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The intensity of rivalry weekend in College football. The last week of regular games in college football is truly a unique spectacle. It's filled with numerous rivalries, history, bad blood, and passion flowing through the game, and this year was no different. With an eight-overtime thriller between Georgia and Georgia Tech, the brawls after the Michigan game, and the North Carolina State game, these games simply mean more, leading to the best weekend of college football. In the last weekend of guaranteed games, most schools end their season in a glorious battle against their arch-rival, as we continue the tradition here at Middlesex in our battle against St. George’s. College rivalries are steeped in history and long-standing traditions, like the Yale vs. Harvard game, which has been going on for 140 years and is famously known as The Game.  Some of the rivalry games this weekend include Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, which was a complete nail-biter as Georgia mounted a crazy comeback late in the fourth quarter to overcome a 14-point deficit and then win the game in the eighth overtime, breaking the hearts of Georgia Tech fans. This matchup has been going on for well over a century, filled with pure hate; the Head Coach of Georgia Tech, when asked about Georgia, said, "There is nothing that I hate more in this world." These words not only sum up the intensity of this game but reflect a common trend throughout most of these rivalry games. Another big game was Notre Dame vs. USC in the 95th meeting of these rivals. In an entertaining game, the Fighting Irish overcame the Trojans with two pick-sixes in the red zone late in the fourth quarter to put the game away and secure a victory for Notre Dame Coach Marcus Freeman, who has led Notre Dame back to the college football playoffs this year. Additionally, Texas vs. Texas A&M, a contentious in-state matchup, was played again for the first time in 13 years, reignited a rivalry that dated back to 1890, filled with passion as 109,028 fans piled into the Kyle Field, home of the “twelfth man,” cheering on their team with deafening noise, as the Longhorns completed stifled the Aggie's offense in a 17 to 7 win. Furthermore, Alabama played in one of the greatest rivalries in college football, the Iron Bowl, vs. Auburn. The Iron Bowl is the bitter instate game between these two historically strong teams, dating back to 1893. It has been historically one of the most captivating and hard-fought games, with truly iconic moments like the 2013 "kick-six" and many more. This year, Alabama surged to a commanding win over Auburn, establishing a five-year win streak. Likewise, there are other historic matchups, like Ohio State vs Michigan, which was the largest upset of the weekend, with Michigan being a 20-point underdog in this blue-blood and classic rivalry. In the final seconds of a close and entertaining game, Michigan nailed a field goal for a 13 to 10 win. But after the game, Michigan attempted to plant its flag in the middle of the Ohio State logo, which caused a brawl to erupt between players, with police using pepper spray to end the fight. This game is one of the greatest rivalries in sports because of the immense pride each team places on this game, the utter hatred each team has, and the intensity of play all contribute to The Game and the fight that broke out after this game.  These fights about planting a flag broke out all across the country, with another significant brawl as North Carolina state planted their flag in the UNC's logo; the same happened when Florida beat Florida State, and after Arizona State's win over Arizona, they planted a trident in ASU's logo, and tensions grew extremely high, but luckily no fight broke out. This situation with the flags is unacceptable and dangerous for the players; the NCAA needs to create harsh penalties to end this disrespectful behavior and mainly stop the fights that ensue because of this form of taunting. After the Michigan-Ohio State game, the star running back for Michigan sums up the situation very well: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. Bad for the sport. Bad for college football." Timmy Hale

Football Playoffs are here Everyone's favorite time of the year is soon. Christmas? Nope, Easter? No again! Well some might say “What is it then?” The only answer I can think of is playoff football time. Something about watching a Sunday night playoff football game and watching your favorite team hopefully win brings joy to many of the 17.9 million fans who watched a regular season football game, and the other couple million who watch the nationally televised Super Bowl each year.  As of right now, we are entering week 13 of the 18 week extended NFL season. As we near week 18, you will see speculation all over the web as to whether or not your team is gonna make the playoffs or if they do, its always if they make the playoffs will they win the Super Bowl. I’m here to give you the scoop on all 32 teams.  Starting it off in the AFC East which consists of the New England Patriots (3-10), the New York Jets (3-9), the Buffalo Bills (10-2), and the Miami Dolphins (5-7). The Bills, as of Sunday with a win over the 49ers, clinched the division while also clinching a spot in the playoffs; however, the Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots are all heavily disfavored to make the playoffs right now.  The AFC North consists of the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3), the Baltimore Ravens (8-5), the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8), and the Cleveland Browns (3-9). The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently in a tight race with the Baltimore Ravens, who are only one game back from the Steelers, and we will see these two teams battle it out in week 15. For the Bengals and the Browns, both of these teams are practically out of the playoff race at this point in time.  The AFC South consists of the Houston Texans (8-5), the Indianapolis Colts (6-7), the Tennessee Titans (3-9), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10). Currently the Houston Texans are projected to win this division; however, after a nail biting win over the Patriots this week, the Colts are now vying for a wild card spot. Both the Titans and the Jaguars are not having superb seasons and some might even go as far to say they are having terrible seasons, which practically eliminate them from playoff contention.  The AFC West consists of the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1), the Los Angeles Chargers (8-5), the Denver Broncos (8-5), and the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10). Currently the Chiefs have clinched their division and will be a playoff football team, which leaves both the Chargers and the Broncos to battle for a wild card spot with the Raiders out of playoff contention.  Now moving onto the NFC, the NFC East contains the Philadelphia Eagles (10-2), the Washington Commanders (8-5), the Dallas Cowboys (5-7), and the New York Giants (2-10). With the Giants out of contention, the Cowboys practically out of contention, and the Eagles beating the Ravens on Sunday, the Eagles have clinched a playoff spot, and it also looks like the Commanders will obtain a wild card spot in the playoffs.  The NFC North consists of the Detroit Lions (11-1), the Minnesota Vikings (10-2), the Green Bay Packers (9-3), and the Chicago Bears (4-8). It looks like this division is a toss up, so only time will tell. I think all three of the Lions, the Vikings, and the Packers will all make the playoffs.  The NFC South consists of the Atlanta Falcons (6-6), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6), the New Orleans Saints (4-8), and the Carolina Panthers (3-9). I think that whoever out of the Falcons or the Buccaneers has a better record and wins the division will make the playoffs, however I think the NFC South will be underrepresented in the playoffs this year.  The NFC West consists of the Seattle Seahawks (7-5), the Arizona Cardinals (6-6), the Los Angeles Rams (6-6), and the San Francisco 49ers (5-7). I think, similarly to the NFC South, that the winner of this division will make the playoffs but that no one else will.  Time for my predictions for who will make the Playoffs and who will not. First, with the winners of each division I have the Bills, the Ravens, the Texans, the Chiefs, the Eagles, the Lions (this one will be really close), the Buccaneers, and finally the Seahawks.  Wild Card predictions: in the NFC I have the Commanders, the Vikings, and the Packers, and in the AFC I have the Steelers, the Chargers, and the Broncos.  Predictions for the Super Bowl?  Personally I believe we will see a highly competitive and highly intense Superbowl this year due to the sheer talent of both these teams. I think that the Super Bowl will be the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens.  Things to look out for:  1. The Chiefs making an early exit in the Playoffs, look for this team to lose to a team such as the Bills or even the Steelers or Texans.  2. Josh Allen will show the world why he deserves the respect and title as the best quarterback in the NFL.  3. The Packers are a true darkhorse in the NFC and have a chance of making a deep run in the NFC championship game or even maybe making the Superbowl. Oliver Gates

On November 15, 2024, former professional boxer Mike Tyson lost to former Disney Channel star Jake Paul after a thrilling 8-round fight. Does Paul deserve praise despite the 31-year age gap? Jake Paul found his initial fame on the social media app Vine, where he made short skits with his brother, Logan Paul, and amassed a massive following. Jake then transitioned into the YouTube path, where he filmed vlogs and pranks, gaining over 20 million subscribers. Jake then transitioned into boxing, where he has fought many retired professional boxers and UFC fighters. He beat retired UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva and has had knock-out victories against Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. Jake holds an 11-1 record, with his only loss being against Tommy Fury. His successful career against a plethora of retired fighters has led fans to question the validity of his success—most notably, Jake’s most recent win against Mike Tyson. 50-7. That is Mike Tyson’s professional boxing record. He is considered one of, if not the best, athletes ever to walk the Earth. On November 15, Mike, 58, was a shadow of his original self. Immediately upon his walk out to the ring, fans seemed noticeably concerned about his knee brace. Not only did he seem to lack the mobility of his younger years, but he appeared exhausted throughout the fight. Mike’s age was beginning to show, and Jake took full advantage. Paul was the clear winner by the end of the 8th round. Netflix provided free coverage of this fight and estimated that over 60 million fans were watching the event live. Noticing Mike’s lack of offensive drive, fans began to speculate if the fight was scripted or rigged in Paul's favor. Though the claims are very far-fetched, I believe that fans are disappointed to see Mike’s age affecting his talent. Even before the fight, Jake was heavily favored causing fans to question the validity of the battle.  Still, viewers claim that Jake cherry-picks fights where he has the clear upper hand. Jake's success has been maintained through fighting retired fighters and non-traditional boxers. He will not take on a fight he cannot win to keep his image on the internet. Naturally, this is Jake’s strategy. He needs to uphold his public persona to continue to make money. Now, through his new boxing phase, he has been able to continue to create an exciting new image that his viewers love. Though his brother also had a brief boxing career, he has fallen out of mainstream internet popularity because of his lack of new and exciting content, contrary to Jake. Even though Mike lost, he was still paid 20 million dollars for the fight, noting that, “I’m still proud of myself.” Honestly, Mike was the real winner getting into the ring with a much younger opponent, with the odds stacked against him. He was able to withstand eight rounds, have fun, and get paid millions of dollars. What stood out to me the most was Mike’s humble character, as noted in the post-fight press conference, “I’m not one of those guys that looks to please the world. I’m just happy with what I can do.” I have no doubt that prime Mike Tyson would have destroyed Jake if he fought him at the height of his career. Jack Francini

Who will come out on top in this fierce competition? The 2024 NFL draft class is one of the best classes in recent NFL history, and this class is especially star studded at the quarterback position with an NFL draft record six quarterbacks were taken in the first round.  During the preseason, the generational USC signal caller Caleb Wiliams was the heavy betting favorite with the Heisman winner Jayden Daniels behind. As the season started it was clear that Jayden Daniels was a star, as the Commanders started off 5-1. They were led by Daniels’ 1135 yards passing, 4 passing touchdowns, and 4 rushing touchdowns through 6 games. Daniels continued this stellar play until he entered a three game skid in which the Commanders lost all three games, but he bounced back with a great game against the Titans, and he currently sits at 2800 yards passing, 15 touchdowns, 6 interceptions. As of week 13 the Commanders have an 8-5 record.  Caleb Williams so far has had a rollercoaster of a season with up and down performances and crazy losses due to terrible coaching and special teams blunders, yet also with wins due to Williams’ special plays. Caleb Williams is currently 4th in the betting market with 2600 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, and the Bears have a 4-8 record.  Drake Maye was the 3rd quarterback taken in the draft and has been playing well, but he is a longshot for the award as he made his first start Week 6 after sitting behind Jacoby Brisset.  The tight end from Georgia, Brock Bowers, has been arguably the best tight end in the league so far this season as he leads the NFL in receptions at 84, is 4th in the NFL in receiving yards with 884, and has 4 touchdowns on the year, but is stuck on a struggling Raiders team.  Bo Nix entered the year with lots of questions as he was the last quarterback selected in the first round. During the first 4 weeks of the season, he struggled with 1 touchdown pass and 4 interceptions, but since then Nix has found his groove. The Broncos are 8-5 and Nix currently has 2800 yards, 22 total touchdowns, and 8 interceptions and has played himself into second in the betting market. The odds according to DraftKings are currently: Jayden Daniels, -220; Bo Nix, +180; Brock Bowers, +1000; Caleb Willimas, +6000; and Drake Maye, +10000.  James Millett

Have you ever been ironing your clothes and thought: I wish I was having more fun right now. Perhaps you thought: I wish I was hanging off a cliff right now. You could kill two birds with one stone, satisfyingly smoothing all of the wrinkles out of your beloved clothes while participating in a thrilling and impressive activity. Extreme ironing is the name of the game. In this extreme sport, athletes put themselves in dangerous conditions: cliff jumping, riding horses, flattening in the forest, kayaking, canoeing, skydiving, paddle boarding, scuba diving, and skiing. Invented in 1997, extreme ironing has now evolved into a national sport. In 2002, the first extreme ironing national championships was held in Germany, where 12 teams competed to be the most extreme ironer in the world. You might be tempted to mock these athletes, even thinking that they shouldn't be considered athletes. However, there are many skills that tie into this sport. The athletes are judged on their ironing techniques, creativity, and the difficulty of the activity they are participating in. While extreme ironing is not as popular as, say, soccer or football, it is a constantly growing sport for those who enjoy humor and adventurous action. So, next time you notice a wrinkle in your clothes, maybe, along with your iron and ironing board, grab your bike, a horse, or plan a hike or a ski trip to add a little extra fun to a simple house chore. Sophie Watson

It’s the dream of many kids to ride their horses off into the sunset. Frankly, it is probably not the dream of most to awkwardly hop hurdles on a broomstick topped with a felt horse head. And yet, the growing sport of Hobby Horsing has tens of thousands of participants enthralled in Scandinavia and Northern Europe. The strange sport consists of an equestrian-style course with hurdles that competitors are expected to clear. Hobby Horsers gallop over and around the hurdles, imitating a horse’s gait by shuffling their feet and prancing around the floor of the gymnasium. Instead of grading the inanimate wooden horses, judges instead evaluate the gracefulness of the humans launching themselves over the disappointingly small hurdles. Alarmingly, this sport has begun to spread to the United States. The first Hobby Horsing competition in our formerly patriotic country was held in 2017, and the “activity” has infested the equestrian culture ever since. With participation declining in classic American sports such as football or baseball, we must ensure that the next generation does not fall prey to soft European influences. While you’re busy picking out your son’s football cleats, he’ll be clamoring to shop at the fabric store to construct his very own Hobby Horse. Before too long, you’ll be asking yourself the dreaded question: what’s happened to the country we love? Caio Bernardini

https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/foodandentertainment/cotswold-olimpicks-makes-a-welcome-return   Photograph by Betty Stocker  Discover the quirky world of shin kicking—a traditional sport that’s equal parts laughing and kicking! Picture competitors in white coats facing off in a spirited battle, delivering kicks to each other's shins while dodging blows.  Shin kicking is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life that embodies tradition and community spirit. You might be wondering, what exactly is shin kicking? In this unique contest, two competitors, typically dressed in traditional white coats and protective gear, face off. The objective is simple yet exhilarating: to deliver powerful kicks to the opponent’s shins while avoiding their strikes. Matches usually follow a best-of-three format, with each round continuing until one competitor either falls or concedes defeat.  This unconventional sport, with its roots in the English countryside, traces its origins back to the 17th century, particularly in the picturesque Cotswolds. It began as a lively form of entertainment and competition among rural communities, offering a playful yet competitive outlet for those involved. Beyond the kicks and the competition, shin kicking preserves traditions that might otherwise be lost in our rapidly modernizing world. In recent years, shin kicking has been embraced at various festivals and sporting events, where it’s celebrated alongside music, food, and community gatherings. In recent years, efforts have been made to revive interest in shin kicking, particularly through events like the Cotswold Olimpick Games. This resurgence not only honors its rich heritage but also brings people  together, ensuring that this fascinating sport continues to thrive and evolve. Consider this your official invitation to dive into the thrilling world of shin-kicking! Lucia Cook

This past weekend, 96 of the nation’s best lacrosse players gathered in Sparks, MD to put on the USA Lacrosse uniform and compete for their country. These 96 were chosen to represent the red, white and blue after an extensive tryout process over the summer that started with over 1,600 high school athletes from across the country; after the regional tryouts, current and past U.S National Team players and coaches selectively cut the pool down to the 300 most competitive athletes. In August, those chosen few were brought to USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, MD for a three day combine, consisting of individual and team skill development, conditioning tests and mental performance training. Finally, on August 21, 2024, USA Lacrosse announced the 48 girls and 48 boys who would be representing their country.  Throughout this process, the players’ common goal was to make the U16 or U18 USA Lacrosse National Team Development Program. The National Team Development Program is a top tier pipeline to U.S National Teams for the best of the best high school athletes to experience lacrosse on an international stage. This pipeline was proved as recently as this past summer when 17 out of the 22 players who won gold for the USA in the Women's U20 World Championship, as well as seven members of the Men’s U20 training team, had previously participated in the program.  While the tryout process was rigorous and required peak physical performance from the athletes who participated in it, their efforts accumulated this past weekend at the Brogden Cup - a tournament founded in 1988 to honor former U.S. 1932 Olympian and Johns Hopkins Men’s Lacrosse goalie Mac Brogden. The Brogden Cup was originally created to have post-collegiate club players from the United States be able to compete against Canadian players. Since 2019, the U.S., Team Ontario and the Haudenosaunee have competed for not only the bragging rights associated with the victory of the cup but also to grow international competition at the youth and high school levels. This year, Sekai Youth Lacrosse from Japan attended the tournament to compete in friendly exhibition matches against the girls' teams competing for the Brogden Cup.  The three-day tournament is one of the most revered events of the year not only for the chance to compete for your country but also for the chance to win for your country. Since the advent of the National Team Development Program in 2019, the U.S. has a 70-2 record across all teams with the two losses coming from one-goal upsets of the USA Men’s U18 vs. Team Ontario. This year, the USA Select U16 and U18 boys and girls teams played a perfect tournament with an overall record of 16-0. While the USA girls had some incredibly convincing wins, Team Ontario proved to be the next best team going 4-7-1 and  4-1-1 against the Haudenosaunee teams. This historic tournament not only serves as the best development program in the nation for future stars and a pipeline to the international stage but also as a chance to spread the love and light of lacrosse around the country, continent, and globe. The Brogden Cup will be held next year from October 24-26 in Sparks, MD at USA Lacrosse Headquarters and it will be yet another opportunity for the greatest high school talent in the nation to excel for the first time on the international stage.  Thea Salem

Can anyone beat the Celtics? This NBA season is going to be competitive. During the offseason, teams worked tirelessly to rebuild and find a way to beat the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics. Most notably, the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Dallas Mavericks made recognizable adjustments to their rosters. Let’s start off with the Knicks. This offseason, Tom Thibideau and his colleagues made a few key decisions that set the Knicks up for a good start to this NBA season.  Firstly, New York sent Bojan Bogdanovic, a small forward that averaged 15.2 points per game (ppg) in the 23-24 season and five first-round draft picks to the Nets for Mikal Bridges. Bridges has a “great understanding of the game,” says Thibideau, and his overall aggressiveness will add to this year’s roster. The Knicks made one more crucial addition to the team this offseason, Karl-Anthony Towns, filling the void of a center on their roster. However, the Knicks also let go of Julius Randle, a three-time NBA All- star, and Donte DiVincenzo, the starting shooting-guard for New York, in this trade. Overall, the Knicks are prepared for a strong NBA season, with a hefty goal of overcoming the Celtics. Just like the Knicks, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a pivotal offseason, acquiring two stand-out players while keeping most of their core starters. The Thunder traded Josh Giddey, an underperforming guard with “untapped potential,” for Alex Caruso, one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA. On top of that, Oklahoma signed free-agent Isaiah Hartenstein, an outstanding role-player and mobile center, although Hartenstein just suffered a hand injury in the pre-season. This season looks very promising for the Thunder, as they are ranked second in championship chances, falling behind only the Boston Celtics. The last team that significantly changed their roster this offseason, making them title contenders, was the Dallas Mavericks. Although the Mavericks kept their star duo, Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, the center of the team, they also added three key components to up their game. The first was Klay Thompson, an aging but nevertheless legendary shooting guard coming from the Golden State Warriors, who was traded for Josh Green and a couple second-round picks. Klay adds a new sense of depth to the Mavs, increasing their three-point firepower as well. The second addition was Quentin Grimes, a “quality floor-stretcher” and “hard-nosed defender,” traded for Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second round picks. Lastly, free-agent Naji Marshall joined the Mavericks as part of the replacement for the loss of Derrick Jones Jr. and Josh Green, for Marshall can handle any role that the Mavs throw at him. These three incorporations to Dallas don’t just act as replacements for the lost starters, but they play a decisive role in whether or not the Mavs can bring home their first championship since 2011.  A few teams this offseason maintained their already favorable rosters with contract extensions and minimal trades. The main example of this model is the Denver Nuggets, who kept all of their starters except for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and acquired only one significant player, Russell Westbrook, to replace the lost guard. The Nuggets are currently ranked at number four in odds to win the championship. The Timberwolves offseason was slightly more active than the Nuggets, but still quite stable, as Minnesota lost one noteworthy player, Karl Anthony Towns, and received two, Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle, making the Wolves number five in championship odds. Moving on to the defending champions, the team that everybody wants to beat is the Boston Celtics. The Celtics did not make any big changes to their championship roster, but did generate many intelligent contract extensions. Derrick White signed a contract for four years and $118 million; Jayson Tatum signed for five years and $315 million; Payton Pritchard signed for four years and $30 million; Al Horford signed for two years and $19.5 million; and Sam Hauser signed for four years and $45 million. All of these extensions solidify Boston’s number one spot in odds to win the 2025 NBA Championship, as the Celtics look to repeat their stellar performance from last year. Every team is looking to defy the odds this year by defeating the Boston Celtics, but it is going to take a lot more than an incredible offseason to do so. Kaya Surmeli

Yankees versus Dodgers. Some may say it's the biggest rivalry in baseball history, some may even argue it's the biggest one in sports. However, this rivalry goes way back: their first meeting in the World Series was in 1941. Now, both teams have played each other in the World Series a total of 12 times, more than any other teams in the MLB. In the regular season their head to head record all time is 11-11, they have the biggest fanbases in the whole of North America, and have the most valuable rosters in the league. The two teams meet in the World Series for the first time in 43 years. Two sides of the country. Two MVP players. Everything is up for grabs in a seven-game series to determine the winner of the 2023-2024 Major League Baseball season. The Los Angeles Dodgers, an eight World Series title team worth around 6.3 billion dollars, plays in a neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles and has all the superstars you could want from a professional Los Angeles team—Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Clayton Kershaw, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto just to name a few. Coming into this season, this team was the favorite to win it all based on their coaching staff, pitchers, and most importantly batters and fielders. They finished the season with an outstanding record of 98 wins and 64 losses, beating all of the other 29 teams in the league. However, their wins were not the only highlight of the season. Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese player who not only hits really well but also does an impeccable job on the mound with his pitching skills, signed a $700 million contract over the next ten years. He recently played for the Los Angeles Angels, but once he was a free agent he ended up singing with the Dodgers. This year, he broke an MLB record by becoming the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. This historic record is incredibly difficult to come by, and it just shows how much power and talent this team has. To continue, they started off this postseason by beating the San Diego Padres in a five-game series. Despite being down 2-1 in games in that series, they rallied and ended up beating the Padres. Moving on to the semifinal series, they were unstoppable and dominated against the New York Mets by a result of four games to two. They booked their ticket to the World Series and were the heavy favorites to win it all.  Their opposition and main rival, the New York Yankees, finished the season first in their division with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses. They play in the Bronx in a stadium that holds 46,537 fans and is also home to the New York City FC. New York fans put a lot of pressure on the players due to the Yankees having a total of 27 World Series wins but have not won a single one since 2009. Only the best of the best can play in an environment like this let alone excel in what they do. However, throughout this season, some of the players who have exceeded expectations in every way are Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortez, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Additionally, their manager, Aaron Boone, has been with this organization since 2018 and is currently facing a lot of criticism due to how they always get so far in the postseason but never go all the way to a World Series victory. Speculation on the internet says that he will not continue as the Yankees head coach, and he will have to look for a different job. Moving on to the two-time MVP and captain of this team Aaron Judge hit an outstanding 58 home runs this year including postseason, breaking his own American League record. Adding on to that, he also became the youngest player to ever hit 300 home runs. All the pitchers, coaching staff, and other players contributed to an amazing year where they achieved a first round bye in the postseason, the same as the Dodgers. They then went on to dominate the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS and then ended up beating the Cleveland Guardians in seven games in the ALCS. Even though they are the undergods for this year’s World Series, it will without a doubt be an amazing battle on the diamond for this year's trophy. In conclusion, the two number one seeds of this year's season are going to be facing off in the World Series. People all around the country will be flying in from coast to coast to watch two amazing head coaches, two MVP players, and two teams that break the expectations in everything they do play in a deciding series. Surely, this will be one for the history books. Luis Lugo

The downfall of Michigan football started with winning the college football championship. In the 2023-24 season, this team had a Big Ten record of 9-0 and an overall record of 15-0. Under Coach Harbaugh, the team scored on average 35.9 points per game with a high of 52 points against both the University of Indiana and the University of Minnesota. A winning team is both dominant on offense and defense and this 2023-24 team was the definition of dominant, scoring 538 total points while only giving up 156 points. This Michigan team had great leadership with leading upperclassmen such as Junior JJ McCarthy QB who threw for a 72.3% completion percentage, 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, Senior Running Back Blake Corum who ran for 28 total touchdowns leading all of college football, Junior linebacker Junior Colson who led the team with 96 total tackles, and Senior wide receiver Roman Wilson who totaled 12 touchdowns with 48 receptions and 748 yards. The downfall of this team starts with the loss of Head Coach Jim Harbaugh who took a job with the Los Angeles Chargers signing a 5-year contract for an annual salary of $16 million per year. Jim Haurbaugh was a big loss for this program due to his ability to make smart play calls which allowed him to outcoach other coaches in tight games. Michigan hired Sherrone Moore who has never had a head coaching role prior to his time this year with the team. Sherrone Moore was chosen for this job after his great performance during his time as the interim head coach during coach Haurbaugh’s four game suspension where he led the team to 4-0 record. This year, the same Sherrone Moore is not performing like the year prior; this year the team is 3-3 in Big Ten play and an overall record of 5-4 which is the worst start to a season for Michigan football since the 2014 team who started off the year 4-5 in their first nine games. Sherrone Moore has also led this team to only scoring on average 21.0 points per game and only totaling 189 points while giving up 210, which is not a good ratio if you are trying to win a championship. Furthermore, this Michigan team set a school record with 13 of their players getting drafted over the course of the 3 day NFL draft, causing the team to now rely on younger guys to step up and make big plays. During Michigan’s 15-0 season, the QB, JJ McCarthy threw for 2991 yards and 22 touchdowns. This season, the QB, Davis Warren has only totaled 732 two yards and 5 touchdowns which is 2259 yards and 17 less than JJ McCarthy. Last year’s Michigan football team was more reliant on the run game as they scored 40 touchdowns on the ground and 24 touchdowns in the air whereas this year they have had more of a balanced approach only scoring 11 touchdowns on the ground and 10 touchdowns in the air, conveying their struggle to win games. Even though this year's Michigan team has a tougher schedule than the year prior, having a tough schedule is one of the few downsides of being champions. This Michigan team is on a downward trend and will have to make serious changes this offseason in recruiting personnel and coaches to regain their prior status of Champions. Oliver Gates

The Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious and admired individual honor in soccer, celebrates the best player in the world based on the previous year’s performance. This year, there is a strong debate about whether Manchester City’s Rodri or Real Madird’s Vinícius Júnior deserves the award. Both candidates demonstrate a unique aspect of their contribution and have made a significant impact on their teams. Beyond stats, qualities such as leadership, consistency, and big game performances should factor into the Ballon d’or decision when making the choice between these two fascinating players. Vinícius Júnior has firmly established himself as one of Real Madrid’s most talented players, known for his blazing speed, technical ability, and unmatched dribbling skills. He is central to Madrid’s attacking force. While he may not have such crazy goals stats as Earling Haaland, Vinícius has an undeniable ability to alter the course of a game with his creativity. He plays a crucial role in terms of creating opportunities for his teammates, drawing defenders away, and producing clutch plays in tight matches. This year, Vinícius has won multiple trophies and awards such as the Champions League and La Liga, which definitely proves that he should be one of the top candidates in the Ballon d’Or. Rodri, on the other hand, was pivotal to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning season. He is not the kind of player who is aiming for flashy stats, but his influence on the pitch is undeniable. His influence goes beyond what traditional stats can show, as his incredible skill allows him to function as both a defensive shield and as a creative playmaker. Acting as the foundation of City’s midfield, Rodri controls the pace of the game, intercepts plays, and distributes the ball with precision. With Rodri on the field, City can attack without any concern in terms of the aspect of defending.  While statistics are often heavily emphasized in Ballon d’Or discussions because Messi and Ronaldo can both score 50+ per season, they should not be the sole basis. Both Vinícius and Rodri exemplify qualities that go beyond raw numbers, each bringing unique contributions to their teams. However, what truly distinguishes Rodri from Vinícius is his influence and consistency at the highest level. While Vinícius performed poorly in the Copa América, Rodri showed his worth in playing a crucial role in helping Spain secure their fourth UEFA nations league title. He managed to adapt seamlessly to a different setup and continued to deliver performances with discipline and maturity. Such well-rounded individuals like Rodri truly deserve the Ballon d’Or. In short, it is a pity that Vinícius didn't win the Ballon d’Or this year with such outstanding performance in the past season. However, Rodri’s win is not totally surprising, his hard work and even stronger performance in national competition prove to people that he truly deserves this honor.  Tiger Wu