Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: Duke v UNC for Eternal Bragging Rights https://anchor.fm/jgws/episodes/Duke-v-UNC-for-Eternal-Bragging-Rights-e1gds0u
Category: College
One Last Final Four for Coach K
https://anchor.fm/s/8b7a09b4/podcast/rss Summary Coach K making trip #13 to the Final Four Villanova punched their ticket as well Will UNC/Duke meet one more time? The giant killer Saint Peters to continue? Kansas/Miami will be excellent! Follow @jgoodwithsports Transcription
One Last Final Four for Coach K
JGoodWithSports Tourney Challenge #MarchMadness2022
Top 10 Most Dominating Athletes in the Past 20 Years
A few days ago, Colin Cowherd gave us his list for top ten most dominant athletes in the last 10 years. His influence came from ESPN the magazine when they decided to list their most dominant athletes in the past 20 years to celebrate their 20 year anniversary. His list consists of Floyd Mayweather, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Tom Brady, and Barry Bonds. I respect Colin’s list but I don’t agree with it. Ultimately, his list influenced me to create my own with the assistance of my good friend D.Reed. The list is completely unbiased and each ranking is based on accolades during their dominance in this 20-year window. Some of the athletes that didn’t crack the top ten include Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter, Sidney Crosby, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Peyton Manning. Let’s take a look.
10) Maya Moore
- WNBA champion (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
- NCAA champion (2009 and 2010)
- WNBA Finals MVP (2013)
- WNBA MVP (2014)
9) Jimmie Johnson
- Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016)
8) Roger Federer
- 97 Career wins, 20 Grand Slam wins
- Australian Open champion (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018)
- French Open champion (2009)
- Wimbledon champion (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)
- US Open champion (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
7) LeBron James
- NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016)
- NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016)
- NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)
- 7 Straight Trips to the NBA Finals (2011-2017)
6) Tom Brady
- Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI)
- Super Bowl MVP (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, LI)
- NFL Most Valuable Player (2007, 2010, 2017)
5) Floyd Mayweather
- 50-0 record (27 KO)
- Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year award (2007, 2013, and 2015)
4) Michael Phelps
- 28 Olympic Medals (23 gold)
- 8 in Athens (2004), 8 in Beijing (2008), 6 in London (2012), 6 in Rio (2016)
3) Usain Bolt
- 8 Olympic Medals (8 gold)
- 2 in Beijing (2008), 3 in London (2012), 3 in Rio (2016)
2) Tiger Woods
- 79 PGA Tour wins, 14 Majors wins
- Masters Tournament (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005)
- U.S. Open (2000, 2002, 2008)
- The Open Championship (2000, 2005, 2006)
- PGA Championship (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007)
1) Serena Williams
- 72 WTA wins, 23 Grand Slam wins
- Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017)
- French Open (2002, 2013, 2015)
- Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016)
- US Open (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)
The top 4 on this list are arguably the greatest of all time in their respective sports. Their level of dominance is unmatched. Their competition isn’t “cupcakes” either which makes their success much more fulfilling. Floyd Mayweather’s undefeated record is impressive, however, during the prime of his career he avoiding fighting certain opponents such as Manny Pacquiao. That fight happened 6 years too late. Tom Brady has been dominant in an era with Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. LeBron James finally got over the hump in 2011 and has been to the finals ever since. Roger Federer was dominant until injuries started to get the best of his abilities and field caught up with him. Jimmie Johnson was unstoppable from 2006-2010. Maya Moore has been sensational since her iconic days playing for UConn. She’s arguably the best female basketball player since Sheryl Miller. I’m sure this list may be different from most but I can defend every spot. Let me know what you think!
JGOOD
Tourney Contest 2018
We’re already in March, but it feels like the new year just started. Now that we’re past the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend, GRAMMY Awards, and the Oscars, we can turn our attention to March Madness. Last year, I gave away multiple prizes. This year, it will be at least a $25 Amazon Gift Card and the possibility of more prizes is legit so stay tuned! Make sure you slam dunk your entry into the contest like Jordan Davis from North Colorado did to lock his team into the tournament:
Here are the rules:
- FREE ENTRY
- I will create a private group on ESPN once the bracket entries are open.
- One entry per person.
- You have to be a follower. If you’re NOT a blogger, CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE or scroll below. (make sure you check your email to verify the subscription).
- Once you become a follower, send me an email with the subject “March Madness” at jgoodwithsports@gmail.com with your name. Once I receive your email, I will send you an invite to fill out your bracket.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment or send me an email.
Good luck!
JGOOD
Follow Your Dreams
Have you ever woke up in the morning, mad at your current situation instead of doing something that you love? Are you content in your day-to-day life and lack motivation to change? Even if you want to change what’s around you, do you feel that the obstacles in your path takes too much time and energy to overcome?
I feel like many of us have the same issues and are in similar situations. Well, I found our motivation. If this doesn’t inspire you or give you a spark to change your current situation, I’m not sure what will. His name is Shaquem Griffin.
Griffin was a linebacker at the University of Central Florida. The first time I saw him on television was this past December when UCF was playing the Memphis Tigers in the American Championship Game. He caught my attention because he only has one hand. Come to find out, his hand was amputated at age 4 but that didn’t stopped him from playing sports. He was making plays and helped his team win the football game.
He’s currently at the NFL combine pursuing his dream of playing in the NFL. Even though he wasn’t initially invited, Griffin has made the most of his opportunity this far.
His 40 yard dash time is the fastest by any linebacker since they started keeping track back in 2003. He had went above and beyond many people’s expectations.
Shaquem has inspired me to continue to pursue my dreams even at times I don’t feel motivated. He’s actions during the NFL combine has spoken volumes across the football community. It’s people like him who doesn’t let anything get in his way to achieve what he’s trying to accomplish. In life, a lot more people will tell you “no, you can’t…” or “you don’t have…” or “you’re not able…” instead of believing in your goals and dreams. I have nothing but respect for him, and I want him to succeed at the next level. Let his current story inspire you to do what you always wanted to do, even if it’s against all odds.
JGOOD
College Football 2017: Early Predictions
It has been almost three months since the epic ending to the College Football Playoff National Champion Game where the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31. Since then, schools have finished up their recruiting classes, the NFL Combine has come and gone (with the NFL draft taking place at the end of April), and Jim Harbaugh has upgraded his classic khaki pants to Lululemon pants.
Tide Keeps Rolling
Despite the heartbreaking loss in the national spotlight and losing key players such as Johnathan Allen and Reuben Foster, the Alabama Crimson remain favorites to win the National Championship next season. Nick Saban will bounce back with the top recruiting class in 2017. Saban has built a powerhouse over the past decade at Alabama, and the odds are “ever in his favor” to reclaim the crown.
Michigan Will Meet Bama
If the upgraded pants for Jim Harbaugh wasn’t enough to sway your opinion, Harbaugh’s recruiting should get your attention. According to Campus Insiders, the Michigan Wolverines have the 3rd best recruiting class entering next season. Harbaugh’s ability to use Satellite Camps in states like Georgia and Florida, along with is outspoken personality has helped turned this school back into the powerhouse of the early to mid 90’s. I believe the Wolverines will get over the hump and will face Alabama in the National Championship.
Back To Back
As a sophomore, Lamar Jackson ran away with the Heisman Trophy last season (3,543 passing yards, 30 passing TD’s, 9 INT, 1,571 rushing yards, 21 rushing yards). Louisville was in the playoff hunt for most of the season because of the play of their star quarterback. I believe a win against either Clemson or Houston, the Cardinals would’ve replaced Washington in the top 4. With another year of experience in the spotlight, Jackson is the favorite to repeat to hoist the Heisman.
JGOOD
Respect Greatness
We are living in an era where we’re witnessing historical records are being broken, mesmorizing moments from deciding games are taking place, and once in a lifetime achievements are current. Clear examples of such greatness includes the Golden State Warriors winning 73 games in a regular season, the newly infamous Julian Edelman’s catch that helped propel the New England Patriots Super Bowl LI comeback, and the Chicago Cubs winning their first World Series since 1908.
We are also living in an era where we’re witnessing some of the best athletes to ever play. When I was a child, I saw Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey, and Jerry Rice. As I got older, I witnessed Kobe Bryant, Mario Lemieux, Derek Jeter, and Randy Moss. Now there’s LeBron James, Patrick Kane, Kris Bryant, and Julio Jones. Over the past 30 years, we’ve have seen athletes come and go, but we have all been witnesses to the greatness that certain professionals have displayed.
In the last 12 months alone, we have seen some of the best championship sporting outcomes in history. We saw March Madness end with a buzzer beater by Villanova to beat North Carolina. Two months later, the Cleveland Cavaliers ended the city’s championship drought by coming back against the Golden State Warriors down 3 games to 1 to capture their first NBA title in franchise history. Fast forward to October, we witnessed another drought end but on a more significant level. The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in the 10th inning of game 7 after being down 3 games to 1 as well. Last month, we saw Clemson get their sweet revenge against Alabama in of the most fantastic finishes in recent memory. Serena Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title. Less than 2 weeks ago, we’ve witnessed the best Super Bowl ending in NFL history. The UConn women’s basketball team are currently on a 100 game winning streak (that is ridiculous!).
It seems like we’re at a point where we expect great things to happen at every major sporting event. From The Master’s to Wimbledon; the Stanley Cup to the World Series; the NBA Finals to the Super Bowl, we are spoiled by greatness. Appreciate these moments while you can because all things (including exceptional moments) must come to an end.
JGOOD
College Football Playoffs: Expansion Needed
The college football playoffs championship game is upon us. The defending champs, Alabama Crimson Tide, will take on the Clemson Tigers in what will be a rematch from last year’s CFP championship game (Alabama won 45-40). There are plenty of headlines you can make about this game like Alabama firing offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin this week (which seems very untimely), even though he’s going to be the head coach of Florida Atlantic, and will Alabama’s true freshman QB Jalen Hurts have a better performance than he did against the Washington Huskies (completed 7-14 for 57 yards)? Also, will the Clemson Tigers get their revenge?
The storyline that was trending a month ago and that I’m bringing up now is that the college football playoffs should expand the playoff format, specifically from 4 teams to 8. When the topic first sparked a month ago, I was in favor of it. After watching the results of a couple of bowl games since then, I’m completely in agreement of this proposal. If you watched the Fiesta Bowl, which featured Clemson and Ohio State (Buckeyes), you watched a complete domination by the Tigers. Ohio State was considered a top-3 team during the regular season. Their only other loss was against Penn State (Nittany Lions). The problem with that was Ohio State didn’t advance the Big Ten Championship Game because of that loss. The CFP Committee has said that winning your conference championship game is a big factor to being selected to the playoffs. Penn State, being ranked number 5 in the country, after winning the Big Ten Championship over Wisconsin (Badgers) was snubbed from the college football playoffs (If you watched the Rose Bowl, you missed arguably the best bowl game thus far!)
Another bowl game I want to mention is the Orange Bowl that featured Florida State (Seminoles) and Michigan (Wolverines). Florida State defeated Michigan 33-32 in a stellar performance, but I want to point out that both of these schools were worthy of being in the playoffs as well (in my eyes). Michigan was ranked in the top 5 for majority of the football season, and Florida State has been consistent throughout the year. If you included Michigan, Florida State, Penn State, and USC in the playoffs along with Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Washington, I believe we would truly find out the best team in the country.
We all know Alabama has been dominant for a few years now. We have also seen some pretty good teams over the years that we thought were dominant as well for a short period of time. Expanding the field to 8 teams would get rid of a lot of the “what if” questions. I’ve always wondered how Boise State would fare with the big schools a few years back, especially after beating Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. The many excuses of a team not being on a particular team’s schedule will diminish. At that point, we’ll just let the play on the field decide the best in the nation.
What are your thoughts about expanding the playoffs? If you agree or disagree, please let me know your reasons.
2016 Sports Moments: Top 10
What a year! I hope everybody enjoyed 2016. If you didn’t for whatever reason, I hope 2017 will be a better one. In the sports world, we definitely had our fair share of good and bad moments. We even had some interesting moments like Odell Beckham Jr. going one on one with a kicking net (and losing), Rougned Odor knocking the shades off of Jose Bautista’s face, Kevin Durant shaking up the NBA by signing with the Golden State Warriors, and JR Smith being topless for about half the week (supposedly) since the beginning of the Cleveland Cavaliers championship parade.
Honorable Mentions
- Joe Thomas Sr. (55 year old running back from South Carolina State becoming the oldest man to play Division I football. His son Joe Thomas Jr. is a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers)
- Colin Kaepernick Kneeling (You may or may not agree with Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling to the National Anthem, but the reason behind the action should be the focal point)
- Conor McGregor Dominance (Conor McGregor became the first 2 division champion in UFC this year. His next venture may be a fight with Floyd Mayweather, but we’ll see)
10) Ken Griffey Jr. Hall Of Fame (Almost) Unanimous
“The Kid” is my all-time favorite baseball player, ever since I saw him swing with the Seattle Mariners (I barely remember that). In January, Griffey and Mike Piazza were the only two players elected to the National Baseball Hall Of Fame. This is the hardest sport to get placed into the hall of fame because it requires 75% of the vote. The most impressive and staggering note to take away is that Griffey received the highest percent of votes in the history of Major League Baseball at 99.3% (437 out of 440 votes). Personally, Ken Griffey Jr. should have been the first unanimous hall of famer, and I would love to hear their reason for not voting Griffey in for those 3 voters who didn’t vote for him. Nevertheless, this is an astonishing achievement to cap off a remarkable career.
9) Stephen Curry: Unanimous MVP
Speaking of unanimous, Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history to be voted unanimous MVP of a season. In 2015, the Golden State Warriors shocked the world by winning their first NBA Title in 40 years. Trying to top that achievement in 2016, the Warriors won the most games in a season in NBA history with 73, while Steph Curry was putting on a display. Even though Golden State came up a Draymond Green kick and few plays short of repeating this past June, they found a way to steal the headlines over the summer (signing of Kevin Durant).
8) Von Miller Dominates Super Bowl 50
Even though Cam Newton (#1 overall pick) was the only player selected ahead of Von Miller (#2 overall pick) in the 2011 NFL Draft, Von Miller came out on top on the biggest stage. Newton looked like “Superman” throughout the whole season until the Super Bowl, where Miller registered 2.5 sacks and forcing 2 turnovers. His constant pass rush disrupted the Carolina Panthers offense the entire game. If Von Miller wasn’t hitting the quarterback, Demarcus Ware was definitely getting a few hits in from what I remember.
7) Bolt, Phelps, USA Takeover Rio 2016
Rio 2016 will go down as one of the most memorable summer Olympics ever. It signifies the end of an era with Usain Bolt accomplishing the “triple-triple” (winning the 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100m relay races consecutively in 2008, 2012, & 2016) and Michael Phelps winning a total of 28 medals (23 gold medals). The United States also were dominant in swimming events, gymnastics, and track and field events. I’m going to miss seeing Bolt and Phelps dominate their respective competition, but I’m excited to see who’s going to be the next sensation on sports’ biggest stage in Tokyo 2020.
6) Villanova Buzzer Beater
From what I remember, Villanova has always been a tournament let down whenever they are seeded high. This past March and April, Villanova actually lived up to the hype. Their mind-blowing victory over North Carolina in the NCAA Championship game was the icing on the cake. That game, in particular, was arguably the best championship game I’ve ever witnessed. The game had non-stop action with suspense and an appropriate climax. Kris Jenkins brought the game to a close and a National Title home to “Nova”.
5) Eric Berry’s Homecoming
PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO. Eric Berry has been my favorite safety in the NFL since he came into the league back in 2010. Berry was diagnosed with cancer in December of 2014 and was pronounced cancer free in July of 2015. When he bounced back after 7 months, it gave me a stronger reason of why he’s my favorite safety. Atlanta is Eric Berry’s hometown and where he received treatment during his fight against cancer. In his first visit back since therapy, Berry had a “pick 6” and a failed 2 point conversation returned for a touchdown (another pick 6) to solidify the Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
4) Mamba Out: Kobe Bryant’s Final Game
On the last day of the 2015-16 regular season, you had the choice to either watch the Golden State Warriors go for 73 wins or Kobe Bryant’s last game. I caught the 4th quarter of “Mamba Out”. I wasn’t the biggest Kobe fan, but I truly respected him. Watching the final 3 to 4 minutes live gave me chills and rewatching this video duplicated how I felt about it. Seeing him leave the game lets you know that an era in the NBA has ended (and my childhood basketball icons are gone). When you add Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen (officially announced his retirement) to that list of retirees in 2016, you have a higher level of appreciation for the game of basketball (and an epic hall of fame class down the line). Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki, and Manu Ginobili are next in line.
3) Cavaliers Comeback 3-1
In June of 2015, the Cleveland Cavaliers came up short in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors. Even though LeBron James nearly averaged a triple-double, missing Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving due to injuries played a crucial part of them coming up short. A year later (with healthy teammates), the Cavs pulled off an improbable comeback in the NBA Finals. What really makes this achievement special is the fact that this is the first major championship for the city of Cleveland since the Cleveland Browns won in 1964 during the Jim Brown era. This was also the first ever NBA Title for the Cavaliers. Being a Chicago Bulls fan, I wasn’t thrilled about Cleveland winning, however, I know the importance that particular title meant to the city of Cleveland. Congrats, again, to the Cleveland Cavaliers!
2) Passing Of Legends
With the amazing things that I’ve previously mentioned during this countdown thus far, we lost some great people along the way of this special year of 2016. Some of the icons that we’ve lost this year includes boxing legend Muhammad Ali (His contributions inside and outside the ring can’t be compared to another), golfing legend Arnold Palmer (golf’s most beloved figure and he surged the sport into popularity), legendary sports broadcaster Craig Sager (#SagerStrong), former NFL head coach Dennis Green (coached the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals), legendary women’s basketball head coach Pat Summitt, and ESPN’s reporter John Saunders. I know it can be sad to think about, but we should remember their achievements and how meaningful their contributions were.
1) Cubs Win!
This is by far the most memorable moment for not only this year but the best moment for certain people’s lives. There have been generations that have waited for the day for the Chicago Cubs to win a World Series championship since 1908. I remember a little over a decade ago in 2003 when the Cubs were 5 outs away from the World Series. Then…the Steve Bartman incident happened. I seriously believe Chicago is the best sports city and Chicago Cubs fans are the most loyal fans amongst all major sports. Chicago coming back from 3-1 against Cleveland (pretty ironic), which included an unreal rain delay in extra innings of game 7, made their championship more fitting for the franchise. I know a few Cubs fans that are still celebrating (and it’s well deserved). 2016 is your year, Chicago Cubs.
Happy Holidays!!
JGOOD
JGoodWithSports 