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Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
La' MELO BALL on forthcoming
This NBA season the 3rd edition to the league from the Ball clan is no other than, Lamelo Ball. He is now settling nicely into his leadership role for the Charlotte Hornets and has slid comfortably into his own. His rookie season was an impressive statement as well, Winning the prestigious rookie of the year award for 2020 and 21, and becoming the youngest to record a triple-double at 19. The youngest, I'd even say even the most marketable member of the Ball clan is taking his sophomore campaign by storm. His promising B-Ball career and record-breaking success were already exposed. At 16, this young man was already playing pro Ball overseas. Preparation for dominance on the court was put in place before most of us could piss straight. Sky's can't be the limit, because how this young man is playing honorable mention for MVP is soon to come.
D.C.@UN-BrokenGRAMMARPublished 2 years ago in Unbalanced- Top Story - January 2022
Women Like Sports, too
I love sports. I absolutely adore them. I have three teams I root for passionately and religiously. I have my superstitions the day the play their games. When I was much younger I issued to collect jerseys like it was going out of style. I have been to multiple games live and up close. I’m an entire woman. And a proud black one at that. I was born in the 80s so I grew up on the Showtime Lakers and the Lasorda Dodgers. I grew up a Raiders and Rams fan but when they both left Los Angeles, I found a new team to adore back in 1994…The Green Bay Packers. I was at my uncle’s house and the Packers were playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (back when both teams were in the same division), the QB of the Packers who wore #4 was just flinging the ball all over the field. His attitude seemed to be maybe Sterling Sharpe catches it or maybe The Bucs DB catches it. I guess we’ll all find out together. A gunslinger they called him. Favre was on the back. I said, “How do you pronounce that?” My uncle side eyed me and said it’s pronounced “Farv”. Brett Favre? Okay, well I like the way he plays. And also the Minister of Defense, Reggie White (I remember when he played for the Philadelphia Eagles) was on the other side? Oh I’m in!
Tee RichardsonPublished 2 years ago in Unbalanced Stating the Obvious: The NFL Has a Diversity Problem
On January 27, 2007, Michael Pettaway Tomlin became the 16th head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, replacing the retiring Bill Cowher, who led the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XL in the 2005 season. This current season is Tomlin's 15th as coach, and in that time, he led the Steelers to a win in Super Bowl XLIII, and returned to the big game two years later. He also has the impressive distinction of having never had a losing season. Not one. Why am I stating all of this? This past week, among the head coaches who were fired from their teams was Brian Flores (Miami Dolphins) and David Culley (Houston Texans), and as a result of this, Tomlin is the only Black head coach in the National Football League.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedJust win baby
Let's go, Raiders! Finally, as of Sunday 1/9/2022 the Las Vegas Raiders have punched their ticket to the 2021-2022 NFL playoffs. The Raiders clinched their Wildcard spot in an insane OT win over the LA Chargers. Just a quick refresher for context of how this could have played out. Either team wins they eliminate the loser from the playoffs and the Steelers get in. They tie and they both get in, but the Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs. At first the Raiders seemed like they had this game in the bag, until Justin Herbert decided he just didn't feel like losing that night. Multiple 4th and long conversions in the last 5 minutes of the game, and a touchdown in literally the last seconds to tie the game for overtime. Both teams get field goals and now it's Raiders ball. The Raiders are running down the clock running the ball, and according to Carr and Bisaccia they were prepared to just take the tie. That was until LA called a time out, so the Raiders decided to just go for the game winning kick and take playoff ticket if LA didn't want to tie.
Dyllon RodillonPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedOn The Bench!
New Year's Eve. 2021, being the average sports fan /enthusiast that I am, I can't help but wonder and imagine what the upcoming year will bring to the sports world. Over the years I've come to realize nothing is off the table. There is always something or someone to be placed under a microscope. There is always a year-round opportunity for professional athletes to be ridiculed and rattled off their high horses. The media more so takes this underhanded responsibility in full stride. I can always depend on sports networks and so-called sports analysts, to be my first, immediate source for the latest foolery and gossip in sports. Now a day, it does not even matter if the news is true are not. Sadly our society could probably care less. All most of us Die Hard sports heads want is action. To see our favorite players cause havoc! On the field of their craft or course. What's more exciting than seeing K.D. drop 50 with a game-winning 3 point buzzer-beater. Or What could top watching a 50- year old winning the Super Bowl. For me not a lot. The last couple of years has had a major effect on the sporting nation. The introduction of the coronavirus has been sudden and impactful. This non-discriminating germ has sat on every bench in the N.B.A., found its way in N.F.L. locker rooms, and so on. How could anyone think a billion-dollar industry would be exempt from the pandemonium of this so-called pandemic.
D.C.@UN-BrokenGRAMMARPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedWBB2K22: Hoops Report 26
Jan. 11 UCF 62, Houston 59 UCF (11-2) defeated Houston (9-6) for the 11th straight time but the Knights had to fight off a hardcore comeback in order to survive.
Winners OnlyPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedWBB2K22: Hoops Report 27
No. 24 South Florida 75, Tulane 62 South Florida improved to 12-4 with a road win over Tulane (8-5). Forward Bethy Mununga continued her rise in play with 26 points, 12 rebounds and an assist.
Winners OnlyPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedWhat Went Wrong: The Colts Need a Quarterback
In a moment that would even make members of the 2003 Minnesota Vikings pull a Billy Madison and shout, "You blew it!", the Indianapolis Colts entered Week 17 of the 2021 season with a 90% chance of making the playoffs. In each of their final two weeks of the season, the Colts had the simplest clinching scenario: win and in. The most beautiful thing in the NFL is controlling your own destiny and not relying on other teams to help you, but even then, one has to capitalize on it. The Colts didn't do that. Now, I can understand losing to the Las Vegas Raiders; all of the negative stuff, that's off the field. On it, the Raiders are a good team, so the Colts losing to them in Week 17 isn't shameful. Week 18, however, that's another story.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedFrom Almost a Superhero to Completely a Supervillainess
Superheroes have gone to the dark side before. The X-Men's Jean Grey has been consumed by the Phoenix in various comic storylines, as well as in TV and film adaptations--including the live action film, Dark Phoenix. Even in WWE, The Hurricane ditched his mask and cape in 2005 and became a bad boy, which led him to capture the Cruiserweight Championship in 2006. So if full superheroes aren't vulnerable to the temptation of evil, "almost" superheroes certainly aren't, and the January 10, 2022 edition of Monday Night Raw proved that to be true in regards to Nikki A.S.H.'s heel turn.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedNew England Patriots v Bills – Super Wild Card Weekend
So, the New England Patriots v Bills will meet for the third time this season. After 17 games; it is time for the NFL playoffs. On Saturday, there will 2 wild card games; 3 games on Sunday, and for the first time, one game will be on Monday.
Lynne BlackPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedWhat Went Wrong: Quoth the (Baltimore) Ravens, "Playoffs?! Nevermore!"
Normally, my "What Went Wrong" stories are usually about teams who were eliminated during the playoffs, and I've done those stories regarding NHL and MLB teams. The NFL is interesting, as the short schedule allows for close races that make in-season eliminations quite gripping. This was definitely the case regarding the Baltimore Ravens, and it still mystifies me as a football fan. Two-thirds through the season, the Ravens were at the top of the entire American Football Conference after an ugly win over the Cleveland Browns, but as we would see in the weeks that followed, it would be their last. So how did this catastrophic collapse happen? Here's a look at Baltimore's last six games of their season.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedWTF?!?!: Why Terminate Flores
In the afterglow of what counts as a successful season for the Miami Dolphins (winning record and a sweep of the Patriots) I wake up bleary eyed to news of head coaches getting fired. Orienting myself in the time of year, I am not surprised. The shock came from who was fired. Brian Flores, Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins for the last 3 years, has been relieved of his duties. Shock is a bit of an understatement. As I sift through texts, phone calls, and DMs asking about my opinion or knowledge of the incident, I find myself in an odd position. On the one hand: Flores has achieved something that hasn't been achieved since the 2004 season (back to back winning seasons) and has swept the AFC east rival Patriots for the first time in 21 years. On the other hand, the Dolphins have ridden ho-hum seasons to 20 years with exactly 0 playoff wins.
Mel GrasselPublished 2 years ago in Unbalanced