As a linebacker at the University of Rhode Island and political science major, Ibrahim was a finalist for the prestigious NCAA Scholar and Athlete award. He is author of the book, "Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet," and has worked with Green for All, Green City Force, Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice, the Prospect Park Alliance, and is a policy advisor in the New York City Mayor's office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability. Abdul-Matin has appeared on "Fox News," Al-Jazeera, ABC News "This Week," and is a regular contributor to The Takeaway. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, CNN.com, HuffingtonPost.com, The Daily Beast, GOOD Magazine, ColorLines, Wiretap, and Elan Magazine. "Green Deen" has been featured on "The Brian Lehrer Show," "Global Grind," "Energy Now" The Center for American Progress, and America.gov. Ibrahim is a lifelong New Yorker and listener of WNYC Radio. Find him at Greendeenbook.com, Brooklynbedouin.com, and Twitter.com/IbrahimSalih.
In a world where one team must face off against another not once, but twice, on the world stage tempers will flare, bodies will be pushed to the limit, and reveling fans will discover if the underdog can triumph over tragedy… or if the top dog will rise again. Cliched? Absolutely, but appropriate: just as they did in 2007, the New England Patriots will face off against the New York Giants in this year's Superbowl.
It'll be Eli Manning leading the New York Giants to a Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots. The Giants came out on top as they won their fifth straight road playoff game. But even kicker Lawrence Tynes says it's no miracle. Tynes kicked a 32-yard field goal in overtime to send the Giants to the Super Bowl. Eli Manning played like his brother last night, setting a franchise records for completions and attempts, even in the bad weather.
Joe Paterno, the most successful coach in major college football history, the face of Penn State University, and at one point, among the most admired figures in the entire sporting world, is dead at the age of 85. News of Paterno’s death from lung cancer came early Sunday morning. At the center of one of the worst scandals to ever hit the sports world, what JoePa's legacy will be, once the dust clears, is up to more people than just Lions fans.
Time is short in the 2011/2012 NFL season, but this past weekend certainly left behind some incredible moments. The New York Giants pulled off a huge upset by pummeling the Green Bay Packers. And speaking of a pummeling, that is exactly what Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow received from the New England Patriots as his offensive line could not hold.
It seems like every time Tim Tebow is about to run out of miracles, that's when you're most likely to watch him kneeling in the end zone with another crazy victory in hand. And after taking down the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime last night, maybe the Denver Quarterback has stopped the calls to bench him for at least one week.
Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin looks back at the last 17 weeks of the NFL season and gives his analysis of this weekend's games.
Every Friday, The Takeaway convenes a panel to look back at the week's big stories. This week North Korea held a funeral for deceased dictator Kim Jong-il, Arab League monitors arrived in Syria, Sears announced they were closing more than 100 stores after poor holiday sales figures, Republican presidential candidates campaigned heavily in Iowa, and Americans around the country crafted new year's resolutions.
After weeks of delay, the shortened NBA season began on Sunday. Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin spent roughly 12 and a half hours watching basketball on Christmas Day. He breaks down the day's games, and also looks back at the major sports moments of 2011.
Sunday will bring a Christmas miracle for sports fans when the NBA begins its much delayed 2011-2012 season. A labor dispute kept players off the courts for weeks. Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin previews the shortened season.
With another stunning come from behind victory against the Bears last Sunday, the Tim Tebow train keeps rolling. The Denver Broncos’ quarterback has become a cultural phenomenon. But his on-field exploits only make up one part of the Tebow mystique. Tebow’s public displays of faith play a major role in the star athlete’s public persona and the narrative surrounding him.
Quaterback Tim Tebow lead the Denver Broncos to defeat the Chicago Bears 13-10 in a game that stretched into overtime on Sunday. Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin watched the game and gives his analysis.
NBA players and owners have reached an agreement, ending a lockout that began July 1 of this year. Players have agreed to a seven percent pay cut in basketball-related income, and will play a shortened 66-game season, while owners have made concessions on annual raises and the mid-level exception.
Thanksgiving doesn't just mean turkey and stuffing for many Americans. It means football. The resurgent Detroit Lions play host to the currently undefeated and defending Superbowl champs Green Bay Packers. In Dallas, the Cowboys square off against a very hot Miami Dolphins team led by Reggie Bush. The loser will likely miss the playoffs. The night cap features a true sibling rivalry as head coach Jim Harbaugh takes his NFC West leading 49ers to Baltimore to face his brother and head coach of the AFC North leading Ravens John Harbaugh. Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin previews the day's games.
What is the Tim Tebow effect? The new Denver Broncos quarterback has garnered a lot of national attention, partly for his talent, partly for his prayerful play. But is the attention — or the critiques, which are growing after Tebow failed to lead Denver to a win over Detroit Sunday — fully warranted? We find out, and get a general NFL update from Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin.
Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin runs through all the big NFL games from Sunday. He also discusses quarterbacks Drew Breeze, Aaron Rodgers, and Tim Tebow, and remembers long time Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis.
The Detroit Tigers are heading to the ALCS after edging out the New York Yankees 3-2 on Thursday night in a decisive winner take all game 5. Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, The Takeaway's sports contributor, gives his analysis of the game.
Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera had arguably the most important moment of his career yesterday, in a game aginst the Minnesota Twins, when he surpassed Trevor Hoffman as the major league career leader in saves with 602. Rivera has been the Yankees' closer since 1997, so this milestone has been 15 years in the making.
On Tuesday night, New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera notched his 600th career save and came within one save of tying the all-time record, held by Trevor Hoffman. Is Rivera the best "closer" in baseball history? Lifelong Rivera observer and Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin gives his opinion.
It's hurricane Friday here at the Takeaway, and someone who's never afraid to get out there in the rain is our correspondent Ibrahim Abdul-Matin. He joins us to talk some sports, including one seriously quirky stat from the baseball world when the New York Yankees continued to earn their out-sized salaries. Also, we will be looking at the NBA lockout. A recent piece by Malcolm Gladwell on Grantland.com says that the idea of basketball teams as a normal "business" is a fantasy, and so the idea of teams losing money and thus justifying the lockout is completely over the rainbow.
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