Jon Brand writes…

May 11

Stalled Sport Ponders New Tactic: A Shot Clock

Is men’s college lacrosse in need of a shot clock? My story on the timer debate in college lax ran today in The New York Times.

Feb 13

Michigan Lacrosse’s Transition to the Big Time

My story on University of Michigan’s new men’s varsity lacrosse team, which began its inaugural Division I season on Sunday, ran over the weekend in The New York Times.

Jan 15

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

For all you art lovers out there, here’s an excerpt on Dada from my reading of Henry Sayre’s art appreciation book, A World of Art. The audio book, produced for Pearson Higher Education, was recorded late last year in Austin at The University of Texas.

Dec 2

In Drought-Stricken Southwest, A War Against an Invasive Tree

I spent some time out on ranches in West Texas earlier this fall, exploring the region’s fight against the tamarisk tree (seen above). My video report on this controversial battle for water resources is up now at Yale Environment 360.

Aug 3

On a recent trip to Hanoi, Vietnam’s coffee-mad capital, a friend advised me to try a cup of ca phe cut chon (above), which she somewhat cryptically referred to as “weasel coffee.” I followed her advice, then wrote about the experience for Smithsonian Magazine’s website…

Jul 21

Tour de France mechanics are just like the guys behind the counter at your local bike shop — only with more talent and less attitude. My video on Geoff Brown and his crew at Garmin-Cervélo was published earlier this week by The New York Times.

Jul 11

How Tour de France riders stay safe in the saddle

The first week of this year’s Tour de France was filled with harrowing scenes of twig-thin riders splayed out on the pavement, bleeding from the head or clutching broken limbs. Or in the case of Johnny Hoogerland (above), extracting themselves from barbed wire.

My story on how riders stay safe in the saddle, despite the omnipresent threat of crashes, ran in The New York Times on Monday.

Jul 8

Cycling’s prima donnas add melodrama to Tour de France

Sprinters are professional cycling’s prima donnas – riders with egos as big as their bulging quadriceps. In a sport known for its soap opera headlines, these easily maligned riders have a special penchant for melodramatics, on and off the bike.

My story on sprinters — and the art of a sprint finish — ran today in The Christian Science Monitor. Just in time for Mark Cavendish (above) to take his second stage of this year’s Tour.

Jul 6

American cycling team fights doping, one Tour de France stage win at a time

In the post-Lance Armstrong era, Garmin-Cervélo is emerging as a new sort of American champion — one that can win at cycling’s marquee event without the cloud of doping doubts that has hovered over everyone from seven-time Tour de France victor Armstrong to this year’s favorite, Spaniard Alberto Contador.

My story about Jonathan Vaughters and his Garmin squad ran in The Christian Science Monitor earlier this week.

To read more of my coverage from this year’s Tour, follow me on Twitter.

May 21

Aquaculture efforts offer hope for Louisiana’s oyster fishery

Among the most serious environmental consequences of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill was the damage done to Louisiana’s oyster beds, one of the world’s last thriving wild oyster fisheries. My video on how farming could help recovery and create a more sustainable oyster fishery in Louisiana — and other coastal states along the Gulf of Mexico — is up now at Yale Environment 360.