Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
The 2023-24 Sharks: Worst Team Ever?
You know, I had spent the last two weeks wondering what my first hockey story of this young season should be. There are a lot of good storylines that have developed within the first month of the season. So many amazing things have occurred this season, and a lot of them are definitely worthy of a piece on Vocal.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 9 Recap: Back on Track
While the month of October had been kind to the Colorado Avalanche, the last two games hadn't been. The Avs went 6-2 in the season's opening month, but the last two games were shutout losses on the road--in back-to-back games. The Avalanche's November kicked off with a home game against the St. Louis Blues, only their third home game of the season. In addition, this was the first "Division Rivalry" game of the season, which sees the Avs donning their alternate third jerseys for the game.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Five: Go, Go, Texas Rangers!
On April 10, 1961, the second Washington Senators team played their first game of existence, with the team replacing the original franchise, who moved to Minnesota and became the Twins. The team went 61-100 in their first year of play, and in 11 seasons in Washington, the team only had one winning season, coming in 1969. The Senators moved to Arlington, Texas in 1972, becoming the Texas Rangers. It would take them three seasons to enjoy their first winning season, but playoffs would be a long wait for them.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
CFL Week 21 Recap: Let the Games Begin
For the second straight season, the 21st and final week of the CFL season was full of games that had no bearing on the playoff picture, as everything was settle in Week 20. The Calgary Stampeders nabbed the last spot in this year's playoffs, though it could be said that they got it by default, and once again, the road in the West Division will go through Winnipeg. The remaining three games of the regular season are played for pride, history, and in the case of a pair of teams, practice.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Four: Don't Mess With Texas
Entering Game Four of this year's World Series, the Texas Rangers had two things: a 2-1 lead and some scary news on a Halloween night. A pair of their top players are down for the Fall Classic. First off, Max Scherzer. "Mad Max" left Game Three due to injury, doing so after pitching just three innings. The second one is as shocker: Adolis Garcia. The possible frontrunner for the World Series MVP nod also became injured, and is done for the rest of the Series. That is a big blow to the Rangers, as the Arizona Diamondbacks looked to even things up, with a chance to take the Series lead at home.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
NFL Week 8 Recap: Bedlam in the Bay Area
Following the San Francisco 49ers' second straight loss, the news broke that Brock Purdy was under concussion protocol, and it actually looked like the Niners would have to start Sam Darnold in their game against the Cincinnati Bengals. As I was fathoming to possibility of seeing the QB who famously said he was seeing ghosts during the last Sunday of Halloween, an update was made that Purdy was good to go.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Three: Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself
November 4, 2001. On that day, the Arizona Diamondbacks won Game Seven of the World Series in walkoff fashion; Luis Gonzalez's famous bases loaded single. Safe money says that "Gonzo" hasn't had to buy a drink in Phoenix since then. That evening was one of celebration, pomp, and circumstance, but it was also the last time that the World Series hit the 48th state. Just a few days shy of 22 years later, the Diamondbacks took the field in front of their home fans for the first time in this year's Fall Classic against the Texas Rangers, with Arizona coming off a dominant win in Game Two to tie the Series.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Two: Why Did It Have to be Snakes?!
The 2023 World Series kicked off with an amazing extra innings victory for the Texas Rangers, a comeback victory at that. The Rangers trailed 5-3, and it looked like the Arizona Diamondbacks would steal Game One, but Corey Seager tied the game with a two-run homer in the 9th, and the 11th (and the game overall) ended with Adolis Garcia walking it off. The Rangers struck first in this year's Fall Classic, moving three wins away from their first championship.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game One: Even the Home Runs are Bigger in Texas
When this year's World Series matchup became official, I wanted two things out of this year's edition. One, I wanted extra inning games. And two, I wanted a seven-game Series. With a matchup as unorthodox as the Texas Rangers facing the Arizona Diamondbacks, I wanted all of the insanity and chaos that could come from this. I would get my first request; time would tell if the other comes true.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
2023 World Series Preview
I always enjoy the World Series, and there are so many reasons. For one, it's absolutely prestigious; there is a lot of history involved, as the Fall Classic's been around since 1903. Another reason is that the World Series marks the end of a very long season with so many games and few days off, but there's also another factor involved: it's the last championship of the sports calendar year. The Super Bowl's in February, the Stanley Cup and NBA Championship are awarded in June, and the World Series occurs in late October/early November.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 7 Recap: Roadblock
For the third time in franchise history, and the second time since the move, the Colorado Avalanche are 6-0-0, a perfect point percentage. The winning streak continued with their win over the New York Islanders, and their next destination was Pittsburgh to face the Penguins. The Avalanche looked to match their best start in their overall franchise history, as the 1985-86 Quebec Nordiques started the season 7-0-0.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
History of the NFL Playoffs (Part III: The Merger - 1970-1977)
In 1960, a new league debuted to rival the National Football League, as Lamar Hunt's American Football League served as a formidable foe to the longer standing NFL. Throughout the entire decade, each league had their set of teams and crowned their champions, but the 1966 saw the leagues decide to have their champions play against each other to crown an overall World Champion in pro football. The first-ever AFL-NFL World Championship Game was played on January 15, 1967 and was won by the NFL's Green Bay Packers over the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers won the first two games, while the AFL's New York Jets and the aforementioned Chiefs won the next two.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
