Getting Sick When Your Old Sucks

Getting a cold, or any kind of minor infection for that matter, after you are in your 30's, I'm now 40 by the way, absolutely stinks.

I had a pretty nasty head cold on Father's Day. I had the whole deal. Sore throat, stuffy nose, a cough and other congestion. I did not have COVID. I took multiple home tests and they all came back negative. After about three days the cold subsided and I felt relatively normal. We left for a family vacation to Lake Okoboji and I thought I was in the clear. But on the third day we were there I felt a tickle in my throat. I assumed it was from the air quality since there was an alert. But the tickle stuck around. Then it got worse. Then I was coughing a good amount. I took another COVID test when we got home and it was negative yet again.

This damn cough was a hindrance. I could go about my daily routine with little to no problem. I would be wiped out by bedtime, but I do a lot. I run five days a week, I take my kids to practices and camps, clean the house, do laundry, grocery shop, all the stuff an at home parent does. So I just figured I was tired from my everyday schedule. But the cough was always there. And then I could not only feel it in my chest, but I could hear it. It sounded like I had sand in my chest and throat. Every time I'd laugh, I'd cough. Every time I took a deep breath, I'd cough. Every time I had dairy, I'd cough. The cough was omnipresent. It was there constantly. I had promised my wife and my folks that if it were still around after that vacation that I'd go to the doctor. I still gave myself another week before caving.

I went to my nurse practitioner this morning. We had a nice visit and we did the usual appointment stuff. And I have been feeling better the past two days so I was hoping for good news. I got the opposite. It is an infection. No bronchitis, no COVID, nothing horrible, but still annoying. She also told me that this could be allergy induced asthma. Even with the temperatures being relatively high here in STL, allergens are still out and blooming. I had never considered this to even be an option. So, along with some antibiotics, I now have an inhaler I have to take before and after working out. I was also given a steroid to fight the infection and loosen the congestion.

The kicker in all this is, my nurse practitioner told me that this is an unfortunate side of aging. Again, I'm only 40. But the way she explained it all made sense. I have two young kids, 11 and 7, who are germ factories. I do a lot of stuff meaning I put myself in the way of germs willingly. I am a coach who is around other 11 and 7 year old's who's caregivers may not be as into vaccines or medicine like my family is. There is any number of reasons. I was also told that it takes longer to recover from this stuff now. An infection from a couple of years ago would have moved its way out of me within five days. We are on almost a month now. My kids get over this stuff in three days. Not me. This is the stuff I feared as I got older. People warned me, but I didn't want to believe them. I figured it was just them and I could rise above it. I know that to be not true anymore.

The fact is I'm old. I will stay sick longer. I will feel worse longer. But I also need to accept it and deal with it. It is a part of life, just a bummer part. Here's to getting old I guess. 

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "Jury Duty"

Last night my wife and I finished "Jury Duty". I'm not going to say season one because I truly believe there is no way they can pull this off again. "Jury Duty" centers around one person, Ronald, who thinks he is going to be in a documentary about what it is like to be on a jury. What he doesn't know is that everyone else involved is an actor, and I mean everyone else. Every other person is a working actor, and they are all playing a character. Even James Marsden. Marsden plays a hyperized version of himself. To watch this show, to see how they pulled this off, to ask why Ronald never questioned anything, I was in awe.

Let me put this out here right now, this show was excellent. I will for sure be watching it again. I am endlessly fascinated that they pulled this elaborate prank off. This should go down in the record books. It was amazing. I loved how each juror that wasn't Ronald had some kind of backstory. Ken was from another land trying to figure stuff out. Todd was a tech geek who just needed a friend. Barb was an older lady who loved edibles. Vanessa was a true crime fan who thought the case was boring. Ross was the cool high school teacher that everyone loved. Pat was the gruff working man. Ravi was a secret genius. Noah was in over his head and just wanted a girlfriend. Jenine was down for anything. Inez wanted to be the leader but couldn't quite get it all together. Lonnie was the extra juror thrust into action. And all of these people were actors. None of them were these people they were portraying.

All along though, Ronald did his work and made friends and had fun. He had many opportunities to call this all out, even making comments about how it felt like a reality show, but never wavered. When thrust into a leadership role he didn't want, he ran with it. James Marsden wanted to run lines for a fake movie role, Ronald was his guy. Noah needed a wingman, Ronald was there. The judge told him to get the other jurors to shape up, he made sure he did it. Lonnie needed a confidant, Ronald was his guy. He could have said mean stuff, he could have talked behind people's backs, but he never did. There were multiple times when I would say to my wife, "there are still good, genuine people out there". His kindness, his sincerity, it was such a breath of fresh air. Through every twist and turn, Ronald kept plugging away and helping out anyway he could. It was remarkable. I am not going to spoil the ending, I will just say it was moving and Ronald got a nice prize. And the last episode made my wife tear up.

This was such a lightning in a bottle idea and it worked. I don't want them to do it again because it won't carry the same weight that it did the first time around. There are other prank shows, like "Joe Millionaire" or "The Joe Schmo Show", that had great first seasons, but messed it up by trying to do it again. I hope "Jury Duty" is one and done. They gave us eight incredible episodes that will stay with me a long, long time. If you have not watched this show yet do yourself a favor and check it out. It is one of the better things on tv 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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Things are Not Well at Northwestern Football

Northwestern has let go of head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Take a second for that to sink in. He was their golden boy. He was the former star player, turned coach who kind of turned that program around. He has coached them to a Big 10 title game appearance. They've had winning seasons. They played hard football. They never backed down. That was due to his coaching and the program kind of giving him carte blanche. So, for Northwestern to fire him, something big had to be going on within that program that we outsiders know next to nothing about.

For people that are confused, about a week or so ago a former player came out and anonymously said that there was some hard core hazing going on, and that Fitzgeral knew of it and did nothing. The reports that came out about what this former player said were pretty disturbing. The university did an investigation and deemed a two week suspension was sufficient.

I spoke with my dad, we both do not like Fitzgerald as a coach, he comes off too rah rah and cliched, and we were both not surprised that this was coming out and that Fitzgerald was getting a slap on the wrist. We both figured this would be swept under the rug, and if Northwestern had a solid season, the ESPN's of the world would praise him for "overcoming odds" or some nonsense. But after the initial investigation concluded, a few other former players came out and said the hazing was there, and Fitzgerald knew, but also there was rampant racism within the program, and much like the hazing, Fitzgerald kind of turned a blind eye to that as well. The players who came out now cited instances of black players being asked to cut dreads while white players were allowed to have long hair, that position coaches would tell black players that they "weren't in the ghetto anymore" and things of that nature and some black players said they felt like they had to laugh at these remarks so as not to get into trouble.

So, we have hazing and now all of this other stuff. Northwestern, rightfully I might add, had no other choice but to fire Fitzgerald. Of course, if you go into a dark place and read internet comments, this is all about the "woke mob", and "players today are too weak" type stuff. That is wrong. This is horrific what is apparently going on at a very prestigious university. A school like Northwestern always talks about how they are an upstanding, everyone is included and welcoming school. Sure, it is tough to get in, but if you do you are family type stuff. So for this to be going on at this school, I'd be frightened if I were a parent of a player making these claims. The whole idea of sending your kid off to college is based on trust. Add on the aspect that football, a very dangerous sport, is part of it, all of these accusations make me sick to my stomach. I feel for these kids. They should not be treated like this because of their skin color or because they made a mistake in a game or practice.

Football is archaic, especially in college. These coaches think they can do what they want, and some do with little to no consequence. Look at DJ Durkin. A kid died on his watch when he was the head coach at Maryland. Sure, he got fired, but he is already back in D-1 football as a defensive coordinator at Ole Miss, and ESPN LOVES his story of "triumph". Again, a teenager died because Durkin told him he wasn't tough enough. Northwestern did the only thing they could do in this scenario. These allegations, if any or all of it is true, are fireable for anyone. And for Fitzgerald, who I believe is planning on suing the university, to say he didn't know, or was unaware, that is poor leadership from a guy who spouts the benefits of leadership all the time. How could he, being the head coach of this team, have no idea what was going on during his practices and in the locker room? That is asinine. He had to know something.

I read that Northwestern is going to be shooting to hire a big time assistant, and I wish them luck on that front, but this is going to be a full teardown and rebuild. And Evanston is not the best place to try and turn it around quickly. This is a dark day for college football, Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern. I'd expect this from other schools, even schools within the Big 10. But to hear this coming from Northwestern, that is dark. 

Ty   

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

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Ty Watches "Renfield"

Over the weekend my wife and I watched "Renfield". I had wanted to see this movie in the theater, but never made it out. I also saw that the reviews were kind of tepid and that kept me home. I figured it would be streaming sometime soon, and lucky for me, Peacock had it exclusively. I guess I could have gotten it on Prime, but I would have had to pay. So I am glad that we have Peacock for reasons like this. When I told my wife what we were going to watch, she got excited as well. We both wanted to watch it, so we used our date night.

I have to say, I loved this movie. It was gory, funny, has an excellent cast and was a blast. I enjoyed every minute of this movie. I was on board from the start and that never wavered for me. I believe my wife felt the same. For people that may not know, "Renfield" stars Nicolas Cage as Dracula, a role he was born to play, and Nicolaus Holt is his familiar, Renfield.

The short synopsis is, the movie takes place from Renfield's point of view. It shows what he has to do, how he became a familiar and how he is in a codependent, toxic relationship. They even go as far as to put Renfield in a support group for people in his position. The movie uses that plot line and then goes kind of nuts with all the other stuff. I appreciated the fact that they used a different tact to show the relationship of Dracula and a familiar. I was on board with the telling. And Cage and Holt were fully bought in. They were giving it their all. Holt was exceptional. He plays this put upon, dorky, quiet guy very well. I bought him. I rooted for him. I wanted him to get out of this toxic relationship. It was a fine acting job. Cage, as I stated before, felt born to play this role. We all know Cage as the guy he is now. He is over the top and he doesn't hide that. He goes for it in any role he takes on. And he seems to be having the time of his life here. I read about all the research and people he based his character off of and it makes me like his performance even more. This is perfect for him.

The cast outside these two is pretty wonderful. Ben Schwartz plays a mob kid and he goes for it. I'm used to seeing him play odd, funny people. Here he gets to do goofy stuff, but he also has some more action style moments, and he does a good job. Shohreh Aghdashloo plays the mob boss. She is Schwartz' mom and she has one of the coolest voices I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. Awkwafina is a cop who is out there fighting for what is right. I mentioned during the movie that I love this career arc for her. She is a very solid actor and I like that she is doing movies like this, then doing a great tv show and then showing up in Marvel movies. She's more than earned this. Brandon Scott Jones, who is having a moment as well, is the leader of the support group and he is funny and uplifting in this role. They did a great job of casting this movie.

The movie is also very gory, but it is almost cartoonish gore. It didn't make me queasy or anything. It actually made me laugh. And, outside of the toxic relationship stuff, I liked learning about Renfield's past. Awkwafina had a good backstory and I bought why she was so frustrated. Cage crushed. Schwartz did a good job being this, essentially, a nepo baby. The writers had fun. The director did a fine job. They didn't take themselves too seriously, and that is why this movie works for me.

While not as good at telling a vampire story like "What We Do in the Shadows" does, I'd much rather watch "Renfield" before I turn on a "Twilight" movie or watch one of those brooding vampire shows or movies. "Renfield" is a well done horror comedy that I will definitely watch again. 

Ty

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

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"The Other Two" Deserves Many More Seasons

I read the other day that Max was canceling "The Other Two".

This bums me out. "The Other Two" is one of the best comedies on TV right now. The show is one of the near perfect things on TV. The writing, acting, directing, it is all top notch. I haven't been this into a comedy TV series in quite some time. I have two episodes left in this final season, but I know I am going to go back and watch this several more times. It will be one of the shows I watch for comfort. It will be a bedtime show for me.

Every episode has gotten better and better. The actors are taking more chances. The show has been going off in weird avant garde directions that have been a homerun. They had an entire episode this season where Brooke wasn't noticed by anyone when she left the entertainment industry. It was phenomenal. When Chase wanted to break up with his girlfriend, seeing all the disgust online was incredibly real. Drew Tarver and his boyfriend this season, who is always in character, is a great send up of those types of actors. Also, seeing Tarver vacillate between happy and sad for himself and his friends, who are also actors, feels like what I imagine the life of an actor is really like on a daily basis. "The Other Two" is too good of a show to let go now. They can go in so many other directions. They can take on more of the nightmare that is fame and Hollywood. I love Wanda Sykes on this show. This is, for me, her best role since "Curb". And on "Curb" she played herself. On this show she gets to play an industry person who is damn good at her job. She also gets to make joke after joke after joke. The writers here are second to none. You can tell they know the ins and outs of the world of fame. They were writers for "SNL" prior to landing this job. They have been around these types of people, and that comes off very clear when watching this show. That gives the creators a level up, due to being around so many hugely famous people at "SNL".

I just wish this show got more time. It more than deserved it. Every publication always seems to have it on their best of lists. I am near certain this final season will be on my best of 2023 list. But Max and a bunch of other networks are just giving up on these shows without giving them a real chance. "The Other Two" is gone. I read today that they canceled "A Black Lady's Sketch Show", another criminally underrated series. NBC let go of "Grand Crew" way too quick. Nothing seems to stick. "The Other Two" had the quality to stay around longer. All of these shows do, but "The Other Two" is on a whole other level. But Max is pulling the plug. They are not giving it any more chances. They are letting it go far too soon. Comedy Central had it first, so maybe they will revive it. Or maybe another streamer or network will pick it up. That would be ideal. But I just do not see that happening, especially with the writer's strike and the upcoming actor's strike. That is a true bummer. It earned much more time.

I am not thrilled that these really good shows are being cast aside to make more reality competition nonsense. The public needs to watch these original series or we will further delve into the world of "Idiocracy". I'm not ready for that life. I will miss this show. It was one of the better things on TV. 

Ty

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

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Stop Throwing Things at Performers

This recent rash of fans throwing things on stage at concerts needs to stop. For those that may not know, some big time artists, who are back on tour, have been having objects thrown at them while they are performing. Bebe Rexha got hit in the face. Someone threw something at Drake recently. I believe Adele came out and told people they better not even think about it. I think someone tried it at a Taylor Swift show.

This is wrong on so many levels. I hope the people that do this realize that these artists will never come back to their town ever again. I know I wouldn't if I were them. The thought of someone coming to a show of mine to throw something at me, to possibly hurt me, sounds miserable. I saw the pictures of Bebe Rexha after her show. She was bloodied and bruised. It looked awful. She took it like a champ, but she shouldn't have to deal with this nonsense. And when the fan was asked why, they said they thought it "would be funny". That is so mean and wrong. Why on Earth would throwing an object on stage be funny? Who is this funny to besides you and your dumbass friends? What good does this achieve? Why even buy tickets to the show if your only goal is to injure someone? What type of fame did you expect to achieve by harming someone?

People are back in the world now and they are wilding out for no reason. We were all sheltering in place for two years. But most of us have the common sense and decency to not throw things. We understand the rules of society. This country just continues to get more awful by people who think they have the right to attack famous people for no reason at all. What did Bebe Rexha do to this person to harm them? Why would you spend an ungodly amount of money to get into a Taylor Swift show just to throw something at her? What does that accomplish? I'm no fan of Drake's music, but I do not think he deserves to have stuff thrown on stage in an attempt to hurt him. I love that Adele nipped it in the bud right away and told everyone that, if they planned on doing this nonsense, that she was simply not going to perform anymore.

Doing this to these artists, to people who do not tour as much anymore because they have reached a certain level of fame, is not a good look. Also I feel like this is going to make them not want to tour anymore. I would have been totally bummed if someone did this to Kendrick Lamar last year and he just decided to end his tour then and there. One group of people could really end something that millions more are waiting to see. This is such an American thing to do as well. We are such an entitled bunch of assholes and we think our time is more important than anyone else's, so we think we can throw shit on stage and not be reprimanded.

This has to stop and it has to stop immediately. This cannot continue to go on any further. People are going to get seriously hurt by someone doing something they think is "funny". It is not funny. Not at all. Knock it off and act like a goddamn grown up when you are attending a live event. Use common sense. 

Ty

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

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The Coffee Stamp in St. Louis Has Mastered the Art of the Empanada

On our coffee sojourn this morning, my dad, my son and I went to a local spot we enjoy called Coffee Stamp. The coffee is excellent and fairly inexpensive. But that is not the blog today. While at the coffee shop I decided I wanted some breakfast. I hadn't eaten, was going to be running later and decided I didn't want to do it on an empty stomach. The food product that Coffee Stamp is known for is their empanadas. I adore these things. I had never had a traditional one until I had one from here. I want to tell you all how delicious these things taste.

For those that may not know, an empanada is a fancy, flaky, crusty type of dish. It can be savory or sweet. I went with the savory route today. The empanadas I got had eggs, sausage and cheese. My son had one with peppers, prosciutto and cheese. Don't get me wrong, the filling at this spot is fantastic. I wish I could get my eggs that fluffy. I love the little hunks of sausage they use. And the cheese, it is ooey and gooey and delicious. But what makes these so good, what separates them from all the other spots is the crust. This crust is incredible. It is light and airy. When you break open the empanadas, the crust flakes to the side. But you don't just brush these crumbs to the side. No way. You eat these. You try to get as much of this crust as possible. When you bite into the crust it cracks and gives the empanada this excellent texture. It is the fanciest hot pocket you could ever want. The crust is buttery and flaky. It is hot and glistening. They fold it over perfectly. The empanada comes to you in a package, and when you open the package and take out the treat, it looks tremendous. They put the fork marks in the crust. It is folded like a nice present. It looks like a work of art. And then the tasting begins. I mentioned the butter. It is there, and then some. The butter gives it the right amount of extra fat. I don't know what all goes into the dough, but I would imagine they use some kind of shortening. That makes it even better. I assume the shiny glow comes from some type of egg wash, which adds even more flavor. The filling is nicely packed into the dish. It doesn't spill out. You get a good bite with each bite you take. You can taste it all at the same time. These empanadas are simply amazing. But it makes me want to try even more. I want to go to an even more authentic restaurant that specializes in these. I'm going to Mexico later this summer and I am hoping to get some real good ones. I want to try more combos of flavor. I want sweet. I want salty. And I want the two flavors mixed together. While eating this morning my mind was wandering thinking of what else they could put in these. I would love a cinnamon roll flavored one. Or maybe a pizza like one, to really get the full hot pocket feel. I would love a seafood empanada. I think a banana pudding empanada could be amazing. But what all these empanadas need to have is this delicious crust. If the crust is no good I have to imagine that takes away from the whole experience.

I am very happy to have Coffee Stamp in close proximity to fulfill my empanada craving. These things absolutely rule. 

Ty

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

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Happy Fourth of July

At the start of the new year I decided I was going to be more optimistic. All the doom and gloom was not good for me. I wanted to believe we were in a better place, and in some areas I feel that is true.

It is nice not knowing what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are up to every second of everyday. That is how a president and vice president should act. The last "president" was a total disaster and you couldn't go a moment without him popping off at the mouth. It also seems like we are on the back part, maybe even the end, of the pandemic. I was just on vacation and it felt normal. I go to restaurants with little to no anxiety anymore. I see friends and family with regularity. It is beginning to feel like pre-pandemic in the world now. Everytime I get a cold I don't instantly think it is COVID. I'm back at races, taking my kids to school and my wife is still kicking butt at work, she is also in the office more. So things are good most of the time.

Yet there are some states in this country, some places, where on this Independence Day, America still feels very divided. We still have governors who are archaic in their thinking. They don't want rights for LGBTQ+ people. They are anti transgender. They are trying to gerrymander districts. They want more power for corrupted cops. They are discriminatory jerks who think the 50's were the golden era. They were not. America was ass backwards in the 50's. We don't need a return to that time. That was the worst. So places like Florida and Texas, with their abhorrent governors, are wrong. They are trying to take their states back to the worst time in this country. They don't care about anyone besides people who look and act like them. That is wrong on every single level. They should not be celebrated on Independence Day. They don't care about freedom, especially if it doesn't look and act like them. They should be dragged through the mud. They should be shown the errors of their way. They are not better than anyone else. We are all equal and should be treated as such. So for these monsters that keep trying to revert back to a horrible time in our history, I don't wish them a happy fourth. They don't care about freedom. They clearly don't care about independence. They are out there for their own interests and that is wrong. It is also anti American. America is a melting pot. We should welcome people from other cultures, races and backgrounds with open arms. No one should be left out. That is the true meaning of independence.

So while you are out there lighting your fireworks and eating your hotdogs, take a second and thank all the immigrants, LGBTQ+, different races and cultures today. They are who makes this country truly great. They are who we should be celebrating on independence day. Happy fourth to everyone.

Ty

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

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The Post Vacation Blues

The most difficult thing, and I realize how much of a champagne problem this is, for me when coming back from vacation is the adjustment to real life again.

We got back from a four day trip on Saturday evening and, almost two full days later, I'm still kind of in a rut. I cannot seem to get myself out of it. I am slowly getting back into my routine, but with the kids off camp for a week, with the fourth being one day away and with my wife juggling her work schedule, I am feeling like I'm in a slog. I have been sleeping past eight everyday, and that is not normal for me. I'm usually up and ready to go at 7, maybe 7:30 at the latest. I have been slow on making breakfast. My son has stepped up, he's gotten into cooking since the last semester of school. That has been great, but it is my duty to have breakfast ready. I have also been slower on chore catch up. I just continue to put little stuff off for longer than normal. I haven't had to water my garden since we got home, we have gotten a good chunk of rain finally, but I bet I would have been late on watering if I had to do it.

I can't figure out what goes on in your brain when you return home from vacation. I mean, at the Air Bnb I still did the dishes, took out the trash and made the beds. I cooked one night while we were there. I ran every day except the day we arrived. My wife and I got the kids out the door for activities by 11 each morning. But I think, because there is no true schedule, vacation time is much easier to follow. We kind of did what we wanted on this trip. We had no real schedule, except to start the day and be out the door by 11. We went about our own business, and it was nice. But when you get back home it feels like you have to snap back into reality. I put our stuff away as soon as we got home, but then I just felt run down. I don't have COVID. We all tested negative when we got home. I don't have my full energy back just yet. I know it is coming.

This afternoon I ran a sub 30 minute 5k, which is good for me. I was able to successfully run the errands, with the kids, in the regular amount of time. I did a ton of veggie prep today, which felt like a true accomplishment. But I'll be damned if I'm not wiped out now, and I still have to take my daughter to her karate class. The kids are already back to normal. My daughter is ready, my son is currently playing basketball with his friends. But me, and my wife for that matter, are just tired. We stayed up last night watching "The Righteous Gemstones" so we could be caught up. We kept remarking how tired we were while watching, and during what seemed like my fifth complaint I looked up at our clock and it read 9:30pm.

I'm so old and so uncool now. And I have vacation brain. I would love to see scientific proof that vacation brain is a real thing, because it feels very real. But the good news is, I'm getting back to normal. It has just taken longer this time, and I'm sure this will be the case going forward. Oh well, at least the vacation was dope. We had a great time. I just want to not be tired anymore. 

Ty

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

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James Harden Continues to Be James Harden

Surprise, surprise, James Harden has requested another trade. I’m foolish because I thought he would return to the 76ers and give it a real shot. I thought him and Joel Embiid worked well together. I know they each like to have the ball in their hands, but Harden is a productive passer when he knows he can accumulate assists, and Embiid is almost as automatic as it gets with the ball in his hands. But, much like his exits in OKC, Houston and Brooklyn, Harden is “extremely upset” with how the 76ers handled his impending free agency.

Look, I understand he’s a former MVP. I get he’s an all timer offensive player in the league. I understand his value as a premiere point guard. But at what point is this on him? I’m just saying, every stop has come with him complaining, the team trying to surround him with talent and the team, and Harden, playing poorly when the lights are the brightest. OKC was a Finals team with him coming off the bench. He didn’t like that role and asked out. The Thunder were still a legit contender when he left. Sure, Houston got better, and he achieved wonderful personal accolades. How many titles did the Rockets win with him as their star? Or, how did he do in close out playoff games? He shrunk, the team never won and he griped. The Rockets went out and traded for guys like Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, guys Harden wanted to play with, and they still never got to the Finals. And when the Rockets were ready to reset, he played poorly, or not at all, until he was granted a trade to Brooklyn. He was reunited with Kevin Durant. He got to okay with Kyrie Irving. They looked incredible when they were all healthy. But they never stuck together, the pandemic happened and now all three are gone. Harden was solid when he played, but he was hurt more often than not. And with Irving being nuts and KD consistently hurt, Harden didn’t enjoy having the burden of running the whole offense. He cried his way to Philly. And then he said all the same stuff when he was traded to Brooklyn. He was going to stay, he wanted to win, he wanted to play with a great center. It was all roses. Then he had one of the oddest playoff performances I’ve ever seen this past playoff. He’d be great for a game, but then bad for two or three. It never coalesced. Embiid wasn’t exceptional, but he was hurt and he was carrying the load. Harden was along for the ride.

Now he wants out again. It seems like he wants to go to the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George say they are onboard with adding Harden. Trading for him will mean parting with some ping guys, namely Terrance Mann. That will hurt the Clippers. But Harden wants this, Daryl Morey will try to fleece the Clippers and Harden will now be teammates with two other great players, albeit often injured players. If this trade goes down this will be the sixth and seventh upper echelon, possible hall of fame players that Harden would be paired with. I don’t think it will work, but I’m most curious to see how long it takes Harden to make an excuse and ask out yet again, maybe to go play with a young up and coming superstar. That seems to be his MO. At some point I’d hope he’d look in the mirror and see he is the one constant in all this. I doubt that will ever happen though.

Ty

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

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Ty Listens to Killer Mike's "Michael"

Killer Mike put out a new record a couple weeks ago. I finally got around to digging deep into it a few days ago. Let’s discuss.

The album is called “MICHAEL” and it is as good as I hoped. Killer Mike’s skills are not new to people who have listened to him since he was part of The Dungeon Family. He has this incredible ability to flip his cadence while rhyming. He can start slow and finish fast. Each song on this record shows that off. Killer Mike jumps from all speeds throughout the record. He is one of the best in the game right now. He also has something to say in his songs. He is telling truths. He is calling out the system. He is talking about family, relationships and the good and the bad of both. He calls out the government, the police and everyone else he feels is not up to snuff. The guest appearances on this album are wonderful. Andre 3000 is on this album. I haven’t heard new music from him in forever. It’s great to hear him, hear how excellent he still sounds and how effortless it comes for him. El-P is on a song here and it’s a great RTJ style song he guests on. These two have incredible chemistry and it constantly shows, especially on this track. 6lack is here, and he’s new to me, but I like his voice. He’s a rapper with a silky delivery. He’s like a young Pusha T. 2 Chainz pops up and this dude is underrated. I feel like people don’t take him seriously. They need to start now. He’s awesome. I could say the same about myself and doubting Ty $Ollar Sign. He’s dope. He can flow. This record starts strong, the middle is solid and finishes with a bang.

Killer Mike is at the top of his game. He had really put it all together and it really shows. I wish he was coming closer to STL on his upcoming tour. I’d love to see him perform these songs live. Until then, at least I have this record. It’s pretty awesome.

Ty

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

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RIP Ryan Mallett

While riding yesterday I pulled up my sports app to see if there was any news. Unfortunately I saw that former NFL player Ryan Mallett had passed away.

I was stunned. I knew he was young, and now coaching. I remembered watching him at Michigan, and then at Arkansas. When he arrived to play QB at Michigan I was stoked. He was going to replace Chad Henne, who was a senior. He got some early action in a blowout and when I watched him play, I got even more excited. He had a rocket arm. He seemed fearless. He wanted to sling it around the field. It seemed like a great match. He saw a bit more time in other games and it looked like he was ready to step in. Then Lloyd Carr retired and Michigan hired Rich Rodriguez. The system didn’t fit the QB. Mallett, as expected, transferred. He ended up at Arkansas, which made sense since he was from there. He was pretty solid during his tenure. He said some issues with the law, public intoxication, but the guy produced on the field. He threw for over 3,000 yards twice. He put up 30 plus touchdowns each season. He was an all SEC player. He went to the draft and was a third round pick by the Patriots, backing up Tom Brady. The NFL never really worked for him, but he made it. He even started a few games here and there. Once he retired he went into coaching. This was an excellent fit for him. He knew the ins and outs and could help kids make it to the next level. But to read this news yesterday, to see he had drowned when he was getting into a job he was well equipped to excel at, that’s tragic. He was five years younger than I am right now. That is far too short of a life. I don’t know if he was married, or if he had any kids, but he leaves a hole in the heart of Michigan, Arkansas and NFL fans everywhere. People rooted for this guy. They wanted him to succeed. So to see his life cut painfully short is as tragic as it gets.

Rest in Peace Ryan Mallett. You will be very missed.

Ty

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

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On Ode to the Driving Part of a Road Trip

I’m currently on a road trip. Me, my wife and kids are headed to Lake Okoboji in Iowa. I‘be never been. Neither has my family. It should be fun. I’ve heard from others who say it’s like any other lake town. We are staying in some cool town, so I’m excited. Should be fun. What I want to talk about today is the road trip part.

I’ve always enjoyed a good road trip. It helps that my wife drives. That allows me to mellow out and enjoy the scenery. I’ve pretty much always been the passenger on trips too. My dad always drove and now my wife has taken on that job. She’s a much better driver than me too. Being the passenger lets me zone out. I like to check out the farmland. I enjoy seeing many types of animals. I watched a cow climb a hill this morning. I’ve seen many horses as well. I also enjoy passing other dads and seeing the other passengers. Most people are buried in their device, but sometimes you make eye contact. That’s weird and fun for me. I still try to get truck drivers to honk their horns. My kids are involved in that now too. It’s a thrill when they do honk. I usually control the music. I play stuff my wife likes, but sometimes I throw in music for me. We’ve heard from all kinds of artists today. I’ve listened to Kacey Musgraves, Kendrick Lamar, Doja Cat, Frank Ocean and Pink Floyd, among others. Podcasts play a big role too. As I write we are listening to “Normal Gossip”, one of my wife’s favorites. I’m sure I’ll sneak in a “CBB” or “Lowe Post” at some point. Even on a longer ride like this, a bit over eight hours, I find ways to pass the time. We play lots of car games. My wife and I named celebrities for over two hours this morning. My daughter draws pictures and I try to guess what she’s drawing. My son will pepper me with sports stuff. It’s a great way to pass the time.

Road trips are fun. Sure, they can be boring, but you have to make that time less boring by doing things together. This is my first of 2 road trips this summer. So far we are off to a wonderful start.

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "The Bear" Season 2

Last year I was late to the scene on the tv show "The Bear". But when I found it, I devoured it. The show is one of the better shows currently streaming. I remember seeing it was eight episodes, so that meant four, maybe five days to finish. I watched it all in two days. I wanted more and after each episode, and with it all dropping on one day, that made it easier to watch more. So when they announced a second season I was excited. And hesitant. Sometimes these shows cannot duplicate the success of the first season. They have the "sophomore slump". It doesn't have the same feel as the first. All of this and many more contribute to these shows falling off.

Well, four episodes into the new season I can tell you that "The Bear" season 2 is as good as season 1. The show captures the same feeling. I get the same vibes. The actors, writers and creators have the same push and will to make the show great. They are all working their butts off and it shows. The second season picks up with the crew beginning to open the new restaurant. And it is as chaotic as everything in season 1. The show is fast paced, yet each episode tells a great story, sometimes two. Four episodes in and I have met Syndney's dad, been to Denmark with Marcus, met one of Carmy's old high school friends, seen Rich trying to be a better dad and person, watched Nat admit to being pregnant, seen Tina and Ebraheim attend culinary school and watched Neil and crew have fights over mold and rebuilding. Again, that is just four episodes in. So far my favorite half an hour has been in Denmark. Marcus is sent there to work with a pastry wiz, played by Will Poulter, and it is an excellent episode, with some of the coolest visuals I have seen on TV. The food looks amazing. The scenery is second to none. The houseboat is rad. Seeing Marcus help an injured bike rider was moving. Him dealing with his sick mom was relatable. It is a wonderful viewing. I cannot recommend it enough. But each episode so far has had its great moments. Seeing Richie talk to Carmy in the first episode about trying to be a better person is moving as hell. Watching Carmy, Sydney and Nat talk to Oliver Platt about being business partners is nerve wracking. Seeing Carmy and Sydney cook together is amazing. I wanted to eat all the food that Sydney was eating when trying to get a better handle on what to make. I also loved seeing her talk to each restaurant owner and employees about how they became successful. That was eye opening. Seeing Nat come on as project manager gives Abby Elliot so much more to do and uses her talents to perfection. Watching Richie talk to his daughter about becoming a better father was touching. This show gets it. Even Carmy running into an old high school chum was relatable. I love the scene between the two of them when she reveals she knows the name of his new restaurant.

"The Bear" is right up there with "Black Mirror" for great television. The people who work on these shows understand the assignment and they all nail it. If you are not watching this show, remedy that right now and do yourself a favor. It is a pure delight. 

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 Big NBA Trades

The draft came and went with little trades here and there. Nothing too big. Some picks moved, some draft rights moved, but no superstar was traded. Dame is still in Portland. Zion, still in NOLA. Paul George is still a Clipper. But, there were a good amount of big trades prior to the draft and I want to zero in on two of them today.

The first is CP3 to the Warriors. I thought this was a bit when it was announced. The hatred that the Warriors have for Paul, and he loathes them just as much, made this seem not real. But, after some research, it was found to be true. It happened. After the shock settled in me, I kind of took a hard look at this and I am not a fan on the Warriors side. CP3 is an all timer. He is one of the best point guards the game has ever seen. He is smart, a problem solver, a shit disturber, a mid range killer, a dirty and solid defender and an excellent floor general. Paul has it all. But he is not the best point guard on his new team. The Warriors still have Steph Curry. He is a superior guard to Paul. He is a much better shooter. He is a much, much better teammate. He has become a solid defender. He is one of the best cutters in the league. He makes soft wild passes, but he also makes smart passes. After Steph, the Warriors still have Draymond, their secondary ball handler. I expect him to stay with the team, and I do not expect him to give up any ball handling duties. He is also the engine. He runs the show. He is the motor that keeps them going. The Warriors also still have Klay Thompson and Gary Payton Jr. They also drafted a 2 guard. They have a glut, and now they are adding CP3 to the mix. CP3 is an adult and a great vet, so I am sure he will try to fit in, but the fit is odd. I heard people say that he may run the second unit. Will he really? Is he going to accept that? I also heard they may only give him 20 minutes a game. Will he be cool with that? This guy has done what he wanted since he stepped foot in the league, as he earned. Why would he take a diminished role now? Then we also have the hatred between Paul and this franchise. I don't think the fans will accept him. I don't think he will want to listen to Steve Kerr. I think Steph will get fed up with him quickly. I wouldn't be shocked if Draymond punches him this offseason. There is just too much what if and injury and age concern. I get that this is a win now trade, but this is going to be a tough sell for everyone involved. That being said, I do think Jordan Poole is going to go off in Washington. They won't win a lot of games, he will be wildly inefficient and he will play no defense, but that dude is going to have the ball in his hands and an all time green light. He could average 25-28 points a game next season.

The other trade is the Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics, Tyus Jones to the Wizards and Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies. Porzingis is a blah trade to me. Tyus Jones could be traded to a contender or be the point guard of this new era of Wizards basketball. But Smart to the Grizzlies has me hyped as a Grizzlies fan. At first blush I didn't think much of it. I saw Smart in a Grizzlies uniform and I thought, cool. But as I dug into this one I have become more and more excited by his addition. I know that Smart was upset to leave Boston. He wanted to retire there. But him coming to Memphis feels like this team has a true blue vet and a grown up on this team. Smart is a Defensive Player of the Year. He has been on a team that continuously has deep playoff runs. He is an okay shooter. He is a tough as nails defender. He is an excellent passer. And he is a grown up. Memphis is a solid team. They have a ton of talent. They have been the 2 seed two years in a row in the West. But they are immature. They talk too much for a team that hasn't won anything. Their talk took them out in the first round last season. Dillon Brooks became a problem. Desmond Bane wouldn't stop chirping at Rui Hachimura. Steven Adams got hurt. So did Brandon Clarke. And Ja Morant clearly has some identity issues. This team needed a grown up. This team needed a guy who knows what it takes to win deep in the playoffs. This team needs a guy who can come in and knock all the nonsense off in the locker room. Marcus Smart won't stand for that mess unless they start to win real playoff games. And this team needed a solid point guard for the first 25 games due to Morant's suspension. I adore this move. The Grizzlies needed to do something exactly like this. I didn't think they were going to do it because they never do, but they finally did and I applaud it. I know Smart may not help the half court offense, but he brings so much more that this team needs. I love that they will have his presence in the locker room. I think he will love playing defense next to Jaren Jackson Jr and Steven Adams, if he remains with the team. He can stay a starter when Morant gets back from suspension. He is a solid running mate next to Morant.

As much as I dislike the CP3 trade, I like this Smart trade. This was a good deal for the Grizz, and I cannot wait to watch Smart play with them next season. 

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's Not Mock 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA draft is tonight. I used to watch the draft very closely. I wanted to see where these college and high school and overseas players were going to start their pro careers. I don't watch it now, but my son does. He loves it. He is excited. He has to record the first part, but he has a plan and he is ready to implement it as soon as we get home.

As I have done for the past couple years, I will point out some prospects I like, some I'm not so high on, a few sleepers and discuss the Michigan guys in the draft. This is not a mock draft, more so my opinion on some prospects. Here goes.

It is no secret that this is a three player draft. There are other solid prospects, but the top three guys are the best. They could each be the first overall pick. They are that talented. And I fully believe in all three players' abilities on the court. Victor Webanyama is 7'4. He can handle the ball. He can shoot. He is an excellent defender. He is a solid rebounder. He will put some weight on as he continues in his career. The expectations are expected and he will most likely exceed them. He is a generational talent and he is going to the best run franchise in the NBA. The Spurs and Webanyama are a perfect match. This kid is going to be great. Brandon Miller has some off court stuff, but that seems to have been taken care of. On the court this kid is a great scorer. He can create and spot up on the floor. He can rebound. He needs to get a little better on the defensive end, but that can be coached. This kid reminds me a lot of Banchero from last year. He should be an 18-20 point scorer the moment he walks on an NBA floor. Scoot Henderson may be the most pro ready prospect in this draft. He is built like a tank. He can handle the ball. He is an okay defender. He is ready to run a team. He played in the G League, and when the lights were bright, he showed out. Henderson is my favorite prospect in the draft. If he falls to 3, the Trailblazers should draft him instantly.

Outside those three guys I also like Amen Thompson and Jordan Hawkins. Amen is the better of the Thompson twins. He had excellent workouts and interviews. He has all the tools and the skill. This kid is going to make some GM outside of the top three very happy. Hawkins burst onto the scene this past college season at UConn. He was the best player on the best team. He is a do it all scorer and good perimeter defender. He is going to land in the late lottery most likely and whatever team gets him will be getting a Buddy Hield type player, except a better defender.

As for the prospects I'm not so crazy about, let's start with Cam Whittemore. I kept seeing his name pop up in the early lottery and I didn't know who he was. I also did not know where he played this past season. I'm sure he is a solid basketball player, but I had never heard of him up until about a week ago. Some stories are being floated that his medicals are concerning too. That is not ideal for a kid that is going to be a lottery pick. Time will tell, but this is not a good start. Gradey Dick is not Christian Braun. Not by a long shot. He isn't the shooter, cutter or defender. Just because he played the same position at KU does not mean he is going to be the same player. I feel like a team is going to reach a little too early and he is going to end up like Jimmer Fredette or Nik Stauskas. Finally, I'm also out on Dereck Lively from Duke. He is big, and that is nice, but he was something like the fifth option on an okay Duke team last season. He never did anything amazing. He never stood out. He wasn't the first, second or third option on his college team. That is not a player I would spend a lottery pick on.

Now for the Michigan players. Jett Howard can shoot. He was probably the only reliable and dependable scorer on that team at all last season. He is also an okay enough rebounder. But he is not much of a defender. He is also kind of a non creator. He is great at spot up shooting, hell, even catch and shooting. But he has a way to go as a defender and scorer. I have faith that he can stick in the league, but he may not be more than a role bench player. Kobe Bufkin has only gotten better since he got to Michigan. He showed major flashes in his freshman season in his limited playing time. When he got out on the court, I would be stunned watching him play. I was scared he may transfer, but he stuck it out and became the only reliable player on the team all year. He was the only guy I wasn't worried about on the team. His jumper improved. His defense was, hands down, the best on the team. He was the only creator. When he had the ball in his hands, good things happened. Bufkin is going to make for a very good pro. I think the late lottery is perfect for him. I would love to see him go to OKC or Toronto. That would be ideal.

There you have it, my draft preview. Can't wait to see how all these guys end up doing in their careers. 

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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"Black Mirror" Continues its Run as One of Television's Greatest Shows

My wife and I finished the newest season of "Black Mirror" last night. I was going to talk about the season today, but I don't want to spoil anything. The show is getting great ratings too, but I want everyone to watch this show. With that being said, today I want to heap praise on this show as a whole.

"Black Mirror" is the best thing TV has going for it right now. Not only is it the best streamer, it is the best overall. This show is a masterpiece. It is a bleak work or art. With every new season I get excited for what I am about to watch. Hell, with each new episode I know I am going to see something original, or a fresh take on an old classic, written, acted and directed by some of the best in the business. I was talking to my dad about this season today, he watches too, and no show in my TV watching history has stayed with me like some, most, episodes of "Black Mirror" do. I will sit on episodes for days, just thinking about everyone involved. And these are not true stories. These are not actual events that have happened in the real world. Yet. That is what I love about this show. Technology is a great thing. There are many good reasons to use modern technology. There are some who use it for the right reasons. But more so than not, most people use technology to escape or do wrong. That is the world "Black Mirror" takes on and they are doing it at a 100 percent hit rate at the moment.

My dad and I were talking about an episode from this season and devolved into him and I talking about an episode from an earlier season, "Smithereens". That episode is poetic. It takes on people who stare at their phones while they drive and all the downfall that can come from that. This gentleman in that episode loses his family because he was looking at a social media post. He then goes about trying to stop people from the company and he gets in way over his head. It is a work of art and uses music is one of the best possible ways ever. That is just one example.

"Black Mirror" has told stories about the importance of bees, how corrupt politics can be, the horror that is the military, infidelity, love while dying, online dating, cloning, the ills of a social media presence, trolling online, futuristic robot dogs and wild and outrageous video game lifestyles. And each episode is poignant, tells a familiar tale and sticks with you. The show can be funny, violent, gruesome, scary and true to life. Charlie Brooker has done something truly amazing. He and his team have created something that will be everlasting.

This show has also introduced me to some super famous actors. The first time I saw Daniel Kaluuya was in an episode titled "15 Million Merits". He is now an Oscar winner. I didn't know Toby Kebbell, who does motion capture as Godzilla now, until I watched him in "The Entire History of You". Jodie Whittaker, who is one of the Doctor's from "Doctor Who", was in the same episode. Hayley Atwell was in "Be Right Back", and it was my introduction to her. Wyatt Russell was in an episode and I did not know he was Hollywood royalty at the time. Gugu Mbatha Raw and Mackenzie Davis were kind of known before "San Junipero", but I bet that is what most people bring up now when they are interviewed. Letitia Wright and Christian Milioti were in two different episodes in season 4, and I had zero clue who they were when I saw them in this show. The list could go on and on.

What sets this show apart, what makes this show the best show on TV, is the writing. The stories they tell are amazing. They sit with you. You think about them over and over again. That couldn't be done without some brilliant minds bringing to the viewers. "Black Mirror" is the perfect sci-fi show. It is, like my buddy Kirk says, " a modern "Twilight Zone" ". I couldn't have said it better myself. No show that takes multiple years off and I still find myself excited to watch can pull this off, except for "Black Mirror". The fact that they took four years off and I didn’t even bat an eye shows how wonderful it truly is.

"Black Mirror" is the best of the best. If you are not watching it, correct that mistake right now and start watching it. It is amazing. 

Ty

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

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Things are Not Looking Good for a New College Football Video Game

I'm not much for video games, but I do love NCAA Football. That was the only game I would ever tell people I was any good at when playing. I knew my stuff. I love college football, so a game fully dedicated to it was right up my alley. You can ask RD. I've talked about it on the pod and this website. I was legit in that game. I knew what worked, what didn't and how to slow down my opponent. When it went away I was bummed. The old iterations of it were still available to purchase on the Xbox up until about two years ago. That bummed me out too. I tried other versions of college football games, but none were the same. Nothing compared to the EA original.

When NIL became real, and college athletes were starting to get paid for their likeness, it felt like the game may come back. Then they announced the return. And then they started to show little bits of gameplay. It all began to feel real, like it was actually going to happen. I was, and still am, stoked that this game may be back. I heard that 2024 was the expected release year, and that March was a rumored month. I let myself get excited. But now I am starting to get a little antsy. Stories have been coming out that are not so good for the release of this game. I am worried that they will have a hard time getting it to the public and that we may never see another EA NCAA Football game ever again.

First some players put out a statement saying they were offered a very minimal sum of money to appear in the game. I get that it is trife and looks bad, but imagine if your face was on something and you got nothing, or next to nothing for that. They just put it out there, didn't tell or ask you and it was there for all to see. You'd expect something, right? So when the rumored small amount of money for the likeness came out, I read 50 dollars, I thought the athletes were right to put up a stink. This game is going to make more than enough money to pay these athletes. They should get, at minimum, 500 dollars. That was what I thought the going rate was going to be for some not as noticeable college football players. I figured the more noticeable would get upwards of a grand. But EA is being stingy and trying to withhold money. That is wrong. And this afternoon I saw some other company, the Brandr Group, is suing EA for not being included in negotiations for NIL deals being offered to athletes. This is now another avoidable obstacle that this game is facing. It feels like the people at EA thought they would be able to release the game with no questions asked. I think they thought that the public wants it so bad that no questions would be asked. But college athletes are smart. They have loads of people watching out for them now. They have lawyers and agents on retainer trying to get them as paid as they can before going pro or getting hurt. They understand the current landscape of the NIL and they will not be taken for granted. I applaud them for that.

This game feels like it is teetering on the edge right now. It feels like one more lawsuit may strike it down and that will be the last we ever hear or see of this game. I hope they figure it out, but that seems like a longshot at this moment. EA needs to wake up and do the right thing. These athletes deserve proper compensation. It is the fair, and right thing to do. 

Ty

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

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Bradley Beal Going to the Suns Doesn't Move the Needle Much

Bradley Beal and the Wizards are finalizing a trade to the Suns for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and three second round picks and pick swaps. The Wizards will also send a few other players to the Suns, but Beal and Paul are the big names here. I already wrote about where I think CP3 should go next. Today I want to talk about Beal's fit with the Suns.

On paper it appears that the Suns have a coveted "big three". Beal will soon be teamed up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Deandre Ayton is still a Sun for now. Josh Okogie will fill out the starting five. But, on paper, this looks like a very good, very high octane offense. The Suns now have a ton of firepower. They could score in bunches. Those three will be hard to defend. Booker and KD are solid defensively. Ayton, when engaged, is a very good pick and pop guy and an okay rebounder. Okogie is, probably, the best guard rebounder in the NBA. And Frank Vogel can coach up some defense.

The accolades stop there for me on this trade. The Suns now have three ball dominant scorers. KD has proven he can play off the ball and spot up if need be, but he is best with the ball in his hands. Booker has learned how to be a true scoring guard playing next to CP3 the past couple seasons. But when Paul went out in the playoffs last season and they let Booker run the show, he got a taste of being the main guy with the ball in his hands. And he seemed to enjoy it. He was the only Suns player who really showed up against the Nuggets, and he played well running the show. And Beal, ever since John Wall got hurt and then traded, has not had to share with anyone on the Wizards. Kristaps Porzingis didn't need to handle the ball. Kyle Kuzma is best suited as a spot up shooter. Johnny Davis couldn't get on the court. Deni Avjida was much more of a defender than anything else. Beal got to do what he wanted when he wanted in Washington. And he produced points, a lot of them, but not too many wins. The Wizards were a purgatory type team, but Beal was getting stats. Now he is going to a team that wants to win. In fact, I think the Suns need to win. This is a team that has title aspirations and they don't want to flame out in the postseason again. But how well will these three guys share the ball remains to be seen. Also, Ayton will be looking for touches too. I also do not like the injury history. Beal would play a decent amount of games for the Wizards, but any time any little thing would flare up, he'd sit. KD cannot stay healthy. He always seems to get hurt and miss 20 plus games now. Booker is coming off two seasons that have been cut down due to injury. And Ayton is soft as they come. The Suns will also have to scrounge for a bench. They only have five guys under contract. Those five players are KD, Booker, Ayton, Cam Payne and Bradley Beal. And they all make a good chunk of money. The Suns are going to have to settle for mid level guys, vets looking to ring chase and G League guys. And if the big stars get hurt, those types of dudes are going to have to play real minutes against the best the NBA has to offer. Just ask the Clippers how that worked out for them last season. Injury risk should be of very high concern in Phoenix.

All in all the trade was going to be made. The Wizards got a solid guy in Shamet, I'm sure they will waive CP3 and picks. But compared to a trade like Rudy Gobert last season, the Wizards didn't get nearly as much. They are clearly going to rebuilding mode and it makes sense for them to get off this contract. The Suns, they might be stuck. They might not get the reward they are searching for with this trade. They may have to settle for 4 or 5 seeds for the foreseeable future. I'm not as jazzed for this deal as I thought I was going to be when Beal eventually did get traded. But the Suns will be fun to watch when all these guys play together. They just might not be that dominant. 

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 NBA Went Easy on Ja Morant

The NBA has suspended Ja Morant for the first 25 games of next season. While this is a large punishment, I figured it was going to be much larger. I also felt it deserved to be much larger.

What Morant did, twice this season, was wrong. He shouldn't be acting the way he is acting on Instagram. That is foul and out of pocket. There is no reason he should be brandishing weapons, real or fake, on Instagram live. When will he learn his lesson? He got in trouble for this once this season, missed some games, went to some fake therapy and still did it again.

I don't get the appeal of owning guns. I'm terrified of them. They are much too powerful. I have never held one and never plan on holding one. I think they are dangerous and useless. In Morant's case, being as famous as he is, I guess he has them for protection. But the way he is just showing them to everyone on the internet is foul. He should have a security team if he is scared enough to buy multiple guns. He should surround himself with people who make him feel safe. He should have the right protocols in place to not have the need to ever use a gun. But he has some weird fetish with them, and that is how I see all this. I guess he thinks they make me feel powerful and strong.

This is the wrong message to put out to his fans, the Grizzlies, his teammates and the NBA. This is wrong on so many levels. I wish he was going about this smarter and in more control. The fact that he went out and did this a second time on Instagram was so wrong. And you could see him and whoever was filming realizing what they did because they tried to hide it real quick. But the damage was done. I feel like having to have a constant presence on the internet is only making it that much harder on him. People do not have to be constantly showing what they are doing every minute of everyday to their fans and followers. That is narcissistic. Most people's personal lives are boring anyway. So why do you have to be showing it over and over again on the internet? That is as scary as owning a gun.

But, the NBA decided 25 games was enough. The Grizz have played without him much longer just a few seasons ago, and they did just fine. I don't feel like 25 games is enough for what he did, then lied, and did it again. I was thinking he was going to get a minimum of 41 games. I was preparing myself for a full season. I felt like the NBA was going to send a strong message. I thought they were going to lay the hammer down on him. They gave him a pretty severe suspension, but in hindsight, others got worse. Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson and Metta World Peace got much more for defending themselves. I don't blame them fully for the Malice in the Palace. Gilbert Arenas got a hefty suspension for bringing guns in the locker room, but no one looks at him like most do with Morant. There are plenty of other players who did far less and dealt with a firmer suspension.

Ja Morant needs to seek out real therapy. He needs to talk to a very good doctor about this because it is a real problem that could evolve into something much more horrifying. Time will tell if he truly finds some kind of healing process from all this, but who knows. I hope he gets better, I hope he seeks treatment and I hope he realizes how foolish and childish all this has become. He needs a real wakeup call. Maybe 25 games will do that, but I am not so sure. 

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.