Real Sports Talk
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2024 Copa America Predictions
The 2024 Copa America kicks off later this month in the United States, with the top teams from CONCACAF (North, Central America and the Caribbean) facing off against the usual competitors from CONMEBOL (South America). CONMEBOL is historically the much stronger FIFA confederation, with the CONCACF teams trying to represent the region well and pull…
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There have been 9 Canadians to play for the Toronto Raptors. Where are they now?
1 Jamaal Magloire 2011-12 Jamaal Magloire was selected 19th overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets and spent five seasons with the franchise, becoming an all star in 2004 (the second Canadian to do so, after Steve Nash in 2002). He played for a few more teams in the following years, and…
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Olympic Athletics relay predictions part 2 (women & mixed)
With the world Athletic relays serving as the chief way for nations to qualify their relay teams for the Olympics, (14 teams for each of the 5 relays with 2 spots left to be decided by world ranking via times during the qualifying period from December 31, 2022- June 30, 2024) concluding in May, now…
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Olympic Athletics relay predictions part 1 (Men)
With the world Athletic relays serving as the chief way for nations to qualify their relay teams for the Olympics, (14 teams for each of the 5 relays with 2 spots left to be decided by world ranking via times during the qualifying period from December 31, 2022- June 30, 2024) concluding in May, now…
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Being fast does not make someone ‘Bolt’
“There is a difference between running fast and sprinting”. -My father when discussing what separated a naturally fast person from an elite track athlete. Coaches take talented runners under their wing and teach them the art of sprinting, and that is how we get these track superstars who separate themselves from someone who is able…
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European competition predictions
In the wake of the quarter and semi final draws for all three European cup competitions, I will be predicting the winner of each. In many cases, a favorable draw can lead to a fairytale story, with an underdog or a dark horse winning a competition, having previously been given no chance, until an easier…
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Predicting the rest of the Top 5 league’s domestic winners
Having already made predictions for the outcome of the Premier League, I will be doing the same for the other 4 leagues that make up the top 5 in Europe. As well as for the domestic cups in all five leagues. All 4 of the other major leagues are ‘suffering’ from increasingly one horse races…
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How Mauritanian football should be an example for Jamaica
“MAURITANIAA country largely covered by desert.In 18 years, i.e between 1995-2003, they never won a single football match.In 2010, they withdrew from AFCON qualifiers due to financial crisis.By 2011, they were ranked 207th by FIFA, practically the poorest football country in the world.Then in 2011, their Federation voted Ahmed Yahya as FA President.He restructured the…
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EPL second half of the season predictions part 2 (10th to 1st)
10th: Brighton. Current position: 8th. Brighton are currently in the midst of their very first taste of intercontinental football, as a result of their excellent 6th place finish last year. This new ground, resulting in extra matches over the second half of the season (continuing on from March to as late as May depending on…
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EPL second half of the season predictions. Part 1 (20th to 11th)
20th: Sheffield United. Current position: 20th. Nothing much to say here, despite hiring former managerial darling Chris Wilder, the ‘Blades’ will continue to prop up the table. It is still an improvement over the early stages of the season, as there were whispers they would go on to be the worst team in history but…
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Way too early Paris 2024 Athletics predictions- Part 4
Wayde Van Niekerk returns to the podium: Seven years since he was last on a global 400m podium, and eight since he was Olympic Champion and broke the world record, South African superstar Van Niekerk will return from the proverbial wilderness in his pet event at last with a bronze medal. Shortly after defending his…
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Are soccer players becoming less skilled?
Michael Owen, a former professional who played at the highest level of the sport for a host of top clubs recently said: “Back in the day, there were loads of great players that were absolute ballers, properly talented. Now, if you can just run a bit further than everyone else and pass the ball from…
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Way too early Paris 2024 Athletics predictions- Part 3
Noah Lyles wins first Olympic Gold medal: Nothing groundbreaking here, suggesting that a man who has not lost a 200m race since he came third in the last Olympics is going to win the title. However, it was not as cut and dry in my mind as one would think. The continued rise of budding…
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Greed, livelihood or lack of ambition?
“I thought more of my family than my career”. This is what Brazilian footballer Oscar had to say about his move to China in 2017. “China makes offers players can’t refuse”. What he said about China a few years ago now can be said about Saudi Arabia. However, such moves are met with extreme scrutiny,…
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Loyalty in sports; it’s business
“No warning, no heads up, not even a conversation that it could be a possibility. Just, its done. Now move on because ‘it’s not personal, it’s business’”. That is a quote from Lauren Holiday, former USWNT soccer player and the wife of NBA player Jrue Holiday, currently with the Boston Celtics, when opening up about…