iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 9h

New podcast episode! I was joined by Josh Rodriguez to talk about the challenges of being a sports fan as a left-leaning individual in 2026 and how the difficulty when leagues and teams no longer share your values. It was a great conversation, check it out below open.spotify.com/episode/2jT7...

open.spotify.com

#134 - The Death of Sports as the Great Unifier w/ Josh Rodriguez

Deep Cover Podcast · Episode

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 17h

There are just some songs and artists that get my creative juices flowing. Some of them are more explainable than others. One of the less explainable ones is when a song by Kylie Minogue comes. Idk what it is but it unlocks writing flow in me 😂

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Which makes me so grateful for my podcast, and makes me look forward to all the cool people I will have a chance to talk with in the future.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

But I have noticed that when I have some of those people on my podcast where we are on video talking for an hour or so, I find myself feeling a deeper connection and friendship with them.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

And that thought made me consider something. I have connected with a lot of people on social media over the years that I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting in person.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

I was listening to this podcast earlier and they were talking about the breakdown of social connections in America in 2026. And a core thesis that was touched upon was how in-person interactions cannot truly be recreated in a social media text-based environment because it’s incomplete.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

I won’t say that movie is amazing, because it certainly has its flaws, but as a commentary of modern news I found ir profoundly interesting.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

And that statement is such a reflection on the way content is created today in my opinion. Everything is kind of just crap thrown at the wall, without much consideration for nuance and thoughtful reporting. Mainly because it feels like we’re all on this hamster wheel to churn out content.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

There was a line that stuck with me in it, where someone is accused of hating Facebook because it replaced journalism jobs and the response was “no, because you replaced journalism jobs poorly”.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Last night I went and saw “The Social Reckoning”. And while some parts of it were clunky, I enjoyed it, mainly because as someone interested in the decay of journalism and the rot of social media, it was tailor-made for me.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

New podcast episode! Ready for some plodding Omar weirdness? Say less friends! In this episode I compare the fandom phenomenon of Caitlin Clark to Eminem in the late 90s and early 2000s. Check it out below! open.spotify.com/episode/0uF7...

open.spotify.com

#133 - Caitlin Clark, Eminem, and the Cost of the Mainstream

Deep Cover Podcast · Episode

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

So I use Riverside to record my podcast and to generate clips. And after recording today I saw they had these new "enhanced" clips. They add special text effects and this AI b-roll. I have such little desire to use these, but I fear your favorite short form video app will be flooded with these soon

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Glad that the Dream were able to make this work! They deserve to play in a bigger arena for the Finals. Source: Atlanta Dream on X

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

This paragraph about writing from @zachlowenba.bsky.social new Substack piece really resonated with me and I couldn't agree more.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Read the full essay here and please consider subscribing to Deep Cover for free to receive my latest work directly in your inbox deepcover.substack.com/p/victor-wem...

deepcover.substack.com

Victor Wembanyama & the Return of the Outspoken Superstar

Why the Spurs star turns down gambling sponsorships and won't stay quiet, and what it means for the league

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Victor Wembanyama has been unafraid to voice his opinion, recently rebuking gambling sponsorships and standing with French protesters. His willingness to make statements based on his moral compass is a departure from today's corporate athlete. Read more in my latest essay below 👇

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

I know my fellow Knicks fans may not like it when I say this, but I truly love writing articles about Wemby. Have an essay about him dropping this evening that was a joy to write about. Feel however you will about him, but he is a truly fascinating person and player to write about.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

My partner has been learning how to embroider and she was working on towels today. Look at this awesome Knicks one she made!

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Whatever I was expecting, it sure as shit wasn't that lmao

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Calling X "friendly and inclusive" and a "cheerful place" is certainly a choice!

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Just enjoying it while I can witness it

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Michael Penix throws such a beautiful go ball man. It's truly a work of art

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

On my nightly walk right now and saw someone willingly walking outside with a Chargers jersey on. What a brave soul.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Considering the kick off rules and the power of modern kickers, I cannot for the life of me understand why any kickoff unit wouldn't try to get the ball in the landing zone every time, to at the very least kill some more clock with a return and not give the offense such good field position.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Before the end of a half, a team scores and is kicking off with less than 30 seconds left on the clock. They kick the ball out of the end zone on the ensuing kick off. The offense then runs one or two successful pass plays to get to the 50. Then a kicker comes out to take a very long field goal.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

I feel like we have been seeing more of this sort of thing happening in the NFL.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Read the full piece below and please consider subscribing to the Knicks Fan TV Newsletter for merch drops, editorials, and game recaps for free. knicksfantv.beehiiv.com/p/the-knicks...

knicksfantv.beehiiv.com

The Knicks Can’t Win…Even When They Win

A championship should have changed the conversation around New York. Instead, the same narratives continue to dominate.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Typically, when a team wins a title, they are afforded a degree of slack in the subsequent year or two. Championships often buy equity in that way. But for the Knicks, the same treatment doesn't apply. Wrote more about the way this franchise is discussed in my latest for Knicks Fan TV 👇

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

This win feels like a "saved their season" win for the Packers. Things were headed is such a negative and bad direction. But handling the Bears like this, even without Caleb Williams playing, is a huge shot in the arm for Green Bay.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Seeing this Saban docuseries trailer, I am reminded about how sports documentaries have become so bad. These are propoganda images sanitization pieces, completely devoid of any criticism of the subject. Which is such an unfortunate development.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

The thing about 4th down analytics in football is that the calculus of going for it inside the 5 is that the potential for 6 is worth the risk because of optimal field position if you fail. That doesn't apply before halftime. After three cracks at the end zone, Jags should have taken the FG.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Watching some.afternoom college football today and there are SO MANY Republican political ads. Leaving now doubt about what the perceived target demo for this sport is

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

This WNBA Finals matchup poses a rooting dilemma for me. Angel Reese has long been one of my favorite players. Natalie Nakase is my favorite coach in any league and GSV is such a fun team to watch. 😭😭😭

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Angel Reese heading to the Finals, after two sweeps, putting up 18 & 8. You love to see it!

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

And it never fails, whenever any piece I have is somewhat Caitlin Clark adjacent the trolls on that platform take a hold of it. Literally nothing else ever gets engagement, it's like that whole platform is just filled with CC fan bots. It's insane.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I don't use Facebook very much anymore. But when I post an carousel on Instagram for a new piece it's set to auto post to FB as well. This is mostly so that friends and family on that platform can keep up with my work if they want (they usually don't want to though lol).

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

A'ja Wilson has won her fifth MVP award. And unlike other stars in other leagues and sports, seems to be immune to voter fatigue. I wrote more about Wilson and why she is so unique in the regard in my latest essay on Deep Cover. Check it out below 👇

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

But upon reading some work I see that others don't buy in to this idea and have very little imagery outside of the main article image. Have I just been wrong this whole time? Lol. Because if so, that would save me A LOT of time haha.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Something I have noticed while catching up on some articles from a few of my favorite creators. For the longest time I thought my pieces needed to have all these images in them because "people's eyes will glaze over".

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Mike Ditka was one of those coaches that permeated pop culture in a way that is uncommon. The look, the gruffness, an absolute Chicago icon that has remained for years. That's without mentioning how he revolutionized the TE position before his coaching career. Rest in peace to a true football titan.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Catching up on my podcasts this week and finally getting to @clairempls.bsky.social new podcast "Basketball, Etc.". Friends, this is the type of basketball pod I've been waiting for. Cannot recommend this one enough. Claire, like she usually does, is doing incredibly great and important work.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Flexing my Knicks writing muscles again in a piece for Knicks Fan TV tonight. Ah how I have missed writing about this team!

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

That's what makes A'ja Wilson winning five MVPs in a seven year span so impressive. She proved to be so great that she is above voter fatigue. That is a testament to her excellence and dominance in the league, greatest to ever do it.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

One of the weird things about MVP awards across sports in the modern landscape is that always on information and coverage typically leads to voter fatigue.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Two amazing WNBA playoff games tonight. Just high level hoops, two close games, with four great teams. We are truly so blessed as basketball fans.

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

When Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA, she brought her fans with her. That event has created a fracture in Fever fandom, created perceptions about the team, and formed a divide. In my latest I wrote about this divide and why it highlights an increasingly complex fandom environment. Full essay below 👇

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Omar Zahran @omarzahran.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I agree bsky.app/profile/omar...

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