Category Archives: sports

2015 NFL Power Rankings: Post-NFL Draft Rankings

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2015 NFL Power Rankings: Post-NFL Draft Rankings
31 Mar

It’s May and the NFL is headed into the “dead period” of the off-season. The NFL Draft is over, training camps don’t start for almost three months and even mini-camps are roughly two months away. Despite pro football taking a backseat to the NBA playoffs and the MLB regular season at the moment, die hard NFL fans can’t help but think ahead to the new season. Will the Green Bay Packers avenge their NFC title game loss? Will the Seattle Seahawks make it three trips to the Super Bowl in a row? Can the New England Patriots repeat?

These are just a few of the burning questions. With the draft in the back of our minds, we also must contemplate which losing teams could force their way up the ranks. Via power rankings, some already may have. Let’s take a closer look at the shift of each team’s stock as we power rank all 32 NFL teams following the results of the 2015 NFL Draft:

1. Seattle Seahawks

Had Seattle run Marshawn Lynch at the goal-line, they may have been back to back champs. Now they have Jimmy Graham and they’re angry. Watch out, rest of league.

2. New England Patriots

They’re the defending champs, true, but they’ve lost a ton of defensive talent. Tom Brady and co. could still get back to the big game, but it’s unlikely they win again.

3. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay was a meltdown away from making it to the Super Bowl. With Aaron Rodgers, the Pack is never counted out, but until their defense improves, they’ll be one game short again.

4. Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning looked like he was regressing late last year, but on paper he and his Broncos still are built to win. If he doesn’t crumble, they just might.

5. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona rode an elite defense to a playoff spot and had Carson Palmer been healthy, they may have made a run for the Super Bowl. Palmer is back, so the Cards are in the mix to start 2015.

6. Dallas Cowboys

Was DeMarco Murray the Cowboys a year ago? Thanks to letting him go in free agency, we’re about to find out.

7. Indianapolis Colts

Indy needed major help on defense and they spent their first round pick on a wide receiver. Smart.

8. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore had a great draft and looks balanced enough to make another deep playoff run. If their defense can be elite again, they just might win it all.

9. Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton continues to hold back a very solid and balanced Bengals team. Can he finally take his game to the next level?

10. Detroit Lions

Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are gone. Does Detroit’s intimidating defense go with them? If so, the Lions could sink down these ranks early in 2015.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers lost some serious veteran talent on defense but have the offense and young defensive pieces to rise up. That’s if they can get by through the first three games of the year, when stud running back Le’Veon Bell serves a suspension.

12. Philadelphia Eagles

Chip Kelly may have looked like a mad man as he swung trades and still failed to land Mariota, but he’s still fresh off of two straight 10-6 finishes to start his career. If Sam Bradford ends up being a steal, his Eagles just might be even better this year.

13. San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh is gone but the Niners still have the foundation to get back into the playoff mix. Their defense is still a solid group, but everything ultimately falls on Colin Kaepernick progressing in the pocket.

14. San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers is here to stay and the Bolts should have a solid running game with Melvin Gordon in town. The rest hangs on a solid defense taking their play to an elite level.

15. Miami Dolphins

Miami appears to be on the fringe, but with a solid draft and free agency under their belt, they could finally be ready to overtake the Patriots in the AFC East.

16. Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton didn’t get the offensive line help he needed, but Carolina still has a balanced attack and a gritty defense. If they play like they did in the second half of 2014, they should be dangerous.

17. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo has the defense to win right now, as well as a potentially deadly running game backed by LeSean McCoy. They still don’t know if they have a quarterback, though.

18. Houston Texans

Houston should be stout on defense in 2015 and a healthy Arian Foster keeps them in the playoff discussion. They won’t go anywhere unless they get solid play out of the quarterback position, however.

19. New Orleans Saints

The Saints traded away Jimmy Graham and have publicly admitted Drew Brees is regressing. Now a run-balanced offense, it’s impossible to predict which direction they’re truly headed right now.

20. New York Giants

Odell Beckham Jr. lit a fire under the G-Men last year. That was on offense, though. If the Giants are going to return to the playoffs in 2015, that once stout defense will have to come back to life.

21. Kansas City Chiefs

Alex Smith has shown he can manage games. With Travis Kelce and Jeremy Maclin ready to blow up, we may find out if he can dominate them in 2015.

22. St. Louis Rams

The Rams have a top-10 defense and a good coaching staff. With Todd Gurley, they may now have the running game to compete in the NFC West. The rest hangs on Nick Foles.

23. Atlanta Falcons

Rookie head coach Dan Quinn had a heck of a draft and should have a once soft Falcons squad playing mean football. If the defense brings the punch, Matt Ryan and the offense could deliver the knockout blow.

24. New York Jets

There’s little doubt that Gang Green has a championship-level defense. It’s quarterback that is the real concern. Can Geno Smith or Ryan Fitzpatrick rise from the ashes, or will Bryce Petty end up being their savior?

25. Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota is trending upward with a solid defense and a steady young quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater. If Adrian Peterson sticks around, this just might be a dangerous playoff contender.

26. Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler is better than what we saw in 2014. That’s the hope, at least. Even if he turns it around, though, this Bears defense still has a ways to go.

27. Washington Redskins

If Robert Griffin III can get out of his own way the ‘Skins might be able to turn things around in 2015. That’s assuming the moves on defense pay off, of course.

28. Cleveland Browns

Is Johnny Manziel the answer? If the Browns are to do anything in 2015, he just might have to be.

29. Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr has a legit weapon in Amari Cooper and Oakland’s defense is on it’s way up. Can they make some real noise in the competitive AFC West?

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville has made key moves on defense and offense. The rest depends on the development of Blake Bortles.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I can’t see a Lovie Smith team staying down for long, while Jameis Winston is ready to win games right now. If the Bucs are better on defense, they’ll steadily rise up these ranks.

32. Tennessee Titans

Drafting Marcus Mariota was a step in the right direction, but he’s too raw to trust for more than a few wins. Tennessee could be back in the bottom three again come the next draft.

Think your team is ranked too low? Tell us where they belong in the comments below!

4 MLB Underdogs That Could Win the World Series

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4 MLB Underdogs That Could Win the World Series
31 Mar

There were some clear favorites to win it all heading into the 2015 MLB season. Due to stacked pitching rotations or a lineup of power hitters, teams like the San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals (just to name a few) were picked by many to win it all this year. They still could all be in play, but after a month of action we’re starting to see some potential sleepers carve out their spot in the standings.

Could a non-heavy hitter stay above water throughout the season and surprise with a World Series win at the end of the year? There are at least four MLB teams that could do just that. Let’s take a quick look at all of them and see which sleeper team is the best bet to shock the nation:

Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies haven’t been to the playoffs since 2008 and haven’t sniffed a World Series since 1945 (they won back in 1908), but die hard fans just might have some hope of the curse being lifted this year. Rockstar rookie hitter Kris Bryant has been excellent since making his debut just a couple of weeks ago, while the Cubs have kept themselves within striking distance of the top of the NL Central.

Chicago has stayed among the league’s hottest teams thanks to a scorching offense that has already produced over 80 runs behind terrific early-season performances out of Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Soler and Starlin Castro. Jake Arrieta leads a pitching rotation that is the strongest it’s been in a while too, giving the Cubs a legit, balanced attack. The big question is, can they sustain this hot start or will fans be in for heartbreak again late in the year?

New York Mets

Meet the Mets, indeed. The other New York team isn’t usually the baseball team to root for in the Big Apple, especially since the franchise hasn’t been to post-season play since 2006. The Yankees might be the bigger team on the national stage, but right now it’s the Mets that are the talk of the town, as they’ve stormed out to a commanding first place lead atop the NL East.

It hasn’t happened by accident, either, as ace pitcher Matt Harvey has had a successful return to the mound and has been backed with over 80 runs from the offense already. Harvey isn’t the only quality pitcher the Mets have in their back pocket, either, as the ageless wonder that is Bartolo Colon keeps getting wins and youngtser Jacob deGrom has been promising so far this year, as well. If the offense hangs around all year, we just might have to take the Mets seriously come playoff time.

San Diego Padres

The Padres have been largely about offense during a solid start to the season, as Matt Kemp and Juston Upton have been blasting away early and often. They still aren’t exactly crushing it in the standings as a meandering .500 squad, but they have displayed the makings of a potential Wild Card threat due to a truly elite offense.

The problem lies within their defense, which has been giving up runs at an alarming rate. If San Diego can get that under wraps and become a little more balanced, they will be locks to be contending for a playoff spot just like they did a year ago, and they might even have a crack at the tough NL West.

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Houston Astros

Houston has come out of nowhere to take over the AL West this year, and by the early looks of it, we might just want to crown them the champs of their division. While their hot start is definitely very impressive, it’s also worth pointing out that no one else in their division remotely looks like a threat at the moment. The Astros are a dark horse to make a run later in the year due to their timely offense, however, as Jose Avulte and Luis Valbuena have offered efficient hitting and major power, respectively.

Houston hasn’t exactly been slacking in the defense department, as a solid pitching rotation of Collin McHugh, Scott Feldman and Dallas Keuchel lead the way. If the offense can keep up it’s pace and their top pitchers can keep churning out wins, the Astros may be a force to be reckoned with later in the year.

Most Likely to Fade: Padres

As awesome as the Padres are on offense right now, they’re just not getting it done on defense. They actually have the talent, but until we start seeing results on both sides of the ball, they’re the toughest team of this four-pack to trust. They also operate in a brutal division that includes power house teams like the Dodgers and Rockies – not to mention last year’s champs, the Giants.

Most Likely to Win: Mets

New York simply looks like the real deal. Mets fans won’t fully buy into it yet and outsiders won’t ever believe it, but if this current rendition of the Mets can stay healthy and continue to be a balanced ball club, they just might have a shot at making a run to the World Series. They have the pitching and offense to potentially win it all if all goes well.

Related: Predicting 2015’s MLB MVP Winners

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid

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Atletico Madrid vs real madrid
31 Mar

One of the most anticipated rivalries to exist in sports, soccer clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have gone head-to-head in matches that date as far back as the 1930s. In the last ten years alone, the two teams have faced each other 56 times, Barcelona leading victories with 23 versus Real Madrid’s 17. There is no doubt that the rivalry exudes passion and controversy, and with renowned, perhaps infamous, players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, how can it not?

Critics often analyze Barcelona and Real Madrid by their players and matches, but we’re taking a refreshing approach by creating a more in-depth discussion on their uniforms. Yes, their uniforms! For most teams, the fundamental value of uniforms is to create a sense of community—to foster an identity with said community and establish who’s who, both on and off the field.

Here’s our quick uniform breakdown of FC Barcelona versus Real Madrid:

FC Barcelona stays true to their roots, and it shows, what with the traditional stripes they’ve boasted since the early 1900s. From their classic look down to their crest, Barca (short for FC Barcelona) shows rich history and formidable intent. Today, Barca’s current jersey offers a collar with a v-shaped accent and colors that represent the Senyera flag. Barca’s uniforms are, in essence, not just uniforms; they are symbols of history, strength and determination.

Like FC Barcelona, Real Madrid represents history on their bodies and, consequently, onto the field. Unlike FC Barcelona, however, Real Madrid’s look is more simple and perhaps less daunting to the eye. Their black-and-white jerseys are traditional but not boring. We were excited to see a shift in their look this past year when they added a rugby-like collar, creating clean lines for the jersey’s neckline and the team’s overall appearance.

While we can’t deny both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid’s uniforms speak volumes of their own, Real Madrid’s uniforms take the cake with their minimal look that still makes a big impact on the field. The rugby collar looked beautiful on France’s kits at the 2014 World Cup and continues to have the same effect through their shirts. With recent trends heading toward minimalism and simplicity, Madrid was able to adapt and represent their own sense of community through a simplistic beauty.

Which uniforms do you prefer: FC Barcelona or Real Madrid? Tell us in the comments below.

30 Most Inspirational Sports Quotes of All Time

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top 30 sports quotes
29 Mar

The gladiatorial nature of sport can teach us a lot about the human condition – there really is nothing like the concept of winning and losing to focus the mind. Out of this arena has come some profound insight; insight that we can apply across the whole of our everyday lives, not just in sport.

See below for 30 of the most inspirational quotes to come out of the sporting arena:

30. “What to do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.”

(Dean Smith)

29.“Most talented players don’t always succeed. Some don’t even make the team. It’s more what’s inside.”

(Brett Favre)

28. “If you have everything under control, you’re not moving fast enough.”

(Mario Andretti)

27. “Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it.”

(Ted Williams)

26. “Make each day your masterpiece.”

(John Wooden)

25.“Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.”

(Larry Bird)

24. “Leadership, like coaching, is fighting for the hearts and souls of men and getting them to believe in you.”

(Eddie Robinson)

23. “The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.”

(Arnold Schwarzenegger)

22. “If you aren’t going all the way, why go at all?”

(Joe Namath)

21. “Do not let what you can not do interfere with what you can do.”

(John Wooden)

20. “It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters.”

(Evander Holyfield)

19. “Win If You Can, Lose If You Must, But NEVER QUIT!”

(Cameron Trammell)

18. “If you fail to prepare, you’re prepared to fail.”

(Mark Spitz)

17. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”

(Muhammad Ali)

16. “A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.”

(Jack Dempsey)

15. “To uncover your true potential you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.”

(Picabo Street)

14. “Some people say I have attitude – maybe I do…but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there. ”

(Venus Williams)

13. “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.”

(Babe Ruth)

12. “Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way.”

(Satchel Paige)

11. “Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength.”

(Phil Jackson)

10. “Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.”

(Jim Valvano)

9. “You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you gotta suit up for them all.”

(J. Askenberg)

8. “The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.”

(Joe Paterno)

7. “There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either IN or you’re OUT. There is no such thing as life in-between.”

(Pat Riley)

6. “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

(Lance Armstrong)

5. “The road to Easy Street goes through the sewer.”

(John Madden)

4. “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.”

(Dan Gable)

3. “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”

(Vince Lombardi)

2. “If you fail to prepare, you’re prepared to fail.”

(Mark Spitz)

1. “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

(Wayne Gretzky)