Eric Bell, Staff Writer
A lot is going on right now in the professional sports world. Some leagues are just kicking off while others are well into their respective seasons. I’m here to catch you up on the action.
National Football League (NFL)
With week seven of the 18-week season having just finished this past Sunday and Monday, the race for the playoffs is still wide open across the board. The Arizona Cardinals are currently the only undefeated team left, with their unblemished 7-0 record.
Their Quarterback, Kyler Murray, is seen by many as a frontrunner for the league’s most valuable player (MVP) award. Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry has had his name mentioned as the possible offensive player of the year (OPOY) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J.
Watt is looking like a strong candidate for defensive player of the year (DPOY) on the opposite side of the ball, according to Insider.com. Seven weeks in, who do you think deserves to take home the hardware? Washington’s home team, the Seattle Seahawks, find themselves sliding a bit and in last place of arguably the best division in the league, the NFC North. They sit at 2-5. What’s your early Super Bowl matchup prediction?
National Basketball Association (NBA)
The NBA is back! The league has a brand-new look this year, and it’s not only because of off-season acquisitions. The league, unlike some other leagues, has made it mandatory for all players to get the COVID-19 vaccine before being allowed to step on the court for games. This means that if players choose not to get vaccinated, for any reason, they simply cannot play. Brooklyn Nets’ point guard Kyrie Irving has not gotten the vaccine for personal reasons, therefore cannot compete. This certainly changes team dynamics. Will the Milwaukee Bucks repeat as NBA champions? Or has another team stood out above the rest early on this season?
Major League Baseball (MLB)
We are now deep in the Major League Baseball Playoffs! In fact, Series has already been set. Since the 162 regular season games and three rounds of playoffs later, only two teams remain.[a1] The Houston Astros out of the American League will play the Atlanta Braves out of the National League in a best of seven series to crown a champion.
National Hockey Association (NHL)
The NHL is officially in full swing, with a lot going on. Most notably, and most relevant to the state of Washington, there is a new team this year in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle Kraken made their home debut against the Vancouver Canucks this past weekend where they lost 4-2. Big expectations surround the team[a2] as Seattle fans are watching another recently formed expansion team- The Las Vegas Golden Knights go all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in their inaugural season in 2018 but fell just short to the Washington Capitals. The Kraken hope to duplicate that achievement and then some, they are looking to bring home the Stanley Cup to Seattle in year one. Can the Kraken win it all? Will the Tampa Bay Lightning repeat as champions or is there another team on the rise?
Champions League Football (Soccer)
Europe’s most prestigious tournament is back for more exciting and dramatic nights. If you even know anything about soccer, or what the rest of the world calls football, you know that two players at the top of the game, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have made big moves during the transfer window in hopes of achieving Champions League glory. Lionel Messi has gone to Paris Saint German (PSG) to team up with elite forwards Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr. Cristiano Ronaldo has gone back to his old club Manchester United in England. Do these moves power PSG and Manchester United to the top, or will a different team rise above these[a3] two big clubs? As always with this enthralling tournament, we must expect the unexpected.
Major League Soccer (MLS)
A step down from leagues that participate in the Champions League, but still filled with excitement nonetheless, the MLS is rolling through its 34-game season and are nearing the playoffs. There is no surprise that Washington’s home team, the Seattle Sounders, are comfortably sitting in a playoff position, where they hope to be able to bring another MLS Cup back to the Emerald City. Will the Sounders win it all once again? Who do you think will be crowned champion when it is all said and done?
[a1]Only two teams remain
[a2]Big expectations surround the team
[a3]These two
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