized me to layoffs. But it always hurts to lose something you love.
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:13 PM
samaha.bsky.social
I’ll miss working with all the brilliant folks at @postsports.bsky.social: we published bangers, reached millions of readers, made a real impact. Jeff Bezos killed the world’s best sports section. Here are some stories I’m proud of:
February 10, 2026 at 6:36 PM
samaha.bsky.social
Here’s our story on the gambler accused of orchestrating one of the biggest matchfixing schemes in US history. 

@postsports.bsky.social has long delivered some of the best sports reporting out there. I’m grateful to contribute to that legacy. #SaveThePost

wapo.st/4tv5Co7
‘Cashing all day’: The Instagram star accused of corrupting NCAA hoops
His social media is a flood of diamonds, celebrities and winning betting slips. His edge, prosecutors allege, was paying players to underperform.
wapo.st
February 2, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by Albert Samaha
tomschad.bsky.social
Just wanted to take a minute, for no particular reason whatsoever, and celebrate some of the brilliant work that my
@postsports.bsky.social colleagues have done in recent weeks.

These stories take time and resources. They're also what make The Post so great. All gift links/free to read...
January 26, 2026 at 4:51 PM
samaha.bsky.social
Breaking: FBI is investigating Colts owner Jim Irsay’s death & the doctor who oversaw his addition recovery treatment.

In August, we reported that people close to Irsay were concerned about how much opioids & ketamine Dr. Harry Haroutunian was prescribing.

wapo.st/4bIXfyv
FBI is investigating the death of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay
Irsay, who struggled with addiction, was receiving opioids and ketamine from a California recovery doctor, The Post reported over the summer.
wapo.st
January 22, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Albert Samaha
sam4tr.bsky.social
NFL players are lighting up their agents about the viral electromagnetic field theory for all the San Francisco 49ers injury woes.

@samaha.bsky.social and I decided to investigate:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...
An injured NFL team, a power substation and a theory that won’t fade
A viral online theory for the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries is disputed by scientists but has some players’ attention.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Albert Samaha
postsports.bsky.social
Chris Dailey had one goal: Make it through the 12-hour bus ride from South Bend, Indiana, to his parents’ house in New Jersey without crying.

Our @samaha.bsky.social on the million-dollar kick that one football fan will never forget:
The million-dollar kick that one football fan will never forget
He loved the Irish and dreamed of going to Notre Dame. Then he won the chance kick for life-changing money on its campus.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:16 PM
samaha.bsky.social
A 19-year-old college football fan had a chance to kick a field goal to win $1 million on national television. Here’s a story about what happened next:

wapo.st/49PHKT8
The million-dollar kick that one football fan will never forget
He loved the Irish and dreamed of going to Notre Dame. Then he won the chance to kick for life-changing money on its campus.
wapo.st
January 17, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Albert Samaha
jessedougherty.bsky.social
Here's @samaha.bsky.social with what's going on w/ gambling and college basketball today: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...
Bettors and players fixed dozens of NCAA basketball games, prosecutors say
In the latest gambling scandal to rock sports, a federal indictment accuses bettors and athletes of “point-shaving” in NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:04 PM
samaha.bsky.social
“An injured NFL team, an electronic substation and a theory that won’t fade”

@sam4tr.bsky.social & I dug into the science & the fears surrounding the 49ers now-infamous training facility:

wapo.st/49r1FZq
An injured NFL team, an electronic substation and a theory that won’t fade
A viral online theory for the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries is disputed by scientists but has some players’ attention.
wapo.st
January 15, 2026 at 7:17 PM
samaha.bsky.social
"a point-shaving scheme involving more than 39 players on more than 17 different NCAA Division I men's basketball teams who then fixed and attempted to fix more than 29 NCAA Division I men's basketball games"

Our story on a big new indictment: wapo.st/3NLmq9D
Bettors and players fixed dozens of NCAA basketball games, prosecutors say
In the latest gambling scandal to rock sports, a federal indictment accuses bettors and athletes of “point-shaving” in NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games.
wapo.st
January 15, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Albert Samaha
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 Albert Samaha
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
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
samaha.bsky.social
Thank God I Was Bad At Sports Betting: open.substack.com/pub/samaha/p...
Thank God I Was Bad At Sports Betting
When it's lucky to be unlucky.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
samaha.bsky.social
Betting on table tennis has boomed in recent years. That brought a wave of match-fixing scandals & suspicions as the sport tries to root out corruption. Our story on how that crackdown has impacted one player under investigation:

wapo.st/440pHat
From table tennis to darts, small sports draw big bets — and corruption
As sportsbooks offer more bets on more niche sports, officials and athletes fear corruption.
wapo.st
November 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
samaha.bsky.social
Was this table tennis match rigged?

Gamblers in New Jersey bet against a favored player. Authorities opened an investigation.

Our story dives into the complicated process of distinguishing corruption from coincidence, self-sabotage from honest mistakes: wapo.st/47RtnwA
From table tennis to darts, small sports draw big bets — and corruption
As sportsbooks offer more bets on more niche sports, officials and athletes fear corruption.
wapo.st
November 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
samaha.bsky.social
These days gambling apps offer bets on more sports than ever, from table tennis to darts. But what happens when big-money bettors converge on small-money sports? Match fixers offering more cash than what players can earn in salary or prizes.

Our @postsports.bsky.social story: wapo.st/43l7vIp
From table tennis to darts, small sports draw big bets — and corruption
As sportsbooks offer more bets on more niche sports, officials and athletes fear corruption.
wapo.st
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Albert Samaha
postguild.bsky.social
Statement from Post Guild Leadership: The Washington Post Guild condemns the unjust firing of columnist Karen Attiah
September 15, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Albert Samaha
sam4tr.bsky.social
In his final months, Irsay got ketamine injections as often as 10-14x per day.

Experts consider that a very high number.

The actor Matthew Perry was at the time of his death receiving 6-8x per day.

More context on Irsay’s doctor:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
August 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
samaha.bsky.social
In the months before Colts owner Jim Irsay died, his doctor prescribed him amounts of opioids and ketamine that worried people around him, a @postsports.bsky.social investigation found: wapo.st/4lP5xq6
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.
wapo.st
August 28, 2025 at 11:27 AM
samaha.bsky.social
“A growing number of men have directed their attention to women’s basketball, contributing to a popularity boom that has driven up WNBA revenue, television ratings and cultural relevance. Some have brought old traditions with them.” www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
WNBA fandom is shifting to a more tribal, toxic atmosphere
An explosion in popularity has meant more divisive voices crashing into a community that long-time fans have centered on inclusion.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 7, 2025 at 8:54 PM
samaha.bsky.social
Israel’s war in Gaza has killed 18,500 children. These are their names:

www.washingtonpost.com/world/intera...
60,000 Gazans have been killed. 18,500 were children. These are their names.
Palestinian children have been killed at a rate of more than one per hour since the war began.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
samaha.bsky.social
“Tamura was issued an older model of helmet, which the players jokingly called ‘concussion buckets’ because they didn’t absorb contact as well.”

Our @postsports.bsky.social story on the NYC shooter, a former HS football player who said he believed he had CTE: wapo.st/40FdWVt
New York gunman appeared to target NFL, had mental health history
The suspected Manhattan high-rise shooter, a former high school football player, left a note referencing the brain disease CTE and appeared to have targeted the NFL’s offices, authorities said.
wapo.st
July 29, 2025 at 9:44 PM
samaha.bsky.social
Men newly tuning into the WNBA have brought a toxic, tribal vibe. And longtime fans who built a culture of inclusion are getting priced out. Our story on the cost of progress in the W: wapo.st/4nzxYub
WNBA fandom is shifting to a more tribal, toxic atmosphere
An explosion in popularity has meant more divisive voices crashing into a community that long-time fans have centered on inclusion.
wapo.st
July 7, 2025 at 12:57 PM