#like they won by 106 runs | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ngmn2002 · 1 year ago

Text

Ch 106: Random thoughts part 2

part 1

Really… he meant it when he said come play with me, huh? ~

And so, the game started! How fun!!! The dash she made with how she looked had me laughing hard. Love her expressions and words next, SAME GOES FOR TSU. He looks really silly... then cool! His face when counted zero… oh boy… he is enjoying himself too much. ♡ Just perfect!

Nene with Tsu!~ 1- ^^ 2- ^^ 3- ....

I did make a joke before saying Nene might end up running at full speed from Tsu... but this thing is way better!

Haha, how fun.

And… how adorable & funny he looks while he is searching for her… aww….

BOO! AHAHAHA. Love it. all of it. him chasing after her… OMG… too funny… lovely… cute… adorable… ahhh!!!

"I've got you N-ene-chan" WHY? WHY?! WHY was he cut of before finishing it, huh?! you don't know for how long I've been waiting for it to happen!!! Ahhh!!! Feel my happiness when he finally didn't refer to her with "that girl"!! ugh!!!

This thing has to be my favorite!!! AhAHaAHA lol, it reminds me of the time Amane hit his head with Akane's while chasing Mirai. Tsukasa… ah… I'm laughing too hard. It's all too funny. Though his state after the hit is better than Amane's. He seems to be not in pain at all. reminds me of that little moment between 4 yo Tsu and Kou in the red house as well. Alsooo.. wow. what a move you made, Nene-chan! Seems your training to be a perfect twister have paid off! ahh... the whole scene is so funny.

He is really holding back a lot, I believe he can catch her any time he wants so easily, hmm... he wants to go easy on Nene-chan and just have fun, huh?~

...and so, the chase kept on going. Too fun, hilarious and funny. So enjoyable.

Hmm...!!! Leave it to Tsu to make things so much fun.♡ it feels like this is his specialty. ~

I wonder too… why? is there anything… causing him to be like that? And aww… sweet girl.

She is too lovely and too trusting… well…

wow! Is that what's meant by the rumor??? So this thing will take your time… I see… though… the place should be the boundary… not the clock, and not the time left... it seems its steals your own time until you're left with nothing and gone?

Good to see middle school Nene-chan again!!! Too cute and lovely!!!

♡

Yeah, that's the same guy.

How cool. ~ yeah, it looks like my wishes are coming true? I wished to see Tsu this way again, Tsukasa and Nene having fun FUN, dealing with a yorishiro together, Tsukasa making a face... cool.

And wow… love how this boy changes… from cheerful, playful, carefree… to being deadly serious and focused in like… a split moment. even while fighting he kept on going back and forth between these things! A thing to admire about him. Again, love it when he is explaining things!

AWWW!!! THIS! THISSSS!!! Guess who won the game of tag at the end??? ~ ^^ Now.... Oooh!!! little Nene-chan!!! ♡ wanna hold her!!! don't cry dear!!! she was into hamsters since she was so little how adorable!!! gotta love Tsukasa's surprised face upon finding her, same goes for his face when she is crying, and how he is covering his ears, haha. See, Nene-chan? you carried your plan just right. lol how he held her at the end!!! oooh!!!

Another wish of mine that came true... I did say before I wonder if Tsukasa would be making a face like Akane's in here... it's not really the same... but a bit similar.

Haha.

spot the difference. I wonder how Hanako would react to know not only the 2 left him behind… but also went to play tag. fear he would cry harder to find he was double betrayed.

AWWWW...

Uh... soooo... researcher T went through things like these?

Now I respect researcher T more than I ever did before. Thanks for all your hard work, dear researcher.

Hmm...

So now, you too… Tsu… need to bring the researcher T inside of you out!

Yes, good boy.~ Would love to see you taking care of her like T once did. That's going be really interesting. Looking forward to see it. ♡ He has a good record of taking care of other so far I think. Amane, Mit 2.0, and now Nene-chan!

So, yeah. a really nice and funny chapter. I enjoyed it a lot! looking forward to see ch 107!!!

*********

Would like to keep this thing as just funny and not go into any serious stuff like I always do. This chapter is made for me to juuuust have fun and enjoy seeing my little 2 cuties doing the same. ♡ ~ I'm so so so so happy to get this chapter. I wanted to see Tsukasa and Nene this way for so long!!!

My little dream came true with a game of tag. Unbelievable amount of beauty lies in simplicity. ♡ ~ How pleasant!!!!

Though, I will mention a little thing briefly, I expected Tsukasa at some point might take Nene-chan to No.1's boundary and have her destroy the yorishiro. I was right in there. didn't expect he would turn things into a little game of tag, though. This boy… always unpredictable, always so lovely.

still a bit sad Nene still keeps her guard up around him... but maybe this thing happening now might turn to be a push for them into the right direction! I'm all up for it! ~

#ch 106 #toilet bound hanako kun #jshk #tbhk #jibaku shounen hanako kun #jibaku shonen hanako kun

47 notes · View notes

bratshaws · 2 years ago

Text

through the hourglass 149.brb x oc

a/n: this chapter was sweet...onto the angst. (reblogs and comments are super encouraged <3)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: JUST FLUFF!!!

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

/100/101/102/103/104/105/106/107/108/109/110/111/112/113/114/115/116/117/118/119/120/121/122/123/124/125/126/127/128/129/130/131/132/133/134/135/136/137/138/139/140/141/142/143/144/145/146/147

/148

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @kulicny @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @dhwanishah09 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23 @gh0stsgoodgirl @mygyn @chavivaelisheva @genius2050

The sound of the fireworks on the tv didn’t deafen the obvious shriek that came out of Shells, because everyone slowly turned towards the two on the couch and then just…stared.

Beatrice sunk into Rooster, who just hugged her tighter against him and tried to shield her from the eyes, “Shells.” he says through gritted teeth trying to at least control the situation however he could.

But the Blonde was always the less subtle of their group, especially when she just kept pointing at Beatrice’s stomach. Evelyn, thank God for Evelyn, just leaped out of the couch to drop Shells’ arm down and narrowed her eyes, “Sit down.”

“But-”

“Sit.Down.Shells.” the motherly,yet ordering tone in their friend’s voice immediately made the other woman deflate and shuffle away to where Bob was. But now that the cat was out of the bag, Evelyn rubbed her eyes with the tips of her hands, looking down at Bea - who looked like a little girl who just got scolded.

Rooster kept his arm around the brunette, a bit angry because of Shells’ over the top reaction and the obvious way that Beatrice was - just sticking to him and fumbling with her hands - and now everyone was aware something was off.

Evelyn was the first one to speak, quietly, to Bea, “Is it true?’ she flicks her eyes to her friend’s stomach, “Are you?”

Beatrice chews her lower lip, turning to look back at Rooster who just offered her a small smile and a nod, kissing her temple as she straightened on the couch, placing her hands together on top of her thighs, “...yes.”

“...really.”

‘Yes.” she repeats, looking up at Evelyn with guilt all over her face.

‘And you were going to share this with us after a few months were not for Shells’ absolute dumb reaction.”

“...yes.”

Cue to Evelyn glaring towards the blonde who just hid behind Bob’s shoulder in hopes to hide from both Evelyn and Rooster’s wrath. But now that silence was back into the room, it was Phoenix- who was holding a giggling Nicole - who looked over at Beatrice with her eyes wide, “Really? You really are?’ the brunette nods silently, playing with her fingers, “Oh my God…I think we need to tell them guys.”

Now that made Shells,Evelyn,Bea and Rooster look over at her in question, with the taller pilot’s brows so furrowed it was like his skin had permanent indentations on it. Payback sighed, “That’s not cool, they shouldn’t know yet.”

“But I mean,” Coyote mumbles, “Someone won.”

“Do you guys just bet on us at random??? What the hell.”

“It’s not at random,” cuts Fanboy, “It’s ‘cause we already made a bet on Jake and Evelyn and then we thought ‘okay there’s no way Bea and Rooster won’t be pregnant before Nikki turns one.” he gestures to the baby who’s playing with Phoenix’s thumb, “And what do you know, it happened!”

Rooster doesn’t know if he should be thankful because his friends clearly care about their relationship or if he should just ditch them out in the snow instead. He turns to Beatrice to check her reaction, and she’s, for a brief second, blank faced.

She is probably digesting everything, she’s probably digesting that everyone knows about it now, there was no way of actually hiding it. But then she relaxes, leaning back into him as she breathes out a sigh of relief, “...well, that wasn’t so bad.” she whispers, even giggling quietly, “I…it feels kinda good to share now. It was just because we were still trying to…um,check, you know?”

“I’m sorry,Bea,I didn’t mean to,” Shells looks up at Evelyn, the two of them sharing a battle with their eyes only, “Make you upset.”

“Ah, it’s okay.” she shrugs, “I think it helps you guys know about it first, just don’t tell people…I need to figure out how to tell my parents.”

“And Mav.” Rooster adds, kissing her head.

“And Mav, of course.”

Evelyn,while happy, turned a confused look towards the two, “I thought you were taking the birth control shots?”

“Oh,ah, um,” Beatrice’s cheeks turn red, “I…forgot to go a few months back because I was working with Marcus,” she murmurs, shrugging “The ladies at the clinic told me once I gave them a call and let me know…about it…it wasn’t planned if anyone was thinking about that.”

“I mean, I don’t think anyone thought about that.” Shells answered.

Cue to more silence and a few stifles of laughter coming from Fanboy and Payback.

Rooster blinked, then opened his mouth to question the group, “What does that mean?”

“Well, you can’t get your hands off of Bea,” the blonde shrugs comedically, pursing her lips as she leans into Bob, “And we kinda knew it’d happen sooner or later…just do tell Nikki,when she’s older, why she has to share her birthday with her little sibling.”

Rooster didn’t even try to deny it, he just smirked towards Beatrice before kissing her forehead and keeping his lips there for a few seconds. Beatrice leaned into his touch as Evelyn went back to sit with Jake - Nicole was now being bounced by Coyote as he babbled happily towards the group - “Do you guys know what it is?” they shared a look and a small, knowing smile, one that only made Evelyn’s eyebrow quirk in question, “What’s that?”

“What’s what?’ questions Bea.

Evelyn gestures with her index finger towards the two, “That little look, you two look like the cat that just got the cream.” she says as her legs rest on top of Jake’s thighs, ‘So if there’s anything else you guys want to share, this may be a good time.”

She had a very fair point.

Beatrice looks over at Rooster,biting her lower lip with a little grin - she’s almost vibrating on the couch - before she looks over towards everyone, “Well!Um….let’s say that Nikki won’t have to share her time with one little sibling.” she doesn’t whisper it this time, because it does feel good to tell everyone that they are having more babies…plus the look of surprise and shock is almost immediate.

Payback chokes on a piece of cheese and Phoenix claps her hands over her mouth with her eyes wide, standing to her feet because she couldn’t control her legs. Shells is glad she’s sitting because she says her blood pressure of course dropped down to her ass, Bob is smiling while holding her up and Coyote stares with his mouth wide open as he holds a wriggly Nicole that is just so happy by whatever was happening she couldn’t stop.

Jake laughs in disbelief, “Shut the fuck up.” he looks from Bea to Rooster, “Shut the fuck up there’s–two?Twins?”

“That’s usually what happens when there’s two babies,Hangman.” Rooster smirks, bringing Beatrice to him to kiss her forehead again, this time loving how red her cheeks were and how bright her smile turned out to be. “It’s twins.”

“Oh my God, you are going to have twins!” Evelyn gasps with her hand over her mouth “Bea! That’s– oh my God! That’s amazing! Do you know when they’ll be born?”

Beatrice smiles wider, then hums as she thinks about it, ‘Around…July,right? Beginning of July, probably a week after Nikki’s birthday.” she turns to her husband who just nods with a dreamy smile on his face, “It’s…yeah, it’s!Well!Yeah, now you guys know.”

“That’s amazing,Bea.” Evelyn says, ‘I’m very happy for you,I’m sure everyone is happy for you.” there’s a chorus of ‘yeah’s and ‘hell yeah’s’ from the others as they look over towards the two, ‘You know you can count on us if you need help,right?”

“I know,” she says, “I just don’t want to, well, you are pregnant too and-”

“I’m capable.” Evelyn cuts her off gently, “But some people have a hard time figuring that out.” she flits her eyes towards Jake, and her boyfriend just smiles apologetically muttering he just worries, to which Evelyn rubs the side of his face with her hand. After she’s done with that, her eyes turn back to Bea, “Is everything okay with them,then?”

‘Yes, we checked on them before we came here, before Christmas actually.” Beatrice explains, “They are more than fine, but we’ll go back in the middle of January. It’s too early to know their genders and I don’t know if we'll worry about that? Especially since multiple pregnancies can be a bit more complicated than a single baby.” she knows there’s a reason to worry but she doesn’t want to worry too much about it yet.

Her anxiety was enough some times.

But in the end, it was obvious everyone was more than happy to know about the pregnancy. Beatrice was happy and so was he…he was glad the night was going like that.

Well the night turned into something completely different because now he had a whole squad sleeping in the cabin they were staying in, they couldn’t go back to the hotel because they were a) too drunk and b) it was snowing really hard. They found inflatable mattresses and some of them got comfortable on the couches and they all agreed that Evelyn and Jake could have the extra bedroom in the cabin.

He checked on them from the stairs to make sure they were all breathing before he turns on his heel to walk up to the master bedroom. He could hear Beatrice humming and talking to Nicole, their little girl being rocked to sleep by her mother as he enters the room and he was so glad to see her face so relaxed.

He had to admit that planning this surprise didn’t end how he wanted, but, he couldn’t ask for a better outcome…with the exception of his entire squad snoring downstairs - God he forgot how loud Fanboy was - and the fact they’d all pretty much leave at the same time if not in the same plane on the second of January.

He steps into the bedroom, the dogs are all happily sleeping by the bed deciding that they couldn’t handle Fanboy’s snoring either, as he meets Beatrice from behind,hugging her waist and bring her to his chest. His chin props on the opposite shoulder since the other had Nicole’s little head on it, her eyes closed as she snoozes. He nuzzles Beatrice’s neck, kissing the soft skin, “Hi.”

She turns her head towards him slightly, “Hi.”

“How are you?’

“I’m okay.” she smiles, “I’m really okay…thank you for doing that.”

“You are more than welcome,gorgeous.” he coos, kissing her jawline and keeping her within his hold as the two swayed gently in the privacy of the master bedroom, “Are you happy they know?”

“...yeah, I am.” she says, “I’m not mad at Shells, I know she is…loud and she can’t handle emotion too well. She doesn’t mean to do it in a bad way.” she explains, one of the hand letting go of Nicole to rub his shaved jawline, brushing her thumb over the jutted bone at the end, “How about you? Are you happy?”

He inhales, trying to measure his thoughts to his words as she asks that, their bodies still swaying a bit - the movement making Nicole just fall asleep,completely limp, on her mother’s shoulder - as he hums,”I’ll have to admit…I’d want us to do it our own way,I did get angry at Shells for a brief second because of how you reacted but…if I’m honest,I’m fine with it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, we just have to figure out how to tell everyone.”

“Do you want to tell Mav?’ she questions, “I can just tell my parents.”

Rooster clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth, “Honestly, yeah,I kinda wanna do that…I did tell him about Nikki after all.” he smiles, looking over at their daughter who was just fast asleep, “And I can handle his emotions a lot better now, he may faint.” he warns, “He may pass out and I might have to carry him to a hospital.”

“Oh,he’ll be okay.” she says sweetly, “I know my mother will faint though…and my siblings. Michael-yeah, he’s gonna make new onesies and Leonardo is just going to cry…I mean it could’ve gone much,much worse.”

He laughs breathily before pushing himself back from her body, kissing the back of her head and then checking on Nicole,”Do you want me to take her to the crib?”

Beatrice looked from him to Nikki, who was sleeping so nicely she almost felt bad about waking her if she dared move, “Well,it’d be the right thing to do,huh?”

“It would.”

“...okay.” she gently places Nicole in his arms, kissing her little head before she buries it into Rooster’s neck, sighing happily once she’s back in the warm cocoon that was her father. Rooster kisses Beatrice’s lips, opening the door - and immediately making Jack and Eleanor stand up and follow him, leaving Jolene alone and sighing on the floor.

Beatrice smiles, sitting on the edge of the bed with her interlocked fingers between her legs, her eyes going from Jolene to the door, she eventually tapped the bed so the pittie could jump on it, which she promptly did. Jolene’s huge head landed on her thigh and her light eyes closed when the brunette caressed it repeatedly, looking out the window to watch the snow pile up slowly outside.

Her eyes close for a second, seeing nothing and yet hearing laughter, children laughter, a tiny squeaky voice calling her name and Rooster’s smile appearing in the distance. “Can’t believe it’s not a dream.”

“What?’

She blinks her eyes open when Rooster returns, quite quickly she has to admit, closing the door behind him and kicking off his shoes with a confused smile,”What was a dream?”

“Oh,um, nothing just-” she gestures to her temple, “Thinking out loud.”

Rooster stops by the door as he kicks his shoes back, then chuckles, arching his brows before he walks over, sitting next to her and petting Jolene across her thighs. He drags his hand to hers, interlacing their fingers and bringing her knuckles to his lips, “...I have those days.”

“We all do.” she giggles softly, looking back out of the window with a happy sigh leaving her nose, “...I’m glad our trip went well.”

“Me too.”

“We had a lot of fun,didn’t we?”

“We did, a whole lot of fun.”

She rubbed his hand with her thumb, chewing the inside of her lower lip, her free hand petting Jolene and the pittie just snoozed on her thigh as the two shared the silence and the creaks and cracks of the wooden cabin, nothing new ever since they got there. “...do you want to know something?”

“Always, gorgeous.”

“This…was one of the best holiday trips I ever had.” she smiles, “I don’t know,I like it here. Even if it’s cold…and it snows and sometimes you don’t want to get out of bed…I do like it. I think it’s because it’s a direct connection to you.” he chuckles softly, squeezing her hand, “And I know how much you like it too,even if it still hurts sometimes.”

“It’s gotten better.” he murmurs, ‘You helped me with it…and bringing Nikki kind of…gave it a new light,you know? There’s not only death here.” his voice softens when he says that and Beatrice just squeezes his hand back, using her knuckles to brush against his jaw and making him look at her, “I’m okay…it’ll be a brand new year for us.”

“Sure will.”

“We’ll have…two more kids.” she nods, “And it’ll be rough, at first. But we’ll handle it.”

“Mhm.”

“And we’ll be just as good as we are with Nikki.” he turns to her,kissing her forehead and standing to his feet, “But now I gotta shower, I’m tired and honestly, so should you.” the obvious suggestion hang on the air like a fruit ready to fall to the ground. Beatrice looked at him in pure shock, mouth hanging open and everything.

“Bradley Nicholas, you did not suggest we shower together while we have our friends here.”

“it’s a simple shower.” he shrugs, backing into the bathroom, “...unless…” he laughs, quickly ducking and avoiding one of her socks thrown his way, disappearing from her view, “Alright,alright, I yield milady. I’ll go first, then you can.”

“Good.” she smiles at him, and before he disappears again she calls his name, “...I love you.”

He holds himself against the threshold with a bright grin, his cheeks flushing, “...I love you too gorgeous, God I fuckin’ love you.” and he winks, then disappears into the bathroom, leaving her and Jolene alone in there, both of them smiling like teenagers with a crush.

#bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x oc #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw x named reader #tgm oc #tgm fic #tgm fanfiction

55 notes · View notes

justjarminsports · 3 months ago

Text

NFL Week 4 Winners and Losers

Photo Credit: Rusty Jones AP.

By; BenJarmin Munguia

Date; October 2, 2024

Week 4 is wrapped up, and some teams stayed as winners, but some teams were really losers—and not in a good way. Let's see who is in camps and damps this week.

WINNER

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals won their first game of the season by knocking off their former quarterback, Andy Dalton, and the Carolina Panthers 34-24. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went 22-of-31 for 232 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with running back Chase Brown, who carried the ball 15 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals went to Charlotte and won the game with ease. They are now heading to the Windy City to play the Chicago Bears.

WINNER

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts surprised everybody by defeating the strong Pittsburgh Steelers 24-27 on Sunday. Indianapolis lost their starting quarterback, Anthony Richardson, to a hip injury in the first half of the game. Back-up quarterback Joe Flacco finished the game, going for 16-of-26 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. The 17-year veteran quarterback kept the Colts ahead of the Steelers throughout the entire game, extending the Colts' win streak to 2.

It's unsure whether Joe Flacco will start on Sunday against the winless Jaguars, but it should be an automatic win.

WINNER

Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders

The Commanders are looking like a playoff team. They are sitting in first place in the NFC East and racking up 98 points in their three-game win streak. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels stormed past the Arizona Cardinals 42-14, and it wasn't even close. This was Washington's first game of scoring 40+ points since 2016.

On a high note for Daniels, he has set a rookie record for having the highest completion percentage by a rookie in his first four games, at 82.1%. For example, the rookie quarterback only had 106 passes he threw this season. 18 of them were incomplete, and only 1 was picked off. That is a very impressive stat.

Commanders fly home from the desert to take on the struggling Cleveland Browns.

LOSERS

New York Jets

You can blame the weather for losing to a team that had -12 passing yards in the first half, let alone 60 total passing yards throughout an entire game. There is something going on in the Jets locker room that we don't know, and it's not good.

The Jets play the Vikings in London; let's hope it doesn't rain on Sunday.

LOSERS

Jacksonville Jaguars

You are now the only winless team in the NFL.

LOSERS

Buffalo Bills

I expected a better game from Buffalo. Only being able to put in 10 points is unheard of with Josh Allen under center, but they put all of the blame on the offense. Allen is not on defense, giving up 200 rushing yards, especially an 87-yard touchdown run from Derrick Henry.

The Bills have a chance to bounce back on Sunday against the Texans, playing against their former star wide receiver, Stefon Diggs.

LOSERS

Minnesota Vikings

I might get hate on this. Yes, the Vikings won, and they are 4-0. But almost blowing a 28-0 lead against your division rival is not talked about enough. How do you allow the Green Bay Packers to have a 29-3 run? You don't put your fan base in panic mode, especially if you're fighting for first place in the NFC North.

However, the Vikings can go 5-0 if they can beat the Jets on Sunday in London……especially if it rains.

Was there anyone I missed? Let me know!

#nfl #nfl football #buffalo bills #cincinnati bengals #washington commanders #new york giants #indianapolis colts #jacksonville jaguars #minnesota vikings

4 notes · View notes

lboogie1906 · 8 months ago

Text

Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is a singer, songwriter, dancer, graffiti artist, and actor. His musical style has been defined as polyhedric, with his R&B being characterized by several influences from other genres, mainly hip-hop, and pop music. Being described by media outlets and critics as one of the biggest talents of his time in urban music.

Born in Tappahannock, Virginia, he was involved in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age. Having signed with Jive Records, he released his self-titled debut studio album, which sold 154K copies in the first week and became certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. With his first single “Run It!” peaking atop the Billboard Hot 100, he became the first male artist since 1995 to have his debut single top the chart. His second album, Exclusive, reached an even bigger commercial success worldwide, and it spawned his second Billboard Hot 100 number one “Kiss Kiss”. The release of his third album Graffiti was considered to be a commercial failure compared to his previous works. He has recorded 10 albums to date.

He has sold over 193 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists. He is tied for the most digital single sales among R&B artists in the US. He is one of the highest-grossing African American touring artists of all time. He has won several awards, including a Grammy Award, eighteen BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, and thirteen Soul Train Music Awards. He has the seventh most Billboard Hot 100 entries with 106 - which is the most of any R&B artist in history. He was ranked 3rd in the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Decade for the 2010s. He has pursued an acting career. He made his on-screen feature film debut in Stomp the Yard and appeared as a guest on The O.C. Other films he has appeared in include This Christmas, Takers, Think Like a Man, Battle of the Year, and She Ball.

He owns fourteen Burger King restaurants. He launched a streetwear clothing line called Black Pyramid.

He launched his cereal, “Breezy’s Cosmic Crunch.”#africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

2 notes · View notes

carruechedaily · 10 months ago

Note

It feels like the men saying she's broke, are trying to make it seem like she is a damsel in distress who had to run to OF. Kinda like they are quietly saying "we won, boys. We got her to fold" bc they don't want to admit she finessed with making money by simply showing feet, little to no effort. It also sounds like they are lowkey hoping that one thing will turn into another, and that it will no longer be just about feet.

I've noticed that when it comes to anything sexual, or something THEY see as sexual, they will always try to make it seem like they're the ones tricking/finessing a woman into doing something. So they're gonna keep going with the lie that she's broke, bc they get off on the thought of a woman giving in due to desperate times (money, etc.) rather than the reality that this was a choice and it wasn't bc she felt pressured.

As for the women saying those same things, it's giving "I feel worthless in the real world, so it's easy to come online and pretend like Kae is lying about being broke, bc then I can make myself feel superior and that 'I have morals, and I would NEVER do something I don't want to do all for some money'". You can always tell bc there's always this condescending "live in your truth sis" tone to it. Truth is they already didn't like Kae bc they have an inferiority complex bc she doesn't give them much to talk about (all they can do is bring up Cracky, and her reading off of a teleprompter on 106&Park, so they got excited with the "broke" topic).

🎯🎯 ultimately that’s what the hoopla boils down too, there’s nothing people love more than watching celebs crash and burn that’s why these blogs are so popular

2 notes · View notes

circesays · 2 years ago

Text

Fam I just had the most incredible and stressful 2.5 hours of my goddamn life.

Let me set the scene:

It is 11:30 pm. I’m finishing a shower, remembering that I have a couple of levels left in the Apex Legends season battle pass that I need to finish, as today is the last day before it ends. I quickly realize that I’m at level 106, and I need to be at 110, and even though I have very little left to do to level up, I’m not the greatest at Apex.

So I rush to finish my shower, and dry off as quickly as possible, change, and jump straight into a match. My hair is dripping water, I’m hella uncomfortable, but goddammit I’ve been chipping at this battle pass for months (I didn’t spend money, I just really really liked the level 110 badge aesthetic) and nothing was going to stop me from getting that pass.

That’s when I met my buddy who I’ll be calling D. D and I won a game together, it was fantastic, and the two of us were chatting over the in-game voice call. He asked if we could play together, I told him about my battle pass goal, and the two of us set off to get me my goddamn badge.

Let me set the scene further.

There is an hour and a half left in the season. In order to finish leveling up, I need 4 SMG knocks (which is basically when you damage an enemy enough to “kill them” but their team is still alive and able to get them up) and 5 LMG knocks. These are types of in-game guns.

At one hour left I needed 3 SMG knocks and 4 LMG knocks.

At half an hour left I needed 1 SMG knock and 4 LMG knocks.

At 15 minutes left I needed 3 LMG knocks.

At five minutes left, I needed two.

At 1 minute left, I needed two.

We get into the last game. If I don’t get these knocks, I’ll be stuck at level 109 for this pass for the rest of my Apex career. At this point, I’m practically vibrating out of my skin. We’ve run into so many supportive people at this point- “3rd” players who were helping me get the ammo and guns I needed to win. I was stressed. D was less stressed but still rooting for me. It’s 2 in the goddamn morning, I have a class at 8, but nothing is going to stop me.

I don’t get the knocks. I failed.

I exit the match. The menu loads.

The season hasn’t ended.

D looks it up. The season doesn’t end at 2 am- it ends at 10 am. I just thought it ended at two because Apex doesn’t give you an hourly counter to the seasons end, it just says “0 days left in the season.”

Every muscle in my body fucking melts. In half an hour, I breezed through the dailies and got my badge. It was incredible. It was exhausting. D and I agreed to play more during less stressful times.

Goddammit I could have avoided so much stress if I had just looked up when the season ended.

There’s no real point to this post, honestly. It’s just a fun story because I thought others would enjoy it. I’m so proud of this, which is also kinda silly but I love it. Apex is a huge game in my family and we play together all the time so getting this badge was special to me because it represented incredible moments. And I’m happy I got it.

I’m not kidding when I say that we ran into some very kind people. Many squad mates wished us luck as we bounced from games early, because we couldn’t waste any time being revived. We felt bad abandoning them, but they understood we were on a time limit (even if it wasn’t actually real. Whoops.)

The only guy who was even slightly inconsiderate was a guy who left our game early because we were using our mics. And I respect that. He just left instead of asking us to turn them off. He could have been an asshole about it, but he wasn’t.

Today was a wild ride. Anyways that’s about it. Thanks for the fantastic season (‘•w•)b

#apex legends #story time lol #not about MCYT which is rare for me lol #apex #guys thanks for the great season #and thanks to D for helping me out so much

14 notes · View notes

roman-catholic-mass-readings · 2 years ago

Text

1st February >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Feast of Saint Brigid, Abbess, Secondary Patron of Ireland

And/Or

Wednesday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time.

Feast of Saint Brigid, Abbess, Secondary Patron of Ireland

Either:

First Reading Job 31:16-20,24-25,31-32 Have I been insensible to the needs of the poor?

Have I been insensible to poor men’s needs, or let a widow’s eyes grow dim? Or taken my share of bread alone, not giving a share to the orphan? I, whom God has fostered father-like, from childhood, and guided since I left my mother’s womb. Have I ever seen a wretch in need of clothing, or a beggar going naked, without his having cause to bless me from his heart, as he felt the warmth of the fleece from my lambs?

Have I put all my trust in gold, from finest gold sought my security? Have I ever gloated over my great wealth, or the riches that my hands have won?

The people of my tent, did they not say, ‘Is there a man he has not filled with meat’? No stranger ever had to sleep outside, my door was always open to the traveller.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Or:

First Reading Ephesians 3:14-21 A prayer that faithful may know the love of Christ.

This is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name:

Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.

Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 106 (107)

R/ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love has no end.

The Lord changes desert into streams, thirsty ground into springs of water. There he settles the hungry and they build a city to dwell in.

R/ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love has no end.

They sow fields and plant their vines; these yield crops for the harvest. He blesses them; they grow in numbers. He does not let their herds decrease.

R/ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love has no end.

But he raises the needy from distress; makes families numerous as a flock. The upright see it and rejoice but all who do wrong are silenced.

R/ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love has no end.

Gospel Acclamation 1 John 4:12

Alleluia, alleluia! As long as we love one another, God will live in us and his love will be complete in us. Alleluia!

Gospel Luke 6:32-38 Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. Ps 106 (107):35-38, 41-42. R/. v. 1

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

----------------------------------

Wednesday, Fourth of Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green)

First Reading Hebrews 12:4-7,11-15 God is training you as his sons.

In the fight against sin, you have not yet had to keep fighting to the point of death.

Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again. Always be wanting peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one can ever see the Lord. Be careful that no one is deprived of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness should begin to grow and make trouble; this can poison a whole community.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 102(103):1-2,13-14,17-18

R/ The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.

R/ The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear.

As a father has compassion on his sons, the Lord has pity on those who fear him; for he knows of what we are made, he remembers that we are dust.

R/ The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear.

But the love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear; his justice reaches out to children’s children when they keep his covenant in truth.

R/ The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 4:4

Alleluia, alleluia! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Alleluia!

Or: John 10:27

Alleluia, alleluia! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!

Gospel Mark 6:1-6 'A prophet is only despised in his own country'.

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

3 notes · View notes

sportsgr8 · 10 days ago

Text

R Ashwin Retires From International Cricket With Immediate Effect

Gavaskar Trophy Test: Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. Ashwin revealed his decision at the end of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane, which ended in a draw due to rain.“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to expose and probably showcase that in club level cricket, but this will be the last day. I've had a lot of fun. “I must say I've created a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates, even though I've lost some of them over the last few years. We are the last bunch of OGs, if you can say that, left out of the dressing room. I'd be marking this as my date of having played at this level,” said Ashwin in the post-match press conference. Ashwin ends his career with 537 wickets at average of 24 in 106 Tests and becoming India’s second leading wicket-taker after legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble. He also scored six Test centuries and 14 fifties with the bat. His last international game was the day-night Test in Adelaide, where he took 1-53. His retirement announcement looked imminent once TV visuals showed an emotional Ashwin being given a hug by Virat Kohli on the balcony of the dressing room during the rain delay. Ashwin also played 116 ODIs for India, taking 156 wickets, and being a member of 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning teams. Ashwin also played 65 T20I matches and took 72 wickets. “Obviously, there are a lot of people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn't thank the BCCI and fellow teammates, several of them. I want to name a few of them. “All the coaches who've been a part of the journey, most importantly, Rohit, Virat (Kohli), Ajinkya (Rahane), (Cheteshwar) Pujara, who've taken those spending catches around the back to give me the number of wickets I've managed to get over the years. Also, a big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who've been very fierce competitors. I've enjoyed my time playing against them,” added Ashwin. In Tests, Ashwin was one of the big figures in the Indian team’s 12-year long home domination and played a starring role in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia. Ashwin was one of 11 allrounders to clinch the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Tests. He also won a record 11 Player-of-the-Series awards, level with Muthiah Muralitharan. “I think it's already getting long. I wouldn't be taking any questions, but it's truly a very emotional moment. I don't think I'm in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way, so please pardon me for that. Once again, that's my time. “Thanks for being the journalist that you've been, writing good things and, of course, writing nasty things on occasions. That's a relationship I think we would maintain forever. I hope the cricketers to come in the future will also get the same amount of love that you've given them. “I think it's already getting long. I wouldn't be taking any questions, but it's truly a very emotional moment. I don't think I'm in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way, so please pardon me for that. Once again, that's my time. Article Source: IANS Read the full article

#AnilKumble #ChampionsTrophy #GavaskarTrophy #GavaskarTrophyTest #MuthiahMuralitharan #ODIWorldCup #RavichandranAshwin #ViratKohli

0 notes

news365timesindia · 2 months ago

Text

[ad_1] Harmanpreet Kaur for team India (PC: X) After a strong start to the series, India’s women’s cricket team suffered a heavy 76-run loss in the second ODI against New Zealand, while chasing a target of 260. With the series now tied, fans eagerly await today’s decider at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. However, the persistent struggle in run chases has become a critical concern for this Indian team in the 50-over format. In the past two years, India has won just one out of their last six ODIs while chasing, with four losses and a tie. Their last successful chase was against South Africa in June 2024 in Bengaluru, where they reached a target of 216 with ease. They have stumbled in chases against teams like Bangladesh, Australia (two matches) and New Zealand. Even on home turf, India’s record in run chases has been troubling, with two wins and three losses in their last five attempts. With the upcoming 50-over World Cup set to be hosted in India, these stats are a cause for concern for the team management. One significant issue has been shot selection and consistency. For instance, Smriti Mandhana’s recent form has been disappointing. Following a poor T20 World Cup, her struggles have continued in this series. She has been dismissed in the same area in both ODIs, indicating a lack of foot movement and timing. Similarly, Shafali Verma has been unable to convert starts into substantial scores, getting out after just 11 runs in the last game, where she hit two boundaries but lost her wicket in the Powerplay. Harmanpreet Kaur’s return in the second ODI brought some hope, as she looked steady with 24 runs. But her dismissal — an attempted boundary off a short ball by Sophie Devine — ended in a mistimed shot caught by Eden Carson. For the Latest Sports News: Click Here India women’s record in ODIs (PC: ESPNCricinfo) As India heads into the decider, they must address these concerns quickly. Improving shot selection and stabilising the batting order during chases will be crucial if they hope to turn things around. Beyond shot selection, India has struggled to build big partnerships, particularly in the top order, leaving them unable to set a solid foundation for chasing targets. In several critical chases, this issue has been prominent. Against Bangladesh in 2023, India needed just 153 to win but crumbled for 113, losing five batters for 61 runs in 17 overs. Against Australia in Mumbai later that year, they had a promising start in their chase of 259 but, after losing their third wicket at 159 in the 33rd over, a collapse followed as they lost five more wickets for just 96 runs in the remaining overs, eventually falling short by three runs. A similar scenario unfolded in early 2024 at the same stadium when India faced a daunting target of 339 against Australia. They could only manage 148 in 32.4 overs, with their highest partnership being a meagre 32-run opening stand. The recent game against New Zealand followed the same pattern, with India losing eight wickets for 108 runs in just 27 overs. These collapses have raised concerns among fans and similar issues arose during the recent T20 World Cup in the UAE. While India managed to chase down 106 against Pakistan, it took them 18.5 overs, leaving fans questioning their approach and intent. In that mega event, they failed to chase down against the White Ferns and Southern Stars. Today’s series decider offers an opportunity for India to reset their approach and show more resilience if asked to chase a target. Fans hope to see stronger partnerships, smarter shot selection and an improved intent from the players. With the 50-over World Cup on home soil in focus, the pressure is on India to fix these recurring issues before time runs out. Also Read: New Zealand roll over India in second ODI The post India’s ‘chasing’ concerns ahead of series decider against New Zealand appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

0 notes

news365times · 2 months ago

Text

0 notes

dpinoycosmonaut · 6 months ago

Text

CELTICS GET OVER HUMP, END 16-YEAR DROUGHT WITH RECORD 18th NBA TITLE

by Bert A. Ramirez / June 29, 2024

The Boston Celtics and their supporters pose with the Larry O’Brien championship trophy after clinching a record 18th championship. (Photo by Charles Krupa of The Associated Press)

The 2024 Boston Celtics didn’t only have the burden of trying to win the franchise’s first title since 2008 but also disproving the notion that their two leading stars – Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – would never win together. This is because the All-Star wing duo had made the conference finals in four of their first six years together and lost in the end.

Exactly 16 years to the day a team led by Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen won the Celtics’ last championship on June 17, 2008, this squad led by Brown and Tatum finally won another, getting over the hump and proving many pundits wrong by dominating the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch this year’s championship 4-1 and capture a record 18th title.

It took all of 16 years and many heartaches, including a heartbreaking seven-game loss in the 2010 championship series to the arch-rival LA Lakers and a six-game downfall to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 Finals, but when the Celtics finally won another title, there can’t be any greater high nor any better feeling for this bunch given the vindication that it gave.

“It means the world,” Tatum said after the Celtics received the championship trophy from NBA commissioner Adam Silver. “It’s been a long time. And damn I’m grateful.

"You know what it feels like to be on the other side of this and be in the locker room and hearing the other team celebrating, hearing them celebrate on your home floor,” Tatum continued, referring to their Game 6 loss to the Warriors two years back. “That was devastating. Now, to elevate yourself in a space that, you know, all your favorite players are in… It's a hell of a feeling. This is more – I dreamed about what it would be like, but this is 10 times better."

And he and Brown fittingly anchored the Celtics’ successful run, which finally ended a streak of 107 playoff games they have played together without winning a title, the longest in league history by any duo before finally clinching one. Along the way, these Celtics beat both the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers by a 4-1 count in the first two rounds, and then swept the Indiana Pacers in four games to make the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.

And the denouement saw the Celtics end up with a 16-3 postseason record and finish with an 80-21 overall mark, which was 15 victories more than any other team in the league, including both regular season and the playoffs. That .792 winning percentage ranks second in team history behind only the Celtics’ 1985-86 championship club that finished 82-18 (.820).

In this clinching contest, Brown and Tatum combined for eight points and, together with Sam Hauser’s three-point shot, sparked a finishing 11-3 run that gave Boston a 28-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. Brown and Tatum then combined for 19 more points in the second quarter even as Tatum passed for five of his game-high 11 assists in the period to keep the Celts in control.

The Celtics had erected a 46-31 lead with 7:08 left in the second quarter on a three-point play by Tatum, and when the Mavericks cut it to 48-39 a little more than two minutes later, the Celtics responded with a 19-7 spurt that was capped by a half-court buzzer-beater by Payton Pritchard, who was sent in precisely for such a possible play, to take a 67-46 bulge at the break. That parking-lot heave by Pritchard, his second such shot of the series, seemed to take the wind out of the Mavericks even as the TD Garden crowd erupted in a pandemonium

It's something taken out of Boston coach Joe Mazzulla’s playbook that told the Celtics to finish every quarter strong, and the Celts did precisely that. Over the last two minutes of the first and second quarters, the Celtics outscored the Mavericks 22-4, and that made all the difference in this game as the Mavericks never recovered and could not come nearer than 17 points before Boston took an 86-67 lead into the fourth quarter. The Celtics would then duplicate the biggest lead they took in the third, 26 points, with 3:40 left at 104-78, and Dallas coach Jason Kidd finally raised the white flag with 2:37 left and Boston up 106-85 when he took out Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Tatum had another double-double with a game-best 31 points (on 11-of-24 floor shooting but just 1-for-7 from three) and 11 assists, his third in the Finals (he also had a double-double in scoring and assists in Game 2, when Boston beat the Mavericks 105-98, and a double-double in scoring and rebounds in Game 1, when the Celtics set the tone for the series with a 107-89 blowout) on top of eight rebounds and two steals.

Jayson Tatum raises the championship trophy as the Celtics and their fans celebrate. (Photo by Charles Krupa of The Associated Press)

But Brown took the Bill Russell Trophy as Finals MVP after scoring 21 points (though he shot just 7-of-23 from the floor, his worst in the series) and collecting eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. It was Brown, after all, who dominated in the crucial Game 3, scoring 15 of his 30 points in the third quarter of a 106-99 victory by Boston, during which the Celtics took control of the game – and the series – by outscoring the Mavericks 35-19 in the period, while assuming most of the defensive job on Doncic.

That Game 3 victory afforded the Celtics an all-too-human letdown in Game 4, when Dallas scored an anomalous 122-84 walkover that sent the series back to Boston and enabled the Celtics to clinch it before a raucous home crowd.

“I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime Jayson Tatum,” Brown said after being awarded his Finals MVP trophy, the second hardware he has won in this year’s playoffs after also taking the Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference finals MVP.

Jaylen Brown, the Finals MVP, drives against P.J. Washington of Dallas in Game 5 of the Finals, which Boston won 106-88 to clinch it. (Photo by Charles Krupa of The Associated Press)

But these Celtics are not all Brown and Tatum as most everybody sent in by Mazzulla contributed to the victory to finally nail down that elusive 18th championship banner, which has given back Boston the distinction as the team with the most number of titles in NBA history by breaking a tie with the Lakers, who won a 17th title during the “bubble” season of 2020. This included an injured Kristaps Porzingis, who was sent in by Mazzulla midway through the first quarter and had five points and was a plus-8 in 16 minutes on the floor, Hauser, who had eight points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal, as well as Pritchard, who made that miracle three at the halftime buzzer that took the air out of the Mavericks’ sails.

Of course, the Celtics’ starters after Tatum and Brown that the team’s president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, has painstakingly put together over the last three years assumed much of the responsibility, as expected. Jrue Holiday, whom Stevens acquired before the season for Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III after being traded by Milwaukee to Portland, also had a double-double with 15 points, a team-high 11 rebounds, four assists and a steal for a game-best plus-21 plus/minus rating, White chipped a front tooth and was bloodied on the way to contributing 14 points on a team-best 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, as well as eight rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block, while Al Horford, who started at center the whole series with Porzingis hobbled, chipped in vital totals of nine points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals for a plus-20 plus/minus rating.

With the victory, Horford also ended a streak of 186 playoff games without a title, the second-longest streak in history behind only the retired Utah great Karl Malone’s 193. James Harden of the LA Clippers now holds the longest title-less streak among active players with 166 playoff games.

And the championship victory also made Mazzulla, the target of much criticism especially in his first year as head coach last year because of his unorthodox ways, which include not calling timeouts even when rival teams are in hot pursuit, the youngest coach at 35 to win a title since Celtics legend Bill Russell led the Celtics to the championship in 1968 at 34 as a player coach.

Stevens’ faith in Mazzulla certainly paid off. After all, it was he who put Mazzulla at the helm after erstwhile coach Ime Udoka was suspended in 2022 for violation of team rules, and liked Joe for his dedication to his craft and discipline, his analytical mind and, most of all, his passion.

"He may have been unproven to other people, but not to me," Stevens said. "He was put in a tough situation last year. But he grew from it, and this year he got a chance to really prepare for a season." “You have very few chances in life to be great,” Mazzulla said when it was all over.

But the historic triumph means the most to the two Jays, who finally achieved their ultimate goal after having been the target of much vitriol for their supposed inability to win the ultimate prize despite reaching the conference finals together four times in the previous six years and for purportedly being soft especially in crunch time. "I mean, this is going to be a night that I will remember for the rest of my life, from the game, the celebration, these moments," Tatum said of their landmark triumph. "Over the last couple years, we had some tough losses at home in the playoffs. We've lost the NBA championship at home in front of our fans. We had a chance to beat Miami in Game 6 a few years ago and lost that one.

"So to have a big win – the biggest win that you could have in front of your home crowd – I felt like that was really important to go out there and do everything in my power to make sure we won this game tonight."

"I can't even put into words the emotions," Brown, meanwhile, said. "It's just I'm blessed and I'm grateful. This was a full team effort. We had a great team. My teammates were great. They allowed me to lead us on both ends of the ball, and we just came out and performed on our home floor. It's just amazing.”

"I just think we had passed the phase where we'd both been All-Stars and been on All-NBA teams," Tatum noted of his partnership with Brown. "Not saying that (expletive) is not important, but we'd done it. And God willing, we'll keep doing it. But it was time to start sacrificing points or shot attempts or whatever to win and have the best team in the league.

"Just our growth together," the three-time All-NBA First Teamer, who in this year’s playoffs has passed erstwhile idol Kobe Bryant for the most playoff points in history before the age of 27 with 2,711 to Bryant’s 2,694, added. "We've been through a lot. We've been playing together for seven years now. We've been through a lot, the losses, the expectations. The media have said all different types of things: We can't play together, we are never going to win. We heard it all. But we just blocked it out, and we just kept going. I trusted him. He trusted me. And we did it together."

And on top of all that, Tatum and Brown must have also benefitted from that innate Celtic culture that long-time Celtics writer Marc D’Amico calls “Celtics Basketball,” which referred to a way of life, an approach to the game and a method of building a team that has been handed down for several generations from the time of Celtics patriarch and legend Red Auerbach.

“On the court, Celtics Basketball means playing with pride,” D’Amico said. “It means playing for each other. It means celebrating each other. It means giving all-out effort. It means being unselfish. It means buying into roles. It means putting a product on the floor of which the fans can be proud.”

These 2024 Celtics, with their two Jays and their core, personified all that, and the result was an unprecedented Banner 18.

Confetti rain down on the TD Garden floor as the Celtics and fans celebrate the championship victory. (Photo by Brian Fluharty of USA Today Sports)

#nbafinals #bostonceltics #nba #basketball

1 note · View note