Baseball Will Not Be the Same Without Ichiro

I know I’ve written about him before, at least I assume I have, but today is the last day Ichiro Suzuki will step on a baseball field as a player. He announced yesterday that, after today’s game in Japan, he’s stepping away.

This dude is a surefire first ballot hall of fame player. He came into baseball when I still cared about the sport, and he was amazing. In his rookie year, where he won rookie of the year and MVP, he was a delight to watch. I had heard so much about him, but actually seeing him play was a whole experience. His approach at the plate was Tony Gwynn esque. He waited on the pitch he wanted to hit, and it looked as if he was slapping the ball with his bat. And it worked. He regularly hit well over .300 and would easily get 200 plus hits a year when he came to the US. Also, his drag bunts were a thing of beauty. He seemingly placed it in the perfect spot every time, and with his speed, he would get the single with ease. On the rare occasion he hit a home run, he looked as surprised as the fans did. He was never a long ball hitter, which I admire the hell out of, but he would get a hold of one every now and then. And when he would be rounding the bases, he always had a big grin on his face. It was great.

What really set Ichiro apart in my opinion was his defense. First off, he had a rocket for an arm. When he would field a hit in right field and come up to throw the ball, you knew it would be in a rope, and it would get to the infield in a hurry. I’m sure he threw out some of the slower runners at first when they would hit it solid to him. You always had to run as fast as you could when he would field the ball. I watched him throw out so many runners trying to tag up from third, or stretch a single to a double, or, if they’d dare, a double to a triple. His arm was tremendous. So was his range and athleticism. He robbed a ton of hits. He made a lot of opposing players batting averages slightly lower than they should have been. He was a joy to watch in the outfield. He made right field, dare I say, fun to watch.

I think what I admire most about Ichiro was his attitude. He was the consummate pro. He never had a scandal that I know of. His teammates have always seemed to like playing baseball with him. And he played the game with joy, and stuck around as long as he could. He truly loves the game of baseball. He is in his mid 40’s and just now retiring. That’s amazing for a pro athlete. And he’s not leaving due to injury, or poor play. He’s stepping away because he wants to. He’s done it all, minus winning a ring, that he could accomplish. I also like that he told the Mariners brass, behind closed doors, that he is calling it quits after today. He doesn’t need a farewell tour. He doesn’t need the pomp and circumstance. I feel like he’d be embarrassed by that.

I was, and always will be, a huge Ichiro Suzuki fan. He showed up when I still liked the MLB, he was great, he was fun and he is humble. Enjoy retirement. You deserve it, and I can’t wait to see you inducted into the Hall of Fame. You’ve earned it.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. The best story about Ichiro is how he reacted when Tom Brady texted him. Go read the story.

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Never Count Out Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs

Continuing with basketball this week, I want to give a shout out to the San Antonio Spurs. They’re currently on a 9 game win streak, beating teams like the Warriors, Pistons, Nuggets and the Thunder along the way, all playoff teams by the way.

The way the Spurs have done this is impressive. I know I may get some flak for this, but they’re winning in the West with no real super stars. I know DeMar DeRozan is really good, and LaMarcus Aldridge is an All Star, but let’s be honest, they’re not LeBron or KD or Kawhi or Steph or Jokic. But, they’ve bought into the Spurs system, and they’re winning with mid range and dump passes to the post, and most importantly, defense. They’re a super tenacious team on that end of the floor.

The other night, their win over the Warriors, I think I only saw 2 open shots. Everything was contested. Everything had to be earned. There were many end of the shot clock situations. And that’s what they’ve been doing this whole win streak.

As for their “stars”. DeRozan will never be Kawhi on defense, but he’s having, by far, his best defensive season. He is actually stopping other 2 guards. Good 2 guards. Klay couldn’t do much against him. Jamal Murray struggled. PG had a tough time. This was due to DeRozan’s defense. The same can be said for Aldridge. He’s making life miserable for other big men. So is Jakob Poeltl in his limited minutes. Patty Mills is being a pest. Even Derrick White is showing flashes on the defensive end. And while this may sound like I’m saying they’re winning ugly, they’re not. Their defense has been exceptional, and so has the offense. Aldridge and DeRozan are crushing the mid range. White is scoring from almost everywhere. Mills is shooting the three at a solid clip. They’re just doing it all.

While I enjoy the players, I have to say, I feel like a lot of this success is due to Gregg Popovich. He is only furthering my belief that he’s the best NBA coach ever. I mean, a lot of respected journalists said that this was going to be the year that the Spurs missed out on the playoffs, especially after losing Dejounte Murray prior to the year. They figured they wouldn’t be able to compete in the West. They said they had no stars, which I agree with. But, I picked them to make the playoffs because of Poppovich. He’s amazing. He knows how to adjust. He knows how to squeeze every ounce of talent out of his players. He rules.

Where we sit right now, after this streak, the Spurs are 42-29, good enough for 5th in the West, with a good chance at the 4 seed if they close strong. I figured they’d be a playoff team, winning 45-48 games. But, the way they’re going now, I don’t think 50 wins is out of the question. My hat is off to the Spurs. DeRozan, Aldridge, White, Mills, the whole roster for that matter, and mainly Gregg Popovich are proving the Spurs still matter, and they will still give opponents fits. What a team.

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 Biggest Snubs of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Yesterday I did my men’s NCAA 2019 tournament picks. Today, I want to talk about 4 teams I think got snubbed, and who I would have them replace in the tourney.

First things first, I’m not one of these weirdos that thinks Indiana and Texas should be in the tourney. Both are barely .500. In fact, Texas is exactly .500 at 16-16, and Indiana is only one game better, at 17-15. I don’t care how many “quad 1” wins they have, or what “ quality” losses they have. Those records are not even close to good enough for an at large bid. Smaller schools are left out without a blink, and they can have a record of 30-2. But, if they don’t win their conference tournament, they’re all but forgotten about. Just because Texas and Indiana are “blue bloods” doesn’t guarantee a spot in the big dance. Anyone who calls either of those schools a snub are insane. With that being said, I do have 4 teams, 3 from major conferences, that I think got absolutely overlooked.

I’ll start with my mid major. How UNC Greensboro got left out is beside me. My only logical guess is what I stated before about a smaller school. They finished the year at 28-6, Michigan and Duke and UNC all have the same or similar records. But, they didn’t win their conference tournament, and they’re left to play in the NIT. That’s unacceptable. For me there’s an easy replacement, and it has nothing to do with my hatred for this school. How the University of Ohio State got an at large bid with a 19-14 record and a first round exit from the Big Ten tournament is baffling. I saw them play a ton, and they’re not very good. Again, this has nothing to do with my dislike for them. I’m friends with fans of them, and they don’t think they belong in the big dance. They struggled all year. They have no stars. They have a no name coach. Yet they get an at large bid as an 11 seed. UNC Greensboro would have been a much better pick in that spot, and they would have given Iowa State a much tougher game.

Now for the big dogs. I’m a bit perturbed that Georgetown didn’t get in. I know the Big East isn’t what it used to be, but they deserve a spot over a team like Baylor. Both are 19-13, in major conferences, but Georgetown would bring way more viewers than Baylor. First of all, Baylor’s sport programs all should be under investigation for many different charges. Second, Georgetown has super dunker Matt McClung and NBA hall of famer Patrick Ewing at head coach. I’d much rather see them than Baylor. I feel like Baylor iss getting at large bids because they used to be relevant. They’re not anymore. Let’s get Georgetown back to being a perennial tourney team as long as Patrick Ewing is their head coach. It would also be dope as hell to see them face Syracuse, an old Big East foe, in the first round.

My third snub comes from ESPN’s favorite conference, the ACC. Clemson should be there. They did enough to earn an at large bid. They are a much better 19 win team than Florida. The fact that Florida is in based on one lucky win, a buzzer beater three over LSU in the SEC tournament, is laughable. Florida is not good. Clemson is a much tougher, better coached and more disciplined team than Florida. And even though they’re 19-13, they were a consistent tough out for all the big time ACC teams. They at least would put up a fight. I mean, Nevada is going to smash Florida. I think they’d also beat Clemson, but I think it would be a much closer game. Florida shouldn’t be there. They got Clemson’s spot, and they got it unfairly.

Finally, my last snub is TCU. I know they had a rough finish to the season, and I hoped they would have done better in the Big 12 tournament than they did. But, they’re a much more deserving 20-13 team than Louisville. After blowing they big lead against Duke, Louisville was never the same. They struggled. They finished the year poorly. They bowed out early in the ACC tourney. But, since they’re an ACC team, which the committee loves, they were chosen over TCU because they’re a Big 12 team. That’s dumb. Louisville might win their first game, Minnesota is also a questionable tourney team, but TCU would have easily beat them. Hell, they could’ve beaten both those teams. They should have been given Louisville’s spot.

UNC Greensboro, Georgetown, Clemson and TCU are my biggest snubs. I would have put them in for sure. Now, they have to settle for the NIT. That’s a bummer.

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 Seedsing 2019 Preview of the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament

My son is on spring break this week, and we are on a family vacation. But, I still wanted to do shorter blogs than I normally do for the week. Kind of my version of quick hit pop culture/sports for the week. Today I want to do my Final Four picks, and my title winner since the brackets came out yesterday.

I do want to say, the committee is clearly in love with the ACC, and they HATE the Big Ten. They made that abundantly clear. I loathe MSU, but they earned a one seed. And why does Wisconsin have to travel so far for a round one game? And if Michigan wins in round one, they most likely have to match up with Nevada, who was a preseason top 5 team, and are led by 2 great seniors. The ACC seemingly got an easy path to get at least 2 of their one seeds in the Final Four. It’s absurd. It’s like the SEC and football. ESPN has such a crush on that conference, and clearly the committee does too.

Anyway, with all that being said, in the East I have Duke. They’re hot right now, Zion Williamson is back, they get every single call, and the powers that be want, and need, them in the Final Four. Their toughest game will be MSU in the Elite Eight, but Duke is the better team, and MSU won’t have Big Ten officials helping them out. I do like LSU in the East as well. They could spoil.

In the West I have Texas Tech. Gonzaga should be the easy pick, but they’ve not lived up to the one seed the couple times they’ve earned it. They also lost an easy game to close the season to Saint Mary’s. Michigan is great. They play excellent defense. But, they have a match up with Nevada looming, and their offense has been wildly inconsistent all year. I love my team, but I don’t trust them. Murray State should make a Sweet Sixteen run. And Ja Morant Will finally be on a big stage. But Texas Tech is the most complete team. They do all the things needed to win games. They will come out of the West.

In the South I have Virginia, and I have them rolling there. They’re out to prove that last year was a fluke, and that they’re one of the best teams in the country. Sure, Tennessee could be trouble, maybe Purdue, maybe even Villanova. But, all those teams have flaws that Virginia can, and will, expose. As I said, they’re on a mission.

In the Midwest I’m taking my biggest risk. I despise their coach, and I’m sure they will be tapped in the FBI case, but Auburn might be the hottest team entering the tournament. They rolled Tennessee in the SEC tournament championship game. They pretty much rolled all the way through. I know they’re one of the dreaded 5 seed facing a 12, but one or 2 5’s win their first round game. I say they do, and they make a run to the Final Four. UNC, my preseason champ pick, looks vulnerable right now. KU is hurt and not very good and is going to get tapped in the FBI thing. Kentucky will find a way to blow an easy game because that is what John Calipari does. And Houston hasn’t really faced any real opponents this year. This is my dark horse region, and I have Auburn winning it.

So, that makes my Final Four Duke, Texas Tech, Virginia and Auburn. Virginia will crush Auburn, ending their magical run. And as much as everyone will want to see Duke face them a third time, I actually have Texas Tech beating them. As I said at the top, they’re the most complete team in the tourney.

That gives us a rock fight in the title, Virginia versus Texas Tech. I have Virginia, like I keep saying, rolling to a title. They’re on a mission, and I feel like they will do it with ease. This title will also lead to DeAndre Hunter being named Most Outstanding Player, and make his draft stock soar.

There you have it, my 2019 men’s NCAA tournament prediction. Now let’s bust some brackets.

Ty

Another view - I am all in on the Big 10. Michigan State, Michigan, and Purdue all make the final four. The one outsider will be North Carolina who will put it all together at the end of the year. UNC will beat Purdue, and Michigan will finally get by MSU. Unfortunately I have UNC winning the title and Michigan being the runner up once again.

I will not pick Duke.

RD

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. RD is the Head Editor and hates Duke but loves Zion Williamson.

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The Utah Jazz Have a Fan Problem

What in the hell is happening in Utah.

In the past week the fans of the basketball team, that go to games, for them banned for life for racial epitaphs spewed in Russell Westbrook's direction. This is highly disturbing to me, and a whole lot of other people. I mean, I am a rabid fan of all things University of Michigan, but I have never wished harm or said unthinkable things to their rivals. I have never been driven to racism because of an outcome of a game. I have never acted so egregiously that I have had to remove myself, or been removed from a stadium, or even watching in the comfort of my own home. So, why do these 2 assholes in the recent news think it was okay to do what they did.

The first incident I heard about was all stemmed around Westbrook being filmed saying that he would mess up the dude and his wife. I was taken aback, but then I heard the whole story. All I knew at first was what Westbrook said, and the interview with this racist ass where he played the victim. Only after reading the full story did I know that this moron was hurling racial epitaphs and that he told Westbrook to "get on your knees like you're used to". That is appalling. That is unsettling. It is frightening to hear that some people think it is okay to say something like that. It is simply wrong. No one deserves to be talked to in that manner, especially in the 21st century. After reading this, then hearing it for myself, I was fully on Westbrook's side. I have zero problem with what he said to this man and his wife, or whoever that lady was with him. In fact, I wish he took it further. Had this turned into a "Malice at the Palace" type situation, I would have fully understood. Just because Westbrook is a pro, who's team happened to be handing it to the Jazz that night, that doesn't give you the right to say whatever pops into your tiny little head. To sit that close to the players is a privilege, and this jerk totally deserves his lifetime ban for what he said.

The NBA really needs to look into player safety a bit more. I say that because after this story came out, more reports came out of fans doing similar things, or putting their hands on players. That is not cool at all. That is dangerous. Players have come out in big time support of Westbrook since the incident, as expected. And they have all said pretty much the same thing I am saying today. They stand with Westbrook. They want more protection. They want the fans that sit courtside, right next to the opposition's bench, to follow some kind of rules or conduct code. Even Donovan Mitchell, a Jazz player, has come out and said how wrong this whole thing is, and how it doesn't, or at the very least, shouldn't, portray the entire fan base.

Well, I just saw today that another Jazz fan got a lifetime ban, calling Russell Westbrook "boy", in last year's  playoffs. Two things, why do they hate Westbrook so much, and maybe this is what the majority of Utah's fan base is. Maybe they are a bunch of racist assholes. Maybe they don't care at all about a human being's feelings, and they think they are entitled to say whatever they want because they have fancy seats. The fact that is has happened twice in the past calendar year is not a one time thing, it is a trend, and a trend that might have been started in the early 90's. And to aim it at Westbrook, I just don't get it. Sure, he can be a divisive player, but the dude plays with so much heart and grit and gives it all he can every night, I respect the hell out of him. While you may not like him, you should at least respect him. You shouldn't be yelling racist nonsense at him.

I was so high on the Jazz before the season started. But, after hearing all this stuff recently about their fans has made me happy that they aren't as good as I thought they might be. And I know that the players have nothing to do with the fans. I do not wish them ill will. I'm just happy that their punk ass fans are going to see their beloved team get beat in the first round of the playoffs. The asshole fans deserve this. They stink, and I hope more of these racist idiots get lifelong bans. This is disgusting and disturbing. I totally side with Westbrook on this. He is right, the Jazz fans are very, very wrong.

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 Odell Beckham Jr Trade is Truly a Game Changer

Well, Odell Beckham is now a member of the Cleveland Browns.

This is stunning to me. I was shocked when I read about the trade last night after I got home from dinner. I kept saying to my wife, what happened. I simply could not believe it. And, it has nothing to do with the fact that Beckham got traded. It has everything to due with the timing and the team. I mean, he just signed an extension with the Giants last year. They went out and drafted Saquon Barkley to pair with Beckham. They signed some O lineman to try and help out Eli. He is so washed by the way. Even Sterling Shepard was starting to step up as an okay number 2 option on that team. Oh, and they drafted that monster tight end from Mississippi State last year. I really thought they were starting to build around him. They were trying to get more weapons so he wouldn't be the only option. All they really needed, at least to be competitive, is a real QB. They could have drafted one this year, had they kept Beckham.

This is a real stunner. If I were guys like Shepard, and definitely Barkley, I would be so very frustrated today. They are going to have to pick up the slack, and then some. And they already are overusing Barkley. Think how much more work he is going to get next season. I just am baffled that they chose Eli over Beckham. Odell Beckham is younger, better and more fun to play the game with. As I said, Eli is washed, the playoff appearances are a thing of the past and he is slower than his older brother. What a dumb decision by the front office.

On the flip side, it looks like the Browns are going for it. At least on paper. I'm not a believer in Baker Mayfield. He reminds me far too much of Robert Griffin. Everyone thought after his rookie year he was going to usher in a new era of the NFL QB. Well, that didn't happen. I feel that Mayfield is now being looked at as the new hot QB in the NFL. But, when you have guys like David Njoku and Jarvis Landry and Nick Chubb, and now Beckham, he has far too many weapons to have a drop off like Griffin did. I feel like I could sling it around for 3,000 yards and hand it off 20-25 times a game and do well with these guys. The Browns also closed the 2018 season solid, and they are looking to build on that for this year. The offense, again, on paper, looks incredibly lethal. They could put up a ton of points. They should be the favorite in their division, and one of the favorites, right now, to knock off the Patriots in the AFC. I'm serious.

The Browns did have to give up a first and third rounder, and Jabrill Peppers, who seems like he is starting to figure out the NFL. I think he may be just as happy as Beckham, because he is back near his hometown. So the Browns did have to give up 2 early picks, and a starter. But, they got one of the best receivers in the game. Beckham is so good at taking slant routes 70 yards to the house. He also has exceptional hands. He is also a matchup nightmare. While he and Landry may be a bit undersized, they can still make plays.

The fact that this is what all the NFL shows and podcasts are leading off with today prove how crazy and spectacular this deal is. I mean. LeVeon Bell signed with the Jets, and I could care less. My Packers signed a ton of new starters, but all I can think about is this Beckham trade. Terrell Suggs is no longer a Raven, but that doesn't matter. This was a big time trade. This made waves. This changes the complexion of the entire AFC. And dare I say, this makes the Browns legit. I mean, WOW. What a move and what a deal.

This is stunning.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He can not think of any trade that would be more of stunner than this. I guess we could always see Jon Gruden trade away newly acquired Antonio Brown for some magic beans. It is a possibility.

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The Why's of the Antonio Brown Trade

Antonio Brown has been traded. This was going to happen, and even when it seemed like it happened, the whole Buffalo thing, it only took 2 more days for it to actually happen. Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a couple of later round draft picks. And as of a report today, he is going to get a decent raise. All of this leaves me with a good amount of questions.

I think Brown is great. I need to state that up front. He has good hands, gets yards, scores TD and is a matchup nightmare from time to time. But, he is 31 years old. He is now on a team that is being quarterbacked by Derek Carr. He is on a team that really has no other offensive threats. He is on a team coached by Jon Gruden. He is on a team that is about to move to Las Vegas. And he has had one of the weirdest and self inflating off seasons that I can remember. I haven't seen anything like this since Terrell Owens did a workout in his front yard for reporters when he wanted out of Philadelphia. How did that work out for him? Owens was once great, but that was the downfall. That signaled the end of his NFL career.

I simply cannot help but see almost the exact same thing happening for Brown, but on a much worse team. The Raiders were just downright awful last year. The best player they had was Marshawn Lynch, and they didn't feed him the ball enough, and then he got hurt. Also, their coach thought it would be a brilliant move to trade Khalil Mack before the season, then Amari Cooper during the season. Then, this offseason, they hired Mike Mayock, a TV analyst, as their new GM. They also have had a very hard time finding a place to play this upcoming season.

Also, I cannot overstate the fact that Derek Carr is their god damn QB. Look, I loathe Ben Roesthilberger as much as anyone can. He is a scumbag, a diva, a sexual predator, overrated, slow and super old. I want him to go away. But, he is better than Carr. Hell, Josh Allen, the Bills QB, has more potential than Carr. In fact, the other teams named, the 49ers and Packers, to the best of my knowledge, have way, way better QB's than Carr. Yet, after the trade, Brown seemed thrilled to be playing with Carr. He said, and I quote, "it is like love at first sight". What the hell is he talking about.

Now add on the fact that Jon Gruden is the coach. He still thinks it is the early 2000's, and you win with defense and ball control. Also, he's insane. How is Brown going to fit in with that team. And he doesn't really have much help on offense as well. I hope Lynch will be back, I adore him, but he is old too, and got hurt too much last year. Jordy Nelson is trash. Jared Cook is going to sign elsewhere. The O line is not great. And again, Derek freaking Carr is the QB. Sure, I have heard that they covet Kyler Murray, but is he really the answer. He is better than Carr, but he will be a rookie that would get thrown straight into the fire, and even the best QB's in NFL history struggled mightily in their rookie years. Murray is going to struggle too. Just like Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen and pretty much every other rookie QB in the history of the league.

Which brings me to my final point. Brown is 31 years old. While that is not old in real life, that is ancient in the NFL. The NFL is a cold and brutal business, and when you get too "old", they kick you to the curb without thinking twice. I fear, for Brown, this move to the Raiders is going to be his swam song into oblivion. Sure, it will be talked about a ton this offseason, and even when the season starts. But, when the Raiders start to play poorly, which should be week one by my calculations, Brown and Carr and whatever rookies they take and Gruden and Mayock will all be forgotten.

While this move is flashy now, I just see it being all for naught. Brown got what he wanted, but I just don't think it will be worth it in the long run. Oh well, lets see how this all plays out, but I have to say, I think it will be forgotten by week 10, at the very latest.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He wants to remind everyone once again that the Raiders are quarterbacked by Derek FREAKING Carr. Do you all understand now?

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Who is Really to Blame for the Lakers Mess?

The other night LeBron James passed Michael Jordan on the all time NBA scoring list. Good for him. This is a humongous achievement. James has earned it. He is one of the greats, no questions asked. But, when my watch and phone kept popping off about this, I naturally assumed that the Lakers had won their game against the Nuggets, and maybe they were actually going to make that push to get the 8th seed in the West.

That was not the case.

While all ESPN and Bleacher Report could talk about was LeBron's achievement, the Lakers were in the midst of losing by almost 20, and dropping their third straight game, and dropping 6 games below .500. They have been in a freefall since LeBron "activated playoff mode". They are very far out from the 8 seed now, with only 17 games left. They need so much help, and if they were to get the 8 seed, they would get swept out of the first round, and possibly cripple their chance to get AD this summer.

But, all of this preamble is just to say that there is a lot of blame to go around the whole Lakers organization for how poorly this season has played out. But, the most blame belongs to 4 people. We have LeBron, Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss. Jeanie Buss is trying to play it off like she had nothing to do with the players they signed, saying that management is to solely blame. Well, you are the owner. You hired these 2 guys to run the team. You gave them the keys to the car. You have to take some of the blame. Some of this falls in your lap. You cannot just get off scott free because you are only the owner. Some of the decisions you have made lately have hurt this franchise.

Now, lets look at why I think Pelinka and Johnson are to blame. These 2 had zero history in running a basketball team. They have never had this type of power. Magic is a hall of fame player, a bad coach and a horrible talk show host. What he did best was play basketball. That doesn't mean he can run a team. He proved that with his piss poor coaching, and now he is proving that with how he signs players. And all of the tampering, which I really don't care that much about, he has got to stop being so blatant about it. Don't go on talk shows and wink when talking about soon to be free agents. Don't go on ESPN and openly pine for AD. Just stop. With Pelinka, he was good at being a sub with the Fab Five at Michigan. He was even better as an agent. But, again with the picking of players, he has been atrocious. Why did he think it was cool to go out and sign all these odd vets to one year deals? Did he really think this would work? Did he think LeBron could literally drag a group of guys 20 and under, and washed up vets to the playoffs in the West? Come on man. That is preposterous. That is nonsense. I mean, Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, Michale Beaseley and Rajon Rondo were your answers to surround LeBron with? That is so stupid. They should have just kept Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell. They would be so much better off with the young guys and LeBron. They would have been more fun.

Finally, we have LeBron. I think he deserves the least blame, but he still deserves some simply for the whole handling of the AD trade saga. He let his buddy Rich Paul try to force 2 teams hand, and it backfired in hilarious fashion. LeBron, who has always been a GM and player wherever he has played, also made it so widely known how much he yearned to play with AD. I'm positive he told Magic and Pelinka to offer the farm. He didn't want to have happen happen. He didn't want Rich Paul to fail. He didn't want to fail, and he wanted to get AD. Well, the Pelicans didn't flinch, and it all blew up in their face. Also, LeBron is still hurt, looks disengaged, doesn't try on defense and only seems to expend any effort on offense. He has packed it in. He has suffered the longest injury of his career, and he has let his effect his play. He also didn't get what he wanted at the deadline, and he has openly pouted. All of this has led to the team he is supposed to be leading having another bad year.

The Lakers are going to miss the playoffs. They are going to fire the head coach. They are going to lose a ton of young talent, and they are going to have to start all over again, letting 2 guys that have no idea what they are doing, an owner that doesn't want to take any heat and a 35 year old star player running the team. This will only get worse before it gets better. I don't even think AD will help much, if they get him this summer. I didn't like this move for LeBron from a basketball standpoint, and, at least this season, is making me look right.

While I enjoy seeing the Lakers struggle, I don't like seeing how bad they have been lately. They are a mess, and there is a good amount of blame to be spread out amongst the 4 people I mentioned. I'm very curious to see what they do this summer, and since they won't be making the playoffs, the summer will be here much sooner than LeBron is used to. That is weird.

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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Drew Magary has Always Been Good. This Week He is Great.

Here is your medal Mr Magary

Today I want to throw some love to one of my personal favorite writers, Deadspin and GQ's Drew Magary. This past week, if fact in the past two days, I have read two of his articles that both speak so loudly to me, and both for totally different reasons. These pieces are truly unique to Magary's style, and I have not been able to stop thinking about either of them.

The first is one he wrote for The Takeout, where he calls out the "mayonnaise bullies". I am a person who doesn't like mayo, and I have never, ever heard the end of it. Everyone always tries to get me to try different kinds, mayo with added flavors, homemade mayo, pretty much any type of mayonnaise. Now, I am not opposed to eating tuna fish or potato salad, but I have my limits. But, I am a person that prefers a mustard or vinegar base. When it comes to things like coleslaw, give me vinegar. And when it comes to potato salad or tuna, I actually prefer a mustard base, preferably, a spicy mustard. Magary touches on the bullying in his piece so perfectly. He talks about people looking at him like he's an alien when he tells them he doesn't like any form of mayo. He talks about how he gets almost yelled at for his dislike. But he then goes into why he doesn't like it. He perfectly explains his distaste for thing, especially at a barbecue, that seem to need mayo. He talks about how restaurants are almost pushers with their need to put mayo on things. One certain aspect he brought up that made me scream, "YES", while reading, was the fact that some places don't even ask, they just put it on sandwiches and burgers. That is so mean and nasty. It is such an unexpected and unwanted surprise when getting something you don't expect to have mayo on it covered in mayo. I cannot get the Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich anymore because of the inordinate amount of mayo they put on it. Even when I ask for no mayo, there seems to be a light schmear of it regardless. It is infuriating. But, it is nice to know that Magary feels the same way I do, and he put it out there for a ton of people to read. I love it, and I agreed with pretty much everything he wrote in that piece.

The recent article Magary wrote for Deadspin spoke to me in a totally different way, but was my push to write about him today. Today he called out Barstool Sports. For the record, I have spent zero seconds on Barstool Sports, by choice, but from what I have gleaned since it was formed, it is a blog spot for the annoying Boston fan base. Oh, and they also like to steal material from people that actually worked hard to create it, only for it to be stolen by some hacks. I have also heard about their culture of cyber bullying, and how poorly they treat women. This is the same company that offered a lady a 50 dollar gift card after stealing her material. That is ridiculous. But, for Magary to go out and call them out, and fully expect to get blowback from their frat boy douche bag fan base, I applaud him. The fans of Barstool Sorts are meatheads on Rob Gronkowski's level. They are younger versions of Bill Simmons. They are the type of idiots that voted for this current government. They are mean and nasty and hide behind screen names. I loathe Barstool Sports. So does Magary. He called them out so perfectly. He talked about all their problems since they were formed. He talks about the cyber bullying, even citing certain incidents. He put up videos of the horrific Portnoy, the guy that started the site, basically shaming anyone for saying he was stealing from them. Barstool Sports is for morons, and Magary made that very clearly known. They don't know anything about sports, outside of Boston. They stink and they are rude. I liked this article so much because he really did put himself out there to be ridiculed, but he could care less, which will only further upset the morons that will say mean things to him. He wrote the piece with no fear, and again, I felt like applauding him after reading it. It is a truly great piece.

Drew Magary is a great writer, who isn't afraid to take chances and shake things up, and I respect the hell out of that. I, obviously, highly recommend these 2 pieces. But, beyond that, I recommend everything Magary writes. The dude rules and I cannot wait to read what he writes next.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He may hate mayo, but sriracha, Ty puts that stuff on everything. It is the bomb.

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Johnny Manziel is a Waste of Our Time

Not to be wasted

Johnny Manziel was recently released from his CFL team, the Montreal Alouttes. This should not be surprising to anyone reading this. This kid clearly peaked in college. And, while he peaked with a Heisman trophy, I was wondering aloud to my dad earlier today, has there been a bigger waste of supposed talent in the NFL? I know about guys like Jamarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf, Steve Etmann, Tony Mandarich, the list could go on and on. But, these guys never won the Heisman. Some played in major bowl games, but never won the title. Some played in other big games, but they were often bested.

Manziel on the other hand was a blur when he was a sophomore at Texas A&M. I mean, I never liked him, but the dude was a very good read option QB. He made plays. He beat Alabama, and he was the youngest Heisman winner ever. He then tumbled in the NFL draft, due to questions about his off field activities, and landed in Cleveland.

This was when it all started to go downhill. He struggled to start over career backups. His teammates didn't seem to care much for him. His coaches seemed to have little faith in him. And his demons, alcoholism and never being told no, really started to creep up. When he did play, he was highly ineffective. He was too small to see over the line. He threw too many errant passes, many resulting in interceptions. He wasn't faster than most D lineman. And he just didn't seem to care about the game. He didn't put in the hours. He would rather party than hone his skills and make himself a better player. Again, this goes to his never being told no, and always being told that he was the best. He never had to struggle, until it was too late. At one point it seemed like he was, at least on the surface, trying to get help. But, he had already been cut by the Browns, and no other NFL wanted to touch him, for good reason. He was damaged goods, had bad off field problems and his play was lackluster.

After failing to be signed by any other NFL team, he spiraled again. I felt absolutely no sympathy for him. This was his second chance, and he totally blew it because he would rather drink alcohol and go to clubs. He did this all to himself. He made himself an unsignable free agent. His family tried to help, but he didn't even listen to them. Manziel is a selfish punk who never really learned his lesson, and he was finally paying for it.

Yet another chance came his way,. A few years back, the CFL wanted to give him a shot, what seemed to be his last. And, just like his rookie season in the NFL, he was bad. I believe in his first CFL game he threw 4 picks. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes. He only saw the field in blowouts. Watching him in the CFL was almost sad. Almost. This just further proved that he was never really an NFL caliber player. He was now in the CFL getting beat out by guys that were never even a thought as a NFL draft pick. And then he went and did something, it has not been confirmed exactly what, that not only voided his contract with the Alouttes, but with the entire CFL. He cannot play for a single team in that league. I mean, this dude won a Heisman, and he threw it all away when the going got tough for him. He finally had to prove himself, and instead, he just did something else that made him get cut. He shot himself in the foot again. He couldn't handle the fact that he is not as good as he thought.

Now, he is reaching out to the AAF, a league I do not think is viable, just to try and get a workout. That is rough. He has fallen so hard, so fast and I couldn't care less. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, never had to work hard until he was playing the game with guys better than him, and when that got too hard, he finds ways to get himself cut, but blame it on someone else.

Johnny Manziel is a waste of talent. He is a waste of a roster spot. And when he doesn't make an AAF team I will feel exactly nothing for him. Hell, I wouldn't even be surprised if he doesn't make it in the XFL. Johnny Manziel is now a footnote, and it is just going to get worse for him from here on out as long as he continues to screw up and try to play semi pro football. Johnny Manziel is a joke.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He used ot think of Johnny Clipboard being equivilant to a one hot wonder in music. Then he remembered that those musicians actually had a hit, and worked damn hard to get it.

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Why Bryce Harper? Why?

The Bryce Harper saga is finally over. He’s going to the Phillies for the richest contract in the history of sports, I believe. He’s getting 330 million dollars over 13 years, with no opt out clause for the entirety of the contract. That’s insane. All of what I just wrote is nuts. That’s so much money to play a game. That is such a long time, especially nowadays, to stay in one city. And the fact he has no opt out clause, he can only be traded if the Phillies decide they want to trade him. It’s all wild.

On a personal note, I don’t think Harper necessarily deserves this contract. He is a good baseball player. I’d even say he’s a star. But, for a guy that doesn’t watch a ton of baseball, I’d take guys like Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, Giancarlo Stanton and, most pitchers, before I’d give this contract to Harper. Yes, he’s won an MVP, and he has a cannon arm, but what else does he offer? He’s never been out of the first round of the playoffs. He gets injured a ton. He can be a headache. He’s been choked by a teammate. He held a few teams hostage during negotiations. It all seems a bit too much for him.

Then we have the Phillies. Why did they do this? Is he really their ticket back to contention? Is he the answer to all their problems? Is he really going to win over the fans instantly? I really don’t think so. Besides Jake Arrieta and now Harper, I can’t name a single player on their team. Also, isn’t their division about to be owned by Atlanta. I’ve heard they’re super young, and they were in the playoffs last year. I don’t see them going anywhere. I’m sure he will help their lineup a bit, but I don’t even think he’s a career .300 hitter. I know the potential is there, but he hasn’t lived up to it yet, and I’m counting his MVP year. I think the fans are happy now, but the moment he goes into a slump, or gets hurt, both are very likely, they will turn. I mean, the fans have thrown batteries at opposing players, and people dressed like Santa. They’re ruthless. He’s had it fairly easy in D.C. That will not be the same in Philadelphia. This whole thing is very confounding to me.

I feel like Harper had better options from better teams. I’ve read about the other offers, from the Giants, Dodgers and Nationals. All those teams, except the Nationals, have won or have been to the World Series recently. To me, Harper and his agent took this deal strictly based on money. Harper wanted to be the highest paid player. Scott Boras, his agent, wants a cut of that money. This was all about cash. This wasn’t going to a better team choice, it wasn’t about staying in the NL, it had nothing to do with being close to his hometown of Las Vegas. This was strictly due to money. And that’s fine. But, I don’t want Harper to say in his press conference that he’s there to win titles. He’s not.

To close this out, by the time his contract is up, my son will be 20 and in college. My daughter will be 16 and driving, and my wife and I will be one year away from being 50. This is bizarre and nuts in every possible way. It’s great he got all this money, I just don’t think it’s worth it for him or the Phillies. Especially in years 6-13. This is wild.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is holding SeedSing up on contract negotiations because he is waiting for more years from another blog. Do you hear that Michigan Football blogs, Ty is listening.

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Who is Really to Blame for the Boston Celtics Mess?

The Boston Celtics clearly have a problem right now. There is something going on with the chemistry. The guys on the team don't seem to really like one another. It seems as if Jayson Tatum is all but ready to be traded this summer. Kyrie Irving looks fed up. It just seems like a real mess. That being said, they are still in the thick of the playoff race, with, most likely, home court advantage in the first round. But, while all these other guys are taking heat, especially Irving, I want to pose a question.

That question, why is this all Kyrie's fault? What about Brad Stevens, and the Boston sports fan base's white hope, Gordon Hayward? Why do they never, ever seem to get any of the blame? The people that defend Hayward may say the typical stuff, he's coming off a gruesome injury, he needs time, and no one has come back the very next season after a brutal ankle injury like the one he suffered. I will give you all of that. But, he is taking away critical minutes from younger guys that are much better than him, and proved that in last season's playoffs. Jaylen Brown, Tatum, even a guy like Terry Rozier, played lights out during their run to the conference finals last year. This season though, their minutes have dipped because the coaching staff feels like they need to work Hayward back because they seem to think he will be integral to them in the playoffs. He won't. He is still hurt, and he is playing scared. He doesn't attack like he did before the injury. He isn't as good a shooter as he was in Utah. He doesn't take games over. He looks like he is playing scared. And even when he has a "good" game, it is nothing special. I didn't think he would be the "answer" they were looking for when they maxed him out 2 years ago, and that was before the injury. He just isn't the same guy, and he is not letting younger, stronger and better players get the minutes they rightfully earned last season. If I were Brown, Tatum and even a guy like Semi Ojeleye, I'd be pissed that Gordon Hayward was taking crucial playing time away from me. He isn't washed yet, but he is starting to look like he may never be the same player he was while in Utah. He, right now, is playing scared. I personally think it is hilarious because dumbass Boston fans were thinking they were getting the next Larry Bird. Hayward isn't even the 6th or 7th best guy on that team.

This leads me to Brad Stevens. Stevens up to this point has earned a pass. He coached this team up real well since he has been there. He got an influx of talent last year, lost guys to injuries and still made the conference finals. But this was supposed to be the year that he finally started to take over the East. LeBron is gone, Hayward was coming back from injury and Kyrie was back to full health. He also had all that young talent gain meaningful playing time because they were thrust into it last year, and they were the presumed top team in the East. Even after Toronto got Kawhi in a trade everyone said the Celtics were better. Even with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons coming into the year at full health, the Celtics were considered the better team. Even with Milwaukee getting a new head coach, and the continued growth of Giannis, Boston was still considered the best team. All of that was due to what Stevens had done up to that point.

Well, and I believe I even questioned this going into the season, we have gotten to see how he coaches a team that have a super star, and a supposed super star. He has had it rough. His lineups are odd and kind of crazy. He doesn't seem to know how to stagger the minutes. He is trying way too hard to insert Hayward into the lineup. Terry Rozier is barely seeing the court. Marcus Smart was only recently put into the starting lineup, and he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. It shouldn't take a top tier coach that long to realize that. Jaylen Brown has regressed due to minutes being cut. And like I said at the top, Tatum seems all but ready to leave, and that kid is on his way to becoming a star. I attribute all of this to Brad Stevens. If he wants to be mentioned in the same breath as guys like Greg Poppovich or Steve Kerr or Mike Budeholzer or Nick Nurse or even Mike Malone, he needs to learn how to coach a team with multiple super stars. That is how you win in the modern NBA, and he is struggling mightily with that right now. Tatum wants out. Irving definitely wants out. And I wouldn't be surprised if guys like Al Horford and Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier leave in the offseason.

Every sports journalist talks about, "what happens if one of the top 4 teams in the East loses in the first round, what happens to them then", and I can only think of that happening to the Celtics. It would bring me great joy to see them get bounced early, and then to see what happens. But, while Kyrie is taking the brunt of the criticism, I feel like that is a bit unfair to him. He has won a title, been to two other finals and hit one of, if not the, biggest shots in NBA history. Gordon Hayward has never been out of the second round, and Brad Stevens, while making one conference finals, has never been put under the microscope like he is getting right now.

The blame needs to be spread out around that whole team, and Hayward and Stevens should be seeing the most right now, in my opinion.

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 NBA has a Superstar Sensitivity Problem

Recently, while listening to all the NBA podcasts I do, I have found myself being a bit irritated at how sensitive some star players in the league have become over the past decade. Now, I have to say at the top, I have no ill will for these guys wanting to go win titles, get paid and have fun playing the game. While I may not like "super teams", and I think the money is absurdly high among all professional sports, again, I have no problem with these guys doing what they want to do. They're human and allowed to lead the lives they want to live. But, I also think they should know, or at the very least expect, that they are going to be in the spotlight, and that a good amount of people are going to root against them for doing such things, and then going to the media, or their front office, to complain or demand a trade.

This irritation for me it all started with the Kristaps Porzingis trade. When it happened I was flummoxed. I wrote about it. I trashed the Knicks. But, about a week after the trade stories started to come out that Porzingis went to the front office and griped about the direction of the team. He complained that he had no help. Okay, fine, but have you played all year Porzingis? In fact, I don't think you've played a game in almost 2 years. So, while you want to be on a competitive team, that needs to start with you actually playing. You can moan and groan all you want, but you aren't even playing. In fact, I'd like to see you go a full season without getting hurt just once. Then, if you do that,, and lead a team to a conference finals, go ahead and complain all you want. Until then, don't yearn for things when you haven't really proved anything yet.

Then the Anthony Davis trade demand came out. I have been highly critical of this. This was done all wrong. From Davis' demand while still under contract for the rest of this season and all of next season, to Rich Paul leaking it to Adrian Wojnaworski before Davis could tell the Pelicans front office, to the handling of the Lakers offer, it has been a cluster. This has been a disaster all around. A GM lost his job over this. Davis, who up until now was beloved, is almost becoming a villain. When he did come back from his "injury", the Pelicans fans booed him. Then he decided to leave a game after trying to block a shot, and left the building, with Rich Paul. Now, he is going to be on LeBron's show, "The Shop", and he is also talking about his love for all things LA. He is handling this awfully. He is going to get traded to some team not in LA, other teams can offer so much more for the Pelicans future, and I blame it partially on him. He is talking to media, but saying stuff like, "all 29 teams are on my list", or, "I just want to win". Sure, that may sound nice, but the "29 teams" thing is a slap in New Orleans face, and the winning is nonsense. He wants to be in LA, and he wants to play with LeBron. If he just came out and said that, I would respect him so much more. But no, he is trying to be coy.

Then we have KD's endless fight with the media and journalists. Prior to the All Star break he chided a journalist who simply asked him about his impending free agency and New York. A very simple, non threatening question, right? Well, KD took this way, way too seriously and painted a very broad brush basically saying that all journalists are out to get him. KD needs to calm the hell down. Ever since he left the Thunder to ride on the Warriors coattails, he has become a curmudgeon, and it doesn't fit him. He is a hell of a player, one of the greats, but his whole "heel" turn is off putting. I mean, the journalist was just doing his job. If anyone should understand that it should be a guy like KD. He has changed so much, for the worse, since he signed with Golden State.

Then we have the Kyrie Irving interview yesterday of him chastising another journalist that simply asked him about the video that leaked of him and KD talking in the tunnel during the All Star game. Now, I do think people are making far, far too much of a video of 2 buddies talking, but for Kyrie to say that "you guys are making the league not fun" is a little much. Again, this person is just doing their job. You'd think, just like in KD's case, he would understand that. But nope, he just went off and said some crazy stuff. He is a super star, and the media is going to ask him questions like this. That is how they get people to come to their websites and read their stuff. While you think you may be winning, and knocking that person down a peg, you are actually helping them by going off like that.

Then last night I read a headline that said that James Harden is upset that his peers are critical of the way he plays the game. Newsflash Harden, you are a bore to watch. Again, you are a magnificent scorer, one of the best ever, but the way you do it is a slog. You foul hunt. You slow the game down. You shoot too many free throws, and you gripe to the officials too much. It is so boring to watch. You are my least favorite player to watch, and I know for a fact that I am not alone. A lot of people do not like to watch you play, and that most definitely includes your peers. Get over it. You are great.

It is frustrating to hear these multi millionaire super star players gripe about people calling them out for their sometime childish behavior. I mean, do you think Jordan cared what his peers or journalists said? How about Charles Barkley? Or maybe Hakeem Olajuwon or Shaq? They didn't give a shit. They just went out and played. Hell, there are even current stars that could care less what the media or other pro players say. Look at Russell Westbrook. He could care less what anyone thinks of him. Or Jimmy Butler. I may not like the way he handled his exit from Minnesota, but he never chastised the media for the way they handled it. In fact he did an interview for ESPN and Rachel Nichols on exactly why he wanted out. Joel Embiid doesn't give one shit what the media or Russell Westbrook says about him. Kawhi Leonard just continues to not talk, and that may be the best way to handle all this. And then we have Giannis. Could this kid be any cooler? Could he be more loved? Could he be more fun? Giannis is the best for so many reasons. He loves to play the game, he is a great interview, his teammates and the front office love him, and when questions of his impending free agency in 2021 come up, he takes the Kawhi approach and is silent. These are the dudes I respect. These are the dudes that handle it correctly. 

That is the point of my old man ranting. Some of these young star are far too thin skinned. They need to get over it. We need less Kristaps or KD's and more Kawhi's and Giannis' in the league right now. They know how to deal with all this stuff so much better.

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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It is Time for Zion Williamson to Retire from College Basketball

I, much like most of the country, tuned into the Duke-UNC game last night. I have no rooting interest in either team. In fact, I loathe Duke, and I can give or take UNC. I usually do not care less about this game.

But last night was different.

I tuned in to see Zion Williamson.

I have watched this kid here and there all season long, my longest look being the Virginia game a week or so ago. But last night, like I said, everyone was watching. They took a camera around the arena, and I saw people like Ken Griffey Jr, Spike Lee, and most notably, President Barack Obama. They were all there for the same reason I tuned in I suppose, Zion. This kid is the talk of college basketball. He is a highlight reel. He usually does something spectacular. He is going to be the first pick in the NBA draft when he leaves after this season. He was the reason that the ticket prices were rumored to be in the 5 figures last night. I know there were other 5 star players in this game, but none of them can hold a candle to the supernova that is Zion Williamson.

Then, 33 seconds into the game, he ripped through his shoe and sprained his knee. He did not see the floor after that.

And then Duke proceeded to get housed.

That game was rough for the Blue Devils from the start. They got beat in every single facet. The blowout even furthered my opinion that the Fab Five is a much better group of freshman because when one of them got injured, or in foul trouble, they rallied around each other. Zion being out 33 seconds in, and then Duke getting beat by 16 points, proves that this current Duke team is a one man team, and that man is Zion. They go as he goes, and when he is out, they struggle.

But, more to my point, the NCAA is a travesty, and the NBA needs to fix the whole "one and done" thing. I have despised "one and done" forever, making it very clear here at SeedSing. The NBA needs to do what the MLB does and let these kids get drafted right out of high school, and if they don't get picked, then they have the option to go to college for 2 years before getting back in the draft. As of right now, Zion has a "mild knee sprain", is the best case that Duke and the NBA could have hoped for. But still, he has a knee injury. That is rough, especially for a kid that is playing college basketball for free, while making his school, and his coach, millions upon millions of dollars.

I have heard a lot of people on podcasts and TV today give their take on what they would do if they were Zion Williamson, and I am no different. If I were him, I would not suit up for another game the rest of the season. This has nothing to do with my hatred for Duke, or the fact that I despise "one and done", this has to do with this kid's earning ability at the next level. As I said, he is a supernova, and he is in very, very high demand. He is going to make huge bank when he gets in the league. He is going to sign a major shoe deal. He is going to sell tons of jerseys and he will be a big time get for endorsement deals. But right now, all he is doing is possibly injuring himself and making zero dollars. I'm sure he enjoys playing college ball, and dominating. He is a beast. But now, after what happened last night, I personally think he should just shut it down.

I know it is hard to tell an athlete that they cannot play. But, the NCAA is a viciously flawed company, and the way they are taking advantage of this teenager is gross. Now I don't know if he is going to be a star. He could be the next Shawn Kemp or Charles Barkley, or he could be the next Sam Bowie. He is a very big dude, both in height and weight, and knee injuries are tough to get back from. So why risk further injury playing basketball for free. I talked to my dad and told him that I am sure Zion is being taken care of someway, but his big time, for real payday, is coming, and coming soon. I just don't want this kid to really hurt himself by playing in college. College was a waste for him. I heard Boogie Cousins talk today about his experience with college basketball, and he called it bull shit. I totally agree with him.

So Zion, think about your professional future and your earning potential. Shut this nonsense down. You do not need to play college basketball anymore. You have already proven yourself and then some. Shut it down and get ready for the pros. It is the best thing you could do.

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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Still Pumped After a Great NBA All Star Weekend

On Friday I gave some predictions, and what I was looking forward to, for NBA All Star weekend. Now that it is all wrapped up I want to talk about some observations I had. I was only right about 2 things, that Team US would beat Team World in the Rising Stars game, and that Team LeBron would win the All Star game. Other than that, I was wrong.

First of all, I have to eat some major crow about the three point contest. I figured Steph would win, and win easily. While he did make it to the Finals, and scorched in the first round with 27 points, the guy a lot of other journalists were high on, Joe Harris, took home the crown. I wasn't as high on him, I thought it was all smoke, but the dude can shoot. He filled it up with 25 in one round, the round that mattered. I was wrong, Steph didn't win, and Harris did. I didn't think that he could do it, I thought people were just trying to be NBA hipsters, but they were right and I was wrong.

I also blew it on the skills competition. I figured DeAaron Fox would literally run away with it, but that competition was filled with wild finishes. Fox got beat on a crazy deep three from Kyle Kuzma after racing out to a huge lead. Then, when Trae Young advanced to the finals against Saint Louis' own Jayson Tatum, he raced out to a big lead only to be beaten on a half court shot. It was wild, fun and really neat to see.

Props to Tatum for taking that shot, and even more props to him for making it. In the rising stars game, Team USA jumped to an early lead and ran away with the game. John Collins did some impressive stuff. So did Marvin Bagley. I also liked what Luka Doncic and DeAndre Ayton did for Team World. I really enjoyed this game and it was a good watch. These guys are the future, and they showed out.

The dunk contest was great. I was a bit skeptical because the names weren't household. I knew the guys because I am a dork about the NBA, but I am pretty sure the average fan had no idea who the four guys were. But, they did great. I loved Miles Bridges dunk off the side of the backboard when he wore a throw back Larry Johnson jersey. It was neat. John Collins did some good stuff. He is a powerful dunker, but he can also fly. I saw a picture of him and his forehead was above the rim. It was sweet. But Dennis Smith Jr and Hamidou Diallo put on a god damn show. The stuff DSJ did was super duper athletic. When he jumped over J. Cole and did a windmill while doing it, I wanted to jump out of my seat. He can really fly. I figured he was a shoe in to win. I wanted him to win. But I did say to watch out for Diallo. The kid could jump in college, and he proved that tenfold in the dunk contest. He too had a picture where his head was above the rim, and he looked at ease. It was like he didn't even have to really try to jump that high. It looked effortless. But that dunk he did in the second round, when he dunked over Shaq and did the honey dip, it was akin to what Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon did a few years back, or dare I say, what Vince Carter did in 2000. I was amazed at all his dunks, but the one over Shaq in particular. It was a phenomenal show of athleticism. This Diallo kid is legit, and I hope he continues to do the dunk contest every year.

All this was just an appetizer to the game. The big game that is. Team LeBron versus Team Giannis. It was a good game. It was a competitive game. There was the slightest bit of defense played. And a ton of shots went up. Seeing Team Giannis jump out to that big lead was great. The alley oop to him from Steph, where he bounce passed it and Giannis seemed to jump 10 feet in the year, was one of the best things I have witnessed in an All Star game. It was awesome. Then, to see Damien Lillard hit 3 straight threes, 2 of which from very, very deep, was incredible. That run that Team LeBron went on in the third was pretty neat. They seemingly couldn't miss. And just when you thought that Team Giannis was about to start making a run, tying it up several times in the second half, Team LeBron, mainly KD, just kept making threes. It was a decent All Star game. I still think Giannis should have won the MVP, he went for 38 on something like 17 of 23 from the field, but I suppose a player from the winning team deserved to be MVP, and KD was the best player on the winning team last night.

All in all this past weekend was a good one for the NBA. All the side games were good, and the All Star game was fun. Well done NBA.

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.

Time to Get Pumped for the 2019 NBA All Star Weekend

This weekend is All Star weekend for the NBA. I enjoy All Star weekend. I used to love it, but now I just enjoy it. I like the skills competition, the three point and dunk contest, the rising stars game and the actual game. I think the only thing I don’t really care for is the celebrity all star game. Some people go way too hard, Winn Butler, some turn it into a showcase for themselves, Kevin Hart, and the rest just don’t seem to care. It’s dull.

Let’s look at the good events. The dunk contest used to be my absolute favorite part of the weekend. It used to be filled with actual stars, and it was awesome. I will always, always remember Vince Carter. It was amazing. The contest then started to really drop off when the contestants got endless chances. It dragged and the participants weren’t the upper echelon. The one that really upset me, the opposite of the Vince Carter one, was when Chris Andersen spent what seemed like 45 minutes to complete one dunk. But, I do have to say, it’s been better the past couple years. Dennis Smith Jr got robbed last year, but it was still fun. And 2 years ago, the show that Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon put on, was tremendous. Go back and check that out. So I do have faith. The three point contest is great to see the pure shooting, with no defense. And the rising stars game has become much more fun because they went to US versus World and all the future stars of the league are there. The skills competition is neat too, especially when you have a guard up against a big man. The game itself, while totally devoid of defense and full effort, I find enjoyable. I want to see all the points. I want each team go score 200. I’d love to see a 60 or 70 point quarter. I am one of the very few that find the game slightly enjoyable.

With all this being said, I want to make a few predictions for the festivities this weekend. First off, I guarantee the National Anthem will be so much better than the mess that was Fergie last year. That one is easy. As far as the rising stars game, I have the US. Team World has some studs, namely Luka Doncic, big Team US has guys like Jayson Tatum, Trae Young and Jaren Jackson. I just feel like they’ll be able to build a solid lead and win the game. In the three point contest I have Steph. I’ve seen and heard a bunch of people say that Joe Harris will win? Why? Steph is the best shooter in the league, maybe the best of all time. He may not take it as seriously as the other contestants, but he doesn’t have to. He’s that good. Steph all the way. The skills competition is DeAron Fox’s to lose. He is, by far, the most skilled guy in it. He’s also super fast, but under control. Fox is about to become a big name in the NBA. As for the dunk contest, I have DSJ all the way. He got screwed last year, he’s just been traded and I feel like he has something to prove. I have a feeling he’s going to do something amazing. Also though, don’t sleep on Hamidou Diallo. That dude is super athletic and has amazing hops. As for the actual game, I think Team LeBron wins. They are stacked. He got the best scorers, passers, and if they try, defenders. I don’t buy that all the guys he took he’s going to recruit to LA like everyone keeps saying. I think Team Giannis will make it a game, but I just think Team LeBron is better. That being said, I think Giannis Antentekoumpo will win his first of 2 MVP’s this season. He’s been amazing all year. His team had the best record. He will go hard in the game because that’s what he does. And he’s pretty much unguardable. He is so good, and I think he will prove that tenfold in the All Star game.

I’m excited for the weekend. I love basketball, and to see the best of the best in one arena always amazes me. I hope you all watch too. I know I will. I really enjoy NBA All Star weekend.

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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What the Hell is Wrong with the NFL, Part 1,437

Just don’t watch

The NFL continues to shoot itself in the foot, and not learn any lessons and continues to support men that think it is okay to hit women, but deny men that decide to make a peaceful protest.

With the news yesterday that the Cleveland Browns have decided to sign Kareem Hunt, I just don't know what to do, or think, about professional football right now at this current moment. I hate this signing so, so, so much. Kareem Hunt, who has been cited more than once, in fact a couple of times, of hitting women, gets another chance at the NFL while Colin Kaepernick continues to be blackballed, and Eric Reid keeps getting "random" drug tests.

This is disgusting.

This is wrong.

This shouldn't be happening.

This is the NFL just going from bad to worse, and basically saying, who cares if you hit a female, you can still play, but, if you even think about taking a knee, you will find it extremely difficult to get back in the league. I'm appalled and grossed out by this.

Sure, Hunt is an explosive running back, and is a good skilled player. But, he has hit multiple women. He got in trouble for this in college. This is the second time that I know of that he has been cited for the same thing since he has been in the NFL, which I think is about 3 or 4 seasons. The NFL, Roger Goodell, and the owners just don't get it. This is why people are becoming more and more put off by the sport. People are not watching as much anymore because of concussions, and the fact that men who hit women get chance after chance after chance. I mean, Greg Hardy got multiple chances to get back in the league. Ray Rice was only suspended for 3 games before the TMZ video was released. Richie Incognito is looked at as a folk hero since his retirement, and he bullied people constantly. I just don't get why these guys get multiple chances, but Colin Kaepernick is left behind.

Why does Kareem Hunt deserve a second shot? People say, well the new GM in Cleveland knows him, and he thinks he's a good kid. Really? John Dorsey is going to be the guy to turn Kareem Hunt's life around? He is going to be the guy that gets him to stop hitting women? The moment Hunt goes for 100 plus yards and a couple of TD's, all of his abusive behavior towards females will be pushed aside by Dorsey, the Browns, Goodell and the dumbasses at ESPN. They will all forget that he abuses women because he scores a lot of fantasy points and is an exciting player. That's just awful.

The idoitic league thinks that a guy that peacefully protests police brutality is the problem to these chuckleheads. From what I know, Colin Kaepernick has never hit a woman. I have never heard about him being arrested late at night for anything, especially a domestic violence dispute. By all measure Kaepernick seems like a good guy that decided enough was enough and he was going to take a silent stand. But, to the NFL, that is so much worse than hitting females or bullying other guys or taking steroids or concussion protocol. This is so bad.

Kareem Hunt does not belong in the NFL. He needs to go seek therapy for abusing women. He should not be given millions of dollars to continue to play this violent sport. Colin Kaepernick, for a myriad of reasons, belongs in the NFL so, so much more than Kareem Hunt. This is ridiculous. And it will only get worse if Hunt thrives in the Browns offense. I have said many times that I love football, but I am really beginning to hate the NFL. There are so many problems that the powers that be simply don't care about and are too dumb to acknowledge.

This is gross and it really is starting to put me off the NFL. If stuff like this keeps happening, I don't know how much longer I can watch prof football. The NFL has a real problem on their hands, and until they try and fix it, it is only going to get worse. The signing of Kareem Hunt is a disturbing trend in the NFL. Hunt doesn't belong. Colin Kaepernick. Fix this NFL. This is bad.

Ty

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

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Ty Kinda Watches the AAF

On Saturday night we had my folks over to see the kids and my dad and I decided, during a game of kid's Monopoly, that we would check out the new "pro" football league, The American Alliance of Football. I had only recently remembered that the league was a thing because I follow a lot of Michigan football stuff on social media, and a few of their notable players, mainly Denard Robinson, are on some of the teams. Unfortunately for me, none of them played during the one quarter of the one game that I watched this past weekend. With that one quarter of play, I made a few observations.

Now, I have seen a few articles since Saturday saying that the viewership was very high, and that this is the "perfect cure for anyone that is already missing football". First off, I get that viewership was high. Football is now America's pastime. It is the most popular sport. It has surpassed baseball, and even though I may think it is a better, and more fun sport to watch, the NBA is not even close in popularity to pro football. That all makes sense. But, to call this the "cure" for football fans. I highly disagree. I don't get it. One, the Super Bowl just happened a week ago, and it was a trash game. It's not like we have been without football for a month or 2. We didn't miss any football in fact. There was zero break.

Secondly, as far as the "cure" for what ails football fans, this was a garbage product. This was not even high level college football fun. This wasn't even Pro Bowl fun, in that the Pro Bowl is just a stage for the NFL's all star's to dick around. In fact, I would rather watch the skills competition that the soon to be pro players do, or even watch something like the Senior Bowl, or any of those other college football all star games. I found the one quarter of the AAF game I watched to be very, very low level "pro" football. I'm sure it will be better than the return of the XFL, because the XFL is so dumb, but not by that much. I did not recognize a single name of either player on either team Saturday, and I do watch a ton of football, mostly college football. The AAF should have been right in my wheel house because I should have been able to recognize someone. I did not. And sure, I saw the highlight of the big hit on the QB in the very same game I watched, but that type of hit happens in every NFL game, and in pretty much every college football game.

The people that want this league to thrive were grasping at straws trying to make this opening weekend seem like this league will be legit. I mean, I don't even remember the teams that were playing. All I remember about the game was that it was played at the Alamaodome, so I would assume one of the teams is based in San Antonio, and that Mike Martz is either a head coach or coordinator of one of the teams that was playing Saturday night. That's it. And that is not a good thing, at least in my opinion.

As far as the on field stuff I saw, I, clearly, was not impressed. It was all shot gun. It was all read option football. It was like watching Oregon or any other Pac 12 team, except it wasn't as good or fun. The run games were non existent. The QB's were downright dreadful. I have no idea who the skill position players were. Save for that one big hit, the defenses were very, very vanilla. Needless to say, I was pretty underwhelmed by the AAF. I did watch because I am a football junkie, but the fact that I turned it off after a quarter, and my dad didn't gripe at me for this, should speak volumes. We were more than happy to watch the Thunder complete a 26 point comeback win over the Rockets. We also stuck closer to the Duke-Virginia game, and a few other college basketball games. We did not need low grade football.

Football is a great sport, and I love to watch it, especially college football. But, at least for me, the AAF, after one week, was a big time disappointment. It can always make a revival, but I doubt it. This was some low rent football. There is no questioning that.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Ty does not remember the USFL at all. As a matter of fact most of us only know about the USFL because it showed us that even in the 1980’s, Donald Trump was a terrible leader.

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Lavar Ball is Nonsense, Again

Lavar Ball needs to just stop talking. He just needs to shut up. I'm over his schtick. I'm over his blowhard attitude. I'm over him saying that he will "talk it into existence". I'm just over it all. But what irks me the most about what he recently said was how ridiculous the statement is. He said, and I quote, "The Lakers will never win a title without my son. In fact, my son Lonzo is better than LeBron. The Lakers need him". Okay, lets break this nonsense down.

First off, the Lakers do not need him at all. If the Lakers had traded Lonzo Ball at the deadline, and I am not just limiting it to the Pelicans, it could have been any team, they wouldn't have missed him at all. I do think that Ball is an okay point guard. He is good at getting the ball out of his hands and finding the open guy and running the break. But, he does not add much else. Also, I think Rajon Rondo is better than him, especially for a team run by LeBron. Ball also cannot shoot the ball at all. His jumper is trash. He is afraid to drive to the rim because, if he gets fouled, he cannot shoot free throws. And he is currently hurt right now, and I totally forgot about it until I saw his dumbass post after not being traded yesterday. So no Mr Ball, the Lakers do ot need your son to win a title. I'm sure they would be better off with Rondo, or if they had drafted DeAron Fox instead, or if they go out and trade for another point guard or even draft one this year. The Lakers would be just fine without Lonzo. The Lakers definitely do not need him.

And then to say he is better than LeBron, I mean come on. I love my son. My son is an amazing individual. He is smart, loves baseball, is pretty good at it, he's super smart and funny and is just a good kid. But, if he were in the NBA right now, and on the Lakers, I would openly say that he is currently playing with the best player in the NBA in LeBron James. I would be thrilled that my son was in the NBA, and playing, but I would know better than to say that he is better than LeBron. No one in the current NBA is better than LeBron. Not a single player. Not Steph, not KD, not AD, not Kawhi, none of them. LeBron is better than them all. In fact, I think that LeBron is the second greatest player in the NBA ever, behind Michael Jordan. So for Lavar Ball to say that his son, who has been more of a disappointment than a star in his first two seasons, is better than LeBron is pure nonsense and puts so much more undue pressure on his kid, who already came into the league with a ton of pressure due to his father's mouth.

It was so nice to go through more than 50 games without hearing from Lavar Ball. It seemed like the Lakers brass and LeBron finally got him to just be quiet. They just kind of pushed him off and we didn't have to hear from him. But now, since his kid was brought up in trade rumors, which will happen as long as he continues to disappoint and play with LeBron, he decided to open his mouth and say more dumb shit. I hope that LeBron and Magic and Rob Pelinka will be able to get him to shut up again because I cannot take another story about him talking. I know I am just adding to the problem by writing about it today, but it made me so angry that he said his kid was better than LeBron that I had to say something.

So if you could kindly screw off Lavar Ball, me, the Lakers players and fans and the rest of the NBA watching community would greatly appreciate it. We don't need to hear your lunatic ravings anymore. Please do us a favor and shut the hell up. Thanks

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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Let's Talk About the NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and AD is still a member of the Pelicans, more on him at the end. Without AD being moved, we did have some big names get traded to new teams. Let’s get right to it.

I already talked about Porzingis to the Mavs. But, after he was traded, only a few days after, the 76ers pulled off a big deal. They traded for Tobias Harris. I know his name isn't as exciting as AD or Porzingis, but he gives the 76ers a fourth star, and a guy that will buy in and contribute to an already contending team. Harris has always fit in wherever he has played, and he is in a contract year.

The Clippers also made out pretty well in this trade, getting guys on good contracts and future picks. They are setting themselves up for the summer. They also got rid of Avery Bradley, he went to the Grizzlies, and acquired a few none essential Lakers to get off the Mike Muscala contract. They did good.

Philly traded Markelle Fultz today. I hope this works out for him, I still have a little faith, but this was for the best. They sent him to Orlando, and they got a first and second round pick and Johnathan Simmons. The 76ers still lack a real point guard, but they added a shooter, Simmons, and they added an all around good to great player in Harris. They are making their push.

Not to be outdone, the Raptors got Marc Gasol today. I know that Gasol isn't as good as he used to be, but that could have been the situation as much as age. He is now on a team that I picked to make the Finals. He gets to go play with Kawhi and Serge Ibaka and Danny Green. And the Raptors didn't have to give up too much. They let Jonas Valenciunas go, it was his time, and some other throw in names. This also helps the Grizzlies continue rebuild around Jaren Jackson. My only gripe with Memphis today, they are hanging on to Mike Conley. He deserves better than that. He should have been traded to a contender.

The Bucks got a much needed added three point shooter next to Khris Middleton in Niko Mirotic. He is really going to help spread the floor, thus giving Giannis more space to operate. They also were able to trade a disgruntled player in Thon Maker. He should be happy with the playing time he will get in Detroit.

The Pelicans added a few guys, namely Stanley Johnson. But, they got a ton of picks in return. This is just them gearing up for whatever they end up doing with AD.

In addition to Muscala, the Lakers also added Reggie Bullock. Both these moves puzzled me. How do these guys fit with the Lakers? Is Bullock going to take minutes from one of the young guys that is probably still super angry that they were bandied about in rumors? Is Muscala a better option than Tyson Chandler? I don't think so.

Harrison Barnes got traded mid game last night. But, I like his fit with the Kings. He can go in there and provide veteran leadership, and he doesn't have to be "the man". The Kings needed a wing like him if they want to continue their playoff push. And they only had to trade the hardly played Justin Jackson, and the hasn't played all year Zach Randolph for him.

Otto Porter got traded to the Bulls. If you are puzzled, you aren't alone. I do not get this trade for either team. I assumed, if Porter was to be dealt, he would go to a contender. But nope. He ended up on the Bulls. And the Wizards got Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis for him. This is probably the weirdest deal of the day in my opinion. It makes absolutely no sense for either team. This one is absurd.

Phoenix got off Ryan Anderson's contract by trading him to the Heat for Wayne Ellington and Tyler Johnson. This might be the most boring move of the deadline. It does nothing for either team. At all. There were other guys traded, but nothing that really makes a difference.

Now for AD. I love that the Pelicans didn't just give LeBron what he wanted. I love that Dell Demps told them, after they offered 6 players and 2 picks that he wanted 6 more picks. I love that they have decided to wait for the summer when the deals can get so much better. And I love that a small market team didn't just give in to the glitz and glamour of LA. Anthony Davis signed a deal through next season, and the Pelicans don't have to trade him until next year's deadline if they don't want to. They didn't let him or his agent tell them what to do. Sure, he said he wants out, but again, he is under contract for one more year. And while the Lakers deal seemed super good, there are other teams that can do better on July 1st, depending on what the Pelicans may want. I'm pretty sure that Lakers deal will still be there. But, a team like the Celtics can offer a much more enticing package centered around Jayson Tatum, and a whole bunch of picks. The Knicks, especially if they win the lottery and sing KD, would be super appealing. Or, what about the teams that would be willing to dump a good amount of quality guys for a one year rental? The Thunder did it with Paul George, and he stuck around. The Raptors are banking on, if they make the Finals, that they can convince him to stick around. Milwaukee, if the players were good enough, could pair up Giannis with AD. There are so many more opportunities that will open up this summer.

This deadline was nuts, and I'm excited to see how these guys look on their new teams. If I had to say that just one team "won" the deadline today, I would go for a tie. I love what the Clippers did, a team I despise by the way, getting a ton of picks and opening up a ton of cap space to go after AD, KD, Klay Thompson or Kawhi. And I love that the Raptors are going for it and taking on Gasol. This makes them very formidable. Those are my "winners" of the day.

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.