Every year, an authorized group of baseball writers chooses a maximum of 10 players they would like to see put into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announce the 2019 Hall of Fame class Jan. 22. This year’s ballot proves especially intriguing as writers are left to decide whether or not steroid users, designated hitters and those who played the majority of their career in the high altitude of Colorado should be immortalized in the Hall. Below is a list of players who truly deserve to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. My following list does not include those who abused performance-enhancing drugs like Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. However, you will find Colorado Rockies and a designated hitter who could not control where or at what position they played. Most of all, the list below includes players whose numbers support their induction and legends of baseball.

Billy Wagner- Closer 

Admittedly, Billy Wagner was the most difficult player to put on this list. Wagner didn’t appear a real dominant closer of baseball, never once leading the league in saves. However, in December 2018, closer Lee Smith was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Eras Committee, strengthening Wagner’s case. His career numbers are far better than those of Smith, posting a better ERA, far fewer Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched and averaging more saves each season. Wagner is not only Hall of Fame caliber when compared to Smith, but his .182 opponent batting average is also lower than even Mariano Rivera’s, who is largely considered the greatest closer ever, by over 20 points.

Lance Berkman- Outfielder

Berkman’s worthiness as a hitter is undeniable. Berkman’s .943 On Base Plus Slugging (OPS) is only behind 17 current Hall of Famers including some of the game’s greatest hitters like Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Schmidt and Hank Aaron. However, many believe that Berkman did not have the longevity to make the Hall of Fame after playing only 15 seasons. Berkman played long enough to accumulate 1234 runs batted in and 422 doubles, both numbers better than the average Hall of Famer.

Larry Walker- Right Fielder

Larry Walker likely will not make the Hall of Fame again this year. He has been on the ballot for eight years now, never receiving more than 35 percent of the vote. Yet, Walker is perhaps the most deserving player on this year’s ballot. Like Helton, Walker played the majority of his career in Colorado and his lack of longevity due to injuries is also used against him. However, those against Walker’s admittance do not take into account Denver’s effects on health and how impressive Walker’s numbers really are. Thin air and cold temperatures in Colorado cause more home runs, but they also can cause injuries with the potential to cut a career short. Furthermore, Walker is one of baseball’s few true five-tool players, with a .313 Batting Average, 383 Home Runs, 230 Stolen Bases and seven Gold Gloves in Right Field. His .965 OPS would rank eleventh among all Hall of Famers, with nobody possessing near as many Stolen Bases or Gold Gloves.

Todd Helton- First Baseman

Despite being one of the most productive hitters of the 21st century, Todd Helton’s case for the Hall of Fame will always be obstructed by a career in Colorado. Helton could not control where he spent his career, and claiming that his .316 Batting Average or 1406 RBI are not a reflection of his skill but simply a byproduct of Denver’s altitude is just wrong. Most hitters hit better at home and Helton is certainly no exception. Still, his .386 On Base Percentage (OBP) away from Colorado would place him well above the average career OBP of a Hall of Famer. Helton’s three Gold Gloves are another aspect of his career that could not be aided by thin air.

Omar Vizquel- Shortstop

Baseball is a multifaceted game and those who excel at aspects other than hitting should also be recognized as the game’s best. Omar Vizquel’s greatest claim to the Hall of Fame would certainly be his 11 Gold Gloves, more than any other American League shortstop in baseball history. Furthermore, his .985 Fielding Percentage ranks first among non-active players, and he has turned more double plays than any other shortstop in baseball history. However, Vizquel excelled at other aspects of the game as well. His 404 career stolen bases would rank him 28 out of 260 Hall of Famers. His .272 batting average exceeds that by 10 points of the only shortstop with more Gold Gloves than Vizquel: first-ballot Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith.

Roy Halladay- Pitcher

To exercise such dominance over an era of baseball the way Halladay did from 2003 to 2011 is rare. In that span, Halladay won two Cy Young awards (for the best pitcher that season) and finished in the top three in Cy Young voting three more times. During that span, Halladay won 20 games three times and posted an Earned Run Average (ERA) under 2.50 three times as well. Perhaps, most impressive, though, was Halladay’s ability to finish what he started, leading the league in complete games seven times. Furthermore, Halladay’s admittance to the Hall of Fame would be a great way to honor his life, which was cut short due to a plane crash in November, 2017.

Edgar Martinez- Designated Hitter

Playing designated hitter makes a player no less of a Hall of Famer. The fact is, Edgar Martinez’s numbers are Hall of Fame caliber, and what position he played while putting up those numbers should not be considered. Besides Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, no DH produced like Martinez, posting a .933 career OPS.

Mariano Rivera- Closer

The case for Mariano Rivera is an easy one to make. At this point, the question is not whether Rivera will make the Hall of Fame or be a first ballot Hall of Famer, but rather if Rivera will receive every single vote. No pitcher in baseball history dominated hitters quite like Rivera did and his legendary cutter and 652 saves will likely never be replicated. If inducted, Rivera’s 2.21 ERA would be by far the lowest in the modern era. His five World Series rings also highlight his need to be inducted.

Super Bowl LIII is set for Feb. 3 between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Atlanta on Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Both conference championship games featured thrilling overtime magic, as Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein iced a 57-yard field goal to top the New Orleans Saints, and Tom Brady continued to cement his legacy as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, holding off rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Patriots are the slight favorites to win, according to betfirm.com. The over/under on total points scored is set at 58, which would make it the 12th highest scoring Super Bowl.

Lines: New England (-1.5, over/under 58)

Money line: Los Angeles (+106), New England (-124)

My gut reaction coming out of the AFC championship was that the Patriots still have it. For the Patriots, success comes from balance and persistence. It’s not a spiky new take on coaching or playcalling. Belichick and Brady are going to continue to use their effective play action and the quick passing strategy It seems that the doubters have been looking at the aging of Brady and Belichick as if they were milk, soon to spoil and sour. Yet, the duo is more comparable to wine, gaining more complexity and value the older they get. When Belichick and Brady won their first Super Bowl together in 2001, Rams coach Sean McVay was 16, and their quarterback Jared Goff was 7. The headlines of Brady’s age and the faults of the Patriots are just fabricated storylines from beat writers searching for hot takes on the most persistent franchise in sports over the past two decades. Tom said it himself. They’re still going to be wearing the crown come Feb. 3.

What it takes for the Rams to win:

For the Rams to take down the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, RB Todd Gurley needs to perform. In the NFC championship, Gurley had career lows in touches from the line of scrimmage (five) and in total yards (13). The poor performance left many to wonder if the knee inflammation that sidelined Gurley for the last two games of the regular season is still lingering. Gurley and the team insist it isn’t, but even without his presence the Rams still pulled off the victory against the Saints.

“Just to be able to get another opportunity, I’m so grateful, so grateful,” Gurley told ESPN.

What it takes for the Patriots to win:

For the Patriots to win their third Super Bowl in five seasons, Sony Michel and James White need to be valuable players for the Patriots offense. ESPN reports that since the beginning of the Brady-Belichick era in 2000, they are 11-0 in the postseason when a player rushes for 100 yards, and 51-1 in the regular season.

Why was six afraid of seven? No, seven didn’t eat nine: six was a St. Louis Rams fan. Seven meant only seven wins, which meant no playoffs for the Rams once again. St. Louisans long suffered under the terrible coaching of Steve Spagnuolo and Jeff Fisher, but something changed only after crooked owner Stan Kroenke moved the team to Los Angeles. When the Los Angeles Rams finished 4-12 in their first season out West, they needed someone who would turn the direction of their franchise around. Fortunately for them, 30-year-old football mastermind Sean McVay came knocking.

Before transforming the Los Angeles Rams as the youngest head coach in NFL history, McVay served as offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins from 2014 to 2016. He turned the 25th ranked total offense into the 10th in his first season on the job and helped develop future star quarterback Kirk Cousins. When hiring McVay, the Rams needed someone to grow young quarterback Jared Goff, who they picked first overall in 2016. McVay did just that: Goff went 11-4 as a starter in his second full season in 2017, leading the Rams to the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Although some were skeptical because of his young age, McVay crushed all doubts, winning NFL Coach of the Year in his first season. Only two years after he was hired, he led the Rams to their first Super Bowl appearance since 2001. His coaching style, while not the same as his Super Bowl adversary, coaching legend Bill Belichick, has sparked a trend in the National Football League of hiring young head coaches. Four of eight head coaching vacancies were filled by coaches under 40 years old this offseason, including former Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury was hired by the Arizona Cardinals for his offensive knowledge and ability to work with young quarterbacks, as he did with Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield at Texas Tech. Struggling NFL franchises want nothing more than to find the next Sean McVay, and taking the risk of hiring a young head coach is the first step.

While Belichick is double his age, McVay’s knowledge of the game is comparable to the latter. Unlike Belichick, who does most of his operating behind the scenes, McVay consistently wows spectators through press coverage on social media. Whether he’s rattling off every player on the opposing team’s defense, remembering specific plays from points in his career at the drop of a hat or firing up his team in a post-game locker room talk, countless videos of McVay have captivated the sports world. His ability to connect with his players and his awareness of football makes it hard not to root for the humble 33-year-old.

Sean McVay was the coach St. Louis Rams fans deserved, but Rams’ ownership would not provide a coach of his caliber to die-hard fans. If the Rams manage to win the Super Bowl this year, it will be extremely hard for St. Louisans to watch selfish Stan Kroenke hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. But it will be hard to frown watching coach McVay and his team celebrate after a hard-fought victory. His integrity, and that of the Los Angeles Rams team, should not be defined by their owner’s toxicity.

KHS boys’ and girls’ swim and dive head coach Matt Beasley received the Missouri Boys Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year award, given by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Beasley was nominated by MSHSAA for the Boys Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year for Missouri in June 2018.

Beasley, a 2002 Parkway South graduate, was a three-time All-American in swim and dive in high school. He also went on to swim for four years at Missouri State University. Beasley became the boys’ swim and dive head coach at KHS in 2010. He said he is grateful for the opportunities he has had since he began coaching.

“I’ve had some really great kids the last nine years,” Beasley said. “I’ve been fortunate to have those good kids and we mesh well. It seems like I get the best out of them and they turn out to be really great swimmers.”

KHS athletics director Corey Nesslage has a high opinion of Beasley, who coached the boys’ team to a 10-0 record in dual meets and the girls’ team to an 8-2 record this season. Nesslage first met Beasley when he was a walking counselor at KHS, and at the time he was the boys’ program’s head coach. With the new facility finished in 2015, Beasley now teaches aquatics, and Nesslage said Beasley does a great job of both teaching and coaching.

Coach Matt Beasley receives state award from MSHSAA Associate Executive Director Stacy Schroeder. Photo courtesy of Matt Beasley.

“Both of our [swim and dive] programs are absolutely thriving right now and a lot of that can be contributed to Coach Matt Beasley,” Nesslage said. “I would not want anyone else to be the head coach of our swim programs, both on the boys and girls side.”

Beasley said he gets to know his athletes well and learns how they work best. But he is committed to his swimmers, not just in their role as athletes, but as growing people.

“[I let] them know that I want them to be a great swimmer, but I value them as a person even more,” Beasley said. “They trust me and they value our coach and athlete relationship.”

On February 3rd, Tom Brady cemented his place in NFL history. With a win over the Los Angeles Rams, he now has six Super Bowl titles to his name, placing him among the greatest athletes of all time. Should he be crowned the greatest of all time title after his recent masterpiece of a season?

During a challenging season with concerns over the Patriots’ front office and their relationship with Brady, the Patriots were once again able to come together. The Los Angeles Rams were looking to knock them off and avenge their Super Bowl loss in 2001, when they lost on a last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri. However, skepticism brewed over allegations that the Patriots had knowledge of the Rams playbook, leading to the infamous “Spygate.” Still, his victory is where the Patriots’ dynasty began. Since then, they have been running the NFL for nearly two decades, with nine Super Bowl appearances and six championships.

Due to the Patriots’ dominance, the NFL seems destined to head in a different direction. Fans don’t like seeing the same teams compete for the same championships over and over because it makes the sport dry at the expense of other teams reaching the desired title game. Parity is a measure of the different amount of teams in the playoffs every year, and it hopes to allow every team a chance at winning the Super Bowl every year. But concerns over teams in their division tanking, which is the process of intentionally making a team lose to acquire high draft pick capital may take away from the accomplishments that Brady has. He has dominated the AFC East to a tune of nine consecutive AFC East titles and three straight AFC championships. According to AOL, Super Bowl LIII was the least watched NFL championship game in the last decade, which shows the discontent among sports fans that dislike watching the Patriots. Every. Single. Year.

The Patriots are like your least favorite coworker; you know they’re going to be there every time, talking about all of the drama that happened while you were gone. The Patriots arrived at the Super Bowl, and all the talk was about whether or not this will be the final game of Brady’s career. With a Super Bowl victory, Tom Brady could play “Sweet Victory” by David Glen Eisley (why wasn’t it performed at halftime?) and ride off into the sunset, into his castle upon a hill and continue to think about his quest for more Super Bowl rings. Or if Tom Brady lost, he could have said that his time has come to take off the hat, especially at 41. According to USA Today, Brady said, “When the day comes when I feel like I can’t do it anymore, whether even physically, which I doubt it will be, I’ll say it’s enough. But it’s not going to be for a while”.

What could be left for Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots and Tom Brady? I predict that Tom Brady will be questioned endlessly over whether or not he will retire. He deserves to be able to decide when his football career is over despite the cries of sports fans who are hoping and wishing that he calls it quits, so that their teams can become relevant again. As a longtime St. Louis Rams fan converted Green Bay Packers fan, I envy the Patriots success as I too have been waiting for my sports franchise to compete for more championships.

Does he want to be considered the greatest athlete of all time? He has an astounding legacy, as he has accumulated over 70,000 passing yards, multiple MVP awards, nine Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl championships as well as being known as the greatest quarterback in football history. Yet he could still keep going. Despite the countless banter and hate he receives for his grit and clutch factor, he could push his brain and body to play well into his forties, and who knows how many more records could be broken. At the moment, he’s unstoppable, and we are now left with the ultimate question: How can he not be the greatest of all time?

The varsity boys’ and varsity girls’ MSHSAA district basketball tournaments are coming up. Both teams square off against Parkway West in the first round, with the boys’ team (16-9) playing Saturday, Feb. 23, and the girls’ team (20-3) playing Tuesday, Feb. 26. In advance of districts, this quiz tells you who, among six Pioneer basketball players, is most similar to you.

Photo courtesy of Chris Steinmetz

He raced across Selma Field, ready to make his next move. To him, there is nothing better than a double overtime soccer game against Webster Groves. The KHS varsity boys’ soccer team had a tough matchup against Webster’s future MLS senior goalkeeper Sept. 17, 2010. But he was no match for 2014 KHS graduate Eric McWoods, a freshman at the time. With just seconds left in double overtime, Eric delivered a header for his second goal of the game to lead the Pioneers to a 2-1 victory.

Eight years later, Eric currently plays for JK Narva Trans, a professional European soccer team in the top division in Estonia. After graduating from KHS, Eric played two years of college soccer at Xavier University and two years at University of Missouri-Kansas City. Since graduating in May 2018, he took part in scouting events, including a 12-day showcase in Sweden where he received an offer from JK Narva Trans.

“This is a chance to grow my career,” Eric said over FaceTime in Narva, Estonia. “Playing in Europe has always been a dream of mine because [soccer] over here is huge. Playing also in the Europa League, which is one of the top tournaments in the world, is going to be a hell of an experience.”

Roberta McWoods, Eric’s mother and KHS varsity track and field coach, describes her son as a humble person with a great work ethic, and she admires his ability to reach his goals.

Photo courtesy of Roberta McWoods

“Being a coach, I love sports,” Roberta said. “So I love to see any individual set some goals and make their goals. And I love watching him because he sets his goals and expectations pretty high, and he achieves them.”

Eric, a 2013 All-American, holds KHS records, including most goals in a game (5), most goals in a season (40) and most goals in a high school career (87). Along with leading the varsity soccer team from freshman to senior year, Eric was a point guard, playing varsity basketball all four years, as well as a sprinter in track.

Chris Steinmetz, P.E. teacher and head varsity boys’ soccer coach from 2000-2016, formed a special bond with Eric over his four years at KHS. Steinmetz said it was no surprise to him when he heard Eric signed with a professional soccer team.

“[My relationship with Eric] was incredible,” Steinmetz said. “In a coach’s lifetime, you only get a handful of players who have a combination of it all. And it turned out that Eric was one of those players. He had the ability, he had the work ethic, he was a great team leader, and he led by example every day.”

Living in Estonia near the Russian border, Eric said the toughest part of this experience will be adapting to a different country with completely foreign languages. With teammates from across Europe and Africa, Eric became the first American to play for JK Narva Trans. He gets to work with a translator on the team so he can effectively communicate with others.

“The language barrier is going to be huge,” Eric said. “It’s going to be tough to learn their languages, Russian and Estonian, over a span of 10 months.”

Five years ago, he was walking the halls of KHS. Now he pays in euros, has his apartment paid for by his team and said he is living his dream of playing professional soccer. Although he lives 4,800 miles from Kirkwood, he remembers life in Kirkwood fondly.

Photo courtesy of Roberta McWoods

“Being in Kirkwood since I was starting kindergarten at Tillman and finishing at Kirkwood High School was huge,” Eric said. “It shaped me into the person I am today. Great experience, great teachers [and] great coaches played a huge role. People in that community definitely motivated me to want to pursue and use my talent to chase a dream of mine. Kirkwood really meant a lot to me.”

It’s an easy sell: sculpted supermodels posing in exotic locations wearing little to no clothing, right at the fingertips of anyone willing to fork over a few dollars. Every year, Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition brings in about 7 percent of revenue for the renowned publication, according to Forbes. But what does it have to do with sports?

Nothing. The majority of models in the Swimsuit Edition, while maintaining fit lifestyles, are not athletes. Unlike the ESPN Body Issue, another revealing magazine featuring male and female professional athletes that portrays them in their respective sports, the Swimsuit Edition does not highlight strength. While ESPN shows off all body types, ranging from 325-pound defensive tackle Vince Wilfork to 5-foot-2 Olympic figure skater Ashley Wagner, Sports Illustrated sticks to pictures of Kate Upton half-naked on the beach.

Although the Swimsuit Edition may not have anything to do with athletics, it passes by without an afterthought in the sports world. Why? Professional sports are a form of entertainment. Just as in movies and television, sexual themes help programs gain traction and retain viewers’ attention. The Swimsuit Edition, along with cheerleading in professional sports leagues, appeals to a mostly-male audience.

Combining sexual undertones with sports has created a society where body standards are not accurate to the majority of the population. Seventy-one percent (223/315) of KHS students said society has unrealistic body standards. When advertisers constantly show the same body type to an audience, viewers may form expectations that all bodies should look the same way. This leads to the objectification of women, and in professional sports, cheerleaders suffer as a result.

Last year, several former NFL cheerleaders filed lawsuits against their former teams based on appalling allegations. In May, five ex-Houston Texans’ cheerleaders sued the team, claiming they were harassed, body-shamed and paid less than minimum wage. In 2013, the Washington Redskins franchise flew their cheerleading squad to Costa Rica for a photo shoot. Team officials collected their passports so they could not identify themselves and allegedly forced the women to pose topless in front of team sponsors and stadium suite holders. The NFL treats cheerleaders like sex objects, but they did not sign up for that job.

Recently, things have looked different for professional cheerleading. Napoleon Jinnies and Quinton Peron made history as the first male cheerleaders to perform during the Super Bowl Feb. 3. This milestone is an important one, as bringing in more men to the world of professional cheerleading could work to desexualize it. Promoting cheerleading for cheer’s sake unlike the current state of the sport, which advertises these women as bodies and not people, would greatly benefit professional sports.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with cheerleading or the Swimsuit Edition. It becomes a problem when it’s tied to sports and designed to appeal to fantasies. Especially in a world with so many dominant female athletes, portraying women as sex objects to attract sports fans does nothing but promote a predatory culture.

Photo edited by Riley Arns under the Google creative commons license

For those of you who haven’t watched much football this year or don’t really understand the sport in general, I have created a guide that breaks down each remaining playoff team into their The Office character equivalent.

Kanas City Chiefs (Pam Beesly) Vs. Indiana Colts (Darryl Philbin)

The first match-up in the AFC is the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Indiana Colts, but you’re going to remember it as Pam Beesly vs. Darryl Philbin. Just like Pam, the Chiefs are beautiful, smart and undeniably one of the best teams in the league. The Chiefs had the best offense in the regular season with breakout star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, breaking tons of records along the way. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they are more like season one Pam who is still a secretary and still engaged to the wrong man. While the Chiefs had the best offense they also had the second worst defense, allowing over 400 yards per game and 26.3 points a game. The Chiefs may not be good enough to win the Super Bowl this year, but their story is far from over.

The Chiefs have to face the Indiana Colts in the divisional round, a team I can only liken to Darryl. Just like Darryl, everyone knew the Colts had the potential to be a powerhouse but weren’t sure if the team could mesh in time for the playoffs with their quarterback Andrew Luck coming off an injury. In the first round of the playoffs, the Colts crushed the Texans with a score of 21-7 and are starting to look like the season six or seven Darryl we all love.

New England Patriots (Toby Flenderson) Vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Kevin Malone)

The New England Patriots are exactly like Toby Flenderson. While they are consistently good at their job and have won five super bowls in the last 20 years, they are hated by everyone. Nobody likes the Patriots outside a few people and you should not root for them for no other reason besides the fact that they are the Patriots.

I really struggled to come up with an Office equivalent for the Los Angeles Chargers but as a stretch Kevin Malone who is often overlooked but still provides tremendous value to the show. Just like Kevin, the Chargers season has been overshadowed by the Rams, but that doesn’t mean they’re worse. They are just different. The Chargers finished the season with a record of 12-4 which is only one game behind the Rams 13-3, but unlike the Rams, the Chargers were a top ten offense and defensive team. the Chargers have as good a chance as anyone does at winning the Superbowl.

New Orleans Saints (Dwight Schrute) Vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Creed)

The New Orleans Saints closely resemble Dwight Schrute in the sense that both of them get the job done at all costs. Dwight Schrute was the number one paper salesman every season of The Office and has a natural gift for his job just like Saints coach Sean Payton. During the Saints’ last practice Payton brought out the Lombardi Trophy sitting on top of $225k and said, “Y’all want this? Win three games.” No one has as much passion for the game or a greater desire to win than the New Orleans Saints.

The Philadelphia Eagles can only be compared to Creed. Creed was originally only supposed to be a background character, but turned into a fan favorite and a staple of the show just like the Eagles. Yet again their quarterback, Carson Wentz, has gone down with an injury and everyone thought that meant the end of their season, but backup QB Nick Foles is playing better than ever. The Eagles might make another spectacular playoff run like they did last year or they might lose against the Saints. Just like Creed, no one is quite sure what they will do but everyone is excited to see what happens.

Los Angeles Rams (Jim Halpert) Vs. Dallas Cowboys (Michael Scott)

The Los Angeles Rams are Jim Halpert because they are pretty much all you could ask for in a character/NFL Team. The Rams were the second best offensive team averaging 421.1 yards per game to the Chiefs 425.6 Yds/Pg, but unlike the chiefs their defense was respectable, sitting at 19th in the league. The Rams look unstoppable and their only true competition will be the will be the Dwight Schrute of the NFL, The New Orleans Saints.

The Dallas Cowboys are easily the Michael Scott of the NFL. Neither of them really know what they’re doing and were just in the right place at the right time. The Cowboys are ecstatic that they won a playoff game are going to ride that win until Saturday when Jim Halpert *cough* *cough* I mean the Los Angeles Rams destroy them.

With the best Cardinals first baseman since Pujols and the best relief pitcher since Isringhausen, it’s a new era of baseball in St. Louis. Until 2018, the Birds on the Bat had not been excluded from the postseason three years in a row since the turn of the century. From 2004 to 2014, Cardinals fans enjoyed four World Series appearances as well as three additional trips to the National League Championship Series (NLCS). The Cardinals’ dominance for the past decade and a half led fans to both surprise and disappointment when the team missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season in 2018. Yeah, 88 wins leaves a lot to be desired.

But, Cards fans, have no fear, because Paul Goldschmidt is here. In a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Dec. 5, 2018, the Cardinals moved three young players and a draft pick to secure the first baseman, who is one of the game’s most consistent hitters. Since 2012, Goldschmidt is tied for the second-most wins above replacement (WAR) among position players, only behind Mike Trout, a future Hall of Famer. If he keeps up his pace for several more seasons, Goldschmidt may even reach Hall of Fame status himself.

Given his track record with the Diamondbacks, Goldschmidt will tremendously add to the lineup. But there was a significant, intangible aspect of the trade as well. What I see is belief from the Cardinals’ administration that this team can make a run to the playoffs this season. Goldschmidt fills a hole that the Cardinals have had since the days of Matt Holliday, or even Albert Pujols: a true number-three hitter. The front office made a worthy attempt to address that issue in December 2017 when the team hauled in star outfielder Marcell Ozuna from the Miami Marlins. Ozuna was a notable pickup, but he underperformed in 2018 and did not push the Cardinals to the next level.

Cardinals logo courtesy of Flickr under the Creative Commons License

Strengths

Defense

The Cardinals ended up rock-bottom in the MLB last season in errors, the primary defensive statistic. The team made 133 errors in 2018, 12 more than any other team and more than twice as many as the team with the fewest (Houston Astros, 62). So how could defense possibly be a strength for St. Louis?

Well, every Cardinals fan is familiar with Yadier Molina’s defensive prowess. He won his ninth Gold Glove in 2018, the third-most for a catcher all-time. Kolten Wong isn’t a dynamic offensive player, but he seems to make a dazzling play every game. Wong led all second basemen in defensive runs saved (DRS) last year with 19, despite missing over 20 percent of the season due to injury. Harrison Bader is one of the fastest players in the game and resembles retired Cardinals’ Gold Glove center fielder Jim Edmonds in the outfield, often diving to make unbelievable catches. Slugger Marcell Ozuna doesn’t just hit, as he won a Gold Glove in 2017. Paul Goldschmidt has three Gold Gloves under his belt, and he is due for another this year after winning the award in 2013, 2015 and 2017. And finally, Paul DeJong is “sneaky good” on defense, according to manager Mike Shildt. DeJong was 10th among all MLB players in defensive WAR in 2018, as well as tied for third among shortstops with 14 DRS.

The bullpen

Keith Allison
Photo of Andrew Miller courtesy of Flickr under the Creative Commons License

The Cardinals’ other major transaction from the offseason was signing Andrew Miller, one of the game’s first-rate relief pitchers. The Cardinals brought him in on a two-year, $25 million contract in December. Miller reinforces the young core of the Cards’ bullpen, which includes Jordan Hicks, who consistently hits 100 miles per hour with his fastball, Dakota Hudson, who was promoted to the majors in the middle of last season and possibly Alex Reyes, who will shift to the bullpen if Adam Wainwright maintains his spot in the starting rotation. Carlos Martinez could potentially move to the bullpen, like he did last year, if his arm troubles affect his stamina.

The bullpen plays a pivotal role in determining a team’s playoff chances. According to FanGraphs, the top five teams in bullpen ERA last year all made the playoffs, while the Cardinals placed 20th in that category. The most critical piece will be Miller, who has recently struggled with injuries, but showed his importance to a team’s dynamic in 2016 as arguably the most valuable piece of the Cleveland Indians’ World Series run.

Veteran presence

Ozzie Smith said, “When we say ‘Cardinal Way,’ we’re talking about fundamentals, the execution of fundamentals on a daily basis, playing the game the right way.” The La Russa and Matheny eras had a theme of fundamental, experienced teams that go by the book. The storyline in 2019 will be no different, as four of the eight starting position players are over 30 years old. Headline pitchers Andrew Miller and Adam Wainwright are 33 and 37, respectively.

The Cardinals will not blow teams out of the water with flashy, young talent. These guys have plenty of experience in the pros and that can be used as an advantage over rival teams.

Questions to consider

Will Dexter Fowler revive his career?

Photo of Dexter Fowler courtesy of Wikimedia under the Creative Commons License

Dexter Fowler cashed in on Dec. 9, 2016, when he received a five-year, $82.5 million contract to come to St. Louis. The deal came after Fowler had an All-Star campaign in which he was the leadoff hitter for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs. Fowler steeply declined in 2018, hitting for a pitiful .180 batting average. He has lost the speed he once had and is not the switch-hitting, top-of-the-order threat he was two years ago. As a fan of Fowler, I hope he gets back on track and earns the money his team is paying him. If not, Jose Martinez or Tyler O’Neill would be more than happy to occupy the starting right fielder spot.

Can Miles Mikolas continue to succeed in 2019?

Nobody within the Cardinals’ organization could have predicted how well top starter Miles Mikolas would perform throughout the 2018 season. The Cardinals signed Mikolas to a two-year, $15.5 million contract in December 2017. Mikolas previously played in Japan for three years after a short, unsuccessful stint in the MLB.

Mikolas received Cy Young Award consideration in 2018, in which he posted a 2.83 ERA and tied for a National League-best 18 wins. He received the nod Feb. 23 for the Opening Day start, though Mike Shildt said all five of the Cardinals’ projected starters were in the running for the honor. He did not show signs of slowing down last season, as he actually ended the year with a 2.14 ERA in a strong month of September. It is hard to project with a player like Mikolas, but Cardinals fans hope he can maintain his results from 2018.

What role will health play in the big picture?

The list of the Cardinals’ injury concerns is relatively long. Alex Reyes is coming off Tommy John surgery, which is always a serious matter. Marcell Ozuna underwent right shoulder surgery last October after dealing with throwing problems all season. Dexter Fowler fractured his foot in August. The aging Yadier Molina had a minor knee surgery this offseason. Flamethrower Carlos Martinez was shut down for two weeks due to lack of shoulder strength at the start of spring training in mid-February.

Injuries will always be a major part of the game, but the Cardinals endured more than their fair share last season. Consistency is key to a successful season, and guys rotating on and off the injury list means teammates have to adjust. Staying healthy will play a crucial role in the Cardinals’ 2019 campaign.

The verdict

Keith Allison
Photo courtesy of Flickr under the Creative Commons License

Cardinals fans should be excited for what’s to come in 2019. The players sure are. Matt Carpenter was pumped when he heard the news of the Goldschmidt trade, tweeting “Paul Goldschmidt! Ummm Yes please! let’s do this!! #ChristmasMiracle #cardinalnation.” Yadier Molina’s reaction? Sitting on a boat in Florida, he said, “Give me a beer!”

There is more to look forward to other than the Goldschmidt trade. It is Mike Shildt’s first full season as manager, and he impressed everybody with his showing during the second half of 2018. The pitching rotation will be no less than solid, with the ace Mikolas locked into a four-year extension, Michael Wacha returning from injury and a bright future to expect from Jack Flaherty.

The Cardinals should be respectable in all the major aspects of a team: hitting, starting pitching, relief pitching and defense. Having said that, it’s not outrageous to predict the Cardinals for a run to the Fall Classic. But the NL Central is the only division with three possible winners. Getting to the playoffs in probably the toughest division in baseball will be hard; delivering in the postseason, potentially against the Dodgers or Cubs, will be harder. The National League is stronger now than it has been in recent years, but so are the Cardinals, which is why TKC projects a World Series appearance for St. Louis. It’s impossible to predict exactly what’s going to happen, but whatever it is, it will be better than a meager 88 wins.

MLB logo courtesy of sportslogos.net

*Logos courtesy of sportslogos.net

Larry Nassar, Jerry Sandusky and Ray Rice. The legacies of these men will forever be tainted by their reckless actions toward innocent people. Sexual misconduct and domestic violence damage various sports, age ranges and athletic skill levels. It is acceptable for sports players to be physical with their opponents, but never with their partner.

NFL

Among all of the problems that affect NFL players today — from concussions to gruesome, career-ending injuries — sexual misconduct is often overlooked. Eight players were released in the past 10 years because they violated the league’s policy prohibiting sexual abuse, while many other players have faced accusations of similar crimes. The lack of clarity in the league’s sexual misconduct policy is one of the main reasons suspension lengths for similar crimes vary. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the issue in a powerful letter to team owners in 2014.

“We allowed our standards to fall below where they should be and lost an important opportunity to emphasize our strong stance on a critical issue,” Goodell said in the letter. “But even one case of domestic violence or sexual assault is unacceptable.”

The change Goodell promised has not entirely materialized. Recent examples highlight the issue: current Washington Redskins’ linebacker Reuben Foster was released in November by his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, following allegations of domestic violence. Star running back Kareem Hunt, who was released by the Kansas City Chiefs in late November after video surfaced of him kicking and shoving a woman, did not have to wait long for an NFL team to bite, with Hunt agreeing to a contract with the Cleveland Browns in mid-February. This signing magnifies the NFL’s problem, as the league has yet to conclude its investigation of the incident, which occurred in February 2018. Another apparent problem in the NFL’s handling of sexual misconduct cases is its inconsistent punishments: players such as former New York Giants’ kicker Josh Brown and current Dallas Cowboys’ superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott have faced varying suspension lengths for similar incidents of sexual misconduct.

In a sport so predicated on violence, the extension of that violence to their partners is often the league’s bleak reality. Tangible change must be made before the league’s current culture causes irreversible damage to more people and its reputation as America’s premier sport.

Olympics

For the more than 300 survivors who Larry Nassar sexually abused and molested, a $500 million settlement will not console the tears and pain that his actions scarred them with. This case of sexual misconduct, the largest in sports history, follows the litany of similar cases in U.S. Olympic history. Sexual misconduct allegations have stemmed from gymnastics, swimming, volleyball and mixed martial arts. According to a 2018 report by the Southern California News Group, 252 U.S. swim coaches have been arrested for sexual misconduct-related issues over the past two decades. One underlying problem to the sexual misconduct allegations, which has parallels in other professional sports, is the glaring discrepancy between male and female coaches. For example, out of 92 U.S. Swimming National Team coaches, only 11 are female. Now, not all male coaches will commit these crimes and some male coaches may have more qualifying experiences for their jobs. However, female athletes, particularly Olympians, may feel more vulnerable than their male counterparts because of the apparent systematic problems in U.S. Olympic organizations.

Public outrage is a proven catalyst for change, but what happens after initial changes are made is more important in preventing the perpetuation of a toxic culture. In the case of the U.S. Olympic organizations, who, although privately operated, represent the country on an international platform, the federal government’s intervention is critical in order to ensure substantial, positive change.

NBA

A seven-month investigation of the Dallas Mavericks’ front office in 2018 revealed numerous cases of sexual harassment over the past two decades. While this was shocking news for the thriving NBA, it emphasized the lack of personal conflicts and the positive publicity that NBA fans have received from the league.

Only three NBA players in the past decade have been suspended for at least six games for domestic violence. The most significant instance involved Jeff Taylor, who received a 24-game suspension for domestic violence in 2014, after which NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the issue in an official statement:

“Domestic violence is a serious societal issue that is antithetical to any community or organization that prides itself on the values of respect for others, good moral character and common decency.”

The only other incidents were Darren Collison, suspended for eight games in 2016, and Willie Reed, suspended for six games in 2018. Aside from a few exceptions, the NBA is succeeding in helping their players maintain positive reputations. The league’s consistency in handling these incidents is proof that those involved in the decision-making process are more aware of the magnitude of the situation, as well as how the league will look if it goes unanswered.

It is rare to see an ESPN report about a basketball player involved in domestic violence. If the trend with these leagues continues, sometime down the road basketball may challenge baseball as America’s true pastime.

NCAA

While NCAA athletes occasionally commit sexual misconduct, the more recent problem has surrounded coaches dismissing allegations against their players and assistant coaches.

Ohio State University head football coach Urban Meyer stepped down in December after he failed to adequately address sexual abuse accusations against former assistant coach Zach Smith. Former Baylor University head football coach Art Briles was fired in 2016 following his failure to take action against multiple players accused of sexual assault. Joe Paterno, former Penn State University head football coach, dismissed several sexual misconduct accusations against Jerry Sandusky, one of his assistant coaches, who was convicted of rape and child sex abuse in 2012.

Coaches have an obligation to ensure that all allegations against their players and assistant coaches are investigated, whether stated in their contracts or not. Their commitment to leading with integrity is the only way sexual misconduct can be prevented in the future.

MLB/NHL

The situation of the NFL in sexual misconduct scandals is in stark contrast to that of the NBA, which is well-behaved compared to the other major associations that sports fans follow, such as the MLB and NHL. Both leagues have dealt with their fair share of sexual misconduct incidents, but the approaches they take are more direct. The NHL is the only one of the four major associations not to have a domestic violence policy, instead judging cases on individual circumstances. The MLB has a strong joint domestic violence policy with its Players Association (MLBPA), with players potentially subject to a 100-game suspension for a first-time offense, as experienced by former San Diego Padres’ pitcher José Torres in 2018. These policies allow the respective leagues to more effectively punish players and reduce the frequency of sexual misconduct.

Despite executive efforts throughout all sports leagues, policies and suspensions can only go so far. The players are accountable for their actions off the playing field and must remain conscious of their decisions. When headlines pop up about sexual misconduct cases against athletes, confronting them is necessary for preventing them in the future.

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For many March the beginning of college basketball’s March Madness, but for the boys on skates in the land of 10,000 lakes, March is the Minnesota High School Hockey tournament. And no honor (besides winning the state title) compares to being honored in the annual All-Hockey Hair Team video. From poofy afros to luscious natural locks, the players bring their A-game to show off for pregame introductions, in an effort to try and strike a spot on the prestigious top-10 best flow in the tournament.

High school hockey in Minnesota is the crème de la crème of high school hockey. Unlike elsewhere in the United States where talented players from isolated hotbeds pay thousands upon thousands of dollars to fly across the country to play against other talented teams, Minnesota players more often than not stay in their small community and play youth all the way through high school against other local teams, not only because the talent is remarkable, but because it is so special in the community. Two years ago, current Buffalo Sabres forward Casey Mittelstadt opted out of playing early for the University of Minnesota, and from playing in the top developmental league in the United States (the USHL), to play for his high school team, Eden Prairie.

To preface, before each game of the televised Minnesota high school hockey state tournament, every player has their own brief intro: five or six seconds of fame. The showmanship became so extraordinary that an anonymous fan, and native of White Bear Lake, MN (as revealed in the 2019 video), began to nominate his favorite flow of the tournament to his “All Hockey Hair team.” Even though his footage from the tournament comes from a camera filming a television set, and the advertisements are plastered together using played out, default iMovie effects, the culture of the video makes up for it all. Some of the videos have racked up over a million views. The uniqueness draws everyone in. It’s a grown man nitpicking high school hockey players’ hair, it doesn’t get better than that than that. 2019’s All Hockey Hair team video was the 10th anniversary of the first video, but sadly the man under the pseudonym “PulltabProductions” is retiring from the game.

The videos have always mentioned the Hendrickson Foundation, an honorable way to leverage the popularity of the videos for good. According to the GoFundMe:

“Started by Larry ‘The Legend’ Hendrickson, simply put the Hendrickson Foundation believes “Hockey Changes Lives.”  They believe it because they see it happen every day as they support sled, special and military hockey throughout the State of Minnesota.”

Here are some of my favorite highlights:

so it begins pic.twitter.com/5PCwYsFJ26

— eli swanson (@eswany33) March 6, 2019

pic.twitter.com/YRYDEvSAIs

— eli swanson (@eswany33) March 6, 2019

mom doesn’t need a shoutout apparently pic.twitter.com/qRIvWCueiV

— eli swanson (@eswany33) March 8, 2019

pic.twitter.com/bSj8OZH8Eq

— eli swanson (@eswany33) March 8, 2019

Edina tops Eden Prairie in OT on Peter Colby’s laser to win the Minnesota Boys State Hockey Torunament pic.twitter.com/0lUKu1s86q

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) March 10, 2019

“Who would want to play in St. Louis? Boring. So boring. I always get asked, ‘Where would you like to play? Where would you not like to play?’ St. Louis is on the list of places I don’t like to play. It’s rough.”

When Chicago Cubs star third baseman Kris Bryant said these words on a comedy talk show at the 2019 Cubs Convention, he did not plan on infuriating an entire city. But, in a rivalry as historic and bitter as the one between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals, no comments go unnoticed, even if they appear on “Friday Night with Ryan Dempster.”

Ever since the late 1800s, when the Cardinals and Cubs battled it out as the St. Louis Browns and the Chicago White Stockings, the two teams and their fans have loathed each other. Some attribute this to the economic rivalry between the two cities during the time of their formation, as Chicago grew exponentially after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 and overtook St. Louis in population. The two cities’ geographic locations also tie them together, as they both lie in the Midwest on the historic Route 66.

While the Cubs lead the all-time series 1230-1171, this record is misleading, as the Cardinals have had the upper leg for most of the franchises’ histories. Since 1926, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series, compared to the Cubs three championships. Throughout the Cubs’ 108-year World Series drought — which spanned from 1908 to 2016 — several events have polarized fans of each team. Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire beat out Cubs star Sammy Sosa in the 1998 home run race by setting the single-season record at 70 (until it was broken by Barry Bonds with 73 in 2001). In 2005, Albert Pujols’ MVP win frustrated many Cubs faithful who thought their first baseman and NL batting title winner Derrek Lee deserved the prestigious award. After some divisional distractions between the Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds during the first half of this decade, today the classic rivalry is back in full swing. The Cubs finally won a championship in 2016, and are now consistent postseason contenders.

Although Bryant has since said that his comments were taken out of context, Cardinals players quickly unleashed a tirade on the former MVP. Some of the most striking comments came from long-time Cardinals catcher and future Hall of Famer Yadier Molina, who fiercely defended his city in an Instagram post directed at Bryant.

“All stars, elite players and leaders of their teams do not speak bad about any city, “ Molina’s caption read. “There should be respect and you should play and compete with respect…only stupid players and losers make comments like the ones made by Bryant and Dempster.”

When the Cardinals first host the Cubs this year on May 31, the reaction from Cardinal Nation will certainly be something to look out for. With another season in the competitive NL Central on the way, the Route 66 rivalry looks to get even stronger on and off the field.

From game-winning shots in double overtime to freakish displays of athleticism, the NBA’s best players routinely captivate crowds with their dazzling displays of basketball ability. This season is different from previous ones, as there is a refreshing feeling of diversity among the candidates competing for this year’s awards. While many familiar faces could still win the awards, the distinction between this season and previous years is the influx of younger players competing for these awards. Here are my predictions for this year’s awards.

Coach of the Year: Dave Joerger, Sacramento Kings. This may be shocking to many basketball fan who may lean toward Milwaukee Bucks’ coach Mike Budenholzer or Denver Nuggets’ coach Mike Malone, as their teams are the top seeds in each conference. However, the Kings, who have no superstars or all-stars, are only five games out of the final Western Conference playoff spot and have more wins (33) than they had all of last year (28) with 15 games left to play. Coming into the season, ESPN projected the Kings to have the worst record in the league (24-58). Although they have played inconsistently coming out of the All-Star break (posting a 3-7 record), all of the losses have been by fewer than ten points and five of them were against playoff teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors. A renaissance of attitude and energy now surrounds the team who currently holds the NBA’s longest postseason drought of 12 years. The development of young guards De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield and center Marvin Bagley III have been key factors in the team’s success thus far.

Sixth Man of the Year: Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers. Sabonis has once again increased his production during his second season in Indiana. He averages 14.3 points and 9.2 rebounds in just under 25 minutes per game, which can be attributed to his efficient 60.8 shooting percentage. Compared to his rookie season stats of 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20 minutes per game, the third-year center is no longer a minor piece from the trade that sent Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sabonis also has a top-15 defensive rating and has had a stabilizing presence in the Pacers’ bench production, which supplements some of the missing production from injured all-star guard Victor Oladipo. 

Rookie of the Year: Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks. Dončić averages 21.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game in his first season in the NBA, on par with some of this year’s all stars. Dončić’s success is largely due to his experience playing in Europe, where he had played professionally since he was 13 and won the 2018 Euroleague MVP. In January, the now 20-year-old forward became the youngest player with at least 25 points and 10 assists in a game since LeBron James in 2004, highlighting the lack of competition between him and his fellow rookies.

Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks. Also known as the “Greek Freak,” Antetokounmpo, the 2017 Most Improved Player, has once again substantially elevated his level of play. Apart from his averages of 27.0 points, 12.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists, he leads the league in defensive win-shares, is tied for second in player-efficiency rating (PER) and has helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. 24-year-old Antetokounmpo has already reached superstardom in his sixth season and could eventually become the league’s best player.

Defensive Player of the Year: Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder. George has become the premier wing defender in the league, with a large component of this due to his defensive versatility (ability to effectively defend guards, forwards and centers) and elite perimeter defense. The six-time all star averages the most steals (2.2) and second most deflections (3.7) per game, has a top-15 defensive rating and has helped the Thunder rank third in team defensive rating, which means they allow the third-fewest points per 100 possessions. In the current era of scoring and shooting threes, wing defenders of George’s caliber have become increasingly scarce, making his defensive production even more valuable.

Most Improved Player: Derrick Rose, Minnesota Timberwolves. This award is the closest race, as Toronto Raptors’ forward Pascal Siakam, Chicago Bulls’ guard Zach Lavine and Sacramento Kings’ guard De’Aaron Fox all have very strong cases for winning the award. Alternatively, the revitalization of the former MVP’s career this season goes beyond normal increased statistical production. He has increased his scoring by 10 points per game and assists by three per game, averaging 18.0 points, 4.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game this season, while also having the best shooting season of his career.  While many of the players listed above also had substantial offensive advancements, only one of them is doing it from the bench (Siakam) as Rose is. The 30-year-old guard has been one of the few bright spots for a Timberwolves team still in the playoff picture and could also easily be considered a contender for Sixth Man of the Year. 

What, when and where:

1 Virginia vs. 5 Auburn, 5:09 p.m. CT

2 Michigan State vs. 3 Texas Tech, 7:49 p.m. CT

Saturday, April 6

Minneapolis, MN

Last year’s March Madness did not disappoint, from Loyola-Chicago’s run to the Final Four to UMBC taking down Virginia for the first-ever 16-1 seed upset. This March was a bit more predictable, with the majority of better seeds moving on. But fans have certainly received their fair share of excitement, whether it be 12-seed Oregon in the Sweet 16, only one 1-seed in the Final Four or Duke’s too-close-for-comfort wins.

In the first round, 12-seeds had a 3-1 record against 5-seeds, with the only advancing 5-seed winning by one point. But after barely squeaking past a 12-seed, that 5-seed, Auburn, has reached the Final Four. Here’s a look at each of the four remaining teams who will carry the madness into April.

In the Elite Eight, the Spartans knocked off the Duke Blue Devils, who were projected to win the tournament in 39.2 percent of brackets in the NCAA’s Bracket Challenge Game. Michigan State scored 78.3 points per game and allowed just 65.1 points per game during the regular season, good enough for the 12th-best scoring margin in college basketball. Their elite offensive and defensive capabilities are evident in their Basketball Power Index (BPI) ratings, which list them in the top 10 in both categories.

The Spartans run their offense through junior guard Cassius Winston, who averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 assists per game. Winston’s sense for making creative passes has established him as one of the best guards in the country. Matt McQuaid and Joshua Langford have played key roles as supporting guards to Winston, each shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc, but an injury in late December sidelined Langford for the rest of the season. The team’s top three bigs, Nick Ward, Kenny Goins and Xavier Tillman, have also been key components of the team’s success. Combined, they average 54 percent of the team’s rebounds, 40 percent of the team’s points and 78 percent of the team’s blocks per game. Although Michigan State had some trouble keeping LSU and Duke from getting offensive rebounds, the Spartans have largely had success utilizing their size and controlling the glass. 

Limiting turnovers is vital for a team ranking 318th in the country in turnover margin (2.4). Michigan State will need Winston to dissect the Texas Tech defense and create open looks for Ward, Goins and Tillman down low to create more space for the Spartans’ three-point shooters. 

Defense, defense and more defense. This has been the foundation of the Texas Tech Red Raiders team making its first appearance to the Final Four in program history. Coached by Chris Beard, 2019 AP Men’s College Basketball Coach of the Year, the Red Raiders have allowed the third-fewest points per game (59.0) in the country, forced their opponents to make the second-lowest percentage (36.9) of shots per game and have the top-rated defense according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI).

Keeping teams from scoring in the paint has been one of senior forward Tariq Owens’ strong points, as he averages 2.4 blocks per game. The team’s perimeter defense has also been showcased in their first four games, holding Northern Kentucky, Buffalo, Michigan and Gonzaga to a combined 23.4 percent from beyond the arc. Additionally, Texas Tech has allowed just 57 points per game over the first four games.

The unequivocal leader of the team is sophomore Jarrett Culver, who has averaged the most points (18.5), rebounds (6.4) and assists (3.8) per game on the team. He is a projected top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA draft and Big 12 Player of the Year. Culver’s performance in Texas Tech’s matchup against Michigan State may dictate the outcome of the game, as the team has struggled when their leader shoots poorly. Look for Texas Tech to run their offense through Culver and to get him in rhythm via some easy shots early. The three-point shooting of guards Davide Moretti and Matt Mooney (46.3 percent and 38.1 percent, respectively) is also crucial in generating enough offense to get past Michigan State’s tough defense.

Prediction: Texas Tech 65, Michigan State 60

Looks like the Red Raiders will get to play “Old Town Road” one more time in the post-game locker room celebration that has typified their tournament run. The game should be a classic defensive battle and will ultimately come down to whether Culver outperforms Winston or vice versa. Turnovers by Michigan State will cost them, though, and Texas Tech will squeak out a five-point win to beat the Spartans.

Virginia will always be known as the team that lost to a 16-seed. This year’s first round opponent, 16-seed Gardner-Webb, surprised college basketball fans with a six-point lead over Virginia at halftime, and Virginia’s Sweet 16 game against 12-seed Oregon came down to the wire. If it weren’t for the desperation shot against Purdue to force overtime in the Elite Eight, this section would cover the Boilermakers. Virginia has won by a narrow margin twice this tournament already. But they are back from last year with something to prove.

Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter were the team’s leaders in minutes per game and points per game. The Cavaliers lack a solid post presence, which is why these three wing players are so important. Guy and Hunter will draw the most attention from Auburn’s defense, largely due to their shooting percentages (over 42 percent) from three-point range. Hunter, a future NBA early first-round draft pick, has been uncharacteristically cold during the NCAA tournament, and Virginia will need him to find his touch in order to outlast Auburn. In the first three games, Guy couldn’t get shots to fall either, but he returned to form in Virginia’s biggest game to this point vs. Purdue, posting 25 points and 10 rebounds.

Defense and turnovers are some of the best indicators of a team’s success. Well, those categories just happen to be Virginia’s bread and butter. Virginia was the number one team in the nation in both points allowed per game and fewest turnovers per game, at 55.4 and 9.0, respectively. Perhaps those statistics can lead Virginia to their first national title in program history.

12-seed New Mexico State almost downed Auburn in the first round, but they missed two chances to win at the end. That game must have whipped Auburn into shape because since then, the Tigers have handled three college basketball dynasties, beating Kansas by 14, North Carolina by 17 and Kentucky by 6. Auburn has endured the toughest schedule in the tournament of any of the remaining teams.

The first team to reach the Final Four in Auburn school history features players with a variety of skill sets. Bryce Brown and Jared Harper make up one of the most effective backcourts in college basketball, with each of them averaging over 15 points per game. The two guards shouldered the majority of the weight in their game vs. Kentucky, combining for 50 points and six steals. Brown puts away opponents with bunches of three-pointers and Harper, standing at 5-foot-11, uses his incredible speed to get to the rim. The Tigers suffered a blow when their top forward, Chuma Okeke, tore his ACL during their big win over North Carolina. Despite Okeke’s absence, Auburn held back Kentucky’s future NBA player PJ Washington just enough to advance.

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl has used depth to his advantage, as eight players have played at least 38 games this season. The key to beating Virginia is to control the pace and speed up the tempo, which is where the depth comes into play. Auburn displayed togetherness and a will to win against Kentucky, during which they also learned how to play without Okeke.

Prediction: Virginia 75, Auburn 68

What will make this game fun to watch, but also harder to predict, is the polar-opposite styles of play between the two teams. Virginia is not necessarily the most entertaining team to watch, applying a half-court offense and one of the slowest tempos in the country. Auburn plays the type of game with a final score of 90-85 and Virginia could very well defeat a team with a final score of 60-55. The outcome of this game will lie somewhere in the middle.

Virginia will edge out Auburn, though, with the Cavaliers’ defense outworking Auburn’s offense. If Auburn loses, they would finish the season with double-digit losses, while Virginia has only lost once to a team other than Duke this season. But who knows? No 5-seed has ever won the NCAA tournament since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Maybe Auburn will decide to change that.

It was judgement day and he was an hour late. With only 30 minutes left in tryouts, he hurried into the densely packed gym full of sweaty sixth graders. Damien Loyd, now senior, knew that he would have to set himself apart from all the other boys trying for roster spots on the sixth grade Pioneer Elite basketball teams.  

“The first drill was a 1-on-1 isolation drill,” Loyd said. “I came in and scored eight times straight and made the A-team. [After that] I knew that basketball was something I wanted to pursue in high school.”

According to Amy Leatherberry, English teacher, Damien’s improvement on the court has been directly related to his growth off the court, but it has not come as a surprise.

“He has been dedicated to school and sports the last couple years,” Leatherberry said. “I don’t know if he was as clear about his goals freshman year, but his goals of playing ball at the next level have really driven him.”

Loyd has, however, faced adversity during his basketball career, largely stemming from being slightly undersized for the position of point guard. He does not consider this physical disadvantage as an excuse, using it instead as motivation to excel on the court.

“I’m 5-foot-10 and I averaged 20 plus [points per game] two years straight,” Loyd said. “I know there have been guys who were 6-foot-7 who averaged 20 plus [points per game], but [in] Kirkwood history I don’t know if anyone has done that at my size.”

Loyd averaged 20.6 points per game this year; following his junior year, where he averaged 21.1 ppg, Loyd saw the materialization of his dedication to the game of basketball when he was selected to Missouri’s Class 5 First Team All-State. This recognition fueled his desire to continue playing at the NCAA level, even though the route he has decided to take may not have been something he ever imagined.

“I had some NCAA D1 and D2 looks, but I wasn’t getting enough exposure,” Loyd said. “I played AAU and high school [basketball], but I didn’t get the exposure or looks that I felt like I should.”

Loyd will be playing at North Central Missouri College, a D2 NJCAA school that won their first ever Region XVI and District XIII titles during the 2018-19 season. Jack Kanzler, 2018 KHS graduate and former teammate of Loyd, thinks that Loyd has a chance of eventually moving past the NJCAA level, attributing it to his unmatched work ethic and talent on the court.

“I personally thought he deserved to be [at a school] larger than a junior college right out of high school, ” Kanzler said. “He was always one of the first guys [to practice] and always the last one to leave, the last one getting shots up. He has taken a path I think he can be very successful in.”

Loyd’s dedication to improving at basketball is shown by the extra time he puts into working on his craft. According to Leatherberry, this could be the reason he succeeds at the next level.  

“I park in the Chopin lot every day so I walk through the gym, and [Damien] is in there a lot on his own putting in extra time and work,” Leatherberry said. “He may not necessarily have some of the things you can’t practice, like height, and so he really has to [succeed] through hard work and drive, which I think he can do.”

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After three years of missing the postseason, the St. Louis Cardinals made major moves in the offseason in order to improve their roster and make a push for the postseason. In a crowded field of strong contenders, will they be able to pull off the success they have been waiting for? Benji Wilton and Hayden Davidson discuss in this podcast, as well as predict which players and MLB teams will make a splash in 2019.

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Once a triple-sport athlete in high school and a Division I football player in college, he is now a KHS teacher and coach. Some students may not know of math teacher Garrett Eskelsen, but he has experienced an interesting athletic career.

Parkway West

As a Longhorn, Eskelsen enjoyed a three-sport career of football, basketball and baseball. He was a tight end and defensive end in the fall, a forward and center in the winter and a catcher and first baseman in the spring. According to Eskelsen, “There was no offseason.”

In his 2005 senior season, Eskelsen was the primary passing target for future NFL quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Eskelsen made an impact on both the offensive and defensive ends, leading his team in receiving yards and sacks in his senior season. In baseball, his coach was current KHS Varsity Baseball Head Coach Scott Weissman, who was the varsity baseball head coach at Parkway West from 1990-2009.

Photos courtesy of Garrett Eskelsen; visual by Hayden Davidson

The oldest of six kids, Eskelsen said he and his siblings set a high standard in athletics. Whether on the turf, the hardwood or the diamond, Eskelsen said he pushed himself to his limit.

• “It’s fun to watch, knowing him in high school and knowing him now,” Weissman said. “He’s still basically the same type of person, a person who’s respectful, who wants to do his best and always trying to learn and get better.”

BYU

Eskelsen continued his football career at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah as a defensive end. But according to Eskelsen, “a laundry list of injuries” hindered his career at BYU. He was on the roster for three seasons, but a hyperextended elbow, two separated shoulders and numerous ankle sprains kept him from getting on the field in a game. BYU’s current coach, Kalani Sitake, is a KHS alum, but Eskelsen played before his hiring.

Outside of football, Eskelsen studied economics and learned to speak Spanish fluently. Eskelsen lived in Tijuana, Mexico, for two years during college, which delayed his academic and athletic careers, so he graduated from BYU in 2012.

• “If your arm is hurt, obviously you can go run, you can go do sprints. If your leg is hurt, you’re doing some kind of upper body deal,” Eskelsen said. “You’re always trying to work around it so when you come back into it, it’s not like you missed a full amount of time.”

Teaching at KHS

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After working at a bank and as a financial producer, Eskelsen went back to school to become a teacher, attending Webster University from 2015-2018. Eskelsen was a student teacher at KHS this past fall semester, and has been the maternity leave substitute for KHS math teacher Kelly Puetz this semester. He teaches two classes of Geometry and three classes of Precalculus.

Eskelsen said the biggest difference between KHS and Parkway West High School is the uniformity with which the material is taught at KHS. He said at KHS, “It’s more of a team effort [working with other teachers].” After Puetz returns, Eskelsen will be a substitute teacher for KSD. 

• “The teachers I work with are phenomenal,” Eskelsen said. “The students I have here are great. I love working with them. It’s that sense of community here at Kirkwood that I have really admired.”

Coaching at KHS

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Eskelsen supports his team as first base coach in a game vs. Parkway South April 22

In addition to teaching math this semester, Eskelsen began his first year coaching baseball as the KHS assistant freshman baseball coach. When the varsity, JV and freshman teams are together, Eskelsen works with catchers and first basemen. With the freshman team, he primarily works with catchers and outfielders, while KHS math teacher and Freshman Baseball Head Coach David Drury works with pitchers and infielders. Eskelsen uses his knowledge from his days as a varsity catcher to call pitching signs for the catcher to relay on to the pitcher. He is the freshman team’s first base coach as well.

• “I was looking for a coach and I didn’t even hesitate,” Weissman said. “Once I heard that he was available and I spoke with him, I was really excited because he knows the system and he teaches things the right way.”

• “He has a calmness about him and a confidence about him that says he’s been there and he’s done it,” Drury said. “He knows the game, so when he makes his comments, I value them.”

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