Article by: Harrison Weaver

Get ready college football fans, we are officially less than a month away from football season. That means Saturday morning College GameDay, raucous student sections, Lee Corso mascot head picks, upset alerts, electric plays, Heisman debates, heated rivalries, everything we love about college football. We’ve spent all off-season in preparation, looking at position battles, player progression, and which teams are ready to make a run at the title this year. Once again, the field is set up for a Clemson/Alabama shootout for the Number 1 overall ranking throughout the regular season. Most of the blue bloods such as Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan, LSU, Texas, etc. have themselves positioned for a playoff run. That doesn’t mean that there are not any outsiders who can’t make a splash though, as there always seems to be at least a slight underdog that sneaks themselves into playoff contention. Back in 2015, Iowa was in the CFP discussion until a late loss to Michigan State. In 2016 the frenzy was around Penn State and their dream run to win the Big 10 Championship but got snubbed a spot in the playoffs. In 2017 and 2018, the debate was around an undefeated UCF team that got left out due to playing in a weak conference. Who’s now going to be the team to spice things up this year? Who’s going to be jarring it out for the Heisman? Let us get into it.
 
2019 Top Heisman Candidates

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama: After leading Bama to a thrilling comeback victory in the 2017 National Championship, Tua has never looked back. After throwing for a ridiculous 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns, while adding 5 more TD’s on the ground in 2018, Tua is set up for another stat-stuffing season at Alabama as well as another shot at a championship. With an easy non-conference schedule, look for his numbers to be just as good, if not better than last season. He’ll have his top targets back, including Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, and Henry Ruggs. All these factors combined put him in a perfect spot to win himself a Heisman.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson: There is a ton of hype surrounding the 2019 Clemson Tigers and their star QB Trevor Lawrence. All he did as a true freshman was throw for 3,280 yards and 30 touchdowns, while featuring a huge National Championship Game against the daunting Bama defense in which he threw for 347 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Just like Tua, Trevor Lawrence is returning with a loaded receiving corps and will be in perfect position for a Heisman run.

Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia: After an extremely disappointing ending to their 2018 campaign, Jake Fromm and the Bulldogs will be out for redemption. He threw for 2,749 yards and 30 touchdowns last year and will again have star running back D’Andre Swift to take away pressure via a strong running attack to compliment the passing game. Fromm has shown steady progression through his first two years, so expect him to take another step forward this year towards a Heisman campaign.

Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas: The man tasked with leading Texas back to the top of college football glory put up tremendous stats in route to an impressive year last season for the Longhorns. Ehlinger scored 41 touchdowns, 25 through the air and 16 on the ground. He threw for 3,292 yards and rushed for 482 more. He even had 5 receptions for 51 yards over the course of the season. If anyone can produce a Heisman Moment, Sam Ehlinger is that guy. Let’s see if he can build on the success of last year’s Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia to land a spot in New York for the ceremony.

Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon: Justin Herbert won’t only be contending for a Championship or a Heisman this year, he will also be competing for a chance to be taken as a top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The only concern West Coast fans have is that Herbert will not get the same spotlight due to late-night games for East Coast fans (#PAC12AfterDark). Not to worry, Herbert threw for 3,151 yards and 29 touchdowns last year. Those numbers are only going to improve, and if Oregon can win enough of their big games to stay in playoff contention, Justin Herbert will get all the Heisman recognition he needs.

Others to Keep an Eye On: Adrian Martinez (QB, Nebraska), Jalen Hurts (QB, Oklahoma), Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson), Jonathan Taylor (RB, Wisconsin)
 
Dark Horses
Dark Horse: A candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.
This section is going to be all about the teams I have my eye on as outsiders with College Football Playoff potential, or at least the ability to drive some debate to be in the conversation. Some of you may read this list and wonder why your favorite team is not included, especially if you’re an LSU, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida, or Notre Dame fan. Each of those teams are a Preseason Top 10 team, and in my opinion, I do not consider Top 10 teams to be a dark horse. If anything, take it as a compliment. I expect each of those teams to be in the running. They’re all loaded with talent at a point where they’re ready to win titles. On the other hand, once you drop out of the Top 10, then you start to get teams that people are sleeping on or teams that are ready to break through that may have had some rough spots last season. That is how I define a dark horse.

Nebraska Cornhuskers: Last year was a frustrating year for the Cornhuskers. In a highly anticipated first year for new head coach Scott Frost, the college football world was expecting slightly better than the 4-8 that the Huskers finished at. However, in games decided by 5 points or less, they went a rough 1-5, meaning that if a few more plays went their way, they could have earned themselves a spot in a bowl game. This tells us that they were much better than their record demonstrates. The Huskers are bringing back 13 starters from last year, including dual-threat QB Adrian Martinez who put up 2,617 passing yards and 629 rushing yards last year. Starting out the season ranked #20, look for Scott Frost and the Huskers to start winning those close games and begin to climb in the rankings.

Boise State Broncos: Much like UCF of the past few seasons, Boise State could be the small-conference school to make some noise this season. They will have a tough Week 1 matchup against Florida State in Jacksonville, but if they can get past that, they’ll be playing a much easier schedule the rest of the way. Such as a tricky matchup against BYU in mid-October. There is still lots of uncertainty for the Broncos in the backfield as they have yet to name a starting QB or running back. However, Boise State will be returning a lot of stars that were lost to injuries last season, meaning this team will be loaded with great players on defense and they’ll have their top two receivers that were lost back. With a Week 1 win, the Broncos could set themselves up to hang around the Top 10 all season.

Utah Utes: Utah boasted the nation’s fifth-best run defense in 2018 and racked up 37 sacks on the season. They have 10 starters on award-watch lists and are hungry to get to the top of the PAC-12. They will be battling it out with Heisman candidate Justin Herbert and the Oregon Ducks as to who will come out with the PAC-12 Championship, a game in which the winner could end up earning a CFP spot if both teams can live up to expectations. Look for that stout defense as well as the return of last year’s starting QB Tyler Huntley and RB Zack Moss to be a spark to a possible playoff run for the Utes.

Texas A&M Aggies: The Aggies surprised many last season, came within a two-point conversion of going to overtime against Clemson early in the season, and defeated LSU in a thrilling 74-72 7-OT game, and then capping off the season with a convincing 52-13 bowl victory over NC State. Coming in with the #3 ranked recruiting class in 2019, the Aggies will be loaded with young talent this season as well as moving into the future. They will also be returning dual-threat QB Kellen Mond who threw for 3,107 yards and rushed for 474. Mond’s weapons will be young, but fast, strong, and electric targets that will be ready to break through this season. The loss of breakout star running back Trayveon Williams will hurt, but they will use a RB-by-committee approach headed by shifty, fast-accelerating Jashaun Corbin. That offense paired with a young but talented defense will have them primed as a near-perfect dark horse entering this 2019 season.

Oregon Ducks: Justin Herbert. Have you heard of him? If you haven’t, then you will be hearing a lot about him this season. The Heisman candidate who threw for 3,151 yards and 29 touchdowns last year will have the spotlight on him all season to lead this team to a PAC-12 Championship as well as a possible playoff berth. The Ducks will be returning 10 starters on offense and 7 starters on defense. The one loss on offense was their top receiver Dillon Mitchell, but on the bright side they’ll be heading into the season with the nations’ sixth-ranked recruiting class to fill any holes they may have. The recent Achilles-heel for the Ducks has been their inability to win big games, as they dropped key matchups against Stanford, Washington State, Arizona, and Utah last season. Oregon will face Auburn in Week 1, so look for Justin Herbert and the Ducks to give everything they’ve got to get off to a strong start and put the Quack Attack back in college football prominence.

​Others to Watch: Miami, UCF, Syracuse, Penn State, Iowa State
My Way Too Early College Football Playoff Selection:

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Georgia
4. Michigan

 
Penn State Fans: A Section for You
I’m going to take off my unbiased helmet now and just speak as the Penn State fan that I am. We’re going to miss Trace McSorley, Miles Sanders, Connor McGovern, Shareef Miller, Amani Oruwariye, and the rest of the studs we lost from last year. As much as it pained me, there is a reason why I did not pick Penn State as one of my dark horse teams. You look at our offense, and there is a complete lack of experience at almost every position except for the O-Line. Sean Clifford will attempt to lead an offense whose best threat may be sophomore RB Ricky Slade. KJ Hamler is back to give our receiving corps at least one name that people will know. After Hamler, our most productive receiver returning from last year is Jahan Dotson who had 13 catches for 203 yards. However, as inexperienced as this offensive unit may be, it also means that they haven’t even had a chance to prove themselves yet. Head Coach James Franklin and OC Ricky Rahne have had a whole offseason to get this unit prepared, so there is a chance they could surprise us all. However, with no sample size to look at and the pure volume of talent that we lost this offseason, these Nittany Lions are not one that I would peg as a dark horse for the playoffs.

The defense is back and as strong as ever. Led by Micah Parsons, Yetur Gross-Matos, and a beast of a front-seven, our defense is going to shut down the run and get after opposing quarterbacks. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller tabbed Penn State as the #2 defense in the country this coming year, and whether that’s accurate or not, we have the talent to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. The one flaw could be the secondary, where the talent does not measure up to the front-seven. We should be more than okay though as opposing QB’s will need to get rid of the ball quickly, which will make the secondary look better.

All in all, it’s hard to foresee what kind of season our Nittany Lions are going to have. We’ve never seen this offense, there is no way to know how well everyone is gelling, what kind of flow and chemistry they will possess. The defense will be the calling card in 2019. Who knows? Maybe Penn State will find a way to upend Michigan and/or Ohio State, all hell breaks loose in the Big 10, and we find a way to make it to the playoffs. Why not? Either way, Beaver will be rocking once again this year. Fight on State! #WeAre

If you enjoyed this preview, be sure to drop a like and comment your favorite teams heading into the new season!

To keep getting news and updates on all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports!
​

Article by: Kevin Eagleson

The NFL preseason is one of the most exciting times of the year for fans of the league. For the first time in over five months, fans are able to see their favorite team in action. The preseason indicates that the regular season is right around the corner, with all 32 teams eager to have the opportunity to become the next NFL champion.
The preseason used to be highlighted by recently traded stars practicing with their new team, players recovering from injuries, and even some crazy training camp entrances. However, preseason storylines are now dominated by holdouts. Star players feel they are worth more than their current contract, and do not want to risk injury before being paid. Many credit running back Le’Veon Bell for sparking the new trend of sitting out the preseason and possibly beyond, as last year he sat out an entire season for the Pittsburgh Steelers before eventually receiving a long term contract from the New York Jets.
          
This year, some of the biggest names in the league have yet to arrive to training camp, causing some uncertainty among their organization and fans.
          
Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, who is entering the 5th year-option of his rookie deal, has not reported to Charger’s camp. Gordon has been extremely productive in LA, but is looking to become one of the highest paid backs in the league. It is uncertain at this point if the Chargers will pay that premium to bring back their star running back, but it will be difficult for the Chargers to replace Gordon’s talents.
          
Another running back, Ezekiel Elliot of the Dallas Cowboys has also not shown up at camp yet. Elliot (last year’s rushing leader) has been the most productive running back in the NFL since he was drafted, and is currently one of the top-two backs in the game. ‘Zeke’ is a vital component of the Cowboys, and the biggest reason for the team’s recent success. The Cowboys look to be a real competitor this season, but they are just not the same without their star running back.
         
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has also not reported to camp at this point. Thomas is entering the last year of his rookie deal, and has proved to be one of the most productive receivers in the league. Like the Cowboys, the Saints have a real chance to make a playoff run this year, but Drew Brees needs his favorite target. Thomas is a crucial piece of that offense and behind him; the Saints are very thin at receivers.
Players also worth mentioning are Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who is in the final year of his rookie deal and has also not appeared at camp, but will likely report by August 6th in order to become an unrestricted free-agent in the next offseason. Texans pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney has also yet to be seen, but is in a different situation than the rest, as he had not signed his new contract (franchise tag).

Holdouts are a difficult situation for both parties. The teams are not required in any way to pay the players what they are requesting. However, most teams have an opportunity to have a successful season and make a run at the playoffs. The players holding out are among the league’s best and are a crucial part of the roster. It will be interesting to see how these situations pan out, and also to see if the holdout trend continues in upcoming seasons.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed the article be sure to drop a like! Also feel free to comment your thoughts and opinions down below.

To get keep getting news and updates on all things sports, be sure to keep it here, with Heated Sports!

Article by: Pete Caceci

Article by: Kevin Eagleson

Tyreek Hill has been one of the most explosive players in the NFL ever since entering the league. The speedster has really done it all for the Kansas City Chiefs offense. From taking handoffs out of the backfield, returning punts, and being the teams #1 receiver, Hill has been a huge contributor to the Chiefs recent success.

Hill has been coming off his most productive season yet where he racked up 1,479 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, when allegations of child abuse emerged. Even with little evidence, it was widely believed that Hill would be suspended for a portion of the upcoming season.


Despite having one of the most talented teams in the league, Tyreek Hill’s absence would have had a huge impact on the Chiefs season. Kansas City would lean on Sammy Watkins as their new top wide receiver and while he is talented, he has barely been able to stay healthy thus far in his career. With most of the other receivers being young and unproven, a larger workload would have been forced on tight end Travis Kelce. Without Hill attracting attention from most of the defense, opposing teams would be able to focus on other players (like Kelce) making them less effective. Without Hill, the Chiefs would certainly be more vulnerable to losing games early in the season which would be substantial as they in one of the NFL’s most talented divisions.


Most of the offseason, it looked like Hill was certain to miss some time. However, earlier this week, the NFL announced they did not have enough evidence to suspend. The decision has been controversial to say the least. Many people have questioned the consistency of the league’s investigations, as Cowboy’s running back Ezekiel Elliot was suspended 6 games for a similar case with just as little evidence.


It has become apparent the NFL needs to find a better way to suspend their players in a fair and consistent way. Nevertheless, this is about the best news a Chiefs fan could hope for, as Patrick Mahome’s biggest weapon is cleared to continue to torch opposing defenses.


If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out more content!


Thanks for reading and to keep up with all things sports, be sure to see it here at Heated Sports!

Article By: Harrison Weaver

​Alright readers, this week is going to be a little different. For any of you who follow along with my articles, you know that I write about basketball every week. However, something else in the sporting world caught my eye this past weekend that really embodied the thrill and emotion that all of us love. This past Sunday was the championship match at Wimbledon between two all-time great tennis players, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Personally, I don’t have a lot of stake in tennis. A lot of us have grown up watching Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and whether you follow tennis closely or not they’ve become household names to us just from seeing their names on TV during all the major tennis tournaments throughout the years. Luckily, we got another treat this past Sunday. The #1 and #3 players in the world reached the final stage to play each other, as Federer defeated Nadal in a classic matchup in the semifinals, and Djokovic defeated Bautista Agut. The stage was set for an instant classic.

Roger Federer came into the match not only battling against #1 Novak Djokovic, but also against Father Time. Federer is 37 years old and is supposed to be past his prime. Instead, he is ranked #3 in the world and once again knocking on the door of his 21st Grand Slam title and playing some of the most dominant tennis of his career. On the other side of the court was 32-year-old, #1 ranked Djokovic. The 16-time Grand Slam winner, still very much in his prime, made easy work of the rest of the field. In attendance for this highly touted match was a long list of celebrities including Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kendall Jenner, David Beckham, Rebel Wilson, Woody Harrelson, etc.

Right off the bat in this match, the first set went to a tiebreaker which Djokovic stole 7-5. The very next set, Federer came back with a dominant 6-1 victory. Already, you could begin to see that these heavyweights were not going to back down as they were jarring back and forth constantly for control of this match. In the third set, we saw yet another tiebreaker, which became the overlying theme of this match. Yet again, Djokovic stole the tiebreaker, positioning himself to have a chance to close out the match in four sets. Federer would not allow that to happen, as he won the fourth set comfortably, 6-4. By this point in the match, you could feel the tension at Centre Court as the camera panned over the crowd, all leaning in and on the edge of their seats. By this point in the match, it had become abundantly clear who the crowd is siding with. Every time Federer made a good play, the crowd erupted as if they were trying to physically push the aging legend to a Grand Slam title. Close-up shots of Federer and Djokovic rotate between looks of absolute laser focus, and very short, disciplined looks of either excitement or frustration.

Now to the fifth set. The first two sets were split, followed by a dominant run by Djokovic which kept Federer off-balance and chasing for majority of the time which put the set score at 4-2. But what do champions do? They push back. Federer won the next game in close fashion, and ultimately got the match tied at 5-5 after the next few games. The 11th game is where things really started to ramp up. Federer had Djokovic on his heels during a crazy rally as Federer was up 30-15, looking to go up 40-15. Federer rushed the net on a short Djokovic shot and attempted to drop one down to the near-right where Djokovic wouldn’t be able to reach. Instead, Djokovic dove and incredibly put it over Federer’s head, out of his reach, in-bounds to likely save the game. He was even able to come back from a Federer advantage to steal the game. Fast forward and the set is tied at 12-12. Both Federer and Djokovic had each other on the ropes throughout the course of the past few games. Each having to rally to stay alive at points. The pressure is off the charts as the match comes down to one decisive tiebreaker with a Grand Slam title on the line.

This is the first year that Wimbledon was introducing the new tiebreak rule. To prevent super long marathon matches, the new rule is that if the score reaches 12-12 in the fifth game, then the player who scores seven or more points, with an advantage of at least two points, will be declared the winner. That’s exactly where Federer and Djokovic headed. An absolute all-time great match heading to a tiebreaker in the first year of the new rule change. Djokovic seized early control and went up 4-1, only needing 3 more points to win. The camera continued to pan over to Mirka Federer, Roger’s wife, as she sat in complete agony watching her husband fight to the end to win his 21st Grand Slam. She couldn’t bear to watch, as she held her hands over her face to hide from the inescapable pressure. The rest of the crowd was doing the same as almost everybody was rooting for good-guy Federer. The match concluded with Djokovic being up 6-3. He returned Federer’s serve, which Federer mishit way out of bounds, finally securing the Djokovic 7-3 tiebreaker win and ending this amazing, one-for-the-ages tennis match. It only took 4 hours and 57 minutes, which was the longest men’s singles match in Wimbledon history. Finally, after enduring hours of top-level tennis, Novak Djokovic was able to win his 16th Grand Slam title.

The two classy competitors shook hands, both having so much respect for each other for the incredible game they both just played, and for everything they have both achieved in their careers. In absolute pure joy, Djokovic waved to the crowd to thank them for the energy and excitement they brought as he knelt to taste a few pieces of the Centre Court grass to commemorate this ever-lasting memory. Federer was first called to say a few words for the crowd. He congratulated Djokovic, gave him all his credit. Upon the awaited question of how long he’s going to keep playing, he said he has every ability to keep doing so as long as his body can handle it and he has the support of his family. When it was Djokovic’s time to speak, he had nothing but praise for Federer, as he literally admitted that Federer seemed to be in control for majority of that match, dictating the flow and keeping him off-balance. He also joked that he hopes to be playing that well when he gets to be 37 years old.

Overall, this was one of the greatest tennis matches ever played, and it was so incredibly entertaining to watch. With the high stakes, the legendary players, the top level of play and respect, even though I was watching on TV, I felt like I was a part of this match as I’m sure many viewers did. Like I said, I have never been a big tennis guy, but this era of Djokovic, Federer, Nadal is one that myself and the rest of you readers who are in college have grown up with. From the time that I was just a boy, I would turn on ESPN and see headlines of these guys winning Grand Slam titles repeatedly. Even without paying super close attention to the sport, it is really cool to be able to sit back on a Sunday afternoon all these years later and still see the same guys at the top of the world rankings, playing the highest level of tennis in the world. This match was just another example of what continues to make sports so special, and more than just a game. 

If you enjoyed this article about an all time classic, be sure to check out some more content!

Thanks for reading and to keep up with all things sports, be sure to see it here at Heated Sports!

Article by: Pete Caceci

As time moves on with the NBA, players that helped shape the game become nothing more than a distant memory.  It truly is a shame, since without these key influences, such all-stars like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, or even Joel Embiid would not be as prevalent as they currently are.  With the ignorance comes the thought that such players back in the day would never be as successful with newer rules and regulations.  One legend that is a part of those conversations is the great Wilt Chamberlain.

Wilt Chamberlain was the cornerstone of what a dominant athlete should be.  His 7’1” stature did not stop him from accomplishing nearly everything that he set himself to.  For example, aside from playing basketball, he heavily participated in track and field.  While attending the University of Kansas, he was reported to have high jumped 6’6” and obtaining such ridiculous broad jump numbers like 22 feet.  Almost all high school athletes, even if they are remotely close to the same build as Chamberlain, cannot replicate this achievement.  As a center for the Jayhawks team, he scored 52 points and grabbed 31 rebounds, breaking both all-time records in his very first game.  Teammates would admire his ability to move through the opposition like a hot knife through butter.  He was so strong that while he was dunking a shot, he broke an opposing player’s toe when the ball went through the basket. 
           
Although Wilt would not spend his entire college career in Kansas, he would continue to change the game by going to the esteemed Harlem Globetrotters for a large sum of $50,000 (equal to about $434,000 in today’s economy).  He would conduct several amazing acts like throwing a fellow 210-pound teammate and catching him with little to no effort.  Acts like this even gained the attention of the Soviet Union, where the team was invited to play in 1959.  The NBA was blown away by this, as he would later be recruited by the Philadelphia Warriors that same year.  America was waiting for a super-star, and Wilt was ready and willing to change everything.
           
In his first six years with the Warriors, Chamberlain would put up record numbers as a center, like the famous 100-point game in Hershey against the New York Knicks.  In the 1962 season, he averaged 50.4 points and grabbed 25.7 rebounds a game.  He became the first player to break the 4,000-point barrier, which would not be done until by Michael Jordan in the 86-87 NBA season.  He was known to rebuild the team in his own way, as he was able to take the losing 31-49 Warriors and push them to the Finals the following year.  By now, Wilt Chamberlain was a household name, and many wanted to play because of him.
           
Wilt would later be traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1965 with a promising supporting cast like Hall-of-Famers Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham, as well as other talented players Larry Costello, Chet Walker, and Lucious Jackson.  In a new environment, Wilt would continue to dominate the game by posting 34.7 PPG and 22.9 RPG for the second half of the season.  As the team would struggle with internal problems, he would instill confidence with his success and would earn a rightfully deserved MVP.  In the 1966-67 NBA season, Chamberlain and the Sixers would defeat the 11-time Champion Boston Celtics, where Chamberlain posted an unofficial quadruple double.  In a six-game series against his former team, the now-San Francisco Warriors, Wilt would finally obtain his first NBA Championship title, solidifying his status to the world as a playing-legend.
           
In the year following his great achievement, Chamberlain continued his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.  Again the centerpiece of a new up-and-coming contender, he found it increasingly difficult to adapt to his new coach and supporting cast.  Nevertheless, he found himself still scoring over 20.5 PPG and 21.1 RPG in the 1969-70 NBA season.  Fellow teammate and Hall-of-Famer Jerry West considered Wilt as “The unstoppable force that kept pushing us to newer limits”.  The following seasons saw Chamberlain lead the Lakers to several Finals appearances, an act the Lakers organization had never seen before.  Finally in the 1971-72 season, Wilt led his team to a 33-game win streak en route to a record 69 wins in the regular season.  Deep in the playoffs, Wilt would come across Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a player whom he mentored since he was 17.  After a debilitating six games, Wilt would yet again prove his worth by scoring 24 points and 22 rebounds, while playing all 48 minutes of the game.  Facing the New York Knicks super team, Chamberlain would destroy the opposition in five games, while scoring 24 points and 29 rebounds in the game 5 finish, earning him a second Finals title.
           
Following the 1972-73 season, the man whom everyone would travel to see would finally hang up his career.  Even though he was not on the court, his legacy still carries on to this day.  No one has ever been able to reach the 100-point record, and Chamberlain’s career point statistics are in the top 10.  Believe me when I tell you that is only the tip of the iceberg.  He still holds the record for most points in a season (4,029), most 50-point games in a season (45), most points by a rookie (58); he never fouled out of and played every single game in his entire career.  The list still keeps going after this my fellow readers.  His talent has influenced such players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and even Dennis Rodman, who would come in and change the league again as well.
           
Call me crazy, but in my opinion without Wilt Chamberlain the NBA would not have the entertainment and enjoyment factor as it does today.  He is the Babe Ruth of basketball, a man who could set his mind to something and conquer in no time.  If the guy wanted to lead the league in assists, rebounds, points or even time played, he would do it.  His number 13 should not be retired by just the Warriors, Lakers, and Sixers; it should be retired by all teams present.  I also believe that he would still be just as dominant if not more in today’s game just by his sheer strength and ferocity.  He was a mountain and most definitely someone who was way before his time, but nonetheless someone who should never be forgotten in basketball.

Thanks for reading and feel free to share your opinions on other all time great players!

​

Every year, the MLB offers a contest that brings us all back to out younger selves. This contest is called the Home Run Derby. Every child dreams in their backyard of hitting one over the fence and the celebrating afterwards. This contest reminds us that baseball is a game, and that players not only play for a living, but they play because of their raw love and passion for the game.

In this year’s contest, the following players are participating: Matt Chapman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alex Bregman, Joc Pederson, Pete Alonso, Carlos Santana, Josh Bell, and Ronald Acuna Jr. In a very young bracket, there is only one long time vet, with that being Carlos Santana.

My Predictions:

In the first round the four winners that I think will move on to the second round are Josh Bell, Alex Bregman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Carlos Santana. The biggest sleeper in the first round is Carlos Santana. Even though he is older than the rest of the field, the vet will show that he still has some pop in his bat and look to shock the doubters.

In the second round, the finalists that I have chosen are Alex Bregman and Josh Bell. Alex Bregman has always shown up in clutch moments and with this contest being all about clutch, I think he takes it away from Vladimir. Josh Bell is a human beast and loves to tear the cover off the ball, look for some balls in the Ohio River after tonight’s festivity.

Lastly, the final round. The final showdown between Alex Bregman and Josh Bell. My winner from this match up and the 2019 Home Run Derby is Josh Bell. Bregman is fantastic in the clutch, but I think Josh Bell’s raw power will find a way to outshine Alex and take the crown of Home Run Derby Champ. 

Overall, I think this year's Home Run Derby will one of the best ones in the last ten years. A major reason for the success will be the age. The younger the talent gets, the bigger the crowds get and it shows the fans that the future of baseball is in good hands.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed the article be sure to drop a like! Also feel free to comment your thoughts and opinions down below.

To keep getting news and updates all things sports, be sure to keep it here, with Heated Sports!
​

By: Pete Caceci

It seems that the days of having a starting pitcher last the entire game are coming to an end.  Several factors like the pitch count, and how people throw at a much faster speed going into the first inning, are limiting their time on the mound.  If you are a Phillies fan, the situation is that we do not have a pitcher that can last in today’s game, along with being able to trust them to do their job consistently.  One pitcher that every current Phillies pitcher should highlight, and study should always be the great Steve Carlton. 

​A legend on the field, this two-time World Series winner had a crusade of a season in 1972.  To start off, this was Carlton’s first season in Philly, and despite the inadequate team he had around him, he made sure that he was going to push the 59-97 team as far as he could.  “Lefty” started 41 games of the entire season and completed 30 of them, while having an ERA of 1.95.  The statistics keep piling on though everyone.  Throughout this season, he had a record of 27-10 and striking out 310 batters in 346.1 innings.  I challenge any reader of this article to find a player in today’s game that could equal this success or pass it. 

The actions of Steve Carlton did not go unnoticed by the conclusion of the 1972 season, as he would win the Cy Young award, made the all-star team for the National League, and obtained the triple crown in pitching (lead the league in strikeouts, wins, and having the lowest ERA).  This man was feared by the entire league, especially by other baseball legends like Nolan Ryan or Tom Seaver.  Fans would show up knowing their team was most likely going to lose but come to watch Carlton show his magic.  Just imagine if the Phillies this season had an ace like this on the team, to be able to depend on one man to stop opposing sluggers from racking up runs.  Not only would he be unstoppable, but it would rejuvenate both the remaining starters and bullpen.

​Now, I realize that the Phillies will most likely never have another pitcher like Steve Carlton in their ranks again.  On the other hand, we have been since blessed with such stars like Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Curt Schilling.  These players though come once a decade, and their style of play does not match what currently happens.  If I was Chris Young, the current pitching coach, I would have the pitchers alter their play and have them try to throw intricate pitches that move more at a slower speed.  This will cut down not only the time of the game for changing pitchers but will also prevent our injury-ridden bullpen from blowing a lead in crucial parts of the game.

This team, as the rest of the fanbase knows, has a tremendous amount of skill that can be dangerous to the opposition.  Unfortunately, I do not think that we harness that ability to adequately train and push these players to reach that limit.  Will the team have another miracle like Steve Carlton in their ranks again, a person who consistently wins above all aspects? I do not know, and again with this style of erratic pitching from our starters, it may be awhile before we do.



​Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed the article be sure to drop a like! Also feel free to comment your thoughts and opinions down below.

To get keep getting news and updates on all things sports, be sure to keep it here, with Heated Sports!

With the NFL season almost upon us, there have been reports circling that two top tier wide receivers are in talks, with their respective franchises, to get massive contract extensions by the time the regular season starts in September. Now people will obviously be asking how much they will be paid, but the real question should be; who is going to be paid first? The receivers in question are Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons and Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints. These guys are two of the top receivers in all of football and are both deserving of massive pay days. 
            
Times are changing in the NFL, especially in the realm of record-breaking contracts. These new deals are getting larger and larger every season, especially for skill players such as quarterbacks and wide receivers. Just look at what Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz are bringing home; and one can only imagine what Patrick Mahomes’ haul will look like once his rookie contract is finished. 
 
Now back to the receivers, and the question at hand, who will sign first? I still firmly believe that both deals will get done before the start of the regular season, but this is going to be a textbook waiting game. Both guys are going to demand they be the highest paid receiver in football, and rightfully so. This reminds me a lot of the waiting game we saw in the MLB this past spring when baseball fans were waiting an eternity to see where Manny Machado and Bryce Harper were going to play this season. Both high level guys, wanting to see what the value of the other was before signing their deal. 
 
Let us look at the current state of the WR position, and what I expect to see for Jones and Thomas when they finally put pen to paper. To keep things simple, we'll just look at the current salaries on a per year basis. Right now, Cleveland Browns wideout Odell Beckham Jr. is leading the pack making $18 million a year and following close behind are fellow pro-bowlers Antonio Brown ($16.7 million) and Mike Evans ($16.5 million). I think it is safe to say that both guys are going to get paid at least $20 million a year, creating a whole new milestone for the position. Now looking at both Jones and Thomas individually, I would expect Thomas’ new deal to be worth much more overall just simply because of his age. 
 
Michael Thomas is coming off back-to-back pro-bowl level seasons with the Saints. Now here is one of the most fascinating stats from the entire 2018 NFL season in my opinion. Michael Thomas led the league with 125 receptions last season, the next receiver on the Saints in terms of receptions was Tre’Quan Smith with 28. I'll say again, 28 receptions! That is a 97-catch difference from the team’s #1 and #2 receivers. PAY THAT MAN! Now, I will also throw in the fact that RB Alvin Kamara had 81 receptions and tight end Ben Watson had 35 but still, you get the point. Thomas will earn every single dollar he is going to get this summer. Only being 26 years old, the Saints will have no problem giving the wide out a long-term deal to secure the star with the franchise for the prime of his career.
 
Julio Jones on the other hand just turned 30 this past offseason, and that is the magic number when it comes to running backs and wide receivers. It's not very common for teams to overpay for position players when they are over that age, but Jones can, and will, be an easy exception. This guy is still dominating on the football field hauling in 113 catches for 1,677 yards and 8 touchdowns on a struggling Falcons offense last season. I don't expect those numbers to fall in 2019, and I'm sure the Falcons don't either. Like I said, I still expect Jones to see a deal north of $20 million a year but look for Jones to be signed on more of a short-term basis, most likely spanning the next 3 or 4 years. Either way, these guys are going to set the stage for all wide receivers going forward for years to come. 
 
But Justin, who would you rather have between these two guys? Well random reader I'm glad you asked, and for me, the answer is simple. I love Michael Thomas. I think he has improved every year of his short NFL tenure and he has really emerged as a star in this league. I think the guy has so many aspects to his game that can beat you week in and week out. Julio has the size advantage, but I think Michael Thomas is slightly better at his route running and finding ways to create separation. Now this is no knock-on Julio, this guy has been dominating since he was the #6 overall pick back in 2011. Just personally, I've loved watching Thomas so far in his young career, and I don't see any signs of him slowing down. 

​Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed the article be sure to drop a like! Also feel free to comment your thoughts and opinions down below.

To get keep getting news and updates on all things sports, be sure to keep it here, with Heated Sports!