Professional Athletes Who Were Involved in Hookup Relationships During the Career
Most professional athletes are on an entirely different plane of living than regular people. As a result, they do things that average people have trouble justifying, like casual hookups. How common are such interactions between sports legends and their partners? Take a look at a small portion of the athletes that have taken part in such relationships.
Adult love affairs as a way to relax and relieve tension
It is important to consider why athletes and regular people enjoy having love affairs. For one thing, the people involved in these interactions never have to worry about maintaining a relationship. There is no need for flowers, no long conversations, and nobody asking when you’re getting married. Affairs help people relax and relieve tension from their sport lives, and that’s enough for most people to enjoy these affairs.
Athletes who’ve dated adult film stars
Among those who prefer adult hookups, there are a number of athletes involved in passionate dating experiences with adult film stars. Some of the interactions between the athletes and adult stars have been short-terms, but many of them had ongoing relationships, too. With that being the case, it’s interesting to see how many big stars have fallen for people in the adult film industry. Look at some of the most prominent cases we found!
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is a 2021 inducteeof the World Golf Hall of Fame. While he has been one of the most dominant golfers over the last few decades, he is also becoming equally well-known for his personal life and his tumultuous interactions. He has dated with a lot of ladies, including the lovely adult film star Holly Sampson.
Jennifer Capriati
Another famous name in sports is Jennifer Capriati, who is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Over the course of six years, she dated Dale DaBone, an adult film star with over 400 films performed throughout his illustrious career.
Chuck Liddell
Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell is a famous UFC fighter and a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He has been involved in many high-profile relationships throughout his career, but the most famous of them all was certainly when he showed up at events with Jayden James. The two dated for a while and rumors still swirl about them.
Tito Ortiz
Another UFC Hall of Fame member, and one who is familiar with our last entry, that has dated an adult film star is Tito Ortiz. He dated Jenna Jameson for some, but then they broke up amidst rumors of substance abuse.
Tanard Jackson
The former Texans player, Tanard Jackson has dated many people throughout his time in the NFL. An interesting match was between him and Jemini, an adult film star.
Rashad Butler
Former offensive tackle for the Browns and Texas, Rashad Butler, was once linked to Maya G., a former adult film star. Since then, the two have broken up, but he caused a splash because of his supposed links to numerous women throughout his time together with Maya.
The world is filled with people that take part in different adult relationships. Athletes tend to have the money, desire, and charisma to get women to spend the night with them. They also know how to have a good time with people that can keep up with them in terms of stardom and entertainment. That is why it should be no surprise that some sports stars date adult film stars. Although the relationships don’t last, they start often and burn bright and fast, as do some sports stars.
A Good Guide For Your First Time Casino Experience
A Guide For Your First Time Casino gaming can be the difference between having a good time and having a bad one. In fact, it is impossible to have a great time if you do not have a good guide for your first-time casino gaming experience. This is because with a guide, you know how to play your cards and you have a strategy that works. This means that you are less likely to lose money because you are using a proven system.
So where do you get one? There are many different types of guides out there, but the internet is probably the best place to go to find one. With millions of people having their own accounts, it is easy to get a lot of information. Most people use a guide for their first time just because they want to make sure that they are going to have a good time, and so that they can get into a casino and know what they are doing before spending any money.
Some people even say that a guide is necessary if you want to win at the casino. The fact is, thata good guide For your first time casino experiencewill show you how to win, but will also give you ways to beat the odds. You will be able to know which games are better than others and which ones you should avoid playing in order to make sure that you do not lose money.
There are some guides that are made specifically for a certain type of casino game. For example, if you are looking for a guide for Blackjack, then there are guides available for that. There are also guides for various casino games including Poker. Then, of course, there are general guides for all of the games that you can imagine. These include things like strategy guides and quick guides for you to learn the basics of a particular game. The best part is, you can print out these guides so that you have them handy whenever you need them.
It is probably best to get a guide for your first trip to the casino after you know your limit. This way you will have enough cash on you to at least test out the doors when you get there. Then you will be able to decide if you are up to the challenge of the real thing. If you do it right, you can walk out with more money than you put in and no black eyes or bruises.
However, a guide can sometimes be a waste of money. In fact, a lot of guides for your first time are not worth the paper they are printed on. They are full of advice that has no application to the game that they are talking about. Casino guides are good for situations where you know something about the game, such as card odds, for example. However, if you are just trying to learn the ropes, then these guides will definitely not help you make any money.
Also, don't expect a great guide for your first time at the casino to give you everything that you need to know. There is no such thing as a miracle trick for making money at the slots or the roulette wheel. All of these games involve skill, strategy, and betting. A guide is simply a set of guidelines to help you through. It might tell you to pick a certain number of cards or a certain card combination. But it will not tell you what the specific odds are for a particular combination.
In fact, a good guide for your first trip to the casino will not include any games at all! These guides only provide you with the basic rules and how the games work. They will not tell you how to bet or how to know when to fold, or what to do if you are dealt a bad hand. You will also not find any information on how to select a great hotel or a good meal. However, a guide can help you walk through the casino floor a little more familiar with how everything works.
A look at the career of the finest player on the planet: LeBron James
LeBron James is simply formidable. The best player to have ever graced a basketball has been a regular on the court this season, averaging 25.8 points per game. Only recently has an ankle injury forced him to miss his first game of the season.
Before then, basketball’s biggest star had led the Lakers to a win against his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, earlier in the year. The Cavaliers themselves had put on one of their best performances, despite the result going against them. After three quarters, they’d been leading the Lakers 89-87, but then James stepped things up in the fourth quarter.
Can the Lakers win the NBA title this season? It’s a big question now that their main man has been side lined by injury. The Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks have both been tipped to give the Lakers a hard time this season, which will make the league extra exciting for anyone looking at this year’s NBA betting lines.
This post looks at some of the career highlights of the best player of all time: LeBron James.
NBA debut
James was but a teenager when he made his debut in the NBA. The Cavaliers didn’t achieve the win that night, but James kept his cool on basketball’s biggest stage and scored 28 points and chalked up six rebounds and nine assists.
All eyes were going to be on him from then. Everyone realized the NBA had unearthed a new superstar, and in his era with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’d go on to win the Rookie of the Year.
NBA playoff debut
Not only was James’s NBA debut a game to remember, but his playoffs debut was one as well. The forward was in blistering form against the Washington Wizards and posted 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Cavaliers won, and it was the first time anyone had posted a triple double in their NBA playoff debut since Magic Johnson.
Game-winning shot on the buzzer against the Orlando Magic
James has been part of some big moments, but no one will forget the drama of the game against the Orlando Magic. In the finals in the Eastern Conference in 2009, the two teams were deadlocked before James broke it right on the buzzer and clinched the Cavaliers the game. The Magic may have won the series, but the score was another big playoff moment for James.
2009 MVP
In 2010, James received his first MVP, for the 2009 season. He’s received a nomination for MVP every year since then, and when he was with the Cavaliers at the time of the award it was an honor for him to accept the award. It was in the state he called home and where his dream of being a basketball player began.
“The Decision”
The year 2010 opened with a shock announcement from James, on TV, that he would be leaving the Cavaliers and joining the Miami Heat. He would spend four years with the Heat and take them to the NBA finals each year. Finally, the team won the NBA title in 2012. The glory may have come, but this original decision to part company with the Cavaliers attracted a lot of criticism.
The Heat win 27 straight games
Some might have loathed James’s decision to join the Heat, but Miami certainly weren’t complaining, and in 2013, the team had a sublime season. With James on the team, the Heat won 27 consecutive games, an unbeaten run which lasted 53 days. Only the 71-72 LA Lakers had a longer record: 33 games unbeaten.
The return to Cleveland
In 2014, it was smiles all around in Cleveland as James returned to the Cavaliers. In his second stint with the team, he’d take them to finals. In 2016, the Cavaliers would take the title, but game seven of the finals would be especially remembered for James’s chase-down of Andre Iguodala.
The Golden State Warriors were about to break the 89-89 tie — or so they thought. James chased Iguodala down and smacked the ball against the backboard, enabling the Cavaliers to gain possession and put themselves in a position to take the title. It was one of many memorable blocks by James.
Game 4 buzzer beater vs the Bulls
In game 4 versus the Bulls, the Cavs were a few seconds from being 3-1 down. The coach at the time, David Blatt, designed a play that required someone other than James to take the final shot. James wasn’t having any of it.
Talk about putting pressure on yourself. Anyway, he took the shot, sinking a three pointer to enable the Cavs to take victory in game 4 — and James to show why he’s the greatest player in the world. It was a masterclass in self-belief.
2020 Passing Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan on the all-time scorers list
The years have rolled by and still James is writing history on the courts. During the NBA restart last year, he led the Lakers to a championship. But in this prolonged season, it has also been the year he passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list, and a little later, he passed the late Kobe Bryant too.
LeBron James has cemented himself into the annals of basketball history as the greatest player of all time. Whether anyone will come to trump him is anyone’s guess, but anything can happen in the NBA. We’ll just have to wait and see and enjoy the journey along the way.
NFL Betting: The Essentials
There was a time when sports betting wasn’t permitted in the US. Because PASPA was repealed back in 2018, this has now changed.
States can now make up their own rules, with most of them now allowing their residents to legally place sports wagers. Even states which don’t permit this may enable people to offshore.
In New Jersey, residents are permitted to place bets in both brick-and-mortar establishments and their choice of 15+ betting sites accepting their wagers.
What are the Main Types of Bet You can Place on the NFL?
Wagering on American football is relatively simple. After looking at a list of current games and upcoming events, players pick which team they’d like to bet on, plus the amount based on the odds listed.
There are different forms of bet that can be placed, affecting how much a player could receive in winnings. An excellent place to start is with the easy types of bet. These include money line, point spread, totals and over/under bets. Here’s what you need to know about each one.
Money Line. A money line bet is perhaps one of the easiest types of bets to both understand and place. A player simply chooses how much they’d like to wager on a team they believe could win the game. This choice is influenced by the odds of winning and how much a player could potentially earn. While these odds are usually listed by the sportsbook themselves, there is no shortage of other sites that display this. While this type of bet is easy to place, it doesn’t offer a particularly strong return. To determine the best choice, players should look for teams with minus signs, indicating they’re more favourable to win. In comparison, teams displaying a plus sign next to them are expected to lose, so they should be avoided. However, ‘plus’ teams pay out more than ‘minus’ ones.
Point Spread. While being a much more common type of bet, it is more complicated than a money line wager. Players must bet on a particular team to win within a certain amount of points. Bets are encouraged for both teams, as spreads are arranged to create an even playing field between them.
Total Bets. Players aren’t concerned about which team wins or loses when they place a bet on a total. Instead, the bet’s outcome is determined by the total number of points scored by both teams. Specifically, players have to guess whether the total amount of points scored will be over the specified amount or under.
As More Sportsbooks Get Established, the Popularity of Live Betting Improves
There are now hundreds of online bookmakers, many of which offer plentiful betting options and favourable odds. Betting online is an easy way to make cash, particularly if you love the game.
There are many top-rated sites out there with excellent chances to wager and win that also offer a very secure experience.
The Super Bowl is one of the most popular betting events throughout the entire year. So much so that more wagers are placed on it than any other single event.
Aside from Money Line, Point Spread & Total Bets, what Other Types of Bet are Available?
There are quite a few. They include things like futures, teasers, proposition bets and parlays. As well as in-game betting where wagers can be placed as live games are taking place, so players know the latest odds.
Here are the main types of bets you can make on the NFL.
Prop Bets. This kind of bet is when a player bets on something that doesn’t actually impact the game’s outcome. For example, some form of oddity or something to do with a player or team.
Live/In-Play. As the game is still in play, live or in-play bets are when someone wagers on odds as this is happening.
Parlays. This form of bet allows a player to combine multiple betting lines to achieve the best payout possible. However, players must be careful. Just one loss results in losing the entire wager.
Teasers. This is similar to a parlay wager. However, lines can be changed around by the player. For example, when betting on a two-team teaser, a player might decide to change the spread by six points in their favour.
Futures. With a futures bet, players have the opportunity to place their bets on NFL odds weeks or even months before the game takes place. The result of this is achieving a much better payout. This is usually based on whether a team will win or not.
Hundreds of Online Sportsbooks Now Exist in America to Meet Demand
Historically, sports wagering wasn’t allowed in the US. However, this has now changed, and individual states can now make their own rules.
The majority now allow sports wagering, either online or in brick and mortar establishments. This is the case for New Jersey.
Because of the popularity of sports across America in general, bookmakers have latched on. Hundreds of sportsbooks now exist online, and they are hugely popular. Particularly with significant events like the Super Bowl.
If you want a piece of the action but are new to sports betting, you should consider the easier types of bets. These include money line, point spread and total bets. You might want to then move on to more advanced bets in future once you’ve mastered the basics.
Thierry Henry aiming to be the first French inductee into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
It’s perhaps easy to dismiss Thierry Henry’s time in the United States as nothing but a swansong following a glittering career at the summit of European football, but that would be a mistake. Henry ended up spending four and a half years with the New York Red Bulls and over that time he helped the side win their first trophy in 17 years.
That landmark day came back in October 2013 when the New York Red Bulls won the Supporters' Shield after a 5-2 win against Chicago Fire. Henry’s contribution was vast as the Frenchman scored one and assisted twice during the stunning romp to the regular-season title. In essence, if that fixture is a condensed version of Henry’s time in the States, he was by no means there to make up the numbers after he signed for New York in May 2010.
Over the course of those four and a half seasons in the Big Apple, Henry racked up 135 appearances whilst scoring 52 goals and assisting a further 42 times. Tellingly, the only clubs he spent more time at during his career were Arsenal and Monaco. In fact, Henry’s time in the US was so successful that his name has been included in the finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame's 2021 Class. The 43-year-old’s efforts are included under the criteria of ‘illustrious playing careers that involved significant MLS contributions.’
Whether Henry will ultimately be included remains to be seen but the very fact that the Hall of Fame’s selection committee is considering his admission speaks volumes given how exclusive this club is.
The World Cup-winning star didn’t let the grass grow under his feet when he arrived in America and single-handedly took the league into more homes around the world than ever before. One could even argue that Henry’s time in the MLS rivaled David Beckham’s in terms of putting the league on the map.
As it turns out, Beckham has also been drawn up alongside Henry in the 2021 list of potential inductees so perhaps we may find an answer to that question sooner rather than later.
Looking back, however, you have to admire how Henry, in particular, took to American culture so seamlessly which undoubtedly aided his on-field performances. There are a few memories that stick out but above all, who can forget the warm welcome the Frenchman received in 2017 upon his return to New York?
Henry was invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field in front of adoring New York Mets fans. It must be said, decibel levels are rarely that loud at Citi Field after a barren run that last saw the New York team win the World Series in 1986. Unfortunately, their MLB odds on bet365 suggest that trophy hiatus won’t end anytime soon with the Mets at 10/1 for a shot at World Series glory this season.
But perhaps this is the year for Henry and the Mets in their quest to pull off the impossible.
Henry has won the biggest soccer trophies everywhere he’s gone, from the World Cup to the English Premier League, the formidable French player has claimed them all but perhaps his crowning glory is still to come. An eternal place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame would cement his legacy as the MLS’s most prolific foreign import.
Does Popularity Affect Dating Life?
Being a member of any hall of fame brings popularity and interest from the public. While trying to find dating sites here on beyondthecharter.com, people often wonder if there is a chance to meet a famous artist or athlete on such online platforms, and how do they actually date someone? This article will help you clear that out.
Are Publicity and Personal Happiness Compatible?
There are numerous cases of famous people dealing with loneliness and those are just those who went public. Nobody knows how many famous people are fighting depression or some milder versions of it.Being a public figure is surely stressful, but that doesn’t mean celebrities can’t be happy.
A lot of famous people are happy even though they have to deal with publicity every day. The key must be in keeping private things for themselves. Posing for photos with their dates is one thing. Sharing every detail of your (love) life is another. The right mindset is crucial as well. They have to be aware of their publicity and the things that come with it.If being in the center of attention makes a celebrity unhappy, but there is no exit except to endure - they have to change their mindset. Accepting the situation they are in is the first step toward happiness while being famous.
What Partners do Famous People Choose?
Famous people date other celebrities most of the time, but some of them date ordinary people. It’s common for famous people to date other public figures because of a couple of reasons:
- they hang out mostly with famous people, so they don’t get a chance to meet us “regular mortals”- when you spend most of your time surrounded by celebrities, you eventually fall in love. In most cases, famous people don’t date each other on purpose; it just happens. They click with each other the same way “regular” people do.
- other famous people understand their situation better than normal people- you may think that being famous is bread and butter. Still, publicity is often followed by many negative emotions, a lack of free time, and a lot of stress. Regular people may have trouble understanding what bothers their famous partners. That’s why most celebrities date somebody who understands what being famous means.
- sometimes it has nothing to do with love- some relationships between famous people are just a farce for the public. Sometimes celebrities choose their partners based on the benefits they’ll bring to their careers.
Can Celebrities Date Ordinary People?
There is no rule forbids them from dating ordinary people, of course. It’s not that unusual to see a couple where only one person is famous. Celebrities are humans like you and I, they have the same feelings, and they fall for the same things.
You can start dating a celebrity if you get a chance to meet one. It wouldn’t be the first time somebody unknown dates a famous person. But if that’s your mission, you have to be careful and play your cards right. Show your interest, but don’t act like a wild-12-year-old in front of Justin Bieber.Celebrities are sick of that; everybody always does everything they want. Your chances will rise if you stay natural.
Let's take a look at famous people who choose non-famous life partners.
Christina Aguilera- The popstar of the ‘00s prefers to date ordinary men because she wants to be the only star in the couple. With one of the strongest voices, she now has one of the strongest relationships with over 10 years of love history. When she met her current partner,Matthew Rutler, he was a production assistant. However, this fact didn’t prevent them from falling in love and having a common child and a common future.
Billie Joe Armstrong- Green Dayfrontman who gained popularity in the 1990s, after disappointment in a long-distance relationship, married his fan, Adrienne Nesser.This way of confronting the chaos in his life turned out to be so working for him that the couple has been together for many years since their wedding in 1994.
Cristiano Ronaldo- The famous football superstar once had an affair with the famous supermodel,Irina Shayk. However, he calls his current life partner, Georgina Rodriguez, his "true love". Their fateful acquaintance took place in the Gucci shop, where Georgina worked as a sales assistant. Both singles, both in love at first sight. They are happy together for almost five years, and during this time the former shop assistant has become a popular influencer.
Britney Spears- Another popstar of the ‘00s, whose personal life has had a lot of ups and downs. When she was single, she had an account on a dating app, so it never mattered to her if her partner was popular. Now she is dating a personal trainer, Sam Asghari, and has all the love and support she needs.
Take Love Search to the Online Level
You may think that famous people don’t use online dating sites, but that’s not true. They love the fact they can meet ordinary people online without being chased by photographers or fans. So if you’re looking to start a relationship with somebody famous, online dating is your best chance. You won’t be able to stand out and get their attention at some event for celebrities, but your chances online aren’t bad. Here are a few of those who have tried to search for love on dating sites.
Adele,who said she received no response because she couldn't add her real photo to the profile due to her popularity.
Sharon Stone, who said that her dating account was blocked because users couldn’t believe she had joined the app and, therefore, complained that it was fake.
Adam Duritz,who told his fans that he tried a dating app despite the age bias of users of such online platforms.
Rob Gronkowski,who wrote a story about athletes' attitudes towards digital-dating devices.
D'Angelo Russell, who shared his thoughts on how affordable and easy dating is in the age of social media.
Popularity does affect dating life, but that’s something famous people have to deal with. That’s why more and more people in search of celebrities are testing online dating; it’s private and convenient.
Strategies and Tips: A Guide To Basketball Betting
One of the most popular sports that bettors get excited about is betting on basketball. It's been many years since basketball betting has made a huge impact in terms of money-making. Speaking of earning money into betting, more strategies and tips can help you succeed.
Applying strategies to betting is not simple, especially if you have no idea where to begin. You can grab books related to the subject to give you some advice to develop your strategy. You can also research on the internet about specific information related to basketball betting techniques. For more information, you can find FanDuel here.
Having the strategies for basketball betting is not enough. You have to use them as a guide to improve your betting techniques. For you to apply it to the game, you must know how to utilize it. Do not just stick to one tip when choosing your bets. Better conduct more study on basketball betting strategies to enhance your betting skills.
It is essential to have strategies when it comes to betting. It would help you improve your expertise in betting if you learn the game’s process. A guide in basketball betting helps many bettors increase their chances of winning. The experts believe that when you exert more effort into learning more about betting strategies, there will be a bigger chance that you will win.
Betting Strategies For Success
Basketball betting is well known, and sometimes it is confusing because some bettors don’t have any idea where and how to start betting. It will be challenging for a bettor to find an effective basketball strategy since there are no universal tactics. You also have to adopt other strategies as this will add to the possibility of winning.
Expert bettorshave their ways on how to follow an order for them to be profitable. They know how to navigate the basketball betting game by observing the movements of the team or player. There is no assurance that you will win in basketball betting. However, you may be able to lower the risk of failure with the right and effective strategy.
Luck plays a big role in basketball betting. Predicting which team will win is difficult and risky. The result may be good or bad, but many tactics are involved when you engage in betting. The timing, spotting the team’s strength and weakness and understanding each team’s line movements, and more.
You should always be ready for the betting outcomes. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. There is no guarantee that you’ll win with the team or player you choose. At the start, you will be afraid of taking risks but you have to trust that you chose right.
Mighty Betting Tips
If you are new to basketball betting, it would be hard for you to reach the goal of winning the game. There is a lot of information about how to be successful in basketball betting. You can get it from experts’ tips, books, or on the internet. It takes time to learn the sportsbook.
Bettors have a limited amount of money. If you are consistently losing the game, try to think of the correct strategies to win the betting game.
At the beginning of the game, you will decide how much money you have for a bankroll. Separate this amount and do not touch anything except the money for betting. You have to divide the reserved amount by 100 and place a bet not bigger than this amount to observe the results and see the improvements.
There are two bets, small and big bets. Small bets mean that you will get a higher total odds and reward. Big bets mean that you will get lower odds and an award but higher chances of winning. The risk between the two bets is equal.
Keep track of all your withdrawals and deposits to help you monitor your money. It is better to stop playing the betting game if you keep losing because it will be hard to recover from overwhelming debt. To avoid these circumstances, you must understand the game process to help you win basketball betting and choose the right decision in betting to be successful in the game you play.
In Conclusion
The tips and strategies listed above are far from comprehensive but they will be a great help to someone who has only begun their journey as a bettor. Even if it takes time to learn it, your strong desire will take you a long way to becoming an expert bettor and will pay off when you see the progress on the games you are playing. You have to be consistent when applying the right strategies that you have learned to be more successful when it comes to basketball betting.
WWE STORYLINES JUST BEFORE FASTLANE AND WRESTLEMANIA
Wrestlemania is the biggest, most anticipated event on the pro wrestling calendar, period. The WWE may not be the monopoly it once was, with the AEW contending strongly, but Wrestlemania still stands atop the hill and always delivers, from the events leading up to it to the big one. The WWE always does a great job from promos to the actual event, and can make you feel like you just got a Monkey Knife Fight promo code which will be a total gem to have in case there is a big bet to go for. After a year hampered by the coronavirus and having to stage events at their training facility, this year's event may have fans in the stands as the government works through the vaccine. Before Wrestlemania, though, there is the SmackDown and Raw pay-per-view of Fastlane. The event and results could have a telling impact on Wrestlemania matchups, including finding a challenger for WWE Champion Bobby Lashley.
Fastlane is going to be packed with key matchups, and championship fights at almost every turn.
Bianca Bel Air and Sasha Banks
Banks dropped one of the hottest lines of the year when she said she was the Michael Jordan of women's wrestling, and if Bianca Bel Air worked hard enough, she could become the LeBron James of it. It was both taunt and respect from Banks who is set to face Belaire at Wrestlemania. Before their big fight, however, both women have the opportunity to be crowned tag team champions, when they face the team of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. Both women are still to hit a sweet spot in their chemistry and Fastlane is too big a stage or opportunity to mess up once again.
Apollo Crews and Big E
Apollo Crews finally showed his true colours, turning into a heel in the process and putting the hurt on Big E. While sidelined with injury, the former New Day man has probably had nothing but revenge on his mind, and at Fastlane, he will have his shot at Crews. Both men will battle for pride, bad blood, and the intercontinental championship. On SmackDown, Big E laid down an open challenge to Crews for the intercontinental championship, but got Sami Zayn instead, who provided solid distraction until E clamped him with a Big Ending. Only then did Crews show up to deliver a steel step beatdown on the champ, setting up a tasty Fastlane encounter.
Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns
Daniel Bryan beat Jey Uso on Smackdown to book his place on Fastlane as the challenger to Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship. Bryan is hell-bent on winning or at the very least make an appearance at Wrestlemania, but all of that will depend on how his shot at Fastlane goes. This week on SmackDown, the Rated-R superstar Edge, called out Bryan for his cunning tactics to worm his way into a title shot, as both men could potentially be a matchup in the near future.
The card for Fastlane continues to grow, and so also are the matchups. It should be a ton of fun to watch.
Canadian success stories in major league North American sports
Fiercely passionate about sports, nothing gets Canadian fans more excited than beating those noisy neighbors from south of the border. Whenever that happens, it’s always a cause for wild celebrations, especially when major league championships are at stake. Let’s take a look at which teams have enjoyed the most success.
NFL
Compared to all the other major professional sports competitions, the NFL is the only one that has never featured a Canadian franchise. However, that could change in the coming years if Toronto billionaire entrepreneur Pat Mazza gets his way.
Instead, the Canadian Football League (CFL) is the professional competition north of the border, played under a slightly different set of rules to those of the NFL. Winnipeg Blue Bombers are the most successful CFL team of all time, winning the Grey Cup 25 times.
Nevertheless, numerous Canadian gridiron players have enjoyed solid NFL careers. The most successful was quarterback Mark Rypien of the Washington Redskins, who won the Super Bowl twice and the Super Bowl XXVI MVP in 1992.
NBA
Professional basketball has largely struggled to make inroads in Canada. While there is the Canadian Elite Basketball League and the National Basketball League of Canada, the NBA has never featured more than one team from north of the border.
In 1995 the Vancouver Grizzlies franchise moved to Memphis in the United States, although they were immediately replaced by the Toronto Raptors, who debuted in the NBA the same year.
Like many new franchise teams, life was difficult at first. Nevertheless, the Toronto Raptors have continued building and improving. After becoming a regular in recent years, the whole of Canada celebrated when the Raptors triumphed in the 2018-19 NBA Finals.
MLB
While there are many professional minor league teams located in Canada, of the current 30 Major League Baseball franchise teams, just one hails from north of the border. This is the Toronto Blue Jays, who were part of the 1977 MLB expansion.
The Blue Jays have won the World Series twice in 1992 and 1993, boasting the honor of being the only Canadian team ever to achieve that feat. Sadly, their only success in recent years was to win the MLB East Division title in 2015.
As this Interac Casinos article highlights, it’s fair to say that online gambling is arguably more popular than baseball in Canada, where online operators are more established compared to those in the United States.
NHL
Considering the fact that professional ice hockey was a Canadian creation, over the last few decades, there has been a surprising lack of NHL and Stanley Cup champions from the Big White North.
It wasn’t until 1927 when teams from the United States began to join the NHL, with the first major expansion. As more American teams joined and started becoming successful, the balance of power largely remained with the Canadian teams, up until around the 1980s.
The most successful NHL franchise of all time is the Montreal Canadiens, who have lifted the Stanley Cup on 24 occasions. However, the last of those was back in 1993, almost three decades ago, which underlines how much American teams now dominate the NHL.
MLS
Soccer is by far the most popular sport in the world, although it took a long time to be embraced in North America as a major sport. The MLS was launched after the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup, enjoying phenomenal growth since then.
While they didn’t participate when the MLS debuted in 1996, three Canadian teams are now prominent members of the competition. The first was Toronto FC in 2005, followed by CF Montreal in 2010, then Vancouver Whitecaps in 2011.
The strongest team from Canada is undoubtedly Toronto FC, who have reached the MLS Cup final three times in the last five seasons, winning the overall championship decider once in 2019. They are probably the best hope for sustained Canadian success in major league sports.
David Beckham gets Another shot at Soccer Hall of Fame
When David Beckham was first nominated for a place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame, he was largely known as an influential player for LA Galaxy. The former England international had already agreed to produce the newest franchise in MLS but the wider public was largely unaware of the formation of Inter Miami.
Back in 2019, Beckham’s legacy for United States’ soccer was yet to be fully appreciated but, fast forward two years and he’s starting to become more widely acknowledged.
Galaxy Alumni
It’s not a great surprise that David Beckham was overlooked when the 2019 nominations were assessed. He had been a pivotal figure for LA Galaxy and made over 100 appearances for the franchise between 2007 and 2012. Galaxy won the MLS Cup twice in that period and Beckham had a significant role to play each time.
As impressive as his contributions may have been, David Beckham’s efforts were hardly worthy of a place in the Hall of Fame at that time. However, two years later, his work to bring Inter Miami into the top division might just see his place among the elite confirmed at the awards ceremony in March.
First Year Report
Inter Miami became the newest members of the MLS family when they were included at the start of the 2020 season. Beckham appointed Diego Alonso as coach and the franchise subsequently finished in tenth place in the Eastern Conference. It was a respectable return for a brand new side and it was enough to see Inter progress beyond the regular season.
The journey didn’t last much longer, however, with the club eliminated at the very next stage - the play in round. David Beckham would have been happy enough with a solid start but it’s clear that he’s aiming much higher in 2021.
A New Era
Diego Alonso’s performance in the dugout wasn’t enough to earn him another shot at the MLS Cup. Inter Miami removed the experienced coach in the close season and replaced him with Beckham’s former Manchester United teammate, Phil Neville. Formerly in charge of England ladies, Neville will need to improve on Inter’s performance in their inaugural season.
The sportsbooks aren’t offering too much hope in this respect: The best betting sites listed on sbo.net indicate Los Angeles FC listed as favorites to win the MLS Cup in 2021. Close behind are last season’s finalists Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders while Canada’s Toronto FC are also rated highly. Meanwhile, Inter Miami are way down the list as 12th favorites for success.
The new MLS campaign gets underway in April and those market odds will start to move as the games commence. To keep up with the changing patterns, stay tuned to sbo.net who will update the prices while offering insight and news updates along the way. Sportsbook offers and promotions will also be in place for those who want to get involved.
Peer Recognition
David Beckham’s potential induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame isn’t dependent on whether his Inter Miami side win the MLS Cup but success would certainly raise his profile even higher. By that point, he may already be among the elite within the game and the recognition of his peers would be fully deserved.
Beckham’s legacy is largely felt in his native England where he helped to make Manchester United win multiple Premier League titles. Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy was largely seen as a stop along the way before the midfielder finally ended his playing career in France with Paris Saint-Germain. As a soccer club owner, his work will be most keenly felt in the United States as Inter Miami look to make their mark on the national game.
