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Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Biggest Trades in Team History

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As one of the Original Six franchises in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs naturally have one of the largest fanbases and are under the biggest microscope for any Canadian team. Over the years, the Leafs have made some great trades, while also making some moves that didn’t work out at all. With a very long history to pick from, what were the biggest trades in franchise history? Let’s break down the five biggest trades the Leafs have made.

Phil Gets His Ring(s)

Phil Kessel had come up with the Boston Bruins but entered his prime with the Maple Leafs when he was acquired in 2009. In his six seasons with Toronto, Kessel put up 394 points in 446 games as one of the team’s top scoring threats. With the franchise struggling, they decided that a prime Kessel was ripe for trade bait to help the rebuild.

The result was Kessel being traded (along with Tim Erixon, Tyler Biggs and a 2016 2nd round pick) to Pittsburgh in exchange for Kasperi Kapanen, Scott Harrington, Nick Spaling and two draft picks. The draft picks ended up not being much while the players Toronto acquired didn’t have an impact. Kessel, on the other hand, played four seasons with Pittsburgh where he won two Stanley Cups and put up 303 points in 328 games.

No Niedermayer

At the beginning of the 1989-90 season, the Maple Leafs traded away their 1991 first round draft choice to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for veteran defenseman Tom Kurvers. Kurvers started his career with Montreal before moving to Buffalo and then New Jersey where he was a fine player, but not great.

The move didn’t help the Maple Leafs at all, as they were one of the worst teams in the NHL and only got 89 games out of Kurver before sending him to Vancouver. Meanwhile, that first round pick became the third overall in the 1991 NHL Draft, which the Devils used to select Scott Niedermayer. Niedermayer would end up having a Hall of Fame career with a Norris Trophy, four All-Star Team selections and four Stanley Cup wins.

The Tuukka Mistake

In 2005, the Maple Leafs drafted Finnish goaltender Tuukka Rask, the top rated goalie prospect from Europe, with the 21st overall pick. However, the Leafs felt like they already had their “goalie of the future” with Justin Pogge. With that, they sent Rask to the Boston Bruins before he played an NHL game, acquiring Andrew Raycroft to be their goalie until Pogge was ready.

Raycroft spent just two seasons in Toronto, posting a records of 39-34-14 before signing with teh Colorado Avalanche in 2008. Rask, on the other hand, became a staple in Boston for many years, winning a Vezina Trophy to go along with his multiple All-Star nods. Perhaps Rask could’ve been the one to get the Leafs over the hump during the 2010s.

Sundin Comes To Toronto

Mats Sundin was a quick star with the Quebec Nordiques after making his debut in the 1990-91 season. After four years with the team, though, the Maple Leafs came calling and acquired the eventual Hall of Famer along with Garth Butcher, Todd Warriner and a first round pick. In return, they sent Wendel Clark, Sylvain Lefebvre, Landon Wilson, and a first round pick to Quebec.

Sundin spent 13 total seasons in Toronto, putting up 987 points in 981 games. Though he didn’t win a Stanley Cup, Sundin was the biggest star for the Leafs, becoming a franchise legend in the process.

The 1992 Calgary Blockbuster

By January 2, 1992, Doug Gilmour was already one of the best defensemen in the NHL after spending several seasons with St. Louis and Calgary. Then GIlmour was involved in the biggest trade in NHL history at the time with 10 players involved. Gilmour was acquired by the Maple Leafs along with Jamie Macoun, Kent Manderville, Ric Nattress, Rick Wamsley. 

Meanwhile, the Flames acquired Craig Berube, Alexander Godynyuk, Gary Leeman, Michel Petit, and Jeff Reese. Of course, Gilmour was the centerpiece of the trade, spending seven different seasons in Toronto during his Hall of Fame career. Gilmour posted 452 points in 393 games, winning a Selke Trophy in the process.

5 Most Common Veterinary Parasites

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Nothing can be quite as heartbreaking as seeing your furry friend scratch mercilessly throughout the day or not seem like themselves. One of the most common reasons that this can happen is because of common parasites, with almost every pet having to suffer from them at least once during its lifetime.

Thankfully, treatment (especially if done quickly) is available for just about every parasite. If you suspect that something is wrong with your pet, try to get them to the veterinarian to get treated as quickly as possible. They could be suffering from one of the more common veterinary parasites, with these five being the most frequently seen.

Tapeworms

Taenia, most commonly known as Tapeworms, is derived from the Greek word “tainia” meaning ribbon. Out of the 6,000 species of parasitic tapeworms, different varieties can affect humans, marine animals, vertebrates, and invertebrates. The most common version that plagues cats and dogs is called Dipylidium.

These animals typically become infected after accidentally eating a host (usually fleas) already carrying the parasites. The parasite latches onto the animal’s intestinal walls, where it lives and thrives until treated with medication. Surprisingly, they aren’t all that harmful and are more of a nuisance to the animals.  

Hookworms

Hookworms, specifically Ancylostoma Caninum, are blood-feeding parasites that infect some animals, like cats and dogs. Hookworms usually make their way into the intestines of said creatures by ingestion, sometimes from grooming their feet or sniffing contaminated soil and feces.  

The extremely small parasites hook their bodies onto the lining of the animal’s intestines, where they suck large amounts of blood from surrounding small blood vessels. Animals infected with hookworms can develop anemia, intestinal bleeding, dehydration, and diarrhea. Some animals develop anemia severe enough to require blood transfusions. Treatment includes being given anthelmintics to kill adult hookworms in the body.  

Heartworm 

Heartworm, or Dirofilaria immitis, is a serious condition affecting mainly dogs, cats, and ferrets.  The parasite is only spread through bites from infected mosquitos. The worms make their home inside the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels of the animals, creating what’s known as a “worm burden” consisting of many of the worms bunched together in the same area.  

Heartworms can live inside an animal for 5-7 years and can cause severe damage to the heart, lungs, liver, and other organs, ultimately ending the life of the host if left untreated. Treatment is expensive and consists of a series of injections of the FDA-approved drug “Melarsomine dihydrochloride” into the animal’s back muscles. The best treatment is prevention by way of topical, or oral medications.  

Fleas 

Fleas are the most common external parasite that affects mammals and birds alike. Pets can come into contact with fleas through contact with infected animals or their environment. Fleas are incredibly small and can jump nearly two feet at a time, making traveling from surfaces and hosts to unassuming victims extremely effortless. Fleas can spread tapeworms to their animal host and can cause hair loss, itching/biting, as well as pale lips and gums. 

Fleas consume almost 20 times their body weight in blood to survive, resulting in anemia and large amounts of blood loss in some animals, especially puppies and kittens. Treatment for fleas consists of topical and oral medications, medicated shampoos, sprays, and powders.  

Ear mites 

Ear mites, or Otodectes cynotis, are external parasites that can affect cats, dogs, ferrets, and rabbits. They live on the skin, or usually inside the host’s ear canal. The extremely small mites go easily unnoticed and spread through contact with an infested animal.  

Symptoms of animals with ear mites include rashes, blood blisters, discharge, and excessive scratching around the ears. Insecticidal medications are the common treatment for ear mites, as well as topical and injection medications.  

5 Things You Need To Know Before You Build Your Own PC

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While there are plenty of prebuilt PC options, nothing quite beats building one yourself. You get to pick all of the parts you want like a kid in a candy store, and then get the satisfaction of assembling it together just how you like it. While it can be time-consuming and a bit costly, most hardcore PC users prefer to build their own.

If you’re building a PC for the first time, there are some things that you need to know first. Here are five of those things to take into consideration before you spend a single penny.

1. The Costs

There are going to be some people who will buy parts one at a time when they can afford them and assemble the entire PC eventually, while others will set aside money a little bit at a time until they can get everything at once. 

Whichever method you’re choosing, make sure you’re fully prepared for all of the costs that come with building a PC first and foremost. The most important thing, though, is to track the prices as they change. PC parts are volatile in terms of price, so try and snag them when the prices are lower.

2. Compatibility

While a lot of PC parts are compatible no matter which brand or company is making them, there are going to be some cases in which a PC part won’t work with the rest of what you have. For those that have never assembled a PC before, this is the most common mistake that gets made. 

They will tend to buy parts because the price of a part fits into their budget, but it ends up being a waste of money. Though these parts can be sold to others that may need them, you’ll still end up in the red for buying them in the first place.

3. RAM Needs

RAM, or random access memory as you already know, is going to determine how much you can do on your PC at once. Most people that are building a PC are looking to play the latest games, so the more RAM you have, the better. Standard laptops will have about 4GB on the lower end and 8GB as the standard.

It’s when you get into 16GB of RAM that you start getting into gaming capabilities. 16GB will be fine, but 32GB is the optimal memory for gamers to aim for. If you have a really big budget, then you can shoot for 64GB or even more, though this is more reserved for professionals and can cost thousands of dollars.

4. Availability

We’ve mentioned that the market for PC parts can be very volatile, which affects both price and availability. If you’re missing that one key component to finalize your PC, you may be waiting for a long time. There have been several instances of parts in high demand but with very little supply.

PC parts are tied very closely to the overall economy. When the market is good, the supply is going to be much higher but can become scarce fast. PC builders will never forget the GPU shortage of 2021 that had people waiting for months on graphics cards until they could finish their dream PC.

5. Monitors and Space

Let’s say that you’ve picked out all of your PC parts and have the money, you’re just ready to hit submit to purchase them all. The only problem is that you don’t know exactly where you’re going to put the PC. Many don’t realize the first time when they’re building a PC just how large the tower is going to be.

Not only that, but you have to think about the monitor situation. Those that are willing to build a high-powered PC would want at least two monitors, requiring a lot of desk space. With that in mind, get your desk situation sorted out before you start buying and building your PC.

5 Weird Britney Spears Facts

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Beginning her singing career in the late 1990s, Britney Spears quickly went from relative unknown to household name to pop music icon all in the span of a couple of years. Spears became a media darling, with paparazzi following her around almost everywhere that she went. Because of this, some of her best and worst moments were captured for the world to see.

Out of all of the things that we know about Spears due to her life being so public, which parts really stand out as the weirdest? Here are five weird Britney Spears facts that even some of her biggest fans may not know about just yet.

Britney and Justin Timberlake Had Custom Toilet Seats With Each Other’s Faces on Them

During their four-year fairytale relationship, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake did the cute stuff all couples do. They shared moments, and memories, and had affectionately strange nicknames for one another like “Pinky” for Spears and “Stinky” for Timberlake.

However, they reportedly had another strange way of showing their love for each other. They’re said to have spent an estimated $21,000 on two gold-plated, diamond-chipped toilet seats adorning each of their faces from their Mickey Mouse Clubhouse days.  

Aliases 

Celebrities’ use of aliases to avoid detection is nothing new, but Britney Spears had a few interesting names she would go by when wanting to go undetected.  Ms. Alotta Warmheart was an alias she went by, with her reasoning behind it being simply that she had a warm heart.

Possibly an ode to the character Alotta Fagina from the 1997 movie “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”. Another alias she’d use, Mrs. Diana Prince, was a nod to the late Princess Diana. Finally, Mrs. Abra Cadabra, with no real reason behind it.  

Stood Up By Prince William 

Before pop princess Britney Spears and pop prince Justin Timberlake became an item from 1998 to 2002, Spears could have bagged herself a real prince. In a 2002 UK interview, Spears revealed she and Prince William had an online romance through emails.  

She said the prince was supposed to come to visit her while she was on her UK tour, but he never showed up and the virtual romance was short-lived. Some claim the prince went fox hunting instead. There’s also speculation the two tried to meet up afterward, but it didn’t work out. Prince William began dating his now-wife Kate Middleton shortly after in 2003. 

Britney and Kevin Federline Reality sShow 

One of Britney Spears’ biggest and most cringeworthy regrets is the reality mini-series she and her now ex-husband Kevin Federline took part in called “Chaotic”. The footage was originally recorded to document her journey during “The Onyx Hotel Tour” she planned for 2004. After suffering a knee injury during the filming of her “Outrageous” music video, though, the tour was canceled. 

Rather than ditch the footage, they stuck to the idea of using it for a reality show and instead shifted the focus to the couple’s relationship from their first encounter, all the way to marriage.  The pop star came under heavy fire from critics who had a lot to say about the train wreck of a series.  

Calling Her Home Phone To Record Ideas For Songs 

Although Britney Spears didn’t join in the writing process of her own songs until her third album, her methods of writing the songs were unconventional, but worked. Rather than jotting her ideas on paper, she would call her home phone, let it go to voicemail, and the answering machine would record Spears singing snippets of a song she had come up with. It seems to have done her a lot of good, with her massive success even to this day. After all, if it works, it works.  

5 Classic Boxing Matches In Which Tactics Won The Day

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People call boxing “the sweet science” because there’s much more to the sport than just throwing punches and knocking out your opponent. There’s a lot of mental fortitude involved and finding the right moments to throw those punches. Some boxers made careers off of being technically sound and coming up with the right plans of attack. Here are five classic boxing matches in which the better technician ended up on top.

1. Evander Holyfield v. Mike Tyson (1996)

After years of speculation on whether or not they would have a match, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson finally got into the ring in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 9, 1996. While the match was highly anticipated, Tyson came in as a heavy 25-to-1 favorite over Holyfield. Tyson didn’t take the match perhaps as seriously as he should’ve, because Holyfield came in well-prepared.

Tyson tried to deliver big blows but was getting blocked and dodged repeatedly. Holyfield was able to wear Tyson down to the point where Tyson’s knees were buckling. A dazed and groggy Tyson was prime for the final blow which Holyfield delivered in the 11th round. Referee Mitch Halpern had seen enough and gave Holyfield the win via technical knockout.

2. Leon Spinks v. Muhammad Ali (1978)

Heading into their 1978 bout in Las Vegas, Muhammad Ali was a heavy favorite over up-and-comer Leon Spinks, who had just seven professional matches following his gold medal win at the 1976 Olympics. Though there was a sellout crowd, the match wasn’t placed in a large venue due to what many thought would be a formality.

Instead, Spinks took his amateur lessons and used them wisely against a heavy hitter like Ali, avoiding heavy contact. Spinks took Ali the distance, winning via split decision after a historic 15th and final round. The two would have a rematch with Ali splitting the count one-to-one between the two.

3. Hasim Rahman v. Lennox Lewis (2001)

Lennox Lewis was running through the heavyweight division and had just about every title in the weight class by early 2001 when he faced off against Hasim Rahman in Brakpan, South Africa. Lewis was expected to walk away with an easy victory once again, coming in as a 20-to-1 favorite over the American who was shorter and much lighter than Lewis.

Lewis tried for an early knockout but Rahman stood strong. Instead, he ended up taking the fight to Lewis who had no response after using so much early energy. Rahman’s flurry of punches and amazing stamina allowed him to go into the fifth round with a huge advantage. In that round, Rahman would deliver the final blow, knocking out Lewis to become heavyweight champion.

4. Randy Turpin v. Sugar Ray Robinson (1951)

In September 1951, two absolute brawlers would go at it when champion Sugar Ray Robinson squared off against Randy Turpin in what would become one of the greatest upsets of boxing’s golden era. Robinson had been touring Europe fighting matches with Turpin as the final on his schedule.

It wasn’t expected to be a grand finale, though. Turpin was supposed to be another notch on Robinson’s belt, but his impressive stamina and wise punch choices allowed him to go the distance. Turpin would win by unanimous decision over Robinson following 15 rounds of almost nonstop action. “I have no alibis,” Robinson said. “I was beaten by a better man.”

5. Sonny Liston v. Cassius Clay (1964)

Before changing his name to Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay was a rising star that was a major underdog when he was going up against Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Florida in 1964. Clay was not to be taken lightly, though, as he came in with a 19-0 record and 15 knockouts. Liston started to attack right at the start, but Clay held strong.

Wearing down his opponent, Clay would end up getting the best of Liston in a match that became an instant classic. Sure, there were some allegations of match-fixing, but Clay ended up becoming an icon in boxing after showcasing his skills.

Blue Chip College Football Players Who Busted In The NFL

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Transitioning from a great high school football player to a great college player can be difficult as your opposition gets bigger and faster at the next level. However, that’s nothing compared to the jump from college to the NFL. Those in the professional ranks are the best of the best, and many great college players that were thought to have a significant impact ended up being busts in the NFL. Here are the five biggest blue-chip college football legends that ended up being NFL busts, ranked on how legendary their college careers were.

5. Troy Smith

For better or worse (mostly worse), Ohio State has put a lot of quarterbacks in the NFL. The one that had perhaps the most heralded college football career was Troy Smith, who started for three seasons in Columbus after watching from the sidelines for more than two years. In 2005, Smith would get his big chance and he didn’t disappoint with 2,282 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions to go along with 611 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

The following year, it was all about Smith, who focused more on passing and boosted his numbers tremendously. In 2006, he won just about every award imaginable, including a 91.63% Heisman vote. However, Smith was a fifth-round draft pick in 2007, starting in just eight career NFL games and throwing for 1,734 yards before ending his career in Canada.

4. Matt Leinart

A highly-recruited high school quarterback, Matt Leinart came to USC with an already loaded roster and wound up winning more than a dozen individual awards, including the 2004 Heisman Trophy. In three seasons as the Trojans’ starter, Leinart racked up 10,693 yards and 99 touchdowns, leading to being drafted 10th overall in 2006.

Leinart started with the Arizona Cardinals and spent eight NFL seasons with a combined four teams. However, he couldn’t stay in the starting lineup and finished with just 4,065 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions over 33 games.

3. Tim Tebow

Those that actively dislike sports can still name some athletes due to their ability to transcend into the mainstream. One of those athletes is Tim Tebow, who was one of the best college football players ever thanks to his time at Florida. Tebow won a Heisman, two Maxwell Awards, two BCS Championships, and much more.

The Denver Broncos selected him 25th overall in 2010, but he never panned out. Sure, there was that one playoff upset over the Steelers, but that was mostly Demaryius Thomas and the defense winning the game. Tebow made just 16 NFL starts, throwing for 2,422 yards. 

2. JaMarcus Russell

The only player on the list to not win the Heisman, JaMarcus Russell came out of LSU as the best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning. Gifted with physical tools, Russell had a strong arm but lacked the motivation to make it work in the NFL. Russell was the 2006 Manning Award winner and was selected first overall by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Russell played in just three seasons with Oakland, and then never played in the NFL again. To make matters worse for the Raiders, the next two selections were Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas, both of whom became all-time greats.

1. Johnny Manziel

With a nickname like “Johnny Football,” you have to live up to the reputation, but it seemed like football was the least of Johnny Manziel’s concerns following his playing days at Texas A&M. Manziel was only a three-star recruit coming out of high school but took the college football world by storm in 2012 with 5,116 total passing and rushing yards with 47 combined touchdowns against just nine interceptions.

Manziel would win the Heisman and posted similar stats the following year with 46 touchdowns and 4,873 yards. The Cleveland Browns made him the 22nd overall selection at the 2014 NFL Draft, but his off-the-field issues caused him to lose the job quickly. He was out of the NFL by the end of the 2015 season.

5 Tips For Improving Your Internet Connection – Without Paying More Per Month

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Because we’re more reliant on the internet with each passing year, it can be extremely frustrating when your connection lags out or slows down. The first thing that most of us do is unplug our routers and modems to reset them. Sometimes that works, but other times, there’s a more serious issue at hand.

If you’re looking to improve your internet speeds without having to upgrade your (already expensive) monthly package, there are some tips to try out first. Here are five things that you should look into before signing a multi-year contract and getting stuck with a higher monthly internet bill.

5. Check for Viruses

Your internet speed might not have anything to do with the router or modem at all, but rather the device you’re using. Even mobile phones are suscept to getting viruses, so make sure to run antivirus and antimalware programs on all of your devices that connect to the internet. If that clears things up, you’ll be saving a lot of money.

4. Monitor Data

Most internet service providers have a data cap that they set for every customer each month. For some, the speeds remain the same while the customer gets charged more for each block of data, while others have no extra charge but will throttle your internet speeds severely after a certain point.

If your plan falls into the latter category, make sure that you’re saving data. Set a daily or weekly cap for yourself, that way you have plenty of data to use for the entire month. If you’re on the plan with paid overages, then you’ll really want to keep an eye on your data.

3. Change Frequencies

Some devices in your home are going to require a lot more bandwidth than others. For instance, if you’re playing games online through your PC or console, you’ll want to have most of the bandwidth reserved for that. Most modems will come with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies that you can use to optimize your connection.

It isn’t just your own router that can clog up the frequency, either. If your neighbors are all using the same GHz frequency, that can slow down your internet. If you find that your connection has been slowed down, try to adjust the channel before giving up on your modem completely.

2. Upgrade the Modem

A lot of people will purchase a brand new top-of-the-line modem, and then forget that modems end up improving just as fast as other electronics with each passing year. Every two to four years, modems can become out of date, even if they were the best at the time they were purchased.

Each year, a new modem will come out with improved download speeds, but that doesn’t mean the one that you have is completely obsolete. A good modem will still last for several years, but if you really want to improve your internet connection, make sure you’re staying up with the latest model. It can be a bit pricey each year but may be worth it for the lack of frustration.

1. Move the Router

One error that many people make is that they think a router can be anywhere in the house and the connection will be fine since the signals are strong enough. Some even put their routers behind televisions, in closets, or on the floor. However, where you place your wireless router is essential for signal strength.

The wireless router should always be at the center of your home and elevated as high as possible for the best signal. If you’re in an apartment, try placing the router in the living room, preferably on a shelf with nothing else. Objects around the router can interfere with signals, especially electronic ones. Giving the router a free path to your devices will work wonders for your internet connection.

Biggest Blue Chip Prospects in College Football History

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Every year, a new batch of high school football players join the college ranks. Some don’t get scholarship offers while others are heralded as surefire greats in the NFL. Of all of the five-star blue chip players to come out of high school, which ones received the most hype, and how did they do? Here are the five biggest blue-chip prospects in college football history.

5. Robert Nkemdiche

College Career: Heralded as a “perfect prospect” by most recruiting sources, Robert Nkemdiche stunned a lot of people when he chose to go to Ole Miss in 2013. Nkemdiche was a 6’5” 260 pound prospect that could stuff the run while also putting pressure on the quarterback. Nkemdiche was solid (including an All-SEC 2015 season), but didn’t come close to living up to the hype.

Pro Career: All of the players on our list would end up being drafted in the first round, but Nkemdiche had to wait until the 29th selection in 2016 to hear his name called. Nkemdiche was selected by the Arizona Cardinals, though never quite reached his potential. Nkemdiche has played with several teams, amassing just 4.5 sacks in his NFL career.

4. Trevor Lawrence

College Career: The term “generational quarterback” gets thrown around a lot, and one of those times it was used without much argument was when Trevor Lawrence was a prospect. Lawrence was the next big thing coming out of Cartersville, Georgia, ultimately choosing Clemson for his college ball. Lawrence ended up being an All-American that helped the Tigers win the College Football Playoff in 2018.

Pro Career: After dominating both the high school and college ranks, Lawrence was considered one of the biggest slam dunks in NFL Draft history. As such, he was drafted first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, instantly becoming the starting quarterback.

3. Jadeveon Clowney

College Career: When the 2010s came around, the defensive end position became more important as pass rushers were in huge demand. More “prototype” rushers were coming along, starting with Jadeveon Clowney, whom many were certain would be an all-time great. Clowney picked South Carolina over Alabama and Clemson. Clowney was a two-time All-American and three-time All-SEC player.

Pro Career: Clowney was the consensus top player in an otherwise weak 2014 NFL Draft class. Clowney was selected first overall by the Houston Texans where he would spend five seasons. Clowney was a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro in Houston before moving on after the 2018 season, playing for multiple teams since then.

2. Vince Young

College Career: Many had hailed quarterback Vince Young as the “LeBron James of football” due to his unprecedented amount of hype and recruitment. Young received countless offers, but most knew he was headed to Texas where he became a legend. Young won pretty much every award in 2005 except for the Heisman en route to a Longhorns national title.

Pro Career: Considered the top quarterback of the 2006 NFL Draft, Vince Young was selected third overall behind Mario Williams and Reggie Bush, heading to the Tennessee Titans. Young was the Rookie of the Year, but had an inconsistent five seasons with the Titans. He bounced around several teams and finished his career in the Canadian Football League.

1. Peyton Manning

College Career: The reason why college football recruiting has become a 24/7 news cycle is because of Peyton Manning. Almost everyone knew that Arch Manning’s son was going to be great, but would he pick Ole Miss or Tennessee? Manning ended up attending the latter, playing four seasons with the Volunteers. Manning was a Heisman finalist and All-American, becoming perhaps the college’s best all-time player.

Pro Career: Despite some suggesting that Ryan Leaf might be the top pick, the Indianapolis Colts wisely selected Peyton Manning first overall in 1998. Manning had a Hall of Fame career, winning five MVP awards and winning two Super Bowls before retiring with the Denver Broncos after the 2015 season.

5 Best Nike Air Jordans Of All Time

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There are hundreds of different basketball shoes on the market at any given time and plenty of players have their own line of shoes. From Shaquille O’Neal to Stephon Marbury, almost every star has tried their hand (or foot) at a shoe line. However, nobody has topped Michael Jordan, with the Air Jordan brand being by far the most popular in basketball history. Out of the many generations of Air Jordans, which ones are the best, though? Here are our top five:

5. Air Jordan VI

When you think of sleek basketball shoes, the Air Jordan VI is one of the first ones that come to mind. At $125 upon its 1991 release, the ones that Jordan wore on the court were mostly white with red trim, black tongues, and white laces. 

Other variations were made, including mostly black with red and white soles that also showed Jordan’s more aggressive playstyle. With several reissues since the Air Jordan VI has been the baseline for a lot of different styles over the years. 

4. Air Jordan XI

A lot of the Air Jordans on the list were among the younger generations, but the later generation Air Jordan XI remains one of the best. The Air Jordan XI was released in 1995 along with the announcement that Jordan was returning to the NBA following his initial retirement.

The sneaker, which was white with black trim and featured the Jumpman logo on the outer back heel, became synonymous with mid-1990s fashion. Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan XI for Nike and said it was the best that he had ever done. This version was more durable, yet lighter, making it the ultimate basketball shoe.

3. Air Jordan IV

Released in 1989, the Air Jordan IV didn’t have a significant redesign from its predecessor but was featured prominently in one of the most iconic photographs in sports history. During the 1989 playoffs, Jordan and the Bulls were facing the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bulls were down in the winner-take-all game, but Jordan hit a jump shot over Craig Ehlo to allow the Bulls to advance.

Jordan was wearing black Jordan IV shoes with red soles, leaping into the air and pumping his fist following the shot. That image would be ingrained into the minds of sports fans around the world, launching the Jordan brand shoes into the stratosphere. 

2. Air Jordan I

Of course, you can’t have a list of the best Air Jordans without talking about the pair that started it all: the Air Jordan I. Designed by Peter Moore, the original Air I was released in 1985 during Jordan’s amazing rookie season. Nike knew that Jordan was going to be one of the biggest stars in the league, giving him a signature shoe in the process.

There have been a lot of reissues and redesigns of the iconic Air I since their release, but the original always remains the eye-catching classic. The red and white design really pops, with the black Nike swoosh on the side. Only a few knew what kind of international sensation the Jordan brand would be when this shoe was released.

1. Air Jordan III

While there were two other Air Jordans by the time the third generation came around, this was the one that made the shoes into a global phenomenon. This was the line that made the Jordan brand a fashion trend, with people lining up to get their hands on a pair. To this day, Air Jordan III’s are getting remakes and updated versions while the original pairs are selling for big bucks through auctions both in-person and online.

At the time of its release in 1988, the Air Jordan III cost $100 and had some tweaks from the first two generations. The Air Jordan III didn’t feature the swoosh, and introduced the Jumpman logo for the first time, placing it on the tongue. That alone made the generation of Jordans an icon that still holds up today.

Well Fed? A Quick Overview Of Typical Employee Benefits For Federal Workers

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There are a lot of reasons to work for the federal government in some capacity. For some, it’s the stability and lack of having to negotiate for better pay. For others, it’s because of the massive amount of benefits that federal employees receive. If you’ve been thinking about joining the federal government as an employee, there are some great perks that come along with it. Here’s a quick overview to the benefits federal workers can expect:

5. Vacation

Everyone loves taking vacation days, and the federal government offers a lot of them. Those that have been employed by the federal government for up to three years, they’ll receive 13 vacation days every year. 

Employees who have been there for three to 15 years receive 20 vacation days per year while 15+ years is 26 vacation days. These vacation days can roll over, too, with a maximum of 30 days rolled over each year.

4. Sick Leave/Holidays

A lot of private sector employees can be very stringent on how much sick leave you get each year and don’t observe many holidays. In most cases, your sick days won’t roll over in the next year, either. That’s not the case for federal employees, though, who are able to get 13 sick days per year no matter how long they’ve been employed and can be used for various reasons.

The best part of the sick leave is that it indeed rolls over into the following year. Let’s say you haven’t taken a sick day for five years. That means that you’ll have 65 of them stored up for whenever you need them the most. You may not need to use sick days if they happen to fall on one of the 11 paid holidays, too.

3. Student Loan Forgiveness

The most efficient way to pay back federal student loans is by working with the federal government itself. Federal Family Education Loans and Direct PLUS Loans qualify for the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program when people work for the same federal agency for at least three years.

Through this program, participants can have up to $10,000 per year repaid with up to $60,000 in total. If you’re working in the public sector in general (i.e. public school teacher, city hall, etc.) you can have your student loans totally forgiven after 10 years of work. As long as you have made 120 monthly payments, you’ll qualify for this student loan forgiveness.

2. Health Insurance

All federal employees are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. There are over 200 plans for employees to choose from, and it covers just about anything that you could think of. From routine exams and lab tests to prescriptions and smoking cessation programs, federal employees have some of the best health insurance possible.

For most plans, employees will pay around 30 percent of the insurance premium per pay period while the government takes care of the rest. Unlike most health insurance plans that are provided by employers, federal health insurance plans aren’t subject to a physical exam or a waiting period, either.

1. Retirement Benefits

You’ll find that a lot of federal employees end up sticking with the same agency for much of their careers, and a big reason for that is due to the retirement benefits. The Federal Employees Retirement System has contributions coming from three sources, making it one of the best retirement plans that you could ask for.

On top of social security, federal employees also get contributions from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and Basic Benefit Plan. The TSP operates similarly to a 401(k), except an employee doesn’t need to put anything in themselves for the agency to contribute. Each pay period will have the agency deposit the amount equivalent to 1 percent and does the same through the Basic Benefit Plan. In the Basic Benefit Plan, though, employees to have to make contributions themselves, too.