Super Bowl LIV Preview

by Brady Vaughan, posted in NFL

The road leads here! Super Bowl LIV has finally arrived and two of the best teams all year will square off for the Lombardi Trophy: the 13-3 San Francisco 49ers and the 12-4 Kansas City Chiefs

These teams did meet last season in Arrowhead Stadium during Week 3, a game in which the Chiefs won 38-27, but that game has little to no significance.

Let’s take a quick look at how each team got here.

San Francisco 49er’s path to Super Bowl LIV:

The 49ers finished the regular season as the one seed in the NFC. Their 13-3 record was good enough to win them the NFC West division and have the road to the Super Bowl come through Levi’s Stadium on the NFC side of the bracket.

In their first playoff matchup, they were pinned against a confident Minnesota Vikings team in the NFC Divisional round after the Vikings took out Drew Brees and the Saints in the Superdome in New Orleans during the NFC Wild Card Round. Some doubted the 49ers and believed they would be upset, but Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Bosa, and Co. made sure to dispel that notion. The Niners won 27-10 as Garoppolo completed 11-19 passes and threw for 131 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The Niners offensive line and RB Tevin Coleman controlled the line of scrimmage, as Coleman had 22 carries for 105 yards and 2 TDs.

Next, the Green Bay Packers came rolling into Santa Clara boasting a 13-3 record for themselves, but I for one was not a huge advocate of Green Bay. I thought they would lose against the 49ers, but I did not expect San Fran to jump out to the lead they did.

The Niners jumped out to a 27-0 lead at halftime and never looked back. Thanks to a monster game from RB Raheem Mostert, which included 29 carries for 220 yards and 4 TDs, San Fran ended up winning 37-20 in a game that felt much more lopsided than a 17-point ball game.

While Green Bay’s offense out-gained the Niners’ offense (358 yards to 354 yards), Green Bay also turned the ball over three times, which says a lot about the capabilities of the 49ers defense. DEs Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, and Dee Ford (former Kansas City Chief) are a presence to be dealt with up front, while CB Richard Sherman and S Jaquiski Tartt and Co. are holding down the secondary. The strength of this 49ers team is their defense and run game and they have ridden those two to their first Super Bowl since 2013.

Kansas City Chiefs path to Super Bowl LIV:

The Kansas City Chiefs finished with a 12-4 regular season record for the second season in a row, winning them the AFC West division while securing the number two seed in the AFC, thanks to the Miami Dolphins knocking off the New England Patriots in Foxboro in Week 17. Due to the way the chips fell in the AFC, the road to the Super Bowl went through Arrowhead for a second consecutive season.

In the AFC Divisional Round, Kansas City welcomed the confident Houston Texans to town. Houston had just come off a dramatic comeback win at home against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Round, and with the Baltimore Ravens losing the day before, both teams knew that if they won, they would be hosting the AFC championship game against the Tennessee Titans.

Houston jumped out to a 24-0 lead, but from then on it was the Patrick Mahomes show. The Chiefs went on a 51-7 run to close out the game (28-0 run in the 2nd Quarter alone), winning 51-31. Mahomes completed 23-35 attempts for 325 yards and 5 TDs while TE Travis Kelce was able to shake off a couple early drops for 10 receptions, 134 yards, and 3 TDs. Houston QB Deshaun Watson played well, completing 31-52 passes while throwing for 388 yards and 2 TDs, but ultimately it was not enough to replicate Houston’s success against the Chiefs earlier in the season.

Next in the AFC Championship Game, the Tennessee Titans. All the talk heading into the game was about the Chief’s run defense and if they could stop Titans RB Derrick Henry, who had been absolutely terrorizing teams. Henry started off well, but after he scored his lone TD in midway through the 1st Quarter, the Chiefs run defense stepped up, thanks in large part to DT Chris Jones, who missed the Houston game with a leg injury. Jones, among other Chiefs defensive linemen like Frank Clark, Derrick Nnadi, and Terrell Suggs, were able to penetrate the backfield often enough to force Henry to adjust his running lanes, which gave the Chiefs an advantage. QB Patrick Mahomes played out of his mind again, and might have even had the best play of his Chiefs career right before halftime to give KC the lead going into the locker room.

From that point on, the Chiefs never looked back, ultimately winning 35-24 and clinching a spot in the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years.

3 KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

  • The Niners must convert on 3rd downs. The 49ers must control the ball. Granted in both of the Chief’s playoff games, the opposing team had the Time of Possession advantage, but I believe converting on third downs is of the utmost importance in this game because the 49ers are a more well-balanced team than either the Texans or Titans. The Niners have a good QB in Jimmy Garoppolo who is fully capable of throwing the football, especially when you surround him with weapons like TE George Kittle and WRs Emmanuel Sanders and Deebo Samuel. If the Niners can stay balanced on offense while picking up third downs and eat time off the clock, it gives Patrick Mahomes a lot less to work with and creates a sense of urgency for the Chief’s offense to keep up.
  • The 49ers must pressure Patrick Mahomes. They have to attempt to disrupt the timing of Mahomes and his receivers. San Francisco has 9 sacks in postseason play thus far. Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, and Dee Ford must have an impact on the game if the 49ers are to hoist the Lombardi trophy. If they can consistently penetrate the backfield and pressure/knock down Mahomes or forcing Mahomes to improvise and disrupt the timing of him and his receivers, the Niners will have as great chance of winning.
  • Finally, San Francisco must utilize play action. Their running game is strong enough that the Chiefs will devote tons of time in preparation for it. If the 49ers can have some success running the ball, it will open up play action. If the Niners have success on play action, the Chiefs defense will have a very hard time defending because they will be off balance so much.

3 KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:

  • The Chiefs defense must force the 49ers to become one dimensional on offense. If Jimmy G and co. keep the Chief’s defense off balance, the Chiefs will have a very difficult time winning. This means that DT Chris Jones, DE Terrell Suggs, and LBs Anthony Hitchens and Reggie Ragland must step up, play sound football, and cover their gaps to stop the running attack of the 49ers. RBs Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert are more than formidable opponents. They can shift the game in their favor in the blink of an eye. The Chiefs must replicate what they did to Derrick Henry in the AFC title game if they are to win.
  • Sammy Watkins must be a factor. In the regular season, Sammy Watkins popped off for 3 TDs against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first game of the season, but did not do much the rest of the season. Watkins has played a big role in the Chief’s offense this postseason and must continue to do so if KC is to come out on top. Having to cover him, TE Travis Kelce, and WRs Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman is a nightmare for any defense, but especially so if Watkins is performing like he is capable of doing.
  • Patrick Mahomes must play at an MVP level. Mahomes has been the unquestioned leader of the Chiefs on offense and must play excellent. The Chiefs cannot afford a game where Mahomes is shut down like he was in the first half of the AFC Title game last season against the New England Patriots. The 49ers defense is too good to spot them a double digit lead. Whether Mahomes scrambles to pick up first downs, is making the correct reads on RPOs, or dissecting the coverages correctly, he must take care of the ball and perform at a high level. If he does so, I think the Chiefs have a great chance to come out on top.

PREDICTION:

I think the 49ers try to control the ball throughout the first half. Mostert and Coleman get into a groove offensively by picking up some key first downs. However I am confident that even if the 49ers attempt to control the ball for extended periods of time, the Chiefs will do what they do best, which is striking quickly on offense. I believe this game could come down to turnovers, and I like the Chiefs to get at least one turnover this game. Steve Spagnuolo’s defenses have been known for being very tough to dissect and have proven to work in the Super Bowl against the best of the best (see the Giants Super Bowl title against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII). Kyle Shanahan is one of the brightest offensive minds in the game and will certainly make adjustments to what he sees from the Chiefs defense, but I think Patrick Mahomes will make just enough plays for the Chiefs to prevail in the 4th Quarter. I’ll take Kansas City 28-24.

as always, follow me on twitter for more opinions and sports related content @bradyvaughan30

An Eternal Legacy: A Tribute to Kobe Bryant

by Zach Truesdale, posted in NBA
It still feels unreal. The untimely deaths of Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester and Ara Zobayan shocked the world. Not the nation, but the entire world.
For me, I have been following basketball since the early 2000s. I first got into basketball because of the dynamic duo that is: Shaq and Kobe. That tag team consisted of the first idols (aside from my parents) I looked up to. Dominance, championships, and fun was all I saw and it created a feeling of passion for sports that I had never felt before. I even named my pair of turtles Shaq and Kobe.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Shaq was traded and Kobe stayed with the Lakers his entire career. However, I always kept up with Kobe’s journey; sometimes rooting for him, sometimes covering my eyes as he would drop 40 on my team easy. No matter who Kobe played, you knew he had the killer mentality. He was a master at his craft and his stats, records and five championships show for it. To this day, many say “Kobe!” As they take a shot in honor of his phenomenal scoring ability.
Many people lost a superhero in Kobe. The Black Mamba was given his nickname because of the cold blooded killer he was. For our generation, we had never seen someone so ruthless on the court on such a consistent basis. He always preached working to be the best you could be. Whether it be in sports, a career, or in your family, the beloved “Mamba Mentality” will be a phrase that always sticks as a motivator to be better.
He approached everything as if losing was never an option. He was idolized for his uncommon vision and lovable personality. It has been evident through all the tributes pouring through social media these past few days.
And the tributes were not just from former NBA players. He has been an idol for all stars of all sports: football, soccer, tennis, etc. Every sport has been effected by Kobe in some shape or form. He has been an advocate for women’s teams such as the US Women’s Nation Soccer Team and the WNBA helping them get the spotlight and platform they much deserve.
It didn’t matter if you loved him or hated him, you respected him. And that respect eventually would turn into love as he retired in 2016 and we all got to understand The Black Manba off the court, the man that is Kobe Bean Bryant.
We learned about his passion for being a husband/father quite quickly after he retired. His daughter Gianna Bryant, or GiGi, resurrected his passion for the game as both a father and teacher. He was so happy at the opportunity to both spend a lot of time with her and pass down his knowledge of the game. GiGi was nicknamed “Mambacita” as fans were excited to see what was to come from her playing career. The bond they built is something that we all strive for. We are able to truly appreciate their relationship because we were able to watch it grow. To study how to be the best version of ourselves and pass on our own knowledge to future generations.
I could go on and on about the eternal legacy that Kobe built for himself and those who have followed. But the truth is this: Kobe was an icon of a basketball player, one of the greatest of all time. We will always have fond memories of growing up and watching him ball. But we also will have his off court presence that stays with us as well. He used his platform for the greater good, to push all of us to be the best we can be. To tell someone we love them, to be passionate about the things we do. To strive for greatness. Life is short, but if we all practice what Kobe has been preaching while he was with us, I believe that is the best way to honor his legacy.
“Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling.” – Kobe Bean Bryant, 1978-2020

Dear BBWAA: Do your Job!

by andrewcline33, posted in MLB

Dear BBWAA,

I would first like to congratulate you on another wonderful year of Hall of Fame voting. This year’s class is another deserving collection of individuals. Both Larry Walker and Derek Jeter were terrific players who played the game at the highest level and with the highest level of sportsmanship. They are prime examples of what it means to be a hall of famers. I know the process can be time consuming and I think the countless amounts of research paid off, as you selected the right people who deserve to be in this class. So for that I congratulate you. To be a member of the BBWAA is a great honor, but to be a hall of fame voter is an even higher honor. And while many of you are doing the right thing by voting for those who are truly deserving, there are some who are omitting certain individuals for various reasons.

In the case of Derek Jeter, you have an individual who was an iconic figure in the game of baseball due to the magnitude of his situation. He was playing shortstop for the New York Yankees during a period in which the Yankees were at the forefront of sports. He was the leader of the pack and was following suit of other Yankees who had been headliners during pivotal Yankee dynasties (Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jackson, etc.). Jeter was a durable force for the Yankees and had accumulated a number of awards and statistical achievements. He was the 1996 Rookie of the year, a 14 time all star, 5 time gold glove winner, 5 time silver slugger, 5 time World Series champion and he was the MVP of the 2000 World Series. He was also a member of the 3,000 hit club. The numbers and awards are there and that is why he is a hall of famer, but that is not the issue at hand.

In the 84 year history of the Baseball Hall of Fame, there has been one person to be elected to the hall unanimously. That person is not Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Joe Morgan, Nolan Ryan, Ernie Banks, Honus Wagner, Tom Seaver, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, Or any of the handful of guys you might expect to be unanimous. Instead the only unanimous member of the Hall of Fame is Mariano Rivera and he was elected in last year. And while I agree that Mariano is deserving to be unanimous, so does Derek Jeter and the fact that 1 of you did not vote for him is terrible.

I know that you have the right to your opinion and you have your reasons and methodology for voting, but in what delusional world is Derek Jeter not a unanimous hall of famer. If you did not vote for him because of the old “well Babe Ruth wasn’t unanimous” argument, then you are outdated. That argument went out the door when Rivera was elected unanimously last year. If you voted by the strategic voting method of supporting other guys because you knew Jeter was going to get in, then you miscalculated the number of hall of famers on the ballot. In recent years the ballot has been flooded with guys who have legit resumes to be in Cooperstown, so not voting on slam dunk guys to help the other guys stay afloat was seen as ok. But this year was not great since Jeter was only compelling first year and other than Larry Walker, your next best candidates were all worthy but come with baggage. If you did not vote for him for any other reason, the public would like to know. We just want to hear your reasoning and logic.

Derek Jeter is in the hall of fame and that was never an issue. It just disturbs many that one of the 327 members of your organization, the BBWAA, did not vote for one of, perhaps the most iconic baseball figure of the last 30 years. And while Mariano is great, I can say that kids growing up were not practicing sawing off Minnesota Twins hitters with a 1-2 cutter in their back yards. Those kids were rolling to the right and making jump throws across the infield like Jeter was. They were not asking for 42 in little league, and if they were it was because of a much more inspiring pioneer in Baseball history. They were running to their coach and asking to wear number 2 and play shortstop. That is the impact he had.

Voting for the Hall of Fame is hard, and I respect many of you for doing it. But if you are going to continue, you need to vote for those who deserve and truly should be in the hall. Take bias out, and pick the guys who should be in. Derek Jeter is a hall of famer, and had a perfect career. He was robbed by 0.3 percent of a perfect ending. I truly hope you do not screw up like this again.

Sincerely,

A Baseball Fan

Adding Differentiation to Targeting Penalties

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NCAA Football

After watching Monday night’s College Football National Championship, two things were crystal clear: LSU was by far the best team in the country and the NCAA must change their Targeting rules. With LSU up 28-25 on Clemson in the middle of the third quarter, Clemson middle linebacker James Skalski was ejected from the game after his tackle of LSU receiver Justin Jefferson was ruled as Targeting.

After watching the replay, it was evident that the officials made the correct call as Skalski did lead with the crown of his helmet. However, many fans were upset that Skalski was thrown from the game as it was obvious there was no clear attempt from the linebacker to cause harm or injury to Jefferson. Skalski was just trying to make a tackle. Skalski was not only ejected from one of the biggest games of his life, but due to NCAA rules he will also be forced to miss the first half of Clemson’s season opener next September. While Targeting penalties are in place to ensure the safety of NCAA student-athletes, more often than not the consequences cause irreparable harm to great players who are forced to sit out key games just for trying to do their job on the field. In the midst of this controversy, it is time the NCAA drafts new legislation when it comes to the consequences players face for Targeting.

While there are gray areas in the NCAA rulebook as to what exactly Targeting is, for now I would like to focus on the consequences that student-athletes face when called for a Targeting penalty. Per NCAA rules, players found to have committed fouls pertaining to “Targeting and Making Forcible Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3)” and “Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Rule 9-1-4)” face automatic disqualification. Automatic ejection is a strong consequence for a NCAA athlete especially if they are seniors potentially playing in their final game. It is an even worse punishment when it forces players to sit out meaningful games that have an impact on the school and community around them.

Two weeks ago, Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade was ejected from a College Football Playoff game after he was called for Targeting for his hit on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence. Wade, one of the best defensive players in the country, was disqualified from the game on a play that many saw as a clean hit because there was no intent to injure on the part of Wade.

When the play occurred OSU was leading Clemson 16-0, however after losing Wade the team struggled at times defensively and eventually lost the game. Losing in the semi-finals not only cost OSU a spot in the national championship game, but also the potential to earn millions of dollars in t-shirt and ticket sales. Once again, the consequences stemming from a controversial Targeting penalty played a key factor in a very important game.

Since Targeting is arguably the worst penalty a player can commit on a football field, the NCAA should look to how the NBA deals with players who commit the worst foul in basketball, the flagrant foul. Per NBA rules, there are two types of Flagrant Fouls: Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 and Flagrant Foul Penalty 2. Penalty 1 is defined as “Unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent” whereas, Penalty 2 is “Unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent.” When Penalty 1 is called on a player, the offender is called for a foul and is given a warning. However, if Penalty 2 is called the player is immediately ejected from the game. The NCAA should adapt these policies for its Targeting penalties.

The word intent, mentioned above, is one not found in the NCAA rulebook, however it is one that should be enforced immediately. The NCAA should have Targeting 1 and Targeting 2. Targeting 1 penalties should be called on hits such as Skalski’s when the player leads with the crown of his helmet. The penalty would result in 15 yards gained for the opposing team, however the player would not be disqualified. Targeting 2 should be called on hits such as the one Oklahoma DB Brendan Radley-Hiles had on LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire two weeks ago in the College Football Playoffs. 

Targeting 2 would be called when there was clear intent to injure on blatant head to head hits such as the one above. When Targeting 2 is called, the offending player would be ejected. This differentiation in penalties gives players a second chance to remain in the game especially when there was no clear intent to cause harm to a player like in the Skalski play. While this makes these penalties “judgment” calls for officials, it still gives them options rather than immediately disqualifying a player per NCAA rules.

This proposal is in no way bulletproof and there are logical fallacies in my argument. However, having only one consequence for every Targeting call has been a disaster for the NCAA. Providing a differentiation of Targeting calls will allow great athletes to stay on the field especially when there was no intent to cause harm or injury to an opposing player.

AFC Championship Preview

by Brady Vaughan, posted in NFL

Both participants of this year’s AFC Championship game are coming into the game riding incredibly hot streaks. The sixth-seeded Tennessee Titans have beaten three division winners in a row in the Houston Texans (Week 17), the New England Patriots (AFC Wild Card round), and the Baltimore Ravens (AFC Divisional Round), and get their chance to beat the fourth this upcoming Sunday when they travel to Kansas City to take on the number two-seeded Chiefs.

The Chiefs come into this game riding a hot streak of their own. They have won seven straight and have not lost since Week Ten, which is the last time these teams met. The Titans won that matchup 35-32 in Nashville.

This time, the game is in Arrowhead Stadium, the site of last year’s AFC Championship game.

The Titans however, have had success recently against the Chiefs. In addition to beating them earlier this season, Tennessee has beaten the Chiefs in Arrowhead three times since 2014, including in the AFC Wild Card round in 2017, the game of the famous “forward progress” call on Titan’s QB Marcus Mariota. This was also the game in which Marcus Mariota threw a TD pass to himself, if that gives you any idea about the Chiefs’ luck in the playoffs.

Chiefs DT Chris Jones missed last game with an injury to his calf, but is listed as questionable for this week’s game as of Friday at 3:15pm. His presence in the middle of the defensive line would be a huge boost to the Chiefs defense who has struggled to stop the run for a good portion of the year. Last time these teams played, the Titans ran the ball 26 times for a total of 225 yards on the Chiefs, 23 carries and 188 yards of which were provided by star RB Derrick Henry.

Henry has terrorized defenses these last three games, as he has averaged 32 carries/game for 196 yards/game. The continual threat of Henry breaking a big run at any given point keeps defenses off balance, allowing for QB Ryan Tannehill to do just enough with his arm to make plays and put points on the board for the Titans.

Chiefs’ safety Tyrann Mathieu described it best when trying to tackle Derrick Henry after these teams played earlier this year. Mathieu said he thought he broke his jaw trying to tackle Henry and described trying to hit Henry as trying to hit “solid rock.”

With all that in mind, here are three keys to the game for each team:

3 KEYS FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:

  • The Chiefs must attempt to limit Derrick Henry’s yards on the ground. This is a lot easier said than done, but the Titans go as Derrick Henry goes. If the Chiefs are able to disrupt the Titan’s offensive line and get penetration into the backfield, it makes it that much easier for the Chiefs to stop Henry.
  • Patrick Mahomes must be MVP-caliber Mahomes. Mahomes’ first game back from injury this season was when the Titans and Chiefs last played in Week Ten. In that game, Mahomes completed 36 of 50 passing attempts and threw for 446 yards and 3 TD’s. Mahomes must make sure the Chiefs do not go three-and-out and are extending drives by making plays with his arm and legs. I believe if the Chiefs want to win this game, Mahomes must replicate his last performance against the Titans on some level.
  • Tyrann Mathieu must have a major impact. Whether it is defending the pass by covering receivers one on one, lining up as a LB as he has multiple times this season under new DC Steve Spagnuolo, or even stopping Henry on the ground, Tyrann Mathieu can do it all and he must do it all on defense for this Chiefs defense to be successful. He is the unquestioned leader and the defense goes as he goes. If he is making plays and instilling confidence in the defense, then the defense will respond positively and make plays.

3 KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE TENNESSEE TITANS:

  • Contrary to one of the Chiefs’ keys, the Titans must establish Henry and the ground game early and often. If the Titans can control the ground, they can control the game. Establishing Henry and pounding the rock keeps the reigning MVP off the field in the biggest game of the year. I believe the Titans will attempt to do this right out of the gate.
  • Ryan Tannehill must extend plays with his arms and legs. With the amount of carries Henry has been getting, play-action becomes a key weapon for the Titan’s offensive attack. Tannehill must take advantage of this and the one-on-one coverage the Chiefs will likely play against the Tennessee WRs and TEs, as he completed 13 of 19 passing attempts for 181 yards and 2 TD’s when these teams last played.
  • The Titan’s secondary must step up and challenge the Chiefs WRs at the line of scrimmage. The Titan’s DBs need to be physical at the line of scrimmage. If you sit back and play zone, the Chiefs WRs will find a weak spot in the zone. If you back off but play man, the Chiefs WRs are one of the fastest groups of WRs in the league and will blow by you. I believe the Titan’s DBs must attempt to disrupt the routes of the Chiefs receivers, which will disrupt the timing between the wideouts and Mahomes if they want to win this game.

PREDICTION:

This game is a matchup of directly opposite game plans. The Chiefs will try to play fast and make the Titan’s try to play to their speed, while the Titan’s will try to slow the game down and force KC to play at their speed. I think the Titans establish the running game early. Henry will keep being fed the ball and will run often. I believe Mahomes and the Chiefs will make plays on offense, but I also believe the Chiefs defense is up to the task. They were physically manhandled the last time these teams met, and I do not believe that will be the case again. I believe the Chiefs defense will get enough stops to give the ball back to Mahomes to make enough plays to escape Arrowhead with a win on Sunday afternoon. I’ll take the Chiefs to win 31-24.

As always, follow me on twitter @bradyvaughan30

Why Baylor’s New Head Football Coach is an Excellent Choice

by colewest86, posted in NCAA Football

Thursday afternoon, news broke that Baylor hired former- LSU defensive cordinator, Dave Aranda to be the new head football coach for the Baylor Bears. This news came as a slight surprise to most as media outlets were trending towards associate head coach, Joey McGuire, and Virginia Tech head coach, Justin Fuente. However after the conclusion of the National Championship, Baylor athletic director, Mack Rhoades went after and hired LSU’s defensive coordinator as the new football coach.

Here is a preview of coach, Dave Aranda is and why he is such a great choice for the Baylor Bears:

Coaching History:

Dave Aranda coached the defensive line for Hawaii back in 2009. It was then a couple years later where he got promoted to defensive coordinator for Hawaii. He then went on to Utah State at the defensive coordinator for a year in 2012 where is defense ranked 15th in the country.

The next year, Aranda became the defensive coordinator for the Wisconsin Badgers. He served as the coordinator there for three years, where he made Wisconsin ranked top-10 in total defense in three straight years, including a Big-10 championship appearance in 2014, and 2nd in total defense in 2015.

In 2016, Aranda got hired by the LSU Tigers after many programs were wanting Aranda as their defensive coordinator. He lead LSU defense to be ranked 5th in total defense in 2016, and 12th in 2017. This year, he coached the defense on a LSU team who arguably had the best college football season ever, and won a national championship.

Why is Aranda such a great hire for the Bears?

1.Aranda Fits the Build for Baylor

First off, Aranda has coached some of the best defenses in the country for a couple of the best teams in the country. He has coached the best, and has played the best. In 2019, Baylor had one of the best defenses in their the Big-12, a conference not normally know for defense. Now Baylor, has an well-qualified defensive minded coach coming to a team who heavily relied on its defense to win games.

Normally, Baylor hires up and coming coaches who show promise and hope, but Dave Aranda is a guy who has already has proven himself by consistently having some of the best defensive success in the country. Baylor is getting a big time defensive name to come to Waco.

2. Aranda Has Championship Experience

Any fan of football knows that experience plays a huge deal in the sports. Teams and coaches with more experience have a significant advantage. Good news for the Bears is Coach David Aranda has that elite/championship experience. He has coached a top-10 defense in the the 2 toughest conferences in College Football. Therefore, Aranda has had success against the best talent. Not only, has he had just success, he’s had championship level success. He has held opponents in the College Football Playoffs to 22 total points in the 2nd half. That is elite to do against the top offenses in the country.

His championship experience will go miles at Baylor. It raises his ceiling for what this Baylor team can do since has been there before. Fellow coaches and players will buy into his program because he succeeded at the highest level before. Not many head coaches can say that.

3. David Aranda is Great at Making Adjustments

In the big games LSU defensive coordinator, David Aranda was able to make some key adjustments for his team. In the game vs Florida, it was tied 21-21 at halftime, a game that was very back and fourth. LSU’s defense only allowed a single touchdown the entire 2nd half allowing LSU to beat Florida 42-28.

In addition, Aranda’s defense played the best in the games at the end of the year when the games mattered the most. LSU played three straight “elimination” games in a row, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Clemson. In those 3 games, they allowed just around 16 points a game in non-garbage time. Aranda showed the country his defense plays the best in big games.

Mack Rhoades just brought one of the top defensive talents, and sought after coaches to Baylor. If Dave Aranda can choose a great offensive coordinator, and recruit some great talent to Baylor, Aranda could not only keep Baylor as one of the top teams in the Big-12, but sustain that success for years to come.

(PARODY) If You Care About Integrity in Sports, Boycott the 2020 MLB Season

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in MLB

After reading Ethan Myer’s absolutely insane article prompting fans to boycott Monday’s College Football National Championship, I have decided to write a satirical piece of my own. However, this time I will be urging fans to boycott the 2020 MLB season. Please remember this is mainly a satirical article and in no way should this be taken seriously. The sport of baseball is one of the most beautiful blends of pure athletic skill and strategy. While there are some teams who like to cheat more than others *cough *cough (the Astros and Red Sox), there are still a vast majority of organizations around the league who operate within the rules of the game. Here are 5 items that must be addressed before I will tune into another MLB game again.

  1. A.J. Hinch, Jeff Luhnow, and Alex Cora should be banned from MLB and subject to 10-20 years in the federal penitentiary.

On Monday, MLB announced that both Hinch and Luhnow would be suspended for one year due to their active involvement in the Astros sign-stealing scandal. Alex Cora is still awaiting his punishment. Meanwhile, all three have been fired from their respective positions.

In my opinion, if you told any person in professional baseball they could cheat profusely to win a coveted World Series title and only be suspended one season, 95% of them would do it in a heartbeat. Heck, I think if you offered the scenario to the team’s janitor they would offer up their own trash cans for the cause. Getting to the summit of MLB by winning a World Series is a grueling task and any and all shortcuts are probably discussed at length before the season. Thus, if MLB really wants to set an example they will ban Hinch, Luhnow and Cora from the game and send them to the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas where they ought never to be heard from again. Pete Rose received a lifetime ban for betting on games which is nothing compared to the unethical actions taken by the three degenerates mentioned above. Rob Manfred, you finally have the chance to make a lasting impact that 100% of true baseball fans will agree upon.*Houston Astros fans are not true baseball fans and therefore, were not included in this tally.

2. 2020 Houston Astros are forced to play every game on the road and each player is subject to use their non-dominant hand in competition.

In all honesty, I stole this from Twitter yet I still believe this is a great idea. In a press conference Monday, Astros owner Jim Crane repeatedly told reporters he had absolutely no idea what was going on in the Astros dugout in 2017. While I respect Crane for immediately firing Hinch and Luhnow upon completion of MLB’s investigation, I find it hard to believe that he hadn’t a clue of what was truly happening behind the scenes. Thus, his ballclub should be punished. Minute Maid Park should be ceased from opening its doors in 2020 and the organization should be barred from selling any merchandise. This punishment should be financially crippling to the Astros. In addition, there are still many players from that 2017 team on the current roster. Thus, any member of the 2017 team that is currently on the Astros must use their non-dominant hand throughout the season. Right-handed hitters such as Alex Bregman and Build-A-Bear Workshop Jose Altuve must bat left-handed. If you thought Verlander was terrible during the playoffs, imagine him now as a southpaw. I suspect the Astros go around 10-152, with 10 wins over the Texas Rangers.

3. MLB revokes the 2017 World Series Title from the Houston Astros.

Now we get to the part which Yankee fans shall relish. Since it is proven that the Astros are lying, disgraceful cheaters, their 2017 WS title should be revoked. Now should the Dodgers just be handed the World Series since they lost to the Astros that year? Since Clayton Kershaw has been deemed the worst playoff pitcher in recent memory, I believe it is only fair that the New York Yankees, the runner-ups in the ALCS to the Astros, get the chance to face the Dodgers for a chance at the title. Thus, the 2017 Yankees and 2017 Dodgers will regroup and play a best of 7 series in the Dominican Republic beginning on February 14. Both Joe Girardi and Didi Gregorious will be summoned from their posts in Philadelphia to take part in the series. Likewise, C.C. Sabathia will come out of retirement to start game 3 which will be turned into a slow-pitch softball game to give the big man a chance.

4. MLB revokes the 2018 World Series Title from the Boston Red Sox.

Since we know Alex Cora was heavily involved in the 2017 Astros scandal, we can only assume he brought his sign-stealing ways to Boston. I highly doubt it was a coincidence the Red Sox won the World Series in his first year at the helm. Thus, it is only reasonable that the Red Sox be stripped of their 2018 World Series title. This time, however, the Dodgers should be crowned champions of baseball.

5. Houston Astros organization is subject to pay off any and all minor league pitchers whose careers they ruined through their deliberate stealing of other teams signs.

Throughout all this corruption, there had to have been several pitchers whose careers were ruined by the Astros’ cheating ways. MLB should do an active investigation into the monetary damage that was caused by the sign-stealing and force the Astros organization to pay any and all pitchers who were victims of such heinous crimes.

If you care about integrity in sports, boycott the 2020 MLB season until the aforementioned items are addressed.

Video by Jomboy Media

The Wednesday Morning News Dump

by noblequy, posted in MLB, NCAA Football, NFL, Sports Talk

Wow. Only two weeks into the new decade and the last weekend alone had huge breaking news in the sports world. This will be a succinct rehash of the many storylines that came out in the last week; more details to follow in their own articles.

Monday, January 7, 2020: Jerry Jones Hires Mike McCarthy to be new Dallas Cowboys Head Coach

After an interview that included a sleep over at the Cowboys practice facility with owner Jerry Jones, Mike McCarthy was announced to be the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. This comes out a week after the Cowboys announced they would not be renewing Jason Garrett’s contract, and supposed head coaching candidates such as Marvin Lewis, Urban Meyer, and Lincoln Riley. The McCarthy hire has been viewed mostly with mixed to ambivalent feelings by most of the media and Cowboys fan, though most people do view this as an upgrade over Garrett. It appears that McCarthy will be able to hire his own staff and will retain Kellon Moore at Offensive Coordinator. The Cowboys organization and the fans hope that McCarthy will be the final piece to bring the Cowboys back to playoff success.

Saturday, January 11: Tennessee Titans Crush #1 Seed Baltimore Ravens

The Titans rolled into Baltimore and to everyone’s astonishment, absolutely destroyed the #1 seed Ravens that came in as heavy favorites to make it to the Super Bowl. On the legs of Derrick Henry, the stout Titan defense, and 88 passing yards from Ryan Tannehill, the Titans stymied and frustrated the NFL MVP candidate, Lamar Jackson, and ran rough shod all over the Ravens. The Titans have now knocked off the #1 and the #3 seed in the AFC and are headed from wild card to the AFC Championship.

Sunday, January 12: Epic Meltdown & Epic Comeback: Patrick Mahomes vs. Houston Texans

We witnessed what a fully functional Chiefs offense can do and how bad Bill O’Brien is really at coaching. Also, all the metrics that attempt to disprove the existence of momentum in sports, apparently didn’t take into account people like Patrick The GOAT Mahomes, and how a single explosive kick off return could set off a Chiefs offense that would put up 41 unanswered points, quickly erasing a 24-0 lead the Texans had, to cruise to a 51-31 to make a consecutive return to the AFC Championship to face the red-hot Tennessee Titans.

Sunday, January 12: Coach Jimmy Johnson is announced to join the NFL Hall of Fame on live TV

During the halftime show of the Sunday night NFL playoff, Jimmy Johnson- 2 time Super Bowl winning coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s-, in front of his colleagues and a national televised audience, was announced into the Pro Football Hall of Fame much to his shock and surprise. The emotion was quite visible as Coach Johnson struggled to stifle the tears of joy and speak as he was being congratulated by his colleagues and TV studio members. Troy Aikman, the Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback during Johnson’s tenure, watched on his monitor from his commentator’s booth and was clearly emotional as well as he saw his former coach join the hall of all-time greats, that includes himself as well. It is important to note that it is upmost tragedy and injustice that Johnson was admitted into the prestigious NFL HoF before getting into the Cowboys’ own Ring of Honor, and it is safe to say that all this deserved praise for Coach Jimmy Johnson has once again brought to light the enormity of Jerry Jones’ personal ego which drove Coach Johnson away in the first place. Only time will tell if Jones and the Cowboys organization will give Coach Jimmy Johnson the recognition he is due, which has already been acknowledged by the league.

Monday, January 13: Houston: Bad News- Texans Meltdown, Worse News- MLB suspends Astros Manager & GM, Worsest news- Astros owner fires GM & Manager

The last couple days have been reallyyyy rough on Houston sports fans. First the Texans blown lead against the Chiefs on Sunday and now the release of the MLB’s findings from their investigation of the Houston Astros and their now-confirmed cheating in their World Series winning team in the 2017 season. The penalty passed down from the MLB was a $5 million fine, the loss of 1st & 2nd round pick for the 2020 and 2021 and the suspension of manager AJ Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow from all MLB activities for one year. Astros owner, Jim Crane, followed up immediately with a press conference where he fired both Hinch and Luhnow on live TV. While the MLB and the Astros organization are all in a very serious and somber mood, most of baseball is outraged by what is viewed as a slap on the wrist. Other baseball owners believe that the cost of draft prospects, the suspension of a GM and a manager, and $5 million (pocket change for baseball owners) would be worth it to hold onto a World Series title.

Monday, January 13: LSU Completes the Undefeated Season of Destiny- One of the Greatest to Ever do it

LSU left no doubt as they wrapped up the 2019-20 college football season and defeated the reigning national champions, the Clemson Tigers, 42-25 in the New Orleans Super Dome. In a stadium that seemed to be filled 75% LSU fans, LSU won their first national championship since 2007, the 3rd in the last 20 years. Initially Brent Venables, the Clemson defensive coordinator, stymied the prolific LSU offense and forced 3 punts on LSU’s first 3 possessions. However, Coach Orgeron and his staff did what few have been able to do before: out-coach Dabo Swinney. After trailing for most of the 1st half, LSU made the necessary adjustments and were able to better protect Heisman winner, Joe Burrow, allowing him the time to find his receivers downfield for gigantic chunk plays and take the lead going into halftime. The 2nd half, LSU’s offense continued to fire on all cylinder as the LSU defense tightened down and handed Trevor Lawrence his first loss in his collegiate career. LSU became the first school in NCAA history to defeat 7 Top 10 opponent, with 4 Top 4 opponents, to finish, not only as National Champions, but also potentially as one of the greatest college football teams to ever play.

Tuesday, January 14: Boston Red Sox Fire Manager Alex Cora

On Tuesday evening, the Boston Red Sox ballclub has decided to “mutually agreed to part ways” with Alex Cora in an official statement, effectively firing him, one day after serious cheating implications came to light from his days as a bench coach with the 2017 Houston Astros, and potentially with his own ballclub in the 2018 year when the Red Sox won their own World Series title. Alex Cora was mentioned explicitly in the official MLB investigation report that cited him as one of the primary ring leaders in their sign stealing cheating scheme. Time will tell what kind of punishment the Red Sox organization may have to face, depending on what the MLB investigation report reveals.

High Risk, High Reward: The story of the 2019 LSU Tiger Team and Season

by andrewcline33, posted in NCAA Football

In the aftermath of his team’s decisive 42-25 rout over the reigning national champion Clemson Tigers, Ed Orgeron took in the moment. He stood on that stage and watched, as his players raised that beloved trophy and took turns holding and kissing their new prize. Ed turns to one side and sees a sea of orange heading for the exits. The Clemson fans came and supported well, but were now leaving after watching their beloved Tigers lose their first game since the 2017 College Football Semi-Finals, that also happened to take place in New Orleans. The new dynasty in college football had hit a snag and their long streak of 29 straight wins came to an end on a gloomy night in New Orleans. Ed turns to his other side and sees the victors and their fans hugging their loved ones and singing those provocative words to the song “Neck”. For the LSU fans, this was a great deal. Winning their 4th National Title, 3rd in the BCS/College Football Playoff era meant all of their nightmares of their last trip to New Orleans for a national title could now be washed away. Ed looks out and wraps his arms around his team and begins to think what we all were thinking. How did they get here?

It was not long removed from Ed Orgeron being considered a bad hire. When LSU was looking for their next head coach, Ed Orgeron was number 3 on the wish list at best. But when Jimbo said no, and Tom Herman sold his soul for burnt Orange, Ed got the call. Uncertainty surrounded Orgeron thanks to his time at Ole Miss in the early 2000’s. His inability to win when he was a head coach in the SEC deterred many, and even though he had been fired, some people were not sure if Coach O could live up to his predecessors at LSU in Nick Saban and Les Miles. That uncertainty did not go away the next year as they went 9-4 and had to fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada. After switching back to Steve Ensminger to call the plays, Orgeron knew he needed a field general. Little did he know that his quarterback would have as much uncertainty as he did.

At around the time Louisiana’s premier college football program was making changes about it’s offensive coordinator, Ohio’s premier program was trying to figure out who would be the heir apparent to J.T. Barrett who was now off to the NFL. Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow competed day in and day out in the spring of 2018 to see who would be QB1 for the Buckeyes. At the end of the spring, Haskins had nudged out Burrow for the job, and that Burrow looking for another school to call home. In comes the unproven coach on the Bayou who saw something in Burrow and said that he would be the starter for the Tigers. While Joe Burrow had the mind and the size of a quarterback, like Coach O, uncertainty surrounded him. How would a kid who has hardly received valuable snaps in games be a starter in the SEC? How would a kid from Athens, Ohio handle the culture change of Baton Rouge and South Louisiana? In year one Joe Burrow showed that he could win games and he could lead this team to a New Year’s 6 bowl, but could he really be the guy to lead them to a national title? Coach O needed an ace in the hole. He found it in an unproven assistant from the most prolific passing team in the NFL.

In the summer before this season, Coach O traveled down I-10 to the Big Easy to speak to New Orleans Saints and their offensive staff. Orgeron was looking to pick their minds and take some ideas back to Baton Rouge. What he took was a little bit more valuable, as he hired on Joe Brady, an offensive analyst of the Saints who wasn’t even 30 years old, to oversee the passing game for the Tigers. Like his head coach and quarterback, Brady came in with many question marks and uncertainties as well. First off he was extremely young, and had only been with the New Orleans Saints for a couple of seasons. Second with such little experience in the college game, and coming into a situation with a veteran offensive coordinator, Steve Ensminger, no one was sure how that relationship would work. After beating Georgia Southern in game 1 of season, LSU played Texas in Austin and had their full offense on display. With a 3rd and 17 in the 4th quarter and when former LSU coaches and offenses would have played it safe, Ensminger and Brady dialed up a tremendous play that led to a Burrow to Justin Jefferson touchdown. This was the defining moment for the Tigers and showed that the Ensminger and Brady relationship could and would work.

With Burrow at quarterback and Brady and Ensminger calling the plays, LSU went into 2019 with new expectations. Along with other stars and weapons who had own uncertainties in their time at LSU like Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Size), Justin Jefferson (recruiting stars), Thaddeus Moss (Health), and Derrick Stingley Jr. (True Freshman), This LSU team took off. Embarking on what could go down as the most impressive resume in college football history by beating 7 Top 10 teams at the time of the game. They beat all 4 of the preseason top 4 teams (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Oklahoma). That win against Alabama, snapped an 8 game losing streak to their SEC rivals. They had the greatest offense in college football history, as they scored the most points ever in a season. They finished with a 5,000 yard passer, 1,000 yard rusher, and 2 1,000 yard receivers. They took home so many individual honors from the Broyles award, Coach of the Year, Biletnikoff, and Jim Thorpe award. Not to mention that they will have to create a new wing at their football operations building just for Joe Burrow. The senior quarterback took home the Davey O’Brien, Maxwell, Walter Camp, Johnny Unitas awards, and became the 2nd Heisman Trophy winner in school history. All of this was culminated Monday with the team standing center stage in the Superdome raising the National Championship trophy after beating the juggernaut that is Clemson.

So How did they get here? They got there because Coach O took chances. He saw the program in his image when he interviewed for the job. He envisioned building a program that could beat Alabama, and compete not only for an SEC title, but a national one as well. He recognized that he had to the hire the right people and recruit the right kids, no matter the uncertainty behind them. He was going to do this his way and not care about the outside noise. Coach O lived and coached this season by the famous motto “Go big or go home”. In the city where poker was created, Coach O went all in, and his dream came to fruition. Coach O took in that moment, but let’s be real, only two words were in his mind: Geaux Tigers!

If You Care About Integrity in Sports, Boycott the National Championship

by Ethan Myers, posted in NCAA Football

The College Football National Championship is here, and from the looks of it, it should be a good one. LSU against Clemson, two unbeaten powerhouses, square off tonight. The storylines write themselves: Joe Burrow vs. Trevor Lawrence, Dabo Swinney taking on the SEC again, and LSU dominating in the best conference in the country. All of this sounds just fantastic, however there is a dark underbelly to this contest. ESPN and the national media has sold the country a bill of goods once again, and they expect us to just sit back and lap it up.

Let’s start with the obvious: ESPN has always had a clear SEC bias. This dates back even before the College Football playoffs, however it became truly evident once the playoff system was created. According to ESPN, the SEC is the king of football, and if you don’t play in the SEC, you are trash. This year there were really only 4 teams that made sense for the playoffs: LSU, Clemson, The Ohio State University, and Oklahoma. This made these selections have very little controversy. However, whoever got the #1 seed had a massive advantage, as it was clear that Oklahoma was going to have the #4 seed, and getting to play OU in the semifinals was essentially a bye week. For the last couple weeks leading up to the final rankings, The Ohio State University held the #1 spot, which made a lot of sense. They were the only team that had truly dominated every game this season (LSU fans, don’t embarrass yourselves by claiming that giving up 38 to Texas and barely winning was a quality game for you). Come Conference Championship week, both tOSU and LSU had great games. The Ohio State University beat Wisconsin for the second time this season by multiple scores, and LSU trounced an anemic-looking Georgia. It appeared that the rankings would stay the same and tOSU would get the #1 seed.

Once the final rankings were released, ESPN once again showed their SEC bias. LSU ended up with the #1 seed and essentially a “bye-week” by getting to play Oklahoma, where as tOSU fell to #2 and drew Clemson. The best part is how they justified giving LSU the #1 seed. The committee kept Georgia at #5 in the final rankings, even though Georgia has look absolutely terrible all year. This was a team that lost to 4-8 South Carolina at home! Thinking Georgia deserved to stay so high is only possible with a severe brain injury. However, this allowed the committee to point at LSU and declare that they beat the #5 team, such a fantastic win! This allowed ESPN and the powers that be to fulfill the first step in their plan of making sure the SEC is in that championship game. The next step? Getting Clemson in that title game.

Before it is explored how the Clemson-The Ohio State University game was fixed to make sure Clemson won, it is important to see why the powers that be want Clemson in that title game playing the SEC. According to the national media, only one team has been successful in beating SEC teams consistently: Clemson. They also like to ignore what happened the last time Ohio State played the jewel of the SEC in Alabama, but that wouldn’t fit their narrative. The problem with Clemson beating SEC teams is that it weakens the narrative that the SEC is king: how can they be king if they lose to an ACC team? The answer is simple. Prop up Clemson as essentially a quasi-SEC team. That way, even if the SEC loses, they really just lost to another southern powerhouse, so the SEC narrative can live. Now if an SEC team loses to a Big Ten school, that doesn’t exactly connect with the narrative. Thus, something had to be done to make sure The Ohio State University lost to Clemson.

Looking at the game on the surface, it appears that The Ohio State University lost a 29-23 heart-breaker to a superior Clemson. Upon closer review of the game, it is quite evident to see the Buckeyes weren’t just playing Clemson, they were also playing against the refs. The crew used for the game was an SEC referee crew. Isn’t that just awfully convenient for the powers that be to fix the game?

Let’s start with the targeting call on tOSU DB Shaun Wade. Shaun Wade was sacking Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, going in right for 6′ 6” Lawrence’s chest. At the absolute last second when Wade had 0 time to react, Lawrence ducked his head down and Wade grazed helmets. This was a perfect opportunity for the SEC refs to kick out one of tOSU’s best defensive players. They launched the flag and immediately threw out Wade for “targeting”. Such an embarrassing call and so transparent to keep Clemson in the game. Plus this allowed ESPN commentators Herbstreit and Fowler to sing Lawrence’s praises the rest of the game. You’d think Lawrence deserved a Medal of Honor for staying in the game after that sack; the commentators were surprisingly silent on talking about tOSU QB Justin Fields or tOSU RB J.K. Dobbins when it came to toughness, even though both players could barely move out there and were still competing.

The most egregious call came in the 3rd quarter with the Buckeyes trailing 21-16. Lawrence threw a pass to Clemson WR Justyn Ross, who appeared to secure the ball and take multiple steps before tOSU DB Jeff Okudah stripped the ball. The Ohio State University recovered the supposed fumble and took it back for a touchdown, giving tOSU the lead again. However, the SEC referees decided to review the play. Even though the call on the field was that the play was a fumble, the SEC crew decided that holding the ball with two hands and taking multiple steps wasn’t enough for possession, and reversed the call to an incomplete pass, taking the touchdown away from the Buckeyes. So much for needing “conclusive evidence” to overturn a call, the SEC crew and the powers that be decided this was a perfect chance to stop the Buckeyes from scoring and make sure Clemson won.

By the time it was all said and done, ESPN got exactly what they wanted. The SEC champion and Clemson are squaring off for the national championship. Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany dared to spur ESPN by signing a TV deal with Fox, and ESPN is still trying to make the Big Ten pay to this day. It is so clear how rigged the system is and how awful it is that they would actually fix a game to make sure Clemson won. The only way to stop such blatant corruption from happening is to show the national media that the fans will not tolerate this farce of an event. I for one will not be tuning in to ESPN to watch this game, as I refuse to give them any of my business after they showed they’re willing to spit in the face of fair competition. If you also care about integrity in sports, the best way to fight back is to not watch this game, and refuse to buy into this lie the national media is trying to perpetrate.