Author: Kade Daniels

5 BEST tips for men to STAND OUT MORE

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5 BEST tips for men to STAND OUT MORE

It’s not hard to find yourself looking at a male model on the cover of Vogue or GQ, and thinking, “this guy is so fancy and gets all the ladies”. But in reality, he’s not much different from you. It’s just the way he chooses to look and come off to others is different from you. Everyone is different in personality and the way they look, but I believe everyone can look good. Some are better or easier than others, but it’s very simple to look good and appeal to others as a “model”. Boys, I got you. Today, I’m going to give you 5 simple tips to make you stand out from the crowd and make you a cleaner-looking person (in no particular order).

 

Accessories

A very subtle, yet clean and effective part of your game that not enough people consider enough. Little details can make or break the way you look. Wearing simple bracelets, necklaces, sunglasses, watches, and chains can compliment the way you look. They add a little amount of pop to what you already have and make you look fancy and classy. Without accessories in your arsenal, it almost makes it feel like something is missing from what you are wearing, and wearing subtle accessories completes your outfit. Accessories are something that I would highly recommend adding to your game. Here is a link to the necklace I have: Chain with number pendant.

 

Smell

People will always remember you based on what you smell like, and that will also decide if they like you or not. It’s time you throw away the crappy AXE body spray and go get some real cologne. Michael Jordan, Paris, Acqua Di Gio, even Versace if you are looking for a high-quality cologne. Imagine being a girl and going on a date with a guy you like, and he smells like he just got done dumpster diving at the pizza shop across the street. It would be awful, right? It’s very important to smell as good as possible to attract others to you and want to be next to you. When applying cologne, spray it on the back of both of your hands, your chest, and the back of your neck. By doing this, the cologne is getting on your skin as opposed to your clothes. It will stick and stay on your skin, and get messed up if it’s on your clothing. I use this Versace Eros cologne.

 

Fashion/Dress

People will judge you at first strictly based on what you dress like. If you look like crap, they most likely will not even consider getting to know you better or be interested in you. Wearing outfits that look clean and match will turn heads and interest others. There are all kinds of different types of clothes and ways to wear them, and that’s where it gets fun. Mixing and matching outfits based on what you like is fun and switching it up often will always give people a fresh look at you. A person who is more athleisure may want to invest in some PacSun shorts and T-Shirts, as well as hoodies. Someone who likes more baggy clothes will want to look into hoodies, skater pants from Dickies, shoes from Jordan and Nike, the options are limitless. 

The shoe game is also essential, a person who rocks dirty shoes will not get nearly as much interest and respect from others as they should. Make sure you keep it simple and clean and try not to overdo it. Jordan has always been a staple in the shoe game, and they have hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of shoes to pick from for roughly $125-$150. Vans is another big shoe brand, but they are much cheaper, roughly $30-$60 for some very good quality shoes. 

Lastly, the hat game. Hats are something I pride myself in, I tend to buy a lot of hats for around $45-$50 every month. I pick from all different colors and designs so I can mix and match them with different outfits. Wearing and buying multiple items of the same color will not add flair and variety to your outfits. From pink to black, I have many different fitted hats, they add a very unique part to an outfit I don’t think people think about enough. 

There are all kinds of ways to look good depending on aesthetic and body type that I won’t get into, but the fashion game is arguably the most important key to standing out.

 

Hygiene

Hygiene should be a basic essential in everyone’s look. Think of it as a foundation for a house, you should be building everything off of hygiene. I know that part of it is genetics, and not everyone will end up looking like Michael B Jordan, but keeping your skin and hair healthy can be done easily. Shampooing your hair every other day and applying conditioner to it will keep it in good shape. Also getting a haircut once a month is important, maintaining shape and shaping up your head will refresh everyone’s look at you and clean you up again. Making sure to shave and trim up your mustache and/or beard is necessary, and if you are looking to grow out a beard or mustache, keeping that in good shape is important as well. 

There are many different types of skin routines to pick from, some more effective and expensive than others, but they are all an option. Here is a 5-minute video from Alex Costa giving his basic skincare routine.

Showering every day at least once must not be skipped, especially if you tend to work out a lot. Showering will help with hair and skin, and refresh your whole body, and will make you feel a lot better as well. Also putting on deodorant to block out body odors from sweat is crucial. Girls smelling B.O. off of you will immediately give them the impression that you are unhygienic, and that is the last thing you want.

 

Body Build

A man who is bigger than everyone stands out in a crowd, and if you want to be that guy, you must be willing to work to get it. Going to the gym at least 3 times a week for an hour a day will help build muscle in your body and make you look better. Everyone is built differently, whether you are skinny or bigger built, but I believe everyone can get gains in the gym and build and develop muscle. Make sure to not work the same muscle back-to-back days, as you will need a full day for your muscles in a group to recover, so make sure you switch from the upper body to the lower body on back-to-back days at the gym. Also, girls take notice of veiny arms. They for whatever reason find it very attractive.

 

So there you have it, my 5 ways to clean up your appearance and look better. We live in a society where everyone judges eachother off of first looks and impressions, and in order to succeed that way, you must look clean and be presentable, and by following these tips, they will help you achieve that.

 

Why is team chemistry more important than overall talent?

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Why is team chemistry more important than overall talent?

The 2021-2022 Lakers squad has had a very dissapointing start to this season, as of writing this article they are 10-11. What is the reason for their struggle, and has this happened before?

 

There are 2 keys to success in the NBA nowadays. The first one is skill and stardom. Every team should be built around a superstar, a guy you see as the future and leader of the squad. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is that guy. A guy who draws a lot of attention and night in and out consistently puts up very good numbers.

 

The second key is chemistry. All of the talent you may have means nothing if none of it works together. A team like the Phoenix Suns may not have the biggest stars in the league, but they still made it to the NBA Finals last season due to their impressive chemistry. A team that plays better together is better than a team that plays the best by themselves. Kevin Durant once said, “Chemistry is important. If you like your teammates, it’s going to be easier to play with them on the court”.

 

Going into this season, the Lakers were the team to watch. They were expected to match up against the Nets in the NBA Finals for a fantastic matchup. However, the Lakers have been very disappointing thus far. The Lakers are a measly 10-11, and it seems every week they play worse and worse teams and continue to lose. What is the reason for these losses, you may ask?

 

It’s quite noticeable when you watch Lakers games what their issue is: they don’t know how to play as a unit. I don’t even watch basketball, and even I can notice it. There is too much stardom in Los Angeles and not enough chemistry to go around. Guys like Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook all on the same team are not working well. All 4 of those guys are players to build a team around. All of them would be leading scorers on most teams in the league. All of them want the ball, and when one player takes too many shots, the other guys become useless. They need to learn how to distribute all of their talents equally around and use all of their strengths to combine them.

 

Unfortunately, if everyone can’t figure it out, they may end up trading people away. Fill some weaknesses the Lakers have and not have as many stars on the floor at once. This is the unfortunate route they may have to take, but it is very much an option.

 

Now, the Lakers are not the only example of this. In the NBA’s entire history this happens essentially every year. The Nets are last season’s example and have had the same issue this season as well. The Big 3 the Nets traded for and signed, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have not played well together. All 3 of them shoot the ball too much. However, James and Kevin have started to figure it out, Kyrie has left them behind. Kyrie has not been allowed to play due to his unwillingness to get the COVID-19 Vaccine, and Kevin and James are being good teammates and not being negative towards Irving. Kevin says, “He’s a part of our team”.

 

It begs the question, does chemistry mean more than talent? Yes, teams that have very good chemistry have always done better than extremely talented teams. Take the 2020 Milwaukee Bucks for example. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the biggest name in the Finals for that squad, but other than that, there was not much star power. But, everyone knew their role. Jrue Holiday knew he was not going to be the scoring point guard, and so he focused on his biggest strength, that being his defense. The same is not said for Khris Middleton however, as he was expected to be the best 3 point shooter on that team, and he was. All of these parts came together and formed a championship team. Even their opponents in the Finals had great chemistry and were built similarly to Milwaukee, but the Bucks were bigger and stronger and ended up winning.

 

Time and time again it has been proved that teams with better chemistry will win more games than a team with extraordinary talent. If all the parts come together, they can form a special squad. But, the teams that have the right amount of talent and chemistry, become dynasties and can go down as some of the greatest teams of all time.

 

The 2021 Atlanta Braves: a perfect example of why good coaching goes a long way

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The 2021 Atlanta Braves: a perfect example of why good coaching goes a long way

The Atlanta Braves were perhaps more of a surprise this season than the Giants were. An unsuspecting National League East squad that was expected to finish in the middle of a somewhat competitive division, who ended up beating the big bad Dodgers and Astros, and winning the World Series. This team was expected to be good, but not good enough to win the World Series. But yet, after all the doubts and a bad record for most of the season, they overcame it all. One reason I often point to is the coaching quality Atlanta has to offer. They are perhaps the best in the National League, maybe in all of the MLB. They coached and built this squad from scratch, and pulled them to the top. Let’s dive into how coaching can influence players to be great, and exactly how these guys got so good.

 

Believe in your ability

If you have ever played Retro Bowl before, you know that you can easily win it all in the first season with a team. You spend all your money on the best players right off the bat to replace the bad players and go from a one-star team to a five-star team and win the Retro Bowl after only one season. 

An actual front office for a sports franchise does not work that way. It takes many years of making small, smart decisions to slowly build up your team to the point where then you can spend a good amount on the best players. For some teams, it may take 20-30 years. That’s an absurdly long amount of time, but they do what is necessary to build up to greatness. Atlanta was patient and did not spend all their money on top free agents, they decided to take the long and gritty route, which ended up being the right choice. 

Essentially, Atlanta coached up all of their players to the point where they could flip 2 or 3 of them for better players. They draft carefully to replace what they lost and coach them up as well. The ones with the best potential keep around to further their growth and progression, and they turn into recognizable names. The ones that aren’t quite good enough to become huge names are traded away for either household names or guys they see have very good potential. It’s a long and egregious process, but when done correctly builds the foundation of a team. But, without proper coaching, this will never be done correctly.

 

The Beginning of Something Great

2018 Atlanta was the future of the Braves. These were the guys they wanted to take to the next level. Freddie Freeman was who this squad was built around. Freddie was drafted as a top California prospect, and Atlanta developed him into an MVP. Ronald Acuna Jr was drafted before this season, and he had begun his development into what he is today, an MVP candidate. Ozzie Albies at Second Base was beginning to become a top Second Baseman, Dansby Swanson was being worked on to become a Gold Glove stud shortstop, Austin Riley at Third Base started to turn into a top Third Baseman. This was Atlanta’s core they would continue to build around. 

The level of coaching in Atlanta opened up opportunities for better players to come into the organization to contribute. The Braves would look for guys with potential or had success prior, and just needed a few tweaks to become household names. One example would be Travis D’Arnaud, who had success with the Mets a few years prior but was becoming worse every year. Atlanta signed him in 2019 and worked with him and gave him the confidence he needed to become their starting catcher. 

Another example is the 3 outfielders Atlanta traded for in 2021 to replace the injured outfielders Atlanta had developed. They traded for Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, and Eddie Rosario. Atlanta was all in to win this season and decided to fill some holes with well-known players to further increase their chances of winning later in the season. Eddie Rosario had just been DFA’d by the Twins, Soler was not producing like his 2019 self, and Joc Pederson did not want to be on a down-spiraling Cubs team. The Braves made little tweaks in their game, and they ended up being colossal contributors to the Braves in the postseason. Eddie Rosario ended up winning WS MVP, Soler hit the big home run in game 6 to seal the deal against Houston, and Joc Pederson delivered time and time again throughout the season.

The Braves coaches were the cause of all this success. They built up the core and opened up these opportunities for the Braves to continue to get better, and even after these big additions they progressed them as well to make their additions even more valuable.

Now, who exactly are we to praise for all of this? It’s time I introduce you to the people responsible for the progression of this franchise.

 

Manager: Brian Snitker

One of the most respected managers in the league. Brian has been with Atlanta for 40 years and is now getting his first taste of success. An old-school approach to the game, which you will find all Braves coaches do. Brian makes the right moves in the game and has commanded everyone in his grip extremely well. Brian has run this organization beautifully, and his hard work is now paying off.

 

Bench Coach: Walter Weiss

Former Major League shortstop who is the Robin to Snitker’s batman. These two think brilliantly alike and are always on the same page at all times. He influences a lot of decisions Snitker makes. If you ever watch a Braves game, you can constantly see Snitker and Weiss gelling together, making decisions to help the Braves have success.

 

Third Base Coach: Ron Washington

Ah yes, Ronnie Washington, another former ballplayer who has spent 50 years in baseball. Washington is very knowledgeable and is the infield coach for the Braves. He is responsible for turning guys like Dansby Swanson, Ozzie Albies, and Freddie Freeman into Gold Glove-winning infielders. Here he is explaining his mindset and drills he goes over with his players (MLB Network). Ron says, “After a while when the playing time stop(s), you become a giver. People gave it to you, and to keep the game going in the direction you want it to go in you have to give back”. Perfectly said, Ron.

 

First Base Coach: Eric Young

Eric has assumed the role of the outfield coach for Atlanta, and he has contributed beyond necessary. He has turned Ronald Acuna Jr into an absolute monster and kept guys sharp who are veteran defensive players such as Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis, Marcell Ozuna, and Adam Duvall. Eric has coaching experience with the Rockies and Rangers and has finally won his first ring.

Now, these are not the only men responsible for the success and progression of the Braves core I don’t have enough time in a day to talk about everyone. But, without that great coaching and development, the Braves would be lost and would not be the power franchise they are today.

 

Brusdar Graterol is so much fun to watch pitch in the MLB

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Brusdar Graterol is so much fun to watch pitch in the MLB

With the future of the game of baseball’s stars coming from foreign countries, many countries are famous for the players who are born there. The big counties are and are not limited to: Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Venezuela. These countries are known to pound out Major League stars. One, in particular, I have had my eyes on for a few years now, is Brusdar Graterol, a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brusdar is a special kind of athlete, and it’s time people were introduced to him.

 

Started from the Bottom

Brusdar Javier Graterol was born on August 26th, 1998 in Calabozo, Venezuela. Brusdar had no father growing up, so he was raised by his mother and grandparents. Brusdar played baseball in Venezuela as a kid until 2014, when he signed with the Minnesota Twins. 

In 2016 Graterol underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season. However, when he returned from the injury he pitched very well, going 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA while pitching in low A with the East Coast Twins. Minnesota saw the crazy potential in him and promoted him to high A to play with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. 

Now, what did they see in him exactly? A big, strong, 6’0 kid that can throw 100 MPH with ease. His mechanics allowed him to throw these high speeds very effortlessly. Throw in a wipeout slider in the mix, and you have a top prospect in the Twins organization. Take a look at it yourself, here is a video of Brusdar clocking in at 99 MPH while pitching for Cedar Rapids. 

Brusdar immediately became a Twin’s top prospect, and many were excited to see him at the major league level.

Finally, Brusdar got his long-awaited wish, making his MLB debut on September 1st, 2019 in a save appearance for the Twins against the Detroit Tigers, and he looked very sharp, touching 99 MPH and closing the game out on a double play.

Brusdar continued pitching for the Twins in the bullpen for the rest of the year and finished the season to the tune of a 4.66 ERA. During the offseason after the Twins were swept by the Yankees in the ALDS, Brusdar worked his butt off. Brusdar was frustrated with the stats he finished with and wanted to do something about it. He and everyone else around him had realized the crazy potential he had, and he pursued to find it

In February of 2020, Brusdar was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers had fantasized about having a player of this caliber and potential in their bullpen, it was their one weakness they needed to address. The Dodgers saw the crazy potential, and fine-tuned Brusdar as their little toy to add to the bullpen. 

 

The beginning of a legacy

2020 was the season Brusdar made a name for himself. Although the stats may not completely jump off the page, that’s not what brings him attention. What attracted all the fans towards him was the crazy things he did while pitching.

Brusdar raised his fastball 2 MPH during that offseason, and it was on display throughout the entire season. Brusdar dominated Baseball Savant’s leaderboard in 2020 for velocity, as he is in second place behind Aroldis Chapman in velocity for a sinker, and in fourth place for a four-seam fastball. 

Not only is his fastball extremely tough to hit, but they have a crazy run on them. Run is when a fastball moves from side to side. A fastball could start at the middle of the plate, but when it hits the catcher’s glove may be on the inside half of the plate to a right-handed batter, which means that the pitch ran inside. This video by Pitching Ninja shows exactly what I am talking about, watch where the pitcher releases the ball, and where it ends up on the plate. Brusdar makes a few appearances in this video if you notice. Here is another example of what Brusdar looks like with his fastballs, watch the absurd amount of depth his pitches have on them.

But no pitcher is successful without a secondary pitch, a pitch to change speeds and eye level with. Even though you may throw 102 MPH, you still need a secondary pitch to slow down the hitter and throw off their timing. For that, Brusdar throws a wicked slider off of his fastballs, as well as a changeup to add even more variety. Watch this video and watch how the fastball (up) and the slider (down) go in different directions of each other. As a hitter seeing 102, it’s extremely tough for them to recognize the pitch. To go from 102 to 88 is very tough to adjust to as a hitter.

But yet the most impressive part of it all is he does it without even trying. Just watching Jomboy Media’s video on his outing against the Astros shows how easily he releases the ball, almost as if he doesn’t try. It’s amazing to watch.

Brusdar is also an amazing personality. Every time he strikes someone out he gets fired up.Watch Graterol’s reaction after the ball is caught. He is so passionate and is such a show to watch every time he goes out to pitch.

Just speaking on how special of an athlete Graterol is quite frankly is not enough. You just have to watch and understand to realize how gifted this young kid is. Although he struggled due to injury in 2021, I predict he will have a phenomenal season once more in 2022 and will become the Dodgers regular closer for the season. Brusdar has blown up social media because of how talented and ridiculous he is. Look up Brusdar Graterol on Youtube and you will scroll for days finding videos on all of his pitching and how he is so good. This young man will light up the league, and we have yet to see all of his potential come to light.

101 on Writer’s Block

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101 on Writer’s Block

We’ve all been there at one point, when you write an article and have no idea on what to write about, or maybe you have been writing an article and have no idea what to say in your next paragraph. That is the phenomenon known as Writer’s Block. The Merriam-Webster dictionary says it’s “a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece”. And quite frankly, it sucks. 

 

I feel pretty frustrated when I get writer’s block, I want to write something and when I can’t think of anything it’s rather annoying. Especially as a guy who is a journalist or wants to be one, I am constantly trying to think of ideas for articles to write about.

 

What are some ways to prevent writer’s block? Personally, I have a calendar. I will organize all my ideas into a list and then spread them out over time to be able to write and make content over time. I always try my best to write it down. A lot of times I totally forget about topics and if I write it down I can find it later and write about it. I ideally would like to spend 5-6 days working on an 800-1000 word essay and I can post it on the 7th, so every week I can publish 1 new article.

 

Another way to get past writer’s block for me is by not doing anything actually. If I can’t think of anything in that moment, the chances of me still thinking of anything is low to none. I’ll leave and focus on something else to do or think about to kind of reset  and refresh my mind and  I will come back to it later. The way my mind works is everyday I think about something new. There is never a day where I think about what I thought about yesterday. I never remember that. And so hopefully 30 minutes later I can come back and start writing again. Sometimes it will come when I’m not thinking of anything, sometimes it will come when I am writing about another topic. For example, I was writing about the most underrated baseball players at every position, and while writing I realized I could do the opposite; the most overrated baseball player at every position. It all will come at some point.

 

In conclusion, writer’s block sucks, but you can overcome it. New ideas are the key to journalists’ success, and without them, they have nothing to write about. 

Tyler the Creator: this generation’s best artist, and soon may be all time

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Tyler the Creator: this generation’s best artist, and soon may be all time

Tyler the Creator is many things. An artist, a producer, a social media influencer, a fashion designer, and above all, a genius. Let’s dive into why Tyler is so great, and why when it is all said and done, may end up a better artist than the great Kanye West. But first, we must discover who this guy is.

A brief history

Tyler Okonma was born on March 6th, 1991 in Ladera Heights, California. He was raised by a single mother as his father sadly left him at age 9. Now, that may sound like a sad moment, but for Tyler, he didn’t look at it that way. In an interview with Larry King, Tyler says, “Nah dude I’m stoked. I think if I had to dad I would have went the normal college route like a lot of other people”. That started Tyler’s career in music. Tyler admits he grew inspiration from Kanye and his flow and style of music.

Tyler began rapping solo in 2009 when he released his debut album Bastard. Many had mixed reviews. Tyler had a unique flow, this kind of weirdo, intense rant rap he would use from time to time, and many enjoyed it. Two years later Tyler released Goblin and jump-started his career. Again he channeled this unique flow and got better at it in this project. Tyler turned heads with this album, and it only got better from there.

We won’t even get into the beginning of Odd Future and how he put them on the map.

Now that you know where he came from, now we must answer the question: just why is Tyler the Creator so unique and talented compared to other artists of this decade?

I boil it down to 3 main reasons why Tyler is so special. 

1: The floor is high

2: He just gets better with every release

3: Very wide range of…everything? (I’ll explain in a minute)

Tyler released 2 albums between 2011 and 2017, those being Wolf and Cherry Bomb. One of his most popular releases on Wolf to this day is IFHY. It seemed as if Tyler had hit another level, but he is still so far from his peak. Already Tyler was one of the most popular artists, and he wasn’t even close to his prime phase

Then, the release of Flower Boy in 2017, his 3rd best album to date. This was the album that introduced me to Tyler, and to this date is one of my favorite go-to albums to listen to. My personal favorite and it seems to be everyone else’s favorite track off this project is by far See You Again with the uber-talented Kali Uchis. This song is perfect in just about any way you can picture it, the music just puts me in a different world listening to it, the lyrics are extremely catchy and the flow of this song is perfectly accompanied by Kali Uchis perfect chorus that is so iconic.

Another unique part of Tyler’s game is the storytelling inside of his music. Many artists tend to rap about the same thing over and over again; cars, women, money, drugs, guns, etc. Tyler isn’t trying to flex or prove anything, all he does simply is tell a story in his music. Which is done perfectly in his next album, Igor.

Remember when I said he gets better and better with every release? Yeah, he did that. Just when people thought Tyler was at his peak, he took his game to another planet. Igor was released in 2019, and is by far and away from my album to date. It ended up winning a Grammy that year for best album of the year. Every song in this album is good, if not perfect. Essentially, Tyler uses his genius creativity and tells a story. 

The album opens with IGOR’S THEME, which introduces the character, Igor, as kind of an edgy character. Igor falls in love with a girl and the next 7 songs tell stories of his love for her, some of the best being EARFQUAKE, A BOY IS A GUN*, and NEW MAGIC WAND. Then, Igor breaks up with her and goes into a mental downward spiral. This theme is exemplified with songs such as the iconic GONE GONE/THANK YOU, which is Tyler’s best song in this project in my opinion. But Igor finds empathy in the end, which is shown in the song ARE WE STILL FRIENDS? Tyler crafts this album together so well, and I can never get enough of it.

And then, the long-anticipated Call Me if You Get Lost dropped in June of 2021. Tyler hinted at this album throughout the year, with the iconic billboards (Reddit) he put up, the release of Lumberjack as kind of a taste to get you satisfied long enough till the album’s release, he teased this album and it worked. And he didn’t disappoint, as the album won BET’s best hip-hop album of the year. And once more, Tyler evolved. 

What makes this album so phenomenal is the variety all over this album. It’s not just trap or jazzy hip-hop, he discovers and plays with many types of hip hop in this project. For example, JUGGERNAUT which is my favorite song on the project, is more of a trap song with heavy 808s and many flex bars, but a song like SWEET/I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE is…a reggae song? Yes, Tyler messed around with reggae and made a hit out of it. And the most popular song which is WUSYANAME is a more soul-type of a song. There are not two identical songs on this album, everything is different.

But Tyler isn’t just a musician. Oh no no no, far from it. Tyler has used his creativity to expand his grip on things. He is the creator of GOLF, his brand he started in 2011 and has grown like a wildfire ever since. He has made many appearances on talk shows and interviews. He runs an Instagram account that promotes his brand and other things. He is so much more than just an artist.

Tyler is his inspiration. His music videos are unlike anything I’ve seen, and his creativity and uniqueness are on display at all times. The use of elements and themes in these videos exemplify what the songs are about and make them stick in your head.

Another thing I love about Tyler is his personality. Someone of Tyler’s popularity is bound to get cocky and arrogant. But Tyler is one of the most humble people you can meet. He’s just himself, he shows that during interviews and conversations, he’ll crack jokes and mess around, as that is who he is. Many celebrities tend to act tough and cool when put as a public figure, and Tyler is just a kid living in his world. He doesn’t like to make controversial statements on things in society or problems that arise. Tyler refused to make comments on the BLM situation in 2020, as he didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention that may hurt him, and I agree and respect it. 

And you know what the best part is? He’s not even close to done yet. He is already this good, and he’s not even CLOSE to perfect. This is a once-in-a-generation musical artist, and we need to appreciate him through the years he continues to produce and write music. Tyler isn’t even close to done and will continue to get better and perfect his craft, and when it is all said and done, maybe, just maybe, he could be one of the greatest artists of all time. Not hip hop, not soul, not rap, I mean music as a whole. His influence on upcoming artists will be key for the success of the music industry, and his legacy will continue for the rest of music’s history.

 

Cancel Culture: what is it, and why those who believe in it need to grow up

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Cancel Culture: what is it, and why those who believe in it need to grow up

On October 5th, 2021 comedian Dave Chappelle and Netflix released a 1 hour episode of him doing his final special for Netflix, it was called The Closer. It was a send-off for David, one of the great comedians of not only this generation but of all time. In this special, David made some rather offensive jokes, to put it lightly. Dave has been known for that all throughout his career. He essentially roasted about every group and culture there is out there, and many, and I mean many, took it personally. Many took to social media, others made the news, lots were very offended. These people came at David and tried to shut him down, trying to ruin his career and dethrone him from the top because of what he said. 

 

This is commonly known as Cancel Culture. The Mirriam-Webster says, “the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure”. I just call it a direct way to lose brain cells but think what you want of it. Cancel Culture sucks; it has ruined the careers of some of the biggest stars out there, but overall, some people need to just grow up to be frank.

 

Over the years

Cancel Culture has sparked up like a wildfire within the last 2 years. In this generation, we live in a very cancerous era. If you say one thing someone does not like, you will be attacked and criticized heavily. It doesn’t even have to be recent, it could have been something you said 10 years ago that comes back to bite you. People will expose the smallest details about you to try and ruin you, it’s sad really. The biggest example of this must be David Dobrik. David was living his best life and was the 5th most popular Youtube channel out there. Then came the allegations.

 

Some girl on Twitter decided to expose the fact he said some things he shouldn’t have said roughly 7 years prior, just out of nowhere. And just like that, it all began. It snowballed downhill out of control. David rose to the top, and I guess people didn’t like that. Many of David’s subscribers were displeased and unsubscribed. As he lost popularity, the big blow landed. A member of a social media group David was in made a rape allegation towards David. That’s when the problem got heated, David lost roughly 200,000 subscribers and stopped posting for a while. It seems like people tend to expose what they know just to make it look like they are the good guy almost, the chances he gets accused of rape are slim to none if the tweet never came out and David picked up the heat for it.

 

David is not the only one who has been canceled before, far from it. The list is a mile long and includes people such as Austin McBroom, Donald Trump, Drake, DaBaby, and now Dave Chappelle. That’s not even close to it however, I could go on for days and days on which people have been canceled. Cancel Culture ruins people’s careers and it needs to stop.

 

People need to grow up

(Rant Alert)

As a person who is fair-minded and wants to see the other side of the argument to understand where they are coming from, I try to use that in this case, and I just don’t see the other side of it. If you don’t agree with something, there is absolutely no way you should try and shut down the other side and ruin them. You need to grow up, and learn how to take a hit. In life it can’t be just happiness 24/7, you must learn how to get knocked down and get up again. If someone says something you don’t like, you have more than one option. You can ignore it, you can choose to confront it and tell the other side you disagree respectfully, there are many options when it comes to this. Trying to share what someone said with others and trying to make them look as stupid as possible is the worst thing you can do. Let others say what they want, and quite frankly, deal with it. It ruins lives, it ruins careers, and it needs to stop.

 

The reason America was founded in 1776 was to be free; everyone has the right to speech, everyone is treated equally, stuff like that. And now, it seems you can’t have an opinion, you either agree with what society says, or you are wrong, and that is far from the truth. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and they are allowed to fight for what they say and believe. 

 

Once more, I have no problem with disagreements. I think that is a very good thing. But when I see people who disagree and then try to shut down and ruin the other side, that is what makes things wrong. 

 

Lastly, people change over time. They learn from past experiences, they mature out and become better. A person like David happened to make a stupid mistake in his younger years, and someone decided to tear him down and expose him. It ruined his career, and he will most likely never be the same again. The lives of these big stars are getting ruined, and it is very sad to see. What if it happened to you? Always be empathetic, and don’t let one small mistake or problem dictate a whole career or life. 

 

Johnny Manziel: the rise and downspiral of one of the NFL’s brightest stars

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Johnny Manziel: the rise and downspiral of one of the NFL’s brightest stars

When getting drafted onto the biggest stage of all, many players think the spotlight is all on them. Those players are greedy, careless jerks who want all the attention. One example of this is Johnny Manziel, who was drafted out of Texas Tech with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft and is considered one of the biggest draft busts in all of the sports. If you want to know how to act at the next level, do not take notes from Johnny Manziel. Here’s how it all started, came to be, and what is he doing now?

 

Just a boy from Texas

Johnny Manziel was born on December 6th, 1992 in Tyler, Texas. He would grow up there all his life and gain attention in his high school years at Tivy High School. He became a top prospect there and decided to attend college at Texas A&M University. There he gained a reputation on campus, he became a star. Not just in the state of Texas, but all over the country. 

It seemed at times he would make a highlight every single game, and many started to take notice. His biggest moment came against #1 Alabama. On the road, Texas A&M beat Alabama 29-24, and Manziel was responsible for 345 yards of offense in this gigantic Aggies win. But in that light, Johnny would start to become cocky, and self-confident. 

He had a reputation off the field that became frowned upon. In June of 2012, Johnny was arrested and taken to jail for having a fake ID and fighting with others. Texas A&M fined him $2000, but this was only the beginning of Manziel’s off-the-field issues. However, that year it all seemed to go away for a little while when he undoubtedly won the Heisman. But next season, it was all the same. More off-the-field issues, constant partying, drugs, and alcohol, Texas A&M got sick of it.

Then like that, Manziel’s career at Texas A&M was over. He declared for the 2014 NFL draft. Many thought that Manziel was egotistical and too much of a party animal, and were worried that it might take his mind off of football and continue to get him more in trouble. He was referred to as, “undraftable”. Many were skeptical of him even making the transition to the NFL, add his off-the-field issues, and he was the most perfectly imperfect player that could get drafted. But there was the side of him that is a top athlete and could change the Browns franchise. A former NFL coach called him an “arrogant little prick”, as well as one of the best quarterbacks he has ever seen (dawgpounddaily). 

But the Cleveland Browns saw something in him, they saw his highlights in college and how he could simply take over games and be an X factor, something the Browns have craved for years. See, the Cleveland Browns are notorious for drafting quarterbacks that are the worst in the league. They have drafted 31 quarterbacks since 1991, and none of them were good. Trent Dilfer, Doug Pederson, Baker Mayfield, all are drafted in the first round and completely fail expectations. Johnny Manziel was the next victim on that list, and he may be one of the worst on it. And so, they drafted him. It seems like everyone but the Browns didn’t want him to get drafted, but the Browns did anyways. This meme explains it perfectly.

 

Downward Spiral

Johnny Manziel made his debut during Week 15 of the 2014 season against the Bengals, who at that time wasn’t very good. This was a good idea by the Browns, their season was pretty much over, so let’s start our rookie quarterback against a bad team and see what he can do. Seems like a good idea right? Manziel was ATROCIOUS against Cincinnati, going ⅝ and throwing for 63 yards. This is a video showing the debut. He did score his first touchdown in the 4th quarter on a 10-yard rush, but the Browns ultimately lost 26-10. 

And just like college, Manziel’s off-the-field reputation haunted him. He showed up late to a team meeting and was fined. As a rookie, you should be doing everything in your power to prove who you are, and this just shows how irresponsible Johnny was. These issues continued throughout the 2014 year. 

In early 2015, it had surfaced that Johnny was undergoing rehab, which was a good sign. It showed that Johnny Football actually cared about his job and possibly was going to take his job seriously. Fans were hopeful, maybe he will change his ways. Throughout the spring, he started to build up his relationship and reputation with others. Offensive Lineman Joe Thomas said, “pretty apparent he’s realized how important football is to him, and he’s realized that in the NFL you can’t get away with maybe some of the things that you did in college…”. 

Coaches started to respect him, and finally, Manziel got his first start against the Titans in late September with a hurt Josh McCown and ended up winning 28-14. It seemed that finally, things were starting to look up for Money Manziel…and it immediately came crashing down when he partied again during a bye week. He was delegated to the 3rd string quarterback. He also lied when the reports came out. Many lost their trust in him yet again. Coach Mike Pettine said, “pretty apparent he’s realized how important football is to him, and he’s realized that in the NFL you can’t get away with maybe some of the things that you did in college…” 

And it seemed Johnny chose the bad guy route, as all of the rest of the year. It seemed week after week as he made the highlight reel in college, he was now causing drama off the field. And finally, the Browns waived him in March of 2016. 

 

Bouncing Around

For the next 2 seasons, Johnny was not claimed by any teams. Until one day, he signed a two-year contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League in March of 2018. Many were very skeptical to finally see Money Manziel in action again. So was Hamilton, as he was benched for 6 games for them and was traded to the Montreal Allouetes. In his debut with Montreal, he threw 4 interceptions in a 50-11 loss. No one was surprised, he hasn’t played any football since 2016. This debut was nothing short of a disaster. He played 8 more games with Montreal until the season ended and quit.

He decided to try once more with the Memphis Express in the Alliance of American Football in early 2019. He played a whopping 1 game with them and then quit once more at the end of the season.

And yet again, he joined a different league. How has he not given up yet? He joined the Fan Controlled Football League oddly enough out of boredom. He was assigned to the Zappers and played, again, 1 game. This is the last time we have seen Manziel play football.

It’s not official, but Johnny Manziel is pretty much retired. He said he has no interest playing pro football in the future.

The saddest thing is he had so much potential. He was young, exciting, and fun to watch. Every game he would shock people watching. That money symbol he throws up afer a big play was his upbringing, but also his downfall.

 A promising young career, thrown away in the trash because of some stupid choices. It all happened so quickly.

The Sneaky best players from the 2021 MLB season (Part 2)

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The Sneaky best players from the 2021 MLB season (Part 2)

Outfield: Adam Duvall

A journeyman outfielder is an understatement. Starting with the Giants, traded to the Reds, was shipped to Atlanta, on to Miami for 1 season, and settled back with Atlanta. All through his rookie season until 2019, he was just an underperforming outfielder that didn’t start many games. He did have some success in 2015 and 2016 where he hit 30 home runs but was a very little-known player. Then 2020 came, where he hit 16 home runs in 60 games, and famously hit 3 home runs in a game, and drove in 9 runs in a 29 run Braves massacre. But then he was DFA’d and picked up by the Miami Marlins. Somehow he was re-signed in the 2021 offseason by Atlanta, and he took it personally. In the regular season, Adam Duvall hit 38 home runs and has been an absolute monster in the postseason, his biggest moment being a grand slam in game 5 of the World Series. In a lineup loaded with sluggers such as Ronald Acuna Jr, Freddie Freeman, Jorge Soler, and Eddie Rosario, he is overshadowed by these superstars. Keep in mind he has hit the same amount of home runs as Joey Gallo and gets no credit, so we need to change that.

 

Outfielder: Eloy Jimenez


Although he has dealt with the shoulder injury during spring training, Eloy Jimenez is back better than ever. In 122 games…..he had 125 hits, 31 of them being home runs. He went on a streak where it was guaranteed he was gonna get a hit. 

 

His biggest complaint is his defensive ability, he was a very sloppy defender in 2019 and 2020, and many considered letting him DH. But in the game he returned, he made some very good plays in the field and looked very good throughout the season. He worked very hard during recovery to clean up his defense and become the starting left fielder for Chicago, and he has done just that. With his combination of extreme power, solid defense, and an amazing personality fans should love this guy. He deserves more credit for what he does. 

 

Outfielder: Juan Soto

Ah yes, the childish bambino. He is one of the top MVP candidates this season that I hear nobody talking about, put simply seems every single year he does the same thing. CRAZY OBP, with an extremely high BA. What’s terrifying is how many minor league games he’s played, which is 122. Not even a full season in the minor leagues and he’s already called up. This is his 4th season in a row where he has been an MVP candidate. Crazy good plate discipline who when swings hits the ball very hard and far. He hit 29 home runs this season and drove in 95 RBI’s on a struggling Nationals squad who traded away their 2nd best hitter in Kyle Schwarber. This kid is unbelievably good and deserves a lot more hype than he gets as of now.

 

Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz

The man continues to defy father time and continues to take into his 40s. There was an interesting fact I found in Foolish Baseball’s video about a Twins/Yankees, specifically how good Nelson Cruz is through his old age. Watch the part where he talks about Nelson Cruz, and he will say some of the same stuff I say. What impresses me the most about the Boomstick is his approach at the plate, it’s quite perfect actually. With a guy of the stature of Nelson Cruz, he could easily hit 40 home runs each year, and he does, but he doesn’t try to hit homers. His approach is something you’ll find from some old head high school hitting coach. Throw in his size and strength and hand-eye coordination, and you have a near-perfect hitter. Due to his old age, he is restricted to DH’ing, and that’s all he does. He has embraced the role and has become, quite possibly, the greatest DH of all time. Yes, I said it. Nelson Cruz does not get as much credit as he should when you think about the best DH ever. Every player has peaks and valleys, Nelson Cruz stays flat. Unbelievable hitter and people have no clue how good he is.

The sneaky best players at every position in the MLB 2021 season (PT 1)

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The sneaky best players at every position in the MLB 2021 season (PT 1)

The 2021 season introduced many new things. This was the first full season the man on second base rule in extra innings was introduced, many new uniforms were released, and many teams stepped up and defied expectations, like the San Francisco Giants winning 107 games. In this article, I wanted to talk about the 9 players this season who came from out of nowhere and had breakout seasons in 2021.

 

Pitcher: Sean Manaea

It’s only fitting that our 1st underrated player comes from one of the most underappreciated teams in the MLB, the Oakland Athletics. A very small market team that landed this kid off of a trade from the Kansas City Royals in 2015, and let me tell you this guy is good. Through the last 6 years, he has had a 3.86 ERA which is exceptional for 6 years in a row. His worst season was talking about this stud muffin who could be a #2 starter on many teams.

 

Catcher: Mike Zunino

Although he was an all-star in 2021, not enough people give him the credit he deserves. This man just casually hit 33 home runs this season and nobody noticed. He bulked up quite a bit as if you look at a picture from 2018 and a picture of him now he has gained weight and put on muscle, and it has shown. He also has improved his pitch framing as well as his pop time and has become the everyday starting catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. 

 

1st Baseman: Jose Abreu

 

Now, don’t come at me for being biased, this is 100% my honest opinion. Jose Abreu is the best first baseman in the AL, other than Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and the man does not get the credit he deserves. Every single year he puts out the same product; 35 homers, 100 RBI’s, a ..260-.270 BA, and he gets better every year with his defense. Remember that one time he saved the Carlos Rodon no-hitter and the Lucas Giolito no-hitter in the later 2 innings? He is only gonna keep mashing, and you all need to put some respect on his name. I hear a lot of people say he is overrated when in reality he is a top 4 first baseman in the league.

 

2nd Baseman: Jose Altuve

 

 

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, that is how in the world is Jose Altuve on this list. The name has been in some very controversial discussions over the last 2 years. He is the exact opposite of underrated, he is overrated. But I’m not taking into consideration stuff that isn’t playing time and what he has done on the field. The fact of the matter is that Jose has had a very good season this year. He hit 31 homers with a .278 BA and is starting to clean up the errors as well. People simply refuse to believe he is good after the whole sign-stealing scandal, but he is a top 3 second baseman in the league.

 

3rd Baseman: Rafael Devers

 

This kid is a stud. Crazy power off the bat, can achieve crazy high exit velocity. Just watch this home run by him this season and you’ll get that impression. Absolutely nobody puts him in their top 5 list, it’s all the same names; Nolan Arenado, Matt Chapman, Josh Donaldson, and deservingly so, these are all players that are outstanding to watch. But I do feel Devers is easily a top 3 3rd baseman in the league. I mean he’s hitting 2nd on a loaded Red Sox lineup. He hit 38 bombs and drove in 113 and no one batted an eye. He is also getting better with the glove. He is solid fundamentally and has made some tricky plays. He is only going to get better and better, and I hope with that he grows more and more popular.

Shortstop: Tim Anderson

 

Tim Anderson is an absolute cheat code and it’s time you recognize him as a top 4 shortstop in the game. What is it, 3 consecutive years now where he either leads or is top 3 in batting average among all players?. It seems like every time he gets up to the plate he is bound to get a hit and he never strikes out. He won the batting crown in 2019 and finished 2nd to DJ Lemahieu in 2020. In a season where the biggest and brightest of stars were bad, Tim Anderson still stayed hot because that’s just how good he is. He has the clutch factor in him as well. Remember the Field of Dreams game? I sure do. And every year he gets better defensively. In 2019 he was very shaky, but in 2021 he has cleaned it up and has become good with the glove. Lots of people still give him crap for being cocky, the whole deal with the bat flip against the Royals (insert video). But at the end of the day when you have 3 exceptional years and have almost no slump, you can say whatever you want.

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