2023 Stanley Cup Final Schedule And Prediction

2023 Stanley Cup Final Schedule And Prediction

The 2023 Stanley Cup Final finally begins tomorrow night in Las Vegas, when the puck drops for a matchup between the Golden Knights and the Panthers. Vegas has the home-ice advantage, with Florida hosting Game 3, Game 4, and Game 6 (if necessary). Here’s the full schedule, with all games starting at 8:00 PM ET:

 

–  Game 1 | Panthers vs. Golden Knights | Saturday, June 3 | TNT

–  Game 2 | Panthers vs. Golden Knights | Monday, June 5 | TNT

–  Game 3 | Golden Knights vs. Panthers | Thursday, June 8 | TNT

–  Game 4 | Golden Knights vs. Panthers | Saturday, June 10 | TNT

–  Game 5 | Panthers vs. Golden Knights | Tuesday, June 13 | TNT

–  Game 6 | Golden Knights vs. Panthers | Friday, June 16 | TNT

–  Game 7 | Panthers vs. Golden Knights | Monday, June 19 | TNT

 

*Games 5-7 if necessary

 

This is the first time that Turner will host the Stanley Cup Final, with the entire series airing on TNT. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, Anson Carter, Henrik Lundqvist, Paul Bissonnette, and host Liam McHugh will anchor the coverage pre-game, post-game, and during period intermissions.

 

The NHL released a trailer ahead of tomorrow night:

 

 

Las Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights have returned to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since their inaugural season in 2017-2018. A small but key group of key players from their expansion roster remains, including William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, but the Golden Knights have matured as a team in their return to the Final. Former No. 2 overall pick Jack Eichel (acquired from the Sabres in 2021) has been a standout performer for his club during this run, leading the team in playoff points. With a balanced offense and strong goaltending from Adin Hill, the Golden Knights are a formidable force looking to secure their first-ever championship.

 

Florida Panthers

The Panthers have made a remarkable return to the Stanley Cup Final after a long absence since 1996. Boasting a talented lineup, the Panthers are headlined by Matthew Tkachuk, who has been a sensational leader throughout the playoffs. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been sensational, helping the Panthers overcome a 3-1 deficit in the first round versus the record-breaking Boston Bruins. With a potent power play and a knack for overtime victories, the Panthers have shown resilience and determination as the eight seed in the East. They aim to capture their first-ever Stanley Cup, with brothers Eric Staal and Marc Staal playing key roles in their quest for glory after knocking out the Carolina Hurricanes and their brother Jordan in the Eastern Conference Final.

 

Prediction

If Bobrovsky can stand on his head, and the Panthers can continue to play has hard and as well as they have, the magical run can be capped with a triumphant hoisting of the Cup. But I like the Golden Knights franchise to finish what they started in their inaugural season.

 

Golden Knights in six

The Wolf Sports Newsletter: May 29, 2023

The Wolf Sports Newsletter: May 29, 2023

The 2023 NFL Spring League Meeting brought a ton of news to get to from the past week. Thank you for reading the second edition of The Wolf Sports Newsletter, and have a safe Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

 

🐐 Tom Brady has officially agreed to purchase a minority stake in the Raiders.

 

  • Brady finalizing his partner status with the Raiders is pending official NFL approval, which should be a formality.
  • The legendary quarterback also recently became part-owner of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces along with Raiders owner Mark Davis.
  • This can probably end the talk of Brady potentially coming out of retirement a second time… unless it’s for the Raiders.

 

 

🏴‍☠️ Sticking with the Raiders, new starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s delayed press conference and revised contract before his signing became official was due to a failed physical.

 

  • Garoppolo, who broke his foot in Week 13 last season and did not return for the Niners, had foot surgery after he signed with Vegas.
  • The Raiders hope Jimmy G will be ready for Week 1.
  • The contract for Garoppolo is structured so that the Raiders can get out of it without paying him anything if he does not pass his physical by Week 1, according to ProFootballTalk.

 

 

 

🏛️ The Washington Commanders purchase agreement by the Josh Harris group still has work to get finalized.

 

  • Roger Goodell, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke most prominently about the sale.
  • Irsay says they are “hopeful” a deal will get done, but that it must “stay within the guidelines.”
  • There are reportedly 20 limited partners in the deal, which is an uncommonly high number—though the $6 billion sales price sets a record for a sports franchise.
  • The Harris group has a combined net worth in the tens of billions, but the structure of the deal must comply with NFL rules and stay below the $1.1 billion debt limit for team acquisitions.
  • Multiple reports say that the NFL is eager to get rid of current Commanders owner Daniel Snyder as they continue working with the Harris group on finalizing the sale.

 

 

 

 

🏆 San Francisco will officially host Super Bowl LX in 2026.

 

  • The San Francisco Bay Area hosted Super Bowl 50, and it will host again ten years later.
  • NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement: “The Bay Area was an incredible host for Super Bowl 50, and we are thrilled to bring the Super Bowl back. We look forward to working with the 49ers and the Bay Area Host Committee to create an impactful Super Bowl LX in 2026 that showcases all the great things the region has to offer.”

 

 

🙋‍♂️ 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) will be allowed to throw next week, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

 

  • Purdy injured his elbow during the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles in January.
  • On a similar note, the NFL passed a rule to allow an emergency third quarterback to be used without taking up an active roster spot on game day.
  • The steal of last year’s draft as “Mr. Irrelevant”, Purdy underwent surgery with specialist Dr. Keith Meister in March, and the expectation was that he would start a throwing program in three months.
  • The hope is that Purdy will be ready for Week 1, and he’s fully expected to be the starter if healthy.
  • Two former third overall picks (Trey Lance and Sam Darnold) are competing while Purdy gets to full health.

 

 

 

🗓️ Thursday Night Football flex scheduling has passed.

 

  • There were concerns from fans and some owners (most vocally, Giants owner John Mara) about how this is basically a slap to the face of fans that plan ahead to attend these games.
  • However, the TNF flex scheduling is very restricted, gives four weeks advance notice, and might be rarely used.
  • The flex scheduling applies only to Weeks 13-17, requires 28 days’ notice, and can only be done twice per season.
  • Overall, it could have been much worse, but many—including Mara—remain unhappy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

🖐️ The Cardinals released star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

 

  • Arizona had been trying to trade Hopkins for weeks.
  • With no team wanting to take on the veteran’s huge salary while also giving compensation, the Cardinals opted to released Hopkins, who is now free to sign with any team.
  • The Cardinals will eat $22.6 million in dead money, but there will be no salary cap ramifications in 2024.
  • The Ravens, Jets, Bills, and Chiefs have been speculated as potential landing spots for the former All-Pro.

 

 

📺 YouTube TV has announced that those that sign up for NFL Sunday Ticket will be able to watch an unlimited number of streams.

 

  • YouTube TV won the rights to Sunday Ticket earlier this year after it was on DirecTV since its launch in 1994.
  • The initial limit on YouTube TV was going to be two streams per account, but fan complaints bumped that number up to an unlimited number.
  • This is obviously a major win for those that are going to use Sunday Ticket.
  • It allows people to watch as many games as they want. For example, if there are nine games at 1:00 PM ET—and you somehow have nine screens in a room—you can watch every game.
  • This move shows YouTube TV is willing to make accommodations—and perhaps it indicates that early subscriber numbers have not been as good as expected.

 

 

🔑 Lamar Jackson says that new Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is “basically just giving us the keys to the offense, really.”

 

  • Former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman operated a run-heavy offense for Baltimore, and Monken’s attack will look like an entirely new approach.
  • Jackson says he’ll be throwing more and running less in Monken’s offense.
  • In addition to giving Jackson the biggest contract in NFL history, the Ravens invested heavily at wide receiver this offseason, bringing in Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor, and first-round pick Zay Flowers.
  • Fantasy owners should take note: Jackson had 3,500+ passing yards, 27+ passing TD, 1,500+ rushing yards, and 18+ rushing TD in each of his final two college seasons at Louisville.

 

 

 

🧀 The Packers will host the 2025 NFL Draft.

 

  • The three-day event will take place around Lambeau Field, one of the most special places in sports.
  • The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit before it heads to Wisconsin in a couple of years.

 

 

🦵 The NFL changes its kickoff rule, putting the ball on the 25-yard line after a fair catch.

 

  • The rule change is designed to make the game safer given the high-speed collisions that can happen on kickoffs, i.e., the NFL is expecting to see fewer returns this season.
  • Special teams had strategized to kick the ball in a way (typically via hangtime) in an attempt to pin an opponent deeper in their own territory.
  • The ability for teams to now use the fair catch and get it at the 25-yard line takes some strategy out of the play.
  • Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and tight end Travis Kelce are among those not happy with the move.
  • The opening kickoff is an iconic part of football, and kickoffs have delivered many memorable moments in history. Also, many special teamers and end-of-roster guys have earned roles and long careers by performing at a high level on kickoffs.
  • The rule change passed on a one-year trial basis, so owners will revisit.

 

 

 

 

⚡️ Chargers running back Austin Ekeler will remain with the team following a contract dispute.

 

  • Ekeler led the NFL in touchdowns the past two seasons and wanted an upgraded contract.
  • The versatile running back requested permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason. After nothing happened through the draft, Ekeler received extra incentives in his current contract.
  • His new deal adds close to $2 million in incentives to the final year of his contract.
  • Ekeler will be a free agent after this season.

 

 

Other Sports Updates

 

🏒 Florida Panthers sweep the Carolina Hurricanes to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. They await the winner of the Stars-Golden Knights series (Golden Knights lead, 3-2; Game 6 tonight at 8 PM ET).

 

 

⚾️ Craig Kimbrel became the eighth player in MLB history to reach 400 saves. It comes a couple of weeks after Kenley Jansen accomplished the same feat.

 

 

🏎️ Joseph Newgarden wins the Indy 500; Formula 1: Max Verstappen wins the Monaco Grand Prix.

 

 

 

In Case You Missed It

 

– Dynasty fantasy football with relegation and promotion

– NFC East and AFC East fantasy RB outlooks

– NFC North and AFC North fantasy RB outlooks

– NFC South and AFC South fantasy RB outlooks

– NFC West and AFC West fantasy RB outlooks

– Pre-summer NFL futures bets (🔒)

The Wolf Sports Newsletter: May 22, 2023

The Wolf Sports Newsletter: May 22, 2023

The Wolf Sports Newsletter is a weekly newsletter giving an efficient update on the recent happenings in the world of sports. In an era where Twitter is a primary news source for many sports fans, you can think of The Wolf Sports Newsletter as a Tweet Sheet delivering key information every Monday. The focus is on football, but big news from other sectors of sports will also be included to keep you in the loop with all the action to start the week.

 

The Wolf Sports Newsletter is beginning in article form but will eventually also be delivered via email. Create a free Wolf Sports account if you are interested in getting The Wolf Sports Newsletter via email when available.

 

Welcome to the first edition of The Wolf Sports Newsletter! A ton has happened in sports in recent days, so let’s jump right in.

 

🙏🏻 Legendary NFL running back, actor, and activist Jim Brown, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in history, died at 87.

 

  • In the past, Bill Belichick, who had a strong friendship with Brown, has called him “the greatest player that ever played.”
  • Brown retired before age 30 but left the game as an NFL champion, three-time NFL MVP, and eight-time All-Pro for the Cleveland Browns.
  • He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and was also considered by many to be the greatest college player in history.
  • Brown is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, and the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
  • Brown went into acting and appeared in over 30 films.
  • The Syracuse product also became a prominent civil rights activist and made a huge impact throughout his entire life.

 

 

 

 

 

📺 Peacock will have the first ever exclusively streamed NFL playoff game.

 

  • The Peacock exclusive game will be the Saturday night game during Wild Card Weekend.
  • According to the Wall Street Journal, NBCUniversal is paying around $110 million to stream the one playoff game.
  • NFL postseason games have all been available for free via over-the-air broadcasts in the past.
  • This is a follow up to the NFL last season making all of Thursday Night Football streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
  • Many fans are not happy about a playoff game not being free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

🎙️ After weeks of rumors, Pat McAfee is officially going to ESPN this fall (NSFW video).

 

  • McAfee walks away from a four-year, $120 million deal with FanDuel.
  • McAfee says that four different companies were in the mix but that ESPN was the best fit.
  • The former Colts punter, who was a regular on ESPN’s College GameDay last year, had direct talks with ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro.
  • ESPN had been seen as the heavy favorite for McAfee, who recently posted a picture with Disney CEO Bob Iger.
  • McAfee is also a contributor to the WWE.
  • Some fans of The Pat McAfee Show have voiced displeasure with his move to ESPN.

 

 

 

❄️ Matt Ryan is not retiring from football yet, but he’s joining CBS’s NFL coverage this season.

 

  • Ryan told SiriusXM NFL Radio that “all the stars would have to [align]” for him to play again.
  • The 38-year-old Ryan was the 2016 NFL MVP and has thrown for 62,792 yards (seventh all-time) and 318 touchdowns (ninth all-time) in his career.
  • He and the Falcons were of course victim to the epic Tom Brady “28-3” comeback in Super Bowl LI, a game where Ryan couldn’t have played much better with a 144.1 passer rating against New England’s defense.
  • The third overall pick in the 2008 draft lived up to his draft status, with a Super Bowl being the only thing missing on his resume.

 

 

🏈 Steelers bring back quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph to keep together a strong room behind starter Kenny Pickett. Pittsburgh also signed XFL star receiver Hakeem Butler.

 

  • Trubisky’s 2023 cap number is lowered while now staying under contract with the Steelers for two more seasons.
  • Rudolph rounds out a quarterback room that certainly looks like the deepest in the league.
  • Butler, a 2019-fourth-round pick of the Cardinals out of Iowa State, caught 51 passes for 599 yards and eight touchdowns for the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks this spring.

 

 

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1658869735570677760?s=20

 

 

Other Sports Updates

 

⛳️ Brooks Koepka wins the PGA Championship for the third time. And PGA club pro Michael Block hit an insane hole-in-one earlier in the day.

 

 

 

🏒 Panthers beat the Hurricanes in QUADRUPLE overtime, the sixth-longest game in NHL history, to take Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. The Panthers then also won Game 2 in overtime to take a 2-0 series lead.

 

 

 

🎾 Tennis legend Rafael Nadal says that he expects 2024 to be his final season.

 

 

In Case You Missed It

 

– 2023 Wolf Sports fantasy football projections are now live

– Preview of the Wolf Sports 2023 Fantasy Consigliere Draft Guide

– Highlighting the best primetime games on the 2023 NFL schedule

– Fantasy implications from the 2023 NFL schedule.

– Takeaways from early 2023 Best Ball Mania IV drafts (🔒)

– EA’s new college football video game (coming in 2024) will have player likeness

NFL Versus USFL: Differences Between Rules And Regulations

NFL Versus USFL: Differences Between Rules And Regulations

FOX Sports has had a successful relaunch of the United States Football League (USFL), which became the first professional football league to finish its inaugural season in over 20 years. We are now onto Year 2, and the spring football league—a reincarnation of the original USFL while using the same franchise branding, though not officially associated with it—has been a good way to entertain football fans during the down period in the offseason.

 

The Birmingham Stallions won the USFL championship last season, and USFL odds have them as the favorites to repeat, with the New Jersey Generals and the Philadelphia Stars coming in behind them.

 

If you’ve considered watching the USFL, you might be surprised to find that the rules differ from the NFL. These are among the biggest differences between the rules and regulations of the USFL and the NFL.

 

Conversions

  • If you’ve played organized flag football, you might be familiar with the point-after conversions in the USFL.
  • Teams can go for a 1-point, 2-point, or 3-point conversion after a touchdown.
  • 1-point: kick from the 15-yard line
  • 2-point: scrimmage play from the 2-yard line
  • 3-point: scrimmage play from the 10-yard line
  • In the NFL, you can only go for a one-point kick or two-point conversion attempt from scrimmage.

 

Running Clock

  •  In the NFL, the game clock stops after incomplete passes.
  • The USFL has a running clock even for incomplete passes; the clock begins to stop in the final five minutes of the second and fourth quarters.
  • The clock stops for first downs inside two minutes in the second and fourth quarters.

 

Kickoffs

  • The USFL wants to increase kickoff returns given that it’s an exciting play.
  • NFL kickoffs take place from the 35-yard line.
  • Kickoffs in the USFL take place from the 25-yard line, making it more difficult to kick the ball out of the end zone.

 

Instant Replay

  • One coaches challenge per coach is allowed per game, compared to two (and potentially three if the first two are won) in the NFL.
  • The replay crew can overturn personal foul calls in the USFL.

 

Overtime

  • The NFL has a 10-minute overtime period during the regular season, and games can end in a tie.
  • In the NFL regular season, both teams must have a chance to possess the ball unless one team scores a touchdown.
  • In the NFL postseason, both teams have a chance to possess the ball even if the first team scores a touchdown.
  • The USFL instead alternates conversion attempts from the two-yard line, with each team getting three opportunities­—similar to a hockey shootout.
  • In the USFL, if each team has the same number of converted conversions after the three attempts each in overtime, they continue with sudden death until a winner is declared.

 

The Emergency Quarterback

  •  As we saw in the NFL with the Niners opting to only have two quarterbacks active in the NFC Championship Game (it should be noted that they could have chosen to have a third active), having a third quarterback available can be critical.
  • The USFL has a designated emergency third quarterback that is officially inactive but can enter the game if needed.
Top Ten Tuesday: Best Non-Game Sporting Events

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Non-Game Sporting Events

Nothing beats the action of an NFL Sunday or the thrill of overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but what about the non-game sporting events that people love? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday covers just that, and the criteria is relatively simple: official competitions such as the Westminster’s Dog Show do not count, but competitions such as the Home Run Derby would count because it’s secondary to actual MLB games.

 

10. NFL Pro Bowl Dodgeball

The newest event on the list, dodgeball has quickly emerged as a fan-favorite competition at the Pro Bowl. It’s been great to see the NFL’s top stars show their ability to dodge/catch balls and give fans a look at which non-quarterbacks can throw lasers—and the battle was very intense earlier this year with a headshot to Saquon Barkley providing humor and giving the NFC a chance to edge out the AFC.

 

9. NFL Scouting Combine

In terms of excitement, the Combine isn’t something casual fans will be drawn in by over the course of four days. But the NFL is obviously king, and the importance the event has taken—whether it should or shouldn’t be weighed heavily in the evaluation process—makes the Combine a marquee event on the calendar.

 

8. College Football Playoff Rankings

We’ll see how the eventual CFB Playoff expansion impacts things, and there often seems to be a good idea of how the top four will shake out before it’s officially revealed. Still, college football debates have raged on for decades, and now that happens every week starting in November until—and usually well beyond—the final rankings are revealed in December.

 

7. Dunk Contest

This is a legacy selection, as the NBA has significantly declined in quality over the years—which carries over to the dunk contest. That said, the legendary competitions of the past when superstars such as Julius Erving and Michael Jordan participated gives the contest a comfortable spot on the list.

 

6. Selection Sunday

The intensity of debate on Selection Sunday doesn’t come close to matching that of college football, but the hype of filling out a bracket every year is awesome (before brackets are quickly busted after the games begin). When the seedings and matchups are revealed, fans get an opportunity to go with “chalk” or pick a Cinderella team to make a run.

 

5. NFL Schedule Release

Like everything else the NFL does, the schedule release has become huge—with the league having a three-hour show to breakdown all the matchups. Most teams, players, coaches, and fans probably just want to know what the schedule is, though, and the best part is seeing the primetime and holiday matchups.

 

4. Home Run Derby

In a way, the Home Run Derby has become what the Dunk Contest used to be, as baseball’s top sluggers showcase their power in a tournament-style setup to headline the MLB All-Star break. Last year, back-to-back defending champion Pete Alonso was dethroned by Juan Soto, and the best the sport has to offer have remained committed to taking on the challenge.

 

3. Super Bowl Halftime Show

Based purely on popularity, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is a lock for the top three—even if it isn’t competitive and has nothing to do with the game itself. In addition to the musical performances themselves, halftime shows have created meme-able moments that get Twitter buzzing.

 

2. Olympic Opening Ceremony

The ratings in the United States hit an all-time low for the Opening Ceremony during last year’s Winter Games, but China alone had over 300 million viewers, so the worldwide popularity is undeniable. France (2024) and Italy (2026) have the next two Olympic Games before the US gets a shot to host in 2028.

 

1. NFL Draft

All things considered, the NFL Draft takes the top spot on the list with an ever-growing hype machine in the weeks and months leading up to the event. Not only do young men (and their families) see dreams come true, but we also get new hope for fanbases all around the league—as one draft can change the trajectory of a franchise.

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Undervalued Sports Franchises

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Undervalued Sports Franchises

In the world of sports, value is everything. From the size of the fan base to the success on the field, a team’s value is constantly changing based on a wide range of factors. In this week’s Top Ten Tuesday—and with the sale of the Washington Commanders apparently wrapping up—we’ll take a look at ten of the most undervalued sports franchises in the world. The values are based on Forbes’ annual ranking of the world’s most valuable sports franchises.

 

10. Carolina Panthers (NFL, $3.60 billion)

The Carolina Panthers have only been in existence since 1995, but they have already made it to two Super Bowls. They have a solid standing in the Carolinas, and new owner David Tepper purchased the team for a then-record $2.2 billion in 2018—and the increase in value over the past handful of years is arguably not enough.

 

9. Houston Texans (NFL, $4.70 billion)

Despite being one of the newest franchises in the NFL, the Houston Texans have become a solid organization despite the struggles over the past few years. A huge thing the Texans have going for them is simply being in the state of Texas, where football is king. The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world, and Houston’s value would rise rapidly with championships.

 

8. Green Bay Packers (NFL, $4.25 billion)

The Packers are unique in that they are owned by their fans, rather than a single owner. They have a loyal fanbase and a history of success, but are often overlooked in favor of larger market teams. But the passion of the fans at the historic Lambeau Field make it a special place that should probably be valued closer to the top ten.

 

7. Tennessee Titans (NFL, $3.50 billion)

The Titans have a relatively short history, having moved to Tennessee in 1997. However, they have had success on the field, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2000. And Nashville is one of the quickest growing cities in the United States, which will only help the team’s value when looking ahead.

 

6. Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, $4.28 billion)

Bayern Munich is one of the most successful clubs in German soccer history, with 32 national titles including an astonishing ten in a row and six European Cup/Champions League wins. However, they play in a smaller market than other European soccer powerhouses like Barcelona and Manchester United.

 

5. Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, $3.20 billion)

PSG has become one of the most dominant teams in French soccer, with a star-studded roster featuring players like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. They are often overshadowed by larger clubs in other European leagues like Real Madrid and Manchester United, but their on-pitch success is not to be denied.

 

4. San Francisco Giants (MLB, $3.50 billion)

Despite winning three World Series titles in the past decade, the San Francisco Giants’ value as a franchise that’s had legends like Willie Mays and Barry Bonds wear its uniform should probably be higher than it is in the United States’ biggest state in terms of population.

 

3. Philadelphia Eagles (NFL, $4.90 billion)

The Eagles have a passionate fanbase and have had consistent success over the years, including a Super Bowl win in 2018. Despite this, they don’t get as much love compared other NFL teams with more national recognition. Philadelphia is an historic city, and its fans are widely regarded as among the best in all of sports.

 

2. Manchester United (Premier League, $4.60 billion)

Manchester United is one of the most successful and recognizable football clubs in the world. However, their value is still underrated considering their status as a global brand. As the most valuable English sports team, Manchester United should arguably be higher than 19th on the overall list.

 

1. Pittsburg Steelers (NFL, $3.98 billion)

The Steelers have a storied history, with six Super Bowl wins and all-time great players scattered throughout their years of existence. They are tied with the Patriots for the most Super Bowl titles, and—while Pittsburgh isn’t a massive market—the No. 28 overall ranking is shocking. This is also a franchise with unmatched consistency, as they’ve had just three coaches (Chick Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin) since 1969!

‘Ted Lasso’ Has Helped Viewers Learn About The Premier League And Soccer

‘Ted Lasso’ Has Helped Viewers Learn About The Premier League And Soccer

The third and likely final season of the beloved Apple TV comedy series Ted Lasso premieres on March 15. Following the fictional professional soccer club AFC Richmond, the series gives a good look at how the world’s most popular game works in Europe, with promotions and relegations among the things that might confuse some casual American fans.

 

The Premier League is the top professional soccer league in England, and one of the most prestigious and popular soccer leagues in the world. The league was founded in 1992, and since then has grown to become one of the most watched sports leagues globally. If you check Premier League updates, you’ll notice that it is a very competitive league.

 

The Premier League consists of 20 teams, who play against each other twice throughout the season—once at home and once away. Each team plays a total of 38 games in the season, with the team accumulating the most points at the end of the season being crowned the champions. The teams finishing in the top four positions at the end of the season qualify for the UEFA Champions League, while those finishing in fifth and sixth place qualify for the UEFA Europa League. The teams finishing in the bottom three positions are relegated to the Championship, the second tier of English soccer, while the top two teams from the Championship are promoted to the Premier League.

 

Some clubs are more competitive than others; for example, Everton has only spent four years outside of the top league in its history of well over a century. And since the formal inception of the Premier League in 1992, Manchester United has paced their competitors with 13 titles—all won under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson.

 

The season typically runs from August to May, with a break over the Christmas and New Year period. Matches are usually played on weekends, with occasional midweek fixtures. The league also has a number of marquee fixtures, known as “derbies,” which are fiercely contested matches between local rivals.

 

The Premier League is known for its high-quality play, with some of the world’s best players and coaches plying their trade in the league. The league is also famous for its passionate fans, who support their teams with great fervor and create an electric atmosphere at matches.

 

In addition to the regular season, the Premier League also has thrilling cup competitions. The most prestigious of these is the FA Cup, which is open to all teams in England and has been contested since 1871. The League Cup is another cup competition exclusive to the teams in the top four tiers of English soccer, with the winner qualifying for the Europa League.

 

Overall, the Premier League is a thrilling and competitive soccer league that attracts fans from all over the world. Whether you’re a casual soccer fan or a diehard supporter, there’s plenty to enjoy and appreciate about this exciting league. Ted Lasso has done a great job of showcasing how exciting the Premier League and soccer overall can be, particularly for American viewers, and other sports might want to take note to draw interest to their games.

Sporting Events To Watch Later This Fall Including 2022 World Cup In Qatar

Sporting Events To Watch Later This Fall Including 2022 World Cup In Qatar

The sports schedule has picked up in a major way, with the 2022 NFL season finally getting underway. This marks the start of perhaps the most loaded sports schedule in history considering the World Cup will also be held late this fall and into the early winter. Looking ahead, these are the top sporting events to watch, including the soccer world cup in Qatar.

 

2022 World Cup

Due to the hot weather in Qatar, this year’s World Cup falls at an uncommon time in November-December. This is the first time FIFA picked the Middle East to host the quadrennial tournament, and there are exciting teams in the region including the host nation Qatar and the Saudi Arabia Green Falcons. In the group stage, a matchup between England and the United States on Black Friday has been getting many headlines leading up to it. The Olympics were earlier this year, but the World Cup figures to be highly exciting and the most globally watched event in sports for 2022.

 

Michigan vs. Ohio State

The Saturday after Black Friday, Michigan will face Ohio State in Columbus. The Wolverines were finally able to beat their rival last season en route to the College Football Playoff, but on the road this year will be a bigger challenge. As always, one of the top rivalries in sports will be a must-watch at noon ET on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Because this comes one day after Black Friday England vs. USMNT, it’s going to be quite the weekend of sports action at the end of November.

 

World Series

The Fall Classic is often overshadowed by the NFL, but it will at least still avoid a late World Cup this year, with the World Series ending by November 5. Major League Baseball’s playoff format with three wild-card teams and one first-round bye in each league could deliver plenty of thrilling games, but it’s tough to top the World Series. While the Dodgers are the favorites to win a second title in three seasons, fans are often treated to surprise matchups throughout the postseason—and, again, anything can happen with the MLB’s playoff format that begins with unpredictable three-game series.

 

NFL on Thanksgiving

Every NFL game could be on this list, but the focus on more of an “event” this fall is the NFL on Thanksgiving. The first matchup is the Bills and the Lions, which will feature two very well-liked teams by fans—and Josh Allen has done damage on the holiday a couple of times in the past. The second game is a familiar NFC East battle between the Giants and the Cowboys, which always gets great TV ratings. And the nightcap features the Patriots making the trip to Minnesota to face the Vikings. Millions of people will be tuned in all day on the last Thursday in November to watch the three games throughout the lunch (probably a light one), turkey dinner, and dessert. But this year, it’ll be just one of many major events in late November, with the World Cup beginning around that time.

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Patriotic Sports Uniforms

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Patriotic Sports Uniforms

The Fourth of July is less than a week away, and this Top Ten Tuesday covers the most patriotic uniforms in sports. There will be special attire for MLB teams to celebrate the holiday (including some controversial hats), but below is a ranking of only base uniforms for teams.

 

10. Texas Rangers

The list is full of northern teams (which isn’t a surprise considering the history of the United States and branding that pay homage to history), but the Texas Rangers have the prototype red, white, and blue color scheme to make it. The Cowboys—considered by many to be “America’s Team”—also deserve mentioning.

 

9. New York Rangers

Even if you’re not a huge hockey fan, the New York Rangers have an iconic jersey that should be easily recognizable. From real-life celebrities to fictional characters (namely Joey Tribbiani in Friends and Turtle in Entourage), New York’s hockey uniform has underrated appeal.

 

8. Columbus Blue Jackets

According to the NHL itself, the Blue Jackets’ name was selected because it “pays homage to Ohio’s contributions to American history and the great pride and patriotism exhibited by its citizens.” That alone is worth placement among the top ten.

 

7. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo arguably has the best NFL uniforms in general, and being edged out by a division rival in terms of pure patriotism (based on the branding/uniforms) might be what pushes them down some. Viewers should see Josh Allen and the Bills in clean white jerseys on Thanksgiving this year when they take on the Lions.

 

6. Philadelphia Phillies

The Liberty Bell—including a revamped version in the outfield for when the team hits a home run or wins a game—is a big part of the branding for Philadelphia’s baseball team. In terms of pure uniforms, the red pinstripes are obviously a classic.

 

5. New York Yankees

The Phillies could have topped the Yankees, but New York’s baseball club gets the nod at No. 5 as an American staple dating back to Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. While not featuring the traditional red, white, and blue, it’s easy to get nostalgic about our history when looking at the navy pinstripes.

 

4. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are another team that doesn’t feature typical Americans colors for the uniform, but the mascot itself is a national symbol for the United States. There’s just something about the midnight green that matches perfectly with the American flag.

 

3. Washington Capitals

Stars featured on the uniforms for the Capitals—on both primary and alternate jerseys—along with the eagle as a mascot gives them a spot in the top three. Represented by the Rangers, Blue Jackets, and Capitals, the NHL’s Metropolitan division makes up 30% of the top ten.

 

2. Washington Nationals

The cherry blossom uniforms as a part of the MLB’s “City Connect” series were a nice D.C.-specific fit. However, the original jerseys are among the best in sports—whether it’s with “Nationals” across the front or the big “W” on the left side of the torso.

 

1. New England Patriots

Can a team named the Patriots really be beaten here? New England has top-tier uniforms without even taking the American aspect into account, and they’ll notably be bringing back the beloved “Pat Patriot” helmet this year—something Tom Brady even expressed disappointment about missing out on (though he wore them earlier in his career).

2022 Stanley Cup Final Schedule And Prediction

2022 Stanley Cup Final Schedule And Prediction

The Stanley Cup Final, one of the truly great events in sports, will begin tonight when the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning play Game 1 in Denver. Not much selling has to be done for this one (though NHL released a superb trailer). One team is looking for a three-peat. The other team dominated the Western Conference and is looking to win a Stanley Cup of their own. The Avalanche have the home-ice advantage, and all games are at 8:00 PM ET airing on ABC.

 

2022 Stanley Cup Final Schedule

 

-Game 1 | Lightning vs. Avalanche | Wednesday, June 15 | ABC

-Game 2 | Lightning vs. Avalanche | Saturday, June 18 | ABC

-Game 3 | Avalanche vs. Lightning | Monday, June 20 | ABC

-Game 4 | Avalanche vs. Lightning | Wednesday, June 22 | ABC

-Game 5 | Lightning vs. Avalanche | Friday, June 24 | ABC

-Game 6 | Avalanche vs. Lightning | Sunday, June 26 | ABC

-Game 7 | Lightning vs. Avalanche | Tuesday, June 28 | ABC

 

Tampa Bay Lightning

 

If you’ve watched any playoff hockey over the past couple of years, you are familiar with the Lightning. The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions are attempting to become the fourth franchise in NHL history to win three titles in a row, but they would be the first to do it in the salary cap era. This year in particular, Tampa Bay has shown resiliency in coming from behind in series, including an 0-2 hole against the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final. Over a month ago, star Brayden Point suffered a lower-body injury that’s kept him out—but he’s expected back for the start of this series, or for Game 2 at the latest if he can’t give it a go for Game 1. With Point, team captain and former league MVP Steven Stamkos, fellow former Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov, and top defenseman Victor Hedman—along with exceptional goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has proven to be extremely clutch in the net—the Lightning are stacked with difference-makers.

 

Colorado Avalanche

 

The Avalanche had the best record in the Western Conference during the regular season, and they’ve been even better in the playoffs, with two sweeps (including of the Oilers in the West Final) for a 12-2 mark during which their aggressive style has shined. Their 4.6 goals per game during the postseason to this point is the most for a team in over three decades. As the numbers indicate, they are playing like an absolute juggernaut heading into tonight—and really their only concern offensively is the longer layoff potentially leading to some rust. Colorado is deep, but superstar Nathan MacKinnon and impressive young defenseman Cale Makar (who leads the team with 22 points during the playoffs)—two former winners of The Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year)—will be tasked with leading the charge as they look to hoist the Stanley Cup. It would be the first time the Avalanche have won it all since 2001.

 

Prediction

 

It’s difficult to go against a team that has a mindset like the one shared by MacKinnon:

 

 

Obviously, given how awesome they’ve played, Colorado is playing freely and having a ton of fun…

 

But it’s also difficult to bet against the back-to-back champs. I’m hoping and expecting an epic series that goes six or seven games between the two preseason favorites, with the Lightning ultimately completing a three-peat thanks in part to the goaltending of Vasilevskiy.

 

Lightning in seven

What Is LIV Golf? Breakdown Ahead Of The First Tournament Of The PGA Tour’s New Competitor

What Is LIV Golf? Breakdown Ahead Of The First Tournament Of The PGA Tour’s New Competitor

After months of speculation and controversy, the new Saudi Arabia-backed professional golf tour—LIV Golf—will officially begin today with its first event at the Centurion Club in London: the 2022 London Invitational. Things have picked up at an extremely rapid pace over the past several days, with big-time players like Dustin Johnson officially joining the new tour, joining Phil Mickelson. Huge money had been paid out to players to join the new tour—headlined by Mickelson and Johnson getting nine figures—and the prizes in each tournament are massive. LIV Golf has a clear goal of seriously competing with the PGA Tour.

 

LIV—the Roman numeral for 54, the number of holes in their three-round events (compared to four rounds for the PGA)—is funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. $400 million has been pledged for the inaugural season, and each event has a $25 million purse, with $4 million going to the winner. For reference, this year’s Masters tournament had a $15 million purse, with $2.7 million going to winner Scottie Scheffler. The season-ending Team Championship taking place October 27-30 will have a $50 million purse and goes four rounds instead of three.

 

There are 48 players in each event, which is simultaneously a team setting—teams of four are drafted by LIV-appointed captains ahead of each tournament. Most of the purse goes to individual prizes ($20 million), with the remaining amount ($5 million) going to the top three teams. LIV Golf will also feature the shotgun format, with players beginning all around the golf course instead of everyone teeing off at Hole 1 at different tee times.

 

The PGA Tour has suspended all members that have joined the LIV. There is currently no media deal for LIV Golf, which is instead covered live on LIV’s official website.

 

Events

 

LIV Golf will have seven regular-season events before the Team Championship match finale. Two of the eight events (including the finale) take place at former President Donald J. Trump’s Trump National golf clubs.

 

-June 9-11 | Centurion Club | London, England

-June 30 – July 2 | Pumpkin Ridge | Portland, Oregon

-July 29-31 | Trump National | Bedminster, New Jersey

-September 2-4 | The International | Boston, Massachusetts

-September 16-18 | Rich Harvest Farms | Chicago, Illinois

-October 7-9 | Stonehill | Bangkok, Thailand

-October 14-16 | Royal Greens | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

*-October 27-30 | Trump National | Miami, Florida

 

 

*Team Championship Finale

 

Field

 

The field is of course headlined by Mickelson and Johnson, but there are many notable names, with Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, and Rickie Fowler rumored to be set to join LIV soon.

 

Oliver Bekker

Richard Bland

Itthipat Buranatanyarat

Laurie Canter

TK Chantananuwat

Hennie Du Plessis

Oliver Fisher

Sergio Garcia

Talor Gooch

Branden Grace

Justin Harding

Sam Horsfield

Dustin Johnson

Matt Jones

Sadom Kaewkanjana

Martin Kaymer

Phachara Khongwatmai

Sihwan Kim

Ryo Kinoshita

Chase Koepka

Jinichiro Kozuma

Pablo Larrazabal

Viraj Madappa

Graeme McDowell

Phil Mickelson

Jediah Morgan

Kevin Na

Shaun Norris

Andy Ogletree

Louis Oosthuizen

Wade Ormsby

Adrian Otaegui

Turk Petit

James Piot

Ian Poulter

David Puig

J.C. Ritchie

Charl Schwartzel

Travis Smyth

Ian Snyman

Hudson Swafford

Hideto Tanihara

Peter Uihlein

Scott Vincent

Lee Westwood

Bernd Wiesberger

Blake Windred

Kevin Yuan

 

LIV Golf begins today in London.

Capital One’s The Match VI Preview: Tom Brady & Aaron Rodgers Versus Josh Allen & Patrick Mahomes

Capital One’s The Match VI Preview: Tom Brady & Aaron Rodgers Versus Josh Allen & Patrick Mahomes

The Match is back. After some friendly but convincing trash talk from both sides, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes will play today in Paradise, Nevada at Wynn Golf Club. This is the sixth version of Capital One’s The Match, and the third time Brady will be participating (and the second for Rodgers). Here’s what you need to know to watch The Match VI today.

 

Time: 6:30 PM ET

Place: Wynn Golf Club (Paradise, Nevada)

Channel: TNT

 

All four star quarterbacks will be mic’d up during the event, so expect to hear the occasional ribbing—though these events have typically had the trash talk die down a bit when the event starts, as they’re all guys that respect each other and will be more focused on hitting shots and winning. But we’ll see if Allen and Mahomes come prepared with any comebacks to the talk from Brady and Rodgers:

 

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1530249058958331906?s=20&t=vKs__HOTUiDKmw19_vmI1A

 

Brady lost each of his previous two appearances in The Match (paired with Phil Mickelson both times). Rodgers won his lone appearance (with Bryson DeChambeau as his partner versus Brady and Mickelson).

 

The Match VI will run 12 holes and will be played with the “shamble” best ball format. The shamble format means that all four players will drive, and each team can select the best drive and both teammates play it from there. For example, if Mahomes hits a perfect drive but Allen launches it into the trees, they would choose Mahomes’ drive to play off—and then both Mahomes and Allen will each finish the hole from there. So basically, each team takes the best drive and then continues the hole (with all four players finishing the hole from the best drive spot of their respective team).

 

Rodgers is thought to be the best golfer of the four quarterbacks, and he was excellent in his previous appearance in The Match. Brady has had some struggles, but he also hit some memorable shots:

 

 

It’ll be interesting to see Brady paired with Rodgers now. With over a decade more experience for both over their younger opponents, they should have the advantage (unless Mahomes and Allen have secretly been playing a ton of golf to catch up in time on the course).

 

This is the first time The Match has not included a professional golfer, but it’s difficult to argue against arguably the two best quarterbacks in the league along with the two best young quarterbacks in the game. As always, it should be an entertaining watch—with the hilarious Charles Barkley and company on the call as analysts.

 

Capital One’s The Match airs this evening at 6:30 PM ET on TNT.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best PE/Gym Class Games

Top Ten Tuesday: Best PE/Gym Class Games

The great debate of 2021… dodgeball or kickball? This tweet kicked off the discussion for the best recess game, but the focus of this Top Ten Tuesday is on PE/gym class. So, what were/are the best games to play in gym class?

 

10. Softball

Soccer, floor hockey (inside the gymnasium on the hardwood), four square, and types of tag were among the games not to make the list. Softball gets the nod because of its variations—you could go with Wiffle ball, hand ball, or even play with a massive dodgeball/kickball ball instead of an actual softball. It might have felt bad if you took a big swing and miss (especially if you were supposed to be a good athlete), but softball games can allow students to shine at the plate, in the field, and on the base paths.

 

9. Pickleball

A combination of tennis, badminton, and table tennis (all of which, with the exception of table tennis as it is probably not in many schools, could have their own spots in the top ten), pickelball is easy to play in 1v1 or 2v2 fashion. It can be played at all competition levels: from just hitting the ball back and forth, to actively moving around and trying to deliver crafty serves and kill-shots.

 

8. Ultimate Frisbee

Most people can get the hang of throwing a frisbee, so ultimate frisbee—despite it perhaps sounding quite extreme—is accessible to just about everyone while also keeping the elements of competitiveness found in sports like football and soccer. Now termed “Ultimate”, the sport is actually eligible for the 2028 Olympics.

 

7. Speedball

Sticking with the same spirit as ultimate frisbee, speedball is another game where you try to move from one end of the field to another to score points. But speedball combines many different sports—you can either throw or kick the ball, there’s a goal (instead of an end-zone like scoring zone), and the scoring changes depending on how you get the ball into the net. Many different types of athletes can come together and form a successful speedball game.

 

6. Disc Golf

Disc golf has gained in popularity over the years. It’s been around for a while, but it felt like it really started becoming more mainstream in the past decade—and you might have played it in your PE class during high school or middle school. Disc golf is like golf, but you use a frisbee instead of a golf club and golf ball. It’s not very costly to set up and play compared to golf (and not as challenging), so it’s a natural fit for schools around the country.

 

5. Basketball

Basketball is one of the quintessential games in gym class. Of course, almost all gyms have at least a couple of basketball hoops—and often times maybe six or more of them—so it’s easy for gym teachers to roll the ball out and let students shoot around. Whether it’s a 3-on-3 game or a round of knockout, PE basketball is pretty simple.

 

4. Volleyball

Some gym classes can take volleyball pretty seriously. I remember learning from an early age in like elementary school about the proper rotations throughout the game. As much as any game played in gym class, volleyball takes teamwork—the squads that properly set each other up for saves and spikes were typically tough to stop. And it’s one of the top sports where both boys and girls can be at around an equal playing field in many cases.

 

3. Football

This is obviously either flag football or two-hand touch. Playing inside within a gymnasium can be limiting (because of the lack of space and deep passes) but interesting, almost like scaled-down arena football. But football was undoubtedly one of the top outside sports to play in PE in my opinion. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a cool moment when a kid you might not expect comes through with a catch. We’re talking about America’s favorite sport. It belongs in the top three. Also, just a special shout-out to recess football, which countless kids enjoy to play in middle school and elementary school.

 

2. Kickball

Finally, we’re down to kickball versus dodgeball. Strong cases can be made for each. Many people certainly have vague memories of smashing a kickball to the back wall of the gymnasium, which is arguably peak achievement in gym class. You could also make spectacular plays in the field in kickball, and pitchers could spin the ball and frustrate hitters. Kickball is definitely an all-time classic gym game that will always be around. However…

 

1. Dodgeball

Nothing against the rest of a worthy list, but dodgeball is the clear No. 1 for me. Nothing else in gym class gets the excitement and buzz that dodgeball does, at least in my experience. Sure, you could be the target of fastballs coming your way, but you could also go on the defensive and make Matrix-like dodges or spectacular catches. I’ve never heard of kickball tournaments, but dodgeball tournaments (volleyball, too) are a common theme throughout schools around the country (and even into colleges). Dodgeball probably had more people that despised it (you could probably find them standing at the back of the playing area while hoping to just take a soft hit to the leg), but it was often the top game choice for those that actually looked forward to PE class.

Best Moments From ‘The Match IV’ Featuring Rodgers, DeChambeau, Brady, and Mickelson

Best Moments From ‘The Match IV’ Featuring Rodgers, DeChambeau, Brady, and Mickelson

The fourth edition of Capital One’s The Match delivered another entertaining day of golf involving four stars, with viewers able to watch all 18 holes on TNT. Former U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers defeated golf legend Phil Mickelson and the G.O.A.T. Tom Brady in the event. Mickelson and Brady are now 0-2 as a pairing in The Match after losing to Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning last year, but Mickelson has won his other two appearances for a 2-2 record overall.

 

The Match IV was held at The Reserve at Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana—a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. The setting was stunning, and the broadcast gave viewers a nice look at a great state like Montana.

 

A big takeaway is that all four guys behaved like gentlemen and came off as very likable. There were many “good shot” and “thank-you” exchanges throughout the few hours of golf. DeChambeau and even Rodgers sometimes catch some flak for their demeanors, but they both probably gained new fans and won some people over after yesterday.

 

All four competitors—and Charles Barkley as one of the commentators along with Brian Anderson, Larry Fitzgerald, Trevor Immelman, and Cheyenne Woods—delivered plenty of memorable and funny moments throughout The Match. It’s cool to get some insight on both the trash talk and sportsmanship, as well as a feel for the personalities of each player.

 

Overall, The Match is becoming one of the best events on television. And best of all, it raises a lot of money for charity.

 

These were some of the top moments from yesterday:

 

https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1412509443984695302?s=20

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/brgridiron/status/1412560878940131328?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/GolfDigest/status/1412564899037909000?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1412575070317203463?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1412576399655804929?s=20

 

 

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1412605053974704130?s=20

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Stars Who Have Competed In The World Series of Poker

Top Ten Tuesday: Stars Who Have Competed In The World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker takes place this fall in Las Vegas, and already qualification has begun in earnest.

 

One of the earliest qualifiers for the tournament was a familiar name to NBA fans: Tony Parker. The former San Antonio Spurs point guard was the first to qualify for poker’s primary competition and will be looking to add a poker win to his four NBA titles. As a six-time NBA All-Star and well-known person internationally, he could certainly be classed as a celebrity entrant for the big event, and he is not likely to be the only one taking their place around the felt later this year.

 

Across the history of the WSOP, celebrities from the world of sports and screen have tried their luck. The competition encompasses most game variants, all of which have the same poker hand rankings. That means that rather than studying hard to learn the game, people can pick up most variants quickly without any complicated scoring method to pick up. Whether you play Texas Hold’em or Omaha, the hand rankings remain the same, and that makes it easier for amateurs to learn. What they need to bring to the table is a cool nerve, a good poker face, and the ability to handle pressure, which suits many celebrities who have competed in the past.

 

Who has sat around the famous tables of Las Vegas hunting poker glory? This week’s top Ten Tuesday highlights celebrities for you who have competed in the WSOP over the years.

 

Telly Savalas

Savalas was well known for his role as Kojak, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. He appeared at the WSOP on three occasions, in 1985, 1987, and finally in 1992.

 

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce is still a popular voice on the NBA circuit—unless you are a Miami Heat fan, of course—although after his recent dismissal from ESPN, he might have more time on his hands to follow his poker dream. Pierce is a keen player and even came close to reaching the money stages in 2015.

 

Roberto Luongo

The former New York Islanders, Florida Panthers and the Vancouver Canucks goaltender is still involved in hockey, winning a gold medal as Special Advisor to the General Manager of Canada at the IIHF World Championships this year. He also finished 634th at the 2012 WSOP event, winning $19,227.

 

Matt Damon

Matt Damon is a massive Hollywood star and is credited with playing a significant role in sparking the original poker boom with his role in the cult film Rounders. He entered in 1998, around the time the film was released, possibly as part of the promotional drive to push the movie with viewers.

 

Edward Norton

Norton also starred in Rounders, and it stands to reason he too should enter the 1998 WSOP, a tournament which saw a considerable uplift in entrants on the back of the film gaining a cult following. Like Damon, he lost out early and never troubled the money stages.

 

Ben Affleck

As if completing a three-of-a-kind around the table, Affleck joins Norton and Damon, two friends, as a serious competitor at the WSOP. Of the three, he has entered the tournament on most occasions and is a skilled player with nerves of steel—which also helped him play a good Batman.

 

Jennifer Tilly

Tilly is well known for her role as Samantha Cole in Liar Liar, as well as voicing Tiffany Valentine in the Chucky films. She is also a superb poker player, winning the WSOP Ladies No-Limit Hold’em in 2005, taking home $158,335.

 

Richard Seymour

Seymour might have to play a patient waiting game when it comes to his Hall of Fame entry (especially with a loaded grouping, including quarterbacks, in the coming years), and that is a strategy he has employed around the WSOP tables. He finished third in the elite $25,000 Roller event at the PCA and followed that up with a strong run at the 2019 WSOP, where he took home $59,295.

 

James Woods

74-year-old Woods is a two-time Oscar nominee and a Golden Globe winner, a small and big-screen star. He is also an avid poker player, with more than 80 tournament cashes to his name. He finished seventh at the 2015 event in the $3,000 No-Limit Shootout event and fifth place in the $1,500 Dealers Choice event in 2018.

 

Shannon Elizabeth

Elizabeth starred in American Pie and Scary Movie, to name but two of her popular features, but she is also a big name on the poker scene. In 2006, she described poker as her second career, cashing four times in the 2006 and 2007 events and winning a special celebrity event in 2005.

Top Ten Tuesday: Trash Talkers In Sports History

Top Ten Tuesday: Trash Talkers In Sports History

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday picks the best trash talkers in sports history. Plenty of athletes over the years could have made this list, and the rankings are a rough mix of effectiveness and notoriety. Honorable mention goes to the NHL’s Sean Avery, who was called “King of the Trash-Talkers” by the New York Times—but it otherwise wasn’t as high profile as these other guys on the list.

 

10. Tom Brady

A surprise appearance on the list? It shouldn’t be for anyone that’s watched Tom Brady play over the years. Like some other great trash talkers, Brady isn’t someone that’ll typically start the “discussions” with the opposition—but he’ll be the one to finish it. Super LV was a prime example, with the G.O.A.T. promising to go after Tyrann Mathieu after the safety started talking, following through by the targeting of Mathieu on a touchdown to Antonio Brown. Brady let Mathieu hear about it.

 

 

9. Mike Tyson

This one is pretty simple. When Mike Tyson got going, his trash talk was borderline disturbing. The best (or worst) from “Iron Mike”:

 

“My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious. I want your heart; I want to eat his children.”

 

8. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. wasn’t always a big talker, but a switch was eventually flipped, and that trash talk—paired with his tremendous ability as a fighter—helped him earn over $1 billion throughout his career. Money Mayweather’s criticism wasn’t just aimed at his opponents, extending to commentator Larry Merchant and his own father at times.

 

7. Richard Sherman

The famous post-game interview with Erin Andrews after the NFC Championship Game in January of 2014 is the major standout, but Richard Sherman is not a shy talker—even going as far as going after Tom Brady earlier in his career. In his prime, Sherman was one of the best talkers in recent years.

 

6. Philip Rivers

To not be someone that cursed yet still be regarded as one of the top trash talkers in the NFL is quite the feat. Philip Rivers might not have angered his opponents too much with his clean words, but the funny side of the unorthodox quarterback helps him land on the list.

 

https://twitter.com/NFLFilms/status/1371853769756000257?s=20

 

5. Gary Payton

Gary Payton is one of the most well-known trash talkers in the history of sports. It helped that Payton was an elite defender that could lock down players from the other team—it was like a double whammy to deal with a guy shutting you down and telling you about it.

 

4. Larry Bird

“So, who’s coming in second?” Those famous words from Larry Bird ahead of winning yet another Three-Point Contest stand out, but Larry Legend carried that extreme confidence throughout his career. As one of the top players in NBA history, Bird simply talked as if he couldn’t be stopped.

 

3. Michael Jordan

For as good of a trash talker Gary Payton might have been, he couldn’t be at his best in terms of talking against Michael Jordan. MJ told his opponents what he was going to do, and then he did it—including when he humbled a then-rookie Payton in 1990. The Last Dance documentary released last summer gave an inside look at Jordan’s ability as a trash talker, and it (like the entire documentary) did not disappoint.

 

2. Muhammad Ali

The great Muhammad Ali was a very smart person, and that translated to top-notch trash talk throughout his legendary career. That said, Ali would get personal with his targets, which was effective if not unbecoming. The talk could turn from relentless to poetic for Ali:

 

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see. Now you see me, now you don’t. George thinks he will, but I know he won’t.”

 

1. Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor has become a superstar athlete and the highest paid in the world (thanks to business ventures, boosted in large part due to his popularity, which was sparked by his brash personality). From his numerous MMA fights to the Floyd Mayweather boxing bout to smacking people down on social media, the sharp McGregor is tough to beat when it comes to trash talk—and he apologizes to absolutely nobody. It helps that social media has exploded during McGregor’s career, but you can argue that no one has delivered more memorable quotes than the UFC star. McGregor even laid down one of the most hilarious insults across sports, demolishing Draymond Green on Instagram.

 

https://twitter.com/TopBallCoverage/status/1283207709559386114?s=20

The USFL Is Back, Returning In 2022

The USFL Is Back, Returning In 2022

The United States Football League is coming back. The professional football league that competed with the NFL in the early-to-mid 1980s will officially return in the spring of 2022. FOX Sports will serve as an official broadcast partner for the USFL.

 

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsPR/status/1400437750688456720?s=20

 

The press release reads, in part:

 

Initially launched in 1983, the USFL originally was an upstart spring football league consisting of 12 teams which featured some of the most exciting and recognizable young football stars in the country. When relaunched next year, the new USFL retains rights to key original team names.

 

The league will target a minimum of eight teams and deliver high-quality, innovative professional football to fans throughout the spring season.

 

“I’m extremely passionate about football and the opportunity to work with FOX Sports and to bring back the USFL in 2022 was an endeavor worth pursuing,” said Brian Woods, co-founder of the new USFL and founder and CEO of The Spring League (TSL). “We look forward to providing players a new opportunity to compete in a professional football league and giving fans everywhere the best football viewing product possible during what is typically a period devoid of professional football.”

 

FOX Sports owns a minority stake in the company that is relaunching the USFL.

 

In the 1980s, the USFL boasted stars including Doug Flutie, Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly, Steve Young, and Reggie White.

 

The USFL is also well known for having eventual President Donald J. Trump become owner of the New Jersey Generals, leading an antitrust fight against the National Football League. It’s also worth noting that Mr. Trump wanted to bring the USFL to the fall, but this new league is relaunching in its former spring schedule.

 

The USFL is attempting to stick around longer than recent spring leagues—the AAF and XFL—did in the past couple of years. They have the history, a strong name/branding, and the immediate backing of a media titan like FOX going for them. Aside from the AFL before its merger with the NFL, the USFL is the only professional football league that actually put up a fight and showcased a comparable product to the NFL.

 

More information on the relaunched United States Football League will be announced at a later date.

‘The Match’ Is Back: Tom Brady, Phil Mickelson Facing Aaron Rodgers, Bryson DeChambeau

‘The Match’ Is Back: Tom Brady, Phil Mickelson Facing Aaron Rodgers, Bryson DeChambeau

Fresh off of Phil Mickelson’s epic PGA Championship major victory last Sunday, it was just announced that he’ll again be pairing with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady for another friendly matchup with another golfer and MVP quarterback. Brady and Mickelson will face Packers star Aaron Rodgers and bomb-hitting Bryson DeChambeau in the latest installment of Capital One’s The Match on July 6, airing on TNT.

 

Brady got the trash talk going already shortly after the announcement:

 

https://twitter.com/TomBrady/status/1397570468056535040?s=20

 

Expect a highly entertaining afternoon on the Tuesday after the Fourth of July. Mickelson and Brady were a great combination when the played together last year, DeChambeau is one of the most well-known players on the Tour, and Aaron Rodgers is a Super Bowl champion that’s been in the headlines all offseason while voicing his frustration with the Packers and trying out to become the host of Jeopardy!

 

The press release for the event reads, in part:

 

Turner Sports will present the next edition of Capital One’s The Match, the Sports Emmy-nominated premier live golf event series, which will feature World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson – following his historic 2021 PGA Championship win – and seven-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady teeing off against 2020 U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau and reigning NFL league MVP Aaron Rodgers.

 

TNT will exclusively televise the event, to be held Tuesday, July 6, with live coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET from picturesque Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana. In addition to live televised coverage, interactive social and digital content will be available on Bleacher Report and House of Highlights leading up to and during the event.

 

With a focus on the importance of supporting community, Capital One’s The Match will include donations made to Feeding America, among additional charitable beneficiaries.

 

The Match between Tom Brady/Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods/Peyton Manning last year raised $20 million for charity, coming at a perfect time to deliver entertaining during the COVID-19 pandemic while sports were basically shut down entirely. Unfortunately, Tiger Woods is unable to play this year after a serious car accident a few months ago.

 

The Tuesday at 5:00 PM ET time is a bit of a surprise, but plenty of sports fans are going to find a way to tune in.

 

The Match airs Tuesday, July 6 on TNT.

Fantasy Sports Versus Sports Betting: Explanation, Legality, Market

Fantasy Sports Versus Sports Betting: Explanation, Legality, Market

Popularity of fantasy sports and sports betting

Americans love sports. Unlike most countries that have one clear favorite game, they have many alternatives to choose from and can get their fix all year long.

 

From football to basketball, baseball to ice hockey, and now soccer and MMA, there’s no shortage of options on television and via streaming platforms. Each has its own league and own set of fans trying to predict the outcome come the end of each season.

 

When you have millions upon millions of fans and a bunch of different sports to choose from, it’s no surprise to see why fantasy sports and sports betting are becoming more popular by the year. Especially for the average fan thanks to technological advancement, there’s so much more to just watching or playing the sports today—creating fantasy teams or betting on sports adds an entirely new entertainment aspect to it.

 

Fantasy Sports

Fantasy football and fantasy baseball are two examples that have become synonymous with their sports as a whole. It is a game that has become a huge part of sports culture here in the States that is played by people of all backgrounds, team fanbases, and ages. Fantasy sports are not only fun, but also easy and accessible for nearly everyone.

 

In the year 2019, around 49.5 million people were playing fantasy sports in the U.S. alone. The added interest it gives to the sport, the draw of competition, and the chance to win some cash are just a few reasons why playing fantasy sports has become incredibly popular.

 

Sports Betting

For similar reasons, the popularity of sports betting has grown enormously since the Supreme Court of the United States lifted the federal ban on sports betting in 2018. The landmark move made such an impact that Americans now legally bet billions of dollars per month on sports—including over $4 billion in January to kickoff 2021.

 

Prior to 2018, Americans were limited to Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware for betting on sports. Now, many states have opened their doors to gambling, which has seen the market flourish in the states that have legalized sports betting.

 

 

Why are fantasy sports and sports betting not in the same category?

As mentioned, not all states have legalized sports betting and gambling in general yet. Looking at the country at large, there have been rapid transitions in the three years since states were given the ability to pass sports betting laws.

 

So far with regard to sports betting, 22 states have now legalized it and six states have recently had bills passed. Aside from Idaho, Wisconsin, and Utah, the rest of the other states have recently introduced bills regarding this topic, but they have yet to be passed.

 

While sports betting has only just become legal to many states (still illegal in others), fantasy sports have always been legal. This has been a controversial topic in recent years and leading up to the Supreme Court’s decision, as many people have considered them to be the same thing.

 

Both fantasy sports and sports betting are both essentially wagering money on the outcome of a game. This is why they have been put into the same category by many; however, they are viewed as two different approaches in the eyes of the lawmakers.

 

The difference between the two is that one is a competition between multiple players (fantasy sports), and the other is a competition between the player and the bookmaker (sports betting). Also, it is seen more advantageous for the bookies, who in almost all cases have much larger resources of data and technology to profit from the bet compared to the sports bettor.

 

The 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed by Congress explains the reasoning for this further. It sees fantasy sports to be a game of skill that adheres to statistical analysis rather than chance like in sports betting.

 

To add to the point that fantasy sports are considered a game of skill and sports betting is not, consider this: in sports betting, anyone can pretty easily make a bet and get lucky and win without any prior knowledge; whereas in fantasy football, for example, you’re extremely unlikely to win any money if you don’t research, strategize, and plan your lineup.

 

 

It’s true, there are similarities between the two. The fact that they both utilize the same information source and have a purpose that is based on predicting the outcome of a sports contest.

 

But the route to victory for each is often very different. In fantasy sports, you build a team that you hope will gain the most points and beat other players. In sports betting, there are many more things to bet on other than wins and touchdowns—it can be almost anything, such as substitutions or yellow cards (such as in soccer), and it is against the bookies, not other bettors or competitors in a league.

 

What to expect in the coming years

With fantasy sports having been around for some time now, many of those players may also start testing their knowledge in the sports betting markets as more states legalize it. The skill of statistical analysis will prove very useful when it comes to sports betting and could allow players to make bigger profits than in fantasy sports.

 

In the rest of the world where gambling is legal and has been for a long time, we see higher popularity in sports betting compared to fantasy sports. Americans have garnered a culture globally for fantasy football and other fantasy sports, but perhaps that’s because the world of sports betting has not been as open in the country as it is now.

 

That said, the game of fantasy sports will remain an American tradition and will continue to grow as data and statistics increasingly shape sports. But in the years to come, expect that many will turn much of their focus to the more profitable all-year opportunities of sports betting.

Is This Lee Westwood’s Year In His 20th Career Start At The Masters?

Is This Lee Westwood’s Year In His 20th Career Start At The Masters?

English golfer Lee Westwood has enjoyed a sparkling career, but he has never won one of the four major championships. The reigning Race to Dubai champion has twice been runner-up at the Masters in 2010 and 2016; and this year, the 47-year-old is many people’s tip for an outside bet for this year’s Masters based not only on recent form but also his top experience.

 

Despite no major titles, Westwood has had plenty of success with 19 finishes in the top ten in major competitions, making him one of the world’s best at his craft for over two decades.

 

Westwood at The Masters

When looking at the current Masters odds, Westwood is among the favorites. The player has an impressive set of results in the Augusta-held tournament, with those two runner-up years plus third place in 2012 and seventh in 2014. He also recorded an impressive tied-for-sixth finish back in 1999 near the start of his pro career.

 

Much of excellent Westwood’s showings at the Masters is based on his consistency and perfectionism. A priority of Westwood’s game is a steady-handed evenness, which when taken with his unconventional swing, opens up a wealth of opportunity. This successful style was first witnessed at the Masters of 2010 when he finished second to Phil Mickelson. Westwood was one shot up going into the final day, but was narrowly overtaken by three.

 

The next top-three finish at the Masters occurred in 2012 when he was just behind Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen. Westwood later lamented his putting performance as the reason he didn’t take the overall championship.

 

2016 saw Westwood finish joint runner-up with Jordan Speith behind fellow Englishman Danny Willet. As the competitors played the final round, Westwood was briefly one stroke behind the lead. It was another close-but-no-cigar finish for Westwood at the Masters.

 

Recent Form

Westwood has been in good form recently and could well be in the mix for the Green Jacket when it’s handed out on Sunday evening. As well as the Race to Dubai competition won at the end of last year, he has also recently recorded finishes as the runner-up in both the Players Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

 

Once ranked the world’s number one, in 2010, there is reason to believe he will do well this year.

 

The Race to Dubai win was a case in point. The end of season triumph for the European Tour’s No. 1 saw Westwood take advantage of dropped advantages from rivals Patrick Reed and Laurie Canter. The Englishman won the title for the third time and staked his place as one to watch for the Masters.

 

In the Players Championship Westwood lost out by just one shot to Justin Thomas. The fact that he won a career-best prize money check for this performance highlights that he can still step up for the big occasion.

 

The Arnold Palmer Invitational was another closely contested finish for Westwood. He and his younger rival Bryson DeChambeau were neck and neck for much of the concluding play. As the two approached the final four holes, it was completely even.

 

DeChambeau then broke the tie, to leave just one stroke between them. At hole number 16 Westwood had his best chance to lead, but the score remained tied. On the final day of play, Westwood had the overall lead, but DeChambeau held his nerve to win by a single point.

 

Westwood received praise from the eventual winner DeChambeau. He cited Westwood’s close connection with his caddie as a big reason for his success.

 

Westwood has recently announced that his caddie for the Masters will be his son Sam, and not his fiancée, Helen Storey. He outlined how much he enjoys being out on the course with both of them, and how it keeps him relaxed.

 

Westwood recently geared up for the Masters competition by flying out to Augusta with son Sam to try out the course. Careful preparation for tournament play is essential, and Westwood has years of experience of this.

 

Lee Westwood: Style of Play

Part of Westwood’s successful history in golf can be attributed to not only his consistency and strength of concentration, but also his famous swing.

 

Westwood delivers a powerful golf swing by beginning in a familiar standard stance and then developing some idiosyncratic maneuvers. The unique style includes dipping and minutely altering his position, balancing hips, head position and legs in perfect sync.

 

The unusual swing has left many wondering where the style came from, but Westwood himself simply explains that that is how he’s always played it.

 

Whatever the reason, it certainly seems to work.

 

Whether it can help him to get within shooting distance of the honors this year remains to be seen. Whatever happens, there’s a lot to like heading into Thursday, and Westwood is bound to attract bets and tips from many in the know.

 

The 2021 Masters Tournament will be Westwood’s 20th showing at the competition. Perhaps this could be the year that he takes home the biggest prize of all.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2021 NCAA Tournament Moments

Top Ten Tuesday: 2021 NCAA Tournament Moments

The 2021 NCAA Tournament is in the books, and thankfully we got an awesome few weeks after missing out on the tournament entirely last year due to the pandemic. Today’s Top Ten Tuesday highlights the best moments from the tournament following the Baylor Bears claiming the title last night. Also, you can watch the annual One Shining Moment recap here.

 

10. Baylor survives against Villanova

 

 

The toughest challenge of the tournament for Baylor probably came against Villanova in the Sweet Sixteen. The eventual national champions were down at halftime, and the final score was not an indication of how close the game was at the end. But the Bears advanced, and the rest is history.

 

9. Abilene Christian stuns Texas

 

 

With a very late East Coast start time in the first round on Saturday night, many people woke up to the shocking news the No. 3 seed Texas was eliminated by Abilene Christian. Joe Pleasant hit two clutch free throws in the final seconds to help ACU pull off the upset.

 

8. Houston wins thriller over Rutgers

 

 

Rutgers was coming off its first tournament win since 1983, and they put Houston on the ropes in the second round of the tourney. A tough and-one tip-in from freshman Tramon Mark put the Cougars ahead with 24.1 seconds to go, and they got a defensive stop to seal the victory.

 

7. Buddy Boeheim gets buckets

 

 

The magic for Syracuse ended in the Sweet Sixteen, but Buddy Boeheim (son of legendary head coach Jim) lit it up in the first two rounds for the No. 11 seed Orange. Boeheim hit 13 three-pointers in the first two games, and a great video of a young Buddy in the locker room with former ‘Cuse star Carmelo Anthony during the 2003 title run emerged.

 

6. Loyola Chicago beats Illinois

 

 

The first one-seed to fall in the tournament is always noteworthy, and Loyola Chicago—with the backing of Sister Jean—went on another tournament run this year by knocking off in-state adversary and No. 1 seed Illinois in the second round.

 

5. Oral Roberts takes out Ohio State

 

 

But the most stunning upset from the always-eventful first couple of rounds of the NCAA Tournament was undoubtedly No. 15 seed Oral Roberts shocking No. 2 seed Ohio State and immediately busting the many brackets with the Buckeyes in the Final Four.

 

4. Alex Reese sends UCLA-Alabama to overtime

 

 

UCLA ultimately survived against Alabama, but Alex Reese hit an ice-cold three with 0.4 seconds remaining to send the Sweet Sixteen matchup to overtime. Reese being a senior that saw his role decline a bit this season made the moment even more special.

 

3. UCLA makes the Final Four

 

 

UCLA is obviously no Cinderella program, but to go from the First Four to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed—taking out both of the top seeds in the East Region—was quite the feat. Mick Cronin’s squad became just the second team to go from the First Four to the Final Four, and they put up an extraordinary fight against Gonzaga.

 

2. Jalen Suggs’ buzzer beater

 

 

However, the Zags survived the effort by the Bruins thanks to freshman Jalen Suggs hitting an insane buzzer beater off the glass. This moment easily could have been No. 1, and it will live on for years despite it not eventually leading to a championship.

 

1. Baylor dominates the title game

 

 

From the start, despite being underdogs entering the night, Baylor was clearly the most talented and the better team in the title game. The Bears were super deep, they got toughness and key plays from their big men and forwards, and their guards could all score at ease. And the defense was an absolute thrill to watch, playing like one of the best units in history. The dominance, defense, and talent—while preventing a perfect season by Gonzaga—should make Baylor one of the most memorable NCAA champions.

Top Ten Tuesday: Sports/Events To Bet On

Top Ten Tuesday: Sports/Events To Bet On

The 2021 NCAA Tournament has two Final Four teams, with two more to earn a spot tonight. It’s been an entertaining stretch, with many tight games, close calls, and competitive bracket challenges. Where does March Madness rank among the best sports and sporting events to bet on?

 

10. Futures

We’ll start at No. 10 with not an exact sport or event, but futures in general. Have a feeling a player is going to have a massive breakout year and win the MVP of a league? You might be able to place a futures bet on that. A handful of years ago, Leicester City of the Premier League was notably a preseason 5,000-to-1 shot to win a championship, and they did it. Striking on a futures bet like that is the rarest of feats, but it can still be fun to take a chance on a futures you feel good about happening.

 

9. Stanley Cup Playoffs

Arguably the most thrilling postseason in sports, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are great because anything can happen in a series and a championship tournament—which makes it one of the top events to bet on. And the Stanley Cup Final is a worthy championship that gets plenty of action. The NHL is also one of the best leagues to place live in-game bets on during the regular season.

 

8. World Series

There’s a feeling of history and tradition while betting on the World Series. America’s Pastime is one of the United States’ oldest traditions when it comes to sports, and not too much has changed in the actual game since the 19th century. The 1919 World Series was unfortunately fixed by Arnold Rothstein via the Black Sox Scandal, but that actually might lead to some extra clout for baseball betting being that it’s well known but happened over 100 years ago and—Astros cheating scandal aside—people can now trust the game for the most part.

 

7. Boxing/MMA

When a big primetime fight is on the card, almost everyone that pays attention will offer their thoughts on who will win—many of those people will put a little money on it to back up their prediction. An episode of AMC’s period drama series Mad Men even showed the office workers placing bets on the Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston rematch in 1965, and it’s not an uncommon occurrence today for friends and/or co-workers to bet on a notable bout.

 

6. College Football

Saturdays are obviously the highlights for college football, but the sport stands out for its depth endless possibilities—with action, particularly from smaller conferences, also falling on weeknights throughout the fall. Football is America’s game, and college football (often spread over moneyline because of the gap in talent between opponents) draws a ton of interest from bettors.

 

5. World Cup

The World Cup gets a boost into the top five because of its international appeal. Especially in the men’s game (as the U.S. dominates the women’s field), the World Cup is typically competitive and somewhat unpredictable. Also, many citizens love putting their money behind their home countries.

 

4. Kentucky Derby

People really enjoy going to the track with a bet on the Kentucky Derby. Over $100 million is typically wagered on the biggest race of the year, so it’s clearly one of the top events in terms of sports betting. Picking the Kentucky Derby winner can give you some great bragging rights.

 

3. NFL

17 weeks (likely 18 moving forward) and an awesome postseason set up makes the NFL one of the easiest and most straightforward sports to place a wager on. Viewers can simply tune in on Sunday (as well as Monday night, Thursday night, and sometimes Saturday) and know they’ll have something to bet on. You can also throw fantasy football—which has become one of America’s most consistent traditions—into the discussion here.

 

2. NCAA Tournament

It doesn’t get much more exciting than March Madness, and it shows with the billions of dollars that are wagered on it every year in just a span of a few weeks. The more hardcore fans will place bets on individual games or futures, but just about everyone can join a bracket pool and fill out a bracket while using the seeds as a guide.

 

1. Super Bowl

While the NFL came in at No. 3, the Super Bowl gets its own category at No. 1. As is the case with a big boxing match but on a much higher level, the Super Bowl is something most people in the United States will give thoughts on. Aside from picking the winner, there are prop bets (even on the color of the postgame Gatorade shower), over/unders, and Super Bowl squares. March Madness has an argument, but the top sporting event to bet on is the Big Game.