#Cheer Athletics new franchises.

[spinoskingdom875]

Dancing Dinos (Paris 2024: Gymnastics) 3/4

PA Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have two special athletes today. While they're not from any gaming franchises, they are considered good friends of Cream the Rabbit. Ladies and Gentlemen, two athletes 65 million years in the making. Please welcome, Trikey the Triceratops, and Bumpy the Ankylosaurus!

Trikey walks up along with Bumpy. Both are in their Gymnastics outfit. The Triceratops stood up and waved, so did Bumpy, although she was pretty shy with everyone eyeing them. Trikey noticed. Trikey: It's okay. I remember being shy when I first joined the Olympics. Bumpy: There sure are a lot of people, though. Trikey: Yeah, but they are very friendly, and we're here to have fun and show them our talents. Cream, Cheese, Amy, Blaze, and Rouge looked on. 

Amy: Good luck, you two! Cream: You can do it! Blaze: Do be careful though. Rouge: And have fun! The music begins. Trikey: You ready? Bumpy looks down nervously, but looks at Trikey with confidence. Bumpy: Yeah, let's do this! They both took off. No ribbons, batons, or hoops, just graceful poses and tricks. Even synchronizing moves together. The girls looked on in astonishment. 

Rouge: Such wonderful dancers, especially Trikey's new friend. Bumpy, becoming less nervous, balances herself on one foot, while Trikey twirls around her. She then twirls as well. She nearly lost balance but then leaps in the air. Everyone looked on as Bumpy curls herself into a ball, somersaults and lands on the ground unharmed. Everyone stared for a while, then cheered. Trikey ran towards Bumpy. 

Trikey: Bumpy, are you alright? Bumpy: Yeah, I feel great! Trikey smiled. The event continues, as they dance to music. Finally, they ran towards each other, lock arms, twirled around, and made a final pose. The Arena roared in applause. Amy: Whoo! Cream: Yay! Blaze: Amazing! They both hugged and waved to the crowd. Bumpy: Thank you, thank you so much! Trikey: Yes, thank you! To Bumpy: Wasn't that fun? Bumpy: Yeah! That was awesome! 

They both walked down, meeting up with the others. Cream walked up and hugged the dinosaurs. Cream: That was wonderful! I'm so proud of you too! Bumpy: Aw, thank you, Cream. Rouge: Way to go, sweeties. Trikey: Thank you, Ms. Rouge. You all did good yourselves. Amy: Aw. Come here. She hugged Trikey, following with everyone embracing. Bumpy: So, who's next? Finally, the final athletes are up next. A trio of royalty.

NOTE: Don't re-upload my pictures anywhere without my permission, please. Thank you.

[theeclecticmind]

Cardi  and Joseline Walked So Chrisean Could Run..

I am convinced Chrisean Rock also known as Chrisean Malone is our latest social media darling only because of the work Cardi B and Joseline Hernandez put in before her..

Well what exactly does this mean? This means Chrisean has become a part of the pop culture zeitgeist because we now have acquired a taste for a certain type of Pygmalion girl next door, with a twist.

When Cardi B first became popular on social media it was due to her outlandish and wild video clips giving her take on the hustle lifestyle and her ambitions to become a rapper. We saw Cardi go from walking down the street in the Bronx in a bikini top chatting with locals to strolling along the hottest red carpets. Cardi represents the everyday young woman who may not have the most articulate speech, may have a checked history, and may even steal your man; but at the end of the day she’s authentic and has a certain je ne sais quoi. The artistry of Cardi B is something that cannot be denied. And if she is not your cup of tea musically, her fashion sense is a whole other topic.

We should also look at the role the one and only Puerto Rican Princess, Joseline Hernandez has had on our appetite for a new “it girl”. Like Cardi, Joseline started out in the strip clubs before making her way to Vh1′s Love and Hip Hop franchise. On this series, we got front row seats to bear witness to her dysfunctional romantic relationship with music producer Stevie Jordan as well as her three way tryst with the mother of one of Stevie’s children, Mimi Faust. This relationship off and on, and all the domestic disturbances became a plot line for the series as well as our introduction to Joseline as a notable figure.

Since Love and Hip Hop, Joseline has continued to pursue her budding music career and has had several songs go viral including “Vegas" (I Wanna Ride), and “Live Your Best Life (Do it Like Its Yo Bday)”. Both of these songs went viral on Tik Tok and pushed Joseline into the stratosphere of internet celebrity. Joseline has also parted ways with Stevie J and found calmer waters with a new partner.

And right behind Cardi and Joseline, comes Chrisean Malone, a Baltimore, Maryland native with the makings of our latest internet celebrity. We first came to see Chrisean catapult to fame when she made an appearance on Fox’s Ultimate Tag show where she won a cool $10,000 thanks to her athletic prowess. Malone went on to appear on Blueface’s “Blue Girls Club” where she initially made contact with Blueface. And now two years and 7 tattoos later, Chrisean and Blueface appear on the Zeus Network’s Crazy In Love show which documents their rocky relationship.

The latest drama with Chrisean and Blueface revolves on her pregnancy and recent realization that Blue is not all the he is cracked up to be. Musing to her audience via Instragram Live, Chrisean has reflected on how the sobriety she has found in her early pregnancy  has given her perspective on the poor treatment she has received from her partner Blue.

Personally, I am cheering for Chrisean. I love to see her become more introspective and even if she does not follow through with the pregnancy I think the perspective she has gained is invaluable. She just needs to get away and stay away from Blue! I truly believe if we did not have Cardi and Joseline splashing their romantic drama and brash personalities onto the culture, we wouldn’t have the same affinity for Chrisean as we do now. I can’t say that everyone is a fan of her, but you have to admit you can’t stop watching her.

[nba-clothes-store]

The Sacramento Kings have made the NBA postseason for the first time since 2006. What’s changed?

The Sacramento Kings have made the NBA postseason for the first time since 2006. What’s changed? By Thomas Schlachter, CNN CNN —  Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” was topping the Billboard Hot 100, Owen Wilson had just made his debut as Lightning McQueen in “Cars” and Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray was counting down the days to his sixth birthday. May 2006 was a long time ago and for all those involved with the Kings, it must feel like even longer. Sacramento has not played an NBA postseason game in almost 17 years but after turning a corner this season, fans in the Golden 1 Center will finally have something to cheer for after the 82 games of the regular season conclude. The Kings clinched a playoff berth following the team’s 120-80 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. They now sit with a record of 46-30 and become the third team to secure a spot in the Western Conference playoffs, joining the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies. With De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis leading a new era in Sactown, there is hope that the return to the NBA Playoffs isn’t just a flash in the pan, but a sign of things to come for future years. Trading places There were a lot of questions raised when the Kings opted to trade brilliant, young point guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in early 2022. Haliburton was drafted No. 12 by the Kings and was seen by many as the point guard of the future for the franchise. The 6-foot-5-inch playmaker was named to the 2021 NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting after his first season in the league. After averaging 13 points, 5.3 assists and three rebounds in his first year, Haliburton kept up the pace during his sophomore season and recorded a career-high 38 points and 17 assists early into his second year. However, the Kings began to have concerns over his long-term fit with Fox in their backcourt and a subsequent blockbuster trade sent Haliburton to the Pacers. Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson followed the guard to the Hoosier State with Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, a 2023 second-round pick and, most importantly, Sabonis heading to California. Like Fox alongside Haliburton, Sabonis was a star in a team which was not particularly well constructed around his skillset. The Lithuanian has excelled since arriving in Sacramento and is having one of his best years in the NBA in the 2022/23 season. Sabonis – son of Hall of Fame center Arvydas Sabonis – is averaging career highs in rebounds and assists at the time of writing and returned to the All-Star team for already the third time in his young career. Speaking to The Athletic shortly after his trade, it seemed that the 7-foot-1-inch star knew there were good things waiting for the Kings. Sabonis said: “They brought me here, and we want to change things, you know? “It’ll be a lot of fun. It’s just little by little, I think we’re doing great things and going in the right direction. We’re gonna have a big summer – we’ve been talking about it. And then we’ll have a good training camp and get all the people together, you know?” All change in the off-season After a dismal start to the 2021/22 season, Luke Walton was fired from his role as the Kings’ head coach. Walton was replaced by veteran coach Alvin Gentry on an interim basis and upon the completion of the campaign, the 68-year-old was also let go. The Kings then appointed the associate head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Mike Brown, as their new head coach before the start of the 2022/23 season. Brown had just won an NBA championship with the Warriors after a finals win against the Boston Celtics, and was tasked with bringing some of his winning know-how to Sactown. The 53-year-old has completely overhauled how the Kings approach the game and has turned the franchise into one of the most exciting offenses in the league. Along with Brown, guard/forward Kevin Huerter and shooting guard Malik Monk became key pieces for the Kings and No. 4 draft pick Murray also joined up with the squad. It is no surprise that the arrival of these pieces has coincided with the overhaul of the Kings’ offense. Since moving to the West Coast, Huerter and Murray are shooting over six threes a game, and both are draining shots from deep at over 40%. Monk is just slightly behind the pair in terms of three-pointers attempted (3PA) and three-point percentage (3P%) but helps demonstrate how far this Kings offense has come and the planning that went into building the squad. The Kings ranked 21st in terms of three-point attempts-per-game last season while also shooting from deep at a 24th-rated 34.4%. This term, Brown’s team has climbed to seventh in the 3PA rankings with 36.9 attempts a game at a clip of 37.4% – eighth best in the NBA – again demonstrating the offensive changes that have been made. Another contributing factor to the Beam Team’s success are the performances of Fox in the clutch. The brilliant 25-year-old is on top of the NBA’s Clutch Player Ladder and has been vital in helping his side grind out crucial wins in key moments of the season. Attack is the best form of defense So far this season, the Kings have led the league in points-per-game with a staggering 120.9. Last season, the Kings finished 16th in this ranking, averaging just 110.3 points per outing. The transition the team has made and the additions to the roster have been vital in terms of their increased offensive numbers. Summing up the franchise, the Kings top the offensive rating rankings but sit 26th in terms of defensive rating – demonstrating their all-out attack mentality. This was encapsulated in their record-breaking game against the Los Angeles Clippers. In the second highest scoring matchup in NBA history, the Kings won 176-175 in an incredible offensive display. Fox scored 42 and added 12 assists with Monk leading the team in scoring with an impressive 45 from the bench with six threes. ‘Light the beam!’ The fans at the Golden 1 Center have completely bought into the project and have also played their part in the Kings’ success this season. After every home win, the Kings project a huge purple beam into the sky, in what has become a key part of the culture created at the franchise. With a win approaching, the entire arena erupts with chants of “LIGHT THE BEAM! LIGHT THE BEAM!” which has created a social media sensation. While some opposing teams and fans have used this to mock the Kings if they lose a game, the beam has helped create a special relationship between the fans and the franchise. Whatever happens to Sacramento in the playoffs, it has turned things around this year while capturing the hearts of its fans by playing run-and-gun, fearless basketball. Everyone in Sactown will be hoping they continue to light the beam throughout the postseason. Read the full article

[top-video-games-reviews]

College Football 25 | Gameplay First Look Revealed

Get ready for the best college football game ever with EA Sports' "College Football 25". It's a next-gen game that will change how we play sports games. You'll feel like you're right there in the action of college football.

With amazing graphics and real college traditions, it's going to be incredible. The gameplay is top-notch, making college football games even better.

A dynamic college football stadium filled with enthusiastic fans, showcasing a detailed football field with players in vibrant team jerseys engaged in an intense gameplay moment, capturing the excitement of a kickoff under bright stadium lights, surrounded by a backdrop of cheering spectators and team banners.

"Unlock your college football dreams—click here to grab EA SPORTS College Football 25 for PlayStation 5 now!"

Key Takeaways

Groundbreaking next-gen graphics and immersive gameplay for the ultimate college football experience

Authentic recreation of college atmospheres and traditions, capturing the spirit of NCAA football

Expansive Dynasty Mode and advanced player development features for a deeper, more engaging gameplay experience

Highly anticipated release of the "College Football 25" title, marking a new era in sports simulation gaming

Gameplay First Look trailer showcases the game's potential to captivate both casual and hardcore football fans

Unveiling the Next-Gen College Football Gaming Experience

Get ready to be amazed by "College Football 25." It uses next-generation graphics for stunning visuals. You'll feel like you're right in the game.

Every detail, from player models to stadiums, is made to feel real. It's all about giving you a true college football feel.

Revolutionary Graphics and Immersive Gameplay

"College Football 25" shows the future of sports games. Its graphics are so good, they'll amaze you. The player models and animations are incredibly realistic.

It's like watching real football, but on your screen. The game's visuals are top-notch.

Authentic College Atmospheres and Traditions

Experience the real college football vibe with "College Football 25." It captures the excitement of game days. From the crowd's cheers to the stadium's buzz, it's all there.

See the traditions and celebrations that make college football special. It's a deep dive into the game's heart.

Get ready for "College Football 25." It's a game that changes the sports gaming world. Step onto the field and see the future of gaming.

"Unlock your college football dreams—click here to grab EA SPORTS College Football 25 for PlayStation 5 now!"

"College Football 25" is a game-changer, delivering an unparalleled level of authenticity and immersion that will redefine the college football video game experience."

College Football 25 | Gameplay First Look

Get ready for the exciting college football 25 gameplay first look. It shows the future of sports games. You'll see new features and amazing on-field action.

This game changes the college athletics simulation world. College football 25 has amazing next-gen graphics. It's a preview of the best football simulation and sports franchise.

"The level of detail and authenticity in College Football 25 is simply breathtaking. This is the ncaa football experience we've been waiting for."

- Avidsports gamingenthusiast

Prepare for a thrilling gameplay first look of college football. Feel the stadium's energy and the sound of helmets. It's a mix of next-gen graphics and real college vibes.

A vibrant and dynamic college football stadium filled with enthusiastic fans, players in colorful uniforms executing a play on the field, detailed game graphics showcasing players in motion, realistic crowd reactions under bright stadium lights, and a clear night sky.

Step into the college football 25 world. Every choice and play will grab your attention. This game will change sports gaming and console gaming forever.

Deep Dive into the Game's Features and Modes

Fans are excited for College Football 25. They can't wait to see its cool features and fun modes. This game is going to be amazing, offering a top-notch college football experience.

Expansive Dynasty Mode and Player Development

The College Football 25 has a new Dynasty Mode. It lets players dive deep into football simulation. You can start and manage your own college football team.

Player growth, recruiting, and team-building are all part of it. Every choice you make matters. Your players will grow and help your team win.

"Unlock your college football dreams—click here to grab EA SPORTS College Football 25 for PlayStation 5 now!"

A vibrant college football stadium packed with enthusiastic fans, colorful banners representing various universities, players in dynamic poses wearing distinctive team uniforms, a bright scoreboard displaying game stats under a clear blue sky, and the excitement of a game in full swing, all rendered in high detail and vivid colors.

"The Dynasty Mode in College Football 25 is a game-changer, providing an unparalleled level of depth and immersion that truly captures the essence of college football. It's a must-play for any football season preview enthusiast."

College Football 25 is for everyone, whether you're new or experienced. Get ready for an amazing journey. You'll create your own college football dynasty.

"Unlock your college football dreams—click here to grab EA SPORTS College Football 25 for PlayStation 5 now!"

Conclusion

The wait for "College Football 25" is almost over. The Gameplay First Look has shown us what's coming. It's going to be a top-notch college football game.

With amazing graphics and real game feel, it will grab everyone's attention. It has new features and lots of game modes. It's all about the sport's traditions.

The "College Football 25" | Gameplay First Look is a big deal. It brings NCAA football games to life like never before. You'll feel like you're right there on campus.

It looks and feels so real, it's a must-play. It's perfect for sports game lovers or college football fans.

Get ready for the start of something big. "College Football 25" is going to change sports gaming. It will make playing football games feel real and exciting.

This game shows how sports gaming keeps getting better. It celebrates the love and excitement of college football. It's a big deal for fans in the United States.

"Unlock your college football dreams—click here to grab EA SPORTS College Football 25 for PlayStation 5 now!"

#EASPORTS

#CollegeFootball

#NCAA

#PS5Games

#GamingCommunity

#FootballFans

#GameOn

#SportsGaming

#PlayStation5

#NextGenGaming

#CollegeSports

#FootballSeason

#GameDay

#PlayStation

#EACollegeFootball

[affordablechiefs]

Nick Foles: A Game-Changer for the Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys

Nick Foles, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl LII championship and won the Super Bowl MVP award, has always been an intriguing and respected figure in the NFL. His journey through the championship, filled with ups and downs, triumphs and hardships, reflects not only his tenacity but also his undeniable talent as a quarterback. The addition of Nick Foles to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a franchise with a storied history and a devoted fan base, would certainly be a game-changer, not only on the field but also in Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys.

On-field Effect

Adding a player of Nick Foles’ caliber to the Pittsburgh Steelers roster is sure to spark excitement among the team and its fans. Calm under pressure and proven in the playoffs, Foles’ leadership and experience could be a huge boost for the Steelers, especially in crunch time. His addition can be seen as a move to solidify the team’s quarterback position and help the Steelers remain competitive in the highly competitive AFC North.

Jersey Phenomenon

When Nick Foles joins the Steelers, his jersey is immediately in high demand. Fans looking to celebrate and cheer on the Super Bowl MVP joining their team will no doubt rush to grab his Steelers jersey, making it a hot item. This phenomenon is not uncommon in the NFL. Players who have made a big impact on the league often see their jerseys sell out quickly after teams move. This is especially true when you join a franchise with a passionate fan base like the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Genuine and readily available products

With the potential demand for Nick Foles Steelers jerseys, ensuring the availability of authentic and officially licensed products is of paramount importance. The NFL Store and the Official Steelers Team Store will carry a variety of Foles jerseys, from standard home and away jerseys to special editions and collectibles. Our focus on authenticity ensures that fans receive high-quality products that truly represent their support for the team and the Cascades.

Celebrating History, Looking to the Future

For longtime Pittsburgh Steelers fans, the addition of a player like Nick Foles could hark back to a bygone era when key acquisitions and trades led to successful seasons. His jersey would symbolize not only his loyalty to the Steelers, but also his optimism for future victories. Additionally, wearing Foles’ Steelers jersey could be both a celebration of his career success and a gesture of hope for more in black and gold.

Conclusion

The idea of ​​Nick Foles joining the Pittsburgh Steelers is speculative, but it presents an interesting scenario that highlights the deep connection between players, their teams, and the fans who support them. Jerseys for players, especially those with significant accomplishments like Nick Foles, become more than just athletic apparel. It is a symbol of hope, unity and the relentless pursuit of victory that defines the NFL experience. Whether on the field or in the stands, the impact of these players has the power to transcend the game, weaving new stories into the Steelers' rich tapestry of success.

[anthonybialy]

Josh Allen and His Employer

Fans rarely stop to think about just why they’re cheering.  It’s tough to step back in a one-score game while too tense to move.  I think they’re yelling for sports.  But what specifically?  We may like the competition, action, rules of certain events, particular teams, and certain individuals.  Figure it out after the game.

Noted sports observer Jerry Seinfeld pointed out watching games with a rooting interest is all about laundry.  We’re left to determine just what on the uniform we admire most.  Is it the logo or player name?  It’s certainly not the word “Fanatics”.

Clubs change over time.  Then again, so do humans.  As for Jerry’s pretend ex, Elaine Benes was exponentially more jaded in the last Seinfeld season than the first, so there’s always room to be more disappointed.

Certain fanbases enthusiastic about a particular option.  It may be called for, as when a franchise possesses a singular virtually superhuman threat.  You can’t call out Bills fans who are really Josh Allen fans, as he’s the whole reason they’re able to celebrate.  The quarterback who’s started exactly one-quarter of all the franchise’s playoff games ever has brought rare success to a franchise that’s rarely well done.  Why they wouldn’t seem most loyal to the person who’s enabling hopes and dreams?

Do they like the player more than the organization for which he plays?  Sports offer endless examples of just what is receiving lauds.  Admiring one athlete creates be a good excuse for revelry when someone other than a personally beloved faction raises a trophy.  Boston fans who were happy Tom Brady won with the Buccaneers are the same ones proud of Colorado champion Ray Bourque.  For Buffalo, such an outcome is a nightmare to avoid pondering.  The rather cruel imagined fear really happens to the Sabres every summer.  Evan Rodrigues winning a Stanley Cup is bad enough.

A genuine teammate does more than his share.  Allen is the most valuable player by the true definition.  The club’s savior is of greater importance to his team than any other player in football and perhaps pro sports.  It’s actually a slight against his teammates for how important he is.  It’s not their place to complain.

The difference between criticality and negativity is another life lesson brought to us by sports.  Followers should be willing to offer gentle feedback about their stupid teams crushing hopes.  Other fanbases should try telling their own sides why they suck.  Treating blind loyalty as the true measure of the category is for cravers of excessive stimulation who burn themselves on wing sauce.  Rabid praise enables cults, at least for a little bit.  More subtle thinkers are willing to criticize anything admired if warranted.  Sean McDermott offers a perfect example when he’s making frequent imperfect decisions.

A soft defense makes it hard to win.  Spot those who don’t watch closely by how they cite Buffalo’s terrific numbers without bothering to note the final tally.  Statistics don’t measure rising to situations.  You can tell who doesn’t watch by enthusiasm for an indifferent total that may or may not reflect the score.  It’s easy to look at yards allowed 

and not see just when they’re conceding points, namely at the worst possible moments.  The defense that shares a locker room with Allen has been reliable in their unreliability.

The goal of sports is to wage an unfair fight.  We’re not talking about breaking rules like the aforementioned New England defrauder.  Playing by the rules to create unfairness in your favor is the common trait amongst successful organizations.  Tilting the odds is reminiscent of Road Rash where your friend becomes your enemy following your acquisition of a chain that’s used to knock him off the road and into second place during a two-person race.  Allen is not finding enough weapons.  But that’s the fault of game developers, not the player.

Doing good things is better than bad.  I am on record.  The simplest notion is tricky in practice, as seen by how aggravating it is when those in position to do so act with nonchalance.  Frustration over shortcomings out of one’s control sums up supporting a team.

The front office should be doing everything they can to maximize a most uncommon opportunity.  The most obvious notion possible doesn’t mean that it’s happening.  Sufficient receiving options are a bit lower on the priority list than one would think for a team trying not to screw up what could either be glorious or the most crushing shortfall yet.

It’s still a team game even if the Bills seem to be playing tackle tennis.  The lack of a Super Bowl appearance in the Allen era offers a reminder of how even the player with by far the greatest impact still doesn’t singlehandedly decide results.  This offseason has featured smug Chiefs fans pointing out he hasn’t won a conference championship as they get another U.S.S. Flagg for Christmas.  A quarterback can’t do that on his own.  If it were possible, Allen would have.

Excessive praise only sounds like an exaggeration.  Allen deserves more no matter how much he’s gotten.  The policy is as easy as calling plays for him: suggest throwing or running for awhile and whoop when he does.  The person who’s changed a team’s fortunes should get as much adulation as disciples are capable of delivering.  Backing the Bills thanks them for bringing him to our attention.

[businessconsiderations]

Let's Go

There has probably never been any athlete in any sport of that I've changed my opinion of so completely--from actively disliking him, to being a fan of him--than Tom Brady.

It started with the Tuck Rule game, watching it at a party on a Saturday night my senior year of college. I remember thinking it was unfair that they even won the game. A week later he'd beat my Steelers 24-17 in a fluky AFC title game at Heinz Field, where 2 of New England's 3 TDs came on special teams, and the 3rd was a pass by Drew Bledsoe not Tom Brady.

I was probably one of the few Pats/Rams ostensible neutral cheering for the Rams that first Super Bowl, wanting Brady to be exposed as the fluke he was. He wasn't. And 3 years later, the Brady and the Pat were winning their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 seasons, beating my Steelers in Pittsburgh again in the AFC title game on the way. My Brady hatred was supplanted.

During the Manning/Brady debates, I was Team Peyton Manning all the way. He just looked better. He was funny on all those commercials. But Brady just kept winning. It took a while, but he'd get 3 more with the Pats before being cast aside by Belichick. 6 Super Bowls, I couldn't believe it, the same number as my Steelers. Annoying.

The cracks into my anti-Bradyness started to show when he finished his career in Tampa. I noticed I didn't dislike him as much. I realized I just really disliked Boston sports teams. The Celtics, the Bruins, the Red Sox, they all annoyed me. Maybe it was less about Tom Brady than I realized.

Brady got his 7th Super Bowl with the Buccaneers, and I wasn't even mad at it. I wasn't rooting for him, but I had to respect that he had one more than any franchise had. Pretty impressive. And he did it sticking it to the Pats and Belichick.

Then he retires. And he starts to tell his personal story. And I love hearing him tell it. Peyton Manning was designed in lab to play quarterback and talk about playing quarterback, it's amazing. Brady is bit rough around the edges. He talks like me, just missing a tad bit of polish, but still able to communicate his point.

And what he says turns me into a fan. My kids play sports and I want to inject what he says into their veins. He was a perpetual underdog who just worked harder than everyone else. And he became the greatest of all time by mastering the mental game.

There was a certain amount of repetitions in practice. The starter would get 20, the backup would get 10, and I would get 2...They'd put me in for those 2, man, I'd sprint in there like it was Super Bowl 49, let's go, boys, here we go, what play we got? And I did really well with those 2. Because I brough enthusiasm, I brought some energy, and I had a little more confidence in myself. And it went from 2 reps to getting 4 reps...then I got 10 good reps. And before you knew it, through this new attitude...focus on what you can control, focus on what you're getting, not what anyone else is getting. Whenever you get an opportunity, you take advantage, you treat it like it's the Super Bowl...you got out there and treat practice like no one else does. And I did that every single day. And it was a lot, it was taxing on me. It was a lot of stress for me...when I look back on those times, it wasn't probably like a typical college experience because I was really motivated to play. But I had to take it to a new level that the other guys wouldn't.

[realhousewives-fan]

Housewives Can’t Jump

While the ride to Larsa Pippen’s basketball charity event was a complete shit show, the clumsiness of these women was on another level.

They’re going to be annihilated.

But just as I suspected:

Alexia Nepola got news about the gossip Adriana de Moura has been spreading since Nuevos Horizontes, and she’s changing the narrative.

Oh no, there’s nothing wrong with their marriage.

Todd Nepola just didn’t want to be in the same room as Adriana who spoke badly about Frankie.

And then Adriana got into it with Marysol Patton as well.

After she revealed she had been in contact with Marysol’s ex last season, there’s understandably bad blood between them.

Poor Russell Abraira and Marcus Jordan, who were stuck in that van with angry housewives.

I love Dolores Catania’s annual softball event, and I wouldn’t mind an annual basketball event either.

Poorly athletic housewives are comedy gold.

When Adriana fell (not on her face, like Jennifer Aydin with her new nose did) it wasn’t as fun, because Alexia and Marysol were gloating about it.

But then Julia Lemigova, who seemed to have put no practice into the game, got the ball in the net.

And Martina Navratilova was cheering her on.

“That’s better.”

Add my favourite requiem by Verdi too? Sold. You should do this again, Larsa.

This was a fun episode. Julia’s situation with the opera is such a comedy show for me.

It’s becoming more elaborate as more talents joins her surprise.

The look of terror on her face while listening to the opera singer Jonathan singing his part of the song, meanwhile Adriana’s dog was humping his leg.

With all the secrecy from Martina it has created misunderstandings and conflicts that will be forgotten once they’ve announced the surprise.

There are fans who thinks Julia isn’t the right fit for Real Housewives, but I think she’s uniquely herself, and she’s bringing something different to the franchise.

As Adriana is the new hostess for Julia’s surprise, she now wants to exclude Alexia and Marysol – but that’s not her call.

It’s Julia’s event and it’s about Martina, not Adriana.

[idolaxhcrt]

Rinku Aimoto

★~ Name: Rinku Aimoto ★~ Age: ?? |17 -19| ★~ Height: 156 cm ★~ Weight: 46 kg ★~ Birthday: June 30 ★~ Blood type: B ★~School : Yoba Academy 2nd Year ★~ Idol group : Happy Around! ★~ Hobbies: Watching Retro anime and reading Manga, coming up with new mixes. ★~Likes: Onigiri (riceballs), Donuts ★~ Dislikes: None ★~ Horoscope: (Cancer) ★~ Hometown: Unknown ★~Series : D4DJ

Tagged~ Aimotochuu

Interesting Facts:

★~ The name for "Happy Around!" came from Rinku's habit of yelling the phrase while joyfully spinning around. It seems like it's the catchphrase used by the whole Aimoto family.

★~ Rinku knows how to transit from song to song well and smooth. This may be a reference to her voice actress, Nishio Yuka, who is able to perform as a DJ.

★~ Rinku loves lions.

★~ Rinku is not used to the cold weather, due to living most of her life in hot places.

★~ She owns a pet chameleon named Leon.

★~ her sister is studying to become an astronaut and named a star after her called the "Linking Star"

★~Aimoto (愛本) can be split into two parts. Ai (愛), which translates to love, and Moto (本), which can translate to origin or source.

Rinku (りんく) has no meaning on its own, but if put into katakana (リンク), it translates to the word "link."

About:

Rinku lived abroad as a child due to her parents' work, but she came back to Japan alone for high school and now lives with her grandmother.

Rinku's mother is an insectologist who mainly studies dung beetles, and her father is a zoologist. She became interested in DJing from her encounter with Maho.

She originally lived near Yoba Academy, but moved to Tiotio, Africa during her childhood.

As such, she lived in the wilderness and grew up with music from Africa, giving her a great sense of rhythm that she carries on in her DJ activities.

However, the island had little to no humans and children her age, prompting Rinku to indulge with wild animals and stargazing in order to escape her loneliness, especially since Muni's letters stopped arriving.

Her love for Japanese anime and manga came from her time spent consuming those mediums abroad.

Rinku is an always cheerful and optimistic individual who can sometimes be seen as an oddball, calling even nature her friend, and being able to understand and converse with monkeys.[7] Due to her somewhat airheaded nature, she often gets into odd situations in her interactions with other people.

This is often used as a running gag in the game or anime, such as when she loudly calls Maho's athletic body "dynamite" or thinks Michiru has "influenza" when she is called an influencer. Because of this, Rinku may seem to be a rather superficial person who does not notice the experiences of other people, however, she will always take the topic with all seriousness and sincerity if her friends draw her attention to it.

Due to her being the poster girl of the franchise, she often has the leadership to bring people together (usually by distributing seashells), a role symbolized by the etymology of her name.

[mirathewarlock]

Sims Occult High School Students

Okay okay hear me out

Vampire: Super preppy and cheerful girl. Popular and essentially focused on maintaining her social life. Also a cheerleader. Has to drink sunlight cocktails to be able to be out and about

Werewolf: He's the student council president, strict, hardworking, always perfectly dressed, puts dignity and grace above all other things, and wants to take the school to new heights

Fairy: She's kind of a loner, super gloomy, super goth. Sits alone under a tree and writes dark angsty poetry about how there's zero point to anything. She may be willing to socialize if she takes a liking to you. Naturally dark wings

Witch: He's an adorable cinamon roll. Not very graceful and extremely clumsy. He's also a MASSIVE geek and can recite any line from any popular sci-fi franchise.

Mermaid: She's the troublemaker. Always in the principals office for something. Total delinquent. She's just rebelling because you know teenager. Oddly a pyromaniac, soooo studnets think she's weird.

Zombie/Ghoul: The school's star athlete. He's cheerful and friendly, and among the more popular kids despite his....quirks. Oddly slow outside of sports. And for some reason the occult teens can understand his grunts and groans just fine, and have fluent conversations with him...which looks odd for normal sims

[allyouneedtoknowradio]

Cheer Athletics Brands, LLC v. PB Entertainment Group, Inc. and John Atchley aka Kurt Wheeler

    BREAKING NEWS!!!

The owners of Cheer Athletics, Inc C.A. Brands have sued the firm PB Entertainment Group, Inc, and others that they hired to save the Statewide Cheerleading company, from hemorrhaging money. Surprisingly Cheer Athletics had hundreds of their members that CA had allowed to grow to past-due balances dating further than 2016.

 PB Entertainment President, John Atchley sat down with us to talk about the business of helping businesses:

“If I remember correctly, amounts totaled over $300,000 in their Plano location alone. My firm helped and worked with the owners directly: Jody Melton, Brad Habermel and Angela Rogers, to resolve the gyms past-due receivables in Plano Texas.  

We are not surprised by this filing but are very disappointed in the owners’ filing of this case because I thought we were all friends, one: over 20 years' friendship with Brad Habermel. This became obviously a wrong assumption as they failed to actually talk about any real issues, instead they have been making false claims and demands to athletes in an email to stop all contact and all payments with PBE. 

Why would you endanger these kids, their parents, these families and leave them in financial danger or ruin? This just proves to me what I have known from the beginning: The owners are amazing cheerleaders, they are just in my opinion, bad business people, who don’t know how to treat even their own athletes, only caring about money  We will prove this to the court and much more.”

Mr. Atchley believes the breakdown of their agreement started when the owners panicked, not knowing solutions to problems developing in the new franchises. After 4+ years they still hadn’t learned how receivables work, which is where PBE had rescued the business.

“Brad, Jody and Angela believe they're above everyone because they make almost a Million Dollars a month in receivables, in Plano Texas alone. We look forward to teaching them: money does not buy you class. They (owners) are just people. You need to learn respect for others.

Further, we are also looking at filing a counterclaim and have not determined what will be asking the court for damages. Thank you sir I will keep you in the loop.” Thank you. 

                                Thank you, 

                               All you need to know radio 

                                CooperHead

 Full disclosure: Mr. Atchley owns All you need to know radio, so he had one our associates do this post. “ 

[natrogersfics]

PREVIEW - Game Plan: Chapter 3

Artwork by @faith2nyc​ Catch up on Chapter 2  Read on AO3

He can’t breathe. Well, maybe he’s being a touch dramatic. It’s not as if the tightness he’s feeling in his chest right now is akin to having a three-hundred-plus-pound defensive end pinning him to the ground, though Steve’s certainly experienced that enough times to know it’s pretty damn close. And just like when he’s sacked in the pocket, he’s uncomfortable – irritated, even. But the worst part is, he doesn’t actually think it has anything to do with the interviewer that’s been trying to cajole him into a cringeworthy sound bite for the last half hour.

The irony that he’s now sitting for an interview does not escape him. When the Avengers had first announced his signing, the reception was a mixed bag. There were some who cheered, delighting in the idea of him mounting a comeback and raving about what a coup the front office had pulled. Nevertheless, many were skeptical. Hardcore fanatics were, at best, lukewarm about the idea of a former NFC West quarterback jumping to the AFC East. Pundits on Sports Center dissected his ability to play pro ball again after a two-season hiatus. Then there were the ever-unescapable critics. He’s sure they had a lot to say (and likely still do), but if he hadn’t paid attention to them back then, he sure as hell isn’t going to do so now.

Fast forward two weeks, one front page cover, and a charity campaign kickoff later, and suddenly the tides have turned. Such was the number of requests Natasha had received from podcast hosts to talk show producers alike to book time with him that they had no other option but to schedule back-to-back interviews while he trains at the Avengers’ remote facility out in New Jersey. And that’s how he wound up in his current predicament – his patience running thin as he sits mic’d up on a plush leather seat in the Press Room in the middle of his third interview of the day.

“Let’s talk about your career.”

The suggestion comes from his left, where a wooden desk with a surfeit of props across the surface has been situated on the makeshift set. Behind it sits Johann Schmidt, the famously mercurial host of the streaming talk show HAIL HYDRA! and known to sports fans across the nation as the Red Skull – a moniker bestowed upon him for his impossibly sharp features and his penchant for dressing in the fiery color.

“7 seasons, 102 games played, 23,671 passing yards, 171 total touchdowns, 73.4% pass completion rate…”

As Schmidt rattles off a list of his career statistics, he steals a glance towards the front of the room, half expecting Natasha to interject that his pass completion rate is actually 74.3%, not 73.4. But she doesn’t, and he realizes that unlike the last few times she’s cut in when an interviewer misstates a fact about him or his career statistics, she isn’t doing so now because her attention is elsewhere. Or, more accurately, it’s being monopolized by the towering stranger she’s been talking to since the start of this interview whose words now have her tipping her head back in laughter.

The thought triggers a bitter taste in his mouth, and right then and there, it hits him. The inexplicable tension in his body, the irritation he feels – it’s nothing short of the green-eyed monster.

He’s always been competitive. He is an athlete, after all, and he’s almost certain that anyone would be hard pressed to find one that didn’t prioritize winning. But jealousy is just not an emotion he’s ever leaned into. It’s childish, nonsensical, and he’s seen the crazy things it’s driven other people to do. Not to mention the fact that right now, he has absolutely no right to feel it – especially when it comes to Natasha. With that in mind, he shifts in his seat in an effort to shake the feeling away, turning his attention back to Schmidt.

“The New York Avengers haven’t had a successful run in the playoffs in quite some time,” Schmidt states into the windscreen covered microphone before him. “That said, it’s still the most storied franchise in the league, which is why it’s understandable that fans may be dubious about whether or not you’re the right man to lead the team back to glory.” Schmidt pauses, his expression bordering on menacing as he leans forward in his seat. “So, tell us, Steve, why do you think you’re the player to do that?” Schmidt lifts a shoulder. “What makes you so... special?”

“We all know I’ve suffered a major injury and that I haven’t played professionally in two seasons. So, I get it,” he acknowledges. “I get why fans are skeptical to give me a chance.” He shakes his head. “You ask what makes me the man to lift this team back up… What makes me so special? The answer, Schmidt, is nothing.” He shrugs. “It’s true that I’m often associated with LA because that’s where my career began. But at the end of the day, I’m just a kid from Brooklyn-”

“Just what every fan base wants to hear, am I right?” Schmidt interrupts, practically reveling in delight as he smirks. “The savior they’ve been waiting for… and he turns out to be nothing but ordinary.”

“Perhaps you see it that way, but I disagree,” he says, prompting Schmidt to raise a brow. “Being a kid from Brooklyn means that I can’t” – he pauses, shaking his head – “I won’t back down from a challenge.” He sighs. “So, while I can’t guarantee fans a Lombardi at the end of the season, what I can guarantee is that every time I put on that uniform, I will leave my heart out on that field.”

Schmidt is stunned into silence, and it’s only when the room suddenly bursts in applause that he comprehends why the man’s glib expression has soured into a scowl. Turning away from the host, he allows his eyes to sweep across the room to see the entire crew – both from the Avengers and from HYDRA – clapping enthusiastically. As he spots Darcy and Wanda in the corner, both of whom offer him two thumbs up, pride begins to surge through him. But it’s only when he sees Natasha next to them, her lips quirking as she gives him a nod of approval, that he smiles – his earlier discomfort all but forgotten.

“You killed it!” Natasha exclaims as he walks towards her at the end of the interview, and he’s surprised when she leans in to wrap her arms around him.

“Think so?” he says, returning the embrace and letting his lips pull upwards into a smile.

“Know so,” Natasha says as she pulls away. “Oh, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” Natasha moves to his side, and he looks up to see the man she was talking to earlier standing before them. He’s dressed in an impeccably tailored charcoal suit, his stature massive enough that he could easily be a tight end or even a center. “Steve,” Natasha begins, “this is Thor Odinson, CEO of Point Break, the country’s leading athletic wear brand and your new sponsor.” Her words cause the tension in his shoulders to dissipate. “Thor, this is Steve, our starting quarterback.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Johann Schmidt stunned into silence before,” Thor says, flashing his perfect teeth as he smiles and extends his hand out to him. “Seriously, good job.”

“Thank you,” he says, shaking Thor’s hand. “But that was all Natasha. She prepared me well.”

He beams in pride as he turns to Natasha, because if he’s learned anything in the last two weeks, it’s that her dedication to her job is unparalleled. Every day since this media campaign has started, she’s easily the most prepared person in the room – ready to fire off a Plan B, C, or D when necessary. While things haven’t always been smooth sailing, he’s certain that nothing has ever escalated into a mishap because of her quick thinking. If he’s had any success in turning the public’s opinion on him, it’s only because he’s been fortunate enough to have her as his guide every step of the way.

More impressive than Natasha’s work ethic though, is her capacity for kindness, and it’s something he’s witnessed time again throughout their relatively short time together. As his Publicist, she’s often the first line of defense when it comes to the media, and though he’s only been back in the public eye for a brief period of time, he’s seen how brash they can be when they press her for information. And yet, she’s never been anything but professional, even when the person before her does not warrant it. Add to that the way she watches over her team and how lovingly she speaks of her sister, and he’s not sure how anyone can do anything but admire her.

“This one,” Thor says, pointing a thumb at Natasha, “is a force to be reckoned with.”

“Truer words have never been spoken,” he says to her more than anyone else, and as she playfully rolls her eyes, he pretends not to notice the hand Thor places on her shoulder.

“When he can nail interviews like that, my job is basically a breeze,” Natasha says, turning to Thor. “Anyway, shall the three of us discuss the rollout strategy for the sponsorship?”

“Yes, let’s,” Thor says, gesturing towards the door. “Lead the way, Nat.”

He arches a brow as he follows them out of the Press Room. Nat?

Read all of chapter 3 here

[hslllot]

Part I. Draft Day

fic masterlist | rated: m, mature | word count: 4.6k content/warning: hockey harry, nosey family members, a very brief mention of anxiety, overzealous hockey stans. 

DRAFT REPORT: The 411 on Harry Styles by John Michaelson for Sportsnet

There’s this kid named Harry Styles. He plays hockey. Ever heard of him? 

At this point there’s not much else to be said about the british Fighting Hawks’ centre, a lock to be the No.1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. 

Dubbed a generational talent, Styles’ abilities are at a level typically only seen in video games. We all know the Edmonton Oilers will select him with the first overall pick on June 26. In years to come, hockey fans from around the globe (but especially Oilers fans) will be on the edge of their seats, watching to see if the phenom can develop into a future Hockey Hall of Fame talent the way Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux did. 

Here’s what you need to know about Harry Styles: 

Age on June 26: 19 Birthplace: Redditch, Worcestershire, England Current team: University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks  Position: Centre Shoots: Left Height: 6-foot Weight: 190 lbs NHL Central Scouting Rank (North American): 1st

Harry Styles is a franchise-changing player in every sense of the word. He looked like a pro player even before he flew across the pond at a young age to play in the Canadian Hockey League. This has been a long time coming but the future is finally here.

He is talented beyond his years and always has been… Styles has played against older competition his entire career. Growing up in the small village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, England, the options for minor hockey teams were limited. Styles struggled to find a team in his age group that matched his talent level and was forced to play with older kids - and even then his talent was unmatched. Like the two other players from the UK currently playing in the NHL, Styles eventually had to leave home and play junior hockey in Canada, where he still had to play up a year against Canadian kids that grew up in a country that eats, sleeps, and breathes the game. 

He should have been drafted 1st overall last year… Styles shocked the hockey world in 2013 when, instead of declaring for the 2014 NHL Draft, he announced he would be attending the University of North Dakota and lead the Fighting Hawks to an NCAA Championship. Styles, ever the media-trained athlete, dodged questions about why he chose to go to university for a year before joining the NHL, simply stating “University was always a part of the plan, no matter what happened with hockey.” The hockey community let out a collective sigh of relief when his agent, Jeffrey Azoff (whose father was, coincidentally, Wayne Gretzky’s agent), announced shortly after his championship win that after one year at UND, Styles would be declaring for the 2015 Draft. 

His trophy case is full... Harry Styles has won pretty much every individual hockey award he could possibly win in his career so far. During his CHL career with the Vancouver Giants he won Rookie of the Year, multiple MVP awards, the award for most goals, assists, and overall points, and scholastic player of the year. During his short-lived NCAA career with UND, he won Rookie of the Year, the Hobey Baker Award as the top men’s hockey player, and was named to the Academic All-American team. Unfortunately, Great Britain’s ice hockey team will not be qualifying for the Olympics or the World Championships any time soon, so unless Styles applies for Canadian citizenship, international trophies and medals will be difficult to come by. Regardless, I have a feeling that there will be many Stanley Cups in his future. 

He really hates underperforming… The kid puts a lot of pressure on himself. As we have seen with many successful athletes, an insatiable inner drive to compete can lead to greatness. Styles has that drive to be great and can be his own worst critic. “When I was growing up, my mum was worried about me because I was a bit of a perfectionist.” Styles told The Hockey News back in December. “When I had a bad game, I would get so upset about it. It’s just how I am and how I think every athlete should be. Good is never enough. It’s important to always keep learning and growing to better yourself.”

He is excited to play for the Oilers… Not that he would have anything bad to say about any of the 30 NHL teams, but the Oilers do hold a special place in Styles’ heart. “It’s a great hockey town with fans that are super passionate about the game.” He told The Hockey News. “They’ve been on a bit of a slide the last couple years but the team has a great history. Not many people watch the NHL where I’m from, but my dad was always interested in it and that’s how I got into the game. He was an Oilers fan during their dynasty years with Gretzky and Messier… So if they do end up drafting me first overall, I’ll feel honored to be a part of the team, and it’ll be a nice tribute to my dad.” 

Be sure to catch our live 2015 NHL Draft coverage on June 26 starting at 5pm EST/2pm PT only on Sportsnet.

“With the first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft the Edmonton Oilers are proud to select, from Holmes Chapel in England, Harry Styles.”

The room erupted in loud cheers and applause as the Edmonton Oilers drafted the National Hockey League’s newest and most sought after commodity. 

Y/N’s closest friends and extended family roamed around her parents’ living room, congratulating one another with hugs and handshakes like one of their own family members was just drafted. That wasn’t the case though, they were all just deeply invested in the hockey team and the boy from England that was meant to turn things around after so many years of losing. They were so invested, in fact, that the family organized a gathering similar to something you might see on a holiday, like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

While it was not a normal holiday, for Y/N’s family it was just as significant. It was Draft Day. And every hockey fan in North America wanted Harry Styles to play for their team.

“That’s quite the suit, isn’t it?” Her uncle Will pointed to the television where the young man is dressed in an ornate red floral suit and black dress shirt. The suit was flashier than what most hockey players would wear, but it’s clear that Harry Styles is not like most hockey players. The camera panned to him as he stood up from his seat and hugged the two brunette women sitting next to him. He stuck out like a sore thumb among a sea of other young hockey players all dressed in variations of black and grey as they patiently waited to be drafted from the stands of the BB&T Centre in Florida. It was clear to Y/N that, much like his hockey skills, Harry Styles’ fashion sense was superior compared to his peers.

There was an air of excitement in the room as the draft party, all clad in blue and orange jerseys, watched the generational talent walk down the stairs of the arena and make his way to the stage. They collectively held their breath, the room becoming silent, when he arrived at the stage where both the owner and general manager of the team were waiting to greet him. Harry shook their hands before they handed him his own blue and orange jersey. As he slipped the jersey over his head and posed for a photograph with the executives, the silence in the room broke and excited conversations and speculations for the upcoming season continued. Y/N couldn’t help but feel a stir in her belly and a sense of anticipation for what the upcoming hockey season would bring. 

Her thoughts lingered on the man on the screen, wondering what it might be like to meet him, when her brother pulled her out of her reverie. “Can you believe you’ll be working with the Harry Styles?” 

No - she couldn’t quite believe it. 

In fact, everything happening in her life right now seemed a bit too good to be true.

Set to start her third year of university in September and having to complete mandatory practicum hours in order to graduate the following year, she somehow managed to secure a placement with her favourite hockey team. The Oilers were only taking three students from the university program and everyone in the program wanted one of those spots. 

The application process was incredibly stressful for Y/N. One telephone interview, one in-person interview, and a practical session where she had to demonstrate her athletic therapy skills to the team’s head trainer. She did well with the phone interview, given that they weren’t able to see her. She was able to look down at the talking points she wrote in her notebook and pause to take a couple deep breaths without making it obvious that she was reeling on the inside. Her anxiety got the best of her during the in-person interview though, freezing up when they asked simple questions like “why do you want to work for the team?” and “what experience do you have working with sport teams?”

She left the interview feeling embarrassed, but instead of taking the time to wallow and feel sorry for herself, she went home and spent hours upon hours taping her brothers’ ankles in preparation for the practical session the following day. There was no way she was going to let the opportunity fall through the cracks. Her dream of working for the Oilers was the whole reason she decided to go to school for athletic therapy in the first place. She was never any good at playing hockey but she knew in her heart that, someday, she would work for the team she loved so much. At the end of it all, she reckons her taping skills saved her, so she took her brother out to his favourite restaurant to thank him for letting her use his ankles for practice.

Fast forward a few months and she’s now stood in her parents living room thinking about how in three months she could be taping Harry Styles’ ankles.  

At the time of her application, no one knew the Oilers would be picking first in the draft. The aura around the team was a bit negative at the time (because of all the losing) and there were rumours circulating the city that some of the star players were rude to the support staff and liked to party a little too hard at The Ranch (which contributed to said losing). 

When she first decided to apply for the position her father warned her, “there’s a saying that you should never meet your heroes. What if they’re all a bunch of assholes and you end up hating the team you’ve loved your whole life?” 

Y/N ignored her father’s warning but silently hoped that others would feel that way, narrowing down the applicant pool. However, the rumours circulating the team had no effect on the amount of students applying for the job. The fans were loyal in Edmonton (a city not known by many around the world unless you follow hockey or are compelled to visit North America’s largest shopping mall) and although the team was losing, every kid studying athletic therapy wanted a shot with their favourite team. Y/N knew of at least fifteen students that she beat out for the position. 

Now, it’s late June and there is a general hype surrounding the team, as if Harry was about to come in and shine a light on the Decade of Darkness (a term Oilers fans use to characterize the recent years in which their favourite team hadn’t made the playoffs). That’s a lot of pressure to put on one person, but Y/N supposed that he’s been dealing with this kind of pressure since he was sixteen, maybe even younger. 

Everyone at her family’s draft party was, yet again, watching the television intently while Harry gave his first interview as an official member of the Edmonton Oilers hockey team. While Y/N normally loved watching these types of interviews, she was a bit zoned out- mesmerized by the look of him. The suit, the wavy chestnut hair, the dimple in his left cheek, the accent. The accent. She had never really been that attracted to hockey players, which many people found hard to believe given that she’s such a fan of the sport. All of the guys from her high school who played minor hockey were rotten and thought they were better than everyone else. She did have favourite players in the NHL, players that she loved and admired, but they were her favourites because she loves how they play the game, not because she wants to fuck them. 

There was something different about Harry Styles though. Not necessarily that she wanted to fuck him (especially since she recently signed an employment contract that would forbid it), but she was certainly feeling intrigued by him. He doesn’t look like the boys she went to high school with. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s British, or that he opted for a suit that set him apart from the rest of them, or maybe it was the duality of the way he held himself with unshakeable confidence in his floral suit, his gaze set intensely on the person interviewing him, posture strong and dominant, while simultaneously speaking so softly, his words laced with kindness and gratitude.

“When do you start working with the team, Y/N?” Her uncle Will asked from across the room, prompting everyone to look in her direction waiting for her response. 

The news that Y/N would be working for the Oilers this season shook the family. As soon as her dad shared the news with his brother, she started receiving messages expressing congratulations from her many aunts, uncles, and cousins, shortly followed by messages asking if she would be getting free tickets to games. 

“Um, mid-September, for training camp.” 

“You get to meet Harry Styles?” her 9 year old cousin, Billy, asked. 

“I do. I will be one of the team’s trainers.” The young boy held a look of wonder on his face, as if realizing for the first time that that his oldest cousin was actually kind of cool. 

“Do you think he’s single?” Her aunt Maria asked with a smirk on her face, turning to the television to look at Harry Styles. Aunt Maria doesn’t care much for hockey but she never failed to mention which players she believed to be handsome. She was also the nosey type of aunt that liked to inquire about Y/N’s dating life. “Maybe you two will hit it off.”

Y/N playfully rolled her eyes at her aunt, waving off her comment. But before she could retort, her father chimed in. “Ha! Yea, right! That’s not going to happen. She’s not allowed to date anyone on the team, it’s the rules. Plus, Y/N knows better than to get involved with any of these guys.” 

Her father was right. It is the rules. Y/N thought back to when she went into the Oilers headquarters back in April to sign her employment contract. She asked a lot of questions, making sure she understood everything about the document she was signing. 

“Personal relationships? Even friendships are forbidden?” she asked the head trainer, TJ, for clarification. 

“It depends. You can be friendly, sure, but I would avoid spending time with the players outside of training and game times. Could be seen as unprofessional.”  

Y/N understood why such rules were in place, and she had no issue with it at the time. A woman securing a position on a professional sports team was rare, let alone a woman securing a position with a professional men’s team. She knew when she chose this career path that it would always be an uphill battle and that she’d have to work harder and be more strategic than the men in her field. She wanted- no, needed to excel and prove that she could be a talented athletic therapist and a valuable member of the team, so she had no intention whatsoever of messing that up with any type of personal relationships. She also understood the power dynamic between the professional athletes and the support staff, the different ways in which power can be abused, and how personal relationships could complicate things. It all made sense to her. Plus, she was happy enough with just becoming friends with the other trainers and she probably wouldn’t have a lot of free time, anyways, balancing her practicum and her school work.

Today, however, she couldn’t help the very slight pull on her heartstrings at the thought of not getting to know Harry Styles on a more personal level. 

As if he’d even be interested in the first place.

In a hotel restaurant in Sunrise, Florida, a few hours after the draft, Harry Styles sat with his mother Anne, sister Gemma, and agent Jeff, celebrating his newly drafted status over a bottle of champagne. He knew he should be feeling elated, like it was the best day of his life, but all he felt was exhausted. The conversation at the table happened around him while he sat in his own head, unable to think about anything but what it might feel like to be tucked into his bed in his childhood bedroom in Holmes Chapel. 

The weeks leading up to the draft were an absolute circus filled with interviews and talking to the media nearly every day (he hates talking to the media), shooting promo for all of his endorsements (he’s thankful for the money they give him but he knows he is an excruciatingly terrible actor), and flying around North America to visit all of the potential cities where he might be drafted (it was a pointless tour because everyone knew where he was going to end up). 

He had only tonight to celebrate with his family before it was all set to start again. Him and Jeff will fly off to Edmonton tomorrow morning for a week to speak to the media there, meet the teammate he’ll be living with, and do a surprise skating session with some kids at a summer camp. Meanwhile, his mum and sister will fly back to England.

“Any idea where you’ll live then?” Anne asked her son, pulling him out of his thoughts and back into the conversation. 

“Hm?” He hadn’t a clue what his mum just asked him but he’d hate to admit that rather than listening to anything the three of them had been talking about for the last hour he’d been thinking about how he’d rather be sleeping “Sorry, I think the champagne’s got to me a bit.” 

“The team’s got him living with one of his older teammates and his family.” Jeff stepped in, knowing Harry wasn’t fully paying attention. “They do this with the young guys to get them used to living on their own. Teach ‘em how to cook, do laundry, and keep ‘em in line. He won’t be partying every night and bringing girls back to his place if he lives with the guy’s wife and kids.” 

“Oh please,” Gemma chimed in. “Not like any of that would be an issue for Harry. He’s been away from home for years. And he’s hardly got time for partying and dating.” 

Harry shot Jeff a look warning him to keep his mouth shut. When Harry found out about the living arrangements the team had planned for him, he was less than pleased. After all, he’d just spent the last year living in a dorm room at the University of North Dakota where he had complete freedom. Gemma was right, he didn’t have much time for partying and dating. But he liked having his own space, and he really liked being able to invite someone over after a game, either to celebrate a win or relieve some stress after a loss. 

“You never know, some of these young guys get their first big pay cheque and a taste of the big leagues and it can go off the rails pretty fast.”

“I like to think I raised my baby to know better than to get caught up in a pay cheque.” Anne placed a comforting hand on her son’s shoulder and he quickly reciprocated, reaching up to place his hand over hers.  

Not liking where this conversation was going, Harry finally cut in. “You did. And Jeffrey, you know I’m not that kinda guy. Either way, none of this matters if I don’t make it past training camp. For all we know I could be going back to the juniors for the season.”

“Doesn’t matter who you are or what kinda guy you are, H, it’s just what the team does. It’s tradition. And c’mon, I know you like to keep your expectations in check, but the team’s made it pretty clear that you’re gonna be in the starting lineup come October.” 

Jeff was right. The team had all but promised that he would make it past training camp. The question wasn’t if he’d make it past training camp, but in what shape he’d be in and how long it would take for the team to start winning games.  

“The coach said I’m small and need to bulk up, especially since I’ll be playing against older, more experienced men.” Harry could feel the weight of his mum’s gaze as she gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’m not quite where I need to be yet, but I’ll get there.”

Harry and his family were stood in the hotel lobby with Jeff, convening on plans for the morning when he felt a small tug on the hem of his red floral suit jacket. He spun himself around, ready to confront the individual bold enough to touch him without his consent, to find a young girl, no older than five years old staring up at him. 

Harry looked at her, a bit taken aback and undoubtedly with a bit of confusion written on his face, and then spotted, a few feet behind her, two individuals who were most likely her parents. Suddenly, he realized that he may have actually had a few too many glasses of champagne and immediately tried to compose himself, standing straighter and trying to will away the exhaustion in his eyes and the haziness in his mind. 

“Oh - um, hello there.” He cleared his throat before using the soft voice he reserves for adorable, small children like the one stood before him. 

“Are you Harry Styles?” She asked with wide eyes and a small, timid voice.

“I am, sweetheart. What can I do for you?” 

A bright smile etched itself onto her face. But instead of answering him, she looked back at the adults standing behind her, motioning for them to help as she was too shy to proceed on her own. The man, who Harry presumed was her father, moved to stand beside her. 

“This is Millie. She wanted to say hi to you because she’s a big fan of yours.” 

Harry lowered himself in front of the young girl so that he was crouched down and eye-level with her. “Hi Millie, it’s a real pleasure to meet you.” He reached out to shake the young girl’s small hand. “Have you got anything that I could sign? Or I suppose we could take a photo if you’d like?” 

The young girl removed her hand from Harry’s, nodding her head eagerly. She began to unzip her jacket, revealing a bright orange Edmonton Oilers jersey underneath. 

“Oh? Look at that! You’re an Oilers fan. In Florida?” Harry lifted himself from his crouched position and directed his question toward at the girl’s father.

“Yes, well, we actually travelled here from Edmonton, to watch the draft in person.” Harry raised his eyebrows in shock. He knew that the flight from Edmonton to Florida is long, and likely expensive. The tickets to attend the draft live probably weren’t cheap either. “It’s not every day your favourite team picks first overall! Let alone gets to pick a player like you. We were so excited so we decided to make a family trip out of it. Turn around, Millie, show him the back!” Millie’s father handed Harry a sharpie as Millie turned her back to Harry. 

It was at that moment that Harry started to understand the weight of the moment. The name ‘STYLES’ was embroidered on the back of Millie’s Oilers jersey, above the number ‘15’ indicating his draft year. He was speechless. This was, after all, the first time he was seeing his name in the classic Oilers’ orange and blue colours adorned on a fan’s back. 

The feeling was different from earlier at the draft when they presented him with his own jersey. This one belonged to someone else. Someone bought his jersey before he’d even ever played a single minute for the team. They flew across the continent, from Edmonton to Florida, just to watch him get drafted. It was a lot for his hazy, champagne-diluted mind to take in.

Realizing he’d just been standing there staring at the jersey, he cleared his throat once again in hopes that he could hide the unknown thoughts and emotions he was trying to reconcile. “Wow, um, I didn’t realize you could get these already.”

Millie’s father laughed, “Man, they’ve been selling these in Edmonton since they announced we’d be picking first in the draft.” Again, the feeling was overwhelming for Harry. 

We’d be picking first in the draft.

To this family, and probably others in Edmonton, the Oilers were “we”. They win together, they lose together. If the Oilers pick first in the draft, they all pick first. It was their team. And now he, Harry, was a part of that “we”.

Harry reached down to sign the jersey on Millie’s back, quickly scribbling his autograph on the left side. As he straightened himself, he felt Anne move to stand beside him, apparently having sensed her son’s unease and unconscious need for his mother to join him in this moment.

“Hi, I’m Harry’s mum, Anne. Would you like me to take a picture of the four of you?” Millie’s father eagerly handed his phone to Anne and waved his wife over to be in the photo. Several photos of Harry and the family were taken, followed by a few of just Harry and Millie. 

“Would you mind if I took one of Harry and Millie on my phone as well?” Anne asked as she snapped the last photo. “This is the first time Harry’s met a fan wearing his name on an Oilers jersey. We’d like to remember it.” 

The family was more than happy to oblige so Anne took a few more photos on her phone, including one where Millie’s back was to the camera and the ‘STYLES’ name in full view. 

It was so like his mum to understand how special the moment was and to come in and save him. He couldn’t quite articulate what he was feeling in that moment, as understanding emotions and sentimentality were not his greatest strengths, and he most definitely never would have asked to take a photo to keep for himself had she not done it. 

The obvious feelings were joy and gratitude. Every day he was thankful to play the game he loved, to be successful, and to have fans that loved and supported him. It didn’t always make sense that complete strangers paid him so much attention just for playing a game, but he accepted it and always tried to show those strangers kindness in return. However, there was another feeling lingering, one that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Looking at his mum, he knew that she knew what it was. She always knew. And certainly she would make him talk about it later.

As they separated from the family and walked toward the hotel elevators, where Gemma and Jeff were waiting, Anne grabbed onto her son’s arm, holding him close as they walked side by side. 

“Do you see that they love you already, my darling?” She asked. Harry raised an eyebrow at his mum, unsure of what she was going on about. “I know you. I know that you care what people think and that you are scared to disappoint them. You just need to step out on the ice and be yourself. Just be Harry. They already love you and this is only just the beginning.”

WOW! OK. I know it’s a bit of a slow start, but I wanted this chapter to be more of an introduction to harry and the mc and to the fan culture that harry is about to experience!! I’ve already started on the next part so that should be up before Christmas! If you’ve made it this far, all I can say is that I love you and appreciate you. If you liked it, please let me know. I debated not posting this so many times (and I might even regret it later) so feedback will certainly ease my troubled mind!! I ALWAYS LOVE YOU, BUT ESPECIALLY TODAY!! xx Shan. 

Harry’s Draft Day Look

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[aion-rsa]

25 Best Sports TV Shows

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Sports stories have traditionally belonged to the movies. Something about the rhythms of competition, in which an athlete or team trains, plays, and then either wins or loses, is a natural fit for the film world’s three act structure.

Television, with its multiple episodes and seasons, is often more discursive and therefore less viable for truly great sports stories. Thankfully, that all seems poised to change. While some sports TV shows have found success in the past, now the medium has really kicked things up a notch. Sports stories like Brockmire, Ted Lasso, Cobra Kai, and more are not only welcome on television, but an essential part of the cable and streaming landscape. 

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TV

The United States of TV High Schools

By Alec Bojalad

Movies

The Best Sports Documentaries To Stream

By Scott Fontana and 2 others

With that in mind, it’s high time we pay homage to TV’s great sports programs. What follows is a list of 25 of the best sports TV shows of all time, hand selected by Den of Geek (i.e. me: the arms-crossed weirdo in the picture at the bottom of this article). 

It’s important to keep in mind that these are the best scripted sports TV shows. Television is, of course, no stranger to live sports and the various programs that surround them. Consider these unscripted American sports shows as honorable mentions: Hard Knocks, Last Chance U, Ken Burns’ Baseball, The Last Dance (and most other 30-for-30s), Cheer, Inside the NBA.

Enough of the undercard, now onto the main event. 

25. Red Oaks

Amazon Prime’s Red Oaks examines the bougie tennis lifestyle of the 1980s. It all comes through the lens of David Myers (Craig Roberts), a college student looking to pick up some cash by taking a summer job at an upscale Jewish country club in New Jersey. Sports stories and coming-of-age stories fit particularly well because the end goal of each one is usually growth. It’s hard to say whether David grows during his time at Red Oaks, but he certainly changes over the series’ three seasons. 

24. The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers

A TV show based on Disney sports movie behemoth franchise The Mighty Ducks was all but an inevitability, particularly when the major conglomerate secured its own streamer in Disney+. We’re all lucky then that The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers turned out to be quite good rather than completely perfunctory. The show is bold enough to recast its Ducks’ franchise as the villains and to rally around the radical idea that youth sports should be fun. 

23. One Tree Hill

At first glance, One Tree Hill doesn’t seem too different from the other teen shows of its era on The CW (though The CW was still “The WB” for One Tree Hill’s first two seasons). It’s about high schoolers in a small town, doing high school things. Where One Tree Hill excels (at least in its early, still high school seasons) is the introduction of basketball as a storytelling crutch. Half brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) have a turbulent enough relationship to begin with. What better way to contextualize that relationship than through the high stakes lens of high school basketball?

22. Lights Out

Not to be confused with the 2016 horror film of the same name, Lights Out is a boxing series from FX that ran for one excellent season in 2011. Holt McCallany (best known now as Agent Bill Tench on Mindhunter) stars as retired heavyweight champion Patrick “Lights” Leary. Despite displaying signs of neurological trauma from his career, Lights can’t help but want to return to the ring for one more shot of glory (and to pay off his family’s many debts). Lights Out is a sad, elegiac little story about how one man who sees a sport that broke his brain as the only realistic option for success. 

21. Big Shot

Big Shot premiered shortly after its bigger-named Disney+ cousin The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. And while Game Changers made a slightly bigger splash, Big Shot might be the better sports show. The story follows Marvyn Korn (John Stamos), a tempermental basketball coach who ends up at an elite all-girls prep school to shepherd its basketball program. Big Shot runs through all the tried and true tropes and beats of sports stories and does so with aplomb. Consider it Hardball meets Hoosiers with plenty of Stamos charm. 

20. Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper

Sports are somewhat incidental to Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’s mission. Sure, lead character Mr. Cooper (Mark Curry) is a former Golden State Warriors basketball player turned PE teacher. But like its TGIF programming block peers, this show is a charming hangout comedy with few lasting conflicts to speak of. Still, you don’t spend that much time in a gym without some three-pointers and lay-ups. 

19. Coach

Before Craig T. Nelson was Mr. Incredible (or made this truly amazing televised statement), he was best known for portraying the title role in ‘90s ABC sitcom Coach. In fact, many of our archetypical perceptions of what makes a football coach likely come from Nelson’s portrayal of Coach Hayden Fox (who first coached for a fictional NCAA football team and later an NFL one). This is a man whose skill at molding young athletes belies his lack of skill at…well, everything else. Ultimately, Coach is a worthwhile multiseason experience in which a grown man grows up.

18. Kingdom

Kingdom is probably the best sports TV show that you’ve never heard of. Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. That’s just the kind of thing that happens when a show is damned to languish on AT&T’s ludicrous “Audience Network”. Kingdom is set in an MMA gym and captures all the drama provided in the heightened world of mixed martial arts combat. The show is blessed with some great characters and an even better cast. Frank Grillo (Captain America’s most annoying foe, Brock Rumlow), Kiele Sanchez (Lost), Matt Lauria (Friday Night Lights), Jonathan Tucker, (Justified)  and Nick Jonas (yes, that Nick Jonas) all make their mark on the series.

17. The White Shadow

Premiering in 1978, CBS’s The White Shadow was uncommonly progressive for its time. The series follows Ken Reeves (Ken Howard), a white NBA player who retires after a knee injury and elects to take up coaching at Carver High School in South Central Los Angeles. Coach Reeves’s team is made up primarily of Black and Hispanic players and the show deals with the social ills of life in the inner city. It’s also quite funny and charming and features a commitment to realistic basketball scenes.

16. The League

FX comedy The League works as a sports show (and as a TV show in general) because it has a deep understanding of sports from a fan’s perspective. Sure, fans watch collegiate and professional sports to marvel at the athleticism, training, and skill on display. But more importantly, they watch sports to have something to talk about with their friends. Though the participants in the titular fantasy football league at the center of The League grew up as friends, who’s to say they would have stayed friends so long without this league keeping them together? Ruxin (Nick Kroll) is an asshole. Andre (Paul Scheer) is annoying. And Taco (Jon Lajoie) is, well…Taco.

15. Rocket Power

If the ‘90s taught us anything it’s that extreme sports are sports too, man! Rocket Power is a lovely little slice of life Nick Toon that follows four kids in a fictional California surfing community. Otto Rocket, Reggie Rocket, Maurice “Twister” Rodriguez, and Sam “Squid” Dullard spend their days skateboarding, surfing, playing street hockey, and occasionally snowboarding. It’s a wonderful ode to childhood and all the athletic activities that make the day (and years) go by far too quickly. 

14. Luck

If things shook out differently, perhaps Luck could have been considered one of the five or so best sports shows of all time. All of the pieces were in place. This 2012 HBO series had the right creative team (created and run by Deadwood’s David Milch and starring Dustin Hoffman with a pilot directed by Michael Mann) to go along with an intriguing premise (complicated characters’ lives intersecting at a horse track). But alas…the dead horses. Oh so many dead horses. Despite stringent safety measures put in place, Luck lost three hoof bois during filming of its first season and was canceled shortly thereafter. May they all rest in peace.

13. All American

High school is a turbulent time in all our lives. And when the high stakes world of competitive football is added in, things can only get more intense. The CW’s All American opts to take the world of high school football and opts to add in a welcome dose of sociopolitical commentary. This series is loosely based on the life of former New York Giants linebacker Spencer Paysinger and follows his character “Spencer James” as he is recruited from South L.A. to play for the affluent Beverly Hills High. The show wisely understands that sports (particularly when they involve Black teenagers) are a marvelous portal to explore American society. 

12. Pitch

Cruelly cut short after just one season of 10 episodes, Pitch is the kind of sports show that will inspire sports stories for years to come. This baseball series for Fox comes from Dan Fogelman (This Is Us) and Rick Singer. It follows the saga of Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury), who becomes the first woman to play in Major League Baseball when she’s called up to pitch by the San Diego Padres. Pitch was blessed with an excellent cast including Bunbury and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as a veteran catcher nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career. More interestingly, it was blessed with an actual MLB licensing deal. There are no silly fictional teams in this show like the Tuscaloosa Barn-Burners or the Helena Hellcats. It’s all real MLB team names and logos, adding to the realism of a cool premise.

11. Ballers

Of course, Elizabeth Warren’s favorite show has to be on this list. Ballers has a bit of an unearned reputation for being cringe thanks to its ridiculous name and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s delightful cornball energy. In reality, this is an exceedingly watchable TV show and one that examines the corporate side of professional sports quite well. It’s also noticeable for being most viewers’ introduction to eventual Tenet star John David Washington. 

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10. GLOW

Is professional wrestling a sport? Vince McMahon would argue that it’s “sports entertainment.” I would argue that that’s more than good enough to get the excellent GLOW on this list. GLOW tragically fell victim to Netflix’s whimsical cancellation procedures. Why the almighty algorithm decided a show needed to be canceled after it was already renewed is beyond me. But don’t let that sour three seasons of superb sportsy storytelling. GLOW follows the fictionalized rise of the very real “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling” and it centers it on the conflict between two former best friends, Ruther Wilder (Alison Brie) and Debbie Eagen (Betty Gilpin). GLOW differs a bit from the usual sports fare in that the “sport” at its center wasn’t necessarily plan A for the athletes. But the experience of watching the ladies train, grow, and succeed is pure and sublime sports story stuff.

9. Cobra Kai

Cobra Kai absolutely could have been phoned in. The streaming world runs on nostalgia and there’s nothing more sweetly nostalgic than The Karate Kid franchise. Instead, this Netflix series changes the original franchise’s perspective by focusing on the “villainous” Cobra Kai dojo and re-examines things from Johnny’s point of view. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka deserve credit for embodying realistically adult, yet flawed versions of their original characters. Equally deserving of credit though is a whole host of young actors bringing the martial arts to a whole new generation. 

8. Blue Mountain State

A lot of the shows on this list are, let’s say, reverential to the sports, teams, and athletes they cover. Spike comedy Blue Mountain State is decidedly…not. This series, following the Mountain Goats football team for the fictional college Blue Mountain State, understands that not all depictions of athletes have to be saints. Sometimes college football player can just be the big dumb animals you want them to be. Through three seasons, this show developed a cult following that would follow it over for a lifetime of reruns on Netflix. Blue Mountain State is crass, dangerous, and entertaining, not entirely unlike football.

7. Sports Night

Speaking of being reverential to sports…like all Aaron Sorkin-created TV series, Sports Night can be a bit full of itself sometimes. That only works when the topic at hand, like the federal branch of the U.S. government, is consequential. Thankfully, sports can be pretty important sometimes too! This late ‘90s show follows the goings-on at a Sportscenter-esque news program hosted by Dan Rydell (Josh Charles) and Casey McCall (Peter Krause). It has all the witty dialogue you’d come to expect from a Sorkin venture. And if you can make your way through the inexplicable laugh track of the early episodes, you will find a mature, entertaining show that properly understands and contextualizes professional sports’ role in American society. 

6. Survivor’s Remorse

Survivor’s Remorse came into the world with two strikes against it. One is a bizarrely overwrought name, and the other is that its home network, Starz, isn’t a given on many cable packages. Still, this LeBron James-produced comedy is shockingly one of the best sports TV shows ever (and perhaps still the best creative venture James has been involved in yet). This story follows NBA athlete Cam Calloway (Jessie T. Usher) as he tries to balance the business and basketball aspects of his life. At first the show focuses on Cam’s guilt for having got out of his impoverished neighborhood when so many couldn’t (hence, the show’s title), but ultimately it evolves into a family comedy drama featuring some truly remarkable characters and performances like Cam’s cousin and manager Reggie Vaughn (RonReaco Lee) and his baller half-sister “M-Chuck” (Erica Ash). Even Monica Rambeau herself, Teyonah Parris, is a part of the proceedings. 

5. Playmakers

Sometimes I can’t even believe that Playmakers is real. Surely, this ESPN series about a fictional football team in a fictional league that is clearly the NFL was just a post-9/11 fever dream we all endured together. Alas, Playmakers was real and it was awesome. This series follows the players on the Cougars as they navigate a football landscape filled with ripped-from-the-headlines strife including Performance enhancing drugs, good old-fashioned drugs, domestic abuse, concussions, and more. The series even introduces the outing of a gay player more than a decade before Michael Sam and Carl Nassib revealed their sexual orientations. Naturally, Playmakers was canceled when the NFL intimated to its broadcast partner ESPN that it wasn’t too pleased with the content of its show. And enraging the National Football League alone is enough to make this an all-time classic.

4. Eastbound & Down

Eastbound & Down creator and star Danny McBride isn’t necessarily a huge fan of baseball. But he is, thankfully, a huge fan of weirdos and creeps. When McBride discovered just how bizarre and poorly behaved certain flamethrowing relief pitchers could be, Kenny Powers and the show around him was born. The baseball “action” in Eastbound isn’t much to write home about. The show isn’t too concerned with the results of any given baseball game and McBride always looks like he’s throwing a javelin and not a baseball. It’s still a phenomenal saga about athletes that dives into Paul Bunyan-esque tales of legendary misbehavior that fame encourages. It’s no coincidence that in the follow ups to Kenny Powers, McBride has delved into megalomaniacal vice principals and bejeweled, sweaty televangelists – all different aspects of the white American male id.

3. Ted Lasso

Of all the sports shows in the TV canon, none feels more like a traditional sports movie than Ted Lasso. This Apple TV+ series plucks an American football coach-fish and gently places him out of water in the English Premier League. The affable Lasso (Sudeikis) is charged with reversing the fortunes of EPL side AFC Richmond. Little does he know, however, that spiteful owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddington) is counting on him to fail, Major League style. Ted Lasso isn’t interested in reinventing the wheel. Instead it perfects it. This is a tale of relentless optimism and unconditional positive regard. Ted breaks the mold for what we expect from coaches, which is probably why so many actual coaches are fond of the show. Simply put: sports stories can’t be done much better than this one. 

2. Brockmire

Sometimes commentators like to bemoan the modern state of baseball. What was once American’s pastime has now supposedly fallen behind things like football and videogames in the pop cultural pecking order. Then along comes something like Brockmire to teach us that baseball as a continuous, seemingly eternal American presence is just as vital as ever. In a career-defining role, Hank Azaria plays disgraced baseball broadcaster Jim Brockmire. Once at the top of his game, an on-air drunken meltdown loses him his job and his sanity. In season 1 of this superb IFC show, Brockmire returns to the booth, this time for an independent league team in Morristown, Pennsylvania. The four seasons that follow are one big love letter to not only baseball, but the messy human experience itself. It’s rare that you get something this funny and this affecting. The fact that it’s wrapped in a stylish diamond-shaped bow is just icing on the cake. 

1. Friday Night Lights

Not only is Friday Night Lights the best sports TV show of all time, it’s hard to imagine it ever being supplanted from its throne. Simply put, Friday Night Lights is a sports television masterpiece. Each of Friday Night Lights’ five seasons (save for the writer’s strike-shortened second) fully capture the ecstasy and agony of high school football in a small Texas town where high school football is the only thing that matters. Friday Night Lights doesn’t shy away from the unsavory institution that is big time high school athletics.

The series opens with a life-changing injury before following it up with tales of corrupt boosters and garden variety West Texas racism. And yet, the show never looks down on its characters. If winning state is important to Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler), Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford), Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), Smash Williams (Gaius Charles), and Vince Howard (Michael B. Jordan), then it’s important to us too. In fact, when Friday Night Lights is really rolling and the W.G. Snuffy Walden’s Explosions in the Sky-style soundtrack is swirling, you might not recall anything ever mattering to you as much as the Dillon Panthers or the East Dillon Lions winning a football game. Clear eyes, full hearts, absolutely cannot lose.

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[anthonybialy]

Another Chance to Boo the Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres lose.  It’s who they are.  They’re furious you’re aware.  Reports that players are ticked at fans who offer accurate criticism of emblematically atrocious performances somehow make the experience of following them even more unfulfilling.  I’m almost impressed they find new ways to insult.  Athletes are not going to win by bickering with fans, which with this club is the normal result.

Those poor millionaires on the verge of extending the league-record playoff drought are very upset those they’ve wronged by not completing job tasks possess the insolence to react appropriately.  You know a locker room emanates a bad vibe when fans get blamed.  I have a related update about the Sabres.

Competing for the draft lottery offers a thrill unappreciative types don’t cherish.  An eternal exile from the playoff race is the only thing more irritating than lame excuses from well-paid athletes who don’t know how to properly manipulate a puck.  The team in question sucks at a historical rate.  Rare wins are accompanied by a lack of caring about frequent shortcomings.  Can you believe the crowd doesn’t cry with joy?

I just wish there were a way to prevent a fanbase from getting cranky like not missing the freaking playoffs yet again.  Roster members focusing understandable frustration on job performance isn’t as easy as condemning anyone with the nerve to buy a ticket.  Cognizance of the investment’s foolishness does not justify annoyance in those who ultimately receive a portion of gate receipts.  They should be infinitely more ticked at how close a Buffalonian born on the last day the Sabres won a series is to voting.

Technical players are allegedly particularly upset that followers are familiar with the flailing failing coach.  Of course Sabres players like Don Granato: he doesn’t hold them accountable when they underachieve.  The owner likes him as well because he’s cheaper than someone skilled.  The only problem is that bit where his squad is supposed to win games regularly.  Dwindling backers have the audacity to notice.

Keep flipping off those you’ve disappointed: it’s the surest way to express shame.  Ingratitude is particularly super when aimed at those who pay to watch you work in the hope you can bring them a little joy.  Attending a professional hockey game is an investment.  Going to a Sabres game costs nearly as much.

Optimists in spite of it all who spend a considerable sum hoping to vainly see success are crushed by the exact opposite.  Players get mad… at the honest summary of their ineptitude.  Their setbacks somehow get even more infuriating. 

Bickering with those ultimately funding your career is a guaranteed defeat like the Sabres after a win.  I’m shocked sportsbooks take bets on a lock like the inevitable letdown.

Perspective makes matters worse if you follow this team.  It’s easy to examine each result under a microscope.  But step back to see how distressing an activity that’s supposed to be a merry diversion has been over a way too long time.  Hissing is a natural reply.

Why are you not cheering with delight for a ceaseless desert exile?  The fact anyone keeps showing up at all is testament to loyalty.  The devotion may not be rational under the best of conditions, and hockey’s Washington Generals have created less than pleasant ones.

Catharsis is necessary when coping with a team that’s been this lousy for this long.  The Sabres are the worst franchise in the NHL.  There are others with fewer points this season, but nobody has been more consistently woeful over time.  They may be the worst of any North American pro outfit.  Debate enthusiasts might suggest similarly dreadful entries like the New Jersey Jets, but the fact that the Sabres are a plausible candidate is sufficiently depressing.  And they could be the worst globally unless there’s a Romanian handball team that runs to the town square and pummels anyone they find wearing team gear after each thrashing.  

Fans are actually too nice.  Mild jeering is the nicest possible feedback regarding an unprecedented run of losing.  The Sabres are lucky they don’t play in the Vaudeville era.  The concession stands don’t sell rotten vegetables for a reason.

It’s preposterous even having to note cause and effect.  Entertain your customers.  The product has been rotten on a semipermanent basis with no relief in sight.  Since there seems to be confusion, I’ll point out that’s the fault of those inside the dasher, specifically the ones on skates wearing home jerseys.  The Sabres think you’re not allowed to dislike a movie because it’ll irk the director.  And it’s your job to make Coldplay not suck by being supportive at concerts.  Get back here and attend.

“Of course they’re booing.  They have the right at any time and especially when we don’t meet expectation.  We’re here to entertain those who treat us as heroes and have come up short.  We understand and respect their dissatisfaction and hope it will disappear once we start competing at a suitable level.”  There: I wrote an apology for them.  You have to do everything for this team.  Wear a jersey to games because you might be called upon to join the third defensive pair.

True pros would be begging for forgiveness.  But this team doesn’t qualify.  Uninspired play is just the start.  The Sabres are not just generating garbage but treating their admirers the same way.  They deserve more booing.  I hope the fact nobody but Hans Moleman is saying “Boo-ryson” hurts their feelings, as they’re getting off easy compared to the devastated congregation generating the most genuine response.