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seoprivatetourguide · 8 months ago

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Same Day Agra tour by car from Delhi by Private tour guide India Company.

Explore the Majesty of Agra: Same-Day Agra Tour by Car from Delhi with Private Tour Guide India Company.

Private Tour Guide India Company offers an exciting experience through the historic city of Agra. Our Same Day Agra Tour by Car from Delhi provides a hassle-free and immersive experience, allowing you to admire the majestic majesty of the Taj Mahal and other historical attractions in a single day.

Introduction Welcome to Private Tour Guide India Company, your trusted companion in exploring India's rich legacy. Join us on a fascinating trip to Agra, where you'll view the Taj Mahal's eternal charm as well as learn about its rich history and architectural magnificence. Itinerary Departure From Delhi Your vacation begins with a comfortable automobile travel from Delhi to Agra, accompanied by a competent tour guide. Arrival in Agra. When you arrive in Agra, your first visit will be the breathtaking Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Marvel at its magnificent marble façade and rich architectural elements while your guide tells you intriguing anecdotes about its history and significance. Visit to Agra Fort. After visiting the Taj Mahal, head to Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic palace of the Mughal rulers. Wander around the palaces, courtyards, and gardens to discover its stunning architecture and rich history. Lunch break. Enjoy a great meal at a neighborhood restaurant serving traditional Indian cuisine and regional specialties. Shopping and Leisure Time Take some time to explore Agra's lively markets, where you may buy souvenirs, handicrafts, and traditional artifacts to remember your trip. Return to Delhi. After a long day of exploring, rest and unwind on the gorgeous drive back to Delhi, where your Same Day Agra Tour concludes. Conclusion The Same Day Agra Tour by Car from Delhi with Private Tour Guide India Company provides a convenient and engaging opportunity to explore Agra's cultural heritage and architectural treasures. Allow us to be your guide as you embark on this incredible journey, creating memories that last a lifetime.

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Jayson Tatum is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Tatum, who was born on March 3, 1998, in St. Louis, Missouri, has established himself as one of the NBA's rising stars, noted for his scoring skills, versatility and athleticism.

Early life and college careers Tatum attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, where he was widely considered as one of the best high school basketball players in the country. He went on to play college basketball with the Duke Blue Devils, where he was selected ACC Rookie of the Year and All-ACC Third Team as a rookie.

NBA Career The Boston Celtics selected Tatum with the third overall choice in the 2017 NBA draft. He rapidly made an impression on the league, demonstrating his scoring prowess and defensive abilities. Tatum's rookie season featured several noteworthy performances, including a 24-point game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Since then, Tatum has improved his game, establishing himself as one of the NBA's top forwards. He has been selected to many All-Star games and has been a vital player for the Celtics, leading the team in scoring and playing an important role in their postseason runs.

Playing Style Tatum is well-known for his smooth scoring skills, which includes the ability to create his own shots and perform in isolated situations. He has a varied skill set that allows him to score from anywhere on the court while also guarding many spots. Tatum's length, athleticism, and basketball IQ make him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Off the Court. Off the court, Tatum is well-known for his philanthropy and community participation. He is actively involved in a variety of charity causes, including attempts to oppose social injustice and assist underprivileged communities. Tatum's impact extends beyond the basketball floor, as he works to improve the lives of others.

Legacy At only 23 years old, Jayson Tatum has already established himself as one of the NBA's brightest rising talents. Tatum possesses the talent, work attitude, and leadership abilities to make a long impact in the NBA and inspire future generations of basketball players.

Conclusion Jayson Tatum's rise from intriguing high school prospect to NBA All-Star demonstrates devotion, tenacity, and talent. Tatum's continued success in the NBA serves as an inspiration to basketball fans all across the world, demonstrating the infinite potential of the human spirit.

#travel

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primetimesnow · 9 months ago

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The Ascendancy of Jayson Tatum: A Rising Star in the NBA

In the dynamic realm of professional basketball, where talent is abundant and competition fierce, few names stand out as brightly as Jayson Tatum. His meteoric rise from promising prospect to bona fide superstar has captivated fans and analysts alike. This article delves into the remarkable journey of Jayson Tatum, tracing his path to stardom and exploring the factors behind his success.

Early Beginnings: Born on March 3, 1998, in St. Louis, Missouri, Jayson Tatum’s love affair with basketball began at an early age. Raised in a basketball-centric family, with his father as his first coach, Tatum honed his skills on the courts of his hometown. His talent quickly became evident, drawing attention from scouts and coaches even in his formative years.

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bongaboi · 11 months ago

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Drake: 2023-24 Missouri Valley Men's Basketball Champions

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Atin Wright went down on his knees and slapped the court with two hands, smiling at his Drake teammates while Tucker DeVries headed to the free-throw line, as the crowd chanted “M-V-P.”

Wright is a newcomer for the Bulldogs, drawn from his native California by the promise of winning. DeVries is the two-time Missouri Valley Conference player of the year, the son of Drake coach Darian DeVries.

Together – and with big plays by Darnell Brodie and Conor Enright – they helped land Drake back in the NCAA Tournament, holding off a late rally by Indiana State for an 84-80 victory Sunday in the Valley championship game at the Enterprise Center.

It was a second consecutive tournament triumph for the Bulldogs, who won’t have to sweat out a week of waiting to find out if they’re going to the Big Dance. They’re in. Again. For a third time in four years.

But it wasn’t easy. Indiana State trailed by double-digits for much of the game. But the Sycamores awoke late, with a 10-0 burst fueled by Isaiah Swope. He had eight points in that stretch, and scored all of his 19 after intermission. His four-point play gave Indiana State a 74-73 lead, its first since 2-0 in the opening minutes.

Drake was unfazed.

Brodie connected on a short hook shot. Enright fought through a screen to draw a foul on the defensive end, then calmly canned a 3-pointer to put Drake back ahead 79-76. Brodie made two free throws late, patiently waiting through a timeout for his opportunity, and DeVries made one to produce the final tally for the Bulldogs, who soon were swarming off of their bench to celebrate what they worked all winter to accomplish.

Drake (28-6), the second seed, was making its fourth consecutive appearance in the Valley title game, only the second school to ever do so (Tulsa, no longer a Valley member, was in six straight from 1982-87). The Bulldogs beat Bradley here a year ago to win this event for only the second time in school history (the first was in 2008).

Top-seeded Indiana State (28-6) last won this tournament in 2011, when they were coached by Iowa native Greg Lansing.

Sunday’s showdown was dazzling from the outset. The first media timeout didn’t come until 12:07 remained in the first half, as the Valley’s top two offensive teams set a frenzied pace early. All five Drake starters scored in the opening 5 minutes, including back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by Enright, DeVries and Kevin Overton. When play was finally stopped by a deadball situation, Drake, the deeper team, led 21-13 and was able to sub in three fresh players.

Moments later, when Overton and DeVries both went to the bench with two early fouls, Wright took over, nailing a trio of 3-pointers to push Drake ahead 37-23 and prompt an Indiana State timeout. The Bulldogs connected on their first seven 3-point attempts.

Then it was Sycamores guard Ryan Conwell’s turn to assert himself, reeling off seven consecutive points to cut that deficit in half.

Drake pushed its lead to 45-32 at halftime, boosted by 15 points from Wright and 14 from DeVries, and a defensive effort that held the Sycamores scoreless over the final 4:24 of the half. It was Indiana State’s largest halftime deficit this season.

Drake got off to a strong start in the second half as well, making its first three field-goal attempts, two of them by DeVries, as the lead swelled to 53-37. But even that never felt comfortable against the Sycamores, who pushed Drake to the brink.

The Bulldogs didn’t blink. They’re champions again, with two nets and a trophy to show for it.

#2024 #drake bulldogs #missouri valley conference #college basketball #march madness

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prettyhennytea · 1 year ago

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In the world of basketball, there are a few stories as inspiriting as that of Niele Ivey, the head coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women's Basketball team. Join us as we delve into the remarkable journey of this extraordinary coach, from her humble beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri, to her current tole as a trailblazer in the world of women's collegiate basketball. Growing up in St. Louis, Niele Ivey was the youngest of five children in a tight-knit family. It was within this loving circle that her passion for basketball first took root. From a young age, she displayed an inherent talent and love for the game, spending countless hours honing her skills on the courts of her neighborhood. Niele's dedication to the sport propelled her to attend Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis. As a junior, she played an instrumental role in her team's incredible 31-0 record and Class 4A state championship victory, marking a historic milestone for the school. Through her skills and leadership, Niele demonstrated her ability to rise to the occasion and make a lasting impact. Continuing her basketball journey, Niele Ivey made the decision to attend the prestigious University of Notre Dame. Playing for the Fighting Irish, she showcased her exceptional abilities and became an integral part of the team's success. In 2001, Niele's talent and dedication paid off when she and her Notre Dame teammates clinched the program's first-ever national championship, defeating Purdue with a thrilling 68-66 victory. This unforgettable victory solidified Niele's place in Notre Dame basketball history. In addition to her team's triumph, Niele was recognized individually for her outstanding contributions to the sport. In 2001, she was awarded the esteemed Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, which honors the nation;s top senior college point guard standing at 5'8" or under. This accolade served as a testament to Niele's skill, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence. After her college career, Niele Ivey continued to excel in basketball, taking her talents to the WNBA draft, she embarked on a fruitful professional career that spanned over five seasons. Niele's hard work and dedication on and off the court earned her the respect of her peers and fans alike. In 2020, Niele Ivey's remarkable journey came full circle when she was named the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team, after legendary coach Muffet McGraw retired. Niele stepped into her new role with determination and a burning desire to continue the program's storied success. With every game and practice, Niele Ivey brings her wealth of knowledge and experiences to guide the Fighting Irish towards greatness. As a leader, she fosters a sense of camaraderie and inspires her players to reach their full potential. Her passion for the game, combined with her unwavering belief in the power of teamwork, creates a transformative environment both on and off the court. Niele Ivey's incredible journey from a dedicated young athlete in St Louis to the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women's Basketball team is a testament to her unwavering passion, resilience, and exceptional talent. Her tireless pursuit of excellence and determination to make a lasting impact serve as an inspiration to basketball enthusiasts, young athletes, and aspiring coaches worldwide. As we celebrate Niele ivey's achievements both as a player and as a coach, we look to the future with excitement, knowing that she is poised to continue building on the legacy of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball program. With her guidance and leadership the team is undoubtedly in excellent hands, and we eagerly await the remarkable yet to come.

#NieleIvey #InspiringJourney #WomenInBasketball #TrailblazingCoach #NotreDame #WomensBasketball #StLouis #LocalCourts #CorJesuAcademy #StandoutPlayer #ExceptionalTalent #CollegeRecruiters

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lewiselder · 6 years ago

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are you following me? a short, dumb story

helloooooooo

i know i know i know.

but lewis! your last post was only like 2 weeks ago and you usually wait 8 ridiculous months between posts!

i know dude but this dumb thing happened yesterday and i thought it was funny, so here i am logging into tumblr.

let’s get straight to it.

i’m back in STL for a couple weeks to visit my mom and grandparents and cat. it’s hot and humid and beautiful. i love st louis so fucking much!

ted drewes! gooey butter cake! chocolate drop cookies from missouri baking co! gus’s pretzels! companion bakery! nelly doing backflips in that vid where he beats allen iverson in a half court shot contest (yes that is a real video and it is incredible and never forget charlamagne tha god said the only celebrity he ever thought might really beat his ass on air was nelly).

so this was yesterday, july 25th, a wednesday. i had spent the day working in a coffee shop and then went to the brentwood ymca to workout. i’m sitting on a bench in the Y between sets, and this middle aged white dude comes up to me.

guy: “are you following me?”

me: *looking up from my phone* wat

guy: *in an over emphasized teehee jokey joke tone* are you followin’ meee?!

me: *scrunching up my face*

me: *again* wat

guy: *doing about the jokey-est voice fucking humanly possible and adding in some comedic hand gestures for emphasis*

heh are you followin’ me?! are ya stalkin’ meee?!

me: dude do i know you?

guy: *face dropping a little* oh heh heh, no! i was in the coffee shop earlier! and now i see you here...

me: ohhhhh ha okay. yeah bro im a lot more recognizable than you are lol.

when i said this, he had a good 2 seconds where he looked exactly like that lady thinking of math meme

yes that classic! he did that exact face.

guy: *in much lower voice* heh aw yea- azsexrdcf gkl... *mumbles unintelligibly and just turns around and walks away lol*

that was it! close curtains. throw roses.

i wanted to write about this one because it was so simple, short, and i really found it funny.

this guy saw me, lewis, a person with a clear cut distinguishing physical feature [my arm for new readers >_>] and made a subconscious mental note. later, he saw that same person (me, lewis) with that same clear cut distinguishing physical feature in a second location!

woah! he must’ve thought.

and in this guy’s NPC ass head, he assumed, well i remember that guy, so he must remember me too!

wrong!

sorry, buddy. unlike me, for better or for worse, you do not stick out. i couldn’t pick you out of a lineup. if you went missing, i would have accidentally told the cops i’ve never seen that man before in my life! you look like everybody. i didn’t see you, i didn’t notice you, and i sure as hell didn’t remember you. shit i’m sitting here right now, less than 24 hours later, and i can’t remember what you look like.

i watched him have this realization in real time.

multiple times a year i have people whom (does whom go here or is it who?) i’ve never met come up to me in the most random situations and tell me they remember me from X. we played baseball against you in 4th grade! i had a class with you in college! you tried to fight my friend during a rec league basketball game!

being physically disabled can be exhausting for a multitude of reasons. but one of the perks, besides the fact that i pre-board airplanes with impunity, is that i am indeed unique. my arm, and consequently the body sack it’s attached to, is seared into the mind grapes (if you get that reference hit me up right the fuck now to collect your prize) of thousands of people all over the world, from ymca to shining ymca.

it’s simultaneously one of the annoying and rewarding parts of being physically disabled. depends on the context and my mood and how recently i’ve eaten a cookie.

anyway, that’s it.

no, random generic background character guy, i don’t remember you and i’m not following you.

if anything, you’re following me.

*if you read this far and you’re ever in STL i will legitimately give you all of the city’s best spots and secrets, pls do hmu*

#lewis elder #lewie armstrong #disability #disabled #lucky fin project #st. louis #tier 1

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lboogie1906 · 2 years ago

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Reuben A. Shelton, Esq. (December 6, 1954) is the Grand Polemarch (president/CE0) of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. He is a member of the St. Louis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He has served as Senior Grand Vice Polemarch (Vice President) since 2015 and member of the Board of Directors since 2007. He was initiated into the fraternity, on November 23, 1974, at the University of Kansas, the Mu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, where he was captain of the basketball team. He retired in 2016 as Lead Litigation Counsel for Monsanto Company. Before Monsanto, he was Special Chief Counsel in the office of the Missouri Attorney General, Mr. Shelton also served as Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Clyde S. Cahill in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri. He is the Past President of the Missouri Bar Association and Vice President of the Missouri Development Finance Board. He is Past President of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the St. Louis Bar Foundation, the first African American ever elected to those positions. He served as Polemarch (president) of the Middle Western Province, Mu Chapter, and the St. Louis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He earned a BS from the University of Kansas, a JD from St. Louis University, and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl0wn1luJpV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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dpanuncialwriter · 3 years ago

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For Donndre Smith, 'It's all passion': Coach, teacher and more

March 9, 2020 for the Columbia Missourian

It’s a quiet, rainy Sunday morning at Hickman High School except for the squeaking of sneakers and the bouncing of a basketball in one of the gyms.

Donndre Smith, head junior varsity coach at Hickman for the last three years, instructs a teen to shoot a free throw.

Then another. And another.

The training usually comes with a fee, but at the end of this session, Smith says the student owes him nothing ... as long as he continues to train.

Between coaching basketball and teaching his first year of special education at Battle High School, Smith mentors student athletes on any court he can find — no matter which school they're from — and goes beyond his roles.

On Instagram, Smith posts numerous videos of his trainees dunking and shooting free throws and layups. On Twitter, he shares happenings in the classroom and on the court. Both platforms allow him to empower youth.

"When I was younger, I knew I was going to impact the world," Smith said. "I just didn’t know how."

This comes from someone who, as a kid, didn’t know if he was going to make it out of his neighborhood.

Smith, 27, the youngest of four in a single-parent family, grew up on the south side of Chicago, where gang violence remains part of life.

"I used to get jumped for no reason, just for being in a different neighborhood," Smith said. "When I moved out here (to Columbia), I thought, 'I can go to school safe.'"

In Chicago, Smith needed to cross a bridge from his 71st Street neighborhood — which a gang of his former friends had claimed as their territory — to 67th Street to play more competitive basketball. He said if he wanted to be the best, he needed to beat the best. However, some of the players on 67th belonged to a rival gang.

At one point, a member of the 67th Street gang personally came to Smith and warned him that other members were going to jump him. But Smith said the 67th Street member told the others to "leave him alone." He said he still suffers from that childhood trauma.

Basketball has been his anchor since those Chicago days.

Smith's middle school coach in Chicago, Gary Pearson, gave him rides to keep him off the streets where he knew Smith wasn't safe. Pearson also instilled confidence in Smith outside of basketball.

"He coached to make us (players) better people rather than just beating the other team," Smith said.

Smith’s mother, Shirley Moffit-Smith, moved him and his sister Sha-nicka to Missouri for safety when he was 13. His older brother, Victor, remained in Chicago, and his other sister, Jan-nicka, was in California.

In Columbia, Smith attended Hickman, where he met Amand Hardiman and formed a basketball brotherhood. Hardiman, who coached at Hickman alongside Smith from 2017 to 2019, said his friend’s experiences help him empathize with struggling youth in town.

"'Dre' has seen a lot," Hardiman said. "He's grown up in situations that many of us would never want to even think about, and he hasn’t allowed his past to deter him from helping other kids recognize they have value and potential. They can do more with their life than they’re expected to."

In 2016, Jan-nicka, Smith's oldest sister, was killed by her husband in a case of domestic violence in St. Louis. Smith says it was devastating in part because his family thought they had moved away from violence.

But his sister’s death helped him step forward to be a leader. "I wake up and do what I do because she has three kids,” Smith says.

In the classroom, Smith values accountability and respect, but he can also be a friend. When he worked summer school sessions at an elementary school, he joined Uno games and busted moves in dance battles at recess. At the high school level, he sometimes drops tips on owning a credit card or buying a car.

"Doing things with the kids moves them because they see you’re not above anything," Smith says. "Relationship-building is the strongest part of both jobs, without a doubt."

He embraces being a father to his wife's 9- and 14-year-old children. Smith never had a father figure but finds being one makes him stronger. When he became a father, he knew he wanted to value "honesty, trust, perseverance and success."

Jarvis Jennings, a former basketball player at Hickman, remembers when Smith pulled him out of a rough patch during his senior year.

"Stuff wasn’t going my way, and I was trying to be the victim," Jennings says. "He never let me play that role."

At a Feb. 26 game against St. Louis University High School this season, Smith paces the sideline, following his team from offense to defense and shouting instructions to his players: "Deny! Deny! Deny!" on defense. "Board! Board! Board!" after a missed shot.

With his team down three in the final minute, Smith's coaching ramps up; he's so into the action, he nearly bumps into the referee on the court.

Smith says his courtside energy can sometimes be misconstrued as "ghetto." During a recent game at Lake of the Ozarks, Hickman was down 20 points and Smith got the feeling that the referees and the crowd wanted him to give up. No matter the score, he continued to coach hard and noticed people in the stands were staring at him.

"But it’s all passion. I don’t want people to get that confused," Smith says. "That’s me spreading love, and (the players) know that."

Hardiman recalls one of the first times he watched Smith coach. At Quincy University, the JV team was ahead by 13 points; Smith rounded up the players and started joking with them about how well they were playing.

"In the flip of a switch, he gets super intense," Hardiman says, then acts it out to prove the point about the team's efforts: "'This isn’t funny. We should be beating them by more. Why don’t you expect more of yourselves?' He knows what it’s like to not come from much and he knows how hard it is to get to the next level."

Smith wants to be accepted the same way a teacher or coach with similar experience, skill, intelligence and college degree is, he says.

"You get two sides of it. People are going to love you, or people are going to judge you," he says. "It doesn’t help that I have dreads. It doesn’t help that I have Jordans − because now I’m starting to fit the stereotype, my community. My biggest stepping stone is getting people to believe."

In February, Smith was given a staff recognition award at Battle in honor of Black History Month for supporting black students at Battle and in the community.

"Even if you don’t know each other, if he can help you, he will," Jennings says. "Everyone’s under his wing and everybody loves him."

Hickman's basketball season came to a close recently, and in a few months, Smith will finish his first year of teaching at Battle. He recalls seeing the results of the first test he gave there.

"I was blown away that I could actually teach," Smith said. "I taught a lesson, challenged kids, built activities around a concept, and they grasped the concept and did well."

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amthoughtsintowords · 4 years ago

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One Shot At Forever

We’re counting down to a crossroads in hoop history; a collision of the present and the past; a Monday night drive in the ol’ time machine. Gonzaga 2021 and Indiana 1976. Unbeaten to this point against unbeaten forever.

Sure, tonight’s game is Gonzaga against Baylor in what should be a great matchup. But it’s the outcome of this contest that has the implications. Nothing against Baylor – it’s their first men’s Final Four since 1948 – but they carry not only the weight of that 73 years of nada, but also of the most cherished jewel in the proud history of Indiana basketball.

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I can still see the April 5, 1976 cover of Sports Illustrated: Great Scott, It’s Indiana! Admittedly, that issue contains one of my favorite articles, John Underwood’s profile of Missouri’s Jim Kennedy. Kennedy and the Tigers had surprised everyone that season and clawed their way to the regional finals, where despite 43 points from guard Willie Smith they fell short against Michigan. Underwood painted a portrait of the juggling act a student-athlete had in that time; a really nice bit of reporting in what S-I called their ”takeout” piece. But those Hoosiers were the cover story for a reason – unbeaten, unrivaled and unfazed by achieving perfection. Coached by the enfant terrible Bobby Knight, they capped a 32-0 season by beating that very same Michigan team in the championship game. Several teams had come close to perfection in later years but didn’t get there. It is a mark that has grown in stature and risen in its unreachability. In today’s age of one-and-done players, the notion of a group of 18-year-olds melding into a championship team and not just catching regular season lightning in a bottle was becoming less and less likely to ever happen again.

Gonzaga has now reached the precipice; and wouldn’t you know it? The Zags are beating the odds in this unprecedented COVID cloud we’re all living under. It is a program that has grown from the quiet 152 acres in Spokane, Washington, from the cute underdog to the perennial tournament participant to annually among the elite.

Mark Few’s team has practically run the table – picked as number one to begin the season, they haven’t had a slip up. 45 years ago, Indiana began the year at the top and marched into the final without a stumble. A year earlier, Knight’s team was in the process of doing the same thing; they were even deeper and more formidable than the team that followed. Leading scorer May broke his arm late in the regular season, tried to come back in the regional final against Kentucky, but wasn’t the same and with the chemistry off just a tick the Wildcats won by two. With May and three other starters returning, Knight set the tone right from the get-go; he told his squad on the first day of practice that the bar certainly wasn’t the Big Ten title, it wasn’t even the championship that had slipped away seven months earlier – it was perfection.

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Few hasn’t disclosed what the message was to his team, but the Bulldogs have been just that going through the season. In fact, they have won virtually all of their games by double digits. As we saw on Saturday night, it took a surface-to-air missile from Jalen Suggs to avoid a second overtime against UCLA. Otherwise, they trampled their other four opponents by an average of 24 points. Conversely, the Hoosiers had to pass through a gauntlet to get to the finals in ’76. The NCAA built their bracket much differently then as opposed to now, where saving the best matchups for the end is the priority. To win their regional, Indiana had to beat 23-5 St. John’s, 23-4 Alabama, 27-1 Marquette, and then defending champion UCLA, 28-3 in the first year after the retirement of John Wooden; St. John’s and UCLA were repeat victims, but the average margin of victory in the tournament for Indiana to that point was 12 points.

Gonzaga has won with a trio of All-Americans: senior Corey Kispert was a first teamer, while Suggs and sophomore Drew Timme made the second team. Indiana featured two All-Americans in May and center Kent Benson but the unsung heroes of that team were senior guards Quinn Buckner and Bobby Wilkerson. Wilkerson was nicknamed “Spiderman” for his long arms and ability to guard anyone on the floor – from the post to the point. Buckner was athletic enough to lead the football Hoosiers in interceptions as a freshman and sophomore. It was Buckner’s leadership abilities that made him an essential component for the basketball Hoosiers; Knight used Buckner’s example to define leadership for every Indiana team after he graduated.

So while the Zags are now set up to face the “other” number one team in the land, Baylor – the Bears weathered their own COVID storm to go 27-2 – Indiana had to beat Michigan in the finals. The Wolverines had lost twice to Indiana in the conference season by a combined eleven points – once in overtime. The adage remains that it is hard to beat a team a third time in a season, and that seemed to be the case at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on Monday, March 29, 1976. One of the reasons is familiarity but another is unknown adversity. Early in the game Wilkerson was toppled over and landed on his head; he was taken to a hospital with a concussion and subsequently Michigan had Indiana in dire straits, leading by six at the half. At that point, Knight told his now-suddenly vulnerable team if they wanted to be considered one of the greatest in basketball history they had twenty minutes to prove it. Otherwise, they had wasted what they had spent six months working toward.

Sixth man Jim Crews, who later coached at Saint Louis U., put it more succinctly: “We had one shot at forever.”

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Gonzaga seemed to be in that spot against UCLA. The Bruins played a sensational game, never letting the Zags get out of sight and responding with a grit and determination of their own. It took Suggs and his 40-footer to pull his team out of the fire. A freshman had shown them the way.

Back in Philadelphia it was a group of seniors – May, Buckner, Crews, Tom Abernethy – and junior center Kent Benson that took their coach’s words back on to the court. Even without Wilkerson it was as dominating a second half as you might ever see. The Hoosiers set a record by scoring 57 points in the second twenty minutes, winning the game by 18. As Knight and his captains, Buckner and May, stood on the podium to accept the championship trophy, the coach was certainly relieved and gratified – but this was Bobby Knight – he reminded everyone listening that “it should have been two (titles).”

Indiana made good on their one shot at forever. Since then, even the great Larry Bird and his ’79 Indiana State team couldn’t finish the job, losing in the finals. UNLV, Kentucky, Wichita State – they all had shots, too, but lost in the semifinals. And now Gonzaga takes their shot.

Unlike the 1972 Miami Dolphins, unmatched in their perfection for a half-century now and very public in drinking a toast when the last undefeated NFL team goes down each season, the ’76 Hoosiers are much more sedate but just as proud of their achievement.

Perfection happened in college basketball six times in a 17-year span, from the San Franciso Dons in 1956 to UCLA in 1973; the Bruins did it three times under Wooden. Now, with a span of nearly fifty years gone by since the last time, can Gonzaga make history?

If so, “One Shining Moment” takes on special meaning tonight in Indianapolis.

#marchmadness #gonzaga #perfection #Indiana NCAATournament #bobby knight #1976 #oneshotatforever

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orbemnews · 4 years ago

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Rooting for Your Home Team in Person? Here’s What You Need to Know. In California, a color-coded system determined by local infection rates determines restrictions. Until recently, Los Angeles County was in the strictest purple tier, which would have restricted attendance to 100 fans at LA Galaxy and LAFC soccer games and Dodgers baseball games. But the county has since moved to the red tier, which allows 20 percent capacity at sports venues. So when the Dodgers play their home opener on April 9, as many as 11,200 fans will be on hand at Dodger Stadium. Orange County also moved to red, which will enable 9,000 fans to turn out at Angel Stadium. So did San Diego County, giving the OK for 10,000 Padres fans at Petco Park. And so it goes in a checkerboard manner across the country. The Colorado Rockies can fill their ballpark to just over 42 percent of capacity, or 21,000 fans who must wear proper masks. In Missouri, the St. Louis Cardinals can fill up to 32 percent of their stadium, and in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates can fill 20 percent. But in Michigan, current regulations mandate that the Detroit Tigers admit only 1,000 fans, though the team says that figure could be increased. In Oregon, state officials have not yet cleared the Portland Timbers men’s and Portland Thorns women’s soccer teams to allow fans into Providence Park. That’s also true for 13 N.B.A. basketball teams, though that number could shrink in the coming days. Indeed, the N.B.A. has perhaps the most uniform leaguewide policy regarding Covid protocols. In the 17 arenas that currently admit fans, none are allowed to sit courtside and must be at least 15 feet behind team benches. Fans with seats within 30 feet of the court must present a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of game time or pass a rapid test on-site, and they are prohibited from eating. The N.H.L. has also made rink-side adjustments after a few early-season outbreaks among players and officials in closed-door games. The plexiglass panels were removed from behind the team benches and the penalty boxes to promote air circulation. And at 18 of the 24 U.S. rinks that now or will soon allow attendance, fans are prohibited from sitting behind the benches and penalty boxes or along the glass. And then there’s Texas… Then there’s the Lone Star state, where Gov. Greg Abbott recently removed all Covid-19 restrictions. The Texas Rangers took that as their cue to allow full capacity, all 40,518 seats, for the first three games at their new retractable-roof baseball stadium in Arlington — the first team in North America to do so. There will be no protocols beyond a mask-wearing rule at those two exhibition games on March 29 and 30 and the season opener on April 5. Subsequent games will be at less-than-full but still undetermined capacity. Source link Orbem News #Heres #home #person #Rooting #team

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gordonwilliamsweb · 4 years ago

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For Spring Season, Young Athletes Get Back in the Game Despite Covid Risk

This story also ran on USA Today. It can be republished for free.

This spring, high school senior Nathan Kassis will play baseball in the shadow of covid-19 — wearing a neck gaiter under his catcher’s mask, sitting 6 feet from teammates in the dugout and trading elbow bumps for hugs after wins.

“We’re looking forward to having a season,” said the 18-year-old catcher for Dublin Coffman High School, outside Columbus, Ohio. “This game is something we really love.”

Kassis, whose team has started practices, is one of the millions of young people getting back onto ballfields, tennis courts and golf courses amid a decline in covid cases as spring approaches. But pandemic precautions portend a very different season this year, and some school districts still are delaying play — spurring spats among parents, coaches and public health experts across the nation.

Since fall, many parents have rallied for their kids to be allowed to play sports and objected to some safety policies, such as limits on spectators. Doctors, meanwhile, haven’t reached a consensus on whether contact sports are safe enough, especially indoors. While children are less likely than adults to become seriously ill from covid, they can still spread it, and those under 16 can’t be vaccinated yet.

Less was known about the virus early in the pandemic, so high school sports basically stopped last spring, starting up again in fits and spurts over the fall and winter in some places. Some kids turned to recreational leagues when their school teams weren’t an option.

But now, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, public high school sports are underway in every state, though not every district. Schedules in many places are being changed and condensed to allow as many sports as possible, including those not usually played in the spring, to make up for earlier cancellations.

Coaches and doctors agree that playing sports during a pandemic requires balancing the risk of covid with benefits such as improved cardiovascular fitness, strength and mental health. School sports can lead to college scholarships for the most elite student athletes, but even for those who end competitive athletics with high school, the rewards of playing can be extensive. Decisions about resuming sports, however, involve weighing the importance of academics against athletics, since adding covid risks from sports could jeopardize in-person learning during the pandemic.

Tim Saunders, executive director of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association and coach at Dublin Coffman, said the pandemic has taken a significant mental and social toll on players. In a May survey of more than 3,000 teen athletes in Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin researchers found that about two-thirds reported symptoms of anxiety and the same portion reported symptoms of depression. Other studies have shown similar problems for students generally.

“You have to look at the kids and their depression,” Saunders said. “They need to be outside. They need to be with their friends.”

Before letting kids play sports, though, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, coaches and school administrators should consider things like students’ underlying health conditions, the physical closeness of players in the specific sport and how widely covid is spreading locally.

Karissa Niehoff, executive director of the high school federation, has argued that spring sports should be available to all students after last year’s cancellations. She said covid spread among student athletes — and the adults who live and work with them — is correlated to transmission rates in the community.

“Sports themselves are not spreaders when proper precautions are in place,” she said.

Still, outbreaks have occurred. A January report by CDC researchers pointed to a high school wrestling tournament in Florida after which 38 of 130 participants were diagnosed with covid. (Fewer than half were tested.) The report’s authors said outbreaks linked to youth sports suggest that close contact during practices, competitions and related social gatherings all raise the risk of the disease and “could jeopardize the safe operation of in-person education.”

Dr. Kevin Kavanagh, an infection control expert in Kentucky who runs the national patient safety group Health Watch USA, said contact sports are “very problematic,” especially those played indoors. He said heavy breathing during exertion could raise the risk of covid even if students wear cloth masks. Ideally, he said, indoor contact sports should not be played until after the pandemic.

“These are not professional athletes,” Kavanagh said. “They’re children.”

A study released in January by University of Wisconsin researchers, who surveyed high school athletic directors representing more than 150,000 athletes nationally, bolsters the idea that indoor contact sports carry greater risks, finding a lower incidence of covid among athletes playing outdoor, non-contact sports such as golf and tennis.

Overall, “there’s not much evidence of transmission between players outdoors,” said Dr. Andrew Watson, lead author of the study, which he is submitting for peer-reviewed publication.

Dr. Jason Newland, a pediatrics professor at Washington University in St. Louis, said all sorts of youth sports, including indoor contact sports such as basketball, can be safe with the right prevention measures. He supported his daughter playing basketball while wearing a mask at her Kirkwood, Missouri, high school.

Doctors also pointed to other safety measures, such as forgoing locker rooms, keeping kids 6 feet apart when they’re not playing and requiring kids to bring their own water to games.

“The reality is, from a safety standpoint, sports can be played,” Newland said. “It’s the team dinner, the sleepover with the team — that’s where the issue shows up. It’s not the actual games.”

In Nevada’s Clark County School District, administrators said they’d restart sports only after students in grades 6-12 trickle back for in-person instruction as part of a hybrid model starting in late March. Cases in the county have dropped precipitously in recent weeks, from a seven-day average of 1,924 cases a day on Jan. 10 to about 64 on March 3.

In early April, practices for spring sports such as track, swimming, golf and volleyball are scheduled to begin, with intramural fall sports held in April and May. No spectators will be allowed.

Parents who wanted sports to start much earlier created Let Them Play Nevada, one of many groups that popped up to protest the suspension of youth athletics. The Nevada group rallied late last month outside the Clark County school district’s offices shortly before the superintendent announced the reopening of schools to in-person learning.

Let Them Play Nevada organizer Dennis Goughnour said his son, Trey, a senior football player who also runs track, was “very, very distraught” this fall and winter about not playing.

With the reopening, he said, Trey will be able to run track, but the intramural football that will soon be allowed is “a joke,” essentially just practice with a scrimmage game.

“Basically, his senior year of football is a done deal. We are fighting for maybe one game, like a bowl game for the varsity squad at least,” he said. “They have done something, but too little, too late.”

Goughnour said Let Them Play is also fighting to have spectators at games. Limits on the numbers of spectators have riled parents across the nation, provoking “a ton of pushback,” said Niehoff, of the high school federation.

Parents have also objected to travel restrictions, quarantine rules and differing mask requirements. In Orange County, Florida, hundreds of parents signed a petition last fall against mandatory covid testing for football players.

Students, for their part, have quickly adjusted to pandemic requirements, including rules about masks, distancing and locker rooms, said Matt Troha, assistant executive director of the Illinois High School Association.

Kassis, the Ohio baseball player, said doing what’s required to stay safe is a small price to pay to get back in the game.

“We didn’t get to play at all last spring. I didn’t touch a baseball this summer,” he said. “It’s my senior year. I want to have a season and I’ll be devastated if we don’t.”

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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This story can be republished for free (details).

For Spring Season, Young Athletes Get Back in the Game Despite Covid Risk published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

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diaspora9ja · 4 years ago

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TSN Archives: Kevin Dyson, Mike Jones meet again to discuss ‘The Tackle’ in Titans-Rams Super Bowl

EDITOR’S NOTE: No nationwide publication has a richer sports activities historical past than that of The Sporting Information, which was based in 1886. The next content material appeared within the July 3, 2000 situation of The Sporting Information journal.

On the final play of Tremendous Bowl 34 in Atlanta, Rams linebacker Mike Jones stopped Titans extensive receiver Kevin Dyson in need of the aim line on the final play of the sport, sealing a 23-16 victory for St. Louis. The play that has grow to be generally known as “The Deal with” is among the many most well-known in Tremendous Bowl historical past. Months after the sport, Dyson agreed to let Sporting Information fly him to St. Louis for a sit-down with Jones to look at and talk about the play.

Unique publish date: July 3, 2000

They Meet Once more

By Dennis Dillon

(SN Archives) https://photos.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/c4/a6/jones-dyson-012819-snjpg_18vl5du9wy3f01s2gghhwotci0.jpg?t=-1787794640&w=500&high quality=80

Shhhh. Come on in and have a seat. Sorry the sunshine is dim, however your eyes will modify.

See these two guys sitting within the entrance row? The one on the (proper), his hair in braids, is Kevin Dyson, the extensive receiver for the Tennessee Titans. The opposite one, with the freshly shaved head, is Mike Jones, the St. Louis Rams’ linebacker. That is proper, the 2 gamers who gave us probably the most incredible end in Tremendous Bowl historical past.

They’re right here, on this assembly room at Rams Park, to dissect and talk about the tie that may eternally bind them — the ultimate play in Tremendous Bowl 34. A Play so momentous in its consequence, but so basic in its execution that it’s identified by a easy appellation. The Deal with.

That is it frozen on the projection display screen. Bear in mind the scenario? Rams main, 23-16 … Titans’ ball … first down on the Rams’ 10-yard line … six seconds left … no timeouts.

It is mid-Could, 3 1/2 months for the reason that Tremendous Bowl, however this can be solely the second time Dyson has watched the play. The primary time was the day after the sport, when the Titans returned to Nashville from Atlanta. Dyson secluded himself contained in the workplace of receivers coach Steve Walters and appeared for what — if something — he may have achieved otherwise. He has a TV videotape of the Tremendous Bowl, however the final six seconds would possibly as effectively be clean. He merely has been unable to convey himself to look at them. When the Titans premiered their 1999 spotlight movie at their coaching facility and the ultimate play of the sport appeared on the display screen, Dyson could not bear to look. Sitting there in the dead of night, on the aisle main as much as the second tier of seats within the room, he lowered his head.

However Dyson agreed to let Sporting Information fly him to St. Louis to take a seat down with Jones and study the play. “I wished to listen to what he needed to say about it,” Dyson says. “If it was simply me. I most likely would not have actually wished to look at it.”

It appears as if everybody has wished to look at the play with Jones. Within the week after the Tremendous Bowl, he went on a whirlwind journey to New York the place he appeared on Regis & Kathie Lee (“They weren’t very personable”), Charlie Rose (“He is an amazing interviewer”) and HBO’s Contained in the NFL. Considered one of Jones’ fondest moments was when the College of Missouri, his alma mater, saluted him throughout its ultimate dwelling basketball recreation March 1. He was invited to stroll to heart court docket and wave to the group, which gave him an ovation befitting a Tremendous Bowl hero.

“That was candy. I used to be in a position to get the monkey off my again,” says Jones, a staff captain in 1990, when the Tigers misplaced to Colorado within the notorious “Fifth Down” recreation.

The Tremendous Bowl has bereft of suspense all too typically, however Jones and Dyson collaborated to provide the final word climax January 30 within the Georgia Dome. Now they’ve convened to replay it — many times and once more. Six seconds of motion. Sixty minutes of scrutiny. Let’s go to the tape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2mLric-8oc

Tennessee, you will recall, had the ball for 13 minutes, 14 seconds within the fourth quarter and ran 32 performs to St. Louis’ 6 in that interval. The Rams’ protection was exhausted. Finish Kevin Carter and sort out D’Marco Farr took themselves out of the sport for one play with 28 seconds left, inflicting coach Dick Vermeil to clutch his head incredulously. When Dyson appeared over to the Rams’ sideline and noticed somebody pouring water on Carter, he smiled to himself.

Dyson, who had just one reception for 9 yards within the recreation’s first 58 minutes, caught three passes for 32 yards on the Titans’ game-ending possession. On the next-to-last play, quarterback Steve McNair scrambled, extremely escaped a sack try by Carter and Jay Williams — who dived at his ft concurrently — and accomplished a 16-yard go to Dyson. Rams cornerback Dexter McCleon stopped Dyson on the 10 and tried to carry him up, however Dyson well went down, and the Titans known as their final timeout.

As McNair got here to the sideline, coach Jeff Fisher conferred with offensive coordinator Les Steckel, who was up within the coaches’ sales space. The Titans had been of their “gotta win” sequence of performs, and Steckel known as a mouthful: “Gun spear proper open zag agency silver proper Detroit.” In easy phrases, it was a shotgun formation with two receivers to every aspect. Dyson and tight finish Frank Wycheck had been to line up on the suitable aspect. “Open” meant that Wycheck could be cut up out, away from the suitable sort out; Dyson was to line up exterior of Wycheck and barely behind the road. “Silver” known as for Dyson to run a slant sample and Wycheck to run a vertical route.

The Rams went with a nickel protection and introduced in a contemporary pair of legs at proper finish. They changed Grant Wistrom with linebacker Leonard Little, hoping to get a velocity rush on McNair’s blindside. Jones, McCleon and security Billy Jenkins positioned themselves on the Wycheck-Dyson aspect in a triangular alignment, every man representing a nook. Jones lined up on the 7, inside Wycheck; McCleon straddled the 5 on the skin of Dysonl and Jenkins stood behind them on the 2.

“Within the huddle, I do not suppose anyone had any doubt of their thoughts that we had been going to attain,” Dyson says. “We had been doing that each one 12 months lengthy — getting in shut video games and pulling them out.”

Jones presses the play button on the distant change and the play involves life on display screen. Dyson begins in movement, taking 5 steps towards the within. Now he stops, pivots and comes again exterior to his authentic spot. The Titans put Dyson in movement to maintain him from getting jammed on the line and camouflage the place he was going. Because the ball is snapped, Wycheck runs straight up the seam towards the top zone. Jones turns to his left and drops again with him.

“I am you proper now,” Dyson says to Jones. “As quickly as I noticed you flip your hips and take Wycheck, that is once I got here. I assumed you had been following Wycheck and I may creep in there.”

“Proper,” says Jones. “I did not suppose you noticed me down there. I slid again with Wycheck as a result of I did not need him coming behind me, however I nonetheless had my imaginative and prescient on you. You may not suppose I am you, however I am you the entire time.”

However that is rather more complicated than a recreation of peekaboo. Return to the beginning of the play. One of many key parts for the Rams is the pre-snap communication amongst Jenkins, Jones and McCleon.

Jenkins initially calls out “Trio!” — a 3-on-2 protection, which suggests Jones is answerable for the primary receiver, Wycheck or Dyson, who breaks inside; McCleon is to take the primary receiver who breaks exterior, and Jenkins will again them up. When Jones turns his head to the left to relay the Trio name again to Jenkins, Dyson goes in movement inside. Jenkins strikes throughout the sphere with Dyson yelling, “Connie!” Now the protection has been modified. Jenkins and Jones will double-team Dyson — Jenkins taking the within, Jones the skin — and McCleon will go one-on-one with Wycheck. Jones turns and appears over his proper shoulder to present that decision again to Jenkins. Simply when he does that, Dyson reverses his area and goes again exterior.

“Should you guys had snapped the ball proper there, we’re in large bother,” Jones says. “We had been form of in a Catch-22 right here.” However as Dyson returns to his authentic spot, Jenkins yells, “Trio!” once more. Three protection calls and the ball hasn’t even been snapped.

As Wycheck goes upfield, Dyson strikes into the world vacated by the tight finish, swinging simply barely to the skin. On the 7, he slants inside. He would not make a pointy minimize; the break is extra like a crescent sample. This catches Dyson’s consideration as he watches the movie.

” this once more, if I had come flatter, I may need been in a position to outrun you to the top zone,” he tells Jones. “No person else goes to make this play however you. So possibly if I had come flat extra across the 5-yard line and tried to outrun you … .”

MORE: The place 1999 Rams rank amongst all-time Tremendous Bowl winners

As he breaks inside on the 7, Dyson turns his head again and appears for McNair’s go. He snares it simply as he crosses the 5. “It was an ideal ball — within the abdomen, low, in entrance of me,” Dyson says.

Simply as Dyson cuts inside, McCleon factors animatedly towards him together with his left arm. He’s yelling, “In! In! In!” to Jones who already is aware of the go is coming to Dyson. He drops off Wycheck.

“I may see your eyes getting larger,” Jones tells Dyson. “You possibly can inform when a receiver is about to get a ball. They have to look again, flip their head, then they have to get their palms able to catch the ball.”

Until he takes a receiver one-on-one, Jones says, he’s supposed to remain out of the top zone in protection. The aim line is his boundary line. Jones follows Wycheck to the three, then passes him off to Jenkins, who’s in the long run zone.

“If Wycheck had taken me just a bit bit wider, you then and I’d have had a footrace,” Jones says. “Since you would have had extra space to run, and I’d have had extra space to cowl.”

When Jones sees Dyson look again for the ball, he stops, turns his hips again inside and provides chase. No different Rams participant is in place to cease Dyson from attending to the top zone. All that hangs within the stability is the end result of the Tremendous Bowl.

Pause the tape for a second. Let’s discover out extra about Dyson and Jones, and the way they reached this important soccer intersection.

Dyson, 25, a record-setting receiver on the College of Utah, was the sixteenth participant chosen within the 1998 draft — the one receiver taken forward of Randy Moss. The Titans, like a lot of their NFL brethren, believed Moss’ off-field issues made him an excessive amount of of a danger. They favored the 6-1 Dyson’s measurement/velocity mixture; their 40-yard sprint time on Dyson (4.39) was truly two-hundredths of a second sooner than what they’d on Moss.

After a mediocre rookie season wherein he caught 21 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns, Dyson was the Titans’ second-leading receiver (behind Wycheck) final season, with 54 receptions for 658 yards and 4 TDs.

But it surely was as a particular groups fill-in that he reached an apotheosis for the franchise previously generally known as the Houston Oilers. Dyson wasn’t even alleged to be on the sphere when the Titans’ kick-return staff lined up with solely 16 seconds left and Tennessee trailing Buffalo, 16-15, in a wild-card playoff recreation final January 8. However two different members of the return staff had been injured, so Dyson was drafted. Lorenzo Neal fielded the kick and pitched the ball again to Wycheck, who threw a cross-field lateral (it was dangerously near an unlawful ahead go) to Dyson. The Titans name the play “Dwelling Run Throwback.” Seventy-five yards later, Dyson was in the long run zone, his landing eternally to be generally known as the “Music Metropolis Miracle.”

“It was most likely the biggest factor in my sports activities life,” Dyson says. Simply 22 days later, he would expertise the nadir.

However Dyson has been elegant within the wake of the ultimate Tremendous Bowl play. He even has been gracious sufficient to autograph footage that present him mendacity on the sphere, the ball in his outstretched arm in need of the aim line. Earlier than coaching camp, he’ll fly to Mount Laurel, N.J., to movie a phase for NFL Movies. Will probably be a spoof on the HBO sequence, The Sopranos , wherein Dyson will search a physician’s assist.

“I am going to see a psychiatrist due to this play. I can not attain the pepper. I can not attain my alarm clock. … I most likely must see one for actual,” he says, laughing. “No, I am simply kidding. I am advantageous. I actually am advantageous.”

(Getty Pictures) https://photos.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/2b/52/kevin-dyson-012819-gettyjpg_pjpduwf2eivj1oss583abr3he.jpg?t=-1785518704&w=500&high quality=80

Jones made an not noticeable entrance into the NFL. He was not among the many 334 gamers drafted in 1991, when the choice course of was 12 rounds. He performed operating again and fullback at Missouri, and his agent wished him to signal a free-agent contract with the Broncos. However the Raiders signed him and switched him to linebacker on the urging of Mike Ward, who had been Jones’ operating backs coach at Missouri. When the Raiders despatched out an analysis kind throughout Jones’ senior season, Ward crammed it out — with a 1 1/2 web page, hand-written letter to Raiders proprietor Al Davis as an addendum. Ward was satisfied that Jones may play linebacker within the NFL. In reality, Ward and defensive coordinator Mike Curch had lobbied to change Jones to linebacker at Missouri, however head coach Bob Stull squelched the concept.

“I knew he wasn’t going to get drafted as a operating again within the NFL,” Ward remembers. “His velocity was 4.6 to 4.7. He ran a bit of bit upright, a bit of vertical for a operating again, and that is not good. He had common measurement. He did not match the mould of what they had been on the lookout for at fullback. What satisfied me that he could be a linebacker within the NFL, and even in faculty, was his means to open up his hips and run. Quite a lot of guys are stiff; this man was easy and fluid. And the way in which he may speed up out and in of breaks … in different phrases cease and go, And, then, cerebrally talking, he was unimaginable. I knew he may learn formations. I knew he may learn tendencies.”

Jones steadily ascended from particular groups participant to nickel linebacker to starter with the Raiders. He grew to become a free agent after the ’96 season, however a number of the Rams’ coaches had been reluctant to convey him to St. Louis as a result of they wanted a strongside linebacker who may cowl the tight finish and rush the passer. Jones had carried out neither function with the Raiders.

By means of dedication on the follow area, in movie examine and within the weight room, Jones, 31, developed into the participant the Rams wanted. He grew to become an iron man who was irreplaceable. He performed in 1,045 of 1,047 defensive snaps in ’97 and all 1,004 performs in ’98. Final season, he intercepted 4 passes (returning two for touchdowns), recovered two fumbles (one in every of which he changed into a TD), made one sack, defensed 13 passes, produced 11 quarterback pressures and was third on the staff in tackles. For the third consecutive 12 months, he was voted by his teammates as winner of the Carl Ekern Spirit of the Recreation Award, named for a former Rams linebacker and given to the participant who greatest exemplifies sportsmanship, work ethic and dedication to his teammates.

“Mike is somebody everybody ought to sample their profession round,” says Rams free security Keith Lyle. “He works arduous, he research. He does all the mandatory issues to organize himself for Sunday.”

(Getty Pictures) https://photos.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/eb/ce/mike-jones-012819-gettyjpg_18zwo22595cov12e0rxx9ey7hh.jpg?t=-1785593496&w=500&high quality=80

Jones, Carter and cornerback Todd Lyght normally play on the left aspect of the Ram’s protection they usually all the time have a rallying cry. In the course of the Tremendous Bowl they determined the one in every of them needed to make the massive play of the sport. Within the second quarter, Carter sacked McNair for a 6-yard loss. Early within the third quarter, Lyght blocked a field-goal try. Standing on the sideline earlier than the ultimate sequence of the sport, Jones jokingly instructed Carter that it was his flip to make a play of magnitude.

Like the opposite Rams defensive gamers, Jones was drained. And his ankle “was killing me.” A Titans lineman had unintentionally stepped on Jones’ ankle halfway by means of the fourth quarter. However Jones by no means left the sphere. And now got here the ultimate, pivotal second.

As Dyson catches McNair’s go, about 3 yards separate him and Jones, who closes the hole rapidly. Dyson would not even take two full strides earlier than Jones lunges at him. Stretched out virtually horizontally, his proper foot off the bottom, Jones reaches out together with his proper arm and grabs Dyson’s proper leg slightly below the hip.

“Once I reached out and grabbed you,” Jones says, “you are going a technique and I am going one other. I knew I acquired a superb wrap on you initially with my proper arm. I attempt to convey my left arm round and your momentum swings me all the way in which round.”

In bodily phrases, it’s very similar to a centripetal drive, the drive tending to drag a rotating object towards the middle of rotation. Dr. Ian Redmount, a physicist at St. Louis College who watched the Tremendous Bowl and remembers the play, estimates it required the 202-pound Dyson to exert a drive of practically 300 kilos to swing the 240-pound Jones.

When he’s swung round, Jones clamps his left hand on Dyson’s left leg, simply above the knee. It would possibly simply as effectively be a metal entice. Dyson’s leg his snared, his ahead progress stopped. As if that is not sufficient, Jones falls on the again of the leg.

“If you first hit me, I assumed I may run by means of the arm,” Dyson says. “I am considering, ‘If I can get by means of this … ‘ Then unexpectedly my ft stopped.”

“You are in if you may get that left leg up as a result of you are going to fall ahead,” Jones says.

“That is what I wanted — yet one more step,” Dyson says. “I could not get that left leg shifting.”

“Once I tackled you, I knew you had been already down as a result of I had my hand in your leg,” Jones says. “I used to be at concerning the 3-yard line and I knew you were not 7 ft tall.”

Dyson chuckles at this comment.

(Getty Pictures) https://photos.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/c3/58/the-tackle-012819-getty-ftrjpg_cuvzueoml9zg13narb5pxbv42.jpg?t=-1790768008&w=500&high quality=80

As Dyson goes down, he rolls over on his left aspect and, whereas mendacity on his again, tries to stretch the ball throughout the aim line together with his proper arm. Too brief. Lyle comes over from the opposite aspect of the filed and tries to knock the ball out of Dyson’s hand, however Dyson pulls it again. Dyson rolls over on his abdomen, switches the ball to his left hand and stretches it throughout the aim line. Too late. His knee already has touched the bottom.

For a second, there may be an eerie silence on the sphere as gamers and coaches from each groups watch for a sign. Discipline decide Al Jury comes operating in from the suitable aspect and factors to the bottom, indicating the ball was in need of the aim line when Dyson’s knee went down.

The one factor Dyson can do is hope for a miracle. A penalty flag? A overview of the play? A malfunction within the clock? Within the final scene of the videotape, Dyson, nonetheless on his abdomen, appears up on the clock. He watches it go from 0:01 to 0:00.

“I stand up and I do not know the place you went,” Jones says to Dyson. “I acquired hugged by sort out Jeff Zgonina and the following factor I knew there’s all this confetti coming down and all these individuals dashing on the sphere to get these platforms up for the trophy presentation. It was loopy.”

“After the sport, anyone mentioned it was an ideal sort out,” Dyson says. “I mentioned on an ideal sort out, you’ll have squared up and hit me so arduous.”

“It is humorous,” Jones says, “as a result of the angle I make the sort out at … if I attempt to run by means of you, you’d most likely ricochet off me.”

“The center of the sphere was so open,” Dyson says. “Should you weren’t there, I’d have walked into the top zone … Even once I was happening, it appeared like that finish zone was so shut.”

“It was,” says Jones, laughing. Dyson laughs too. However with a bit much less gusto.

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