NFL Playoff Predictions - Championship Round

 Championship Round

Thursday, January 21, 2021

8:49 PM

That was brutal. 2 out of 4 when I should've known better. Of course Josh Allen would do just enough to win, and the speed of the Bills defense… they were sensational and I think they could spring a surprise on the Kansas City Chiefs. On the other side, of course Drew Brees needs to retire because he can't throw an accurate pass come the 4th quarter, and of course Tom Brady would rush for a TD. I need to be better, redemption will be served if I can nail the Super Bowl on the head. Let's get started.

Green Bay vs Tampa Bay. 

A battle of the bays. I've waited years to be able to write that, but the Packers were garbage when Brad Johnson was leading the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl, and Tampa Bay has been trash for most of my life. I think for a lot of football fans, this was the plan for the end of the season. Myself? I had anticipated a Cowboys vs Saints NFC Championship game so that's what I know. But now that we are here, I'm really looking forward to this. Both as a fan of the Packers and as a fan of the sport.

The first time they met, it was boring and not close. Green Bay jumped out to an early lead, but looked uncomfortable, and after a couple of Aaron Rodgers' INT's, were really never in it. Tampa started conservatively, switched to a bold open offense, and then shut the door with clock management in the 2nd half. This time it should be different. First, the game is on the slow, trudging field at Lambeau. If the forecast is right, it's going to be chilly with a chance of snow. This could play into the hands of the Packers. Outside of MVS, the Packers do a great job of holding the football, and the running backs can all make plays out of the backfield. Where the Buccaneers are good is in their aggression; they blitz really well, but their linebackers are almost better dropping back into coverage and stepping into passing lanes. It's a very difficult team to throw against, as Brees can attest to. I think the Packers will need to get into a mindset of keeping the Buccaneers offense off the field, and doing so with long, run heavy drives. Tampa on the other hand just need to do what they've been doing - be patient, be smart, take what the defense gives you, and make big plays on defense. They remind me of the Baltimore Ravens of the past few years with their ball hawking skills. This game will be won in the turnover battle, just like the last one was.

Packers 31-24.

Kansas City vs Buffalo.

The past two weeks I was able to post on a Tuesday, because I had a feeling of what would happen when the game would begin. I've waited until a quiet Thursday night, and still nothing from the Chiefs camp. This is a tough one; I hate head injuries and I think in a lot of cases players are rushed back and the result of it is the player is never the same again (Justin Morneau, Brandon Stokley just to name a few). You want to have your top guys playing and especially at this time, due to the impact of how important these games are. I think this is a little different in only that Patty is so young, and also, the kid already has a Super Bowl ring. If he's not ready to go, I think you gotta sit him - there will be other seasons. Thus so, I am going to treat this AFC Championship game like he isn't in there, but if Patty is 100% and everything checks out peaches and cream, well, Chiefs 37 Bills 27.

Chad Henne. One of my least favorite quarterbacks of all-time, albeit for personal reasons. Yet, he is serviceable enough, and you can't take away anything from his arm. He can chuck it around a bit. Andy Reid is probably coming up with a delicious game plan, one that may remind you of the great west coast quarterback that Reid had while he was in Philly -  A.J. Feeley. Every once in awhile, Donovan McNabb would get injured and miss a few games and Andy Reid had to rely on a guy that wasn't great, but wasn't afraid to make a few throws and win a game. Well, he led the Eagles to the #1 seed in the playoffs, although they ended up getting beat at home by the Buccaneers (rushed McNabb back too soon???) Well, enough story time. 

These Buffalo Bills are no joke. If Henne has to lead the Chiefs to the promised land, I'm a little worried. I think McDermott takes this game into overdrive and has Allen try and throw the ball 50 times. Not that the Chiefs can't get into a shoot out with their speed and weapons on offense, but Henne has not been battle tested, and as the Ravens learned, the defense is relentless. Josh continues on the up tick of a new legacy, Allentown is going to become a thing, and Buffalo is on the way to Super Bowl #5.

Bills in a wild one 38-35.

NFL Playoff Predictions - Divisional Round

 I didn't get every game wrong last week! Feels pretty good. Let's get to it.

Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams

I still have a hard time not typing in St. Louis… seems like the most straight forward matchup of the weekend. Besides their hiccup at home against Minnesota, their terrible quarter against the Buccaneers, and an overtime mishap against the Colts, Green Bay played just about the perfect season. The offense was explosive and didn't rely on a singular weapon like I thought it might, Jaire Alexander was able to shut down one side of the field, and Adrian Amos played the backline almost perfectly and got a well deserved all-pro honor. They were really only vulnerable when the passing game wasn't working, and that didn't happen too often. Only the Carolina Panthers game comes to mind. 

I really liked McVay's game plan for the Seahawks last week. Deliver no mistakes and an established run game, and most playoff games can be won. He understands that as well as anyone in the league, maybe more than anybody else. They got to the Super Bowl not with the arm of Jared Goff, but on the legs of Todd Gurley. Then they drafted the player that I thought would be the best rookie RB, Cam Akers, and while he had his struggles early on, this is his back field now. He is a mix of strength and speed, but sees the holes really well, and can carry the pile a yard or two. Damon Harrison will be a much needed player in this matchup. If Goff and Aaron Donald were 100%, I think this game goes down to the wire, but Matt LaFleur can match wits with McVay, and I think Aaron outplays whatever QB lines up on the other side.

Packers in a 28-17 win.

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens

I know that there's a game that matches two NFL legends against each other happening this weekend - Baker Mayfield and Patty Mahomes - but this is the toughest game for me to predict. The quarterbacks are young, the running games are inconsistent, and outside of Mark Andrews and Stefon Diggs, there's not one playmaker in the passing game that I would count on in the late minutes of the game. I like both defenses just enough to keep the QB's honest, and not make this game a rout in favor of either side. Josh Allen did look good in Buffalo's first playoff win since I was a teenager… and a very young teenager at that. Voice cracking and everything. Thurman Thomas was my favorite player in the league at the time, nostalgia cracking at the seams. Baltimore had yet to exist then. Baltimore is built a little differently than Indianapolis, where Indy wanted to get to the QB, Baltimore wants you to throw, they blitz well, and that's how they take their risks. A turnover or two for Buffalo, and this game gets interesting. Josh Allen statistically punishes teams that try to blitz him. On the other side, Lamar Jackson had a beauty of a 4th quarter last week. It was a tight, emotional game, and I think he grew immensely from that moment. This is still a team that last year ran rampant through the AFC. Then they had a strange hiccup against the Titans, and they were gone. 

I keep going back and forth on this game. Lamar plays brilliantly. Allen can't be stopped. Diggs will make Marcus Peters cry. Diggs is out of big time playoff moments. Neither team has the running game that can be successful in keeping the other quarterback of the field. I think the drives will be quick, and both teams will be looking for the big play. If there's anything I've learned over the years watching football, it's that you can't always have what the heart wants. I'm dying for Rodgers vs Allen. There's a possibility I might be left with Rodgers vs Lamar, or worse.

Ravens upset the Bills (sort of) 33-28.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Cleveland Browns

These last few weeks have gone on for so long, that I've forgotten that for 3 months the Chiefs were the best team in football. They were lighting up teams every single game, and they were doing it with one of the most fluid passing games that I've ever seen. Then, it got a little tight with the Saints, and it got unusually interesting against the Falcons, before the last match of the season was a wash. And because of this, it feels like the Cleveland Browns have been the best team in football lately. National media? Cleveland Browns. Twitter? Cleveland Browns. Television? Cleveland Browns. Commercials? Baker Mayfield. 

I have this uneasy feeling that all of this will end in a few days time. I think the Chiefs are rip roaring and ready to go, and I think the Browns' feel good. It has a bit of that feeling from last year when the Houston Texans came ready to play, jumped out to an absolutely ridiculous lead, and well. The Chiefs are the Super Bowl champions. Lest we forget, the Browns had a pretty similar lead against the Steelers last week, and let them get back into the game. Not in my wildest dreams do I see Patty Mahomes throwing 4 interceptions, and even with Clyde Edwards-Helaire sitting out, it really shouldn't be that difficult. Chuck a few to Travis Kelce, chuck a few to Tyreek Hill, and the job should be done.

Chiefs 42, Browns 31.

New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I think if the Packers were eliminated, I would enjoy this more. Unfortunately for me, if the Rams win this weekend, I'm not going to want to watch another quarter of football. If the Pack win, I'm hoping for a slugfest. If we weren't around, I'd want 900 passing yards and 90 points. 

These two teams have been very strange this season. At the beginning of the year, I thought they would be the two best teams in the NFC, and both of their matchups would be close. Instead, the Saints have just smashed the Buccaneers twice, and in the second game, it looked like Tom Brady was going to cry. I mean, it was really ugly. Almost as bad as thinking it was 3rd down, when it was actually 4th. But the Bucs have been resilient if nothing else. They added Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette to positions of great strength, and really, it may have been unnecessary to do so. Tyler Johnson was doing just fine, and Ronald Jones is a horse. So now they have all these weapons and just one football for them. But it's Tom Brady, no one is complaining, and they must like their chances in round 3.

I do too, if I'm being honest. The Saints are a weird one for me. My Super Bowl pick back in September, they had signed Emmanuel Sanders and really looked like a well oiled machine. Then they laid an egg against the Raiders, lost at home to the Packers (which in hindsight was very costly), eeked out 3 point win after 3 point win, before dropping the two games late to the Eagles and Chiefs. Finally, in a playoff game where they could make a statement, they casually force Chicago's hand and escape with a victory. Not a convincing one, however. It was never in doubt, but they tried to make it so. So this is where it gets tricky. The Bucs seem to be firing on most of their cylinders, Tom looks good, play calling is sublime, and Washington never really stood a chance. New Orleans on the other hand, dallied, and dallied some more. Against a very, VERY average Chicago Bears team. But they've crushed the Bucs twice. With a flip of a coin…

Saints over the Bucs 28-24.

NFL Playoff Predictions - Wild Card Round

 Wild Card Round

Monday, January 4, 2021

10:48 PM

I stopped making predictions a few years ago when I got every single game WRONG over the course of the entire wild card weekend, and the divisional round. 0 for 8. Now I know that my favorite sport switched from football to soccer (football) awhile ago, but I still thought I knew what I was talking about… at least a little bit. Well, this new year has inspired me to start writing a little bit more, and I guess I'm good at talking about sports? Well, we shall see. To make it a little more interesting for these playoffs, I asked all 3 of my children to partake in the prediction process; if I'm capable of going 0 for 8 again, then I deserve to get roasted by my boys. They live for it.

Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts.  

It should be the easiest game of the weekend. If it wasn't for Aaron Rodgers to play out of his mind for an entire season, Josh Allen would be the NFL MVP. In his 3rd season. That's crazy to me. The weapons are good, but not great, the running game is average, but not good, and the play calling has been a little interesting at times. What Allen has going for him is this: he has a Ben Roethlisberger type arm, with Aaron Rodgers escapeability. I should've known when he came into US Bank stadium a couple of years ago that he would be special, and now I have no problem saying it. He might be right there with Pat Mahomes as an elite QB of the next generation. 

The reason it might not be the easiest game of the weekend, is because of DeForest Buckner and Darius Leonard. I only got to see them twice because of the crappy bias the NFL seems to have against the Colts - I can't remember ever seeing them in primetime outside of the game against the Green Bay Packers. I also watched them run roughshod over the Minnesota Vikings. But in those two games, their defensive line made it very tough for Kirk Cousins to throw comfortably, and even Aaron Rodgers didn't have a typical Rodgers game. Can they make Josh Allen uncomfortable? I believe they can, I also think that they will. And he's too good. 

Bills in a 31-24 win.

Aiden: Buffalo

Logan: Buffalo

Lucas: Buffalo

Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams.

This is my favorite matchup of the weekend, but after sitting on social media and an hour on NFL LIve, it seems like no one wants to talk about it. Sean McVay has a really good record against the Seahawks and they played them tough in both games this year. He won't be afraid to call the game the way he wants to; personnel and score don't really matter. I could see the Rams trying to get into a shootout with the Seahawks; I could also seeing this game being a defensive struggle filled with clock management play calling and conservative plays. I hope it's the first one.

Seattle is going to be a tough out in the NFC, and I'm surprised they weren't talked about this Monday morning. It was Tom's Bucs, and Aaron's Packers, and Drew's Saints. I know that all 3 QB's have rings and they aren't fazed by much. But Russell is right there in that group. He was one bad play call away from potentially having 2 rings. This game will be fun, but I think it will be won or lost in the X's and O's. Without the 12th man involved, and Jared Goff healthy, I'm calling for one of the few upsets of the weekend.

Rams squeak by 24-21.

Aiden: Seattle

Logan: Seattle

Lucas: Seattle

Washington Football Team vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When I saw Dak go down that warm Autumn day, I truly thought that Rivera's "Football Team" would be the ones to break out of this terrible division. Making my predictions before the season began, I really thought Dallas would be one of the challenging teams for the title this year, but Dak is just too important to everything that they do. We saw McCarthy turn down the high risk plays to almost nothing afterwards, Dallas was boring, but usually in games. It was the best he could do. Washington deserves this spot; Nate Sudfeld be damned. They have a tenacious pass rush, but unfortunately they're not really good at anything else. It was good enough to beat a battered up  Steelers team, but covering all the Bucs weapons and getting to Tom will be the toughest thing they have to do this season. 

Tom had a really good season, and they were a Saints sweep away from locking up a top 2 seed. When teams get to him, this team is very ordinary and have a hard time coming back from bigger deficits. The Packers game was a little different, Aaron threw 2 picks that turned a 10-0 lead into a 10-14 deficit, and Tampa just took over from there. But they are a team that loves to play with an early lead. They give the rock to Ronald Jones and occasionally Leonard Fournette, and ride the backs to victory. The key lies within. If Washington can get Tom into 3rd and longs, then they'll have a chance at 7-9, to make a splash in the NFC playoffs. I'm not one to bet against Tom though, I see the Bucs starting to realize that it's going to be the Wild West in the NFC this month.

Bucs win because of the early lead 28-16.

Aiden: Tampa Bay

Logan: Tampa Bay

Lucas: Tampa Bay

My wife: Washington Football Team ☺

Tennessee Titans vs Baltimore Ravens

Of course this would be the noon game. What a delicious story. The 2019 Ravens were the league's darlings and Lamar Jackson was coming off an MVP season. And then bang! Derrick Henry, and game over. This year had some friendly taps on the helmet and a few hands to the chests, just conflict among friends. No. Not really. No love lost between these two teams, and I think this game will be a real battle. Maybe not the closest game per se, but great for television.

I've been half right half wrong about this Titans team all year. For those that remember, they were my Super Bowl pick to come out of the AFC. I thought they would ride Derrick Henry to 2,000 yards (right), and play in tough defensive minded affairs (wrong). The Browns scored at will against this team, the Jaguars scored 30, the Packers casually scored 40 and the Texans put up 36 and 38. Tennessee has had to rely way more on AJ Brown and Ryan Tannehill than I could've possibly imagined, and I've always been of the opinion that relying on Tannehill is not a good thing for any NFL Franchise. I admit I was wrong, and had he not played as well as he did, the Colts are winning the AFC South. Baltimore is getting hot at the right time, and their offense is still very difficult to deal with. Lamar just doesn't make mistakes, and he has really learned how to be patient with his throws, and when and how to use his legs. This game should be high scoring, but it benefits both teams. Who does it benefit more?

Tennessee Titans in a thriller 34-28.

Aiden: Baltimore

Logan: Tennessee

Lucas: Baltimore

Wife as a tiebreaker: Tennessee

New Orleans Saints vs Chicago Bears

The AFC couldn't have picked a better time to add a 7th team to the wildcard playoffs. The NFC? Not so much. There were times this year in which I thought the Bears were one of the worst teams in football. Their offense couldn't get a first down on important drives, and their defense was giving up big plays, which was totally uncharacteristic of them. They were one bad quarter against the Vikings away from not making the playoffs, but low and behold, here we are. And what a delicious opportunity for the Bears. The Saints got a little taste of the COVID-19 virus, and while it didn't affect them in the least against the Panthers, I wonder if maybe the Bears can't cook up a game plan to contain the Drew Brees/Taysom Hill QB duo.

No, they probably can't. While I will never care for Sean Payton the human being, he is an offensive mastermind and he won't have to deal with a playoff team in a purple jersey this season. And the issue was never their offense. A huge whiff on Stefon Diggs in the miracle game, and Kyle Rudolph's mitts were just too big to tear the ball away from. Jimmy Graham is a shadow, and while I think Cole Kmet is the new Kyle Rudolph, it's safe to say Mitchell Trubisky isn't the new Kirk Cousins. Fortunately for the Bears, there are a tale of two Saints this year. There's the team that smashed the Buccaneers twice, played the Chiefs extremely tough, and made easy work of the Vikings, Broncos and 49ers. There's also the team that struggled to beat the Lions, lost to the Eagles, and needed a really questionable penalty call to beat the Bears in OT earlier this year… with Nick Foles as the Bears QB. That game told me everything about the Trubisky/Foles conundrum. Well Trubisky is back, but so is Michael Thomas. I know who I would rather have.

Saints start gaining momentum 27-14.

Aiden: New Orleans

Logan: New Orleans

Lucas: New Orleans

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns

Uh…. Um… null and void? So if the head coach can't be in the facilities or on the field this weekend, how do they expect the Browns to perform at their very best, or even well enough to compete in the game? What if there is an outbreak at the Cleveland facilities this week? I'll try and guess based on the information that I have, but this game could be anything. Or played on Tuesday. Or not even at all.

The Cleveland Browns season has been nothing short of amazing. I know a lot of people were surprised with the Stefanski hiring, but I actually thought it was nothing short of brilliant. He has always gotten good QB play from his quarterbacks in Minnesota, and I think each and every one of them over achieved under his tutelage. Sam Bradford was not worth a 1st, but was still solid. Teddy played well until the injury. Case did nothing wrong. Kirk had decent numbers considering the neglect of the offensive line. So I'm thinking Baker and Kevin could be special. And for some moments they have been. That Ravens game was probably my favorite of the season. And while any QB that got 4 games vs the NFC East has likely looked good this year, I grudgingly admit that Baker did take it to another level to get the Browns to this level. Pittsburgh has been my biggest question mark this year. Coming into the season, I saw them as your typical 8-8/9-7 team. Then they get 8 wins in 8 weeks, and I start questioning my opinions as a football mind. Then they were who I thought they were, when I looked at their schedule and saw 15-1/14-2. Had they played that way the final 8 weeks, this game would be like another bye week. Their struggles concern me. But not as much as a head coach in quarantine. 

Steelers in a weird one 27-10.

Aiden: Pittsburgh

Logan: Pittsburgh

Lucas: Pittsburgh

NBA 2020-21 Predictions

 NBA Season Predictions

Sunday, December 20, 2020

11:30 P.M.

Where I want to be:

Where I really am:

The only way I can think of my blog posts this year is like comparing myself to Michael Jordan of Chicago Bulls fame. A few years ago I was on point, posting a few blogs every month, covering a variety of topics and getting likes and comments from friends and family both. Now I'm like the Washington Wizards version of Michael; my teammates don't like me, I don't really give a s*** anymore as every day I feel uninspired and disinterested. My defense has sagged off as of late, and I'm certainly not going to hit a game winner. It looks like my last post was a lazy interpretation on how I thought the NFL season might go, although predicting that the Saints would meet the Titans wasn't my worst guess. I like 3 other teams in the AFC a little bit more, but up until that debacle against the Eagles, the Saints looked like they were overcoming all adversity. Now I attempt to redouble my efforts, and become a solid writer in the way of Charlotte Hornets owner.  

Well outside of not paying attention to the quietest off-season of my lifetime, I think I have a handle on what teams can challenge for an NBA title vs those that have absolutely no chance of doing so. I will rank them accordingly, make some playoff predictions, and naturally a Nate's 9 to watch to complete. As always, feel free to make your own guesses in the comments and thank you for reading!

Eastern Conference: 

No chance: Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls.

Playoff sniff: Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards

Gets in: Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics. 

Playoffs: Boston vs Atlanta - Winner: Boston Celtics

Milwaukee vs Indiana - Winner: Milwaukee Bucks

Brooklyn vs Philadelphia - Winner: Brooklyn Nets

Miami vs Toronto - Winner: Miami Heat

Boston vs Miami - Winner: Miami Heat

Milwaukee vs Brooklyn - Winner: Milwaukee Bucks

Conference Championship: Miami vs Milwaukee - Winner: Milwaukee Bucks

Western Conference:  

No chance: Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder.

Playoff Sniff: Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trailblazers, Memphis Grizzlies.

Gets in: New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, L.A. Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, L.A. Lakers. 

Playoffs: L.A. Lakers vs New Orleans - Winner: L.A. Lakers

Dallas vs Phoenix - Winner: Phoenix Suns

Denver vs Utah - Winner: Denver Nuggets

L.A. Clippers vs G.S. - Winner: Golden State Warriors

L.A. Lakers vs Phoenix - Winner: L.A. Lakers (It'll be really close)

Denver vs G.S. - Winner: Denver Nuggets

Conference Championship: L.A. Lakers vs Denver - Winner: L.A. Lakers

NBA Finals: Milwaukee vs L.A. Lakers - Winner: Milwaukee Bucks

Synopsis: I really think everything that the Bucks have done this off-season will turn to gold. The extension of Giannis made complete sense, and they have full control until 2024. I love that they brought in Jrue Holiday and I think we'll really see how much better that makes an already good team this year. I'm a huge Dallas Mavericks guy, but I think the lack of a gritty playoff experience will bite them against Chris Paul and the Suns. I think the Suns might be the most difficult team for the Lakers to get by, but I do think it'll be personal - Paul wants to beat Anthony Davis and the Lakers. He's still bitter.  I love Boston this year as well, but there's something about Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo that I can't pick Boston to beat those guys yet. It's confounding. I really thought I could pick a Celtics-Lakers final, but I just can't pull the trigger. I also really like Ibaka on the Clippers, but that organization is jinxed. I'm only one guy sitting in front of a computer, I can't get rid of that hex.

Nate's 9 Players to Watch.

9. Kevin Durant. What is he going to do with Kyrie Irving and his 3rd NBA franchise? One part of me wants to love him - he wins wherever he goes, he's one of the best shooters I've ever seen, and seems like a good locker room guy, because he doesn't take himself seriously. But I don't like him because he's had James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green as teammates. And he couldn't seem to find happiness while playing alongside such NBA talent. This team is low-key very talented; Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LaVert are nice supporting players, and evidently they're chasing James Harden as well. This season will tell us a lot about KD.

8. Paul George. The Clippers had dreams of making it to the finals last year, I think PG13 cost them their ambitions. They gave him a max deal, and I guess things will be different this time. Similar to KD, I wonder why he has problems where he goes. Indiana wasn't perfect, OKC felt awkward. What makes this time unique?

7. Devin Booker. The Suns have been built for Devin to be their star; near the end of the bubble experience he was playing his a** off. They brought in Chris Paul to take away some of the burden, this is the year that Booker should take that next step to be great. I always thought he would end up a Timberwolf, now that the dream is over, I'll have to enjoy watching the Suns.

6. LaMelo Ball. Charlotte needed a center piece and I think they have found it. For the next few years, the Wolves choice of taking Anthony Edwards will be scrutinized next to Ball. While I think that all 3 teams at the top took the right player for the franchise - how does D'Angelo Russell play with Ball? - Edwards might not be the early factor the Timberwolves need. Ball will be playing heavily for the Hornets from day one. Should be better than older brother, and not sure it'll be close.

5. Rajon Rondo/Trae Young. I like this signing for the Hawks. Rondo should be a great mentor for Young, and I really wanted for him to consider the Timberwolves before they were able to bring back Rubio. He defends, rebounds, and outside of some of his diva antics, is a pretty good locker room presence. I really like him for Trae Young, because I think his strengths translate to improving on Young's weaknesses. With the signing of Bogdanovic, Atlanta should be pushing for playoffs this year. 

4. Karl Anthony Towns. This is the time. If the Timberwolves are ever going to get out of this lottery situation and into the western conference playoff race, they need KAT to take that next step up. This might be the most talented roster he's ever been a part of. He has friends on the roster. He has a mentor on the roster. He has a guy, that in the college game, wasn't afraid to take on the big moments, so KAT won't need to do as much. I would love to see us win 40 games this year, but we are going to need an All-NBA Towns to do so. 

3. Luka Doncic. The Mavericks were literally on their way to being the new Timberwolves of the western conference. And then Doncic fell into their lap. In every sport over my lifetime, there's been a handful of guys where I see them play one time, and I can tell they're going to be great. Aaron Rodgers in football. Wayne Rooney in soccer. Johan Santana in baseball. They just seem to shine immediately, and nothing is too difficult for them. In fact, it looks easy. This is how I feel about Doncic. He can shoot. He can pass. He can defend. He can put the ball on the floor. He is a natural born leader, and maybe his most important attribute, he knows how to win. My top 4 has always seemed lacking - it's been Michael, LeBron, Kobe and Bird. I love Bird and I think he was great, but the other 3 were must watch television. I think I finally found my true 4th. 

2. Jamal Murray. I don't get fired up too often, but when I do, it's when the Timberwolves decide to draft Kris Dunn ahead of Jamal Murray. I really don't believe in drafting players to fit a team; in the NBA when you can only play five players at a time, and need 5 good players in most crunch times situation, that you give up the bigger talent to get the right player into your team. So we drafted the defensive minded Kris Dunn to maybe take the burden off of LaVine, Wiggins and Towns. Okay, I understand the thought process in that draft pick, but what they didn't see was Wiggins is afraid of the big moments, LaVine is a volume scorer that is flashy and fun, but has no killer instinct, and Towns needs a good distributor that can help him finish. Murray is a killer, that also makes his big man look better (Jokic). Dunn was a liability on offense that still couldn't guard the Westbrook's and Curry's off the world. And maybe with Murray the Timberwolves don't bring in Russell - who knows what that means for Towns' ego, but maybe we keep Butler around, and maybe we'll challenging in the deadly west. Murray is that good.

1. Jayson Tatum. I think he's ready for superstardom. He is quietly becoming the total package for the Boston Celtics. He can score like LeBron, maybe outside of the physical finish at the rim. He can defend the perimeter and keep up with the quicker forwards in the league. He can body some of the bigger forwards in the league. He is still maturing physically and developing the leadership skills that can make the Celtics his team instead of their tried efforts of making Gordon Hayward and Al Horford their leaders. He involves his teammates offensively, and can do the other things to keep the team in it, while Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker are scoring. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Celtics won the title this year, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if they were doing it with the league MVP. 

Note: The reason I have Boston bowing out early in the playoffs has nothing to do with Tatum. I think Walker will spend a majority of the playoffs on the injury shelf (he just can't seem to stay healthy all the time), and I think Marcus Smart may be missing as well. If this team can stay healthy, and establish an order within their core, they very well could be playing for a championship. Maybe in 2021. 

European Football 2020

Some normalcy! The Premier League starts up this weekend, and most if not all leagues will be firing away by Saturday of next week! Quick little flyer: COVID has really broken me down. While I’m an introvert at heart, I love, love, love seeing others succeed. To have my family cooped up in the house for the last 6 months has been very difficult, but we do have our lives, and we do have our health. Not everyone can say that. So while I’m excited about what’s to come in the wide world of sports, we’ve also been very humbled this year. Hug your loved ones close, and remember your blessings! Now I’m going to talk about mine!

Premier League:

Champions: Manchester City

Champions League: City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea

Europa League: Tottenham, Everton, Leicester City

Relegation: Aston Villa, West Bromwich, Southampton

F.A. Cup: Arsenal

Carabao Cup: Tottenham

Recap: All this only happens if Manchester United get Jadon Sancho, City gets 1 or 2 more reinforcements and Thiago Alcantara doesn’t join Liverpool. Things change drastically if these things don’t happen. Chelsea made tons of moves, but not in the places I expected them to. I thought Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Mateo Kovacic were good enough, but yet here come Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech. More talented players, sure, but the Premier League is much tougher defensively than the Bundesliga and Erdivisie.  I like what Ancelotti is doing, and I think Everton will be very difficult to beat this season. Plenty of draws will keep them far from the top 4, but they should have enough to get to Europe. I also think Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be the Premier League’s breakthrough player. He has the midfield to supply him with assists, and he’s always had the goal scoring ability to get to the next level. Crystal Palace, Leeds, Brighton and Burnley will experience quiet seasons. No long cup runs, no push for Europe, but another year in the top flight. I’m sure Leeds will elevate from those expectations and a few more additions could get them back to glory. Wilifred Zaha is still on Crystal Palace, which shocks me. He would look very good on a European night. I’m shocked that a Lyon wouldn’t consider him for a Memphis replacement or Ajax for a Ziyech. Newcastle and West Ham both added well, look for them to find safety at an early date. I hope we don’t say goodbye to Aston Villa, but something doesn’t sit right with me. An unbalanced eleven, maybe? West Brom feels safe, Southampton continues to sell.

Ligue 1:

Champions: PSG

Champions League: Rennes, Lyon

Europa League: Nice, Lille, Marseille

Relegation: Montpellier, Brest, Dijon

Coupe de France: Nice

Recap: PSG might experience a hangover this year, after losing such a close final to Bayern in Champions League. That said, I think even more distracting will be Real Madrid’s quiet pursuit of Kylian Mbappe. More on that later. But they do have tons of firepower, and I don’t think they’re quite finished shopping for players. It’ll be an interesting final weeks on who they bring in, if anyone. If they get Eduardo Camavinga, look out! Speaking of which, he might be good enough at 17 to help push Rennes into the Champions League again. It’s amazing what they were able to get from their team last year. I could see them surprising many others again, if they’re able to keep Camavinga. Lyon should be better this year, I’m baffled to how a roster that talented finish 7th last year and out of Europe. Look for them to bounce back. Nice is my favorite team in France right now, and Patrick Vieira is attempting to build something special. I just hope his eyes don’t get turned west. But they should battle for a European place. Lille and Marseille both had good campaigns last year, and I expect more of the same.

Bundesliga:

Champions: Bayern Munich

Champions League: Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Hertha Berlin

Europa League: Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Moenchengladbach, VFL Wolfsburg

Relegation: Arminia (I love that they’re back though!), Union Berlin, FC Schalke (playoff spot)

DFB Pokal: Bayern Munich

Recap: Bayern is a cut above the rest of Europe and would really have to take a big fall to not win both trophies again this year. Bayer sold their best players, Leipzig sold their #9, Dortmund will probably sell Sancho before the deadline and Gladbach didn’t take that big step, although I do love their front 3 of Marcus Thuram, Breel Embolo and Alassane Plea. I really like the Hertha Berlin side that came out of COVID; Matheus Cunha and Lucas Tousart should be Bundesliga stars. It also helps that they lost in the first round of the Pokal, so they can redouble their efforts on finishing top 4. Wolfsburg is close too; Josip Brekalo could be a breakout star this year. John Brooks is everyone’s favorite American and their midfield is very deep. If anyone surprises for Champions League, my guess it’s VFL. I would miss FC Schalke if they left, but they need to do something and quickly. Their business strategy of losing top end talent for free at the end of their first deals is losing steam, and it’s not a very talented roster. If Amine Harit leaves before the window, my ambitious prediction may look a little more realistic.

Serie A:

Champions: Inter Milan (I’ve picked Juventus (correctly) last 8 years, may as well take a shot)

Champions League: Juventus, AC Milan, Atalanta

Europa League: AS Roma, Napoli, Lazio (as cup winners)

Relegation: Benevento, Crotone, Spezia

Italian Cup: Lazio (before the fire sale)

Recap: Probably the league I watch the least of the big 5, which is sad, because there are some really talented teams in this division. Atalanta made it all the way to the QF’s of Champions League, and had PSG until the final moments of their match. If they continue to improve (also in for Harit), they should be back in Champions League for a 3rd straight year. I’m excited that Lazio qualified for Champions League this year; their roster is very underrated and they have one of Europe’s best strikers in Ciro Immobile formerly of every semi-big club in Europe. Not sure if they’re ready for a title challenge, but they could be in a Euro place. If not, I could see them being strong enough to win the Coppa Italia. Inter Milan and Juventus should go down to the final weekends like last season, and I think Inter does have the squad to make that big push and bring a Serie A trophy back to the city of Milan for the first time since 2011. I’m excited for Achraf Hakimi, while I understand he’s not the greatest FB defensively, he is the best wing back going forward in all of Europe, if not the entire world. Juventus did make some good long-term acquisitions for the club; Weston McKennie will be a big one to watch, not only for Juventus, but fans of the US National Team as well. A prominent role in this club, could mean future captain for our country.

La Liga:

Champions: Real Madrid

Champions League: Barcelona, Atletico, Villarreal

Europa League: Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Osasuna

Relegation: Cadiz, Huesca, Deportivo Alaves

Copa Del Rey: Atletico

Recap: It’s weird watching all the Spanish teams sell, but not really buy. Valencia needs every dollar, and now they might be gone for awhile. Ferran Torres was a great signing for Manchester City, same goes for Dani Parejo at Villarreal. He is about as close to this generation that gets a Xavi as we will see, and he tried to stay loyal until the end. Every other week, Atletico is expected to sell Thomas Partey, who I believe is one of the best midfielders in Europe and makes things so easy for Saul, Koke, Carrasco, etc. As long as Jan Oblak stays, they will continue to have a chance. I’d love to see Joao Felix take another step this year, he was getting close at the end of last season, and he impacted the game against RB Leipzig almost immediately, even though it wasn’t enough. Real and Barcelona should be dueling it out for a title; I think Zidane is getting it right, but I still thought they might try and sneak in Kylian Mbappe this year. He just seems destined to be a Real Madrid player eventually. The same way Luis Figo, Zidane, both Ronaldo forwards and Beckham all were. James is off the books though, and they have the youth to replace him now. Vinicius, Rodrygo and Odegaard are ready for big La Liga minutes. Barcelona – I could spend an entire blog on their off-season. Let’s just say for the sake of someone’s legacy, I hope they get things right. If not, it’s going to be a very “messy” divorce. 

Champions League: Well this will probably be a crap shoot with all the different league starts and crowd capacity expectations. I think the usual suspects will probably be even better, as tactical and technical abilities make up for the lack of atmosphere. So the Marseille’s and AZ Alkmaar’s of the world might have tough time getting results. I finally got a final correct last year, let’s try for two in a row!

QF’s: Atletico, FC Bayern, Juventus, Inter Milan, Man City, Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool

SF’s: FC Bayern, Juventus, Man City, Real Madrid

Final: Real Madrid vs FC Bayern. They just seem to strong not to make it. I think Zidane discovers the eleven that gets him success this year, and Eden Hazard will be much better. Pirlo will struggle to get past FC Bayern, and without a trophy, might get canned after being a Juve legend. I really like FC Bayern to go back-to-back, but as we’ve seen, only Zidane seems to know how to win “Rabbit Ears” on consecutive occasions. Real Madrid in a bit of an upset for me in 2021. 

Europa League: Every year I pick Sevilla to win, and you know what? I’ve been right more than I’ve been wrong. Let’s do it again.

Sevilla vs Tottenham I could see Jose using this as a platform to try and qualify for Champions League. The EPL looks really difficult this year, and while I think he’s added to the depth of Tottenham, I’m not sure if they’re any better. It would be a shock if they finished top 4 to me. Sevilla will be out of the La Liga race early, but I think it always sets up really well for them. Ivan Rakitic will captain his old side to their 5th (!!!) Europa League title with some huge wins along the way.

Nate’s 9 – World 11

GK: Jan Oblak

LB: Alphonse Davies

CB: Jose Maria Gimenez

CB: Andreas Christensen – haha just kidding, Virgil Van Dyke

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold

10: Kevin De Bruyne

8: Toni Kroos - Goretzka if Bayern wins Europe

6: Casemiro

LW: Eden Hazard – Back in his rightful place

CF: Robert Lewandowski

RW: Kylian Mbappe

Nate’s 9 – My Favorite 11

GK: Dean Henderson – It’s time

LB: Alphonse Davies – He is a joy to watch

CB: Mats Hummels – rough year, but oh captain my captain

CB: Harry Maguire – forget the price, transformed United backline, played every minute 

RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – For years to come

6: Declan Rice – West Ham is relegated without his play

8: Paul Pogba – Transformed United when he came back

10: Bruno – Transformed United when he signed

LW: Marcus Rashford – Class guy, my favorite player

CF: Erling Haaland – I still can’t believe Dortmund got him. Destined for greatness

RW: Jadon Sancho – Either way, I win.

Nate’s 9 to watch out for:

1. Eduardo Camavinga. Will change the way 6’s play in the next generation 

2. Ferran Torres. Probably won’t get many minutes this year, but flew down the wing for Valencia

3. Mason Greenwood. Excited for year 2. Could score 20 goals this season

4. Fabio Silva. People don’t know it yet, but Wolves got the signing of the decade 

5. Vinicius Jr. If Real is to win almost everything, I need for Vinicius to be special

6. Gio Reyna. Dortmund almost needs to break these kids in early because they get sold so fast

7. Ansu Fati. He can help Messi get to where he wants to be again

8. Naci Unuvar. Ajax just keeps pumping them out. I hope he gets more minutes this year

9. Rodrygo. A hat-trick in his first Champions League start, best of the young Real 3

NFL 2020

 This is going to be a season unlike any other, and I believe that predictions are going to be next to impossible to make. Still doesn't mean that I won't do them! If you consider that I won't take the lack of a crowd into consideration and when/if they show up in the later weeks, then that's all I need. The NBA and NHL have proven that it's been a bit of a crap shoot when it's come to guessing who's going to run the show. Even MLB has been a little unusual, the Rangers and Red Sox usually challenge for playoff places and this year they are in contention for a top 5 pick in next year's draft. In any case, football is back! 

7 playoff teams now instead of 6. I will use an * to designate which teams I think will make the playoffs.

The playoffs if they happen are going to be insane if there are no fans. Anyone could beat anyone without the distraction of crowd noise and "abusive" environments. (Bye Eagles)

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys*

2. Philadelphia Eagles*

3. New York Giants
4. Washington DC Team

I think Dallas runs away with it here. They are really set up to run for the next two or three seasons, and dare I say it, but they kind of look like the 1998 Minnesota Vikings with their offensive talent. Should be fun to watch if Dak can put it all together. I think Eagles and Giants will be extremely close, maybe even down to final weekend. Eagles get Washington while Giants get Dallas, and I'm guessing that's the difference. DC Team are quietly building one of the NFL's best defenses, but that offense... it's awful. A Trevor Lawrence could make things really interesting in years to come. 2-14 might not be all bad.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers*
2. Minnesota Vikings*
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

Such strange teams all. Packers are drafting like a rebuild, but have a roster built to win now. Coach Mike Zimmer blew up his defense, let go of Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen, and traded away Stefon Diggs, but may have replaced everyone they lost. If Jefferson can win a OROY award, the offense shouldn't lose a step. Chicago is now a few players away, where I felt like last year, they were only a QB away. Jimmy Graham was a weird signing considering their draft, and I'm not sure Anthony Miller is a bona fide #2 WR. Love their defense though. Roquan Smith might be best OLB in the league. Khalil Mack is a monster. Lions are another strange team right now. Loaded on offense, and D'Andre Swift could be another OROY. Defense they lost Darius Slay, and there's no depth at all. I like Patricia, but his time is running out.

NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints*
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. Carolina Panthers

The Saints keep attempting to create a team that can win a 2nd Super Bowl for Drew Brees and always seem to come up short. This finally might be their year, and they added a few nice pieces. I look for Emmanuel Sanders to be big in the clutch, and Taysom Hill to provide big moments to potentially get them over the hump. Tampa Bay did everything in their power to give Tom a team capable of going to the super bowl. It's going to be close, but I think with their difficult schedule and lack of depth on the defense that they end up short of the playoffs. But it will be the most exciting team to watch. Atlanta and Carolina are both very talented teams, experiencing a lot of changes. Todd Gurley will break in the Atlanta O, and Matt Rhule will introduce some very interesting formations to the Panthers. 2021 might be a better bet for both of these teams.

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers*
2. Arizona Cardinals*
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Los Angeles Rams

Toughest division to predict. I think the Cardinals will be the surprise package and sneak into the playoffs at the expense of the Bucs and Seahawks. Big bet for me. Russell has a bit of help again on the defensive side, but I think the offense takes a step back. The 49ers should probably be the team that doesn't have quite the good season, but I think that defense has a chip on their shoulder for such a poor 4th quarter against the MVP. Kyle Shanahan keeps the offense exciting and interesting and maybe one step ahead of the rest. The Rams will be the best last placed team in the league, but trying to even win 3 games in this division might be a little tough. They have the league's best defensive player, but if Jared Goff can't take that jump, it might be a long year for a talented team.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills*
2. New England Patriots*
3. Miami Dolphins
4. New York Jets

The dynasty is finally over! And Bill will probably prove all of us wrong and get the best out of Cam Newton, but I'm going to take my shot here. I really, really like the Bills and their defense could be one of the best in the league. Assuming the Bills don't blow any easy games (they have 5), they should be able to win 10-11 games and pull off the division. Bill Belicheck will push them to the end. I just think they lost to many players to the virus list and losing Tom Brady would affect any franchise. Miami could be on a really quick turn around, and challenging for a title in a year or two, assuming that Tua is as good as we were led to believe before injuries. They've put a bit of talent on this roster. New York is in disarray, and losing Jamal Adams will hurt. Le'Veon seems upset, Robbie Anderson is gone, but hey, they should have a good offensive line!

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens*
2. Pittsburgh Steelers*
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals

This division is deceptively tricky to me. All these picks get blown up if an injury happens to any QB. I really believe that Joe Burrow can have the Bengals close to the Browns, even this year. He is confident and he is good. I liked the Browns more last year, and they weren't very good. Any team with Jarvis Landry, OBJ, Nick Chubb and Baker Mayfield shouldn't be having problems. But they continue to do so. The division will be won on Ben Roethlisberger's return. If they don't miss a beat, I think they can jump ahead of the Ravens. But they have their own chip, and I do think Lamar plays 16 games. So I'll give the Ravens the nod here.

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts*
2. Tennessee Titans*
3. Houston Texans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars

The top 3 in this division are really difficult to choose from. I think Jacksonville is doing everything in their power to finish 3-13, but Gardner Minshew might be able to get a few wins out of this team. DJ Chark is a WR1, and the defense still has some pieces. The Colts, Titans and Texans will probably all battle until the final weekend, and I really like the rushing duo of Jonathan Taylor and Marlon Mack to get the Colts to the end. Nothing to say of Derrick Henry who is also great, but the Titans have a tough December. Houston is counting on Duke and David Johnson, which I'm not to high on, but they still have a solid defense. I'll give it to the rejuvenated Philip Rivers. 

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs*
2. Denver Broncos
3. LA Chargers
4. Vegas Raiders

I think everyone believes that the Kansas City Chiefs are the heavy favorites to make it back to the Super Bowl this year. They're probably not far off; this is as loaded of a roster as I've seen since some of the Patriots top teams. Not the recent winners that won with Tom and Bill outmaneuvering but the teams with Willle McGinest, Teddy Bruschi, Ty Law and all those other guys. They have the best QB in the league, arguably a top 3 WR, a top 3 TE, a top 3 O-Line and loads of talent on the defensive side. One of the best coaches in football, my real favorite for OROY (CEH) and a die hard fan base. But missing that last thing could hurt, also the Super Bowl hangover that seems to affect most teams. Denver is nice, but just lost their best player today to a season ending injury. I'll keep them 2nd because I had them there prior, but it's definitely an opening for the Raiders and Chargers. LA is a QB away, and we'll see if Austin Ekeler can be the horse. I don't watch Vegas, I don't care to watch Vegas, so putting them in last just felt like the right thing to do. Would love to see them prove me wrong.

NFC Playoffs:

1 seed: Dallas Cowboys
2 seed vs 7 seed: N.O. Saints vs Arizona Cardinals - Saints
3 seed vs 6 seed: S.F. 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles - 49ers
4 seed vs 5 seed: G.B. Packers vs Minnesota Vikings - Packers

1 seed vs 4 seed: Dallas Cowboys vs G.B. Packers - Cowboys
2 seed vs 3 seed: N.O. Saints vs S.F. 49ers - Saints

1 seed vs 2 seed: Dallas Cowboys vs N.O. Saints - Saints

AFC Playoffs:

1 seed: Baltimore Ravens
2 seed vs 7 seed: K.C. Chiefs vs N.E. Patriots - Chiefs
3 seed vs 6 seed: Indianapolis Colts vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Steelers
4 seed vs 5 seed: Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans - Titans

1 seed vs 6 seed: Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Ravens
2 seed vs 5 seed: K.C. Chiefs vs Tennessee Titans - Ah what the hell, Titans.

1 seed vs 5 seed: Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans - Finish last year's business, Titans.

Super Bowl: Tennessee Titans vs New Orleans Saints

I didn't think I would be here. It makes sense in a lot of ways, both teams have unfinished business left over from the last season, but I don't think they're the two most talented teams in the league (Chiefs, Cowboys). But in regards to the Cowboys, I don't think they're ready for the big moment, and for the Chiefs, maybe that hunger disappears? I never predict my Super Bowls, but I think this would be a delicious matchup of styles and head coaches. Two different ways to win. But with COVID lingering and fans missing anything can happen. Should be a great ride!

Nate's 9 to watch:

RB - Clyde Edwards Helaire. You're already seeing it tonight. Burrow was great, but CEH was right there.
WR - Brandon Aiyuk. Could be the 49ers #1 WR by end of year.
Chargers D-Line - Whoa!
Gardner Minshew - Least talented roster in the league, can he make magic!?
Drew Lock - Weapons galore! How long of a leash does Elway give him?
Dak Prescott - See above, but with Super bowl aspirations.
Jordan Love - Haha yeah right. My least favorite draft pick of all-time.
Darius Slay - I thought Eagles needed help elsewhere, but he might be motivated by a Super Bowl chance.
COVID - has a lot of power, could end our season at any time. 😔

NCAA Football Preview

What's that you say? Clemson and Alabama are still playing?

NCAA Championship game: Clemson vs Alabama

Lucas vs Nate

 Nate vs Lucas

Monday, August 24, 2020

11:37 PM

It's strange because while I don't think we are complete opposites, the personalities of myself and Lucas aren't very close. He is a full blown extrovert, an entertainer, who when at his very best, enjoys being around everyone and everything. I, on the other hand, just want to read Game of Thrones books or watch EPL in a room by myself and not have to say a word to anyone at anytime. But when we are together, it's magical. Since he's been 2 years old, he's always held amazing eye contact. And so we have these deep, intellectual conversations and I feel like I learn as much from him as I hope he's learned from me. We talk chess, Marvel, sports tactics, demographics! I remember our first debate when he was probably like 27 months old and I wanted him to experience a shower. He said, "No. Bath." I told him, no we are going to take a shower and I'll hold him when the water runs. Again, "No! Bath!". But Lucas, the shower is great, efficient, and fun. "Not clean. Bath." Oh, I see. We can't clean ourselves in showers, only baths, because there's no bubbles in showers… Or the time when he was 3, and he still had a little anxiety about going to preschool. So in the mornings, I would get him talking, to take his mind off of the things that were bothering him. So we used to talk about the things I would do while they were in school. Then one day he says something along the lines of: "Dad. I go to school. You go to the bank, then Cub, then go to the coffee place, then get $5 pizza, then get me and Logan, then go home." It was literally everything that I would do while I dropped them off at school, and he was able to apply all those other trips and put them into a one day errand extravaganza. Perceptive kid, this Lucas.

Lucas started puzzles when he was about 18 months old, finishing them when he turned 2, completed the entire Preschool Monkey Lunchbox before he was 2 and a half, and was playing chess right when he turned 4. He loves that challenging stuff. And he doesn't even work hard at it, we were playing Chess the other day and he was watching Netflix while he played me. I beat him, but not before we went about 70 moves. I've been obsessed with this game for 5 years, and he casually takes me to the ropes with barely a thought. 

I try to cater to the needs of those around me, and maybe that's why Lucas and I get along so well. Very rarely does Lucas attempt this… lifestyle… as he usually likes to dictate the action. He does it while playing with Logan, with his friends at school, with the neighbor kids in the backyard, he really just enjoys running the show. When we are together, it runs pretty smoothly. We've started the Marvel movie storyline, and I like that he has researched the order of the films in the way we are supposed to watch them, and we analyze the characters together and how we hope the story will end. (I think Thor: Ragnarok is our next film?) When we do drills, I set up the cones to his needs and wants, and then he explains the process on how we are going to train. But what he doesn't realize is, I'm grooming him to become a leader, so I love taking a backseat. Logan needs me to run all training, and Aiden prefers training on his own. I love the uniqueness of their development though.

I never thought my best friend could be a kid. I am the square peg, to his ever evolving round hole. He really dislikes reading, I recharge with it. He wants hundreds of friends, I hold high esteem over the 3-4 closest friends that I've made. He loves cooking, puzzles, board games, and big moments. All I need is a TV and a sports package and furthering my children's development. 

My final Lucas anecdote. Big-Moment Lucas. Boys 2011 top team played Girls 2010 top team. So essentially 2nd and 3rd grade boys vs 3rd and 4th grade girls. And these girls are good. I mean, a really strong team. Physical, pushing the boys around, chasing them relentlessly. They give Aiden's team tons of problems whenever they scrimmaged. We're playing them, and as the game goes on, the boys get more and more confident. Down at times 3-1 and 5-3, the boys have it back to 5-4 in the final minute, when the boys get a throw in (kick-in, thanks COVID) in the girls half. I get close to Lucas, and tell him, "A big moment buddy, let's make this one your own." He runs up and takes the kick-in, receives the ball back from his teammate, and blasts the ball past the girl in goal, who had absolutely no chance. 5-5! 

Shining star, this guy. Whatever he does, he's going to shine bright!