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Mike Hlas

@mikehlas.bsky.social
2.3K followers 156 following 1.2K posts

Former sports columnist, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette. But that's done. Now I'm at mikehlas.substack.com

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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 2h
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. I'm at Kinnick for Ohio State-Iowa, writing for hawkfanatic.com and my Substack. The former is free. Subscribe to the latter immediately. There's no financial obligation unless you're generous. mikehlas.substack.com
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 23h
In Penny Lane, the barber shaves another customer, We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
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Nancy Armour @nrarmour.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Eric Schmitt is part of the “protect women’s sport” mob. Yet he doesn’t actually care, or think, about women’s sports, and his “Hawks” gaffe was just the latest evidence of it.
usatoday.com
The irony of Eric Schmitt's faceplant is impossible to miss | Opinion
U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt botched his "gotcha" moment because women's sports never crossed his mind. But he's going to protect college sports? Right.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This seems odd:
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Hlas Out of Bounds: My choice to be the celebrity guest-picker in Iowa City Saturday is ... mikehlas.substack.com/p/my-pick-fo...
mikehlas.substack.com
My pick for ESPN College GameDay’s guest-picker at Iowa this week? Hint: He’s from Haggleworth, Iowa
You’ll have to read to the end to get the answer. Or just scroll to the end.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This Iowa-Michigan game is everything I expected and less.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I'm thinking about live-tweeting about the Iowa-Michigan and Utah-Iowa State games. I'm also thinking about preparing a seven-course meal for a dozen friends tonight. Neither will happen, and not just because I don't know how to make a dozen friends in one afternoon.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Another reminder that science isn't just good, it's amazingly good.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Hlas column: Iowa has some 99-year-old Midgets. It's their word, not mine. mikehlas.substack.com/p/iowas-high...
mikehlas.substack.com
Iowa’s high schools don’t have any Beetdiggers or Cornjerkers, but still has some Midgets (and Midgettes)
To heck with your commonplace Tigers and Eagles and Bulldogs. Give us Pretzels and Poca Dots.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Let's play two.
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Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who's running for Senate, says the Iran war "needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end." A messaging pivot: Hinson voted NO six times on House resolutions directing Trump to end the Iran war — including as recently as last week.
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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
White House correspondents, D.C. bureau chiefs, and media execs: The German government expelled Dorothy Thompson from the country in August 1934. She's remembered and respected today for her important coverage and analysis over the next decade of the German regime. Be like Dorothy Thompson.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I'll remember UNI football for all the good times, and there were many.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Friday high school football finals: Bluejacket 45, Olive 0 Bonham 28, Venus 16 Hurricane 49, Dixie 10 Weeping Water 24, Palmer 8 Newcastle 12, Tongue River 7 Eupora 22, Water Valley 8 Martinsville 29, Dan River 3 Vidor 45, Iowa 42 Goshen 5, Plymouth 2 (OT)
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Will Harris @sandwichpick.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Reports say despite looking the way he does Mitch McConnell was able to recite the Nicki Minaj verse from Monster word for word
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Rob Howe @robhowe.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Fresh Old Head Pod w/ @mikehlas.bsky.social & @marcmorehouse.bsky.social Looking back at CyHawk, Athletic story on NIL budgets, does college sports need saving by congress? Related: How are gas prices in your area? Audio spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/TGy2B6CJv6b Video youtu.be/lryqh52L0qk
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
News like this will rock you, but you must stay informed and engaged.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Yet, a U.S. Senate candidate and a U.S. Congresswoman from Iowa are touting clamping down on stock-trading by their colleagues in campaign commercials without a word about their party's leader.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Hlas Out of Bounds: I gave a lot of thought to the potential of AI destroying humanity. My reaction: It doesn't have the brainpower to pull it off. mikehlas.substack.com/p/i-official...
mikehlas.substack.com
I officially declare AI is too stupid to take me (and the entire species) out!
Don’t worry about the nervous Nellies who say artificial intelligence will destroy us. We don’t need its help.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Hlas Out of Bounds: No offense (or very little), but I can wait at least 364 days to see another Iowa State-Iowa football game. mikehlas.substack.com/p/it-was-ano...
mikehlas.substack.com
It was another Iowa State-Iowa football game, which means it was tight and ugly
This time, the Hawkeyes won by a 16-13 score. The series hadn’t had a 16-13 final since Iowa State won by that count ... last year.
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Robert O'Neill @robertoneill31.latenightgrin.com · 13/09/2026
michigan and iowa are gonna play a disgusting game in a couple weeks. the real big ten is back
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I wish I were writing a column on deadline about this Iowa-ISU game, not knowing how it ends.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The times I want ice cream the most are always when I have none. It's the darnedest thing.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Prep football finals: Indianapolis Arsenal Tech 26, Indianapolis Tindley 0 Indianapolis Attucks 52, Indianapolis Washington 6 Indianapolis Cathedral 16, Indianapolis Chatard 14 Indianapolis Lutheran 49, Indianapolis Scecina 10 Jack Britt 21, Terry Sanford 13 Chittenango 16, Mexico 14
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 11/09/2026
Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, running for Senate in Iowa, claims the Iran war is "thousands of miles away. It is out of sight, out of mind for so many Americans.” (Hinson has defended the war and voted against war powers resolutions.)
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Rob Howe @robhowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Old Head Podcast w/ @mikehlas.bsky.social & @marcmorehouse.bsky.social Season 1, Episode 2 Iowa Football storylines, 25 years since Cy-Hawk 9/11 week, what to do with extra $5K we might have coming to us in November Audio: open.spotify.com/episode/6Rex... Video: youtu.be/fbEmH0q8BEo
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Jonathan Slater @jonathanslater.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Hlas column: The Cy-Hawk Trophy. Is there a lazier, less-creative name for an in-state football rivalry in any of the other 49 states or Guam? mikehlas.substack.com/p/cy-hawk-it...
mikehlas.substack.com
Cy-Hawk? It’s too corny a name for Iowa’s in-state game, so will someone please fix it?
As rivalry names go, the one the Iowa State-Iowa series has is among the worst
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
If you haven't seen this (I can't take credit for doing the research, it was forwarded to me), you may be amazed: Prior to the Western Michigan-Michigan game, college teams were 110,332-0 when leading at the end of regulation.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
So now that we all had a night to sleep on it and take emotion out of the equation, we're all good with how the end of that Western Michigan-Michigan game was settled, right?
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
I fully expect the Big Ten to start selling crypto, bibles and a sneaker line by noon tomorrow.
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Maggie Hendricks @maggiehendricks.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
and they say the US doesn’t have a culture 
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
My Week 1 wrapup: Iowa State and Iowa had season-starting wins with less drama than a Will Ferrell film festival. Which gave warm feelings to the fans at both stadiums, though the three-digit heat indexes in Ames and Iowa City may have contributed. mikehlas.substack.com/p/iowa-and-i...
mikehlas.substack.com
Iowa and Iowa State are as rough on their Week 1 football guests as their state is on its rivers and lakes
The Hawkeyes’ and Cyclones’ season-starting wins had less drama than a Will Ferrell film festival
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Georgia Tech has bounced back.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
It's Lake Ontario.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Hlas column: As slow builds go, college football's Week 1 rivals the starts of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Stairway to Heaven." mikehlas.substack.com/publish/post...
mikehlas.substack.com
College football really starts for real this week, with a really lousy schedule
Week 1 games worth watching this week are few and far as Northern Illinois comes to Iowa, Southeast Missouri State visits Iowa State, and Ohio State faces the inappropriately named Ball State
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Uncle Duke @uncleduke1969.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
i really thought my middle ages would include more jousting
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Friday's high school football finals: Lord Botetourt 38, Rustburg 12 Tea 35, Huron 32 East Meck 13, West Meck 8 Pleasant Home 8, Red Level 3 Northside 21, Southside 7 Coconut Creek 33, True North Classical 32 Woodford County 35, Bourbon County 20 Jim Hill 34, Crystal Springs 2
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
I just renamed the Great Lakes. Lake Baby Spice, Lake Sporty Spice, Lake Scary Spice, Lake Ginger Space and Lake Posh Spice. Thanks for your attention to this matter.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Kindness. Humility. Humanity. Joy. Positivity. Philanthropy. The best kind of charm. An incredibly effective advocate for literacy for kids who needed one. And a true, overwhelmingly talented entertainer. Dolly.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Hlas column: Iowa Hawkeyes sports have partnerships with lager, bourbon and vodka. If they'd had them when Kinnick Stadium opened, they would have had a serious problem with the feds. mikehlas.substack.com/p/if-you-don...
mikehlas.substack.com
Hawkeyes have booze and beer as their partners, apparently part of being a functioning college athletics program in 2026
Drink for the Hawkeyes and their next generation of legends!
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Mina Kimes @minakimes.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Loser behavior from a guy who’s clinging like a shriveled old barnacle to a sport he doesn’t actually care about in a desperate bid for relevance. Do not cede one inch to him or anyone who acts this way.
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Massimo (mirror) @rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
The boy snuck into his older brother's game and got his first red card. Original post
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Hlas column: A billionaire from Cedar Rapids is liquidating his pro sports holdings, starting with the L.A. Lakers. Hmmm. Wonder why. mikehlas.substack.com/p/a-billiona...
mikehlas.substack.com
A billionaire from Cedar Rapids named Mark Walter seems to be in a bit of a jam, and I'm not too sympathetic
When you decline my interview-requests, you've pretty much guaranteed yourself trouble down the road no matter how paved with gold it may be.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I'm late delivering this Week 1 high school football score from Alaska last Friday night, but here it is: Nikiski 80, Valdez 18 In other news, First National Bank Alaska is hiring tellers for its branches in Valdez and Glenallen.
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Rob Sand @robsandia.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
It was great to sit down with Nate Kaeding & the Corridor Business Journal to chat about the role universities play in economic development and my campaign for governor. We even touch on NIL & the transfer portal. Thanks for the invite, Nate! Go Hawks. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtV4gNhW-cM
youtube.com
Rob Sand joins Nate Kaeding on the Real Success Podcast
YouTube video by Corridor Business Journal
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I can't go on YouTube without watching Candidate X self-aggrandizing for the candidate's Congressional votes in favor of veterans. How about helping the sailors stuck in this horrific situation?
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Hlas column: Luka Garza's message to kids at his two basketball camps in Iowa next week: Put in the work, at whatever you're passionate about. His best example: Himself. mikehlas.substack.com/p/it-hasnt-c...
mikehlas.substack.com
It hasn't come easily, but Luka Garza's career trajectory always seems to point upward
Former men's basketball National Player of the Year at Iowa is entering his sixth NBA season after the fifth was his best.
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Mike Hlas @mikehlas.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
My column on predictive markets: mikehlas.substack.com/p/you-can-le...
mikehlas.substack.com
You can legally bet on Rob Sand or Ashley Hinson or the price of a Chick-fil-A sandwich, and it's not even called gambling
Online predictive markets allow you to bet on anything from the sublime to the ridiculous. Some states think they're a really bad thing. Meanwhile, Iowa high school kids have hopped aboard.
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