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.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Heat, Nuggets, Grizzlies

Welcome to day eight of my 22-23 NBA countdown. We are getting to the teams that I think all have the talent to make a deep playoff run. Hell, some of these teams could win it all and it would not surprise me one bit.

At number 9 I have the Miami Heat. They were one shot away from the finals last season and people said they weren't even whole. They get everyone back. Losing PJ Tucker will be a bummer, but pretty much everyone else is back and healthy. Jimmy Butler is awesome. He is old school mixed with new school. He wins everywhere he goes. He carries this team whenever he is asked. He is underrated and one of my favorite players. I love Bam Adebayo as well. He is a lunch pail dude. He does his work and he happens to be wildly athletic. He is also a great defender. Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson are both knock down shooters. They don't play defense, but they can shoot., Kyle Lowry is an amazing vet. He is also a very good point guard. He just has to stay on the floor. Victor Oladipo is in a prove it year, and he came on strong at the end of last season. He could feast on second units. Max Strus found a way into the starting lineup and never looked back. He is a two-way player, and he is solid. Caleb Martin has found a spot that works for him without his brother. Dewayne Dedmond fills in nicely as a backup center. And Udonis Haslem is another coach who happens to be on the team. The Heat have a system and that system works. They find ways to win, and they have for the last decade plus. This team is good. Do not be shocked if they find their way into the East Finals yet again.

At number 8 I have the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have the two-time MVP in Nikola Jokic. I did not think he deserved it last season, but here we are. Jokic is a very good passer and a solid guy to run the offense through. He is not much of a defender though. And I wish he would show up in shape. Jamal Murray is back, and if he can be 85 percent of who he was before the ACL tear, he should be great. He was becoming a go to scorer and leader for this team. He is an awesome player and I really like his game. Michael Porter Jr needs to shut up about vaccines, but he can shoot. He is tall, can score over anyone and likes to chuck it up there. Bones Hyland is a good microwave scorer. Aaron Gordon fits perfectly with this team and he is as high flying as ever. I like Aaron Gordon a ton. Bruce Brown is there, and he is solid. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has something to play for again and he thrives in that scenario. Zeke Nnaji is big and can shoot the three. Jeff Green is still there and still useful in certain games. I think, if he gets minutes, Christian Braun will contribute something. The Nuggets are a good team with potential to be great. They just need to stay on the floor and avoid long term injuries.

The final team for the day, at 7 I have my favorite team, the Memphis Grizzlies. Some say the Grizzlies overachieved last season, but I expect this to become the norm for this team. They should be expected to win upwards of 50 games every year. Ja Morant is a star. He does a bit of everything. His jumper can be better, but he can get to the rim with ease. He is also a wonderful team leader. Jaren Jackson Jr is hurt, again, but when he is out there, he is such a good defender and rebounder. He can also shoot. He needs to stop with the dumb fouls, but JJJ is one of my other favorite players. Steven Adams is big and imposing and a lunch pail guy. He is the enforcer. Desmond Bane continues to get better and better. He is a knock down shooter, is better at defense and becoming one of the Grizzlies best players. Dillon Brooks has a minor injury, but when he comes back, he is the team's best defender and can also shoot when asked. Brandon Clarke just got an extension, was awesome in the playoffs and does all the little things the Grizzlies want. Tyus Jones is an awesome backup guard. Ziaire Williams is getting better, and this team works. They like each other and have fun playing together. I expect big things this season. Now they have to deliver.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

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.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nets

Welcome to day seven of my 22-23 NBA countdown. We are at the teams that I look at as locks to make the playoffs as long as nothing goes too haywire.

At number 12 I have the Cleveland Cavaliers. They made a big time offseason splash when they went out and traded for Donovan Mitchell. He makes this backcourt especially explosive. Mitchell can score from anywhere. He can take on any defender. He is a walking bucket. His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but he will have another anchor helping him out. I was low on Darius Garland when he came into the draft a few years ago but he has proven me wrong. He is as good as advertised. He is an all star. He is a top point guard in the league. He does what you want a modern point guard to do. Evan Mobley is awesome. He was instantly one of my favorite players when he entered the league. He is so smooth. He is great in the post. He is a wonderful defender. He is an excellent rebounder. He has superstar quality written all over him. Jarrett Allen is great as well. Allen is a perfect modern big. He does not care about his stats as well. He just wants to win. Caris Levert is a pure scorer off the bench. He can feast on second units. Kevin Love was close to winning sixth man of the year. He has moved to his bench role with no problems. Ricky Rubio is coming off injury, but he is as good a passer as he ever was. Robin Lopez brings toughness off the bench in the low post. Isaac Okoro needs minutes, but he has the tools to be solid. The Cavs were close last year. They were in the play in, but they got hurt and faltered at the end of last season. They went out and got a big name and I think it will benefit them greatly. They are a playoff lock for me.

At number 11 I have the Dallas Mavericks. They do have Luka Doncic. I think he is wildly overrated personally. I think he gets far too much credit from every white sports writer in the country. I don't buy it and I don't buy him. But he is a solid basketball player. He is good on offense, but poor on defense. Christian Wood was a nice trade, but how will he mesh on a winning team? How will he feel coming off the bench? How will he deal with less touches? Time will tell. Spencer Dinwiddie shot the lights out last season, especially in the playoffs. I wonder which Dinwiddie we will see this year. Will it be the Brooklyn/playoff Dallas version, or the Washington Wizards version? Mavs fans should hope for playoff Dinwiddie. Tim Hardaway Jr is back from injury, and he is a solid scorer. Reggie Bullock plays wonderful defense and can shoot open threes. JaVale McGee has gotten all the bad basketball out of his system and has become a good bench player. Dwight Powell is barely playable anymore. Frank Ntilikina is very good on defense, but he is a zero on offense. Dorian Finney-Smith is solid. Maxi Kleber is fine. And Davis Bertans can still kind of shoot. I think making the West Finals was a bit of a mirage. But this team should still compete and make the playoffs.

The final team for the day, at 10 I have the Brooklyn Nets. On paper this team looks like a title contender. You look at the stars and they are big. You look at the city and it is enormous. The coach is famous, the owners are famous and this team should be a title contender. Hell, I had them winning it all with ease last season. And then last season happened. It was rough. Kevin Durant is still amazing. He is unguardable. He can score from anywhere. He is long and switchable on defense. But he doesn't always seem to be fully stable. He fights with internet trolls. He gets too much hate online, but he doesn't always have to respond. Kyrie Irving is a mess. He is a flat earther, he is anti vax, he sages the court. He is nuts. But the dude can hoop. Ben Simmons hasn't played in over a year. He says he has mental health issues. He has complained about former teammates and coaches. The last time he was on a basketball court he passed up a wide open dunk. He can't shoot free throws. But he is an amazing defender. He can run the point. He can do some things great and some things not so great. Seth Curry and Joe Harris are wonderful shooters, but both are hurt. Nic Claxton is a good rim runner, but barely touches the ball. TJ Warren hasn't played in forever. Patty Mills fell off a cliff last season. Markieff Morris is an okay enough vet who brings toughness. Look, the Nets have the guys, but those guys are so flaky that they can never be counted on. I mean both Kyrie and KD wanted out before the season and now we are to believe that everything is cool? No way. This team is a mess, but it is a talented mess.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

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.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Raptors, Timberwolves, Hawks

Welcome back to my 22-23 NBA countdown. I hope you all had a good weekend. I do understand that the season starts tomorrow night, but when you go on a vacation a week before, you gotta do what you gotta do.

At number 15 I have the Toronto Raptors. I do not know where to put my finger on this team. I like Nick Nurse. I like the roster. They have guys that have a ring. They are gritty and play awesome defense. They do not have one guy that can beat you, they have several. But they are low on superstars. They don't have a ton of guys that can create their own shot. They play an older style of basketball, and against the better teams, that doesn't always work. I adore Pascal Siakim. I think he is finally healthy. I think he is ready to become "the guy" for the Raptors. He can score and play defense. I just want to see it be put all together this season. The time is now. Fred Van Vleet is awesome. He has been an all star. He got paid. He plays hard every night. He is just small. Scottie Barnes is a star in the making. He will take over this team in a few years. He is such a great modern day NBA wing player. He has all the tools. OG Anounoby has the potential, but he is either hurt or plays a little too scared. Gary Trent Jr is a perfect role player for this team. Chris Boucher has taken a little step back, but he has the tools. Thad Young found his way to the team, and he seems to add a little bit to every team he has played for. I like Precious Achiuwa. I think he is a very good backup center. I like his toughness. Khem Birch is very underrated. I love the Otto Porter Jr addition. And I like the Christian Koloko pick, but I don't think he will get a ton of time. I put very little stock in their preseason. This is a tough, grind it out team that other teams hate to play. You will leave Toronto bruised. They should be a playoff lock, especially in the East.

At 14 I have the Minnesota Timberwolves. The T'Wolves are on the come up. They had a breakout season last year. They remind me a lot of the Grizzlies from two years ago. They also went out and swung for the fences in the trade market. They traded away a good portion of their future to land Rudy Gobert. Gobert is great. He is the best defensive big in the NBA. He is a wonderful rim protector and can cover the perimeter when asked. I love this deal for Gobert. It is perfect. Karl Anthony Towns is one of the best offensive bigs that the league has ever seen. He is so smooth, can score in the post and he won the three point contest last year. He is an amazing offensive player. But he is not great defensively and he makes the most inexplicable fouls ever. He needs to clean it up on that end. Anthony Edwards is a star. He is so good. He has amazing hops and can create a shot from anywhere. He is incredible. D'Angelo Russell is a bust, in my opinion. But on this team they do not ask him to do much. His three point shot has regressed, but he can pass and get to the rim. I was bummed to see Kyle Anderson leave Memphis. I was even more bummed when he signed with Minnesota. Anderson is the perfect role veteran. Jaylen Nowell is solid. Taurean Prince can do some things on both ends of the court. Jordan McLaughlin gets run on this squad. They brought in Austin Rivers and he is okay. Wendell Moore is a solid rookie. The T'Wolves have the guys they just have to put it all together now. Gobert and Towns are going to be tough in the post.

The final team for the day, at 13 I have the Atlanta Hawks. This is a put up or shut up year for Atlanta. They were in the East Finals two years ago. And last year they were swept by the Heat as the 8 seed. The Hawks do not play much defense, but they went out and mortgaged their future for Dejounte Murray. I love this move. I love Murray. He is going to explode this year. He is going to blow up on the scene. Everyone is going to be gassing him up all year. He is going to show out. Trae Young is an awesome offensive player. He is so good at what he does. He is crafty and shifty and a pain to guard. He also plays zero defense. John Collins is still there, and I still like his game. He is a good rim runner and he can shoot. He is also okay on defense. Clint Capela continues to be great when he has a great point guard throwing him lobs. He should be better on defense, but he is still good. When healthy, Bogan Bogdanovic is a knock down three point shooter. De'Andre Hunter has all the potential to be the Hawks version of an incredibly poor man's Kawhi Leonard. He can get there. I like that they went out and got Justin and Aaron Holiday. They are siblings and solid vets. Onyeka Okongwu is a good backup center. AJ Griffin could get some run. The Hawks have a very likable roster. There are no guys who I actively root against. They should also be a lot better this year than last year. And I am a big time fan of the Murray trade. The Hawks should be a playoff lock.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

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.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Pelicans, Bulls, Lakers

Day five of my 22-23 NBA countdown has us at my number 18 team, the New Orleans Pelicans.

I only have them this high because I am suspecting they are fully healthy, that every major player is ready to contribute a full season. And that all starts with Zion Williamson. Williamson is an incredibly talented basketball player. He is unguardable. He jumps like Kemp. He bullies people like Shaq. He out rebounds everyone as if he were Dennis Rodman. I mean, this kid is great. But he is always injured. He has never played a full season. He played 60 plus games in year two, but he wore down at the end. He can be great if he can stay on the floor. Brandon Ingram is the truth. This dude can score. He is a poor man's KD, and that is a major compliment. He has stepped up when asked to and he has only gotten better. CJ McCollum was a tremendous midseason trade for them. He brings stability, leadership and playoff experience. He was the main drive in getting them to the postseason last year. Jona Valincinuas fits with this team. He is big and nasty and mean. He bumps and bruises almost every other big man. Herb Jones is one of the best defenders in the league already. He also has a crazy wingspan. Seriously, it is nuts. Jose Alvarado flashed on the scene by making wild steals. He was a menace in the playoffs. Jaxson Hayes is a solid modern big off the bench. Larry Nance Jr is still one of my personal favorite players. Their coach is also very good at what he does. The Pelicans can and should be in the playoffs. The play in might not even suffice with how good this squad is on paper. They just have to prove it on the court and stay healthy.

At number 17 I have my son's favorite team, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are kind of in flux. I have tried to explain this to my kid. They started off last season like a house on fire. They were leading the East for a bit. But then some guys either got hurt or got COVID and they were never able to recover. I wonder what effect that will have on this year's squad. Lonzo Ball is still out and the healing process is taking way longer than anticipated. The Bulls need his defense and point guard skills if they want to be a playoff lock. Zach Lavine finally got paid, but he didn't really impress me a ton last year. He is an excellent scorer and leaper, but his defense and passing leave a ton to be desired. DeMar DeRozan, my son's favorite player, was incredible last season. He was a delight to watch. I saw him live and it was even better than I imagined. But he cannot carry this team again. I like the Andre Drummond signing. I'd start him over Nikola Vucvic, who feels like he is washed now. Alex Caruso brings good defense, but he gets hurt a ton. I love that they are starting Ayo Dosunmu. He had a great rookie year and looks like he is going to build off that. Coby White just cannot seem to figure it out, but I'm still a fan. I'd love to see a healthy Pat Williams because he looks like he would be awesome. The Bulls really floundered at the end of last season and that would have me worried if I were a fan. My son is worried. But they do have a talented enough roster to be in the play in in the East.

The final team for the day, at 16 I have the Los Angeles Lakers. I truly do not know what to think of this team. They have LeBron James and he is an all timer. He is amazing. He is one of the best to ever do it. But he is having trouble staying on the floor. He is also asked far too much for someone who is going to be 38 this year. Anthony Davis is an incredible talent. He is a 7 footer that can play tough and play with finesse. He is an excellent defender. He is a great offensive player. He does it all. But he cannot put a full season together without some kind of long term injury. As much as I adore Russell Westbrook, the fit is bad and he is showing his age. It just doesn't work with the Lakers. It makes me sad. They traded for Patrick Beverly, who will help space the floor and be a tremendous help on defense, but he keeps moving teams. He may not be the most fun guy to play basketball with. They brought back Dennis Schroeder, who is an okay player. But he has regressed ever since he turned the Lakers down after their last title. Kendrick Nunn is supposedly healthy, but he hasn't played in over a full year. They brought on young guys like Lonnie Walker, Juan Toscano-Andersonand Troy Brown, which is fine. But none of those guys really move the needle for me. I'm already over any Austin Reaves hype. Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones are serviceable bigs, but I don't think they are the type of guys you win a title with. Look, LeBron and AD are otherworldly players. And when they are on the floor the Lakers can win any game. But they are rarely on the floor. And this roster just screams mediocre to me. They will be better than last season, depending on health. I'm just curious to see how much better.

That is it for today. Come back next week for the next three teams. We are almost to the start of 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.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2022 - 2023 NBA Season Preview: Wizards, Trailblazers, Knicks

Welcome to day four of my 22-23 NBA countdown. We are at the teams who could, and should, be, at the very least, in the play in tournament.

At number 21 I have the Washington Wizards. Bradley Beal got paid this offseason. He, and the franchise for that matter, may end up regretting it in the long run. But he got his money and it should be all good for this season at the very least. He also happens to be an incredible scorer. He has declined a bit, let's hope it is not a trend, but he can still fill it up. I have been over Kristaps Porzingis for about five years now. Sure he is tall and can shoot, but he is not a good defender and he is soft as tissue paper. I like Kyle Kuzma. He has grown on me. He is also a good player on both ends of the floor. He seems to have found a nice spot for himself as well. Rui Hachimura needs to have a good season. He has either been hurt or underperformed since he has been in the league. He has to prove it this season. Deni Avdija has been okay, but he has not played like the lottery pick many thought he could. He is solid, but not great. Will Barton and Monte Morris are both decent enough NBA players. I don't think they are starters, but they are okay. Taj Gibson is a solid veteran presence. And Delon Wright is serviceable. The Wizards should be an above average team. They should win 42 or more games. They should be in the play in. But they need to stay healthy and play better defense. They also need some dudes to step up as well. We will see.

At number 20 I have the Portland Trailblazers. The Trailblazers are whole again. Damian Lillard is back. He is healthy. He has something to prove. The team is fully, FULLY his. They traded CJ McCollum and traded and signed some dudes that fit his playing style. Lillard is sticking around and he has never been the type to shy away from the spotlight. I expect him to have a big season. One of the guys they traded for is Jerami Grant. Grant is good. He may be a bit overrated now, but he is such a plugable player. He is going to fit very smoothly with Lillard. I love this move. They drafted Shaedon Sharpe. They love this kid. He didn't play a second of college ball, but he was a big time recruit and was a lottery pick. If he suits up and plays he could do some nice things for this team. They went out and gave Gary Payton II a big payday. He is going to bring defense and toughness to this squad. Anfernee Simons got a big payday as well, and he has improved every year he has been in the league. Josh Hart is just an overall solid player and dude. I like him a lot. Jusuf Nurkic brings size and strength to the front court. Nassir Little keeps getting better. The Trailblazers have dudes and scorers, they just have to play better on the defensive end and not get hurt so much.

The final team for the day, at 19 I have the New York Knicks. This is RD's squad. I had high hopes for them last season and boy oh boy did they not live up to it. Julius Randle fell off a cliff. I think he will be better, but he was a shell of himself. RJ Barrett got paid, and he keeps getting better. He is not the all star some thought, but he is honing his game well. I love the fact that they went out and got Jalen Brunson. They have a true point guard now. He is good. He is tough. And he can play. Derrick Rose looks pretty damn good this offseason. He seems to finally be 100 percent again. He is a nice bench player. They signed Isaiah Hartenstein, and he will be a nice role player off the bench. Obi Toppin looks incredible so far this preseason. He just needs real minutes. Cam Reddish will probably be traded soon. Mitchell Robinson is what he is at this point. I'm over trying to make this dude as good as he could be. They refused to trade Quentin Grimes. I want to see why this season. Evan Fournier is somehow still here and still starting. Immanuel Quickley is solid. This team has a nice mix of players, they just need to find a way to gel. I would also like to see Toppin and Quickley get more minutes. We will see.

That is it for today. Come back for the next three teams 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.

Ty's 2022-2023 NBA Season Preview: Hornets, Pistons, Kings

Welcome to day three of my 22-23 NBA countdown. We are getting seriously close to teams with play in potential. We just are not there yet.

At number 24 I have the Charlotte Hornets. This team was already on the wrong side of the coin, then the awfulness happened with Miles Bridges. What he did was atrocious, he should miss a ton of time on the court and I would not be shocked if he winds up in court. He has much bigger issues than basketball right now. That being said, he may have been their number two guy. That is a big hit for this team. LaMelo Ball is a very good player. He has all the tools you want in a modern point guard and his shot is getting better. But he is hurt and is going to miss time at the start of the season. Gordon Hayward is washed and then some. Kelly Oubre is a fine player, but everywhere he goes and starts, they do not win much. Terry Rozier got paid, and is an offensive threat, but he has become more of a liability now. PJ Washington is good, but should be better. James Bouknight is not nearly as good as I thought he was going to be. Mason Plumlee is washed as well. Bryce McGowens has potential. Nick Richards is an okay big off the bench. Dennis Smith Jr is getting another shot. And JT Thor is a rad name. But the Hornets are not very good. They barely made the play in last season and they will be lucky to win 30 games this year. They are trending way, way down.

At number 23 I have the Detroit Pistons. I really, really like the direction they are trending in. They are like the opposite Charlotte Hornets. They are building something solid, but they are still a year or two away. I understand they have playoff hopes, but they are not there just yet. Cade Cunnigham is a star in the making. I have adored watching him since he was at Oklahoma State. I am buying all the stock that I can in Cunningham. He is great. I love the Jaden Ivey pick. Pairing him with Cunningham in the backcourt is a wonderful idea. When he slows down and learns the way of the NBA, he could be awesome. He is a great running partner for Cunningham. I also love the Jalen Duren pick. He is a very skilled big already and will only get better. He could be a solid starter on a very good playoff team. Marvin Bagley finally got a shot to play a lot and did some nice things. He did get hurt, but he avoided a serious injury and should be back soon. Saadiq Bey could be a Swiss army knife guy for this team. Isaiah Stewart is big and nasty and I love watching him play offense and defense in the post. I like that they got Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks. When they are healthy they can contribute. Isaiah Livers is healthy again and can provide bench scoring. I love that they went out and traded for Bojan Bogdanovic. He is another bench scorer. The problem is that they are just not ready yet. Give it a year or 2 and this team will be good, like playoffs good. They are not there yet though.

The final team for the day, at number 22 I have the Sacramento Kings. I fully understand that they have high hopes of being in the playoffs, that they think they are ready, that they had a great Summer League and that everyone is ready to go. But we are talking about a team that has not been in the playoffs for 16 years. That is the longest drought in professional sports. They do have a good team, and I love hiring Mike Brown as the new head coach. But again, this is the Kings. I still do very much like De'Aaron Fox. He is showing signs of improvement every year. When he is on the court he can play. He just needs to stay healthy. Domantas Sabonis is an awesome offensive player. He is such a good low post guy to run the offense through from time to time. He's just very poor on the defensive end. Keegan Murray was great in Summer League. Now it is time for that to translate to the real guys. Davion Mitchell is a very good on ball defender. He can guard every guard in the league. Kevin Huerter is kind of blah, but can shoot. Malik Monk has flashes but has never fully put it all together. Harrison Barnes is solid, but it is clear he cannot be the best guy on a playoff team. Richaun Holmes is somehow still underrated, but he is still doing his thing. Alex Len is washed. Josh Jackson is a bust. They signed Matthew Dellavedova and Quinn Cook for some reason. And Trey Lyles is still there. This is a weird roster and they are not as good as the front office and their fans may think. I like some pieces, but some others make no sense at all. The Kings may be the most confusing team in all of the NBA. That is it for today. See you all tomorrow for the next three teams.

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.

Ty's 2022-2023 NBA Season Preview: Rockets, Pacers, Magic

Welcome to day two of my 2022-23 NBA countdown. We are still on some teams that will be in the lottery, but some of them should be a ton of fun to watch this season.

At 27 I have the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were bad last year. They are going to be bad this year. But they are going to be a blast to watch. I love Jalen Green. I have been a fan of his since he joined the G League over going to college. That was a baller ass move. He is also a wildly talented offensive player. He was putting up big numbers last season, so imagine what he will do in season two. Green has star quality, now it's time to show that ability. Kevin Porter Jr seems to have found a place that works for him. He gets to start, he gets to handle the ball and he runs the offense. He is young and has all the talent in the world. He just needs to stay on the floor. I thought Jabari Smith Jr was going to go first overall, but the Rockets snatched him up with the second pick. I love this pick for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr reminds me of a young KD. If he can be 50 percent of Durant he is going to be a star. Alperen Sengun is very raw but very good. He is a great passer, a decent low post scorer and can rebound. Tari Eason is a solid pick. Eric Gordon can still light it up from three. Tyty Washington needs time, but in the future, he can be a decent guard in the league. Usman Garuba is extremely raw, but I like watching him play. Willie Cauley Stein is the "veteran" presence, and he can still throw it down. This team is very talented on offense, but they will get scorched on defense. That will be their undoing. But I will enjoy watching them play this year.

At 26 I have the Indiana Pacers. They need to bite the bullet and go into full rebuild. I feel like they are still trying to act like a playoff contender, but they are not on that level. They did trade Malcolm Brogdon, and that was a good start. Now they need to offload Buddy Hield and Myles Turner. I like both those guys a lot. Hield is a great shooter, but he needs to be on a team that has a real shot at the playoffs. Turner is a great modern big, a very good rim protector and a solid three point shooter. But he is being wasted in Indy. He needs to be on a team with a real chance at the playoffs as well. What they need to do is lean fully into letting Tyrese Haliburton run the show. He is great. He is young but plays maturely. He has the look of a true number one on a high playoff seed, they just need to build a little more. I think Benedict Mathurin can be a very poor man's Kawhi Leonard. He can shoot a bit, and with some work, can be a lockdown defender. Chris Duarte can shoot, but that may be it. We will get a very good look at Jalen Smith this year. He could be Robert Williams or Anthony Bennett. This season should let us know. Aaron Nesmith had moments in Boston. In Indiana he will get a shot to make all those moments a nightly thing. Andrew Nembhard was good in college, but he may be a bit too much like Doug McDermott. Time will tell. James Johnson will provide toughness, but who knows how long he will stick around. When the Pacers finally relent and go full rebuild we will get to see Haliburton come on the scene, and this team will be bad for a season or two before they are back to being a .500 team.

The final team for the day, at number 25 I have the Orlando Magic. The Magic will be very bad, but they may be the most entertaining team to watch. I love this core. They are young and raw, but man oh man are they athletic. Paolo Banchero is looking very much the part of a number one overall pick. He has been everywhere this summer and preseason and he is already stirring it up. He is also a walking bucket. Franz Wagner can shoot, defend and seems like a blast to play basketball with. He was great at Michigan and I am glad it seems to be translating to the NBA. Mo Bamba is a very good rim protector and rebounder. He is also very skinny and very green on offense. The word out of camp is that Bol Bol is healthy and ready to contribute. I cannot wait to see him on the court. Jalen Suggs did not shoot it well last season, and he is coming off an injury, but he is a very good defender already. Markelle Fultz is finally free to just play basketball. Cole Anthony is cool as hell and I love watching him play. Chuma Okeke is one of the better players nobody knows about. Gary Harris Jr can still play. Mo Wagner is sticking around. Wendell Carter Jr looks legit. Again, this team is going to be bad this year, but they are building something that could be special in three or four years. They won't win just yet, but it should come soon if they stick together.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

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.

Ty's 2022-2023 NBA Season Preview - Thunder, Spurs, Jazz

The NBA season is just over a week away, and you know what that means. It is time for my preseason NBA countdown. I remember how wrong I was last year when I picked the Nets to win it all. I will try to not make that mistake again. As always I will go from 30-1, pick the playoffs, award winners and do a men's NCAA basketball preview in a few weeks. Without further ado, let's get to the countdown.

At 30 I have the OKC Thunder. This team is in full rebuild mode. They have made that quite clear with the moves they have made the past few seasons. It also helps the tank job they will do that Chet Holmgren is already done for the season. This foot injury is one of the many reasons why I was so down on Holmgren coming into the draft last year. He is too skinny for his frame. He is going to get bullied by all of the vets that play center. He needs to get thicker and get tougher. But we won't even know what kind of player he is until next season. I adore Shai Gilgeous Alexander. He is awesome. That was a tremendous trade pickup by the Thunder. SGA could be an all star this season, as long as he plays a good amount of games. Lu Dort got paid, he is a good defender and he is getting better at his jumper. He is going to be very good for a long while. Then the roster just kind of falls off. Josh Giddey is fine, but he feels like a role player at best to me. I'm sick of hearing about Aleksej Pokusesvki. He has "been on the cusp" for too long now. He is what he is. Aaron Wiggins is a deep bench guy. Jaylin Williams could be solid, but he is a rookie. Darius Bazley is long and athletic, but hasn't put it together yet. Derrick Favors needs a trade. Kenrich Williams is good, but I want him to play for a good squad. And this has to be Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss' last shot to stay in the league. The Thunder are bad. But, they are bad on purpose. SGA and Dort will be fun to watch, but this team is not going to win more than 25 games this season.

At 29 I have the San Antonio Spurs. I adore Greg Poppovich. I think he is the best coach to ever coach the game of basketball. He is a genius. And the fact that he told people to not bet on the Spurs this season makes me appreciate him that much more. They are going to do everything they can to get the 7'4 French kid. I do like the Jeremy Sochan pick. He is a modern Dennis Rodman who can shoot the ball. But he is very, very young. Keldon Johnson is a solid player, but he is not the guy you want to be your top guy. Jakob Poeltl is slow and plodding and an okay rim protector. I would not be shocked if he gets traded during the season. Joshua Primo is very talented, but again, he is so young. Tre Jones is very average. Josh Richardson is washed. Devin Vassell is a fine player, but he should be coming off the bench. Romeo Langford has not lived up to the hype he had coming out of high school. Doug McDermott is just a shooter, nothing more. Malaki Branham was a homerun pick in my opinion, but he needs time to develop. Zach Collins cannot stay healthy. The true fact is, this team is not trying to win. They want the French kid, and with this roster, that may very well happen.

The final team for the day, at 28 I have the Utah Jazz. The moment they got beat by the Mavs in the first round you knew this team was going to rebuild. Quin Snyder bounced. They traded Rudy Gobert as quickly as they could. They got a great deal for Donovan Mitchell. Bogan Bogdanovic is now in Detroit. Mike Conley will soon be traded. As will Jordan Clarkson. That leaves this team with lots of unproven young guys, or guys trying to revitalize their careers. Colin Sexton will get a shot to lead a team. I really like Sexton, but he has to really show up this year. He got paid and he will be a first option. This is exactly what he wanted. Walker Kesseler is a rookie who will get abused in the post. Malik Beasely is a fine scorer, but he will be asked to do too much on this team. Rudy Gay should get traded relatively soon to a contender. Udoka Azubuike will probably start, and that should be fascinating to watch. Nickeil Alexander Walker should get a real chance to prove he can play in the league. Jared Vanderbilt and Jared Butler will be fun to watch shoot a ton. Lauri Markkanen is definitely washed. Talen Horton Tucker is probably relishing the fact that he will be the second option. And the jury is out on rookie Ochai Agbaji. I loved his game in college, let's see if it translates. The Jazz are going to be very, very bad this year. They know that and are going to run out a bunch of dudes who will be trying to prove things. Anything more than 25 wins would shock me.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

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.

The SeedSing 2022 MLB Playoff Preview

The 2022 MLB season has come to an end. For myself here in Cincinnati Ohio it was a disastrous season. The Reds were bad, very, very bad. Thankfully I grew up in St. Louis, so I had something to cheer about with the Cardinals. The regular season is gone, and now it is time for the new six teams per league playoff tournament. Let’s do some predicting.

I want to start with where Ty and I were right in our preseason predictions and where we were oh so wrong. Both of us picked most of the playoff teams. We both did not see the Cleveland Guardians winning the AL Central, and I reached big time on Detroit, but most of the teams we hit on. We both overestimated the Milwaukee Brewers. I think Craig Counsel is done and Milwaukee may go into rebuild mode. I also want to give a shoutout to Albert Pujols and Aaron Judge. If not for their homerun chases, this season would have been fairly predictable and boring. I am very happy that both players reached their goals.

Now on with the playoff predictions.

The excitement kicks off with the Tampa Bay Rays going up against the slept on Cleveland Guardians. Tampa seems to always have a formula to make deep playoff runs, but Cleveland has Terry Francona. I’m going with the manager and taking the Guardians in three.

The other AL series has the young studs of the Toronto Blue Jays going against the other young studs of the Seattle Mariners. These two teams should be battling in the playoffs for the next decade, and this first meeting is a preview of the awesomeness to come. I think Seattle has the pitching advantage and come out on top in three great games.

The first NL series pits the “seemingly underachieving” San Diego Padres against the “choked the division away” New York Mets. Both teams have talent and great managers. The Mets have better pitching, that is why New York wins in two.

The last wild card series pits the old men of the St. Louis Cardinals against the big bats of the Philadelphia Phillies. This will be an easy two games and out series for St. Louis because the Phillies just do not have the talent or experience to match a Cardinals team chasing destiny.

That will set up a Cleveland Guardians vs New York Yankees Division series. I may be crazy here, but I think Cleveland wins in four. New York is the better team, but again Cleveland has the better manager. I also think the Yankees are tired from the Aaron Judge spotlight and manager Aaron Boone will not live up to the moment. He will be fired within hours of blowing this series.

The other AL Division series pits the Seattle Mariners against the Houston Astros. I really, really want Seattle to shock the world, but Houston is just way more talented. Also the cheating scandal has seemingly been forgotten by fans, or the boos just don’t bother the Astro players. Houston will win in a three game sweep.

In the NL the Mets face off against destructive force known as the LA Dodgers. This is a tough series to predict. The Mets have two great starting pitchers and a lights out closer. The Dodgers have a lineup filled with All Stars. I think after five beautiful games of baseball, the Mets will advance.

The last division series will be a throwback to the late 1990s when the St. Louis Cardinals take on the defending World Series Champion Atlanta Braves. I know the Braves won it all last year, but St. Louis has way more postseason experience. Add all that experience with a a lineup that can match the Braves hit for hit, I think the Cardinals win in four.

The ALCS will have the scrappy Cleveland Guardians up against the villainous Houston Astros. The Cinderella story ends here for Cleveland and Houston will win in five.

The NLCS will be a rematch of the epic 2006 series between the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina all played in that series. Just like in 2006, the Cardinals will break the Mets hearts in seven games.

That means the 2022 World Series will be another postseason rematch between the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals. The last time these two teams met, Houston was in the National League and the Astros bounced the Cardinals out of the playoffs. Pujols remembers that series, as do Wainwright and Molina. Houston won the last game at Old Busch stadium and sent the old place off with a Cardinals loss. The three old men in St. Louis will not let Houston send them off to retirement with a loss. In six games the St. Louis Cardinals will win the 2022 World Series.

There it is, my 2022 MLB Post Season predictions. At the beginning of the year I picked the Cardinals to be a team of destiny and to win it all and I’m sticking with that prediction. Enjoy the postseason and let’s play ball.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

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

SeedSing Classic: The Definitive Top 10 Little Debbie's Snacks

This article originally premiered on June 7th 2019

Growing up in the 1980’s and 90’s meant that your house probable had a few different boxes of Little Debbie treats. We would get one after playing outside, have a box handy when we played games with our friends, and definitely had one in our school lunches as our nutritionally mandated dessert. My lunches always consisted of a sandwich with mustard and one piece of Carl Budding ham, a baggie of chips, some form of fruit, a Mendota Springs, and a Little Debbie. That overtly sweet snack cake was the highlight of my entire school day.

Today I am feeling a bit nostalgic and thought it was high time we gave a definitive ranking of what are the ten best Little Debbie treats from my youth. I know there are some new treats in the collection of Little Debbies, but I did not have those in my lunches. If it came out after 1993, I did not eat it. Also there will be no “rolled” cakes on here. The rolled cakes suck, as do the Banana Twins and any marshmallow pie. Take my advice and skip those boxes.

Remember this is the definitive list. We have performed super science to get the correct rankings. Don’t agree? Come at us.

10. Pecan Pie

The mini pecan pie in the tiny aluminum tin is hard to find these days, but it does still exist. Many people hate this extremely sweet and sticky creation. Those people are wrong. The pecan pie has it’s problems (the sticky and sweet parts) but it was always a treat to gulp down a whole round pie in two or three bites. Just make sure you have some Mendota Springs to wash all that sweetness down.

9. PB Crunch

The PB Crunch was like a lower grade peanut butter Twix. Cookie, peanut butter and chocolate, plus the Twix like shape could confuse anyone’s eyes. While the peanut butter Twix is super deliciousness, the PB Crunch had a little blandness. Yet, peanut butter and chocolate can never be a total disaster.

8. Caramel Cookie Bar

Another Twix clone but switch the peanut butter for caramel. Also the shape was flat and not long and slender like the PB Crunch. The caramel was mildly gooey, and could mess up your nice Izod shirt with the popped collar, but was still a decent end to a balanced meal.

7. Cosmic Brownies

Many people are more familiar with the Walnut version of Little Debbie brownies, but if you got the candy sprinkled top of the cosmic variation, you were in luck. The brownie itself is another love it or hate concoction. It was more of a fudge like consistency and a fairly mild chocolate taste. Add the thick frosting (usually half the damn thing) and the colorful candies, the Cosmic Brownie was a faux chocolate delight.

6. Fudge Rounds

Here is where you start getting into some of all time great Little Debbie treats. The Fudge Round had a great cake top and bottom, and an awesome low grade chocolate mousse in the middle. All parts of the Fudge Round tasted amazing, it just usually suffered from not enough of the middle part. Many times that filling only covered half the cake sandwich. Little Debbie needs to do better.

5. Zebra Cakes

The two square cakes that come in the plastic package have many different versions. There are fancy, chocolate, and a variety of seasonal offerings. The OG Zebra Cake has them all beat. You can actually taste the chocolate and vanilla together. When you sit and peel the cake apart, outstanding. Pulling pieces of frosting off and unwrapping the cake was like a zen ritual to get you through the rest of the school day.

4. Oatmeal Creme Pie

I am not that big of a fan of oatmeal as my cereal or my cookie, yet the Oatmeal Creme Pie is all kinds of awesome. The grittiness of the top and bottom cookie combined with the ample amount of creme in the center is a tactile and taste sensation your tongue will thank you for.

3. Cherry Cordial

For some reason the Cheery Cordial seems to be a seasonal offering (Valentines Day I think?). That is not right because this is hands down a culinary masterpiece. You have another cake sandwich with a creme like filling. This time it is a cherry filling, vanilla type cake, and the entire thing is encased in a chocolate shell. The edges always have a little more crunch than the center, and it is glorious. This needs to be a year round thing.

2. Nutty Buddy

Peanut butter and chocolate are almost perfect. Add a couple layers of wafer cookies, and Little Debbie achieved near perfection. The Nutty Buddy is better than most candy bars, that is how good this thing is. It is another one of Little Debbie’s offerings that ask you to take the treat apart. Peeling layer after layer of cookie, peanut butter, and chocolate is the near perfect end to any meal. There is almost no equal to this delight.

1. Star Crunch

The Star Crunch not only equals the Nutty Buddy, it surpasses it. The caramel is not overly gooey, the cookie is the perfect balance of crunchy and chewy, the crisp rice adds an extra pop to every bite, and the chocolate brings the whole package together in one of mankind’s finest creations. The Star Crunch is a perfect dessert for any occasion. There is no snack cake/treat equal to the Star Crunch. It is quite simply the greatest Little Debbie ever made.

There it is, the definitive rankings of the ten best Little Debbie treats of my school days. You can not go wrong with any of these ten delights. One’s day is made all the better when devouring these creations. Now it is time for us all to go out and revisit some of the sweetness of our youth. I may just go and house an entire box of Star Crunch’s when I’m done writing here.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. 

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

RIP Jim Redmond, Great Sports Dad

Jim Redmond passed away today at the age of 81. Outside of learning that Jim was a West Indian immigrant to the United Kingdom, I know exactly one thing about his life and that is I why I am memorializing Jim Redmond today.

During the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games, the British track team had some hope in the 400 meter race. Runner Derek Redmond had one a few medals in international competition and had posted the fastest time in his 400 meter heat. In the semifinal heat Derek came around the last turn and pulled up with a leg injury. Derek had torn his hamstring. Medical officials started to make their way to assist Derek off the track, but the runner wanted to finish. In agonizing pain, Derek hobbled his way to the finish line. It did not look like he was going to make it. Through the crowd on the track came Derek’s father Jim. He put his arm around his son and helped him finish his first, and last, Olympic race. Take a look for yourself.

Jim Redmond was not trying to be a hero, he was being a dad. He was there for his son all of his life encouraging and coaching. He was there at the beginning, and he made sure in worst sports moment of his son’s life, Jim was going to be there to pick him up. By being a dad, Jim Redmond gave us a moment of pure awe.

Recently my father in law passed away. He was my wife’s dad and my son’s grandfather. Over the last few weeks I have thought about how he supported his daughter, encouraged my son, and accepted me as an equal. My father in law, like Jim Redmond, was not an extraordinary man, he was one of the greatest men to ever live. In front of the public eye, or away from it, these men were great because they embodied the idea of being a dad. That is why I celebrate them today.

Rest in piece Jim Redmond. You set the bar for what it means to be a dad. Thank you.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

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

I'm Here to Praise Coca Cola Dreamworld

I leave for vacation tomorrow, but before taking the rest of the week off I wanted to leave you all with something.

I do the grocery shopping in my home. I’m the at home parent so the chores fall on me. I like doing chores, and I especially like grocery shopping. I’ve got it down to a science too. I’m efficient, I know where everything is, I know the deals and I know when I can meander a bit. Last Monday I had time to browse, so I did. When I got to the soda section I wanted to try something different. We drink Diet Coke in our home. I know it’s bad for you, but I enjoy an ice cold one with dinner. But I do, very seldom, buy a different diet or zero sugar soda. Last week I got the zero sugar variety of Coke Dreamworld.

What struck me first was the box. It is extremely colorful. There’s lots of light blue and red. There’s also the black that’s synonymous with Coca Cola. The mini cans, 7.5 ounces, were on sale. A ten pack was less than four dollars. That’s a bargain. And I figured if I didn’t like them, the cans are small enough that I could take them down anyway. I had one last week for lunch and I didn’t notice much of a difference. Then I had one the next day and liked it a little more.

I didn’t look up what the flavor was at that point so it was hard to pick certain flavors I was tasting. My wife had one but wasn’t a fan. She said it was too sweet. She asked me what it was supposed to taste like so I googled it. The Coca Cola website said it “explores the realms of the surreal, the imaginary and the otherworldly”. That sounds like a description of an A24 movie that I’d be super in to. But this is a drink. With a little more digging I found out it’s citrus and fruit. No particular citrus or fruit, just notes of those flavors. I guess it’s the flavors you think of when hearing citrus and fruit. So it is kind of imaginary I suppose. But when I found out that was the flavor profile, I liked it even more. I had another the next day and found myself craving one last evening. With each small can, I enjoy this Dreamworld flavor more and more. I’m a big fan of citrus. I used to squeeze a lime into Diet Coke sometimes. With this new flavor I guess I won’t have to do that all the time. It says it’s a limited release, but I wouldn’t be bummed if it sticks around for a bit. It’s better than some of the other drinks that other companies try, like chocolate cake Dr Pepper.

I definitely think people who drink diet sodas should give this one a go. I think it’s great.

Ty

Should I Care Anymore About Blake Griffin the NBA Player

Earlier today, and I will be doing a full NBA preview soon, I saw that Blake Griffin signed a one year deal with the Celtics. The news kind of came and went for me. It had no real pull at all. I thought, good for him, but how does he help Boston? Then I got kind of sad for Blake Griffin. Let’s discuss.

There was once a time when Griffen was a real MVP candidate. He was one of the top 20 players, easily, in the NBA. He was on ESPN every night. The Clippers became relevant when he and Chris Paul were there. He was always on the All Star team, he was a perennial all NBA player, he was winning dunk contests and he was an all time heel for non Clippers fans. I could not stand him. I actively rooted against him. I do not dislike the Clippers, but I disliked the Lob City Clippers. But I also respected his game. He did the things that I liked. He dunked hard. He had amazing hops. He was a rebounder. He started to make his jumper. He reminded me of my all time favorite player, Shawn Kemp. He was the newer, and as much as this hurts to write, better, Shawn Kemp.

Then stuff kind of went haywire. The Clippers gave him a max deal, but then traded him in year two of that deal. And it is not like they traded him to a contender or even a nice city. They offloaded him to Detroit. When he went there I thought it might work, and I thought it was rad that Detroit was getting a star player via trade. None of it worked. He moped around. He never went too hard. He lost a step. He didn't try as hard on both ends of the floor. The Pistons never did much with Griffin. It was at this time when I started to forget about him. He was still in the league, but he was way off of my radar. I'd hear his name come up and kind of shrug. And this is only a few years after getting a max deal and being the force that he was in LA. Griffin was actually becoming more of a comedic voice than a basketball player in my eyes. He was showing up at Improv shows and on podcasts and I kind of forgot that he was this incredible basketball player at one point. Then last season he left Detroit as a free agent and signed with Brooklyn. The move was met with a whimper on my end. I did not even care that he was joining forces with Kyrie and KD. I could have cared less. I figured he would be a bench player, and he was. He lost all his hops. He lost every step. His jumper was erratic at best. He wasn't the heel anymore. No one was afraid of him. He was not the problem. It got bad enough for him that he was played out of playoff series at times. He could not be counted on anymore. And that made me sad. Again, I have never been a fan of his, but I respect his game, especially when he was young.

The news of him going to Boston feels very blah to me. But the more I have thought about it today, maybe he is going to do what Vince Carter did. Carter was a very similar player to Griffin. But Carter bought into being a bench player. He played his role. His jumper became very good. He tried on defense. He became a fan favorite all over again. Carter handled the back half of his career perfectly. Maybe that is what Griffin is going to do. Or maybe I hope that is what Griffin is going to do now in Boston. Hopefully he is ready to be a bench guy. Hopefully he is ready to be a full time role player. He is not the number one guy anymore. Hell, he isn't even a starter anymore. I hope that is the way he goes. I don't know, and I am not very hopeful. But hopefully he does more of a Vince Carter thing. That would be best. We will see.

Ty

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

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RIP Coolio

Coolio passed away at the age of 59 last night. I was picking my son up from football practice and RD texted me to let me know. I did not believe him at first. I texted him a few times back asking too many questions. While my kid was eating his dinner I did a little internet research, and sure enough, RD was right. I found myself stunned. This is happening far too much lately. Ever since 2020 it seems like people I like, or liked as a kid, are passing away. Biz Markie, Sharon Jones, Phife Dawg, too many to name. And now we have Coolio.

I am a big time hip hop fan. It is my favorite genre of music. I have been listening to hip hop since I was a pre teen. My brothers would have me listen to A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy, Kurtis Blow, Erik B and Rakim, a whole slew of legends. When I started to branch out on my own I found a bunch of other rappers I liked. Timbaland and Magoo were big for me. I loved Mase and Puff Daddy. The Notorious BIG is the greatest rapper of all time in my opinion. But when I reached back in the recess of my brain, Coolio was one of the first rappers that really grabbed my full attention. First off he had that wild hair. It was braided, but the braids stayed airborne and he would even fit them through hats when he wore them. But, like most other people, it was the song "Gangsta's Paradise" that really pulled me in. This song was amazing. First off, the beat is a Stevie Wonder song, "Pastime Paradise". My folks listened to a good amount of Stevie Wonder, so I was able to recognize the beat pretty quickly. But it was Coolio's voice that really pulled me in. He was rough, but not DMX, another rapper we lost too soon, rough. He was smooth, but not Biggie smooth. Coolio had his own voice. It was different and unique and cool. I was instantly in. I went out and bought the single. I saw the movie "Dangerous Minds" simply because "Gangsta's Paradise" was the main song in every trailer. I learned every word so as not to mess it up when I would sing it.

I was all in on Coolio after this song's release. I even got mad at Weird Al when Coolio got inexplicably mad at him for doing "Amish Paradise". But they squashed whatever fake beef they had, so it was cool for me to listen to Weird Al again. But it wasn't just "Gangsta's Paradise". Take a song like "Fantastic Voyage". He samples the song with the same name from 1981, but Coolio made it hip. He made it fun. It was a hit. There is the song "1,2,3,4 (Sumpin New)". This song is dope and he has what I perceive to be a Michigan football jersey on in the videos. That makes it so easy for me to be a fan. "C U When U Get There" came out when all rappers were doing ballads, but Coolio did it the best. He had a way about him. He was like a good Biz Markie. And that isn't to say that Biz Markie was bad, he was kind of corny. Coolio could do goofy raps but get away with it because he was wildly talented. I understand that these are his biggest hits, and it sounds cheesy to remark on them, but they were hits for a reason, especially considering my age at the time of their release. He also did the theme song for "Kenan and Kel", which was required viewing for me.

Coolio also acted. He was in "Batman and Robin", which is too perfect. He appeared as himself in "Leprechaun in the Hood". Again, perfect. He did spoof movies. He did "Daredevil", so superhero movies as well. He was in cheesy sci-fi movies. It seems like he knew what he was good at, what would sell tickets, so he went with it. He also did TV. He was in "Martin", "Kenan and Kel", "The Nanny", "Fear Factor", "Futurama" and "Black Jesus". He also had his own cooking show. Again, he knew what he was the best at, so he went for it. Coolio also won a Grammy, American Music Award and three MTV VMA's. The guy had a long and successful career. It is a shame that he has passed away.

This one hurts. Coolio was a big part of my growing love for hip hop. He was one of the first artists that really pulled me in and it stuck. Coolio will be severely missed. Rest In Peace.

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "Reboot"

Monday night my wife and I started the show "Reboot" on Hulu. I was listening to "Comedy Bang! Bang!" and Rachel Bloom was the main guest. I did not know she was on the podcast, but I do enjoy her comedy and she mentioned that she was on this show. I had heard about it because I am a Keegan Michael Key fan, but I never really registered watching the show. But after seeing some of Key's press stuff, and then hearing Bloom on "CBB" only further pushed my interest in the show. It also helps that Steve Levitan, who created "Modern Family", created this show as well. So we decided it was time and we tuned in.

We watched the first two episodes and I was hooked. My wife told me yesterday that she was thinking about the show at work all day, so we went ahead and watched the next two episodes that were available. We got caught up on all four eps last night. This show is great. It is funny and insightful and smart and witty and well acted and just fantastic. I was telling my wife on Monday night how well casted this show is too. Keegan Michael Key is perfect for the male lead. He plays his character so well. He thinks he is a better actor than he actually is. I love the scene from the first episode when they show him auditioning for the role of a gangster. It is incredible. Key plays this type of character so well. Judy Greer is equally as wonderful as the female lead. Greer is in seemingly everything, but now she has a chance to shine in a starring role, and she is nailing it. I enjoy every minute she is on screen. Johnny Knoxville is almost too perfectly cast as the former drug addict turned comedian turned actor twice over. Knoxville is my favorite person on the show. He is so funny. He is out of his element in the real world. He is even better on the show. I adore Knoxville in this show. Calum Worthy plays the former kid actor turned adult. He is a total fish out of water. He still acts like a little kid. He still brings his mom, more on her in a minute, to set everyday. He is very fun. Rachel Bloom plays the creator of the show. She is so good. I totally buy everything about her in the show. She just brings it and she is crushing right now. Paul Reiser is the original creator of the show, and Bloom's dad. Reiser is amazing here. He is having something of a career resurgence. Reiser has always been a good actor but it feels like he is bringing it even harder as of late. The rest of the cast is solid as well. Everyone they got to play bit parts is totally nailing it. They are crushing it. The writing is top notch as well. While not on the level of "30 Rock", this show has a ton of jokes in each episode. They also get some drama in there as well. There are some notable heartfelt moments here. I also like the look and feel of the show. It is very reminiscent of early "Modern Family", when that show was at its best.

I definitely recommend this show. It is so good on so many levels. Check it out.

Ty

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

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Ty Listens to "The Mars Volta"

Today I decided that I was going to listen to the new Mars Volta record. I had been putting it off for a bit. I really like Mars Volta. I enjoy their music. I have seen them live before and it was a great show. But their older music used to meander a lot. They would put out an album that would be over an hour long but only have eight songs. I liked parts of each song but there would be other parts that felt superfluous. I would find myself skipping to the parts I liked and going over the stuff that felt unnecessary. So I had reservations about the new album. I also decided to not read much about it because I knew I would listen to it one day. And as I said, that day was today. It was this morning in fact, when I was bringing my kids to school.

I am here to say that this new record is my favorite. It is very, very good. The very first thing I noticed was the song length. No song goes over four minutes. The record has fourteen tracks and it clocks in forty-four minutes and some seconds. I feel like the time off really let them hone their craft. The band sounds awesome. Cedric Bixlar-Zavala's voice is as great as it has ever been. He has a very unique, very distinct sound. He may be an acquired taste, but I like the band's music and I especially like Bixlar-Zavala's voice. He sounds great. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is back and better than ever. He is one of the greatest guitar players that has ever walked the Earth. He is wildly underrated too. No one ever talks about him when they talk about the best current guitar players. He sounds incredible on this new record too. I feel like he does a bunch of extra stuff here too. He is multi-talented. He is like Johnny Greenwood. I started listening to this band because of him. He is awesome. The rest of the band is up to the task. The bass sounds phenomenal. The drums are the perfect prog rock sound. The keys and horns are pretty dope. It all works to perfection. They compliment Bixlar-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez masterfully.

Back to the song length. As I stated before, they really tighten it all up on this new album, which is called "The Mars Volta". I turned it on and was waiting to see how long the first song was going to be. When it was less than three minutes I thought, oh, one short song and the rest will be six plus minutes long. But then the next song was a shade over three minutes long. Then another three minute long song. Then a two minute long song. Needless to say, the longest song on the record is four minutes and thirteen seconds long. That is perfect. I like my music to be nice and short. Four minutes long is right at that edge, and The Mars Volta ride the line to perfection here. It is such a great revelation for me as a fan. Now they just do all the great stuff without the unnecessary jamming. It is the way it should be.

If you are a fan, as I am, I definitely suggest checking out this new record. It is tremendous. It is quite an accomplishment.

Ty

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

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Good Riddance to the Pro Bowl

I was reading some sports news yesterday and came across the news that the NFL was getting rid of the pro bowl.

I was inexplicably excited upon reading the headline. I have never liked the pro bowl. I am not a fan of all star games in general. They are glorified scrimmages. No one really wants to be there, they have to because they've been voted in. Sure, they may get a nice bonus and a trip to a nice location, but it feels like a waste of time. I watch the NBA all star game every year and I am usually disappointed. I do like the new Elam ending they changed to, and it makes the final quarter exciting. The players actually look like they are trying. They are going hard. But for three plus quarters prior to that, it is not great. I have not watched the MLB all star game in years. I used to like it because every single team has to send a player. But the game is boring, like most baseball games. I do not watch hockey, so I have no idea what the all star game is like. And then we have the pro bowl. The pro bowl might be the worst of them all.

My son has gotten into football the last year plus and was adamant about watching the pro bowl this year. I tried to talk him out of it, laying forth everything I just told all of you. But he was determined. So we watched, and he convinced me to watch with him. And we were both so very disappointed. He kept asking me why they weren't tackling people, why everyone was falling down or going out of bounds, why they were not going after punts and field goal blocks. He was just totally confused. I tried to tell him that none of these guys wanted to get hurt. That they were saving themselves for next season. He also wanted to know why no one from the Rams or Bengals were playing. I had to explain that they were playing in the Super Bowl in the following week, so the pro bowl was not even a thought for them. That only further angered him. It sucked.

Now the NFL has decided to strip the whole game. They are going to do some skills competition and a flag football game. This is the perfect idea. Flag football is fun. It is fast paced, hard to grab flags and very high scoring. I love it. My son played flag football for two years before starting tackle this year and it was awesome. I am also a big time fan of skills competitions. I adore the skills stuff during the NBA all star weekend. It is the best. It has replaced the dunk contest as the most exciting part of the whole weekend. I hope that it will be the same thing for the NFL pro bowl weekend. I am curious to see how many balls a wideout can catch in a minute. I want to see these exceptional athletes do obstacle courses. I want to know how far these NFL QBs can throw the ball. I would love to see defensive players tackle a dummy and have a way to determine how hard they are tackling it. I want to see kickers kick 60 yard field goals. I crave skills competitions. They are way more fun than watching professional athletes go 25 percent and do live interviews on the field during a pointless all star game.

I would love it if every professional sports leagues did away with all star games and just made it a weekend of skills competitions. That would be best. I have a lot of faith in the NFL doing this. Hopefully this starts a trend. Time will tell.

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "House of the Dragon"

The other night my wife and I started "House of the Dragon". We watched "Game of Thrones", my dad was talking up this new show and it is a prequel, so we were pretty easily on board. It did not take much convincing for us. But we did put it off for a bit due to life. My son plays football everyday, my daughter plays soccer and my wife works all the time. For those, and so many other reasons, we could not start the show until Monday.

That being said, we have already watched three of the five episodes available on HBO Max. The show is good. There has been some dope dragon action so far. The characters are pretty well written. The actors are doing a great job to this point. I am fully in on the parts of the story that I understand. I like the easter eggs they have placed here and there. It is cool to hear some names from "GOT" taking place in this world almost 200 years before. It is crazy and violent and gory and nuts. I like it a lot.

The show is also very confusing. I do have a hard time following other story plot points. That is my fault too. There is so much going on that it can be hard for me to keep track. I'm also not nuts about all the politicking that is going on. I wasn't a fan of all the meetings in "GOT", and in "HOTD" they do about the same amount. There is a good amount of time spent talking about who is king, who will be the heir to the throne, people going behind other people's backs,just a lot of shadiness. I understand the importance of it all, but it can be a bit much at times. The violence can also go a bit overboard as well. I have seen a ton of heads caved in, half of other people's body's cut up, eyes gouged out and sword cuts. I think as I get older my stomach gets queasy easier. I can't handle some of the stuff I could when I was younger. But all in all this show is very well done.

The story, the one I understand, is interesting. The time jump in episode three didn't affect me as much as I thought it was going to. I read there is another time jump, involving 10 years with new actors taking over, but so what. That is how these shows should work. I have loved all the dragon stuff too. I think that might have been my favorite thing about "GOT", and in this show, that is the story of the main family. I also like seeing some actors I recognize from comedies doing more serious stuff. The main guy, the king, is in most of the Simon Pegg and Nick Frost movies. I've seen him play any number of comedic roles. But seeing him in "HOTD" has been cool. Rhys Ifans, who was in "The Replacements" and a "Spiderman" movie, is the hand to the king. He is his top assistant basically, and he is devious as hell. It is very cool to see him do this kind of role. The girl who plays the young princess is awesome. She is badass and powerful and under control. She is like a less crazy Danerys. I also really enjoy the cast not being filled with white people. It is pretty dope to see a melting pot of characters in this world. I also think it is hilarious that people are mad about this, even though this show is in no way real at all.

I'm excited to see where this show goes from here. I can only imagine it will get more and more crazy, and I like that. I also have to think there is going to be so much more dragon content, and that is what I'm here for. "House of the Dragon" is very good and has potential to be great. Check it out if you haven't yet.

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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