#instant hall of famer to me

[riverlarking]

[no1frogfan]

For love of the game

Takigawa Chris Yuu x gn reader

Word count: ~800

Tags & warnings: very vaguely suggestive language? (there are some good names in baseball), baseball lmao

Note: Been feeling unmotivated to write, so I decided to tap into my love of Chris and of irl baseball to do some dialogue practice. Thank u to the daiya server for motivating me and to @paleokarst for talking over the ending :*

“What’s that?” You give Chris a quizzical look as he steps through the front door carrying a large plastic storage box in his arms.

“Hello to you too.”

You pad over to give him the usual greeting kiss. “Yeah, yeah, welcome home or whatever. Now tell me what this is.”

“My parents found it while cleaning out their basement and I thought you might want to look through it together.” He sets it down in front of the couch. Reaching inside, he pulls out one of many smaller cardboard boxes and opens it to reveal a neatly-packed row of cards. “They’re my old baseball cards.”

“Seriously?” The box is in your hands in an instant and you immediately begin rifling through its contents.

There's a few minutes of focused silence until, “OH MY GOD,” you exclaim, brandishing a card at him. “This can’t be his real name. Dick Pole?! Dick. Pole.”

“Sadly, it is,” Chris chuckles before holding out a card of his own. “Here, I found one for you.”

“NO. His name is not Rusty Kuntz?!”

He snorts. “Actually, it’s pronounced KOON-tz.”

You erupt in cackles. “I mean…if my name were Rusty Kuntz, I would also insist that it’s pronounced KOON-tz.”

“What else do we have here— hello, what’s this?”

Glancing over, he sees you reach for a small leather binder. “Oh that’s where I kept my special cards.”

“Your special cards?” You tease, “god little Chris was such a little nerd.”

He rolls his eyes, pulling you closer to give you a peck on the head. “Well you’re the one dating me so what’s that say about you?”

“That apparently I like nerds,” and pointing to one of the cards, you urge, “now come on nerd, tell me what’s so special about this guy.”

“Ah, that’s Bob Gibson. He’s a Hall of Famer, probably the best right-handed pitcher in St. Louis history. He was good at fielding too, which is rare for a pitcher. He worked hard and led the team to two World Series wins.”

You flip through a few more pages. “Wow you have a lot of this Iván Rodríguez guy too.”

“Well, he was my favorite player growing up and maybe the best catcher of all time.”

“What makes him the best?”

“He’s a solid hitter and his defensive play is exceptional. He’s got unparalleled game sense and a great strategic mind. Um, he’s caught for some of the best pitchers of the era and he caught nine no-hitters. The only way you can have a no-hitter is if the battery works perfectly, so that means he was able to bring out the best in a lot of different pitchers. Plus, he was always fun to watch.”

“Is he why you became a catcher?”

“You know…” Chris contemplates for a moment, “that’s honestly never occurred to me. My dad was obviously the reason I started, but I played a lot of different positions before deciding on catcher. Dad was the one who suggested I try it — he thought I had a good understanding of the game — but you might be right, maybe I stuck with it because I wanted to be like Iván.”

You hum in response. “Makes sense. The way you described him…he clearly has a lot of qualities that you value as a player.”

It’s long past dinner time when the two of you finally tire of strolling down memory lane and begin to tidy up the mess of cards now littered across the couch cushions and coffee table.

“What are you gonna do with all of these?”

“Well right now I’m going to put them away. Then I’ll probably give some away and throw away the rest.”

“You’re not keeping any?”

“Nah. It’s not like they’re worth anything.”

“Well in that case, I’m gonna keep these.” You swipe the leather binder from the box before he carries the rest off into the storage closet down the hall.

“What do you think?” You gesture toward the refrigerator when Chris returns.

Some of the precious real estate on the fridge door has been tidied up, and a cleaned-up Rangers magnet now holds his signed Iván Rodríguez card front and center, nestled between memories. To its left is a picture of him with his parents and Coach Kataoka after his first game with Seidou. Below it is another picture of him and the coach, this time graduating from Seidou alongside the rest of his teammates. To its right is a picture of the two of you at his MLB debut game, your smile toothy and gleeful as you hold up the ball from his first major league hit.

A lump forms in his throat.

It’s just a baseball card, one fleeting snapshot in the collage of moments that make him, the values that shape him, and the people that support him.

It's just a baseball card, but he can barely get the words out. “It’s perfect.”

[frontproofmedia]

Canelo Álvarez vs. Jaime Munguía: Cinco de Mayo Super Middleweight Showdown!

LAS VEGAS – March 12, 2024 – Mexican superstars will go toe-to-toe as Canelo Promotions presents a Cinco de Mayo weekend blockbuster that will see pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez put his undisputed super middleweight world title on the line against unbeaten all-action former world champion Jaime Munguía headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, May 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

 In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to purchase the PPV via DAZN.com. On top of those options, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets.

 Canelo vs. Munguía is the first four-belt undisputed title fight between Mexican combatants and harkens back to the great Mexico vs. Mexico matchups of the past including classics such as Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, Carlos Zárate vs. Alfonso Zamora and Jesús Castillo vs. Rubén Olivares, amongst many others. Canelo has already etched himself in history alongside the greatest Mexican fighters to enter the ring and can add to that legacy on May 4, while Munguía hopes to move himself up the pedestal and make his own lasting mark in the boxing annals with a signature victory Cinco de Mayo weekend.

 Pre-sale tickets are available Thursday, March 14 from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: PBC

 Public on-sale begins Friday, March 15 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by Canelo Promotions, TGB Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Boxing Promotions.

 “We are very excited to return on May 4, especially with a Mexican opponent,” said Eddy Reynoso, Canelo’s Manager and Trainer. “This will be a 100% Mexican celebration! There has been a long time since two Mexicans have faced each other in an event like this. It’s going to be a grand fight. Jamie Munguia is an ex-champion who’s been winning fights and demonstrating great things. That tells me it’s going to be an exciting fight. I am very happy and grateful to Jamie that he agreed to make this happen.”

 “Cinco de Mayo weekend is a crown jewel in the boxing calendar, and this year will be one of the most anticipated in recent memory with this all-Mexico showdown between undisputed champion and future Hall of Famer Canelo Álvarez taking on the undefeated power-puncher Jaime Munguía headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Saturday, May 4 at T-Mobile Arena will be the highlight of what is always one of the city’s biggest weekends. Fans know that when an all-time great like Canelo faces a hungry action fighter like Munguía, the chances for drama and fireworks are through the roof.”

 “An all-Mexican championship showdown on Cinco de Mayo weekend between two guys with immense pride for their country and at the top of their games — it doesn’t get any better for the sport of boxing,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Given Jaime’s incredible offensive attack, Canelo’s unmatched counterpunching and both guys’ tremendous power, fans are in for an absolute barn burner. We at Golden Boy are proud to have been able to work with our partners at DAZN to help make this massive battle and potential instant classic in Las Vegas that you don’t want to miss!”

 “Jaime Munguía continues to make history as he paves his way in the sport,” said Fernando Beltrán, CEO of Zanfer Boxing Promotions. “There will be an overflow of Mexican pride in Las Vegas. This fight was accomplished for the people of México between two of the top Mexican fighters in boxing.”

 *CANELO ÁLVAREZ VS. JAIME MUNGUÍA*

 The reigning WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO Super Middleweight World Champion, Canelo Álvarez will look to extend his own record of successful undisputed title defenses in the four-belt era as he defends his belts for the fourth time in a 12-round matchup against the unbeaten former 154-pound world champion Jaime Munguía, who will compete at the full 168-pound limit for the third straight fight. 

 Having captured world titles at 154, 160, 168 and 175-pounds, Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs) returns to action after a dominant victory last September that saw him drop former undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo on his way to a unanimous decision. The fighting pride of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Canelo became undisputed at super middleweight in November 2021 by taking the IBF belt from then unbeaten Caleb Plant via an 11th-round TKO. After dropping a light heavyweight title fight against Dmitriy Bivol in May 2022, Canelo rebounded to defeat Gennadiy Golovkin in their September 2022 trilogy fight before besting John Ryder in May 2023.

 Under the guidance of his renowned manager and trainer Eddy Reynoso, Canelo has triumphed over a long list of elite fighters since turning pro at just 15-years-old in 2005, including Golovkin, plus Shane Mosley, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto and Sergey Kovalev to name a few. Outside of the Bivol fight, Canelo’s only other defeat came against undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather in September 2013.

 “I’m very proud and excited to be able to make this fight,” said Canelo. “A Mexican versus another Mexican is always a huge fight and it’s been a while since there’s been one like this. It’s great to give an opportunity like this to a fighter that’s earned it like Jaime has. It gives me a lot of joy that two Mexicans will be facing each other in such a big fight for the sport.”

 The 27-year-old Munguía (43-0, 34 KOs) first burst onto the scene in 2018, shocking Sadam Ali via a fourth-round TKO to claim a 154-pound world championship, which he would go on to defend successfully five times. A native of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Munguía continued his dominance after moving up to 160-pounds, going 6-0 at the weight class from 2020 through 2022, including triumphs over D’Mitrius Ballard, Gabriel Rosado and Tureano Johnson, all while garnering a reputation as one of the most fan-friendly fighters in the sport.

 Munguía made his debut campaigning at super middleweight in June 2023, facing longtime top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Munguía emerged victorious with a unanimous decision in the back-and-forth affair that garnered Fight of the Year honors from the BWAA. In his most recent fight, Munguia joined forces with legendary trainer Freddie Roach, who helped guide him to a dominant ninth-round stoppage of veteran contender John Ryder in January.

 “I’m very, very happy and filled with enthusiasm for this great opportunity,” said Munguía. “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved who were able to make this fight a reality. We are ready to give fans a great night of boxing on Saturday, May 4. I can’t wait to demonstrate to the world that I am capable of doing great things. Viva Tijuana and Viva México!”

Follow @Frontproofmedia!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id))(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

[cavenewstimes]

Jake The Snake Roberts Calls Working With WWE Hall Of Famer 'Golden Moment' Of Career

Read More Wrestling Inc.  By /Nov. 26, 2023 3:00 am EST Jake Roberts has opened up about his rivalry with André The Giant that culminated with a match against the fellow WWE Hall of Famer at WrestleMania V.  On “The Snake Pit,” Roberts revealed his instant reaction was “Are you f—ing kidding me?” when informed of the plans in 1989. Roberts recounted his first run-in with André at a TV taping in…

[toburnup]

hiiii just wanted to say ur writing is fucking incredible. i found sleep it off first and like. i read it all in the middle of the night a few hours ago and i cannot get it off my mind, it’s so perfect in every way n I really mean that 😭😭 you nailed the dynamics and the way they balanced each other out was just…aghhhhh the obvious hot vs cold and chatterbox vs restrained but also the more nuanced parts … SO GOOD!!!! and the fact that we got both povs?? everything just made complete and perfect sense so i hope u are immensely proud of it bc holy shit that was an instant hall of famer for me personally

also read thirty days and that backseat afterglow and lemme just say i am SOOO EXCITED for the thirty days continuation!!!! once again i am in love with how you write them and the way you build tension…the way steve just can’t shut up and eddie just runs with it it’s so perfect. u have no ideaaaa how excited i got when i saw how many works you have LOL sorry this ask was long but yeah keep doing what ur doing i can’t wait to read more the second i have free time >:)

💙💙💙 THANK YOUUU!! ah what the hell. this is so nice. i definitely want to do a part 3 to sleep it off, just have a few other things to get to first (shh technically i've already started it 👀)

yess thirty days part 2! tentatively titled one week more. we're going to be doing some proper edging this time around.

enjoy the rest of the fics! you've got some fun ones ahead of you 🥰

[shefanispeculator]

Blake Shelton was worried about the headline.

Following the first 10 songs of his final "Friends & Heroes" tour stop at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee Saturday, Shelton stepped offstage, and country music veteran John Anderson emerged from below it. There was an instant surge of energy from the near-capacity crowd, as Anderson, with Shelton's seven-piece backing band, crooned through a soft "Seminole Wind," followed by a boisterous "Money in the Bank" and the boot-scootin' "Swingin'," all huge country hits in the '80s and '90s.

And Shelton, half-jokingly, was just a touch jealous.

"Why do you all act so different for John Anderson?" Shelton asked. "I've been out here for 40 minutes, and all of a sudden John Anderson comes out here and the whole damn crowd … is line-dancing and (expletive). How do you line-dance in your seats?"

"The last thing I need is to wake up tomorrow morning and read the Wisconsin Post or whatever you have here, and the headline says something like 'John Anderson steals the show,'" Shelton continued.

Here at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, we don't take headline suggestions from people we're writing about. But that wouldn't have been an appropriate headline anyway — because Anderson wasn't the only one to steal the spotlight from Shelton.

And that's the beauty of the concept of Shelton's "Friends & Heroes" tour, which has been around for a few years but stopped in Milwaukee for the first time Saturday.

It gives Shelton a chance to share his sharp band and packed houses with veteran country stars who prove they've still got the goods, and are still beloved.

On Saturday, that included Martina McBride, who with her sparkling voice, brightened the night with the self-assuring gems "My Baby Loves Me" and "This One's for the Girls," before closing out with the shattering, and soaring, "A Broken Wing."

And the show also included Tracy Byrd, who actually got the strongest reaction of the three "Friends & Heroes" Saturday. He took full advantage of the runway, tipping his black cowboy hat and high-fiving any fans he could reach, hyping up the crowd with his magnetic stage presence and '90s and early-aughts party-starters "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo," "I'm From the Country" and "Watermelon Crawl."

"Over and over again tonight, I have had my ass handed to me by these other singers coming," Shelton said near the show's end.

Shelton was, of course, selling himself short.

While the three guests were indisputable highlights Saturday, they performed for only 10 minutes each. Shelton, on the other hand, was on stage for the show's remaining two hours and 30 minutes, striving to fulfill an early evening promise to play "the longest country concert." (Eric Church routinely does three-hour sets, but this was an impressive marathon nonetheless.)

With the charm and charisma that's made him such a winning personality on NBC's "The Voice" for 21 seasons, Shelton handily slipped into various personas Saturday night, for the raucous "Boys 'Round Here," the moon-eyed duet "Nobody But You" (which he sang facing footage of his new wife Gwen Stefani singing back to him), or the outlaw-flavored "God's Country" and the George Jones classic "Ol' Red."

There were plenty of fun interactions with the crowd, too. Locking eyes with a guy in the front row for the love ballad "Sure Be Cool If You Did," Shelton chuckled mid-song, telling him, "Sing to her, not to me," gesturing to the man's date. And for "Hillbilly Bone," Shelton let himself get upstaged yet again, this time for a fiery duel between guitarist Beau Tackett and fiddle player Jenee Fleenor, the first woman to win the CMA Award for musician of the year.

Shelton was happy to share the spotlight, but after the performance, he feigned a bruised ego, and for the night's greatest moment, invited Anderson, Byrd and McBride to join him for a songwriter's circle session to see which of them had the greatest country song. (He also suggested George Strait, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan and Luke Combs were going to be the judges … although they were going to stay backstage.)

"How many of y'all think if this was the 'Who talks the most (expletive) of the Friends & Heroes' tour competition, we'd already have our winner?" Byrd said, gesturing to Shelton, another case of the headliner being upstaged Saturday, for funniest line of the night.

Shelton did his rendition of "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" solo on acoustic guitar, suggesting the lines "When you undress, do you leave a path/Then sink to your nose in a bubble bath" were about Anderson.

After the performance, Shelton did a little moonwalk victory dance, then playfully suggested they end the competition. But Byrd wouldn't have it, sparking a big singalong for a beaming "The Keeper of the Stars," followed by Anderson performing "Straight Tequila Night" (both with support from Shelton's band members). But it was clear, from fans and musicians alike, that McBride won this little competition with "Independence Day."

As they all left the stage, Shelton put an end to the jealousy act, saying some kind words about how much those three musicians inspired Shelton as he made his own ascent in the country music world.

"Those are Hall of Famers … you're never going to see something like that ever again," Shelton said. "My heroes, man, your heroes, man. Those are country music icons, all of them."

And Saturday's show suggested there was one headline Shelton will wake up to one day: "Blake Shelton inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

[randomvarious]

Hanson - “Weird” Now That's What I Call Music! 39 1998 Pop-Rock / Soft Rock

My piping hot take on Hanson is that they were the best boy band of the 90s and that they were also the best set of underage brothers to play music since the Jackson 5, a group to which they constantly drew comparisons. They weren’t just some piece of transparently manufactured corporate schlock like the formulaic, Swedish-produced teen heartthrobs that soon followed them, although they were marketed in much the same way. Hanson were talented boys, who, despite their young ages, could play instruments well enough to make bubblegum pop bangers like “MMMBop” and “Where’s the Love”. Their songs appeared to be an attempt to hearken back to those days of warm, catchy, and sugary 70s radio pop, when kids could record a happy tune that would go big for a few weeks and no one would really bat an eye over how young the performers of those tunes were. And Hanson’s mission of rehashing that 70s kind of spirit was furthered along, of course, by their long, flaxen hair.

But here’s something you probably don’t know about Hanson: their quadruple-platinum-selling debut album, Middle of Nowhere, was co-produced by another set of brothers, The Dust Brothers (who aren’t actually siblings), who produced The Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique, three albums by Beck, including Odelay, and the score to Fight Club. If you’ve ever wondered why Hanson’s productions sounded so good, thick, and slick in the late 90s, it’s probably because of The Dust Brothers.

And one of the lesser-remembered singles off of Middle of Nowhere, “Weird,” was co-written by Songwriters Hall of Famer Desmond Child. Know some other bops that Child wrote? How about “Livin’ On a Prayer” and “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”? And out of every song that Child’s ever written, what do you think his favorite one is? Weirdly enough, it’s “Weird”.

From Songfacts:

At the 2008 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction, Desmond Child was one of those who were inducted. When pressed [he] revealed that his favorite of all the numbers he'd ever penned was "a song I wrote with Hanson called 'Weird,' because it's about being different, and I grew up poor, I grew up being Latin, I grew up being gay, and now I'm fat!"

“Weird” is a clear departure from Hanson’s typically cheery, upbeat pop stylings, and for that, it may have suffered a little bit in the charts. But it’s still a very well-made song and it was a global top 40 hit. They didn’t write the lyrics, but it’s a clear attempt to show that they’re not just some one-trick pony that only churns out sunshine; they can make emotionally vulnerable, radio-friendly stuff, too. And they have periods of sadness, just like you do, and sometimes they don’t feel okay. And with this ballad they’re here to tell you that it’s both okay to not feel okay, and that it’s also okay to not feel like you’re normal. It’s like a late 90s version of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” but sung by a child instead; just some good ol’ heartfelt soft-rock schmaltziness.

The production on “Weird” smacks of the 70s to me, too. The Dust Brothers made it lush, and a lot of 70s pop has lush and warm production, ergo a 70s feel. But the song also sounds like it could come out now, in a time where just about every famous American teenager who makes music seems to be really in their feelings. Maybe some young pop songstress could cover it. It would probably be an instant hit, especially for these extraordinarily “weird” corona times.

Last thing: guess who directed the music video for this song. Gus Van Sant! And lest you think that the director of Good Will Hunting teaming up with Hanson was some big, weird, inauthentic, corporate-fueled thing, it was actually Van Sant who approached Hanson after seeing their video for “Where’s the Love”. But he was actually kind of burnt out and couldn’t come up with any good ideas for the video after having just finished directing Good Will Hunting. Van Sant was about to pass up on the opportunity to work with the boys, but Hanson supplied him with some ideas and the result was a pretty cool video that was shot alternately between New York City subway platforms and trains and a domed room whose walls Hanson somehow walk across. Movie magic!

Okay, one more thing, actually, and it’s the worst piece of information I have regarding this band. Hanson appear to be unrepentant chuds now. 😔💔

[kurtrty-blog]

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[tallmantall]

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth - ‘Why Did This Happen?’: Three Questions We Always Ask About #Suicide

Lipi Roy, MD, MPH Contributor #ReginaKing, left, and son Ian Alexander, Jr., attend the Governors Ball for the 67th Primetime Emmy . Betty White, Sidney Poitier, Bob Saget, Louie Anderson, Andre Leon Talley, Clark Gillies. From legendary actors and comedians to fashion icons and NHL Hall of Famers, the first few weeks of 2022 have been full of heartbreaking loss. I think I was hit hardest, however, by the death of Regina King’s son, Ian Alexander, Jr. The Oscar-winner had always spoken so adoringly about her only #child. He was only 26 years old. And he died by what is still considered a shameful and grossly misunderstood method: #suicide. The 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and 2nd among people aged 10 to 34 (a person dies every 11 minutes), #suicide was identified by the #NationalInstituteofMentalHealth as a major public health concern. #Suicide rates increased 35% from 1999 to 2018, briefly declining in 2019. However, reports of #depression and #anxiety – risk factors for #suicide – have increased during the #pandemic. In 2018, the death rate from #suicide for #Black #men was four times greater than for #Black #women. Over the course of my career, I have lost several #patients to #suicide. Most recently, on Christmas Day, 2021: I was at home celebrating the holiday with my family when a senior #nurse practitioner texted me. “Sam” was a father of three, depressed, lonely and in and out of jail, but he was working hard to get his life together. The skilled and empathic #nurse who found him was grief-stricken and guilt-ridden: “I just saw him yesterday. Why didn’t I see the signs?” She’s neither the first nor the last person to make this query. #Suicide is a troubling phenomenon that has always been riddled with questions. With the help of a few #mentalhealthprofessionals and a close friend of Ms. King, I tackle three of the most common questions related to #suicide. #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com 1.     “Why did they do it?” This is perhaps the most frustrating, confusing and heartbreaking inquiry of all. “We can never fully understand the intense sense of despair, emotional pain, aloneness or desperation that leads a person to die by #suicide,” describes Pierre Arty, MD, Chief Psychiatric Officer at Housing Works. Not all people have a longstanding history of #depression prior to the fatal act. Dr. Arty adds that at times, #suicide is planned, but at other times – Hitler, as an example – “it is an instant decision that could not have been clearly predicted by either loved ones or clinicians.” #SUICIDEPREVENTION in a Chicago subway station. 2.     “Why didn’t I see the signs?” Like the #nurse on my team as well as myself and countless others, we second-guess our actions, or lack thereof. Family, friends, coworkers and clinicians are often saddled with #guilt, remorse and/or shame for not preventing the individual’s death. According to Candida Fink, MD, a #psychiatrist in Westchester, NY, “We sense that #suicide is somehow more preventable than other deaths it.” While #suicideprevention is a public health goal, like heart disease prevention, Dr. Fink adds, “It is no more specifically preventable than deaths caused by other illnesses.” Complex factors are often involved, including severe #mentalillness unresponsive to treatment.  3.     “Why do wealthy people kill themselves?” Don’t they have it all?, we often ask. In 2018, I wrote about five common misconceptions about suicide after fashion mogul, #KateSpade, and culinary star, #AnthonyBourdain, had both taken their lives in the same week. The reality we often forget, however, is that celebrities are human beings, just like us. “We only see one version – one of glamour, fame and fortune,” explains Nance Roy, Ed.D, Chief Clinical Officer at The Jed Foundation. They may struggle with relationships, finances and illness. Adds Dr. Roy: “Celebrities may feel more pressure to perform, to be perfect and to keep up their image for fans, often making it more difficult for them to reach out for help.” Another critical point: a person rarely takes his or her own life because of just one reason. “#Suicide is complex and we often don't know all the factors involved.” #ReginaKing her son, Ian, in 2003. ASSOCIATED PRESS #ReginaKing – Talented Star, Devoted Mother As a long-time fan of Ms. King’s work on television and film, I’ve been in awe of her range from comedy (The Big Bang Theory) to her Academy Award-winning role as a devoted but anguished mother (If Beale Street Could Talk). Through the lens of her inner circle, however, we might gain a deeper sense of this extraordinary #woman. “She was adored by so many,” reflected Roland Martin, journalist, CEO and close friend of the actress and director. “Regina was in the groove of her own career when she lost her only #child,” Martin commiserated. The host of #RolandMartinUnfiltered also pointed out the larger cultural and #racial context of Mr. Alexander’s death: “In the #AfricanAmerican community, we don’t discuss issues like #mentalillness including #depression. We need to talk about it in churches, at home, everywhere,” adding that inequities in health care access for #AfricanAmericans must be addressed. #Racial Disparities in #Suicide #Suicide rates, as noted by Martin, vary by race and ethnicity. According to the #CDC, the highest rates of #suicide are among #NativeAmerican / Alaska Native and non-#Hispanic White populations. Among #Black #youth, #suicide has been devastating: a 2018 study revealed that #Black #children aged five to 12 were twice as likely to die by #suicide compared to their white counterparts. These distressing numbers reflect a larger problem of health inequities faced by #BlackAmericans, particularly related to #mentalhealth. According to the HHS Office of Minority Health, #Black #adults in the U.S. are more likely to report symptoms of emotional distress (e.g. sadness, #hopelessness) than white #adults. Despite the need, the #AmericanPsychiatricAssociation reports that only one in three #BlackAmericans who need #mentalhealth care receives it. They are also less likely to receive evidence-based medications or psychotherapy compared to the general population. #BlackAmericans continue to face inequities in access to health care, particularly #mentalhealth ...  GETTY How Do We Overcome Barriers To Addressing #Suicide? We need to reduce the #stigma faced by people experiencing a #mentalillness. How? As Martin mentioned, we need to talk about it. #Stigma remains a major barrier to treatment and care. Dr. Fink agrees: “How do we grieve and process except by speaking and sharing with others?” When people die of cancer, their illness is almost always part the public conversation. From his Haitian roots, Dr. Arty provides a global perspective: “As a world community, we need to be bold and unashamed in discussing this sensitive and painful topic. The discussion itself may save a life.” Dispelling myths is also key. A common myth? “Asking someone if they are suicidal will not increase the risk that they will die by #suicide,” clarifies Dr. Roy. Inquiring about potential self-harm in a compassionate way may instead provide an opportunity for the person to express their feelings and reach out for help. We must also actively fight discrimination faced by #Black #men and #women within the health care system. Clinician bias – conscious and unconscious – and lack of cultural competency can lead to misdiagnoses and suboptimal treatment. The #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness reminds us to be mindful of the central role played by faith-based institutions as a source of mental and emotional support. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273- TALK (8255). It’s free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Read the full article

[eitmonline]

EITM Playlist 5/27/22

Soul Asylum - Somebody To Shove | 5:42/4:42c

Fat Boys & The Beach Boys - Wipeout | 6:12/5:12c

Demi Lovato - Cool For The Summer | 6:33/5:33c

CHVRCHES - Clearest Blue | 6:39/5:39c

Yes – Owner Of A Lonely Heart | 6:46/5:46c

John Lennon – Imagine | 6:47/5:47

Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again | 6:50/5:50c

Depeche Mode - Just Can’t Get Enough | 6:52/5:52c

Depeche Mode – Strangelove | 6:54/5:54c

Depeche Mode - Policy Of Truth | 6:56/5:56c

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus | 6:57/5:57c

Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence | 6:59/5:59c

Depeche Mode - Everything Counts (Live) | 7:00/6:00c

LFO - Summer Girls | 7:10/6:10c

Y&T - Summertime Girls | 7:38/6:38c

Ricky Martin - Livin’ La Vida Loca | 7:51/6:51c

Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street | 8:00/7:00c

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run | 8:32/7:32c

Ramones - Rockaway Beach | 8:56/7:56c

Jan & Dean - Surf City | 9:31/8:31c

Poison - Nothin’ But A Good Time | 9:44/8:44c

Kenny Chesney - Summertime | 9:52/8:52c

Bryan Adams - Summer Of ’69 | 10:11/9:11c

Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles - Who Says You Can’t Go Home | 10:37/9:37

[investmart007]

Professional wrestling great Bruno Sammartino dies at 82

New Post has been published on https://goo.gl/X3nya3

Professional wrestling great Bruno Sammartino dies at 82

April 18, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) —He was professional wrestling’s ultimate good guy. The son of Italian immigrants, Bruno Sammartino fled the Nazis as a child and built a career beating a string of bad guys that thrilled fans and made him reign as the conscientious champ for more than a decade.

Before the flash of The Hulkster, the electricity of The Rock and the foul-mouth of Stone Cold, all Sammartino required to become wrestling’s biggest box office draw was a pair of tights, boots and an honest promo that made fans believe in the most illegitimate of sports.

Sammartino, professional wrestling’s “Living Legend” and one of its longest-reigning champions, has died. He was 82.

“One of the finest men I knew, in life and in business,” WWE chairman Vince McMahon said . “Bruno Sammartino proved that hard work can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances. He will be missed.”

Family friend and former wrestling announcer Christopher Cruise said Sammartino died Wednesday morning and had been hospitalized for two months.

The WWE opened a live event Wednesday night with a 10-bell salute for Sammartino.

Sammartino’s name on the marquee about guaranteed a squared circle sellout in the 1960s and 1970s and he held the World Wide Wrestling Federation championship for more than 11 years (4,040 days) over two title runs.

Sammartino’s Italian heritage, brute strength and good-guy charisma helped make him an instant star in the northeast. He had rivalries with Killer Kowalski, Gorilla Monsoon and George “The Animal” Steele during his title runs and later wrestled famous grudge matches at Shea Stadium against Pedro Morales, Stan Hansen and Larry Zbyszko.

“Bruno came along in the ’60s and he reflected what was going on in terms of the American Dream story,” Zbyszko told The Associated Press. “Poor, starving immigrant kid who escaped Nazis. His mother was shot over the mountains and he came to this country starving and achieved the American Dream. He became the beloved heavyweight champion of the world. People saw that, they felt that. He was a real guy. Everybody believed in him.”

He was born in Italy and was a child when his family immigrated to Pittsburgh, where he became a champion power lifter and workout fanatic before learning the ropes of pro wrestling.

Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in just 48 seconds to become the second-ever WWE champion in front of nearly 20,000 fans on May 17, 1963, at the old Madison Square Garden . He held the title until 1971 and his second reign began in 1973 with a win over Stan Stasiak. That one lasted until he was pinned by “Superstar” Billy Graham in 1977.

Zbyszko, a WWE Hall of Famer, was billed as Sammartino’s protege until he turned on him during a famous televised match. Zbyszko got a quick lesson on how much fans loved their Legend when he bloodied Sammartino with a series of chair shots to the head.

“I was getting my car smashed, I had to hide in trunks,” Zbyszko said. “I was going down the highway in a new Cadillac with the windows smashed, the mirrors hanging, the lights are out. It was a different time, a different day. My god, the riots.”

They became engaged in a bitter feud that was capped by a steel cage match at Shea in 1980.

Sammartino escaped the cage a winner.

“People hated me for 20 years after that match,” Zbyszko said. “Everything I learned was from Bruno. He was my mentor.”

Sammartino and Hulk Hogan — the biggest long-term money-making draws in WWE history — tagged together in the “Legend’s” final match. He was in his son David’s corner for a bout at the first WrestleMania in 1985 and competed in a battle royal won by Andre the Giant at the second WrestleMania in 1986.

Sammartino became a broadcaster on WWE’s weekend morning shows before his frustration over the company’s direction into campier storylines and an outrage over the drug culture he said had permeated the industry led to a bitter, two-decade split with McMahon. He eventually made peace with WWE and accepted his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2013 . He was inducted by Arnold Schwarzenegger .

WWE said Sammartino sold out Madison Square Garden , known as the mecca of professional wrestling, hundreds times over his career. Sammartino suffered a broken neck when he was dropped on his head by Hansen in 1976 at the Garden.

Sammartino’s family fled a Nazi invasion of his village in Italy and he hid with his mother in a mountain during the German occupation. They eventually joined his father in Pittsburgh in 1950.

Bullied because he spoke little English, Sammartino, who had suffered from rheumatic fever in childhood, dedicated himself to bodybuilding and eventually authored “The Bruno Course of Bodybuilding.” The WWE said he once bench-pressed 569 pounds in 1959 which was noticed by promoter Vincent J. McMahon.

Paul Levesque, a top WWE executive better known in the ring as Triple H, helped bring Sammartino back into the fold.

“Devastated to hear the passing of a true icon, legend, great, honest and wonderful man… A true friend…and one of the toughest people I’ve ever met,” Levesque tweeted .

Olympic gold medalist and WWE star Kurt Angle, a Pittsburgh native, called Sammartino “a hometown hero ” who carried himself with dignity and was courteous to fans.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said Sammartino was one of the city’s greatest ambassadors. Sammartino’s name joined Dan Marino and Andy Warhol on two signs welcoming people to South Oakland.

“Through his uncommon strength and surprising grace he embodied the spirit of Pittsburgh on the world stage,” Peduto said. “Some of the fondest memories of my childhood are of sitting in the basement with my grandfather on Saturday mornings and watching Bruno wrestle.”

By DAN GELSTON by  Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (U.S)

[paulbenedictblog]

%news%

New Post has been published on %http://paulbenedictsgeneralstore.com%

Fox news Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa among NFL's top 10 disruptors of 2019 - NFL.com

Fox news

Desire a second to think the predominant names in soccer and the positions they play.

The predominant acknowledge is easy: Quarterback. A team goes as its quarterback goes.

The second acknowledge, though, would possibly perchance perchance also merely be various looking out on who you query. Some would possibly perchance perchance also jabber huge receiver, and others would possibly perchance perchance also lean in direction of cornerback or left kind out.

But one set apart community has taken on elevated significance within the closing half decade or so, which most attention-grabbing makes sense when enthusiastic about the upward thrust of the passing sport. The set apart must opponents invest their resources? In those that hunt the quarterback.

Now we discover seen these avid gamers -- defensive ends and out of doors linebackers, looking out on the defensive contrivance -- in actuality evolve into their very contain classification: edge rushers. They're accountable for wreaking havoc and sending future Hall of Famers residence empty handed within the game's biggest contests. Judge back to the 2015 marketing campaign, when Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware knocked Tom Brady out of kinds within the AFC Championship Sport. Or deem closing season, when the Patriots had Sam Darnold seeing ghosts.

They're effective. They topic. And they're no longer merely on the threshold of defenses (hi there, Aaron Donald).

So, who were the greatest disruptors of 2019?

Love we did in our earlier (and debate-challenging) pieces from this series, we're focusing on one Subsequent Gen Stat that offers us the acceptable indication of how effective a defender is on a per-scurry-speeding-down basis. The stat: Disruption Charge, which is the whole number of disruptions (the blended total of hurries, pressures or sacks, with most attention-grabbing one counting per play) divided by the whole number of scurry-hotfoot snaps.

In present to procure a tight steal of effectiveness over a substantial volume of scurry rushes, we quandary the baseline at 250 scurry hotfoot snaps. Of us who did no longer hotfoot the passer no longer lower than 250 cases in 2019 did no longer make the slash.

These are the greater of those that did.

Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns · DE

Disruption rate: 18.5%. Sack rate: 3.5%. Total disruptions: 53. Sacks: 10.

Garrett performed in merely 10 games, as the indefinite suspension that resulted from his actions one day of Cleveland's Thursday night affair with Pittsburgh introduced his season to an conclude, however he had been performing to the level of a frail No. 1 total take dangle of until that point. Cleveland's scurry hotfoot suffered a drastic dropoff in effectiveness after his departure. The Browns had a 32.9 percent stress rate with Garrett on the field in 2019; with out him, that resolve dropped to 21.5 percent.

Garrett's disruption rate used to be the acceptable within the NFL. He registered a stress on 17.1 percent of dropbacks in 2019, which used to be the supreme share posted by a participant for the reason that 2016 season. He additionally changed into one of merely three avid gamers to publish a stress rate of 12 percent or bigger in every of the closing three seasons. The different two: Aaron Donald and Von Miller. With every Browns contest, there used to be a second or two in which a quarterback would hit the turf and there'd be most attention-grabbing one phrase to articulate in response: Myles.

Za'Darius Smith

Green Bay Packers · OLB

Disruption rate: 17.5%. Sack rate: 2.8%. Total disruptions: 84. Sacks: 13.5.

Smith's disruption total is bigger because, in half, he performed a beefy season, however his efficiency is practically on par with that of Garrett. Smith used to be the face of a turnaround for the Packers protection, offering instant returns on the profitable free-agent deal he inked closing offseason. He used to be a menace, pressuring the QB on 19.4 percent of scurry rushes when aligned on the inner. That rate used to be the supreme amongst all defenders speeding from the inner (minimum 100 inner scurry rushes), main second-set apart finisher Stephon Tuitt (14.1 percent) by bigger than 5 share aspects. Smith used to be second in total stress share at 14.8 percent, trailing most attention-grabbing Garrett. He and Packers DT Kenny Clark blended for 120 QB pressures closing season, doubtlessly the most by any teammate duo within the NFL.

Smith is formally within the class of the elite, and happily for him, he's being paid as such.

Robert Quinn

Dallas Cowboys · DE

Disruption rate: 17.2%. Sack rate: 3.3%. Total disruptions: 60. Sacks: 11.5.

Robert Quinn used to be smartly price the price Dallas paid to create him closing offseason, even when it used to be most attention-grabbing as a one-three hundred and sixty five days condo, and he's quandary to make the cash he deserves after signing a five-three hundred and sixty five days deal with the Chicago Bears in March. Quinn loved worthy success with the Cowboys while working opposite DeMarcus Lawrence, pressuring the QB on 14 percent of scurry rushes, the third-most attention-grabbing rate within the NFL (minimum 250 scurry rushes) in 2019. His ability to bend while affirming high-tail and energy around the threshold can be a nightmare for opposing tackles, and he'll doubtless abilities identical success as half of 1 other amazing tandem in Chicago in 2020. Quinn registered 49 QB pressures in 2019, which is the the same number his new Bears teammate Khalil Mack posted, however Quinn did it on 116 fewer scurry rushes. Peep out for that duo.

Gash Bosa

San Francisco 49ers · DE

Disruption rate: 16.4%. Sack rate: 2.1%. Total disruptions: 71. Sacks: 9.

By now, this chronicle. Bosa used to be the final share for a defensive line loaded with first-round abilities, which helped the 49ers reach the Unheard of Bowl. The Pro Bowl selectee and 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year earned his accolades, racking up the fourth-most QB pressures within the NFL (60) while ending with a stress share of 13.9, which used to be additionally merely for fourth-most attention-grabbing within the league. Bosa is merely getting started, and boy, what a approach to launch a pro profession.

Josh Allen

Jacksonville Jaguars · LB

Disruption rate: 16.2%. Sack rate: 3.1%. Total disruptions: 54. Sacks: 10.5.

Oh, look! It be one other youngster! It be unrealistic to articulate Allen did no longer help from playing on a protection that additionally integrated Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue, so 2020 figures to be a more difficult test for him, with Campbell now a Raven and Ngakoue, who has yet to set apart his franchise designate as of this writing, looking out out of town. Allen had rather a debut, though. Becoming a member of Bosa as a rookie Pro Bowl selectee, Allen feeble his athleticism and size to his help in 2019. His 10.5 sacks on 54 total disruptions areas him amongst a pair of of the acceptable rushers within the NFL, nonetheless it additionally sets him as a lot as receive extra consideration from offenses in 2020. We are going to ogle if he can help the the same high-tail.

Aaron Donald

Los Angeles Rams · DT

Disruption rate: 15.7%. Sack rate: 2.5%. Total disruptions: 90. Sacks: 12.5.

Sixth?! Aaron Donald is sixth on this checklist?! I'm in a position to hear it now and I understand your effort, so spare my Twitter mentions. Donald performed extra total snaps (882) than someone else on this checklist, so it is inevitable that his disruption rate is going to be somewhat decrease. We're ranking these avid gamers with disruption rate taking priority over everything else, in relate that's why he ranks within the bottom half. But it absolutely used to be additionally a shock to me when I started to pore over these stats following the conclusion of the customary season to ogle yet every other particular person (Za'Darius Smith) had in actuality registered extra disruptions than Donald, who most incessantly dominates that class on an annual basis. Donald is unruffled supremely effective, and his 267 QB pressures since 2016 are doubtlessly the most within the NFL in that span. His 69 QB pressures were second most within the NFL in 2019, and his stress share (13.5%) used to be the supreme amongst inner linemen with no longer lower than 300 scurry rushes (a key difference in baseline than that of Smith, who performed on the inner less usually than Donald). The five-time All-Pro is unruffled nice and an absolute nightmare to halt. Don't desire his ranking right here as me saying the rest less.

Shaquil Barrett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers · LB

Disruption rate: 15.4%. Sack rate: 3.8%. Total disruptions: 78. Sacks: 19.5.

Ah, sure, allow us to roll out the crimson (and pewter) carpet for the NFL's 2019 sack king. Barrett's ascension from afterthought in Denver to premier hunter of quarterbacks used to be amazing -- I indicate, he had 5.5 extra sacks in 16 games closing three hundred and sixty five days than he did in 61 games with the Broncos. His 78 total disruptions paint an image of a defender who used to be constantly inflicting complications for opposing offenses, and he capitalized on such opportunities extra most incessantly than someone else on this checklist, as evidenced by his sack total and sack rate. No shock Bruce Arians most incessantly assured the Buccaneers would get a approach to help him.

Love Donald, Barrett additionally performed a ton of snaps (836, including 508 scurry rushes), bringing his total disruption rate down a tad. That is a bunch it is probably going you'll perchance perchance study in two various systems, though -- a bigger sample size is virtually repeatedly going to bring a participant's success rate down, however conversely, extra scurry rushes skill extra opportunities. Appropriate a bit of food for thought before you procure to typing.

Dont'a Hightower

Fresh England Patriots · OLB

Disruption rate: 15%. Sack rate: 2.2%. Total disruptions: 38. Sacks: 5.5.

This is the purpose within the ranking the set apart we quietly shock whether or no longer the baseline would possibly perchance perchance also merely be a bit of too low (Hightower merely barely crosses the threshold with 253 scurry rushes), however most attention-grabbing because the Patriots linebacker is no longer most incessantly one of many predominant names that merely about mind when mulling scurry rushers. He's a disruptor, though, and a key share of a Fresh England protection that used to be traditionally effective within the predominant half of the 2019 season. Hightower leads your entire avid gamers on this checklist in tackles, with 71, and is fourth in stops (tackles that consequence in a successful play for the protection in conserving with yards to scurry by down), with 33, while additionally recording five hustle stops (defensive stops the set apart the participant covers 20-plus yards of in-play distance from snap to kind out). His scurry-speeding stats don't appear to be the gaudiest, however they're rather impressive when enthusiastic about his conventional starting up point on the field before every snap.

Adrian Clayborn

Atlanta Falcons · DE

Disruption rate: 14.5%. Sack rate: 1.4%. Total disruptions: 41. Sacks: 4.

Clayborn, who signed with the Browns this offseason, had extra sacks in one sport in 2017 than he had in all of 2019, however that most attention-grabbing illustrates how incomplete sacks are as a stat. Clayborn used to be an effective participant for the Falcons' protection closing three hundred and sixty five days by making the many of the scurry-speeding snaps he used to be afforded, recording 35 QB pressures on merely 282 scurry rushes. These pressures, plus his 24 hurries, comprise the backbone of his bigger disruption rate.

Seek, carry out I in actuality feel worthy about Clayborn making this checklist over guys love Chandler Jones, Joey Bosa or Cameron Heyward (to call a pair of)? Fully no longer. But his disruption rate wasn't some distance off from Myles Garrett's with a identical number of scurry rushes. The numbers say the chronicle right here. I'm merely the messenger.

Von Miller

Denver Broncos · OLB

Disruption rate: 14.4%. Sack rate: 1.9%. Total disruptions: 60. Sacks: 8.

Drastically surprised? We are too, a bit of. Miller posted his first single-digit sack season since 2013 and most attention-grabbing recorded 46 tackles. While no longer as dominant as he's been for noteworthy of his profession, Miller unruffled made an influence over the stretch of his 791 total defensive snaps in 2019. His 52 QB pressures were 29 bigger than the next closest Bronco (Derek Wolfe), proving the three-time All-Pro used to be unruffled the particular person in Denver. And it is an achievement for Miller, who turned 31 in March, to remain one of many league's most surroundings pleasant disruptors, posting a bigger rate than the likes of Joey Bosa (14.0%), DeMarcus Lawrence (13.9%), Yannick Ngakoue (13.8%) and T.J. Watt (13.4%). A closing show on Miller's success over the closing four seasons: His 235 QB pressures since 2016 lead all edge defenders and are second within the NFL most attention-grabbing to Aaron Donald. His QB stress rate one day of that identical span (14%) ranks No. 1 across the league (min. 1,000 scurry rushes).

[chlostertalks]

State of the Cavs Locker Room: Part 2

Part 1 (2016) 

We're watching the Cavs break down in real time. And they don't want to hear it from the media, but the fact of the matter is they're out of sync. The locker room issues didn't develop overnight, and they always show this time of season.  

@ByTimReynolds

I'm beating a dead horse with this subject, but I've talked about these issues since starting this blog nearly three years ago.

But [LeBron James is] the best player in the world! What does he need to work on?

Communication. Being a better team player.

I believe Kobe Bryant has also had that same mentality the last two seasons(ironic, because LeBron reminded me more of Kobe this series than his own self, especially when he made his now-famous quote after Game 5). The Kobe of the last two seasons probably had the mentality of, "I’m one of the best players in the world! Look at what I’m doing on the court! What do I need to work on? If anything, my teammates can learn from me by just watching.” And look at the problems the Lakers are having now. They have Kobe (injured, but they have him), but it’s not a team effort.

Notice how in this article, an NBA scout is disgusted when “watching Bryant [take] too many shot attempts in a game.” Look at all the shot attempts LeBron took in this series. Uncharacteristic of King James, right?

And when you have practices like these, where players are doing more than talking trash and truly not getting along, the tension and frustration mount, the losses grow, and coaches like Blatt and Lakers coach Byron Scott feel like they “had a good day at practice,” in Scott’s words.

These practices translate to this: one player doing all the work, the coaches not saying anything, the other players playing uncharacteristic basketball because they have too many external factors to think about. We saw this in games like tonight, where even the crowd was screaming at the Cavs to foul the Warriors in the final seconds of Game 6.

Bottom line of this piece: one can’t do it all by himself in the long-run, even if he already is doing it all by himself.

 Me, June 17th, 2015

Few will admit that Kobe's last seasons hurt the Lakers. Yes, he scored 60 points in his final game, but the Lakers finished that season with 17 wins. Sure, the Lakers have 18 wins already this season, but they are still very much in a rebuilding phase. Kobe's a legend in his own right, but he hurt the team chemistry of the Lakers once they were no longer perennial Playoff contenders. The Achilles injury magnified this.

 We have read about the Cavs' feuds for the past three seasons. All the subtweeting and public accounts of tension among players is well-documented. The fact that there is a public track record of this chronic disconnect already tells me that Cleveland does not have a long-term identity.

Culture Shock?

If you honestly think about it, when has LeBron been a part of a solid culture? The only long-term team build involving LeBron was his early years with the Cavs. Going to Miami to be an instant contender with Chris Bosh, best friend Dwyane Wade, and pieces that Pat Riley had in place made LeBron think that he could recreate the short-term success recipe in Cleveland. It's a major feat to return to the Finals consecutively, but to win it all, it takes a culture that's not established in Cleveland yet, not to mention genuine friendships with teammates. 

Sidebar: I know what you're thinking: "But the Cavs won in 2016!" 

Indeed they did. But the Warriors still had a 3-1 lead. A lot of the Cavs' comeback was LeBron putting the team on his back. The story was all but written. Cleveland's back was against the wall. They didn't want to go down without a fight, but especially LeBron, who was a complete Super Saiyan in the latter games. Even though Kyrie made the shot in Game 7, I don't think the Cavs were on the same page then; LeBron took everything over and decided how his team would contribute. Golden State, meanwhile, got comfortable.

"But hasn't he earned that right?"

LeBron James is a Hall of Famer undoubtedly. He reached the 30,000-point mark last night, and will reach 40K by the time it’s all said and done. But longstanding teams are built off chemistry and culture. There is a difference between leading and taking on the entire load because of lack of trust in teammates.

 A Tale of Two Cities 

Cleveland and Miami are obviously two different breeds. Blue-collar vs. sky-blue water. Grit vs. flash. Midwest vs. paradise. Their basketball franchises are also two different cultures. Among the helm of the HEAT is Pat Riley, a tenured player, coach, and executive with the titles to prove it. He is the only person to win Coach of the Year with three different teams: the Lakers, Knicks, and HEAT. Along with James, Dan Gilbert is a major face of the Cavs. Even though he has made amends with James, this is the same Dan Gilbert who wrote a scathing letter in Comic Sans about a grown man making an executive decision to decide the next chapter of his career path.

But we all know that LeBron James is the crown jewel of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He could play all 5 positions and coach and GM at the same time if he wanted to. In fact, he already has; prime examples are the NBA Finals, outside of the latter games of the 2016 series. We've also seen the firing of head coach David Blatt midway through the 2015-2016 season, and GM David Griffin after a 2017 Finals loss.

The media painted a picture that Kyrie no longer wanted to be LeBron's little brother, so he left. The NBA is a league full of egos, so the argument stuck. I believe Kyrie left because of the toxicity of the locker room; he left to find balance and team chemistry. Being that he is spiritually in-tune, he probably sought after the balance that he has in other aspects of his life. I don't blame him; a toxic locker room is the main road block not only for a championship team, but a championship culture.

 Sending Out an SOS

A major complaint is that LeBron needs more help. LeBron always needs more help, it seems. The gag: he has all the tools he needs; they just don't gel well due to the locker room toxicity. 

It's like a car. You can add a nitro booster, a 600 horsepower engine, and some vintage parts, but it's not gonna go anywhere if it doesn't all connect. 

Culture can't be established in one season. And they can only go to the Finals in a wide-open East for so long. The Sixers' process is slowly being perfected. The Celtics are getting along and using more than Gordon Hayward's injury to gel as a team. Even with the firing of Jason Kidd, the Antetokounmpo-led Bucks are meshing well.

  ...And Then There’s the Enemy 

Golden State, on the other hand, built a culture. It's why I pick them to win the Finals every year. There are many ways to build a culture; in this case, the Warriors built through the Draft with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green as their main pieces. Under Mark Jackson, they gained Playoff experience and established an identity. When the executives thought that Golden State was more than a second-round team, they replaced Jackson with Steve Kerr, taking the team to new heights with consecutive Finals appearances. 

Golden State is able to shoot a barrage of threes, play high-tempo, do well on fastbreaks, and get off to blazingly fast scoring runs because they have a strong team chemistry. They are playing for something bigger than themselves. They genuinely like each other. They share the ball. And the addition of Kevin Durant was like adding a nitro booster, but it works because Durant is a team player at heart. I think he underestimates himself as a leader, but he sacrifices for the team.

 LeBron lost this when he left Miami. He and Wade gave up a lot to keep the Heatles together. 

Everyone in Miami was on the same page then, not because it was forced, but because they had a desire to be part of something greater than themselves. They bought into the plan. They bought into team chemistry. They got along. They played Miami HEAT basketball. When they lost in 2011, many were in the gym the next day because they had the same hunger to handle unfinished business.

2012 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 6. A classic. Business Insider. 

The Cavs aren't on the same page. The Cavs are not in sync. Everyone wants to win a championship, but how willing are they to execute? How willing are they to sacrifice ego? How willing are they to address chronic issues and grow together? How willing are they to realize that healing from this will take more than a few months? 

Find out next time on DBZ I guess.

[placetobenation]

Somewhere on the Road to WrestleMania, the WWE has lost its mind and creative wisdom!

Yup, I said it.

In a time where audience is eroding and stocks are on the wrong side of the ledger, the WWE has turned its collective championship eyes at Goldberg. Yes, 53-year old Bill Goldberg. Again.  For the second time in three years, Goldberg has taken out a younger star in mere minutes. In March of 2017 at Fastlane, it was Kevin Owens and now it’s The Fiend/Bray Wyatt.

I hate it!

The Fiend, over the past 8 months, is one of Smackdown’s most entertaining superstars. And with 2:00 of work in Saudi Arabia at Super Showdown Thursday, it was all thrown away.

Now, I get that Vince McMahon wants another superstar to highlight WrestleMania and a possible PPV deal before April’s big event, but this is not the way to do it. You shouldn’t have to tear down and discard one of your top draws just to give Goldberg a title he doesn’t deserve. Even if it is a transitional champion to get to Roman Reigns.

And to boot, at Super Showdown, we get The Undertaker coming back to lay waste to AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar obliterates Ricochet in less than two minutes. Add in John Cena’s return on Smackdown Friday night and we’ve got WrestleMania turned into a night of the elder statesmen.

I’m not saying that you can’t use the veterans and former stars, but don’t do it at the expense of the younger talent. Get them over. Make them over with personality and creative booking. Make it special and make it realistic. Make me want to be invested instead of trying to get the cheap, quick pop!

Right now, they are treating WrestleMania as a throwaway event and not something that I MUST see! It’s supposed to be THE biggest day of the year and now it’s just thrown in with Super Showdown and Elimination Chamber as another event over the month.

Count me as one who does NOT want to see Goldberg vs. Roman Reigns, John Cena vs. The Fiend/Bray Wyatt and The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles. Those matches are not MUST SEE for me.  Now, if it was Cena going for a Championship, he is 16-time World Champion after all, that’s something else. But, we can’t have that now that Goldberg beat The Fiend.

Remember, we already got Cena vs. Wyatt at WrestleMania 30.

Unfortunately, it looks like the lazy, predictable approach has even gotten to NXT, usually a standout week in, week out. Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair should’ve been a standout match, but lacked the high quality, emotion and intensity.

On RAW, how many times did we need to see Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler recapped?

Now, enough for the rant!

There were some positives on SmackDown. The tag team title match in the Elimination Chamber between John Morrison & The Miz vs. The Usos vs. The New Day could be epic! Sasha Banks’ return, despite the loss, is a good thing. A better show than in recent weeks and the best of the week for the WWE.

Super Showdown Results

The OC (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) defeated The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar)

The Undertaker won the Tuwaiq Mountain Trophy Gauntlet Match over R-Truth, Bobby Lashley, Rey Mysterio Jr. and AJ Styles

Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: The Miz and John Morrison defeated The New Day to win titles

Angel Garza defeated Humberto Carrillo

RAW Tag Team Championship Match: Seth Rollins & Buddy Murphy defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) to retain titles

Mansoor defeated Dolph Ziggler

WWE Championship Match: Brock Lesnar defeated Ricochet to retain title

Steel Cage Match: Roman Reigns defeated King Corbin

Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Bayley defeated Naomi

Universal Championship Match: Goldberg defeated The Fiend/Bray Wyatt to win title

And NEWWWWWWWWW @WWE Universal Champion! @Goldberg is now a 2-time Champion, and the first WWE Hall of Famer to win after being inducted. #WWESSSD pic.twitter.com/gcYLS4aCr1

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 27, 2020

Star of the Week:

Goldberg – I may not like it, but capturing the second biggest title in the company deserves a top spot, right?! I just wish he would’ve earned it.

RAW

RESULTS

Angel Garza defeated Humberto Carrillo

Ricochet defeated Luke Gallows

Aleister Black defeated Erick Rowan

Bobby Lashley defeated R-Truth

Angelo Dawkins defeated Buddy Murphy (DQ)

Seth Rollins defeated Montez Ford

Randy Orton defeated Kevin Owens

What we loved:

.@FightOwensFight demanded ANSWERS from @RandyOrton on #RAW! pic.twitter.com/xBjNh4KqHQ

— WWE (@WWE) February 26, 2020

Stand up KO – It was nice to see Kevin Owens be the next guy to take on Randy Orton for his attack on Edge. After all, how many times can we see Owens get punked by Seth Rollins and his Monday Night Minions (Buddy Murphy and the Authors of Pain)? Well, one more time I guess to help Randy Orton get a win. But at least it was a fun twist for a night.

It was a backstage blowup between @WWEAleister & #TheOC on #RAW! pic.twitter.com/bohbvzk09f

— WWE (@WWE) February 26, 2020

Aleister Black vs. AJ Styles – Sign me up for this one! But, something tells me we won’t get it as advertised now that Styles is looking for revenge against The Undertaker. Now, if you want to put The Undertaker with Aleister Black to fight The OC, I’m down with that.

Meh:

Garza vs. Carrillo – twice in four days was not exactly their best effort.

Huh:

The Women's #WWEChamber Contract Signing quickly turned into a BRAWL between @QoSBaszler & @BeckyLynchWWE!#RAW pic.twitter.com/As5dWbx2XG

— WWE (@WWE) February 26, 2020

So, no one comes out to save Edge or Matt Hardy against Randy Orton, but the entire locker room clears out to take care of the Elimination Chamber contract signing with Becky Lynch, Shayna Baszler, Asuka, Natalya, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan and Ruby Riott. That’s just so illogical on so many levels my friends!

NXT

RESULTS

Cameron Grimes defeated Dominik Dijakovic

Xia Li defeated Mia Yim

Tommaso Ciampa defeated Austin Theory

Killian Dain defeated Bronson Reed

The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) defeated The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler)

Charlotte Flair defeated Bianca Belair

.@MsCharlotteWWE has @BiancaBelairWWE right where she wants her! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/yGXG9NkWcy

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) February 27, 2020

Don’t get me wrong, the effort in the ring was there. Just overall, this latest episode of NXT just didn’t do it for me. I expected a can’t miss event from Flair and Belair and it just didn’t happen. Maybe they just had an off night chemistry-wise, but I just expected more. Otherwise, it was just a bunch of matches with a couple of run-ins thrown in for some intrigue.

“The #NXTUK Champion @WalterAUT would like to send you his regards…”#Imperium deliver a personal message to the PRIN

E @FinnBalor! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/BPJpb66Zgw

— WWE (@WWE) February 27, 2020

Finn Balor vs. Imperium has some interest, but why did we blow off the Gargano feud so quickly after one match? That seemed odd. Gargano, predictably, went after former friend and foe Ciampa after the NXT TakeOver: Portland screwjob. Ending Balor vs. Gargano and Ciampa vs. Cole seems like a blowoff and not a deserving finish.

Hopefully, just an off week for the folks from Full Sail. Their product isn’t failing at the moment, they are just getting outperformed on many levels by their counterparts on All Elite Wrestling, who are showing more of a flair for the dramatic in front of a bigger crowd week-in and week-out.  Plus, it just seems like they are having more fun. That’s a lesson all of the WWE could learn.

SMACKDOWN

RESULTS

Non-title Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Naomi defeated Bayley (DQ)

Lacey Evans &  Naomi defeated Bayley & Sasha Banks

Robert Roode defeated Kofi Kingston

Daniel Bryan defeated Curtis Axel

Non-title Smackdown Tag Team Title Match: The Usos defeated John Morrison & The Miz

What we loved:

Tag team love in the chamber – New tag team champs – John Morrison and The Miz get a monster of a first title defense. They have to face The Usos and the former champs, The New Day along with Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode, Heavy Machinery, and Lucha House Party in the Elimination Chamber in Philadelphia next Sunday. That could be epic my friends! Nice win by The Usos getting instant heat on the new champs with the upset victory Friday night. Not a good luck for the new champs though after gaining the belts on Thursday.

It's official! @WWERomanReigns will battle @Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship at @WrestleMania. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Gj17p5Znmo

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 29, 2020

Boo boo Bill – LOVED. LOVED. LOVED the fans in Boston (my people!) booing the (bleep) out of new Universal Champion Bill Goldberg. The only thing shorter than Goldberg’s match at Super Showdown was the one line back and forth between Roman Reigns and Goldberg. We all know where this is going folks. What Vince wants, Vince gets. Whether we the fans want it or not.

'The Fiend' @WWEBrayWyatt never forgets…#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/1heu7CAedE

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 29, 2020

You knew it was coming:

Cena vs. The Fiend – You just knew John Cena’s announcement that he wouldn’t be part of this year’s WrestleMania wasn’t going to stand. It lasted all of about 30 seconds. So, now we get Cena/Wyatt II in Tampa. Playing the hits for the big show is all this is.

Huh?

Daniel Bryan – I look at Daniel Bryan’s matches the last few weeks after losing to The Fiend and I think he’s wrestling on the old All-Star Wrestling. He’s showcasing his wares in matches he’s clearly the favorite in against guys that have no chance against him while Bryan waits on his next storyline. Kind of odd they have nothing for him yet. I’d love to see him in a classic match we didn’t see coming. How about Bryan vs. Cole II in Tampa?

Elimination Chamber Card:

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match: The Usos vs. Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler vs. Heavy Machinery vs. Lucha House Party vs. The New Day vs. John Morrison and The Miz

Elimination Chamber Match – Winner gets match at WrestleMania vs. Becky Lynch for RAW Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler vs. Ruby Riott vs. Natalya vs. Sarah Logan vs. Liv Morgan vs. Asuka

Intercontinental Championship 3-on-1 Handicap Match: Cesaro, Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Braun Strowman

Parting shots:

Oh no Joe – Tough to see Samoa Joe suspended 30 days for a Wellness Policy violation. A concussion and now suspension takes him out of one of the bigger angles on RAW but should be back in time for WrestleMania.

Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux – You have to think this couple is going to make a big debut either right before WrestleMania or in Tampa. Are the glitches a foreshadowing for something big for these two?

WWE Backstage – I’ve had high hopes for this show and it has had its moments. But, without CM Punk every week and no consistency other than Renee Young each week. I’ve been disappointed lately. Loved the talk between Mark Henry and Keith Lee last week. But did we really need a Bella Twins baby contest this week? Ugh!

Two cage matches for NXT this Wednesday? Sounds like overkill to me.

If you get a chance to listen to Lacey Evans on Boston radio Friday morning, it was a good listen on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Listen to it here.

Thanks for letting us share our thoughts! Shoot me an email at jcrowe567@gmail.com. We’d love to hear your comments and suggestions! You can also check out my blog, The Crowe’s Nest as we delve into more pro wrestling, sports entertainment and the World of Sports. My apologies ahead of time – I AM a Patriots and Red Sox fan! If you’re not down with that, I’ve got TWO WORDS for you… NEW ENGLAND!

[yahoo-puck-daddy-blog]

What if … Montreal Canadiens never drafted Carey Price? (NHL Alternate History)

(Ed. Note: It’s the NHL Alternate History project! We’ve asked fans and bloggers from 31 teams to pick one turning point in their franchise’s history and ask ‘what if things had gone differently?’ Trades, hirings, firings, wins, losses, injuries … all of it. How would one different outcome change the course of history for an NHL team? Here’s Robyn Flynn on the Montreal Canadiens! Enjoy!)

By Robyn Flynn

The franchise player for the Montreal Canadiens has been, for better or for worse, the man found between the pipes, dating back to at the very least the dynasty days of the ‘70s. From Ken Dryden to Patrick Roy to José Théodore to Cristobal Huet to Jaroslav Halak to their current cornerstone, Carey Price, the Habs have counted on their man in the blue paint to carry them to the Promised Land.

Unfortunately for them, that hope hasn’t managed to bear fruit since Roy was their main man in 1993.

Given the fact that it seems highly unlikely at this point that general manager Marc Bergevin will be trading Price anytime soon (given the eight-year, $84 million contract extension he just signed), let us ponder what the Habs might have looked like if things had gone a little differently…

Montreal Canadiens Alternate History : What if the Habs had never drafted Carey Price in 2005?

In 2005, Hockey Hall of Famer Bob Gainey was the guy in charge, and despite having a Hart and Vézina winner between the pipes in José Théodore, and a whole slew of promising prospects in Cristobal Huet and Jaroslav Halak, Gainey opted to draft a WHL goaltender out of Tri-City, prompting perhaps the dumbest piece of commentary ever provided by a hockey analyst.

Carey Price went on to put up underwhelming performances early on in his career, party a little too hardy around the island of Montreal, and overall disappoint fans of the bleu-blanc-rouge.

Then the Canadiens traded Jaroslav Halak, after his insane run backstopping the Habs to the 2010 eastern conference finals, angering many … er, “most” Habs fans, who to this day say that they knew seven years ago that Price was the right man to keep… But the radio never forgets, and the clips of their angry calls to Team 990 say otherwise.

Price wound up outperforming Halak by a mile, in large part due to an injury-plagued career that Jaro has had to deal with, not to mention Mr. Cassé’s CRAZY Hart and Vézina winning season that pretty much silenced his haters.

And just in case you still weren’t convinced of his superhumanly nature, the complete and utter collapse of the Habs without him two seasons ago pretty much proved it. And now, the Habs are locked into eight more years of Carey Price, who will eat up $8.5 million of their salary cap each year.

Cue the record scratch sound effect …

Not so fast. What if the Habs had never drafted Carey Price?

What if Bob Gainey had decided to fill the gaping hole down the middle that fans have whined about for the better part of the last two decades?

Enter, Anze Kopitar.

The 6-3 centerman who hails from Jesenice, Slovenia went 11th overall in 2005 to the future Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. But in this alternate reality, Kopitar was selected fifth overall instead of Price, filling a desperate need for the Canadiens.

“The Montreal Canadiens proudly select, from Jesenice, Slovenia, Anze Kopitar,” announced Trevor Timmins from the podium, alongside Bob Gainey.

Kopitar posed for pictures in his new Habs jersey, and shyly answered James Duthie’s questions immediately thereafter.

After spending one more season playing in the SEL, Anze Kopitar boarded a plane for Montreal, and reportedly lost four inches in height the moment his plane touched down at Trudeau Airport. The phenomenon is known as Montreal Smurf Syndrome, a condition that has afflicted the team down the middle for many years. Despite dealing with suddenly becoming vertically challenged, Kopitar adapted to life in Montreal quite well, developing instant chemistry with Alex Kovalev.

The 2006-07 Habs, bolstered by Kopitar’s 61 point season, and Saku Koivu’s strong leadership as a 2C, catapulted into sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 44 win season. Cristobal Huet did not play on February 15, 2007, because he was so hungover from celebrating at Kopitar’s week-early half-birthday party, and therefore was never injured, and remained the defacto starter down the stretch.

Despite a promising rookie performance from the Slovenian Sensation, the Habs lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Atlanta Thrashers, thanks to Marian Hossa’s series-clinching double-overtime game winner in game six of the series.

Flash-forward to 2010 and Jaroslav Halak’s historic run to the Eastern Finals.

Kopitar, flanked by Mike Cammalleri (who decided he preferred to play on the right side), and Ilya Kovalchuk (who was so impressed with Kopitar’s performance during the Thrasher’s 2007 first round series against the Habs, that he demanded to be traded to Montreal in February 2010), scored 20 post season goals, including five game winners, en route to the Habs’ 25th Stanley Cup championship. Rookie PK Subban scored the Cup clinching goal, ultimately sealing his fate as a permanent fixture on the Habs’ blue line, and ensuring that no man would ever wear number 76 in Montreal again.

The Canadiens defeated the Chicago Blackhawks handily in five games. Patrick Kane was so devastated by the loss that he immediately retired from professional hockey, and moved to the Adirondacks, where he would live out his days in solitude as a mountain man.

Habs fans naturally proceeded to riot in the city’s downtown streets for four straight days, forcing the cancellation of the Stanley Cup parade, and the army being called in by a young Member of Parliament by the name of Justin Trudeau. When Trudeau was told that he couldn’t just call in the military, the young MP invoked the words of his father and said, “just watch me.”

Stay tuned for the Alternate History Sequel: What if the Habs had decided to trade Carey Price instead of Jaroslav Halak in 2010?

—

Robin Flynn is a writer, producer and commentator for CJAD 800 and TSN 690. Find her @robynlisaflynn on Twitter.

PREVIOUSLY ON NHL ALTERNATE HISTORY

What if … the Islanders never hired Mike Milbury?

What if … Dallas drafted the other Lundqvist brother?

What if … Jonathan Drouin’s Tampa time wasn’t so chaotic? 

What if … Minnesota Wild hired Pierre McGuire as GM? 

What if … Florida had traded Roberto Luongo for Joe Thornton?

What if … the Martin Gelinas goal counted for Calgary?

What if … the Oilers never traded for Chris Pronger?

What if … the Blues had drafted Jonathan Toews instead?

What if … the Bruins never lost Marc Savard?

What if … the Anaheim Ducks drafted Sidney Crosby?

What if … the Red Wings had signed Marian Hossa? 

What if … the Canucks won the first NHL Draft Lottery?

What if … the Hurricanes had signed Sergei Fedorov?

What if … the Flyers hadn’t lost Chris Pronger?

What if … Avalanche never matched Joe Sakic offer sheet?

What if … the Capitals didn’t hire Dale Hunter and Adam Oates? 

What If … Terry Pegula owned Sabres in the 1990s?

What If … the Predators had let Shea Weber walk?

What if … the Senators had traded for Gary Roberts?

What If … Wayne Gretzky was sold to Winnipeg Jets?

What if … the Penguins had drafted Bobby Clarke?

What if … LA Kings missed 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

What if … NY Rangers didn’t win 1994 Stanley Cup? 

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