NBA, Wake Up!

 

The NBA just received one of the worst ratings they have ever received for their abysmal All Star Weekend in San Francisco. After changing the platform multiple times, nothing has worked for the NBA. So what's next?

During the same time, the NHL had its revamped All Star break that caught national attention. They turned their All Star format from a skills competition and a mini tournament between the four divisions into an international showdown between four different countries. 

Like the NBA, NHL players often wouldn't put their best effort into the all star games in the past. But this year was different. The official name of the tournament was called Four Nations Face Off. It was comprised of the best players from the US, Canada, Finland, and Sweden. 

The round robin tournament took place over a week and got people very excited about the sport. The players put everything on the line even though there was no incentive to playing besides representing your respective country. 

The number one concern for players over All Star Weekend has always been injuries, but when you put your nation's colors on, all of those concerns are left behind. It was a great tournament and a great turnaround from the NHL. They turned a usual underwhelming All Star Weekend into a playoff intensity tournament for the players and fans. 

On the other hand, the NBA saw its ratings fall off the charts. No one was excited about the usual All Star festivities and especially the game itself. Watching stars play basically a pickup basketball game with no one putting in any effort or trying is flat out boring to watch. It's hard to get excited about something that has no hype whatsoever. 

The NBA should look at the NHL as an example of what they should implement. There are multiple ways they can change All Star Weekend. One is by adopting the four nations format from the NHL. Getting four different countries in a tournament would get the fans excited and give the players an incentive to represent their own countries. 

Another option is to do a United States versus the rest of the world game. Imagine international players like Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and more taking on the best from the United States. The International game has vastly improved in recent history, so this would definitely incorporate a lot of competition and excitement. 

Whichever one of those methods it is, the NBA has to do something to fix their weekend. The NHL did an amazing job and even got viewers that didn't watch hockey in the first place to tune in as well. It's clear, the NBA can't keep this format any longer. 

Next up: Baseball!

 

With the NFL season now officially over with the champion being crowned, baseball is officially on the horizon and is the next sport to kick off. With pitchers and catchers reporting today and in the upcoming days, we are getting closer and closer to Opening Day. 

It has been a jam-packed offseason to say the least, making this upcoming season even more exciting. Since the last pitch was thrown and the Dodgers became the World Champs, a lot of faces have departed and arrived on new squads. 

The story of the offseason: Juan Soto. We will get to see Soto make his debut with the New York Mets for what the Mets hope to be a storied 15 years to come. The real question around this will be what New York team will be smiling when the eventual outcome of this signing is determined. 

It might not be this upcoming year, and it might not be for a while, but both the Mets and the Yankees spent a lot of time this offseason improving their clubhouses. The team that I'm convinced hasn't slept this entire offseason, even after winning the World Series, is the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The Dodgers, after winning their 8th World Series, were not satisfied and went out and brought in a whole bunch of new talent. A couple of the new faces in their clubhouse this season include: Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, and Tanner Scott. And they didn't really lose anything either. 

A back to back championship is well within the sites of the Dodgers. Despite the regular season looming, there is still one free agent that everyone is confused why he is still available. That is Alex Bregman. It still remains a mystery where he will sign, but whatever team does bring him in will be deemed a winner of this offseason. 

March 27th can't come soon enough. Now with the NFL off until August, the MLB will soon become the main attraction of America and other countries around the world. If this season is anything like the previous one, we are in for a fun ride ahead. 

The Eagles are World Champions!

 

It has been done. The Kansas City Chiefs have been dethroned. After an absolutely lopsided contest Sunday evening, the Philadelphia Eagles are the new Super Bowl champions, winning their second title in the last eight years. 

It really wasn't a close game from the beginning. The Eagles were up by as much as 34 points at one point. Kansas City scored a majority of their points in garbage time. From the first Kansas City offensive drive, there was something different about their play style. 

It almost seemed reminiscent of their blowout loss in the Super Bowl to Tampa Bay just a couple of years ago. Mahomes had no time in the pocket, got flustered, threw some really bad balls, leading to complete domination by the other side. 

Mahomes was out of rhythm, some of his most trusted receivers were dropping balls, and despite facing no blitzes, the offensive line still couldn't block the Eagles pass rush. It was a total domination from the start to the finish. 

The Eagles defense really was the biggest story in this one. Along with six sacks, the Eagles had two interceptions, one of them being a pick six by Cooper DeJean. Kansas City couldn't adapt to their defensive schemes the entire game. 

Philadelphia not only had their defense on spotlight, but their offense also had an historic performance. The one guy who didn't play up to his standards however was Saquon Barkley. Kansas City has always had a stout rush defense and hadn't allowed an 100 yard rusher in the playoffs since 2019. This streak did not break. 

They forced Jalen Hurts to throw the ball and he did a pretty good job to say the least. With all of the eyes on Saquon, Hurts was also able to tuck the ball away and run when the opportunity presented itself. He broke the Super Bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 72. 

With his almost perfectly efficient night through the air and acceptable game on the ground, Hurts took home Super Bowl MVP. From a National Championship win in college to a Super Bowl victory in the NFL, Hurts has deemed himself as a proven winner and will look to continue that for years to come. 

On the other hand, for the Chiefs, I expect them to be back in the same spot next year, but this time with a large chip on their shoulders. After making his fifth Super Bowl before turning 30, I don't think Patrick Mahomes is anywhere near satisfied with their his 3-2 record in the big game. 

All of the talk was silenced by the Eagles on Sunday Night. The Chiefs quest for a three-peat has been denied and who knows the next time, if ever, we will see a team get the chance to three-peat again. The GOAT talks will have to be pushed aside another year as Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles have taken over the football world in 2025. 

Part 1: My Underrated Hoopers

 

While the NBA is constantly dominated and headlined by the top superstars like Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and LeBron James, what consistently goes under the radar is the underrated hoopers. Here are five NBA players that I believe deserve more credit:

1. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers 

After being selected with the 9th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Avdija started his career with Washington where things did not go as quite planned. The Israeli forward went on to spend four years in DC and then was traded this past offseason to Portland. 

Deni struggled to put up consistent numbers in his time with Wizards and both sides agreed it was time for a change. Boy did that change help. Avdija has turned into one of the top players on a Trail Blazers team that does not receive much national or media attention at all. 

Avdija averages around 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists for Portland. Although the Blazers are currently in a rebuild mode, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference, Avdija certainly should be a prioritized piece for this franchise moving forward. 

2. Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers

When most people think of the Clippers, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard come to mind, which leaves Norman Powell to go under the radar. Powell, now in his 10th NBA season, is having his best overall season by far. 

With Leonard's injuries, Powell has been the underrated second option for the Clips this season. What people will be shocked to hear is that Powell is currently leading the Clippers in points per game, averaging 24 a night and shooting almost 50% from the field. This is his best average throughout his career and has also became a defensive pest averaging around a steal per game. 

Los Angeles currently finds themselves in a playoff position, but the guy that hasn't gotten the credit that he deserves quite yet is Norman Powell. Now on his third NBA team, Powell has found a home in LA and should be considered for an All-Star reserve spot as well. 

3. Miles "Deuce" McBride, New York Knicks

Although his averages aren't nearly as high as the previous two players listed, McBride deserves a lot more credit from the NBA world. On a New York Knicks team that is nationally covered all the time, Deuce often goes overlooked. 

It's hard to stand out when the Knicks starting lineup is what it is. McBride is always the first guy to come off the bench and always immediately provides New York a spark. From being a second-round pick a couple of years ago, the guard out of West Virginia went very much under the radar. 

McBride spent a good amount of time in the G-League for the Knicks, but eventually worked his way up and earned a three-year contract with New York. McBride gives the Knicks the guard depth in which they don't have a lot of on an everyday basis. The Knicks would have one of the worst benches in the league if McBride was somewhere else. 

4. Mark Williams, Charlotte Hornets

Although he has had to battle through lots of injuries, Mark Williams has taken massive strides since coming into the NBA three years ago. From his rookie season to now, Williams has almost doubled his scoring stats. 

Williams averages almost a double-double, 15 points and 9 rebounds a game, this season with the Hornets.

On a struggling and very young Charlotte team, Williams has taken over as the starting center. The 7 foot center is shooting over 60% from the field and is even adding some assists to his game as well. 

On a Charlotte team that is solely headlined by LaMelo Ball, the supporting cast really goes under the radar. Despite the Hornets record, Williams has become one of the most underrated big men in the NBA. 

5. Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons 

Many people may not realize this but, Beasley is currently second in the NBA in three pointers made behind Anthony Edwards. Beasley only trails Edwards by 15 three pointers made, yet he has played over 400 less minutes this season. 

Beasley, shooting around 41% from deep, has found a home with a young Pistons squad in Detroit. 

Through his nine years in the league, Beasley has struggled to stay healthy, but this season he has played in all of the Pistons 47 games so far. 

Beasley has been a huge factor towards the Pistons early season success that we haven't seen in quite some time. Detroit hasn't made the postseason since 2019, but with Beasley's help and their current status as the 8 seed, that all can soon change. 

Another Year, Another Mahomes Super Bowl

 

The Kansas City Chiefs will go back to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year looking to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat. The Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in dramatic fashion in the AFC Championship to get to their fifth Super Bowl in the past six years. 

It's crazy to think that during the seven trip Patrick Mahomes has taken to the postseason, his worst finish was a one possession loss in the AFC Championship game. He continues to prove year after year why he deserves to be in the conversation for one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. 

Mahomes joins an illustrious crew of Tom Brady and Jon Elway as the only quarterbacks to appear in the Super Bowl at least five times. The Chiefs are not only looking to become the first team to ever three-peat, but they are the first team to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls as well. 

There have been many questions around whether Kansas City will be deemed as the greatest dynasty ever if they win it all this year. I believe the answer is yes. To dominate the NFL in the way they have, and conquer a title once again should solidify them in NFL history.

Even after a very flimsy season for Kansas City, the Chiefs just find ways to win each and every game. If it's a close game, it doesn't matter. They are undefeated in one possession games this season with a 12-0 record. 

However, they will have their toughest matchup on February 9th against the Philadelphia Eagles. This is a Super Bowl rematch from a couple seasons ago where the Chiefs just barely edged out the victory in yet another one score game. 

The Eagles take pride and thrive in their ground game, while the Chiefs take pride in their rushing defense. Since the 2019 postseason, the Chiefs have not allowed a running back to rush for over 100 yards in a playoff game. They will have the tall task of dealing with Saquon Barkley this game. 

There are three people you can never bet against in football: Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has already conquered so many achievements at just 29 years old. I believe the Chiefs will take home the Lombardi Trophy once again and Patrick Mahomes will grab his fourth Super Bowl before turning 30 years old. 

Preview: Ravens vs Bills

 

We head to upstate New York to wrap up the NFL Divisional Round as we will see the Baltimore Ravens take on the Buffalo Bills. The presumably top MVP candidates will square off in a battle for who will head to Kansas City next week. 

Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have been battling back and forth this entire season to determine who will take home the MVP hardware. These two squads met back very early in the season which resulted in a dominant Ravens win in Baltimore. This time home-field advantage goes to Buffalo. 

Baltimore has been steaming hot. They have not lost a game since December 1st as they ride their five-game winning streak into the divisional round. After not controlling the AFC North for most of the season, the Ravens late season push is what put them over the top.

The dynamic duo of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry has created nightmares for opposing defenses. Baltimore has the best rushing offense in the league and averages just around 190 rushing yards per game. In their wild card win over Pittsburgh, they combined to rush for 299 yards. In a game that will involve lots of weather, the Ravens are not afraid to use their legs. 

Buffalo also is coming off a dominant victory from a week ago. After falling behind 7-0 early to Denver, the Bills scored 31 unanswered points en route to a 24 point victory over the Broncos. Like the Ravens, the Bills also have a scary backfield with Josh Allen not afraid whatsoever to put his head down and run and James Cook as well. 

Ultimately, these teams match up pretty similarly. A top tier backfield accompanied by a subpar receiving corps is what both of these teams are made of. Baltimore will most likely be without Zay Flowers to add to their receiver room woes. Look for Jackson to heavily involve his tight ends. 

Like Jackson, Josh Allen also has a soft spot for his tight ends. The X-Factor in this game could very well be the role of these tight ends. Although the playoffs do not matter towards awards, the winner of this game should determine who is the MVP. 

In my opinion, currently Lamar Jackson has my vote for the MVP award. On a side note, I do believe that Joe Burrow should be involved in this race, but most likely he will not be included. Jackson has been the most dynamic player across the NFL. His amazing ability to run and his improved arm since he entered the NFL makes him so dangerous to opposing defenses. 

In the end, I believe that Baltimore will take this game and head to Arrowhead for a rematch with Kansas City next round. This game will come down to who can be more successful in the run game and I believe that Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have that edge over the Bills. 

Preview: Rams vs Eagles

 

The final NFC matchup of the divisional round will feature the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles. After both teams won their division in the regular season and handled their wild card matchup pretty easily, these two teams will meet Sunday afternoon. 

Philadelphia and Los Angeles met earlier in the regular season which ended in a statement victory for the Eagles. We saw a historic performance from Saquon Barkley after totaling 302 scrimmage yards with 255 of them coming on the ground. LA will look for that to not repeat come Sunday. 

Los Angeles will arrive in Philadelphia fresh off of a dominant victory a week ago. After having to relocate for their game and losing their home-field advantage, the Rams came out scorching hot and never looked back as they absolutely dismantled Minnesota. 

Like the Rams, the Eagles also took down an NFC North foe as they defeated the Green Bay Packers in their wild card matchup. It wasn't the prettiest of games for the Birds, but they got the job done and lived to see another day. 

Both teams come in very experienced. These two squads are some of the most recent NFC teams to make the Super Bowl after the Rams won it in 2022 and the Eagles made the championship round in 2023. Despite the big difference in the quarterback room, the rest of these offenses are pretty similar. 

Both Philadelphia and Los Angeles feature a dominant running back in Kyren Williams and Saquon Barkley. Along with featuring a two-headed monster in the receiver room. Devonta Smith and AJ Brown for the Eagles, and Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp for the Rams. 

The offensive lines are pretty sharp as well. The defenses are also pretty sound as well. Even after losing hall of famer Aaron Donald, the Rams are still at the top of the NFL in defensive ranks. And even with the Eagles getting younger on that side of the ball, they have improved in this aspect as well. 

A key player to watch on this Eagles defense is linebacker Zack Baun. Baun has been one of the most slept on linebackers throughout the NFL. He is due for a big payday after racking up the third most tackles in the league, and forcing the second most fumbles as well. If he is on his A-game, then it will most certainly be tough sledding for the Rams. 

Weather will also definitely play a factor in this game. What else do you expect on a Sunday in late January in Philadelphia. The game could see some snow and the wind chills dipping down into the 10s and 20s. 

Dealing with weather certainly favors the Eagles. The Rams are used to playing in a dome back in Los Angeles and have really not faced much difficult conditions all season. Philadelphia, on the other hand, only played three games indoors this season and one of them was in LA earlier in the season. 

In the end, I believe that it will be a tightly contested game that falls in the hands of the Eagles as they will advance to their second NFC Championship game in the last three years. The weather and the heavy load of Saquon Barkley will be too much for LA in the end and their season will come to an abrupt end.