Could America Be a Soccer Powerhouse? A Sports Columnist Ponders.

Column by Ryan Miller

We’ve all heard Europeans be all high and mighty, looking down on the U.S.’s primary soccer league, and having seen some of the highlights, they’re probably right. But America is known for producing some of the best athletes in the world, so I set out to answer the question: would America dominate in soccer if we cared about it?

Let’s start with physical attributes. The fastest recorded sprint speed in the Premier League this season was 22.3 by some guy named Micky Van de Ven. The fastest in the NFL last season? D.K. Metcalf at 22.6. Tyreek Hill’s fastest recorded sprint speed? 23.3. And that’s just the big names in football. Phillies shortstop Trea Turner recorded a 30.3 sprint speed last year.

The famous Ronaldo header for a goal measured 41.7 inches. The top six prospects from this year’s draft combine alone jumped higher than that. Lebron’s jump is 44 inches, and the man is almost in his 40s.

Don’t get me started on physicality. You think soccer players flop now? Put them on a pitch with Myles Garrett and see how they like a slide tackle. Try to slide tackle Jonathan Taylor? That’s nothing compared to dodging the likes of T.J. Watt’s attempting to.

Moving away from physical stuff, let’s go to the one part where the Europeans have us beaten. Fandom. You think Philly fans are bad? Try any soccer game ever. It’s insane. They get wild over there.

While we’re on the subject of “off-the-field things” let’s look at some stadium food. I’m going to compare the best Premier League stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (according to The Athletic) to the best MLB stadium, PNC Park (on-field product aside). I’m going to pick the five most promoted food items on each website and then judge from there.

Tottenham:
– Spurs Signature Beef and Onion Pie
– Fish and Chips
– T Club Cheeseburger
– Katsu Curry
– Six house beers brewed in-stadium

PNC Park:
– Renegade Hot Dog (hot dog with perogies and pickles on it)
– Birria Beef Nachos
– Dessert Perogies
– House Smoked BBQ
– Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have pulled pork than British “food”. Check one for ‘Murica. Fish and chips? At a soccer game? That’s like food for when you’re depressed.

Going back to actual sports, here is my list of athletes I think would make a good starting eleven.

Tyreek Hill:
His speed and dynamic ability to shift around and make defenders miss could work well when attacking the goal.

Bobby Witt Jr:
He is one of the best and most exciting young athletes right now, and his pure athleticism could work great when going for a corner kick, or setting up a cross.

Deebo Samuel:
Alongside Hill, Samuel possesses skills that could make Harry Kane look silly while blowing past him. He’s also a very versatile football player, so learning multiple positions should prove to be no problem.

Russell Westbrook:
The athleticism Russ has shown in his NBA career would translate right over to the soccer field. He’s a hard worker and could fit right in at midfielder.

Lebron James:
I mean, Lebron is good at everything, but what he would really bring to the table is IQ. He is very good at reading plays and making smart decisions.

Mookie Betts:
I mean, he’s thrown like 3 perfect games in bowling, he’s an MLB MVP, he’s one of the best athletes of our generation. I’m sure he would be great at soccer if he decided to try.

Dansby Swanson:
Along with Bryson Stott, one of the best middle infielders in baseball would translate right to the soccer field, as his footwork as well as his work ethic would put him in the running for the Ballon D’Or.

Bryson Stott:
A top second baseman in the MLB who’s got good vision and great footwork? Sign me up.

Connor Hellebuck:
It doesn’t seem that there’s a lot of people who could play goalie. So why not take the top one in the NHL. He’s got experience with blocking, and could surely put his body on the line for a save.

Kyrie Irving:
A shifty ball handler on the court, he should be able to transition his quickness to the field. His dribbling skills down the field would be unmatched, and he could easily shake a player.

Simone Biles:
Her flexibility and size should make her excel at soccer as long as she gets the sport down.

After all this, I think we can definitely conclude that we would beat up those darn Europeans on the “pitch” if we actually tried. That’s all for now. As always, Stay Scoutin’.

SPORTS COLUMNIST PREDICTS THE F1 GRID FOR NEXT YEAR

Column by Ryan Miller

Hey guys, we got another F1 column this week, and I’m going to give my predictions on the drivers on the grid next year, and what teams they will be on. 

There are some guaranteed drivers, so I’ll get those out of the way real quick.

Max Verstappen: Red Bull- There are rumors about him leaving for Mercedes, but I doubt anything will come to fruition, especially before the beginning of next year.

Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri: McLaren- They are both locked into contracts for the time being.

Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin- The Spaniard has agreed to a contract to essentially finish out his career with the team, along with provisions after he retires.

George Russell: Mercedes- The Brit will look to take over as the main driver after Lewis departs for Ferrari next year, depending on who Mercedes signs.

Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari- The seven-time world champion will be taking his talents to the team in red next year in a bombshell move. 

Charles Leclerc: Ferrari- He will be looking to be able to beat the dominance of Red Bull with his new teammate

Nico Hulkenberg: Stake- He is probably making this move to get in on the ground floor when Audi takes over in 2026.

Now, on to the fun part, the unknown. I’ll go by team to set up the grid.

Red Bull:

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez-

As much as I’d like to see Carlos in this seat, I think Checo pairs so well with Max that the team will bring him back. All Perez has to do is get a solid P2 and not challenge Max that much, and he does that to a T. Of course, the minute this goes up, he’ll probably announce retirement or something, but right now, this is the most logical move.

Ferrari:

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc-

We all know these two are going to have the seats, so I won’t say much. However, with the amount of talent this pair collectively has, I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually challenged Red Bull next year. As always stay scoutin’.

SPORTS COLUMNIST MAKES FINAL DRAFT PREDICTIONS

Column by Kenny Ward.

It’s almost here. Day one of the NFL Draft. April 25th. The day the dreams of many athletes will come true. It’s a great day. This is the last mock draft we will publish before it happens, but don’t worry, we aren’t done with the draft coverage yet. No spoilers though. Without further ado, let’s get into the final *NFL Mock Draft before the real thing happens.

(*Here’s how it will work. If the pick remains the same from the last mock draft, not much depth will be given. If there is a change, I will give a detailed reason. There will be no trades included in the mock drafts. Positions and colleges are included.)

1. Chicago Bears: Quarterback Caleb Williams, USC

In this mock draft I still have the Bears taking Caleb Williams. He is a star player, and that is just what the bears need. Plain and simple.

2. Washington Commanders: Quarterback Drake Maye, UNC

The Commanders are also in need of a player at quarterback. People have their doubts about Maye, but he is a serious athlete who can bring this Washington offense to life. This is definitely the pick here, unless Jayden Daniels impresses the organization more.

3. New England Patriots: Quarterback Jayden Daniels, LSU

In the last mock draft I had the Patriots taking Marvin Harrison Jr. This draft I have it changed. I do think they could still possibly look for quarterback talent later in the draft, but Jayden Daniels has proved himself as a star. If they look to draft a quarterback, this is the guy they will go with and for good reason.

4. Arizona Cardinals: Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State University

They still take a wide receiver here but now they get most likely the best one in the draft. Harrison has the ability to change an offense. The Cardinals need an overhaul. Simple as that. The Kyler Murry, Marvin Harrison, and Trey McBride duo will be one of the best in the league if used correctly

5.  Los Angeles Chargers: Wide Receiver Malik Nabers, LSU

So, I may or may not have had Brock Bowers to the Chargers as my “lock of the draft”, and now I have changed my mind. Do not get me wrong, I do think that Bowers is a great fit with the Chargers. I just think they will go different directions and take another playmaker in Malik Nabers. They could definitely use a man like him after getting rid of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Any receiving threat they get at this pick will help, but Nabers is a prime player and is hard to pass up on.

6. New York Giants: Quarterback J.J. McCarthy

Daniel Jones IS NOT the answer, but the top three quarterbacks in the draft have been taken. J.J McCarthy is just as good as them though. He is well rounded and has worked in a pro-style offense. He may turn out like Will Levis did last year, but that won’t matter. He is a great player with championship experience and a good motor. 

7. Tennessee Titans: Wide Receiver Rome Odunze, Washington

Speaking of Will Levis, he gets a weapon here with Rome Odunze. They have Calvin Ridley now, and if they go skill player, they can draft a dangerous three headed dragon.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Edge Rusher Dallas Turner, Alabama

Again, I honestly thought that the Falcons would have gone defense at pick number eight last year. This year I have them going Edge Rusher with Dallas Turner and bolstering the front seven.

9. Chicago Bears: Offensive Tackle Joe Alt, Notre Dame

They could do a few things with this pick, but protection for their new Quarterback is not too shabby of an idea. If they really want to revamp things, they need to start off by setting up Caleb Williams for success.

10. New York Jets: Tight End Brock Bowers, Georgia

Brock Bowers, the best Tight End of the entire draft, and one of the best prospects in the past 20 years, has taken a tumble. He lands in a slightly rebuilding playoff hopeful New York Jets organization. Having Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball will be a great look.

11. Viking: Cornerback Terrion Arnold, Alabama

It feels like the Vikings consistently have secondary problems. Terrion Arnold will hopefully be the answer to their woes.

12. Denver Broncos: Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo

The Broncos are a toss up here. Without a doubt they will go defense unless they trade up. They could go Edge here, but they need a cornerback to bolster down the opposite side of Pat Surtian. Quinyon Mitchell is a good young player, even though he’s not from a big name school.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Offensive Tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State

The Raiders are going with an offensive lineman here. They need help everywhere, but they play it safe with Fashanu. 

14. New Orlean Saints: Offensive Tackle Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

The Saints also need help on the offensive line, and will take Fuaga, the senior bowl standout from Oregon State to try and correct the wrongs done by Andrus Peat and Trevor Penning.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Cornerback Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Cooper DeJean is a cornerback, no matter what you say. He is also very physical, and a very good tackler. The Colts lost a corner in Kenny Moore II, and now replace him with a very good young player. Golden star for them.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Edge Jared Verse, Florida State University

I have changed my mind on offense line for the Seahawks. While it is still a need, Jared Verse has fallen directly into their laps. Getting him to help their mid tier defense is a miracle and a match made in heaven.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Defensive Lineman Byron Murphy, Texas

The interior defensive line for the Jaguars is nothing special. They can draft a good defensive tackle to start right away here in Byron Murphy. This will boost the front seven up and give help to Josh Allen. 

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Offensive Tackle Troy Fautanu, Washington

They no longer have Orlando Brown or Jonah Williams, so they are looking for an offensive lineman to try and keep Joe Burrow healthy for the first time in a while. They go with Troy Fautanu here. He has big-game experience, and is a body they can attempt to use to protect Burrow.

19. Los Angeles Rams: Edge Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Aaron Donald just retired so now they need someone, anyone on the front seven. Laiatu Latu is an experimental player but has a great upside if taught well. Another player who was like that is Aaron Donald. Maybe history will repeat itself.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Offensive Tackle J.C. Latham, Alabama

The Steelers have two starting caliber quarterbacks now, and they should want to keep them healthy. Drafting offensive line here is the safest option. J.C. Latham pairing up with Broderick Jones is scary.

21. Miami Dolphins: Offensive Tackle Armarius Mims, Georgia

Tua Tagovailoa is very injury prone. Drafting someone who can possibly help him stay healthy is a great idea, no matter what. Armarius Mims can help do so.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cornerback Nate Wiggins, Clemson

The Eagles are very solid all around. They did struggle somewhat in the secondary last year, so drafting Nate Wiggins can help them bolster up there.

23. Minnesota Vikings from Houston Texans: Defensive Lineman Jer’Zahn Newton, Illinois 

I still have Jer’Zahn Newton going here. The Vikings lost Danielle Hunter and now need to add someone to the front seven. Newton is young, and very talented. He can fill the gap if needed.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Wide Receiver Brian Thomas Jr., LSU

Somehow, the Cowboys are low on wide receivers. CeeDee Lamb is the only above average player they have there. Brian Thomas can pair up with him and cause problems for opposing defenses.

25. Green Bay Packers: Interior Offensive Lineman Graham Barton, Duke

The Packers are decent on the interior offensive line. Graham Barton can help add depth, and can slide in and perform if needed.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Demeioun Robinson, Penn State

When the Buccaneers last won a superbowl, Shaquille Barrett was in his prime. Now, they are looking for another star Edge Rusher. Demeioun Robinson can be that guy and help make the defense elite again.

27. Arizona Cardinals: Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

The Cardinals need defensive help. Kool-Aid McKinstry was a top five pick during the beginning of the year. If the Cardinals can get that version of him, they will have the steal of the draft.

28.   Buffalo Bills: Wide Receiver Adonai Mitchell, Texas

The Bills don’t have even a subpar wide receiver on the team right now. They look rough. Adonai Mitchell will give Josh Allen an option to throw to and will hopefully answer some questions on the offense.

29.  Detroit Lions: Interior Offensive Lineman, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

Jackson Powers-Johnson may be the best lineman in the entire draft, but he is a center. He can slide in and replace Frank Ragnow when he ages out of the spot, and can also help at both of the guard spots if needed,

30. Baltimore Ravens: Offensive Tackle Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

The Ravens lost Morgan Moses and Kevin Zeitler. Ronnie Stanley is very injury prone. If they get someone who can stay on the field with Tyler Guyton, they should be sitting pretty.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Wide Receiver Ladd McConkey, Georgia

There has been talks about some 49er Wide Receivers moving around. Drafting Ladd McConkey for depth is not a bad idea. Even if he doesn’t start he can help as a role player.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Wide Receiver Troy Franklin, Oregon

They did pick up Marquise Brown in the offseason, but one player will not revamp a whole position. They need to change it drastically and Troy Franklin is another step in the right direction . 

As we count down the hours until the draft, the suspense builds for the shocks that will inevitably happen. The draft looks like it will be exciting and surprising yet again this year. That’s it for now. As we always say. Stay Scoutin’.

**all information found on espn.com**

SPORTS COLUMNIST TAKE A LOOK AT THE NBA PLAYOFFS

Column by Kenny Ward.

It’s playoff time in the National Basketball Association. Do you know what that means? Jimmy Butler making his iconic playoff run, the Lakers showing it’s not how you start but how you finish, and the Celtics being pegged as this year’s “wildcard”. Let’s dive into that.

Before we get into the current, let’s talk about the past. It looks like the Splash Bros are no more. With a rough playoff outing, and a rocky season in general, it appears that the Warriors could part ways with either Klay Thompson or Stephen Curry. Also, while the Pelicans are still in the playoffs, Zion Williamson is not. He injured his hamstring in the game against the Lakers. This seems to be a common occurrence with Williamson, as he has missed 144 games in his career already. Will we ever see him entirely healthy ever again?

Now let’s talk about the present. Even though Jimmy Butler and the Heat lost against the 76ers Wednesday night, doesn’t mean we won’t see a “Butler Breakout” (Butler injured his MCL and is listed as doubtful to return). Actually, it almost raises the chances of Butler making a big run. Last year we saw him drop 56 points en route to a series comeback against the Bucks. Don’t be surprised if when the Heat looks down, Butler rises up.

Two wins, ten losses. 2-10 is what the Lakers sat at early in the season. It seemed like the franchise was in shambles. They struggled everywhere. Darvin Ham had it rough, Anthony Davis was shaky, and LeBron James’ age seemed like it was finally starting to show. Now the Lakers are sitting pretty 47-35. Davis has changed the offensive game plan, LeBron has returned to his former self, and some players who were looked upon as “supporting cast” have stepped up and made big names for themselves. (D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, etc.) Look out for a red hot Lakers team, because they could make a title run.

The Celtics have looked dominant in regular season play. We have yet to be graced by their postseason performance, but from what we can assume, they will not slow down. Or, so we think. Every year we see a team we once thought capable of winning it all absolutely bomb in the playoffs. Now, it doesn’t have to be the Celtics, but they seem a likely suspect. As good as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristap Porzingis can be, they aren’t always the most consistent. Their two most recent losses were against playoff teams, but before that they lost back to back games against the Atlanta Hawks. Now, this doesn’t mean much seeing as the mantra “any given day” could easily apply here. All I’m saying, though, is keep your head on a swivel for a Celtic upset.

As the NBA season approaches its end, the playoff tension is just beginning, and will rise as we get closer to the finals. LeBron will chase his ring for old times sake, Nuggets will attempt to finish a dominant run, and the Celtics will look to cap off an amazing year with a ring for Jayson Tatum. That’s all for now, and as we always say, Stay Scoutin’.

MLB POWER RANKINGS: A SHAKE-UP AT THE TOP

I saw some controversy online about the official MLB power rankings, so I decided to make my own because I know better than people whose job it is to make them.

1. Braves

The Braves are good at baseball. I’m not sure what else I can say, they have two of the four major MVP candidates from last year and set the record for most home runs by a team. They are currently atop the NL East with a 7-3 record. 

2. Yankees

As a professional Yankees hater, I didn’t want them here, but the facts don’t lie. Juan Soto is looking like he was made for pinstripes, and the rest of the offense can hold their weight if superstar Aaron Judge doesn’t always hit 2 bombs a game. Anthony Volpe is leading the team right now with 1.2 WAR, and Judge is down in ninth

3. Dodgers

The Dodgers were supposed to be what the Yankees are, threats down the lineup, spearheaded by shortstop Mookie Betts, 1B Freddie Freeman, and DH Shohei Ohtani. They still are that, but they look vulnerable, some weak spots were exposed by dropping two out of three to the Cubs (10). They still look good, but they look beatable

4. Rangers

The defending world champs lost a key piece during the offseason in Jordan Montgomery. However, they still have arguably the best shortstop in baseball, and some darn good other players too. My only worry is the pitching staff, as it is notoriously shaky, especially the bullpen. After they get Jacob Degrom and Max Schertzer back from injury, however, it should stabilize things.

5. Pirates

Are you surprised the Pirates are up here? Because I’m surprised the Pirates are up here. Two walk-off wins against the Orioles (11) propel them this high, as they sit atop the NL Central with a 9-3 record

6. Red Sox

The Sox are a team that everyone (except Yankee fans) wants to do well, and they are surprisingly overperforming right now. They are 7-4, second place in the AL East.

7. Tigers

Only slightly less surprising than the Pirates are the Tigers, who went five games without a loss to start the season. They are looking nice to start with some prospects panning out the way they wanted them to. 

8. Brewers

The Brew Crew is looking to follow up with another division title the way they are playing right now. 80 million dollar prospect Jackson Chourio is playing like they hoped he would and they are cruising. 

9. Diamondbacks

The D-backs are trying to follow up a World Series appearance, but injuries to key players like Geraldo Perdomo have set them down here. Other than that, they opened up the season with a 14-run inning so… I think they’re pretty good at baseball still.

10. Cubs

The Cubs are a team that could be good or could be bad. The biggest concern is the bullpen as they most recently blew an 8-0 lead to the Padres (17). But, with a few trades, the Cubs could be much higher on the list.

11. Orioles

The Orioles set out to be much higher, but they’re down here after getting walked off twice by the Pirates. The team is still young, and players like Adley Rutchman and Gunnar Henderson are playing like they were last year.

12. Guardians

The Guardians are playing well enough to be higher than the middle, but they’re a mid-pack team, the good players are playing well, and the other seven are playing… eh.

13. Astros

The Astros are down here after getting swept by the Yankees in the opening series, and playing a tough series against the Rangers. 

14. Phillies

The Phillies are in second in the NL East, behind the Braves. They still look like a good team, just down here because they had a tough first few series.

15. Royals

Yeah, the Royals are up here after some savvy free-agent signings, like Michael Wacha. Bobby Witt Jr. is still the franchise player he was hoping they would be, and it might be an interesting AL Central race.

16. Reds

The Reds are good, but they look to be less good than they were last year, thus landing them down here.

17. Padres

This may be unfair to the Padres because they started the season against the Dodgers, but they are still looking to be a “meh” team

18. Giants

The Giants are looking to be good, they just need to play a little more to show what they can do.

19. Blue Jays

The Jays are always at a disadvantage as they play in the stacked AL East, but with one of your cornerstone players Vladimir Guererro Jr. batting in the .100s, it’s not looking good. 

20. Rays

The Rays split the opening series with the aforementioned Jays, and are just not looking like the team that started 12-0 last year. Maybe the absence of shortstop Wander Franco is playing more of an issue than previously thought.

21. Mariners

The Mariners are playing worse baseball than they have in a hot minute. Superstar Julio Rodriguez is still playing great, the other players are not great on the other hand.

22. Mets

Mets are “Metting”

23. Twins

The Twins are another team that on paper should be good, but they are just not playing up to their potential right now. They are relying on players like Joe Kelly to take the step up and play to their potential.

24. Cardinals

The retirement home that is the Cardinals rotation is behaving exactly like you’d expect. They are looking like they might repeat as last in the division again.

25. Angels

The Angels are doing what they do every year, look good at the start of the year, then inevitably fall off a cliff. However, they are looking alright right now, as Mike Trout is looking like a top-five player in baseball

26. Nationals

The Nationals are on the very edge of the rebuilding stage, they have some prospects that are panning out, but they need a couple more pieces to be truly good. 

27. Marlins

The Marlins surprisingly started the season 0-7, and have not gotten much better since then. Now with the news that Eury Perez needs tommy john surgery, it’s looking to be a long season in Miami 

28. White Sox

The White Sox should be glad the next two teams on the list exist, because if not they would be down there before you can say “Sell the team Jerry.” There are almost zero upsides to this team, other than maybe Luis Robert Jr.

29. Rockies

At least they play in a cool stadium. The Rockies were on the receiving end of that 14-run inning earlier from Arizona, and they have not gotten much better since then. Kris Bryant is looking to be one of the worst contracts in recent memory, and their rotation is just bad.

30. Athletics

Yikes. The Athletics sent down their best player and benched another for speaking up against bad ownership, and if that’s not the worst thing I can say about this franchise, I don’t know what is. This is a bad team, this is a bad organization, this is a bad franchise, this is a bad front office.

That’s gonna do it folks, I can already tell this MLB season will be a real doozy. Stay Scoutin’