English Soccer Announces Social Media Boycott to Protest Online Abuse

By BY JESUS JIMÉNEZ AND ANDREW DAS from NYT Sports The boycott, set to begin on Friday, is the most direct effort yet by a sport to pressure social media companies like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to take action against abuse.https://nyti.ms/3sSWusG

Was Connor McDavid’s Big Hit a Dirty Play?

By BY SHAWNA RICHER from NYT Sports After the Oilers captain elbowed Montreal’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi on Tuesday, there were calls for a suspension, or at least a fine. But McDavid had his defenders, too.https://nyti.ms/2PLgz6w

He’s the Ideal College Athlete. So Why Did He Quit?

By BY KURT STREETER from NYT Sports Hunter Woodhall made history in track and field, but N.C.A.A. restrictions on athletes’ earnings drove him out of college sports.https://nyti.ms/3lYKLa4

Lawyer for Deshaun Watson’s Accusers Addresses Skeptics

By BY KEN BELSON AND BEN SHPIGEL from NYT Sports “This case is about female empowerment, taking the power back,” said Tony Buzbee, who represents seven women in lawsuits accusing the Texans quarterback of sexual assault.https://nyti.ms/3vKPCAc

A Love Story Heating Up: Justin Bieber + Maple Leafs

By BY SHAWNA RICHER from NYT Sports Even the top team in the N.H.L. can benefit from the unabashed adoration of a pop superstar, with the league having much to gain.https://nyti.ms/2Q0xz8T

Who Is Behind Those N.B.A.‘Bubble Life’ Tweets?

By BY SOPAN DEB from NYT Sports The @NBABubbleLife Twitter account has amassed more than 100,000 followers in less than two weeks with quirky commentary on the social media posts of basketball’s biggest stars.https://nyti.ms/2WHcnoR

LeBron James Is 🔥🔥🔥 Online

By BY SCOTT CACCIOLA from NYT Sports He was wary at first, but now James’s Instagram is the most candid glimpse into his likes and lifestyle. (Hint: Don’t disturb his naps.)https://nyti.ms/35xwlF1

If an N.B.A. Workout Isn’t on Instagram, Does it Even Count?

By SCOTT CACCIOLA from NYT Sports Led by LeBron James’s example, a generation of young players is getting shredded, and making sure the cameras are always rolling.https://nyti.ms/2v3hQst

The Human Behind the U.M.B.C. Twitter Feed Takes a Victory Lap Too

By MALIKA ANDREWS from NYT Sports As the Retrievers pulled off the greatest upset in the history of the men’s basketball tournament, Zach Seidel’s posts resonated on social media.http://nyti.ms/2GBBVdD

Olympic Golds Online, if Not in Competition

By TALYA MINSBERG from NYT Sports Most of the moments from the 2018 Winter Games that have gone viral online had little to do with athletic achievement. http://nyti.ms/2F20guU

Ex-Dolphin Jonathan Martin Is Detained After Social Media Post Shuts School

By KEN BELSON from NYT Sports An Instagram post by Martin, the N.F.L. player at the center of a bullying scandal in 2013, led officials at the school he attended in Los Angeles to close for the day.http://nyti.ms/2F1ETKh