The Men's Health and NY Times articles are missing a significant part of what stretching is and what it can (and cannot) do.

First, streching weakens a muscular tissue, a weakness that remains until some period of hours passes.

Second, research has shown that stretching after a session of exercise (whether aerobic or resistance, or both) lessens injuries and aids in recovery.  Interestingly, static stretching before exercise has seemingly no effect on injury prevention.

Dynamic (but not ballistic) stretching - before exercise and if done after an appropriate warm-up period and through a full range of motion - can provide some injury prevention benefits for many modes of exercise.  But there is measurable decrease in strength for muscles that have been stretched.

Finally, stretching is a self efficacious issue, in that when done after exercise and with proper form, it can speed recovery, lessen post exercise inflamation, and it can provide a pleasurable sensation to the individual, leaving the exercise session with a parting of pleasure and relaxation (a major contributor to exercie program adhearance).

Stretching - Do it slowly, do it in perfect form, do it when warm, do it at the end of the session.  You'll see it works.  Consult the book "Stretching" by Bob Anderson for the best full-spectrum resource on stretching, an essential element of any successful exercise program.