Joon Lee
@joon.bsky.social
Independent Sports Journalist • Formerly: ESPN, B/R, WaPo • Born in Seoul 🇰🇷 Bred in Boston • [email protected]
📍New York City
📍New York City
The rise of Curt Cignetti and Indiana football really embodies what makes sports special.
It’s the type of story that would feel way too corny for a movie. But the fact it’s actually unfolding in front of us somehow makes it even harder to believe.
It’s the type of story that would feel way too corny for a movie. But the fact it’s actually unfolding in front of us somehow makes it even harder to believe.
January 10, 2026 at 4:07 AM
The rise of Curt Cignetti and Indiana football really embodies what makes sports special.
It’s the type of story that would feel way too corny for a movie. But the fact it’s actually unfolding in front of us somehow makes it even harder to believe.
It’s the type of story that would feel way too corny for a movie. But the fact it’s actually unfolding in front of us somehow makes it even harder to believe.
Leicester City winning the Premier League still feels like the modern ceiling for sports improbability.
Curt Cignetti leading Indiana football from one of worst programs in CFB to absolute juggernaut might give them a run for their money.
Curt Cignetti leading Indiana football from one of worst programs in CFB to absolute juggernaut might give them a run for their money.
January 10, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Leicester City winning the Premier League still feels like the modern ceiling for sports improbability.
Curt Cignetti leading Indiana football from one of worst programs in CFB to absolute juggernaut might give them a run for their money.
Curt Cignetti leading Indiana football from one of worst programs in CFB to absolute juggernaut might give them a run for their money.
Sports odds are entertainment.
But when media treats political odds like news, guesses start to feel like facts.
Those numbers don’t measure truth. They measure money and attention.
But when media treats political odds like news, guesses start to feel like facts.
Those numbers don’t measure truth. They measure money and attention.
January 7, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Sports odds are entertainment.
But when media treats political odds like news, guesses start to feel like facts.
Those numbers don’t measure truth. They measure money and attention.
But when media treats political odds like news, guesses start to feel like facts.
Those numbers don’t measure truth. They measure money and attention.
Sports media is failing fans.
Two months ago, the NBA and MLB had players and coaches indicted by the federal government for placing bets on games. In previous eras, this would be a crisis.
Now? Crickets.
Two months ago, the NBA and MLB had players and coaches indicted by the federal government for placing bets on games. In previous eras, this would be a crisis.
Now? Crickets.
January 6, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Sports media is failing fans.
Two months ago, the NBA and MLB had players and coaches indicted by the federal government for placing bets on games. In previous eras, this would be a crisis.
Now? Crickets.
Two months ago, the NBA and MLB had players and coaches indicted by the federal government for placing bets on games. In previous eras, this would be a crisis.
Now? Crickets.
This is what happens when you normalize gambling on everything — from sports to elections to war. It’s a symptom of a culture where insider access = profit, and the rest of us lose faith & trust in everything.
Sports betting was just the gateway.
Sports betting was just the gateway.
January 3, 2026 at 4:06 PM
This is what happens when you normalize gambling on everything — from sports to elections to war. It’s a symptom of a culture where insider access = profit, and the rest of us lose faith & trust in everything.
Sports betting was just the gateway.
Sports betting was just the gateway.
Thank you to everyone who supported and followed my work this year.
I took a big leap going independent after a two-year hiatus and my layoff from ESPN, not knowing how it would go. It was a scary jump, and you made it easier.
Excited for what 2026 brings. Happy New Year!
I took a big leap going independent after a two-year hiatus and my layoff from ESPN, not knowing how it would go. It was a scary jump, and you made it easier.
Excited for what 2026 brings. Happy New Year!
January 1, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Thank you to everyone who supported and followed my work this year.
I took a big leap going independent after a two-year hiatus and my layoff from ESPN, not knowing how it would go. It was a scary jump, and you made it easier.
Excited for what 2026 brings. Happy New Year!
I took a big leap going independent after a two-year hiatus and my layoff from ESPN, not knowing how it would go. It was a scary jump, and you made it easier.
Excited for what 2026 brings. Happy New Year!
Reposted by Joon Lee
Imo, noteworthy that this Kalshi partnership comes in the wake of the City of Chicago looking to raise taxes on DK and FD, and their lobbying group threatening to block access to the apps within city limits. The Blackhawks could be hedging here. Regardless, bad for the sport and consumers.
The number of fans who believe sports are rigged will only keep rising because individual teams are now partnering with prediction markets that are less regulated than sports gambling companies.
December 23, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Imo, noteworthy that this Kalshi partnership comes in the wake of the City of Chicago looking to raise taxes on DK and FD, and their lobbying group threatening to block access to the apps within city limits. The Blackhawks could be hedging here. Regardless, bad for the sport and consumers.
The number of fans who believe sports are rigged will only keep rising because individual teams are now partnering with prediction markets that are less regulated than sports gambling companies.
December 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The number of fans who believe sports are rigged will only keep rising because individual teams are now partnering with prediction markets that are less regulated than sports gambling companies.
Thank you to Nieman Labs for allowing me to make a prediction about journalism in 2026.
My take: journalism will become the center of gravity for YouTube’s next era www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/jour...
My take: journalism will become the center of gravity for YouTube’s next era www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/jour...
Journalism will become the center of gravity for YouTube’s next era
"Creators are also running into the ceiling that legacy media once hit. When you scale to cultural force levels, you need to become more serious."
www.niemanlab.org
December 12, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Thank you to Nieman Labs for allowing me to make a prediction about journalism in 2026.
My take: journalism will become the center of gravity for YouTube’s next era www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/jour...
My take: journalism will become the center of gravity for YouTube’s next era www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/jour...
Reposted by Joon Lee
@joon.bsky.social: “Creators are also running into the ceiling that legacy media once hit. When you scale to cultural force levels, you need to become more serious.”
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/jour...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/jour...
December 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
@joon.bsky.social: “Creators are also running into the ceiling that legacy media once hit. When you scale to cultural force levels, you need to become more serious.”
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/jour...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/jour...
Partnering with fake journalists to promote sports gambling is as big a red flag as it gets for the prediction market industry
December 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Partnering with fake journalists to promote sports gambling is as big a red flag as it gets for the prediction market industry
Everything is sports gambling now www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
December 3, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Everything is sports gambling now www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
The best part of Drake Maye being good is seeing again that spiteful look people used to give me when I mentioned my Patriots fandom. Feels like home.
December 2, 2025 at 2:28 AM
The best part of Drake Maye being good is seeing again that spiteful look people used to give me when I mentioned my Patriots fandom. Feels like home.
Reposted by Joon Lee
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I explored NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I tried driving a race car myself: youtu.be/yce922orRJs?...
So I explored NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I tried driving a race car myself: youtu.be/yce922orRJs?...
Why Driving a NASCAR Is So Much Harder Than It Looks
YouTube video by Joon Lee
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I explored NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I tried driving a race car myself: youtu.be/yce922orRJs?...
So I explored NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I tried driving a race car myself: youtu.be/yce922orRJs?...
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I explored NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I tried driving a race car myself: youtu.be/yce922orRJs?...
So I explored NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I tried driving a race car myself: youtu.be/yce922orRJs?...
Why Driving a NASCAR Is So Much Harder Than It Looks
YouTube video by Joon Lee
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I explored NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I tried driving a race car myself: youtu.be/yce922orRJs?...
So I explored NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I tried driving a race car myself: youtu.be/yce922orRJs?...
Reposted by Joon Lee
This’ll be good
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
November 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM
This’ll be good
Reposted by Joon Lee
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
November 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
November 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I’m trying to understand what the hardest thing in sports actually is.
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
So I went to explore NASCAR, where the legendary @jimmiejohnson.bsky.social showed me how this world really works.
And then I drove a race car myself.
youtu.be/lMzjIPIq9aA?...
I've never been this terrified while reporting a story.
New video on my YouTube tomorrow:
New video on my YouTube tomorrow:
November 24, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I've never been this terrified while reporting a story.
New video on my YouTube tomorrow:
New video on my YouTube tomorrow:
Sports gambling is not just corrupting our trust in sports, but America.
Thank you to @amanpourcopbs.bsky.social, @michelmartinnpr.bsky.social and @camanpour.bsky.social for the platform.
Our full conversation: youtu.be/uiomTi50pS8?...
Thank you to @amanpourcopbs.bsky.social, @michelmartinnpr.bsky.social and @camanpour.bsky.social for the platform.
Our full conversation: youtu.be/uiomTi50pS8?...
November 21, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Sports gambling is not just corrupting our trust in sports, but America.
Thank you to @amanpourcopbs.bsky.social, @michelmartinnpr.bsky.social and @camanpour.bsky.social for the platform.
Our full conversation: youtu.be/uiomTi50pS8?...
Thank you to @amanpourcopbs.bsky.social, @michelmartinnpr.bsky.social and @camanpour.bsky.social for the platform.
Our full conversation: youtu.be/uiomTi50pS8?...
A new national poll on sports gambling from Sacred Heart:
- 79% say the recent scandals have shaken their trust in the NBA, 38% say its shaken trust a lot.
- 90% are worried about corruption across sports.
- 75% of gambler believe corruption is more widespread than the NBA
- 79% say the recent scandals have shaken their trust in the NBA, 38% say its shaken trust a lot.
- 90% are worried about corruption across sports.
- 75% of gambler believe corruption is more widespread than the NBA
November 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A new national poll on sports gambling from Sacred Heart:
- 79% say the recent scandals have shaken their trust in the NBA, 38% say its shaken trust a lot.
- 90% are worried about corruption across sports.
- 75% of gambler believe corruption is more widespread than the NBA
- 79% say the recent scandals have shaken their trust in the NBA, 38% say its shaken trust a lot.
- 90% are worried about corruption across sports.
- 75% of gambler believe corruption is more widespread than the NBA
In the last month, the FBI has charged players from two different leagues for roles in sports-betting scandals.
Either legalized gambling is exposing corruption that’s always been there.
Or it’s creating it.
Either answer is terrible for sports.
Either legalized gambling is exposing corruption that’s always been there.
Or it’s creating it.
Either answer is terrible for sports.
November 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
In the last month, the FBI has charged players from two different leagues for roles in sports-betting scandals.
Either legalized gambling is exposing corruption that’s always been there.
Or it’s creating it.
Either answer is terrible for sports.
Either legalized gambling is exposing corruption that’s always been there.
Or it’s creating it.
Either answer is terrible for sports.
Reposted by Joon Lee
“.. for generations, sports was one of the few places where Americans could still gather around something bigger than ourselves. Now, .. we tally payouts .. until a game becomes little more than a series of outcomes to be predicted and monetized.”
@joon.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
@joon.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
October 29, 2025 at 1:27 AM
“.. for generations, sports was one of the few places where Americans could still gather around something bigger than ourselves. Now, .. we tally payouts .. until a game becomes little more than a series of outcomes to be predicted and monetized.”
@joon.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
@joon.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
Sports weren’t corrupted by gamblers. It got sold out by the people who made gambling central to the business model.
New @nytopinion.nytimes.com column: how gambling became the engine driving American life — starting with sports www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
New @nytopinion.nytimes.com column: how gambling became the engine driving American life — starting with sports www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
Opinion | Gambling Is Killing Sports and Consuming America
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Sports weren’t corrupted by gamblers. It got sold out by the people who made gambling central to the business model.
New @nytopinion.nytimes.com column: how gambling became the engine driving American life — starting with sports www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
New @nytopinion.nytimes.com column: how gambling became the engine driving American life — starting with sports www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
NEW VIDEO: More teams are slashing payroll—even championship contenders. I asked Mark Cuban why. His answer?
“Teams do many more money when they have a low payroll and lose.”
We live in an era where losing is more profitable than winning. youtu.be/sAJH7Bx-BV4?...
“Teams do many more money when they have a low payroll and lose.”
We live in an era where losing is more profitable than winning. youtu.be/sAJH7Bx-BV4?...
September 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
NEW VIDEO: More teams are slashing payroll—even championship contenders. I asked Mark Cuban why. His answer?
“Teams do many more money when they have a low payroll and lose.”
We live in an era where losing is more profitable than winning. youtu.be/sAJH7Bx-BV4?...
“Teams do many more money when they have a low payroll and lose.”
We live in an era where losing is more profitable than winning. youtu.be/sAJH7Bx-BV4?...