The Bengals and Cowboys are Two Franchises Going in Different Directions

I was watching the NFL playoffs with my son yesterday and I found that I had some new and interesting insights.

First off, the Bengals looked fantastic. I assumed with all the Damar Hamlin love and the talent that the Bills would be playing with more oomph. Maybe they did, but the Bengals matched and surpassed it immediately. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead. The refs took a TD away from Jamar Chase, he definitely caught that ball, but it still didn't matter. They got a field goal on that drive and took a 10 point lead into half. Then they only gave up 3 more points en route to a 27-10 victory and a second straight AFC title game matchup with the Chiefs.

What I noticed about this game, besides the thorough beatdown, was the confidence this team has. They play with a swagger. Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, Joe Mixon, Dax Hill, Sam Hubbard, Semaji Perine, they have this unmatched confidence. They never play like an underdog. They go into these games expecting to win. The Bengals have been a pretty moribound franchise since their existence. Not anymore. These guys are good, they know they are good and they have proof of winning big games to be considered good. I was in awe of their performance yesterday. I did not watch much of any regular season NFL so maybe this is new to only me. But I was highly impressed with this team. I was impressed with Burrow and Chase the most. They need to sign those two to big contracts because they could be the face of the league as soon as next year. The Bengals seem very legit.

As for the Cowboys, well, they have some soul searching to do. The Cowboys did what they do now. They have one good season sandwiched in between multiple mediocre seasons and their fans go nuts. They always think they will win the Super Bowl that season. I constantly hear the whole "How bout them Cowboys!" on ESPN during the regular season. And then they get in the playoffs and choke it away. That final drive was so frustrating, and I have despised this team my whole life here on Earth. I just couldn't figure out what was going on. Then I remembered that Mike McCarthy is their head coach and it all locked into place.

What struck me personally was how I felt afterward. I used to get all into the trolling of teams I don't like on social media. I'd always have something to say. I haven't done that these past two years and I continued to not do it yesterday. But I read comments. Boy oh boy were some of those comments frightening. But what I got from all of it was how bad I felt for these guys as individuals. Dak Prescott played a bad game. He has definitely regressed the past couple seasons. But who else do the Cowboys have at QB? Who else is going to get them into the playoffs? I mean, they are not very good to begin with, but to now question if Prescott should be the guy is laughable to me. Hopefully he can go somewhere he is appreciated because Cowboy fans don't deserve Dak Prescott. He is too good for them. Tony Pollard broke his fibula. He was clearly taking over for the overrated Ezekial Elliot, and then this happens. I mean, that is brutal for him. The NFL is unforgiving enough, and it is even worse to backs who have injury history. That kicker got the yips. There is no doubt about it. But it is not his fault they got beat. He made two field goals after missing four extra points. I mean, yikes.

This all really goes down to how poorly McCarthy manages the clock and the team in big moments. He did the same nonsense in Green Bay. The Packers were loaded with talent and he only got one ring, which he tried everything he could to not get it. The way the last two seasons have played out for the Cowboys with McCarthy leading the way should terrify the fans. He is a poor game manager.

That was how I felt watching these games yesterday. One team is ascending while the other is still looking for the heyday of the 90's. That is life in professional sports I guess. At least we got the two best matchups in the conference title games next week. Those four teams are very deserving. 

Ty

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

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Ty Predicts the 2023 NFL Playoffs

The NFL playoffs are just around the corner. Today I come to you with my preview and predictions. I have not watched as much NFL as I usually do this year, but I am still very aware of what has happened this season. I read a lot of articles about the NFL. Also, take all of this with a grain of salt. I am going to try my best, but do not take this as gospel. I am no expert.

I will start with the tougher conference, the AFC. The Chiefs got the bye. They won 14 games and secured home field. I know some people will say the Bengals and Bills got screwed, but this is where we are. No going back now.

The 2-7 matchup features the Bills and Dolphins. This game is a walk. The Bills are loaded. They have all the talent. They are playing for Damar Hamlin. They can score at will and stop teams with ease. Add in the fact that the Dolphins are playing a backup at QB, this is an easy pick. Miami is coming, but not this year. Bills cruise.

The 3-6 is a bit tougher. The Bengals are facing the Ravens. Now, I have zero idea what is going on with Lamar Jackson. And if he doesn't play, this might be as easy as picking the Bills. But the Ravens have a very good defense. They can also slow the game down by running the ball. The Bengals though, they are explosive. They have one of the best offenses in the league. Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Seamji Perine, Tee Higgins and Jamar Chase are the truth. They can score at will. And their defense is serviceable. They can get the job done. We also have the fact that the Ravens are barely 10-7. The Bengals got this one.

The 4-5 is interesting and should be fun. We have the Chargers and Jags. I like this matchup. Two fun, young and green teams. They may treat this like a regular season game, and that makes it even more fun. I do like the Jags story, but it stops here. The Chargers are deeper, have a better offense and have some studs on D. Yes, the Jags are in a much better place, but so are the Chargers. They win.

That gives us the Chargers facing the Chiefs and the Bengals facing the Bills. These are good matchups. The Chargers may be able to keep up with the Chiefs for a half, but the second half is theirs and they cruise. The Bills and Bengals will be epic. I adore this matchup. This is what all fans want to see. This is the makeup after the Damar Hamlin game. And that right there gives the Bills the edge. The game is in Buffalo too. I like the Bengals a lot, but the Bills have something even bigger to play for.

So that gives us the Chiefs and Bills. I'd love to pick the Chiefs here. They are my mom's favorite team and I do like them. But the Bills are playing for Damar. They are going to leave it all out there for him and that will lead them to the Super Bowl. I have the Bills representing the AFC this season.

Now the NFC. Philadelphia got the one seed. They have the bye. They deserve it.

The 2-7 matchup has the 49ers facing the Seahawks. This is a divisional game meetup in the playoffs. That makes it more fun. All that is nice and all, but the 49ers are far better. Again, I like the Seahawks story and all, and have loved this Geno Smith revenge tour. But the 49ers are better. They are hotter and they have a far superior defense. They will win this low scoring game.

The 3-6 has the Vikings facing the Giants. Here is where Kirk Cousins blows it every single time. I live to watch him blow very winnable games. He is such a moron, so to see him fall flat on his face is wonderful. It is going to be great to see Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley beat him in Minnesota. I cannot wait to watch Brian Daboll get a playoff win in his first year as a head coach. The Giants are here for a reason, and Kirk Cousins will do his thing. YOU LIKE THAT! Giants are the first, and only upset.

The 4-5 pits two teams I loathe. The Bucs and Cowboys will be playing each other and I couldn't care less about this game. I despise these teams. There is no rooting interest. I'm sure Tom Brady will find a way to take the 8-9 Bucs into Dallas and win this game. Mike McCarthy has a bad track record and Tom Brady has a great playoff one. My pick is that simple. Tampa will find a way to win this one.

So that gives us Philly versus Tampa and the Giants facing the 49ers. The Eagles are going to cruise past the Bucs. They are younger, more talented, have a better defense and can control the clock and keep Tom Brady off the field. This is going to be an easy win for Philly. The same could be said for the 49ers and Giants. I like what the Giants are doing, but the 49ers are better. They will ride this momentum back to the NFC title game. That is where it will end for them. This is going to be a great game too. This is strength on strength. Philly is going to go at that defense over and over and over again. They will be relentless. I also think this is where Brock Purdy's "luck" is going to run out. The Eagles will win a very close, very fun game to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

My Super Bowl matchup is Buffalo versus Philadelphia. I'm going with the Bills. The moment Damar Hamlin went down this team came together even more. They already had the talent and the depth. They were already winning a good amount of games. They were already a favorite. And now with Damar Hamlin they have yet another reason to go out there and win a ring. I think it will be a good game. I think it will be close to the end, and I think the Bills will find a way to pull out a win. And they should just give the Super Bowl MVP award to Damar Hamlin. His health is all that matters, and to see his team win a ring will only help even more.

There you have it, my 2023 NFL playoff preview and predictions. Now enjoy some playoff football everyone. 

Ty

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

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What a (Terrible) College Football Title Game

The College Football Championship game was played last night. Well, at least Georgia came to play. Let’s discuss.

This was not a fun game to watch, and this has zero to do with TCU beating Michigan on New Years Eve. Believe me. I watched that game, Michigan was under prepared and outcoached. They did not deserve to win that game. TCU took advantage of every single mistake Michigan made. They did what it took to have the right to play in the championship last night.

With all that being said, what the hell was that last night? I mean, sheesh. I am all for teams taking advantage when they are the better team, but holy cow. The final score, of a championship game mind you, was 65-7. Georgia won by 58 points. In a title game. That is simply not supposed to happen. I get blowouts. It happens all the time. But a 58 point win in the title game has never happened before. The biggest margin of victory prior to this was in the 30's. Georgia bested that number by 20 plus points. At least three touchdowns. Boy oh boy.

My son and I watched the first half together, he is 10, and even he was bored by halftime. When Stetson Bennett ran in his first score untouched, my son said it was going to be a bad night for TCU. TCU cut it to three with a quick TD in the first quarter, but they would not score again. Georgia did what they wanted, when they wanted to whomever TCU threw at them last night. I am, by no means, a Stetson Bennett fan. I think he is overrated, but he played like a first round pick last night. TCU could not tackle him when he scrambled. TCU's coveted secondary got absolutely torched. There were open Bulldog receivers all over that field. At one point in the game, when Georgia was up 52-7, a TCU defender finally broke up a pass and made the incomplete sign with his hands. They were down 45 points. And Georgia had a backup QB in the game. I mean, at what point do you realize you are getting your ass kicked and trash talk is out of the question? Oof magoof.

There was only one moment where I thought this may be a game. That was right after the TCU score to cut it to 10-7. I figured, if they can get a stop, go on a decent drive and get a score, this could be a good one. Georgia scored pretty quickly the very next possession, and the possession after that, and the following two possessions after that. TCU answered with zero points. I got up to put my daughter to bed and changed into my bedtime clothes. This all took about 15 minutes. Two of Georgia's scores happened during that time. That is crazy to me.

For all of the feel good stories, the switch from worst to first, coming off a 5-7 season and beating up on Michigan, I assumed TCU would come to play. They did not. Even their coach told them at halftime to stop playing scared. That is not the head space you should be in when playing for a ring. Max Duggan looked lost and petrified. TCU clearly missed their number one running back. Their top wideout was nowhere to be seen. Their vaunted defense, who turned Michigan over four times, got beat over and over and over and over again. When my wife got done with her night meetings she came and joined me. She saw the score and said "yeesh". She then asked me if the game would have been better if Michigan had played. I told her I think Michigan would have kept it closer, but not much. When it was 52-7 I told her it may be 28-7 or 31-10 if Michigan were playing. Georgia is so fast, big, physical and are pretty much unstoppable when they get in open space. That much was very clear last night.

So hats off to Georgia I guess. You definitely proved you were the best team in college football by a wide, wide margin last night. But what the hell was that TCU? I mean, yikes. Being that I had no rooting interest I just wanted a good game. This was as far from a good game as there can be. Oh well. Now I am already ready for 2023 college football. It cannot come fast enough. 

Ty

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

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Boy Was I Wrong About the 49ers, Broncos, and Packers

The NFL playoffs are set. I will do a preview and prediction, but that will have to wait for tomorrow. Today I want to talk about three teams that I was very, very wrong about in my preseason NFL countdown. I get a good amount of stuff wrong, but I do get some stuff right. I also like to think I know a lot about this sport, but sometimes I am just off. That is the case with these three teams I will discuss today.

First, the San Francisco 49ers. I was way, way too low on this team. I do not like their coach, there are some players I am not very fond of and I thought it would be a big learning curve for Trey Lance. It looked like it may go that way the first couple weeks. The 49ers looked a little lost, they had some offensive woes and Lance went down with a season ending injury early on. They could have folded there but they didn't. They have won ten straight going into the playoffs. Not only did Lance get hurt, so did Jimmy Garroppolo. No worries, Brock Purdy has been very serviceable. But it is this team's defense. They are so, so, so good. They fly all over the field. They hit. They make their opponents feel it. They can stop the run and rush the passer with the best of the best. The 49ers have an offensive minded coach, but this team is led by their defense. And their defense is good enough to drag them to another Super Bowl appearance. I still do not like this team, but I have never been a 49ers fan. Not even when I was a kid. But I was too low on this team. And their defense is very elite. I would be nervous to face them in the playoffs.

San Fran is the only team I was down on that I should have been higher on for this piece today. The next two teams are teams I was way too high on, and in hindsight I should have seen this coming.

The first team that I was too up on is the Denver Broncos. I assumed they were ready to make a leap. They fired a defensive minded coach and hired Nathaniel Hackett, Green Bay's offensive coordinator. They also went out and traded for Russell Wilson. I am not a fan of his, but he is a very good quarterback and has one Super Bowl ring already. The defense is also very good and not too old. The Broncos had the makings of a last to first place team, and to be a threat in the AFC to go to the Super Bowl. Well, Nathaniel Hackett was fired before the season ended. Russell Wilson is having his worst season as a pro and looks like he aged overnight. And the defense spends far too much time on the field and they got exhausted from being overworked. The Broncos were very, very bad. I see that they are interviewing a ton of head coaches, Jim Harbaugh included, who they think can work with Wilson. They have a ton to work on. They have a few pieces, like Jerry Jeudy and Bradley Chubb, but not much else. The Broncos are in need of a big rebuild. I don't know where they're drafting, but they should take a young QB. They need a solid running back. They could use some o line help. The Broncos need a good amount of work. They also happen to play in a very tough division. I could not have been more wrong on this team. I have not watched a ton of NFL this year, but I found a game of theirs last week and watched for a bit. Man were they bad. It was a tough watch. The Broncos are a ways away from being competent again.

Finally, I have my team, the Green Bay Packers. I assumed they would win the NFC North with ease. I did not, and still don't, believe in the Vikings. The Bears ended up having the worst record in the NFL. And I was high on Detroit, but I thought it was going to be a year off before they became a real threat. I just figured the Packers would walk. They had pretty much everyone back and they were a good team last year. This team never gelled. They never meshed. They were never good on either side of the ball. Aaron Rodgers, who I loathe more than anyone in the NFL, was flat out bad this year. He looked disinterested, he blamed everyone but himself and he is an idiot. I found it hard to root for this team this season because I despise Rodgers so very much. He had a bad year. I hope he is gone after this season. I'm done with him as the Packers QB. The offense also seemed to abandon the run far too early. You have two guys in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, but the Packers just did not use them enough. It was head scratching. The wideouts have potential, but when Rodgers doesn't work with them and help them out, that is a problem. The defense is a mess. They cannot stop the run, they give up too many big pass plays and they come and go as they please. Jaire Alexander is great, but he needs help. Rashan Gary is a good rush end, but he cannot stay healthy. They have dudes, but they don't have much help. And Matt LaFleur is very blah as a head coach. He is milquetoast. I have no real faith in his play calling ability. And the teams in this division are coming for them. Minnesota is a QB away from being a true contender. Kirk Cousins stinks. For real. The Bears have a great young QB in Justin Fields. They also have the number one pick. They will be back soon. And the Lions are coming. They finished 9-8. They beat Green Bay in Green Bay when they had nothing to play for. They have great pieces on offense. They need a true QB. They also have the makings of a very good defense. The Lions are on a good path. The Packers, on the other hand, stink. They should move on from Rodgers. They should build the offense around Jones and Dillon. Let's move on to the Jordan Love era. The defense has a few guys, they now need some more to help out. The Packers should be bad for a few years, build in the draft and in free agency and wait for 2026 or 2027 to be a threat again. But man was I wrong about them. I feel like I was the most wrong on them.

I was wrong on all three of these teams. They all did the exact opposite of what I thought they would do. It happens sometimes, but this year was so egregious on my end that I had to address it. So, there it is. 

Ty

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

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Thoughts on Damar Hamlin

Last night my son was watching "Monday Night Football". He kept yelling up to me that something was going on. He said a player went down, I assumed it was a regular injury. He then said a cart was coming out. I thought it was an ACL. But then he said that an ambulance was on the field. Then he said that they were performing CPR. Then he said the game fully stopped.

I had to know what was going on. I told him to turn the game off when I turned it on. Why did I do this you may ask? My son is 10, he is a football player and he tends to linger on stuff for a very long time. I also turned the game on myself and saw what was unfolding on the field. It was, and still is, very frightening.

Bills defender Damar Hamlin was making a routine, albeit kind of violent tackle, and he simply passed out. He made the hit, adjusted his facemask, took three steps back and collapsed. The medical team rushed the field, like they do with any big injury. But when the ambulance came on the field, and the announcers said that the medical team was performing CPR, and when they cut his jersey off, this felt different. This was serious. This was bad.

This is what everyone worries about when CPR needs to be performed. Hamlin needed CPR to save his life on that football field last night. He, from what I have seen reported, suffered cardiac arrest. His heart stopped working last night. I read that they performed CPR for 9 minutes last night. They rushed him to the hospital after they got his heart to work again. They intubated him when he got there. They got his vitals back to some kind of normalcy. All the stuff the medical crew did on that field saved his life last night.

After he was rushed to the hospital I watched the game for a bit longer. This was scary. I was worried. I am still worried. Damar Hamlin is still in critical condition. He is still in the hospital. He will be there for a while I imagine. When all of this went down I watched the reaction from other athletes and pundits. It was, for the most part, very supportive. All kinds of pro football players sent immediate support. Everyone was thinking about Hamlin. All the sports pages I follow were filled with support for Hamlin and his family. His donations soared, upwards of 3 million dollars, throughout the evening. This is the good part of sports. People showing support and showing real feelings for a person whose life is still at stake.

Of course there are certain people, Skip freaking Bayless, who could care less about Damar Hamlin and his family. But he was an outlier. I don't even want to dignify what he said because it is appalling. He should be fired, but we will see what the company he works for does.

I want to shift the focus on Damar Hamlin. This young man has had a serious threat happen to his life playing the game he loves. This is scary. This is where sports aren't that important. This is the scariest part of having a son who is an athlete who also happens to love the game of football. He was still asking questions on the way to school this morning. I hope that they are able to find what the problem is and save Damar Hamlin's life. I want him to get out of that hospital. I want him to go home and be with his loved ones. I want him to be safe and sound. This is what I hope for. But most importantly I want this young man to live. Football is not the end all be all. He should not have to lose his life playing the game he loves. This is not what is supposed to happen to young men who are professional athletes. I can only sit back and think of Hank Gathers in a moment like this.

Be safe and recover Damar Hamlin. The world needs you around longer. 

Ty

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

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RIP Pele

Pele died the other day at the age of 82. That is a nice long life lived. He was a very good person from what I know. Also he was one of the greatest athletes of my lifetime.

I have mentioned many times on the site and the podcast how little I know about soccer. It's a sport I've never played, don't watch and am not all that invested in. I wasn't good at it when I played pickup soccer so it never stayed with me. I couldn't tell you who Messi or Neymar is without my 10 year old letting me know. I only know Diego Maradona for his off field antics. But I do know who Pele is, or was for that matter. His name has always been mentioned when people talk about the greatest athletes of all time. When "The Simpsons" did an entire episode about soccer, Pele showed up to play himself. I know what the Brazil soccer jersey looks like because of all the pictures I have seen in my lifetime of Pele. I understand the breadth he held in the sports world and the world for that matter.

Pele transcended sports. He was a global icon. He was the GOAT before any of us used that acronym. Little kids know who he is. I can go to a basketball practice for my team right now and the kids have no idea who guys like Shawn Kemp or Grant Hill are. I go to baseball and get side eye views when I bring up Vlad Guerrero or Dave Winfield. Young football players look aghast when I tell them Jerry Rice is better than any wide out today. Or god help me if I say Barry Sanders is the best back of all time. But all the little kids I have helped coach or know their parents that play soccer all know who Pele is. Pele is as synonymous to soccer as Michael Jordan and LeBron James are to basketball, but I don't think people would argue with you over Pele being the greatest soccer player of all time. I don't have any stats or anything like that to go off of because of my lack of knowledge in the sport. But the sheer fact that I know who Pele is/was, that I know he played soccer, that he revolutionized the game, that people asked him to come to America to play to try and make it popular, that should speak volumes to the person Pele was. There will never be another like him. Pele is an original. He was Messi before Messi. Neymar before Neymar. I remember when Freddy Adu was all the rage and people tried to say he was going to be the next Pele. Those shoes were far too big to fill and it never happened for Adu. That is because no one else could ever live up to Pele. He is the generational soccer player. If soccer had a logo it would be Pele. He was a do it all type player. He was also so great that, as mentioned before, people in the US enticed him to come play in America just to try and drum up interest in the most popular sport in the rest of the world.

Pele will be missed. He did live a long, fulfilling life. But still, when an icon like this passes it always leaves a dent. It always makes you go back and reminisce about that person. Rest In Peace Pele. Go play, and dominate, some soccer wherever you are now. 

Ty

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

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2022 Top Five - Sports

Today I come to you all with my top sports moments of 2022. This has been a good sports year for me as a fan. I have not had much to complain about, but being a true fanatic, I have found stuff here and there. My list is all football and basketball. Well, there is one baseball thing. But those are the sports I watch. I do not watch hockey, soccer, NASCAR or even boxing anymore. I understand that the World Cup just happened, but I didn't watch a second of it. And RD and Tina do all the tennis talk for the site. I just wanted to give you all a heads up. On to the countdown.

At number 5 I have the final season of Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina. I am not the biggest MLB fan, but being a native St Louisian, and a Cardinals fan, this was a very important sendoff. Pujols came back to play his last year here. Yadi is a lifelong Cardinal, and in my opinion, the greatest catcher of all time. To see them play their final season together where they started was magical. What unfolded was even better. Yadi did his thing. He was consistent. He gunned wannabe base stealers down left and right. He hit his usual .270. He had clutch plays. He was as good as ever. Pujols started off slow but something happened to him after the all star break. He found his power. He started to bomb homeruns. He got to a point where 700 seemed like it was possible. And when he hit that magical number it was euphoric. I was stoked. The kids I coach in baseball were stoked. It was so cool to see the whole city get behind Pujols on his run to 700. The Cardinals won the division and looked like they could make a deep playoff run. The Phillies had other plans though. Even though they choked, seeing Pujols and Yadi finish their careers in St Louis, on a relatively high note, was pretty damn cool. They are two of the best to ever do it and two of the best Cardinals to ever do it. 

At number 4 I have the Cincinnati Bengals going on their incredible playoff run all the way to the Super Bowl. I could not believe what I was seeing while it was going on. Sure, one win seemed like it was possible. But to run through the AFC the way they did, and then beat the Chiefs to make the Super Bowl, it was great. I am not a Bengals fan at all, but my nephew is and my brother has lived in Cincy for a bit now. I was happy for them. I was stoked to see guys like Jamaar Chase and Joe Burrow show up big time in big time games. I like those dudes. And the Bengals did not disappoint in the Super Bowl. They may not have won, but they had a chance. They had an open guy on the final play. They stayed in the whole game. The Rams were bought to win a Super Bowl. The Bengals were built to win one. They are playing great this year. But that run, and all the texts between RD and myself during their run, that was pretty rad. I like the team and I wish them nothing but success in the long run.

At number 3 I have the Warriors-Celtics NBA Finals. It was an incredible series. I was rooting for Golden State because of my disdain for the Celtics. But it was cool to see Jayson Tatum, a STL native, play on the biggest stage. And I was certain that the Celtics were going to win after going up 2-1. It seemed inevitable. But then the Warriors woke up and looked amazing. Klay Thompson was coming off two ACL tears and started to look like himself. Draymond Green got back to playing top notch defense. Kevon Looney became a very poor man's Tim Duncan. Jordan Poole was getting points in limited minutes. Andrew Wiggins was locking up Celtic after Celtic. But it was Steph Curry who willed this team to victory. He did not want to be beat and it showed. He scored at will. He hustled on defense. He proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that he is one of the best to ever play. He earned this title. He was the well deserving MVP. He said this one felt best and it showed. I was in awe of his performance from game four to six. He was on a mission and it was beautiful to watch. This was a great finals and the best team won.

At number 2 I have the Michigan Wolverines football season. The new year started off rough with Georgia crushing Michigan in the CFP. I didn't know what to expect from the team going into this season, but they did not disappoint. They handled their cupcake of a non conference schedule. Then when they got into Big Ten play they opened with a tough win over Maryland. They then went on to crush every opponent until Illinois. They beat Penn State by 28. They put Michigan State into submission. They sacked Indiana QB's eight times. They ran over everyone. Illinois gave them a scare. Michigan did not deserve to win but they found a way. They then went to Columbus and won there for the first time in 22 years. Not only did they win though, they dismantled the university of Ohio State. They ran up and down the field on them. They made CJ Stroud look pedestrian. Blake Corum, the team's heart and soul, was hurt the week before and barely played. It didn't matter. They had the next man up mentality. They used this momentum and throttled Purdue in the Big Ten title game. They have a date with TCU coming up and I am terrified as always. But this team has proven me wrong all year. They have figured out ways to win games. Guys like Mike Morris, Mike Sainristil, Blake Corum, the entirety of the O line, Will Johnson, DJ Turner, Cornelius Johnson, they all deserve this. They have all earned this. I am hopeful as a Michigan fan for the first time in a long time.  I hope it doesn't bite me in the butt, but time will tell. As of now I am a hopeful Wolverines fan.

At number 1 I have a very personal sports moment. My son started playing football this year. Let me rephrase that, he started to play tackle football this year. I was nervous. I told him horror stories. I tried to convince him otherwise. But he was adamant and we relented. It was wonderful. He got better and better everyday as a football player. He was taught the right way to play the game. He seemed happy at practice and at games. He really looked like he was in his element. As the season went on the team continued to get better. They started to win more. They were really beating teams up. And my son lived in the backfield on defense and pancaked would-be tacklers on offense. It was a shock, in a good way, to see him progress the way he did. They won enough to make the fifth grade playoffs and it got even better. They won their first game handily. They had a tough test in the second game, but they ran away with that one as well. The championship was on a very windy and cold day. And they even gave up an early field goal. From there on out they scored 30 unanswered points. They destroyed the team that made it to the finals. They hammered them. And my son was smiling all the way. He loved every second of football. And I loved watching him. I am so glad I didn't coach also. I got to enjoy it from the stands. I am always proud of him and this is another notch in his belt. I was so happy to see them win and to watch him play all year. That is the best a sports dad can ask for.

That is it for sports. Come back tomorrow for my final top five, top five podcasts of the year, tomorrow.

Ty

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

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RIP Mike Leach

College football coach Mike Leach passed away Tuesday at the age of 61. He had a heart condition that seemed to worsen suddenly on Monday and he soon passed.

This is devastating news for his family and Mississippi State football. The football team lost a coach. But his family lost a husband and a father. He was there one minute and suddenly gone forever the next. That is heartbreaking. He was young. He had a ton of life left to live. He had kids to coach. He had a family to raise. He had stuff to do. But he has died. And that is tragic.

Look, I only know him as a football coach, so that is what my piece is going to focus on today. Mike Leach is an innovator. He, for all intents and purposes, created the Air Raid offense that a lot of schools now run. When he fully took over as head coach at Texas Tech he instantly installed this offense. He used it at Kentucky, where he was the offensive coordinator, and it turned Tim Couch into a first overall pick. But this idea, to throw and throw and throw some more, was not really a thing until he took over Texas Tech. He guided some high powered offenses. His QB's would throw for video game numbers. They always had 5,000 plus yards a season and 40 touchdown passes. Wide receivers wanted to play there. That is how he landed a player like Michael Crabtree. The offense worked. Texas Tech was always in a bowl game. But it never got any better than when they reached as high as number 3 in the BCS. The offense was revolutionary, but the defense was never dealt with. That was one area of coaching that never seemed to click with Leach. He did not seem to care about that side of the ball. He put all of his focus on offense and just told other coaches to deal with defense and special teams.

He also put players into bad situations. This is where I began to not be a fan of his. He was tough on players. He went too far. He pushed until players could go no further, and then demeaned them. He called them names. He made punishments harder. He would tell coaches to cut kids if they asked for rest or water. This type of hazing never jived with me. I think it shows nothing but insecurities in the person doing it. They usually have some deep seeded issues, so they take it out on others. That was the feeling I got from Mike Leach. Sure, he was a good interview and older people liked him, but I was never a fan. I don't like when adults demean and torment kids. These kids were put into situations that were bad. Their parents thought that they would be taken care of, but sometimes they weren't. They were made to feel less than. I cannot get on board with that.

This behavior continued at other jobs, but since he was this offensive genius, these other schools didn't seem to care. When he was let go at Texas Tech, for hazing issues and improper punishments, it wasn't long before Washington State hired him. That hire was applauded everywhere. And he turned Washington State into a perennial bowl team. They had big offensive numbers and outscored enough teams to be bowl eligible. But he never beat Washington and was let go after the 2019 season. Mississippi State was quick to snatch him up in 2020. COVID held MSU to only 10 games and they finished 3-7. 2021 was better seeing the Bulldogs finish 7-6. This past season was his best at MSU, finishing 8-4 and beating Ole Miss to close out the regular season. But Leach seemed to be sick all year. He had pneumonia and a long lasting flu. He always had a cough. I think he may have had long COVID. But this did not stop the demeaning. At the end of this season one of the running backs on the team entered the transfer portal and stated that the "coaches do not think I am tough enough". That is not a good look.

But the sudden passing is still rough. It is tragic. It is sad. It seems unfair to happen to someone so young. This one will reverberate for some time now. I'm still kind of in shock. 

Ty

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

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I Believe in Coach Prime at Colorado

Deion Sanders is moving from Jackson State to Colorado. I always figured Sanders was going to move on to a different job. I just thought it might be a bigger profile school.

Before I get into that, the job he did at JSU was incredible. In three seasons he had a record of 27-5. JSU went undefeated this season. They blew out almost every opponent. Sanders was able to pull in high profile recruits. "College Gameday" made an appearance at JSU this past season. Sanders was out there beating the drum for HBCU's, and he did a great job of getting them more recognition. I wonder what is going to happen now, with Sanders gone, to HBCU football. Time will tell. There are some big names coaching HBCU football teams, but they don't bring the same weight as Deion does, but they are still well known names. Now, let's talk about Deion taking the Colorado job.

I do not think this has to do with a paycheck. I know there are some rumors about money at JSU, but none of that has been proven. Deion is also already a very, very rich man. He played two sports professionally and played them both very well. He was a better football player, but he had the talent to be exceptional at two sports at the highest level and he was compensated as such. Money is not the issue here.

I think Deion took this job for the challenge. I think he did what he could do as best he could at JSU and he wanted another challenge, a tougher challenge. HBCU football is top notch now, so Deion was ready to try his luck elsewhere. Colorado is in bad shape. They have not had a winning record since 2016. They were bad last year and even worse this year. They won one game. Colorado was a big time player in the 90's, but they have not made a ton of noise since. Even joining the Pac 12 has not raised their level of play.

This is about as tough a challenge as Deion could get. This feels like a semi lateral move. I think Colorado is only a little better than JSU. But Deion is already changing things there. He told the current players to get in line or transfer out. He told them he was going to be bringing his own players over at crucial positions. The way he put the message out there was kind of messed up, but at least he was honest with them up front. And he is already showing his ability to bring over quality players. His son was the best QB in the SWAC last season. He is now a Buffalo. Travis Hunter was the number one overall recruit last season, Deion got him to commit to JSU on signing day and Hunter crushed in his freshman season. He is now a Buffalo. There are other players who have entered the portal and put it out there that they want to play for Deion. If I was a college player I would be tempted to go play for him. He was electric to watch when he played and I love the passion he has for the game. Deion is going to do just fine on the recruiting trail. The stuff that makes this job tough is competition. As I said, Deion will get solid players, top level recruits, but it is going to take time. Colorado is not a job that he will be able to switch in three years. It is going to take time. Colorado is not only very bad, they play tough Pac 12 teams. Travis Hunter should fit in fine at the D-1 level, but who knows about the other kids coming over from JSU. JSU is D-1, but they have not played athletes the caliber that they will see at Colorado. They are going to have to play Oregon. Oregon is very good and has top recruiting classes every year. Oregon State has continued to get better. Utah has won the Pac 12 twice. UCLA and USC have one more Pac 12 season before they bounce. The schedule is going to be hard at first. The weather is going to be a factor. It gets cold and snowy in Colorado. Some kids will have to adjust. The administration better give Deion time. He is going to need, at the very least, three years. I fully believe in him, believe in his recruiting and his excellent coaching. But he needs a long leash. The powers that be need to be patient. It will eventually pay dividends, but he needs time.

All in all I love this hire for Colorado. They had the best coaching hire in college football. Full stop. I also think this challenge is perfect for Deion because he is not afraid of anything. He will succeed. If he gets time. I'm so stoked to watch him coach.

Ty

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

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Baker Mayfield is not Going to Fix the Rams

Before the NFL season started I put the Los Angeles Rams at the top of my rankings. I figured they would be primed to make a run for a repeat. They were coming off a Super Bowl win, they had pretty much everyone back and the coach decided to stick around after flirting with retirement.

Well, things have not gone as planned. The Rams have had a bad season. As of today the Rams are 3-9. They are in last place in the NFC West. They have the second worst record in the NFC, behind only the Bears who sit at 3-10. The only team with a worse record is the Texans, at 1-10-1. The Rams are down.

The bad season isn't all due to the returning players. This team has been injured a ton this year. Cam Akers wanted to be traded, sat out a game and is still around somehow. Jalen Ramsey has not been as dominant. Aaron Donald has been on and off the injured list all season. They miss Von Miller. Cooper Kuup is hurt and regressing. The tight ends have not been there all season. The team is a mess.

Yet the biggest mess is at QB. Matthew Sarfford has taken a tremendous step back and is now hurt. Bryce Perkins has had some run at the position, but he isn't ready yet. John Wolford is trash and he is also hurt. It has gotten so bad that the Rams went out and claimed Baker Mayfield.

I have never been a fan of Mayfield's. I thought the Browns totally reached when they took him first overall in his draft. I was never sold on him in college. He was too small and did not really perform as a superstar in big games. He didn't have that it factor in college that some other star college players do. I know he won the Heisman, but the Heisman is a flawed trophy. I think we all know that. And Mayfield was never the answer with the Browns. Sure they went to the playoffs a few times, but they always came up short. The team tried to build around him, get players that fit his style, but Mayfield never changed his game. He wanted everyone to conform to his style in Cleveland. He thought he was a star because he had a ton of commercials during NFL Sunday's. His head got a bit too big. He even resorted to calling out other teammates and the front office. Again, it was never his fault, it was always someone else.

It got bad enough that the Browns traded him last offseason. They decided to go with Deshaun Watson, who brought a whole new set of problems to the franchise, and Jacoby Brissett. The trade of Mayfield to the Panthers did not garner the return you would think when trading a "star" player. The Panthers got Mayfield and all they had to give up was a 2024 conditional draft pick. The Browns were so eager to rid themselves of Mayfield that they traded him and still owed him 10.5 million dollars.

Mayfield wasn't long for Carolina either. He was not named the starter right away. Instead, Matt Rhule, who was horrendous as the head coach, had Mayfield and Sam Darnold fight it out. And Darnold won. Then he played poorly and they put Mayfield in. He wasn't any better. Mayfield looked slower, was not reading defenses, seemed a little frightened and got benched again. The Panthers just cut him a week ago. They just wanted him out. They did not want him anywhere near the team. He was put on waivers and the only team to put in a claim was the Rams.

That is how rough it is at the QB position for the Rams. They were the single team that claimed him, and now he will probably start in the Thursday night game. And I am sure the Rams will get housed by the Raiders.

Baker Mayfield is not the QB that many "draft experts" claimed he was going to be. He is not a team builder. He is not a team player. He only cares about himself and his endorsements. I would not be surprised at all if he is cut again before this season even ends. At this point, if I were the Rams front office and coaches, I would go with Bryce Perkins for the rest of the season. Try to see what they have in him. This team is not going to repeat. They are not going to even make the playoffs. Taking a chance on Baker Mayfield seems ill advised. Just a thought. 

Ty

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

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The Heisman Trophy Candidates are Half Right and Half Wrong

The Heisman finalists were revealed last night, and spoiler alert, obviously I am making a joke, all four finalists are QB's.

I'm not against QB's or anything, but it just seems like that is the only position that they want to award with the Heisman trophy. I understand that QB's are the "most" important players on the team. I get that they get all the shine. I understand that the fanbases put so much on who the team they root for puts in at QB. That whole scenario played out this year with Michigan. All the talk was about Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy. That was the lead story all offseason. No one talked about who was going to replace Hassan Haskins. They made minimal chatter about replacing some d lineman. They barely mentioned the new offensive lineman, who give the QB all the time to throw the ball. None of that was as big as Cade vs JJ as the starting QB. And I am sure it is the same way with other teams.

Two of the four finalists fully deserve to be in New York. CJ Stroud and Caleb Williams are more than deserving. They have had tremendous seasons. They have both put up video game numbers. They have broken school records. They have been impeccable. Personally I think the award is already wrapped up too. I believe that Caleb Williams is an absolute lock to win the Heisman. He has been really good this year. He has done all he can to win the Heisman. It is not his fault that Utah beat USC twice. He put up big numbers in both games, even being injured in the Pac 12 title game. Williams has been consistently awesome all season long. As has Stroud. He had a few clunkers, Michigan and Northwestern, but even in those games he put up big numbers. He couldn't throw much at Northwestern, so he made up for it by getting a ton of rushing yards. In the Michigan game he went well over 300 yards passing. It was the turnovers and only two TD passes that held him back. He and Williams have been near locks all year to get to New York as Heisman finalists.

The other two QB's that are there, I do not fully understand the logic. Max Duggan is very good. He has had a very good season. He has weapons all over the field. He has put up decent numbers. But he has not been mentioned all year. I have not heard anyone say he should be a Heisman finalist. I watch a ton of sports talk shows and the name Max Duggan has not been mentioned once, until the Heisman finalists were announced. The Heisman finalists are usually touted all season, or at least after three games into the season. Duggan has had a very good year, but not a Heisman finalist type year. And Stetson Bennett, I mean, come on. He wasn't even 1st or 2nd team all SEC. He does not have humongous numbers. He has not done anything that has made me say "WOW" while watching him play this year. If anything he has taken a little step back this season. Bennett is a fine game manager. He does little runs here and there and makes a throw or two a game, but he is not a Heisman guy. The Heisman is not an award for a career. It is a year to year thing. Stetson Bennett should not be there because he has an otherworldly defense and doesn't have to do much as the starting QB. I am baffled by this invite. This is the one that makes no sense to me. I do not get it at all. I was stunned when I saw he was a finalist. It is baffling.

There are so many more deserving players. Blake Corum should be there over Bennett. Hendon Hooker had a far better season in the same conference. He is a better SEC QB than Stetson Bennett. So is Bryce Young. Deuce Vaughn would have been a better candidate than Bennett. I could go on and on and on. At least last season they invited and had some defensive players mentioned as Heisman candidates. This year seems like the Heisman voters just put some QB's names on a wall and picked the ones that they threw darts in. Max Duggan may be deserving, but there is no world where Stetson Bennett should be a Heisman finalist. That is a joke.

Ty

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

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The College Football Playoff Committee Got it Right

The final College Football Playoff rankings were released last night. I was watching to see who Michigan would be playing in the playoff. The Wolverines are one of two undefeated teams in the country, so it wasn't a matter of if they would get in, it was just a matter of who they would play. Honestly, I kind of wanted another the university of Ohio State matchup. I think that would have made for great TV. I think even more people would have tuned in than did a week ago. But it did not happen. And I get it.

What I want to say right off the top, the committee got it right. They picked the four most deserving teams to be in the playoff. The good news for next season is that there will be twelve teams and no one should gripe as much as they do now. But where we stand, where the committee ended up, they got the right teams. Georgia is 1, Michigan 2, TCU 3 and the university of Ohio State 4. Those are the correct teams in the correct order. Georgia and Michigan deserved the top two spots. As previously mentioned, they are the only two undefeated teams in all of division one college football. They both won their conference title. They play in the two toughest conferences in the country. They won most of their games comfortably. They have the most impressive wins. They earned these spots.

I fully believe TCU is a fitting number three. They won almost every game. They had a shot in the Big 12 title game. They were inches away from a lead in overtime. They have impressive wins throughout the season. They remind me a ton of Michigan from last year. No one expected much from TCU, but today they are 12-1 and a very deserving playoff team. I am terrified of this matchup for Michigan. TCU has an elite QB, great athletes all around him and a very good secondary.

The number 4 spot was the only one that was kind of up in the air. I heard some people fighting for the university of Ohio State and others talking about Alabama. I am kind of stunned no one brought up Tennessee. Or Clemson. Hell, I would have looked at 10-3 Utah for a minute. Tennessee has the exact same record as Alabama and a head to head win. I know they got blown out by South Carolina near the end of the season, but they have that identical record. They also beat Alabama. They also held the first number 1 ranking in the first CFP. They have more of a beef than Bama. Clemson plays in a very, very weak conference, and they kind of struggled all year to get to 10 wins. But they won 10 games and their conference title. And they won it big. I think they had the biggest margin of victory of any power 5 team that played in their conference title. Look, I despise Dabo Swinney and Clemson, but they share the same record as Bama and Tennessee. But they have a conference title to add to their resume. And while Utah would have been an extremely long shot to make it, they are the Pac 12 champs and they dismantled USC, who was the darling team at the time of their conference title matchup. It was a foregone conclusion that USC was going to beat Utah and secure their spot in the playoff. Instead they got smoked and it was the second time Utah beat them this year. But in the end, the university of Ohio State was the correct choice. Their record is 11-1. Their lone loss was to the number 2 team in the country. The university of Ohio State beat everyone else on their schedule, and did it with ease. You look at a team like Penn State, who has two losses, they are to the university of Ohio State and Michigan. Both schools whipped them. They beat Notre Dame on opening weekend. They dismantled Iowa. They throttled every team in the Big Ten with the exception being Michigan. And Maryland gave them a run. But looking at all these teams resumes, really breaking them down and looking at schedules, the university of Ohio State is the most deserving. And I loathe that school. I never want to say anything nice about them. But it is undeniable. They deserve that fourth spot. They should be playing the number 1 team in the country. It makes sense. That whole Nick Saban talking tour on Saturday was pure nonsense. The fact that television programs gave him an outlet is laughable. And his statement, "how are they playing today" when asked about TCU and USC, at least those teams were still playing. At least they made it to their conference title games. The playoff is not about name recognition or how many times you have been there before. It is about performance on the field for this season, the 2022 season. And Alabama did not do anything even close enough to earn a spot.

I am not the biggest fan of the college football playoff committee, but they got it right this time. A broken clock is right twice a day. They did the right thing. I am pumped for this playoff too. We have the obvious reason, Michigan. But I am pumped to watch the other game and the championship. December 31st cannot get here soon enough.

Ty

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

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Happy Retirement David Shaw

David Shaw has stepped down as the head football coach at Stanford.

Shaw was a great head coach. He followed Jim Harbaugh to San Diego, then to Stanford. When Harbaugh left to take the 49ers head job, Shaw slid right into his spot. It was a seamless transition at the start of his career. Stanford went to three straight BCS Bowl games in Shaw's first three seasons. Two of those bowls were the Rose Bowl. They won one of those Rose Bowl's, defeating Wisconsin. The next two years were a little tougher, but in 2015 the Cardinal were dominant yet again. They won the Pac 12, went to the Rose Bowl again and throttled Iowa. Stanford ended that season as the 3rd ranked team in the country, their highest ranking in 75 years. In 2017 Shaw would become Satnford's all time winningest head coach with a win over Cal.

Things haven't gone as swimmingly as you would hope the last few seasons, but he does still have some signature wins since 2018. Then, like he always seems to do, he walked away without much fanfare. Stanford got beat in their final game of this season, and a few days later, Shaw issued a statement saying he was retiring. He said that he didn't have it in him anymore. That the grind was getting to him. That recruiting was becoming tougher. I fully got all of it when I read his statement. Stanford is a tough, tough job. The academics to get into that school are insane. To do that and play football, it is a full time job. But Shaw had this team at some of its highest highs they will ever reach. He won with two and three star players. He won with kids that were more determined to be doctors and scientists than professional football players. He recruited kids who were valedictorians and salutatorians at their high school. NIL was never going to help Stanford be dominant, but Shaw still coached these kids up and had them ready all the time. The fact that they beat Notre Dame this year shows how great of a coach Shaw was for Stanford. He never backed down, but he also never talked a ton. He let the play do his talking. He coached these kids to always be prepared. Stanford was always disciplined. They never seemed to make stupid plays that killed drives or let teams march down the field. They were a sound, prepared and focused team. Even in the lean years they never let themselves beat them. They played smart football.

I also liked Shaw's attitude and energy on the sidelines. I feel like he understood that this was a game and he never seemed to let it take him over. His facial expression barely changed. He never got too excited at big plays or too upset at missed calls. He always had this calm demeanor. And he never said anything out of pocket during interviews before, during or after the game. David Shaw is the epitome of class. Whenever Michigan had a job opening, and Shaw was on their short list, I always wanted him to take the job. I would have been happy with him as head coach. I believe Stanford fans were very pleased with Shaw, as they should be.

Shaw is an all timer. He is a great college football coach. He understood the assignment and passed it with flying colors. I also love his demeanor. The way he carried himself was excellent. He is the definition of acting like you have been there before. I did not realize that Shaw leaving college football would hit me like this, but that also speaks volumes to the type of coach and person he is. Enjoy retirement David Shaw. You have more than earned it.

Ty

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

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One Right, and Two Wrongs, on College Football Coaching Carousal

The next two days I want to talk about some college coaching changes that have occurred since the regular season ended. Today I want to focus on three new coaches. I got some feeling about all three of these hires, only one of which am I on board with.

The first is the one I like. I think Wisconsin hit an absolute home run when they lured Luke Fickell away from Cincinnati. Fickell has been up and coming for a few seasons now. He turned Cincy into a power. They are the first non power five school to make the playoff. They gave a good fight to Alabama last year. He has gotten solid recruits to commit. He coached some solid first round NFL picks in his time at Cincy. He was just waiting for an opportunity. And it is not like Cincy isn't a power, but Wisconsin is a better job. The facilities are better. It is easier to get higher rated recruits. They have a very historic past. They just needed a coach who can help usher them into this new era of college football. Fickell is the guy to do that. This hire, as a Michigan fan, scares me for the future. Wisconsin is down this season, but they will not be down for long. Fickell is going to get solid players, turn this team around and they will be back to being an upper tier Big Ten team. That is also another reason why I do not mind him leaving Cincy for Wisconsin. Sure, Cincy is joining the Big 12 next year, but the Big 12 is not the Big 10. The Big 10 and SEC will most likely be the only two conferences left in major college football in the next five to seven years. Fickell made the right choice. Wisconsin will be good again very soon.

Now to the other hires I do not like.

Matt Rhule is a big name in college football. He turned Temple around and then did the same thing with Baylor. He parlayed that into an NFL job and failed spectacularly. The Panthers were bad. He was under prepared. He didn't seem to have the edge needed to coach in the NFL. So I get the move back to college for him. He is the leader. He is the boss. He is the CEO. He gets to call the shots. He is also getting paid handsomely. But I just do not see this as big a move as some others do. I remember last year when Jim Harbaugh was flirting with the NFL, again, and Rhule was being mentioned as a possible replacement if he were to leave Michigan. I told anyone who would listen that I did not want that. Rhule is an old school type coach. He plays a boring style of offense. He likes to slow the game down. He wants to control the clock and play tough defense. He is an old school Big 10 coach. I will give him credit for letting his offense run a little more up tempo at Baylor, but that was when he had the athletes to do that. Nebraska has some athletes, but they do not have the type he had at Baylor. They also do not have the players to run Rhule's old school offense or defense. He is going to have to recruit and recruit hard. I do not know how much he will want to do that after being in the NFL for two plus years. Rhule also doesn't seem like the Midwest type. He's from New York. He played at Penn State. He has coached Temple and Baylor. None of that screams Midwest. I just do not think the transition is going to be as smooth as others do. It is going to take time, and as we saw with Scott Frost, Nebraska fans want success now. They do not want to wait. I think if the fanbase is patient it could pay off, but it is going to be two or three years before they are truly competitive under Matt Rhule.

The final hire, the one I despise the most, is Auburn bringin on Hugh Freeze. Freeze comes with a plethora of problems. He has been sanctioned to hell. He has all of his wins from Ole Miss vacated. He had to go back to Liberty to coach, but he was all but forgotten about by a bunch of college football fans. He also ended his Liberty tenure with a whimper. They got beat in their last two games after winning something like seven in a row. He also may be a decent coach, but there are too many off field issues with him. Freeze is a cheater. He has been condemned as a cheater. He got caught. But somehow he failed upwards. Auburn should have just stuck with Cadillac Williams. He did a good job taking over for that blowhard Bryan Harsin. He had that team and fanbase energized. And I understand that Freeze has kept him on staff, but now that he has a taste of head coaching, I cannot imagine Cadillac Williams sticking around too long as an assistant. This hire has me scratching my head more than any other so far. Freeze brings too much baggage and it is only a matter of time before he messes up again. Auburn could have done better.

Time will tell on all these guys, but Luke Fickell to Wisconsin is the only one that makes any immediate sense to me.

Ty

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

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Bol Bol Makes The Orlando Magic a Worthy Watch

In lieu of doing my annual thanks post I usually do on Thanksgiving, I took the day off to reflect. I am very thankful for so many things, but I wanted to do something a little different, a little off the beaten path from what I normally do. This piece is going to meld the two things together for me.

I love basketball, as you all know very well. I especially love the NBA. In football I prefer college, but the NBA just does it for me. It is also very early in the season, so things are pretty wide open and kind of nuts right now. I like to watch all the teams, and having League Pass makes that a cinch. This means I have been watching a ton of Orlando Magic. Some might say too much.

Orlando is not very good, but they are fun to watch. They fly up and down the floor. They do not play much defense, but their offense is fast and tense. They love to get it up and down, and I love that style of basketball the most. I am currently coaching my 5th grade team to run, run and run some more. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it is a thing of beauty. I feel like that is what the Magic are doing right now. They are just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. They also have a core group of young players and they are a delight to watch. Even when they screw up it is still somehow entertaining. I like guys like Cole Anthony. He is fun and plays a little old school-ish. Franz Wagner is turning out to be a very solid pro on both ends. He is living up to the hype. Paolo Banchero was the correct choice at number 1. He is hurt now, but when he has played, he has looked very legit. He has the tools to be a star. Mo Bamba is playing more like I hoped he would when he first entered the league. He is a rim protector, a decent low post guy and can run for days. Jalen Suggs has looked better this season. Wendell Carter Jr has found a place that has let him figure it out and he looks like he is doing just that. Even Markelle Fultz, when not hurt, has found a style of play that works for him and the team. But the one guy that has impressed me the most, the player I like to watch the most on this team, the whole reason for this blog today, is Bol Bol.

Bol Bol was a very ballyhooed recruit. He was this unicorn that every major program wanted. He finally decided on Oregon. When I first heard of him, then saw him, I was skeptical. But then he played a few games for the Ducks. He was worth the hype. He was blocking shots left and right. He was scoring with ease in the post. He was pulling big guys outside and making threes. I was flabbergasted. I could not believe my eyes. But then he got hurt. He missed most of his freshman season. He then went pro, as expected, but slipped to the second round. The Nuggets drafted him. I liked this pick because he could develop with a very good pro team. He was going to be learning from some of the best. But they never played him. They could not find minutes for him. He'd get in blowouts and show flashes, but nothing was sustainable. He was then traded to multiple teams. He somehow ended up in Orlando before this season started, and I liked it. It reminded me a ton of when they acquired Fultz. Bol Bol was going to get to play, he was going to learn on the fly and the Magic were going to let him be himself. And so far, he has looked pretty wonderful. He is hitting threes. He is grabbing boards. He is blocking shots. He is putting up double doubles with ease. He looks to be having fun. He looks healthy. He looks like he is turning into the unicorn that everyone previously thought he could be.

Lately I have been watching a ton of the French kid, Victor Webanyama, and he is legit. He is going to be a star. But everyone says that no one has ever looked like this kid. Well, and he is not even close to this kid's level, but isn't Bol Bol kind of like the poor man's Webanyama? They both have similar games. The French kid is built better, but Bol Bol has gotten bigger since he entered the league. The French kid and Bol block a lot of shots. They both grab boards. They both can stretch the D. Again, Bol is not the prospect Webanyama is, but he is a very similar player. They have very similar profiles.

All in all, it has been an absolute joy to watch Bol Bol to this point of the season. I hope it sticks. I hope he becomes a regular starter in the NBA. I also hope he stays with this fun young core in Orlando. I feel like this team could be very good in two to three years if they stay put. Until that time comes though, I will sit back and gladly watch Bol Bol do stuff that I have never seen on an NBA floor in my life to this date. He is a fun player to watch.

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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The Packers Stink

Before the NFL season started I assumed Green Bay would walk in their division. They have done it every year for the past decade, so I just figured it would be more of the same. I thought the Lions would be better, but not a threat. I predicted the Bears to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, but they have some fight and play hard. And I thought the Vikings would be mediocre, a .500 team at best. It has almost always been this way.

The Packers are bad. They are very, very bad. They have no fight. They are constantly injured. The defense is seemingly always on the field. The special teams are beyond mediocre. The run game is nowhere to be seen. The pass game is even worse. The offense is terrible. And I am here today to put the majority of the blame on Aaron Rodgers.

I loathe this dude. I also loathe the fact that this team is so predicated on how one guy performs. But every week Aaron Rodgers makes some dumbass face or blames someone else or says some nonsense in an interview and it just bums me out.

I cannot believe I am still supporting this team. I do not like the QB or the coach. I only like some defensive players. The team has zero urgency. They have no fight. They cannot put it together at all. They have gotten worse every week. Last week against the Lions they managed 9 points. 9 freaking points. And it is not like they were not in the red zone a bunch. They had, I believe, four trips to the redzone. And, once again, managed only 9 points. Rodgers threw a pick to Aidan Hutchinson. I was stoked to see Hutchinson get a pick, but a defensive lineman picking off a QB that is supposed to be an all timer, that is rough stuff. But it has been like that all year. Even the three wins they have are all low scoring. They have won with defense. The offense is a wreck. I know that Davante Adams left, but he should not have made this much of a difference. He is an incredible receiver, one of the best in the league, but one receiver signing with a different team should not make this much of an impact. They still have Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. They still have solid wideouts like Randall Cobb. They got a solid rookie in Romeo Doubs. They still have the core of their O line. They have a decent tight end room.

I think it all goes back to Rodgers. He threw his fit, lied to everyone about being vaccinated, still got paid and now it is like he doesn't even care. He goes out on the field with his stupid haircuts and makes derpy faces all the time. It is aggravating. I am so ready for the Packers to move on.

I am ready to watch Jordan Love give it a shot. I want them to maybe draft a young QB in this upcoming class. I mean, the Packers are not going anywhere this season. They are 3-7 and it is not going to get any better. Sure, they are ahead of the Lions and tied with the Bears, but those teams play hard. And have players. The Lions are building a defense for the future, and I bet they will address the offense this offseason and in the draft. The Bears have a very good young QB in Justin Fields, they traded for Chase Claypool and they made some moves to get picks. They let Roquan Smith go, but they got picks. They traded a D lineman, but they got picks. They are building. As for the Vikings, screw their QB as well, but they have Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook. They still use Adam Thielen quite a bit. They traded for TJ Hockenson. Their defense is as solid as ever. I mean, they would be just fine with Justin Jefferson, but they have building blocks as well.

The only team in the division stuck in neutral, the Packers. This team needs a change and they need it at a lot of levels. They need a new QB. They may need some new coaches. They need to get some more solid wideouts. They need to revamp. They may even need to rebuild. This team is not good and the future looks rough. Time for some changes. 

Ty

Ty's 2022 - 2023 College Basketball Preview

Wrapping up all of my basketball previews, today I am coming to you all with my men's NCAA basketball preview. Full disclosure, I do not really pay attention to college basketball until the college football season is over. I will watch games on nights that college football is not on, but I do not focus on any team except Michigan. So take this preview with a humongous grain of salt. I did look at the preseason polls, which are totally useless, but that is what I'm going to go off of to do this preview.

With all that, UNC is preseason number 1. They have a ton of returning talent. They were in the title game last year, they maybe should have won it and they appear to be absolutely loaded. They have a very, very good team with great experience.

Gonzaga is number 2, but I am done with that team. They are always ranked in the top 5, they always win a ton of regular season games, they get a 1 seed in the tourney and they get beat much earlier than they should. I wrote about it a while ago, but I'm done with Gonzaga. They are paper champs.

Rounding out the top 5 we have Houston, who will play tremendous defense, Kentucky, who has reloaded, has a great returning star in Oscar Tishbiwe and will be much better this season than last and Baylor is 5. They play very good defense, they have shooters and they have experience.

From there on out in the top 25 we have a ton of blue bloods. KU is in the top 10. They are always great. Duke has a new coach, but it is much the same. They have a great group of freshmen coming in and they are extremely talented. UCLA may not have Johnny Juzang, they still have a great core of dudes that have played together for more than two years now. Creighton is in the top 10 and I cannot name one single player. But this seems to be the case every year. There is always one team in the non power 5 other than Gonzaga that are always highly rated. It must be due to the camaraderie and the years of playing together. Teams like Creighton have so much depth and familiarity with each other and that pays dividends in the long run. Creighton will win a game in the tourney against a much more talented team simply due to the fact that they know how to play off one another. And then there is Arkansas. Arkansas is fast, athletic, plays awesome defense and I'm sure they have some dope transfers coming in. Then we have teams like Tennessee, who is getting great recruits every year, Texas, who recruits college basketball transfers like USC does with college football transfers, TCU, who is loaded with experience and Auburn, who gets elite talent seemingly every season now.

From the Big Ten we have Indiana, loaded with depth, experience, a great coach and solid recruits, Illinois, who has a tough coach and tough players, Michigan State, who play an elite style of basketball and always peak at the right time, The University of Ohio State, who is a solid 20 win team and Michigan, who has Hunter Dickinson, an elite point guard transfer and a solid recruiting class coming in. The Big Ten should be a bloodbath yet again.

Rounding it out we have teams like Oregon, always a threat, San Diego State, maybe the best defense in college basketball, Arizona, who is getting better and better every season lately, Villanova, who has some elite recruits coming in, Texas Tech, who play an old school style of basketball and Dayton, who has Obi Toppin's little brother and an up and coming head coach.

Men's college basketball is very wide open this season. Last year we did have UNC and KU in the title game, which is as blue blood as it gets, but it was still a surprise, a fun one at that, to get a title game like that. It was a blast.

As for my picks for the Final Four this year, I do not know. What I do know, I'm not picking Gonzaga again. Never, ever again. If I had to pick a Final Four right at this moment I'd say, UNC, Houston, Kentucky and Creighton. I'd put UNC and Houston in the title game. And I'm picking UNC to win it all this year. They are stacked. I do think Tishbiwe from Kentucky is going to win Player of the Year. As for the top pick in the NBA draft, well he will not be playing in college this season. Victor Webayama will be the first pick and he is playing professionally in France. And the second pick, Scoot Henderson will be playing in the G League. So who knows who will be the stud from college basketball. But I'm sure there are some incoming freshmen who will blow up this season and I will learn about them halfway through the season.

Okay there it is, there is my men's NCAA basketball preview for the 2022-23 season. And that wraps up all of my 22-23 basketball previews. Enjoy the season everyone.

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Playoff Predictions

Today I have my 22-23 NBA playoff and awards for you all. I just finished my countdown, so this is the next logical step for me. I also love doing this to see how wrong I am at the end of the season. Let's start with the East.

There are three teams at the top, a cluster in the middle and then some fighting for the play in. The East is not as good as the West, but it is a much improved conference. The three teams at the top, from 1-3 I have the Bucks, Celtics and 76ers. I understand the 76ers haven't won yet, but I do not put a whole lot of stock into three games. They need to start winning now, and I fully believe they will. The next three teams that will firmly be in the playoffs, from 4-6 I have the Heat, Cavs and Nets. I do think the Nets will squeak in, I love the Hawks offseason and I'm tired of sleeping on the Heat. They are always good and they always find a way to win. To round out the playoffs I now have the play in teams. From 7-10 I got the Raptors, Bulls, Wizards and Knicks. I really wanted to pick the Pistons, but I think they are a year away. As for the play in, I got the Raptors beating the Knicks to grab the 7 seed and the Bulls winning two to get the 8th seed.

Now for the East playoffs. The Bucks will once again sweep the Bulls in round one. The 4-5 will be pretty fun. The Heat are the old standby and the Cavs are new and fun. I do like the Cavs to win this series in seven, but it will be tough and hard fought. The 3-6 will see the 76ers beat the Nets in six. Kevin Durant is good enough to get two wins, but Kyrie Irving is a flake and who knows what they will get from Ben Simmons. In the 2-7, the Celtics will beat the Hawks, but it will be closer than we all think. I think the Celtics will win in six, but each game will be close and fun to watch. The semi finals will feature the Bucks facing the Cavs and the Celtics facing the 76ers. I like the Bucks in 5 over the Cavs and the 76ers, I will probably regret this pick, over the Celtics in seven. Then I have the Bucks kind of cruising in the East Finals. The 76ers will be tired and the Bucks will be fresh. And Giannis is just that good. The Bucks will represent the East.

Now for the varsity, the Western Conference. The West is going to be an absolute bloodbath. The conference, for the most part, only got better this offseason. My 1-3 teams are the Clippers, Warriors and Suns. These three teams are loaded, deep, talented and one is the reigning champs. They are so good. As for 4-6, firmly in the playoffs, I have the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Mavs. Two of these teams I cannot stand, and obviously I love the Grizz. I do believe all three of these teams will have 50 plus wins too. That is how deep the West is this season. When we talk about the play in, from 7-10 I have the Timberwolves, Pelicans, Trailblazers and, I do not know who to pick between the Kings and Lakers, I guess I will go with the Kings. In the 7-10 matchup the Timberwolves will cruise to the 7 seed. And the 8 seed will end up being the Pelicans again. They are too fun to not pick.

As for the playoffs now, in the 1-8 the Clippers will beat the Pels in five games. It will be a good series, but the Clippers depth is too much. The 4-5 will feature the Nuggets taking on my Grizzlies. I really, really want to pick the Grizzlies. I love that team so much. But with Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray all back, I unfortunately have to go with the Nuggets in seven. Prove me wrong Grizz. The 3-6 will feature a West semis rematch between the Suns and Mavs. I have the Suns exacted a bit of revenge and winning this series in seven games. The 2-7 will have the Warriors taking down the Timberwolves in six. The Warriors have too much firepower. In the West semis we will have the Clippers taking on the Nuggets and the Warriors playing the Suns. These are two series that should be a ton of fun. I think the Clippers will dispatch of the Nuggets in six games. This should be revenge for the bubble. And the Suns will find a way to beat the Warriors. I think the Warriors will be tired by the time they get here, and it is hard to repeat in pro sports. As for the West Finals I have the Clippers taking down the Suns in six games. Again, the Clippers depth is otherworldly and Kawhi is a playoff killer. I also think the Suns will be spent. The Clippers are the West champs.

That means I have the Bucks facing the Clippers in the NBA Finals. I think Giannis will get his second ring. He is just that good and I think we will all be reminded this season. I have the Bucks winning in six games. Giannis will be the Finals MVP as well.

Now let's do the regular season awards. MVP is going to be Joel Embiid. Once he fully takes over the team he will be unstoppable. Coach of the Year is going to Chris Finch from Minnesota. They are going to be a very good team this season. Defensive Player of the Year is going to be Evan Mobley. He is going to be tremendous all over the floor this season, but especially on defense. Sixth Man of the Year is going to be Jordan Poole. He is going to blow up even more this season. And finally, my Rookie of the Year is Paolo Banchero. I have not seen a rookie so ready to compete in a long time. He is the real deal.

There it is, my 22-23 NBA playoff and awards predictions. Let's see how this all unfolds now.

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Clippers, Warriors, Bucks

Welcome to day ten, the final day of my 22-23 NBA countdown. These are my favorites. These are the teams I believe in the most. I will do a playoff and awards prediction on Monday, and a men's college basketball preview on Tuesday. But this is the final day of my countdown.

At number 3 I have the Los Angeles Clippers. I have believed in the Clippers for a few years now, but this is the most I have ever believed in them. They have it all. Kawhi Leonard is back. He is amazing. He is the best overall defender in the NBA, he has become an incredible scorer and he is seemingly healthy again. He looked pretty good the other night, and I believe he will only get better and better as the season wears on. Paul George is also back. George is wrongfully hated by the media. He is a very solid two way player. He has had a solid career and he thrives being Robin to Kawhi's Batman. Ivica Zubac is okay. He can be frustrating at times, but he can also look very good. Reggie Jackson has found a solid home since leaving OKC. He fits very well with this squad. Robert Covington is a beast of a defender and can score here and there. Norm Powell is a great bench scorer and is one of the most important players on this title contending team. John Wall is back and I am so very happy. Wall was one of my favorite players and I wish nothing but solid health for the rest of his career. Luke Kennard can still shoot the three, and he is asked to do nothing else. Terance Mann is a promising young player. Marcus Morris Sr is their enforcer. Nic Batum still carries a little weight. This Clippers squad is loaded. They are deep and incredibly talented. They should be very good, depending on health. This team is legit.

At number 2 I have the defending champs, the Golden State Warriors. It is rinse, wash, repeat for this team. I feel like last season's title was so very fulfilling for this team. They did it their way on their own. I should despise this team but I just don't. They are fun to watch. Steph Curry is still amazing. He is a wizard on the floor. He has gotten better on defense. He is the best shooter of all time. He is in a class all his own. Klay Thompson is fully back and I couldn't be happier for him. It was such a sight to see him play last season and work out the kinks. I love that he is back. Jordan Poole got paid. We all know the offseason drama between him and Draymond Green, but that seems to have passed. And Poole is looking every bit like the next great shooter from Golden State. This is probably the last go round for Draymond Green here and I think he will relish it all. He loves this team, but they may not love him. He does great things that this team needs and this should be his final dance here. Andrew Wiggins proved he belongs. He was incredible in the Finals last year and he also got paid. James Wiseman adds depth and height to this squad. He just needs to stay on the floor. Donte DiVincenzo fits almost too perfectly with this team. It is gross. JaMychal Green brings offensive rebounding and grit. Kevon Looney is their center now and for the foreseeable future. Johnathan Kuminga and Moses Moody should get a chance to show they deserve playing time. And Andre Iguodala is their Udonis Haslem. The Warriors are very, very good and will be as long as Steph Curry is on this team.

And my number 1 team for the 22-23 NBA season is the Milwaukee Bucks. I love, love, love the Bucks. They are my father's favorite team and I find it hard to not root for them when they are not playing the Grizzlies. Giannis Antetokoumpo is the best player in the league. Full stop. He does it all, and is a very good player in the NBA. He is the one and only unicorn in the NBA. When healthy, Khris Middleton hits all the big shots, plays stout defense and has a very calm demeanor. Jrue Holiday may be the best perimeter defender in the league. He also hits big shots when called upon and plays a fun style of basketball. Brook Lopez will be there for the full season and that will benefit him and the Bucks. Bobby Portis has totally turned his career story around and has become a great energizer off the bench. He is awesome. Pat Conaughton can shoot the three and d up. Serge Ibaka can still give this team small minutes here and there. Jevon Carter brings toughness. Wes Matthews fits so well on this squad. This Bucks team has everything you could want in a modern NBA team. They are my early title favorites, and as the season goes on I think most will agree with me.

That is it, that is my 2022-23 NBA countdown. I hope you all have enjoyed it. The season is currently going on so enjoy the games. This should be a great season.

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Suns, Celtics, 76ers

Welcome to day nine of my 22-23 NBA countdown. These are my top teams. These are the teams that I would bet on to win it all if I were a betting man. Any of these teams could win it all and I wouldn't bat an eye.

At number 6 I have the Phoenix Suns. This team had quite the offseason. They got blown out in the West Semis. Then they waited forever to re-sign Deandre Ayton. Then he said he hadn't talked to his coach. Then Robert Sarver was suspended and eventually said he was selling the team. Then Jae Crowder asked to be traded. And they still came out, erased a 22 point lead and beat the Mavs on opening night. That is why I will not give up on this team yet. Devin Booker is a star. He is such a good scorer and is becoming a decent defender. Chris Paul is still one of the best point guards to ever play the game. He keeps getting older but his game stays relatively the same. Deandre Ayton, for all the offseason drama, is still a 20 and 10 guy, still plays sound defense, is still a solid rim runner and can stretch the defense. Mikail Bridges is awesome. He is going to win defensive player of the year soon, maybe even this season. He is becoming a reliable scorer. He goes up against the opponent's best player every night. Cam Johnson has earned his starting spot. He can shoot and is a solid team defense guy. Damion Lee just hit a game winner and looks like a solid bench guy. Dario Saric is back and he adds a ton to this roster. Cam Payne has proven to be a top tier backup point guard. Bismack Biyombo brings energy and defense. I like the Josh Okogue signing. The Suns have a very good roster, with a very good coach and will win a ton of games this year. They are still a legit threat.

At number 5 I have the Boston Celtics. Here is another team with some offseason drama who won their opener in very convincing fashion. Ime Udoka was doing some wild stuff this offseason, got suspended and who knows what is going to happen. Joe Mazzulla has stepped in, and the Celtics looked very good Wednesday night. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum just keep getting better and better. They are incredible wing defenders, they can get their own shots, they can get to the hoop and they are becoming one of the better duos in the league. I don't like the Celtics, but I like Brown and Tatum. Getting Malcolm Brogdon only makes this team deeper. He can score, pass and defend. He is a perfect fit. Blake Griffin doesn't add much of anything except experience. Robert Williams is hurt, but when he gets back he is a top level rim protector and lob threat. Marcus Smart is the reigning DOP and he looked every bit the part the other night. He can shoot too. Al Horford is still good and still contributes. Derrick White was a great acquisition. Grant Williams has been surprisingly decent in the NBA. The Celtics were in the Finals last season, won a few games and could very easily be back there this season and win it all. As much as I dislike this team, they are very, very good.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 4 I have the Philadelphia 76ers. They have a very good, very enticing roster. This team has fooled me in the past, maybe they will do it again, but I really, really like what they have going on. James Harden is in shape, looked good the other night and looks like he could be an all star again. He just needs to do it when it counts. Joel Embiid is awesome. He is one of my favorite players. He should have won MVP last season and has as good a shot to win it this season. He is just an awesome, awesome player. Tyrese Maxey is exploding on the scene. He is lightning fast and can shoot the lights out. I love the PJ Tucker addition. He is going to make this team tougher and he can hit corner threes at a very high rate. De'Anthony Melton was an underrated offseason addition. He is going to be wonderful off the bench for the 76ers just like he was in Memphis. I'm going to miss him. Tobias Harris still has nights where he can fill it up. Matisse Thybulle is a great defender. Montezl Harrell will bring energy off the bench. Danuel House can shoot and lock down perimeter players. This team is good. They have the potential to be great. They could win the title this year. They could do a lot. They just have to do it now.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for my last three teams, the top three. See you tomorrow.

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.