Wildcard Recap

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The Wildcard games this weekend were really good, a lot of close games and teams moving on to the divisional rounds. I really thought the Jaguars and Eagles would win their matchups but we will have a new super bowl champion. Let’s update my predictions with results! My prediction winners I selected correctly will be bolded. 🙂 I am excited for the next round of games.

The matchups & My Predictions

Sat. Jan 10

Rams/Panthers – winner Panthers

Winner : Rams

Packers/Bears – winner Bears

Sun Jan.11

Bills/Jaguars – winner Jaguars

Winner: Bills

49ers/Eagles- winner Eagles

Winner: 49ers

Chargers/Patriots – winner Patriots

Mon. Jan 12

Texans/Steelers- winner Texans

This weekend will be the divisional round games to determine who make it to the conference championship games. Here are the matchups and my predictions!

Sat. Jan 17

Bills/Broncos- 4:30pm

Winner: Broncos

49ers/Seahawks-8:00pm

Winner :Seahawks

Sun. Jan 18

Texans/Patriots-3:00pm

Winner:Texans

Rams/Bears-6:30pm

Winner: Bears

It will be interesting to see how these games go. These are only my predictions. I will say I am rooting heavily for the Houston Texans. I really think this is their opportunity to go really far in the playoffs and make a deep run. A win against the Patriots will solidify them as a championship football team. Each round is only going to get tougher but I really believe they can do it. CJ Stroud is built for this and his team is ready.

As always let me know your predictions in the comments 🙂

Meet me here next week as work our way to the super bowl!

I appreciate my readers and supporters.

*Pics/Vids courtesy of google images/youtube*

NFL Playoffs: You Ready?

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If Sunday was any indication of how wild the playoffs may be then get ready for a fun ride.

The road to the super bowl begins this weekend with the wild card games.

The matchups & My Predictions

Sat. Jan 10

Rams/Panthers – winner Panthers

Packers/Bears – winner Bears

Bills/Jaguars – winner Jaguars

Sun. Jan 11

49ers/Eagles- winner Eagles

Chargers/Patriots – winner Patriots

Mon. Jan 12

Texans/Steelers- winner Texans

These matchups are going to be good to watch. The defending champ Eagles begin their quest to repeat.

The Bills/Jaguars game will be interesting, Trevor Lawrence is heating up and will definitely be giving his all. The Jags are on a win streak right now looking to make a huge playoff push.

The all eyes matchup will be the Texans/Steelers game on January 12.

Talk about a thriller of a game between the Ravens and Steelers coming down to the final 2 seconds. The Steelers captured the division title and the final playoff spot by the skin of their teeth but win and you are in right?

On the other hand, the Texans have been building momentum this season behind a great defense and smart decision making by CJ Stroud. I am really excited for him and his team.

I am going to keep this post short so I can come back and update it as the games finish.’

Let me know your predictions, who do you have winning and moving on to the divisional round games?

Comment below!

I will be back next week 🙂

Happy New Year! and I am glad to be back writing.

Meet me here next wednesday!

*pics/vids courtesy of google images*

DC Royalty: Alexander Ovechkin

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Washington, DC and it’s sports, there is nothing like it!

Growing up in the DC area during the 2004-05 sports season, basketball was rebranding from the Michael Jordan retirement with the acquisition of Gilbert Arenas but hockey was also on the map with the drafting of Russian player Alexander Ovechkin.

Alexander or Ovi as he is rightfully called made his stamp on the capitals.

In 2018, the Washington Capitals broke through and won the Stanley Cup in 5 games. It was a sight to see. I went to the caps parade, it was soo much fun and the energy in the city that day was amazing.

April 2025, Ovi became the all time goal scorer in the NHL breaking Wayne Gretzky.

He has solidified his place in history.

Ovi is a hall of fame player and a DC legend.

He has played for over 20 years and left a legacy that is untouchable.

His future is uncertain at this moment on whether he will play another season or retire. I hope he comes back for one more season. I need to get to a caps game. I have yet to go, I heard they are so much fun. I know he will make the right decision. Congrats Ovi on a great career thus far. 🙂

This blog is short and sweet this week. I appreciate all of my readers and subscribers.

There will not be a blog next week, but the week after. NBA Finals here we come!

Any suggestions or topics you would like me to write about comment below.

*pics/vids courtesy of google*

NFL Draft: The Sanders Legacy

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Welcome back! It is very rainy this week in the DMV area but I wanted finish out this NFL Draft Series.

Of course I had to talk about the Sanders Family and the legacy continuing.

I know you have been waiting lol.

Let’s dive right in.

As social media has grown, there is always an opinion of something or where in this case Shedeur should be drafted.

Before we get to Shedeur & Shilo, I wanted to highlight their Hall of Fame Dad, Coach, Socialite Mr. Primetime himself Deion Sanders.

I was very young to remember Deion playing professionally in the MLB & NFL. By the time I started seeing him on tv to see who he was, he was an analyst for ESPN and doing a lot of tv shows. I do remember watching his family show that featured his children that is where I first met Shedeur and Shilo.

Well who was Deion Sanders?

Deion a Florida native, a multifaceted player made a name for himself by being able to play two sports professionally baseball & football. He attended Florida St. University. He is the only man to play in a Superbowl and World Series during the same week. How Crazy and Cool is that? Deion lived by the beat of his own drum. Primetime became his nickname rightfully so, he loved being in the spotlight and being able to juggle multiple professions at one time. Although he flourished in both football and baseball, Deion ultimately chose to solely focus on football and in 1989 he was drafted to the NFL.

Deion’s NFL Career

I am going to highlight quickly his career in the NFL.

Position: Cornerback

  • Atlanta Falcons- 1989-1994
  • 49ers- 1994-1995; Superbowl Champion, Defensive Player of the Year
  • Cowboys-1995-2000; Superbowl Champion, Released due to salary cap in 2000
  • Washington-2000-2001; signed a 7 year deal but aprubtly left DC and retired after 1 season
  • Ravens- 2004-2006; played every game in the 2005 season, Retired for good in 2006
  • Hall of Fame

Once Deion retired from the NFL, he was an analyst and displayed his post career family life including spouses, girlfriends, and children on tv for the world to see. What I could remember most about Deion especially post his NFL career, was that people didn’t care for him or his opinion. Deion is never afraid to speak his mind because he always backs up what he says.

He went to coach college football at Jackson St. & Colorado. His sons Sheduer and Shilo followed him.

Sheduer & Shilo

As the NFL Draft approached the coverage of shedeur and shilo became the main talking piece among analysts. Sheduer being the main player everyone was focused on and where he would ultimately be drafted. The discussion was Shedeur would go top 5 in the draft as a QB. Was he top 10 draft ready, will he actually be successful and can he put his ego to the side, humble himself and listen.

Once you declare for the draft, the NFL has control over what happens next for you to some degree.

Shedeur chose not to do the combine or have a pro day which allows for coaching staffs to take a good look at you and how you fit in with their team. Shedeur’s demeanor was also being spoken about anonymously by coaches as well. To keep it positive, what is meant for you will be for you and no one will stand in the way of it.

Draft day is here Round 1 completes, no shedeur yet; Rounds 2-4 complete no shedeur yet. The NFL was trying to send a message leave your ego at the door and be ready to learn, listen, become a professional athlete. Multiple teams passed over shedeur even the team that drafted him, but then it happened.

With the 144th pick in the NFL Draft, The Cleveland Browns Select Shedeur Sanders!

With his family by his side he puts on his hat and smiled so hard, dream come true to hear your name called. Since being drafted Shedeur has signed officially with the Browns. I want him to do well and I know he will. Congrats Shedeur and welcome to the NFL!

Shilo went undrafted but was picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccanears! Congrats Shilo and Welcome to the NFL!

The legacy of Deion will continue to live on, I am excited to see how they acclimate from college to the pros but also being coached by different leadership outside of their father. Deion can finally sit back , relax and enjoy the fruits of his labor, sacrifice, and most importantly love. Like any parent, Deion just wants what best for his children but it is okay to let your children fly. You are alive and well to see them live out their professional dreams.

To that I say, job well done Mr. Sanders! Your legacy lives on 🙂

The upcoming NFL season is gearing up, it is going to be a fun summer.

We have some shining new faces ready to showcase their talent

Cam Ward, Travis Hunter ( who will be playing both sides of the ball at some point), Shedeur Sanders Shilo Sanders and a host of great talent who have made their dreams come true.

I can’t wait to watch!

This concludes the NFL Draft series 🙂

I appreciate all of my readers and subscribers, I have 14 now. I will continue to write.

Feel to share, drop a comment and follow me on social media:

X: @bballmypassion ( i post the links to the blog there)

IG:riah_3 ( i post the links to the blog there)

Next week, we head to the NHL Alexander Ovechkin makes history!

*pics/vids/stats courtesy of google images, wikipedia, espn*

NFL Draft: The Process

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Getting drafted to the professional league is a dream come true! Players work from as early as childhood age to fulfill what some say is a lifelong accomplishment. Hearing your name called and knowing your life, future is going to change tremendously.

I wanted to talk this week briefly about the process of getting drafted outside of just attending the NFL Combine.

There are rules and eligibility guidelines that must be met before declaring.

  1. You must finish all college athlete requirements and playing years to declare automatically
  2. If you are not an upperclassmen you have to get permission to forgo the rest of your college playing years and college education to declare.
  3. NFL Combine & Scouting are a helpful tool to help teams mainly GM’s and coaching staff determine who would be the best fit for their team.
  4. Draft Order: Like most professional sports drafts, the order is in reverse of who wins the championship at the end of the season. For example, since the eagles won the Superbowl, they pick last in each round of the draft.
  5. The Draft: there are 7 rounds with 32-36 picks in each round and trades are also able to happen which lasts 3 days.
  6. Draft Location: this past years draft was in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Next year it will be in Pittsburgh, PA soo Steeler fans get ready! in 2027, for the first time ever the NFL Draft will be in Washington, DC. How exciting and an overall positive turn around for the Commanders :). I will definitely be in attendance or at least in the area to experience the vibes.

The NFL is a global league that is constantly evolving and growing.

I am always excited to watch the rookies ball and how they mesh with their teams and teammates.

This upcoming season is going to be fun to watch.

This post is short and sweet, I just wanted to make sure I stay consistent with posting.

Next week we wrap our NFL Draft series, with can you guess the Sanders Family Legacy!

As always, I appreciate everyone for reading! Always follow your dreams and stay consistent.

*pics/vids courtesy of google images/youtube*

Going #1: Cam Ward

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Welcome Back to all of my sports lovers! This week I will be beginning a 3 blog series covering the NFL Draft. Today we will celebrating the number 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward.

The NFL draft concluded this past week with the Tennessee Titans selecting Cam with the #1 overall pick.

With all of the hype around where Shedeur was going to end up, Cam wasn’t being talked about enough for me. I wanted to use this blog to not only celebrate his accomplishments but also talk about some of the guaranteed perks that comes with being taken first in a professional league draft.

Cam is from West Columbia, TX and comes from a sports family. His parents come from a sports background with his dad playing football and his mom coaching basketball.

In HS, Cam wasn’t recruited but still ended up going to 3 colleges to pursue his dreams. Cam had his breakout season when he transferred to Miami University where he solidified his NFL status.

Cam taking advantage of the NIL process in the NCAA, he was able to improve his draft status and ultimately became ACC Player of the year, Manning Award Winner, and a Heisman Trophy Finalist.

Ward was drafted by the Tennessee Titans! A dream come true but also the dedication, hard work, sacrifice. A great pickup by the Titans as they begin to rebuild. With being drafted #1, Cam not only gets a signing bonus but a guaranteed rookie salary as well. I am sure sponsorships and endorsement deals are on the way as well. Too Exciting!

Cam brings his arm mobility, the ability to make plays and make not only him but his teammates around him better. I am excited to watch him play! I hope he gets tons of coverage, he has earned it!

Congrats Cam and welcome to the NFL, you are going to do amazing things.

Next week, I will talk about the draft in it’s entirety. Can you guess how many players from Ohio State were drafted? (find out next week)

As always thanks for reading!

Leave me a comment ❤

*pics/vids courtesy of google*

Netflix Review: Court of Gold!

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Welcome Back!

This week we dive in to discuss Court of Gold, Netflix’s inside look at the Men’s Teams competing for Olympic Gold in Paris. Since it’s release, I have watched this a few times. 6 1 hour episodes giving you a deep dive on preparation, games, and the winner of the Gold Medal.

Team USA is vying for it’s 5th Gold Medal.

Lebron , KD, Steph, Anthony Edwards, Jason Tatum, Jokic, Webanyama were locked in and ready to represent their countries.

France, Serbia, Canada were all trying to beat Team USA and even going as far as talking trash lol.

I loved this lowkey because come game time their words were ate every single time especially trying to guard Steph Curry.

As the medal rounds got going Team USA, had games where we as fans were left on our toes but ultimately to the Gold Medal game against host country France.

Before we get to the Gold Medal, I want to go back to the Serbia game, Team USA and particularly Steph Curry were always off to a slow start and keeping games close. The game against Serbia was a true test, and Curry had his breakout moment. Yes the wins are team efforts but Curry kept USA ahead and helped secure the win. Curry ended the game with 36 points and 9 three pointers. Team USA needed him and he showed up at the right time! 🙂

Gold Medal Game

France vs USA

Host Team vs Hometeam lol for me! I am always down to cheer on Team USA and this game was no different. It is almost a given USA is supposed to bring gold and dominate every sport.

France the trash talking team who felt like this was their opportunity to beat the Avengers. lol KD, Lebron, Steph, Anthony Edwards had other plans. The game was a legit battle, USA would get a small cushion but couldn’t extend the lead, France came storming back cutting the lead to single digits.

And then #4 happened…..

In the final minutes of France’s comeback, Stephen Curry did what he does best! Light it up from 3, hitting 4 three pointers and game ending 3 pointer to as he simply put it, put the kids to sleep.

Team USA went on to win it’s 5th consecutive gold medal at the Olympic Games.

I wonder LA 2028 will have in store, I can’t wait to see!

Congrats Team USA and thank you for putting on for the country!

Until next time….next we are headed to the NFL… 🙂

Thanks so much for reading

As always leave a comment and let me know if you have any suggestions for what you would like to read about.

*pics/vids courtesy of google*

UCONN Huskies: Pure Dominance

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Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards I can keep going but these are just some of the legendary basketball players to play for Uconn & Coach Geno Auriemma.

For as long as I can remember and have been watching march madness on the women’s side, the huskies have not only participated but have been dominant as champions.

What’s not broken, there is no need to fix right? Uconn just has the right formula and system in place for winning. Although their last championship came in 2016, the huskies have made it to the last 3-4 final fours. Riddled with injuries, the team wasn’t able to get over the hump.

However 2025, was their year. With leading scorer Paige Bueckers fully healthy and leading the charge the journey to title #12 for the program was in sight. Before we discuss the journey to title #12, let’s take a quick look back on the previous 11 national titles and no that is not a typo. LOL

UConn’s National Title Winning Years: 1995,2000,2002,2003,2004,2009,2010,2013,2014,2015,2016

During this time, nobody was touching Uconn, I remember it got to a point they were winning so much the conversation started to switch to who is going to be able to stop them, who is going to take the crown, why do they keep winning sooo much??..

Recruiting plays a huge part in team consistency, trust, and overall faith in a program. Geno has been the head coach for as long as I have been to watch and comprehend the sport of basketball. His coaching longevity also plays a huge role in Uconn’s dominance. He still has passion for the game, teaching, and entrusting young women who are eager to learn, grow and elevate into the professional league (WNBA) seamlessly. I am not saying he is perfect by any means but he knows what he is doing to set his program up for success year after year.

Coming into this year’s NCAA Tournament for Division 1, UConn was seeded #2. They were actually the underdog compared to the #1 Seeds: Texas, USC, UCLA, and Defending Champs South Carolina who were seeking to repeat.

Road to title #12 for the Huskies:

  • Round 1- Beat Arkansas St. (15)
  • Round 2-Beat SD St. (10)
  • Sweet 16-Beat Oklahoma (3)
  • Elite 8- Beat USC (1)-no Juju Watkins due to injury, huskies were still dominant and the game was very good despite Juju not playing.
  • Final 4: Beat UCLA (1)- Blowout, Dominant Huskies win- Azzi, Sarah , Paige led the way
  • Championship Game- Beat South Carolina (1)- in another Dominant Game, Kaitlyn Chen, Sarah Strong, Azzi, Paige. It was a full huskie team effort to title #12.

This tournament is always so fun for me to watch and engage with. I normally complete a bracket but this year decided to just relax and make my picks based on each game. I definitely picked Uconn to win the title they were honestly due for one and were playing very determined.

I am happy for them and excited to see where the team goes next.

Since winning the title, the WNBA DRAFT has completed, Paige was drafted #1 to the Dallas Wings, her two teammates Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin were also drafted ( Golden State & Minnesota). I can’t wait to watch and support this upcoming season. Congrats Ladies and Go Kill it this season in the W.

As for the huskies that didn’t enter the draft, I am excited to see the progress of Azzi, Sarah Strong, and others. Let’s run it back one more time :)!

Congrats again on a phenomenal season!.

Next week we head to Paris, Team USA is on the cusp toward their 5th Olympic Gold Medal.. can they do it? Find out next week as we discuss Netflix’s special Court of Gold.

I appreciate all of my readers, leave your comments below.

*pics/vids courtesy of google images*

The 3 point King; 4000 and counting…

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There are always certain where were you moments in sports that you just never forget as well as players.

Stephen Curry is definitely one of those players who leaves you speechless with a jaw dropping moment.

For example, the 2016 game winner he hit against OKC with Mike Breen on the call, by far one of my favorite plays in his career.

Steph has solidified himself as one of the all-time greats. December 14, 2021 in Madison Square Garden, he officially became the All- Time 3 point leader in NBA history surpassing none other than Ray Allen. That night was super fun, emotional, and one I won’t forget. Watching a player since college, his growth, the countless amount of criticism he receives on a day and day out basis, and constantly have to prove himself.

You would think a 4x NBA Champion, Finals MVP, NBA MVP, 3 point leader, Gold Medalist wouldn’t have to constantly prove himself over and over again but what do we always say, if you don’t have at least one hater are you really doing it right? LOL….

From three pointer number 1 to 2,974 ( passing Ray Allen) to 4,000+ it is amazing to just state the fact that the amount of work, strength, confidence, and conditioning goes into such an achievement. Keep in mind these are MADE three point shots, just imagine where the number would be if he didn’t miss. It is very astounding. I am always in constant awe whenever I get a chance to watch the chef cook it up on the court. I have also been blessed to see him in person as well. My hope is to get to another game before he hangs it up.

March 13, 2025 at home against Sacramento, Stephen solidified himself once again by hitting the 4,000 three point milestone. Congrats Steph! Keep changing the game for good and moving the needle. I feel like Steph at this stage in his career now is honestly in some of the best shape he has been in just overall stamina and his teammates. Having a good on the court team structure as well as trust makes for milestones like this truly inspiring. His teammates, coaches, trainers trust him to do his job but also have lots of fun along the way.

I can’t wait to see what’s next for Steph, I’m pushing for championship number 5. If the warriors would get it done, He will join the exclusive company: Magic, Kareem, Michael, Kobe, just to name a few. I know that is the one title he is seeking. With the playoffs on the horizon the western conference is going to be as competitive as ever. If any team can do it , Golden State can…Remember 2022?! Never ever count them out! With the 3 point king on their side.

Again Congratulations Steph on accomplishing a huge milestone. Your impact on the game is definitely seen, imitated, and imagined. There is only one Chef Curry! Keep shooting and when it’s all said and done on your hall of fame career, I can’t wait to see what the overall All-Time 3 point number ends up being.

Celebrate this moment and Kill it in the playoffs 🙂

As always I appreciate my readers! Check back with me next week. We head to the NCAA and celebrate the UCONN Huskies!! 🙂

*pics/vids courtesy of google/youtube*

She’s Back

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It has been awhile since I have blogged, but I am BACK!

It is time I get back to writing about sports I love but also covering sports I don’t usually dive in.

I want make this engaging and fun. From Stephen Curry surpassing 4000+ 3’s to Anthony Edwards and the T- Wolves making a playoff push to Paige Bueckers proving time and time again why she is that girl on the court for the Huskies.

March madness is wrapping with the Final Fours for both men and women taking place this weekend.

The NCAA Men’s Final Four in Texas has all number 1 seeds, the Women all number 1 seeds except UCONN which is a number 2 seed. I love watching South Carolina play and dominate but I am cheering for UCONN, a dynasty in it’s own right. I am hoping they can pull it off and silence the haters.

People hate to see the “underdog win”!!

I am excited to see how these games play out.

I have also been working out 6 days a week for the last few weeks, and eating right. I’ve adjusted my alcohol intake, sleeping better and taking supplements for overall better workout experience. Not to mention walking my dog batman 3-5 times a day for at least 20-30 minutes. I am coming along slowly but still moving and grooving. Staying active and healthy has always been apart of my life but I’m just really focused on it.

This blog is going to be on the shorter side but next week will kick things off with Stephen Curry surpassing 4,000 threes, the only person ever to do that!

So meet me back here every friday at 12pm for another installment of basketballmypassion.

*pics and vids courtesy of google*