Quantcast
Channel: Breaking News, Entertainment, Sports & College Life | COED
Viewing all 37839 articles
Browse latest View live

In Defense Of Kevin Durant: What His Honesty Reveals About The Game

0
0

Kevin Durant loves basketball. He would marry the entire concept if he could. Listen to Kevin Durant speak for a few minutes and he will, most likely, bring up “The Game” and his devotion to it.

A self-described basketball “purist,” Kevin Durant is concerned with little more than playing the right way, winning, and growing The Game for himself, his colleagues, and all future torchbearers. He’s a craftsman, and he labors every day. 

Coming of age in and around Washington, D.C., basketball became Kevin’s outlet creatively, socially, and emotionally. Quickly, The Game became all he needed to care about once he understood he could make a career of it. Durant’s explained that thinking critically about things like racism, systemic oppression, and politics never really occurred to him as a black kid growing up in D.C.: “[social issues] didn’t really apply to me because I could put a ball in a basket.” He’s been chronically focused on basketball for the majority of his life–so much so that it wasn’t until he moved to the Bay Area, at age 27, that he’d begin to consider his identity as an American and, more broadly, his role in the world. Up until that point, Kevin had preferred to deconstruct and sort out the things he could control: “I try to simplify as much as I can. I think that makes my life easier.” 

Life ain’t simple. Kevin’s infamous free agency decision coincided with a personal wakeup. He sees now that not everything can be micromanaged. But for KD, the nexus of his life–The Game of Basketball–doesn’t need to be complicated at all. To the chagrin of some, he’s been known to take issue when it is.

In late March, Kevin Durant appeared on The Bill Simmons Podcast for the fifth time in just over a year. In this two-part edition, Kevin is more candid than ever. It’s evidence of his personal evolution–likely facilitated by a few glasses of red wine.


Instagram Photo

Kevin Durant has, unofficially, made Bill Simmons his press secretary. Conversations between the unlikely partners have yielded many a headline since February 2017, and this won’t change until the polarizing Durant puts a stopper on his honesty and becomes boring to the public again. There’s no evidence that this will happen any time soon; KD is more confident about speaking his truths than ever before. But some Durant critics are insatiable, and as long as they can pick out something to ridicule, they’ll happily let Kevin speak. They wasted no time in getting up-in-arms this time around, but their point of contention was ironic, predictable, and pretty metaphysical.

The podcast, before long, assumed a structure based on contrast: much of the conversation would be spent rationalizing how Kevin understands basketball and the NBA while holding a microscope to how “blog boys” understand basketball and the NBA. While he never provides a dictionary definition of “blog boys,” Kevin indicates that it’s an umbrella term: online trolls, NBA Twitter, sportswriters, talking heads, play-by-play announcers, and Bill Simmons himself all catch heat at some point. In essence, Kevin can’t take seriously anyone who commentates on basketball without basketball experience. He even hesitates to compliment the NBA on TNT Players Only regulars—Isiah Thomas, Chris Webber, and Baron Davis included—because they’re essentially imitating regular broadcasters. Whether or not Durant’s frustrations are valid, there’s little point indicting him. He genuinely loves basketball, and is immensely thankful for how it’s transformed his life; Durant is entitled to be critical of the goings-on around his craft.

The blog boys to whom Kevin unaffectionately refers throughout would, inevitably, be scandalized by becoming the controversy when KD issued them a public service announcement: “Watch a basketball game. Enjoy The Game. Stop worrying about me so much.” It doesn’t sound or look controversial, but he’d already written the headline by the time he predicted, “all these guys are gonna write articles and get real mad about what I say tonight.” Kevin acknowledges that his proclivity for honesty is like a carcass to be scavenged by the bored “culture vultures” who rib him for his devotion to authenticity, citing his insecurity and sensitivity. Kevin Durant wears a target on his back, proudly. It’s of his own doing. But the longer he and the blog boys engage in their grudge match, the more pointless it all gets. The occasional obnoxiousness of both sides takes away from the privilege of a candid superstar.

—-ADVERTISEMENT—-

In the context of his PSA, KD suggests that blog boys are self-important online personalities too lazy to watch basketball games, relying instead on easily searchable analytics in order to form their basketball opinions. Kevin, on the contrary, adamantly does not and will not believe in analytics as a substitute for the eye test. This proud basketball purist believes in “the real stats” you can find in a box score: turnovers, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, and opponents’ field goal percentage. No one talks about true shooting percentage or player efficiency rating during a timeout huddle or in the locker room at halftime—no one affiliated with the Golden State Warriors, at least. Fittingly, Kevin, ever the simplifier, doesn’t see the purpose of advanced metrics in basketball. Why complicate and cramp when the same old statistics will always be useful? Kevin Durant is the best player on one of the greatest teams in basketball history–he doesn’t need to qualify his opinion.

Kevin’s adoration of basketball isn’t just undying. It’s ever-strengthening. And because he cares so much about The Game, he’s almost always caught in the middle of defending its essence and succumbing to the very frills he hates about it.


The impact of social media on the NBA has been epic. All at once it has expanded league coverage internationally, facilitated and expedited the spread of basketball news and knowledge, closed the distance between celebrity and ordinary, and gifted a communicative platform to players whom we wouldn’t ordinarily hear from frequently if at all. On their own, these merits are something to behold, and the lucrative perks of it all should have the NBA league office and team owners praying thanks to Twitter and Instagram every night before bed. But as a whole, constant consumptive exposure to millions of strangers can only do so much good.

Social media is complicated, and we know by now that Kevin prefers simple. While tweets have never directly impacted the way he plays The Game, he does mention to Bill Simmons that he frequently notices a different kind of social media impact on the court: the posterization effect. When talking about KD’s role as a rim protector and reminiscing about a game against the Lakers in which Durant was dunked on three times, Simmons points out, “[social media] has made [players] less likely to challenge dunks because they don’t wanna end up on Twitter [as a meme]”. Kevin agrees. In fact, he argues, “basketball is in a bad place because of that.” Defensive basketball is, at least, but he does have a point: has the fear of being clowned by the faceless really taken priority over expending effort on defense? It seems ludicrous, but how many close games could have had different outcomes if a trailing defender chose to attempt a chase-down block on a second-quarter 2-on-1 fast break instead of conceding to the anxiety of becoming a meme? Kevin insists, “basketball is about getting embarrassed,” and I’ll supplement it with this: basketball is also about not embarrassing the likes of Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo, who made their livings on rim protection and really didn’t give a damn if they were dunked on.

Just months after winning his first NBA championship, Kevin Durant screwed himself over in the most millennial method possible, learning on a damning level how fickle a friendship with social media can be. In September 2017, KD was caught using at least one unverified, anonymous Twitter account, set up seemingly to communicate with fans who pose questions to the official @KDTrey5. He had accidentally sent several replies to Twitter users via his verified account instead, incriminating himself by speaking in the third person. The verified Durant had been giving reasons why he decided to not re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016, citing coach Billy Donovan and the apparently unconvincing talent around himself and former teammate Russell Westbrook. He realized his mistake too late, and a savvy Twitter user exposed him before he could delete the evidence. Durant, to his credit, didn’t try to deny anything or play the incident off as either a hack or a misstep by a member of his social team. He owned up immediately and admitted to the childishness of the situation. 

Instagram Photo

Frustratingly, by this date, he’d already shrugged off a chunk of the chorus of critics that trailed his every move between July 4, 2016, and June 12, 2017. Durant validated his unpopular free agency decision by carrying the Golden State Warriors to a gentlemen’s sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers, earning his first NBA title and collecting Finals MVP accolades. With his Twitter fiasco, Durant would, all over again, render himself a punchline and a meme. The old accusations of insecurity and sensitivity waged war on his reputation, and his mental wellbeing was, somewhat inappropriately, put on blast. He was berated for not being able to move up and away from the critics by riding the champion high. Explicitly, he was being told to shut up, get over it, and enjoy. Not a far cry from “shut up and dribble.”

—-ADVERTISEMENT—-

But at the end of the day, Kevin was really, once again, just being honest. Publicly on purpose or not, he was finally answering age-old questions about his choice to leave behind an 8-year relationship with Westbrook and move on from the southern city that raised him. He made basketball-related decisions to join the Warriors, and he’s insisted on this from the beginning—but the accidental, untimely airing-out of his grievances with OKC created more tension between him and the NBA universe.

Kevin learned. Nowadays, he updates his Instagram story sometimes and uses Twitter sparingly. He is more consistently active on YouTube, where he now runs something akin to a television channel, running features he’s not even directly involved in. He’s also pioneering, making space for other NBA players to customize their own interactive content channels. It’s not surprising that KD and YouTube work so well together–Kevin likes truth and realism, and video tends to tell a more complete, honest story. Plus, trolls have to go to a lot more trouble to bother him there. More evidence of his preference for realism is his choice to appear on Simmons’s podcast semi-annually: it’s obvious that Kevin prefers that his audience see him (YouTube) and hear him (Simmons) as opposed to interpreting images (Instagram) and text (Twitter). Durant wants us to get the sides of the story that most athletes don’t offer up. He is genuine and wants to take control of his narrative.


Kevin Durant has mostly done away with red carpets, commercial appearances, and staged TMZ photoshoots.  Eleven years into his career, he’s long over the synthetic gimmicks that distract from The Game. On Simmons, KD  laughs off the prospect of a high-profile, embellished relationship with someone like SZA. KD goes on to discuss his prior naïveté around the intertwining of the NBA with the entertainment business, emphasizing, “I thought people really, really, really genuinely loved The Game like I did.” He credits the move away from OKC as the turning point, referring to disloyal fans, whose marriage to NBA basketball is conditional. NBA fans are consumers, whose demands have changed with the times to include 24-hour access to athletes and a journalistic pipeline of storyline fodder to keep them satiated. KD says loud and clear, “narratives sometimes aren’t facts,” indicating that being in the spotlight often begs a dependency on untruths and manufactured realities in order to keep an appearance. Kevin insists that his and his colleagues’ careers and achievements are just that: careers and achievements. NBA players live public lives; that doesn’t mean they’re immune to reality.


Instagram Photo

Simmons, with a backhanded humble brag, points out that no other athlete of Durant’s caliber in the four major U.S. sports leagues does a recurring podcast appearance like KD does every few months with Simmons. Kevin is a remarkably authentic foil to his more inaccessible counterparts. A part of this which can’t be overlooked is Durant’s fundamental difference to many of his NBA peers: he is a single, childless homebody. Mentor LeBron James is as often a Father of the Year candidate as he is an MVP candidate; former Oklahoma City co-headliner Russell Westbrook is adoring parenting his infant son; friends and 2016 Olympic teammates Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Draymond Green, DeMar DeRozan, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, and DeMarcus Cousins are all devoted dads as soon as they step outside the lines. Kevin’s quiet personal life underpins his priorities and hobbies. He merely has time and energy that most of his All-Star counterparts don’t. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the 29-year-old, whose first true love is basketball, is prone to goofy mistakes off the court. He’s too preoccupied not making mistakes on the court.

—-ADVERTISEMENT—-

Kevin Durant is the rare household name who doesn’t mind being devastatingly honest about his profession. Yet his candor too often leaves a bad taste in the mouths of a slice of the NBA universe, and while it’s been this way since July 2016, it’s worth emphasizing that in his nine career years prior, KD was generally well-liked by the ordinary fan. It wasn’t until Durant began making himself vulnerable to the public that things started to change. We return to the idea of contingent loyalty: why should Kevin have to shut up and take the blog boys’ criticism when his moves are under constant scrutiny? Durant isn’t a bad person. He simply deviates from the norm, and it’s discomforting for some. In a few decades, we should be able to look past his minor Twitter transgressions and foray into The Players’ Tribune, and give thanks that one of the greatest players of the modern era was so open with us.

KD quips to Simmons, “people tell us we’re superstars. We really aren’t.” Reflecting on his first NBA championship, Durant notes that it wasn’t long before he realized he wasn’t “King Anything.” He maintains, “I’m just a mere mortal. But I’m really f***ing good at basketball.”


Instagram Photo

Durant has recalibrated his priorities. He’s long over the frilly entertainment gimmicks of the NBA, cutting some of the clutter out of his career. His investment hobby is contingent only on his ability to translate it into “authentic and cool” things he can feel proud of. His charitable pursuits reveal heightened responsibility: off the court and outside of the Valley, Kevin pivots to the communities which raised him. He has tasked himself with the things that matter most to him, and little else. Through it all, The Game remains number one.

Instagram Photo

When Durant made his move from Oklahoma to Oakland, he chose to take advantage of his worth, breaking ground on an enterprise that will be feeding his family for generations to come. But when Kevin and his agent-turned-business-partner Rich Kleiman talk about their noted successful ventures into Silicon Valley, they both emphasize that their investment successes could not exist without basketball. On Simmons, Kevin explains, “it wouldn’t happen if I didn’t bounce a basketball. I know who I am and what I am. I’m true to The Game because that’s just what I do.” Venture capitalism is merely a perk of living in the Bay Area, and certainly not what KD would call a commitment. He’s not about to prioritize a tech investment over his craft, and Kleiman notes that investing is by no means Kevin’s “number-one passion” away from basketball. That would be the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, with which Kevin has proven time and again that he’s absolutely not the trope of a rich athlete “checking the box” of charity in order to keep up a good PR narrative.

Instagram Photo

In the 2017-18 season alone, Kevin Durant has donated $10,000 to De-Bug, a San Jose-based organizing site focused on social justice in and beyond Silicon Valley, as part of Colin Kaepernick’s 10 for 10 movement. He donated $3 million to basketball and leadership facilities at his alma mater, the University of Texas, at least $25,000 at Christmastime to homeless Oakland children and families through Larkin Street Youth Services and Elizabeth House; and a commitment of $10 million over ten years to College Track at The Durant Center, an upcoming facility in Durant’s hometown. This is meant not only to get students in Prince George’s County ready for college but to graduate them and prepare them for career success as well. Kevin Durant cares immeasurably about spreading his wealth and taking care of the communities he owes his successes to.

In February 2018, Kevin appeared in a much-discussed episode of UNINTERRUPTED’s Rolling with the Champion, in which he, LeBron James, and Cari Champion engage in Kevin’s preferred type of conversation: candid, unfiltered, and real. In it, the three discuss a myriad of topics, including the NBA All-Star Game, fatherhood, humble beginnings, and ultimately the presidency and state of the nation. James and Durant, noted critics of President Trump and the uptick in open racism since his election, didn’t hold back. The public expression of their political opinions was rebutted by Fox News personality Laura Ingraham, whose condescension and covert racism yielded a counter-movement: #ShutUpandDribble. Durant’s choice to stick to his guns and make confident non-basketball criticisms may not have been possible had his personal journey, up until that point, been curtailed by those that prefer him to be quiet about his NBA-related qualms.

Kevin Durant has the respect of his peers and considers himself part of an elite group of friends; he and guys like his 2018 All-Star teammates LeBron, Westbrook, and Kyrie Irving “respect each other because we’ve got a certain set of skills.” Significantly, he’s made nice with Westbrook, eliminating the stressor which marked and sometimes marred his already bumpy 2016-17 season. He repurposes slander into wearable merchandise. He’s partnered with Apple to produce basketball stories. And in a way, Kevin Durant is playing with house money, having already fulfilled his prophecy: leaving Oklahoma City led immediately to his first NBA title. In all, Kevin Durant, today, is enjoying his life. He’s about to embark on another playoff run, one destined to be more challenging than the 2017 title run and thus more exciting to Durant, a forever student of The Game.

Durant is going to talk. It would do us all well to listen without prejudice–the candid superstar is a rare one.


Beto O’Rourke Net Worth 2018: How Much Is Beto Worth

0
0

They say to make it in this world of ours, you need to wear a lot of hats. Robert “Beto” O’Rourke certainly proved this, going from a bassist in Canada, a businessman in New York, and a politician in his native Texas, one, I might add, with big ambitions. Let’s take a look at O-Rourke’s career over the years, starting with his net worth!

Beto O’Rourke Net Worth: $7.9 Million

O’Rourke’s net worth is estimated to be around $7.9 million. Let’s take a look at his career over the years to see how he got where he is today.


The Early Years

Instagram Photo

Born in El Paso, Texas, O’Rourke is a fourth-generation Irish American; where he would attend El Paso High School, going on to graduate from from Woodberry Forest School in 1991. At this point in his life, he toyed with a career in music, serving as a bassist for the band Foss, which toured throughout the United States and Canada throughout the decade. O’Rourke later attended Columbia University in New York, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature.


1996-2004

Instagram Photo

After college O’Rourke worked at New York Internet service providers before ultimately returning to El Paso in 1998, where he would co-found the internet services and software company Stanton Street Technology.


2005-2011

Instagram Photo

2005 marked the start of O’Rourke’s political career, when he ran for the El Paso City Council, ultimately becoming one of the youngest representatives to have ever served on the City Council. Within two years he was re-elected to a second term. In 2006, however, O’Rourke became the subject of an ethics complaint filed by the Land Grab Opponents of El Paso, due to accusations of making use of familal and business ties during the Paso del Norte Group’s Downtown Revitalization Plan, although the case was later dismissed within a month.


2012-Present

Instagram Photo

In 2012, O-Rourke ran to represent Texas’s 16th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, ultimately winning with 65% of the vote in the general election, defeating opponent Barbara Carrasco. By 2014, he won re-election with 67% of the vote. Once again, two years later, he announced plans to run for a third term, ultimately defeating his Green and Libertarian opponents in the general election. In 2017, he then formally announced his plan to run for the United States Senate seat held by Ted Cruz, notably making him the first Democratic candidate to enter the race, ultimately raising at least $2 million in his first three months, largely from honateions.

Bayern Munich vs Sevilla Live Stream: Watch Champions League Quarterfinals Online-4/3

0
0

Bayern Munich, one of this season’s Champions League favorites, head to Spain to take on a scrappy Sevilla side that upset Manchester United in the previous round. While Sevilla pulled an upset on the favorited Manchester United, Bayern absolutely dominated the overmatched Beşiktaş in the Round of 16 by an aggregate score of 8-1.

Once again, Bayern is heavy favorites to advance, but if anything has been learned about this Sevilla side during the course of the Champions League, it’s that they should not be underestimated. If Sevilla are going to have any shot at advancing against Bayern, they cannot concede more than one goal at home to the Bavarian giants.

Even though Bayern and Sevilla is the second most exciting game of the day, it still is going to be full of world-class football. Bayern Munich will be looking to avoid the same fate as Manchester United, so expect them to come out guns blazing at Sevilla.

Find out how to live stream Bayern Munich vs Sevilla online below!


Bayern Munich vs Sevilla Champions League Quarterfinal Viewing Details

Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Time: 2:45 P.M. EST
United States TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
United Kingdom Viewing Channel: BT Sport
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go website/Fox Soccer 2Go/BT Sport
Location: Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan | Sevilla, Spain


How To Watch Bayern vs Sevilla Champions League Live Stream Online

United States: You can live stream the Munich vs Sevilla Champions League game on the Fox Sports Go website or wit Fox Soccer 2Go. You will need to log in with your cable provider information.

United Kingdom: You can live stream the Bayern Munich vs Sevilla Champions League Quarterfinal game on the BT Sport Website.


How To Watch Bayern Munich vs Sevilla Live Stream On Mobile

United States: You can live stream the Bayern Munich vs Sevilla game on your mobile device by using the Fox Sports GO app (iTunes Store | Google Play Store | Amazon StoreWindows). You’ll need a cable subscription like you would while watching it on your desktop.

United Kingdom: You can live stream the Sevilla vs Bayern Munich UCL quarterfinal game on your mobile device by using the BT Sport App (iTunes Store | Google Play). You’ll need a cable subscription, though, just as you would watching it on your desktop.

Real Madrid vs Juventus Live Stream: Watch Champions League Quarterfinal Online-4/3

0
0
juventus real madrid stream

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Real Madrid and Juventus, the finalists from last year’s tournament, face off in the first leg of an epic Champions League quarterfinal matchup today in Turin, Italy.

While both legendary sides feature aging stars in Cristian Ronaldo and Gianluigi Buffon, their seasons couldn’t be any different: Juventus are en route to their 7th straight Serie A title, while Real Madrid are currently 13 points behind first-place Barcelona. With first place in La Liga out of sight, Real are putting all of their efforts in the Champions League, as they are two-time defending champions. However, Juventus will be looking to avenge last season’s 4-1 defeat in the UCL Final in Cardiff. With legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon rapidly approaching the end of his decorated career, this season may be his last chance to lift the Champions League trophy.

Juventus will look to take a significant advantage into the second leg, while Real Madrid will be looking to secure vital away goals.

Find out how to live stream Real Madrid vs Juventus Champions League quarterfinals online below!


Real Madrid vs Juventus Champions League Quarterfinal Viewing Details

Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Time: 2:45 P.M. EST
United States TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
United Kingdom Viewing Channel: BT Sport
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go website/Fox Soccer 2Go/BT Sport
Location: Allianz Stadium | Turin, Italy


How To Watch Real Madrid vs Juventus Champions League Live Stream Online

United States: You can live stream the Juventus vs. Real Madrid Champions League game on the Fox Sports Go website or wit Fox Soccer 2Go. You will need to log in with your cable provider information.

United Kingdom: You can live stream the Juventus vs. Real Madrid Champions League Quarterfinal game on the BT Sport Website.


How To Watch Real Madrid vs Juventus Live Stream On Mobile

United States: You can live stream the Juventus vs. Real Madrid game on your mobile device by using the Fox Sports GO app (iTunes Store | Google Play Store | Amazon StoreWindows). You’ll need a cable subscription like you would while watching it on your desktop.

United Kingdom: You can live stream the Juventus vs. Real Madrid UCL quarterfinal game on your mobile device by using the BT Sport App (iTunes Store | Google Play). You’ll need a cable subscription, though, just as you would watching it on your desktop.

The British Invasion Of The NHL: UK’s Liam Kirk Is The Top Hockey Prospect In 2018

0
0

Meet Liam Kirk, the 18-year-old hockey prodigy from the United Kingdom. He has just become the first-ever United Kingdom born and trained 2018 NHL draft prospect and looks like he has a bright future ahead of him in the NHL.

Background

Liam was born in Rotherham, England and started skating as early as 2 years old, looks like the NHL could potentially have a child prodigy on their hands. Kirk has said his older brother Johnathon, who started playing hockey at around 5 years old, was his inspiration to start playing himself. Liam has currently been playing hockey for a total of 15 years now. Kirk is on the Elite Ice Hockey League’s Sheffield Steelers as a forward currently.

Liam isn’t currently on the ranking list made by the Central Scouting Bureau, but he’ll still be appearing on the limited viewing list, there’s a rumor that NHL scouts flew all the way across the pond just to watch him play in the UK league.

In the UK, Kirk has managed to train like a true NHL player despite the fact that the UK’s hockey training is considered under-developed compared to other hockey focused countries. Liam is looking to advance into the National Hockey League in America.

Kirk’s Views On The NHL

Kirk was asked if he thought it was possible for himself coming from British League, to make into the NHL. He stated that although it would definitely be more difficult coming from the United Kingdom, due to the lack of focus they have on ice hockey in general. It wouldn’t be an impossible task. Afterall, all you need is one thing that makes you stand out, and you become a national symbol.

Kirk’s Qualifications

Liam has extreme offensive talent, which he displays any chance he can get on the ice. He scored seven goals and 14 points to help Great Britain win a bronze medal in the Divison II World Junior Championship. The scouts will be watching when he plays the Division II- Under-18 World Championship in Estonia this month.

Kirk being from the United Kingdom, in general, makes him a stand out player to the NHL, much like Alexandre Texier who like Kirk is from Europe. Texter who is from France was drafted into the NHL because of his incredible skill as well.

Instagram Photo

Looking Towards The Future

Liam is looking into what hockey has in store for him in the next coming year. The CHL seems to be his best option so far. Ontario and Western leagues have shown interest in drafting Kirk into the CHL. But he’s not letting that distract him from his current season with the Steelers right now. He’s focusing on the ice in front of him.

Upon being asked about what Kirk could bring to the NHL if he were to get drafted, he was quoted saying this: “Hard work, team spirit, willingness. I would compete to earn my spot.”

Kirk handles himself like a real professional athlete, proving that he has the exact skills and mindset that the NHL is looking for. Liam stated he does have a favorite team but wouldn’t expose it, he just wants to be drafted into the NHL in general. That’s the right attitude to have when coming into a national league.  But before he can set his sights on the NHL, he’ll have to play in the North Amercian league with his peers first. So far one NHL team has been to Sheffield to watch Kirk compete.

As the 2018 draft gets closer, I see a spot for Kirk at any one of the teams currently in the NHL. He could be the next stand out rookie of the 2018-2019 season.


‘Stranger Things’ Is Coming To Universal Studios

0
0

Are you a fan of Stranger Things? Would you ever like to step inside the story yourself and see what you really are in the dark? Well, Universal Studios Hollywood, and its sister park, Universal Studios Singapore, is willing to grant your wish this upcoming Halloween. Don’t forget to tell us what you think about the upcoming maze while you are here!


What will happen?

Halloween Horror Nights, if it’s known for anything, is known for its mazes. This year, the event is going to have a maze inspired by Netflix’s Stranger Things. The Orlando park’s official website also gives a bit of a tip on what you can expect:

“Get your waffles ready. Netflix’s supernatural adventure thriller is turning Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights upside down. You’ll be able to experience the suspense and supernatural frights from Season 1 of ‘Stranger Things’ in a new harrowing maze.”

“We’re very excited to be working closely with Netflix – to give our guests an immersive experience into the ‘Stranger Things’ world by recreating some of the show’s most iconic scenes, 80’s settings, and most loved characters (#RIPBarb).”

“You’ll faithfully follow the storyline, starting off on Mirkwood and then quickly moving to inside Hawkins National Laboratory where things have gone terribly, terribly wrong.”

“From there you will experience all the most memorable moments and environments from the show while being hunted at every turn by the Demogorgon.”

“And of course, you’ll step into the mysterious darkness of the Upside Down more than once – whether you like it or not.”

As mentioned, not only will the Orlando park get the attraction, so will its sister park in Singapore.

When is this Halloween Horror Nights?

The Halloween Horror Nights event in Orlando takes place over three months, in September, October and November. Given the whole Halloween motif, you can probably deduce which month gets preference. The event is also offering a promotion that lets you get one night free with the purchase of a $77.99 ticket, as long as the two nights fall on the following dates:

Halloween Horror Nights Promotion Schedule

  • September: 14, 16, 20, 21, 23, 28, 30 
  • October: 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 31
  • November: 1, 2

Please note that this is not the full Halloween Horror Nights event schedule, which is given in full below:

Halloween Horror Nights Full Schedule

  • September: 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 
  • October: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31
  • November: 1, 2, 3

Tell us what you think!

‘Legion’ Stream: How To Watch FX Season 2 Premiere Online

0
0
FX

FX

Legion, FX’s trippy superhero drama set in the X-Men universe, kicks off season 2 tomorrow at 10:00 P.M. EST. Created by Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley, the new series takes place somewhere in the X-Men films’ continuity. The series focuses not on Wolverine or Professor X, but a lesser known mutant with extraordinary abilities named David Haller, who is desperately trying to figure out whether or not he’s insane.

Legion follows the story of Haller (played by Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens), a mental patient who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, who falls in love with a fellow patient, Syd Barrett (Rachel Keller), who then disappears under suspicious circumstances. Not only that, but Haller also discovers that after years of unexplained occurrences, hallucinations, nightmares, and visions, some of what he imagines may actually be reality.

Official Legion Synopsis:

David Haller is a troubled young man who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child. He has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years and, now in his early 30s, finds himself institutionalized again. His daily routine — including therapy, taking medications and silently listening to talkative friend Lenny — is upended when troubled new patient Syd arrives, and they are inexplicably drawn to each other. After a startling encounter between the two, David confronts the possibility that the voices he hears and visions he sees may be real. He escapes from the hospital and seeks refuge with sister Amy, who wants to protect the picture-perfect suburban life she has established for herself. Syd eventually gets David involved with therapist Melanie Bird and her team of specialists, who open his eyes to a new world of possibilities.

So far, Legion has received widespread acclaim from all sorts of publications, so make sure you find out how to live stream it below!


Legion Viewing Details

Episode Title: Chapter 9
Date: 
April 3, 2018
Time: 10:00 P.M. EST
TV Channel: FX
Starring: Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza


How To Watch Legion Season 2 Premiere Live Stream Online

You can watch Legion online via FXNow and FXNetworks.com. You will need your log-in and password information for your cable or satellite provider and you’re good to go.

If you don’t have access to a cable or satellite log-in, you can live stream Legion online through DIRECTV NOW. DIRECTV offers a free seven-day trial, so you’ll receive a full seven days free before your paid membership begins. If you cancel your subscription within the week, you will not be charged. DIRECTV NOW is available on Desktop, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast.

You can also watch Legion through Sling TV. Sling TV is service that allows subscribers to watch live and on-demand TV channels on TVs, computer or mobile device for a monthly fee. It’s just like a cable or satellite TV service, except it’s delivered over the internet. The service’s Blue package includes FX, costs $25 a month, but like DIRECTV NOW you can sign up for a free seven-day trial and if you cancel your subscription within seven days, you will not be charged. Once signed up, simply download the app for your computer to start watching.


How To Live Stream Legion Series 2 Episode 1 on Mobile

If you would like to live stream Legion on your phone, tablet or mobile device, you can do so by downloading the FXNow App. The FXNow App is available on the App StoreGoogle Play store and Windows Store. Once you download the app, log in with your cable provider information.

You can also watch the TV show on the Sling app. Sign up for a free Sling trial and download their app from the App store or Google Play store. There is also a Sling app for Apple TV, Xbox One, Roku, Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV.

DIRECTV also has a DIRECTV NOW app on App Store and Google Play store where you can watch for free if you sign up for the seven-day trial and cancel it before the trial period ends.


Legion Season 2 Trailer

Kehalni Instagram: Best Photos & Must-See Pictures

0
0

Kehlani Ashley Parrish is an American singer, songwriter and dancer, who is currently signed to Atlantic Records. Kehlani, from Oakland, California, initially achieved fame as a member of the teen music group Poplyfe.

In 2014, Kehlani released her first commercial mixtape, Cloud 19. That following year, in 2015, Kehlani released her second commercial mixtape, You Should Be Here. Kehlani’s first major-label debut album, SweetSexySavage, was released on January 27, 2017.

Kehlani has quite the dating past, as she’s been rumored to be dating both Kyrie Irving and PartyNextDoor. During 2017 and 2018, Kehlani accompanied Demi Lovato on her Tell Me You Love Me World Tour in North America, which led to this legendary moment on the final night of the tour:

Following the conclusion of her tour with Demi Lovato, Kehlani will be the opening act on Halsey’s Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour in Oceania beginning on April 19, 2018.

After rebounding from a difficult 2016, Kehlani has stormed back to become one of the most exciting young R&B artists in the United States.

Instagram Photo


Applewood Heights Secondary School Lockdown: Full Story & Must-See Details

0
0
Police, Cop, Sirens, Breaking News

Shutterstock

Applewood Heights Secondary School in Mississauga in Ontario, Canada, has been placed under lockdown after police were given reports of a party possibly armed with a weapon in the area; another school in the area, identified as St. Thomas Moore, is also currently under hold and secure, according to police, possibly due to the same reports of a weapon in the area, although this is unconfirmed. At this time, it is believed that officers are investigating at the school.

What happened?

Peel Regional Police issued the following statement on Twitter:

“#PRP at Applewood Heights School investigating reports of a party possibly armed with a weapon. Applewood Heights in Lockdown. St Thomas Moore School hold and secure. Updates to follow. Call came in at 1:41pm”

CTV Toronto also confirmed the reports on their own Twitter account:

“Peel Regional Police say they are investigating reports of a party armed with a weapon near Applewood Heights School in Mississauga. The school is in lockdown.”


The lockdown was quickly lifted

According to Mississauga, the lockdown lasted about 45 minutes before it was ultimately lifted; it was also confirmed that Peel police spokesperson Const. Iryna Yashnyk claimed the reported was “unfounded” in a press release, adding that any party with a weapon was not found at the school. Reportedly, the lockdown went into effect at 1:45 P.M. and was lifted at 2:30 P.M.

The hold and secure order for St. Thomas Moore was also confirmed to have been lifted by the same website. According to the Toronto District School Board, while both lockdown orders and hold and secure orders are similar, with both locking off the school from the outside, the hold and secure order usually expects school activity to proceed as usual, whereas precautions are taken to shelter students during a lockdown.

Peel Regional Police also issued the following statement on Twitter:

“Incident at Applewood Heights School was unfounded. No party with weapon. Applewood Heights School and St. Thomas Moore School no longer in Lockdown and Hold & Secure.”

Nerlens Noel And Thabo Sefolosha Suspended For Violating NBA Drug Policy

0
0

Nerlens Noel, the 2013 lottery pick out of Kentucky who has bounced around the league, has been suspended by the NBA five games after failing a drug test. As reported on by Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports and others, Noel was caught with Marijuana in his system for the third time through league-sanctioned testing. Also suspended under similar pretenses was the Utah Jazz’s Thabo Sefolosha.

The five-game ban will end Noel’s season, and as some have speculated, his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks. Noel’s career has been disappointing thus far, considering he was the #1 recruit coming out of High School and drew comparisons at the time to Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo. His Kentucky team struggled in 2012-2013 during his lone college season, but he still showed enough promise to be selected 6th in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Beginning his NBA journey with the Philadelphia 76ers, Noel didn’t actually see the floor until his second season, due to a nasty ACL tear suffered toward the end of his season at Kentucky. Noel immediately flashed defensive potential during his ‘rookie’ season, averaging 2 blocks a game in just under 31 minutes per night. Since then further injuries have hindered Noel’s development. Still only 23 years old, there remains hope that Noel can put it together and be a productive modern NBA big man.

Noel will hit the open market this off-season after a frustrating year and a half in Dallas.

Sefolosha’s career has been more successful than that of Noel. The Swiss shooting guard was drafted in the 2006 lottery by the Philadelphia 76ers before being traded to the Chicago Bulls. Since then Thabo has garnered a reputation as a defensive stopper on the perimeter. He came to fruition early this decade playing alongside Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kevin Durant on the Oklahoma City Thunder, making the all-defensive second team in 2010.

After a successful tenure in Oklahoma City, Thabo was traded to the Atlanta Hawks before the 2015 season — a year in which the Hawks would win 60 games. Toward the end of that season, Sefolosha was involved in a controversial brouhaha in New York City when NYPD officers grabbed and threw him outside a nightclub. The result was a fractured fibula and a postseason sidelined on the bench.

Sefolosha now plays for the insurgent Utah Jazz, a team likely to make the playoffs. Once he has served his suspension, he is expected to return to the Jazz rotation in time for round one.


Guerin Austin Instagram: Best Photos & Must-See Pictures

0
0

If you are a Boston Red Sox fan, I’m sure you have become familiar with seeing Guerin Austin. She currently works for NESN as the Boston Red Sox sideline reporter; this will be her fourth season doing so. Austin is apart of the NESN broadcasting crew that features Jerry Remy and Dave O’Brien. The crew has been together for the past three seasons.

Austin has the unfortunate tendency to get caught up in post-game Gatorade baths, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Instagram Photo

Instagram Photo

Instagram Photo

A Red Sox win is always nice, but getting a wet Geurin Austin to top it off makes it that much sweeter.

Austin is a former winner of the Miss Nebraska USA contest which she won in 2004. She then qualified for Miss USA 2004 pageant but did not place.

Instagram Photo

Also, if Boston needs a pinch hitter, shes got that covered too.

Instagram Photo

Austin also won a Capital Emmy for her work as the host of a documentary on the Washington Capitals in 2012.

Smart, beautiful, athletic, and a member of the Red Sox community, that’s a quadruple threat in my book. Now, if only I were good looking enough to get noticed by her. A guy can dream though right??

And That’s A Wrap On Miss COED 2018! Thank You To STS Travel!

0
0

Our Miss COED 2018 finalists are feeling refreshed as they have officially returned from their trips to Mexico sponsored by STS Travel.  Jenna Palek, our Miss COED winner, and finalists Alexis Oneal and Tanja Jeramez spent their last week in sunny Cancun, Mexico where they were treated with VIP’s status on behalf of  STS.

 

Jenna, a sophomore at Kent State also took over COED’s Instagram while down in Mexico.  We are so excited to have Jenna as a COED influencer! Look out for her from here on out!

Instagram Photo

 

Alexis (LSU) and Tanja (Santa Clara) were Miss COED 2018 runner-ups who also got to enjoy a few days in the Mexico sun.   STS Travel, who offers the best trip packages for college students, did an awesome job of taking care of our Miss COEDs.

Instagram Photo

Instagram Photo

Thank you to all the 2018 Miss COEDs and their sponsors for a fun year of prizes, social media challenges, and spotlight posts.  We appreciate all of your votes and interaction with our competition over the last year!

 

Miss COED 2019 submissions have already opened! If you are interested in signing up to be a Miss COED 2019 you can submit a short profile at the link below.

https://coed.com/miss-coed-2018/

 

How Arike Ogunbowale Saved March Madness

0
0

The basketball universe works in beautiful ways.

Geno Auriemma’s UConn project has completely changed the scope of women’s college basketball. The Huskies’ dominance spans more than two decades, but the sustainability of their greatness has meant that since 1995, only seven other universities have enjoyed the glory of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball championship. The brilliance embedded in the UConn system has rendered them one of the most influential college sports programs in the history of the NCAA. And yet, some in the sports media world continue to question the Huskies’ legitimacy, pontificating about their merciless, uncompetitive tendency to annihilate. The Huskies obliterated St. Francis by 88 points in the first round of the Tournament; in 2017-18, their average margin of victory was 36.1 points. Rather than marveling at the abilities of these women and celebrating the miracle of UConn’s dynasty, sports personalities–notably, men–choose instead to complain. Pointing to Auriemma’s relentless perfectionism and vilifying him for running up scores and being a “bad winner” is a disservice to the players who have worked tirelessly for their achievements. Accusing UConn of being “bad for women’s basketball” is a classically sexist, fundamentally baseless claim which not only turns its back on every non-UConn player but also serves to write off the entire NCAA Women’s Tournament.

So, to put it concisely, Arike Ogunbowale showed up at the right time.


On March 30th, UConn put a 36-game winning streak on the line. The Huskies missed the 2017 championship game, eliminated in the Final Four on a thrilling, emotional overtime buzzer-beater by Mississippi State’s Morgan William. Desperate for vindication, UConn faced off against their toughest competition of the season: the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, looking for their own revenge after a tough loss at Connecticut the previous November.

Notre Dame pushed UConn to the limit. They kept up with the Huskies, anticipating their scoring runs, locking down on the perimeter, and exhausting the 6-woman rotation. Napheesa Collier led the Huskies with 24 points on 11-17 from the field, but Kia Nurse and Crystal Dangerfield’s poor shooting performances left the Huskies at a dead end. Behind mini-runs from Jackie Young and Arike Ogunbowale, the Fighting Irish forced overtime.

In the extra period, UConn threes fell when the Huskies needed them to; Notre Dame, on the contrary, penetrated the paint. Locked up at 89 with 14 seconds to go, the Irish put the ball in Ogunbowale’s hands. Up to 25 points on the night, Ogunbowale let off a tightly contested, off-balance fadeaway with a foot on the three-point line. It didn’t look like a great shot, but it was the best the Irish could manage. Spiting keen defense by Collier, Ogunbowale’s high-arcing Hail Mary defied UConn’s dominance, and physics–it went in. And while UConn had a chance to tie with one second left, the book had closed on them. Arike Ogunbowale defied the apparently insurmountable odds: she lifted her teammates past the unbeatable Huskies, scoring a ticket to the championship game, and ending UConn’s season in a dramatic repeat of the year before. So much for ruining women’s basketball.


Kobe Bryant loves women’s basketball, as he should. His daughter Gianna is a budding star, and avid UConn fan; Kobe, Gianna, and eldest daughter Natalia can often be found courtside at WNBA games. But in Nationwide Arena on March 30, the Bryant family was treated to (or, more likely, devastated by) Ogunbowale’s game-winner, which Ogunbowale herself attributed to Mamba Mentality.

Later that night, when Bryant caught wind of Ogunbowale’s inspiration, he issued her a challenge: finish the job. Unlike the preseason demands he made of NBA stars Isaiah Thomas, DeMar DeRozan, and Giannis Antetokounmpo in August 2017, Ogunbowale actually came through.

On April 1, the Irish took on Mississippi State in the title game. Like poetry, the only two teams to defeat the UConn Huskies in two years–that’s 74 games–would fight for the NCAA Women’s crown. Things looked bleak for the Irish at halftime, trailing 30-17 after scoring just three points in the second quarter. Ogunbowale rallied the troops, scoring nine of Notre Dame’s 24 in the third, outscoring the Bullies by 13; the game was tied heading into the fourth.

Down 58-53 with less than two minutes to go, the Irish kicked into another gear. Marina Mabrey hit a three; Jackie Young tied the game with a jumper. It looked like both teams were headed to a second consecutive overtime (Mississippi State had taken Louisville to extra time on March 30, and won by 10). But Arike Ogunbowale was ready to go home, trophy in hand.

On a shot somehow more improbable than the UConn winner, Ogunbowale knocked down a wild corner three, flying away toward the baseline. Before you could blink, it was over: superhero Arike Ogunbowale did it again, ushering in the second of two years of heartbreak for Mississippi State, and the first NCAA title for Notre Dame in 17 years.

Arike stole our hearts and the tournament. Praise from fellow Nigerian-American star hooper Chiney Ogwumike, and celebration from NBA greats like Dwyane Wade and DeMar DeRozan put Ogunbowale at NCAA’s center-stage. The NCAA Tournament has never seen such an incredible pair of clutch moments from one player, and according to SB Nation, Ogunbowale’s consecutive Final Four game-winners are perhaps the most “incredible feats we have ever seen”.

Arike Ogunbowale didn’t just take the NCAA Tournament and make it her own. She dominated, and earned the spotlight. The men’s Final Four and championship games were so substantially unentertaining that, on April 2, many bored Tweeters wondered if Arike would mind making an appearance for Michigan, just to spice things up a bit.

No way, no how. Arike’s job was finished. And if you missed out because you seriously believed that UConn ruined women’s basketball, we hope you’ve learned your lesson.

Racist & Sexist Tweets From Villanova’s Donte DiVincenzo Land Him In Hot Water

0
0

In this day and age if you have skeletons in your internet closet be prepared for them to get dragged out once you get thrust into the national spotlight. The latest victim of the internet is Villanova player Donte DiVincenzo. He had an incredible national championship game, scoring 31 points in a beatdown of the Michigan Wolverines. DiVincenzo was riding high; this was the best moment of his athletic career. But, that pesky, still undefeated internet allows no one to enjoy there day in the sun.

See DiVincenzo has a Twitter account and the people of the internet went to work and dug up some old not so eloquently articulated tweets from his past. In fact, they came off as slightly racist and homophobic. In the PC world of 2018 America, this tends to all but be a death sentence for people.

The Tweets in question

DiVincenzo_tweet

(Screenshot via Twitter)

 

DiVincenzo_tweet

(screenshot via Twitter)

 

Tweet_screenshot

(screenshots via Twitter)

The poor guy has since deleted his Twitter account. It was the only move he had to play at the moment. I’ll never understand how these things keep happening to people. Does anyone learn from other people’s mistakes? Some quick advice from yours truly: If you are ever even remotely close to the national spotlight delete anything that could be considered racist, sexist, or homophobic. Simple stuff guys.

Villanova has released a statement on the issue.

This has since been deleted as well. Let’s all hope DiVincenzo has learned from this.

YouTube San Bruno Shooting Video: Full Story & Must-See Details

0
0

Reports have come out of an active shooter at YouTube’s headquarter in San Bruno, California, which has sent multiple 911 calls to local authorities, although the exact reasons for the calls remained unclear at the time of the release. Located at 901 Cherry Avenue, local police have also told people to avoid the area at around 1 P.M. (local time).

What do we know so far?

Ryan Parker, a senior staff writer for The Hollywood Reporter, issued a few statements on his Twitter account detailing the situation:

“Confirmed: Active shooter at YouTube HQ in San Bruno. ‘It’s a very active scene,’ police tell me.”

On Twitter, another person identified as BriBri, believed to be at the scene of the shooting, issued the following statement:

“There’s an active shooter at the YouTube office next door to me and we’re on lockdown. This shouldn’t be our reality”

Another Twitter user, Vadim Lavruski, who works in product at the location, said that he had been evacuated:

“Safe. Got evacuated it. Outside now.”

According to Twitter user Will Hudson, more information has been released on the suspects and the alleged shooter, although it has not been confirmed at this time:

“Apparently two people have been shot so far at @Google @YouTube in San Bruno. Suspect allegedly a female.”

Todd Sherman gave the following, detailed account in a series of posts:

“I’m safe.”

“We were sitting in a meeting and then we heard people running because it was rumbling the floor. First thought was earthquake.”

“After existing the room we still didn’t know what was going on but more people were running. Seemed serious and not like a drill.”

“We headed towards the exit and then saw more people and someone said that there was a person with a gun. Shit.”

“At that point every new person I saw was a potential shooter. Someone else said that the person shot out the back doors and then shot themselves.”

“I looked down and saw blood drips on the floor and stairs. Peaked around for threats and then we headed downstairs and out the front.”

“Police cruisers pull up, hopped out with rifles ready and I told them where the situation was as I headed down the street to meet up with a couple team members.”

“In an Uber omw home. Hope everyone is safe.”

Google, YouTube’s parent company, also issued the following:

“Re: YouTube situation, we are coordinating with authorities and will provide official information here from Google and YouTube as it becomes available.”

“We continue to actively coordinate with local authorities and hospitals. Our Security team has been working closely with authorities to evacuate the buildings and ensure the safety of employees in the area.”

“We have advised those who are currently at the SBO office to continue to shelter in place until further notice.”

“We advised all other employees in the Bay Area, and people with meetings scheduled, to stay away from the area, and that there is no need to take any action. We have provided employees a helpline.”


What do we know about the victims & the shooter?

According to NBC Bay Area, a spokesperson for Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital confirmed that victims of the incident were being admitted to the facility; at the time, however, no further information was released.

According to ABC7 News reporter Dan Noyes, it has been confirmed that the shooter was a “a white, adult female wearing a dark top and head scarf,” confirming earlier reports that the shooter was female. It was later clarified that there had been three victims: one 36-year-old man in critical condition and two women, ages 36 and 27, who were in serious and fair condition, although it was not clear which.

NBC News also confirmed that the shooter was taken down, although it was not clear what this meant:

“BREAKING: YouTube shooter is a female and she is down, multiple law enforcement sources tell @NBCNews – @anblanx”

Journalist Matthew Keys later shared the following on Twitter, suggesting that the shooter later died at the scene of a self-inflicted wound:

“BREAKING: San Bruno Police Chief says two people with gunshot wounds located at YouTube HQ; one appeared to have suffered self-inflicted gunshot wound. At least four victims transferred to area hospitals with other injuries.”

Swedish journalist Peter Imanuelsen later identified the shooter as Nasim Aghdam on Twitter.

As this story is developing, more information will be released as made available.


YouTube San Bruno Shooting Photos & Videos



These Are The Biggest NHL Surprises From 2017-2018 Season

0
0

Shutterstock

As the hockey season comes down to the final games of the regular season, it’s time to reflect on what was another crazy year in the National Hockey League. Every year, there are things that come out of nowhere in the sport that gets people talking or just change the status quo. 2017-18 was no different for several players, teams, and other facets. In the NHL, feel-good stories are what make the league so special. The surprises to come out of this year all will hold a special place.

Suprise Teams:

Vegas Golden Knights

When it was first announced that Las Vegas was getting a hockey team, no one would have ever thought that it would pre-cursor to what was an unprecedented historic season. The franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, was looked at to be how all first-year professional teams would be, bad and a few years from competing. Well, the organization obviously didn’t get the message.

Fueled by an unforsaken tragedy in the city of Las Vegas just before the season got underway, the Golden Knights were placed in the heart of hockey fans across the nation.

The Knights quickly established themselves that they weren’t an ordinary expansion team, going 8-1-0 in their first nine games. After that sizzling start, Vegas kept on winning. They made their home rink, T Mobile Arena, a fortress and their fun and fast style made them one of the most enjoyable and most feared teams to play. Beyond the team success, little known forward William Karlsson quietly ascended as one of the games best goal scorers.

Karlsson, 25, who was selected from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the expansion draft, only scored six goals in the 2016-17 season. When this season ends, he will have scored 40-plus goals and tripled his point total.

Behind William Karlsson, Erik Haula’s breakout season has flown under the radar. Haula found a niche on the second line leading to him recording his first 20-plus goal campaign and eclipsing the 50-point plateau.

Vegas surprise season came with so many accomplishments. They set the record for the most points by an expansion team in their inaugural season (84). They became the first team in 38 years an expansion team made the playoffs in its inaugural season. And to top all that, they would go on to win the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights will definitely be remembered as the best story of the season, but a few other clubs have come out of nowhere to put their stamp on 2017-18.

NHL Hockey New Jersey Devils

Shutterstock

The Colorado Avalanche and the New Jersey Devils worst to competitive in a hurry definitely made for some good headlines.Both these clubs were in the bottom five of the standings the season prior, and with both still rebuilding, not many critics around the league saw both teams looking at another losing season.

NHL Hockey Colorado Avalanche

Shutterstock

Instead, the Devils and Avalanche rebuilding efforts both accelerated and one or both teams could see playoff hockey. Colorado bench boss, Jared Bednar has done an outstanding job of molding his team. MVP candidate, Nathan MacKinnon has had a stellar season, while their young core (Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, Tyson Barrie and Alex Kerfoot) took a monster step forward and all have had phenomenal campaigns which have the future pointing upwards in Denver. As for the Devils, coach John Hynes has watched his sextet push the team to its first playoff birth in six seasons. Taylor Hall, their Hart Trophy contender, is at the end of the best season of his career and their rookie threesome (Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Will Butcher) has brought a breath of fresh air to the franchise.

—-ADVERTISEMENT—-
NHL Hockey Philadelphia Flyers

Shutterstock

Beyond the Avs and Devs, the Winnipeg Jets and Philadelphia Flyers have made noise. Winnipeg, who only has made the playoffs once since moving to the True North, became one of the best teams in the Western Conference, led by goal-scoring machine Patrik Laine, a deep forward group, and the emergence of Vezina Trophy candidate, Connor Hellebucyk. In Philadelphia, the Flyers went from losing ten games in a row in November to a contender for the Metro Division title and a return to the playoffs.


Players:

One of the biggest reasons for the Flyers resurgence, forward Sean Couturier.

Couturier only played in 66 games in the 2016-17 season and registered only 34 points. This year, “Couts” shocked the hockey landscape as he began to produce at a wild rate. The 25-year old by years end will have set a career high in goals, assists, and points Couturier’s play earned him a reputation around the league this year as one of the top-two way players in the game.

Contrary to believe, one of Couturier’s former teammates was moved to another team mid-summer and has excelled in his new home. That player’s name is Brayden Schenn.

Schenn was having success with the Flyers, but in St. Louis his game has taken on a whole new dynamic. On the first line with Jayden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko, Schenn’s offensive talents have been on full display. A new career-best in assists have made Schenn a top-25 forward in the league. He’s been a big component of the Blues fantastic season and playoff push.

Last but not least, we have Eric Staal of the Minnesota Wild.

Staal, 33, signed with Minnesota back before the 2016-17 season and did produce a solid first season with 65 points. But when the calander turned to this year, Staal turned back the clock and has totaled his most productive season in almost a decade. From the beginning till now, the Thunder Bay, ON native hasn’t stopped pushing himself, which has resulted in his first 40-goal season since 2008-2009 and first 70-plus point season in six years.

Eric Staal’s season continues to show that you never know what to expect over the 82-game odyssey and that’s what makes surprises in the NHL so unique.

Amanda Cerny Instagram: Best Photos & Must-See Pictures

0
0

Do you remember the extremely popular six-second video-app Vine? If you do, you should remember Amanda Cerny, who had a loyal mass of followers: 4.6 million of them!

Cerny is currently an actress on many of her hilarious, smoking hot, and relatable short videos, which are posted on YouTube, Vine, and Instagram. Her Instagram profile is among one of her most celebrated artistic outlets.

A little bit about her childhood, she was born in Pittsburgh, raised in Florida and later moved to Los Angeles, California. She has a sister named Samantha.

Before her fame, she was actually a former Playboy Playmate of the Month for the month of October in 2011. Not only that, she performs several comedic acts with the comedian and fellow Vine Star, Rudy Mancuso.

So far, Cerny has accomplished and inspired so many accolades and people as her role as a fitness professional, television personality, and founder of Play Foundation; she earned over 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube and over 17 million followers on Instagram so far.

If you want to check her action-pack and witty comedic vids, she has collaborated on YouTube videos with fellow social stars such as King Bach, Logan Paul, and Juanpa Zurita!

Canelo Vs GGG Rematch Canceled Due To Failed Drug Test

0
0

 

Boxing fans everywhere sit down when reading this.

Instagram Photo

The highly anticipated rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin is officially canceled. Yes, that is right, the most prominent boxing match of the entire year will no longer take place. The reason for the cancellation is Canelo’s failed drug test for the banned steroid clenbuterol. The failed test occurred in February. Canelo has stated the failed test was because of tainted meat he had eaten in Mexico.

Now, some might claim this to be him making excuses, but this type of tainted meat is very prevalent in Mexico. Many Mexican fighters have had this same issue in the past with meat they have eaten from their home country. Somewhere I’m sure Trump’s Mexican senses have tingled, and we will soon see a tweet condemning all meat south of the border.

Canelo spoke about how disappointing this has been. Via USA Today


“I am sad and feel powerless that this fight cannot happen now,” Alvarez told reporters. “I have nothing to hide. I want to be transparent in this process. I will do whatever I need to do to demonstrate I have never (deliberately) taken this substance.

“I have always operated as a clean fighter. I have always taken clean substances. I respect the sport unconditionally and would never do anything to tarnish something I have worked so hard for and given so many sacrifices for.

“It saddens me that people are accusing me of doing something improper. From here on out, I will take increased precautions to ensure this will never happen again. I am ready for what comes in the future.”


The first fight between Canelo and GGG ended in a very controversial split draw decision. Both fighters claimed victory, but it left a gut-wrenching feeling in most fans stomachs. The rematch previously set for May 5th on Cinco de Mayo. Canelo has since come out and expressed his interest in fighting at some point this year possibly in August or September.

For the sake of boxing, I hope Canelo is able to rebound from this.


WWE SmackDown Live Stream: How To Watch ‘SmackDown’ Online – 04/03/18

0
0

Shane O’Mac is back! But will he able to compete at WrestleMania alongside the returning Daniel Bryan against the ever-powerful YEP Movement? Tonight, he’ll address that match this Sunday, and we’ll probably see another showdown between McMahon, Bryan and their opponents at ‘Mania: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. The Yep/Yes Movements will be running wild tonight at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Rusev Day has come early as “The Bulgarian Brute” graces us with his presence as he takes on “The Modern Day Maharaja” Jinder Mahal in a match tonight. You can expect Aiden English and Samil Singh to be lurking at ringside, showing support and aiding their guy. Singh will likely be sneaky, while English will probably be graceful (on the microphone singing “Rusev Day” at one point or another).

In the main event of tonight’s show, WWE Champion AJ Styles will team up with his future WrestleMania opponent Shinsuke Nakamura. This dream team is set to take on the likes of Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. Can the WWE Champion and “The Artist” Nakamura put their ‘Mania match aside to focus on the task at hand? Or will the well-oiled machine of Gable and Benjamin dispatch of Styles and Nakamura just before their big match this Sunday?

Excited about tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown Live? Look below and find out what you need to know so you can live stream tonight’s show on your TV, PC, tablet or mobile device.


WWE SmackDown Live Viewing Details

Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Time: 8:00 P.M. EST
TV Channel: USA
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Online: USA
Mobile: USA Now


How To Live Stream WWE SmackDown Live Online

Looking to watch tonight’s new episode of SmackDown Live? Of course you do, you’re reading this article, aren’t you? To live stream tonight’s show, just click on USA, where you will be directed to that network’s official live stream page. But you’ll need your cable or satellite information to access this content.

Another way to check out tonight’s episode of SmackDown is by clicking on Sling TV, which provides a $25 monthly fee, but if you listen closely, you can see this all for free!

Just click on the Sling website, you’ll find a light blue bar with those incredible words (and that lovely number) “Watch Now 7 Days Free” – if you wanna see tonight’s pro wrestling show then you’re going to want to click on that offer.

You’ll also need to sign up for the Sling Blue package, it costs just $25 a month, but if you decide to cancel within seven days, you will not be charged. Though if you chose to stick around with Sling, you’ll be able to see many more episodes of WWE Raw and SmackDown Live in the future. Sling TV has something for you (sports and wrestling), and something for the kids (cartoons) too.


How To Watch WWE SmackDown Free Without A Cable Subscription?

Don’t have a cable subscription? Don’t sweat it, wrestling bro! Fubo TV is a streaming service that usually costs $39.99, but is now charging customers $19.99 for their first two months. The service offers 70+ channels for your viewing pleasure. But the sweetest part is that Fubo also offers a free seven-day trial.

You can also watch tonight’s episode of SmackDown through DirecTV Now, which is offering four different channel packages, all of which include the USA network. The cheapest package available is for $35. But the coolest part of this deal is that the first seven days are absolutely for free and you can cancel anytime.

Don’t have a cable subscription to watch SmackDown? Don’t sweat it. Just go to Sling TV, and sign up for a free 7 days on their Sling Blue package. You won’t want to miss a minute of the action.


How To Watch SmackDown On Your Tablet or Mobile Device

Want to watch SmackDown on your tablet or mobile device. Just sign up for the USA Now app, which is free with your cable or satellite log-in info.

You can also watch SmackDown on Sling TV. The first week is free, so you’ll want to keep track of time if you don’t wanna pony up $25 for the monthly Sling Blue package. You can access the Sling app from a wide variety of devices, including Roku, Xbox One, Chromecast, ZTE, and Nexus Player.




Top 5 Worst WWE WrestleMania Matches Of All Time

0
0

WrestleMania has featured some of the best matches of all time, while also featuring a handful of duds. For every Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13, there’s a Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 26. Some matches are pure gold, while others should have been scrapped long before the promos made broadcast. There are those matches that will live on in the minds of fans around the world as some of the greatest encounters of all time, while there are others most would just like to forget.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to WrestleMania moments that are complete trash. Find out what matches are so foul that you’ll wonder how they even made it on the card in the first place.

Here are the top 5 worst WrestleMania matches of all time.

5. WWE Championship match: Yokozuna (c) vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania IX ( 9)

Bret Hart vs. Yokozuna for the WWF (now WWE) World Heavyweight Championship was suppose to close WrestleMania IX. This event should have been the launching pad for WWE’s New Generation Era, showcasing the brightest stars of the day and passing the torch onward from The Golden Age’s Hulkamania-dominated era. But unfortunately, WWE had a hard time pulling the trigger on the New Generation and regressed back to a stale baby-face Hogan as the top guy.

At WrestleMania IX, Yokozuna was able to knock off “Hitman” Bret Hart for the WWF Championship, although through underhanded means (via Mr. Fuji’s salt to the eyes of the Hitman). Immediately afterwards, Hogan stole the spotlight and made both competitors look like complete chumps in comparison. Mr. Fuji issued a challenge on behalf of Yokozuna to Hogan, and 22 seconds after the bell rang, the Hulkster was the new WWF Champion.

What Bret Hart wasn’t able to accomplish in a match lasting almost ten minutes (8 minutes, 55 seconds to be exact), Hogan was able to accomplish in a mere 22 seconds. Hogan handedly dispatched of Yokozuna without breaking a sweat while Hart put over his opponent like a mountain-climber trying to overcome Mount Everest. This match was a clear slap in the face to WWE’s emerging New Generation and can be considered as one of the worst “big” matches in WrestleMania history.


4. Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon – WrestleMania XXVI (26)

This match was just sad. Bret Hart is such a legendary wrestler and 99.9% of the time he puts on an amazing performance in the ring. But not when he’s been retired for over a decade, can’t take a bump, and looks more like a random dude from a friends and family BBQ than a rough and tough professional wrestler. When Hart returned to the ring at WrestleMania XXV, he was a mere shell of his former self and didn’t belong in a wrestling match, much less one that dragged on for over ten minutes.

At least Bret Hart got a measure of pay-back on his boss for screwing him out of the WWF Championship back in 1997 during the Montreal Screwjob incident. And I’m sure there was definitely tons of nostalgia to capitalize off of, seeing Bret Hart wrestling in a WWE ring against the nefarious Mr. McMahon.

But the match between Vince and Hart was just god-awful. It consisted primarily of Vince McMahon getting his ass kicked by Bret and his entire family. It was much more of a comedic squash-match/faux gang assault than a serious wrestling match. Hart being unable to take bumps in the ring severely took away any possibility of serious drama in the match. It was just a Vince McMahon beat-down, and that’s all it’s ever going to be. Vince proved himself to be somewhat of a masochist in this match; willing to be thrashed by Hart and his family for being a bad, bad boy.


3. World Heavyweight Championship match: Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Sheamus – WrestleMania XXVIII (28)

This match was downright disgraceful. In the first match on the WrestleMania XXVIII card, Sheamus knocked Daniel Bryan’s block off in 18 seconds, capturing the championship in a fraction of the time it takes to even go to the bathroom. This move all but solidified the World Heavyweight Championship to the status of mid-card fodder, while triggering a counter-reaction in favor of the defeated Daniel Bryan (in what would later become the YES Movement).

Perhaps, the only positive outcome of this short 18-second match is that it lit a fuse beneath the feet of the fans. Support for Daniel Bryan exploded and his career only went up from this moment, not down. While Sheamus became a strong, but bland champion, Bryan became one of the most popular superstars in WWE history.

Sheamus may have squashed Daniel Bryan in near-record time. But history will remember the YES Movement as something much more significant than Sheamus’ lukewarm run as champion, engaging in feuds many have already forgotten.


2. Intercontinental Championship match: John “Bradshaw” Layfield (c) vs. Rey Mysterio – WrestleMania XXV (25)

With this match, WWE sent out a clear message that they don’t care about their secondary championships. The WWE United States Championship wasn’t even defended at WrestleMania XXV, while the Intercontinental Championship match lasted a mere 21 seconds. This event is also noted for being JBL’s last night as a professional wrestler. He was embarrassed by a wrestler nearly half his size and defeated in less than a minute. What a way to go out.

JBL’s lightning fast defeat took away from Rey Mysterio’s championship win. The victory seemed rushed and cheap. It also made the WWE IC Title look relatively unimportant to the grand spectacle of WrestleMania.


1. Michael Cole vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler w/ special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin – WrestleMania XXVII (27)

First off, Michael Cole does not belong inside a wrestling ring. He belongs behind the announcer’s table on commentary, and some would argue that he doesn’t quite belong there either. All that being said, Michael Cole made for a really annoying heel and it was somewhat satisfying to see him getting demolished by Jerry “The King” Lawler.

This match dragged on for a staggering and torturous 13 minutes and 45 seconds. That’s more time than what was given for the World Heavyweight Championship match between Edge and Alberto Del Rio (11 minutes and nine seconds), which goes on to show what WWE thought of their World Heavyweight Title.

Another bummer about this match is that Jerry Lawler didn’t hit his patented piledriver finisher on Michael Cole. This was Lawler’s one and only WrestleMania match and he wasn’t even allowed to use the move that helped make him famous. Lawler finished off Cole with an ankle lock, but got disqualified by the anonymous Raw General Manager and the decision of the match was reversed because of Steve Austin’s “biased” referee moves.

Cole vs. Lawler dragged on for far too long. It was worse than watching Snooki wrestle. This encounter between Cole and Lawler will go down, at least for this article, as the worst match in WrestleMania history. Not even Stone Cold could save this debacle.


Honorable Mentions: Half of WrestleMania XXVII (27)

Instagram Photo

WrestleMania XXVII may be the worst WrestleMania ever. The main event between John Cena and The Miz was completely overshadowed by the host Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Any hype for The Miz’s rise to main event prominence dwindled in the presence of “The Great One.” The Rock even stole the spotlight at the end, screwing Cena out of a victory. So when it came down to it, The Miz’s match against John Cena only worked as a commercial for the impending WrestleMania 28 match between Cena and The Rock.

As previously noted, Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler was positioned as one of the headlining matches of the evening (which says a lot about the quality of the event). Plus, Snooki wrestled…and actually wasn’t half-bad, but thankfully, she was only allowed to perform a couple of moves. Snooki brawled in a six-person tag team match, alongside Trish Stratus and John Morrison, against the likes of Dolph Ziggler and LayCool. The downside of this match is that Ziggler and Morrison barely performed at all in this match, which only lasted three minutes and 16 seconds. The upside is that it didn’t drag on like the dreaded encounter between Cole and Lawler.

Another dud from WrestleMania 27 was an eight-man tag team match, which demolished any hype or momentum The Corre may have had going into the event. The Corre was a group of young, up-and-coming wrestlers who all identified as equals within the group. The team was made up of then WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, and then WWE Tag Team Champions Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater. This fresh team of champions was demolished within one minute and 32 seconds. Their opponents (Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston, and comedic wrestler Santino Marella) made The Corre look like absolute chumps, killing off any credibility they may have had as an intimidating or forceful presence on the  SmackDown brand.

Viewing all 37839 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images