Thoughts on the Wembanyama Season Ending Injury

It was announced a few days ago that Spurs unicorn Victor Wembanyama is going to miss the rest of the NBA season due to a blood clot in his shoulder. Let’s discuss.

When I first saw the news it bummed me out. I also had the fleeting thought of, is this just the start of an injury riddled what could have been a type of career for him. Wemby is unlike any NBA player I have ever watched. He is gigantic. He stands at 7'4 and he looks every bit of it. He is an intimidating interior defender already. He can block shots out on the perimeter in a split second. He was going to win his first DPOY this season. He can dribble like a guard. He can shoot threes. He is quick. He was getting better playing in the low post. He announced himself during his rookie season, he struck fear in everyone who watched him in the summer Olympics and he was coming off his first all star appearance. He did all of this, and has all these skills, before he is even close to his prime. Wemby's best days are yet to come. But now he has this blood clot injury.

I didn't know what to make of it at first, but then I saw someone say this was the same thing that Chris Bosh dealt with near the end of his career. Bosh was never the same player after his injury. But, Bosh had a full career up to that point. He was an all star, a champ, a player of note in the NBA. No disrespect to Bosh, but Wemby has loftier goals and he was, and he can still be, on his way to being the face of the NBA post LeBron James. Now, who knows what is going to happen to him and the Spurs. The Spurs were not going to be a real threat this season, but they were on their way to fighting for a play-in spot in the West, which is going to be a tough get by the end of the season. Wemby was starting to really excel in spots that some thought might be a struggle for him. He was becoming this incredible defender. He was scoring everywhere on the floor. He was making his name for himself in the league and carving out his spot as the guy. He was playing better with a real point guard in Chris Paul. The Spurs went out and got De'Aaron Fox in one of the better trades of the past decade. The other young guys the Spurs have been drafting were figuring out their role with Wemby as the star player and focal point of the offense and defense. This whole experiment post Tim Duncan was starting to come together for them. And now they are without the guy that makes the engine run.

I see no real good out of this other than the fact that Stephon Castle, who is awesome already, will get more run and more shots. This is going to slow down the progress the Spurs were hoping to capitalize on soon. The Spurs sit a few games below .500 now, and with Wemby out who knows how far they'll fall. But I think they already have too many wins to have a real shot at drafting any of the big name prospects in the upcoming draft. But what makes injury so much of a bummer for me, as an NBA fan, I was watching a ton of Spurs games because I want to watch Wemby as much as possible. He is a gift to basketball fans. He is so unique. He is the first of his kind. He makes the game of basketball fun. He makes the game of basketball effortless when he plays, and that is a joy to watch.

This is a bummer. This is not what the NBA needs coming off another bad all star weekend. I hope it doesn't affect the long term in Wemby's career. That would stink for the NBA, but more so, for Wemby.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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NBA All-Star Weekend is a Waste of Everyone's Time

It seems I'm at somewhat of a crossroads with the NBA.

I adore the game of basketball. It was my favorite sport to play when I was younger. I played it as long as my knees would let me. I coach my son now because I want to stay attached to this game anyway I can. I also love watching basketball. Let me clarify that, I love watching college and NBA basketball. And, while college basketball was kind of hit and miss the past couple years, I've gotten back into it big time this season. It helps that my 13 year old is interested. We watch games together a ton now. When it comes to the NBA, I have found myself checking out more often than in. I am an old school fan. I don't like all the threes being shot. I liked it more when players had real hatred towards one another. I wanted to see these dudes really go at it during a game. I will always prefer a big dunk to a long three. I adored players like Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson based purely on their will to get to the basket and to not settle on jumpers.

All of that has changed.

I will say, players today are far more athletic than players from the 90's. The things these current players can do, some on both ends of the floor, is amazing. But, I personally feel that the game is softer and not as cutthroat. And I get that some people prefer this style of play. It just isn't for me.

For the last few years, the all star game and weekend have been truly abysmal. It is no fun to watch for me anymore. The dunk contest is totally watered down. No stars do it anymore. There was a time when Jordan and Dr J would sign up for the dunk contest. Aaron Gordon and Zach Lavine gave us some of the best dunks I've ever witnessed. Vince Carter returned the dunk contest back to its glory in the early 2000's. Now, we get rookies who get zero run during regular season games, or G League guys that are essentially a side show. Sure, Mac McClung is a great leaper, but he will never play a meaningful second in a real NBA game. I am a big Stephon Castle fan, but he is a rookie on a Spurs team that features Wemby. These guys are better than I could ever dream of being at the game of basketball, but they aren't Ja Morant or Anthony Edwards. The dunk contest is craving for star power. The 3 point contest is okay, but it's just a shooting contest, and almost every NBA player can shoot threes. This one has no issue getting stars because there's no worry of injury. But, when Dame or Steph are done after one round, I stop watching. The skills competition needs to go away, as does the "celebrity" all star game.

The worst part of the whole weekend is the game. It is nothing more than an offensive scrimmage. No one even attempts defense. Guys take threes from halfcourt. There's a million jumpers hoisted constanty. The NBA all star game is as bad, if not worse, than the NFL pro bowl. And this whole "tournament" thing they did last night, from what I've read, seems like a real whiff. I don't get why they decided to split the all stars into a bunch of different teams and have the rookie and sophomore teams involved as well. That is a waste of time.

The biggest thing I took away from the weekend, and why I feel at a crossroads with the NBA, I didn't watch a single second of all star weekend. I didn't check in at all. I have not looked at any highlights. I know Steph was the MVP, but I couldn't tell you a single thing he actually did in the game. I used to watch something every all star weekend. I used to watch a snippet of every event. But this year I had no interest or desire. I guess I'm over all star weekend. I saw that Kevin Durant was saying that, if the game is so bad to the fans, to give the players a week off. I know he was being passive aggressive, but that is a much better idea and way less of a waste of time for the players. I would love it if they did that instead of playing a pointless, defenseless basketball game that hardly anyone cares about. I don't know. But, the one thing I do know, the NBA needs to make some drastic changes to all star weekend. It has reached the point of being unwatchable. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Watches Super Bowl LIX

The Eagles dominated Super Bowl 59 last night. Let’s discuss.

It was a wire to wire win for the Eagles. They didn’t trail for one second. There was never a moment where it looked in peril. The only thing the Chiefs did even remotely well was stop the run. But, it seemed like they were solely focused on Saquon Barkley, and that meant that Jalen Hurts was able to feast. And boy oh boy did he feast. His pass to Devonta Smith, the first Alabama alum to score a td in the Super Bowl, was an absolute gem. The crossing route ball to AJ Brown hit him in stride. The “tush push” or “brotherly shove”, whatever the hell they call it, worked to perfection. He was able to scramble for big yards and had all the time in the world to scan the field when he stayed in the pocket. Hurts was masterful last night and he more than deserved the MVP. Barkley didn’t have a monster game, but his presence was more than enough to scare the Chiefs and screw up their defensive game plan. Brown and Smith did their job at wideout and the o line was brilliant.

The Eagles defense was also otherworldly last night. The d line got constant pressure. They seemed to be in the backfield all game. I think they had five sacks. The linebackers cleaned up any mess. And the secondary was on point. Cooper Dejean had a pick six. Quinyon Mitchell laid the wood all night and they were able to pick Mahoney twice and make him look very pedestrian. Their kick game was great and their special teams did the job. Total team effort.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, were terrible. The o line was dreadful. The receivers, except for Xavier Worthy, were middling. Travis Kelce looked old and slow. The run game was non existent. Patrick Mahomes was off all night. This may be the worst he’s played since he was a rookie. The defense tried to hang in as long as possible, but the second half proved to be their undoing. I don’t know what their mindset was coming into this game, but they looked woefully unprepared. Maybe the close games all year finally caught up to them. I don’t know. The three peat wasn’t in the cards. The Eagles were ready, the Chiefs we’re clearly not.

As for the halftime show, I loved it. I’m a humongous Kendrick Lamar fan and he delivered for me last night. I loved his song choices. I loved the whole performance. I thought it was great that he did “Not Like Us”, when it was reported that he was asked not to. I was all for the direct look to camera that is now a massive viral meme. Seeing Serena Williams dance with all the dancers was rad. SZA came out and crushed. I was all in on the halftime show.

The commercials were fine and vanished from my brain quick. I don’t remember the Clydesdale commercial. Nothing made me really laugh. Unless my dad was laughing, he has a contagious laugh, not one commercial made me laugh on my own. The movie trailers have all, for the most part, already been released. I paid more attention to them this year, but nothing was worth remembering for me.

All in all, the game was underwhelming. The right team won, so I guess that’s cool. I thought Kendrick Lamar and crew were great, and the commercials were middling. I’ll end this with giving the Eagles a much deserved congrats. They won and they won big. They stomped all over the Chiefs attempt to three-peat. Congrats on the win and enjoy the spotlight Philly. Well done.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thoughts on the NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline ended about an hour ago. I’m not here to break down each trade. I don’t want to go through each one and talk about the good and the bad of the trade. Teams make deals, sometimes they work sometimes they don’t. This is life in the NBA. But this trade deadline has been, quite possibly, the craziest deadline of all time.

What makes it even wilder to me, none of the humongous names went today. They all went early. It all started when the bombshell Luka for AD trade happened. I wrote about that particular trade twice. I’m still shocked by it, and neither player has yet to play for their new team, but it certainly is real. They’ve had press conferences and everything. They’ve scrubbed their personal social media and made their own remarks. There’s no going back now. Outside that trade, De’Aaron Fox was also moved. I also talked about that one. That was a perfect deal for him and San Antonio. Jimmy Butler was traded to Golden State. I didn’t think he’d go there, and I’m not too high on that deal, but he got out of Miami, which is what he wanted. And outside having to move Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors didn’t have to give up much more. Khris Middleton and Kyle Kuzma swapped teams. My team, the Memphis Grizzlies, made a move. And a whole bunch of other stuff happened too.

What really sets this trade deadline apart is the star power, as I said before. The names I mentioned are perennial all stars and some are consistently in the conversation for MVP. A handful of former high lottery picks were moved. Players drafted in the late first round, who have carved out a niche for themselves in the NBA, are in new places as well. This NBA trade deadline is going to be hard to match. No other league has this type of player movement in the middle of a season. Destinies are going to be changed due to this deadline this season. Some teams have found a player that will be their cornerstone for years to come. Other contending teams seemed to have found the missing piece for a deep playoff run. This deadline was nuts. This type of movement is why I’m hesitant to buy my son jerseys of certain players. And a deadline like this proves that no one in this era of the NBA is safe. No matter how bright your star shines or how important some of these guys think they might be to their former team, if the brass wants to move on, they will. That’s a scary thought moving forward, but here we are.

Pro sports is entertainment and that was proven tenfold this past week. Now, I want to see how these players perform on their new squads. The second half of the NBA season will be very interesting. And I can’t wait.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Why I am Rooting Against The Chiefs

The other day I was hanging out with my folks. I go over there a few times a week to see them and have coffee with my dad. Before we go out I usually chat with both my parents. We were talking about the Super Bowl and my mom said something that has stuck with me since then.

My mom grew up in a home where her dad watched a good amount of football. She also raised four boys, three of us that played organized football, and I have to imagine her knowledge grew by sheer osmosis. My mom actually knows more than a lot of people about football. She also happens to be a Chiefs fan. To each their own. But, since she is a fan, she asked me the other day why everyone seems to dislike them now. This is the quote that has stuck with me. She brings up a good point. There are a ton of people that actively dislike the Chiefs. I happen to be one of those people. I feel like they get some kind of help from the officials and they have an arrogance towards them. They kind of walk around like they own the NFL, which they kind of do at this moment. But, after this conversation, me, my mom and my dad all kind of went through former teams that people seem to dislike.

I was a child of the 90's. Back then, people either loved or hated the Bulls and Cowboys. I didn't mind the Bulls, but boy oh boy do I still despise the Cowboys. And a lot of that had to do with the way they carried themselves. They acted better than everyone, again, which they were. The Cowboys won a bunch and set records. The Bulls were the same. They also happened to have the GOAT, Michael Jordan. They were always in the finals and they always won. They'd beat teams like the Magic or Rockets and that seemed to frustrate everyone that wasn't a fan. In the early 2000's the NFL had the Patriots dynasty. And when I saw a bunch of people disliked the Patriots, I guess a better way to describe it is, everyone outside of Boston and New England actively rooted against the Patriots. I was indifferent, but there were points where I found myself rooting for some of the teams they were playing. I have never been an Eagles fan, but when Donovan McNabb was their QB, I wanted nothing more than his team to beat the Patriots. I never rooted for the Rams when they were in STL, but when they had The Greatest Show on Turf, you're damn right I was frustrated when they got beat by the Patriots, thus starting their dynasty. And I will go to my grave believing Charles Woodson stripped Tom Brady and that the tuck rule is the dumbest rule in pro sports. I have to imagine a bunch of people in the 70's were sick of the Celtics and Steelers. Those teams were winning all the time and it had to bum non fans out. Currently in the sports world I find myself actively rooting against the Lakers, Dodgers and Yankees. The Lakers always seem to find a way to land a superstar. The Yankees buy players. And the Dodgers, well, I feel like they're ruining pro baseball based on the sheer fact that they can sign anyone they want whenever they want. Their lineup features Shoehei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, among others. They signed the best pitching prospect in Japan recently. They also signed the top reliever on the market. I wouldn't be shocked if they win 140 games, and I find that this also bums me out.

The main thing all these teams seem to have in common, they're winning teams. They all have multiple titles and superstars that have rolled through their locker rooms. They have big names and big personalities. But, the main common thread, the main thing, the reason I believe that people actively dislike all the teams I mentioned, and now with the Chiefs, they win and most people like to root for the underdog. Sorry mom, but I'd much rather see the Eagles win the Super Bowl this year. I couldn't root for either team last year because the Chiefs and 49ers are my two least favorite teams in the NFL. I rooted for the Falcons when they gave up their 25 point lead. I also rooted for the Seahawks when Malcolm Butler picked off Russell Wilson at the one yard line. And I even rooted for Tampa Bay when they played the Chiefs in the COVID Super Bowl. Most people don't want to root for the favorite, and I believe that is the main reason why so many people are rooting for the Eagles this weekend. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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ESPN's Lakers Bias is Strong

Yesterday I wrote about the Luka-AD trade. I put out my thoughts on the whole thing. I figure both teams got some good and bad out of the whole deal. It's still odd to think about, but with press conferences and it all being official, we just have to see them play now for my eyes to fully believe it. But the reason I'm back today to talk about it one more time is all the stuff I read about this trade and the grades given out by supposed experts.

ESPN is usually the first site that gives out their grades from their writers. Other publications and sites follow up right away, but I usually only read ESPN. I don't like their content, but it's the quickest and it's the first one I tend to see. The Jazz, who I totally forgot were part of this deal, got a B. The Lakers were given an A. And the Mavs, a stone cold F.

I was a little stunned when I saw this. The Jazz grade didn't do much for me. Sure, they got a player, Jalen Hood Schifino, and some picks. That's what they want right now. The more picks the Jazz get, the better for them. And if a team can throw in a young, unproven player, they will most definitely give that person a shot. A B for them makes total sense to me. But the A for the Lakers and F for the Mavs is wild. The Lakers defense was already struggling with their best defender, AD. They were in the 20's. That's not great. LeBron can only do so much, as he is getting older. Jarred Vanderbilt struggles to stay healthy enough during the regular season, and has become borderline unplayable in the playoffs. Austin Reaves is a total zero on that end. Gabe Vincent seems like a one season wonder. Jaxson Hayes has never lived up to the high draft position. Dalton Knecht is not ready to play mid level NBA defense. Bronny James goes back and forth between the NBA and G League. Adding Luka Doncic will do good things for their offense, but he is going to pull this defense down even further. I saw a video of him "playing defense" the other night and it was abhorrent. His footwork is atrocious. He gets beat with ease. He is always calling and pointing for help. He cannot even keep guards out of the post anymore. This squad reminds me of a team that just wants to outscore everyone, but that will not happen. So, to give them an A is wild to me. I have to imagine it's because everyone at ESPN is in love with Doncic for some reason. They look past his poor defense and consistent whining. They only see the wild shots that fall and they have let everything else fly. That's irresponsible for a major network like them, but here we are. They will give a pass to anyone they seem to have a crush on.

An F for the Mavs is rough too. The love ESPN seems to have for Doncic, that is the same amount of hate and disdain they have for AD. They question everything that he does. They complain that he's "not as dominant" as he should be. They always talk about him being hurt. They mock his jumper. I don't get it. AD does get hurt and his jumper is gone, but the other stuff is nonsense. AD, when he plays, is very good. He is an upper tier low post defender. He can rebound the ball. He gets to the line a ton. He seems to be a solid teammate. And he's in shape. AD is a very good basketball player. He is one of the top forwards/centers in the league. When he plays, no matter what teams he is on, they seem to play well enough to be a thorn. While the trade may not be for everyone, an F seems like a wild overreach from the writers at ESPN. I just don't see how they can go to two different extremes when talking about two players in their prime. There has to be something else to this, but I cannot figure it out.

I don't agree or think these grades are fair or reliable. But, it figures a company like ESPN is only in it for the stars that they love, and clearly Anthony Davis is not one of them. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Thoughts on the Luka Doncic Anthony Davis Trade

As I was drifting off to sleep the other night, my phone buzzed with a sports update. I usually don't pay much mind when this happens as I am going to sleep, but I just happened to be rolling over to get more comfortable and I saw my phone light up. So I checked and was shocked at the news. In fact, I thought it was a joke or some wrong reporting. I assumed it wasn't true at all to be honest with you all.

It was made official yesterday and I have seen a ton of reputable reporters confirming the story. So, it is true that Luka Doncic is now a Laker and Anthony Davis is a Maverick. There are some other players and picks in this trade, but Doncic and Davis are the story here. Again, writing it right now, it still doesn't seem real. I don't think it will sink in for me until I actually see them both play for their new teams. But, here we are. And with this being fully official, I have some thoughts.

I do have to say, this may be the biggest trade I've ever witnessed in my sports watching life. I have seen big names move, but there was some kind of caveat. Kawhi Leonard going to the Raptors was a one year rental. KD signed with the Warriors as a free agent, and did the same with the Nets. Hell, even his trade to the Suns wasn't as wild as this one. Back in the 90', when I first started to really watch the NBA, stuff like this didn't happen. I cannot pull one star for star player from that era. And if a guy changed teams, it was a free agent thing. There's a bunch of player movement in this new era, which is kind of cool. De'Aaron Fox was just traded to the Spurs. Zach Lavine was part of that deal. Paul George is a 76er, but that was free agency. And it seems like it's only a matter of time until Jimmy Butler is somewhere else. But this Luka for AD trade is otherworldly. I cannot wrap my head around all of this still, and it has been a couple of days. But pulling back and trying to gauge this, I do have some thoughts.

I am floored that both these teams gave up on guys who still seem to have a good amount left in the tank. I have my own personal issues with Luka Doncic. The way he plays the game of basketball bugs the hell out of me. He's a ball hog, unless he can hunt assists. He whines and complains so much that it has become a real problem. He picks and chooses when he wants to play defense, and when he decides he wants to play defense, he is a liability. He is a ball stopper and settles for far too many jumpers. His partying can be a problem and he seems to have issues with some of his teammates. But, the guy can put the ball in the basket. He is one of the better scorers in the NBA. Anthony Davis has some stuff too. He cannot stay healthy. He has been better about that lately, but all good things will come to an end. His jumper is nonexistent. He isn't as good a rebounder as someone his size should be. He is a little soft from time to time. But, he is an exceptional defender. He gets to the free throw line. And he knows how to win on the biggest stage.

When I try to figure out what Luka brings to the Lakers, I kind of come up empty. I am very, very curious to see how he meshes with LeBron. They both want the ball in their hands in crucial moments. LeBron has proven he is much better at this than Luka. The Lakers backcourt will now feature Doncic and Gabe Vincent. That doesn't move the needle much for me. Gabe Vincent's best days are behind him and Doncic is a zero defender. Austin Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith, I guess, are the starting forwards. Again, Reeves is a zero defensively and Finney-Smith has never been able to recover his three point shot. At center they have Jaxson Hayes replacing AD. That is like hamburger replacing filet mignon. That's a major downgrade for the Lakers. As for the bench, who really cares. The Lakers will have massive defensive issues now. They also have a head coach that's in over his head. And LeBron hasn't said much about this, so who really knows how he feels about all of this.

As for AD to the Mavs, I actually like this more for them. It's going to be tough to replace Doncic's offense, maybe impossible, but they will have an incredible defense now. Kyrie Irving will take over as the main offensive threat, and this is okay. Irving is a fine scorer and a weird dude. Klay Thompson can shoot, but man oh man is he old. PJ Washington has been so much better since going to Dallas and Dereck Lively II is very young and very good. AD brings defense, a low post game and a winning pedigree. I don't know how long he will stay healthy, or if the Mavs will make more moves, but the fit with AD is so much better than the Luka fit on the Lakers for me. I guess time will tell.

This trade is colossal. Moves like this don't happen ever. Two stars don't get traded for each other unless they're way past their prime. These two aren't close to past their prime. Luka is still in his mid 20's, and AD is a young 30 or so year old with a ring. This is wild and I wonder if more big names will get moved in the next three days. But, no names will be as big as these names. This is a wild, wild trade. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Fans Should Not Have a Say in All Star Voting

Yesterday I was looking at some sports news and the NBA all star reserves were being announced. Let’s discuss.

This is right around the time I start getting back into the NBA, right after all star break. The names were announced, and per usual, there were some surprises and some players that got "snubbed". I never pay much attention to the whole "snub" thing because there's only so many spots on an all star roster and some people are bound to be left off. It's the nature of the beast. And everyone has their opinion on who the biggest "snub" is and who they should replace. It is all being put out on social media immediately just for the clicks. And I don't have a fix for this issue per-say, but I have an idea on how some of this could be avoided in the near future.

My biggest issue with all star stuff, and this goes across multiple professional sports all star rosters, we have to stop letting the fan vote determine who the starters are going to be. I get it, you want the fans to feel involved. This gives them some kind of feeling of being in charge. We get to pick and we think we have some form of power, however slight it may be. The issue I have, fans vote for the same people year after year after year. And the fans that actually vote, they're a mix of small children or fully grown adults stuck in the past. No one who is of sound mind and maturity wastes their time voting for this. In the NBA the all star game is a joke, so why would a legit fan care to even vote? They wouldn't. It makes no sense. But, when I was a little kid, like 11 or 12, I couldn't wait to vote. I wanted to see the players I like play in an all star game. And that was all well and good back in the 90's because I couldn't watch Shawn Kemp, Chris Webber and Gary Payton whenever I wanted. We had no NBA on TNT or League Pass. We got the NBA on ABC, which was usually a Bulls game, and the occasional ESPN game, which were few and far between. So, the sheer fact that I could watch a player I like made me want to vote.

Kids now, like my son for example, are so bummed because Lamelo Ball isn't an all star this year. He loves watching Lamelo play. Me, I don't care about the Hornets and Lamelo plays zero defense, so I have no interest in watching him chuck the ball 25 times a game, if he is even playing. Some kids I coach were upset that Domantas Sabonis and Trae Young are not all stars. Again, these two play zero defense. Young jacks threes and hunts assists and Sabonis can rebound and score, but he is a liability in the post on defense. But I get the joy that they get from watching exciting players, I just don't think excitement lends to being an all star. And kids are dumb with sports stuff like all star rosters. I was dumb when it came to voting as a 12 or 13 year old, so I can relate to my son.

As for the fully grown adults voting, these are the ones voting for Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant to be all star starters. This is why a guy like Dame Lillard is an all star every year. Steph and LeBron are all timers, but they don't need to waste their time playing in a pointless exhibition game. But the ESPN's and Fox Sports of the world will not have it any other way. These networks are star effers and they have an odd lust to see them play, even though they can watch them whenever they want. Jokic is a zero defensively. Durant is never healthy. Lillard is old and small and maybe the worst defender in the NBA. And, Steph and LeBron, as previously mentioned, don't need this.

I say do away with fan votes. It is a pointless waste of time. Fans will watch no matter what. My son is going to tune in simply because he loves the game of basketball. Others will tune in for their own reasons. But, if they want a legit all star game with legit rosters, go to the coaches with the caveat of no voting for anyone on your team. These people see these players night in and night out. They know the game better than any of us regular fans will ever know the game. Put it in their hands and go from there. Fans will still tune in, and I know that is what is important in this era of sports as entertainment. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Thoughts on Where De'Aaron Fox Should Play Next

It looks like De'Aaron Fox wants a change of scenery. I read that the Kings have decided to field calls for a possible trade, and that Fox and his agent think this is the best path moving forward. Let’s discuss.

I don't get why the Kings continue to do stuff like this. They offloaded Tyrese Haliburton way too quickly. They let guys walk all the time. They take chances on draft picks and they usually don't pay off. Davion Mitchell is gone. Haliburton, as mentioned, is gone. Keegan Murray came out of the gates super fast, but he has since cooled off. The Kings get a little success and then they decide it's time to make a change. Fox seemed like the perfect cornerstone player to build around. He has come into his own and has led the Kings to two consecutive playoff appearances. He seems to like playing in Sacramento. But, for some reason he is now most likely out the door. I read today that the Kings want a good return, as they should. But, I'm still a little stunned that they are both ready to move on so fast from one another.

I also read about some of the teams on his "preferred" list, and also about the ones that didn't make the cut. I always chuckle a little when I read about the teams that didn't make the list. The Lakers are one of the teams not on the list. That makes perfect sense. They have nothing in the way of picks or the talent the Kings want in return. But, to keep up their image, the media cannot just say that, they have to put a shine on it. In fact, the Lakers are the only team that I've read about to this point that are not on his list. In fact I saw that "dozens" of teams have made contact with the Kings in regards to a possible trade. The most likely outcome, in my opinion and many others as well, there are four real possibilities, the Nets, Magic, Heat and Spurs, with the Spurs being Fox's preferred destination.

With the Nets, this comes down to money and an extension. If that is what Fox is after, the biggest payday, this would be his best bet. I don't know how this would help the Kings other than draft assets. The Nets have tons of picks to trade. In regards to "win now" players, that is the issue. They have Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas. Those guys are solid, but they are not on Fox's level. You could throw Nic Claxton in there, but the Kings already have enough bigs. If the Nets were to pursue a trade, this would be about getting the biggest payday possible for Fox.

I kind of like the fit with the Magic. The Magic would have to give up on players like Gary Harris or Anthony Black, or both. The Kings will want to try and replace Fox with many guards instead of just one. They could bring in those guards, shoot for some of the Magic's bench players, maybe Johnathan Issac or Mo Wagner. And the Magic could trade some future picks as well, If Fox were to join the Magic with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, they'd have three really good, really young guys that make them instant contenders in the East. But, this only works if the Kings are okay with taking late first round picks.

The Heat are an interesting team here. This would have to be a multiple team trade, but it is intriguing. If the Kings and Heat could get Phoenix or Milwaukee involved, that could make this wacky. Jimmy Butler could get his wish and wind up in Phoenix. The Suns would have to offload a bunch of the mid level guys they signed to pair with KD and Devin Booker, but I'm sure they'd jump at the chance. The Heat could then end up with Fox or Bradley Beal in this deal, but where does that leave the Kings? What do they get out of this trade? The Heat always pick late in the first round. So do the Suns. As for players, the mid level guys from the Suns are okay, but not playoff worthy players. The Heat always seem to have players that are successful for them, but that isn't always the case when they leave Miami. This trade only really benefits Jimmy Butler. De'Aaron Fox should be the focal point of any deal when he is involved.

Finally we have the Spurs. This one is the best fit and makes the most sense. Pairing Victor Webanyama with Fox would be wonderful. Chris Paul has been nice to have around Wemby, but Fox is younger and more on Wemby's timeline. They should fit like an absolute glove. In this deal, if the Kings want "win now" guys, they could get CP3 in this deal, and probably even guys like Malaki Branham or Keldon Johnson. The Spurs also have a ton of picks they can deal. The Kings could get a big name, some young names with real potential and picks. The Spurs get the ideal fit at point guard with Fox and Wemby is happy because they are on a faster track to compete. I love this trade for both teams. Now, will this actually happen, who knows.

The trade deadline is February 6th. That is about a week away. A lot is going to have to happen between now and then, but it could get done, and I think it will get done. This seems like it has been in the works for a bit and it is just a matter of time before it is announced. Time will tell, but I'm interested to see how it all shakes out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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I Guess I Should Do a Super Bowl Preview

Well, we have a pretty dull Super Bowl match up, in my opinion. This is a rematch too. The Eagles easily dismissed the Commanders and the Chiefs found a way to defeat the Bills once again. The NFC title game was such a blowout that I fell asleep watching it. That game actually pushed my run back a few hours because I was so bored that I was dozing. The Chiefs got some help from the refs and the Bills acted like themselves in the end to find a way to blow a possible win and trip to the Super Bowl. I will say, the Chiefs played well too. They did get help from the refs, but they also earned the win.

So, if I were to sit here today and write a preview, I don't really know what to do. These are the two best teams in the NFL. The Lions got beat earlier than they should have, the Bills blew it and the Ravens also blew it. The Eagles won with stifling defense and an exceptional run game. The Chiefs did it with their defense, and Mahomes deciding he was going to become mobile again. I think the Eagles and Chiefs match up pretty well against one another. The Chiefs defense is the best part of their team, but the Eagles have an elite run game. The Eagles also have two very solid corners, but they are both rookies. The Chiefs have names, guys like Travis Kelce and Deandre Hopkins, but they aren't the players they once were. The Eagles front seven on defense is pretty damn good too. But, so do the Chiefs. The coaching here goes to KC, but the Eagles have found a way to win despite some early season locker room issues. And the Chiefs are coming off two straight Super Bowl wins. They have the experience. One of those wins came against Philly, but the Eagles have changed their team since then.

If I were to go through certain aspects of the game, I come out with no real advantage that stands out. The Chiefs have Mahomes. He is a proven winner. Jalen Hurts is very good and can do some special things, but he is not Mahomes. The Eagles run game is far superior. Saquon Barkley is a legit MVP candidate, he put up over 2,000 yards this season and is a threat whenever he has the ball in his hands. The Chiefs have a running back by committee, which is fine, but it is not Barkley. The Eagles have better receivers. AJ Brown and Devonta Smith are much more reliable than Hopkins or Smith Schuster. The Eagles do have a way better tight end. Kelce is one of the better tight ends in the NFL. The Eagles o-line is better, but the Chiefs o-line gets away with way more than any other line in the league. The d-lines kind of cancel each other out. I could say the same about the linebackers. But, the Eagles secondary is more youthful, and dare I say, better. Trent McDuffie is really, really good, but Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell already look better. So, when I really break it down and think about it, the Eagles have the better team in my opinion. They have a better run game, a better overall unit on defense and an elite o-line. But, the Chiefs have Mahomes and Kelce and Andy Reid. They also have the refs and a good portion of the country on their side. A lot of people want to see this 3-peat. The Chiefs are this generations Patriots. They get the calls when they needs the calls. They make the plays when they need to make the plays. And they have prior experience being on this stage and winning it all.

With that being said, I think the Chiefs are going to win. I am going to watch because I watch every Super Bowl, but this year may be more about the commercials and food for me. Oh well, it is what it is. 

Ty

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The Future is Now for the Washington Commanders

I come here today to heap some praise on the Washington Commanders.

I was a bit skeptical of their regular season. I felt like I've seen this story before. A team comes from out of nowhere to make a deeper playoff run that most thought. Hell, I didn't even think they'd be in the playoffs. I was certain they'd have another high pick in this upcoming draft. I liked Jayden Daniels coming into the draft, and when they stole Mike Sainristil, my preseason pick for defensive rookie of the year by the way, I was stoked. But still, they looked like a team starting their year or two rebuild in the right direction. I was wrong. So was almost everyone else.

The Commanders are here, and they look here to stay. Daniels is legit. He is a younger Lamar Jackson. Jackson is still young, but Daniels is younger. Jackson is also currently better, he is my favorite QB to watch in the league right now, but Daniels looks to be on his way. He has a poise and calmness you don't see in any rookies. No matter the score, with his arm and legs, he can keep his team in any game. The Lions have a better roster, but Daniels figured something out and went to the well over and over and over again. And it worked because he is hyper talented. He plays the game with joy, he seems to love doing what he's doing and I cannot wait to see him do this for the next decade plus.

Sainristil, for those that don't know, is also legit. He was a receiver his first couple of years at Michigan. He made the switch to nickel corner and it benefitted him and the team. They won a title last year, and a lot of the defensive success they enjoyed was due to his play. He made this change and it worked out for everyone. It worked out better than anyone else could have ever imagined. He parlayed that into being a high second round pick and day one starter. He has made gradual progression all season long and it culminated in his best game as a pro. He had two interceptions and five tackles. He made big plays in the state of Michigan once again. I was torn because I have a ton of family members that are diehard Lions fans, but I loved seeing the things Sainristil was doing on the field. He is only going to get better and it looks like the Commanders have their two main building blocks on offense and defense for a good long while. Sure, they're are ten other players who are important playing with both of them, but these two are the standouts, and they're rookies. This kind of success this early on is amazing. It's also unheard of. I don't want any bad injury or anything to derail their growth. And they both seem to have good heads on their shoulders, so that is not that big of a worry to me.

Watching them both play this weekend was pretty glorious. I like when I don't have a rooting interest because I can focus on certain players that I may not have watched much during the regular season. The Bills and Eagles impressed me with how they won their games, but the Commanders were the highlight for me. I didn't expect this from them, but I'm not mad that this is where they're at right now. I'm not sure how they'll play this weekend facing the Eagles in the NFC title game. But, I'm done betting against them at this point. They've done more than enough to prove they belong and that they will be perennial players moving forward. And I give a good portion of that credit to Daniels and Sainristil. They're so much fun to watch and I will be rooting hard for them this weekend. What a story. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Bob Uecker Made My World a Better Place

Bob Uecker, the iconic voice of the Milwaukee Brewers and one of America’s most cherished entertainers, passed away today at the age of 90. Affectionately known as “Mr. Baseball,” Uecker was far more than a sports figure—he was a cultural icon whose humor, wit, and charm transcended the game. 

We already knew all of that.

Outside of Bob’s less than mediocre professional baseball career, his longtime duties as the voice of the Brewers, and his movie/television career, Mr. Baseball was someone who impacted my life in a very positive way. I already miss him dearly.

Bob Uecker has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. His Miller Light ads in the early 1980s were everywhere, and while I was far too young to drink the product, Bob made me laugh. “I must be in the front row” is something I always say when I go to sporting events. His role as Harry Doyle in “Major League” and its sequel delighted me as a kid, and now my own son quotes him. My son says “juuust a bit outside” on any bad pitch. After a particularly bad Reds outing this season, I said to my wife “two goddamn hits, hell no one’s listening”. I did not really watch Mr. Belvedere, but I had a close childhood friend reach out today and say that Bob Uecker on that show is the dad he always wanted. Later in life I discovered Bob’s legendary visits on Johnny Carson, and I love to tell the story of Uecker and Bob Gibson holding hands in the Cardinals team photo. Bob was a Gen X/Millennial comic legend.

I was lucky enough to meet Bob Uecker one time. Back in 2005 I was working in Milwaukee. I was at an event where Bob was the guest speaker. He took time to talk to each person and he was as funny as he always was. When I had my time with him I mentioned that I was from St. Louis. He asked my age and I told him I was young enough to not be around for his playing days but old enough to appreciate his after baseball work. He then said to me that I looked old enough to drink Miller Light but young enough to strike him out. I laughed and said thanks for the compliment. Immediately after my remark, Bob turned around and said it was no compliment to me but the truth of his abysmal hitting. His comic timing was perfect, and Bob Uecker gave me a memory for a lifetime.

I loved Bob Uecker. I already miss him. The world was a much better place with Mr. Baseball bringing us joy. Bob’s last call ever, a Brewer’s playoff loss to the Mets, the legend said at the end of the game “I’m telling you. That one (pause) had some sting on it”. Bob Uecker always knew what to say.

Thank you for a life well lived, thank you for the memories, and thank you for decades of entertaining this boy from St. Louis, but today (pause) has some sting on it.

RD

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Thoughts on Jimmy Butler's Last Days in Miami

It appears Jimmy Butler's time on the Miami Heat is going to come to an end. He has asked for a trade, the team has suspended him for "conduct detrimental to the team", he has been very candid about wanting out and it just seems like a matter of time now.

I'm conflicted here. I love Jimmy Butler. He is one of my modern day favorite players. I like how aggressive he is on defense, everywhere he goes he helps that team win and become relevant, he has been to multiple finals and all star games and it appears he makes good coffee. But, the reasons that have been floated about as to why he wants out makes no sense to me.

I guess, from what has been reported, he didn't like the way Pat Riley called him out during last year's playoff run. Butler missed the first round, where the Celtics took the Heat down in five games, and he said that had he been out there it would have been different. Riley must have heard this and said something along the lines of, he needs to be on the court to prove what he says. It all seems very mild and mundane to me. Butler doesn't seem like the type of guy that would get too riled up about comments like that. Riley is also a known asshole. He always has been and always will be. But, what made this partnership so promising, and it almost paid off, was the fact that these two guys were pretty much the same. They both want the same things when it comes to basketball. I assumed Butler would finish his career with the Heat. I thought he would ride off into the Miami sunset and start a whole chain of coffee shops within the Miami area post basketball. But I guess that is not the way it's going to end. I still don't know that the comments from Riley were the only reason he wants out, but who's to say.

When I pull back and look at who might be able to trade for him, it's slim pickings. The Heat are going to go about this like they always do. They will want the deal that best suits them. They aren't going to trade him just because he wants out. This has nothing to do with representation or "trying to do right" by a player. The Heat want to be relevant and they want to compete. Butler may have preferred destinations, it seems like Phoenix is his number one spot, but if the deal from the Suns doesn't get better, the Heat aren't just going to trade him to get rid of him. I know the Heat have said they don't want Bradley Beal, and that makes sense to me. He isn't the player he once was, and he is so often injured. But other than Beal, the Suns cannot offer much. They don't have picks or any young guys that could be intriguing. I saw the Grizzlies were interested, and I got hyped on this news. It wasn't too much later that Butler publicly said he doesn't want to play there. I wish that weren't true. I think Butler would be a fine addition to the Grizz. I'd love to see a starting five of Ja, Desmond Bane, Butler, JJJ and Zach Edey. I love that lineup. And the Grizz could give the Heat picks and younger, more intriguing guys. Maybe Butler will reverse course on Memphis. I saw the Warriors had minimal interest, but that has seemed to wane. They cannot part with too much talent if they want to stay competitive, and they don't have much in the way of picks. Outside those three possible contenders, not too many other deals make sense. Denver doesn't need him. Neither do the Thunder. The Cavs are cruising with their core guys and they seem to have it all figured out. The Hawks are going young. The Knicks are set and the Magic are too young for him. The Mavs and Clippers could make a push, but they'd have to give up too much in my opinion. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but Memphis makes the most sense to me, next to the Suns. The Grizzlies have better assets and appear to be a better team.

Time will tell, but I'm interested to see how this all plays out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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The Patriots Were Wrong to Let Jerod Mayo Go

The Patriots relieved Jerod Mayo after one season as the head coach. Let’s discuss.

This is a bad, bad look for this franchise. I don't know anyone, including super fans and even members of the team that thought the Patriots would be a playoff threat this season. This had rebuild written all over it. The rebuild kind of started in Bill Belicheck's final season. They were worse that year than they were this year. They seem to like the QB they drafted in Drake Maye, but this was going to take time and I don't think Mayo got a fair shot. I was kind of stunned when I saw the headline after it was announced. I remember saying to RD that they need to give him time, that this was going to be a process. I believe I said that to him on a podcast record. But, for some inexplicable reason, the Patriots now find themselves in search of a new head coach.

I don't really know what Mayo did wrong either. They came out in week one and beat the Bengals in Cincy. That's a pretty big deal if you ask me. We all saw how both teams finished, but that was a big win. The Patriots also seemed to like playing for Mayo. The defense was better than it had any right to be. They have some pieces there and it seemed to click with Mayo running the show. The offense was bad, but again, it was a bunch of young dudes seeing massive amounts of playing time. It didn't take Maye too long before he supplanted Jacoby Brissett. Rhamondre Stevenson has issues with fumbling, but he is also an okay enough running back. Maybe he shouldn't be a starter though. The receivers are not good. They've tried to take chances, but nothing has worked out yet. How this collection of players managed to scrape together four wins is amazing to me, and I give a ton of that credit to Mayo for having them prepared to play. It has to be demoralizing stepping onto a pro football field knowing that almost every other team has better talent than the Patriots do. But Mayo and his staff, at the very least, had them ready to go out there and put up a fight. They're also going to be drafting high in the upcoming draft, one full of talent, and that should have been exactly what the fans and front office of the Patriots expected. Hell, I'd say they should have been ecstatic at the fact that they have a top five pick.

When I pull back and look at it, Mayo did the best he could with what he inherited, and he had this team going in the right direction. They have a QB they like. They have a defense that seemed capable at times. They were going to get a very, very good college football player to come in and hopefully help right away. The o line wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. A rebuild takes time and the Patriots were just getting started. Mayo deserved much more of a shot. Hell, he definitely deserved more than one season. And to see Robert Kraft say that he felt the team "regressed" under Mayo is nonsense. Kraft gave him nothing and expected the world out of him at his first try as a head coach.

I hope Jerod Mayo catches on elsewhere and gets a real shot again as an NFL head coach. This may end up being the best for him. But, it does feel like a slap in the face to a guy that played and coached there and was finally getting his first chance to run a team. People expect too much too quick, especially in the sports world. Jerrod Mayo deserved way more time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Predicts the NFL Playoffs

The NFL playoffs are set and I'm here today with my playoff predictions and Super Bowl winner. I'll also pick the MVP of the Super Bowl. The one seeds are the Chiefs and Lions, which is not really much of a surprise. There are some teams returning that seemed like they were going to be shooting for a high draft pick as opposed to being back in the playoffs. And for teams like the Bengals, sorry RD, they were too little too late.

I'm going to start with the AFC.

The Chiefs have the bye. The 2-7 matchup features the Bills facing the Broncos. The Broncos are a nice story. Bo Nix has been better than I thought, Sean Payton can coach and the defense is pretty damn good. All that is great, but the Bills are going to roll them. Josh Allen is playing at an MVP level. Their run game has been solid. The defense is as advertised. I also think this Bills team is different. They're playing with a chip on their shoulder. The Bills win big. The 3-6 game has the Ravens and Steelers. The Ravens are surging while the Steelers are tumbling. The Steelers offense is worse than before and the defense is tired. The Ravens are putting up big numbers from Lamar Jackson, once again staking his claim at another MVP, and Derrick Henry has been as good as we all thought he would be when he signed there. The defense had some bumps along the way, but they seem to have righted the ship. The Ravens also get this game and home, and while it may look close for a half, the Ravens should win rather easily. The 4-5 game is intriguing, with the Chargers playing the Texans. I had high hopes for the Texans this season, but they have looked stuck in the mud. The offense isn't as electric and the defense is middling. The Chargers are playing with house money and have been on a tear as of late. Jim Harbaugh is also coming off a NCAA football title where Michigan won that game in Houston. I'm going with the Chargers here. They're playing looser and look to be having way more fun.

So, the second round will have matchups of the Chargers facing the Chiefs and the Bills facing the Ravens. The Chiefs are going to find a way to beat the Chargers. That's what they've done all year. Some miracle incident will occur and they will end up in the AFC title game. The Ravens and Bills game should be epic. This is between the two legit MVP candidates. Both teams play similar styles. Both defenses are gelling at the right time. The coaches seem in the groove. I'm going to give the slight edge to the Bills simply due to home field advantage. It's going to be frigid and the Ravens have a tendency of playing poorly when that happens.

That puts the Bills and Chiefs in the AFC title. This year though, I'm going with the Bills. The Chiefs luck is going to end soon, and this version of the Bills seems more than prepared to take over. I don't care  that the game is in KC, I don't care about postseason records between these two teams, the Bills are the better team and they will show that. The Bills will be the AFC's Super Bowl representative.

On to the NFC.

The Lions cruised against the Vikings last night to secure the 1 seed. The 2-7 game features the Eagles and Packers. I'd love for the Packers to win this game. It would be rad to see Jordan Love go into Philly and steal one. But, Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts have been better than advertised. Jaire Alexander is done for the year, so Hurts can beat them through the air. Love's best wideout, Christian Watson, tore his ACL yesterday. I'm all in on this Packers team, just not this year. The Eagles will most likely cruise into round 2. The 3-6 game has the Buccaneers playing the Commanders. I can't really get a feel for this game. The Bucs offense is okay, but inconsistent. The Commanders have a great rookie QB and a solid defense. The coaches are both capable. The game is in Tampa Bay, but I don't think that really matters much. I'm going to go with the Commanders simply based on how great Jayden Daniels has been all year. The kid has shown everyone what he is capable of and I think he continues to do that in this game. The 4-5 game has the Rams playing the Vikings. Give me the Rams all day. I have been really amazed at what the Vikings have done this year, but last night's game was telling. The lights were bright and they no showed. The Rams have veteran leaders and a Super Bowl winning coach. The moment won't be too big for them. I fear it might be for the Vikings though.

In round two we have the Lions playing the Rams and the Eagles facing the Commanders. The Lions are going to lay waste to the Rams. A home playoff game for a franchise that has been this stuck in the mud is going to be electric. The Lions proved they belonged last year, and this year I think they're out for blood. They should show no mercy, and I expect that from them. The Lions roll the Rams. I also feel like the Eagles-Commanders game will be similar. This time the Commanders will be shell shocked. I could see both Barkley and Hurts running for 100 yards. I also think the Eagles defense will shut down Daniels. The second round in the NFC won't be near as much fun as the AFC.

That leaves me with the Lions and Eagles in the NFC title game. This should be epic. I love this matchup. Playing in a dome makes it more likely that it will be a barn burner of a game. This could have a final of 38-35, and I see the Lions coming out on top. They're on a mission this season and they're going to play like it.

That means my Super Bowl is between the Bills and Lions. What a game huh? Are there two fan bases that deserve this more than them? Some fans are going to be thrilled while others will have to still wait on a title. As for which franchise I think will be happy, I'm going with the Bills. This is where the injuries will hurt the Lions. If they were fully healthy maybe I'd think differently. But, they aren't and that means I'm going with the Bills. They have something to prove and I think they finally rise above and do it this season. Josh Allen will also be the go away Super Bowl MVP. I can see him doing something incredible late in the fourth quarter to clinch the win. 

Can’t wait for these playoffs.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Bo Nix and the Vikings are the Surprises of the NFL Season

Today I have come to eat crow on two NFL things I wrote in my preseason preview from earlier in 2024. Let’s go.

The first comes from my 2024 draft preview. In lieu of doing picks one by one, I always talk about five prospects I like and five I think have the most bust probability. In my five busts part, I was pretty certain that Bo Nix was going to flame out and flame out fast. I even doubled down on it when the Broncos named him the starter for the season and released Russell Wilson. Nix has proven me very, very wrong. He is a more than capable starting QB in the NFL. He is not going to be the ROY or the MVP, not by a long shot. But Nix has proven himself to be far more than just a game manager. The Broncos may not have won their game the other night, but it wasn't due to Nix playing poorly. He kept them in the game from start to finish. He made play after play. He went toe to toe with Joe Burrow. And I understand that the Bengals defense is porous, but Nix has done this all year. He led a drive that should have led to a game winning field goal earlier this season against the Chiefs. He has won games from the start for the Broncos. He has done everything he has been asked to do by his staff, and the Broncos, while not a Super Bowl caliber team yet, seems to have found their starting QB for the next five to ten years depending on health. I thought he was going to look like most rookie QB's who are thrust into a starting role, but he has looked confident and capable. I'll be interested to see if this trend continues over the next few years, but I'd be shocked if he didn't improve over the seasons and become a pro bowl level NFL starting QB. I was wrong about him.

The other thing, and I was very aligned with a ton of people on this one, I thought the Vikings were going to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this year, and I thought they had the makings of one of the worst teams in NFL history. I looked at their offseason, who they got rid of, who they traded up to draft and who they signed to be their veteran QB and it all screamed two or three wins, at most to me. I was also not a firm believer in Kevin O'Connell as a NFL head coach. I told RD as much via text and conversations while recording the podcast. He is a Vikings fan, I'm a Packers fan, and I think maybe he even thought that the Vikings were going to be awful too. I was even more certain when they traded up to nine to draft Michigan QB JJ McCarthy. I adore that kid. He helped Michigan win the title last year. But, Michigan was all about their top tier defense and their excellent run game. McCarthy could make plays here and there, but that team won as a team, not because of their QB. But, when the NFL season started, not only were the Vikings winning, they were beating the snot out of their opponents. I figured it was just an early season surprise and they would come crashing back down to Earth soon. But that never happened. The Vikings are still killing it. They're playing for the number one seed in the NFC this Sunday. Sam Darnold has been great. He will be getting paid this offseason. Aaron Jones has been mostly healthy and playing well. Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson are amazing, and Jefferson may be the best wideout in the NFL. But it is their defense that has been the big surprise and main reason why they've been able to sustain their high level of play. Brian Flores has done a masterful job with a defense that doesn't have any real stars. He has gotten the best out of that unit and he is more than deserving of a shot at being a head coach again. I'm astonished at how well they have played all season, and I am going to give most of that credit to Flores for putting them in the best position possible. As for O'Connell, he has earned my respect, not that he really cares. He has what it takes to be a NFL head coach, and what he has done with Sam Darnold is more proof that he is a "QB whisperer". The Vikings, as stated a few sentences ago, have a shot at the 1 seed. I assumed they'd be more likely to pick first overall in the upcoming draft. And as much as it stings to say this being a Packers fan, the Vikings are legit and they terrify me heading to the playoffs. They're a damn good football team with an excellent defense. 

That’is it. Now time to cook up some crow.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The World, and Baseball, Was Better with Rickey Henderson in It.

Welcome back everyone. I decided to take a week off for the holidays, but I'm back and ready to write. Unfortunately, I'm starting the week off on a sad note. The family and I were hanging out when I got a notification on my phone that Rickey Henderson had passed away.

I couldn't believe it. I had no idea he was sick or anywhere close to passing. He seemed like he was okay. I saw him catch the opening pitch from his daughter at The Coliseum earlier this season. But, now he is gone.

This one has hit me pretty rough. I know I dog on baseball on this site a lot now, but when I was a kid I loved baseball. I also loved Rickey Henderson. He was so fast. I had never seen anyone move on the base path like him. I am too young for Lou Brock, and I was only coming into my own during Whitey Ball, with guys like Vince Coleman and Willie McGee stealing bases left and right. Henderson was my first experience with a baseball player that, if you let him on base, he was going to swipe a bag or two. I instantly fell in love with his base stealing ability. But then I started to really watch him, and the A's, and I loved his game even more. Henderson was the type of player that could lead the game off with a homer. Or, he would slap a sharp line drive to the outfield for a single, then turn that into a triple or a double. He was also boisterous and talkative, which I had zero issues with as a kid. I liked it. I liked how sure of himself he was when he was on a ball field. There's many famous quotes from Henderson, but the one I go back to all the time is, "I don't care that John hit .316, Rickey hits .330". He didn't know the whole verse or anything that the fan was trying to say, all Henderson knew, which was so rad, was he was a better hitter than John. That was one of the best things I will ever remember about him. He was also a great outfielder to go along with his hitting. He could track a flyball with the best of them. He had a pretty good arm. He was smart and knew how to get to the baseball if he needed to catch it. He ended his career with a .279 career batting average, had over 3,000 hits, had over 1,100 RBI's and stole over 1,400 bases. He was the best base stealer to ever do it in the pros. He was a ten time all star, won two World Series titles. won an MVP and is, of course, enshrined in the MLB Hall of Fame. His number 24 is also retired by the Oakland Athletics. Henderson did all that anyone could ever want from a pro ball player, and he did it his way with his style. Some may say that they were "rubbed the wrong way" by him, but I don't buy it. You either bought in or you were left out. I would have loved to play the game of baseball with someone like Henderson. He loved it so much and he brought out the best in his teammates. He wouldn't let you slack either. You had better be all in if you were his teammate. I love that.

This one is tough. Henderson was young, 64 years old. He was about to celebrate his 65th birthday before he passed. I guess he had pneumonia, and it got the best of him unfortunately. Henderson is going to be missed by many, many people, myself included. Rest in Peace Rickey Henderson. I hope you're stealing bases wherever you may be right now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty's 2024 College Football Playoff Preview

The College Football Playoff starts tomorrow night and I cannot wait. Even without Michigan playing in the CFP this year, I'll still be tuning in. I will watch Michigan's bowl game, as always. But, with the new format, I'm pretty stoked to see how it all plays out. I love that the first round is being played in college stadiums, I love that the games are on in primetime and I cannot wait to watch it all unfold. With all that, I'm going to do a preview and prediction. The games will be here before we know it, so on with it.

The first playoff game is tomorrow night, with Indiana traveling to South Bend to face Notre Dame. I have seen Indiana play this year, and while a deserving playoff team, I don't think they have much of a chance tomorrow night. Their offense has stalled as of late. I know they scored 66 points in their rivalry game, but Purdue is not a very good football team right now. Indiana's two previous games, Michigan and the university of Ohio State, weren't so great. The university of Ohio State ran roughshod over them, and Michigan, who was not very good this year, had a shot to win that game in Bloomington. Notre Dame has a very stout defense, a great running game and a passing attack capable of taking advantage of a weak Indiana secondary. I'll be rooting for the Big 10 here, but Notre Dame is the better team and they have home field advantage.

The first game to kickoff Saturday morning features SMU traveling to Penn State. Penn State should win this game and win it relatively easily. They have a better defense, better run game and a QB that rarely makes mistakes. SMU can run the ball okay, but I don't trust much more from them, especially after watching them in the ACC title game. But, we have the whole James Franklin of it all here. He is a poor big game coach. It doesn't matter if he has home field advantage, if he has the refs and media on his side or if he even has the better roster. He seems to flub this stuff way more often than not. But, I'm going to go with Penn State in a low scoring, ugly game. What SMU did in the ACC title game has been hard for me to shake.

The 3pm central game has Clemson facing Texas. Texas is going to win and going to win convincingly in my opinion. Clemson is not the Clemson of old. They barely made the playoff. Their QB is wildly inefficient. The defense isn't as feared as they used to be. Texas, on the other hand, has an elite defense. Their run game is effective. And the duo of Quin Ewers and Arch Manning is going to give defenses tons of headaches in these playoffs. Texas should win this one going away, and I fully expect that. I wouldn't be surprised if they win by three or more scores.

The final first round playoff game is the best first round game. Tennessee faces off with the university of Ohio State. In years past this would've been an easy university of Ohio State pick for me. They have the best roster money can buy. They have weapons all over the field. They have one of the top defenses in the country. They have a highly effective run game. What worries me, their QB and coaching staff. Tennessee is kind of playing with house money here. Their defense is also legit, except on the outside. Their offense isn't as elite as in the past, and that is what worries me most with this team. This game is going to be a slug fest. And, as much as I'd love to see Tennessee win and plant their flag at the 50 yard line, I have this weird feeling that the university of Ohio State is going to get a break and win this on a last minute field goal.

The second round games, the elite 8 if you will, have Texas facing Arizona State, Penn State playing Boise State, Notre Dame facing Georgia and the university of Ohio State playing Oregon. Again, Texas got a great draw and they are going to walk over Arizona State. ASU is a nice story and it's rad that they made this big of a leap in year two of Kenny Dillingham's leadership. Their running back is also damn good. But Texas is so much better in every facet except running back. And Texas has a deep group of backs they can rotate. ASU may keep it close for a half, but then Texas should have an easy path to the final four.

I am going with Boise State, in a minor upset, to beat Penn State. Boise State has one of the greatest college running backs ever. Ashton Jeanty is a force of nature and I love watching him play. He's fierce and fast. He is not afraid of anyone. He will run you over and run by you. The rest of the offense is capable and the defense is fine. This is where James Franklin will find some way to blow it and all the PSU fans will be in agony once again. I really like this Boise State team.

Notre Dame-Georgia is going to be a fun game. If Carson Beck were healthy, I'd pick Georgia. But, Georgia's defense hasn't been nearly as dominant as in the past. The run game is hit or miss. The passing game, especially with Gunner Stockton running the show, is going to be nearly nonexistent. This all plays into Notre Dame's favor. They can slow this game down, make it a slugfest and they have the much better defense. I'm going with Notre Dame beating my preseason pick to win it all.

Finally, for the second round, we have the university of Ohio State facing Oregon. Oregon won this game once this season, by one, but that was earlier in the year. This version of Oregon is better and hungrier. They seem angrier too. They easily handled PSU in the Big Ten title game, and they don't want the accolades to stop there. This offense is one of the better balanced offenses in the country. They're fast everywhere. The defense is as good as Oregon has ever had. I just don't see a world where Oregon doesn't win this game.

That leaves me with a final four of Oregon, Notre Dame, Boise State and Texas. I think Notre Dame is going to beat Boise State. I think this is where the Cinderella run ends for BSU and Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty will have a good game, but Notre Dame can match their energy and I think they have an advantage with their defense.

The real title game for me is Oregon and Texas. These are, in my opinion, the two best teams in college football by a quarter mile. This game will be fast, exciting and an absolute feast for college football fans, In the end, in a minor shootout, I have Oregon winning this game and going to the championship.

This game, featuring Notre Dame and Oregon, will be a coronation for Oregon. It has all led to this for them, and I don't think they'll let their fans down this year. Oregon has all the tools they need to win it all, and I think they do just that this January. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Vick as a College Coach Makes Sense

I read earlier in the week that some smaller schools were looking at Mike Vick as a candidate at head coach for them. I didn't know he was actively looking and interviewing for a job, but I like it. Let’s discuss.

I have been a lifelong Mike Vick fan. From his time at Virginia Tech to his stops in the NFL, most memorably with the Falcons, I always enjoyed watching him play football. He reminded me so much of Randall Cunningham, who I also was a big fan of. But, he had a better arm and was so much faster than Cunningham ever was when he was in the NFL. Mike Vick didn't disappoint either. He was as good as advertised. He went to the title game with VT, and almost single handedly won it for them. He was the first pick and was awesome from the start. He made the Falcons fun to watch. He made them a playoff team. When he came back from his suspension, he was a star again with the Eagles. That Monday night game, you know what I'm talking about, was a sight to behold. He then ventured off to the Jets to be a backup and finished up his career as a backup once again with the Steelers. There is the prison sentence for his involvement in a dog fighting ring that slowed his career down significantly. What Vick did was wrong, but for him to be locked up was wild. There are things going on with current players that are much, much worse and they barely even get suspended from playing any games. They get to live their lives freely after doing some heinous things. Vick went to jail. He was a prisoner. He served time. He is well past the point of being a "bad guy" anymore. He did what he did, was punished for it and he came back to play at the highest level, and play very well. Now, he is going to be the head coach at Norfolk State.

I don't know much about Norfolk State. I know the university is in Virginia, Vick's home state. I know they're a lower level division 1-AA school. They haven't made a ton of noise lately, but I feel like that's going to change here very soon. I knew of Jackson State prior to Deion Sanders taking the job there. My knowledge of Jackson State while Deion was there and now is much greater because I wanted to know about where he was coaching. I get very similar vibes with Vick at Norfolk State. Kids with parents around my age or even a little younger are going to want their kids to play for Mike Vick. I would absolutely love for my kid to be recruited by him. I'd love to meet him as the parent. I think it would be a true highlight. Just based off that one fact, Norfolk State is going to improve. The school will put money behind him to help with the NIL collective. Vick is going to get kids in the door on name recognition alone. He and his staff will have to develop that talent. and I'm sure they'll be able to do that with no problem at all. Vick knows this game. He has learned from some of the game's smartest pro coaches. He was an electric athlete, and sometimes that works when transitioning to coaching. I have full faith that Vick will do just fine.

Hearing this news today made me so very happy for him. I want more guys like Vick coaching college football. These are the dudes I watched and I want to see them succeed and thrive. I will be more focused on Norfolk State moving forward from here on out. I love this hire and I cannot wait to see what Vick does now that he's a head coach. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thoughts on Bill Belichick Going to UNC

I was on vacation with my wife last week and my son texted me something that truly shocked me. I was hanging out by a pool and I audibly gasped when I read what he sent. I also didn't fully believe him at first. The text read, "Bill Belichick just signed to be the next head coach for UNC!".

I was floored. I had to check some reputable sites, nothing against my kid, but he's 12, he has said lots of stuff that wasn't true. But he was correct. Bill Belichick is returning to coach football, and he isn't doing it in the NFL or at a big time power 5 school. He is going to coach UNC, who was like 6-6 or 7-5 this season. They gave up 70 plus points to James Madison. The entire staff is going to be new. I'm sure a good portion of the kids will transfer. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a season not too dissimilar to this past Michigan season.

I don't know how Bill Belichick is going to deal with or like coaching college football. I don't know that he has coached in college before. I only remember him as an NFL head coach, and a quite successful one at that. Bill Belichick knows football. There's no denying that fact. He has won multiple Super Bowls. He has helped to guide stifling defenses. He knows how to use what he has in the best possible way. He knows when to cut the fat and he doesn't let feelings get involved. He knows this sport inside and out. But college is a whole other animal. I mean, recruiting is a year round thing. Bill Belichick is going to have to go into an 18 year olds living room and sell this kid on UNC football. That is tough for anyone.

Also, Belichick is 72 years old. I mean, I cannot imagine traveling all over the country trying to sell your program is fun for anyone. College football coaches are getting younger too. I had a conversation with my son recently about that very topic. Jim Harbaugh left because he wanted to coach in the NFL. He was also sick and tired of dealing with the NCAA and all their nonsense. Nick Saban left Alabama last year and made a statement along the lines of he disliked how much the college game had changed. When you look at most college coaches, they seem to be not much older than 50. University of Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz is 41. Florida coach Billy Napier is 44. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel is 46. Georgia coach Kirby Smart is 48. Ryan Day is 45. PJ Fleck is 44. Lincoln Riley is 41. Sherrone Moore is 39. Dan Lanning is 38. In the ACC Cal coach Justin Wilcox is 48. Dabo Swinney is 58. Manny Diaz is 50. Mario Cristobal is 54. And Fran Brown is 42. Bill Belichick is nearly 30 years older than some of these guys. Hell, he is getting close to being 40 years older than some of these guys. College football, as far as recruiting and dealing with the NIL, is becoming a young guys game.

I feel like Belichick, with all of his knowledge, is going to find that coaching college football is way tougher than he thinks. And, as I said above, he is coaching at UNC. UNC is a basketball school through and through. It always has been, probably always will be. They have had some seasons that are solid, but they haven't been a CFP contender yet. They have a ton of preseason hype usually, but that doesn't seem to translate on the field. Belichek is also very old school. He's going to assume that he is the man in charge and the leader. That may have been the case in the 80's and 90's, but not anymore. As it should be, player empowerment is a real and viable thing. These kids know their worth and they aren't shy about letting everyone know. Kids aren't going to go play for Bill Belichick just because he is Bill Belichick. They are going to want playing time and solid NIL deals. They are going to want tv coverage. They are going to want awards. The coach is just a dude now. They teach the game and help mold these kids into pros in some cases. But, the coach doesn't have the power that they used to. Again, not many people know more about football than Bill Belichick. He has a wealth of knowledge. Teaching the game to his players won't be the issue. I think he will find it much more difficult to recruit and have to be on 365 days a year.

Time will tell, but this is a weird move from him. We will see how it turns out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.