Image Source: Lev Akabas
Key Takeaways
- The news cycle has become shorter in the 2020s due to social media and the rapid spread of information
- A data visualization of Google search volume for 38 sports-related topics in 2025 shows how quickly stories rise and fall
- Topics like "torpedo bat" and Chauncey Billups had a rapid spike in search volume before disappearing
- Other topics, such as Nico Harrison and Travis Kelce, had multiple spikes in search volume throughout the year
- The term "Dildos" had a steady search volume throughout the year due to a series of incidents in the WNBA
Introduction to the News Cycle
The news cycle has undergone a significant transformation in the 2020s, with social media playing a crucial role in the instantaneous spread of information. As a result, it has become increasingly challenging to keep track of current events, with recent stories often feeling like they occurred ages ago. For instance, the infamous Luka Dončić trade, which happened within the past year, may seem like a distant memory to many. This phenomenon inspired Axios to create a data visualization charting the fast-paced news cycle, which in turn prompted the creation of a sports version. As noted in the original article, "Sometimes recent events feel like they occurred ages ago—for instance, the infamous Luka Dončić trade happened within the past year!"
Analyzing the Data Visualization
The graphic below shows the Google search volume of 38 different sports or sports-adjacent topics over the course of the 2025 calendar. Upon examining the data, it becomes apparent that stories rise and fall with remarkable speed. For example, the term "torpedo bat" saw a sudden surge in search volume during the week of March 30, when the new bat shape exploded onto the radar of baseball fans during MLB’s opening weekend. However, by April 6, interest in the topic had waned, with more than 50% of all 2025 search traffic for the term coming within that one seven-day stretch. As the article states, "Practically nobody searched for ‘torpedo bat’ before the week of March 30, when the new bat shape exploded onto the radar of baseball fans during MLB’s opening weekend. By April 6, nobody cared anymore—more than 50% of all 2025 search traffic for the term came within that one seven-day stretch."
Topics with Rapid Spikes in Search Volume
Many topics had a single rapid spike in search volume before disappearing from the public consciousness. For instance, Chauncey Billups, the former Portland Trail Blazers coach arrested for alleged illegal gambling in October, and new NBA owners William Chisholm and Mark Walter, saw a brief surge in interest as fans sought to learn more about the latest developments. As the article notes, "Many people had a single rapid spike before disappearing, including Chauncey Billups, the former Portland Trail Blazers coach arrested for alleged illegal gambling in October, and new NBA owners William Chisholm and Mark Walter, as Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers fans wanted to learn about who had just purchased their favorite franchise."
Topics with Multiple Spikes in Search Volume
Other topics, such as Nico Harrison and Travis Kelce, had multiple spikes in search volume throughout the year. Harrison, the former Dallas Mavericks general manager, saw two spikes—one when he traded Doncic in February and another when he got fired in November. Similarly, Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, had a slight increase in search volume during his Super Bowl appearance in February, and another spike when he got engaged to Taylor Swift in August. As the article states, "Former Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison had two spikes—one when he traded Doncic in February and another when he got fired in November. Same for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce—his Super Bowl appearance in February got him slightly more attention than his engagement to Taylor Swift in August."
The Steady Search Volume of "Dildos"
The one row in the chart with a steady search volume throughout the year is "Dildos." The sports connection to this term arose from a series of incidents in late July when sex toys were thrown onto the court during WNBA games, prompting discussions about player safety, misogyny, and betting integrity. These events garnered enough attention to more than double the overall normal search traffic for the term during the first week of August. As the article notes, "The sports connection was a series of incidents in late July when sex toys were thrown onto the court during WNBA games, prompting discussions about player safety, misogyny and betting integrity. These events garnered enough attention to more than double the overall normal search traffic for the term during the first week of August."
https://www.sportico.com/business/sports/2026/sports-news-2025-data-viz-1234880347/