Ty's 2024-2025 NBA Preview: A Few Pieces Shy of Being a Champion Division

Welcome to day four of my 24-25 NBA countdown.

At number 15 I have the New Orleans Pelicans. I do this every year and it bites me in the butt every year. But, this team looks really good coming into this season. They seem to have everything you could want from a possible contender. It all depends on health, which is always an issue, but on paper this team is legit. Zion Williamson, when he plays, is unstoppable on offense. He can get to the rim anytime he pleases. He gets position and he just goes. He needs a better shot, and to turn it up on defense. But, when he is on the court he is a joy to watch. CJ McCollum has been the steady veteran this team hoped he would be when they traded for him. It's nice that he can come off the bench and be a reliable scorer too. I love the Dejounte Murray trade for them. The Pelicans haven't had a true point guard for years now, and now they do. Murray should fit in nicely and if he can return to his defensive days while in San Antonio, this trade will be a real win. Herb Jones and Trey Murphy are excellent defenders and solid three point shooters. Jose Alvarado may be the best pest in the NBA. The steals he gets are wild. Brandon Ingram's situation is odd here. He may be traded, he has complained about his role and no one offered him a big contract this offseason. But, he can come play this season with the Pelicans and possibly make some money back off a good season. Jordan Hawkins could be a good bench scorer for this team. And Antonio Reeves was a decent draft pick in my opinion. I'm all in on the Pelicans depending on health, and that is always the issue.

At 14 I have the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are in a bit of a limbo, but being a perennial play-in/playoff threat has to feel way better than what they had for over a decade before. De'Aaron Fox is legit. He is so fast, so smart and so malleable on offense. I also respect him turning down money to come out and try and get an even bigger payday. Domantas Sabonis is a very good offensive big man. He is also a solid rebounder. Getting DeMar DeRozan is a nice addition. DeRozan is going to be loved so much more after he retires. But, for right now he adds a steady 15-18 points per game for this squad. Kevin Huerter had a moment, but that seems to have passed. He needs a good season. Alex Len is a fine backup center. Trey Lyles is a solid role player. Keegan Murray needs to be a full time starter. And Malik Monk is such a good sixth man. The Kings issue is defense. They are not very good on that end and that is what's holding them back. But, they should be much improved from last season.

At 13 I have the Miami Heat. I mean, at some point the Heat "magic" is going to wear off. It seemed like it was happening last season, and they didn't do much to improve their roster. That being said, they have a pretty good roster. Jimmy Butler is one of my favorite players. He is the gritty, tough superstar. He would fit into any generation. Jimmy Butler is legit. Bam Adebayo is one of the better centers in the NBA. He is tough to move, can score around the paint and is one of the best defenders in the league. After these two, this roster is okay, but old too. Terry Rozier is a good offensive player, but he is coming off injury and his best days may be behind him. Kevin Love is ancient and his best days are for sure behind him. Tyler Herro is overrated. Duncan Robinson is a good shooter, but he is a defensive liability. Josh Christopher and Haywood Highsmith intrigue me for some reason. And Nikol Jovic and Jaime Jacquez Jr are solid young guys. Erik Spoelstra is also one of the best coaches in the NBA. The Heat are annoyingly solid. But, if they hit an injury bug or Jimmy Butler gets frustrated, things could go sideways.

At 12 I have the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are coming off a run to the East Finals and everyone is back and one year better. Tyrese Haliburton is a wonderful point guard and runs their system to perfection. He is no good on defense, and that is a running theme here. Andrew Nembhard is a good shooter and a surprisingly decent NBA player. Myles Turner has become a good overall offensive player, but his defense has regressed. Ben Mathurin blew up in his rookie season, but he took a step back last year. TJ McConnell is this eras Matthew Dellavedova. Aaron Nesmith has made himself a starter and a solid player. And I love Pascal Siakim's game. He is underrated in my opinion. The Pacers are a good team. This year will be the telling sign if last year was a fluke or not.

The final team for the day, at 11 I have the Orlando Magic. For all of the good offensive players and teams in the league, the Magic are the opposite. They're the best defensive team in the league, and some of the younger guys are starting to come into their own on offense. Paolo Banchero is awesome. He is on his way to being a perennial all star and he is going to become a face of the NBA sooner rather than later. Franz Wagner has fit it quite nicely next to Banchero. They are a nice 1-2 punch. He needs to improve his shooting though. Cole Anthony is a great hype guy who happens to bring a ton of energy to the floor. He is also a solid shooter. Wendall Carter Jr has found a home and a nice role with the Magic. Moe Wagner is a humongous pest and annoyance. He also happens to be a nice backup five. Signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a wonderful move. He fits in so nicely with this team. Johnathan Isaac is a goddamn weirdo who is a great defender, if he is healthy. Jalen Suggs is the perfect point guard for this team. The Magic are going to be around for awhile if they keep up this kind of defensive intensity.

That does it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next five teams. 

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.

Ty's 2024-2025 NBA Preview: The Could Have Been a Contender Division

Welcome to day three of my 24-25 NBA countdown. We are at the play-in/playoff teams now, finally.

At number 20 I have the LA Clippers. This is it for the Clippers. They had their window. It was wide open and ready for a championship. They couldn't get it done. Now they have no more Paul George, and surprise surprise, Kawhi Leonard is most likely out to start the season. I adore Kawhi, he is one of my all time favorite players. But he has not been healthy since he left San Antonio, and even then he was always kind of hurt. His prime is more than over and I don't know that we will ever see prime Kawhi ever again. That's a bummer. James Harden is still there, somehow with a new three year deal, but I'm sure he will ask out or blow it in major games. Harden is one of the greatest scorers the NBA has ever seen, but he is also a no show when it matters most. And he is never happy no matter where he is playing. Ivica Zubac is an okay rebounder but unplayable in the playoffs. Norman Powell is a good bench guy but he starts for the Clippers. Amir Coffey had some moments, but he is a deep bench guy at best. PJ Tucker wants out and Kobe Brown cannot see real minutes. They brought in Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. Both guys are elite role players but they are going to be asked to do too much. Ty Lue is a very good coach, so if anyone can get the most out of this group it is him. But, with the constant uncertainty of Kawhi's health and Harden just waiting to complain, the Clippers are a play-in team at best.

At 19 I have the Houston Rockets. The Rockets seem to be coming together nicely. They had a nice late season push last season and I have a feeling that will carry over to this year. They remind me a little bit of The Bubble Suns. Getting Fred VanVleet was a nice move. They may have overpaid him, but he was worth the money. The Rockets have an adult in the room now. Jalen Green showed everyone what he can do when he gets the ball. He exploded last year, he scored 30 in a bunch of games and looked to be having fun. Alpernen Sengun is a very good big man who can run the offense. He needs to be better defensively though. Jabari Smith Jr is going to announce himself. He has gotten a little better and a little bigger each season. It looks to be coming together for him. Amen Thompson is already an elite level defender. He needs to work on his offense, but he can be a true defensive stopper if the Rockets need him to be. Dillon Brooks is a pest, but he may be the best pest in the league. Getting Steven Adams was a nice move. He is coming off a big injury, but he adds another big defensive minded player. The Rockets are a good team ready to make a leap. That starts this season.

At 18 I have the Golden State Warriors. The Splash Brothers are no more, but they kept the important Splash Brother. Steph Curry is amazing. He proved that and then some in the Olympics. It was a joy to watch, and his shooting will keep him around as long as he wants. Curry is awesome. But, it is a big fall off from there. Draymond Green is still a very good defender, but he is not the offensive playmaker he used to be. His passing isn't as great and he is a total zero as a shooter. Johnathan Kuminga is very, very good, but I think he wants to be a number 1 option. That will not happen as long as he plays with Steph Curry. Moses Moody has never really put it together. I'm not as high on Brandon Podemzski as some others are. Kevon Looney is still pretty good, but the idea of him being an outside shooter is wild. Kyle Anderson was a good signing. I also like the addition of Buddy Hield. Andrew Wiggins has never been the same since their last title. And Gary Payton II is almost always injured. Much like the Clippers, the window has closed for another Warriors title. But, with Steph Curry in this lineup this team will still be an early playoff threat.

At number 17 I have the Memphis Grizzlies. This is my team. I am very hopeful that they will stay healthy all year. They got ravaged by injury and suspension last season, so I'm trying to believe that was enough and they will be back to normal. Ja Morant is back. He needs to stop playing with guns and play basketball with the reckless abandon that I love. He is such a good point guard, and when he is on the floor the Grizzlies are so much better. I still believe in the Marcus Smart trade. I like him teaming up with Morant in the backcourt because of his defense. He can also get ona heater and make a ton of threes. Desmond Bane has gotten better every year and I expect him to continue that trend this season. Jaren Jackson Jr is in somewhat of a no man's land. He got better on offense last year, but that was because he was the only healthy starter all season. He also regressed defensively. He also fouls way too much. I have high hopes for him, but he has got to clean some of this stuff up. I adore the Zach Edey pick. As bummed as I was about the Adams trade, drafting Edey made me feel a bit better. He is a rookie and he will struggle at times, but he is humongous and he has looked good in the preseason. Luke Kennard is not great. I was bummed they re-signed him this offseason. Brandon Clarke is coming off a torn ACL so it will be interesting to see how he looks. GG Jackson showed he could score in the NBA last year, but I want to see how he does with a limited role. The Grizzlies will be better this year, they should make a run at the playoffs/play-in, they just have to stay healthy and stay away from guns.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 16 I have the LA Lakers. The Lakers are stuck in the mud, but they have one of the best duos in the league. At some point time will catch up to LeBron James, but he is still fighting father time off. He was awesome last season, and he takes care of his body better than any player in the NBA ever. He is the second best player ever, and I expect to see him put up consistent numbers. Anthony Davis kind of reminds me of Christian McCaffery. When Davis is on the floor he is one of the best in the game. He can score a lot of different ways, is an excellent rebounder and is one of the best rim protectors in the league. But, last season was like a mirage. He was barely ever hurt. I fear that may have been a one time thing. After those two, the Lakers take a steep dropoff. Austin Reaves is incredibly overrated. He is nothing without LeBron and the whole league will see that soon enough. Rui Hachimura had one good playoff series two years ago, and he is still riding that high. He should start, but the Lakers kind of put him in and out of the lineup. D'Angelo Russell is a damn fine shooter, but he is too preoccupied with celebrating and trash talking. He is also a total zero on defense. Gabe Vincent was out all of last season, and who knows what he will bring this year. Jarred Vanderbilt is a fine defender, but he offers not much else. I'm sick of hearing how good Max Christie looks in practice. I want to see it on the floor. They drafted Bronny, which is great for LeBron, but I have to assume Bronny will spend the majority of the season in the G League. Jaxson Hayes is washed. As is Cam Reddish. The Lakers are good because they have LeBron and AD. That made them good enough to be the 7th seed in the West last year. I expect more of that this season.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next five teams. 

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.

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Ty's 2024-2025 NBA Preview: Not the Worst, but Not Very Good Division

Welcome to day two of my 2024-25 NBA countdown.

Coming in at number 25 I have the Toronto Raptors. It feels like they're trying to rebuild, but the front office is too competent to fully blow it up. They make moves that make too much sense and this pushes them to over 30 wins and at the back end of the lottery, if not out of it all together. Scottie Barnes has the goods to be the number 1 guy on this team. He can handle the ball, is a good passer and rebounder and can score from all three levels. He just needs to stay on the court. They acquired RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley last season and both of those guys played well. I think Barrett is happy to be home and Quickley knows he's going to get real minutes and real shots. Gradey Dick has maybe figured something out, he looked good in Summer League, but he doesn't have the look or feel of a real player on a title contender. They're taking a chance on Davion Mitchell, who can defend but cannot shoot. Bruce Brown should be on a true playoff contending team. His talents are being wasted here. Ja'Kobe Walter is interesting. Chris Boucher is at the back half of his career. Kelly Olynk is mediocre at this point. And Jakob Poeltl is an okay rebounder and nothing else. The Raptors have some decent top end talent, but the bench is thin. Maybe some of the young guys will hit, but they are still far away from truly contending.

At number 24 I have the Utah Jazz. This team starts hot and really fades. I know that's by design, but still, that has to hurt their top guys. Lauri Markennen has proved me wrong. That dude can ball. He is good and deserves to play for a contender. Jordan Clarkson has game. He's not much of a defender, but boy oh boy can he score. I don't know if he will be with the Jazz all season, and if he is, good for them. Keyonte George is interesting, but he is young and needs a little more time to develop. Real minutes would be nice too. Walker Kessler has kind of fallen off a cliff. He doesn't bring much of anything anymore. Collin Sexton is good. He got real playing time and he proved he can stay on the floor with the best of them. Isaiah Collier can be an electric bench scorer, but he has to fully round out his game before he is looked at as a real NBA threat. I cannot stand Kyle Filipowski. He is a perfect fit for Utah, not because of his game, but because of his attitude and weird family stuff. I've always been a fan of John Collins, but he has never really lived up to his draft position. And Patty Mills got a deal based on one good game in the Olympics. The Jazz have a true all star in Markennen and a decent scorer in Clarkson. Outside them and Sexton, this team is funky. I'd love to see them continue to go for it if they start strong. But history tells us that is not the case. And I think they really want to tank and try to get that first, second or third pick in the draft.

At number 23 I have the Chicago Bulls. This team is in purgatory. They can't decide if they want to tank or stay in the play in race. They have been in the play in the past couple years because they hover around 35-38 wins every year. Zach Lavine needs a change of scenery. He is hurt, not as good as he used to be and has asked out many times before. He can still go off for 30, but it is an even more rare occurrence nowadays. Coby White is becoming a damn good player. He has upped his game every season and I expect more from him this year. Josh Giddey is fine, but he is unplayable in important games due to his awful shooting, and he has off court stuff that he has to deal with. Lonzo Ball is in line to play his first game in two years, so who knows what we will see from him. I bet he won't be nearly as explosive though. The rookie Matas Buzelis has some swag, now we need to see if that translates on the floor. Nikola Vucevic is cashed out. He is washed. Patrick Williams is never going to happen. He is done. I like Kenny Lofton Jr, but he is more novelty than anything else at this point. The Bulls need to go full rebuild. They started this offseason when they traded Alex Caruso and let DeMar DeRozan walk. Now they need to fully pull off the bandaid.

At number 22 I have the Atlanta Hawks. This team was in the Eastern Conference Finals three years ago. Now they're here. Trae Young is a fine scorer and point guard, but he is small, he is a zero on defense and he whines way, way too much. I would not want him on my team. He can shoot, but that's all he offers at this point. Clint Capela needs less playing time or to go to a middling team. His time has passed, he cannot shoot jump shots and doesn't have the bounce he used to. Zach Rissacher was the first overall pick in the draft, and has looked pretty good in the preseason. But he is young and skinny and kind of soft right now. Bogdan Bogdanovic had a good Olympics, but I feel like he is an overrated bench player. Jalen Johnson is a very good player. He came on super strong after he recovered from injury last season and I expect him to take an even bigger leap this year. He's awesome. Onyeka Okongwu is okay,  but he is a bench player at best. De'Andre Hunter has never taken the next step since he entered the league. Dyson Daniels is intriguing. The Hawks have to make a decision on Trae Young. Once they do that, they can take the next step to starting over.

The final team for today, at number 21 I have the San Antonio Spurs. I feel like they're going to make the biggest leap of any team this season. Victor Webanyama is legit. He is the next superstar in this league. He can literally do it all. He is a joy to watch and if his Olympics were a sign of things to come, watch out. Chris Paul will bring a nice veteran leader that this young team is begging for. He will be the leader they need. Devin Vassell has true game. He is a very good role player and fits in with this roster very well. I'm very high on the Stephon Castle draft pick. He is very explosive. Jeremy Sochan needs to fully buy into being a defensive enforcer. That is where he excels. Keldon Johnson, much like Vassell, is a perfect fit for Wemby and Greg Poppovich. I like that they acquired Harrison Barnes. He, much like CP3, is a nice steady veteran presence. Tre Jones is an okay backup. Zach Collins has never worked out. Malaki Branham and Malachi Flynn are essentially the same player, but they are years apart in age. The Spurs are going to take a jump. Wemby and CP3 want to win. They have some decent role players. But, the bench is pretty thin and a big leap for this team is equal to 32-35 wins.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next five teams.

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.

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Ty's 2024-2025 NBA Preview: Picking at the Top of Lottery Division

The 2024-25 NBA season is upon us. With that being said, today I will start my countdown of all 30 teams, going from 30-1. These are some of my favorite blogs to write. I love basketball and I love the NBA. I am going to do five teams a day, with a little write up about each, and then on day seven I will do my playoff and awards predictions. I will also do a NCAA men's basketball preview on the eighth day. Now, on to the countdown.

At number 30, coming in dead last, I have the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are bad by design. They want the number one pick in the draft. They're eyeing Cooper Flagg or one of the kids from Rutgers. This is a very good draft class, the Nets front office seems to understand that, and they are going hard for that first overall pick. They traded away Mikail Bridges, who was their dude. They have a roster of dudes like Cam Johnson, Denis Schroeder, Zaire Williams, Nic Claxton and Ben Simmons, to name a few. Johnson is an okay enough player, but he should never ever be a first option. Schroeder is fine, but old. Williams is a castoff from the Grizzlies. Claxton is a fine pick and roll guy, but not much else. And Ben Simmons is afraid to shoot. They also have other castoffs too. Killian Hayes is there. So is Day'Ron Sharpe and Shake Milton. This is a mishmash roster and they know it. The Nets could be one of the worst teams in the history of the NBA.

At number 29 I have the Washington Wizards. The Wizards are pretty awful too. They have no real logic on their roster. They may not win 20 games, but at least they're not the Nets. Jordan Poole was supposed to explode as the top player on their team last year. Instead, he fell off, and that bums me out because I like rooting for Poole. Alex Sarr was the number two overall pick, and looks to be an okay defender already. But, he is not much of a scorer just yet. Kyle Kuzma is more noteworthy for saying nonsense on the internet than anything he does on the court. Bilal Coulibaly is good at defense and nothing else. They inexplicably signed Jonas Valenciunas and Malcolm Brogdon, who will most likely be on different teams by mid December. Bub Carrington is a fun rookie. Corey Kispert is very average, Saadiq Bey has never really figured it out and Marvin Bagley Jr is somehow still a playable NBA player in the minds of the Wizards front office. The Wizards started their rebuild a year ago, and they're still working on that rebuild going into year two. They're bad and will be for a few more seasons.

At number 28 I have the Portland Trailblazers. I have always rooted for Portland as a secondary team, but boy oh boy are they bad. The Wizards roster is confusing enough, but the Trailblazers roster is nonsensical. They have way too many centers and no true point guard. Anfernee Simons is a great scorer, but a total zero on defense. He is always in trade rumors as well. Scoot Henderson, who I love, really struggled last season. I still have high hopes for him, but he has to find a jump shot before it's too late. Shaedon Sharpe is an incredible athlete and leaper. He just has to stay healthy. Speaking of health, Robert Williams has never been able to stay on the floor. His career may be over at this point. Deandre Ayton got out of Phoenix like he wanted, but he has not done anything to speak of since arriving in Portland. They traded for Denji Avidija, which is puzzling. He's young, but he really came on strong last year. Maybe they will use him to trade for picks later this season. They drafted Donovan Clingnan, who appears to be a good rim protector, but he is skinny right now. He needs to bulk up. Toumani Camara was a nice surprise last season. They did acquire Devonte Graham, who is sometimes good and sometimes bad. There's no in between. Matisse Thybulle is still there too, but he has really fallen off the past couple seasons. The Trailblazers are taking chances on some dudes, but until they have a cohesive lineup, they are going to have some big, big holes to fill.

At number 27 I have the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons are stuck in mediocrity with no real light at the end of the tunnel. I'd be infuriated if I were a fan of theirs. Cade Cunnigham is very good, but he has not been able to put it all together or stay healthy for a full season since he got in the league. His shot is still a little funky too. Jaden Ivey has never been the answer next to Cunningham. They hoped these two would work, but it never has. I will never get why they signed Tobias Harris for the years and money that they did. It is mind boggling. I like Ron Holland, but to take him fifth overall was a wild stretch. He may not see significant minutes on the court for a few years. Jalen Duren is an amazing big man, but he needs to develop an offensive game other than just dunking. He is a legit rebounder and defender, but he needs to figure some low post stuff out soon. Acquiring Tim Hardaway Jr via trade and signing Malik Beasley in free agency is fine, but they add nothing other than on and off shooting. Ausar Thompson has that it factor, but like many of his teammates, he needs to develop a shot. Isaiah Stewart is cooked as a viable NBA player. The Pistons would be happy to land a lottery pick that isn't number five overall. If they could add an awesome rookie from this class, maybe, finally, they can start the turnaround.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 26 I have the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets have some dudes, but they are never on the floor at the same time and some of these dudes have off court issues. Miles Bridges should not be in the league. What he did was abhorrent and he should have been suspended much, much longer. LaMelo Ball is very good with some impeccable court vision. But he has never played more than 50 games in a season it feels, and the last two seasons he has missed the majority of each year. Brandon Miller seems to have the ability to make an all star team. He does have the whole off court stuff at Alabama hanging over him though. He is very good at basketball too. Seth Curry is TEMU Steph Curry. Seth Curry is very good, but he is not even on the same planet as his brother. Grant Williams is a head case. Mark Williams is always injured. Nick Richards is very up and down. Taj Gibson is as old as me. This team is a weird collection of guys that cannot stay on the court for one reason or another. They have some dudes that could potentially make them a fringe playoff team if they could ever stay on the floor. Unfortunately for their fans that hasn't happened to this point.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next five teams. 

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.

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We Can Beat Your Kid in Foot Race but You Can't Beat Father Time

Let’s talk about being old.

Sometimes hubris can get the best of you, especially as you get older. My son had football practice yesterday and he was kind of hobbling to the car afterward. I asked him what was wrong. He told me he was sore because they had to run the 200 in gym class and he pushed himself. I told him that it is good to push when you feel like it, and they did have to do some extra conditioning at practice last night. When we got out of the car and returned home, I asked him how he did in the 200. He said he was pretty happy with a time of 38 seconds. That's pretty good considering my son is not into running at all. He said he beat some of his friends, and then he started talking a big game to me. He was telling me that I couldn't run a 200 faster than him. He didn't say the actual words, but he was basically calling me old, or at least that's how I felt. I told him that I could beat that time last night. I mentioned to him that I was on the move a bunch that day, and that I had run five miles at noon. But he kept persisting. He kept telling me that there was no way I could beat him. He was sure about it. So, I told him to go wherever he felt like it was 200 meters within our neighborhood. He walked a distance that we both assumed was 200 meters. He told me to go and off I went.

I finished in 14 seconds.

After some guessing at the distance, we came to the conclusion that he only walked about 100 yards. I knew 14 seconds was way too fast, and he was not having it that I could more than halve his time. So he walked a little further. He pushed it out a bit. He told me to go and off I went.

This time it took me about 41 seconds. But, we found out that this was too far. He went about 300 meters. At this point my wife came outside because she could hear us talking. She asked what was going on and we explained the situation. In her infinite wisdom she told me to turn my watch on and walk 200 meters. Then we could run back. It was perfect. My son also decided he wanted to race me at this point. Keep in mind, he was coming off a 200 meter race in gym and football practice. I was coming off a five mile run earlier in the day and I had just sprinted 300 meters and 100 yards. We were both tired. But, I let my hubris get the best of me. A neighbor came outside and asked if they were seeing a race. I boldly proclaimed, "you're about to see a 41 year old distance runner take on a 12 year old football player and win!". I was in my bag. So, after we got the correct distance we took our mark. I let my son tell us to start and off we went.

We were both sprinting. He was ahead of me for a bit. We made the curve and that was when he slowed and I pulled ahead. It was a slight uphill, and as I passed him I said, "you can't handle these hills like this old man!". He was mad and he slowed to a stop. I kept going because I'm competitive. I also felt, stupidly, that I had to prove a point. I smoked him, but he had stopped at about 100 meters and walked. I was going so fast my head was spinning. My asthma was acting up. I had some tingling and tightness in my legs. When I made it to the end, I put my head on my car and took a ton of deep breaths, just trying to catch my breath. Again, I'm no sprinter, I'm a distance runner. I'm used to going slow and turning it on at the end of a five or six mile run. I can run half marathons all day, but sprinting is not my thing.

When we went inside I was a sweaty mess. My chest was sore. I had almost fully caught my breath, but the asthma was hitting me hard. I kept asking my son why we did this. He was fine by the way, just tired legs from practice. He was even smirking at me a bit. I would say, when I saw the smirk, that I beat him. He didn't care. Part of me assumes that he knew I'd win, but he wanted to see how far he could push me.

This morning is a rest day for me, and I couldn't be happier. I hobbled out of bed. I'm hanging onto the railing when I walk down the steps. My wife just asked how my legs were doing. I don't think I can do this sprinting stuff all the time like I thought. Being in your early 40's can be a bummer, and this is a prime example. All I did was run the equivalent of one lap around a track and I'm kind of spent. It has to be the sprinting that is doing this to me today because I don't feel like this after running double digits at my own pace. Getting older is fun, but it is also a drag. This morning is one of those bummer moments for me. 

Ty

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

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Now "KAOS" is the Cancel Victim of More Dumb Reality TV

Welp, another tv show that I enjoy bites the dust. It was announced yesterday, I didn't see until today, that Netflix cancelled "KAOS". They gave that show one season. They gave it eight measly episodes. And now it has been canned, and I don't know why.

This show had potential, this show had a great cast, this show was unique and different. I loved what I saw and was excited for where they could take it in season two. The whole cast was stellar, but the reason why I started watching was Jeff Goldblum. He was magnetic as Zeus. He was childish and violent. He was mean. He was vindictive. Goldblum played this role perfectly. If his portrayal of Zeus wasn't enough to keep this show on air, I have to assume it was a longshot at best to stick around after one shortened season.

I am sitting here today trying to figure out what went wrong, why Netflix made this decision. With "That 90's Show", while I was annoyed, some reasons made sense. The audience for that show are people my age. We watched "That 70's Show", so "That 90's Show" was nostalgic for us. The problem, my generation doesn't watch too many sitcoms. We are all about documentaries or crime shows now. Me, and a few of my friends, we're the exception. We watched the hell out of "That 90's Show" and wanted more. We didn't get our way, and Netflix moved on. It is a bummer, but I get it. "KAOS" is not a sitcom. There is no studio audience. There are no corny jokes. The cast is all in, and they know what they are doing with the material. It just doesn't make sense to me that they would give up on another quality show so quickly. The way the season went, started with a bang, no real lull and excellent ending that left the show open to many more seasons, it was strong all the way through. But I guess Netflix didn't see that. All the actors on the show were giving their all, and I found myself attached to every major character's story. When one story would shift into another one, I instantly found myself heavily involved in what was going on with that person. Be it a god, a political person, a mortal or a centaur, I wanted to know everything about that person. I watched the series in two sittings. I watched four episode blocks in two different days. I couldn't get enough of it. But Netflix just axed it.

I thought maybe Netflix would get rid of a bunch of shows, but it seems like the two biggest, and most notable new shows they let go of are "That 90's Show" and "KAOS". I wish I could say the same for a show like "Love is Blind" on Netflix, but nope, they have a new season and they even have versions in other countries now. It seems like they can continue to make more and more reality tv shows, but good material that is different and exciting, like "KAOS" is kicked to the curb.

This bums me out. I wish, and want streaming networks to give these cool shows more of a shot. Unfortunately it seems like that is not the case. 

Ty

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

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Robert Saleh Was Not The Jets Only Problem

The Jets relieved Robert Saleh of his head coaching duties yesterday. I was kind of surprised when I saw this news. Let’s discuss.

Saleh wasn't lighting the world on fire as a head coach by any means. His record was under .500, the offense always seemed to be a mess and he would say odd stuff from time to time while being interviewed. He also didn't seem to have much of a backbone with the front office. He let them run the show it seemed. But, he wasn't given the best team to work with all the time. He had to go out there and play with QB's like Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemien and Sam Darnold. Darnold is better now, but he was not great while with the Jets. I don't believe Siemien is still in the league and Wilson is destined to be a backup the rest of his career. They never had a real running game. Breece Hall got hurt two seasons ago and I don't know many other backs they've brought in. The receiving corps has not been super either. They have some dudes, but no one really jumps off the page. The defense was pretty legit under Saleh too. That is his forte. That is how he made his living in the NFL. He knows defense. The defense is why this team had any kind of relevance under Saleh. Again, Saleh was never over .500, but he won seven games two years in a row with Zach Wilson. He won six games with Siemien. He won five or six games with a rookie Darnold. Saleh did the best he could with the talent the front office gave him.

Then we have the whole Aaron Rodgers of it all. I am not, nor have I ever been a fan of his. He is a blowhard malcontent who is way too into conspiracy theories. He goes on wild offseason "darkness" retreats. He says stupid stuff like, "I am immunized from Coronavirus". He constantly complains about the "woke mob" while appearing on Pat McAfee's dumbass talk show. Rodgers is a locker room problem and he is a coach killer. I fully believe he is the one who wanted Saleh gone. I know he has come out today and said he has nothing to do with it, but come on man. This is his MO. He is an egomaniac that thinks he can cover everything up by going on some terrible rant on a dumbass sports talk show. He is clinically insane in my eyes. And he wanted to come to the Jets when he knew well that Saleh was the head coach. He got the front office to bring along all his buddies too. Rodgers convinced the Jets front office to sign Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard and Dalvin Cook, among others, to come play for the Jets after he signed with them. This would have been a great idea in 2015, when they were all still pretty good talents. They're all old, just like Saleh.

I have to imagine Saleh knew this, but he wasn't going to speak up to the front office. And that, along with the signing of Rodgers, led to him being removed from his job. Rodgers destroyed his knee on the first drive of the season last year, so this team, and Saleh, were already a year behind. Then all the off the field nonsense, again revolving around Rodgers, led to a bunch of unneeded attention. Now that Rodgers is back, and looks pretty old and not nearly anywhere near his elite level, this team needs a scapegoat. And that scapegoat is, unfortunately for him, Robert Saleh.

I don't know where the Jets are going to go from here, but this is a team I think I'd stay away from if I was an up and coming assistant in the NFL. There is something wild going on in that locker room, and I wouldn't touch Aaron Rodgers, who is 41 and coming off a massive injury, with a ten foot pole. I'm interested to see how this all shakes out. 

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 2024 Michigan Wolverines

I do not like armchair quarterbacks or dudes who sit in their homes and talk about how they would change the team they root for. They have these big ideas, think their idea is best and want to run the team. They have it all figured out and they think they're going to be the one who makes the change that fixes everything. I sit back, watch the teams I watch and root hard for them. I have ideas, but I'm not anywhere near the level that the coaches are involved with the teams, and I just vent these ideas to my dad or my kid. They don't seem to mind too much, and they are free to vent to me if they like.

I will always and forever be a Michigan football fan, and there is no way, in a million years, that I'd ever want to be the head football coach. The fans that I'm speaking of right now are the ones on the Michigan fan page who seem to think they have all the answers. They don't, but they sure like to go on social media after a game and speak their wild ideas into existence. I'm not one of those people. I just want to put that out into the world. And I truly have nothing of importance to complain about with the team. They are the defending champs. They have won the Big 10 three years in a row. They have returned to relevance. They have a good team. This season so far has been tough though. They lost a ton from last year's team. That team won a ton too. The head coach is gone. The defensive coordinator is gone. So is the strength coach, defensive back coach, d-line coach, tight ends coach, running back coach, linebacker coach and a bunch of their recruiting staff. They did retain some coaches, and to the armchair online fans, they hired the right guy as head coach. Sherrone Moore is the rightful head coach. Yes, he seems a bit overwhelmed and in over his head from time to time, but he needs a year or two before people start calling for his job. Along with the coaches, they had to replace their starting QB, running back, most of the o line, a lot of their secondary and a good portion of their linebacking corps. I want to say that Michigan is a team that reloads, not rebuilds. But maybe that was a little too much foresight on my end.

Looking at this team halfway through the season, they're a mess. I already mentioned how Moore is a bit overwhelmed, but so is Wink Martindale. He needs to adjust to coaching college kids. This is not the pros. The secondary has taken a step back as well. The defense is supposed to be the strongest unit on this team, but they are struggling, mostly in the secondary. They miss coverages and tackles far too much. The d-line is still pretty good, and the linebackers can make tackles. But, the secondary is really having a tough go, and the new linebackers are taking a little longer to run the defense than I hoped they would. I do have faith they can figure it out. The offense on the other hand, they are being super exposed. There is no imagination. There is nothing different from last season, which worked because of the talent, but this team is totally different. I feel like I can call every play. They like to run up the middle on first and second down. And if that doesn't work, they throw a five yard out on third and 10. When Davis Warren was in at QB, he would chuck it in the air and hope for the best. He threw a ton of picks. When Alex Orji took over, it was run, run, run and run some more. Opposing teams knew this, so they would stack the box. The o-line cannot block eight or nine guys every time. Michigan would go three and out consistently. This tired out the defense. They put Jack Tuttle in last week's game, and while he provided a tiny spark that worked for a bit, once Washington figured him out, he fumbled and threw a crushing pick. The freshman QB they have isn't ready, and I have no idea what happened to Jadyn Denegal. The offense needs to open the playbook. They need to try something else. They need to see what they have at QB and receiver and just go out there and wing it. If they continue with the motion and try to run up the gut, they will be lucky to win another game all year. I don't know better than the coaches. They are there for a reason. They understand the game better than I ever could. And I trust this staff. I was pounding the pavement for Moore to be the head coach after Harbaugh left for the NFL. I like that they gave Campbell the OC job. Martindale created the defense that Mike MacDonald and Jesse Minter ran while they were the DC's. This staff has what it takes to win at this level, and win big. But they have to get creative. They have to change things up. They have to take a chance. They are going to have to spend in NIL. And they need a viable QB, be it from the portal or from recruiting. You need someone that you can rely on at the most important position in football. They don't have that right now, and it will be a struggle until they figure this out.

Always and forever though, Go Blue. 

Ty

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An Ode to My Daughter on Her Ninth Birthday

Today my daughter turned nine. This is wild to me. Kids grow up too fast. I know it's a cliche, but time does truly fly by when you have kids. I feel like she was born yesterday. Oh boy.

In reality, she is a fierce, strong, loyal, stubborn and beautiful 3rd grader. She loves to read, enjoys Disney movies, likes "The Simpsons" and is a very creative and inventive writer. She could easily take over my blog today if she wanted. She is very smart, very friendly and smiles way more often than she frowns. She likes jokes, both hearing and telling them. She is very into science projects and she can sit down and write and draw a cartoon in a day if she wanted to. She is the best.

The whole world changed for me when we had a daughter. I grew up with three older brothers. I am my father's child. We do a ton together, be it movies, music or sports, my dad and I hang out a bunch. My wife is pretty girly, but she also likes what she likes and does what she does. She isn't into makeup or dressing up or any of that unless the situation calls for it. She rules. We had a son first, and he is all about sports, music and video games. He does the stuff I did when I was younger. He loves football, basketball and Fortnite. He is a typical 7th grader. Our daughter, she is into a bunch of stuff that I never really thought about until she was born. She loves getting her hair done. For her birthday today, she went and got a trim, glitter put in her hair and two braids. It looks dynamite by the way. She is really into Disney princesses like I mentioned above. When I was younger I was all about "Lion King" and "Aladdin". She loves "The Little Mermaid", "Princess and the Frog" and "Moana" just to name a few. I never sought these movies out, nor were they an option that came up until our daughter was born. She is in her short shorts and big t-shirt era right now. I guess this is what most young kids like to dress like now. But, she had a big dress phase when she was younger. She would not leave the house unless she was in a dress. I found myself shopping for dresses for her when she was younger. I never did that before. She likes to hold hands and give hugs. We showed love in our house growing up, but it was never physically shown. It was an understood thing in the house. My daughter wants to hold hands when I take her to bed or give me a smooch when she's in a good mood or she will give me long hugs after I pick her up from school. And she is very much into how soft her stuffies are and has a bed filled with stuffed animals, some of which she has done their makeup on. Makeup is another thing that I never, ever thought about nine years ago. All of this is awesome and I love that I now know about all this stuff. She has opened my eyes to things that were never on my radar. I'm all in on the Disney princess stuff. Now I give her my race shirts to wear because they're oversized. I know more about Taylor Swift than I thought possible. I let her paint my nails all the time. I love the affection that she brings and has brought out of the rest of us. My kids both bring different things to the table and I am forever grateful that they're in my life.

Happy birthday baby girl. I love you and I am so excited to see the person you grow up to be. Just slow down with all that growing up so fast. 

Ty

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

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"That 90's Show" is Cancelled for More Dumb Reality Television

I read earlier today that Netflix has cancelled "That 90's Show" after two seasons. This bums me out.

I really enjoyed that show. A buddy of mine told me to watch it when it first aired and I did and I loved it. I was a big fan of "That 70's Show" when it first aired. I watched it from start to finish. I stayed even after Topher Grace left. I was all in. I was getting to that level with "That 90's Show". I could totally relate to the kids on the show because I grew up in the 90's. When I watched "That 70's Show", I watched it for the kids, but I wasn't born until 1982. Growing up in the 90's, it was so much easier for me to understand because I lived through it. I got all the goth stuff. I knew every show they were referencing. The clothes were what I wore from time to time. It was great. I also related so much more with Red and Kitty in the new version of the show. I got what got them so upset. It made total sense. I have young kids now, but I see them interacting with my parents, their grandparents. My kids' grandparents aren't as mean as Red or lively as Kitty, but they show the same kind of tough love and real love. I loved the show for that.

All of "That 90's Show" was so much more in my personal wheelhouse. I was fully in on this show. But Netflix is killing it, and I don't know why. I don't get it. I don't know what the end game is for them. If I sit back and think about it, Netflix, like so many other streaming companies, are veering more towards reality TV, and that stinks. Reality TV doesn't cost all that much, you can do a bunch of seasons and people will watch that stuff no matter what. There seems to be a reality show for everyone. Want sports, watch "Quarterback" or "Receiver". Want dating shows, there's too many to name. Want cooking competitions, the possibilities are endless. There are far too many reality TV shows out there now, and they are killing narrative shows. Writers are going to be obsolete at this rate, and it is a bummer. Comedies are going to be nonexistent, except for standup specials. Hard dramas may last a little longer, older people seem to enjoy them, but they won't be around as long as reality shows. Along with writers, directors will be few and far between. Creative people are going to get pushed out for reality TV yes men and women and there will be a certain few who remain because they know how to film reality TV, but the good, lesser known directors and writers are going to get squeezed out. As are the young up and coming actors. The kids in "That 90's Show" were great. They were funny, had good timing and seemed to have really good chemistry. But they don't have people behind them, that I know of, like Jenna Ortega has behind her. People will push so much harder for Barry Keoghan over any kid on this show. The Jonas Brothers will get more bit roles than these kids. And reality TV "personalities" are going to be everywhere.

Some streaming network or TV network needs to let these shows develop for longer than two seasons. They need to see what they have before they just move on because the numbers aren't to their liking at first glance. I did read that the people behind "That 90's Show" are shopping it out, hoping someone else takes a chance on it. I hope some network does because they have a true nostalgic hit on their hands. I want less reality TV and more original series. Networks need to stop giving up on them so easily. I want original content so much more than mind dumbing reality TV. 

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 KAT Trade

The Knicks and Timberwolves made a pretty massive trade last week. It wasn't fully finalized until yesterday, so I wanted to wait until it was official. The Timberwolves traded Karl Anthony-Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVencenzo and a first round pick. The Hornets also got involved, getting a few second round picks from the Knicks. Let’s discuss.

Trades like this do not happen all that often, especially right before the season starts. I have been ranking my teams for my upcoming NBA preview, but I have to reconsider some things now because this trade shakes it up a bit. Karl Anthony-Towns was destined to be moved. It has been in the works for a bit now it seems. The Timberwolves weren't going to be able to keep all the players they had and expect everyone to be paid a fair price. It wasn't financially sound. But, trading him one season after making a run to the Western Conference Finals seems, at least to me, a bit rash and quick. I know KAT had his issues in the playoffs. He fouls too much. His shot comes and goes. He dips in and out of games. But, he had a rhythm with Anthony Edwards, who by all accounts is very bummed about this trade. He had seemed to figure out a way to play with Rudy Gobert. His defense went up a level playing with such a good rim protector. His three point shot was a weapon for the Timberwolves. He guarded Nikola Jokic better than anyone else in the league. But I guess the front office of the Timberwolves felt the time had come and that the Knicks were offering the best package.

The Timberwolves replace KAT with Randle and DiVincenzo. This does make the T'Wolves deeper. It also adds a very explosive offensive player in Randle, when he is healthy. He is also in the last year of his contract, so maybe they have more plans to trade him for someone else. DiVincenzo came on very strong during last season, is a solid shooter and shot creator and he has a wonderful contract. Adding these two guys to the roster helps their bench immensely. Mike Conley, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Randle, for the time being, and Gobert make up the starting five. That means they have DiVencenzo, Rob DillinghamNaz Reid and PJ Dozier, among others they can count on for a second unit. This gives Edwards even more of a runway to be the offensive leader, McDaniels showed some nice flashes on offense last season and DiVencenzo is going to feast on second unit defenses.

Trading KAT almost felt like a necessity, but it is still wild that they did it this offseason. The Knicks got a big man shooter, who has played for Thibodeau before, and he will fit in nicely with this squad. It might bum Jalen Brunson out a bit that one of his Villanova guys is gone, but that isn't as big a deal as it seems at first glance. The Knicks have an identity now. They had an issue at center, due to Isaiah Hartenstein going to the Thunder and Mitchell Robinson always being hurt. They addressed that, and then some, acquiring KAT. KAT is added to a starting five of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. That is a really, really good starting five, when they are all healthy. That will be a real fear here. Brunson has thumb stuff. Anunoby has never played a full season. KAT has leg and ankle stuff all the time. But, if they can stay relatively healthy, the Knicks can be a real threat to the Celtics. Their bench, if Thibodeau would ever give extensive bench minutes, is very good as well. Deuce McBride proved himself last season. Precious Achiuwa is a big body backup five. Jericho Sims showed flashes last year. Landry Shamet and Cam Payne are solid veteran backup guards. They have some decent youth. The Knicks have a nice group of players that make sense on paper.

Pulling away and looking at this trade for both teams, I think it works for both the Knicks and Timberwolves. The Timberwolves added depth and shooting. They also have the flexibility to make more moves that could benefit them. And they still have Anthony Edwards, who is an incredible player. The Knicks solved their center issue, they have a big that can truly stretch the floor and KAT makes sense with this roster. Both teams are going to be playoff teams and both teams can make a real run. This is the rare trade that actually makes sense that includes big name players. I'm excited to see these dudes on their new teams as well. What a wild, but, on paper, successful 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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The SeedSing 2024 MLB Playoff Preview

I'm a day late, but I'm going to do a MLB playoff preview and predictions blog today. I promise you all these were my picks going into the playoffs. I didn't realize they started yesterday until my son told me a game was going on at the time. I thought they started next week. Apologies. Anyway, let's get to it.

I'll start with the AL. The wild card features Detroit facing Houston and Kansas City facing Baltimore. Detroit has an excellent pitching staff and they are coming into the playoffs on fire. They have been on a big time hot streak. The Astros have the experience and know how to move on. They also have a pretty potent lineup. I'm going to go with Detroit since I have family members that are fans and I want to see them move on in the playoffs. In the other matchup, I'll take Baltimore. They are more experienced, they have a better lineup and they can outscore a bunch of teams. The Royals are back on track and have a good pitching staff. I just don't think they have the bats to keep up with the Orioles.

With the Tigers and Orioles moving on, we have the Tigers facing the Guardians and the Orioles facing the Yankees. The Tigers will be coming into this series red hot and they may surprise a few people. I think the Guardians have the players to win and go onto the ALCS. But, I'm going to stick with the Tigers here. They are having a moment and I think that will push them to the ALCS. The Orioles and Yankees are going to score a ton of runs and hit a bunch of homeruns. I'm going to pick the Yankees here. They have a better lineup and Aaron Judge is playing like an MVP.

That means I have the Tigers facing the Yankees in the ALCS. This is where the Tigers run stops. While they have a better pitching staff, I don't think they'll be able to keep up with the Yankees bats. And as big a moment as the Tigers are having, Aaron Judge is having an even bigger one. I have a feeling he is going to crush in the playoffs this year. The Yankees will represent the AL in the World Series.

On to the NL. There are no Reds and no Cardinals here. No team for RD or myself to root for. I've decided to give my fandom to Detroit in the playoffs this season. RD, who knows. But, if I had to guess, he may be sticking up for an NL team, maybe the Brewers since he spent time in Milwaukee and our dad is a fan. As for the wild card matchups in the NL, the aforementioned Brewers are facing the Mets and the Braves are facing the Padres. I do believe the Brewers will beat the Mets. The Mets did come on strong in the middle of the season, but the Brewers have been consistently good all year. They kind of ran off with the NL Central early on. The Braves barely made the playoffs, on the last day of the season, and this will be a short trip for them. The Padres have had the best record since the all star break and they look primes to make a run. If the Braves were fully healthy, this would be a different story. Give me the Padres here.

So, that leaves us with the Brewers facing the Phillies and the Padres facing the Dodgers in the NLDS. I'm going to stick with the Brewers over the Phillies. The Phillies are incredibly potent, but they haven't been as dominant as they were in past seasons. The Dodgers have the best lineup in baseball. They have a solid pitching staff. The only thing that worries me with the Dodgers is their manager. He makes some questionable decisions. That being said, I'll take the Dodgers to beat the Padres. It will close, maybe the best series of the playoffs, but in the end, the Dodgers lineup is too damn good to get beat.

This leaves us with an NLCS of Brewers and Dodgers. Again, I'm going to stick with the Dodgers lineup. Shoei Ohtani is the best player in the MLB and he is going to be the Aaron Judge of the NL during the playoffs.

So, that means I have the Yankees facing the Dodgers in the World Series. The two best teams that money can buy in all of baseball. I'm going to stay with the Dodgers. They are going to be World Series champs and Shoei Ohtani is going to win the MVP of the series.

There it is, my 2024 MLB playoff preview and predictions. 

Ty

Another view

This is a must make the World Series year for the Yankees and the Dodgers. I believe neither team will make the series because both teams have a top half great lineup and average bottom half. Also both teams are lacking a solid #3 starter that you need for a playoff run. Also, also both managers are not great. That said this is how I think each round is going to shake out.

Wild Card Round

Brewers will beat the Mets (great story for the Mets this year)

Padres will beat the Braves

Detroit will beat the Astros (this is the end of the Astros dynasty)

Baltimore will beat the Royals (watch out for KC next year)

Divisional round

Phillies will beat the Brewers

Padres will beat the Dodgers (sorry LA)

Cleveland will beat Detroit

The Yankees will beat Baltimore

LCS

Phillies will beat the Padres

Cleveland will beat the Yankees (The Guardians feel like last year’s Rangers)

World Series

Phillies over Guardians in seven (another heartbreak for the Cleveland faithful)

RD

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

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R.I.P. Pete Rose

Another professional sports legend has passed away. Almost immediately after posting my Dikembe Mutumbo RIP blog, I read that an all time great baseball icon, Pete Rose, had passed away at 83. It was a punch to the gut.

Think and say whatever you'd like about Rose's personal life, the dude could play the game of baseball. He brought a fire and passion to the game that no one has come close to matching. I vividly remember seeing a video of Rose playing in an all star game when I was younger and he ran over the catcher to score a run. In a glorified exhibition. I mean, the guy cared, sometimes too much, whenever he set foot on a ball field.

As for regular season and postseason, Rose is an all timer. He had the most hits ever, checking in at 4,256. He had a lifetime batting average of .303. His least amount of regular season games played came when he was 43 years old, when he only appeared in 26 games. Other than that, his next lowest total was 107. He was almost always out on the field playing as hard as he could. He played for 25 years, 19 of which came with the Reds. That is the team that we all remember him being on the most. In the postseason he hit for an average of .321. He showed up when it mattered most and least. He gave it his all until he couldn't anymore. When he left the game, he returned to be a coach. He was okay too. He won over 400 games, ranking him fifth overall in Reds history for managerial wins. Not bad.

Rose’s time as manager was also when the gambling became a true issue. I'm sure he had problems with it his whole career, but it became well known by everyone while he was coaching. He was betting on a ton of games, but the most egregious betting was when he put money on the Reds, while he was their manager. That is wrong, and he should have been given a punishment. But, the punishment was far too harsh in my opinion. The fact that he is not in the hall of fame is laughable. There are some members of the hall of fame that did way more heinous stuff. Ty Cobb was a hate filled, miserable prick of a person. But, he is in the hall of fame. John Smoltz is an alt right weirdo. Jim Leyland was a chain smoking, big chugging lush. Hell, a vast majority of the players in the hall of fame played when the game was still segregated. That was not a fair playing ground whatsoever. So, leaving Rose out of the hall of fame is absurd and laughable. He was one of the best to ever do it, and he belongs in the hall of fame with everyone else. I remember going to a Reds game years ago with my son, my brother and our folks. While Rose may not be in the hall of fame, the Reds paid him a wonderful tribute. He has a statue outside the stadium, of him sliding head first, as he was well known to do. There's a rose wall, one for each of his hits, if memory serves me correctly. They have a ton of pictures, memorabilia and what one could call a shrine to him as a Red. It was awesome to see. I like that they went out of their way to honor him the proper way. He gambled on baseball, so what? Who cares? It is legal now. People do it all the time and they are open about it. Yes, he shouldn't have bet on the team he was managing, but he has more than paid the price. He belongs with all the other legends in the baseball hall of fame. The MLB should do the right thing and posthumously place him in asap.

Rest in Peace Pete Rose. Smack a line drive and dive head first into second base wherever you may be now. 

Ty

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R.I.P. Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo has unexpectedly passed away. I had no idea until my son emailed me to let me know. This is shocking to me. He was only 58 years old. I have not seen any cause of death, but this is still very upsetting Editor’s note: Since Ty wrote this article it has been announced that Dikembe Mutombo died of brain cancer.

I was a Mutombo fan as a kid. He did break my heart when I was younger, when the 8th seeded Nuggets beat the 1 seed Super Sonics, my favorite team. But even in that series, I found Mutombo endlessly watchable. He was such a presence. I remember seeing him on the court and being blown away that someone so big could move so nimbly. He was an absolute menace on the court. He was a rebounding monster, but it was his defense that made me enjoy watching him play. It was damn near impossible to score on him. If he was near any floater or layup, he usually swatted it away. And then he would wag his finger, saying "no no no". I loved this. I used to do it when I would play pickup with my friends. If we played on a small hoop, so we could dunk, if I swatted away a dunk, the finger wag was the go to move. Mutombo made this celebration the best thing at the time, and now people are trying to use it and claim it as their own. The finger wag will always be Mutombo's thing. He invented it, it is his and it will always be his.

Mutombo also played for the Nuggets when they had their coolest jerseys. I really liked the dark navy with the gold and other colors. It was a jersey I coveted as a kid. I never had one, but my friends who had one, it was almost always a Mutombo jersey. That number 55 has always been, for me, Mutombo's number. He was, and always will be, the best 55 in the NBA.

Coming out of Georgetown he was already a stout defender. That is why he was the fourth overall pick. While with the Nuggets, he bulked up, blocked all kinds of shots, rebounded well and scored when needed. He was the anchor of the defense and the heart and soul of the team. He moved on to the Hawks after five seasons. He was just as good with Atlanta as he was with Denver. He became an all NBA player while there. He won three Defensive Player of the Year awards while with Atlanta and was on the all defensive team. He led the league in rebounding twice. He was good enough with Denver and Atlanta that they both retired his jersey. He then went to play with Allen Iverson in Philly for two years. He helped Iverson and the 76ers reach the finals. They went up against a juggernaut in the Kobe-Shaq Lakers. But still, Iverson and Mutumbo were the only big names that the 76ers team had. He then went to the Knicks for a season and finished his career off with the Rockets. He passed Kareem Abdul-Jabaar for second most blocks all time in the NBA. He was Yao Ming's backup, but was integral to the team. He even had a 20 rebound game when he was 40 years old. He retired and was a sure fire Hall of Fame player.

Mt Mutumbo was a great center. He was the last of a dying breed. He wasn't a scorer, nor did he care about scoring. He wanted to grab boards and block shots. He wanted to do the dirty work and then wag his finger after every block. It was a thing of beauty when he would block a shot and say "no no no". Rest in Peace Dikembe Mutumbo. This is stunning and shocking and you will be missed. I hope you are blocking shots wherever you are now. 

Ty

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

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Rotini is the GOAT Mac and Cheese Noodle

I want to end the week on what some may think is a pretty hot button issue. The world is crazy, there are hurricanes abound, it has been raining here in STL all morning, Earth is kind of a mess right now. And with what I will be talking about today, it may just make things even worse off for a select group of people. Let’s go.

In my home, when my wife has an out of town work trip, I do all of the cooking. My son likes to cook, but he has football practice four nights a week and games on Saturday. My daughter has shown interest, but she's only 8. My wife is a great cook, but she was out of town, and I have found myself enjoying cooking more and more everyday. When she has to leave it gives me the opportunity to try something new. My daughter loves mac and cheese. My son loves bacon. I love both. So this past Monday I went ahead and married the two to form bacon mac and cheese.

It was a big hit.

I have done versions of this in the past, but this week's dish felt and tasted different. When I make homemade mac and cheese I tend to use either elbow macaroni or small shells. It's classic. Growing up we ate a good amount of Velveeta shells and cheese. My wife grew up in a Kraft household. These are the classics.

Now, this is what I think may divide some people on the internet. This may get the people talking. I may get some wild comments with what I'm about to say. Don't hate me everyone, but this past Monday I went a little off the beaten path and used rotini to make the bacon mac and cheese. And it was, without a doubt in my mind, the best possible noodle one can use to make mac and cheese at home. It was the absolute perfect vessel for the cheese sauce. My daughter helped me with this, and it was a simple cheese sauce. I used butter and flour for my roux, and added a little salt. As that thickened we added milk and heavy cream. When that became gravy like we added a block of mild cheddar, shredded at home of course, with some gouda, which I also shredded at home. This was a great cheese sauce. It was goopy and soft. It looked like Velveeta to me. I was all in. We then added some bacon that I chopped to the cheese sauce and stirred it all in. After the rotini was done in the water, we drained it and added it to the cheese sauce. Right away I noticed that the sauce was adhering so much better than it does with elbow macaroni or shells. When you use elbow macaroni, the cheese kind of falls off and ends up in the bottom of the bowl that you serve the dish in. With shells, the swooped part gets some of the cheese in it, but then it cascades off from the top. With the rotini, the sauce clung to the edges in the rolled pasta. It stayed on the top and bottom of the rotini as well. The ridges in the pasta make for something of a catching apparatus that will take on any kind of sauce you may have. What made the rotini even better, the bacon bits fit perfectly into each ridge. There wasn't a piece of the pasta that was missing any of the components. I went back the day after to eat the leftovers, and when I reheated it, all of the sauce and bacon stayed in its spot on the rotini. I was in awe. I found myself thinking about it a few days after eating it, and being happily surprised at how well the rotini worked. My kids told me they liked that pasta best too.

I don't know if it is a recency thing, but I will be using rotini again when I make this dish to see if it works as well. All in all, rotini is my new go to pasta for bacon mac and cheese. It is the best type of pasta to get if you want to taste everything that goes into a pasta dish. Don't be too harsh with the comments, but I stand by this take as strong as ever.

Ty

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

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Derrick Rose's Retires as the NBA's Greatest What If Story

Derrick Rose called it a career this morning. He has officially retired from the NBA. You could see this coming after the Grizzlies released him about a week ago. If the place he played his college basketball was not going to keep him on the team, even in an Udonis Haslem type role, the writing was on the wall.

Rose had one of the biggest "what if" careers in the history of the NBA. Rose was a star when he played at Memphis. He was an all American, led the Tigers to their most regular season wins, led them to the title game and their first number one ranking in the polls in 25 years. Sure, there were some issues off the court that were investigated, but that is rampant in college basketball back then, and even now. He parlayed this college success into being selected first overall in the 2008 draft by the Chicago Bulls. This was an easy pick for the Bulls back then. He was the surefire guy. He was the explosive guard that teams coveted. And he was damn good early on in his career. He was the 2009 Rookie of the Year. He put in 16 points per game, 6 assists and 3 rebounds. Not too shabby for a rookie point guard. He made his first all star team in year two. In the 2010-2011 season, Rose went off. The explosiveness that was so coveted came into full focus. Rose averaged well over 20 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. He led the Bulls to 60+ wins. They were the number 1 seed. They won their first two playoff matchups. Rose had become everything the Bulls hoped he would be when they took him first overall two years prior. Rose and the Bulls ended up facing the Heat, and they took them down in five games.

Then the injuries happened. Rose got a raise, but tore his ACL in round one of the playoffs against the 76ers. It was bad. Rose missed all of the next season. He came back in 2013-14, only to tear his meniscus in November. He came back the next year, but he still looked a bit off. His bounce and explosiveness was rare and hard to find now. He couldn't get to the spots he used to with ease. It was discovered that he needed another surgery on his right knee. He had torn his meniscus again. He played his last season with the Bulls in 2015-16. He had moments, but he was not the same guy as he was in 08,09 and 2010. He wasn't a feared rim runner anymore. He couldn't beat guys off the dribble. His knees gave out on him.

Rose still managed to stick around long enough to make more highlights post his Bulls playing days. He went to play for the Knicks after the Bulls. He played here and there, not doing too much. He also left the team at one point without telling them. He was going to see his mom. When he came back, he did score 30 in a win over the Celtics. He left after one season in New York due to some differences with the scheme. He went to play for the Cavs in 17-18, joining LeBron James. He hurt his ankle midway through the season, and left the team to decide if he wanted to keep playing. He played here and there occasionally before hurting his ankle again and moving on to Minnesota. He was kind of revitalized, as much as he could at this point. He had one night where he scored 50 and it was awesome to see. It was at this moment when I really respected and was happy that he was one of my favorite modern players in the NBA. He proved how great he could still be when given the chance. He got to play for Tom Thibodeau again, he was teammates again with guys he loved like Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler and he seemed happy playing again. Rose was a key part to the Timberwolves in their semi return to relevance. After his time in Minnesota he ended up with the Detroit Pistons. I had forgotten about his time there. It was uneventful. He did have seven straight games of scoring 20 points, was a starter again and really embraced the role of a sixth man. After Detroit he went back to New York, reuniting yet again with Tom Thibeodeau. He ended up third in sixth man of the year voting in 2021. He also returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. After two seasons in New York, Rose returned to where he played his college ball, signing with the Memphis Grizzlies. He went back to number 23, had a whole video about returning home and got a humongous ovation when he took the court for the first time that season. He sparingly played for a shell of the Memphis Grizzlies. And then he stepped away after being released.

Rose, if he had stayed healthy, could've been an all timer. He was Russell Westbrook before Russell Westbrook. He was such a dominant athlete, but his body betrayed him. It is a real bummer. He showed flashes later in his career, but he was never the same after winning his MVP award. I'm still on the fence about Rose being a hall of fame player. But, those first three years of his NBA career were amazing and extremely memorable. Enjoy retirement Derrick Rose. You were lightning in a bottle until your injuries halted what could have been a great, great career. 

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 (Non) Humility of JJ Redick

I was listening to "The Lowe Post" earlier today and Zach Lowe had JJ Redick on as a guest. Let’s discuss.

This was Redick’s first podcast interview since being named the head coach of the LA Lakers, a job I fully believe he is wildly unqualified for. They both chatted for a bit, Redick did typical coach speak nonsense, not really saying much of anything . Zach Lowe eventually asked Redick the question I hoped he would, did Redick feel like he "skipped the line" after getting the head coaching position with the Lakers.

This was when the interview got interesting, and really opened my eyes to what a jerk JJ Redick can be. Lowe asked him a very straight forward question that I have to mention is on a bunch of peoples minds right now. Redick has done zero in the world of coaching. I read he coached a fourth grade basketball team, but other than that, he has done nothing. His career coaching record is 0-0. He has never been an assistant coach. He was never a college coach, either assistant or head coach. He never even coached high school basketball. To me, to get a head coaching job as big as the Lakers, one of the biggest brands in professional sports, that is the definition of "skipping the line". Redick built up a friendship with LeBron James, called a few playoff games for ESPN and somehow turned that into a head coaching job. It's baffling. So, instead of showing grace and humility, Redick proceeded to talk about how he "earned" the job and how he "put in the work". Having a podcast that you turn into a tv show does not earn one a professional head coaching job. Being friends with LeBron is not "putting in work". Talking out of the side of his mouth on his own podcast doesn't mean he is ready for this moment. These are all things he mentioned today. Lowe brought up Doc Rivers saying he is glad Redick got a job because now he may rethink some of the stuff he has said about other coaches on his pod. This seems like a very fair suggestion from Rivers. Redick in turn said he felt nothing about it, and mentioned the tenuous relationship he had with Rivers.

JJ Redick has no humility. Sure, he worked hard to make it to the NBA, but he grew up with money and had all the coaches he could have ever wanted to help him achieve this goal. He played college basketball at Duke, so he never had to worry about officiating or being called out for doing gross stuff in college. He was a run of the mill pro. He was good enough to start, but he never really wowed anyone. For his career he averaged 12 points a game, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. He was never an all star, never an all NBA player, never won any kind of awards. Again, he was an okay pro. A guy you want around because he may hit four or five threes in a game, but not a guy counted on to win big. At least when Steve Nash got the Brooklyn job he had multiple MVP awards, multiple all star appearances and was on a few all NBA teams. Redick was just a dude.

What made this interview really gross to me, what made me actually call him an asshole out loud to no one, was how he spoke down to NBA fans, and even more-so, Zach Lowe. He mentioned his "podcast empire", and said that he started that because he was sick of NBA writers asking the same questions in different ways. He said this to an NBA writer who has a podcast and asks the same questions. He seemed to be implying that he was better at podcasting than a seasoned pro. That is a dick move. But, what really upset me, what sent this interview overboard was when he mentioned NBA podcast fans. He went on to make some analogy about how sugar is good, and gives you instant gratification, but sometimes "others" want a leafy green salad. He talked down to the majority of podcast listeners. He seemed to imply that he is better, and smarter than anyone else.

Redick’s whole attitude during this interview was gross and uncalled for. It reeked of privilege. It was as if a glorified white basketball, who has never had to work very hard in life, was hand gifted a job because of who he knows, rather than his accomplishments. That is JJ Redick to a T if you ask me. I don't wish ill will on anyone, but after hearing this today, I hope this goes downhill quickly for him. He talks and acts like he is better than everyone. He is not, and being the head coach of the Lakers will hopefully be a real eye opener for him. 

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 Real Lives of Mormon Wives" is the Meat in Reality TV's Dumb Sandwich

We watch a good amount of reality tv in our house. I'd like to say I don't watch it all the time, but if I'm in the room and a reality show is on, I'll stick around and give an opinion. I wish I watched less, but these shows are a good mind suck for me, and I can tune out what is going on and goof around for the evening.

One such show that has been on my home tv now is "The Real Lives of Mormon Wives", or some nonsense like that. I'm proud to say that I have only seen about 15 total minutes of this show, and that is strictly because I like to hang out with my wife, and she is currently watching this show. But, the 15 or so minutes I have seen, this show may be one of the worst reality shows that has ever been put on tv. This show is about as mindless as it gets. There is nothing of substance in this show. These ladies have no real provocative thoughts, they offer nothing to society, they constantly gripe about the most meaningless stuff and they are privilege personified.

I asked my wife why they have a show, what is it about them that makes hulu think they can get a big viewer number, and she told me that they are "Tik Tok famous". This is a big, big problem in our world right now. People who are Tik Tok famous should not be given a tv show. That is the lowest form of entertainment. Tik Tok offers nothing other than getting "likes" and "reposts". Tik Tok is the worst. More power to the people that make money off of it, but they should not be given a tv show. That is about the laziest thing that tv and streaming execs can do. They don't have to hire writers, there's no auditioning, they don't have to get a full crew. They just put these fame hungry morons on tv and let it go from there. Sure, they have a camera person and a boom mic person, but they don't need much else. They can have a person around to stir drama, but that is about it.

Reality tv like this is killing television. I already mentioned how they don't have to hire hardly anyone that is imaginative and creative, but they are giving people who have no real insight a platform to spew ridiculous nonsense. The ladies on this show have no real problems, they have nothing to give to society, they fight about the most mundane shit and they act like they are the most important people in the world. They are not. They are about as far from important as it can get. One thing I clocked in the short time I saw this show, the reason I wanted to write this today, whenever these ladies are out about town, they almost always say, "we have to make a Tik Tok for this". That is so, so, so sad. They cannot live in the moment. They have to record everything they do. They cannot have a fun, fulfilling life. They are glued to their phones. They are constantly chasing fame. They want everyone to love them. The problem, none of that is being accomplished. They're not going to ever be famous. They are always going to be chasing clout. Most people do not like what they have to say, and in fact, they disagree with what they're saying. The funniest thing to me about this show is how stupid they all come off. They think they have some world shattering view because they are Mormon, but they swear and talk about body parts openly. Everyone does that. Just because they are Mormon that doesn't make them special.

The beginning of reality tv had a point and a good reason to be on tv. When "Real World" started, it was groundbreaking and new. Now, we have multiple reality shows about teen moms, overweight sisters, people with weird addictions and privileged white people complaining about champagne problems. Reality tv is in a very, very bad place, and this show is only furthering the problem. Don't watch this show. I will not be watching anymore of it. It is the worst of the worst in reality tv. 

Ty

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

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When Joe Pera Comes to Your Town You Have to Go See Him

Over the weekend I got to see Joe Pera do stand up live for the second time this year. Pera is a fantastic comic. My daughter asked if he was my current favorite standup, and after some thought, yes, Joe Pera is my favorite comedian at the moment. I like the way he performs. We had very good seats in the balcony at The Pageant here in Saint Louis. I prefer sitting up there now. It's much more comfortable. I guess that's a sign of my aging. Oh well.

The opener came on stage just a bit after 8pm. His name is Robert Dean. I liked his set quite a bit. He kind of reminded me of an upbeat Paul F Tompkins. I'm not saying Tompkins is a dour comedian. He is far from it. Tompkins is funny and fun on stage. I've seen him with "CBB Live", and he is a delight. Dean just had a tiny bit more energy, and he dresses like Tompkins. Anyway, Dean was a great opener. He got the crowd ready. He had a bunch of good bits. He interacted with the crowd very well. He moved through his set with ease. It was nice to see a seasoned standup open for another seasoned standup. Dean did a very good job at his job. I have been watching some of his other sets on the internet since seeing him.

After 20 minutes, it was time for the headliner, Joe Pera. Now, after seeing him only a few short months ago, I didn't know what to expect. I did expect very good comedy, which is exactly what we got. Pera is a pro. He knows what he is doing on that stage. He knows how to command the crowd. He knows his segues like clockwork. He is damn good. It was all new material that we saw the other night as well. There were no repeated jokes. Everything was fresh. I applaud that from a pro. He could've done some of the same material, but he didn't. He deemed us necessary to hear new jokes. And I loved them all. I was in stitches the entire hour long show. He even stayed out on stage a little later than expected to tell us a very new joke, which proceeded to kill. I don't know if he does this everywhere, but this joke that he claimed was a work in progress really felt like a closer. It was damn good. During his set, he crushed with his new stuff too. I loved the video game bit. He brought a few people on stage to play out a videogame he was working on. It was pretty wonderful. I was all in on the meatball bit he did. That was a crowd bit, and it went off like gangbusters. I really liked hearing about some of the topics they went over in the writers room of his show. These were ideas for future episodes, or ideas they never made. This was very funny and I loved the inside look at his excellent tv show. But, my favorite bit of the night was when he talked about seeing "Aliens" for the first time. He told us that he was a kid, that he watched it in the dark by himself and that he came running up the steps to make a big proclamation to his family. I will not spoil the joke here, but I will tell you, it goes in a direction that none of us in the crowd were expecting. And that is why it was my favorite joke of the night.

Go see Joe Pera if he is coming to your town. He is great at what he does, he does tremendous crowd work and he seems to be having a blast while he is on stage. He is one of the best out there at his craft. 

Ty

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

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Ohtani is Must Watch

Shohei Ohtani has just further made his case as one of the best to ever play the game of baseball professionally. It was not enough that he went 6 for 6 in the Dodgers game yesterday, with three home runs and 10 RBI's. He also became the first and only member in the 50/50 club in baseball history. Unreal.

For people that don't know, Ohtani now has 51 home runs and 50 stolen bases. That is incredible. For Ohtani to achieve this so early in his MLB career is amazing. Again, he is the only player to ever do this. I remember when Jose Canseco made the 40/40 club back when I was kid. It was a big deal. Not many people had done that to that point. Ohtani has upped it by 10 plus, with a good amount of games left. It would be wild if he joined the 60/60. And the crazy thing, I wouldn't be stunned if he did it. That is how good he is at the game of baseball. Ohtani can hit with the best of them. Not only does he have 50 home runs, he has 120 RBI's and has a batting average of .294. Oh, and he may end up pitching in the postseason. It's more likely that he won't, but the sheer possibility that he could is baffling.

There is no other player like Shohei Ohtani. There hasn't been a player like him since Babe Ruth, and Ruth never had a season of hitting and pitching like Ohtani has had. He has had multiple seasons where he is a dominant pitcher and a home run hitter. He has won the MVP already, but he should be no doubt MVP this year. He is doing amazing things on the field. Not only does he provide power, but when he gets on base, he is one of the better base stealers in the MLB. A single is going to be a double, at least now. He is going to swipe second base when he gets the chance. Outside of Elly De La Cruz, I don't know that any other player is more of a threat to steal bases than Ohtani. And he's damn good at it too. As good as he is at hitting homers. For a bit I would say that Mike Trout and Bryce Harper were the best players in baseball. That's not true, and it's not even close. Shoei Ohtani is far and away the best player in baseball. He is leaps and bounds above everyone else. I thought that maybe this season would be a little rough for him. He had a scandal with his interpreter, he was coming off injury, he was changing teams and he had this massive contract to live up to. None of that has stopped him from having a massive season. The scandal was over before it ever really started. The injury only affected his pitching. The team change was not a big deal because he didn't have to leave the city he was initially playing in. And he has more than lived up to the money the Dodgers decided to give him. This is the new world of sports contracts, and Ohtani has proven that the Dodgers were right to give him one of the biggest contracts in the history of pro sports.

Shohei Ohtani is the best player in baseball. He has now done something else that no other MLB player has done. He is in a league all his own. I'm not a Dodgers fan by any means, but I sure as hell am going to watch them in the playoffs because I want to see what amazing thing Shoei Ohtani is going to do next. He is making me become more of a baseball fan. 

Ty

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

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