Trying To Understand People Who Don’t Like Sports

Okay, so I am starting this off by saying that this isn’t a shot at anyone who does not embrace in the world of sports in any kind, but it is just trying to get and understand of what are you doing if they aren’t in your life.

Listen up people, sports make the world go round. I truly feel that way. Every single day, there is some sport going on that thousands, probably millions are witnessing live on TV, streaming, or in person. Every day there can be a unique storyline that involves your favorite sport. Look at the NBA recently, Anthony Davis going from being apart of the Pelicans future plans to wanting to be traded has been in the news for days it feels. And that isn’t even the game part, that is the front office aspect. There is so many layers in sports to appreciate, which is why I just want to understand.

“I don’t like sports.” A definition – Sports: an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. So you are trying to tell me, there isn’t one single form of a sport that you enjoy? It literally can be a game of hockey, a swimming meet, a car driving around the track, a dance competition, a wrestling match, or a simple baseball game. If you like none of these, good on you I guess.

I feel bad really, I do. Think of the best moments in sports. I know from experience that they can give you the absolute best emotions in the world – where you jump up, hug everyone in the room, scream from the rooftops – and the worst – where you’re angry, sad, miserable, collapse onto the floor. Those emotions can all be reached within seconds when it comes to the sports world. Look back at the Patriots-Chiefs AFC Conference Championship Game. When CB Jonathan Jones almost picked of Patrick Mahomes, I rose to my feet and collapsed within a second span. It all hits you, the stress, the sadness, the hopelessness, the excitement, and the pure happiness.

So really, if you hate sports, how do you not experience a reaction when you see this:

In these five videos, I can tell you first hand I felt both excitement and pain. When Malcolm Butler picked the ball off on the one yard line, I can’t say I had ever been happier in a single moment in my life to truly be honest. The Sale strikeout, just absolutely awesome. Another jump to your feet after your heart was pounding even though there should have been doubt at that point. Michael Phelps breaking a world record? Witnessing that? He is the greatest Olympian of all time, and in cheering for him, you may have been jumping up and down as the record was in sight. Ronda Rousey losing for the first time and getting knocked out to do so. Devastation. Heart sinking defeat for me personally and I can’t even explain why. It’s just tough. The Blackhawks coming back and winning in game six of the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 in 17 seconds. That feeling will never be topped because it is the weirdest of them all. Your heart drops when they tie it up with a minute to go, and somehow they score again and you can’t accept or stomach the fact that the Bruins just lost the Stanley Cup because it all happened faster than you could say “At least there may be overtime.”

Yes, I had all these emotions. Because Sports are beautiful people. Sure, maybe someone doesn’t want to work in sports and just keep them in your heart somewhere special, I totally get that. But not having this excitement for any sport in the world ever in your life? I just don’t get it.

What I’m asking for is for this to be shared, get the question out there and give me an answer how people go on in their lives without sports. Please, there are people truly missing out and lying to themselves.

And for the people who understand the feelings that I have, the Super Bowl is Sunday. Here goes another live changing experience of fear, anger, (hopefully) happiness, and more.

– Scott Edwards, Creator

 

The Resurgence of D-Rose and My Interest in the NBA

In 2010, I would say I was a big-time fan of the NBA. It was a time where Lebron went to the Miami Heat and created a new Big 3 with Wade and Bosh, while the Celtics still had the grizzled Big 3 who had enough in them for one more attempt at the Finals. However, it wasn’t my team that brought me the interest that I had then when it comes to the NBA, but it was the man who I would happily call my favorite player to this day. And it is a guy who I honestly forget because my interest in the NBA has fallen since this player has also fallen, but I have kept my eyes on him even when my interest is at the lowest. That man is Derrick Rose. Rose to me was the most entertaining player on the court night in and night out from his first season in 2008 to his MVP season in 2010-11. The player that people love in Russell Westbrook was literally nothing in comparison to MVP Rose in 2010. The ability that he brought to the court night in and night out was simply electrifying, and he was honestly the only player in the past eight years or so to take the MVP honor away from Lebron. However, the injury bug hit Rose like none other and completely derailed his career, sending him out of his hometown of Chicago and essentially becoming a journeyman suddenly. However, a reunion with his old coach Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota last season into this one has given D-Rose something he hasn’t had in a long time, which is excitement.

Rose has averaged 18.5 points in 30 games this season and considering he has only started 9 games this season, those are impressive numbers. He even dropped a career high 50 points this season, which brought tears to his eyes after so many had given up on him and thought his career was over. A resurgence of the league’s once most exciting player is something that drives interest, not some super team that is almost a guarantee to win the whole thing once again. Rose has made me become more interested in the NBA through his resurgence, and tonight showed that a certain city missed him like I have as well –

While the MVP Rose will never be back, this version of Derrick Rose at 30 years old is something that should be peaking your interest, as it is fair to say he has been not only the comeback player of the year this season, but the story of the season to this point. D-Rose, I am incredibly happy to see you back playing at a high level like I knew you could someday, thank you for giving me interest in the league once again.

A 24 point, 8 assist performance in his return to Chicago in front of friends and family is truly something to smile about.

– Scott Edwards, Creator of WTF Sports

Storylines to Watch For in 2019

With 2018 ending in a few days. it was another dramatic year in the NHL. The Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history back in June. The Vegas Golden Knights made a run to the finals in their first season as a franchise. There were other memorable moments in the NHL in 2018. What are some story lines to keep an eye on heading into 2019?

The first headline coming into 2019: Will Washington repeat as Stanley Cup Champions? By the way it is looking right now, they will be the number one seed in the Metropolitan Division for the fourth consecutive.

Don’t think for a minute that the Pittsburgh Penguins won’t throw everything at them. Pittsburgh wants that championship back and if they meet four the fourth consecutive postseason, more drama will be in store.

The second headline coming into 2019: Will the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1967? Even though they have not won since then, they are second all time in Stanley Cup championships with 13.

Toronto is loaded with offensive talent in John Tavares, Zach Hyman, Mitchell Marner, Kasperi Kapanen, William Nylander, Patrick Marleau, Nazem Kadri, and Morgan Reilly. Will Frederik Andersen be able to come up huge between the pipes for them?

The third headline coming into 2019: Can anyone stop the Tampa Bay Lightning in a playoff series? They are by far the best team in the NHL so far this season with a 28-7-2 record with 58 points. Tampa Bay has offensive weapons all over the ice, solid defense, and one of the best goalies in the game in Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The fourth headline coming into 2019 is how many Canadian teams will make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs? If the season ended right now, there would be five Canadian teams in the playoffs.

They are the Winnipeg Jets, the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oilers, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Montreal Canadiens. I think Winnipeg, Calgary, and Toronto will be in the playoffs this season.

I think Montreal is going to fall off at some point. Edmonton has been buying into Ken Hitchcock’s system, but will they keep it up? I am not sold on them reaching the postseason. The Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks will most likely miss the postseason again.

The fifth headline coming into 2019 is will the Buffalo Sabres sustain this success? A lot of people expected them to be very competitive this season, but they weren’t sure if they were going to be a playoff team. I didn’t predict them to be a playoff team, but I predicted them to be a lot more competitive and challenge for a playoff spot.

Buffalo is exceeding those expectations right now. If the season ended today, they would be the number three seed in the Atlantic Division and the Buffalo Sabres would face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first-round of the postseason. Their record is 21-11-5 with 47 points.

The sixth headline coming into 2019 is will the Columbus Blue Jackets trade away goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky? He will become a free agent at the end of the season and is now 30 years old. Columbus is currently in the number two spot in Metropolitan Division right now.

As long as this team keeps winning, I don’t see him being traded away this season. They might be afraid to lose him for nothing, but Sergei Bobrovsky gives them a better chance to win it all this season than Joonas Korpisalo does.

Korpisalo is the future starting goalie of this team and he is 24 years old. His record so far this season is 5-2-2 with a .885 save percentage and a 3.54 GAA. Bobrovsky’s record is 16-10-1 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.68 GAA, along with two shutouts.

 

– Glenn Kaplan, WTF Sports Intern

 

Edited by Scott Edwards

 

New Jersey Devils Struggling; They Should Stick with John Hynes

The New Jersey Devils made it to the postseason last year as the second wild card team in the Eastern Conference. They were ousted in five games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it was the first time since the 2011-2012 season New Jersey reached the postseason.

The Devils were hoping to take their game to another level this season and it has been nothing but a major disappointment. Their record is 11-14-7 with 29 points and New Jersey is in last place in the Metropolitan Division. They are nine points back of the New York Islanders for the third spot in the Metropolitan Division.

The New Jersey Devils have scored 96 goals so far this season and they have given up 118 goals. New Jersey fans can blame General Manager Ray Shero all they want to for not upgrading the roster this offseason and the truth of the matter is, this team has no goaltending.

Keith Kinkaid is a good backup goalie to have. He has shown he can play in this league, but Kinkaid isn’t a full-time starter. His record is 11-9-6 with a .902 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA, along with three shutouts. If Keith Kinkaid wasn’t the number one goalie, those are good numbers to have as a number two goalie.

The reason why he must be pushed into the number one role is because of how injury prone Cory Schneider is and he also can’t stop anything his way anymore. Schneider’s record is 0-5-1 with a .852 save percentage and a 4.66 GAA.

The bad news for the New Jersey Devils is that they are struck with Schneider for the next three seasons after this one. He will be owed $6 million each season and Cory Schneider is 32 years old. He also has a no trade clause in his contract.

The Devils have no choice but to see what 22-year-old MacKenzie Blackwood could do in net. He was a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Blackwood made his NHL debut in relief in Tuesday night’s 7-2 loss at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He made eight saves on 10 attempts. MacKenzie Blackwood has a lot of potential to be very good for this team and New Jersey needs to hope he is the number one goalie of the now and the future.

Blackwood will either start on the road on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets or at home on Friday night against the Ottawa Senators. Maybe Head Coach John Hynes will start him on Thursday night and if he likes what he sees, then maybe he will go back to him for two straight games.

Hynes is not the problem with this team. They may not be playing great, but there is a longer-term plan in place for this franchise. The New Jersey Devils are still a very young team led by Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier.

Hall has scored eight goals and recorded 24 assists so far this season. His plus/minus is -8. Hischier has scored eight goals and recorded 13 assists so far this season. His plus/minus is -2. When Travis Zajac is fourth on the team in points with 19, it is a red alert for this franchise because they have a personnel problem and not a coaching problem.

The Edmonton Oilers, the Chicago Blackhawks, the St. Louis Blues, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Philadelphia Flyers all fired their coaches this season. The only team that is benefiting is the Oilers and it could benefit the Flyers later on. Firing John Hynes would only make matters worse for the New Jersey Devils and not better.

New Jersey has prospects in juniors and in the AHL that will make an impact in the immediate future. They will have a ton of cap space this offseason to sign players.

Artemi Panarin, Anders Lee, Matt Duchene, Jeff Skinner, Jakob Silfverberg, Carl Hagelin, Erik Karlsson, Andrej Sustr, Tyler Myers, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Semyon Varlamov should be some the free agents they eye on this offseason. They should also try and trade for Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues, but the New Jersey Devils may not have what St. Louis wants.

The Devils might be struggling, but it could ultimately be good for the long run because they will be getting another draft pick if they continue to struggle. I don’t expect John Hynes to be fired anytime soon and it wouldn’t be surprising if he was the coach at the start of the 2019-2020 season. Hynes started coaching this team in the 2015-2016 season. He was brought in to work with young players.

– Glenn Kaplan, WTF Sports Intern

 

Edited by Scott Edwards

Patriots drop the ball (multiple times) versus Steelers

              Nothing hurts worse than losing a game you feel like should have resulted in a win. That is exactly what I would say happened Sunday afternoon against the Steelers in what was a playoff atmosphere. Patriots vs Steelers has the “these teams don’t like each other” feel as the two sides have clashed in some huge games over the years. When these team’s matchup the game always seems to go down to the wire. This game was no different, though this time the Steelers came out on top.

              What made this loss so difficult, beyond the playoff implications, was that it felt like a winnable game. I hate to be generic, but the Patriots really did shoot themselves in the foot and played like a losing football team. They had four dropped passes, three of which were uncontested passes right on the numbers. To add to that they committed 14 penalties, the most by the Patriots since 2014. Also, Tom Brady throw a horrible pass on an extremely uncharacteristic play that was picked off by Joe Haden.

            The defense got carved up yardage wise but came through in the clutch. Duran Harmon caught two interceptions off two poor choices by Ben Roethlisberger, as the team held the Steelers dynamic offense to only 17 points. The Patriots defense played good enough to win this game and clinch the AFC East despite looking lost at times.

              The killer is that the Steelers kept hurting themselves too. Pittsburg was unable to put points on the board despite moving the ball downfield consistently. A large part of that was aided by Harmon and the previously mentioned interceptions. They also missed a chip shot field-goal as Chris Boswell is known to do. The only time the Patriots were able to make plays was when the Steelers had massive blown coverages in the secondary. Chris Hogan will never be more open in his life than he was on that touchdown. The other notable pass was when Edelman caught a big chunk play where two defenders ran into each other and knocked themselves down.

              The Patriots did not play like a Super Bowl contenders and more than likely just lost the a chance for a first-round bye week in the playoffs. The good news is that the Patriots still have the tie-breaker over the Texans and could sneak into the second seed if things start to go wrong in Houston. Regardless of what happened tonight, they will have another shot at a championship this season, and the Patriots still have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. That means anything can happen.

Scott Neville – Co-Owner – WTF Sports

The Red Sox should target this young All-Star Reliever in Free Agency

The Red Sox have a very clear primary need as the Hot Stove heats up. With Joe Kelly heading to Los Angeles (to team up with the players he embarrassed in the World Series) and Craig Kimbrel all but gone, the Red Sox are in desperate need for late inning relievers. Adam Ottavino (6-4, 2.42 ERA) and David Robertson (8-3, 3.23 ERA) have been heavily rumored options for the defending World Series Champs, but we are overlooking one extremely talented and accomplished young pitcher.

Kelvin Herrera is in the midst of his first offseason as a free agent and has not garnered much talk thus far. Last season, Herrera posted a 2.44 ERA in 44.1 IP between Kansas City and Washington. His season ended abruptly when he tore a ligament in his left foot in late August. That said, he should be at full health by Spring Training, ready to build on what was a successful season for the reliever.

See the source image

Career Breakdown:

Herrera is a two time All-Star that can throw 100 from the right-side and already has a World Series ring as a key cog in the 2015 Royals Championship. He has a career 2.82 ERA, as well as the tools and experience to be the next closer in Boston. Herrera had 17 saves in 2018 and has 60 career saves. Another important quality to a contender like the Red Sox is a clutch factor in the playoffs. Herrera has a career 1.26 ERA in 28.2 IP for in the postseason. He was a crucial part of the Royals World Series runs in 2014 and 2015. Another plus for Herrera is that he is entering his age 29 season, meaning he is still in his prime.

Usage in Boston:

The Red Sox should sign him along with another veteran like Ottavino or Robertson to lock up the late innings. Herrera could be a set up guy or a closer depending on who ends up in Boston. Barnes is slated to take one set up role, and the new guys may be competing for save opportunities with the Red Sox. The Twins are reportedly in pursuit of Herrera but overall he has not gotten the attention he deserves from Major League teams.

Scott Neville – Head Baseball Writer – WTF Sports

 

 

Teams that would be a good fit for Vladimir Tarasenko

The St. Louis Blues missed the playoffs last season. They are in danger in missing it again this season. Their record is 11-14-4 with 26 points and St. Louis is currently in sixth place in the Central Division. Because of their horrific start, it is possible the St. Louis Blues will trade some of their super stars including winger Vladimir Tarasenko.

He is 27 years old and Tarasenko is in the prime of his career. He is an elite goal scorer and many teams could use his services. In 29 games so far this season, Vladimir Tarasenko has scored nine goals and has recorded 11 assists. His plus/minus rating is -13.

Tarasenko has four more years remaining on his contract and he will have a $7.5 million cap hit. Which teams could trade for him?

The first team that comes to mind is the New York Islanders. Mathew Barzal does not have a go to scorer on the first line right now. Tarasenko would fit in that scheme perfectly. It would also be a reason to convince players like Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle to stay after this season. The Islanders have the prospects to trade for Tarasenko. He would do very well in a system coached by Barry Trotz and they are in position to make the playoffs this season.

The second team that comes to mind is the New York Rangers. They are going to through a complete rebuild, but they don’t have a true go to goal scorer. He would be the guy that could change this franchise around. New York has been drafting better lately and it would be interesting to see what they would give up.

The third team that comes to mind is the New Jersey Devils. They were just in the playoffs last season and New Jersey didn’t make enough changes to the roster to improve. Can you imagine a first line of Taylor Hall-Nico Hischier-Vladimir Tarasenko? Ray Shero needs to make a move because they are in danger of missing the playoffs once again this season, even though they need help on defense and goaltending.

The fourth team that comes to mind is the Detroit Red Wings. They have a ton of young prospects in their system, but would St. Louis ask for Filip Zadina? If they ask for him, Detroit should hang up the phone immediately. If they don’t ask for him, I would definitely think about it because they are playing better, but they need that veteran and goal scorer inside the dressing room.

The fifth team that comes to mind is the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado is really good, but they might be relying too much on the top line. Tarasenko would provide scoring depth on this team in a top-6 role. They might have to give up prospect defenseman Cale Makar, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft in order to get him.

The sixth team that comes to mind is the Edmonton Oilers. They have no depth on the roster and can you imagine getting Connor McDavid a legit goal scorer on his line? That could be really run and the culture has changed in Edmonton under Ken Hitchcock.

 

– Glenn Kaplan, WTF Sports Intern

 

Edited by Scott Edwards

OUR GUY Joe Kelly is heading to the Dodgers

Upset, sad, devastated. None of these words can truly wrap up the emotions we have right now here at WTF Sports as “Around the Diamond” favorite Joe Kelly is headed west to the team he dominated in the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kelly has signed on with the Dodgers with a 3 year contract worth $25 mil. The righty finally seemed to have found it in the postseason with the Red Sox, giving up nothing on his way to being one of the most dominant pitchers of the post season.

This past week, I made a pitch that I felt Joe Kelly could truly close for the Red Sox this coming season, and unfortunately, this will not be happening. It is sad to realize that Joe Kelly will not be joining the defense after his biggest season as a Sox player, from blowing the game Opening Day, to pegging Tyler Austin and restarting the rivalry between the Sox and Yankees, to a dominant stretch, a chance he doesn’t make the playoff roster, to putting up multiple dominant performances in the playoffs on their way to a World Series trophy.

While a quick post like this isn’t enough for our guy Joe Kelly, it is enough for this time. #JustJoey, #JoeyFastball, #JoeyPsycho, whatever you want to call him. Thank you to Joe Kelly. We wish you the best in LA.

– Scott Edwards, Creator of WTF Sports and Joe Kelly Enthusiast

Auston Matthews is a Superstar

The Toronto Maple Leafs were really bad the year before they drafted center Auston Matthews in the 2016 NHL Draft. He is only 21 years old and Matthews has lived up to the hype as a number one pick.

He made the playoffs in the first two seasons as a member of the Maple Leafs and they are most likely on their way to the postseason for the third straight season. Matthews has not won a playoff series yet in his career, but this is the year it most likely to happen.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a Stanley Cup or bust mentality this season. They sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 20-8 record and 40 points so far this season. The team has a goal differential of plus 29 and it is tied for the best in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Toronto has scored 102 goals as a team this season and Auston Matthews has scored 15 of them. He also has recorded eight assists. His plus/minus is 3.

Matthews scored two goals, including the game-winning goal with under three seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. For the sixth time this season, he has scored at least two goals in a game. Auston Matthews has only played in 14 games this season and he missed over a month because of a shoulder injury.

Matthews has played in only three games since returning from his injury and he has scored five goals and recorded two assists in that span. His plus/minus in that span is 4.

Auston Matthews has shown no signs of rust ever since returning and he has been a dominant player. This is why the Toronto Maple Leafs are so dangerous.

Matthews is also very lethal on the power play and he also has the ability to take over a game. Auston Matthews has that killer instinct mentality.

He can either be the first or second line centerman. Having players like John Tavares, Mitchell Marner, Kasperi Kapanen, Nazem Kadri, Patrick Marleau, and Zach Hyman around help Auston Matthews out.

He will not be the kind of player that Connor McDavid is, and McDavid was the number one pick the year before Auston Matthews. Matthews is already a super star in this league no doubt, but Connor McDavid is another level compared to him.

He is more of a shoot first center and Connor McDavid is more of a past first center. Auston Matthews won the Rookie of the Year award for the 2016-2017 season. He scored 40 goals in his rookie year and he scored 34 goals last season. Matthews is on pace to score over 30 goals again this season.

He has recorded 29 assists in each of his first two seasons. His plus/minus in his rookie year was 2 and last year it was 25.

In the postseason in his rookie year, Matthews scored four goals and recorded one assist. His plus/minus was 2. In the postseason last year, he only scored one goal and recorded one assist. His plus/minus was -4.

Auston Matthews will have a chance to redeem himself most likely in the postseason. For the Toronto Maple Leafs to make a deep playoff run, he will have to continue playing like a superstar.

 

– Glenn Kaplan, WTF Sports Intern

 

Edited by Scott Edwards