large (elitist) huge folk. Culture is absolutely not frozen contact form. Values are socially acknowledged and contributed by plenty of people ideas concerning meaning within the good, the law, patriotism, enchanting love, relationship and so on. b) within the narrow awareness: active inspiring activity procedure, while of which spiritual areas are created, spread and made use of.
This can be philosophy, values, science, degree, art, education argumentative essay religious beliefs, law. traditional conventional post-industrial; The subject of lifestyle is a our (he makes, keeps in addition to spreads the very cultural beliefs he created). In this manner, the feeling of customs is that it is normally fundamental, them defines the human life, it all embodies our way of presence.
Counterculture is one of the manuals of progress modern society that contradicts the psychic atmosphere of modern society (or official culture, for example , base as a counterculture). Continue reading →
Yesterday the New York Post’s Joel Sherman detailed how much money Mookie Betts has turned down in recent years. Mookie then gave an interview to Red Sox reporters this morning detailing how he loves it here, but will be going to free agency instead of signing a long-term deal. Cue the hang wringing across Red Sox Nation.
But the fact Mookie is going year to year for the next two years makes him the greatest value in the majors right now.
Current Contract
Betts and the Red Sox recently agreed on a $20 million contract for 2019. That set a record for a player who was subject to salary arbitration. There was speculation that Nolan Arenado would break that, before he signed an 8 year $260 Million contract instead.
Mookie has one more year of arbitration before hitting his goal of free agency. If he follows up 2018 with something similar in 2019 he’s going to set an all time record in arbitration that will be hard to beat. The Red Sox have Mookie under arbitration control for only this year and next. He will become a free agent after the 2020 season.
Historic Footing
In 2018 Mookie Betts had a 10.9 WAR according to Baseball Reference. That is 21st on the All Time list. Number one is Babe Ruth’s 1923 at 14.1, second is Ruth’s 1921 at 12.9. You get the picture. The only post 2000 seasons in front of Mookie’s are Barry Bonds in 2001 and 2002.
Value
A lot of uneasiness is coming from Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Nolan Arenado signing long term deals, while Mookie is refusing to. None of those players have a higher WAR season than Mookie has right now.
Currently teams are agreeing on 8 to 10 year contracts at $30 plus million dollars for the privilege of having those players on their teams. None of those guys, including Trout, has ever had a better season than Mookie. Trout is the only one with an argument. Harper’s best season was his 10 WAR season in 2015.
Again, the Red Sox are paying Mookie Betts $20 Million this year. If he is true to his word, he will not sign a long-term extension before hitting free agency.
Risk
How many long term contracts have ever worked out in the Major Leagues? Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano – these are cautionary tales. Yes, Harper and Machado, and Trout and Arenado to a lesser extent, are all younger that those other guys when they got those big contracts. But injuries, declining performance, bad team relationships, and PED use are among the many risks that come with long term deals.
The Red Sox have the luxury of the possibility of two more outstanding seasons from Mookie Betts at the shortest possible term. Yes, it would be painful to see him in another uniform. But the Red Sox cannot make him sign a contract.
It’s All Good
This is a reason for celebration Sox Nation, not doom. If the Red Sox win the World Series again in the next two years, then lose Mookie Betts to another team in free agency, that is a win.
And give it time. The Red Sox can never be counted out when it comes to paying out big contracts. The big payroll situations come at the end of 2019. They can meet any rivals head on when Mookie’s free agency hits after 2020.
If you’re a four for four fan for Boston, or New England, then the fact is that you are going to want to go to some games with a nice date on your arm. Yet, not every woman is best equipped to show up to each game. You might want one sort of lady for the Red Sox and another for the Pats. We’re going to show you the sort of people that you are going to want to take to each of the games for the big four.
Patriots Games: The Know it All
When you head out to a Patriots game, you’re going to want to take a date that knows the history of the team and isn’t afraid to shout down other fans or rivals. The know-it-all will tell you who has the most catches going into the game, what the other team’s formation means, and provide some context on the team you’re facing. They’re great, passionate, and a good time. However, make sure you aren’t going with someone that is more interested in the stats that the sport or you’re setting yourself up for some disappointment.
The Red Sox: An Easygoing Date
Baseball is America’s pastime, and the fact is that you don’t want someone that is going to get bored easily. Baseball games dole out amazing moments from time to time, but most of it is spent enjoying the company of the people you’re with and celebrating the hits and somewhat rare homeruns. Thus, if you are going to take a date out to the Red Sox games, then you are definitely going to want to take someone that is easygoing. Not only will she be willing to sit still the entire time and not drag you off to the concession stand, but she’ll know that being a Red Sox fan is about patience.
Bruins Games: The Loud Mouth
Are you dating a wild woman and want a way to channel her energy in a positive way for the city of Boston? Then it’s time for the two of you to escape to a nice hockey game where she can scream, yell, and tell off the people in other jerseys all around you. The loud mouth does so well in these situations because she can be heard over the noise of the game and other people, and brings the fiery passion that can ignite an entire crowd. Deck your date our in gear and get her in the stands immediately!
Celtics: The Excitable
The final kind of date that you’re going to want to take out to a game is the excitable woman, and you should take her to a Celtics game. Plenty of points are scored during a basketball game, and with a team as dynamic as the Celtics, you’ll have a lot of opportunities to celebrate. This type of woman will find something to be happy about and cheer every time that a rebound is made, a three-pointer is sunk, or a bad foul call happens. They’ll liven up your time and keep the excitement going for everyone near you in the seats.
All in all, there is a woman out there for every single occasion. Sometimes you are going to want the sweet and patient woman and other times you want a diehard, screaming her face off fan. No matter what you want, it’s important to find the right lady for you. If you’re trying to find someone for dating near me, then you can always check out dating sites, sports bars, and forums for your team to meet a woman that will love to have some fun at a game.
You’re a diehard Boston sports fan and you found a date that enjoys at least one of the teams that you are crazy about. How do the two of you celebrate this wild occurrence? Well, you head out to the destinations that are just made for sports lovers on a date around the city. Using this list of great places to go for sporting dates, you’ll always have a way to have new adventures!
Any of the Sports Venues for the Professional Teams
This one might seem kind of self-explanatory, but a lot of couples out there do not think about going out to a sports game as a date. However, the fact is that watching a baseball game or any of the other major sports together is a great way to build compatibility with each other. You get to learn about how your date handles themselves in public, share some information about the team with each other, grab some food, and watch a show. It’s a lot better than going out to dinner and a movie, that’s for sure.
The Four’s Restaurant and Sports Bar
Located right by North Station on Commercial Street, The Four’s Restaurant and Sports Bar is a pretty well-known place where you can watch any of the teams compete while having a good time. The place is always packed full of people watching the games and cheering, and they have a great variety of food and drinks. It is a more run-of-the-mill date, but you also get the chance to watch your team of choice while you hang out with your date.
Social Boston Sports
Did you play for a baseball team or basketball team in high school and college but still feel that urge to compete? Then you should check out Social Boston Sports to feed the sports lover inside of you. This organization helps working professionals find sports leagues that they can join and have all kinds of fun together. In terms of dating, you could use this as a way of watching amateurs play sports or cheer for each other while one or both of you compete. It’s definitely a unique twist on dating, but the fact is that it is a great supportive way for you to bring sports into your daily dating lifestyle.
Host a Couples Viewing Party
Are you looking for a way to add more of the dating side of a relationship into your sports schedule? Then you might want to consider inviting your friends and their dates over for a couples viewing party of the game. That way, you can expose yourself to other couples, check up on your friends, and make sure that you are not sacrificing valuable screen time for the games. This method of dating has a lot of benefits from gathering everyone in one place, but it’s also a great way for people who have a new date to introduce that person to their sports-loving friends. With a built-in icebreaker in the form of the common cause of sports, you’ll never have to worry about making an awkward introduction to your friends or family.
All in all, sports lovers have a lot of great potential places to take a date in and around the city of Boston. If you’re still looking for a beau that is into sports, you can always look to start a relationship by heading out to the right sports bars, asking friends, or even heading to naughtydate.com to see who is out and about. Once you have your date, you’ll have plenty of places to take them based on the list we’ve made for you!
The New England Patriots just love being the underdogs. So often favorites to win on the big stage, Bill Belichick’s men strolled into Kansas City – with many backing the Chiefs to go on and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. New England’s doubters got it massively wrong on that day and critics were wrong again in the National Football League’s showpiece game just two weeks later.
Heading into the 2019 season, New England may slip further down the projected pecking order. Tom Brady is the greatest player of all-time but age will catch up with him at some point. However, he showed no signs of slowing down last season and plenty of punters will fancy the Patriots quarterback to lead the franchise to another successful year. Write New England off at your peril; that will only fuel their hunger and desire.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the Patriots and NFL (more competition for Patriots players in free agency creates challenge for team; Adam Humphries; wide receiver remains big need; Patriots-Browns too good for opener?; special 2018 locker room etc.). <a href=”https://t.co/Q0ambzH12v”>https://t.co/Q0ambzH12v</a></p>— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) <a href=”https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/1107225444796059649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Tom Brady will be 42 years old when the 2019 season gets underway. We repeat: Brady will be 42 years old. He is playing like a 24-year-old and it would be foolish to suggest that his decline is imminent. With Peyton Manning, you could see his form deteriorate but Brady is still one of the best in the business. In those clutch situations, he gives the Patriots a clear advantage over his rivals at the quarterback position.
On paper, the AFC Conference is wide open – the gap between the Patriots and the chasing pack is now closer than ever. There are at least seven or eight contenders to win the AFC title and that enhanced competition will act as the catalyst to motivate Belichick and co. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see New England send out a real statement of intent in the early stages of the 2019 campaign.
While the standard inside the conference is improving, the same cannot be said for the AFC East. This is New England’s territory and the free sports picks will all suggest another divisional title. It is hard to see one of the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills or Miami Dolphins bridging the gap to the Patriots. At some point, New England’s rivals will turn things around but not whilst Brady and Belichick are at Gillette Stadium.
Predicting the Patriots to win the Super Bowl is almost expected these days but reaching the showpiece fixture at 42 years old would be Brady’s best achievement. Retaining the AFC East title for the 11th year in a row has to be the primary objective but New England fans will want more than that. With time running out for both Brady and Belichick, Patriots followers will be hoping for at least one more Super Bowl crown.
The Patriots might not have the most talented roster but anything can happen when you have the greatest head coach of all-time and the greatest player of all-time on your team. If New England reaches the latter stages of the playoffs, the rest of the NFL will start to panic. When push comes to shove, the Patriots step up and prove their worth on the big stage. Watch this space, another Super Bowl berth beckons in 2020.
With the baseball season arriving, our baseball writers have come together to predict the 2019 award winners. In this article we each choose the winner of the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year Awards for the coming season. We will follow shortly with a second article predicting the division winners and postseason results for the coming season.
American League Most Valuable Player
Thom Howland: Jose Ramirez hit .270 last year with an unlucky 25% hit rate. With his top tier power, peak age, and a Cleveland team gunning for another AL Central crown, the time is ripe for his MVP closeup. Dark horse candidate – Jose Abreu
Scott Frizzell: It is just so hard to pick against Mike Trout. The new $430 million dollar man has finished in the top two every year of his career except one, when he finished fourth after missing six weeks of action. Dark horse candidate – Andrew Benintendi
John Principe: Coming off a year that didn’t end in him winning the MVP, I fully expect Mike Trout to again put up his insane numbers. He’s the closest thing in sports to a perennial lock, and is my pick to stay healthy and win his third MVP. Dark horse candidate – Matt Chapman
Ben Rolfe: Yes, it is the boring pick, but Mike Trout is so far above anyone else in baseball right now it is incredible. If we ignore his small rookie appearance then Trout’s average WAR is 9.2 per year and his numbers are something out of a video game. Dark horse candidate – Luke Voit
Mike Quilty: Mike Trout may be the favorite, but I think Alex Bregman will have a huge year for Houston.
Mike Trout is always a safe bet to be near the top.
National League Most Valuable Player
Thom Howland: Kris Bryant, the former MVP, is over the injuries that sapped his power last year. The Cubs are being counted out, and he will be at the center of their resurgence. Dark horse candidate – Ronald Acuna
Scott Frizzell: Paul Goldschmidt is leaving the desert for St. Louis this season, and I think he will put up his usual big numbers while helping lead the Cardinals back to the postseason for the first time since 2015. After a dreadful first two months last year, Goldy batted .330 with 26 home runs and a 1.022 OPS from June 1st on. Dark horse candidate – Ronald Acuna
John Principe: Bryce Harper is coming off an okay year, but a great contract, what’s in store for him? The new Philly slugger, to me, is poised to breakout again and have his best season since his MVP year in 2015. Look for Bryce to put up another season with an OPS over 1.000, carry his Phils to an NL East title, and win MVP while he’s at it. Dark horse candidate – Ronald Acuna
Ben Rolfe: Nolan Arenado is one of the best fielders at his position and he hits in Coors Field, which always means his hitting numbers will be right up there. His best chance is if he can lead the Rockies back to the playoffs. Dark horse candidate – Jesus Aguilar
Mike Quilty: Paul Goldschmidt had never won the award before but has been close multiple times as a D-Back. After a trade to St. Louis a change of scenery may be just what he needs.
Paul Goldschmidt joins a new team for the first time in his career.
American League Cy Young
Thom Howland: The all-time MLB leader in K/9 and K/BB will put it all together this year. After 6 straight Top 5 AL Cy Young finishes, Chris Sale will finally gain the top spot in 2019. Dark horse candidate – Eduardo Rodriguez
Scott Frizzell: Coming off a fantastic first season in Houston, I will choose Gerrit Cole to win the Cy Young this year. There is no one candidate this year that stands out to me. Dark horse candidate – Shane Bieber
John Principe: Despite struggling in the second half of 2018, I expect a massive year out of Jose Berrios. The bats are a little better behind him, which should work to his advantage. He’s a nasty pitcher with devastating off-speed stuff and will have a good chance to finish at least top 5 in Cy Young voting. Dark horse candidate – Mike Clevinger
Ben Rolfe: The drop in velocity for Chris Sale has me scared, and Gerrit Cole looked so dominant at times last year. He will be a crucial part of a playoff bound rotation and could win 20 games this season.
Mike Quilty: Chris Sale has come in the top five in each of the last six years. Injury last season ended his first shot at the award as he was pitching well. I think Sale will have an amazing year in 2019 and win his first Cy Young.
Chris Sale always finishes in the top five, but can he finally win the coveted award?
National League Cy Young
Thom Howland: Noah Syndergaard went 4-1 with two shutouts in September of last year. Finally healthy after years of nagging injuries, and with an improved Mets team behind him, the promise of his 97+ MPH fastball and devastating off-speed stuff will bring home the NL Cy Young in 2019. Dark horse candidate – Luis Castillo
Scott Frizzell: I tried Noah Syndergaard last season and instead his teammate won the award. I’m going him again. Syndergaard has the stuff to win it, reaching into the upper-90’s with his fastball with a devastating slider thrown around 92. Dark horse candidate – Walker Buehler
John Principe: Walker Buehler came up and absolutely dominated last year. With Kershaw ready to pass the load (and possibly ace status) on to Buehler, this could be a huge breakout year for him in establishing himself as a premier pitcher in the NL. Dark horse candidate – Kyle Freeland
Ben Rolfe: Patrick Corbin moves to a rotation which is known for pitching success on the back of a great 2018. Pitching alongside Max Scherzer gives a perfect person for him to be compared to all season in order to win this award. Dark horse candidate – Robbie Ray
Mike Quilty: Max Scherzer has won three times already, and had a career high last season with 300 strikeouts. He went 18-7 with a 2.53 era and probably would’ve won his fourth if not for Jacob deGrom and his historic season.
“Thor” has electric stuff, but has had some injury troubles.
American League Rookie of the Year
Thom Howland: As a 19-year-old, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rocketed from Rookie Ball all the way to AAA last year. Along the way he managed a .381 average, 20 Home Runs, and 29 Doubles. He’ll be delayed by a few weeks, but this 20-year-old will rake once he makes the show. Dark horse candidate – Josh James
Scott Frizzell: Eloy Jimenez could have a fantastic rookie season, but it’s hard to go against Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after he hit .402 at AA last season. This could shape up similarly to the Ronald Acuna vs Juan Soto race for Rookie of the Year last season. Dark horse candidate – Josh James
John Principe: Possibly the easiest category of all, Vlad Jr. is poised for greatness regardless of when his call-up comes. He’ll be in the show this season, hopefully by the middle of May at the latest. Even with his competitors getting possibly an extra month to pad their stats, Vlad should easily win this award. Dark horse candidate – Yusei Kikuchi
Ben Rolfe: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not a particularly fun pick, but I cannot see who else it will be. Guerrero is so talented and in a hitter friendly park, he will have every chance to put up huge numbers. Dark horse candidate – Yusei Kikuchi
Mike Quilty: Vladimir Guerrero Jr, 19-year-old son of HOF Vladimir Guerrero has dominated every level he’s played at to this point. He’s a great talent with great lineage and will now showcase his talent in the big leagues.
Vlad Jr. is the only unanimous choice.
National League Rookie of the Year
Thom Howland: Fernando Tatis Jr. is another precocious 20-year-old. He hit .286 with 16 HR and 22 Doubles last year in AA. The Padres are moving the newly minted $300 Million Dollar Manny Machado to third base so Tatis Jr. can play every day. Dark horse candidate – Pete Alonso
Scott Frizzell: Nick Senzel keeps getting moved around the field due to being blocked at the big league level all over the infield. His bat will play anywhere though. It looks like his new home will be center field for the Reds. Although I think Pete Alonso might slug 30 home runs for the Mets, I believe Senzel will have a more rounded game, batting around .300 with 15-20 home runs and stolen bases. Dark horse candidate – Chris Paddack
John Principe: The opposite of the AL, this race seems wide open to me. With no clear favorite, the Mets slugger Pete Alonso is my choice. Alonso has a brilliant eye, and lots of pop in his bat and should have a chance to play first base right away for the Mets. Dark horse candidate – Nick Senzel
Ben Rolfe: Anyone with Nick Senzel’s talent who gets to play in a hitter friendly park is always going to have a great shot of success. Add in the highlight plays he seems to be capable of making in center field and this could be a fun player to watch this season. Dark horse candidate – Chris Paddack
Mike Quilty: If Alex Reyes can finally stay healthy, he has some of the most electric stuff in the entire sport.
Nick Senzel was drafted 2nd overall in 2016.
American League Manager of the Year
Thom Howland: The Angels are an afterthought in the AL playoff picture. The A’s funky stadium and Billy Beane’s witchcraft will run out, and Brad Ausmus will have the Angels in the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Dark horse candidate – Kevin Cash
Scott Frizzell: I like Thom’s pick of Brad Ausmus. Mike Scioscia had gone stale and in need of replacing, the fresh face of Ausmus will give the club an extra jolt this season. Although their pitching staff is questionable, their lineup is looking rock solid. Dark horse candidate – Rocco Baldelli
John Principe: After being named a finalist in 2018 due to his innovation and his ability to do lots with very little, Kevin Cash should take the next step and win this year. There’s always the possibility of a team exceeding expectations (i.e. 2018 Athletics) and that manager taking the award, but for now Cash seems like the safest bet. Dark horse candidate – Rocco Baldelli
Ben Rolfe: Rick Renteria could have a perfect storm of young talented players starting to reach their peak and a weak division. The White Sox could push the Indians deep this season and even not making the playoffs that would be enough to get Renteria in consideration for the award. Dark horse candidate – Rocco Baldelli
Mike Quilty: Call me a homer but I’m going with Alex Cora
Can Brad Ausmus lead the Angels to the playoffs in his first season at the helm?
National League Manager of the Year
Thom Howland: Bud Black has two top-five MVP possibilities in Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon. They have promising starters in Jon Gray, German Marquez, and Kyle Freeland. Black will help their pitching and lead them to the NL Playoffs, despite being given a slim 17.5% chance of doing so. Dark horse candidate – Dave Martinez
Scott Frizzell: Last year I said the Phillies would surprise people and hang in the race before ultimately fading. This year, they will win the NL East, and with it Gabe Kapler will take home the Manager of the Year Award. Dark horse candidate – David Bell
John Principe: David Bell has a great opportunity in front of him in his first year leading the Reds. A young lineup that has already proved itself may now have some pitching behind it to support this team. A lot of people have the Reds as the breakout team of 2019, myself included. If they can push themselves into playoff contention in that division, or even over .500, it’s going to be hard not giving this award to Bell. Dark horse candidate – Dave Martinez
Ben Rolfe: This is another case of a perfect storm. Gabe Kapler took a lot of stick for some of his decisions last season. However, now he has a young rotation and an incredibly talented lineup at his fingertips. This team could be in contention for the most wins in the NL. Dark horse candidate – Bud Black
Mike Quilty: I think Dave Roberts will get the Dodgers back to the World Series and have one of the best records. After losing one of his key players, that could be enough to net him this award.
Baseball is a great game, and one enjoyed by many thousands of Americans. It’s not just fun to watch but also fun to play – especially if you know the secret to hitting the ball well! You can purchase USA baseball bats here, and then you’ll be ready to use these seven great tips that will help you make sure you hit the ball the right way, so let’s get going!”
Back Foot Position – before we go on to talk about your front foot, let’s consider the back foot. It’s just as important for getting the right stance, and if you get it right, will help you make the perfect hit. To achieve the rotation required, your back foot needs to be on its toe; this is for ample agility to make the strike. But, that comes in conjunction with what you do with your front so let’s have a look at that.
Firm Front Side – to achieve the above you need to keep a firm front side. This means your front leg needs to be steadily planted – perhaps with a slight bend – so that you can keep your head movement to a minimum, and also any forward momentum you may feel. In this position, you can begin the essential rotation that incorporates the above back foot position.
Palm up, Palm Down – this is the essential position of the hands. Imagine you hold the bat and then take the bat away without you moving your hands. Your right hand should be facing directly upwards, your left straight down (this is for a right-handed person). This is absolutely essential to get the best swing possible.
See the Ball – of course this is common sense, but you need to have your head on the ball in order to hit it. You need to be able to watch the ball perfectly as it flies towards you, and this can take some practice. Get it right, and you’ll have perfect strikes more often than not. It’s worth remembering that the best way to improve baseball performance is to practice, and then practice some more!
Make a Straight Line – you may have got it by now that the key to great hitting lies in getting the right poise. To this end you need to position yourself so that your back knee and hip, and your head, should be in a straight line. Again, getting this right means practice, but once you master it you will achieve the right level of rotation and power.
The Head to Feet Triangle – imagine a triangle with your head as the upper point and your feet as the lower points. Your head should be positioned bang in the middle, as that triangle is the sturdiest and most robust position you will achieve. It also means you can rotate on that axis easily and quickly, thus getting a better and more powerful hit.
Top Arm Position – the ideal position is that the elbow of your top arm is jammed against the side of your body. The reason for this is to generate more power – more torque – when you hit the ball. If you can’t achieve actual contact, keep your elbow as close to your body as you can, otherwise you will lose essential power on the strike.
The above represent seven ways to improve your hitting. You cannot guarantee that you will achieve all seven together – nobody can – but if you practice each and combine them as best you can, you will find that your strike rate goes up much faster than you might believe. Get practicing, and perfect your baseball hit.
One day it’s the Good Ship Lollipop and the next it’s the Titanic. That pretty much sums up the year the Shamrocks have had despite the fact that they remain one of the beasts in the East. Unfortunately, they’re not quite as ferocious as we all believed they would be prior to the start of the season. As a matter of fact, if you were to click on over to Sportsbook Review, you could read a Bovada review detailing why Bovada is one of the preeminent online sportsbooks in the industry and one that was dealing Boston as a favorite to win the Eastern Conference this season. But much has changed since October and it appears all of the major threats have added to their arsenals except the Celtics.
After winning nine of 10 from mid-January through early February, the Green proceeded to undo most of that momentum by dropping six of eight. Then they won four of five, including a dominating victory over the world champion Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena. The Celtics were quickly closing the gap on the 76ers and Pacers for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference before the Monday night massacre in LA. The best online sportsbooks like Bovada may have hung them as slight road favorites but they played like dogs – and not underdogs, mind you. It was a 25-point drubbing by a good, although unspectacular, Clippers club. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the loss was Kyrie Irving’s postgame comments heaping praise, and I mean mounds of praise, on Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers, formerly of the Celtics. Here’s just a snippet.
“It’s so easy to play for a guy that’s been a player in this league,” Irving said. “He’s won a championship and he’s done unbelievable things in this league for his players while giving them confidence to go out there and be who they are. Lou (Williams) signed an extension for a reason, and that’s Doc. He puts those guys in position, gives them the freedom and keeps them encouraged throughout the whole game — especially when they’re at home.”
Kyrie went even further but you don’t have to be an ardent disciple of Freud to figure this one out. In essence, Irving was praising Rivers while taking a tacit swipe at his own coach. Brad Stevens was never a player “in this league”, has never won an NBA championship, and apparently is not inspiring confidence in his players, ala Doc Rivers. Kyrie Irving’s personality mirrors the Celtics’ performance this season. One day he says all the wrong things and gets killed in the press while the next day he’s contrite, mature, and somewhat resembles the leader he so desperately wanted to be when he signed with the Celtics, and withdrew from LeBron’s immense shadow in Cleveland.
The Celtics are like the weather in New England – if you don’t like it, just give it a day or two and it will change. Boston still has 14 games remaining on their schedule and trail the Sixers and Pacers by only 1 ½ games for the third playoff spot. Of those 14 games, there are five that could be classified as dangerous. Dates against Denver (home), Philadelphia (road), San Antonio (home), and a home and away against Indiana could prove to be landmines. If they were to lose those but win the other nine, that would give them a winning percentage of .642 which is an uptick over their current .603. That would probably land them in the No. 4 spot over Philly but a pair of losses against the Pacers would more than likely solidify Indiana’s third seed if they continue to play at their current pace. There will be more trials and travails with this edition of the Boston Celtics so we must weather the storm, keep calm, and carry on.
A mouthguard is a dental appliance that is made out of high-grade dental plastic, it acts like a cushion in your mouth that protects your teeth, mouth and jaw against impact.
Let’s take a closer look at why it is important to wear a mouthguard when playing basketball.
Mouthguards protect both your teeth and your jawbone
Flexibility within our mouths are limited, a small accidental blow to the face can cause severe damage to not only your teeth but also to your jawbone.
The cushioning from a basketball mouthguard acts as a crash helmet that protects your jawbone against unexpected blows.
An injury to your jawbone is painful and very uncomfortable, this can all be avoided by wearing a well fitted mouthguard.
Mouthguards reduce the risk of dental injuries
As mentioned earlier basketball yields the highest number of dental injuries amongst all sports.
Statistics show that there are 7 dental injuries sustained for every 16 basketball players. The odds are definitely not in your favor, but with the help of a well fitted mouthguard you will be able to prevent majority of dental injuries. Mouthguards are particularly important for kids that play basketball, dental injuries can cause serious long term dental problems.
Mouthguards are a lot more affordable than dental care
Dental procedures are known to be very expensive, especially if an injury requires repeat visits. The cost of a injury prevention tool like a mouthguard is way less in comparison.
Spending $50 dollars on a mouthguard is a lot cheaper and less painful than a trip to the dentist.
Mouthguards safeguard the soft tissue of the buccal cavity
The mouth is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body, it is composed out of mostly soft tissue and fine nerve endings that rupture very easily due to traumatic blows.
Mouthguards act as a protective barrier between teeth, the tongue, your cheeks and gums. A blow to the mouth can result in a cut in your mouth as well as excessive bleeding, basketball players that wear braces are even more prone to such injuries. A good mouthguard will protect your mouth against such injuries, and it will also protect orthodontic appliances such as braces from sustaining any damage.
Mouthguards aren’t just something that the pros wear, it is a dental application that should be worn by all basketball players regardless of skill level. Accidents and injuries happen in the blink of an eye with any contact sports, invest in a good mouthguard to prevent painful and expensive trips to the dentist. And don’t worry, a well fitted mouthguard won’t hinder communication, calling your favorite play won’t be an issue.
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After an up and down start to the 2019 season, the Boston Uprising enter the final week of stage 1 with their playoff hopes still alive. While the hypotheticals are too much to go through, beating Dallas would certainly be a good first step. With Dallas playing well recently, many doubted the Uprising’s chances. Specifically, the Fuel have rCk on their roster – a well known Sombra player.
Boston had a lot of things that needed to go right if they were going to win. They’d have to keep Kellex and Aimgod out of EMP range with their ults ready to launch. Fusions, the vocal leader of the team, had to keep his aggressive style going and get the picks that the team needed. Lastly, Note would have to continue hunting down support players in the midst of battle to turn the tide of team fights. That’s a lot to keep together – how’d they do?
Ilios
Dallas unsurprisingly puts rCk on Sombra. He farms his ult impressively quick and hits his first EMP onto 5 Uprising players. Also, Fusions died first in first in the first three team fights – he either is gagging horribly or Dallas clearly is focusing him. Sadly, Boston gets rolled horribly and loses 100% – 10%.
After the devastation that rCk unleashed, Dallas oddly chose to put him on DVa. While a close back-and-forth happened all match, Boston was able to get timely picks and flex their strengths without the specter of an EMP. Boston wins 100% – 94%.
With rCk back on Sombra, the Uprising’s anxiety had to be shooting on all cylinders. As a result, the first EMP gets all 6 Boston players as rCk jumps down from the high point near Boston’s spawn. Dallas continued to spawn camp for a bit, but eventually Boston pushes through. Note gets a nice double kill with his Self-Destruct, as well as picking rCk to help cap the point. Using his second EMP, rCk hits everyone but Aimgod. This is that moment Boston needed – Aimgod hits Transcendence. Unfortunately, Fusions gets picked before he can close the gap and Dallas uses that to snowball the point, winning the map 100% – 83%.
Kings Row
After an impressive first map, rCk starts map 2 back on the Sombra. With his first EMP, he hits all 6 Uprising players leading to a team wipe. Next EMP, Aimgod finds himself out of range again but is unable to save Fusions in time. An ugly pattern developing for Boston. After another team wipe by Dallas, main tank OGE t-bags after Note’s baby DVas gets staggered. Suddenly OGE is aiming to join Neko as most hated player in OWL for Uprising fans. Boston falls to another EMP but is able to cap Point A only after Overtime. It becomes clear at this point that Dallas is focusing Fusions, who gets picked first in quite a few team fights. Sadly, Boston gets it to the tip of the final point but is unable to complete.
In what is quickly becoming a pattern, Fusions is the first picked on Boston’s defense. Fortunately, Aimgod gets a pick on Zarya that delays Dallas. rCk’s first EMP hits all but Aimgod, but again Fusions is picked off before the Transcendence can save him. Boston falls prey to the EMP over and over again, with small glimmers of hope when Kellex and Aimgod get an evade here or there. Unfortunately, Boston gets rolled, but not before Kellex goes to the Widow in desperation and gets a sick double kill. At least there was that – but no win.
Down 2-0 going into halftime, Boston needed to continue their dominance on Volskaya where they are 11-1-1 all time. Aimgod starts it off with a great pick out of nowhere on rCK! Boston gets a quick Point A cap and snowballs it into a quick Point B cap. Uprising finish with 5:44 time bank when rCk hits the EMP when Aimgod already had Transcendence running. Whoops. See for yourself:
On defense, Boston delays pretty well considering Dallas got a lot of picks on their second team push. Between a Sound Barrier then Transcendence, they hold for awhile past a big EMP from rCk. Interestingly, Note picks of rCk in a panic switch to Tracer during a stagger attempt. The stagger extends on Point B when Kellex avoids another EMP and gets a Sound Barrier to sustain the team. Boston eventually succumbs to the pressure but docks Dallas’ time considerably.
Back on defense, Note starts the round off with an aggressive pick on OGE seemingly out of nowhere. Dallas seems to be on the cusp of capping Point A, with Kellex bunny hopping around looking for a boop in hilarious fashion. Dallas secures Point A with only 20 seconds left. Aimgod gets a huge pick on rCk right before he uses the EMP on Point B that helps steamroll Dallas and prevents them from getting a pick.
Back on offense, Boston needs Point A and a tick on Point B to keep their hopes alive. rCk gets a big EMP on Point A that hits everyone but Aimgod, who doesn’t have the Transcendence ready. After a steamroll and back on a team push, Dallas wins a fight without the EMP. On their third push and down on ults, RCK drops an EMP immediately which hits everyone. Despite their time advantage going into the round, things start looking bad for the Uprising. Note’s seemingly misdirected Self Destruct gives Boston positional advantage to win a team fight and get Point A. Good timing allows a nice snowball on Point B to win the map.
Hoping to get a reverse sweep, Boston started Dorado on offense. Pushing the cart nearly to Point A, rCk hits an EMP on all Uprising players for a team swipe. This delays the cap on Point A. He hits a second EMP on all 6 Boston players again halfway through to Point B that Dallas sweeps. Fusions hits a great Earth Shatter in aggressive fashion that snowballs to a Dallas team swipe, leading to a Point B cap. In one of the more heated exchanges, Fusions blocks one Earth Shatter and hits one of his own on 4 Dallas players to start the push towards Point C. Kellex drops the Sound Barrier early as the cart rounds the final corner. The risky move pays off when rCk launches the EMP that the Uprising push through to cap the final point.
Needing to get the cart through to the end to win the series, Dallas had a tall task. Unfortunately, Boston answered the bell. Aimgod continually hunted down rCK. When the EMP came up, the Uprising had a Transcendence or Sound Barrier ready to pop off. By the end of the round, Boston had pulled off a full hold on Point A – and WE’RE ONTO A FINAL MAP!
In a winner-takes-all final map, Dallas gets the first cap but only reaches 9% before the Uprising sweeps them off the point. Aimgod gets a double kill on the formerly t-bagging OGE and unkoe, repelling the Dallas push. Boston easily wins 100% – 9%.
With their backs against the wall, Dallas response. After losing the first fight, the Uprising have to wait for Note to remech outside the point. This costs them significant time, especially when they get swiped just as they start a push. Fusions hits a huge double kill with the Primal Rage as Dallas tries to cap the point. Going into Overtime down, Boston tags onto the point several times but not enough to make up for the ult disadvantage. Dallas wins the stage 100% – 90%.
With 4 maps down and 2 stages past, it all comes down to this. Boston reaches the point first and plays footsies with Dallas. Once OGE becomes the first death, Boston snowballs for the team kill and cap. rCk’s first EMP hits all 6 Uprising players. Interestingly, Boston all but gives up – jumping off the stage and giving the point to Dallas. Going into the next team fight, Boston has all 6 ults with Dallas having the 5 non-EMP ults. Boston wins the fight and retakes the point. In the next team fight, Boston’s remaining ults put them at the advantage which they use to earn the team wipe. In a final frenzy, Dallas rushes the point. Even with an EMP, Boston keeps their supports back to repel the offense and clear the point for the win. REVERSE SWEEP! REVERSE SWEEP!
Would you really have expected anything different to close out Stage 1 from the Boston Uprising than a 5 game throw down? An all-time, heart attack inducing reverse sweep? What better way could you sum up the Uprising’s season than the chaos that unfolded Saturday night? After taking a night to let the adrenaline of the win work through me, I’m here to give as sober a review as possible.
How do you grade the Uprising’s Sombra counter? You could say it was a tale of two halves, as rCk was thwarted much more after halftime than before. But there were still enough big EMPs on Dorado and Nepal to think Boston isn’t where they need to be. Aimgod had some unbelievable picks (as did several others) of Sombra, but there is still room to improve.
Uprising fans should be absolutely salivating for Stage 2 after seeing Note switch onto Tracer and Colourhex onto Widow and get the quick picks they did. What a tease of what this team can do once the meta shifts.
OGE t-bagging on King’s Row almost put him in the pantheon of OWL villains had they won (right next to Neko in my book) – but the gag job in the second half makes it just a footnote in a tome of epic Overwatch disaster.
Colourhex will go unnoticed by most observers, but shouldn’t. He had his energy up exceptionally high and flourished with the attention being given to Fusions. He took full advantage of having no DVa on the Fuel, landing precise and timely Gravitons. He’s been a bit inconsistent on Zarya all stage, but came through this week when the team needed him.
Boston’s tenacity can’t be overstated. After a deflating first half, the coaches deserve all the credit in the world for keeping the team focused. Rather than tossing it in, Boston rededicated themselves and played cohesively the second half to earn their first reverse sweep of the season.
As I mentioned in my match preview, Volskaya Industries continues to be Boston’s official HQ. Boston moves to 12-1-1 on the map.
Fusions’ flex onto Winston worked more often than not. Many wonder if he may be a one-trick and I think tonight he stated his case for being as flexible as anyone in the league.
Someone get Fusions a box full of throat lozengers – hopefully they have a long run starting on Thursday that runs through to Sunday.
Playoffs
While the win was nice, the map differential (+1) for the night wasn’t enough to lock in a stage 1 playoff spot. Instead, Boston would rely on the remaining teams who had to play on Saturday and Sunday. See the sequence of league standings and playoff positioning throughout the remaining games:
Right after the Uprising/Fuel matchAfter the Atlanta/Chengdu matchAtlanta beats Houston – Dallas is out and it’s down to Boston/GuangzhouVancouver beats Guangzhou and Boston is officially in!
And with Vancouver winning over Guangzhou, Boston is officially in. Based on the seeding, Boston will open up against the Vancouver Titans. Remember back to opening night when Boston started the season against NYXL and just barely lost, 2-1? Given that the Uprising has had 5 weeks to build up since then, the Uprising could be just the type of trap game that catches the entire league by surprise. Next week will be an exciting playoffs. If the Boston can show the type of cohesion from map 1 through an entire match that they showed in the second half this week against Dallas – watch out.
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