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.
You must finish all college athlete requirements and playing years to declare automatically
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.
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.
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.
The Draft: there are 7 rounds with 32-36 picks in each round and trades are also able to happen which lasts 3 days.
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.
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! đ
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… đ
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.
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.
The games opened last friday with a beautiful yet rainy ceremony closed out by the return of Celine Dion. She performed in the middle of the Eiffel Tower. It was cool to watch all of the countries and athletes represented. Team USA.. showed up and showed with over 594 athletes from different sports, backgrounds selected. Lebron & Coco Gauff were the flag bearers.
From rugby to gymnastics to basketball to swimming, you name it I am doing my best to catch a little bit of all the action. It is overwhelming but fun all at the same time. Cheering on Team USA and watching them medal.
Congrats to the US Menâs & Womenâs Gymnastics teams for medaling. The US men solidified the bronze medal for the first time since 2008.
Swimming is well underway and Team USA is picking up medals like infinity stones. With the likes of Katy Ledecky, Caleb Dressel, and Lilly King I am pretty dialed in and also always stressed out watching the events.
Basketball is also well underway with both the menâs and womenâs teams winning their opening games. Iâm excited to continue to watch the upcoming games.
I wanted to keep this first post short and sweet đ
Let me know what you are excited to see in the comments.
Summer is here, which means the Olympics are on the wayâŚ
I am super excited and gearing up to blog about it.
The Olympics are scheduled July 26- August 11 in Paris, France. I have always wanted to attend an Olympic games in person, itâs still on my bucket list.
Team USA is getting prepped and ready to qualify for the games as the Olympics Trials are underway. Some of my favorite sports to watch are Track & Field, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, and tennis to name a few. Itâs so many sports being covered, itâs hard to keep track of all of them.
Iâm excited to see Shaâcarri ,Simone, Noah compete for Team USA as well the Menâs USA Basketball Team. We finally get to see Steph on the big Olympic stage and I know he is going to show up and show out.
So much to anticipate.. Let me know what you are most looking forward too this upcoming olympics in the comments below đ
Iâll be back July 26, as always thanks for reading
The NBA is back in full swing. To help keep the audience and fans engaged, the NBA introduced an in season tournament that would include group play , knockout rounds, and the finals being played in Las Vegas. Group play has concluded. The remaining teams: Pacers, Bucks, Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, Pelicans, Kings, and Suns. At first when the tournament was announced, I was a tad bit skeptical but after watching a few games, the intensity and high scoring definitely felt like a tournament. Not to mention the new courts just for the tournament. With anything new, it takes time to take shape. Of the teams still left, I think the finals will be Lakers vs Suns. It wouldnât surprise me. I will continue to watch as the single elimination knock out rounds commence. Who do you think will win the tourney. Let me know in the comments. đ
Life Lately
These past couple of months, I have been getting acclimated and settled with my new baby Batman. I adopted him on Oct 21, 2023 and it was the best decision I made. He is sweet, smart, loves to play and is learning a lot. He loves to chew on his antler bone. He is a year old. Spoiled rotten already I wouldnât change anything with him though. People see him and instantly think he is an aggressive dog because of his breed but quite frankly it is the complete opposite. He is super protective only when we are outside walking but for the most part he is quiet and chill. He likes being outside and on a schedule. Since German Shepherds require at least 60-90 minutes of exercise, we walk at least 4-5 times a day. He is definitely keeping me fit and active. I named him batman because from the first moment I met him he was super protective of me. He chose me as his mom honestly. I love him and Iâm excited to watch him grow. Life lately has been exciting but busy since we are still getting used to each other and training. Luckily for me, he is already house trained, so the biggest thing we are working on is his basic cues. He is super smart in terms of it only takes him a couple tries until he has a task figured out. With time everything will fall into place. Batman has helped me with my loneliness and has brought me so much joy. I knew I wouldnât be alone forever. God knew I needed him and he needed me. My silent protector. My guardian, My bubs. If you want to know more about him, leave a question below.
âThis is how I attacked each and every game. Stats didnât matter to me. I broke it down by quarter and thatâs how Agent Zero became Agent Zeroâ â Gilbert Arenas 10-27-22; No Chill Podcast with Victor Oladipo.
Happy Juneteenth !
Today, I am overflowing with excitement to be able to write about Gilbert Arenas formally known as Agent Zero of the Washington Wizards. First, I would like to thank Gil for allowing me to write about him. I have previously written about him before but this time I will go more in depth about his career.
Before social media became popular, having the opportunity to write about someone I have watched many times in person during their prime is awesome.
Social Media was not prevalent as it is today, we still had to read the paper, listen to games on the radio, and regularly tune into ESPN to see highlights. I would listen to Dave Johnson a long time radio broadcaster for the Wizards as he would call every game. He made you feel as if you were at the game with his excitement and the ability to explain the entire game as itâs happening.
Basketball has been my favorite sport since I was young, and by the time I saw my first professional game in 2003, I was completely immersed in the sport.
Todayâs post will highlight Gilâs NBA career primarily his time in Washington where I saw him play the most, how I met him, and his current endeavor Gilâs Arena.
Gilâs NBA Career
In 2001, With the 31st pick in the 2nd round, The Golden State Warriors drafted Gilbert Arenas from Arizona. He averaged 19 pts. per game for his first couple seasons in the league. In 2003, he was traded to the Washington Wizards.
Who knew once Gilbert arrived in DC, it would change the trajectory of NBA basketball in the DC area. Players after him such as John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant all considered or even played in DC due to his impact during his time with the Wizards.
Gil played with the Wizards from 2003 -2010. At the age of 11, I saw him play in person for the first time and have kept up with his career ever since. I was in awe of his work ethic and his approach to the game so much so that I was keeping track of his stats in my head.
In his tenure in Washington, he averaged 25 points per game (ppg), 5.7 assists per game(apg), and 4.2 rebounds per game (rpg), as well as consecutive playoff appearances.
Gilâs other accolades while with the Wizards by the age of 25 included:
3x All NBA Team (2005-2007)- this honor was voted on at the end of each season.
3x NBA All Star (2005-2007)-this honor was voted on by the fans.
Top 5 NBA Scorer (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07)
Some of his iconic games include game winners against the Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls (playoff game winner), and scoring 60 points against the late Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gilbert redefined basketball and how the game was played. He was difficult to guard due to his speed, ability to shoot mid-range as well elevating his long-range game. He was shooting from the logo effortlessly before Stephen Curry came on the scene
Playoffs
From 2004-2008 The Wizards made the playoffs consecutively being the first team under the Wizards name to do so since 1997. Their most memorable playoff win came during the 2004-2005 season, facing the Chicago Bulls. During this series the Wizards went down 0-2, tied the series, Gilbert hit a game winning shot in Chicago in Game 5 to force a Game 6 with the Wizards closing it out at home in 6 games. I was able to attend game 6. It was the most electrifying atmosphere I had been a part of during that season. The City of DC had its new face of DC basketball, and his name was Gilbert Arenas. In 2008, Gil extended his contract with the Wizards; a 6-year $111 million dollar deal. This would be the last contract former owner Mr. Abe Pollin, who loved and adored Gil, would sign before he passed away in 2009. In 2016, his contract payment with the Wizards ended.
Fun Fact
For the 2007 NBA All- Star Campaign, Adidas, and Gil were negotiating his shoe deal. Gil decided to throw a (fake) party to market himself and the All-Star game which was being held in Las Vegas. The marketing event worked when Gil bet on himself. His deal initially worth $15 million over the course of 5 years, ended up being agreed to for $40 million. Lesson: Donât be afraid to bet on you and showcase your worth! In 2007, Gil was voted as a starter and headliner for the All- Star game.
My favorite memories
Pic 1: When I met Gil at a Mystics game, he signed my hat for me. đ Fun Fact: Gil was the first official NBA Autograph I ever received. It was important and special to me because I was finally able to meet one of my favorite players. He was genuinely nice and approachable. Gil was sitting adjacent to where we were sitting in the stands. I just remember waving at him, and he motioned for me and my sister to come over, sign our hats and take a picture. I felt like I had a piece of DC basketball that I could keep with me for a lifetime.
Pic 2: 11/18/2022 The night he was honored for shaping DC basketball during the 25 year celebration. The hat we received at the game. It was long overdue but Iâm so glad DC welcomed him back with open arms. It was Gilâs first time back in DC in 12 years.
Another favorite memory: The Martin Luther King Jr. Game against Utah. My mom, sisters, and I attended this game. Little did we know we were about to see a game winning shot from who else, Agent 0!! The shot went in, and I jumped with excitement because the Wizards just won the game. The Washington Wizards won 114-111 against Utah Jazz. The game winner gave Gil 51 points for the game.
Let it be known Adidas Campaign
This was so much fun to just take pictures in the shirts and support one of our favorite players.
Whatâs Gil up to now?
Gil played 11 seasons in the NBA. Outside of his basketball skills on the court, his knowledge and IQ of the game has ignited the NBA fanbase. He started his podcast NO Chill Gil (his newest nickname). He speaks his mind, has fun, and even ties in his own personal experiences with his guests.
Gil has expanded from a Podcast to a weekly basketball show called Gilâs Arena (WOO WOO) with Josiah Johnson. In the last few months, this show has grown tremendously. The show airs live on YouTube Tues/Wed/Thurs at 2:30pm EST. You can stream the episodes soon after it has aired live. The show is everything you can think of sports related, entertainment, debates, latest news, and loads of fun. The best part, the fans (subscribers are allowed to interact with them as well).
I am looking forward to what is to come for Gil. đ Good luck with everything! I am glad I was able to connect with you!
Be sure to keep up with Gil
IG: no chill.gil
Twitter/ Tiktok : GilsArena
This blog was a special one for me. I appreciate everyone who took the time to read it.
I will be back friday with another one đ
*Gil Pics courtesy of Google Images*
*Gil accolades courtesy of the official Washington Wizards instagram page, be sure to follow them @washwizards*
The NBA Finals are under way practically over at this point but I wanted to do a quick recap.
Denver has been super dominant throughout this series. Jokic is very difficult to guard as he averaging close to 30 ppg. Miami has its moments where they would grab small lead but then unable to sustain it.
I was at least hoping for a 6 game series but once down 3-1 it becomes really difficult to win. I am not saying Miami canât do the impossible because we have seen it done in the finals with Cleveland beating Golden State after being down 3-1. Game 5 is must win and can be a series changer if Miami can pull it out.
Butler is going to have the game of his life.
The NBA has pretty much written it as if Denver will win the franchises first ever championship!.. I like the notion of a new team winning but not by being blown out every game.
As we get ready to crown a potential champion, I hope we get one more game to do so.. Extend this series out. lol..
Be sure to watch Game 5 tonight! Will Denver become the champs or will Miami force a game 6.
Let me know your thoughtsâŚ
I appreciate you for reading!
I will be back Monday at a special time 12pm! The Gilbert Arenas blog goes LIVE!!
Some announcements June 7- My first cookbook will be available for sale. Iâm super excited about it & Agent 0 ( Gilbert Arenas) blog will be live June 19 đ So be on the lookout for those two things!
Letâs jump right in with another LEO! đ
Aâja Wilson who is now entering her 5th full year in the WNBA and coming off a championship for the Las Vegas Aces is currently in season. She is also the defending league MVP & Defensive Player of the year.
Aâja in the beginning wasnât too fond of basketball, actually wasnât too interested in it until late in highschool. But once she fell in love with the game it was a wrap lol.
Aâja attended South Carolina under coach Dawn Staley and letâs put it this way, when you hear South Carolina University you immediately think of Aâja Wilson. She is a household legend. She dominated in college and just fun to watch. She is a baller! Her legacy is cemented at the University with a statue.
How cool is that?!
Between 2020-2022, Aâja as a center averaged 19+ points per game, made the All- Star team every year with the exception of the covid year, and first team All WNBA. Not to mention she is super down to earth and never forgets the sacrifices she has made as well as her parents. The relationship she has with her family is everything.
Your support system is sometimes the extra push you need to keep going no matter what you are working on.
Also some of her endorsements include Nike, Ruffles, and Mountain Dew! đ Always bet on yourself if you can, you never know where it will lead you.
Having a strong support system is just as vital too. It keeps you going, grounded, & motivated.
Happy Friday! We made it through another week and in this case a holiday weekend!..Enjoy the extended break.
Jalen Hurts a phenomenon in the NFL and has rose to superstardom while keeping his humility about him.
Jalen recently became the highest paid QB (prior to Lamar Jacksonâs deal). A trip to the superbowl, averaging over 7,000 yards combined within the last two years with a 101.5 rating ending the 2022 season. Jalen doing all of this on the field while off the field he was in the process of completing his masterâs degree!.
Letâs take a dive into his journeyâŚ
Jalen a fellow Leo (Aug.7) native of Houston, TX had quite the journey.
He dominated in highschool averaging over 2,000 passing yards,26 touchdown passes, rushing for 1,391 yards in his senior season.
Jalen ultimately committed to Alabama University where he would play for 3 years and dominate as a starter and backup to Tua Tagovailoa.( crazy to know they are team mates but how his NFL career is going)
Bama won the National Championship in 2017.
Jalen finished his bachelorâs degree but with one year left of eligibility he transferred to Oklahoma to complete his masterâs degree in Human Relations as well. While at Oklahome he shined bright, continued to dominate as a quarterback and even finished 2nd in Heisman voting to Joe Burrow.
2020 was such a tragic, stressful year with the huge loss of Kobe Bryant-huge eagles fan, a pandemic that was spreading like wildfire with many lives lost, not to mention adjusting to those first few months of cabin fever quarantine, Tiger King binge anyone? lol
Sports was the thing keeping us together during it. The NBA bubble announcement for that summer was the excitement we needed as well as the NFL draft.
Jalen was drafted by the Eagles in the 2nd round, pick 53. Already having to prove his worth, he went from a third-string quarterback, to backup QB, to replacing Carson Wentz altogether as the STARTER. It doesnât matter how you start but how you finish. Jalen had a breakout rookie season but was benched in a loss to Washington.
Coaching change and some faith Jalen was permanently named a starter and helped lead his team to the playoffs in 2021 & the superbowl in 2022. Although both ended in losses. I know the progression of success for him has continued to not only fuel him but his team. I mean look at his journey. From backup to permanent starter to one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league. Jalen has made himself a household name now, stepped out on faith by having an all female team (agent included), and earned another collegiate degree while being scrutinzed, doubted, praised,& loved. His journey is uniquely his.
Your journey is uniquely yours. Embrace it, Donât be afraid from it, and take it from someone who had to jump through hoops in highschool just for my work to be taken seriously so I could graduate, no obstacle big or small was going to stop me from crossing the stage.
I love to write. Iâve embraced my ability more so now as an adult then when I was younger. This blog started as a college class assignment and now has turned into another passion of mine.
I appreciate all of my readers! Good Luck to Jalen & the Eagles on the upcoming season.
Happy Memorial Day! no blog Monday! see you next friday
-M.B.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA â OCTOBER 16: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on October 16, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Sports Impact Everyone 