That Was One Terrible Super Bowl

The Super Bowl happened last night.

I watched it.

I hated it.

And it ended as I should have expected.

I have been pretty vocal about my dismay for this particular Super Bowl. I was not looking forward to it, but I watched it anyway because, as I have stated, I am a football junkie. But boy oh boy was this game an absolute clunker. I said last Friday that I thought it was going to be a "slog", but this game was horrible. It was so much worse than a slog. The game started off bad, got worse and just grew and grew in its horribleness from there.

For example, Tom Brady's first pass was an interception. No need to worry though, the Rams immediately went three and out, something they would do most of the game. This game set the record for fewest points in a half. It set the record for fewest points ever in fact. Neither team could really ever establish the run. I know that Sony Michel got close, or maybe even eclipsed, 100 yards, but a ton of that came on one long run deep into the fourth quarter. He was also the only person to score a TD in the game by the way. Tom Brady just seemed kind of off all night too. He made a couple of beautiful throws, but he also had some that were way off. His interception was a horrible throw. He skipped a ton of passes. It was rough.

Julian Edelmann played really well, but he was so wide open, how could he not catch the ball. He got the MVP, I think Michel, or someone from their defense deserved it, but Edelmann got it. Rob Gronkowski had a few nice catches, but again, he didn't really do much of anything that jumped off the screen to me.

The Rams were god awful offensively. They could not do anything at all. Jared Goff was atrocious. I know he is still young, but man did he look scared and flustered and out of his element. The Rams O line could not block at all. Goff was under constant pressure. Brandin Cooks was blanketed all game long. None of the other receivers got any separation either. And where in the hell was Todd Gurley? I mean, is he hurt? Did he do something wrong? Did he not feel well? Was he too tired to play? I have no idea why he barely saw the field. I know that CJ Anderson played very well against the Saints, and since he was signed by the Rams. But he is no Todd Gurley. The Rams needed him, and they needed him badly last night. I do not get his almost total absence.

Sean McVay really shit the bed as the head coach last night. He, much like Goff, just seemed in over his head. He too was out of his element. He did not seem ready. He did not seem like the "wunderkind" that he has been praised as sine last season. And to his credit, he is still a very new head coach.

But the monster that is Bill Belichek simply put him in his place last night. That is the thing with the Patriots. They don't care how they win, as long as they win. Belichek did just that. His offense was so god damn ugly, but his defense shut down one of the top offenses in the NFL. As I just stated, the Rams could not move the ball at all. Any time they had any momentum, the Patriots shut it down pretty quickly. Any time Goff had time, he either took a sack, or he missed throws. He had Cooks WIDE OPEN in the third quarter, and the pass was underthrown and lazy. Anderson never got going. The Patriots shut them down.

The Rams defense was also great. They held the Patriots to 13 points. That should have been more than enough for them to win. Sure, Suh and Donald didn't play as great as they usually do, but they still got occasional pressure, causing Brady to make those bad throws. The Rams secondary did an okay job of stopping every Patriots receiver except for Edelmann.

This was just a disaster of a game. I was not, at any single moment, excited to be watching the game. The halftime show was super forgettable. The commercials were fine, but nothing that I will think back on as great.

Some final thoughts, Edelmann got the MVP, as I said, but he is not a Hall of Famer, no matter what Nate Burleson or anyone at The Ringer says. He is a fine player, but he is not a Hall of Famer. The Rams are not ready for primetime, and neither is Sean McVay or Jared Goff. Bill Belichek proved, again, that he is a great head coach. The Patriots need to stop this whole, "no one believed in us" narrative. They are great and no one has ever counted them out. And Todd Gurley deserved to play more. This was a boring game, I'm glad it is over and I hope Roger Goodell leaves as commissioner and the NFL gets back to being fun again. I mean, I like defense, but this game was not about two great defenses, it was just a very, very poorly played football game.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He was shocked that the awesome Tony Romo never reminded the audience that Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelmann missed the first four games of the season because of a PED suspension. Wonder why that was left out?

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A Halfhearted, In Depth, Look at Super Bowl 53

There is a big football game this Sunday, and no I am not talking about any college football all star game, or the XFL or the American Alliance of Football. I am talking about Super Bowl 53. The Los Angeles Rams are playing the New England Patriots. And yes, it sounds just as boring as you may feel right now. But I’m a professional so I must do what all us internet sports writers do, talk about the game.

I have said it on the podcast, and this is the first time I am writing it, but I have ZERO interest in this game. I have no rooting interest. I am sick of seeing the Patriots in the Super Bowl. For a sport that is supposed to have parity every year, this is the third straight year they are in the game. This is, I don't know, something like the tenth straight time they have been to the AFC title game. And this is the, I want to say, eighth time, the Patriots have been in the Super Bowl in the last 17 years. That is more than half of the Super Bowl's in almost 2 decades. I'm over them.

I also loathe this whole narrative that they are somehow the "underdogs". That "no one" believes in them. That Tom freaking Brady has to go to a party and chant, "We're still here". It is so, so, so stupid. No one buys it except dumbass Patriots fans. They are not the underdogs. The majority of people I read, and myself and RD included, picked them to be in, at the very least, the AFC title game this year. Knock that shit off.

As far as the Rams go, I am from Saint Louis, and it bums me out that they moved, but I have no ill will towards them. I despise Stan Kroenke, and what he did, and how he did it. But he is the only person I truly hate that is involved with the Rams. I think Sean McVay is a solid coach. Jared Goff is a decent QB. Todd Gurley is totally awesome. I like Ndomankong Suh. Aaron Donald is the best defensive player currently in the NFL. But, they do not deserve to be in this game. They got in because the refs blew a massive obvious pass interference. The DB admitted it. The NFL admitted it. The NFL fined the DB that hit the receiver after the fact. But the refs did not call the penalty during the NFC title game. They blew it. They put the Rams here. They wanted the story lines that are now being blown way out of proportion during Super Bowl week. It is, at least in my lifetime, the worst no call ever.

With all this being said, like a good pop culture / sports writer, I am going to pick the game. But, I truly don't care. This is the first Super Bowl I can remember in my lifetime that I have no real interest in the game. At least in year's past I had team's I could root against, if the Packers weren't playing. I don't like the Seahawks, so it was fun to root for whoever they played. I have never liked Peyton Manning, so when he played, it was easy for me to root for the NFC team. I like to root against the Steelers, so when they played, I just stood up for the other team. Even last year, I had the Eagles to root for because of Brandon Graham, and I wanted Mike Lombardi from The Ringer to have to eat crow. But this year, I just do not care. I know I keep repeating that, but it is true. This game is going to be a slog. But, I will watch it because I am a football junkie, and this is the Super Bowl.

If I look at it with just a fan's eye, the Rams should win. They have the better, younger players overall. Yes, the Patriots have Tom Brady, and he is the greatest QB ever, but that seems to be the only advantage they have. The Rams have better receivers. They have much better backs. They have the better O line. And this is the time for McVay to prove his "offensive genius". The Patriots are not good defensively. They can be run on, and they are susceptible to the play action pass. That is where the Rams thrive. As far as the defensive side of the ball, again, on paper, the Rams are better. They have a ferocious pass rush led by Suh and Donald. They have heavy hitting linebackers that can cover. They have a solid secondary. The Patriots have experience, but that is not always what will win the game. Sometimes talent just wins out. And that should happen this Sunday.

Notice I keep saying "should". The reason you may ask, two things, Tom Brady and Bill Belichek. Ooh, and lets add a third, the refs. Belichek is, for all his shortcomings as a human being, gosh I despise him so much, is a genius football coach. He knows how to take away your best players and plays and frustrate you. He usually thrives in the biggest games. The same thing can be said for Brady. Even if you look at the Super Bowl's the Patriots have been beaten in, he played well. He threw for over 500 yards last year. He puts the ball on the money, even if Wes Welker drops it. He is legit the best QB ever. And then we have the refs. They are clearly on the side of the Patriots, no matter what they and their boneheaded fans say. The refs love Brady, Belichek and anyone involved with them. They will give them the benefit of the doubt. There was the no PI call in the NFC title game, but look at the roughing the passer call in the AFC title game. Brady got his shoulder touched, and the refs called roughing. That is clear evidence that the refs are in their pocket.

On paper, I have the Rams winning, and wining with ease. But, when I really look into everything, the players, coaches, refs, star players, I still have the Rams, but in a much closer than it should be game. I think the Rams will win because they will be able to run the ball and keep Brady off the filed. They will control the clock. I also expect Suh, but more so Donald, to make a few big time plays, be it sacks or forced fumbles or even just making Brady release the ball a hair earlier than he would like. So I have the Rams winning a very ugly game by a score of 23-17.

There you have it. Enjoy the game I guess.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He wants to know when the sports media will proclaim Ty as the greatest football caller guy in the world, you know since they are eager to anoint an overrated retired qb.

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The Knicks Did a Dumb Thing

I was going to write about another new show that totally blew me away, but an enormous trade just recently happened in the NBA, and I am going to use my platform to talk about how blown away I am right now. Hell, I am still kind of processing this trade because I didn't think this team could get any dumber.

Never underestimate the stupidity of the New York Knicks.

By trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks, the Knicks just got infinitely dumber. I assumed that the "biggest" NBA trade I would write about would have been AD to the Lakers, but that hasn't happened yet, and the Knicks pulled this dumbass stunt this afternoon. I know all the stuff that got leaked late last night and early this morning. Porzingis met with the Knicks brass, told them he was frustrated by the direction of the team and would possibly seek a trade. Well, I guess the Knicks took that quite literally, and they full on traded him this afternoon. I waited awhile too because I didn't want to be fooled. I didn't want something to hold this trade up. I assumed we may have had another Trevor Ariza deal on our hands. But nope, it was all true. The Knicks traded away their main guy, the one that was going to help them lure free agents, the future of this team, the second best unicorn in the league, behind Giannis, for next to peanuts.

Was this real worth it for New York? Sure, the Knicks got Dennis Smith Jr, who I still like, and think could have a career still, and the Mavs also threw in DeAndre Jordan, a dinosaur in the current NBA and Wes Matthews, who has not been near the same since he ravaged his knee.

The fact is that this was colossally stupid for New York.

The Mavs got a much, much better deal in return. I know that Porzingis is himself coming off a torn ACL, and big men sometimes have a hard time coming back from that, but look at Boogie Cousins right now. I feel like that is Porzingis's future, but with a better jump shot. And he is much younger than Boogie. But the Mavs didn't just get Porzingis, they also got Tim Hardaway Jr and Courtney Lee. I wouldn't be shocked if they buy out Lee and let him loose. But Hardaway Jr was a key piece for them. He doesn't play much D, but the dude can score and stretch the floor. even before Porzingis was apparently on the table, I heard that the Mavs were pursuing Hardaway Jr. Now they have him and Porzingis. And they both get to play with Luka Doncic. I mean, the Mavs are clearly going all in. Even if Porzingis doesn't play until next year, I feel like a lineup of Doncic, Hardaway Jr, Dirk and 2 of their young big guys will be a ton of fun to watch, and tough to guard. I don't think they make the playoffs without Porzingis, but I don't think they are bad. And just think of them next year. Doncic and Porzingis running the pick and roll will be deadly. It will also totally open up the three for Hardaway Jr. They won't be at the top of the West, but they will become a perennial playoff team. They will win in the 40's and 50's of games, and be really hard to guard. They will also play stout D. Also, Porzingis will be playing for, by far, the best coach in his career. Rick Carlisle will use him perfectly.

Back to the stupidity of the Knicks. I know Porzingis was mad. I know this has been a tough year. I know they are tanking. But what the hell are you doing? They needed to keep Porzingis if they wanted any big time free agent this offseason. I know they got off a ton of money, and I wouldn't be shocked if both Matthews and Jordan are traded or cut. And Smith may thrive running this offense all on his own. But Smith will not be enough to lure guys like KD or Kyrie or AD. I thought, before about 3pm my time today, that the Knicks had the best shot to sign KD this offseason. But with Porzingis gone, I think that is shot. I am a Dennis Smith Jr fan, and this is meant as zero disrespect to him, but he doesn't move the needle for a guy like KD. Also, he is a young point guard, so why would Kyrie want to join now? Then you have AD. I know he said the Knicks aren't one of his "preferred destinations", but they could have been if they still had Porzingis and the number one pick. All of that is gone because of, it seems to me, an impulse move by the Knicks front office. They are an atrocity to pro basketball right now, and they just got much, much, much worse today.

I don't get it. I want the Knicks to be relevant again because the NBA is so much better when they matter. They took a big, big step in the wrong direction with this trade today. This totally changes a lot of what I thought would happen this offseason. I guess I thought James Dolan couldn't be this stupid. I was proven very wrong. This is a horrible decision for the Knicks, but the Mavs will be much improved. I expected a lot of movement this week and next, with blockbuster names being moved. I just didn't expect, or see this one coming at all.

Wow.

Ed Note: The Knicks are stupid.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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A Few Thoughts on Anthony Davis's Future in the NBA

To no one's surprise that watches a good amount of the NBA, Anthony Davis has requested a trade from New Orleans. He has come out since this morning and said that he wants to finish the season there, and he is willing to wait until then, but he wants out.

I have a few thoughts.

First off, these players need to stop coming out and saying they want out. The players in professional sports leagues have so little power, and when they come out and request a trade, that gives all the power to their current team, and really handcuffs their wanted destination and themselves. Just wait until the offseason, and do this behind closed doors. In this day and age of social media I know that is hard, but if you put in the effort, it can be done. I just want these players to not give what little bit of power they have to the front office. Look out for you if you want to be on a different team.

Second, I'm pretty sure he wants to be a Laker. This has been the rumor all year long, and now that he has formally requested a trade, it seems like they are the one and only contender. I don't think they are, more on that in a minute. But, if he were to become a Laker this season, what changes in the West? Yes, pairing LeBron with AD would make for a great duo, but think of the players they would have to give up. I'm pretty sure the Pelicans are going to pass on all the one year contract guys. I'm pretty sure they don't want Rajon Rondo back. I'm also pretty sure they would pass on Michael Beasely, Javale McGee and Lance Stephenson. The Pelicans are going to want a humongous haul, and they are going to want the young guns. If I were them, and I was going to move AD within the conference, I would, just to start out, ask for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma. Then, I would ask for one of Josh Hart or Kentavious Caldwell Pope, and, at the very least, 2 picks. And if the Lakers say no, I would immediately pull the offer and look for another team. If you are going to part with your best player, the player you took number one overall and have built your team around, you should want a king's ransom. And, as I said before, with AD publicly saying he wants out, the Pelicans have all the power. They hold all the cards, and if any deal isn't to their liking, they can just walk away. They can do that this offseason too. They are in prime position to get the very best deal.

So, if the Lakers are willing to trade all those guys, and picks, sure they get AD, but does that put them above the Warriors, Rockets, Nuggets, Thunder and Trailblazers? I don't think so. LeBron and AD are great, wonderful players. LeBron is the best player in league. AD may be the best big man. But those 5 teams I mentioned have a much better team around them. If AD joins the Lakers via a mega deal filled with young guys, their starting five for the playoffs would be Rondo at the 1, Hart at the 2, LeBron at the 3, AD at the 4 and that either McGee or one million year old Tyson Chandler at the 5. All 5 of the teams I mentioned are better than that Lakers lineup. So, at best, if AD were to join the Lakers, I feel like they would be the 5 seed, and a first round out in the playoffs. Those other 5 teams are so much better than them with the Blazers being closest in talent. I also think it might handcuff their future, and their ability to get another big star this offseason. That is just my opinion.

Also, I feel like the Lakers being the top bet to land him is all about GM LeBron once again. This is what he does. He goes to a team and changes it all. Coaches and young players be damned, LeBron is going to get guys he wants to play basketball with. If this trade goes down, with all the young guys, this will prove that LeBron runs the team. I will hear no one say that this was Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson's idea. I won't buy Jeanie Buss saying that this was the plan all along. I won't hear any NBA journalist say this was a great front office move. This would all be about who LeBron wants to play the game with. I also think this trade would doom Luke Walton more than he already is. This would be the nail in his coffin, especially if they are a first round out. He is as good as gone regardless of what happens, because the "powers that be" want him out.

Finally, I want to talk about a few other teams that I think would be a possible better fit. The team I want him to join is the 76ers. I love love love the idea of him playing next to Joel Embiid. I love him running the pick and roll with Ben Simmons. I think he would be an ideal guy for Jimmy Butler because AD goes so hard. This would push them over the top, and they would only have to give up picks and a few players. I'm sure the Pelicans would take a flyer on Markelle Fultz. I'm sure they would also want some guys like JJ Redick, TJ McConnell and both of their rookies. And the 76ers would happily oblige to add AD. I like the idea of him joining the Spurs to play with Greg Poppovich. They would have to give up DeRozan, Patty Mills, Jakob Poeltl and a guy like Brynn Forbes. But man, a lineup with AD, LMA, Dejounte Murray and a few young guys they have would be nice. I think if Toronto is willing to take another guy that may leave this offseason, this would put them over the top in the East. AD and Kawhi Leonard would be better than Embiid and AD. They would lock it up on the defensive end. The Raptors would have to fracture their youth, but they have a much, much better shot at the Finals than the Lakers, so it is worth it.

When it is all said and done, I feel like AD will be a Laker, but it will come at a tremendous cost. I also think that "Laker Nation" would be ecstatic at first, but when they run into the buzz saw of teams like the Thunder, Nuggets and Rockets, it would blow up in their face. And then just imagine them facing the Warriors. The Warriors don't need any added incentive to kick team's asses, especially since Boogie is back, and looks really good. Now imagine how much they would want to destroy a team that has AD and LeBron. It would be brutal.

I wish AD would stay in New Orleans. I wish he would try and build a contender. I feel like he is taking the easy way out. I feel like the young stars in the NBA aren't used to losing, and they want to win easily, so they are taking the easy way out. I do hope, wherever he ends up, AD is happy. I enjoy watching him play, and he is great. I just don't want him to leave New Orleans. Especially not for LA.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Let Me Respectfully Explain How Tony Romo is Now the Most Overrated Sports Broadcaster Ever

Today I’m going to throw some short, but blazing, heat towards Tony Romo.

You have been warned.

He’s been getting a ton of praise lately for his ability to “call plays before they even happen”. Just go to any sports page or social media platform and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. People are acting like he’s an Oracle. Like he’s Nostradamus or some shit like that. I do have to give credit to 2 sites that have called him out recently. Both Deadspin and the ever brilliant Onion have talked a little shit about him too. Deadspin is a legit site, and they brought up some good points in their piece, suggesting we pull back the reins a bit on what makes for a great announcer. The Onion was much funnier with it, saying that he should have studied as much tape when he was a player, and maybe he would have won something of note. Their piece is a riot.

I’m mostly with Deadspin here. Sure, the fact that he will call out a play is cool, but most diehard sports fans do that weekly when they watch their team. My dad and I can successfully call about 90 percent of Michigan football’s offense. And we’ve been able to do that for 2 decades now. I have some friends that love teams like the Thunder and Bulls, and they know just about every time a pick and roll is coming. Hell, I know that when James Harden has the ball he’s going to pound it for 17 seconds and shoot a step back three or drive. I’m pretty sure even RD himself can tell you Joey Votto’s exact approach when he steps to the plate. I bet you he knows when Billy Hamilton is going to steal a base too. When you watch a sport enough it’s not that tough to notice commonalities. And when you’ve played the sport at the highest level I bet it’s even easier. My dad, my friends, RD and myself are never called “geniuses” or “wizards” or “oracles”. We are looked at as obnoxious fans.

So why does Romo get a pass? I think it’s because he was such a mediocre player, but he’s so likable, that the big time journalists and companies want him to be successful somehow some way. They will sing his praises when he calls a play before it happens. They also gave him a pass as a player although he never made it to an NFC title game. The praise for him is absurd and it drives me nuts that I have to keep hearing how great he is. He’s an okay announcer, but he’s no John Madden, Pat Summerall, Doris Burke, Chris Webber, Chauncey Billups or any other big time person that’s done this. He’s right in the middle for me.

I feel like Tony Romo has already reached overrated status as an announcer, and he did that way faster than as a player. Romo is mediocre at everything he does. He’s so blah. The accolades need to stop and stop now. He’s no genius.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He can speak for himself on not being a genius, but the head editor is fully on board with people calling RD a genius. This is the man that discovered Ty, the biggest genius on all of the internet.

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It is Time for Carmelo to Retire

The Rockets were finally able to trade Carmelo Anthony. The deal went down yesterday, and when I heard about it, it actually made me a little sad for him. I have been hard on Carmelo lately. I genuinely believe that he is done. I feel like his best days are far, far, far behind him. I think he is a problem in the locker room. I think he still thinks he is a star. He isn't even a starter anymore. This is how I feel, and I think his career is over.

When I saw the team he was traded to, the dreadful Chicago Bulls, I couldn't really believe it. I mean, I said he is done, but the Bulls, yikes. I then heard about 20 minutes later, that they were going to buy his contract out and release him. That is the second time this has happened to him already this season. When he was traded from OKC he went to Atlanta. They bought him out right away, and then he signed with the Rockets. Now the Bulls are doing the same, and, while he may think he has options, I don't agree.

I read an article on Bleacher Report that talked about his best bets, and some teams that may be interested in him. It was insightful. The teams I saw made zero sense. But, there were 2 things that I thought were plausible. The teams they mentioned were the Lakers, 76ers, Trailblazers and Nets.

I do not want the Nets to sign him. They are actually kind of fun, they are in the playoff race and they have a young core that seems to work for them. They also have Caris Levert coming back soonish, and he is a younger, and better defensively, than Carmelo is, and ever was. I feel like if the Nets were to sign him, he would stunt a ton of young guys growth. Guys like Spencer Dinwiddie and D'Angelo Russell and Jarrett Allen don't need a washed up vet that would take time from younger and better players. He does not fit in with that team, and the Nets are finally doing decent things. They don't need the headache.

The Trailblazers mention makes zero sense. They already have 2 much, much better scorers that play the same position. I mean, CJ McCollum is a better three point shooter and creator. And Damien Lillard is an amazing NBA player and scorer. Why do they need Anthony? What does he bring this team? How does he make them any better? This one is the most puzzling team to me. They have 2 great guards, they have a solid big, what they need is a stretch 4, and Carmelo is not anywhere near any kind of 4. The Trailblazers are set in stone as a West playoff team and bringing in Carmelo would make them look just like the Thunder when they traded for him 2 years ago. It would be a mess.

The 76ers need to stay far, far away from him. They do not need any parts of Carmelo. He will do nothing but push that team back. They are already dealing with the whole Jimmy Butler thing, why would they want that times 2 with a far worse player? And putting him in that locker room, with Butler, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, that would be a nightmare. They also don't need him. They don't need him at all.

And then we have the Lakers.

This one makes the most sense, but it would be awful. It would make them much worse. If they sign him, they would be very, very hard pressed to stay in the playoff race. I know they have LeBron, but not even he can save Carmelo. And I know he and LeBron are buddies, he has always wanted to play on a team with him, and this is probably their last chance. But whatever you do LeBron stay away. You cannot bring this dude to this young team that you are trying to turn into a perennial playoff contender in the West. You are also coming off a pretty bad, for you at least, injury. LeBron has never been hurt like this before, and the Lakers are struggling without him. The last thing they need is Carmelo. Think about it. They have this young core that is trying to learn how to play with LeBron. Some are doing okay, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and, especially Kyle Kuzma. But others are struggling. Brandon Ingram comes to mind first and foremost. Also, the Lakers already have a very odd group of veterans on one year deals. Do you really want to add Carmelo to a team that has Javale McGee, Michael Beasley and Rajon Rondo? Why? That would spell doom. And he wouldn't even add anything at all to this team. He isn't the scorer he once was. He isn't the shooter he once was. He plays no defense. He thinks he is a starter and a star. He is done. He is washed. This would be GM LeBron's worst decision ever. The Lakers need to stay away. They shouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. This would not only be bad for GM LeBron, but it would make Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson look like they are letting LeBron run things. It would also be absolutely awful for Luke Walton.

There are no winners here. None of these teams make any sense for Carmelo. What I did see that made sense was his other 2 options. They said he should go to China or retire. These 2 choices make sense. In China he would be king. Look at what Stephon Marbury has done over there. He is a legend. Carmelo is better than Marbury. He would dominate. He also wouldn't have to play any D, and he could just shoot mid range jumper after mid range jumper. Hell, if Marbury and Jimmer Fredette are dominating over there, imagine what Carmelo could do.

The one option that makes most sense is retirement. He should hang it up. He has done all he can do in the NBA. He has gone as far in the regular season and playoffs as he can. He is never going to win a title. He is never going to be an All Star again. He is not a starter. He is not even a 10th man off the bench. He doesn't have it anymore. If he were to walk away right now I think people would forget the last 2 years. I think people would start to talk more about his time with the Nuggets and Knicks. He is also a surefire hall of famer regardless of when he walks away. If he does it now, he would get in much sooner. It makes so much sense for him to just call it quits. That is what I believe he should do. He's done as an NBA player, and I think he feels like he is above playing overseas.

Just let it go Carmelo. Time to retire.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The NFL is Idiotic

Happy MLK Day everyone.

I come to you today to talk about the NFC and AFC title games yesterday. First off, both games were exciting. That is not to say that they were good, great or well played. They were both fun. But, both games had some serious issues, that are making me dislike the NFL more and more.

In the first game, Saints and Rams, there were mistakes made by both teams, poor play calling, star players not stepping up,  but most importantly, a horrific missed call that changed the game completely. The mistakes made by the Rams in the first quarter, and pretty much all of the first half, were bad. Goff's interception was horrendous, Todd Gurley couldn't catch the ball and their defense was a sieve. The Saints did their part to keep it close though. They couldn't really capitalize on the turnovers, they only scored 13 points in the quarter, when it could have, or should have, been 21, Drew Brees was awful, Michael Thomas was held in check and Mark Ingram couldn't run. The only Saints player that looked prepared was Alvin Kamara. Sean Payton's game plan was shit too. He couldn't move the ball at will like he did last time they played. Sean McVay wasn't much better. His offense was very blah and bland. For these 2 offenses to only combine for 49 points, that was a shock. With all that said, there is one thing we should be talking about.

That missed pass interference was atrocious.

The defender even admitted that he was interfering, saying he was just trying to stop a TD. For the refs to swallow their whistles in that moment, in New Orleans, when it could have iced the game, that was terrible. If I were a Saints fan today, I would be so irritated. The officials in football have gotten worse every year, and that no call was how bad they have truly become. Officials seem to think the fans are there to watch them and not the players, and when they had a chance to do something right, to make the correct call, they absolutely blew it. There was an official right there, there was one behind the play, both of them had 4 eyes on the play, and none of them blew their whistle or threw their flag. This completely changed the complexion of the game. The Saints had to settle for a field goal, the Rams tied it up, then won in overtime. 

Instead of the narrative being that Drew Brees is going to the Super Bowl at 40, Sean Payton is still a great offensive mind and Alvin Kamara's star is going to continue to shine, we are stuck having to hear about how Sean McVay is an "offensive genius" for 2 weeks now. And he did nothing to prove that. Goff was bad, Gurley was unplayable, the only receiver that showed up was Brandin Cooks, the Rams did not deserve that game. It was one of the worst no calls I've ever seen, and it totally changed this game. This is one of the few times that one single call truly changed the outcome of a game. I feel bad for Saints fans.

As for the AFC title game, it had one good quarter, that was it. The Patriots came out and decided to just run the ball, to keep it out of the Chiefs explosive offense's hands. And it worked. They dominated the ball and the game for a half. Even with Tom Brady looking a bit off, the Patriots were riding a 2 TD lead going into half.

Then things started to open up a bit. The Chiefs got the ball and scored right away. Patrick Mahomes looked more comfortable. The Chiefs were starting to stop the run. The Patriots did tack on a field goal, but the Chiefs went down and scored again to cut it to 3 with a quarter left.

But, and it wasn't as bad as the Saints game, the refs started to get involved. First off, Julian Edelmann touched that football. There is no denying it. Both of his thumbs touched the ball. But since he is on the Patriots, the refs, of course, gave him the benefit and said he didn't touch it. Brady did throw a pick though, and the chiefs turned it into a TD to take the lead. But no worries, the Chiefs defense regressed and couldn't stop the Patriots pass attack. They went right down the field and scored to take the lead. But so did the Chiefs. It was an exercise in defensive futility.

Just when I thought the Chiefs had the game in hand, going up 4 with about three minutes left, the Patriots, and the refs, changed all that. The roughing the passer call on the Chiefs was horrendous. That D tackle did not even touch Brady, maybe grazed his jersey, but since it caused him to overthrow the ball, the refs couldn't get their flags out fast enough. Then, Chris Hogan, who clearly dropped the ball, was given a gift when the review said he did catch it. If he caught that ball, then how did Dez Bryant and Calvin Johnson not catch the ball? Do you think it might be because they don't have Patriots written on their jerseys? I sure do.

Regardless of all this though, even after the Patriots scored, Mahomes and the Chiefs kicked a field goal to tie the game and send it to OT. This is where we get the dumbass NFL version of overtime. The fact that Mahomes and the Chiefs offense didn't even get to touch the ball is a crime. Sure, they should have stopped one of those third down plays, but give the offense a chance. The NFL needs to switch their rules. I do not like the newer rule of, if the team scores a TD the game is over. That is so unfair to the other team's offense. Just think if the NFL adopted the college football overtime rules. It would have been magical. As fun as that fourth quarter was, we could have gotten that times ten, if they played college overtime. Imagine the back and forth. But nope, the NFL is stupid and archaic and just way too stuck in their ways.

After watching these 2 games it was clear to me that the NFL clearly wanted the young hot shot team from LA to play the old, dynasty on the east coast. They really wanted the McVay-Belichek showdown. They want what they suspect to be the next dynasty playing the current dynasty.

I usually enjoy the Super Bowl regardless of who's playing. This year, I couldn't care less. I am so sick of watching the Patriots play, and I don't care about the Rams, and they shouldn't be there. The refs gave them that game. This Super Bowl, and all the stuff leading up to it, will be insufferable and boring. I'm already sick of all the stories that will come. I'm already tired of the "passing of the torch" stories that will be written and told. I'm over it. I'll watch the game because I am a football junkie, but that doesn't mean I won't complain about it, because it is going to be unbearable. I'd rather the Cubs win the World Series, or the Lakers win the NBA championship, than watch this Rams team lose to this Patriots team. It is some rough stuff.

Congratulations NFL, you got the matchup you wanted, and all it took was your terrible overtime rules and a horrendous, atrocious, disgusting and terrible no call. Oof magoof.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He loves hearing all the ESPN guys cover for the league and say that any game does not come down to one play. Here’s the facts, the NFC championship did get decided by one terrible call. Congrats on your continued idiocy NFL.

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The Love for James Harden and the Hate for Russell Westbrook Makes No Damn Sense

Two years ago I felt like I was one of the people driving the Russell Westbrook for MVP debate.

What he did that season, with the roster that was put around him, was astounding. The fact that, a season after losing KD mind you, he averaged a triple double, with his best teammate being Steven Adams, was one of the most MVP worthy things I have ever seen. He was must watch TV that year. I watched more Thunder games than usual that year just to see what Westbrook would do. I have said, to people that will listen to me, I would not enjoy playing with him, but I LOVE watching him play. He is a whirling dervish of athleticism. It's like the most insane ballet that you could ever watch. And while he's not the greatest shooter, he is really bad in fact, the way he created shots for himself and others was awesome. To see a 6 foot guard rebound like that, again, amazing.

So when major journalists, some I like, some I dislike, were saying that he wasn't deserving of the MVP I was floored. I couldn't believe it. I didn't know what else he had to do to prove that he was the MVP. A lot of these journalists actually pushed for James Harden that year. LeBron was mentioned a ton as well, but he always is. When I listened to them, or read why they felt this way, it made me even angrier. They called Westbrook a "stat hunter". They said he was bad. They called him selfish. They said he wasn't deserving because he only led the Thunder to a 6 seed and something like 45 wins that year. They said the first round series proved that he wasn't the MVP.

Well, one Mr. James Harden is currently putting up absolutely ridiculous numbers, with his 2 best teammates out injured right now, and these same journalists are praising him. They are talking abut him "carrying" his team. They are saying what he is doing is something they haven't seen since Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. They are calling him the MVP. And while I don't refute that, I do think he has surpassed Giannis as the MVP, why does he get so much love doing almost exactly what Westbrook did 2 years ago, when they were all shaming him?

Here are the facts. James Harden is one of the most boring NBA players to watch. If Westbrook is a "stat hunter", Harden is a "foul hunter". That guy gets so many calls in his favor, calls that are absolutely and utterly insane, that is drives me up the wall. The other night he shot 27 free throws. Not the Rockets, Harden himself took 27 free throws. How is that more fun, or any better than what Westbrook was doing?

Also, lets compare the rosters were they currently are right now with the Rockets to the Thunder from 2 years ago. As I said, Westbrook's best teammate was Adams. He then had guys like Victor Oladipo, before he was a star, Domantas Sabonis, when he was a rookie, Kyle Singler, Nick Collison, Dion Waiters and Terrance Ferguson, among others. Meanwhile, Harden has players like PJ Tucker, Austin Rivers, Eric Gordon and Gerald Green. Oh, and Chris Paul will be back soon, and Clint Capela will miss a couple more weeks before he is back. I'd take that Rockets roster any day.

While Harden is putting up okay assist numbers, he is as selfish a player as there is in the NBA. I saw a stat the other day that said on his last 150 points, he has been assisted on 0 of them. You may read that and say, well no one is passing him the ball, false, he is dribbling the clock down and jacking up threes that somehow are going in. He is a ball stopper and he is a ball hog. The records also, at this same time 2 years ago when Westbrook was the MVP, are almost exactly the same. But where Harden gets credit, Westbrook got blasted. That is so unfair.

The biggest shit talkers are every single basketball writer and podcaster at The Ringer, especially their owner, Bill Simmons. Look, I get it, you guys very much dislike Westbrook. But you have got to stop making excuses for Harden because you like him. These guys and girls have trashed Westbrook since he won the MVP, but when Harden plays the exact same way, they love it. It is clear this company hates the Thunder. I mean, Simmons won't shut up about the Harden trade, which seems like a million years ago. He has KD on his podcast so much, that was one of the reasons I stopped listening to it. Simmons is a star chaser, except when it comes to Westbrook. Other writers at The Ringer always bring up how great Harden has been this past month, then I think they feel like they need to trash Westbrook just because they can.

The biggest indictment of this whole Harden Westbrook debate is something that Simmons and his buddy Joe House kept saying 2 years ago. They said anyone that voted for Westbrook as MVP was "basketball pervert". Well, if you guys thought we who rode the bus for Westbrook are "basketball perverts". what does that make you guys this year with Harden? I think that makes you, in your own words, "basketball perverts". Oh, and I cannot forget that Simmons said on "The Lowe Post" that he is more impressed by guys that average 27 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds. I believe he called it "The LeBron". Well dip shit, Westbrook, and for that matter, your boy Harden, are averaging more in all three categories. How dumb are you? How out of touch do you have to be? What happened to you as a credible writer? I'd much rather have the guys that average a triple double, or 40 points per game.

While I think Harden, where we stand right now, is the MVP, I also think these journalists need to lay the hell off of Westbrook. It was 2 years ago. Harden won his MVP. And what Westbrook did hadn't been done since Oscar Robertson was in the league. Journalists are supposed to be unbiased, and a lot of you are being exposed now. Get over it. Westbrook deserved his MVP, and if Harden keeps this up, he will deserve it too. I just want you shills to admit that he is a pain to watch, that he is selfish and that he is a better scoring, but worse passing and rebounding version of Russell Westbrook.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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The Best in Sports of 2018

Day 4 of my best of 2018 lists brings on one of my favorite subjects, sports. I love sports. It is one of my most favorite things to do, watch and enjoy. There was a decent amount of sports stuff that happened this year, some good, some bad. I already got the bad out of the way, although I could spend an entire day talking about Michigan's horrific bowl appearance last Saturday, but that is another topic for another day. Today is all about the good I personally experienced in sports in 2018. Lets get to it.

At number 5 I have my first purchase of one of the greatest channels/sports packages that has ever existed, NBA League Pass. I love basketball, and in the past 5 years I have become obsessed again with the NBA. What makes League Pass so great is, I can watch every single game that I want. I can also record games that I want to watch the next day. I can also watch this super deep, super explosive group of rookies. I also get to see teams play that I haven't watched in years. I have seen more Sacramento Kings games so far this season than I have in the past decade. And they're fun to watch now too. Now that I am a Suns fan, with League Pass, I have been able to watch the majority of their games. They are not good, but they are my new team, and I want to get very acquainted with them, and so far, I have. I love it. I also love that I can watch any team, as I said before. With ESPN, NBA TV and TNT, we get the same teams. It's always the Warriors, Thunder, Celtics, Lakers and Rockets. I don't like any of those teams, save for the Thunder. But now, with League Pass, I can watch the previously mentioned Suns, the Bucks, the Trailblazers, the Magic and, if I really want a bad game, the Knicks or Hawks. It rules. I have also been able to see the great rookies. I've gotten to watch Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous Alexander and so on and so forth. It's awesome. I love League Pass. This channel will now be in my life forever.

At number 4 I have the past Super Bowl that featured the Eagles and Patriots. This game was devoid of defense, but it is always fun to see the Patriots get beat. And the way they lost the game was very gratifying for me. They could not stop Nick Foles. They made him look like a top 3 QB. The whole "Philly Special" play was awesome. But what made it even better was the fact that the Patriots tried a similar play, and it blew up in their face. And for those of you saying, "what about Tom Brady? He went to Michigan. Don't you love him?". No. When guys leave Michigan, yes I follow their careers, but I am a Packers fans. I loathe the Patriots. So to see them get beat, in agonizing fashion, was great. And do you know who strip sacked Brady to win the game? For those of you now possibly questioning my love for Michigan, it was a former Wolverine, Brandon Graham. Whenever the Patriots lose, 99 percent of the football watching public wins. That was definitely the case this past year. Congrats to the Eagles, and thanks for beating the Patriots en route to your first title in a long, long time.

At number 3 I have the College Football Playoff Final last year, when Alabama won in overtime over Georgia. Again, I don't like either of these teams, but this game was tremendous. It seemed like Georgia was really going to pull it off, leading by 2 scores for awhile. Then Jalen Hurts got hurt, and the legend of Tua Tiagaviola was born. I don't agree with how this kid was raised to play football, but he is a damn good football player, and he proved that in the title game last year. He was amazing. He made some incredible throws. He found open receivers where there were seemingly no open receivers. Georgia kept fighting, and when they pushed the game to OT, I thought they had a chance. When they kicked the field goal, then sacked Tiagaviola for a big loss, I thought they really had it. But then the long pass to Calvin Ridley happened. It was a beautiful throw, a great catch and sealed the win. It was a finish for the ages. I love college football, and even though the teams playing in the game are not my teams, I enjoy a good game. This title game was a great game. It was so much fun to watch. Hopefully the game this year will live up to the last title game.

At number 2 I have Michigan football's run through what was supposed to be their tough three game stretch this year. They had a "gauntlet" of games in early November. They had to travel to Michigan State, then play Wisconsin and Penn State at home in three consecutive weeks. Granted these teams weren't that good this year, but at the time, they were all top 20 teams. They struggled with MSU for a bit, but blew the game open in the second half. They only won by 2 scores, but they dominated that game. They held MSU to under 100 yards of offense. MSU had to put their backup QB in, and Michigan punished them. And it was in East Lansing. It was very satisfying. They then had a night game with Wisconsin. This game was close for a half, just like the MSU game, then Michigan really blew it open. The shut down Johnathan Taylor, and Shea Patterson and Karan Higdon completely took over. They owned that game. The defense also stepped up in a big way and made the Wisconsin QB's night awful. When Lavert Hill had that pick 6, I was able to relax because Michigan put the bow on a 38-13 win. Then there was the Penn State game. Penn State embarrassed Michigan last year, and they let them know it. Well, Michigan put it on them this year. They stopped anything and everything that punk ass Penn State QB tried to do. Michigan got in his head early and shut down any chance at a Heisman for that kid. Again, like the MSU game, PSU had to put in their backup. They said it was due to injury, but lets be honest, he was scared to get hit again. I loved that the defense was doing his celebration every time they sacked that QB. It made me happy. This was the one game where Michigan, from the start, stepped on a team's throat and refused to take their foot off. It was great. while the year didn't end like I hoped, I do have this three game stretch, and it was awesome.

But, at number one, I have the entire 2018 year for Michigan's basketball team. This has honestly been a very, very good year for Michigan basketball. First they won the Big Ten Tournament for the second straight year. They then pushed their way all the way to the title game in the NCAA tournament. I was shocked. They did get blown out in the title game. But, the fact they made the Final Four and the title game, for a team that I thought would only win 20 games, that was amazing for me to see. They really made the tournament fun for me to watch. Then they started out this season the way they have, and it has been awesome. I am worried every week that they will get beat, and they will, but for the time being, they are the number 2 team in the country, and they are undefeated. They have also beaten 3 top 20 teams in the process. They went to Villanova and hammered them. They really crushed them. They then had UNC at home in the ACC-Big Ten tournament. I thought this was going to be bad. It wasn't. They clamped down on D and they finally started to hit shots. It was awesome to see them shut down the team that I picked to be in the championship this season. Then, to open Big Ten play, they destroyed Purdue. They stopped the preseason Big Ten player of the year, Carsen Edwards. He couldn't do a thing. It was great. Since then they have continued to win, but it hasn't been pretty. I hope they continue this for a long time. I saw a stat somewhere that said they finished the year, 2018, with a record of 35-4. That is really impressive. Now it is time to see how they close out 2019. For the time being, I have 2018 to look back on.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my final top 5 list, my top podcast moments of the year.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He was going to put something from the Winter Olympics on his list, but then he remembered that the Olympics are pointless. He also completely forgot when or where the Olympics were held last year. I guess he really wasn’t thinking about the Olympics after all.

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The Worst Things of 2018

Next week I will spend the 5 days of the week doing my best of 2018 in movies, music, tv, podcasts and sports. I will do a top 5 of each category. Today though I want to do a similar list, but I want to do the one thing I consider the worst of 2018. I'll pick the worst tv show, movie, album/musician, podcast moment and sports moment. Before I get into it, I do have to say that this is just my opinion. I know that I will have a few things on here that will be odd and make people mad, but that is what year end lists are for, are they not? This will also be much quicker since I am just picking one thing from each category. My best of lists next week will be a bit longer. Okay enough preamble, lets get to it.

I'm going to start with sports because this was quite possibly the worst thing for me, as a sports fan, that has not only happened this year, but has happened in a long time. I am of course talking about Michigan getting absolutely crushed by the University of Ohio State in football. I have written about this game already, so I won't go as deep into detail as I did the Monday after the game. But this was awful. Michigan's vaunted defense got torched and refused to adjust all game long. This was their best chance in a long time, they were the better team on paper, and they laid a total egg. I mean, their offense scored 39 points, but it was all garbage time, and it was all for naught. They gave up 62 points, over 500 yards of offense, and it could have been much, much worse. Michigan blew it on the biggest stage for them in quite some time, and it was painful to watch. They had their best chance to beat their hated rival for the first time in 7 years, and a possible playoff berth at stake if they won the Big Ten title. They got none of that. They choked. They got crushed and it was, by far, my worst sports moment of 2018. Nothing else was even close.

When it comes to podcast/podcast moments, I have to go with "Comedy Bang! Bang!" not doing their usual Halloween episode. I look forward to this every year, and Halloween came and went with no visit to Boogie Woogie Avenue. I didn't get to hear Bret Gelman and Jon Daly do their thing. There was no Comedy Fang Fang this year. No weirdo ghosts for me to cackle with laughter at. It was a real bummer. The biggest disappointment with no "CBB" Halloween episode was the absence of Leo Carpatzi and his daughter Scaroline to sing their version of "The Monster Mash", which is always my favorite part. Although, as you will see next week, they do make up for it a bit in their Christmas episode. But, no 1122 Boogie Woogie Avenue, no Scaroline, no Mesmor, it all bummed me out. This episode is one of the few things I look forward to for a "holiday" that I am not the biggest fan of. Hopefully they remedy this next year because their Halloween episodes are some of their best.

My worst music of 2018 is kind of weird, but it struck me as odd, and kind of stupid to be completely honest. So, you all know how I feel about Drake. He is a wannabe, a front runner, a HORRIBLE rapper, he is just trash all around. So, for him to think he could even touch Pusha T was a joke and made that my most disliked music moment of the year. There is no beef, Pusha T is a far superior rapper, and always will be, when compared to Drake. He has lived that life. He has earned and grinded hard for everything he has accomplished. He isn't a fake, a phony or a frontrunner. Pusha goes about his business and makes incredible rap music. He literally started from the bottom. Drake was on a teenage high school drama in Canada when he was a kid. He is from the suburbs. He's never had a hard day in his life. He is a fake, a phony and a wannabe like I said before. He's a poseur. Pusha T will always, always be a much, much better rapper. So will thousands upon thousands of other rappers that a lot of people may not know about just yet. Drake is a rapper for white tweens. Pusha T is for a true hip hop fan. This whole beef was pointless and dull. Find something better to do with your time Drake because you are not even a top 500 rapper of all time. You are trash.

With TV I was very conflicted because the 2 shows that I think are the worst were 2 I LOVED last year. With that being said, what in the hell happened to "Westworld" and "Legion"? Am I not smart enough? Do I not get it? Am I not hip enough anymore? I don't know, and that was my biggest problem with both these shows. I feel like they decided to really just make some weird stuff and see if major critics would bite, and boy did they ever. I have read a lot of best of lists, and most have both shows on their lists. I totally disagree. Now, it needs to be said that I didn't finish either season. But I didn't finish because I was too tired of sitting there in utter confusion for hours after watching an episode. I made it through 3 of "Legion" and 2 of "Westworld" and just gave up. These shows are already confusing enough, but like I said, I felt like the writers were just messing with me now. They were intentionally trying to confuse me. I like my intelligence to be tested time to time when watching a show, but in watch these 2 shows this year, I felt like I was being made to look like a fool. Like I was stupid because I didn't get it. That is not how I should feel when watching a show. TV shows and movies should let you escape and have fun. I got none of that from "Westworld" or "Legion" this year. That was a bummer for me.

Finally, my worst movie of 2018. I have to admit that I don't get to the movies as much as I would like, but I still watch a fair amount On Demand and on streaming services. With all that being said, the worst movie I saw in 2018 has to be "Avengers: Infinity War". Now, I kind of liked the movie, but compared to everything else, it just doesn't stand up. I found parts of it dull and dragging. I don't like that Thanos wipes out half the population, but we just have to accept that most of those people are still alive because it's a "comic book movie". It would have been so much cooler if they really did kill off all the characters that Thanos killed. I found Thanos kind of dull and, while an okay bad guy, he was no Heath Ledger Joker or Tom Hardy Bane or Alfred Molina's Dr. Octopus or Ultron or even a marginal bad guy like The Mandarin. I think my biggest problem lied within my expectations for the movie. They were through the roof, and that is unfair. But still, my wife and I saw this movie on opening weekend, with a packed theater that had a 10 month old there, and we both left kind of shrugging our shoulders. It wasn't like when we saw "Black Panther" or the first "Ironman" or the "X-Men" movies. We left those exhilarated. With "Infinity War". we left unfulfilled. That is why I have it as my worst movie of the year.

Okay, I got the bad stuff out of the way. Come back next week where I will dedicate one day with a top 5 of 2018 for each category. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Ty is lucky to have survived the Thanos snap so he can dump on the movie. Others in the SeedSing virtual cube farm were not so lucky. We forward to seeing Tina S when the next movie “fixes” all the important deaths.

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Elite College Players Should Sit Out their Meaningless Bowl Game

College football bowl season kicked off this past Saturday. Some notable teams played, like Arizona State, Eastern Michigan and Utah State. The "bigger" games will start ramping up very soon. In 12 days we have the playoff semifinals and the first of the New Year's Six bowls kick off. What I want to talk about today is the players who are skipping the game to prepare for the NFL draft.

This really became a thing a few years back. I remember when Christian McCaffery did it while at Stanford. I remember Jabrill Peppers saying he was hurt 2 years ago at the Orange Bowl, but I believe he sat it out to preserve himself. Leonard Fournette did it while at LSU. The common thread for these players was the fact that the teams they were on did not play in the playoff, so why risk injury in what is a glorified exhibition game? When Peppers did it, I was frustrated because I knew he could have helped Michigan win. When McCaffery and Fournette did it, I didn't really care. Now it has become a common theme. Big time underclassmen who declare for the draft are starting to sit out non playoff bowl games more and more. And, while I said I was frustrated that Peppers did it, I understood why.

Now, I fully support these players who skip a meaningless bowl game to get ready for the NFL. These kids are getting ready to go into their professional careers, so why risk a fluky injury in a pointless game? Jake Butt, a former Michigan tight end, played in that very same Orange Bowl that Peppers sat out, and in the fourth quarter of that game he tore his ACL. Prior to the bowl game he was a 2-3 round pick easily. After the injury he dropped to the late fourth round, and he has only played in a few NFL games. He also tore his ACL again. Peppers, on the other hand, is a starter on the Browns. He plays safety, nickel and returns kicks from time to time. He has not suffered any bad injuries either. He made the correct decision. I know that Butt had to prove a bit more, Peppers was a sure fire first rounder, but still, had he sat out that game, he could have easily been a second round pick. And look at what McCaffery is doing in the NFL this season. Sure, his rookie year was a struggle, but now, he and Cam are the focal point of that Panthers offense. I know they have struggled of late, but McCaffery has been putting up great numbers this year. Fournette was a huge reason why the Jaguars were so solid last year, and it was because he was fresh and healthy as a rookie. He logged a ton of carries last year and was the focal point of their offense. All of this happened because he had the time to get prepared for his career. He didn't waste his time with pointless practices and a pointless game.

This year a bevy of top prospects are siting out their bowl games. Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Clemson will have all their guys, but that is because they are in the playoff. Houston though will be without Ed Oliver. ASU didn't have N'Keal Henry for their game. Michigan will be without Rashan Gary and possibly Devin Bush. West Virginia won't have their star QB Will Grier. Memphis will be without their all purpose stud running back. Same for Kentucky. There are some others that I can't think of off the top of my head, but I know the number of players sitting out is well into double figures.

I cannot blame these kids. They are getting ready to go play a sport where the people in charge don't really care about you when you are past your prime. The NFL chews up and spits out players left and right. So why would these kids, playing in minor to non playoff bowl games risk any minimal future they may or may not have in the NFL? If they were to play in their bowl game they could end up with the same fate as Jake Butt. I don't think Rashan Gary or Ed Oliver or N'Keal Henry want, or should have to, risk that. Hell, and if the NFL doesn't care about them, the NCAA sure as hell doesn't care about these kids. To the higher ups in the NCAA, all these kids are are money makers for them. These kids don't see a dime for playing at their respective schools. When I was in Ann Arbor earlier this year for a game I saw a ton of people in number 3 Michigan jerseys. Gary didn't see a single dime of that money. It all went to the school. Sane thing for Houston games. I saw a ton of people in the crowd with number 10 jerseys. You think Ed Oliver saw a dime of that? No way. I respect these kids for doing this. You should preserve yourself so you are fully ready and healthy to play at the next level. This is a smart, forward thinking move. If you are not playing for a title, why risk the injury concern, especially if you are a sure fire first round pick? And for the kids that play in the bowl games, I do love it still. Some are seniors, and this is their last chance. Some will be getting time for the players that are sitting out, and this is their chance to shine. Younger players get a shot and more practice time.

The bowl games are made for a good amount of the college players, just not the first rounders not playing in the playoff. I fully support the decisions of these players, and will continue to. Would I like to see Gary suit up and play in the Peach Bowl? Absolutely. Do I hold ill will because he is sitting it out? No way. He is the doing the best thing for him and his family. NCAA football players are smart and they are doing the right thing in saving themselves for the pros when they have a shot to make it.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He was going to sit out the SeedSing.com bowl, but we promised him a few kickbacks if he played. Welcome back Ty.

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Kirk Cousins is Robbing the Vikings

This offseason the Minnesota Vikings gave Kirk Cousins a 4 year, 84 million dollar contract fully guaranteed. I was skeptical of the contract simply because it was fully guaranteed. They are indebted to him every single penny of that 84 million dollars no matter what. He gets it all.

This was an insane deal. I even stated, after they signed him, that he hadn't done anything that warranted that type of money. Sure, he was putting up big stats, throwing a good amount of touchdowns and for 4,000 plus yards, but it was all hollow. He was doing against lesser competition. He was doing it in garbage time. He was doing it when the team had nothing really to play for. This is a guy who replaced Robert Griffin after he got hurt. Sure Griffin hasn't been good since, but at the time, he was on his way to being a real good pro and then he got hurt. Then Jay Gruden came in and essentially pushed Griffin out in favor of Cousins. Then Washington kept franchising him year after year. He kept putting up the stats, but again, the team never did anything of note.

This past offseason Cousins was free to go and the Vikings snatched him up. He was supposed to be the answer. This team made the NFC title game last year with Case Keenum, so Cousins was looked at as an upgrade. They had the defense, they supposedly had the running game, they have quality receivers, all they needed was the QB, and the Vikings thought that Cousins was the answer.

Well, after this past Monday Night game, against the Seahawks, the Vikings sit at 6-6-1. I don't think that is really what this team envisioned when they gave Cousins 84 million dollars guaranteed. They currently sit in the 6 spot in the playoffs, but this team had Super Bowl aspirations after singing Cousins. I picked them to be in the NFC title game. A lot of people did in fact. Some prominent writers had them in the Super Bowl. Some even had them winning it all. And all of it was due to the Cousins signing.

Those predictions don't look so hot right now. Cousins is proving to be the mediocre QB that a lot of people suspected he would be when he was a third round pick a few years back. He was drafted to be a backup. He was maybe going to start one day, but it would be on a middling team with no aspirations, basically what he was already doing in Washington. But nope, the pundits decided he was the guy to put the Vikings over the top.

After that Monday night game, I would have absolutely no hope for the next 4 years if I were a Vikings fan. Just look at his number against good teams, playoff teams. He holds an embarrassing record of 4-24 against teams with a record over .500. He is 0-7 in Monday night games. But most importantly, he is 0-1 in playoff games. Why is that the most important you ask? Well, for a guy getting 84 million guaranteed dollars for 4 years, he has been to 1 playoff game, which he lost fairly easily, in his entire career. That is not franchise QB stuff. That is not even Joe Flacco or Mark Sanchez or even Matt Hasselbeck stuff. Flacco has won a Super Bowl. Sanchez and Hasselbeck have been to conference title games. Hell, even Hasselbeck went to a Super Bowl. Even Blake Bortles has been to, and won more playoff games than Cousins. All these guys are awful QB's, but they have been so much further in important games than Cousins can even dream of right now. Cousins has been to, and won as many playoff games as Robert Griffin, the guy he replaced.

I'm at the point where I am even more certain that Cousins is overrated. He may put up numbers, but they don't matter. He is like the Kevin Love of the NFL, but even Love has a ring. I don't think Cousins will ever get that. He may get back in the playoffs again this year, maybe, but how likely will a win be? Not likely.

Cousins is robbing the Vikings, and he will continue to for the next 3 years. He is overrated and not very good. YOU LIKE THAT! If I were a Vikings fan, I would not think so.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Ty’s views of Cousins being overrated are not new. The QB came from Michigan State, the most overrated of Big Ten football powers.

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Some Thoughts on Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James

The other day I read a story wherein Kevin Durant said no super star wants to play with LeBron James because the atmosphere around him is “toxic”.

I have some thoughts on this.

First, I agree with KD. If I were a star player, who’s best attribute was as a scorer especially, I would not want to be a teammate of his. If I were a specialist it might be fine. But, a star player, no way. Also, if I were a legit point guard I would not want to be on his team. He needs the ball in his hands most of the time, especially in crunch time, and I’d hate that. I’d also not like to be a young up and comer playing on his team. I’d also not want to coach a team where he is the focal point. As the scorer, yes LeBron would put me in a good position to score, but only when he wants me too.

Take a guy like Damien Lillard. He’s an excellent scorer who can create his own shot. If he were to go play with LeBron I think he’d turn into a smaller version of Kevin Love. He would be relegated to standing in a corner and wait for whenever LeBron wanted him to shoot to get the ball. He would get angry very quick.

With the legit point guard, say a John Wall, or even a Steph Curry, again, he’d barely touch the ball. A player like Wall becomes disengaged when he isn’t creating. He sulks and sluffs off when not handling the ball. He needs to feel and dribble the ball. That keeps him focused. Steph is a bit better off the ball, he is more of a 2 guard, but when he has the ball in his hands, he’s a wizard. He’s an excellent ball handler and he can dazzle to get an open shot. Pair him with LeBron, and that’s gone. If you need another example, look no further than Kyrie Irving. He begged, after 3 seasons playing with LeBron, to be traded. He was frustrated and despised playing with LeBron.

When it comes to up and comers, look no further than his current teammate, Brandon Ingram. He was supposed to make the leap this year. He was supposed to become the perfect compliment. He was supposed to learn and excel next to LeBron. None of that has happened. He has struggled mightily. He seems frustrated and unhappy. He doesn’t seem to like his place on the court. He seems joyless when he plays basketball. Also, to a lesser extent, Lonzo Ball has become wildly inconsistent playing with LeBron so far this year. One night he will look great, the next, he disappears. How quick until this gets under LeBron’s skin? Also, imagine if a guy like Trae Young, Luka Doncic or Deandre Ayton were on the Lakers right now. I imagine Young would barely see the floor, Doncic wouldn’t get the time he deserves and Ayton would probably be sitting behind JaVale McGee right now. That would be awful.

As for Luke Walton, I just kind of feel bad for him. He, much like Ingram, doesn’t seem to be having fun. He was given a fun young core last year, and was supposed to have time to develop them. Now he has LeBron, and apparently LeBron is already running what he wants to do and telling the front office who to sign. The Lakers are winning now, but if that doesn’t last, like early in the season, Walton will instantly be on the hot seat.

As for where I take issue with this statement, it comes from the source. Let us not forget that KD left the Thunder one season after they had a 3-1 lead over the Warriors in the West Finals, and joined them. If anyone is a front runner, who needs to be paired with a super star so he doesn’t get called out, it’s KD. Also, this whole heel turn doesn’t fit with Durant. He’s not a bad guy. He’s not a villain. He’s not a scary player. Sure Durant said this, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he joins LeBron himself this offseason when he becomes a free agent. He’s already joined a team of stars before, why wouldn’t he do it again?

I appreciate what KD said and I agree. Someone needs to call out LeBron from time to time. But if this statement came from a guy like James Harden or Anthony Davis or Paul George, I’d be much more on board. And, didn’t Kyrie already bring this to everyone’s attention when he demanded a trade 2 years ago? It seems like odd timing and the wrong source for a very viable statement.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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The Mike McCarthy Era is Finally Over in Green Bay

Artist depiction of Ty watching Packers games the last few years

The Packers finally ripped off the band aid and fired Mike McCarthy. This has been about 4 years coming.

The Packers have really failed to adapt to the modern NFL, and a lot of that has to do with McCarthy's coaching. He became even more predictable after the Packers won the Super Bowl. His offense couldn't adapt. He couldn't keep up with the changes to offense. He wouldn't help his star QB out with modern, efficient offense. He refused to change and he paid the ultimate price.

For those of you saying they should have waited the last 4 weeks to do this, why? We all knew this was coming. We all saw the writing on the wall earlier this year when they couldn't beat the Lions. Hell, us Packer fans all saw the writing on the wall the past 4 years with year after year of fumbled playoff appearances. This team should have been better. This team should have gone to more Super Bowl's. This team should have been lethal offensively. This team shouldn't have had to squeeze and sneak into the playoffs year after year. They should have dominated the North. They should have had the division, or at the very least, a wild card spot by week 11 or 12. But that didn't happen.

And before you say that I am a whiny baby, and I should be happy with the one ring and the year after year of playoff appearances, stop. I know that I root for a perennial playoff team. I know they won a Super Bowl. I know they have Aaron Rodgers. But, this team should have been up there with the Patriots, Steelers and, more recently, the Rams. They should have always been in the contender conversation. They shouldn't have had to just barely make the playoffs year after year after year. And most of that has to do with McCarthy.

Before I get into the meat of this though I do want to heap some of the blame on Aaron Rodgers. He has been pretty bad, for him, this season. He is inefficient, hurt and missing receivers more often than normal. He is not as sharp as he has seemed in the past. And it's not like he doesn't have weapons. Davante Adams is a top tier NFL wide out. Aaron Jones is a legit number one back. The O line is stout. Jimmy Graham, while not as dangerous as he once was, is still a red zone threat. Rodgers has weapons and he is under performing. Plain and simple.

Now back to McCarthy. As I said at the top, he just refused to change his ways. The Packers were predictable. He was beginning to lose the locker room and Rodgers. Rodgers would, according to a lot of reports, change plays at his choosing. He didn't listen to McCarthy. That shouldn't happen with a head coach and his star QB. Even worse though, McCarthy seemingly blamed everyone but himself. He let Dom Capers take the blame last season for the porous defense, which needs a massive amount of fixing, but that is another topic for another day. He blamed the front office for not giving him enough game breakers on offense. He blamed his position coaches for the random injuries and poor play of those players. It was never, ever his fault. Well, when you are a 14 point favorite, at home, against probably the second worst team in the NFL, you have no one to blame but yourself for what occurred. The team was anemic on offense. They couldn't move the ball on a team that has given up chunks and chunks of yards all year. They couldn't put the ball in the end zone. They couldn't play in the poor weather that has always worked to their advantage. They looked really, really bad, and I put a lot of that on McCarthy.

To fire him directly after the game, to his surprise as it was reported, was rough, but we all knew this was going to happen. We all saw it coming. It was a foregone conclusion. The time was now for the Packers to make a change. McCarthy had done all he could do, and everyone needed to move on.

As for who I think the Packers should go after as their new head coach, I am kind of torn. The names I have seen pop up most are Josh Mcdaniels, John Defillipo and Lincoln Riley. Of course Jim Harbaugh has come up and there is the interim coach, Joe Philbin, among others. I know the trend is to go towards an offensive minded coach, but after what Mcdaniels did to the Colts last year, I do not want him. Defillipo needs more time before he is the head coach of the Packers. Lincoln Riley is not ready for the pros. Jim Harbaugh, if he is to leave Michigan for this job, will have left Michigan without accomplishing much of anything. And Joe Philbin has already failed spectacularly as a head coach in Miami. I think, right now, even though he has said he isn't interested, I would try and go after Bruce Arians. He would immediately command the respect of the locker room and Aaron Rodgers. And, he is a great coach. If not Arians, I would go for Jim Harbaugh's brother, John Harbaugh. There is no guarantee that he will be let go, or leave Baltimore, but if he did, I feel like he would get the same respect as Arians. Those are my top 2 choices. I'm sure they will go after Mcdaniels, that is the betting favorite. But, I want Arians or John Harbaugh. Hell, at this point, I would even consider a former coach like Gary Kubiak. He would bring instant credibility.

The Mike McCarty era in Green Bay is over. Thank god. That is how I feel about all of this. And, I am sure that McCarthy will get another job and I wish him success. The time had come for a change.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. The Head Editor picked the Packers to win the NFC North this year. His punishment? His hometown Bengals will finally fire Marvin Lewis and make Mike McCarthy the coach for the next decade.

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Liar Urban Meyer is Probably Lying About His Latest Retirement

Artist Depiction of Ty every few years when Urban decides to “retire”

This morning I woke up to the news, much like everyone else that follows college football, to the news that Urban Meyer is stepping down after the Rose Bowl.

It is like deja vu. I have seen this story before. I have heard the whispers and the whining and the acting and the destruction that he has left behind before. I have bore witness to this whole story about 10 years ago. He left Florida after a supposed heart condition. His Florida teams were good, playing in major bowl games, winning a national title, but the last few years there his teams weren't winning like they had before, and he saw some other teams, (clears throat) Alabama mainly, coming on strong. He saw the writing on the wall, spent his last season at Florida saying he wanted to be with family, his health was concerning him, and he had to step away.

Meyer then proceeded to take a few years off from coaching. But, he did do television. He was okay enough to fly around the country calling games for ESPN, and work those crazy hours with his "heart condition", but he claimed he couldn't coach.

Then the University of Ohio State went through all the Jim Tressel stuff, had to fire him, and they had to move to an assistant to take over for a year. It was one of the not so good years for them, and the Meyer rumors started. Remember, he left because of a "heart condition", but after a few years away, I guess he felt good enough, and was cleared by some quack doctor to come back and coach at his "dream school".

Now, to get off his case for just one second, he did wonders there. He won a national title. He had a consistent top 10 team. He never lost to Michigan. He never lost to Penn State. He dominated the Big Ten pretty much. Meyer is a hell of a college football coach, but he is a miserable human being, and he is a liar. Back to the hatred.

Before this season started the stories came out that he lied about covering up domestic abuse. I have given more than my share on how I feel about all of this on the site and the podcast. This is a vile, heartless, disgusting and disturbing thing he did. He covered for a guy that was doing cocaine on camera, hitting his then wife and constantly cheating on her. Meyer cared more about winning than helping this poor lady that was abused in more ways than one by a friend of his. That is appalling. The fact that this story dropped before the season started, and he was caught red handed lying to everyone, should have been more than enough to fire him. What did the University of Ohio State do though? They suspended him for three games. That's it. Three non essential games that they could have won with Lee Corso as the coach. What a shame.

When he came back Meyer all of the sudden started to look tired and distressed on the sidelines. Then his team started to really struggle against the lower tier of the Big Ten. They struggled with Nebraska, Minnesota and Maryland. Then Purdue crushed them. Those teams are a combined 21-27. I know, believe me I know, I wrote about it, exactly what they did to Michigan. But even during that game, Meyer was doing his same acting he did for the majority of the year when he came back. We could see the camera find him and he would be doubled over and grabbing his head whenever there was a tense moment in the game. People claimed he would be near passing out before, during and after games. Dumb ass announcers proclaimed that he was "coaching through so much pain. What a warrior" they would say.

This was all an act. I will believe that to my grave. He knew what he did was wrong. He knew he lied and he knew he got caught. He knew the hammer was going to come down on him one way or another. And like a grounded child, or an adult that has never faced any real consequences for their horrid actions, he pretended to be hurt. He pretended that he was in some unfathomable pain that no one could ever understand. He wanted people to feel sorry for him. He wanted an excuse so he could walk away, just like his ending at Florida.

This is an all too familiar story with this asshole. I'm curious if he was forced to retire. I'm curious if there is some sanction writing on the wall that he knows is coming, and he wants to get out before all that comes down, just like at Florida. I want to know the truth. I want to know why he picked now as opposed to earlier this year, or way, way far in the future.

I also know Meyer claimed today that he is done coaching forever. I do not buy that for one single second. I have already heard multiple credible sources say that he is just waiting for the USC job to open. I also heard that his real "dream job" is Notre Dame. I would be curious to see if he dips his toes in the NFL, but that would be a colossal failure. He is not a NFL coach. Not even close. This "retirement" is just as fake and phony as his "retirement" from Florida.

Urban Meyer is a liar, a cheater, a whiner, a crybaby and a despicable person. I do not now, nor will I ever, believe a word that comes out of his mouth. He wants people to feel sorry for him. He wants us to cry for him. He wants us to remember him as a coach that left at the top of his game. That is not how I will remember him at all, and it has nothing to do with my Michigan fandom. I've already talked ad nauseam about how he owns them. I will remember him as a liar and a coward. And when he comes back in 2 or 3 years, and he is suddenly "healthy" again, I'll be just as ready in 6 or 7 years when he gets caught cheating or lying once again, and he announces he is "retiring" to be with family and to get healthy.

Urban Meyer is a liar. He is a despicable human being. I will not miss him for one single second. Good riddance.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Does OSU want Ty to come and visit. Let him be the one to slam the door on Urban Meyer’s ass when the coach leaves and Ty will be there.

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Time to Get Ready for the College Football Postseason

The College Football Playoff is officially set. The 4 teams, from 1-4 are, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. Dare I say, I think the committee got it right.

Georgia will complain, stating that no one can, or will, play Alabama any closer than they did. Well, maybe you should have won the game that you had a 2 touchdown lead in, and maybe you shouldn't have lost earlier in the season. No 2 loss team has made the playoff yet. 

As for the Big Ten contenders, the University of Ohio State may complain, saying that now, the past 2 seasons, the last 2 Big Ten champs have been left out of the playoff. Well, it was clear that the committee takes blow out losses earlier in the season seriously, and that has happened twice to that school. It doesn't matter how badly they beat Michigan or Northwestern, the University of Ohio State lost by 29 points to a 6-6 Purdue team. Michigan has no complaints whatsoever. They had it in their hands and they really, really blew it.

The only team that I think has a legitimate beef with this whole playoff thing is UCF. I mean, what else do they have to do to get in the playoff? They haven't lost a game in 2 years. They lost their star QB and went out and beat Houston. Then, after being down by as many as 17 points to Memphis in the AAC title game, they came back, scored 56 and won by 2 scores, with a backup QB and new coach. I mean, give them a shot. I know that their schedule isn't tough, but come on. They have beaten every team that has been placed in front of them, pretty handily, for the past 26 or so games, including Auburn in a New Year's 6 bowl last year. They should be in the playoff. The committee says they want the 4 best teams, and there are 4 undefeated teams left. The one that got left out, UCF. Who did Notre Dame beat that was so impressive? Michigan? We all saw what happened last week in their game. And as far as their "ACC schedule" goes, Notre Dame didn't face Clemson, so who cares. Alabama gets a pass because they have done the same thing as UCF, just with much better players. Clemson also. Oklahoma, they play zero defense, had to go to the limit with Oklahoma State, West Virginia, lost once to Texas, and barely beat them in the Big 12 title game. I'm not saying they are undeserving, I just think UCF is more deserving. I repeat, THEY HAVE NOT LOST A GAME IN OVER 2 YEARS! GIVE THEM A CHANCE! Okay, rant over.

As I said at the top, excluding the UCF stuff, I do think the committee pretty much nailed it. I like the matchups as well. In the 1, 4 game, we get Alabama and Oklahoma. We get the top 2 Heisman candidates facing off against one another in a playoff game. I think it will be high scoring, and both Murray and Taguviola, I can never spell that kid's name right, will put up big time video game numbers. In the end though, Alabama will win fairly handily due to the total incompetence of Oklahoma's defense. This is where they won't be able to just outscore another team.

I feel like the 2,3 matchup may be more of a blowout than the 1, 4. Yes, Notre Dame is good, yes they have won all their games, but I ask again, who have they played that is really good with the exception of Michigan in the first game of the season? FSU is 5-7 and home for bowl season. Virginia Tech is 6-6 and needed a miracle comeback against Virginia just to have a shot at a bowl game. Miami is a mess. Northwestern only won 8 games. Navy is having a very down year. I look at their schedule, and it just doesn't seem as tough as it could have been. Also, Notre Dame hasn't faced a team with as much pure talent as Clemson. Clemson is overwhelmingly good, and no one has really talked about them all year because of how good Alabama has been. That totally plays into their favor. I know they have a true freshman at QB, but that kid is awesome. They also have a great run game. Oh, and their defense is amazing. If Notre Dame thought Michigan was tough to begin the year wait until they see Clemson's front four. They are relentless. I like Clemson, and I like them to win big.

That would give us Alabama and Clemson in the title game. This would be the fourth time they have matched up in the playoff, and the third time in the title game. This is where the freshman QB will hurt them. I like Alabama in the title game. They are the best team, by a wide, wide margin in college football. They are the Warriors. They are the Yankees of the late nineties. They are the Patriots. They are the best team. They will win back to back titles. That's how I see the College Football Playoff playing out.

As far as some other bowl games I'm interested in, of course the Peach Bowl. Michigan will be facing off against Florida for the third time in 4 years. I'm curious to see how they rebound from their last game. That was an abomination. I want to see how they respond, and Florida is much, much better than the last couple times they faced off. I am also very curious to see if UCF can do it again. I think they can, and they will do it in convincing fashion. LSU is good, they have a stout defense, but their offense is just as average as ever. I feel like UCF will be able to put up points, and get enough stops to go into next season without a blemish on their record for a second straight year. I'm curious to see how many points Missouri and Oklahoma State put up against one another. Neither of those teams play defense. I want to see Kentucky's stud rush end go up against Penn State's running QB in their bowl game. I want to see how low scoring the Wisconsin-Miami game will be. I'll be curious to see if Georgia gets over themselves and disposes of a porous Texas team like they should. I want to see how many yards Pitt will give up to Bryce Love in his final collegiate game. West Virginia and Syracuse will provide a ton of points. I want to see how Gus Malzahn gets his Auburn team prepared, what with all the rumors swirling about his job, against a very inconsistent Purdue squad.

That's about it for me. I love bowl season. I'm looking forward to the games I mentioned, mainly Michigan. And, unfortunately, I think it is pretty easy to predict another title for Alabama. Bowl season is here folks. Get amped.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Domestic Abuse is OK with the NFL, Colin Kaepernick is Not

What does Colin Kaepernick have to do to even get a shot to get back into the NFL?

This all comes about because of 2 recent signings, by the same team, that I have seen happen that have disgusted me. The first one was Mark Sanchez being signed by the team from Washington. The moment Alex Smith got his leg ripped in half, I knew, just like everyone else, their season was pretty much over. The backup to Smith is Colt McCoy. While McCoy was a great college football player, he is not a good pro. He is too small, too inaccurate and bails on plays far too often. He should have been a third stringer for the entirety of his NFL career. But now he is starting. And who does Washington go out and sign to back him up? Do you all remember the "butt fumble"? Do you remember the guy that couldn't get a starting job after the Jets let him go? Do you remember the guy that, while the head coach at USC, Pete Carroll told to not go to the pros because he wasn't ready, and it wouldn't work? That guy is now the back up to Colt McCoy.

I just do not get it. Colin Kaepernick is a younger, much, much, much more athletic version of Alex Smith. He may not be as accurate as Smith, but Kaepernick at least takes shots down field. The reason Smith is so "accurate", is because he is constantly throwing 5-7 yard out passes. Kaepernick would, at the very least, take a few shots down field. He would also add the QB run to a very anemic run offense. Sure, he would take carries away from Adrian Peterson, another guy that is somehow still in the NFL, but Kaepernick is not, but who cares. Their division is so bad, and Colt McCoy is not the answer. Nor is Mark Sanchez. Kaepernick would give them the best shot to win the division and play in the playoffs. Washington currently sits at 6-5, in second place behind the Cowboys because of the head to head matchup. But, I'm out on the Eagles now, they look broken and are super injured, and the Giants stink. They will be picking in the top 5 again. Where Washington stands right now, they have a "chance" at the playoffs, but it is only real if they would have picked Kaepernick over Sanchez and McCoy. He is light years better than those guys and he brings an added dimension that neither of them is even close to bringing to this horrendous offense.

The other player Washington just signed is making me despise the NFL even more than I thought I ever could. You all know how I feel about all the domestic abuse that comes with a good portion of NFL players now, and the league's "handling" of these abusers. They get, basically, a slap on the wrist. Ray Rice, until the video was released, was only suspended 2 games. Aldon Smith, who had a problem with alcohol as well, got seemingly a million chances until he was finally cut. Adrian Peterson admitted to hitting his child with a switch, that he made him cut down, and someone just did a report where he said he still spanks his kid. This report was made to seem like Peterson has changed. Clearly, he has not. But what Washington just did, and how long it took for the NFL to step in, is egregious.

After his second known report of domestic violence, in less than a year, Rueben Foster got released by the 49ers and Washington went out and signed him before he was even out of jail. Why? Why did they think this was okay? Why would they sign this dude who is a multiple domestic abuser? Why does he get a third chance when Kaepernick has been so clearly blackballed? Why did it take almost a week for the NFL to put him on the "exempt list"? This is wrong on every single level. Rueben Foster is a well known abuser. He continually hits his girlfriends. He has already been arrested twice since he joined the NFL. The 49ers kept giving him chances. And now Washington wanted to give him another chance. But Kapernick is too much of a distraction? Kaepernick can't lead this team to the playoffs? Kaepernick isn't as good a football player as Sanchez or Foster? Get the hell out of here with that nonsense. The fact that Foster was given his millionth chance by Washington is ridiculous. This team doesn't need a linebacker, let alone a linebacker that hits his girlfriends. This team needs a mobile QB with a big arm. That is Colin Kaepernick to a T. But, Washington would rather give a bust like Mark Sanchez a fourth chance. And they'd rather give a domestic abuser his millionth chance. But they won't even give Kaepernick a sniff. They wouldn't even bring him in for a workout.

This is disgusting . This is the problem with the NFL. They'd rather blackball a non violent protester. The NFL would rather let a domestic abuser play. They'd rather let a has been sign a million dollar contract. This is a disturbing trend. What makes this even worse though, it is the same team signing these 2 players and not even looking at Kaeprnick.

I'm disgusted and disillusioned with the NFL. I'm sick and tired of the collusion that the NFL clearly has against Kaepernick. Colin Kaepernick deserves to be on an NFL roster. Much more so than these 2 yahoos. There is hard core collusion going on, and until he is rightfully back in the NFL, I will continue to stump for Colin Kaepernick. Until then, Washington disgusts me. They are a joke of a franchise and these 2 signings make them even more of a joke.

Screw you Washington and screw you NFL. You are a group of disturbed individuals that only care about money and yourselves.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He forgot to mention the Cincinnati Bengals also signed a new QB this week. We all know Tom Savage is way better than Kaepernick, right?

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Mack Brown Goes Back to North Carolina Football. Why?

I promised I'd talk about 2 "new" college football coaches yesterday, and I come to you today with the second "new" one. This is now official. I saw a quick little snippet of a press conference on "PTI" last night. Mack Brown is officially back as the new head coach of North Carolina's college football team.

I had forgotten until yesterday that Brown coached there before moving on to Texas. Whenever I see Mack Brown now, I think of Texas football. And he was great there. He won a national title, was a perennial top 25 team and regularly won 9 or 10 games every year. But, much like Les Miles and Lloyd Carr, he kind of got lost in the new world of college football. He was still coaching as if he was coaching in the early 21st century. And the Texas fans and boosters got tired of it. Suddenly he couldn't beat Oklahoma, and 8 wins and a solid bowl game weren't enough. He "retired" just like Carr, but it really seemed like a forced retirement.

Texas still hasn't fully recovered since he left. I feel like they didn't give Charlie Strong a real chance, and while I know they are a top 15 team right now, it doesn't feel like the same Texas teams from the past. They are stuck in a similar limbo that Michigan is stuck in. I do think, while he is a scumbag of a human being, Tom Hermann will turn it around, but I wish it was Charlie Strong reaping the benefits instead.

Back to Brown. While I feel like he was pushed out, the time had come for him to step away. As I said, he couldn't, or wouldn't, adapt to the new world of college football. The moment Colt McCoy graduated, Brown and Texas took a step back. Now though, after 5 years away, he is back where it truly all began for him. After realizing he previously coached at UNC, I looked some stuff up. He was pretty good there. He won double digit games a few times. He had UNC in bowl games pretty much every year, and he turned it into a bigger, and higher paying, head coaching job. But, this hire feels a lot like Herm Edwards being hired by Arizona State last offseason. That hiring puzzled me. Edwards had never coached college football, and he had been away from coaching all together for a decent amount of time. He was an analyst. He worked for ESPN. The exact same things can be said about Brown. Brown was one of ESPN's main college football in studio guys. He has been away from coaching for 5 years now. I just assumed he was done and was going to continue getting paid with his cushy and easy job. But I guess the allure of coaching is too much to resist for guys like Edwards and Brown.

So Brown is now back. He is back in a power 5 conference. He is coaching a power 5 team. He will be going up against teams like Miami, FSU and Clemson every year. This all feels a lot like Miles at KU, except UNC has a slightly better upside, at least to me. UNC is a basketball school. People in Chapel Hill only really care about the college basketball team. If the football team is good, that is just an added bonus. I cannot remember the last time UNC football mattered. You may say, Mitch Turbisky played there. I say, did he ever win more than 8 games as a starter? You may say that Butch Davis had them in the top 25. I say, look at the mess he left when he was caught cheating. UNC football is just not much of a program. And while that will give Brown the same long leash that Miles has at KU, and while this school will give him all the time he needs to rebuild.

I ask, what is the ceiling with Mack Brown as the head coach at UNC? Just like Miles, he is going to have to fight against better football schools for big time recruits. Brown was able to pull these 4 and 5 star kids in at Texas. He won't find it as easy at UNC. If he is recruiting against the likes of FSU, Miami and Clemson, I feel like most big time recruits will have Clemson as their top school, then Miami and then FSU. UNC will, at best, be fourth on any major recruit list. For me, success for Brown at UNC will come easier than it will for Miles at KU. UNC is in a worse conference. The ACC, while it has gotten much better, is not at the Big 12's level. So I think the ceiling for Brown is 8, maybe 9 wins, and maybe, possibly, a New Year's Day bowl. I do not think they will be able to compete with the upper echelon of the ACC. They are coming off a 2 win season. They have been getting crushed by the likes of Clemson, NC State, Syracuse and even Duke. And while I know FSU and Miami struggled this year, I feel like that is an aberration. With UNC, I feel like this 2 win season, while bad, is more towards the norm. Mack Brown will make them marginally better, but just marginally. As I said, I feel like year one will be tough, year 2 will be slightly better, and by year 3, he should have them at bowl eligibility, but that is the best they can be. UNC is not a national title contender. Mack Brown will not turn them into a national title contender either. He may make more people talk about them because of his name, but as far as on the field stuff goes, Brown is going to find out that the game has changed even more since he left 5 years ago.

UNC got a big name, just like KU, but I feel like it will be pretty much the same for both guys. They will struggle, and I think they may get more frustrated than anything else. College football has changed so much since Miles, and now Brown, have come back to coaching. It is going to be a punch in the gut for both of them.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. With all these announcers going back to coaching, Ty is waiting for Lee Corso and Lou Holtz to jump on the bandwagon. Oh what joy to not have to see those two every Saturday.

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Les Miles and Kansas Football Seem Like an Odd Fit

The next 2 days I want to talk about 2 “new” college football coaches. Today I will talk about the one that is for certain, he’s signed a contract and held a press conference, I don’t think it could be anymore official, and that’s Les Miles to Kansas.

To be honest, this shocked me. I was stunned when the news crossed my phone and computer. It’s no secret that Miles was once a great, national championship level coach. He took his team at LSU twice to the title and won once. He has been to “mountain top” of the college football world. He also has a very solid overall win percentage. He was good for anywhere from 8-10 wins a season while at LSU. Hell, in his last season there he was let go one year after winning 9 games I believe. His departure kind of reminded me of when Lloyd Carr “retired” at Michigan.

For Miles, just like Carr, being a perennial top 25 team and winning 8,9 or 10 games a year wasn’t enough for the rabid fans. It also felt like he was kind of coaching dinosaur football when the game was changing. He would try to win by pounding you to death with the run and play action. He also hung his hat on having a dominant defense. And while he was still producing bowl games and staying ranked, LSU couldn’t keep up with Alabama, Auburn and even teams like Ole Miss and Mississippi State in his own conference. They were revolutionizing while he was stuck in the early 2000’s. I didn’t think he deserved to be let go, but he was. LSU is just as good now as they were when he was let go. Nothing has changed.

I thought, after taking a year off, Miles would have a prime choice for a big job. I wanted him at Michigan before they got Harbaugh. I’m sure his name came up at Texas after Charlie Strong was let go. I bet Mississippi State thought about him after Dan Mullen left for Florida. I was certain he was going to get a big time job.

But, Miles chose Kansas very early on in the hiring process. I’m sure there will be more openings soon, this is the time when coaches leave or are let go. But clearly he didn’t want to wait. And while I know Kansas is in a power 5 conference, they’re not a power 5 team. I believe they finished with 3 wins this year, and that was looked at as a team getting better year. They hadn’t beaten a D-1 school for 2 years. They are in a very dire situation. To get a name like Les Miles to coach there is humongous for them, but I don’t have a good feeling about it. The best thing for Miles is, he’s going to have a very, very long leash. They’re going to give him the entire length of his contract to turn this team around. I just don’t know if it can be done. Les Miles is a big name who knows how to recruit. But, he’s going to have to go up against the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and TCU for recruits. I can’t see top level, 4 and 5 star kids, picking KU over any of these schools. I know the promise of playing time will play a factor, but let’s not get it twisted, college football is a means to the pros. And KU doesn’t produce nearly as many pros as the schools mentioned above. The best pro they’ve produced in the past decade is Aquib Talib. Most of the other Big 12 schools he’s going to be recruiting against can name way more than one player they’ve sent to the pros.

My biggest fear for Miles is, I feel like he thinks this is a stepping stone job. I feel like he thinks he can turn this team around faster than anyone else thinks he can, and he will get another major job. I don’t think that will happen. I think, at best, he can get KU back to being a bowl team, but a 6 or 7 win bowl team. He’s going to struggle against the cream of the crop in the Big 12. He’s really going to struggle in his first 2 or 3 years there. That might cause him some frustration.

This is a puzzling hire. I hope it works out because I like Les Miles, and just to be a contrary Missourian, I like KU. But they’re a basketball school, and no one really cares about the football team. Maybe that will change under Miles, but I doubt it.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He thinks Les Miles should have coached high school over Kansas. Ty’s old school has not had a winning season since his playing days. Come on Les, give it a try.

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Saturday Sucked for Michigan Football Fans. Now Let's Move On

Saturday was tough.

That was a brutal way to end the regular season. Michigan got absolutely dominated in every phase of the game. They looked predictable and boring on offense. Their top ranked defense was absolutely shredded. The special teams couldn't get off punts and settled far too often, trying to play the field position game. The coaching was not good. It was horrendous on every level. The team was unprepared, feeling themselves way too much, blew a golden opportunity and played how they have played in every big game since Lloyd Carr retired, poorly. They weren't up for their biggest game of the year. They weren't ready. They thought the University of Ohio State was just going to roll over for them. They figured they were going to walk to the Big Ten title game and the College Football Playoff.

None of that happened.

The University of Michigan was embarrassed on a humongous stage in what should have been a big win for them. On paper they were the better team. On paper they had the better players. On paper they have the better coaches. But when it came to actually playing the game, they got the ass whooping they deserved. Karan Higdon, who I adore, didn't live up to his guarantee. Shea Patterson was flustered, pressured and mediocre all afternoon. The line couldn't open a hole against a team that let Minnesota and Maryland gash them for multiple big runs.

What was most frustrating for me was the defense. They could not stop anything on Saturday. What made it even more frustrating, they refused to deviate from their man coverage game plan that has worked so well all year. They stuck with it, and they got gashed again and again. I saw it in person last week, where Indiana was killing them with crossing routes. Well, the University of Ohio State has much better players than Indiana does. That much is a fact. But Michigan, Don Brown and Jim Harbaugh, also Greg Mattison and Chris Partridge, and the entire defensive staff for that matter, refused to make changes. They are usually so good at making adjustments, but for some reason on Saturday, they were too stubborn or dumb or arrogant or whatever to change. It was truly a terrifying watch for any Michigan fan.

I have been holding all this in until today because my wife and dad and brother didn't need to hear me gripe about this game. It was a disaster. It turned what was such a promising season into a massive disappointment. The one unit I have been able to count on all year really blew it. They had a major letdown at the worst possible time. It was awful. This was worse than Penn State crushing them last year. This was worse than the muffed punt in Harbaugh's first year against Michigan State. This was worse than most games from the Rich Rodriguez or Brady Hoke era. This much is true. They gave up a massive amount of yards, 62 points, probably could have been 70 plus, showed they aren't ready for primetime, were far too arrogant and got smacked in the mouth for it and got embarrassed. That is the best word.

Okay, got that out of my system.

Now for the other half of my blog today. As I stated above, Saturday was terrible for all Wolverine fans. But the talks of firing Jim Harbaugh and Don Brown need to stop. These guys are great coaches. I know Harbaugh hasn't beaten the University of Ohio State yet, but he has beaten Penn State twice, Wisconsin twice, Michigan State twice, and he is now getting to coach his recruits. Michigan was in a bad place when they hired him, and he has won 10 games three times in 4 years, and has won 38, with a chance at 39 games, in 4 seasons. While they are not a title contending team, they have gotten much better. Jim Harbaugh should not be fired. That talk is insane. The people saying that are fair weather fans. They are probably the same people that clamored for him 4 years ago. And, to those that want him fired, you just want to start over again? You want to go back to being even more mediocre again? Are you ready for more Brady Hoke style football? I'm sure as hell not. I can get just as annoyed and frustrated with Harbaugh and his stubborn play calling, but the guy is a hell of a college football coach, no matter what Tim Tebow and Paul Finebaum say.

To those calling for Don Brown's firing, they make me more angry than the people calling for Harbaugh's head. Don Brown has turned this defense into a unit to be feared. Saturday was a major aberration. It was harsh. It was an embarrassment. It was awful. But it was a one time thing. The defense had a horrible day. He called a bad game. It was bad. But what about the rest of this season, and the past 2 seasons under him? They are a fast and aggressive and solid defense. Last year, when this team was dreadfully awful on offense, the defense was why they won 8 games. His first season as the defensive coordinator, he turned Jabrill Peppers into a Heisman finalist. He has coached some of the top linebackers in college football. The guy knows defense, and he knows it well. If Harbaugh were to leave for the pros, he is not going to get fired, nor does he deserve to, I have stated to my father many times that I would want Michigan to just name Don Brown head coach. I feel like it would be a seamless transition. Sure he would need an offensive minded guy to run his offense, and I feel like being the offensive coordinator at Michigan would be a coveted job.

None of the coaches deserve to be let go. It was one very, very, very bad game. But it was one game. The talk of letting coaches go is stupid and reactionary and uncalled for. Stop it. For the people calling out the players, they need to chill the hell out. One, it is a game. Yes I was mad, and I may have said some things during the game, but after it was done, I was done being mad. The kids playing are just that, kids. They are also playing a game. I am not going to let one bad game ruin my week, month or year like I used to when I was a teenager and in my early 20's. After finishing this blog, I will have gotten it all off my chest, and I will move on. Some people are going way, way too hard on these kids playing a game. Yes it was rough, but let it go. They played pretty great in almost every other game this year. No one was bad mouthing them on social media when they were trouncing Wisconsin or Penn State. This was one game, get over it. Also, if you are in your 30's like me, think about the fact that you are yelling at kids that could be your own. That is sad.

Finally, ever the Michigan fan in me, wants to say that the coverage on Fox was atrocious. The 2 guys calling the game were clearly pulling for the University of Ohio State. They would only say kind words about them. And while I know nothing really good happened for Michigan, the announcers made sure it was even rougher on Michigan fans with the way they called the game. They were terrible.

What made all the sports media worse was all the love they were giving Urban Meyer. The fact that companies like Fox and ESPN are going to spin this one game as some kind of redemption for him is disgusting. Jemele Hill, who despises Michigan by the way, tweeted during the game something along the lines of, "the media will try to spin this as a redemption story for Meyer, but let us not forget he tried to cover for a domestic abuser. No one win will ever heal the pain that the abused family is going through". I couldn't agree with her more. Urban Meyer is a liar. He is a cheater. He has vouched for Aaron Hernandez. Everywhere he coaches, the moment he leaves, the program is left in shambles. Also, people love him while he is there, but the moment he is gone, they seem to hate him. All the shots of him trying to quell his "headaches" were nauseating. He is an actor. He wants people to feel bad for him. He wants people to talk about his "health problems" so when he leaves, that is the reason why. Also, if he really does have this big of a problem with his health, why is he still coaching? That is wrong. Shame on him for risking his health and family so he can look good on TV. His actions on the sidelines this season have been laughably bad. Even if he really does have this "headache" thing, I feel zero sympathy for him. He is a loathsome human being.

With all this being said, Saturday was bad. Michigan got smashed. They got the beating they deserved. But, don't paint Urban Meyer as some kind of hero. He is a disgraceful human being. Also, Jim Harbaugh and Don Brown and the entire Michigan staff, I am still behind you guys. Things will turn around soon, hopefully. As for the Wolverine players, you had one bad game. Let it got and get ready for your bowl game. Try to go out and get a win, especially the seniors, to forget about Saturday's disaster. Don't let this game beat you twice. That is what makes me most excited, to see how you respond. You have had an okay season. You have a chance at 11 wins. You can set the tone for next year. Go out and do it after you find out what bowl game you get. Make it count. I have not lost faith, nor will I ever. I love Michigan, I love the Wolverines, I love the staff and players. I still, and always will, have faith. This can all be turned around. I truly believe that.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Why does Ty care som much about a football game. Check out the X Millennial Man Podcast to learn how technology, and irrational love, makes a fan feel sick about their favorite team.

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