The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.
We’ve reached that awkward gap between the NFL’s conference championships and next weekend’s Super Bowl, so today, we’re talking food. Dig in.
Let’s Eat: What our staff makes for the Big Game
Super Bowl eats are an annual talking point in these pages, and we’re giving you a week to plan yours. This year, we asked members of The Athletic’s newsroom to share their favorite dishes in hopes of sparking ideas for your menu:
Cajun shrimp dip. This is the most rabidly requested Super Bowl dish in our friend group for years now. (Tip: I use Tony Chachere’s for the “Creole seasoning.”) — Hannah Vanbiber, sports betting editor
Tavern-style pizza. After my dough cold ferments for three days, I roll it out cracker-thin the night before. Once it cures, the dough gets leathery and becomes crispy in the oven. And when it’s topped with local pepperoni, pickled jalapenos from my garden and pineapple roasted with bacon? The small square slices make for an elite game day snack. — Joshua Kloke, Maple Leafs/Canadian soccer writer
My mom’s clam chowder. This is a great dish to break up grazing and the meat dishes. Dish does not equal endorsement for any team. — Emily Olsen, Full Time author
It’s a Seattle street food classic: a hot dog dressed with cream cheese and grilled onions (mustard, jalapenos and sauerkraut are also popular toppings). The key? Don’t skimp on the cream cheese. Go Hawks! — Israel Fehr, NHL editor
Croissant dough-wrapped pigs in a blanket! — Lauren Merola, newsletter editor
There is never a bad time for brownies. To enhance mine, I love using fresh coffee and chopped chocolate, both of which can add depth of flavor. — James Jackson, NBA editor
Brownies by NBA editor James Jackson.
Giardiniera dip. We have never had any of this left over, ever, when we’ve made it. Best eaten with crackers. — Jill Thaw, college sports editor
Wagyu beef breakfast quesadilla. If you’re lucky enough to come to the crib to watch Drake “Drake Maye” Maye fulfill his GOAT destiny, you’ll be indulging in a concoction I’ve perfected over the years that features some crispy yet juicy Wagyu ground beef, too many cheeses for you to count, and plenty of other fixins inside a gooey steamed tortilla that is then delicately seared on one side to give you a mouth feel contrast you won’t believe. — Jared Weiss, San Antonio Spurs writer
Oven slow-cooked carnitas. — Zach Harper, The Bounce author
My favorite restaurant on the planet was Pok Pok in Portland, Ore., which sadly closed its doors a few years ago. Thankfully I have a copy of Andy Ricker’s Pok Pok cookbook, which includes the recipe for Ike’s Fish Sauce Wings. It’s not the most user-friendly dish when you don’t have a deep fryer at your disposal and they’re not as good as the original. But coat those wings in that sticky, caramelized sauce — and then be generous with the crispy fried garlic, bird’s eye chilis and tons of freshly chopped herbs — and they’re guaranteed to go down faster than a Bengals quarterback on third and long. — Andrew Baggarly, San Francisco Giants writer
This slow-cooker pulled pork is so, so easy. Made it last year and no reason not to again. Just pair with your preferred BBQ sauce (Dinosaur BBQ here). Mark Cooper, Connections: Sports Edition/college sports editor
My trademark (well, not really trademark, but in my universe) mac and cheese. — Alex Kirshner, newsletter writer
For plenty more ideas, peruse NYT Cooking’s Super Bowl recipe collection. I remain partial to the pretzels and beer cheese I shared last year.
Send us a pic at thepulse@theathletic.com if you make anything good, and we’ll include a favorite in a future newsletter! Moving on:
ESPN’s billion-dollar NFL deal goes ahead
News broke late yesterday that government regulators have signed off on a blockbuster agreement between ESPN and the NFL that will give the former control of NFL Media assets and the latter a 10 percent ownership stake in ESPN. Happy for them as we all are, you may be wondering: What does that mean for those of us trying to watch these games? The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, who first reported the deal in August, breaks down the many implications here.
Peterson outduels Dybantsa — for a half
The first half of a battle between presumptive top-3 NBA draft picks Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa left no doubt who should be the top choice, writes CJ Moore. Peterson absolutely cooked BYU, while Dybantsa was relatively quiet against the Jayhawks defense. But shortly after the restart, Peterson left the game with cramps and never returned. Remarkably, he’s finished one game all year. So … clarity? Not just yet.
More News
Carlos Alcaraz locked in a career Grand Slam at just 22 with his 7th career title, beating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.
Shohei Ohtani plans to be a full two-way player this season, but he won’t pitch in next month’s World Baseball Classic. That was his call, said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Meanwhile, Team Puerto Rico threatened to withdraw over rampant insurance concerns.
The Giants signed Luis Arraez to a one-year deal that gives the polarizing infielder a chance to win a batting title with a fourth team.
The Bills scooped up a second Broncos assistant in as many days, plucking Jim Leonhard to lead Joe Brady’s defense. It’s a critical hire.
Sixers forward Paul George was suspended 25 games over a drug policy violation that he said was due to “improper medication” for a mental health issue.
Arsenal went seven points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa, using a reshaped midfield to batter Leeds, though City can get it back to four at Spurs today. Check out the updated table.
Boxer Jarrell Miller got his hairpiece punched off. Here you go.
Watch Guide
📺 NCAAM: No. 9 Illinois at No. 5 Nebraska
4 p.m. ET on FS1
Illinois’ last loss came via a buzzer-beater from Nebraska’s Jamarques Lawrence, back in mid-December. Both these teams are fun watches, and they’re also two of six teams that could win the natty, writes CJ Moore.
📺 NBA: Lakers at Knicks, Thunder at Nuggets
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
Ba-ba ba-ba ba-basketball! NBC debuts its “Sunday Night” NBA format with a solid doubleheader. Caitlin Clark is involved.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Instead of our regular weekend picks here, we asked NFL writers to share the best meal they ate on the road this season:
In Tampa at Rocca: Mozzarella cart (an actual cart they bring out where they make the mozzarella tableside, plus a rigatoni alla zozzona (kinda like a carbonara, with sausage and guanciale). — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets writer
Moosehead Grill in Charlotte. Uncle Donnie’s blackened wings, and an IPA. — Jourdan Rodrigue, senior writer
I’m not a fancy lad like our Robert Mays, though I do like a nice meal, but I’m going with a simple choice: buffalo wings at Runyon’s in Minneapolis. Just like how some scribes look forward to their dinner at Manny’s steakhouse, I dream about the wings and local beers at Runyon’s. — Jon Greenberg, Chicago columnist
In Tampa at Rooster and the Till: The green curry croquette was the highlight of an awesome meal. And then a bonus, even though it’s not an NFL city: Parish in Monroe, La., (for a Will Campbell feature) was exceptional, and the red snapper over jalapeno grits with crawfish and shrimp courtboullion was amazing. — Chad Graff, Patriots writer
Drago’s in New Orleans. Charbroiled oysters, covered and smothered in butter and parmesan. Served with French bread to soak up all that artery-clogging goodness. I’m certain there was a local IPA to wash it down. — Joe Person, Panthers writer
Japonessa Sushi Cocina in Seattle. I had the Sukiyaki beef tacos, the legend rolls and Japanese soufflé cheesecake for dessert. One of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life. — James Boyd, Colts writer
I loved loved New Orleans. All I did was eat in a very quick 36 hours or so. But best meal was Compère Lapin. Dreaming about the fried chicken and coconut grits. — Charlotte Carroll, Giants writer
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Chris Sprow’s plug for the bagel sandwich hack.
Most-read on the website yesterday:
Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.