If anyone ever doubted the influence of LeBron James and his team, that doubt should be put to rest. Yesterday the NCAA announced that they were removing the controversial bachelor’s degree requirement from their agent certification requirements. This announcement came just hours after Rich Paul, LeBron James’ longtime friend and agent, released an op-Ed in the Athletic criticizing the bachelor’s degree requirement. If that is not a demonstration of insurmountable influence, then what is?
The NCAA’s Agent Certification Process did not Last a Week Before it saw Sweeping Change
Last week, the NCAA revealed their new agent certification process. The certification process is for agents who wish to represent college basketball players looking to test the NBA Draft waters while maintaining collegiate eligibility. When the NCAA revealed that completion of a bachelor’s degree was one of the requirements, the sports world went into a criticizing frenzy. King James led the charge, dubbing the rule the “Rich Paul” rule, as he saw it as a snub at the success of Paul.
Rich Paul has Evolved into a Super Agent
Paul has experienced unprecedented success as an NBA agent. Moreover, he disrupted college basketball when he represented Darius Bazley. Bazley was a top high school basketball recruit. However, he opted out of playing for Syracuse to workout on his own. During this time he interned for New Balance. As a part of the internship, Paul helped Bazely receive $1 million guaranteed and a shoe deal. Bazley has the potential to earn up to $14 million on the deal and was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft.
Bazley’s New Balance deal speaks to Paul’s abilities. More impressive is that Paul has done all of this without a bachelor’s degree. The NCAA’s initial rule was seen as a slight at the success of Paul. It was also viewed as yet another barrier to future agents like Rich Paul, limiting abilities to break into the sports agent business.
With Pressure from James, Paul, and Others in the Sports Industry the NCAA had no Choice but Give In
Many in the sports industry called the rule out for what it was. It was an attempt to keep those at the top of the sports industry in power. There would be no real challenges to the power structure. The Rich Paul rule would have disproportionately negatively affected minorities and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
As Paul mentioned in his op-Ed, the rule as it was would have ultimately prohibited those who do not have the resources, opportunity, or desire to get a four-year degree from entering the agent business. From all of the criticism and pressure, the NCAA was forced to get rid of the bachelor’s degree requirement.
If this is not a testament to LeBron James’ and Rich Paul’s influence, the what is?
A year ago, I wrote a post about how and why absurdly addicted I, and most of the world, am to sports. Here are the physical and psychological effects of sports fandom, with a few updates…
Football Fandom Runs Deep and Affects the Brain
My Texas A&M football fandom began at a young age, and it’s progressively worsened into a serious condition. Symptoms include irrational beliefs that “this season will be different” (every season); uncontrollable emotion anytime my team scores, recovers a fumble, or intercepts a pass; low-key stalking high school players to learn where they’ll commit; and owning enough maroon clothing to outfit a small village.
Though my addiction might seem absurd to some, I know I’m in good company. Across the globe, sports enthusiasts do seemingly crazy things in the name of fandom every day. It’s as if our critical thinking skills are hindered by an addiction to our team.
And, that’s it. We’re addicts- looking for our next high. We sacrifice reason and logic for a chance to feel that flood of dopamine when A&M beats Clemson (hey, it could happen; we’re only 11 point underdogs).*
*Update: remember how I said it could happen? Well it basically did, but it’s part of the tragic hero nature of Aggie football to get screwed by refs:
Your Sports Addiction is Scientific: Physical and Psychological Effects are Real
There’s science to support the potentially addictive nature of fandom. We have very measurable physical effects when watching, or even discussing, our team. Elevated blood pressure, increased adrenaline, and changes in posture or speech are just a few of physical characteristics that accompany game time behavior.
If you listen to a die-hard sports fan, you’ll notice the abundance of the word “we.” In this, the fan is grouping himself with the players, coaches, and fellow fans. It’s our mirror neurons that give us the ability to place ourselves in the shoes of the actual players. Though we’re not in the game, we still feel like we have a part in the outcome. Our addiction is both physical and psychological.
Personally, I think this addiction to sports is both wonderful and terrible.
Humans crave connection. We’re built for community. For many, sports offer the chance to be a part of something. For me, being an Aggie is belonging to a cult community of individuals who share a passion for something bigger than any one of us. But, it’s not just an Aggie thing.
For a large portion of the world, soccer is an integral part of culture. The passion and community of soccer fans is an incredible sight to behold. For millions of children and adults, soccer isn’t just a sport, but it’s the escape from an often challenging life. Watching a game offers a momentary reprieve from the stresses of life.*
*Update: this year’s Women’s World Cup was massively controversial for Americans. Political speech from players dominated and divided the country. As a result, some Americans rooted for England to win the title…before the game began. But, fandom and patriotism took effect shortly after the first kick, and by the end, most Americans were proud to once again beat the British.
Athletes and Coaches Can Do No Wrong
The dark side of fandom is our ability to rationalize away sins for the players, coaches, and schools we love. I’m going to call out Ohio State University here because it’s the most recent, most egregious example of ignoring blatant misconduct for the sake of winning. When we let our addiction to the game supersede our morality, we set a dangerous precedent. Sure, Urban Meyer is a phenomenal coach, but he’s also a jerk. And, what are we saying to the up and coming generation about accountability when we let Coach Meyer off the hook because he wins games? I don’t think these are the values we should be teaching. Our addiction has clouded our judgement.
OSU isn’t the only administration to permit poor conduct. Every fan base has moments in its history we’d like to hide. We’ve all justified bad behavior from our favorite players and swore, “he’s really not a bad guy… he just made a mistake.”
From the outsider’s perspective, the amount of energy and emotion we dedicate to teams and players almost seems like lunacy. It’s just a game, right? They may just be games, but for many, they’re also community. They’re part of our identity. We feel successful when our team wins- a sense of failure when they lose. When our coach receives criticism for misconduct, we feel personally attacked.
For me, the addiction is well worth it. I’ve made some of my best friends at those games. I’ve cried tears of joy and frustration at those games (if you’re an Aggie and didn’t cry when we beat Alabama in 2012 and when we lost to UCLA in 2017, you’re a monster). The community and connection I find as a fan is unbeatable… even though my team is usually very beatable.
I have no doubt I will continue to do ridiculous things in the name of fandom; and I know I’m surrounded by good people who’ll be doing the same.*
*Update: this is a personal note, but the last few dates I had were with guys who didn’t know or enjoy football. As a football addict, I wondered if this meant my life would be spent pining for an Aggie natty alone. But this article’s posting last year convinced another Ag that there are women who might be as obsessed about recruiting as he is. And I hear wedding bells set to the tune of the Aggie War Hymn.
2019 College Football is Almost Here
Here’s to another season of turbulence- high highs and low lows. God bless Jimbo Fisher, Aggie football, and the community we sports fans need to survive the physical and psychological effects of sports.
The start of the college football season is rapidly approaching. College sports fans are eager to cheer for their favorite teams in hopes that their team will qualify for a bowl game or make it to the College Football Playoffs. In the midst of the excitement of the upcoming football season, is the debate of whether college athletes should be further compensated. United States Senator Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, has authored two reports highlighting the injustices of the college athletics system. In the reports, Senator Murphy acknowledges the injustices of the college sports system as the rights issue that it is.
The current college sports system no doubt needs restructuring. The numerous academic fraud scandals and the NCAA rule violation scandals have made it immensely clear that the current system is flawed. Perhaps the most telling example of the need for change is the college basketball scandal that resulted in an FBI investigation and a criminal trial.
Change is Coming to College Athletics
Several state and federal legislators have introduced bills aiming to compensate college athletes in some way. One bill that is making serious headway is a bill in California entitled the Fair Pay to Play Act. The bill seeks to give college athletes in California the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness by enabling them to garner endorsements. One may wonder why the issue of compensating college athletes is getting the attention of so many lawmakers. The issue is getting that attention because the issue of fairly compensating college athletes is a civil rights issue.
College athletes are being exploited. Everyone involved in big-time college athletics is getting rich except the athletes. Yes, college athletes receive an invaluable scholarship in return for their academic services. However, not all college athletes are able to get the most out of their academic opportunity. Many leave school without a degree and without an opportunity to complete their degree in the future. Many who do graduate, do not receive a degree in a worthwhile major.
Senator Chris Murphy Report
Senator Murphy released his first report entitled Madness Inc., How Everyone is Getting Rich off College Sports – Except the Players in March of 2019. He was prompted to write the report after he witnessed the unfortunate knee sprain injury Zion Williamson suffered when his Nike shoe fell apart during the Duke v. UNC game in February. Senator Murphy stated that Williamon’s injury for him “was the starkest example of a kid making lots of adults super-rich, who almost had his career ended without making a single dime.”
Late July, Senator Murphy released his second report. The report is entitled,Madness Inc. How Colleges Keep Athletes on the Field and out of the Classroom. The second report highlighted the reality of the “world-class education” that college athletes are supposed to receive in return for their athletic services. Both of Senator Murphy’s reports show that college athletes are not getting as good of a bargain as many may think. For that reason, every college sports fan should read Senator Murphy’s reports. Here are four takeaways from the reports that all college sports fans should know.
1. Proportionally Coaches Receive More of the Revenue than the Athletes
The first report highlights the stark imbalance between the revenue that college athletes generate and the amount of money that is actually filtered back down to them. The annual amount spent on student aid is $936 million, while $1.2 billion is spent on coaches salaries. There are 45,000 college athletes in schools that make up the Power 5 conferences and only 4,400 coaches. There are 65 Power 5 conference programs. Only 12 percent of all revenue goes to student-athlete scholarships, while 16 percent goes towards coaches salaries. In effect, the coaches receive more of the revenue than the athletes. This is not to say that coaches do not deserve to be compensated for their work, because they do. However, should they be compensated in greater proportion to the college athletes?
2. Spending on Lavish Facilities is out of Control and Provides no Long Term Benefit to the Athletes
Many schools have invested in overly extravagant and lavish facilities for their athletic programs. The report highlights the facilities at Clemson University (Clemson) and the University of South Carolina (South Carolina). Clemson built a $55 million facility that boasts a miniature golf course, movie theater, and bowling lanes. South Carolina’s facility has a video arcade and a sound studio for athletes to record their music. The most recent example of an overly lavish facility can be seen at Louisiana State University (LSU). LSU recently unveiled the $28 million renovations they made to their football operations building.
There are locker rooms, and then there is the LSU locker room. 😱
The new space is part of a $28 million renovation to the athletic department's football operations building.
From the above picture and the aforementioned amenities, it is clear that spending on facilities has gotten out of control. How does a $55 million dollar building make an athlete better at their sport or in the classroom? Perhaps the athletes enjoy the facility a little while they are in college (if their strict schedules allow). However, there is no discernible long term benefit access to such facilities provides to the athletes once they leave college and begin their careers.
3. College Athletes are not Getting the Valuable Education that Everyone Thinks They are Getting
While many college athletes do receive a quality education, some do not. Many college athletes are not receiving the academic advantages that the general public is led to believe they are. Senator Murphy’s second report highlighted the story of Stephen Cline a former defensive lineman for Kansas State University. Cline wished to become a veterinarian but was forced into a less demanding major so that he could focus on football. The NCAA sells education as the bargain that college athletes get in exchange for their athletics services. However, many do not get it.
So many athletes are like Cline and are not encouraged to major in the subject of their true interest so that they may focus on their sport. Not everyone truly cares about the value of the education athletes receive. This was made abundantly clear when the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC) sham course scandal was exposed. The NCAA chose not to sanction UNC, thereby showing their true commitment to ensuring each college athlete receives a world-class education.
4. When Examined Closely, it is Clear that College Athletes act as Full-Time Employees
The daily life of a college athlete is more akin to that of a full-time employee than a full-time student. Many college athletes are up at 5:00 am to report to 6:00 am practice, then to breakfast, then to class, then to another class. Before the athlete realizes it, it is time for a team meeting – another athletic-related activity. Hopefully, the athlete has some time to squeeze a shower and get some lunch in between. College athletes no doubt keep a rigorous schedule.
Senator Murphy’s report highlighted a study conducted by the PAC 12 conference in 2015. The study found that college athletes averaged more than 50 hours per week on athletic-related activities. The report also highlighted the Northwestern University football team’s hearing with the National Labor Relations Board. During the hearing, the athletes revealed that they spent upwards of 60 hours a week on football-related activities. College athletes fulfill all of these obligations before they have had any time to think about their coursework.
In order to be a full-time student, college athletes must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours per semester. For each credit hour, students are expected to spend two to three hours outside of class studying. This means that students are expected to spend between 36-48 hours per week studying.How is a college athlete supposed to spend 48 hours per week studying and roughly 40 hours per week on athletics and be successful at both?
Senator Chris Murphy’s Report Emphasizes that Fairly Compensating College Athletes is a Civil Rights Issue
As the college football season begins, college sports fans should take some time to read Senator Chris Murphy’s reports. Upon reading the reports, they will better understand why there has been a surge in state and federal legislative involvement in ensuring equitable compensation for college athletes. Fans will realize that the debate is not just about money. It is about the restoration of civil rights to college athletes. Everyone should be able to profit from their own name, image, and likeness. College athletes generate billions of dollars each year for the NCAA, their school, and their conferences. College athletes should have a more equitable piece of that pie.
It may have taken seven months, but the film community has its first serious Oscar contender with Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Tarantino’s tribute to the end of the Golden Age in Hollywood has been rumored to be in the Oscar race ever since the film was announced two years ago. Once Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and the prolific ensemble cast were officially announced, the Best Picture hype began to build.
*This article will contain light spoilers.*
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood revolves around the friendship between an aging actor, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his stuntman, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), in 1969 Los Angeles. The film industry is changing and Dalton and Booth both struggle to adapt to the new times. While this is going on, the major subplot of the film involves Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), Dalton’s next-door neighbor, and the Manson family and their interactions leading up August 9, 1969, when members of the Manson family murdered Tate and her guests at Tate’s house.
All of Tarantinos’ films include his signature style of extended dialogue sequences, large ensembles, and brutal depictions of violence. Those elements were on full display in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, this film will go down as Tarantino’s most nostalgic and tender film to date. This film is a love letter to the Golden Age of Hollywood. From recreating Hollywood Blvd to the music, clothing, and stars, Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is as accurate a description of 1969 LA as you’ll ever see on film.
Due to Tarantino’s reputation and a star-studded cast which included DiCaprio, Pitt, and Robbie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood debuted to $40.3 million at the box office, marking the largest opening of the director’s career. The film has also been well-received from critics with an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, attention will turn to the 2020 Oscars. The question is not if Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be nominated for Oscars, but how many Oscar nominations will it receive? Let’s break it down by category.
Best Picture – Yes
There is nothing that the Academy loves more than a film about Hollywood. A film that showcases Hollywood and all it has to offer is a lock for nominations. Add in the fact that it’s a Tarantino film and has “movie stars” in every sense of the word means Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be in the running for multiple Oscars. For example, take La La Land as another film that highlights Los Angeles. Damien Chazelle’s musical received a record-tying fourteen nominations, winning six categories. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood may not receive that many nominations, but Best Picture is just the first of many nominations.
Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio – Yes
In his first film since his Oscar-winning performance in The Revenant, DiCaprio is at his best once again in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The way DiCaprio is able to channel an aging star with such intimacy and care is amazing to witness. It’s a sentimental and loving side of DiCaprio we haven’t seen in years. Add Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to his long list of excellent performances.
Best Supporting Actor for Brad Pitt – Yes
Pitt did not have as much screen time or lines as DiCaprio so Sony is most likely going to position Pitt as a supporting actor. That being said, Pitt and DiCaprio have tremendous chemistry. Pitt’s cool, no-nonsense persona blended perfectly with Dalton’s egotistical and conceited mannerisms. Essentially, Pitt was his Rusty character in the Ocean Eleven series. Keep in mind that Pitt is going to push for Best Actor for his performance in Ad Astra, which comes out in September. Could Pitt be a double nominee come Oscar night?
Best Supporting Actress for Margot Robbie – No
This is tricky. I thought Robbie did a solid job with the material she was given. Robbie depicted Sharon Tate as this beautiful, star-in-the-making who was married to one of the hottest directors in Hollywood, Roman Polanski. We know what happens to Tate in real life so it’s hard to watch her onscreen and not think ahead to her encounter with the Manson family. Robbie also does not have many lines. My gut says she won’t receive a nomination, but if Once Upon a Time in Hollywood dominates major categories in award shows prior to the Oscars, I won’t be surprised if the momentum leads to a nomination for Robbie.
Best Director And Best Orginal Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino – Yes
If I had to say which category Tarantino has a better shot in receiving an Oscar nomination, Best Orginal Screenplay over Best Director is the better bet. Tarantino received screenplay nominations for Inglourious Basterds, Pulp Fiction, and Django Unchained, winning for the last two in that list. On the flip side, Tarantino has been nominated twice for Best Director: Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained. Tarantino’s revisionist history in the final act may rub some voters the wrong way, but it shouldn’t stop him from receiving a nomination for screenplay. This should also lead to a directing nomination as well because as I’ve previously stated, this is a softer, more contained version of Tarantino in his homage to 1969 Hollywood. Voters will reward his nostalgic vision.
Other Categories Where Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Will Receive Nominations
Cinematography
Production Design
Film Editing
Costume Design
If these predictions turn out to be true, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will receive at least nine Oscar nominations, which would be a career-high for a Tarantino film. It’s not out of the question that the film will receive less than nine or more than nine nominations. However, don’t expect this film to ride off into the Hollywood sunset. Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be a major player in the Oscar race.
I’ll open with this: hitting a baseball is hard. It’s a round ball hurtling through space – usually, over 90 miles per hour – with all kinds of movement on it, thrown by someone whose entire livelihood depends on you not hitting it. That’s not easy. However, it’s pretty clear that former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow has been particularly bad at it for the Mets, at least by the standards of minor league baseball.
Tebow recently suffered a lacerated hand, which will cause him to miss potentially the rest of the 2019 season. He has been playing for the Syracuse Mets – a Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets.
Prior to Tebow’s unfortunate injury, which apparently happened in the field, he was slashing an abysmal .163/.240/.255 with four home runs, 19 RBI, two stolen bases and 25 runs scored.
He possesses a solid ability to draw walks, doing so at a respectable 7.6% clip, but his 37.1% strikeout rate is horrific, even in a league that doesn’t seem to mind the spike in strikeouts.
Is Tim Tebow Done With the Mets?
Tebow’s return is up in the air, and while having him in the minor leagues has been good publicity for the Mets – which is rare these days – it’s going to be hard to justify giving him a roster spot over some other more deserving players.
A quick look in their minor league system shows multiple players, including Sam Haggerty and Barrett Barnes, who deserve a promotion to Triple-A over Tebow.
Haggerty is hitting .278 with 17 home runs as a 25-year-old, while Barnes is hitting .235, but with 12 home runs, at age 27. Both players are losing an opportunity to advance as long as Tebow is taking up a roster spot.
Don’t get me wrong, I fully support Tebow’s decision to try to play professional baseball – I’m not in the business of laughing at someone pursuing a dream. But that dream is dead, and even when his hand heals it is probably best for the former star quarterback to hang up his spikes – again – and pursue a career in broadcasting.
Alright people, can we please stop with all these Tweets about canceling the season or handing over the trophy. It’s the NBA, NCAA, and NFL offseason and everyone wants to crown a winner before things even get started. This team’s unstoppable, this team’s unbeatable, this team added these players, no one can even get close to this. Just hand them the trophy. Cancel the season. We now have so many examples of great teams that didn’t win championships.
Each year this happens, and 2018/2019 was a year exactly the same. Except that unlike what all the Tweets predicted, each “hand them the trophy” team was taken down. Against the narrative, against the hype. The underdogs knocked the top teams off of their premature pedestals.
Nick Saban and the Unbeatable Alabama Crimson Tide
Just cancel the season at this point, no one is beating Alabama
“Just cancel the season at this point, no one is beating Alabama.”
Alabama came out crushing it. They rolled over everyone. Nick Saban had his most talented, stacked team ever with a quarterback that could carry an elite offense. Damien Harris, Josh Jacobs, and Jerry Jeudy couldn’t be stopped. Nobody could beat them.
Except, Clemson had something to say about that.
Dabo Swinney and his defensive line killed it. Touchdown Jesus (AKA Trevor Lawrence) was dropping dimes and Clemson dismantled and demolished Alabama. They won by 28 points against the “unbeatable” squad. Oh, but if Tua was healthy… Stop with the ifs. This is sports and that’s what happens. If ifs and ands were pots and pans, the whole world would be a kitchen.
Stop with this. Let the season play out. Don’t, I repeat don’t, even start with these things before the season even begins. Even in the middle of the season, there’s still plenty of football to be played. So quit the nonsense and keep the trophy until the last seconds are done.
Duke Blue Devils- Just Hand them The Trophy
Next up on the “unbeatable”, “can’t stop them”, “hand them the trophy” list is the Duke Blue Devils. They had Zion Williamson. Can’t stop him. RJ Barrett. Unbeatable. Cam Reddish. This is “God’s team.”
Wait a minute. Is 32-6 undefeated? Nope. Even the least math-savvy folks can figure that one out. 6 losses and 0 championships. You know who didn’t think Duke was going undefeated? Michigan State, Virginia and a whole host of other teams.
But if Zion didn’t blow out his shoe and get injured, they would have kept their record clean and finished the deal. If. Come on people. If ifs were a fifth, we’d all be drunk right now. Then at least we’d have something to blame for this poor rational and over-hyped foolishness.
Los Angeles Rams
Remember when the Los Angeles Rams won the offseason?
The 11-5 Rams have added Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, Ndamukong Suh and Brandin Cooks this offseason.
They had Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, a Top-5 offensive line, Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters and Sean McVay, the newest, hottest NFL coach in the league.
LA had the offense. They had the defense. Their coach was innovative and creative. They won the offseason and were firing during the regular season. It was their year.
Well, the Patriots had something to say about that. They turned the LA Rams awe-inspiring offense into a yawn-inspiring offense. They were out-schemed, out-played and out-done.
But Todd Gurley was injured. Clearly, it would have been a different game if he didn’t play. Yet again, more ifs and buts. Yet that didn’t stop the cancel the season tweets in the NCAA and NBA from pouring in.
Golden State Warriors
Then we have the Golden State Warriors. THE super team of the century. They had Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The fantastic trio took down LeBron, then added Kevin Durant for another ring. Then, on top of their already stacked team, they added Boogie Cousins (well, half of Boogie Cousins).
They couldn’t be beat. All-star after all-star. There was no possible way they could be beaten. Just cancel the season.
However, the Toronto Raptors had something to say about that. But injuries George! They would have won without all of the injuries. Yes, they probably would have won if they didn’t have injuries. But if ifs and buts were candies and nuts, every day would be Christmas. Even the best superteams can be beaten.
2007 Patriots, LeBron/Wade/Bosh Miami Heat and the “Dream Team” in Philly Among Great Teams That Didn’t Win a Championship
People, this isn’t new. Remember the 2007 Patriots that were the Greatest NFL Team of All Time? What about the seven titles the LeBron/Wade/Bosh Heat were supposed to win? They were stopped short. Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kawhi Leonard all had something to say about the “unbeatable”.
With all that said, the all-time greatest offseason “just give them the trophy” team has to be the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles. The “Dream Team” in football. They had Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and a whole squad of other talents. And guess what it got them. Jack-nothing. They did sqadoosh.
So, please stop this annual stream of nonsense and be real. You don’t have to make bold predictions call for the season to be canceled or to hand out the trophy. There’s no need to anoint the victors before the finals whistle sounds. Because this is sports. Sports come with parity, change, injuries, surprises. Time and time again, Goliaths, Titans and Mythical teams are taken down. Instead of joining the 2019/2020 hype trains, sit back and enjoy the seasons to their fullest. Feel the rhythm of the game and be awed. That’s what sports are all about.
Stop with the Cancel the Season Tweets, you may be adding to list of overhyped great teams that didn’t win championships.
In simplest terms, stories have three components: beginning, middle, and end. The great stories captivate the audience with each scene and transition smoothly into the next act. However, the opening scene is crucial. This is where you have to convince the audience to stay around and pay attention. Opening scenes set the stage for what’s to come. Opening scenes explain the tone of the film and provide the basic blueprint as to where the story is going. Since the turn of the century, there have been a few standout opening scenes in films. Here are the five greatest opening scenes of 21st century films.
Inglourious Basterds – The Jew Hunter
https://youtu.be/Ig0815OI9Lg
No one on Planet Earth writes dialogue like Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino’s scenes are usually long, dialogue-driven conversations that are compelling, clever, and most of all, suspenseful. Tarantino’s unique style was put on full display in the opening scene of Inglourious Basterds.
In the scene, Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) interrogates French dairy farmer Perrier LaPadite (Denis Mènochet) for housing a Jewish family, who are hiding under the floorboards. Landa has LaPadite in the palm of his hand the entire time. Landa knows that LaPadite is hiding something, but he elects to draw the conversation out and acts like a friend who will help another friend. The suspense and tension build with each sentence from Landa. LaPaditie is courageous for conversing Landa, but he stands no chance. Landa stalks his prey the entire scene and pounces at the end, massacring all but one of the family members. The scene established Landa as one of Tarantino’s best characters ever.
La La Land – Another Day In The Sun
A musical about two struggling artists in Los Angeles? Does that capture your attention? Without Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and Damien Chazelle attached to La La Land, I’m not sure if I would have gone out of my way to see this film. Thankfully, I did and left the theater full of raw emotion and inspiration.
The opening scene perfectly captures Los Angeles. The bumper to bumper traffic, the influx of struggling actors and artists looking for a break, and an over-the-top and theatrical dance number represents the dreams of so many in the city of angels. Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz’s opening number, “Another Day of Sun,” soars and jumpstarts La La Land to one of the best musicals of 21st century film.
The Social Network – You’re Breaking Up With Me?
Speaking of great screenwriters, when it comes to fast dialogue and complicated monologues, it’s hard to find a writer better than Aaron Sorkin. In the opening scene of The Social Network, Erica Albright breaks up with Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard University in 2003. In this seven-minute scene, the audience learns so much about the two characters in such a short time. Mark is witty, brash, and smug, but he’s a motivated genius who will eventually become one of the most powerful people in the world thanks to Facebook. However, at the end of the day, all he wants to do is impress Erica, but Erica sees right through his bullshit and that’s something that deeply effected Mark and motivated him throughout the rest of the film. Mark becomes both the hero and the villain in The Social Network and it all starts with a conversation in a pub.
Baby Driver – Opening Chase
Baby Driver is a fun film. It’s fast action sequences, a killer soundtrack, and lovable protagonist make this the perfect summer blockbuster. Director Edgar Wright didn’t reinvent the wheel by starting the film with a heist. However, Wright added a new interpretation as to how a heist thriller can open. Heists usually end in gunfire and violence. Baby Driver has both of those elements, and yet it’s so upbeat and uplifting that the violence takes a back seat to its joyfulness. The editing of this scene is superb along with the introduction of the lovable Baby (Ansel Elgort).
Let’s be honest. I’m only writing this article so I can geek out over The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is the greatest comic book film of all time and it all starts out with the opening bank robbery scene. The Dark Knight was Nolan’s version of Heat with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. It’s hard to find a director better with large set pieces and action sequences than Nolan. The suspense builds throughout the entire scene and climaxes with the reveal of the Joker (Heath Ledger). For my money, Ledger’s Joker is the best acting performance of the 21st century and top 10 of the last 50 years. There’s great acting, and then there’s Ledger. Enough said.
Honorable mention: Bank robbery in The Town, opening montage in No Country for Old Men, bank robberies in Hell or High Water, opening credits in Watchmen.
What’s your favorite opening scene of 21st century films? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Every year, late-July brings a flurry of movement among teams at the MLB trade deadline. With added wild card spots and TV revenue through the roof, it feels like the league has a bigger divide than ever between contending teams and tanking teams, allowing the deadline to function nearly like a relegation system in soccer: a few smaller teams (Mariners, Royals, Reds) send their best players to the big boys (Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers) who in turn send their younger, less proven players back.
However, while this year looks like it will eventually be more of the same, so far the trade deadline has been – well – dead.
July 31 is the official trade deadline and as of this writing, very few trades have been made. So many teams are caught in that dangerous middle area, where they aren’t quite contending but they aren’t totally out of it either, making it hard for them to commit to either being buyers or sellers.
As such, the few teams that are selling have their asking price at sky-high levels, because they know the market is scarce at the moment.
The contending teams are content to wait and see if more teams decide to sell, which should saturate the market and allow some deals to get done.
So for now, we wait.
Should the market finally get going, here are the five players who could get dealt before the MLB trade deadline who will have the biggest impact for their new team down the stretch:
Madison Bumgarner, LHP, San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are on a nice 9-1 stretch right now, and at 52-50 they do have an outside chance at winning one of the two wildcard spots in the National League.
However, most experts predict they’ll sell at the trade deadline in order to help shore up their depleted farm system.
If they do that, longtime left-handed starter Madison Bumgarner could find himself pitching in a new uniform for the first time in his big league career.
Bumgarner, 29, is 5-7 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 9.09 K/9 on the season. He has been one of the most reliable starting pitchers in the entire league over the last decade and is known for his postseason heroics – a fact that will no doubt add to his price tag if the Giants make him available.
Marcus Stroman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman appears on this list despite not being a free agent at the end of the season, a rarity in today’s “rental” era.
However, the Blue Jays have been known to be shopping the fiery 28-year-old, and it makes sense to deal him while he is pitching as well as he is.
Stroman is boasting a 3.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 7.11 K/9 despite a disappointing 6-10 record. Considering how bad he was in 2018 (5.54 ERA in 19 starts) the Blue Jays are likely trying to deal him now in case he struggles again next season and ends up worthless on the trade market.
As such, his value should be pretty high heading into late-July.
Matthew Boyd, LHP, Detroit Tigers
Boyd will be one of the most attractive arms on the market, not just because of how strong of a season he is having, but because he is under team control through 2023.
That also gives the Tigers less motivation to deal their star left-hander, which means any trade that does occur with Boyd will net them a very high-profile prospect, or two.
Boyd is currently 6-8 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. His 12.00 K/9 is absolutely elite, and his 3.24 SIERA and 3.57 FIP indicate he is pitching much better than his 4.07 ERA shows. That’s because Detroit’s defense is awful.
A move to a better offensive and defensive team would make Boyd an absolute star in the second half, and would net the Tigers a ton of young players to build around in the future.
Nicholas Castellanos, OF, Detroit Tigers
The second Tigers player to crack this list, right fielder Nicholas Castellanos is a fairly obvious MLB trade deadline candidate after repeated efforts to sign him to an extension have fallen flat.
The 27-year-old outfielder is having a nice season, slashing .285/.342/.483 with 11 home runs and two stolen bases. He’s walking at a 7.5% rate and striking out at a 21.2% rate, both the best marks of his career.
While his outfield defense still leaves plenty to be desired, Castellanos is arguably the best rental bat available on the market. He’d be a great fit for an AL team who needs someone to serve as a DH and platoon outfielder and could go to an NL team as well – although his defense will likely give NL teams hesitation in dealing for him.
Expect the Tigers to be aggressive in pursuing top of the line prospects in return for Castellanos, although they’ll need to move him or else risk losing him for next to nothing – so at the end of the day they’ll end up taking whatever the market dictates.
Will Smith, LHP, San Francisco Giants
As stated above, Smith is only going to be available if San Francisco decides to cash it in – which is becoming less likely with their recent run of success.
However, if they do, the fresh prince would be one of the hottest commodities on the trade market. I mean, what’s not to love? Smith is a dominant left-handed closer, in his prime, and is on a very affordable one-year contract.
Teams would be able to plug him into their late-inning situation right away, would only have to pay him about $2 million dollars, and could let him walk in free agency after he helps them lock up a potential playoff victory.
Players like this historically have commanded ridiculous amounts of prospects, including the Andrew Miller trade (Justus Sheffield and Clint Frazier went from the Indians to the Yankees) and the Aroldis Chapman trade (Gleyber Torres to the Yankees from the Cubs).
Smith is going to command a big pot of prospects from whichever team can convince San Francisco to pack it in and deal away their two star left-handers.
The movement at the MLB trade deadline may turn a contender into a World Series champion.
On June 25, Bradley Beal stated the following about his future with the Washington Wizards:
I have thought about it, but I haven’t really full-out processed it. I still have two years left. We just drafted Rui [Hachimura], and I want to see what we do in free agency before I make the ultimate decision. I haven’t even been offered it officially. Until that happens, I’ll wait and think about it. I’ll have an ample amount of time to process everything and make a decision when the time is right
I’d be naive to say I wouldn’t be [interested in extension talks]. Washington is where I’ve been the last seven years, going on eight. It would be great to play in one place forever. But at the same time, you want to win and make sure you’re in a position to do so. I’m definitely going to evaluate who we hire as the GM and who we pick up on the team. All that plays a factor
With Bradley Beal eligible for a three-year, $111M extension on Friday, Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard tells ESPN: "At the very first moment allowed, we are going to offer Brad the full max…" Story includes reaction from Beal's agent Mark Bartelstein. https://t.co/aJS5JvRak1
Beal has until October 21 to agree to the extension. With John Wall likely to miss the entire 2019-2020 NBA Season, Beal has the chance to solidify himself as the face of the Wizards’ franchise. The 2018-2019 NBA Season was the year of many firsts for Beal: (i) first triple-double; (ii) first player in franchise history with 2,000 points, 400 rebounds and 400 assists in a season; and (iii) first player in franchise history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists. Beal also proved to be extremely durable, appearing in all 82 games for a second consecutive season.
The Wizards clearly view Beal as a franchise player. The team has kept him involved in its rebuilding process, made significant changes to its front office, and put an emphasis on acquiring players he wants to play with. Beal has also grown a strong connection with the Washington community, resulting in his receipt of the 2018-2019 NBA Cares Community Assist Award.
Why Bradley Beal Should Wait
Should he sign a 3 year $111M max extension offer from the #Wizards, Bradley Beal will be locking in $166M over the next 5 seasons, bringing his total career earnings north of $256M. https://t.co/MqGvAOR20lpic.twitter.com/LjDIza4yUS
Financially speaking, it makes zero sense for Beal to accept the Wizards’ offer. 3 years / $111 Million is certainly nothing to scoff at. However, if Beal plays out the 2018-2019 NBA Season under his current contract, he’s eligible for a four-year / $155 million max extension next year. Beal’s maximum contract value increases to five-years / $254 million in the event he makes All-NBA.
The chances of Bradley Beal making an all All-NBA team are slim, but not impossible if he’s somehow able to drag the Wizards to the playoffs. The Wizards finished the season 9 games behind the Detroit Pistons for the 8th seed in the East. Unless free-agent addition Isaiah Thomas regains his Celtic’s form, or rookie Rui Hachimura puts himself into the Rookie Of The Year conversation, Beal will undoubtedly have to shoulder the load if the Wizards have any hope of making the postseason.
To Sign Or Not To Sign With Washington Wizards
The Wizards offseason was lackluster, and the loss of John Wall for the entirety of the season is a significant blow. The Wizards appear to be in store for another sub-.500 season. Though Bradley Beal has said all the right things in public, behind the scene reports, indicate that Beal may already be on the way out.
There’s a recent history of stars forcing their way out with multiple years left on their contract. Kyrie Irving forced his way to the Celtics and, Paul George asked for a trade one year after signing a four-year extension and telling Oklahoma City Thunder fans he was “here to stay.” In a league stockpiled with superstar duos, the Beal/Wall combination no longer ranks on the list. Beal is a coveted trade option for a number of teams, but the Wizards continue to refuse all inquiries. However, if he rejects the team’s extension, Beal’s days in D.C. may be up.
Serena Williams may have been defeated in the Wimbledon finals, however, that did not minimize her victory during the post-match press conference. A reporter asked Williams a very insensitive and narrow-minded question. In a nutshell, the reporter asked Williams how does she respond to comments made by others suggesting that she stop being a celebrity and fighting for equality and focus on tennis? Williams tackled the question head-on with the perfect answer. She eloquently responded by stating: “The day I stop fighting for equality and for people that look like you and me will be the day I’m in my grave.” With that response, Williams reaffirmed her unrelenting commitment to fighting for equality.
The reporter’s question is filled with undertones of a narrow-minded belief that his held by many sports fans.
The Shut-Up and Dribble Mentality
Many sports fans have the “shut up and dribble mentality”. They believe that athletes should simply stick to sports and essentially shut up and dribble. Such fans are against athletes using their athletic platforms to shed light on societal ills or political debates. They contend that athletes should simply focus on providing entertainment for fan viewing pleasure. These contentions may sound familiar as they were repeated over and over by dissenters of Colin Kaepernick’s protest during the national anthem.
Some go as far as to contend that an athlete’s celebrity status shields them from the stereotypes and systemic prejudices of being a part of the demographic group(s) of which they belong. They spout out ignorance like what can a multi-million dollar athlete have to complain about. Serena Williams is a multi-million dollar athlete with 23 Grand Slam Finals wins. According to this logic, what could she possibly have to complain about? What issues could she possibly feel the need to be so vocal about? There is no way that she could possibly be a victim of discrimination or inequality. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Serena Williams has plenty to be vocal about.
Serena Williams has Every Reason to Champion for Women’s Rights
Throughout her career, Serena Williams has dealt with negative commentary about her body. She has been shamed because of her muscles with comments from people saying that she was “born a guy“. Serena and her sister Venus have been referred to at the “Williams brothers“. Serena Williams’ body has even been compared to a monster truck. In 2018, Williams was arguably singled out when the French Tennis Federation announced their ban on catsuits shortly after Williams wore one to the FrenchOpen. Serena Williams wore the catsuit for health reasons from complications she suffered during childbirth. However, the Federation stated that players “must respect the game and the place.”
With all of the criticism that Williams has endured during her career, it should come as no surprise that she is a champion for women’s rights. Her celebrity status and her seven-figure salary was no shield for the incendiary comments from critics and tennis fans throughout her career. Her celebrity status was certainly not a shield to protect her from the blood clot issue she suffered during childbirth. All of the criticism Williams has endured coupled with the general struggles she as endured as a woman makes the reporter’s question all the more insensitive and her answer all the appropriate.
However, this assumption could not be further from the truth. This assumption is certainly not true for Serena Williams who has endured much criticism for being a superior black female athlete.
After all, professional athletes make millions of dollars. What could they possibly have to complain about?
In 2017’ just as LeBron James was embarking on his seventh straight trip to the NBA Finals, a racial slur was spray-painted on his home in California. King James is regarded by many as the greatest basketball player ever and by some as one of the greatest athletes in the world. He has three NBA titles and has represented the United States on Team USA three times. However, all of his accomplishments was not enough to shield him the prejudices that are often directed to black men in this country. How is an athlete supposed to stick to sports when racial epithets are spray-painted on their home?
