Creekmoor

This fairly simple, straightforward golf course is ideal for those trying to improve out of the tee box. The real fun begins around the greens, where they make challenging slopes that add a level of strategy into your game. Thankfully, the greens run slow to balance this effect. The beauty of the course stands out, making it a bargain for the price.

Fred Arbanas

One word comes to mind when playing Fred Arbanas – value. No, there isn’t any part of the course that makes your jaw drop but the experience is always organic and worth the price. It also doesn’t have that stuff environment that some other courses do, which is always refreshing.

Hillcrest

For a nice, stress-free and wide-open day out, Hillcrest just might be your go-to. But be careful, most holes are riddled with large bunkers, so don’t forget your sand wedge! All in all, you can enjoy a fun round without too many obstacles, with dogleg holes being the exception. The course also has a couple of dog parks, always fun to drop by after your round.

Hodge Park

Talk about an exciting 18 for a bargain! Hodge Park is a local favorite, with a nice balance of simple and complex holes that keep your interest. A few holes have water hazards, while some (especially the par 3s) are more reserved. A conservative game out of the tee box with consistent iron play can yield you a fairly low score.

Drumm Farm

While there are two golf courses on the property, we’d like to pay special attention to its design. Drumm Farm has a nice array of holes to keep you on your guard… you’re never really able to get comfortable with a single club, which is both frustrating and exciting at the same time. All in all, Drumm Farm is a great experience that presents a unique challenge just about any golfer can appreciate.

Swope Mountain

This par 72 has been around for almost 90 years and for good reason. Swope Mountain features a historic design around a beautifully unique setting. Sitting in downtown Kansas City, you can enjoy almost-premium golf without having to take a hike and for a nice price as well.

Minor Park

There’s a lot to experience at Minor Park. We loved the contemporary course that isn’t afraid to show its unique personality. You’ll have wide-open fairways that narrow to small greens with water behind it, dog-legs that can take you just about anywhere (fingers crossed) and so much more. When you consider the special deals they offer online, you’ll immediately realize the value of playing here.

Heart of America

Golf is already hard enough, so why go out of your way to make a course so challenging that it takes away the fun? Heart of America understood this and made a course for people to relax and have fun – not leave sweat tracks from the tee box and beyond! So if you’re looking for a chill experience with friends – this is your spot.

Iron Horse Golf Club

Arguably the most aesthetically pleasing golf course in the area, Iron Horse offers scenery that’s pretty tough to top. The designs of the holes, particularly on the back nine are kept up with true class. The course itself is fairly challenging, but nothing that makes you want to tear your hair out. This is one for the experience above all else.

Shoal Creek

When you want balance – you come to Shoal Creek. It features top-tier architecture and beautiful scenery. From wide-open par 5’s where you can flex your muscles to tricky par 3’s that can take you swimming – it’s all here. The 18-hole experience is probably the best Kansas City can offer all-around for a nice deal.

The post The 10 Best Public Golf Courses in Kansas City appeared first on Koshka.

In reality, bodybuilding is defined as “the developing of the body through exercise and diet …” In other words, you’re implementing a routine designed to improve your body in one way or another. As we mentioned, this doesn’t mean you have to get “huge”. As a practitioner of bodybuilding, you decide what you want to focus on and how far you want to go.

If you’re looking to attain a more aesthetically pleasing physique, a more traditional routine is for you, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Here’s an example: Say you love to https://www.koshka.net/tag/golf/, but you live in a climate where you can only play during certain seasons (spring, summer, some of autumn). This may limit your ability to practice on the range and course, but it doesn’t mean you can’t improve your game in other areas, and that’s where bodybuilding can come into play.

Outside of finesse (having a sound swing, doing drills for more consistency, etc.), there are other ways to https://topgolf.com/us/.

Like what? You can:

• Increase your clubhead speed to improve your average driving distance.
• Improve your flexibility to increase your range of motion per swing (increasing torque and distance) and decreasing chances of injuries.
• Enhance your cardiovascular endurance to improve your stamina, ensuring you’re not tapering off on the back 9.

While these advantages might not inherently make you a better golfer, they will increase your potential.

After all, if you can’t play or go to the range, this is the next best thing. Plus you can work on (some) of your short game indoors.

Let’s start with strength training. There are two main areas of your body that will most contribute to faster clubhead speeds and farther average driving distance:

• Your Legs: Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Adductors, Abductors, Glutes, Calfs, Shins
• Your Core: Abdominals, Obliques

The rest of your muscle groups will serve to aid these muscle groups to put the swing together. Think of them like your supporting cast, so yes you should train them, but your main focus should be on what’s listed above. Here’s an ideal strength training schedule.

Make sure you’re balancing your training. For example, work your chest/back and quadriceps/hamstrings equally to ensure balance and a smaller chance of injuries. A long-term imbalance of training can lead to joint and ligament issues.

Also, be sure to stretch after each workout and throughout your day, a few minutes here and there can promote flexibility and deter extreme soreness.

Monday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Legs
Spend 35-60 minutes doing weight training, focusing mostly on your quadriceps and hamstrings. The rest of the muscle groups should serve as support.

Prioritize squats, deadlifts, Romainian deadlifts and leg presses, as they are best for targeting and strengthening these large muscles that will be used to increase strength.

Finish that with at least 15-20 minutes of cardiovascular training to enhance oxygen

efficiency and limit soreness after your workout. We suggest jogging outside or using the elliptical machine.

Tuesday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Chest + Core
With your legs healing, day two is perfect for training your chest and core. Your pectoral region (chest) is great for a strong backswing and your core (mainly obliques) for following through on the front. While many traditional bodybuilders like to focus on squeezing exercises (like chest flies) for aesthetics, we suggest more pushing routines (like presses). Also be sure to do flatbed, incline and decline workouts for your chest. Core should only be a small percentage of your session. Balance is key!,

Wednesday

Training: Yoga
Muscles Trained: Full Body
Yoga is incredibly underrated. Getting some yoga into your routine is important because it works your core regions in ways you can’t achieve with crunches or weights. We suggest doing some lighter-duty routines that promote more flexibility and are easy on the back but feel free to make the routine perfect for yourself. You won’t know until you’ve tried as many styles as you can, many gyms offer classes and there are free videos on YouTube.

Thursday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Back
Next is back day, be sure to balance your rowing and pulling exercises to enable symmetrical gains. Do a lot of wide grip pulls to get a strong stretch to deter stiffness and be sure not to jerk while doing reps. Always be in control, just as you’re supposed to be when performing your golf swing.

Friday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Shoulders + Core
Now that most of the larger muscles and supporting groups are rested, you can spend some time working on shoulders. Be sure to balance the use of your front/side/rear deltoids, as well as your trap muscles for a complete workout. With the exception of shoulder presses (and maybe shrugs), these should be lightweight exercises aimed at improving muscle control. Then with your extra time, work some core and obliques.

Saturday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Arms
Your triceps got a half workout on Tuesday and biceps got a half workout on Thursday, so both should be ready for a real pump. Don’t focus on using too much weight because you want to maintain flexibility, so instead, factor in lighter sessions with more reps to emulate the experience of taking many golf swings. For the sake of training, you need your arms to assist with other workouts during the week, so don’t go too hard on them.

Sunday

Training: Yoga
Muscles Trained: Rest
Repeat your Wednesday workout, just try to deviate a little bit if you can. These days should be used for rest, so take it easy and treat your workout equally as a mediation session.

The post Bodybuilding For Golfers: What You Need to Know appeared first on Koshka.

Before we begin, we should mention how we made our picks. As sports fans know, there are many variables aside from raw talent that make a quarterback’s career, just look at his teams defense and offense line as an example.

While no system is perfect, we determined our picks from these primary metrics: Record, Passer Rating, Passing Yards, TD/INT Ratio, Completion %, Yards Per Attempt. Then we considered some outside context as well.

Brett Farve

YEARS ACTIVE: 1991-2010
RECORD: 186-112
PASSER RATING: 86
PASSING YARDS: 71,838
TD/INT RATIO: 508:336
COMPLETION %: 62%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.1

Playing most of career in Green Bay Packers, Farve managed to start 297 games (which is unheard of) and won 3 consecutive MVPs from 1995-1997 (which is also unheard of). His arm strength, durability and consistency made Farve one of the best Quarterbacks of all time.

Roger Staubach

YEARS ACTIVE: 1969-1979
RECORD: 85-29
PASSER RATING: 83.4
PASSING YARDS: 22,700
TD/INT RATIO: 159:109
COMPLETION %: 57%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.7

Referred to as “Roger the Dodger” or “Captain Comeback” (which is an amazing name for a Quarterback) Roger played his entire career for the Dallas Cowboys.His career was a few years shorter than planned, due to his service in the Navy, but that didn’t stop him from putting up amazing numbers, leading the Cowboys to 2 Super Bowl victories.

John Elway

YEARS ACTIVE: 1983-1998
RECORD: 148-82-1
PASSER RATING: 79.9
PASSING YARDS: 51,475
TD/INT RATIO: 300:226
COMPLETION %: 56.9
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.1

As one of the top Quarterbacks in his era (and of all time), Elway became the face of the Denver Broncos. He won the 1987 NFL MVP and helped his team win 2 Superbowls, one of which he was named Superbowl MVP (1998). Few can say they won a Superbowl in their last season, but that was just an example of all of Elway’s accomplishments.

Otto Graham

YEARS ACTIVE: 1946-1955
RECORD: 57-13-1
PASSER RATING: 78.2
PASSING YARDS: 23,584
TD/INT RATIO: 174:135
COMPLETION %: 55.8%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 9.0

The man, the myth, the legend. His career might have been on the shorter side, mad, did Otto Graham have a cannon for an arm and he sure knew how to use it. He came up in big situations and turned a once mediocre Kansas City Browns team into a contender. With that said, it shouldn’t surprise you that Otto Graham was the kind of Quarterback that turned good Wide Receivers into great ones,

Dan Marino

YEARS ACTIVE: 1983-1999
RECORD: 147-93
PASSER RATING: 86.4
PASSING YARDS: 61,631
TD/INT RATIO: 420:252
COMPLETION %: 59.4%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.3

Dan Marino seemingly accomplished everything under the sun, other than winning a Super Bowl. Marino demonstrated excellent overall abilities from strength, scrambling and top-notch decision making. He played his entire career in Miami, making him the most recognized Dolphin in franchise history.

Johnny Unitas

YEARS ACTIVE: 1956-1973
RECORD: 118-63-4
PASSER RATING: 78.2
PASSING YARDS: 40,239
TD/INT RATIO: 290:253
COMPLETION %: 54.6%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.8

An elite Quarterback for his era, Johnny U is known for helping the (then) Baltimore Colts to 3 NFL Championships and a Super Bowl victory. His steady numbers and consistent accuracy led to him becoming one of the best and most clutch Quarterbacks of all time.

Peyton Manning

YEARS ACTIVE: 1998-2015
RECORD: 186-79
PASSER RATING: 96.5
PASSING YARDS: 71,940
TD/INT RATIO: 539-251
COMPLETION %: 65.3%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.7

Arguably the greatest regular season Quarterback of all time, Peyton Manning put up numbers never before seen. His one weakness? Playoff football. Throughout his career, it was a consistent theme that he would light up scoreboards until the playoffs came up. His single Super Bowl ring was looking disappointed until he led the Broncos to their 3rd ring.

Joe Montana

YEARS ACTIVE: 1979-1994
RECORD: 117-47
PASSER RATING: 92.3
PASSING YARDS: 40,551
TD/INT RATIO: 273-139
COMPLETION %: 63.2%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.5

In the prime years of San Francisco football, Joe Cool was the top dog. Leading the 49ers to 4 Super Bowl victories and winning 2 MVPs, Montana knew when to shine and it showed year over year. Most notably, he and Jerry Rice were among one of the best Quarterback/Wide Receiver combinations in all of NFL history.

Drew Brees

YEARS ACTIVE: 2001 – Present
RECORD: 155-108
PASSER RATING: 98
PASSING YARDS: 76,577
TD/INT RATIO: 537:237
COMPLETION %: 73.6%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.6

When it comes to an absolute powerhouse, not many won’t think of Drew Brees. Considered one of the most powerful and accurate throwers of all time, his stats speak for themselves. He’s thrown for more yards than anyone and has one of the best TD/INT ratios of all time. And who can forget that Super Bowl victory following Hurricane Katrina?

Tom Brady

YEARS ACTIVE: 2000-Present
RECORD: 207-61
PASSER RATING: 97
PASSING YARDS: 73,951
TD/INT RATIO: 536:178
COMPLETION %: 60.5%
YARDS PER ATTEMPT: 7.5

At the heart of the New England Patriots dynasty, Tom Brady has accomplished things that nobody has and may never do. He’s a 6x Super Bowl champ, 3x MVP award winner with 2 Offense Player of the Year Awards. At 42 years old, he’s still amazing people, suggesting heightened football conditioning. A career decorated with achievement certainly puts him on this list for such an honor.

Be sure to check out our other sports and NFL posts.

PHOTO CREDIT: andrew campbell

The post The 10 Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time appeared first on Koshka.

Reason #1: He hadn’t won the Masters in 14 years

This is one of the more obvious reasons – 2005 feels like a lifetime ago. His triumphant win over Chris DiMarco was one for the ages, including some crazy weather and some of Tiger’s more famous shots. This all happening after Tiger shot a 74 in the first round. Even after a few close wins in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2013, fans had been looking to fill the void of seeing the infamous Tiger road at Augusta National.

Reason #2: He hadn’t won a Major in 11 years

Again, one of the more known reasons, but still.. do you realize how long 11 years is? We’re not talking about 400+ days, we’re talking about golf terms. There were many instances during those 11 years that so many people said Tiger would never win another major, some didn’t think he would win (or even compete) in another tournament. This stretch between majors was the first of its kind since Jack Nicklaus’ win in 1986 (consider Tiger’s was almost double the time gap).

Reason #3: He hadn’t won a Major when trailing after 54-holes

Just take a second to think about it. Tiger Woods won his first 14 majors, all when leading (or co-leading) after the first 54 holes. From his 1997 Masters win, to his 2002 US Open win at Bethpage Black, to his 14th win in 2008.

Reason #4: Francesco Molinari seemed unbeatable

Molinari aside, let’s start with Tiger’s 2018 season (for Majors). He finished T-32 at the Masters, missed the cut at the US Open at Shinnecock Hills (of course, the one I was there for), then he lost to Molinari (T-3) at the Open Championship at Carnoustie, and finished 2nd to Brooks Koepka at the PGA (Bellerieve).

Tiger Woods got significantly better as the season went on. Then the Ryder Cup happened when Molinari went 5-0 including his win over Tiger Woods. At this point, Francesco looked unbeatable, and this is before he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational before the Players.

Regardless of how you look at it, Francesco Molinari was (and still is) viewed as one of the best and most feared players on the planet. After Molinari’s performance through the front 9, nobody saw him budging, but that was never in the presence of a revived Tiger Woods!

Reason #5: His spinal fusion surgery

Let’s start this with some backstory. Tiger Woods was a phenom from the very beginning, and even after his 1997 Masters win, everyone said the same thing. The kid is amazing, but his swing is too violent and he won’t be able to stay healthy. Since, he had 4 knee and 5 back surgeries.

The final back surgery? He had a spinal fusion surgery. Not only was this not a normal surgery, it was out of absolute necessity. In 2017, Tiger Woods wasn’t able to walk, let alone play golf. The purpose of the spinal fusion surgery was for a better quality of life… he wanted to be able to play with his kids. At that point, nobody thought he would play golf again, let alone compete professionally, let alone win THE MASTERS! In just a year and a half, Tiger went from someone who had to literally be carried up the stairs to a Masters winner.

Reason #6: The celebration

As many of us have seen, Tiger was… well, very happy after winning the 2019 Masters. After his win, he went to give his son Charlie a huge hug, which looked almost the same as when he gave his father a hug after winning his first major (the 1997 Masters).

In that moment, all of his fans not only saw their hero defy the odds, but they saw his life come full circle. He overcame his injuries, beat the best players in the world and celebrated in a way that was so familiar after all of these years. It was almost angelic.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is why Tiger Woods’ 2019 Masters win was so very special.

The post What Made Tiger Woods’ 2019 Masters Win So Special appeared first on Koshka.

#10 Cowboys Golf Club – Grapevine

You don’t have to be a fan of the Dallas Cowboys to appreciate Cowboys Golf Course. The club has tons of amenities and a beautiful par 72 golf course. The course offers a nice variety of play, challenging players regardless of their game. While this isn’t the best course, it has a lot to offer.

#9 TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas – Dallas

The Four Seasons is an award-winning golf resort with a beautiful par 70 course (there’s the Cottonwood Valley course too, but we like the Las Colinas better). Anyway, we’re big on this course because of the layout of the holes (especially the par 5s). The fairways are fairly open, but the approach shots are difficult, which is the perfect mix of fun and challenge.

#8 Rawls Course – Lubbock

Are you a fan of Texas Tech? Well, Rawls Course is open to the public and is beloved for good reason. Their course is renowned for its beautiful views and unique architecture. The par 71 has a strong variety of short par 3s and long par 5s, allowing you to exercise the full extent of your bag.

#7 Deerwood Club – Houston

We recommend visiting Deerwood, just don’t forget your driver. The near 7200 yard par 72 is like heaven for players that love to use the big stick. With that said, there are many open fairways and clear greens that turn into a fun round of 18 holes. Regardless of skill, you can have a blast at Deerwood.

#6 Old American Golf Club – The Colony

Old American gets its name for a reason, and we’re in love with it. The old school architecture really adds to the character of the course, which really turns it into a wonderful experience. Other than the beauty of the course, our favorite touch has to be the greens. Approaching the greens is tough, and the designs of the greens make it even better. Don’t be discouraged with how tough they are to read, it’s going to be a challenge for everyone!

#5 Wolfdancer Golf Club – Cedar Creek

With all of the activities to do at Wolfdancer, nothing comes close to their golf course. It’s a beautiful scene on the hills that can really be so relaxing. The greens are so well designed and they placed the bunkers in such smart areas that really make you second guess your game. It’s enough to throw a wrench in your strategy, but not enough to totally frustrate you, so we strongly recommend Wolfdancer.

#4 Barton Creek Resort, Fazio Foothills – Austin

Right off the beautiful Omni Hotel, is the Fazio Foothills Golf Course, where you can have an absolute blast. Of the four courses on the property, we love them all, but Foothills Course stood out to us. The back 9 is really unique and we all know there’s nothing better than finishing your course on a strong note.

#3 Pine Dunes Resort – Frankston

Pine Dunes is gorgeous and is one of the staples that the state of Texas has to offer. There’s a reason it is a 4.5 star rated championship course. The experience alone has its own energy that you can enjoy for all 18 holes. The variety of holes is impressive, ranging from a 160-yard par 3 (3rd hole) to the 605 par 5 (11th hole).

#2 Black Jack’s Crossing – Lajitas

Black Jack’s Course doesn’t need much of an introduction, as it was named “Most Beautiful Course in Texas” by the Dallas Morning News. We’ve said a lot of nice things about the other courses, but the views of the course are among the best.

#1 TPC San Antonio AT&T Canyons – San Antonio

How can you not love TPC San Antonio? The Canyons course was even nice enough to host the Valero Open on the PGA Tour, which was a huge hit. Naturally, this course will be a bit more challenging than the other courses, so as beautiful as it is, be sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew.

The post 10 Texas Golf Courses Every Golfer Should Try appeared first on Koshka.

To be clear, we obviously don’t know who’s going to win, as this is strictly opinion-based. We’ve been watching baseball for years and usually have a pretty good idea on how things pan out, but one of the things that makes baseball so great is the unpredictability.

The National League West

2019 Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers

So here’s the rundown for the LA Dodgers – on paper, they’re superior. This has been the case for the past few years, so they’re basically penciled in to be in the postseason, pending excessive injuries. We think the Rockies and Diamondbacks will improve but not enough to take the division. While we do see them getting off to hot starts we don’t think they have the depth to survive the entire 162-game season.

Team Ratings

Total: 8.0
Offense: 8
Defense: 9
Starting Pitching: 7.5
Bullpen: 8
Bench: 8.5
Energy: 6.5

5 Key Difference Makers

• Corey Seager
• Cody Bellinger
• Clayton Kershaw
• Justin Turner
• A.J. Pollock

Dark Horse: Kenta Maeda

The National League Central

2019 Winner: Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have continued to improve over the past few years and we’ve been impressed. With their fairly recent acquisitions, their talent has become matched up with their energy, making them a true contender. They looked great in last year’s postseason and we only see them getting better. Prior to the start of the 2019 season, the Brewers have a big chance of getting star closer, Craig Kimbrel, who would be a major piece of their success. With a stronger lineup, Kimbrel would be their key to securing more leads and gaining more ground in their division.

Team Ratings

Total: 8.2
Offense: 9
Defense: 9
Starting Pitching: 7.5
Bullpen: 8
Bench: 8
Energy: 7.5

5 Key Difference Makers

• Eric Thames
• Ryan Braun
• Christian Yelich
• Mike Moustakas
• Lorenzo Cain

Dark Horse: Travis Shaw

The National League East

2019 Winner: Philadelphia Phillies

The NL East is going to be downright interesting! With the emergence of the young and talented Phillies and Braves, they division (and throne) has been taken from the Nationals for the foreseeable future. The electrifying talent is gaining traction, but the Phillies will have the edge after the acquisition of Bryce Harper, David Robertson, and Andrew McCutchen. Their offense should be enough to match their defense, which should make them a true contender and many are expecting Maikel Franco to have a big year.

Team Ratings

Total: 8.3
Offense: 9
Defense: 8
Starting Pitching: 8
Bullpen: 8.5
Bench: 8.5
Energy: 8

5 Key Difference Makers

• Bryce Harper
• Jake Arrieta
• Maikel Franco
• David Robertson
• Andrew McCutchen

Dark Horse: Roman Quinn

The National League Wild Card

Atlanta Braves

After such a suddenly impressive 2018, the Atlanta Braves are going to continue to shake things up this year. As successful as 2018 was, the team used the opportunity to strengthen and mature, which will make this year interesting. Freddy Freeman is healthy and their pitching is getting stronger, so putting these two things together means they’re expecting to win. We don’t think they’ll be quite as good as Philadelphia, but it will be close.

Team Ratings

Total: 7.9
Offense: 8
Defense: 8.5
Starting Pitching: 7.5
Bullpen: 8
Bench: 7
Energy: 8.5

5 Key Difference Makers

• Freddie Freeman
• Josh Donaldson
• Nick Markakis
• Julio Teheran
• Ozhaino Albies

Dark Horse: Brian McCann

Colorado Rockies

Another up and coming team is the Colorado Rockies, whose power and consistent pitching impressed fans in 2018. They’ll have their work cut out for them this year with LA, so staying healthy will be a priority for them. Speaking of injuries, with the addition of Daniel Murphy, we expect to see more run production, so it will be really fun to see how that plays out.

Team Ratings

Total: 8.0
Offense: 8.5
Defense: 8
Starting Pitching: 8
Bullpen: 7.5
Bench: 8
Energy: 8

5 Key Difference Makers

• Nolan Arenado
• Charlie Blackmon
• Ian Desmond
• Daniel Murphy
• Wade Davis

Dark Horse: Mark Reynolds

2019 Wildcard Winner

The Atlanta Braves

It’s obviously going to be a tough call, but we think the Braves have what it takes to pass the tests. We think it’s going to come down to depth and that’s where Atlanta will come through. There are a lot of factors to consider, so get ready for a great season!

Be sure to check out our other sports and MLB posts.

The post These National League Teams Will Make it to the Postseason in 2019 appeared first on Koshka.

Raymond Berry
Team: Baltimore Colts
Years Active: 1955 – 1967

One of the best, most dynamic players of his era, Raymond Berry was a force for the Baltimore Colts. Many say he actually had an impact on how modern wide receivers approach certain play patterns. In addition, his speed and incredible hands allowed him to make more completions and get more yards per possession than your average receiver.

Lance Alworth
Team: San Diego Chargers/Dallas Cowboys
Years Active: 1962 – 1972

Few receivers were as forgettable as Alworth in his prime. He had all of the tools needed to be a peak star at his position – his only weakness was time. During the pinnacle of his career, Alworth managed to average over 110 yards (including 20 yards per catch) and a touchdown per game over the course of two seasons. That’s the kind of punch that not only scores points but effects defenses enough to improve the other receivers around him.

Calvin Johnson
Team: Detroit Lions
Years Active: 2007 – 2015

Megatron didn’t have one of the longer careers on this list, but that wasn’t enough to stop him (much like most NFL defenses). He was the best receiver in the game for a few years and he has the stats to prove it. One of his most notable accomplishments on his resume was his 2008 season where he posted 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns on a 0-16 team.

Marvin Harrison
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Years Active: 1996 – 2008

Marvin Harrison was known as Peyton Manning’s favorite target during his time on the Colts. He’s regarded as one of the most consistent receivers, recording 1000+ yards and 10+ touchdowns for each of his first 10 seasons. In an era of stars with short careers and talents getting exposed, Harrison was able to overcome adjustments which speaks to his talents and professionalism.

Cris Carter
Team: Minnesota Vikings/Philadelphia Eagles
Years Active: 1987 – 2002

Mr highlight himself, Cris Carter was known for making big plays in big situations. His speed and soft hands led him to compiling close to 14,000 yards for his career (that’s just short of a 1,000 seasonal average over his 16-year career). He made 8 pro bowls and was considered one of the most revered receivers, even in the company of Terrell Owens and Randy Moss.

Terrell Owens
Team: San Francisco 49ers/Philadelphia Eagles/Dallas Cowboys/Buffalo Bills/Cincinnati Bengals
Years Active: 1996 – 2010

A true elite wide receiver who made just as many headlines with his behavior as he did with his touchdowns, feeding into his persona that we all know today. Owens played for 5 different teams over the span of 14 seasons and made it to 6 pro bowls. The early portion of his career on the 49ers set a precedent when he wowed crowds during his first super bowl. Owens scored over 150 touchdowns a made over 1000 career receptions, ranking him among the best in the game. His negative presence in the locker room was the only thing that prevented him from being higher on our list.

Larry Fitzgerald
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Years Active: 2004 – Present

Larry Legend is regarded as one of the nicest guys in the league and most threatening wideouts of all time. His ability to make plays and get the most yards for every possession has really made him stand out. He’s on track to be one of the highest decorated receivers in NFL history.

Steve Largent
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Years Active: 1976 – 1989

The 1970s and 80s had few to players that were as good as Largent. He managed to put up 1000+ yards for 8 straight seasons and made 7 pro bowls. He was a phenom from the start and was able to retire as an elite wide receiver.

Randy Moss
Team: Minnesota Vikings/Oakland Raiders/New England Patriots/Tennessee Titans/San Francisco 49ers
Years Active: 1998 – 2012

Moss was a beast – that’s probably the best way to put it. He absolutely stormed out of the gate, posting over 8,000 receiving yards and scoring 77 touchdowns in just 6 seasons. His great college football career lacked a learning curve. Due to his physical gifts, Moss dominated during a few stages of his career, making him one of the most intimidating offensive players in NFL history.

Don Hutson
Team: Green Bay Packers
Years Active: 1935 – 1945

Don was the man who started it all (for wide receivers). The game was a bit different in the 1940s, which is what made him so impressive. His speed and evasive maneuvers helped him put numbers up that have yet to be seen. He was seen as the Babe Ruth of wide receivers before Jerry Rice, and his 2 MVPs and 3 championships backed up him.

Jerry Rice
Team: San Francisco 49ers/Oakland Raiders/Seattle Seahawks
Years Active: 1985 – 2004

He was the best of the best. Jerry Rice ended his career with over 1500 receptions and 22,000 yards over the span of 20 seasons. His work ethic and physical conditioning were key, allowing him to combine top-quality talent with incredible longevity.

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The post The 10 Greatest Wide Receivers of All Time appeared first on Koshka.

Disclosure: Here’s the thing – this isn’t virtual baseball! While these results are projected and more likely to happen than not, anything can happen because all these teams are great. That’s what makes baseball so fun to watch!

The American League West

2018 Winner: The Houston Astros

Team Ratings

Total: 8.5
Offense: 9
Defense: 9.5
Starting Pitching: 9
Bullpen: 7
Bench: 8
Energy: 8.5
5 Key Difference Makers: Justin Verlander, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel, Alex Bregman
Dark Horse: George Springer

Coming into the 2018 season, we all expected the AL West to be a complete lock. The defending champions in Houston have proven themselves to be a real force to be reckoned with from just about all aspects.

For whatever reason, the Astros tend to win more when Springer is producing. He’s a very good overall player but can be streaky (like most players) at times. His performance in key situations, both during the regular season and in October will definitely rely on George Springers’ performance.

The American League Central

2018 Winner: The Cleveland Indians

Team Ratings

Total: 6.5
Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Starting Pitching: 7
Bullpen: 5
Bench: 5
Energy: 7
5 Key Difference Makers: Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller, Edwin Encarnacion
Dark Horse:

The American League East

2018 Winner: The New York Yankees

Team Ratings

Total: 8.4
Offense: 10
Defense: 7.5
Starting Pitching: 6.5
Bullpen: 9.5
Bench: 9
Energy: 8
5 Key Difference Makers: Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Sir Didi Gregorius, Gleyber Torres, Gary Sanchez
Dark Horse: Masahiro Tanaka

The AL East is without a doubt going to be the tightest division, not just in the American League, but in all of baseball. We think the Yankees will take the division over the Red Sox by an extremely slim margin (no more than two games). The major key here is their starting pitching rotation. If they can get more consistency out of the rear end of their starting rotation, they can get more depth from their team, lose fewer leads, and get the most out of the best bullpen in the game.

The pitching sensation from Japan has shown the American League his skills over the last few years. One of the biggest concerns is his elbow. He will need Tommy John surgery at some point, we just aren’t sure so it’s a concern that follows him every day. The side effects were prevalent a year or two ago when his velocity dropped and endurance suffered. This year, Tanaka’s velocity has increased, suggesting that he has at least a few years left. Tanaka has proven to be a good big game pitcher, though can be inconsistent during the season, making small mistakes that lead to pesky home runs. A big run from Tanaka would really solidify the Yankees’ rotation and take a lot of pressure off the bullpen and management.

The American League Wild Card

2018 Winner: The Boston Red Sox

Team Ratings

Total: 8.4
Offense: 9
Defense: 9
Starting Pitching: 8.5
Bullpen: 8.5
Bench: 7.5
Energy: 8

Despite our prediction that they will not win their division, we can’t ignore the fact that the Boston Red Sox is an unbelievable team. In such a short turnaround (2 years) they were able to go from a moderately above average team to an absolute force contending for the top spot. They are a team without a clear weakness and will have to continue to be consistent if they wish to advance into deep October.

5 Key Difference Makers: J.D Martinez, Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, Jackie Bradley Jr, Xander Bogaerts
Dark Horse: David Price

Over the course of his career, David Price has proven himself to be a top-notch pitcher. Between his plus fastball, excellent live movement, and devastating slider, he’s been tough on many hitters. However, he hasn’t been quite as effective over the last few years and has not seen much success during the postseason. David Price stepping up would put the Red Sox above the pack and would make them the potential favorite to win the World Series.

2018 Winner: The Seattle Mariners

Team Ratings

Total: 7.4
Offense: 8
Defense: 8.5
Starting Pitching: 8
Bullpen: 7
Bench: 6
Energy: 7
5 Key Difference Makers: James Paxton, Nelson Cruz, Dee Gordon, Robinson Cano, Jean Segura
Dark Horse: Felix Hernandez

King Felix (aka Felix Hernandez) has been the best to pitch for Seattle since Randy Johnson. He dominated the American League West for most of his career and is considered to be the best in a Mariners uniform. At a young age of 31, he is started (and is still currently) facing a problem many young fireballers face and that is a decrease in velocity. A 98 mile per hour fastball accidentally left over the plate would have been fouled back in 2012. That same pitch, now closer to 90 will be much more likely to be driven out of the park.

The Yankees’ CC Sabathia recently went through the same transition and had to adopt more of a “finesse” approach. He did it and so will Felix, but the question is when. The rest of his pitches are still strong, but he has to learn to use his fastball more with his brain, rather than his brawn. It will all come down to pure baseball fundamentals. If he can hone in on this new style, King Felix can certainly give this rotation what it needs to give the Boston Red Sox or any other team a run for their money.

2018 Winner: The Boston Red Sox

One thing is clear for the 2018 season – it’s going to be baseball heaven. We are seeing tremendous pitchers, heavy hitters, and various types of teams all fighting for the top spot and we can’t wait to watch every single pitch of it.

The post These American League Teams Will Make the Postseason in 2018 appeared first on Koshka.

Disclosure: Here’s the thing – this isn’t virtual baseball! While these results are projected and (in our opinion) more likely to happen than not, anything is possible because all these teams are great. That’s what makes baseball so fun to watch! After all, baseball is a funny game.

The National League West

2018 Winner: The Los Angeles Dodgers

Team Ratings

Total: 7.75
Offense: 8
Defense: 7.5
Starting Pitching: 9
Bullpen: 8
Bench: 9
Energy: 5
5 Key Difference Makers: Manny Machado, Justin Turner, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, Yasiel Puig
Dark Horse: Rich Hill

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been an interesting team for a few years now. They were always the team that made it into October but could never finish. Since replacing Don Mattingly with Dave Roberts as manager, the team started to look stronger.

Coming just one game short of being crowned World Series Champions just a short year ago, the Dodgers have seemed to have lost something. But the inconsistency hasn’t stopped them from maintaining contention with the likes of Arizona and Colorado. With the makeup of the team, the Dodgers are still looking to be one of the strongest teams in baseball.

Provided their starting pitching can stay healthy, that will be the key to putting them where they need to be. Seeing a solid playoff performance from their ace, Clayton Kershaw would be the next step! But all in all, their offense, bullpen and overall dynamic will make them difficult to pass and will give them what they need to survive the 162-game marathon of a Major League Baseball season.

The National League Central

2018 Winner: The Chicago Cubs

Team Ratings

Total: 7.5
Offense: 8.5
Defense: 6
Starting Pitching: 6.5
Bullpen: 8.5
Bench: 9
Energy: 6.5
5 Key Difference Makers: Kris Bryant, Jose Quintana, Yu Darvish, Jason Heyward, Javier Baez
Dark Horse: Yu Darvish

The “lovable losers” aren’t seen as losers since breaking the curse and winning the World Series in 2016! Today we see a team carried by a powerful, dynamic line up and elite manager in Joe Madden.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates are giving them a run for their money, but are less likely to be able to sustain their high numbers. The Cubs have more depth and that’s what gets teams over the hump and into the hunt.

We already talked about their powerful lineup – the thing Cubs fans need to worry about is the starting pitching. Jon Lester, Yu Darvish, Jose Quintana and Kyle Hendricks should provide for a strong rotation. The question is pitching down the stretch (and eventually into the playoffs). For this, eyes should be on Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks as they will most likely decide the fate of the Cubs.

The National League East

2018 Winner: The Washington Nationals

Team Ratings

Total: 7.6
Offense: 7.5
Defense: 9.5
Starting Pitching:
Bullpen: 8
Bench: 7.5
Energy: 5
5 Key Difference Makers: Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Madson
Dark Horse: Adam Eaton