#i absolutely think him going back to kansas makes the most narrative sense but the finale lacked closure

[cleargreyskies]

It has now been 12 hours after I watched it and I have finally made up my mind that I am underwhelmed by the Ted Lasso finale. (spoilers and typos in the tags)

[time-is-restored]

ted lasso 3x11

got through the latest episode tonight, below are unassorted ramblings abt a kansas ending (which i, despite being almost certain is where the show is heading, am still ardently rooting against):

so i was talking a little with my family abt the extremely likely kansas ending*, and was mentioning how much i really don't vibe with it. i said smth like 'i mean, what's even there for him in kansas?' to which they said (fairly, and rightfully!) 'his son!'. like, that's a pretty bulletproof argument, so i guess im just writing this to figure out why i feel like even that isn't. idk. enough?

[*though if that is the ending, what's the point of the cliffhanger? it's the most obvious + expected outcome, how would it be a 'reveal'? idk, some part of me is still praying for one of those classic Twists™ ig]

like. we've known that ted has a kid since day one. we've known that he loves + misses that kid since day one. according to the text, the number one reason ted left kansas was as a last ditch effort to save his marriage, by giving michelle as much space as humanly possible. they were divorced by the middle of the season, and ted chose to stay at the end.

so like. idk. am i missing something? did he just stay bc he felt an obligation to the team? and now that they're doing well (absurdly, breaking the bounds of belief well), he feels okay moving on? like many ppl have already pointed out, that's a pretty standard plot line in these kind of stories: the mary poppin's style exit stage right. but, say ted goes home (potentially even without beard???? agh??). what's happened to him, these past few seasons? what's different now?

like, it kind of feels like im only gonna be hurt by reading in between the lines here, but kansas doesn't seem to hold a lot of good associations for ted w/o the bedrock of his + michelle's marriage. he's reduced to a morose, spaced out mess within 5 minutes of talking with his mother, he very nearly goes through the Extremely fucked up move of paying someone to spy on michelle after seeing her + jake together for an afternoon, and ofc if anything even remotely reminds him of his dad he gets triggered really badly.

and of course, maybe the idea is 'well, he's started to cope with that all now, and he's starting to talk openly with his mum + grieve his dad, so he has the tools to return' but like. does he???? his support system are EXTREMELY london based. setting aside sharon since he could always telehealth w her, all of the positive progress he's made in his 'home' life seem to exclusively come after he talks w his support group at richmond.

he ended up admitting he was mad at michelle after speaking with the diamond dogs, he was pulled out of his obsessive spiral by rebecca, and he was able to put words to his feelings abt his mum by talking w jamie. to be clear, those are all massively positive things for ted to have done, and i think they at least make a good case for ted progressive positively w his mental health (even if its all gotten a bit tell don't show in this last season). but like. what happens when all that's on the other side of an ocean?

to be clear, from the perspective of real life, it absolutely makes sense that ted would want to return to his son. but on a narrative level, im just. i feel like im being expected to take certain things about ted + henry's relationship for granted, when the text itself hasn't even tried to make those things apparent.

is henry miserable or even generally upset when he has to leave his dad/go back to his mum? not that we ever see! im pretty sure the only time we've seen henry explicitly upset is when ted was ignoring him while he was like five feet away which, yeah, mood! and last we saw, henry even sees more enthused abt richmond winning the whole thing than ted is, so its not like he thinks his dad is just going away to do absolutely nothing of import.

do ted and henry not spend a lot of time together/talk very often? technically we don't see enough of ted's daily routine to know for sure, but the casual mention of playing roblox seems to imply they spend a lot of time together! and ofc none of their phone calls ever have the vibe of 'i haven't spoken to you in ages, here's ALL THE THINGS you've missed!'. they're almost all abt stuff that happened that day.

is ted struggling with being away from henry? well... yes, duh, but i don't even think this season's done particularly well establishing THAT (incredibly obvious and free) piece of ted characterisation.

is ted capable of feeling anything other than vague nostalgia (ie: all of his annecdotes being set there) or extreme distress wrt kansas? apparently not! like, seriously, what is there for him? does he have any friends? a job? family that isn't his mother? where's he gonna live? does he miss the weather? his neighbours? like i am literally on my hands and knees give me ONE (1) concrete opinion ted has about the fucking place that isn't about its FOOD (<- ESPECIALLY coming off the back of an episode where ted was able to experience texan food So Authentic™ that it inspired a literal career-changing epiphany?? like HOW are we supposed to take that as anything other than 'ted is at his best when he acknowledges BOTH of his lives rather than cutting one out in favour of the other'???).

idk. i guess my real problem this late in the game is i can see so many POTENTIAL versions of this show, but what ive been given doesn't feel like it matches up with any of them.

i can imagine a story in which ted's avoidance + variations upon running-away tactics for dealing w conflict get thoroughly deconstructed and challenged while in london, so at the end of the show he's finally emotionally prepared to return to his life in kansas even though it's never going to be a fairytale picturesque no-problems-ever ending again.

i can imagine a story in which going back to kansas isn't good for ted, and will be a major sacrifice, but it's a sacrifice he will be making with the support of his new friends + family, and something that he is determined to make in order to be there w his son, all meaningfully juxtaposed w how he feels his dad 'quit' on him.

i can imagine a story where ultimately, the life that ted's made alongside richmond is just as important to him as his life in kansas, and so he + michelle work out a more equal and long-term custody arangement* with henry (it definitely seems like the 'you get him for the whole year and i get him on school break' was something haphazardly worked out while they were both still under the assumption he'd be in richmond for less than a year), and they alternate who goes to whose home for holidays and shit.

[*side note, why hasn't that come up at all? i'd personally think somewhere around the six month mark of working overseas i'd want to have a talk w my expartner + kid about a schedule that isn't so much of a 80/20 split? like, it's fine if henry moving isn't on the table at all for one reason or another, but at least take the time to actually SAY that??? like, what does michelle do for a living? why is SHE so happy to stay there? give me Literally Anything here gang!!!]

...but ultimately what ive actually seen on screen feels like it fits into none of those categories. eleven hours (in as many episodes!! HOUR! long! episodes!!!!!!) in and i feel like i know infinitely less about ted + his mental state than i did in s1. like, from episode to episode, the writer's aren't sure if he's stuck, or progressing, or going through that classic recovery 'one step forwards, two steps back' dance, or just completely and utterly depressed. there's no continuity. nothing that happens to him in one episode seems to have literally any bearing at all on the ted in the next episode. if u scrubbed all of the notable Ted Scenes™ of any overarching plot references, and shuffled them all up, i genuinely think you would end up w a plateau of scenes totally indistinguishable from each other!*

[*of course, this is my main critique of s3 for like. literally everyone, but it's paticularly damning when im left feeling this lost about the main fucking guy.]

i don't know. i guess after the past few weeks of being really genuinely hurt + angry + upset abt the choices made this season, the feeling im left with near the end of it all is. underwhelmed. and im really not sure what 3x12 could possibly do to change that feeling... even if i am still regrettably, but sincerely rooting for a last minute switcheroo.

[eggoreviews]

9 Things That Need to Happen in Breath of the Wild’s Sequel

Just as I was getting over my intense love for Breath of the Wild, Nintendo go and drop that trailer on us at E3 and stop my whole ass heart. Hi, I’m two months late to the party on this one, but I’ve had a lot of time to think over what this sequel can learn from its predecessor and the rest of the series, as well as what brand new stuff can be brought to the table to make this sequel as spectacular as the first. Without further ado, here’s my list of 9 things Nintendo should do to make this amazing, as well as my own personal theories on what they could do to make it happen. Enjoy!

Spoilers for Breath of the Wild ahead!

1. Ditch the shrines

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the shrines in Breath of the Wild, I loved how difficult some of them were to find, how they brilliantly utilised each and every mechanic in the game and testing you on everything you’ve learned. These shrines were the ultimate compliment to a game that really wasn’t about holding your hand. But I think they’ve had their time, and it might be a nice idea to go back to some of the larger, more traditional dungeons of Zelda past. I’m not saying to go back to the old way of ‘you get given an item, it’s useful for one dungeon and that’s all��, I’m saying they need to definitely keep the massive variety of ways you can approach dungeons to keep that sense of freedom intact, but at the same time give us whole new types of dungeon with more visual variety. Abandoned forts, weird Lorule-esque dark versions of dungeons, towers, there’s really any kind of location they could explore when designing a new set of dungeons. Oh, and I adored the divine beasts, but I’m hoping for something completely different and surprising when it comes to main story dungeons this time around.

2. A whole new world map

If there’s one thing I think basically everyone agrees on, it’s that Breath of the Wild absolutely nailed its world. A huge, sprawling map with a variety of locales to explore and all of it packed to the brim with extra content and adventure-y fun. But we all know this world inside out, and even if they strip it bare and fill it with brand new secrets, it’ll still feel too much like something we’ve seen before. So from what we know from the trailer, it seems like Link and Zelda will be delving into the underground in this latest installment, so a fairly safe theory would be that they’ll uncover a whole new world down there, perhaps a forgotten and buried civilisation from thousands of years ago, now overgrown with Ganon’s influence and bizarre plants and animals that don’t exist on the surface. If they’re going full Majora’s Mask on this one, I think Nintendo’s best bet is to fully embrace this new darker tone they’ve shown to us and give us a world that is as twisted as that trailer.

3. Keep Zelda’s importance to the plot

I could honestly make a whole separate blog post about the evolution of Zelda as a character throughout the series, from her literally being asleep the whole time in Zelda II, to her role as more of a quest-giver in Ocarina and more recent games like Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword where she plays a much more active role in the plot. In Breath of the Wild however, they did something completely different that I adored; they made her into her own person. I mean sure, she was never completely devoid of character, but between the games where she wasn’t really there and the games where she’s outshone by every other character, Breath of the Wild really felt like her time to be properly fleshed out and have enough depth to be remembered. Sure, Zelda doesn’t turn up in the flesh until the end, but you spend the whole game with her voice guiding you, with you finding memories of your past with Zelda; how she seemed to have only contempt for you at the beginning because of Link’s fulfilled destiny compared to hers. You form your own opinion of her through her actions and how the champions perceive her (Urbosa as her sort of mother figure, Revali sees her as ever so slightly inferior for not being able to access her power and the mutual respect between Mipha and Zelda). Then you watch their relationship grow and change into something neither of them can really understand, but they become so close and so integral to each other that Zelda is the one to finally make him open up about himself. And that makes it all the more heartbreaking that Link has had all these memories snatched away from him and, of course, all the more gratifying when he finally gets them back so him and you, the player, both understand that you’re not just fighting for the safety of a realm you’ve been shoved into with no recollection of what’s happening, you’re fighting to be reunited with Link’s closest friend. Very probably more than friend, considering that final memory in Korok Forest. Nintendo did a brilliant job of laying the groundwork for Zelda not as a plot device or a damsel in distress, but a real, complex human being who enriches the story and makes the world you’re living in and what you’re fighting for feel more alive. So build on top of this! Keep developing Zelda, ask those questions of how Zelda feels now she’s free of Ganon and her constant fear of her power failing, how 100 years alone facing a demon has affected her mental health and, most of all, how everything that happened in Breath of the Wild changed their relationship. Are they together now? Do they have any idea what they are really? Do they just pick up where they left off or do they have to make an active effort to regain that close relationship they had before? I don’t know, but I’m really hoping we find out.

4. Ditch the sheikah slate

Get rid of it. Do it, cowards. Make Link drop it over a ledge in the first 10 minutes or something. Much like the shrines, the sheikah slate was such a fantastic idea and gave you 4 brand new powers to play around with in the massive sandbox world full of puzzles and it was great fun! But again, we know those powers too well now; we know how they work and how they can be exploited when you think outside of the box. What I want is for Nintendo to keep that brilliant creativity when it comes to gameplay mechanics, don’t just give us bombs and an ocarina again, give us something unique to this experience! I mean yeah, they could just give us an updated sheikah slate; a different model perhaps that dates back even further than the original one that has some weird abilities (maybe even a slate that’s somehow been infected with Ganon’s influence, that’d be funky), but my hopes are riding on Nintendo pulling something completely different out of the bag for this one. Making Link lose everything and only be able to use whatever he can salvage in this ancient, evil place is surely going to have a whole host of ideas behind it so I’m curious to see what they can come up with.

5. Embrace the darker tone

This sort of goes without seeing considering what we’ve seen so far, but I really want them to go full in with this darker atmosphere they’ve shown us. I mean, Breath of the Wild was never a ‘light’ game so to speak, but most of the games darker elements were masked by its beautiful landscapes and huge array of colourful characters that made Hyrule feel alive. There hints here and there of a much more macabre side to the realm; destroyed battlefield littered with rusty weapons, old structures covered in Ganon’s malice and the general feeling that Ganon was always watching you from the castle that you can see basically anywhere on the map. I want them to take that mild dread they instilled and turn it up to eleven. And one way that can be accentuated is through the plot. For example, we know a fair amount about the Sheikah tribe at this point, but what if there’s a side that was never explored? What if there’s a much more sinister reason why the Sheikah tribe were suddenly shunned by the royal family all those years ago? Or maybe the Sheikah found something under the castle as well as the divine beasts that they left buried down there and hoped no one would ever find it. Oh, and I’ve heard a theory that Calamity Ganon was just a puppet of the real Ganondorf, who was hiding underneath the castle all this time, which is absolutely terrifying if you consider what the puppet managed to achieve on its own. Not just plot stuff like this, but the music (keep that ambient style they went for before that knows when to amp it up and make it epic, but with a creepier vibe to match the tone of the world), the visuals, the sounds you hear while exploring. Nintendo need to make it clear that we aren’t in Kansas anymore; no more soft piano melodies while riding through beautiful valleys on my horse, make it spooky!! Unsettling, distorted notes playing through dark, twisted woods with trees gnarling into each other and shiny eyes peeking out at you from the canopy. Or something. Who knows, I just wanna be spooked.

6. A much fuller story

One of the main criticisms I always hear for this game is its lack of story content, which I suppose is true to an extent. But I don’t think this let the game down at all really. The game was far less linear than previous titles, so it makes sense that the story they were telling was much more general, but I don’t think this kind of approach would fit as well in its sequel. Nintendo told us just enough in Breath of the Wild to keep us guessing; we were introduced to this particular version of Hyrule, its inhabitants and what Ganon’s up to etc. But they’ve deliberately been extremely vague on what could possibly be explored in a sequel, as well as where/if these two games even fit into the overall Zelda timeline. They deliberately lifted focus off the narrative to make the world and how you traverse it the central point of your adventure. But now that they seem to be plunging us into a much darker world and have given us so many unanswered questions, I reckon its time to dial the narrative back up and give us a bit more of a beefy story to go with our hell exploring.

7. Change in characters

Slightly vague subtitle, but here’s what I mean. As I mentioned beforehand, Breath of the Wild is full of colourful characters that populate the towns as well as the general landscapes, from merchants to adventurers and shield-surfers to Beedle (I love Beedle). And for the most part, these characters all want to help you along on your journey by giving you helpful advice or sending you off on quests to find more shrines. And while I’m not saying this sequel should do away with all helpful NPCs, I do think there should be fewer of them. When designing new towns and settlements, they could give us the odd helpful citizen here and there, but for the most part, how would the inhabitants of this forgotten underground place treat Link? I think it would add to the atmosphere really well by having some of the characters that populate the world deliberately unnerve Link when giving him advice or telling him something helpful and then mocking him at how ineffectual he is at completing his quest. Or if they really want to go a bit overboard, they could even have occasional encounters where talking to the wrong NPCs can end in a random fight, in the same vein as the disguised Yiga in Breath of the Wild. But of course, you don’t want to only populate a world with characters that hate you (that’s what MediEvil is for), so some form of guide would maybe be a welcome addition. If not Zelda (I would definitely welcome the idea of her being along for the ride, though I fear it would take away some of the nerves if you have Zelda as an anchor of familiarity), then perhaps the ghost of a Sheikah from thousands of years past that never agreed with what his tribe were doing or was responsible for something in his life that he now deeply regrets and he can’t pass on until Link helps to finally defeat the real Ganon. Who knows what they’ll do with the characters, but as long as they leave Navi and Tatl back on the N64, pretty much anything will do me.

8. Keep the stamina wheel

As much as I’ve bleated on about everything I want them to change or add in, this is something I most definitely want them to keep. The core gameplay, while I can’t imagine them really changing it, is integral to the sandbox world they created. Having Link be able to sprint, jump, climb up literally anything is what gave players such a sense of freedom; being given this whole massive world to explore and being able to access absolutely all of it. And while I’ve talked a lot about how much I’d like this sequel’s tone and approach to narrative and a bunch of other things to change, this game absolutely needs to keep the same sense of unabashed freedom we had in the first game. And the most integral part of that freedom was the stamina wheel. Short segment I know, but that’s all I really had to say on that one. Let me climb things, Nintendo.

9. Switch up the monsters

In Breath of the Wild, there was an excellent balance of amazing new designs for old favourite monsters, as well as a whole host of new ones (the guardians and the moldugas getting a special mention here). But I reckon what this sequel needs is some brand new monsters to add to the pile; a larger variety of monsters to encounter out in the wilderness would enrich this new darker world we could be exploring to no end. Also, while I really loved all the main story bosses in BotW, I feel as if a larger design variety of story bosses would benefit this sequel. Imagine the potential for whatever ancient monsters are down under the castle to give Link a hard time and what kind of an epic fight is Ganondorf going to put up when we finally get there?? Just as a little idea to throw out there, maybe undead Sheikah will make an appearance as an enemy, woken from the dead and forced into Ganon’s service after being infected by malice. And hey, the Yiga Clan never really got full closure! Yeah Link gets rid of their leader, but the Clan is very much still alive and kicking by the time of Calamity Ganon’s death, so perhaps they’ll play a central role once again now that Ganondorf seems to have come back into the picture. What would make the Yiga even more menacing is if this were their plan all along; knowing that Link very well could defeat Calamity Ganon and then, after retaking the castle, be drawn underground to free the real culprit. Nobody knows what direction Nintendo are going to take with any of this, other than ‘it’ll probably be kinda spooky’, but I am way too excited to find out.

Got any cool ideas or theories of your own? Anything you want them to add or take away in this sequel? Drop it down below in the comments! I’d be v interested to hear if you have anything to add. Thanks for reading and let’s hope the wait isn’t too painful!

[ballbubble3-blog]

Ranking the 12 NFL playoff teams from worst to first

Playtime's over. The little kids have gone home for their nuggets and chips and an early bedtime, leaving the big boys to play their big boy games. Let the 2018 NFL playoffs begin.

There was plenty of high drama to close the regular season, with the Baltimore Ravens needing a last-ditch interception to seal a win over Cleveland and take the AFC North over the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had squeaked past the Cincinnati Bengals earlier in the day.

In the NFC the Vikings relinquished their grip of the sixth seed with defeat by the Bears and let the champion Eagles in the back door. Now Nick Foles has the opportunity to go and do it all again.

With a week's break before the Colts and Texans, Chargers and Ravens, Eagles and Bears, and Seahawks and Cowboys battle it out on wild card weekend, we've ranked the last 12 teams standing in the NFL by how likely they are to win the grand prize. Here they are, from worst to first ...

The Eagles are the wild card of this season's playoffs, and I don't just mean in the sense that they are literally a wild card team. They looked dead and buried just a few short weeks ago. The season had been written off as a colossal disappointment. Then Carson Wentz suffered a back injury, Nick Foles was back in, and he was beating the Rams in their own building - just as he did on the way to the Super Bowl.

Make no mistake, Wentz is a better quarterback than Foles, but Foles is the one the Eagles need right now. Sometimes narrative trumps all reason. What Foles has done, though, is get the best out of Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor, who had both been struggling with Wentz under centre. Zach Ertz had been doing the brunt of the work in the receiving game, breaking the season receptions record for a tight end in the process, but Foles has spread the love a little, and is offering more of a deep threat. Maybe it's because he's playing with nothing to lose.

Logic says Philadelphia can't defend their title. Beating the Bears in wild card weekend feels like an insurmountable task. But sport isn't always logical. Just ask Leicester City.

The Colts have been one of the most fun teams in the league this year, and no one really saw it coming. We all cautiously hoped Andrew Luck might get somewhere close to being the same player we all fell in love with five years ago, but no one predicted him leading the Colts to 10 wins and into January football. Luck has been aided by the best offensive line and running game he's had the pleasure to work with, but he deserves all the headlines. He's been excellent, and appears to be a smarter quarterback for his time on the sidelines.

The Colts went into the offseason with the sole aim of building a team to protect Luck. They drafted Quenton Nelson and created an line which has kept him sack-free in six of his 16 games. Most crucially, they've given him time in the pocket, which is when he's at his best. Not even a wide receiver room full of potentially made up players has been able to stop him.

The defense has also been an extremely pleasant surprise. They finished the season just outside the top 10 in yards allowed, and didn't let a rusher go over 100 all season. Rookie linebacker Darius Leonard deserves a special mention - the second-rounder leads the league in tackles and his Pro Bowl snub is a total crime. Will the Colts find themselves overmatched at some point in the postseason? Probably. But the future is extremely bright in Indianapolis once again.

10. Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott celebrates a touchdown pass in the Cowboys' win over the Giants Credit: USA TODAY

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If you're looking for a reason the Cowboys can win the Super Bowl, go back and watch their win over the Saints a few weeks back. That was the best defensive display I've seen from any NFL team all season. Dallas utterly dominated Drew Brees, words you rarely get to utter without ridicule, and then punished them on the ground with Ezekiel Elliott. That's exactly the blueprint for the Cowboys' success into January. If the likes of Jaylon Smith, Byron Jones, Leighton Vander Esch and Randy Gregory can play to the elite level they were during Dallas' five-game winning streak, they know Elliott will provide the goods to pound teams into submission when Dak Prescott has the ball.

Speaking of Prescott, is there a more underrated, or more unfairly maligned quarterback in football? Last week he became the first QB ever to win at least 30 games and throw fewer than 25 interceptions in his first three seasons. The comeback over the Giants on Sunday was his 14th game-winning drive of his career - no one has more since he entered the league - and it also marked his third straight season with 20 passing and five rushing touchdowns. No other quarterback in history even has two. 

The Cowboys' issue is in their coaching - I have no faith in Jason Garrett to take them to the Super Bowl, and think he is probably foiled by Pete Carroll on wild card weekend, but hey, stranger things have happened, right?

9. Houston Texans

DeAndre Hopkins has 115 catches and zero drops for the Texans this season Credit: USA TODAY

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The Texans have one very clear problem - Deshaun Watson can't stop getting sacked. Part of that is on the offensive line, which has been far better at run blocking than pass protection, but Watson is still guilty of holding on to the ball too long, and that's why he's taken an absolute battering this year - 62 sacks to be exact, the most in the NFL.

However, outside of that the Texans have a lot going for them. Watson has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league over the second half of the season, and hasn't thrown an interception since week 11 against the Redskins. His mobility in the pocket is a joy to watch, and he's hurting teams in the running game too - three rushing touchdowns in the last two weeks may be a sign of things to come in January.

It's in the running game that Houston have built the majority of their success. They're eighth in the league in rushing yards, with Lamar Miller enjoying one of the best seasons of his seven-year career. They rush the ball 45.5 per cent of the time, the sixth most in the NFL, and follow the old school philosophy of grinding teams down on both sides of the ball. The defense in top 10 in the league in yards and points allowed.

Finally, I can't talk about the Texans without mentioning DeAndre Hopkins, who's been the best receiver in the league this year for my money. Hopkins has 115 catches for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns. Want to know how many drops he has? Zero. Hopkins is so good it's often safer to throw to him in coverage than to another receiver when open. An incredible talent. 

8. Seattle Seahawks

Chris Carson has helped turn the Seahawks into the league's best rushing attack Credit: AP

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The Seahawks have the same philosophy as the Texans, except they do it just a little bit better. Seattle run the ball more than 50 per cent of the time - that's the most in the NFL - and the result is they lead the league in rushing yards. Chris Carson is the workhorse - a real tough, never-say-die back who anyone would want on their roster - but Mike Davis and Rashaad Penny are excellent second and third options.

No one saw the Seahawks' playoff run coming in September, but they're a different team now. A team which has shown an ability to win close games and push the very best opposition to the wire. The victories over Carolina, Green Bay and Minnesota stand out, as do the two one-score losses to the Rams, but it was last week's shootout defeat of the rampant Chiefs that really made the NFL sit up and remember: by god Russell Wilson is good.

Wilson was a secondary part of the Seahawks' offense for much of the year, often asked to throw fewer than 20 times per game. That's in total opposition to how he's been asked to carry the team in past seasons, but Seattle seem to have found the perfect balance down the stretch. Wilson outshone Patrick Mahomes in that win over Kansas City, and he's developed an almost telepathic connection with wide receiver Tyler Lockett. Wilson had a perfect passer rating when targeting Lockett this season, that's never happened before in NFL history, with any quarterback or any receiver. Watch out for these Seahawks, they can beat anyone on their day.

7. Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson rushing in a touchdown in the Ravens' crucial win over the Browns Credit: USA TODAY

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Can I tell you a secret? I was really happy when the Ravens, not the Steelers, scraped their way into the playoffs last night. It was not without drama. I don't mean anything against Pittsburgh - they serve fries inside their sandwiches there, which is inspired stuff - I'm just really excited to see what Lamar Jackson and this team can do in January. I think they're a sneaky bet to win the whole damn thing.

The Ravens are a totally different proposition since Jackson replaced Joe Flacco at quarterback. Everyone knows they want to run the ball at every opportunity - not just with the quarterback, but Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon too - but Jackson's sheer ability and awareness makes it so hard to stop. Just ask the Browns, Chargers, Buccaneers, Chiefs... you get the idea. Jackson's rushing stats in his first seven starts are incredible. He's gone for 119, 71, 75, 67, 95, 39 and 90, but he's far from the psuedo-running back/wide receiver so many would have you believe. Jackson has proved himself as a passer. Teams will come up with strategies to stop him as he puts together more tape in this league, but right now no one seems to have the answer.

Of course, Jackson couldn't be so successful without Baltimore's league-leading defense. They're the only team in the NFL averaging less than 300 yards and less than 18 points per game. I have a feeling these guys could go deep into January. In one-on-one match-ups, the Chiefs are the only team I'd take over Baltimore in the AFC.

6. New England Patriots

Tom Brady hasn't been as unstoppable for the Patriots this season Credit: USA TODAY

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When the Patriots book their customary first-round playoff bye (this is their ninth in a row, ludicrous behaviour), you normally expect them to go on and win the Super Bowl. That's just how it works. Not this year. I mean, not a single fibre of my being would be surprised to see Tom Brady hoist the Lombardi on Feb 3, but I think there are five other teams better set up to go all the way this season.

This is the worst Patriots defense in years - they're bad at stopping both the run and the pass - they have a lack of quality options at receiver now that Josh Gordon has been suspended, Rob Gronkowski appears to be in the twilight of his career and - whisper it - Brady has only been good, not great. Brady is far from a problem - he's still playing like a top 10 quarterback - but he's not the same world-beating guy who won MVP last year. He looks fallible.

The Pats have responded to this by leaning more on their run game, which makes sense, as they have one of the most varied and dangerous backfields in the league. Rookie Sony Michel had made a nice start to life in New England, James White is everything you expect from James White, and Bill Belichick has even been using Cordarrelle Patterson effectively as a rusher. Belichick can outcoach anyone - that's why you can never write off the Pats - but for the first time ever I'd feel comfortable betting against them this year.

5. Chicago Bears

Khalil Mack sacks Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins Credit: USA TODAY

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I think each one of these top five teams has a great shot at winning the Super Bowl, and the Bears have an opportunity to go from last in their division to first in the whole league, just as the Eagles did 10 months ago. Chicago have won their first division title since 2010 off the back of a formidable defense. The Bears already had a top 10 unit last year, but Khalil Mack has taken them to the next level. Mack's seven turnovers have helped Chicago to the second best differential in the NFL behind Seattle. He also has 12.5 sacks and 47 tackles, but Mack is far from the only star on this defense. Akiem Hicks has been excellent alongside him, and Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson have been unstoppable in the secondary. It feels like one of them pulls off a game-changing interception every week.

On offense, I don't see Mitchell Trubisky ever developing into a quarterback at the level of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson from his same draft class, but I do think he's solid. With a defense this good, that can be enough. Chicago have been able to get Jordan Howard more and more involved as the season's gone on, and Tarik Cohen is that X-factor player you never want to take your eyes off. There's a reason they called him the human joystick in college.

4. Los Angeles Chargers

Rookie safety Derwin James celebrates the Chargers' week 17 win in Denver Credit: USA TODAY

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The Chargers may just be the most balanced team in the NFL. They've actually been good for a couple of years, but couldn't help but pull off that oh so Chargery trick of blowing games and failing to live up to their massive potential. Such fun for their fans! This team is different. They proved that when they beat the Steelers with that brilliant come-from-behind win in week 13. They proved it again when they turned over the Chiefs two weeks later. Yep, these Chargers are for real, and they have the tools to go all the way.

Philip Rivers has played to an MVP level all year - his one wobble was in the defeat by Baltimore last week - Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler have been the most effective running back duo in the league, the offensive line is top level and Keenan Allen is one of the best receivers out there. Offense: check.

The defense gets a huge boost from Joey Bosa's return. He's now fit enough to line up alongside pro bowler Melvin Ingram, but LA's headliner has actually been a rookie - 16th overall pick Derwin James. The Chargers couldn't believe it when James fell to them in the draft, and his making a lot of other front offices look silly with his clear talent on the field. His 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions are indicative of a safety who can do it all. The game tape backs that up soundly. Defense: check. 

They even seem to have sorted their kicking problems out, with Michael Badgley looking accomplished since joining midway through the season. It might seem cruel to the San Diego faithful if their once-beloved team finally won the big one after deserting their city, but football, like life, can be a real SOB.

3. Los Angeles Rams

Aaron Donald finished the season with 20.5 sacks Credit: USA TODAY

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The Rams gave us a scare down the stretch. Three poor games in a row had us worrying they'd peaked too early, but they've assuaged fans' fears by blowing out the Cardinals and 49ers to close the season. I know, beating the Cardinals and 49ers isn't anything to shout about, but the Rams looked like their old selves in those victories. Most importantly Jared Goff rediscovered some form after putting in horrible showings against the Lions, Bears and Eagles.

The Rams have the most stacked offense in the NFL. Todd Gurley has been a touchdown machine, and now has CJ Anderson for support in the backfield. At receiver they miss Cooper Kupp, but still have Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Josh Reynolds all playing to a really high level. Question marks still hang over Goff despite his excellent start to the season, but Sean McVay is a good enough head coach to paper over his QB's cracks. It's hard to argue there's a better offensive play caller in football right now.

The defense has been an issue. It's given up 30 or more points seven times this season, and the return of Aqib Talib hasn't been the fix-all bandage many fans hoped. However, what LA do have on defense is possibly the best player in the National Football League period in Aaron Donald. Donald alone can turn games on their heads with his elite playmaking ability. His 20.5 sacks are silly numbers for an interior lineman. There's not been an easier Defensive Player of the Year vote in years. The Rams may be an offense-first outfit, but Donald is their MVP.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes has been special for the Chiefs as they've charged to 12-4 Credit: USA TODAY

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Patrick Mahomes is the MVP, and I will not hear otherwise. It's not even just the stats (though he's thrown for an outrageous 50 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards), it's the manner in which he's gone about putting up those numbers. Every week Mahomes makes throws no one else in the league can. And yes, that includes Aaron Rodgers. He'll rip you apart in the pocket and is lethal on the move. Name a more entertaining player to watch in the NFL right now and I'll call you a liar.

Mahomes is certainly helped by having one of the more unique receivers in the league at his disposal, in the form of Tyreek Hill, and one of the best receiving tight ends in Travis Kelce, but it's the big man on the sideline who really allows him to flourish. Andy Reid is one of the greatest offensive minds in football, and this Chiefs team is his greatest creation. He may never get a better shot at that elusive Lombardi trophy.

Kansas City's achilles heel is their defense. Yes they have big playmakers like Dee Ford and Chris Jones, but only five teams gave up more than the Chiefs' 26.4 points per game this season, and they're all picking at the top of the draft. In the last three weeks the Seahawks and Chargers - teams with top defenses - have found ways to beat them, and the Ravens came very close too. It's the Chargers and Ravens Reid will be most worried about facing again en route to Atlanta.

1. New Orleans Saints

Is Drew Brees on course to win the second Super Bowl of his career? Credit: AP

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The Saints are the team to beat in the NFL, and if anyone wants to stop them making it to the Super Bowl they're going to have to do it in New Orleans. That's an enormous factor - we know how good Drew Brees is in the Superdome, and that stadium will be absolutely rocking with a chance to win it all in their most hated rivals' hometown on the line.

For me, Brees finishes just behind Mahomes in the MVP race, but he's had another stunning season. His completion percentage of just under 75 per cent is the best in NFL history - the fourth time he's broken that record. He's thrown 32 touchdowns to just five interceptions - no starting quarterback in the league has fewer picks - and his QB rating of 115.7 is also a league-best.

But what's been most impressive about the Saints this year is the manner of some of their biggest wins. That commanding 45-35 victory over the Rams in week nine, the 48-7 demolition of the reigning champion Eagles in week 11, the desire and winning mentality they showed in week 16's comeback against the Steelers. This is a team who can win big football games, and once you get into January they don't come much bigger.

We know all about the Saints' offensive weapons - Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas are among the best players in the league at their position - but the New Orleans defense has improved markedly as the season's gone on. Their run defense ranks first in the NFL, and while the pass defense stats don't look great, they've been much better in the second half of the season, when Marshon Lattimore has got back to last season's level and with the addition of Eli Apple. The Saints are Super Bowl-bound. Change my mind.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-12-nfl-playoff-teams-085423254.html?src=rss

[buddyrabrahams]

10 teams with great cap situations heading into NBA free agency

The NBA playoff picture fundamentally changes every summer because of free agency.

The Cavs signed LeBron from Miami in 2014. The Clippers snatched DeAndre Jordan from the jaws of the Mavericks and the Warriors re-signed Draymond Green in 2015. And, of course, Golden State inked perhaps the second-best player in the world -– Kevin Durant, who went on to win NBA Finals MVP — in 2016.

There are a number of areas in which an NBA general manager must excel if he dreams of achieving success – such as drafting prospects, developing talent, managing the trade block, controlling media narratives, and hiring a coaching staff – but free agency changes everything.

A GM’s ability to attract and hold onto good players, and shrewdly manage the league’s salary cap in the process, goes a long way toward determining whether he can put a championship product on the floor.

As a number of writers have noted, this year’s crop of free agents is top-notch. Many big names -– among them Gordon Hayward, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Kyle Lowry –- are single and ready to mingle.

So, which teams have positioned themselves to land one or two key players and elevate their chances of competing for the Larry O’Brien trophy next June?

(It’s worth noting the salary cap for the 2017-18 season will be significantly lower than many expected. Last week the league updated its projection to $99 million, down from the most recent projection of $101 million. The original projection, handed out in 2015, was $109 million.)

Below are 10 teams with strong cap situations heading into free agency, which officially begins July 6 (free agents can begin reaching verbal agreements with teams Saturday). The projected starting cap space numbers, which have been updated to reflect recent transactions such as the Bulls-Timberwolves and Lakers-Nets trades, come courtesy of RealGM and HoopsHype calculations.

1. Sacramento Kings – Projected Starting Cap Space: $53,236,837

The Kings have veterans coming off the books and money to blow. Rudy Gay, Tyreke Evans, Arron Afflalo (whom the team waived), Darren Collison, and Ty Lawson are among the Kings’ free agents.

Sacramento had a solid draft, snagging Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox, North Carolina’s Justin Jackson, Duke’s Harry Giles, and Kansas’ Frank Mason. Though I loved the Fox and Mason picks, this is another team that would have benefitted from the addition of Malik Monk. Instead, the Kings traded down to take Jackson and Giles. It sure would’ve been fun to see Fox and Monk continue their careers together.

The Kings’ trade of DeMarcus Cousins continues to look better with time. Now, Sacramento has a budding young backcourt with Fox, Mason, and Buddy Hield.

The Kings have a big hole at the wing. Though Jackson could help patch it up, Sacramento should address this need in free agency – Tony Snell, Caldwell-Pope, and Porter are viable candidates.

Sacramento could also use an offensively minded big man to join the gradually improving Willie Cauley-Stein. Greg Monroe, Mason Plumlee, and Nikola Mirotic should be on Sacramento’s radar.

2. Philadelphia 76ers – Projected Starting Cap Space: $38,202,651

The Process has been built through the draft, as Philadelphia has now used top picks to snag Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, and the ghost of Nerlens Noel.

Things are finally starting to come together, and I love what they did in this year’s draft. Fultz was the creator they needed in the backcourt, but don’t sleep on the rest of their picks: Jonah Bolden (Australia), Sterling Brown (SMU), and Mathias Lessort (France). They also acquired Anzejs Pasecniks (Spain), the No. 25 pick, from the Magic.

The 76ers have a lot of guys on rookie deals and plenty of space to spend on free agents, if they so choose. They should sign Joel Embiid to an extension, though he has only played 31 career games, while his long-term value is a little bit questionable.

At this point, Philadelphia has plenty of youth and should seek out some veterans to fill in the team’s gaps. The 76ers don’t need to lose their cap advantage in doing so; they could pursue some mid-level guys: Joe Ingles, Patrick Patterson, and J.J. Redick would fit well.

3. Miami Heat – Projected Starting Cap Space: $34,582,760

Erik Spoelstra has done a wonderful job of holding his team together after the Big 3 era in Miami. The Heat missed out on the playoffs this year because Indiana held a tiebreaker (both teams finished 41-41), but they’ve got two nice pieces in Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic.

Dion Waiters was a pleasant surprise this season; he averaged 15.8 points and 4.3 assists (a career high) per game, and shot a career-best 40 percent from three. After a rough two-year stint in Oklahoma City, he appears to have found his home, and Miami should make re-signing Waiters a priority. Waiters, 25, might command a massive deal after his breakout year.

With Chris Bosh off the books, Miami needs help in the frontcourt. Given the playing styles of the Dragic/Waiters/Whiteside core, the Heat should look for a mobile big. Blake Griffin should be their top priority.

As always, it helps to have fallbacks: Ibaka and Gay are two to consider.

4. Denver Nuggets – Projected Starting Cap Space: $28,874,181

What do you do if you’re the Nuggets?

They finished only one game out of the No. 8 seed in the West this year, but their roster is not built to contend with the league’s best. Nikola Jokic is an exciting young player, but how much else do they really have? Danilo Gallinari is a valuable piece in the modern NBA, but he’ll turn 29 this summer and the Nuggets are years from contending. It might make sense for Denver to let him walk and spend that money elsewhere.

There are number of paths Denver could take, but one thing is clear: this team needs to find its identity.

Fortunately for the Nuggets, if they let Gallinari walk, they’ll have some real cap flexibility. One option is Paul Millsap, whose playing style would complement Jokic well. Another is to pursue Hayward, but it’s a longshot that he would choose Denver over Utah or Boston.

5. Brooklyn Nets – Projected Starting Cap Space: $24,728,106

The Nets’ trade for D’Angelo Russell was the first good move the franchise has made in quite a while. Granted, Brooklyn has to eat Timofey Mozgov’s contract – did anyone ever think that was a good deal for the Lakers? – and lost franchise hero Brook Lopez, but the Nets got a super promising 21-year-old guard with All-Star potential out of the deal.

With Russell, Jeremy Lin, and Sean Kilpatrick, Brooklyn has a fine backcourt. The Nets should now be looking for help on the wing and in the post. They should be planning for the post LeBron-on-the-Cavs era.

Detroit’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Washington’s Otto Porter Jr. come to mind as good targets on the wing. Memphis’ JaMychal Green and Chicago’s Cristiano Felicio (a work in progress) are potential big-man targets. Brooklyn also addressed its big-man need in the draft, snagging Jarrett Allen from Texas and Aleksandar Vezenkov from Spain.

6. San Antonio Spurs – Projected Starting Cap Space: $18,853,735

The Spurs are reportedly interested in Chris Paul, but from a big-picture perspective, signing a 32-year-old little guy to a max deal does not make much sense. Additionally, if they want to bring Simmons back, that will eat up much if not all of their space.

Rumor has it San Antonio is also interested in Derrick Rose, who is a shell of his former self but should still have some gas in the tank. If anyone can revive Rose’s career, it’s Gregg Popovich. George Hill, who started his career with San Antonio, is another guard who looks like a good fit.

There have also been rumors that the Spurs are shopping LaMarcus Aldridge, who is under contract for $21.5 million. Clearing Aldridge’s contract would give the Spurs a lot more leeway to pursue a player like Paul.

The Spurs have their franchise guy -– Kawhi Leonard -– but these days it looks like you need three or four All-Stars to win a title, and they’re clearly considering making moves.

7. Boston Celtics – Projected Starting Cap Space: $17,786,828

We all know where Boston wants this money to go. The Celtics want Gordon Hayward.

The Utah guard who broke out this year – narrowly missing out on making All-NBA – played for Boston coach Brad Stevens at Butler. And Stevens was the first coach to recruit Hayward before he went through a growth spurt. The two have a good relationship, no doubt, and this seems like a franchise-free agent match made in heaven.

If Hayward does decide to join Boston, that would eat up just about all of the Celtics’ cap space, and they’d have to bid adieu to Kelly Olynyk (which, considering you’d be getting Hayward, wouldn’t be all that hard to do).

The Celtics need scoring and shooting on the wing and in the post. If they can’t get Hayward, they may consider Griffin, Danilo Gallinari, or – gasp! – Rudy Gay. Their other option is a trade for Indiana’s Paul George, which appears to still be on the table.

8. New York Knicks – Projected Starting Cap Space: $17,588,175

It’s true – Phil Jackson has made a mess of this franchise. Kristaps Porzingis should absolutely not be on the trade block. Buying out Carmelo Anthony – and getting nothing in return – should absolutely not be a consideration. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah should never have been signed.

Additionally, the Knicks may have flubbed the draft, which is a prime opportunity to correct mistakes. Frank Ntilikina might turn into a nice player, but I would’ve liked to have seen New York take Kentucky’s Malik Monk, who dropped 47 on North Carolina and seems like a much surer thing. Even John Calipari called the Knicks out for making the error of passing on Monk.

What’s done is done, though, and New York can only now focus on the present. The next opportunity to turn things around comes with free agency. What they need to avoid doing is signing past-their-prime former stars.

They need to look at younger players with high upside who could play alongside Porzingis. San Antonio’s Jonathon Simmons is a two-way wing that comes to mind. Jrue Holiday would be another good fit, as would Tim Hardaway Jr., who started his career with the Knicks and has blossomed in Atlanta.

9. Dallas Mavericks – Projected Starting Cap Space: $13,558,909

Mavs fans have got to feel good about the team selecting NC State’s Dennis Smith Jr. in the draft. Smith fell because of injury and work-ethic concerns, but his upside is huge.

Dallas simply hasn’t had an electrifying player like Smith in years, and though it’s too early to tell how he’ll pan out in the pros, he has superstar potential.

The Mavs’ young core is now Smith, Harrison Barnes (who’s under contract for three more years), and Wesley Matthews (two more years). Nerlens Noel is a free agent, but the team might bring him back. Dirk Nowitzki will come back on a restructured deal.

If I’m Dallas, I’m putting my chips on Smith and my two good wing players and using my cap space to pursue a mobile big man with potential to stretch the floor. Blake Griffin should be high on the Mavs’ wish list, and Serge Ibaka makes a lot of sense as a fallback option.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves – Projected Starting Cap Space: $9,740,777

The Timberwolves were already a fun League Pass team, and now they might be a League Pass must-watch. With the acquisition of Jimmy Butler, Minnesota now has a fascinating starting five: Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, Butler, Gorgui Dieng, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Tom Thibodeau managed to fleece his former team, the Bulls. To acquire Butler – a third-team All-NBA guy! – and the No. 16 pick in last week’s draft, Minnesota gave up only Zach LaVine (who’s coming off of a torn ACL), Kris Dunn (who had a brutal rookie year), and the No. 7 pick.

The Wolves still have the capability to make some interesting moves in free agency, too. They’re reportedly targeting a point guard, and Kyle Lowry, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague, and George Hill appear to be on their radar.

This is interesting, as one would think the pass-first Rubio – who’s still somehow only 26 years old – would flourish with the type of lineup Minnesota has assembled.

Aaron Mansfield is a freelance sports writer whose work has appeared in Complex, USA Today, and the New York Times. You can reach him via email at aaroncmansfield@gmail.com.

from Larry Brown Sports http://ift.tt/2sQGN9E

[soundcheckentertainment]

In the weeks and days leading up to the first annual Country Wild Music Festival mother nature was threatening to deliver a cool wet Saturday for the event’s grand debut, at the very last minute she had a change of heart and delivered warm temperatures and plenty of sun, Cold Creek County and friends took care of the rest.

Brandon James

Brandon James – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

The first annual event kicked off with Whitby based singer songwriter Brandon James. I’ve always believed the two most difficult slots at any music festival are the first and the last. The first artist to take to the stage has to start the party, they need to grab the audience’s attention and start the energy building process. Brandon wasted no time doing just that. Watch for Brandon’s debut EP coming very soon and if you hear of his name on a festival or venue lineup near you this summer go and show your support. Check Brandon out online at www.brandonjamesofficial.com

Marc Ekins

Marc Ekins – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Following Brandon was Lindsay native Marc Ekins, Marc easily kept the party going with his Rock infused Country Music. Marc is no stranger to the stage he has opened for great Canadian artists such as Great Big Sea, The Road Hammers, Aaron Pritchett, Chris Cummings, Julian Austin, Amy Skye just to name a few. His high energy and eclectic mix of music, (rock, country, blues, folk, celtic and swing) makes for a show that covers a large demographic of music fans. He had no problems keeping the crowd dancing on Saturday in Cobourg. Check Marc out online https://www.facebook.com/Marc.Ekins.Fanpage/

The perfect weather was a blessing for many of these earlier artists, far too often people don’t come out to festivals for artists whose names they don’t recognize. But beautiful sunshine and 20 degree weather mixed with cold beer and great music many ventured down to Victoria Park early.

Sweetgrass Band

SweetGrass Band – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

The day rolled on with Alderville, Ontario’s Sweetgrass Band. What’s a country music festival without a more traditional country band? Sweetgrass Band easily delivered tradition but in a more modern way. They are definitely bluegrass but with a more modern twist that appeals to the younger generation of country fans that prefer the newer country sound. https://www.sweetgrasser.com/

Colin Amey

Colin Amey – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

The next artist to take to the stage probably has more experience as a recording artist than anyone on Saturday’s lineup. Having released his first single,  pop power ballad “Gonna Last Forever”,  in 1988 Colin Amey had been bitten by the musical bug. Two singles off of Colin’s second album, title track ‘What My Heart Don’t Know’ and ‘If I Didn’t Call It Love’, received enough radio recognition that it garnered two Canadian Country Music Association award nominations (Independent Male Artist and Rising Star).  It may have been Saturday in Cobourg but Colin took the crowd for a “Sunday Drive” that they won’t soon forget. Something tells me that we haven’t heard the last of Colin Amey. www.colinameymusic.com

Kansas Stone

Kansas Stone – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

The party was just getting started at Victoria Park in Cobourg but Brian Vain and Matt Davey, aka Kansas Stone, were set to turn the dial up a few notches when they took to the stage. Although I was familiar with Kansas Stone leading into this event through our past coverage of the duo it was my first time being able to catch them live. The first thing that struck me was their smooth harmonies, very reminiscent of another country group Florida Georgia Line but almost better. Kansas Stone draws their music from many different influences and I think that’s one of the unique things about this duo. Their music includes themes from rock, pop, blues as well as modern and classic country all fused into one sound. From drinking songs like “Whiskey and Wine” and “Drink On” to their tribute to the late great Randy Allman with an incredible rendition of “Soul Shine”. I can’t wait to catch Kansas Stone again, I’m hooked and you will be too! www.kansasstone.ca

Sacha

Sacha – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the next artist that hit the stage, Sacha. There’s just something about this talented young artist that makes you stop and listen. She has an incredible amount of energy and explodes the minute she hits the stage. I don’t know if you can put her style of country into a category, or even if you should. Johnny Cash had a huge hit with his single “Folsom Prison Blues” and it’s a song that gets covered a lot by many different artists but when Sacha performed it the energy level peaked at a whole new level. You just couldn’t help but tap you feet. Her performance of Little Big Town’s “Happy People” can easily be used to sum her up as an artist…she’s happy. She clearly loves what she’s doing and loves engaging with her fans which was also clear when she did her meet and greet after her set. Without a doubt Sacha is another artist that I must see again!  www.iamsacha.com

Sawmill Road

Sawmill Road – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

I said at the beginning of this review that the two hardest slots are the first and last….in this one unique case I was wrong. The absolutely hardest slot to fill is the one after Sacha. It’s tough to follow an act with that much energy and vibe. Sawmill Road was the act that had to face that challenge.  Remember way back in 1995 John Michael Montgomery had a single called “Sold (Grundy County Auction)“? The song had a chorus that you pretty much had to sing like an auctioneer that would get you tongue tied so fast you’d miss an entire verse by the time you got you mouth to cooperate again and that’s only if you didn’t pass out from holding your breath for too long first. Well Sawmill Road not only attempted this song, they nailed this song. I have seen many attempts over the years and only a few times has I seen an attempt not end in disaster. This was one of them. These guys know how to bring the party and successfully managed to keep up the energy level that Sacha set before them. Like them on Facebook and if you’re invited to an event and they’re on the bill definitely go and check them out!

Runaway Angel

Runaway Angel – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Three of the most wonderful, humble and talented women I have ever had the pleasure of supporting over the last few years, Runaway Angel, took to the stage next. Cadence Grace, Ann Chaplin and Stacey Zegers have each had major successes in their own right as solo female artists, but never imagined that together their collective talents would catapult them to an entirely new level as Runaway Angel. These girls shine when they hit the stage and delivered songs that had the audience singing along all afternoon from their own single “My Someday” to Lauren Alaina’s hit “Road Less Travelled” leading up to a new single “Worst Song in the World” the worst part of the show was when it had to end, but then we got to go and visit with the trio for a few minutes which is never a bad thing. The trio are getting set to embark on their first ever, definitely not their last, European tour and we’re cooking up something special with them so be sure to stay tuned…and if you’re reading this from Europe definitely go and check them out!!! You won’t be sorry! For a full list of dates click here or visit them online and sign up for their mailing list at www.runawayangelmusic.com.

Gentleman Husbands

Gentlemen Husbands – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

As the sun set the lights came on and local boys Gentleman Husbands took to the stage. Although I had heard the name Gentleman Husbands in the past I have not had a chance to see them perform and honestly didn’t know much about their music. Signed to Universal Music in 2013 the group of friends from the Cobourg area crafted a sound and songs about life and love in small towns. The songs lend a strong sense of place and give a universal narrative that hits home, while both nodding at tradition and taking the listener to uncharted territory. The group brought a powerful sound to the stage that felt more suited to a rock show than a country show but in the end I like music festivals that keep the borders between genres on the softer side. No doubt the Gentleman Husbands have a strong local following because the crowd grew to it’s largest size as they were about to start their set. To find out more about the Gentleman Husbands visit  www.facebook.com/gentlemenhusbands

Cold Creek County

Jordan & Ches of Cold Creek County – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

The headliner of the night needs little introduction to our audience or the crowd, as they got their start in neighbouring Brighton, Ontario, although their new lead singer is still relatively unfamiliar. Hailing from just outside Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Ches Anthony has worked as a session musician, producer, songwriter and singer for the last number of years before joining Cold Creek County as their new front man this spring. I had the pleasure of meeting Ches in Ottawa during JUNO Week and chatted again with him on Saturday, he fits in perfectly with the rest of the guys of Cold Creek County and spent plenty of time out in the crowd getting to know his new fanbase.

Jordan & Justin of Cold Creek County – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Something tells me that with Ches Anthony on board Cold Creek County is going to continue building on their success from the last few years. Interestingly enough, aside from a short performance at last year’s CMAO Awards in Markham, Saturday was my first time seeing Cold Creek County live in concert.  The highlight of their performance, for me, was when they performed a cover of “Take it To The Limit” by the Eagles, it showed the group’s versatility and the crowd loved it! Cold Creek County has been nominated for a JUNO Award, won CMAO Group of The Year, Rising Star of the Year and Fans Choice Awards in 2016 and have 4 nominations for next weekend’s CMAO Awards in London. If you’ve never seen Cold Creek County live go and see them, you’ll have plenty of opportunities this summer so don’t miss out! For full tour dates visit  www.coldcreekcounty.com

That’s a wrap from Cobourg and the Country Wild Festival. Congrats to the organizers for a fantastic first event, we look forward to being part of the sophomore event in 2018. Make sure you bookmark www.countrywild.ca so you don’t miss out on any of the news, naturally we’ll have full coverage right here leading up to the event as well.

More photos

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Kansas Stone – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Jordan & Ches of Cold Creek County – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Sacha – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Runaway Angel – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Runaway Angel – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Colin Amey – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Kansas Stone – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Gentlemen Husbands – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Jordan of Cold Creek County – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Kansas Stone – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Jordan & Justin of Cold Creek County – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Sacha – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Brandon James – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Gentlemen Husbands – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Sacha – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Marc Ekins – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Brandon James – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Sawmill Road – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Sawmill Road – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Runaway Angel – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Ches Anthony of Cold Creek County – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Doug of Cold Creek County – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

SweetGrass Band – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Gentlemen Husbands – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Kansas Stone – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Marc Ekins – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

SweetGrass Band – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Gentlemen Husbands – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Colin Amey – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

Runaway Angel – Country Wild – Photo by: Kayla Winkworth

  Sun and Crowds descend on Cobourg for Country Wild Music Festival In the weeks and days leading up to the first annual Country Wild Music Festival mother nature was threatening to deliver a cool wet Saturday for the event's grand debut, at the very last minute she had a change of heart and delivered warm temperatures and plenty of sun, Cold Creek County and friends took care of the rest.