Apartment Choice

It’s been quite a year for Heath Pulver. In just a few months, Pulver has changed jobs twice, got married and had the unique experience of having the past and present Eastern Washington football coaches vie for his services. And it’s only August, which offers no time for Pulver to catch his breath. The 36-year-old Spokane native is back where he was six years ago – coaching special teams and tight ends at Eastern – and he couldn’t be happier. At least Pulver knew what he was getting into: a chance to coach near his hometown for a winning program. That much hasn’t changed since Pulver left six years ago to coach in the FBS ranks. “The culture that’s been built, to stay calm and don’t panic in a game, that goes to the kids, too,” said Pulver, alluding to the influence of former Eastern coach Beau Baldwin . After the Eagles won the national title in 2010, Pulver stuck around for another year before working for another former Eagle, Jim McElwain, at Colorado State. In Fort Collins, Pulver...

2017 NFL Draft on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)" /> Mitchell Leff/Getty Images RICHMOND, Calif. — Shortly after signing a contract with the Atlanta Falcons worth $10.22 million over four years, Takk McKinley did what a lot of people would do.  His money dance. Except he also did something most people probably wouldn't do. He videotaped the dance. And then he put it on Twitter. Takkarist McKinley @Takk To see my family struggle everyday growing up and now I can help change that..YES I'M HAPPY😊! Don't worry I'll be this happy getting sacks 🤗 https://t.co/LckhYSEkQ8 2017-6-1 16:40:04 The player so many fans fell in love with on draft night this year just keeps getting better. Who is this guy? "He's a big old kid having fun and living the dream," says Alonzo Carter, who coached him at Contra Costa College . "He doesn't get too caught up in himself, and he can give you a piece." Yes...

Imagine being away from home for the first time, just a teenager in a new state, surrounded by a bunch of people you don’t know. Now picture a few months into your time in your new state, a state where you are slow to trust those around you, not one, but two of your best friends are murdered less than a month apart. That’s the real world nightmare Antonio Brown faced when he arrived in Durham in the winter of 2014. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brown grew up in an area where, as he put it, people were trying to make a name for themselves by any means. Those means weren’t always positive. Sometimes a way out, or a way to become well known was sports. Other times, more times than not, it was through violence, earning a reputation on the streets one way or another. “It’s not a lot of stuff for us to do, period,” Brown said. “Especially not positive. Most of the kids down there see ball or rapping as their only way of getting out. At my high school not even football is a way out, so...

Women’s soccer fans who follow only the U.S. national team might not have heard of Maddy Evans, unless they knew of her when she was growing up in the Philadelphia region . But Evans’ name is very much one worth knowing, because her story says a lot about the present and future of the sport in this country. A 26-year-old product of Abington High and Penn State, Evans retired from playing last week after a five- year pro career . Among the reasons: She couldn’t earn enough money in the job to sustain a living. Evans’ salary this season with the Orlando Pride of the National Women ’s Soccer League was set to be approximately $16,000, just above the league minimum of $15,000. In previous seasons — with the Boston Breakers from 2013 to 2015 and the Pride after that — she received half that sum or less. Players are paid only during the time of year when teams are on the field. It’s a far cry from the glamorous lives led by the globa...