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Ownership of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now just the Tampa Bay Rays) is possibly taking a turn with this franchise. I’m a huge Rays fan and over its short existence I’ve come to the conclusion that every season we start, it’s not going to be a good one. However, the tides may be turning.

The property is showing very good signs of doing whatever it takes to get this team, franchise and fan base out of the basement.

First, there was the announcement of the new uniforms. Personally, I didn’t think there was a problem with our image. I liked the green. I thought our uniforms were conservative (like most team uniforms in Major League Baseball), they had a decent color scheme that didn’t look like any other team, and for some reason I liked the vest-style uniforms they wore. often. Uniforms obviously weren’t the problem for this team. We all know this, but I can see why the property would want a change.

I think on one hand they want everyone to know, especially the fans here in Tampa, that this is a new ownership and a new beginning. I think they want you to see Tampa (well, St. Petersburg, which is in the Tampa Bay area) and what the area (and the state of Florida, FL.) is about when you look at them. Sun, water (bay and beaches) and colour, in this case blue, which suits our area very well.

I will miss the green uniforms though. There were some great moments and pictures made with the Rays in those green uniforms, especially this 2007 season, like Carl Crawford’s natural stolen base, BJ Upton’s natural stolen base, Carlos Pena knocking out over 40 home runs and Scott Kazmir. and James Shields pitching like two of the best and incredibly tough pitchers in the league.

But I can not complain. I wanted to change with this team like all the fans here. Initially, I didn’t think changing uniforms was the plan. He just wanted them to spend $10 million to $20 million in the bullpen. Heck, we had a ton of talent this year everywhere, especially hitting, outfield, major infield improvements and with our top two starting pitchers. However, little did he know that the change of uniform was just the beginning!

The Tampa Rays ownership and organization then announced plans for the development of a new stadium on the Al Lang Field site in St. Petersburg, Florida, as well as the redevelopment of the existing Tropicana Field site, which would become a community. residential and commercial that will prosper even more. the growth of the City of St. Petersburg and its surrounding communities.

Although the plan has not yet been approved, it sounds promising as the Rays organization has promised not to raise taxes, the liquidation of the current lease, I think 10 or 12 years, of Tropicana Field and its land through investments and profits from the new development that would go in its place and then additional funding from the team itself. Obviously there’s a lot more to all of that and I don’t know a lot of details, but from what I’ve heard it sounds like the owners of the Tampa Rays have a pretty good plan and the mayor of the city of St. Petersburg supports it.

However, I was a little excited when I heard about the plans for the new stadium. Tropicana, while not really that bad of a field, just doesn’t give you the feel of Major League Baseball. I grew up playing baseball for 12 years. I love the game I love outdoor baseball and there’s nothing like watching a baseball game in an outdoor stadium. But I understand why they chose the dome from the beginning. Sometimes it gets really hot here in Tampa and the humidity makes it worse. During baseball season it also rains a lot, which obviously could cause problems with ball games that they just don’t have with the Tampa Bay Bucs (because of the time of year) or Tampa Bay Lightning (because hockey here must be played indoors). ). Both factors, I’m sure; we are the main ones in deciding where the Rays would play when they were born.

The new ownership has taken those factors into account when it comes to the new stadium. The stadium design, which does not have the possibility of a hard roof, sits 20 feet from the bay and only seats 35,000 – 40,000 fans (with the possibility of a whole bunch more with additional temporary bleachers) has a very long ( I do not know). i don’t know what to call it but it looks like some kind of mass of a sailboat) sloping pillar beyond center field that would support a pulley type system that would lift two large canvas covers (what it looks like) over the stadium providing shade on really scorching days or protection against the rain when it falls. And we all know he will! So the design, while strange compared to other Major League ballparks, is quite interesting and capable of handling the elements provided by Mother Nature here in Tampa.

Now, even with the uniform changes and proposed plans for a new stadium, fans weren’t excited enough to believe in this franchise. But I think the property is starting to get the attention of fans when it comes to on-field personnel.

Before the winter meetings, the Tampa Bay Rays made some aggressive moves initiating a 6-player trade with the Minnesota Twins to send 2007 Rookie of the Year runner-up Delmond Young, 2007 comeback and dependable shortstop Brendan Harris. and minor league pitcher Jason Pridie for an excellent starting pitcher in Matt Garza, a dependable shortstop and above-average hitter (though he had a poor season last year) in Jason Bartlett, and minor league reliever Eduardo Morlan. The Rays had some bargaining power this year with the talent they had on the field and the reserve talent in the minors and it looks like they’re using it to fix their pitching problems. Now, with Garza, the Rays have a formidable third starter who may very well be the second or first starter at some clubs, but with the Rays Kazmir and Shields, he will likely be the third starter creating a top 3 that will compete with everyone. yes all, clubs in Major League Baseball.

Jason Bartlett, if he returns to the form most think he will, will come in and solidify the infield at shortstop, as Brendan Harris goes to the Twins, Josh Wilson misses out on waivers to the Pirates, Akinori Iwamura gets moves to second base (announced this week) and Carlos Peña to first. However, the big question right now is whether Evan Longoria is ready to make it to the big leagues and break into the third base position. Most say he should be there, but the Rays are looking as we speak to find depth at third base. We know Akinori Iwamura is a good fit at third base, but if Longoria is ready, he’ll be looking at one of the best infields in all of baseball.

In addition to third base, the Rays are also looking to add depth in right field now that Delmond Young is leaving for the Twins. The Rays currently have Carl Crawford in left field, BJ Upton in center (what an amazing adjustment Upton and the Rays made by putting him there), and Rocco Baldelli (hopefully he can stay healthy) and Johnny Gomes in right.

I’m not convinced that Baldelli or Gomes are right. If Baldelli can stay healthy, the Rays will have the best outfield in all of baseball. If Gomes takes right field, well, sure, he’s very capable of playing right field, but there are a lot of handicaps for him at the plate. So depth at that position, which would also contribute depth for the DH role, is one of the Rays’ goals this offseason.

Finally, I must mention the position of the receiver. Dioner Navarro did not impress last year. He may have gotten strong late, but still, there’s not much to impress. The Rays will definitely look for depth in Catcher.

Okay, with all that said, let’s go over some other moves the organization has made.

Perhaps even the most notable deal the Rays have made is the signing of closer Troy Percival. Come on Rays fans! You have to love this. Sure he had an injury that cost him some time in the MLB but he was great last year we give him a good deal this year he’s a veteran and he’ll help the bullpen oh and he can still throw pretty impressive. I love this signature. I applaud the Rays for getting it done.

Next, we’ve taken care of the issues with Elijah Dukes. The Rays have traded Dukes to the Washington Nationals for minor league left-hander Glenn Gibson. Again, a good move! We don’t need the trouble Dukes gives us. Sure, he could be and probably will be a very good ballplayer, but not here. He has had too many problems here (not with the Rays but personally). However, Glenn Gibson has very good potential and very good material. A couple of years down the line and he may be pitching full-time for the Rays. For me a good deal and I’m sure we saved some money here too.

Let’s face it! I know we all want to win now, but we still have to have talent in the minors for the future and Dukes, well, it just wasn’t in our future. Gibson has the potential to be, and I think it was a very smart move on behalf of the organization.

Lastly, the Rays sold their No. 1 pick in Tim Lahey’s Rule 5 Draft to the Chicago Cubs for $150,000.

Okay, why not? The Rays have good talent in the minors, so losing one isn’t a big deal and they need some money (okay, maybe need isn’t the word; they could use a lot more extra).

So aside from that, there are a few things the Rays will still be looking to do this offseason. They need to reinforce the receiving position which is important. They need to find some depth on the right hand to contribute at the DH position, preferably a southpaw.

There is also talk of possibly more deals. The Rays may be looking to go after a veteran bullpen pitcher like Ron Mahay. They may also try to go after lefty outfielders or players to fill the DH position, like Cliff Floyd, Luis Gonzalez, Luke Scott or possibly even Josh Hamilton.

One thing is for sure and the Rays have made it clear, we will get better. We will start winning!

Well I hope so!

In 1985-86, the OHL consisted of 15 teams, divided between the Emms and Leyden Divisions. The Peterborough Petes finished first overall with 92 points and won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy. The North Bay Centennials led the Emms Division with 86 points. However, when the Robertson Cup playoffs were reached, neither team met. Guelph Platers-trained Jacques Martin ousted the Belleville Bulls for the championship.

The top three scorers that year made for an interesting and well-known trio. The leader may even have come close to the OHL record for most goals in a single season, had he played all 66 games for his team instead of 63. The second-place player went on to a career in the National League of Hockey, but his role was far from that of a goalscorer. The third played a long career and sadly passed away in August 2013 after a battle with leukemia.

Ray Sheppard – Cornish Royals – 81 goals

In 63 games, Sheppard has scored 81 and assisted 61 for 142 points. He not only led the league in goals, but also led the OHL in points, winning the Eddie Powers Trophy. Ray also received the Red Tilson Trophy as league MVP in what was his third of three years with Cornwall.

The Buffalo Sabers selected Sheppard in the third round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, 60th overall, after only his first year as a junior. Ray’s first professional action camera in 1986-87 with the Rochester Americans of the AHL. After that, he had a decent NHL career, but never reached that 80-goal plateau again.

In 817 NHL regular season games, Ray has scored 357 and assisted on 300 for 657 points while playing for the Sabers, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes. He reached the 50-goal plateau once during his career with 52 goals as a Red Wing in 1993-94. He tied for fifth in the NHL that season with Brendan Shanahan of the St. Louis Blues and Adam Graves of the New York Rangers.

Nick Kypreos – North Bay Centennials – 62 goals

That’s right, Nick Kypreos. Best known for his bully play in the National Hockey League, in the Ontario Hockey League, Kypreos was a goalscorer. In 1985-86, he assisted on 35 to go with his 62 goals for 97 points in 64 games. It was his third of four years in the OHL. All of his time in the league he spent with the Centennials, except for four games in 1983-84 with the Kitchener Rangers.

In his final season, Nick was on course for a 70-plus goal season, but he appeared in just 46 games for North Bay and scored just 49. Definitely not a sign of things to come, Kypreos at his worst spent 112 minutes in the penalty area. . That was done in 1985-86 during his 64th game.

Nick’s first professional action came in 1986-87 when he appeared in ten games with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He was not selected in the NHL draft, but he played 442 regular season games in the league between 1989-90 and 1996-97 with the Washington Capitals, Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

During his time in the NHL, Kypreos scored just 46 goals and assisted on 44 for 90 points. He spent 1,210 minutes on penalties. Regarding OHL, in 1992 he was transferred from the Capitals to the Whalers in exchange for Mark Hunter, co-owner of the London Knights.

Shawn Burr – Kitchener Rangers – 60 goals

In just 59 games with the Rangers, Burr scored 60 and assisted 67 for 127 points. It was his third of three seasons with Kitchener. He also appeared in five games with the Detroit Red Wings that season, along with three regular-season games and 17 playoff games with the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings. The Adirondacks were crowned Calder Cup champions in 1985-86.

After his first year in the Ontario Hockey League, Burr was selected seventh overall by the Red Wings in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He played his first professional hockey in 1984-85 with four games with the AHL. Red Wings and nine games with the NHL Red Wings.

After playing his last NHL hockey game in 1999-00, Shawn appeared in 878 NHL regular season games with the Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, and San Jose Sharks. He scored 181 goals and assisted on 259 for 440 points.

The book Steller’s Island is the account of a Russian ship that explored the coast of Alaska in 1741. The ship carried the first scientist to visit that part of the world, Georg Steller. In addition to making an amazing study of the flora and fauna of the area, he also learned from the indigenous ways of life that saved the lives of the team members several times. His observations include detailed accounts of the kayaks, or iqyan, used by the Aleutians.

Kayaks were critical to the survival and well-being of the local population; the fat of marine mammals was crucial for their survival. Without dependent access to the sea they could not have flourished. Over time, they learned to build their kayaks in a way that mimicked sea lions as closely as possible.

“They were about the length of a large Steller sea lion torus, and the skin of the sea lions was used as the outer membrane of the kayak. The frame within the skin shell was almost literally a skeleton, and the connective tissue that supported attached to the skeleton was tendons from sea lions and other marine mammals… The iqyan were graceful and flexible in the water, like sea lions.The flexing of the elastic frame and skin cover allowed the kayak to absorb and transmit the force of the waves of the Aleutian storms through the water the entire length of the vessel, protecting it from breaking up at sea which would destroy a rigid vessel…”

This is a fascinating observation of the human ability to adapt, emulate, learn, and improve to survive in almost any environment. Through development and experimentation over generations, the Aleutians developed sea vessels nearly perfect for their particular needs and environments. According to evolutionary theory, those that have traits and adaptations that allow them to survive in a given environment will allow them to pass their genes on to future generations, while those that cannot adapt will be selected against and will eventually die. These kayaks had features that were positively selected because they worked. Similarly, those who chose to use and continue to improve those kayaks had an environmental advantage and had greater reproductive success.

In our modern world we have isolated ourselves from many of the selective forces that our ancestors faced. Developments like mass production and industrial agriculture have removed much of the need for us to adapt to our particular environment. These developments, as well as large infrastructure projects, have made the resources ubiquitous throughout the landscape. We no longer have the responsibility or the need to adapt our architecture and lifestyles to our surroundings. In many ways, this has helped us overcome a hurdle in the evolution game and has supported unprecedented rates of economic and population growth. But something is lost.

We build, and we build a lot. But many projects are bland and ordinary. They can be functional and economical, and serve their purpose for the occupant, but offer nothing more. They lack the ingenuity and environmental and cultural connections of the Aleut kayakers. They lack the ability to delight. Perhaps that is why, today, exemplary and rare projects can impact us so strongly. We can immediately tell that they were designed not with numbers and bottom lines in mind, but for the people who would wear and delight in it, year after year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are an NFL franchise that encountered three major rivals and all three played in the same division as them. The team’s rivals are the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. Additionally, the team also has other rivals in postseason games, namely the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, and Dallas Cowboys. An intrastate rivalry also emerged between the Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, but they meet only once every four years under scheduling rules.

The rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the Steelers began in 1950 when they met for the first time. At the start of the rivalry, the Browns had an advantage over the Steelers who were 9-31 at the time. The Steelers went on to lose for 16 straight years. Recently, the Steelers took over the rivalry for the first time with a 17-3 record. It was during this time that the team won ten games in a row. To intensify the rivalry, the former Steelers head coach had coached the Browns earlier in his career.

On the other hand, the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have a really bitten divisional rivalry evidenced by countless memorable matchups between the two teams. Both teams caused the other’s first loss at home fields. The Pittsburgh Steelers won their first game at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, and three years later the Ravens crushed the Steelers in a game at Heinz Field. The rivalry between the Ravens and the Steelers is like a seesaw winning and losing against each other and serves as a great foil in showing their fans how they can hold their own against each other really strong.

The Cincinnati Bengals date the rivalry with the Steelers to the 1970 season when the merger was completed. The most memorable game of their rivalry occurred in the 2005 AFC Wildcard playoff game when the Steelers posted a win from behind over the Bengals to compete for a Super Bowl title. This particular victory was partly due to the knee injury that the Bengal quarterback experienced and was therefore forced to leave the game.

The rivalry between the Steelers and the New England Patriots began when the latter defeated the Steelers in 2001 at Heinz Field. Later in 2008, the Patriots were accused of videotaping the hand signals of the opposing team’s coaches, adding to the controversy. The rivalry between the Oakland Raiders and the Steelers was at its most heated during the 1970s, while the Cowboys’ began with the team’s first game as a franchise in the 1960s.

As a team, the Pittsburgh Steelers will still have many challenges to face, not only with their current rivals, but also with new and upcoming NFL teams. Although the team has made its mark as one of the most competitive teams in the NFL, they still have to perform at their best to balance all the competitors they play against.

I guess we should be used to this by now.

For the third time in the past five years, Donovan McNabb will miss at least the final six games of the regular season after tearing his ACL in Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field.

The injury occurred on a seemingly innocuous play early in the second quarter, when McNabb rolled to his right and attempted to complete a pass while going out of bounds along the Tennessee sideline.

McNabb, unable to put any weight on his right knee, was taken off the field and is expected to miss 8-12 months, not only eliminating the remainder of the 2006 season, but also leaving his 2007 season in doubt.

In other words, Eagles fans’ worst nightmare has come true. Again. The one player the Eagles couldn’t afford to lose is missing for the rest of the season.

It’s a bit unpleasant of deja vu.

In 2002, McNabb missed the final six games of that season after breaking his foot against the Arizona Cardinals on a wet, rainy day at the Vet. In 2005, McNabb struggled all year with a hernia until he was finally forced to sit out the rest of the season after being injured to the point that he could no longer play against the Cowboys in Week 10.

Now this. Oh, and let’s not forget his injury against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of the Birds’ 2003 NFC Championship Game, which eliminated him from that contest.

What makes losing McNabb so difficult is that there is absolutely no backup plan. Donovan is being asked to do more for his team than any other quarterback in the NFL. He doesn’t have the talent that the Peyton Mannings and Carson Palmers of the world have and he doesn’t have a coaching staff that understands the importance of establishing a running game.

The Eagles expect Donovan McNabb to be their everything and everything. They put all their eggs in his basket, gave him marginally talented receivers and continually failed to establish an identity to run the ball. And that philosophy works, as long as Donovan is healthy and throws the ball around the Line like he’s capable of.

Unfortunately, that plan backfires terribly when everything for the year is lost.

Because the Eagles have refused to pay attention to the running game, have no Pro Bowlers at wide receiver and sport a defense that’s as reliant as an Anna Nicole Smith babysitter, they’ve screwed themselves.

The only way the Philadelphia Eagles can succeed is if Donovan McNabb is at the helm. And now, he won’t be. Maybe not for long.

The answer in backup QB? Jeff Garcia, who went 26-48 (48 pass attempts???) for 189 yards and a touchdown, but had serious trouble moving the Eagles anywhere on Sunday.

Did anyone else think Garcia hadn’t seen the practice field this entire season? He’s been practicing with the team all season, hasn’t he? Is it too much to ask your backup QB to step in and be at least marginally competent against a 2-7 defense?

As for the Birds and their prospects here in 2006, they can kiss the playoffs goodbye. He was asking a lot of the Birds to go 6-2 in the second half with his killer schedule and a healthy Donovan McNabb. But now they’ve lost to the Titans previously 2-7 at home, and are being asked to go 5-1 in their last six (@Indy, CAR, @Wash, @NY Giants, @Dal., ATL) with a back -Up QB, no running game, bad defense and horrible plays are just idiotic.

It can not be done. Not with Jeff Garcia or AJ Feely at QB. Not with a receiving body that releases passes as if the ball had cancer. Not with a defense that misses too many tackles and allows Travis Henry to rush for 143 yards. Not with a coaching staff that keeps asking for play-action passes at third and goal from the 1/2 yard. And not with a special teams unit that allows a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown to PacMan Jones.

It’s not happening, folks.

So, another season is wasted. The Birds’ 4-1 start, a distant memory. At 5-5, it would take a true miracle for the Eagles to go 5-1 in their last six, facing a killer schedule with a weak backup quarterback, players who seem to have given up and a coaching staff . who can’t seem to get out of his own way.

With McNabb, maybe it could have been done. Without it, no luck.

Perhaps the worst thing about McNabb’s injury is the label with which we must now put #5…

“Injury prone.”

You can’t miss that many games for that many years in a row without being labeled “injury-prone” or “brittle.” You just can’t count on Donovan McNabb to once again give you a full 16-game season.

He’s a fantastic player, perhaps the best quarterback in Philadelphia Eagles history. He is a man greatly underappreciated by the citizens of Philadelphia, but one must wonder how much longer he can hold out against his body.

Maybe it’s time to invest a second or third round pick in this year’s NFL Draft in a quarterback. Not someone to replace McNabb, because he should be the starter on this team until he retires or can no longer play, but someone who can be groomed to be a viable backup.

Because at the rate he’s going, who knows how many years Donnie Mac has left? A torn ACL is no joke. While Carson Palmer recovered from his torn ACL in about eight months, Daunte Culpepper still has knee pain and will likely be out of action for the rest of the year. It is unknown how long it will take #5 to heal from this.

We may not see a fully healthy Donovan McNabb again until the start of the 2008 season, if ever.

A terrifying thought in the midst of another lost season.

For the second year in a row, LeBron James faced minimal scrutiny for his inability to secure a championship. Rather, he has been praised for exceeding expectations and taking his team as far as possible. Most of this praise seems to be customary, considering his deep numbers and lack of assists from his teammates. According ESPNIn the 2015 Finals, LeBron James averaged an absurd 35.8 points, 8.8 assists and 13.3 rebounds. Such commanding overall numbers would make even the all-time greats in awe. With Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving out with injuries, LeBron amazingly led a Cavaliers team with Timofey Mozgov as the second leading scorer, two wins away against a historically great Golden State team.

As flawless as LeBron James seemed in the Finals, there are facets of his performance that deserve criticism. His incredible scoring numbers didn’t come with incredible efficiency, in fact, he shot a woefully inefficient 39.8% from the floor. Despite being known for his ability to always make the right basketball play, LeBron James had his fair share of poor shots in this series. also as hoops habit notes, Cleveland always played its worst basketball in the fourth quarter. Had they had more impressive fourth quarters, the series could have gone the other way around. Now, all the responsibility for that shouldn’t fall on LeBron James, but he should be responsible as the leader of the team. Ultimately, his main defender, Andre Iguodala, won the Finals MVP.

Similarly, last year, Kawhi Leonard won the Finals MVP award after guarding Lebron for the most possessions in the series. That year, LeBron James and the Heat lost to the Spurs in the Finals by a record 70-point margin. As deadly as those Spurs were, a team made up of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen shouldn’t be breaking records for the wrong reasons. However, LeBron James’ average of 28.2 points on 57.1% shooting, according to Basketball-Reference, seems to outweigh his team’s failures. This season, however, LeBron James won’t have the narrative of not having enough help to fall back on, should he fail to bring home that coveted championship for Cleveland.

First of all, barring an unforeseen setback, the Cavaliers should be able to sail to the NBA Finals, as LeBron James apparently has for what seems like forever. In the 2015 playoffs, the Cavaliers, with Kevin Love out and Kyrie Irving limping, only lost two games en route to LeBron James’ fifth straight trip to the Finals. Both players should be relatively healthy this coming season, and coupled with a revamped bench that now consists of Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson, the Cavaliers should be the heavy favorites in the East.

There will always be pundits who will argue that a team like Chicago or Miami has a chance, but it would be irrational to bet against the Cavs. Arguably his biggest competition is a Bulls team he beat with Love and Irving injured. The Heat, while made up of solid options at every position, lack the Cavaliers’ overall talent and rely too heavily on an injury-prone Dwayne Wade. Therefore, LeBron James has no reason not to make his sixth straight Finals appearance.

However, if he fails to get his team to the finals, he will lose another opportunity to improve his status among the all-time greats. He should be scrutinized, as other superstars have been, for not making it to the finals despite having a superior roster. All of this is hypothetical, though, and LeBron James will most likely be facing the team that made it out of the brutal Western Conference.

The myriad of title contenders in the Western Conference instigates the perception that any team representing the West in the Finals is vastly superior to its Eastern counterpart. This perception has previously provided LeBron James with wiggle room to escape how he should lose in the Finals. In fact, this perception seems to persist for the next season. Teams like the Spurs, with their talent and depth, seem incapable of losing to an Eastern Conference foe in a seven-game series. Nobody would blink if the Warriors, Clippers or Thunder beat the Cavaliers in the Finals. Even the Rockets would have a fair chance.

In reality, the Cavaliers can realistically beat any of these teams in a series. ace Bleacher Report notes, the Cavaliers went a phenomenal 13-1 record against the Western Conference in the second half last season. They have 3 of the top 20 players in the league in LeBron, Kyrie and Kevin Love. These three players formed the highest scoring trio in the league, by 247 Sports. His bench, while unspectacular, is competent enough to give the Cavaliers the depth needed to compete with these Western Conference adversaries. Above all, they have one thing that no other team in the league has: the greatness of LeBron James.

His combination of otherworldly athleticism and elite basketball IQ provides the Cavaliers with all the ingredients they need to win a championship. Despite all of his incredible numbers in both the regular season and the playoffs, to truly challenge Michael Jordan as the GOAT, he must prove that he is capable of revolutionizing a franchise, with a championship. Michael did it with the Bulls, Duncan with the Spurs, Kareem with the Bucks, Bird with the Celtics, and so on. Despite being the unquestioned leader of those Heat champion teams, Dwayne Wade was still the face of the franchise. Now that he has all the pieces, there will be no excuses. It’s time to give Cleveland its first championship in over 50 years.

Cougar women are fun, fearless, and smart. They are much more experienced than the younger ladies, which often translates to making wonderful lovers and companions. For some time it has been considered taboo for a young guy to date a cougar woman, but as more celebrities indulge in these fun relationships, society is starting to accept that older women can still have fun!

If you want to take all the games and fighting out of dating younger women, then maybe you should consider a cougar relationship. Just like any woman, there are plenty of Cougars looking for many different types of relationships, from one night stands and casual hookups to dating and marriage. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a good chance you can find a cougar woman who wants the same thing.

It is important to remember that all Cougar women are different. They all have different interests and personalities. However, a common theme among Cougar women is that they are often sophisticated and enjoy the finer things in life (including handsome young guys). So, if you want to meet cougar women, you’d be wise to frequent high-end bars and clubs. You should dress for the occasion. Wear fancy clothes and a bit of expensive cologne. Not only will this help you get noticed by a cougar, it will also make you feel good about yourself. Exuding confidence is one of the best ways to attract a cougar.

You have your youth on your side and that is very attractive to a Cougar woman, so feel good about yourself and let your personality shine through. If you see an older woman you’re attracted to, go ahead and offer her a drink. Be courteous and act like a gentleman, but also be yourself.

Now, some men may not feel comfortable dating a cougar woman. For these men, an online dating site may be more appropriate. There are some sites dedicated to connecting cougars with cubs (younger guys). There are plenty of Cougar women here looking to meet guys. You can browse through their profiles by location, age, etc. You can also set up your own profile and you will be surprised how many cougar women actually contact you. The more information you provide, the better. Remember to add a flattering photo.

The first three weeks of this year, I had a brief, cursory but more intimate than usual look at the National Football League’s hiring process and practices. I concluded that the owners were two-faced slugs with no character; head coaches stabbing in the back; the self-absorbed and egocentric players; and fans thought they knew the game better than the entire NFL organization.

According to Michael MacCambridge, I am right! The book he meticulously researched, America’s Game: The Epic Story of How Professional Soccer Captured a Nation is a close look at the history of football from the end of World War II to the present. Like Anya Seton, another author who uses extensive research for her stories, MacCambridge begins slowly, almost painstakingly, in the first two-thirds of the book, stating facts, figures, and events in somewhat chronological order until about 1970, some 25 years. . She tends to go back, jump forward, and then back again within chapters. The pace picks up considerably towards the end of the book, covering more than 30 years in the last third.

I understand the need to build a foundation for the book, but it seems that MacCambridge skipped important football events and information from the post-1970 era. Of all the great managerial achievements, Tom Landry is only mentioned a few times. But he fared better than other greats like Mike Ditka, whose name appears only once as a possessive; or Bill Cowher, mentioned twice in the context of an unwritten rule not to sleep in the office. Instead, MacCambridge favors numerous quotes from lesser coaches like Brian Billick.

Deion Sanders (portrayed as the start of a new era in the NFL, which is the era of the self-absorbed, self-absorbed player) got almost as much publicity as Roger Staubach, which is very annoying to me. Staubach has always been one of my heroes, on and off the pitch. neon deion will NEVER be it the legend or the man that Staubach is.

america game it is not written for the casual football fan. MacCambridge assumes that the reader has much more than a basic education in the sport. I’m not one of those readers, and I’m not familiar with terms like: “pass down and inside”, “1-2 pass attack”, “shallow drag routes”, or hit the receiver “in an outlet pattern “. “.

I don’t have the name of every owner, head coach and general manager memorized. MacCambridge’s tendency to return to a person, identified only by the surname pages after the last time he addressed them, made rereading necessary and enjoying the book more difficult. Who is Thomas (p. 351)? I had to refer to index to find a person mentioned on the last page to find the last reference to him in the Foreword. He also chronicled the games using only the names of the players and not the teams. More reading to find out who won that one.

Another aspect of MacCambridge’s writing that makes this a difficult read is his flair for the dramatic. When Frank Borman, in orbit on Gemini 7 in 1965, told Tommy Nobis to “sign with the Oilers,” MacCambridge called it an “interstellar” bidding war. Being in orbit above the earth hardly qualifies as interplanetary, let alone interstellar. He describes a Jets-Colts game as a “harmonic convergence of elements”; and a discussion of the Property Trust had a “Spanish Civil War” feel.

Some sentences just didn’t make sense at all. For example,

“On the field, the verification system allowed the quarterback to hear a different play at the line of scrimmage if the defensive formation threatened the call in the huddle.” (p. 201)

Hey? To listen? I know what the award means, but it could have been worded much more clearly.

He described the midnight convoy of Irsay’s Colts defection from Baltimore as “outlined in lights of radiation…” Baltimore radiated the Colts when they left?

Despite these obstacles, the book offers several funny moments in the form of very sincere quotes from players and coaches.

But there are so many cases of two-sided ownership: Rosenbloom moving the Rams from Los Angeles to Anaheim against NFL orders or Irsay trading Elway to Denver without consulting Coach Accorsi.

How about backstabbing trainers? Bill Walsh discovered that the reason he had been passed over for the top spot was that his own head coach, Bill Johnson, had been badmouthing him to numerous interested teams. Al Davis and Jerry Jones, ’nuff said.

Kudos to MacCambridge, though, because he addresses those fans, who think they know the game better than anyone else involved in the NFL, very diplomatically:

“So one had the great conundrum of pro football’s popularity: Fans, without access to the team’s playbook, scouting reports, game plans and game movies, don’t really have the tools to fully understand your team’s actions and responses. (p. 412)

I touched!

The best part of the book for a former cowboy fan like myself was the statement that I have known for decades that cowboy fans are good. MacCambridge has documented quotes from Staubach and facts related to Jones’s selfishness, among other statistics, to clearly illustrate this.

If you are a die-hard and know-it-all about football, you will still find this interesting reading. For the rest of us, it gives us a little better idea of ​​the confusing world of football. But at least when we finish reading it, we are fully aware of the fact that we don’t know everything.

PARSLEY

Parsley, which is widely grown in many gardens, is a biennial herb that is often treated as an annual. The culinary uses of parsley are many. Its crisp green leaves are tasty and nutritious additions to salads. Parsley can be sprinkled on potatoes, whether mashed, whole, or in a salad, and its use to flavor sauces, soups, and fillings is extensive.

Planting and Cultivation

Parsley is usually planted in March or April when the moon is in the first quarter. (ie increased lighting) It is a biennial that does well in both open sun and partial shade. Any common garden soil that does not dry out too quickly, is rich in nitrogen, and is not excessively alkaline is suitable.

Lunar Phase Parsley Plantation

Parsley should be planted when the moon is in the second quarter (i.e. first quarter) and in the following zodiac sign: Scorpio

Since parsley seeds germinate slowly, it’s best to soak them in warm water for 24 hours before planting. The seeds generally require four weeks to germinate. One seed packet should plant a 100-foot row. Place the seed in a shallow trench that has been fertilized with compost and well-rotted manure and cover with about 1/4 inch of fine soil. Plant rows 12 to 16 inches apart. For bushy growth, unwanted seedlings should be thinned out so that mature plants are kept at least six inches apart. The leaves can also be cut. To avoid damaging shallow roots when weeding, plant radishes among the parsley. Radishes will drive out weeds and help mark parsley rows.

Parsley will overwinter if given the protection of a light mulch during very cold weather. One of the first green plants to appear in the spring, parsley flowers in the second year. To prevent the grass from setting seeds, the flowers, which resemble Queen Anne’s lace, should be cut as soon as they appear.

In the fall, the herb can be dug up, potted, and brought indoors, where it will continue to provide fresh leaves through the winter months. Care should be taken to dig up as much of the root as possible, and some of the outer foliage of the plant should be cut off. Potted plants can also be started from seed indoors.

Harvest

The first tender twigs can be cut as soon as the leaves are well formed. From that moment, the leaves, with a part of the stem, can be cut as needed. Typically, only the outer leaves are cut. This practice allows the heart of the plant to continue to grow and produce more leaves.

To use as a flavoring, the leaves can be cut and dried. The tender parts of the stems are cut from the plants and placed on a screen in a shady, dry, well-ventilated place. When completely dry, they can be crushed and stored in small, tightly covered containers.

Parsley can also be frozen for winter use. Pinch off the foliage and spread it out on a cookie sheet. Quick freeze and store, airtight, in a plastic bag to use a little at a time

varieties

Champion Moss Curled has a mild, crisp flavor. Giant Italian is a strong producer. Hamburg is favored for its prolific growth and hardiness and its thick, edible root.

It’s hard enough if you lack self-confidence without someone constantly telling you to speak up and stop mumbling. It may seem difficult at first not to mutter when you speak, but learning to stop and increase your self-confidence will allow you to feel more comfortable and naturally speak more clearly.

If you gossip only with certain people, you need to look at the relationship. Often if you feel intimidated, you don’t have a sense of self worth, you feel like this person will bully you constantly, you’ll end up gossiping.

So unless this relationship is important, try to avoid this person, and if you do come across them, try to keep your head up and respond with one-syllable words.

If you find yourself gossiping to just about everyone, then you need to take a self-esteem course. Everyone has self-esteem and you need to recognize yours. Backbiting is usually the result of being afraid of being heard or not having confidence in what you have said.

There are also a variety of different types of books that you can use to stop mumbling. Remember, gossiping is usually a self-esteem or self-confidence issue, so any book that helps you build more self-esteem and more confidence will help.

The biggest problem you have is figuring out why you’re mumbling in the first place. You may need a little professional help to dig into your past and find out where your self-confidence issues lie.

But by working on your self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth, you’ll find that you have interesting things to say, and naturally you’ll stop babbling and end up speaking more clearly and with more confidence. .