NFL Conference Championship Predictions

This NFL season did not disappoint. There were countless story lines throughout the regular, and they only continued into the playoffs. The first two weekends of the playoffs were definitely ones for the books. In the divisional round, Peyton Manning completed his 9th one-and-done in the playoffs, while Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are headed to their 9th AFC Championship game, and 4th straight. Breakout quarterback Andrew Luck is finally headed for his first conference championship game, and it certainly won't be his last. On the other side, Aaron Rodgers has taken the Packers right back to where they are used to being. Russel Wilson has lead the Seahawks to their second consecutive conference championship game, as they look to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

AFC Championship- Colts @ Patriots
No matter who the opponent is, the Patriots are always a tough team to beat at home. Brady and Belichick have been here before, 9 times actually, and they are hungrier than ever. For Luck, it is his first time. Experience will be on the Patriots side for this game, along with many other things. You can't bet against Bill and Tom, especially at home. The best postseason quarterback and coach of all time will get their team prepared, and they'll come out on top. Luck has thrown 10 interceptions in the playoffs already in his young career, and he has traditionally been bad against New England. With an average at best offensive line, the Patriots will develop enough of a pass rush to make him uncomfortable, and their secondary will force turnovers. The Patriots already beat the Colts handily in Indianapolis, and with the way their offense and wide receivers have been playing lately, the Patriots will score a lot of points. Even if their defense falls, Brady will still out duel Luck in a shootout any day. Patriots win 38-20.

NFC Championship- Packers @ Seahawks
Just like New England, it is hard to picture Seattle losing at home, especially in the playoffs. Their defense is one of, if not the best in the league, per usual lately. Their offense is stagnant at times, but their defense picks up the slack. Russel Wilson has been playing tremendously lately, and it will be just enough for them. Although they lack the great receivers the Packers have, guys like Doug Baldwin have been playing well enough. Marshawn Lynch has been arguably the best running back this post season, and that should continue vs. Green Bay. For the Packers, a hindered Aaron Rodgers will hurt them mightily. Last week, the Seahawks were able to contain Cam Newton, who is more mobile than a healthy Rodgers, let alone a guy on one leg. In order for Green Bay to win, their defense has to step up, Rodgers needs to be as mobile as he usually is to make plays, and Eddie Lacy needs to have a huge game. Against a defense like the Seahawks, that will be hard to do. Seahawks win a tough one, 24-20

Super Bowl- Patriots Vs. Seahawks
Brady and Belichick are back for their sixth time, and having lost their last two, there is no way they let this slip away. Away from home, the Seahawks are not nearly as good. For the Pats, home field certainly helps tremendously, but Brady has been here long enough to show that playing on the road will not hurt him. So that is one immediate advantage for the Pats. New England scores as well as anybody in the league, including 43 against a great Denver defense. For the Seahawks to have a chance, they need to hold the Patriots below 24 points. With the drive and motivation Brady has, that cannot happen. Offensively, the Seahawks cannot put up 30+ points to match the Patriots. In order for that to happen, Wilson would have to throw for 300+ yards and Lynch rush for 200+, and the Patriots defense would not let that happen. At the end of the day, Tom Brady will be able to put points on the board against Seattle's defense, the New England will slow down Wilson and his offense enough to give the Patriots the win. Brady gets his fourth ring with a hard earned 31-23 victory.

College Football Playoff

Every single year, regardless of what teams it is, there is a never ending debate as to who should be in the College Football National Championship game. No matter who gets picked, somebody always gets left out. Whoever it is, is never happy. Of course there can be an argument to pick any given team to make the championship, but the committee can only pick two. There are going to be several teams every year who have the pedigree and credentials to make the championship game, so often times picking only two is nearly impossible. However, finally after many years, we have ushered in the age of the College Football Playoff system, comprised of four teams to battle it out for the championship. 

Down in the south, college football is the most important thing to people. They live and die by their TV every Saturday watching their favorite teams. A loss is devastating and the season is on the line every game. Rivalries get personal in real life off of the field. Young athletes dedicate their lives trying to get a scholarship to the top program. Real life friends are lost and made over rivalries such as Alabama vs. Auburn. Down south, college football is more important than the NFL, and often comes in at one of the most important things in the peoples’ lives.The fanatics are crazy over the sport. They plan their lives off of their favorite team, and it is insane. For example, in Alabama, Crimson Tide fans are not welcomed around Auburn fans. They genuinely dislike each other, no matter what type of person they are. People are judged by what team they root for. 

The NCAA deciding to implement the four team playoff system was a great idea. Bowl games effect communities and even states, and it goes way beyond just the teams playing. With four teams all getting a shot to play for the title, the idea works very well. There is much less of a chance for a team to get left out that should have made it. However, now the debate will move onto if a team or two got snubbed from being in the tournament. This year, Alabama, Oregon, FSU, and Ohio State will play for it. It will be argued all the way up until the last game whether or not teams like TCU and Baylor should have made it over a team like Ohio State. Regardless, with the new setup, the committee has a much larger chance of getting the decision correct and winning public approval. This year, they most certainly got the decision correct. The four teams selected are all very deserving. In addition, it would have been nearly impossible to pick just two of them to play for the championship. The new playoff system should definitely have been made years ago by the NCAA.

Roid Rage

            Steroids in professional sports are extremely commonplace nowadays, probably too common. Unfortunately, it is at the point where steroids are used not only in professional sports, but youth and high school sports, also. The blame for that cannot go one hundred percent on the athletes. Of course the athlete is the one who directly takes the substance, the people around them and higher up in society need to do more to prevent any use of it at all. It is very unfortunate, but far too many athletes can get away with it. Sadly, they do not entirely understand the vast consequences that arise from taking such a terrible substance. The effects of steroids may pay off momentarily for a player, but the long term consequences are ruthless, and what players fail to understand is what hurts them.

            First and foremost, the biggest dangers of steroid use come physically. While there can be some upside, the dangers entirely outweigh the benefits. They believe that just by taking the substance, they will perform better, and that is the only thing that will happen to them. To young athletes, it is understandable that they would not know how bad they are for them. A college or high school kid could think, “Hey, here is something that can make me stronger and faster and help me do better”. Their ignorance to the matter will also prevent them from doing further research, so they will not know the consequences. Steroids cause a great deal of both liver and kidney damage. They increase the risk for heart attack by increasing blood pressure and cholesterol. They harm the immune system, thus putting people at a higher risk for infections and diseases. In addition, while it is believed that they make people faster and better athletically, they harm bones and joints immensely, and decrease the flexibility. Aside from all of these major issues, they cause a great deal of stomach and headaches, as well as a tremendous amount of facial and body acne. Physical dangers aside, the dangers emotionally are endless as well.

            The physical dangers of using steroids should be enough in it of themselves to prevent someone from using them, but the emotional are just as bad. While they can leave your body entirely decimated, they can literally ruin your mind. Someone may think they could bear the physical detriments on their body, but there’s no way they could live with those and the psychological pains. People who take steroids are extremely edgy, paranoid, and impatient, and they get frustrated with things and people very easily. They have frequent and severe mood swings, and are often times depressed. They become obsessed with themselves, and they are obsessed with food and their body. They constantly need to work out to reach a “perfect” body that they envision. However, they can never reach that image, and the physical stress they put themselves through will hurt them greatly. “Roid Rage” occurs as well, and people have extremely angry and violent outbreaks for no reason whatsoever. Steroids change an athlete’s physical build and their emotions.

ACL Injuries

In every sport today, an injury of some sort is bound to happen. It is nearly inevitable, but some are much worse than others. An injury can go from a jammed finger, to a sprained ankle, to a torn ACL. With the way sports are played today, and with the tremendous stress put on athletes’ bodies, something is almost guaranteed to happen. For Derrick Rose, it happens too much. After recovering from 2 major knee surgeries in the past two seasons, the injury bug struck the former NBA MVP once again. 

But fortunately, this time, it is not as devastating. Rose has been bothered by lower body and leg injuries all season, but now he is thinking about more than this season. In a recent statement, he came out and told the media about his mentality. He admitted that he is worried, at times. He thinks about his life after basketball, and how his injuries will affect him. When he sits out, it is because he wants to rest his body to make sure he can help himself later in life. However, the moral of the story is not about Derrick Rose, it is about major knee injuries, such as an ACL, on athletes. It affects them in many, many ways. For example, it changes their mentality. They may become timid, or begin to play in fear of re-injuring themselves. Also, it shows that severe injuries can linger forever, and affect an athlete their entire life.

An injury like this can only make athletes wonder. They wonder if it is all worth it. Career ending injuries happen at every level, not just professional. For a youth athlete, is a torn knee worth it? Players push themselves to extreme limits, but does it even pay off? At times and athlete may put tremendous stress on their body in an attempt to gain a great physical advantage on their opponent. However, it will hurt them in the long run. A vast majority of athletes that train a great deal experience a lot of injuries, pain, and weakness at early ages after sports. For some, it is not worth it. 

This story has a much deeper meaning than Derrick Rose being hurt again. It conveys the tragedy of a major injury on an athlete, and it shows how it affects them in ways we usually do not think about. It is important because any athlete can suffer an injury like this. It is an epidemic in the sports world, and we need to learn how to stop and control it. This story is important to society because kids from all societies play sports. The amount of stress that athletes, even at a young age, put on their body is unbearable at times. They need to learn how to balance it properly to avoid injuries like these that will affect them forever. Personally, it is scary to me. Every athlete fears something like this. A friend just recently tore his ACL for the second time, and you instinctively wonder how it happened or what could have been done to prevent it.

De-rek Je-ter

No matter how you look at it, Derek Jeter will go down as one of, if not the best shortstops to ever play the game. Without a doubt, he is one of the most respected players to ever step foot on a major league field. It has been said countless times throughout his final season in the MLB that he is a perfect embodiment of what it looks like to be a professional on and off the field. It does not matter who you ask, almost everyone would say he is a true gentleman, and one of the best to play the game. He plays the game the right way, day in and day out. He's always the first one on the field, and the last one off, and it's been that way for 20 years. 

Every superstar is in the media almost every day, and something bad is bound to be said about them at some point, right? Wrong. When it comes to Jeter, he has never made headlines for a negative reason. Across the MLB, every player says he is someone they admire; his own competitors try to emulate his game and the way he goes about his business. You should not have to tell others how great you, because they'll tell you themselves, and that certainly happened with Jeter. Countless players, fans, coaches, and teammates gave their regards to Jeter throughout his final season. At every stop at every stadium, crowds welcomed him with warm ovations and teams with various gifts. That alone, says it all. 

 His accomplishments speak for themselves. He has five World Series rings to go along with 3,000 hits, 14 All-Star appearances, and the Yankee leader in several other categories. The man is a legend and will deservedly hold his place in Cooperstown amongst the best of the best.  Throughout his career, Jeter touched the lives of countless people, whether they are a regular person or an aspiring athlete. It is not necessarily his play itself that inspires people, it is the way he goes about his job. Young ball players from all over the world aspire to be like him. They look up to the way he plays the game, and try to model their game after him. After the 9/11 attacks, he not only rejuvenated the city of New York, but the entire country, just by playing his game and being himself. 

The Sox vs. Yankees will always be the greatest rivalry in sports, and even Red Sox fans hate to see the guy go. It's not until you are at Fenway Park during his last career at bat listening to the crowd (which was seemingly a vast majority Yankees fans) chant "De-rek Je-ter, De-rek Je-ter" that you realize his career is over. While he has sprinted out to take his position at shortstop at Yankee stadium for the last time, his legacy is certainly one that will have an everlasting affect on baseball forever.                 

In-Famous Jameis Winston

"Famous" Jameis Winston used to be known for his undeniable talent on the field. The freshman standout quarterback thrust himself into national headlines a year ago when he won the coveted Heisman Trophy. He had everything a 20 year old kid could want- fame, a Heisman Trophy, and a National Championship. It appeared as though he was super human, and could not do anything wrong. However, since the end of his unforgettable season, everything has changed tremendously for Winston. The positive attention has turned to negativity, and “Famous” Jameis has turned into “Infamous” Jameis. 

It seems as if he has not made headlines for anything favorable since Florida State capped off their undefeated season with a National Championship last January. Unfortunately for Winston, all he has done is hurt himself. As an athlete of his caliber, he has to know that whatever he does is being watched and scrutinized in every way possible. Recently, a plethora of off the field issues have surfaced once again after his newest issue. Last week, Winston was suspended for the Seminole’s game against the Clemson Tigers. He was seen foolishly yelling derogatory statements about women on the school campus, and was inevitably suspended. The act was a very selfish one by Jameis nonetheless, as it nearly cost his team a win over the Tigers and ultimately their National Championship hopes. However, the team narrowly pulled out the overtime victory. 

That is not the point, however. With his most recent issue, Winston is now seen as a player like Johnny Manziel; someone who only brings negative attention to his team. Likewise to Manziel, Winston is a role model to many people, and it is his duty to carry himself in such a way. Unfortunately, he has failed to do so in many circumstances. Although the college season just started, you would think that he has to have one eye turned towards the NFL Draft. Clearly, however, it is evident that he does not. Several NFL teams have come out and said that they have completely wiped Winston off of their draft board and will not take him, regardless of his talent. Of course young men in college make questionable decisions, but not like Winston. It is plain ignorance on his part to repeatedly do moronic things like he has done. Obviously he is well aware of the fact that he has NFL potential, so why would he screw that up? Personally, it is beyond me. He has all the potential in the world, and all he has done is ruin it. Lately, he has not done anything to better himself. Surely he will enter the NFL Draft soon, and he has given teams all the reasons in the world to pass on him. If I had the potential to be an NFL quarterback, surely I would do the opposite of what Jameis has been doing. 

 

The Baltimore Oriole's- 2014 World Series Champions?

For the first time since 1997 the Baltimore Orioles have clinched first place in the AL East. Yes, the Baltimore Orioles have indeed won the American League East, the most dominant division in baseball in the last five years. The Orioles are 42-23 in a division with the reigning World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and the power house New York Yankees. This is an unfamiliar sight for many, as it is only the second AL East championship for the O's since 1983, the last time the club won the World Series. It has not been since the likes of Cal Ripken and Roberto Alomar dawned the Oriole orange and black that they have won the division. Now, the likes of Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz hope to lead them back to the promise land.

While the lack of recent success may be ominous, the Oriole's are legitimate contenders for the crown. Even without Matt Wieters and Manny Machado, they are 6th in the MLB in runs, 8th in batting average, and 3rd in slugging percentage. In addition, while their pitching lacks stars, they are 7th in ERA and 10th in opponent batting average. The club is 14-5 in extra inning games and have won 30 one-run games. In addition, they are 32-13 since August 1st, and getting hot for the playoffs is crucial. They have been in first place for 103 days, and that number will only increase.

The Oriole's celebrate their AL East championship.

Now, could there finally be a handing of the torch in the powerful AL East? It is shaping up to be the first time in the Wild Card era that both the Red Sox AND the Yankees missed the playoffs. Two teams that are usually locks as World Series favorites will get no shot at the title, but the Baltimore Orioles will? The Yankees have only one 1 ring in the last 13 years, and the Red Sox find themselves rebuilding once again. With that being said, how could anybody not like the Oriole's? It is hard to count out them out. They are a group of guys who play the game the right way, day in and day out. There is never any negative attention in the media for the Oriole's (or hardly any attention at all, for that matter). They truly do not have a star or a lineup full of mutli-time all stars. A team so notorious for being the laughing stock of the American League now finds themselves in legitimate contention for a World Series championship. The Oriole's have stock piled their assets and are set for a deep October run, no matter what the critics say.