Category: Sports

In the NFL, teams are often rolling the dice when looking for a new head coach by giving someone a chance that has never been a head coach in the league before. Between 1983 and 2015, though, the New York Giants were never led by someone with zero prior head coaching experience at any level. That changed with the hiring of Ben McAdoo in 2016, but he was relieved of his duties the following year. Nearly five years later, the Giants named another head coach with no prior experience at the position when they announced that Brian Daboll would be the franchise’s 22nd head coach.

Daboll seemed to come out of nowhere leading up to his hiring, too. How did he go from relative unknown to leading one of the biggest sports franchises in the United States? Well, first you have to look outside of the country. Daboll was actually born in Canada (Welland, Ontario), making him the second NFL head coach from the country. Daboll was raised just outside of Buffalo, though, becoming familiar with football at a young age.

After attending the University of Rochester where he played the sport, Daboll’s coaching career got started at the college ranks when he was with both William & Mary and Michigan State University to round out the 1990s. In 2000, the New England Patriots hired the now legendary Bill Belichick, and Daboll was part of his inaugural staff as an assistant.

Daboll was promoted to the position of wide receivers coach for several years before taking on the quarterbacks coach job with the rival New York Jets for two years. Finally, Daboll got a big break when he joined the ranks of offensive coordinators in the NFL. He was first with the Cleveland Browns for two seasons before taking the same position with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs for one season each.

Unfortunately, Daboll’s offenses struggled and changes in head coaching regimes caused him to return to familiar territory. Daboll took a demotion in his return to the Patriots, this time as the tight ends coach. After racking up two more Super Bowl wins, Daboll got back into being an offensive coordinator, this time returning to college with Alabama for one season where the Crimson Tide won a national championship.

In 2018, Daboll returned home to Buffalo where he would finally start getting recognition as a potential NFL head coach. Daboll took the Bills’ offensive coordinator position and was given a project quarterback in the form of Josh Allen. After some growing pains in their first season together, Daboll and Allen found success, with the Bills becoming one of the league’s elite teams.

Following the success of Buffalo’s 2021 season in which they almost reached the Super Bowl, several teams wanted to speak with Daboll about him potentially becoming their new head coach, including the Chargers and Jets. However, it was the New York Giants that interviewed him on January 21, 2022, and announced that he was going to be the team’s head coach exactly one week later.

There were a lot of ups and downs along the way for Daboll in his coaching career. Things looked rather bleak for Daboll’s career after departing from three franchises in three years. During those three years, all three of the head coaches he worked for were fired when the teams had a collective record of 13 wins and 35 losses.

Daboll has learned a lot along the way, as highlighted by Giants general manager Joe Schoen pointed out. “Brian’s ability to develop young players, his leadership qualities, his football acumen, his communication skills, and his ability to bring an organization together were all traits that really stood out,” Schoen said.

There’s a lot of excitement when you finally get the FIFA Ultimate Team that you want with all of the players that you’ve been working so hard for throughout the entire season. Then, like clockwork, the new FIFA is released and you have to start your team over again from scratch. It can be a little disheartening, especially as fewer and fewer people play the previous year’s release, essentially forcing you to move into the newest version. It doesn’t mean that it has to be a hassle, though. You can still win matches and build your ultimate team quickly by following the right steps.

Inevitably, you’ll run into some teams that have a boatload of talent when playing online. Due to EA Sports releasing packs that can be purchased with real money, those that don’t want to pay extra are already at a disadvantage. Still, having good players on a squad doesn’t make the person controlling them any better than you. It’s all about playing to your strengths and the opponent’s weaknesses. 

The first thing that you’ll want to do is assemble a squad that’s at least capable of scoring goals and keeping you competitive against higher competition. Early on in the season, gold players will become easily obtainable. While these aren’t superstar cards that have 99 ratings across the board, they can still get the job done. Focus on the objectives each day and you’ll have a formidable squad in no time.

The other main aspect of building your team is to make sure that there’s good chemistry amongst your players. Good chemistry means that the players get a boost to their attributes, so even an 80 overall card can play like an 83 if the chemistry is right. EA has introduced these types of rating boosters through all of their sports games so that the focus is on building a team that gels instead of just superstar names thrown together and completely out of their real-life positions. You wouldn’t want Cristiano Ronaldo playing goalkeeper in real life, would you?

Before hopping online, get some practice in against the computer. Game modes such as Moments and Squad Battles can get you ready for the fiercest competition, especially when playing on the highest difficulty. By doing this, you’re also getting a lot more rewards that can make your squad that much stronger. 

With your squad assembled, it’s time to get onto the pitch in an online match. More than anything, you’ll want to be extremely patient when playing an online match. It’s tempting to try and score a quick goal in hopes of getting your opponent to quit, but bad things can happen if you don’t net that goal. Sprinting toward balls in the open field will drain your stamina and make goal-scoring opportunities harder to come by later in the match.

Sprinting also takes away from your dribbling ability, so it’s best to focus on working your way around a defender rather than blowing by them with speed. The other biggest aspect is all about positioning. Too often, players online will get out of position defensively to chase a pass, leading to an open look. With that in mind, keep the ball moving with passes to try and get your opponent to leave their zone throughout the match.

Instead of trying to sprint in straight lines, be very meticulous about each movement your players make. This saves a lot of energy, and if you give a goal early on that doesn’t mean you should quit. Continue to play the matches in which you’re trailing, and you can still prevail simply by having more energy left over in the second half than your opponent. Take all of these tips with you, and you should start seeing the number in the win column increase drastically.

If you’ve ever seen the movie or read the book, Moneyball represents a revolution in sports. The book and movie were based on the true story of an Oakland Athletics baseball team realizing tremendous team success despite having one of the lowest budgets in the history of Major League Baseball. In Moneyball, factual analysis of player data and play statistics help run the team.

The whole point of Moneyball or Sabermetrics is to find low-cost or undervalued players and which scoring strategies work best. The result has been more wins and lower-cost rosters for the teams that institute the strategy.

Here are five franchises currently using Moneyball to their advantage.

Liverpool FC (Premier League)

Harvard graduate and physicist, William Spearman, joined the club in 2018 as the lead data scientist to use sports analytics as a way to transform how the club recruits and even plays the game through strategies like “pitch control.” Prior to joining, he worked at CERN studying Higgs-Boson particles! Seriously!

The team’s 2011-2012 record was won: 14, drew: 10 lost: 14.

That record in 2021-2022 was won: 28 drawn: 8 lost: 2

What year did their win, draw, and loss record start to see massive positive change? 2018.

Houston Rockets (NBA)

Michael Lewis didn’t just write about the Oakland A’s but dedicated a chapter to the efforts of Houston Rockets’ General Manager Daryl Morey in his book, The Undoing Project. A graduate of M.I.T. and Northwestern, Morey was called the “Moneyball” GM when he took the job is 2007. Although highly criticized for this approach, Morey went on to trade for James Harden, considered a great “6th man” player. Harden went from a 6th man to one of the greatest scorers in the league.

Morey turned the Rockets into a top-ten offense, based on the statistical conclusion that shooting threes is more valuable than field goals. Shopping for players that’d probably never make the All-Star Game and second-round draft picks, he created a winning record with one of the cheapest rosters in basketball.

Brentford FC (Premier League)

There is no other Moneyball success story like Brentford’s. Bought by a professional gambler that knew a few things about numbers, Matthew Benham started transforming the team using sabermetrics.

Considered nothing more than a feeder team for the big clubs, Brentford had a tiny budget and had finished the League One series in ninth place in 2012-2013. The team finished 5th in the championship in 2014-2015, the first time in their 62-year history that they had never been relegated. Brentford moved into the Premier League in 2021. The team had gone from the 2nd league to the highest in football in just 12 years.

St Louis Blues (NHL)

While Moneyball isn’t quite as developed in the NHL, the St. Louis Blues are the savviest spenders in the league. Despite a payroll ranked in the bottom 10 of the NHL, the Blues have consistently been a hot team. The Blues’ goaltending coach, Jim Corsi, measures the number of shots versus the number of shots while a player is on the ice. The name of this method is now called “The Corsi Number.”

The Blues showed the fabulous results of Moneyball after winning the 2019 Stanley Cup final.

St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)

Using advanced statistics and analytics starting in 2003 for recruitment, the Cards are a premier team in MLB, with a farm system that has transformed the game. Finding the best talent to cultivate in their farm league teams through data, they know who to develop and who to draft. They produce a constantly winning record that keeps them at the top of their division.

Moneyball still has doubters in professional sports that prefer traditional recruiting out of an allegiance to the past, but the results speak for themselves. It is a discipline here to stay.

The old saying goes, “Fake it until you make it.” While there’s no denying that it takes a lot of talent to be a professional athlete, confidence can also help you keep your head in the game—even when things aren’t going your way.

Wondering which footballers lead the pack when it comes to next-level confidence?

Read on for a roundup of five soccer stars whose attitudes are as fierce as their footwork.

1. Thibault Courtois

The Belgian shot-stopper helped lead Real Madrid to its 14th European title in 2021. After defeating a very strong Liverpool team 1-0 during the Champions League final, Courtois took to Twitter with a post that expressed his pride in his team—and in his own contributions.

“Yesterday in the press conference I said that when Madrid plays finals they win…I saw a lot of tweets coming my way that I would get humbled today it was the other way round,” Courtois told BT Sports after the match.

The keeper also had some words for England’s football fans. “Today I needed to win a final for my career, for all the hard work to put respect on my name as I don’t think I get enough respect,” he continued.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s name on this list should surprise absolutely no one.  “I only feel bad when I play badly, luckily that rarely happens,” the Portuguese football forward once notoriously said.

As the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football, Ronaldo’s not entirely wrong—although some suggest that his attitude detracts from his status.

The sport’s most decorated player, Brazilian Dani Alvez once said of Ronaldo, “To be the best player in the world, you cannot just play well, you must also be liked by other people, and I understand that his attitude ends up hurting, a little, the great player that he really is.”

3. Paul Pogba

French footballer Pogba joined Manchester United’s Academy as a much-anticipated up-and-comer when he was just 16. Since that time, however, his career has been rocky—at least in part due to an excess of confidence.

The midfielder—set to return to Juventus next season—burned serious bridges on the way out of Old Trafford—especially when he spoke poorly of the £300,000-per-week contract offers he’d recently received. His arrogant argument? He deserved better.

Said English coach and former footballer Gary Neville of Pogba in 2018, “He’s got the confidence, the arrogance, the personality to play for Man Utd. He was sensational.”

4. Noa Lang

Is Dutch winger Noa Lang single-handedly responsible for the popularity of Belgian football since he started playing for Club Brugge? Absolutely—just ask him.

“I made Belgian football a thing again. I really think so. Children know Club Brugge now,”  he reportedly said in an interview.

He went on to claim that he’s also responsible for newfound interest from people in his native country. “Dutch people are watching the Belgian league, too. Before I arrived that wasn’t the case,” Lang continued.

And while Lang has his fair share of detractors, he claims they’re all “secretly big fans.”

Lang has also spoken of his lack of nerves, which he attributes to talent. “Why should I be nervous about something I can do very well?” he says.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

When he was just a teenager, this Swedish striker was offered a tryout with Arsenal. His reasoning for turning it down? “Zlatan doesn’t do auditions.”

This is just one example of the confidence Ibrahimovic continued to exhibit throughout his career.

When Norwegian player John Carew called his fancy footwork “pointless,” Ibrahimovic clapped back, “What [John] Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange.”

And when contemplating whether to stay or go with Paris Saint-Germain upon completion of his contract, Ibrahimovic made the city a bold offer. “I don’t believe they can change the Eiffel Tower for my statue…But if they can, I will stay here—I promise you,” he said.

Nor was Ibrahimovic’s cockiness reserved for his professional life. When asked what he got his ex-girlfriend for an engagement gift, his response speaks for itself. “What do you mean, ‘present?'” he asked. “She got Zlatan.”

When all was said and done, Ibrahimovic  went out with the same swagger he went in with. Before playing his final game at Parc des Princes in 2016, Ibrahimovic tweeted, “I came like a king. I leave like a legend.”

Given his legacy as one of the best strikers of all-time, many fans would argue that this remark was less a display of  arrogance, and more a statement of fact.

We know sports stars are excellent athletes, but are they decent people? While we often see celebs in the news for their bad behavior, there are plenty of nice guys (and gals) out there in the sports industry.

Read on for a roundup of five sports stars who shine as athletes—and as people.

1. Lebron James

Based on data from leading UK sports retailer Sports Direct, basketball star LeBron James tops the list of the world’s most loved sports stars in 2022—and with good reason.

Not only is the Los Angeles Lakers forward a rock star on the court, but he’s also known for his incredible work ethic, charismatic personality, humility, and citizenship.

And then there’s the fact that James has donated time and money to many community programs throughout the country, and started the LeBron James Family Foundation to raise money for charities in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. He even founded his own school that provides meals, bicycles, and college tuition to students!

2. Simone Biles

Simone Biles is more than the country’s most decorated female gymnast. She’s also a role model for young girls everywhere—not just for her athletic prowess, but also for her strength of character, honesty, kindness, winning personality, and loyalty. In fact, she’s had the same coach since she was eight years old!

In addition to being a champion for mental health, Biles also gives back through her charitable contributions to Mattress Firm Foster Kids. This is a deeply meaningful cause for her because she was placed in foster care in her own childhood.

Love dogs? Here’s one more reason to love Biles: She’s got four of them!

3. Patrick Mahomes

One of the NFL’s most popular players, the rocket-armed Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has more than earned the love of his fans.

This level of fame and fortune often goes to people’s heads. Not only has Mahomes not forgotten “the little people,” but he’s married to his high school sweetheart, professional soccer player Brittany Matthews.

Like the other athletes on this list, Mahomes is also committed to giving back. In 2019, he founded 15 and the Mahomies, a nonprofit dedicated to the health, wellness, and literacy of kids in underserved communities.

4. Alex Morgan

This talented soccer star has multiple Olympic medals and other accolades to her name. However, her inspiring personality transcends her feats as striker. In 2013, she wrote a book called “Saving the Team,” which shares a message of positivity about what teammates can do when they work together.

More recently, Morgan was at the forefront of the push to ensure equality for women—on and off the turf. She’s also among a powerful group of female soccer players-turned-philanthropists. Causes supported by Morgan have included Viva! The Vegan Charity, Boys & Girls Clubs, and the UNICEF Kid Power Team.

5. Rafael Nadal

While we won’t name any names, some tennis stars are known for their massive egos and monumental tempers. This couldn’t be further from the truth for this Spanish tennis phenom.

When Nadal hasn’t been winning an all-time record of 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, he’s been busy building up a reputation as one of the most humble, likable, and down-to-earth athletes around.

In fact, Nadal recently said that he’d like his legacy to be being remembered as a “good person.” Mission accomplished.

It’s a well-known fact that only the best footballers make it to the sport’s top. But what happens to those who don’t quite reach the same level of success as their peers? This article will look at five footballers whose careers didn’t match expectations.

Some of these players had the potential to be world-class, but their careers just never took off for one reason or another. Others were perhaps always destined to be journeyman professionals, plying their trade in the lower leagues. Either way, it’s always interesting to look at what might have been.

1. Joe Cole

Joe Cole is a name that will be familiar to most football fans. He was once seen as one of the most promising young talents in the country, and he even won the prestigious Young Player of the Year award in 2003. However, his career has not gone according to plan.

After a promising start with West Ham United, Cole failed to make the expected impact at Chelsea and then spent time on loan at Liverpool and Lille. He eventually returned to West Ham in 2013, but his career never picked.

2. Jack Wilshere

Another player who was once seen as a future star of the game is Jack Wilshere. He made his debut for Arsenal at 16 years of age and was tipped for big things in the future.

However, injuries hampered Wilshere’s progress, and he has struggled to regain his best form in recent years. At 30 years old, Wilshere’s football career seems to have ended just before the world could have seen the best of him.

3. Ravel Morrison

Ravel Morrison was once seen as one of England’s most talented young players. He came through Manchester United ranks and was compared to the incredible George Best.

However, Morrison’s career has been plagued by off-field problems, and he has never been able to fulfill his potential. He had spells at several clubs, including West Ham, Lazio, and Atlas, but he never made his mark on the game.

4. Robbie Savage

Robbie Savage was always a controversial figure during his playing career. He was a combative midfielder who was never afraid to get stuck in, and he was often involved in on-field altercations with opponents.

However, Savage was also a very talented footballer and enjoyed a successful career at the top level. He represented Wales internationally and played for several clubs, including Blackburn Rovers, Derby County, and Leicester City.

5. Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill is another player who has had a successful career but has not quite reached the heights that many expected. He came through the ranks at Aston Villa and then spent time on loan at Burnley before moving to Chelsea in 2012.

Cahill was a regular for Chelsea, winning several trophies along the way. However, he has never quite established himself as one of the best defenders in the world, and his career never went according to plan.