Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
All Around Update
Manu Ginobili, one of the most iconic San Antonio Spurs players, retires at the age 41. Manu Ginobili, a 4fourtime NBA Champion, who played alongside superstars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Kawhi Leonard, has retired after 16 NBA Seasons. Being from Argentina, Ginobili classifies as one of the most elite international players to compete in the NBA. He played in the Olympics for Argentina, winning Gold in 2004 and Bronze in 2008. He was a 2-time league MVP, and a major contributor to the game. While he didn't entirely "invent" the eurostep, Ginobili crafted and perfected this dazzling move in his career, with it becoming his signature move. A favorite to eventually be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, Manu Ginobili will be greatly missed by Spurs fans and other fans throughout the league.
By Kolby Gourley7 years ago in Unbalanced
Manu Ginobili: Hall of Fame?
So Manu Ginobili just announced his retirement the other day and NBA fans everywhere are crying. Even my sister texted me saying, “Noooooooo. He’s supposed to play until he’s 100 at least,” followed by crying emojis. Question is, do you think he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame?
By Shandon Pendleton7 years ago in Unbalanced
Road to the Hall
Manu Ginobili announced his retirement from the NBA a few days ago. Like most of us who follow sports when a player’s playing days are finished, we put their career in a historical context. We do this with just about everything. Sports, politics, music etc. We cannot help but doing so. Lebron and Kobe, as great as they are and were, will never escape the Jordan debate. As great as Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are they will not escape the Joe Montana comparison. It is what we do.
By Kyle Jordan Ferguson7 years ago in Unbalanced
Ways Sleep Can Make You a Better Athlete
There are a lot of ways sleep can make you a better athlete. Many of those ways involve physical functions, like reflexes and muscle performance. Other ways are more long-term, like the importance of sleep in preventing illness or recovering from injury. And still others have more to do with the cognitive and psychological benefits of getting enough sleep—because of course, athletic performance is not just about physical speed, strength, or ability. All sports, to some extent, have a mental component. To perform your best, you not only need your body to be in peak condition, but your mind as well. While there will some differences in amount and schedule of sleep between individuals, just about every aspect of athletic performance requires that you get plenty of good quality sleep, no matter who you are or what your sport.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Unbalanced
My Life in the WWE Universe
I’ve been a fan of professional wrestling (or sports entertainment) off and on for the vast majority of my life. As a kid in the 90s, wrestling was at its height. Every Monday night my friends and I would finish our chores and homework early, polish off our halos, and stay out of trouble in hopes of staying up late to watch an episode of wrestling in its entirety. The most important word in that last sentence is, ‘episode.’ There was a time when I believed that everything I saw in that ring was real. I thought Hulk Hogan had a lower body made of stone and that the Undertaker was an actual dead person. I believed Kane’s body was covered in burns and that Shawn Michaels had magic in his shoes that could put anyone to sleep. Then one day, Vince McMahon made a video. In this video, Vince looks directly into the camera and utters words that would change my life forever. With a grin of confidence he tells us that the fights we’ve been watching for years is part of a show. It’s not real so to speak. The outcomes are predetermined and most of what we see has been scripted and rehearsed. I was devastated. I didn’t know what to believe. I thought Vince McMahon was just a commentator. I had no idea he owned the company. The curtain had fallen for me and millions of others, thus bringing with it an inevitable decline.
By Earvin Allen7 years ago in Unbalanced
The Not-So-Superstar Story That Made Jose Bautista a Household Name
From a player whom many thought of as a bust, a major league hopeful, and, at best, bench player stuck on the bottom of the 40-man roster, to the most polarizing player in Canadian Sports History...
By Dave Wallace7 years ago in Unbalanced
40 Years of the Lady Patriots
The DVD Red, White & Blue Royalty: 40 Years on the Court with Allen County-Scottsville’s Lady Patriots is the result of a year-long oral history project into the history and impact of the longest and most successful athletic program in the history of Allen County, Kentucky. The project that started in January 2014 intended to be over by May 2014. Instead, it continued into September 2014 with interviewees planning vacation days and flights into town to participate. Because it developed into a larger project than planned, I did not have the forethought to seek assistance at that time and hitched along funding the project from my own financial resources yet without incurring any significant debt. The rates given by the KOHC for travel, stipends, volunteers, etc. seem overgenerous to me. I have not used them to calculate my expenses for the sake of the application. I am asking instead for a grant that may serve as a reimbursement for part of my expenses in order to invest in other projects ahead. I hope you will agree I have documented a great story.
By Drew Lindsey7 years ago in Unbalanced
Donovan Mitchell vs. Ben Simmons
I love basketball. Basketball has been a huge part of my life growing up, and I love to express my opinion on the NBA. I constantly see posts on social media about the NBA and people’s opinions on the players, games, organizations, and other matters. I love reading through the comments and seeing what people think. Sometimes, someone will say something that I really agree with, and, sometimes, someone will say something that I think is absurd. Instead of commenting and getting into thread arguments or receiving backlash, I can post my opinions here and express how I feel about the NBA.
By Shandon Pendleton7 years ago in Unbalanced
Somers Turns Cornwall Over in 28-7 Victory in State Regionals
On Saturday Afternoon at Mahopac High School, Somers began its State Regional Quarterfinal Match up against Cornwall with a quick three and out. Both teams then held serve through the next three possessions by fumbling the ball away each time. But Somers broke decisively, and Somers' ace Messiah Horne gave Cornwall no return as he burst through the line for a 57-yard touchdown run. The stampede begun, Cornwall could not get a grip and an onslaught of turnovers allowed the Tuskers to easily string up yet another opponent.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Unbalanced
Watch Your Head
Before I even say anything, just watch this video. Just do it. Done? Ok, cool. So yeah, Dennis Smith Jr. is athleticism personified. He's only 6'3" and has tied the NBA-record for the highest vertical leap in NBA history. His explosive, exciting play-style has been wowing people from his high school days in Fayetteville, North Carolina (famous for being the hometown of rapping sensation J Cole). He went to college at NC State (alma mater of fellow sky-walker NBA legend David Thompson) and where he continued to electrify crowds and impress scouts with his athleticism and scoring prowess. In the 2017 NBA Draft, he was drafted 9th overall by the Dallas Mavericks—the New York Knicks foolishly passed on Smith Jr. even though they needed a point guard—and was immediately labelled as the steal of the draft. While Donovan Mitchell and Kyle Kuzma likely stole that title from him, Smith Jr. had a decent rookie season that should leave Mavericks fans excited for the post-Nowitzki era.
By Olamide Olatunbosun7 years ago in Unbalanced
