John Howell

John Howell

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About

John Wingspread Howell is a native of Buffalo, has lived in the Rockies, the Southwest and the Midwest, most recently Chicago, and has returned to Buffalo where he currently lives with his wife and teenage daughter. He is a writer, theologian and business consultant.

John is Bleacher Report's Premier Underdog and WPS correspondent. He also writes about Buffalo sports.

John has a spiritual attraction to underdogs in sports and life in general and sees sports as a great metaphor for the struggle of the little guy to beat the odds and win at life. Coming from Buffalo, this may not be surprising.

The underdog fascination may also explain why John is an avid soccer fan, since in the United States soccer is the stepsister of homegrown sports, and why he is especially enthusiastic about the Chicago Red Stars and the WPS, because they are the stepsisters of the stepsister. "Underdog issues aside, soccer is a beautiful game-- perhaps the most beautiful in the sheer choreography of play. But I do have some American red blood in me," Howell says. "There's nothing more beautiful than a Hail Mary or a shot from downtown to end a football or basketball game at the buzzer. Especially if the underdog is the one winning with such a play.

Short List

  • Favorite Athletes

    Jim Kelly, Randy Smith, Bob McAdoo, Gar Heard, Kurt Warner

  • Favorite Sports Teams

    Bills, Sabres, Chicago Red Stars, Chicago Sky, Chicago Fire, The Underdog of the Moment

  • Favorite Coaches

    Marv Levy, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Turner Gill, Bob Bradley, Peter Novak, Emma Hayes

  • All Time Sports Moment

    Jets over Colts

  • Most Memorable Game Attended

    every game

  • Most Unbreakable Sports Record

    Lions 0-16, Dolphins unbeaten season

  • Ruth or Mays?

    Mays

  • Unitas or Montana?

    Montana

  • Jordan or Russell?

    Jordan

  • Gretzky or Orr?

    Orr

  • Pele or Maradona?

    Pele

  • Federer or Sampras?

    Who cares?

  • Tiger or Nicklaus?

    Tiger

  • Petty or Earnhardt?

    Couldn't care less.

  • Schumacher or Senna?

    Who?

  • ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 or SEC?

    Big East

Bulletin Board

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  • John A posted 336 days ago

    John A

    John,

    I know that you are a Buffalo native, so I have a quote for you from someone on another board. This isn't my opinion, but I want to run this by you:

    "Buffalo makes Salt Lake City look like Las Vegas".

  • Scott Gyurina posted 565 days ago

    Scott Gyurina

    Mr. Howell,

    Seeing as you are a member of the Sports and Society community and the ultimate fan of the underdog, I thought you may be able to appreciate an article I wrote about one of the ultimate underdogs in sports...
    I'm not entirely positive how it will be received by the theologian side of you, but I hope you will check it out and find something of value in my piece. I look forward to checking out you whatyoucan'tsayatparties blog..Thanks for your time, Scott

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/429879-dont-ask-dont-tell-the-plight-of-gay-athletes-in-pro-sports

  • Kevin Lindsey posted 598 days ago

    Kevin Lindsey

    Thanks for posting a like rating on my article.

  • Kevin Lindsey posted 598 days ago

    Kevin Lindsey

    Interesting bio, you must love being able to weave the Frank Reich led 35 point comeback in your presentation.

  • Bleacher Report posted 602 days ago

    Bleacher Report

    Hi John,

    Read the latest...thanks, bro. Stephen Strasburg should make the All-Star NL Team

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/413185-i-elect-stephen-strasburg-for-midsummer-classic-so-should-you

  • Stewart Flaherty posted 610 days ago

    Stewart Flaherty

    World Cup Power Rankings 3

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/409584-fifa-2010-world-cup-power-rankings-group-stage-three

  • Stewart Flaherty posted 623 days ago

    Stewart Flaherty

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/403339-2010-fifa-world-cup-power-rankings?just_published=1

  • Stewart Flaherty posted 629 days ago

    Stewart Flaherty

    I thought you may enjoy this John, let me know your picks!

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/400445-fifa-2010-world-cup-post-tournament-awards

  • mitch howard posted 630 days ago

    mitch howard

    John, are you interested in writing for a website dedicated to Americanizing Soccer? please email me mitchhoward18@yahoo.com

  • JW Nix posted 712 days ago

    JW Nix

    a remembrance :
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/361429-merlin-olsen-a-lasting-legacy-of-love-and-lore

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