Impolitic with John Heilemann Sally Jenkins: The Bad Bunny Bowl, Quad God Olympics, & WaPo Sports Section (R.I.P.)
Feb 13, 2026
Sally Jenkins, acclaimed sportswriter and bestselling author who spent three decades at The Washington Post and now writes for The Atlantic. She dissects Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime splash and what made it work. She breaks down Ilia Malinin’s quad axle and its crowd-pulling genius. She mourns the dismantling of the Post’s sports desk and argues how it might be rebuilt.
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Long Career, Bitter Departure
- Sally Jenkins spent 31 years at The Washington Post and left at 51 after a long career on its sports desk.
- She described feeling "pissed" and professionally devastated by the elimination of the sports section.
NFL's Business Masterclass
- The NFL mastered audience fragmentation and monetization earlier than many media organizations.
- Roger Goodell's strategy prioritized international growth and massive revenue expansion.
Competitive Stamina Matters
- Super Bowl week imposes relentless distractions and media obligations on players.
- Maintaining mental and competitive stamina is as crucial as physical preparation, especially for young quarterbacks.