Slate Daily Feed What Next | Daily News and Analysis - 2025: The Game of the Year
Dec 29, 2025
Alex Kirshner, a contributing writer at Slate and co-host of popular sports podcasts, dives into the intense sports rivalry between Canada and the U.S. in 2025. He debates the moral complexities of World Series Game 7 and the chaos of the Four Nations hockey tournament. The discussion highlights Conor McDavid's thrilling gold medal goal and the impact of gambling on sports integrity, challenging the financial ties between sports media and sportsbooks. Kirshner weaves in politics, showcasing how it reshaped fans' engagement with major sporting events.
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Greatness And Repulsion In One Game
- Game 7 of the World Series was both one of the greatest games ever and morally repulsive to watch.
- Alex Kirshner says the Dodgers' luck felt obscene given their status as baseball's richest, most dominant team.
Four Nations Reboots International Hockey
- The Four Nations tournament reunited NHL players for international play for the first time in years.
- Alex Kirshner recounts the new tournament featuring the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and Finland and why it mattered.
Fight-Filled Opener Stokes Rivalry
- The first Canada–U.S. Four Nations game featured three fights in the opening nine seconds and an American road win.
- Kirshner highlights how that loss wounded Canadian fans and set up the tournament drama.