Football’s March Madness Moment

Plus, Believeland Is Back

…This is shaping up to become the most drama-filled F1 season yet. Lewis Hamilton is switching teams, Red Bull is imploding, and the title is up for grabs. Can it be March, tomorrow?

Novak Djokovic has literally won everything in men’s tennis. You’d think retirement is near. But he’s only hinted about how his career ends, not when it ends.

It’s no longer past your bedtime to watch JuJu Watkins. She’s on an east coast Big 10 tour, stopping at Maryland and Rutgers, to give the Northeast a closer look at the next big thing.

Zheng Qinwen made a name for herself, winning gold at the Paris Olympics, and Dior took notice. The fashion house is tapping Queen Wen as its newest global brand ambassador.

During a baseball era when chicks dug the long ball, it’s crazy that Ichiro was a phenomenon. He became a sensation, bringing his own Zen-like approach to the game, making infield hits sexy.

@orlandopride

From Marta, with love 💜 #vamospride #orlpride #nwslsoccer #orlandopride #marta

It seems like we’re usually lamenting unprecedented times, but thanks to wall-to-wall NFL and CFB games, these times are unprecedented in the best way. Yesterday marked the beginning of a five-day football blitz; one that will continue through Monday night. Think of it as an extended Coachella, wherein the headliners are Steve Sarkisian, Lamar Jackson, and the Ram’s receiving corps. The only catch? You’re going to need a few different streaming subscriptions.

Despite the Orange Bowl, being Notre Dame’s (literal) flu game last night — when an illness made its way through the locker room on Thursday morning —  they hurdled their way to victory over Penn State, and metaphorically broke some ankles. Tonight, the football festivities rage on with the Cotton Bowl as Texas faces Ohio State in the second semifinal game. Regardless of the outcome tonight, our main takeaway from the 12-team playoff so far is that the SEC’s reign may be coming to an end.

And they’re not called the NFL Tame Card Playoff Games for a reason. Ok sorry, that was bad, but over the next three days, the playoff games should live up to their wild moniker. Saturday and Sunday will both feature key NFC and AFC matchups (like the Packers vs. the Eagles and the Chargers vs. the Texans). And on Monday, fans will marvel at what should be this round’s magnum opus: the Rams vs. the Vikings.

So head to the store for some snacks, lock in, and thank the football gods for delivering one of the most epic extended weekends in football. 

It’s January 2025, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are not just relevant – they’re the best team in the league! In what is the biggest surprise of the season, we haven’t seen the Cavs this prominent since LeBron left. This perennial underdog has got that dog in ‘em, rebirthing magical dreams in Believeland.

These Cavs are easy to root for. Donovan Mitchell is the elder statesman who can crack LiAngelo Ball jokes with his teammates. Darius Garland is the future All-Star dreaming about his weekend fits in San Francisco. And Jarrett Allen is the lovable giant who loves cats and ending winning streaks.

Cleveland just delivered the game of the season, out-dueling the Thunder to shake up the NBA world. Yes, you can absolutely enjoy great basketball from small-market teams, especially when they’re changing the game for the better. Cavs-Thunder II next Thursday in Oklahoma City? Sign us up, please. Maybe even for seven games in June.

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