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September 27th, 20244 mins

Jayson Tatum Makes Bold Statement Ahead of 2024-25 NBA Season

Jayson Tatum is an NBA champion, don’t dare forget that. That is what the Boston Celtics star had in mind in his recent statement for the season in the team’s Media Day. It does seem that he is keen to prove his worth more after facing a lot of criticism in his games in the playoffs and the subsequent Paris Olympics – where he got benched for two big games.

The Boston Celtics are entering the NBA season as the favorites to win the NBA title and repeat as champions. It does seem that the team has high expectations to consider moving forward, but for Tatum, all is well as he heads to the campaign with the goal of showing that he has more in his bag to help the team win big once more.

Tatum is entering the season with a bigger mission – to help establish the team’s dominance in the game and make sure that they get the best chance to build a dynasty of championships. That has been something that Boston fans are looking out for. And the best way to fulfill that is to improve in his own games as well.

Return of the Real

Tatum’s numbers surely did dip in the previous season despite playing the same number of games as in 2022-23. The Celtics star averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game on 47.1% shooting – to go along with 35.7 minutes per contest in 74 games. However, fans and critics were quick to point out his inconsistency and lack of big contributions to the team’s games – and somehow they’re still winning.

But for Tatum, all of these talk did not bother him at all, and he is clearly focused enough to ensure that he is ready to bring it all-in this season. Now there are big expectations that Tatum will be coming in as a star who is ready to prove that he can win and perform at an elite level when needed.

“Did I need any extra motivation coming into the season? No,” said Tatum of the criticism he’s received over the course of the offseason. “It was a unique circumstance — something I haven’t experienced before in my playing career. But I’m a believer that everything happens for a reason. I can still get better... you haven't seen the best version of Jayson Tatum."

Shrugging Off the Critics

Many claim that this is a bruised ego of Tatum talking. Considering the fact that he is Boston’s team captain and the prominent player in the roster, being passed up for the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and the Finals MVP for his younger teammate Jaylen Brown is definitely not a good sight.

Add that to the fiery talks of being a useless player in the Olympics where he didn’t get a chance to perform at a high level after being benched in two big games. That is definitely something that would ignite a bigger player inside him who is keen to prove that he deserves better.

At this point, Tatum knows that he is expected to make winning strides for his team. However, he is not addressing his critics via interviews or in social media. Instead, he is keen to show them and prove them all wrong when the season begins – letting the game do all the talking for him and finally silencing them all as he gears up for a big campaign now more than ever.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 27th, 20244 mins

Jannik Sinner Acknowledges Need for Improvement in Wonder Season

At the age of 23, Jannik Sinner’s 2024 ATP Tour run seems to be quite the season to remember for such a young star. However, the Italian star believes that he still has some things to work out and improve on as the calendar closes in on the final tournaments of the year as he seeks to continue his dominance in the game.

Winning six tour-level titles, and two Major trophies in the Australian Open and the US Open in this season alone, it is hard to argue that Sinner has indeed made waves in his 2024 campaign as he rushed to the top of the ATP Rankings, holding the world no. 1 spot as of the time of writing.

However, despite all those successes and impressive strides, it does seem, that Sinner still notes a lot of things that he still needs to work on and improve in his game. That seems to be a goal that will affect not only his coming run in the Shanghai Masters and the final two tournaments of the year but also the next Tour as he seeks to build a strong pace and keep hold of the top spot for as long as he can.

Remarkable 2024 Campaign

Jannik Sinner’s strides has become quite the standard in the ATP Tour this season. His impressive campaign has shown that the Big Three era of the league is finally coming to an end, and with Novak Djokovic falling into the top five, it does seem fitting that a young star would take the helm of the ATP Tour rankings now more than ever.

A persistent hip injury hampered Sinner’s campaign, but he managed to break through the struggles and later on scored a win at the Cincinnati Open – beating two top-10 stars in Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev. He would later go on to dominate in the US Open – capping off an impressive victory in the final major of the season. Sinner defeated 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the semis and routed American no. 1 Taylor Fritz for the title.

So far, Sinner leads the ATP Live Race to Turin by a total of 4,305 points over Alexander Zverev, who sits in second place. The Italian star seeks to claim his first year-end World no. 1 spot for the first time in his career, and he is definitely closing in fast on that feat.

A Note for Improvement

Sinner did not play well in all of the games he played this season, but it cannot be denied that in spite of his impressive performances, there is still indeed a need for him to improve in his games this season and beyond. Most of these improvement concerns his health, which played a pivotal role in keeping him off form for some of the biggest tournaments, such as the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I have to improve a couple of things, which already me and my coach in the US Open swing needed to improve,” Sinner said. “We worked on that and also the physical shape. We tried to improve.”

So far, his service game has been the best aspect of his tennis run this year. Sinner won at least 87.5% of his service games in the US Open alone, but his backhand, return game, and volleys are expected to be on the focus of his things to work out on in the coming months, and fans can definitely expect to see more from Sinner as he seeks to deliver a promising campaign now more than ever.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 26th, 20244 mins

Commanders Sink Bengals in a Dominant 38-33 Week 3 Victory

The Washington Commanders have managed to stun yet another promising contender in the 2024 NFL season with a massive demolition of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Commanders struck hard and pulled off a 38-33 win, bringing themselves to the cusp of another impressive win to begin the season behind Jayden Daniels’ impressive stride in the game.

The Commanders' offense was highly commendable in this game as they managed to break through the praised Bengals' defense – who now fell 0-3 in the season to wrap up their third week in the campaign. So far, the Bengals are yet to come up with a promising performance, and it was the Commanders who took over the game to pull off a much-needed win.

Jayden Daniels was the star of the show, and he definitely made it clear that the Commanders can count on him to run the offense to the highest level. Now it seems that the squad has seen a reinvigorated pace to take on the campaign with a much bigger focus now more than ever. Who knows, maybe they can even make a deep push to the playoffs this time around.

Jayden Daniels’ Big Game

Daniels punched through the defense of the Bengals all game long, and they were definitely staggered to come up with a response. Washington’s offense was clearly on the attack for the whole game as they racked up a total of 356 yards and nailed touchdowns in all of their three possessions in the red zone.

If you are not impressed, Daniels wrapped up the game with three touchdowns to just two incompletions. He pushed the Commander for the whole night and led the team in both passing yards with 254 and rushing yards with 39, showcasing his impressive performance and the ability to take over massive games when needed most.

At best, this is the rookie night that Daniels has been gunning for. His passing game was on display, setting a rookie record of a 91% pass completion rate. It is also worth noting that he has certainly outplayed Joe Burrow and the whole Bengals squad in the game, which is a massive feat for a rookie who is just making his adjustments in his third pro game in the NFL.

A Massive Choke from the Bengals

The Bengals were in control of the game early before they finally let go of it in the later quarters. Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow collaborated to score an early touchdown to claim a 7-0 lead in the first in addition to Evan McPherson’s kick, but Brian Robinson later tied it up together with a kick from Austin Seibert.

The second quarter would prove to be a twist in momentum as the Commanders would jump to a 21-13 lead over the Bengals, thanks to a 24-yard run from Austin Ekeler and a timely touchdown from Daniels. Further touchdowns from Daniels and impressive field goals from the rest of the team would see the Commanders sit up top by 38-26 with 2:10 left in the game. The Bengals desperately tried to make a comeback, but could not make the most of their chances as they simply ran out of time to cut the lead, even with Zack Moss scoring a touchdown and McPherson trimming the lead to 38-33.

Cincinnati is yet to win a game in three weeks now, and this is starting to be quite a problematic trend for a team that is expected to catapult its status on the big stage, powered by the return of Joe Burrow to the lineup.

by Paul Daniel Flores

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September 26th, 20244 mins

Astralis Adds cadiaN to Roster Ahead of IEM Rio Campaign

The BLAST Premier Fall Finals 2024 was shocked with a massive news with Astralis coming up with an emergency substitution to bring in Casper "cadiaN" Møller into their roster as their in-game leader staring out in the latter tournament and en route to the IEM Rio this October. Fans were speculating move for so long, but were left confused as to with the timing of execution considering that they pulled it off hours before the Fall Finals began.

cadiaN, who is seen as one of the best and elite players in CS2, has come to join the Danish squad in the hopes of engineering their chances of winning over the final set of tournaments left to play in the CS2 calendar. At this point, it cannot be denied that cadiaN is a massive boost to the team, and naming him as an in-game leader moving forward can be quite a shock for many fans and even players.

With the BLAST Premier Fall Finals underway, it is hard to comprehend why Astralis would come up with this push to bring in an elite star in cadiaN to boost their chances. At this point, one can say that this is a signing that will either lead them to impressive victories, or to a humiliating loss.

A Surprising Move

Astralis signed cadiaN to complement the recent needs of their squad to have a massive addition in the coming months. It is worth noting that cadiaN has quite an unceremonial split with the likes of Martin "stavn" Lund and Jakob "jabbi" Nygaard back then, but he remained to be one of the best picks who can help them win big.

The drama has been set aside, and now it seems that they will try not to struggle with each other as it has already sent waves through the game’s competitive scene at this point. The timing was impeccable, but only the tournament’s result will tell if this was indeed a winning move, or just another waste of hype among the players.

Astralis now fields a roster composed of dev1ce, Staehr, stavn, jabbi, and now, cadiaN. This reflects well after the departure of br0 in the event, after reports claimed that the star had a medical emergency. However, his agent Fabian Broich claimed that the star was in full health and is ready to take on the challenge but unfortunately got benched.

A Complaint from the Stars

In the eve of the BLAST Premier’s media day, a number of star players such as Dan "⁠apEX⁠" Madesclaire, Russel "⁠Twistzz⁠" Van Dulken, Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen, and Marco "⁠Snappi⁠" Pfeiffer all made identically-worded messages on their social media platforms, saying that "I might be unfit for Blast Media tomorrow."

Organizations came into the game with a letter of complaint, addressing that the game must uphold its commitment to integrity and consistency, with the issues taking a firm stance on the teams competing with coaches and even the issue of using mental or physical health as a means to come up with an emergency substitute.

It remains to be seen if BLAST will actually come up with a ruling that will prevent cadiaN from playing with Astralis to begin their campaign. However, it is worth noting that this is not going to be a one-timer run with the star as they also seek to bring him over to IEM Rio, where there are going to be bigger stakes as they seek to continue their dominance in the coming games as well.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 25th, 20244 mins

Acosta and Hernandez Lead Latest MVP Picks for 2024 MLS Season

With the MLS season winding down to its final games, there are plenty of discussions as to who should be winning the MLS MVP award by the end of the campaign. However, it does seem that Luciano Acosta and Cucho Hernandez are starting to emerge as the two lone favorites to win the said award to wrap up the campaign.

At this point, it is easy to say that Lionel Messi would have been the easy winner to look out for had it not been for his very long injury layoff. The Argentine star would have been the undisputed candidate to lock up the Landon Donovan MVP, the Golden Boot, and even the Supporters’ Shield all by himself. His absence, however, has opened up the door for Acosta and Hernandez to shine on the big stage.

It is hard not to argue that these two stars have certainly managed to deliver a promising performance in their set of games, and this is definitely one thing to consider with the way they have showed incredible games with massive resilience and huge flashes of goals and assists when it mattered most.

Acosta Making Big Strides

From being an outstanding shot-creator to being an elite goal-scorer in his own right, Luciano Acosta has definitely shown his worth on the big stage with the level of play he has delivered so far. At this point, the 30-year-old Argentine has shown that he can come up with a promising set of performances, which explains why the MVP is just within his grasp.

The FC Cincinnati star has been on the rise with 11 goals and 18 assists to his name this year, and he is not yet done as well. This goes to show that Hernandez is definitely making big leaps to his game with a much better focus on playmaking as well. His campaign of being the MLS’ first-ever back-to-back MVP.

At this point, it is hard to argue that Acosta has enjoyed one of his best seasons ever, and it cannot be denied that his great form has ignited the team’s hopes of a championship while also making a campaign for his MVP at the same time. That says a lot about his worth as a candidate for the said award, and why he can be definitely o the rise to win it this time.

Cucho Hernandez on the Rise

It is hard to argue that Cucho Hernandez is not a deserving MVP candidate. The Columbus Crew has clinched a playoff spot, won the Leagues Cup, and he is making big strides in his game at this point with his immense playmaking and scoring. Across all competitions, Hernandez has been on the front for the Crew, and it cannot be denied that we are seeing him play a promising stride on the big stage so far, which makes him quite an impressive star to look out for.

Hernandez has logged 14 goals and 11 assists in the season as of the time of writing. His massive game has certainly helped the Crew emerge as favorites to win in the season once more, but what could be more fun than to cap off a promising campaign than to add an MVP win in his impressive run so far.

Whoever wins, it is definitely a deserved MVP win. And if they can allow it, it may even end up in a promising tie should it actually prove to be a season to remember.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 25th, 20244 mins

Cole Perfetti Inks Two-Year Deal with Winnipeg Jets

Cole Perfetti is slated to deliver two more years with the Winnipeg Jets with the hopes of reigniting his career and helping them come up with a massive run to the playoff stage. The forward signs a two-year contract with the team worth $6.5 million as he aims to reinvigorate his game with the Jets in the coming season.

Reports claim that the Jets and Perfetti were initially unable to work out a long-term deal that would eventually see him sign a max contract had it worked out well. Instead, the team has found a great way to bring him in for the years to come with a bridge-styled contract, which should work out the same as a max deal but on a different operational status.

Pefetti mostly sat on the bench in the previous seasons after falling out of favor from former Jets coach Rick Bowness in the late campaign with postseason implications being considered in the game. That time, Perfetti only played one game in the playoffs, which also happened to be last game of the postseason.

Redeeming His Worth

Perfetti finished the previous season with 38 points off 19 goals and 19 assists in 71 games. He finished his third season well despite not being used in the later stages of the season, which proved to be pivotal in his value in the offseason as he entered the market as a restricted free agent.

Selected 10th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Perfetti now seeks a fresh start under new coach Scott Arniel. It cannot be denied he will be making big strides in the season as he hopes to gain back his minutes and show that he has what it takes to deliver impressive performances and score well in the game as he did last season.

After all, Perfetti is one of the youngest players in the squad, being just three seasons in the NHL. His impressive game was definitely on the rise had it not been for the late benching in the previous season, and it is a no-brainer that he could have made a massive impact in the playoffs for the Jets if he was given a chance to play in those games.

Making the Most of the Bridge Contract

The bridge contract allows Perfetti to play like he has a promising stay with the team. He will be making a total of $3 million this season and $3.5 million in 2025-26. After that, he will become a restricted free agent once more, but this time with arbitration rights in the summer of 2026, which would allow him to come up with a much bigger deal with the team in the long run.

Coming off a rough third season in Winnipeg, Perfetti has struck a promising deal that would see him come up with an impressive position to negotiate in the long run. For Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, this is a show of promise that he hopes to keep the forward in the long run.

“The hardest part is that there’s different levels of contract negotiations in this league,” Cheveldayoff said. “RFAs (who) don’t have arbitration rights. RFAs coming out of their first contract generally don’t have arbitration rights and that becomes a sticking point sometimes. When players do have arbitration and they file, there’s a deadline and there’s a mechanism in place that contracts follow and you work towards that.”

by Paul Daniel Flores

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September 24th, 20244 mins

Ohtani's 50-50 Feat Shows Significant Improvement with Dodgers

While all eyes are on Shohei Ohtani’s count on the homers and stolen bases, it does seem that reaching more than 50 on both stat lines speaks volumes as to how the former Los Angeles Angels star now thrives well in his campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers – which happens to be only his first season with the star-studded club.

A lot of experts and critics were quick to say that he would have a lot of tough time figuring out his game in his move to the Dodgers in the offseason, considering the fact that he was then the team’s Designated Hitter to give way to Mookie Betts – which seriously hampered the Japanese star’s MVP chances as well. But then later injuries to Betts and the rest of the team forced them to play their Ohtani card, and boy did it pay well so far.

As of the time of writing, Ohtani has already eclipsed 50 homers and 50 stolen bases. He is the first and only player on that list – a feat that no other player has achieved in their careers. Not even the legendary players of the MLB has touched close to that. The two-way sensation was also the fastest to reach 40-40 in the same stat lines if you are not impressed.

A Story of Growth and Development

Back in his time with the Angels, Ohtani was carrying much of the load for the team with Mike Trout being quite far from his usual game at the time. This allowed Ohtani to expand his game aside from batting and would become a promising pitcher in his own right as well. However, things started to turn sideways as the two-time American League MVP wanted to win titles, which needed time for the Angels to give him a competitive roster – which is a luxury that Ohtani didn’t have.

Flash forward to his historic game against the Marlins. Ohtani would finish 6-for-6, which included a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to secure his 50th blast shot to lead the Dodgers in their 20-4 domination of the Miami squad. At the same time, the Japanese star also led them to secure a playoff spot – which will mark Ohtani’s first postseason run after not making it in his first six years with the Angels.

This is a truly remarkable season for Ohtani, who has been eyeing on the 50-50 list for quite some time ever since he earned more playing time and bigger strides in his campaign with the Dodgers.

“It was something that I wanted to get over as quickly as possible,” said Ohtani about clinching the 50-50 record in homers and bases stolen. “It’s something that I’m going to cherish for a very long time. I have no idea where this came from but I’m glad that I performed well today.”

A Playoff Campaign in the Midst

Ohtani was the star slugger and pitcher for the Angels in his first six MLB seasons. He would go on to win the American League MVP award twice, but always missed the postseason. After signing a massive and historic $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers, it does seem that he will continue to have a legendary season in the making at this point.

As of the time of writing, the Dodgers stand alone at the top of the National League West with a 92-63 record, being leagues ahead of the San Diego Padres, who are second in the division. Ohtani’s winning strides has helped the Dodgers to rise to the best record in the MLB this season – tied with the Philadelphia Phillies so far – at least until the season ends.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 24th, 20244 mins

Team Vitality Begins BLAST Premier Fall Finals as Favorites vs Astralis

BLAST Premier Fall Finals defending champions Team Vitality is set to open the coming 2024 edition of the tournament at center stage as they face Astralis in a best-of-three clash. Coming fresh off their Intel Extreme Masters 2024 Cologne win, it seems that Vitality is expected to be a massive showrunner in the BLAST Premier Fall Finals as they seek to deliver a much-needed victory to keep their place at the top of the HLTV standings.

After beating Natus Vincere in the final of the IEM Cologne 2024, it does seem that Vitality has the best chance to keep up the same pace in their games and come up with a winning run in the BLAST Premier Fall Finals. However, the team will be facing one of its toughest rivals in Astralis as the team seeks to settle a score after their Fall Groups showdown as well.

Still, Team Vitality remains as the hot pick to claim the lion’s share of $200,000 and an instant qualification spot for the BLAST Premier World Final. The team will have to brave a very competitive Group B, which is composed of Team Spirit – who won the BLAST Premier Spring Final, Team Liquid – who emerged as the top seed in Group D of the Fall Groups, and lastly, Astralis.

A Dominant Run in the Fall Groups

Vitality ensured that they will be ready for the coming action by making a statement in the Fall Groups. The team defeated GamerLegion in the opening round with a 2-1 finish and later dominated their clash with Astralis in a 2-0 victory, who would later wound up for a rematch in the group’s Grand Final with the hopes of stealing Vitality’s thunder.

However, Vitality would not let up, not even after Astralis went up 1-0 in the clash when they won 13-10 on Vertigo. The French squad would go on to bounce back up right away by winning Mirage 13-10 to tie the series, and later dominating the final map, Nuke, in a 13-7 victory to pull away for a promising win.

Vitality emerged as one of the four top contenders to look out for in the BLAST Premier Fall Finals, joining G2 Esports, Team Spirit, and Team Liquid – with the latter two now set to be their opponents in the coming games as well. This is why Group B is expected to be a “death group” with all of the intense competition coming around.

Setting Expectations in the Rivalry Clash

Team Vitality is still poised as the favorite to win in their opening match against Astralis, which takes place tomorrow. The team has won four straight games over Astralis, dating all the way back to the Spring Groups. Since the launch of CS2 last September 2023, Team Vitality holds a 5-1 record over Astralis.

This just says a lot about the coming showdown as Vitality is highly favored to win in the opening match. The team will have to win at least two or three (if they lose to Astralis) in order to qualify for the next round. A win in the group stage overall will see them secured for the semis, while a runner-up finish will place them as a high seed in the quarterfinal, and a 3rd-place ending will bring them as low seeds for the same stage. The stakes are high as Vitality hopes to defend its title and establish its dominance in the game heading into the final months of the CS2 season.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 23rd, 20244 mins

Joel Embiid Lands 3-Year Extension with Philadelphia 76ers

It has been years since “The Process” was not really even making waves in the media, now Joel Embiid has capped off his recent season with a gold medal from the Olympics, and an MVP season in the 2022-23 run. Now he has extended his stay with the Philadelphia 76ers with the hopes of gearing them up for a promised run to the NBA Finals – which is the only thing that is quite missing in his career.

Embiid has been the cornerstone of the Sixers squad over the years since its tanking era that brought him, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris at one point together. Embiid has even played with James Harden and Tyrese Maxey in the previous campaigns as well. So far, all of these has led to disappointments and second-round exits, but it seems that Embiid has really made himself dedicated to his mission.

With another max deal locked up, the Cameroonian star now sets his eyes on the prize once more, and fulfilling his goal of being a Sixer for his whole career at the same time. Bigger things are indeed expected of him heading into the NBA season.

Staying a Sixer

Embiid is now locked in until the end of the decade with the Sixers. He is the team’s franchise star for quite some time now, the first since Allen Iverson’s days with the team. Drafted third overall in 2013, the 30-year-old center has become the picture of the Sixers over the years, and it was quite obvious that they really built on him since his rise to stardom.

The seven-time All-Star has been one of the best centers in the game, and he is also known for stretching his game not just on defense, but also adapting to the modern norms of the NBA. Embiid has developed and even mastered a mid-range jumper of his own and is even seen as a threat from three – all that while being a force to be feared in the paint.

That says a lot about the value of Embiid in the Sixers. Even though he did have some setbacks coming from multiple foot and knee injuries that delayed his career all the way to the 2016-17 season, it seems that the wait was really worth it, and the team’s gamble paid off at the end of the day.

Going All-In with Philly

Now Embiid is going all-in in the coming season after coming up with a strong showing in the recent 2024 Paris Olympics. It is also worth noting that he missed a huge chunk of the previous NBA season due to an injury – and was leading the league in points scored per game and was even a frontrunner for the MVP award, which could have been his second had he not been disqualified for not meeting the required number of games played.

Embiid averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 39 games last season, all while shooting 52.9% from the field and an impressive 38.8% from three. Fans are expecting that a fully-healthy and well-rested Embiid can actually make the most of his chances in the coming season.

Under his lead, the Sixers have never made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. After his rookie year, Philadelphia has lost twice in the first round, including last season, while falling short in the semifinals five times – with two of those in Ben Simmons’ Rookie of the Year run (2018) and Embiid’s MVP season (2023).

by Paul Daniel Flores

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September 23rd, 20244 mins

Chiefs Hold Off Falcons in 22-17 Win to Secure a 3-0 Record

That’s three games in a row now, and it seems that the Kansas City Chiefs are not letting up in their games as the team continues to come up with impressive strides in their games. This time, the defending champs secured a 22-17 win to beat the Atlanta Falcons as they escaped a big rally in the fourth to stay on top of the league in the 2024 NFL season.

With the goal of coming up with a massive title defense, it does seem that the Chiefs are in the best form now more than ever, and one can certainly say that they have indeed clicked well to survive a comeback attempt from one of the top dogs in the league. What could have been a huge upset turned to be just another day in the office for the Chiefs as they eked out an expected victory once more.

The Falcons have had poor luck in their first three games of the season, considering that their first three opponents flexed a whopping record of 8-1, thus their 0-3 start is quite explainable. However, it cannot be denied that this loss stings well for the Falcons considering the fact that they nearly won it had their offense kept the momentum going.

Chiefs on the Grind

The Falcons started strong in the first half of the game and took a 7-0 lead in the game as Kirk Cousins hit Drake London for a 14-yard score. The Chiefs would tie it up right away but then Bijan Robinson scored to put them back up 14-7. However, things went quite poorly on the later parts of the game, with the Falcons offense stalling due to shifts with injuries, and even had a critical turnover near the end of the first half that could have built the lead a little bigger than what it was.

What could have been a big lead for the Falcons turned to be a chance for the Chiefs to cut in close in the game. The team responded with a Harrison Butker field goal to make it 14-10, and then another goal from 44 yards with six seconds left to bring the deficit down to just 14-13 heading into the second half.

The Chiefs turned up the game at this point. Harrison Butker nailed another field goal at 9:40 to take the lead for the squad, and then a Patrick Mahomes pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster put the Chiefs way ahead to enter the fourth – showing the momentum shift that proved to be a huge factor in the game.

A Failed Comeback

The Falcons squad was already banged up with injuries, and even Kirk Cousins was hurting his arm at the time. Still, a field goal from Younghoe Koo from 54 yards cut the lead to 22-17, but that was the last for them in the day as Atlanta was backed up for pretty much of the game after that.

They did have a chance multiple times in the game. One seen them backed up to their own 6-yard line with Cousins throwing off an incomplete to Kyle Pitts – with critics even saying that the officials may have missed out on a defensive pass interference call. The Falcons had their last chance right before the two-minute warning but could not capitalize as the Chiefs defense swarmed well to prevent them from stealing the game away. In the end, experience played out well, and the Chiefs showed that they are the defending champions for a reason.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 23rd, 20244 mins

Colorado Rapids Clinch Playoff Spot in the Western Conference

It has been a roller coaster campaign for the Colorado Rapids after the club secured a playoff spot yesterday in their 2-0 win over the Toronto FC. The Rapids were a full year ahead after finishing at the bottom of the Western Conference in the previous season, and it does seem that the squad is hungry for more success with the hopes of making a deep run in the coming MLS Cup.

Handing over Toronto FC’s second straight loss, the Colorado Rapids celebrated in style as the team looked like they have finally redeemed themselves after improving a whole lot better than they played last season. No one expected them to make the MLS Cup this year, and it seems that they will be shocking a lot of fans heading into the postseason with just four games left to play in the regular season before the playoffs begin.

At this point, it is easy to say that a whole year makes a big difference than most people would expect. For the Colorado Rapids, their story has just begun, and they are driving it well with a chance to even secure a shot to the final of the competition if they’re lucky.

A Season to Remember

As of the time of writing, the Colorado Rapids have clinched the third spot in the Western Conference for the coming MLS Cup. This means that the team could go on to lose its final games and still make it to the postseason. However, this season is starting to look like a promising story of an underdog on the rise that is worth making a documentary like Wrexham AFC’s.

While they are not climbing a whole set of football divisions, Colorado’s sudden improvement still strikes as a show of grit and promise now more than ever. If you are not impressed, the Rapids finished the previous season with a meager record of 5-12-17 off 34 games for a total of 27 points – that is the second-worst record in the MLS in the previous season, and the worst for the Western Conference.

Flash forward to a year later, the Colorado Rapids have made some stunning noise and have transformed themselves into playoff contenders, which says a lot about how they are really poised for a massive finish this year should they continue to play at a high level as first-year head coach Chris Armas noted.

"It's a big accomplishment that a lot of people should be proud of, and I'm one of them," said Armas, hired last November. "Padraig Smith for putting together that roster, cleaning things up around here. The players are asked an awful lot physically, technically, tactically – the whole bit. They're a real team and they always put the team first.”

Translating the Energy to Success

The Rapids are building off a massive campaign full of frustrations into a season worth remembering. It is worth noting that the team was also a month removed from claiming a huge 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup place after finishing third in the Leagues Cup – an underrated feat worth praising.

It is also worth noting that the race to the top of the Western Conference remains wide open with just a few points separating the Rapids from the top contenders LA Galaxy (1st) and Real Salt Lake (2nd). Colorado won three of its four matches after the Leagues Cup, and they are certainly riding on a much better pace now more than ever as they head to the final four games of the campaign.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 20th, 20244 mins

Cucho’s Heroics Spark Columbus Crew’s 2-0 Victory Over Toronto FC

With the Columbus Crew battling hard to ensure that they get the best chance to secure at least the second seed in the Eastern Conference, Cucho Hernandez’s heroics come to life once more as he delivered a massive performance to carry the club to its 15th win of the season and keeping their hopes alive at the seeding.

While Inter Miami FC is way ahead to be chased down from the top spot, the defending MLS Cup champions can still settle for a best-case scenario finish by clinching the second seed. Beating the Toronto FC in this game yesterday allowed them to stay on par as the season goes down to its final games before the playoffs begin.

Luckily, Cucho Hernandez’s impressive performance came at the right time to help lead the way for the Crew. Columbus has now allowed a league-low and a club-record of 28 goals in 28 matches this season alone – and that says a lot about their improvement as a defensive club with a high-octane offensive unit led by Cucho.

Another Day, Another Cucho Hernandez Show

Cucho Hernandez’s clutch performance has saved the day again without much problem. No team has found the goal until the 51st minute where Cucho found a pass from Jacen Russell-Rowe and calmly sank the goal – his 14th of the season. That goal also marked the first assist for Russell-Rowe this season.

The onslaught would not stop for the Columbus Crew at that point. The team later took a 2-0 lead when Andres Herrera, who is playing in his third start and fourth game, received a late pass from Cucho and scored his first career goal. Hernandez’s dish was the 11th of this campaign – matching the same total that he has last season with still a few more games to go.

Amidst the shadow of Cucho’s show, Patrick Schulte also impressed well in his game as he came up with three saves to claim his 12th clean sheet of the season – which ties him with LAFC’s Hugo Lloris for the most clean sheets this season. Overall, it was a team effort – and Cucho’s big game certainly helped them come up with a promising victory now more than ever.

Chasing the 2nd Seed

Columbus has already clinched a playoff berth for the season, but now the team is battling for the best playoff spot possible. With Inter Miami already 10 points ahead of them, it is easy to expect that Crew will now have to settle for the second spot held by Cincinnati FC. As of the time of writing, Cincinnati only has a two-point lead in the standings ahead of Columbus.

This means that the Crew will need to take on a promising pace if they are going to make the most of their chances in the final games of the season. Columbus has six games left to play in the season. The team will battle Orlando City FC next up in their schedule this weekend, followed by clashes against DC United, Inter Miami, Philadelphia, and New England before wrapping up their season campaign in a showdown with the New York Red Bulls.

The showdown against Inter Miami will be crucial in their chances of winning, but experts predict that the club will not field its best players and rest them up instead for the postseason – and this gives the Crew a promising chance to stay on target for second seed in the final games of the season.

by Paul Daniel Flores

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September 20th, 20244 mins

Victor Hedman Replaces Stamkos as Lightning Captain

At the age of 33, Victor Hedman takes over the reins of the Tampa Bay Lightning heading into the 2024-25 NHL season as the team enters a new dawn with Steven Stamkos, the team’s former captain moving on from the team. The star defenseman is now expected to lead the way for the team as they seek to re-enter the competitive Stanley Cup Playoffs and make a deeper run for the Stanley Cup for the third time around.

Hedman initially signed a four-year, $32 million extension deal with the Lightning last July to keep him with the team through the 2028-29 season. With the team prioritizing a new, younger core, Stamkos opted to sign his talents elsewhere, joining the newly-formed super team of the Nashville Predators after inking a four-year, $32 million deal as well.

Stamkos held the role for a decade before moving on from the Lightning. He led them to two Stanley Cup victories and has definitely been a huge part of the team’s culture. Now the team looks up to Hedman to deliver the same level of success as he takes over the leadership role of the team now more than ever.

A New Era in Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay was the latest team to win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships over the past few years, but now the team enters a new era with the hopes of reigniting the team’s contender status in the game. So far, Tampa Bay has been on a losing stride in the playoffs since their last Stanley Cup win, and Hedman would definitely love to take his chance to lead the team to greatness once more.

"It means the world, obviously, for me to lead this team is a great honor," Hedman said. "It's a big privilege and a big responsibility, but I've learned from a lot of great leaders, [especially] my good friend ‘Stammer,’ who's been my captain for the last 10-11 years. I'm not going to change the way I am and the way I approach my game. There's a lot more responsibility wearing that 'C', but to do it for the team that I've played with for 15 years means the world to me."

Hedman’s leadership is a sign that the team is starting off a little bit fresh with their perspective in winning a championship. With the core almost still intact, one can say that the Lightning can find its way to the championship run, this time under Hedman’s lead should they be able to brave through the competitive Eastern Conference.

A New Decorated Captain

Like Stamkos, Hedman is definitely a deserving captain for the Lightning. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the team and is historically one of the best defensemen in the game, leading the team in games (1,052), points (728), power-play points (259), short-handed points (14), overtime goals (eight), game-winning goals (28), shots on goal (2,241), hits (1,132), blocked shots (1,613) and takeaways (529).

It can also be remembered that Hedman won the Conn Smythe Trophy in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the MVP. He was also a finalist for the Norris Trophy for six straight seasons from 2016 to 2022 – an award given to the best defenseman in the NHL. Now that he is a captain, it would not be easy for Hedman to deliver a huge success, but he is certainly willing to try and give it the best shot he can.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 19th, 20244 mins

Tua Tagovailoa Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Concussion

It seems that the Miami Dolphins will be having some struggles in the later parts of the season as the team is now set to miss the services of their lead QB Tua Tagovailoa will now be placed on the injury reserve list after suffering a concussion in their recent game. This move will see him eligible to return on October 27th against the Arizona Cardinals at the earliest.

The Dolphins currently sit at the bottom of the AFC East with a 1-1 record, and Tagovailoa going down this early spells doom for the team’s chances of winning as they seek to actually make it back to the playoff stage. However with Tagovailoa out of the game for at least four more games, it does seem that the team is quite in danger of falling out of the competition early into the season.

Considering how tight the competition is in the AFC East, with the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and New York Jets all in impressive form, it does seem that the Dolphins will have a tough time navigating the tough waters of the division with the hopes of sinking their chances to the top of the division and even in the AFC itself.

Tagovailoa’s Timeline of Return

Tagovailoa is confirmed to miss out on the next four games of the Dolphins after the team listed him on the injured list. The QB suffered a concussion as he was running for a first down and later collided with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the second half. Miami went on to lose that game, which led to their 1-1 record in the first two games of the season.

In the incident, Tagovailoa was dazed on the ground for a few moments before the Dolphins staff helped him off the field, which worried a lot of fans and experts heading into the next games of the season. It is worth noting that Tagovailoa has a long history of concussions in his NFL career, which has definitely prevented him from lifting his game to the next level.

The QB missed out on a total of five games in 2022 due to concussions, with one of those requiring him to be stretchered out of the field in Cincinnati. In 2023, Tagovailoa has had a promising season after leading the NFL in passing yards, even starting every single game and avoiding injury for the first time in his career.

Chances for the Dolphins

In the aftermath of Tagovailoa’s injury, the Dolphins went on to sign veteran quarterback Tyler Huntley, who came off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad. With their main QB out for an undetermined amount of time, it is expected that backup Skylar Thompson is also slated to start Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Dolphins have also released wide receiver Robbie Chosen and have signed offensive lineman Jackson Carman with the hopes of strengthening their passing lanes. Without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins will have to make the most of the available squad and their schedule that is expected to put them to the test.

Miami is also slated to have its bye in Week 6. The team has opted to give their lead QB more time to recover and progress through the league’s concussion protocol and meet up with outside neurologists for the best results in his physical health moving forward.

by Paul Daniel Flores

September 19th, 20244 mins

Juan Soto Writes History After Hitting Homers in All 30 Active MLB Stadiums

Juan Soto began this season with the hopes of accomplishing a goal – to reach the MLB playoffs and finally win a World Series title with the New York Yankees, but it does seem that he has also checked off a mission in his list after he nailed a homer in all of the 30 current Major League stadiums.

While the New York Yankees cruised to an 11-2 victory in their showdown against the Seattle Mariners, Soto achieved a much bigger ordeal as he capped off his 200th homer of his career while also coming up with a completionist run on his record of scoring at least a single home run in all of the active MLB stadiums.

Soto drilled a two-run homer coming off Mariners’ Bryan Woo in the fourth inning in front of fans at the T-Mobile Park, which was the last ballpark off his list that he has not shot above the fences. His career-high 40th homer of the season gave the Yankees the 6-1 lead at the time, which also marked his 200th career homer – making him the seventh-youngest player in the history of the MLB to reach the mark at 25 years and 328 days old.

A Historic Hitting Stride

Soto’s record of 200 homers ties with Frank Robinson for the seventh most homers before celebrating his 26th birthday. Heading into the season, Soto claimed that clearing off the list of stadiums where he hasn’t hit a homer yet means a lot to him. This season, the Yankees star smacked his first homers Progressive Field (April 13), Angel Stadium (May 28), Guaranteed Rate Field (4, Aug. 13-14), Globe Life Field (Sept. 4) and now T-Mobile Park.

Soto’s homers also puts him behind the likes of Jimmie Foxx (222), Eddie Mathews (222), Alex Rodriguez (216), Mel Ott (211), Mickey Mantle (207), and Albert Pujols (200) for the most homers before the age 26.

The slugger is clearly enjoying this impressive stride so far, and it cannot be denied that there are a lot of expectations as to how he can keep on hitting big homers alongside Aaron Judge, who has been spectacular in his own right as well. This is definitely something that the club is aiming to build on heading into the rest of the season before the fiery playoff campaign begins.

History-Boosting Performance

Juan Soto has been one of the best elite performers in the game over the years, and it cannot be denied that he is also expecting to re-sign with the team heading into the offseason. But before he could take that into consideration, it is expected that he will have to come up with impressive strides heading into October.

Just take it upon Judge’s comment on how Soto brings an impressive boost to their games.

"He just finds a way to impact the game every single day," Judge said. "He's always focused on the team, which is something I always love. Like, he's here for us and that can be tough when it's your third team and you're about to be a free agent.”

It is clear that the Yankees slugger star is expected to pull off some heroic runs in the coming playoffs, and he will have to work on his success with homers if he is going to help the club win its first title for the first time since 2009.

by Paul Daniel Flores

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