DOWN THIS ROAD AGAIN

DOWN THIS ROAD AGAIN

(The historic Reggae Girlz)
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has once again made the headlines for the wrong reasons. After a successful and historic World Cup campaign, the JFF has neglected to pay over the winnings/earnings from that tournament to their players. The earnings for 135,000 Australian dollars (AUD) per player, has not been deposited to the players yet.

According to sources in the federation, Dennis Chung, the general secretary has made this situation more than it should have been and is on “the hot seat”. There was also talk of meetings being held without the Gen. Sec. present, even though he was at work. With the elections looming, his employment at the JFF could be under threat, regardless of who wins.

(Under fire General Secretary of the JFF Dennis Chung)
In terms of finances, there was an agreement that the players would receive a 20% payout from the funds paid out by FIFA separate from the earnings of the World Cup (amounting to around AUD 700,000). The coaches have yet to confirm if they have received their payout either which begs the question; why?

Why is it always the girls’ team that is mistreated? Why is President Micheal Ricketts silent on the matter? Could FIFA or CONCACAF step in to resolve it? I know this is a very strong statement, but is the federation misogynistic? They may well not be but the behaviour hardly shows otherwise. Gold Cup qualification is coming up and there is a 23-player roster of people 99% of Jamaicans have never heard of and this is all because the JFF have dropped the ball.

(Statement posted by vice-captain Allyson Swaby on her Twitter/X profile)
NFL (Taylors Version)

NFL (Taylors Version)

Photo Credit: etonline.com
The merging of celebrities and professional athletes in the worlds of sport and entertainment sometimes have unanticipated results. This was the case with Taylor Swift’s attendance at recent NFL games featuring Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. There could be many outcomes of the “Taylor Swift effect” on Kelce’s career and the NFL. The newly proclaimed romance between the two is one that the media and fans of both will never hear the end of…

There have been many things that have come from this new relationship. The most significant impact of Taylor and Travis’s relationship is the increase in viewership of Chiefs games. Swift recently attended the Chiefs game at ArrowHead in Kansas City against the Bears. There were rumors before the game that Taylor would be in attendance, which got millions of “Swifties” and other fans to tune into the game to see her on the TV. This game attracted an incredible 24.3 million viewers and became the most watched NFL game of the week on all networks. Swift’s effect went beyond just people watching the game on the television, but rather going to the game to see it in person.

Photo Credit: Karan Arora (Linked In)
According to StubHub, ticket sales for the Chiefs-Jets game that happened this past Sunday Night tripled. Simply having Swift around may draw crowds to stadiums. Swift’s connection with Kelce has also had the significant impact of increasing the popularity of Travis and his brother’s podcast, “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.” Following Swift’s appearance at the game, their podcast climbed to the top spot on Apple’s podcast charts, beating out the rest of the competition. This is important for Travis and his brother Jason as this gains them more publicity from an outside demographic. Swift fans normally would not be as involved in anything really related to football, but this new relationship reels in the Swift fans to explore the NFL.

On social media, the “Taylor Swift effect” was also noticeable. Following the game, Kelce’s Instagram following increased by 18%, rising from 2.7 million to 3.2 million. In addition, his Instagram sponsored post earnings increased from $14,700 to $17,800 each post, demonstrating the financial advantages of increased social media engagement by his relationship with Taylor. The social media impact Taylor has had on Kelce and the NFL is tremendous. Over the last week or so there have been an insane amount of posts regarding Taylor Swift at the game, or just any references about her at all. This is all good news for all the parties involved in this new developing relationship, as it’s gaining Taylor, Travis, and the NFL more publicity from everyone around the world. Obviously, when there is more publicity for people or things, they are going to earn a following or a fan base and that brings in revenue for everyone. The social media presence of this whole story is doing wonders for the publicity of the NFL, and even bringing them in additional revenue they probably didn’t otherwise get from the Swift fanbase.

Photo Credit: nbcsports.com
Following Swift’s showing, Kelce’s NFL jersey was among the top five best-selling jerseys. Additionally, Fanatics, the NFL’s official merchandise supplier, reported a stunning 400% surge in Kelce-related merchandise sales. All over social media there were fans posting their pictures at the game with their Kelce merchandise on and supporting their favorite singer’s new boy toy. So much money was brought in by these jersey and merchandise sales, even though Travis doesn’t get 100% of the money made off of those sales. The NFL definitely will try to milk this whole Travis and Taylor saga with possibly making some new merchandise that has something to do with the two celebrities, so fans of both sides could rock some new merch to support the two.

Taylor Swift’s presence extended benefits not only to Kelce but also to the NFL itself. Swift-related posts from the league on social media made up 7% of total content and generated an amazing 109 million engagements. Swift’s visit was valued around $37 million altogether, according to Apex Marketing, showing how valuable she could be for the NFL. Swift’s appearance at the Chiefs-Jets Sunday Night Football game will significantly increase the show’s television audience, furthering her influence on the NFL.

Photo Credit: nbclosangeles.com
Taylor goes back on her Era’s tour in late October, as she is traveling out of the United States. I could only imagine that up until she has to go back on her tour, she is going to be at every Chiefs game supporting and cheering on Travis and the Chiefs. This would be huge for the Chiefs, Travis, and the NFL as a whole. As long as Taylor is going to these games and showing her face, they are gaining so many more fans and gaining viewership and revenue. Beyond the short-term financial benefits, Kelce’s relationship with Swift might draw a new audience, boosting his appeal and extending his influence both within and outside the NFL.

There is no denying the extensive “Taylor Swift effect” on Travis Kelce’s NFL career. Swift’s presence has sparked excitement and intrigue in their alleged romance, boosting brand value, ticket sales, and social media engagement. It’s unclear how this phenomenon will affect Kelce’s career in the future or how the NFL will interact with celebrity culture as it develops. The one thing that is for sure is that Taylor has taken the NFL world by storm as of late, and it will stay that way as long as she keeps showing up to games.

A Glimpse Into the Future Or a Flash in the Pan

A Glimpse Into the Future Or a Flash in the Pan

Photo Credit: sportsillustrated.com
There were a lot of different reports (mostly negative ones) swirling around QB Zach Wilson after another inexcusable performance (18/36, 158 yds) in Week 3 against the Patriots. Whether it was about the defense’s growing tension towards head coach Robert Saleh’s decision to stick with Zach Wilson or Sunday night possibly being Zach’s last game, it was not a good look at all. Having to deal with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce was a challenge of its own with or without Rodgers..

Any chance that the Jets had of winning the game looked very bleak at the start. It was 17-0 Chiefs after the first quarter and the Jets punted on their first 3 drives. Patrick Mahomes had over 100 passing yards and they were dominating New York. However, life began to show when a holding penalty by the Chiefs got the Jets a safety and the ball back. Then, Zach Wilson began to look like a #2 overall pick. He showed lots of confidence and poise in the pocket as he led a 62 yd drive to get NY back in the game with a field goal. Zach then capitalized off a rough INT from Mahomes to throw a touchdown to C.J. Uzomah to make it 17-12. By this point, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. How did the Jets make it a game in nearly 7 minutes after looking terrible offensively against the Patriots? A field goal by Harrison Butker and a missed attempt by Greg Zuerlein made it a 20-12 Chiefs lead at the half.

The 3rd quarter couldn’t have been a better start for the Jets. Zach Wilson continued a very surprising performance by going 5/5 with 75 yds and throwing a tight pass to Allen Lazard for a TD. His ability to escape a sack and run for a 2-point conversion to tie the game showed Zach’s athleticism and speed. Several punts followed before the Chiefs retook the lead with another FG by Butker. A 4th quarter drive that started out so greatly ended abruptly as Wilson fumbled the ball and the Chiefs recovered at midfield. Now, you can blame a bad snap, but it dampened the performance of the QB.

At the time, it was fine. There was still 7:24 left in the 4th quarter. The best case scenario is that the Chiefs kick a field goal and the Jets get the ball back with at LEAST one chance to score. However, the last 7:24 was filled with lots of flags and several controversial calls that went against the Jets. For example, one no-call was DE Jermaine Johnson getting held for about 15 seconds on a 3rd & 23. Instead, Mahomes ran for a 25 yd first down and C.J. Mosley got a flag for illegal contact. Just 2 minutes later, it is 3rd & 20 at the NY 40. All the Jets need is a stop and the Chiefs would likely kick a field goal. This is what ensued: Patrick Mahomes throws his 3rd INT of the game to CB Michael Carter, and the referee throws a flag AFTER Carter catches the ball. The flag is called for holding on star CB Sauce Gardner. Robert Saleh completely lost it, Sauce Gardner couldn’t believe it, and MetLife Stadium erupted with loud boos. This leads to the Chiefs getting bailed out again, and they eventually win the game after running the clock out.

Photo Credit: sportsillustrated.com
You can blame a lot of things on the Jets losing this game. The costly fumble, the dropped passes, the referees, or even Taylor Swift (yes,Taylor Swift). But, it was such a shame seeing the Jets’ record be 1-3 instead of 2-2 after such a great game by the team. Zach Wilson possibly played his best NFL game (28/39, 245 passing yds, 2 TD) and looked the most comfortable with a very improved O-line from the first 3 weeks. The offensive line only giving up 2 sacks against star DT Chris Jones and Kansas City is a big improvement from how it looked against Dallas and Buffalo. Star WR Garrett Wilson (9-60-0), WR Allen Lazard (3-61-1), and star RB Breece Hall (9 touches, 69 yds) had big games for the Jets. The defense had a very encouraging performance, causing Patrick Mahomes to play one of his worst NFL games to date (18/30, 203 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT)

So, is this type of performance from Zach Wilson something to expect? No, but it is a big step in the right direction for Zach and the coaching staff. Zach was able to perform plays that suited his strengths and his awareness was excellent as he didn’t have 1 ugly pass attempt. If Wilson can look this good and improve throughout the season, the Jets may have a chance to be playing football in mid-January. Let’s see if he can keep the momentum going against Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos..

EARLY SEASON FORM OR MORE TO COME?

EARLY SEASON FORM OR MORE TO COME?

(The Vince Lombardi trophy)
The NFL season is well and truly underway and with that being said, some teams have shown out, while some haven’t shown up. It may be early but some teams have taken up the mantle as “favourites” for the Super Bowl. Even though it is early, some of these early forms need to be announced as such and nothing more.

The Miami Dolphins who have annihilated the Denver Broncos putting up a massive 70 points look good, but getting through the first round may be their limit. Don’t get me wrong, players like Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and Raheem Mostert are good players, but could they do it against an actual team? No disrespect to Denver or LA Chargers, but if those teams had a defense they’d be half-decent.

The Philadelphia Eagles who missed their best chance at a Super Bowl last season won’t be in the showpiece this year. When it all comes down to it, the form of Jalen Hurts will cause the Eagles to be halted in their progression. There are a few teams who I believe are the ones to watch for the conference finals this year.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

(Brock Purdy interacting with Christian McCaffery)
This is no surprise and if this is to someone, maybe they shouldn’t be watching the sport. The San Francisco 49ers missed the Super Bowl last year due to having not one, not two, but THREE QB injuries which had Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy being the main man and now looking like an experienced man for the job, only injuries can stop them. NFC Championships is the bare minimum for this season.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

(Green Bay QB Jordan Love)
This one may shock the landscape of football and it’s the Green Bay Packers. Jordan Love, even though it is extremely early, is proving to be what Rodgers was when Farve left. They look like with him they can go toe-to-toe with nearly every team in the league and could make a huge playoff push.

BUFFALO BILLS

(The Buffalo Bills Offensive Unit)
Yes, they lost to the Jets, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! DON’T CARE! The Buffalo Bills have gone from strength to strength after that embarrassment and now no team seems to be able to lay a glove on them. They have always been in these positions in the past with Josh Allen, but now this is the best chance to get one up on the Chiefs.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

(Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes)
It is really weird but for the foreseeable future, the AFC will win every Super Bowl on offer. Kansas City is still in my book as the overwhelming favourite to go for another title. That doesn’t mean the rest of the AFC can’t put up a fight, but we are talking about the best QB in the league by a country mile let’s be real. The Chiefs will be seeing that Usher halftime show in person this year and maybe a Taylor Swift edition.

Honorable mentions to the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. People who got drawn in must have seen this coming. One team has an overpaid, overrated QB who couldn’t complete a Math exam in Dak Prescott and the other has a 3rd choice being a starter. Now it is early, but if either team wants to live up to the early season hype, Matthew Stafford is right there!

Breathing in a Wild Start to the Jets Season

Breathing in a Wild Start to the Jets Season

Photo Credit: northjersey.com

It was 8:15 on Monday night. Aaron Rodgers ran out with the American flag just several minutes before the game to a huge roar from the crowd. There was a massive buzz in MetLife Stadium. Breece Hall just ran for 26 yards on his first carry after his ACL surgery. Then, Aaron Rodgers got sacked by a ferocious Buffalo Bills D-line and wasn’t able to put any weight on his leg.

Week 1
It felt like all of the energy got sucked out of MetLife. Jets fans knew that the offensive line was a weak link, but was it this weak? There were only four snaps before Rodgers tore his Achilles. FOUR. Like all Jets fans, I was completely stunned watching Aaron get carted off the field and having to watch Zach Wilson play QB in Week 1.

The Jets defense mainly kept them in the game as they were trailing 13-3 at halftime, but it wasn’t looking too good. A couple of players talked to Rodgers during halftime, including Garrett Wilson. Wilson revealed on a podcast that Rodgers told him, “Sorry, kid” when he went to check on the injured QB. In the second half, the Jets came out, made some big plays, and the crowd got back into it. The Jets capitalized on 3 turnovers from Josh Allen (2 INT, 1 fumble) and a possible catch-of-the-year from star WR Garrett Wilson to take a 16-13 lead with 1:48 to go. A terrific Bills drive and a kick that doinked in eventually led us to overtime. After the Jets made Buffalo punt on the opening drive, undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson recorded a 65 yd punt return TD that sent many fans in MetLife Stadium home happy ! This completed the comeback for the Jets and they won 22-16. On a night that we believed that Rodgers would lead the Jets to a win, it was the defense anchored by S Jordan Whitehead (3 INT), along with Xavier Gipson and Garrett Wilson (5-34-1).

Photo Credit: usatoday.com
To be honest, Zach played solid with the situation he came into. Only making 1 serious mistake (a terrible INT thrown in the 2nd quarter), his stats were: 14/21, 140 passing yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 6 rushing yds. It definitely could’ve been worse against a very solid Bills defense. Breece Hall also looked electric, going for long gains of 26 and 83 yds, while finishing with 11 touches and 147 scrimmage yds. The offensive line started out terrible, but was better as the game went on, only giving up 2 sacks to Zach and opening up holes for the running game. The Jets defense got 5 sacks and made Josh Allen turn the ball over 5 times, making him look very frustrated at certain times. Lastly, the special teams was solid during the game and only got better with the Gipson return TD. A wild ending to a wild night.

Week 2

Right after playing the Bills, the Jets had to face a team that just beat the Giants 40-0 without their star QB. The score was basically how the game looked: 30-10 Dallas. The game wasn’t in the Jets’ control from the start and they played catch-up for the majority of it. The Cowboys scoring a TD nearly 6 minutes into the game and Zach Wilson getting lit up by superstar LB Micah Parsons set the tone for a rough afternoon. The Jets were only down 10-0 in the 2nd quarter before Zach Wilson threw a dart to Garrett Wilson for a quick 68 yd TD. On the Cowboys’ drive following the TD, Sauce Gardner dropped a would-be pick six that would’ve given the Jets a 14-10 lead. Instead, Dallas responded with a first down and a TD, going up 18-7. The Jets had a nice drive to end the half, getting a field goal and only trailing 18-10 while getting the ball.

The second half seemed like the exact opposite of the Bills game. 2 punts, a fumble by RB Dalvin Cook, and 3 INTs by Zach took away momentum of having another miraculous comeback. The offensive line had a horrendous day, as Wilson got pressured on 70% of the snaps and couldn’t do much at all. The run game was stuffed up for the most part, as the Jets only had 64 rushing yds (36 from Zach running for his life). Breece Hall only got 4 carries for 9 yds, and was unhappy after the game. Zach Wilson played half decent for 3 quarters before trying to play hero ball and throwing 3 ugly picks. Those 3 picks were the result of a terrible rushing attack by Cook, Carter, and Hall. Duane Brown has looked out of shape for the Jets in the first 2 games as he was a main reason why Parsons got through the offensive line with such ease. Also, where was the Jets defense that made Josh Allen look terrible? Lots of missed tackles, costly flags, and Dak Prescott (31/38, 255 yds, 2 TD) made the game look far worse than it was. Star WR CeeDee Lamb also tore up the secondary, going for 11 receptions and 143 yds.

Photo Credit: apnews.com
The Jets’ schedule in the next 4 games consist of the Patriots, Eagles, Broncos, and Chiefs. If they can finish 3-3 heading into Week 7 against the Giants, that would be a solid start. In his career, Zach has had huge struggles against the Patriots (0-4, 54-106, 693 yds, 2 td 7 int). Will it be a similar result on Sunday? Jets fans sure hope not.
Soccer to Flushing?

Soccer to Flushing?

Photo Credit: thecity.com
New York City is once again in the heart of a contentious debate about a new sports complex. NYC has become known for its vibrant sports culture and diverse communities. In the article I read about this new project, you could really see Steve Cohen’s big plans to build a soccer stadium in the Queens borough near Citi Field. Cohen is the owner of the New York Mets that play in Citi Field in Flushing Queens. My current event is going to address Cohen’s idea as well as the significant parking issues that the project would pose for the nearby communities of this potential new stadium.

Soccer is something that Steve Cohen, an established figure in professional sports, wants to bring to Queens. His big plan calls for the construction of a revolutionary soccer stadium that is guaranteed to ignite the excitement of soccer fans all throughout the city. This project has numerous potential advantages. Cohen’s proposal has the ability of bringing much-needed economic activity into the local economy in addition to giving soccer fans a new place to call home in the local area. The stadium can grow into a focal point for neighborhood interaction, holding activities that unite locals and guests to enjoy the great game of soccer. But as everyone knows, every big development and project always encounters its fair share of obstacles in the way of getting it done.

Photo Credit: tripsavy.com

Concern has been expressed by community organizations and local citizens regarding Cohen’s big project. The stadium’s effect on their daily lives is the main source of their anxiety. One of the biggest worries is the possibility of delays during stadium events due to increased traffic and congestion around the area and their homes. Addressing these issues and encouraging community involvement will be essential to the project’s success as it develops. The issue of parking is one of the most urgent difficulties that is connected to the planned soccer stadium project. Because of the stadium’s Queens location, parking is a special difficulty. The area of Flushing already has a neighborhood surrounding Citi Field and the possible new stadium, so finding areas for parking that aren’t pre existing would be challenging. The massive parking lots often found around big sporting venues are not present in the immediate area. This has raised questions about where thousands of fans will park their cars on game days. Locals and business owners are starting to worry that the increasing number of vehicles looking for parking spots could spread into residential areas, thereby causing an inconvenience to residents that live in the area and worsening traffic conditions there as well. Cohen’s team has discussed possible solutions with neighborhood stakeholders and city officials to lessen these sorts of problems. To lessen the need for on-site parking for these sporting events, such discussions have suggested shuttle services, increased access to public transportation, and promotion of Ubers or taxis to the stadiums.

Photo Credit: qchron.com
The building of the new stadium has its impacts on parking plans for the surrounding area for sure, but there is not a bigger impact it will have than the impact on the community itself surrounding the complex. The effect of the potential soccer stadium on the neighborhood cannot be stressed enough. Beyond its economic possibilities, the project has the power to influence how the locals of the area live their daily lives. Longer commute times and significant disruptions could result from increased traffic and congestion on game days. To come up with solutions that minimize the negative impacts on local citizens, Cohen’s team and city officials have to work together to figure out how to deal with them. Negotiations between Cohen’s team and local stakeholders have been ongoing, as have community involvement efforts. A crucial element in building a strong relationship between the stadium project and the neighborhood it intends to be incorporated into is engaging with the community and responding to their concerns about any potential faults to their plan. They want them to feel as if they are a part of the whole process of building this new development.

The bold proposal of Steve Cohen to construct a soccer stadium in Queens marks a huge change in the sports environment of New York City. Although the project has the potential to help boost the economy and include the community, it is not without obstacles to overcome. Parking is a major concern, and the locals’ worries should be treated seriously, as they are the ones that will be living in the area and dealing with the effects of it every day. It is crucial that Cohen’s team and city officials continue to collaborate closely with the local community as the project moves forward to identify practical solutions to the parking and congestion concerns by the community. Finding a balance between the economic development it brings and the needs and concerns of the neighborhood is essential to the stadium project’s success. This dream of a stadium can only become a reality that benefits Queens residents as well as soccer fans via cooperation and careful preparation by everybody involved. Steve Cohen is looking to bolster the Queens and Flushing community with this new state of the art stadium and development, it’s just up to the community to help it happen any way they can.