gold star for USAHOF

From the Desk of the Chairman

Wrestlemania is the biggest, most anticipated event on the pro wrestling calendar, period. The WWE may not be the monopoly it once was, with the AEW contending strongly, but Wrestlemania still stands atop the hill and always delivers, from the events leading up to it to the big one. The WWE always does a great job from promos to the actual event, and can make you feel like you just got a Monkey Knife Fight promo code which will be a total gem to have in case there is a big bet to go for. After a year hampered by the coronavirus and having to stage events at their training facility, this year's event may have fans in the stands as the government works through the vaccine. Before Wrestlemania, though, there is the SmackDown and Raw pay-per-view of Fastlane. The event and results could have a telling impact on Wrestlemania matchups, including finding a challenger for WWE Champion Bobby Lashley.

Fastlane is going to be packed with key matchups, and championship fights at almost every turn.

Bianca Bel Air and Sasha Banks

Banks dropped one of the hottest lines of the year when she said she was the Michael Jordan of women's wrestling, and if Bianca Bel Air worked hard enough, she could become the LeBron James of it. It was both taunt and respect from Banks who is set to face Belaire at Wrestlemania. Before their big fight, however, both women have the opportunity to be crowned tag team champions, when they face the team of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. Both women are still to hit a sweet spot in their chemistry and Fastlane is too big a stage or opportunity to mess up once again.

Apollo Crews and Big E

Apollo Crews finally showed his true colours, turning into a heel in the process and putting the hurt on Big E. While sidelined with injury, the former New Day man has probably had nothing but revenge on his mind, and at Fastlane, he will have his shot at Crews. Both men will battle for pride, bad blood, and the intercontinental championship. On SmackDown, Big E laid down an open challenge to Crews for the intercontinental championship, but got Sami Zayn instead, who provided solid distraction until E clamped him with a Big Ending. Only then did Crews show up to deliver a steel step beatdown on the champ, setting up a tasty Fastlane encounter.

Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns

Daniel Bryan beat Jey Uso on Smackdown to book his place on Fastlane as the challenger to Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship. Bryan is hell-bent on winning or at the very least make an appearance at Wrestlemania, but all of that will depend on how his shot at Fastlane goes. This week on SmackDown, the Rated-R superstar Edge, called out Bryan for his cunning tactics to worm his way into a title shot, as both men could potentially be a matchup in the near future. 

The card for Fastlane continues to grow, and so also are the matchups. It should be a ton of fun to watch.

Fiercely passionate about sports, nothing gets Canadian fans more excited than beating those noisy neighbors from south of the border. Whenever that happens, it’s always a cause for wild celebrations, especially when major league championships are at stake. Let’s take a look at which teams have enjoyed the most success.

NFL

Compared to all the other major professional sports competitions, the NFL is the only one that has never featured a Canadian franchise. However, that could change in the coming years if Toronto billionaire entrepreneur Pat Mazza gets his way.

Instead, the Canadian Football League (CFL) is the professional competition north of the border, played under a slightly different set of rules to those of the NFL. Winnipeg Blue Bombers are the most successful CFL team of all time, winning the Grey Cup 25 times.

Nevertheless, numerous Canadian gridiron players have enjoyed solid NFL careers. The most successful was quarterback Mark Rypien of the Washington Redskins, who won the Super Bowl twice and the Super Bowl XXVI MVP in 1992.

NBA

Professional basketball has largely struggled to make inroads in Canada. While there is the Canadian Elite Basketball League and the National Basketball League of Canada, the NBA has never featured more than one team from north of the border.

In 1995 the Vancouver Grizzlies franchise moved to Memphis in the United States, although they were immediately replaced by the Toronto Raptors, who debuted in the NBA the same year.

Like many new franchise teams, life was difficult at first. Nevertheless, the Toronto Raptors have continued building and improving. After becoming a regular in recent years, the whole of Canada celebrated when the Raptors triumphed in the 2018-19 NBA Finals.

MLB

While there are many professional minor league teams located in Canada, of the current 30 Major League Baseball franchise teams, just one hails from north of the border. This is the Toronto Blue Jays, who were part of the 1977 MLB expansion.

The Blue Jays have won the World Series twice in 1992 and 1993, boasting the honor of being the only Canadian team ever to achieve that feat. Sadly, their only success in recent years was to win the MLB East Division title in 2015.

As this Interac Casinos article highlights, it’s fair to say that online gambling is arguably more popular than baseball in Canada, where online operators are more established compared to those in the United States.

NHL

Considering the fact that professional ice hockey was a Canadian creation, over the last few decades, there has been a surprising lack of NHL and Stanley Cup champions from the Big White North.

It wasn’t until 1927 when teams from the United States began to join the NHL, with the first major expansion. As more American teams joined and started becoming successful, the balance of power largely remained with the Canadian teams, up until around the 1980s.

The most successful NHL franchise of all time is the Montreal Canadiens, who have lifted the Stanley Cup on 24 occasions. However, the last of those was back in 1993, almost three decades ago, which underlines how much American teams now dominate the NHL.

MLS

Soccer is by far the most popular sport in the world, although it took a long time to be embraced in North America as a major sport. The MLS was launched after the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup, enjoying phenomenal growth since then.

While they didn’t participate when the MLS debuted in 1996, three Canadian teams are now prominent members of the competition. The first was Toronto FC in 2005, followed by CF Montreal in 2010, then Vancouver Whitecaps in 2011.

The strongest team from Canada is undoubtedly Toronto FC, who have reached the MLS Cup final three times in the last five seasons, winning the overall championship decider once in 2019. They are probably the best hope for sustained Canadian success in major league sports.

When David Beckham was first nominated for a place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame, he was largely known as an influential player for LA Galaxy. The former England international had already agreed to produce the newest franchise in MLS but the wider public was largely unaware of the formation of Inter Miami.

Back in 2019, Beckham’s legacy for United States’ soccer was yet to be fully appreciated but, fast forward two years and he’s starting to become more widely acknowledged.

Galaxy Alumni

It’s not a great surprise that David Beckham was overlooked when the 2019 nominations were assessed. He had been a pivotal figure for LA Galaxy and made over 100 appearances for the franchise between 2007 and 2012. Galaxy won the MLS Cup twice in that period and Beckham had a significant role to play each time.

As impressive as his contributions may have been, David Beckham’s efforts were hardly worthy of a place in the Hall of Fame at that time. However, two years later, his work to bring Inter Miami into the top division might just see his place among the elite confirmed at the awards ceremony in March.

First Year Report

Inter Miami became the newest members of the MLS family when they were included at the start of the 2020 season. Beckham appointed Diego Alonso as coach and the franchise subsequently finished in tenth place in the Eastern Conference. It was a respectable return for a brand new side and it was enough to see Inter progress beyond the regular season.

The journey didn’t last much longer, however, with the club eliminated at the very next stage - the play in round. David Beckham would have been happy enough with a solid start but it’s clear that he’s aiming much higher in 2021.

A New Era

Diego Alonso’s performance in the dugout wasn’t enough to earn him another shot at the MLS Cup. Inter Miami removed the experienced coach in the close season and replaced him with Beckham’s former Manchester United teammate, Phil Neville. Formerly in charge of England ladies, Neville will need to improve on Inter’s performance in their inaugural season.

The sportsbooks aren’t offering too much hope in this respect: The best betting sites listed on sbo.net indicate Los Angeles FC listed as favorites to win the MLS Cup in 2021. Close behind are last season’s finalists Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders while Canada’s Toronto FC are also rated highly. Meanwhile, Inter Miami are way down the list as 12th favorites for success.

The new MLS campaign gets underway in April and those market odds will start to move as the games commence. To keep up with the changing patterns, stay tuned to sbo.net who will update the prices while offering insight and news updates along the way. Sportsbook offers and promotions will also be in place for those who want to get involved.

Peer Recognition

David Beckham’s potential induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame isn’t dependent on whether his Inter Miami side win the MLS Cup but success would certainly raise his profile even higher. By that point, he may already be among the elite within the game and the recognition of his peers would be fully deserved.

Beckham’s legacy is largely felt in his native England where he helped to make Manchester United win multiple Premier League titles. Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy was largely seen as a stop along the way before the midfielder finally ended his playing career in France with Paris Saint-Germain. As a soccer club owner, his work will be most keenly felt in the United States as Inter Miami look to make their mark on the national game.

When you consider the choice of the best love songs from various artists, it is natural to come up with the ones written by outstanding songwriters nominated in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Since it is known that the 51st Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala postponed till June 2022, we have time to identify the best date night songs from artists who have made great contributions and honored for induction in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Music and Love – the Best Combination

Everyone knows that music has the power to influence love in rather important ways. It can help set the mood, say what you cannot on your own, and do so much more. Music really is the best combination for helping people get closer. And it's really a talent to write not just a catchy song but to develop a thoughtful, meaningful piece of music. For that reason, along with lustylocals users who are focused on romance, we're going to pick out recognized incredible love songs by songwriters announced last year as one of the inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Mariah Carey

Always Be My Baby is one of Mariah's biggest hits that is still played on the radio today. The song is not merely a catchy tune, but it also demonstrates her vocal strength and ability to construct a beautiful, meaningful song with lyrics such as "You'll always be a part of me, I'm part of you indefinitely."

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)

While Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)is not necessarily a song directly about love, it has been interpreted that way throughout the years. It talks about how some relationships are helpful, and others use people. The song has a funky synth beat, too, and it deserves to be immortalized.

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (The Neptunes)

Together, the pair wrote the song U Don't Have to Call, which was then performed by Usher. The lyrics include: "You don't have to call/It's okay, girl/'Cause I'ma be alright tonight," which shows a man moving on from a relationship even though it appears tough.

The Isley Brothers

One of the most popularsongs of the early 1970s, The Isley Brothers' That Ladyis about a man obsessed with a woman, but she rebuffs his advances, and he decides to "keep on keepin' on" and move onto the next part of his life.

Steve Miller

I Love You is incredibly simple and whimsical song, demonstrating the light, airy feelings that love can inspire so perfectly that it stands out from the rest of the album.

Rick Nowels

Nowels co-wrote the song White Flagwith Dido and Rollo Armstrong. The song is about the end of a relationship and how one person can't move on while the other seems to have come to grips with it. The song perfectly encapsulates the desperation that one feels when something important has ended, but you can't give up with the line, "But I will go down with this ship/And I won't put my hands up and surrender."

William "Mickey" Stevenson

He wrote I'll Always Love Youfor The Spinners, and the song was very loving with lines, "Sometimes a man/Has too much pride to see/But losing your love, my darling/Has opened my eyes for me."

It is clear that some bands and people belong in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, even if they didn't sing the song themselves. In this case, the love songs outlined here are transformative and indicate special individuals that made a real difference with their works.

Sports betting is a great way for sports fans to enhance their viewing experience and possibly make a quick buck at the same time too. However, there are of course dangers in risking your money for your favorite players and favorite teams, and with all the types of bets you could make, it can get easy to get confused and to just make clueless bets.

When betting on sports, it’s important to be familiar with how sports gambling works, in order to not just have a fun experience, but also to minimize the risk of you losing all your money. 

Why should you bet on sports?

Why do people bet on sports in the first place? Most people like to bet on sports because it’s an extremely quick way to make money, and there’s virtually no effort involved. It’s also a great way for fans to become more invested in the games that they’re watching since you’d probably be watching an entire game if you had money on the line.

Of course, gambling on sports should be viewed as an activity just for leisure, although there are some people who can legitimately make a living out of gambling on sports. For beginners, though, it’s best to view sports gambling as a hobby for sports fans with money to spare. 

Where can sports bets be placed?

Sports bets used to be generally placed in local sportsbooks or casinos, but today, through the internet, sports bettors can place their bets online in a variety of online sportsbooks. Gamblers can easily check online for legitimate sportsbooks that offer all sorts of wagers for different sports. 

These online sportsbooks offer a selection of payment methods that are secure and that may allow you to withdraw your winnings almost instantly. Plus, most sportsbooks offer welcome bonuses for new members which can allow users to bet without having to risk a single cent. 

Types of bets

Betting on sports is generally viewed as simply placing a wager on who you think will win a game. However, there are much more bets and much more opportunities for winning than that. There’s only a limited number of games you can place a bet on per day, but with these various types of bets, the options are almost limitless.

Moneyline Bets

Moneyline bets are the simplest bet to make on sports. In the moneyline, a matchup is denoted through a + and – sign, and each team has corresponding odds. For example, in a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos, the odds may be presented as: Kansas City Chiefs +150 vs. Denver Broncos -300. Generally, when odds are presented, the team with the lower or negative odds is deemed the favorite while the team with the higher or positive odds is deemed the underdog.

When betting on the moneyline, the amount you win is dependent on the odds of the team you’re playing against. To put it simply, in the odds presented above, the you’d win the equivalent of the odds of the underdog for a $100 bet. So, if you bet $100 on the Broncos and they win, you’d win $300. On the other hand, a bet on the favorite may be understood as the amount that you’d need to bet to win $100. In the case of the Chiefs, in order to win $100, you’d have to bet $150. 

Spread Bets

Betting on the spread is betting on which team you expect to win, but with a catch. The spread is the difference between the final scores of the two teams. If you’re betting on the favorite, your team has to win and likewise cover the spread, while if you bet on the underdog, your wager will pay off if the underdog wins outright or loses but the winning team fails to cover the spread. 

To give an example, if the spread is 4.5, and the favorite won, a bet on the favorite would only win if they finish the game with a lead greater than 4.5. A bet on the underdog, on the other hand, would win if the underdog won or if they lost the game but the deficit was less than 4.5.

Totals

Sports bettors who don’t like betting on which team will win can bet on totals instead. This is basically betting on whether or not the final total score of the game would go under or over the number set by the sportsbook. For example, when the point total is 220.5, you can bet on either the over or the under. If you bet on the over, the final scores of both teams, when added, should be greater than 220.5, while if you bet on the under, the sum must be less than 220.5.

Parlays

A parlay is a great way to make big money from a small bet. Basically, a parlay is a single bet on multiple games, wherein all your bets would have to be correct in order for you to win. If one of your picks loses the game, you lose the entire bet. Parlays are riskier than the other bets that you can make, but they pay better. 

Proposition Bets

Proposition bets, also known as prop bets, are bets on certain outcomes that may or may not occur within a game. These bets can go from the most random, such as which team would score 10 points first, or to more calculated ones, such as whether or not a player can grab 12 rebounds in the game. These types of bets may also be made while the game is ongoing, but it’s advised to bet small when making prop bets, since they’re less predictable than other bets.

Futures Bets

Making a futures bet is making a bet on an event that will occur at some point in the future, such as whether or not a team will reach the playoff, or who will win the MVP award or the championship. Like the moneyline, each team or player has corresponding odds, with the least likely outcomes having low odds and high pay, and the most likely outcomes having high odds and low pay. 

Things to remember when betting on sports

Self-Control

Maintaining self-control when betting on sports is paramount. It’s easy to get carried away and to just risk money on virtually every bet you could possibly make hoping that these bets will pay off. However, to succeed in gambling, or at least not have a bad time, it’s important to be disciplined and to only make sensible bets that are likely to happen. Even though it’s gambling, it’s still advised to gamble wisely in order to maximize your wins and minimize your losses.

Anger Management

There are many videos to be found online of sports fans losing their minds because of a lost bet. You don’t want to be that guy. Sports can get intense, especially when there’s money on the line, but always remember that you’re gambling, and losing some money from time to time is an inherent part of sports betting. When emotions run high, learn to accept the loss and don’t ever make bets when you’re angry. Being at the height of your emotions can lead you into making unwise bets and may even cause you some financial trouble. 

Bankroll Management 

Sports gambling is a hobby reserved for those who have the means. When you decide to become a sports bettor, it’s essential to set aside a part of your budget that you can afford to lose. You should always be aware of the fact that you can lose every bet that you make. 

This can however be avoided by managing your bankroll well. Managing your bankroll means spreading out your bets into small, separate bets instead of betting everything on one wager. You should also make sure that the amount you’re betting will not force you to dig into your pockets outside of the budget that you have set aside for gambling. Once you go bust, you should only come back once you have the financial capacity to do so. 

Millions of people around the world like to gamble online. Whether you want to place bets on sport, play online casino games, or play bingo, online gambling can be a great way to spend time and winning real money is thrilling. If you do not know where to begin with online gambling, here is a quick guide to help you get started.

Step One: Choose a Game

It can be tempting to start online gambling by trying every game out there, but this is a great way to lose money fast! A better idea is to choose one or two games that you think you will enjoy, then learn the basics by playing free versions. Once you have got the idea of how to play, you can start playing with real money.

If you are planning to bet on sporting outcomes, make sure you are betting on something you know and understand. If you have never watched golf before, do not place a large bet on a golf competition! Play to your strengths.

This should minimize the risk of losing money and can help you figure out where to place your hard-earned cash.

Step Two: Choose a Platform

Not all online gambling sites are the same. Some give great sign-up incentives like bonus plays or bets, while others offer good odds or more frequent rewards. Depending on what you want to play—online casino games, sports bets, or bingo—you might have different requirements. Take a look at www.bingositesreviewer.com for a list of the best bingo sites, online casinos, and online slots. Find the platform that works for you and get started!

Step Three: Verify Your ID

An important step before you will be allowed to start gambling online is verifying your identity. When you sign up to a website, you will have to provide your address and an image or PDF of a form of ID. This is so the platform can check you are old enough to gamble, but there are also some anti-money-laundering verifications that take place. It is all pretty straightforward, but on some platforms it can take a few days for your identity to be confirmed, so be prepared to wait.

Step Four: Set a Spending Limit

Once your identity has been confirmed and you are ready to play, it is a good idea to set yourself some spending limits. When you are gambling online, it is easy to get carried away, and if you make a loss, it is tempting to deposit more to try and win it back. Try not to fall into this habit!

Most online gambling sites have the option to set up a maximum daily deposit. This is a great idea as it will prevent you from topping up your account when you have run out of money. This way you will not spend more than you can afford.

Step Five: Have Fun!

Once you have set up your spending limits and deposited some money, it is time to get playing! Whatever type of online gambling you have chosen, it is important to have fun. There are benefits to gambling online and it is a great way to pass the time, so sit back and start enjoying yourself.

If you follow these easy steps, you can be enjoying yourself on online gambling sites in no time. What are you waiting for?

Sports stars and celebrities manage to meet quite often when they do commercials or attend award ceremonies together. As a result, there are many relationships between celebs and sports stars. We’re going to take a look at some of the most successful couples and show you why they got together and how long their relationships have lasted.

Does A Full-Time Professional Career Compatible with Personal Life?

A question that is always asked is whether or not famous people can last since they tend to live such incredibly complex lives. After all, a movie star can be on a foreign film set for years, and a sports star could spend upwards of half the year constantly working with their team. People can point to a hundred examples of celebrity couples that have split, but it is not often because of their work. Most times, it is due to their personalities instead. Think of your friends and family—they have had plenty of breakups without the complexities of their job being an issue. In other words, the successful marriages of sports stars and celebs show that professional careers are not inherently bad for a relationship. 

Successful Sports Stars Who are in a Relationship with Celeb People

Many successful sports stars have met celebs and had successful romances as a result. Here are some of the most popular ones. 

  • Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez

Alex Rodriguez is one of the most celebrated baseball players of the last century, and he is with Jennifer Lopez, one of the biggest names in music and film entertainment. They’re a power couple for sure, but one that keeps a low profile.  

  • Russell Wilson and Ciara

Russell Wilson is often too busy with his successful career to give many interviews that are not about the NFL. However, people always remember that his wife is Ciara, and they have been together for several years and share several children. 

  • Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union

Ageless beauty Gabrielle Union is a star actress while Dwayne Wade continues to give people nightmares on the basketball court. They have been married for seven years and continue to grow together. 

  • Tristan Thompson and Khloe Kardashian

Tristan Thompson is a star basketball player, while Khloe Kardashian has made a name for herself in reality television. They are rumored to be engaged soon, but we’ll wait and see!

  • Devin Booker and Kendall Jenner

Another member of the larger Kardashian clan is Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker. They have kept things private, but they’re a young and exciting couple.  

  • Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian

One of the best and most recognizable tennis stars—Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder, are married and doing great after four years. They have a child together and continue to openly support each other in their endeavors. 

How to Meet Your Own Black Sports Star?

Finding the black partner of your dreams can be hard, but it’s possible. The best ways to meet them are:

  • Using online dating sites
  • Reaching out to them in public venues
  • Trying to meet them organically in social settings

The experts on myblackpartner say that when setting dates, be sure to describe yourself the best - who you are and what your interests are. Being open and honest will give you the best shot at finding a partner that is right for you. 

Famous sports stars are drawn to celebrity dates quite often, and they have successful relationships all the time. Something about these elite members of society makes them want to be with one another, even if their lifestyles can make it hard. As you can see, people might disparage them for what appears to be a high rate of breakups, but celebrities are no more likely to break up than regular people.

Entertainment is a big part of modern life. People like being entertained and like entertaining others. Hence the parties, movies, TV shows, and other forms of entertainment. But sometimes people don’t know what to do in their free time. That’s why they need to get hobbies to make their lives more entertaining. The good news is that you have plenty of hobbies to pick from and most of them are entertaining. So, if you don’t know where to start then here are some suggestions:

Become a Sports Fan

If you’re looking to learn about team spirit and have a good time with your friends then becoming a sports fan is the hobby for you. You’ve got loads of sports to choose from. Baseball, hockey, basketball, MMA, e-sports, and more. Matches happen quite often and when they do you’ll have peak entertainment in your free time. Sports have huge fan bases so you’ll meet some new people as well.

Some sports fans also like to bet to make the match more interesting. They can do so online nowadays as there are plenty of sportsbooks sites available. One of them is Novibet and it covers a variety of sports including football, tennis, cricket, e-sports, and more. The important thing about visiting these sites is to bet responsibly.

Do Some Exercise

Some might argue that exercise has nothing to do with entertainment. But no one disputes the fact that you can make exercise entertaining. All you need to do is create the right atmosphere. Things can change with a bit of music or with the right workout podcast. It’s true that exercising can be hard at times but it’s great for your body. By exercising 2-3 times a week you keep yourself in shape and you’re fit to take on any challenges the day throws at you.

Do Some Reading

A good book can keep you entertained for hours. It can give your brain a proper workout and take you to a world you never knew existed. Just like the variety of sports, there’s a variety of books to choose from. You can find more than one selection of books online and pick out one or more that pique your interest. It can be crime, thriller, sports, or biographical books. If you’ve got a good book then you’ll dive into it and before you know it you’ve spent several hours with it.

Play a Game or Two

Gaming is probably one of the most popular hobbies of today. There are millions of gamers all over the world and some of your friends are gamers too. You’ve probably played one or two games in your life. If you’re looking to entertain yourself then gaming is the way to go.

You’ve got plenty of titles to choose from. If you’re feeling competitive then you can go for online titles regardless if they’re RPGs or shooters. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a good single-player game you can find them in abundance as well. All in all, you should pick a game that suits you.

League and multiple media sources reported last week that the league and NBPA are working on hosting the 2021 All-Star game on March 7 in Atlanta, Georgia, despite initial skepticism. For the league and the NBPA, this would be a big opportunity to cash in, especially in a season where revenues have been spread thin. Still, it goes beyond that for both organisations, who see this as a chance to rally support for relief groups, communities, and people that have been ravaged by the pandemic. Fans will undoubtedly flock to Georgia, one of the few States where the safety and health protocols are particularly freestyled with by the population. The news of the All-Star game being held, however, has not been a matter of common joy in and around the league, with the biggest stars having their say. The naysayers of the decision feel they may have more fun trying out the best betting sites for the grand national, than be in Atlanta.

One of the major critics is none other than the most prominent name and star in the league, LeBron James. King James may be leading the votes for the All-Star selection in the West, which may mean a third-consecutive captaincy for the Lakers superstar, but his mind is far from agreeing with the league about the event. Citing multiple reasons, including rest, especially for the Lakers who went deep into the postseason to eventually emerge as winners and then return to the regular season after 71 days, James detailed why he felt the All-Star game would be a "slap in the face". Another important take was that Atlanta does not appear to be the safest place to have such an event given the State of Georgia's laxity to enforce safety protocols while noting how hard the league has been riding players with stringent protocols and guidelines. Another player to lend their voice in opposition was Sacramento Kings' young point guard, DeAaron Fox, who called the decision point-blank "stupid", citing the health and safety concerns involved. According to the league and NBPA (in which LeBron James is VP), the decision to have the event goes way beyond basketball. Per media reports, the league may even be more worried about players not making the game and how much they could take in their hands with the freedom. 

The opposition of LeBron James could prove to be a major block for the event, given that he is more likely than not to end up as captain of the West teams and could force him to back up his opposition by not playing.

While watching football, or its crown jewel - the Super Bowl, you probably don’t think about the love life of those NFL stars. Even if you do, you imagine it like something special, something glamorous. That’s wrong. Football stars are only humans, too. Like most other people, NFL players date their high school sweethearts and go on blind dates, so believe it or not, choosing among free BBW dating sites can also be one of their steps on a way tofind the right partner andsettle down.

Super Bowl Unites Football Fans and Lonely Hearts

The Super Bowl is a special event in the culture of the USA. Hardcore football fans are waiting for it the whole year. Kids are playing football pretending they’re their favorite players months after the game is done. Women who aren’t into sports get sucked in the euphoria too. That’s the magic of the Super Bowl. It connects all football fans around the world.

But its magic is even more powerful than you’d think. Connecting football fans is one thing. Connecting lonely hearts is another. The Super Bowl does both. Thousands of couples met thanks to it. In bars, on stadiums, at home-parties. The atmosphere surrounding the Super Bowl is full of joy and excitement. It’s hard to be lonely at that time.

The Personal Life of 2021 Super Bowl MVP Favorites

Now, let’s focus on two of the biggest stars in football and their love life to show you they’re human with feelings like you and I.

Patrick Mahomes

When you sign a $450,000,000 (yes, 450 million) contract at the age of 25 you won life. At least some people would consider that a complete victory. Patrick Mahomes, a quarterback of Kansas City Chiefs, isn’t like that. He knows money is great, but it’s not everything. Love is.

That’s why he and his high-school sweetheart stayed together through thick and thin. When Matthews went to Iceland to play soccer and Mahomes moved to play college football, it was hard to maintain a relationship. Yet, they did it. And they worked hard on their careers too. Patrick became the MVP of the NFL for 2018. He led the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl LIV. Where he played like a demigod, won, and earned the Super Bowl LIV MVP award. And now, he is doing his best intheSuper Bolw LV! Amazing achievements that are easier to achieve when you have a supportive long-term girlfriend cheering for you.

Tom Brady

Patrick Mahomes is on the way to become an NFL legend, but his opponent on the Super Bowl LV is already there. While most professional athletes retire before they hit 40, Tom Brady isstill the man in Tampa Bay Buccaneersat 43. It’s amazing Tom still has the hunger for winning after achieving so much. Listing all his accomplishments is nearly impossible, so I’ll list the most meaningful:

  • 6 times Super Bowl Champion
  • 4 times Super Bowl MVP
  • 3 times NFL MVP
  • NFL Athlete of the Decade (the 2010s)

Can his life be any better? Yes, because on top of all that, he’s married to one of the most beautiful beings in the world. Gisele Bundchen is the highest-paid model for years. She’s not a stranger to big achievements, but she’s also a great wife. Gisele and Tom have been married since 2009, which is a very long time in the world of superstars. Their unconditional support for each other is inspiring, but it also shows how important love is. 

Is it Real to Date a Football Star if You are Far from a Sports Lifestyle?

Don’t be sad if you aren’t into sports, but you’d love to date a football star. Gisele isn’t into sports, and she’s with one of the NFL best players ever. Her looks and nose for business helped her a lot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t snatch a football star for yourself. They’re humans too. Don’t forget that. They need support; they need somebody who’ll listen to them. Somebody who’ll cry with them. Somebody who’ll laugh with them. All you have to do now is meet a football star and show him how awesome you are. And you are awesome, don’t forget that either.

In expectation of the Big game happening this year in Tampa Florida United States ,Betway has featured a collection of the most powerful players of all time in the Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl LV, the 51st modern-era National Football League (NFL) championship game happening on 7th February 2021 where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet Kansas City Chiefs on Raymond James Stadium, we have made up the team with all the smartest American footballers to date.

It will also be the fifth Super Bowl hosted in the Tampa area and the Buccaneers will be the first team ever to play a Super Bowl at its Home stadium under COVID-19 protocol.

The players selected are mostly the fans’ favorites. They also hold the record for their touchdowns.

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes II / 287 rushing yards, 41 TDs

We startup with the team’s most wishful choice.

Patrick is one of the most determined quarterbacks in Super Bowl history, He has also played the crucial traits of Quarterback and has kept his cool even in his most crucial moment of the game.

Running back: Clyde Ewards-Helaire / 1414 yards, 16 TDs

Clyde Edwards is one remarkable player of all time.

He is a threat to the opponents because of his ability to make the defenders miss into the both running and passing game, he is a very slippery target for the defenders due to his average height of 5’07

Running back: Anthony Sherman/ Caught 11 passes for 127 yards, 1 TD

Anthony Sherman is not much of an impulsive player but a blocker of a kind.

He is an effective player in pass protection and his power lies with the toughness of his kick-out block. But he had only carried the ball 5 times in the past two years.

Left Wide receiver: Tyreek Hill/ 5081 185 4.31

Tyreek Hill is well known for his domestic violence but as a footballer of Kansas City, his talent remains in his world-class speed which makes his opponents difficult.

He was dismissed from the Oklahoma state team on 12/12/14.

Right Wide receiver: Sammy Watkins/ 14.4Ypr, 12 TDs

Sammy Watkins is a double-move-creating magician which he reaches out to get the ball and freezes at the opposing defenders but once he finds his way, he accelerates and wins the one-on-one battle with his instant acceleration.

Tight End: Travis Kelce/ 16.0 Ypr, 8 TDs

Travis Kelce is a good mover who plays in balance and when it comes to blocking, he is so much aggressive that he snatches the ball and his explosiveness makes him a tight end for the opposing teams.

DEFENSE

Left Defensive End: Tanoh Kpassagnon/ 6067 280 4.8

Tanoh is a battle mammoth, he has gained so much weight but his tackles are highly professional he tosses the opposing players, He may be a risk when the runners approach him and the technique he uses is very raw. He is not much of a person with speed.

Keep up to date with Superbowl tips with the Insider.

According to mybesthookup users, modern media culture has definitely influenced their dating lifestyle, with musical tastes being a prime motivator. While everyone has a particular genre they enjoy listening to the most, certain trends are guaranteed to produce a sense of excitement and sexual tension, even if this sound isn’t necessarily your first preference. Take rock n’ roll the style that pretty much-transformed society in the 1950s and 1960s single-handedly creating the younger generation and hookup culture.

The impact of the rock n’ roll lifestyle on the sexual behavior of modern adults

Before this defining moment, there was little to differentiate between young people and their parents. They would dress similarly, and share many of the same hobbies or tastes in music. The advent of rebellious, dangerous, and downright sexy performers such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the ‘King of Rock n’ Roll himself – Elvis Presley – in the 1950s led to a generation gap. Older people frowned on these lewd performers. When Elvis appeared on television shows, he was always filmed from the waist up, as his hip gyrations were deemed far too suggestive for family viewing!

Rock n’ roll icons often seem to live in a world far removed from the mere mortals who buy their records and watch their concerts. They party hard, take illicit substances, are far from monogamous, and generally love subscribing to the ‘live fast, die young’ cliché. While this is perhaps irresponsible for anyone seeking a meaningful relationship, it can influence sexual behavior amongst fans, steering them towards ‘no strings attached’ encounters.

The contribution of rockn’roll to hookup culture

Unlike pop music that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, with a lot of the marketing specifically targeting the adolescent market, rock n’ roll tends to be for grown-ups. A key aspect of this form of loud and aggressive music is its sex appeal, from those girls screaming out their teenage crushes at The Beatles, up to today’s groupies hanging around outside dressing rooms hoping to catch the eye of one of their idols, perhaps initiating a hookup that night.

Here are four famed artists, and their key songs that celebrate this somewhat casual but passionate attitude to romance.

The lead singer of the English band Queen, Freddie Mercurywas renowned for being one of the most flamboyant frontmen in rock n’ roll, strutting across stages across the world, his ambiguous sexual status appealing across the board. Queen’s anthemic hit ‘Don’t Stop Me Know’captures his exuberance, inviting singles to follow in his footsteps, and go out there and grab life by the horns!

Kurt Cobainwas the iconic figurehead of the late 1980s revival in US heavy rock that became labeled ‘grunge’.Far removed from the pompous and theatrical behavior of the likes of Guns N’Roses, his band was rawer, hearkening back to the rebellious punk movement from the previous decade.‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, the song that brought them international fame, is a celebration of what it is to be young, and ready to embrace the possibilities of life and love. It’s not about settling down with commitments! 

In the mid-1970s, an entirely new subculture of rock n’ roll music, fashion, and, above all, attitude, swept over the USA, springboarding into the UK. The tabloid press were quick to label this loud, proud, frenetic but anti-social movement ‘punk rock’. But it gave a staid industry a timely shake-up, and one of the primary exponents, Londoners The Clash, led by the late the charismatic, Joe Strummer. The title of their song ‘Lover’s Rock’was a celebration of love.

And, of course,Elvis Presley, who may have originated in relative poverty in Tupelo, Mississippi in the USA, but went on to become one of the most popular and influential rock n ‘roll singers of all time. He could convey strong emotions so effortlessly, in his instantly-recognizable voice. Who’s to say whether these intense feelings were most appropriate for a long-term romance or casual hookups? The common denominator is the depth of passion, applicable to the moment – whether that lasts for one night, or is spread throughout one lifetime.

Mahomes’ Status Unclear in AFC Championship

The Chiefs did what everyone, but the most diehard Dawg Pound fan, believed they would do when they defeated the Cleveland Browns, 22-17, in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. 

However, a not so funny thing happened on the way to the conference title tilt for the defending Super Bowl champs. Their All-Pro quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, sustained a head injury during the third quarter that sidelined him for the remainder of the game. 

The NFL’s concussionprotocol is stringent and the rules are clear. There are five steps a player must pass but there is no specified number of days that said player must sit. Based on the postgame reports, Mahomes appears to be shaking off the effects of a jarring tackle from Browns’ linebacker, Mack Wilson. 

After Sunday's game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, "He’s doing great now, which is a real positive as we looked at this. He passed all the deals that he needed to pass, so we’ll see where it goes from here.”

Mahomes tweeted after the game, "#HenneThingIsPossible" which is a clever nod to backup Chad Henne, the 13-year journeyman backup who came in after Mahomes went down. 

His second tweet was in response to Mack Wilson’s tweet, “Prayers to @PatrickMahomes. I pray you back next week! Go be great like you have been!” 

Mahomes replied, “All good brother!”

Positive vibes coming out of the KC camp but that still doesn’t answer whether or not the 25-year-old wunderkind will be back under center when the Chiefs welcome the upstart Buffalo Bills to Arrowhead Stadium. 

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Mahomes’ status, the Super Bowl odds at all of the major online sportsbooks are dealing the Chiefs as favorites to repeat as champions. But that will all change if Mahomes is ruled ineligible for the showdown with the Bills on Sunday. And speaking of which, the Chiefs are currently anywhere from 2 ½ to 4-point favorites depending on where you shop but if Henne does get tapped to play on Sunday, that number will reverse course in a hurry. 

John Murray, executive director of the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, noted that some of his oddsmakers speculated that Buffalo could soar from a three-point underdog to as high as a seven-point favorite if Henne, and not Mahomes, gets the start, "If Mahomes were ruled out, the Bills would be a decent favorite. That (Buffalo-7) sounds a little extreme to me, but it gives you an idea just how much drop-off it is from Mahomes to Henne, in terms of the point spread."

Brady’s Legend Grows

It’s not all that complicated to get your team into the NFL playoffs. Just purchase yourself the greatest quarterback to ever lace up the cleats, give him the ball and the keys to the offense, sit back, crack open a cold one, and let him drive your team to the big show. Simple, really.

And that’s exactly what Tom Brady has done in Tampa Bay. A perennial also-ran, the Bucs' only taste of Super Bowl glory came during the 2002 season. Since that time the franchise has been in only two postseason contests, losing in the wild card round on both occasions, and hasn’t sniffed a playoff berth in a dozen years before this season.

But Brady hasn’t done it alone. He has some very potent weapons surrounding him in the forms of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, and a fading, but still effective, Rob Gronkowski. 

Yet, it was the Bucs’ defense that came up with a few critical turnovers in the 30-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints, and one that likely spelled the end of a long and illustrious career for Saints’ 42-year-old quarterback, Drew Brees. 

"I appreciate all that this game has given to me," Brees said. "There are obviously so many incredible memories."

Brady and company will face another future Hall-of-Fame quarterback next week when they travel to Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

"We worked hard to get to this point. Two road playoff wins is pretty sweet," Brady said. "We've got to go beat a great football team we know pretty well. Aaron's playing incredible."

It is getting to be that time!

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is getting ready to announce their Class of 2021, and it looks like we have a pretty good idea as to who some of those members might be.

According to SportsBettingDime.com, Peyton Manning is an absolute lock to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the stacked 2021 class, and there is no possible metric that can be pointed at to say that they are wrong.  After Manning, Defensive Back, Charles Woodson, who is also in his first year of eligibility is expected to join him. Woodson is a nine-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year.

After Woodson, it becomes a little less clear.  Many believe that six-time All-Pro, Alan Faneca might get the call this year.  Anchoring the Steeler’s offensive line for nearly a decade, Faneca has been passed over for fellow linemen, Kevin Mawae and Steve Hutchinson despite having a better resume.  

Calvin Johnson is another good bet.  The man with the nickname of “Megatron” abruptly retired, and has substantially less Receiving Yards than other Finalists, Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt, however, he was considered the best wideout in football and his highlight reel puts the others to shame.

After these four it gets a little tricky.  John Lynch is a Finalist for the eighth time, and with his former teammate and fellow Defensive Back, Ronde Barber, now making the Finals, it could push Lynch through.  The buzz around Zach Thomas’ candidacy is growing as is LeRoy Butlers.

The most interesting candidate has to be former Linebacker, Clay Matthews Jr., who is a Finalist for the first time in what his last year of eligibility.  There is no other candidate that has more fervent support, and could sentiment propel Matthews Jr. into the Hall of Fame?

Regardless of who gets in we will be watching!

Astrology is a complex and inexplicable non-science field that attracts supporters up to this day. Many even follow horoscopes to make gambling predictions. What’s more, there’s a themed casino — Zodiac Casino — that assigns gambling-related horoscopes and lucky numbers to each zodiac sign daily.  Does it really work?

Upon taking a quick look at the list of gambling champions, it seems that those people are just lucky, and there is nothing astrological about their victories. But what if we are wrong? Today, we’ll disclose the zodiac background of the most famous winners in gambling history. 

Elmer Sherwin

Those familiar with land-based casinos know that Las Vegas is the motherland of gambling. Long ago, in 1989, a man named Elmer Sherwin won his first couple of millions ($4.6 million, to be precise) playing Mirage. Over 15 years later, he hit a $21-million jackpot just because he felt lucky. We could have left it as it is because lucky days do happen. However, we know that Elmer’s zodiac sign was Pisces.

Pisces is a water sign, so it’s not typical of them to take risks regularly. Besides, they worry about their financial state a little bit too much, so gambling is often referred to as an unjustified waste of money. But on rare occasions, Pisces may feel like they are about to win, and those feelings usually turn out to be true. Elmer Sherwin gambled twice and both times he was successful.

However, should Elmer have chosen poker, the odds wouldn’t be so satisfactory. With the emotions written all over their faces and the urge to make quick decisions, Pisces isn’t good at poker. Games that require little interaction, such as roulette or baccarat, suit people of this sign well. All in all, when gambling, Pisces should rely on their gut feeling or well-developed strategy, and the success will hit their way.

Lee Sang-hyeok

Lee Sang-hyeok is a Korean video gamer widely known under the name of Faker or Michael Jordan of League of Legends. He has led his team to the World Championship three times already. And that is surely not the end of his gaming career. What makes Lee so determined and victorious? Is it the upbringing, a strong passion for video games, or is there anything else?

Lee Sang-hyeok is the zodiac bull. Born under the sign of Taurus, the gamer absorbed all the most vital features of the sign and managed to effectively develop them. Taureans are believed to be stubborn, but in the case of Faker, this is rather a virtue than a vice. Taurean people like to keep things under control, and that is the feature typical of the victors.

Since Taurus is overly cautious about their finances, most assume that gambling is not for Taurus. However, eSports is different, isn’t it? eSports is among less risky options to try your luck. Games with fixed odds are potentially attractive to Taurus. Being financially-cautious, they are usually interested in growing their fortunes using the fastest way possible.

Land-based casinos are usually too noisy and overwhelming for conservative Taurus. Thus, they mostly prefer online casinos instead. Card games, baccarat, and roulette are the best gambling games for level-headed and patient bulls.

Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo

Spanish-born and raised Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo started his career as a film producer, but gambling turned out to be more profitable for him. His approach to gambling was unique and gained wide popularity. Some casinos even sued him. 

Gonzalo noticed that some numbers were favored by the roulette wheel more than the others. After comprehensive research, Garcia-Pelayo figured out the numbers to bet on and enjoyed gambling throughout Spain and later, Las-Vegas. Over time, casino owners uncovered the gambler's trick, and he wasn’t welcome in casinos anymore. However, his research and dedication improved his financial state tremendously, so he no longer needed to gamble to make a profit.

Now that you know Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo’s story, it’s easy to assume that his personality is quite an extraordinary one. His zodiac sign may be a reason for that. Gonzalo was born under the sign of Gemini. Being a sign of air, Gemini loves to lead an active and exciting life. They are full of ideas and take an innovative approach to the things that most people are already used to. Gemini gambles for the sake of gambling. The process and the rush of adrenaline are more essential for them than the profit generated.

Gemini is the sign of twins, so they tend to get bored quickly. Fast-paced games, such as roulette, are the best choice for them. Since they approach the gambling activity with a curious and positive spirit, Gemini usually wins the game. However, the awareness of when to stop may be vague at times, leading to profit loss.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, it’s safe to say that your zodiac sign affects the way you gamble. What is more, the sign you were born under can point out which games to choose as well as those that you should avoid. Whenever you feel like it’s your lucky day, you should grab the opportunity, especially if your sign is Pisces. Lastly, it never hurts to develop some victory-determining traits of other signs such as patience and optimism when heading for the win!

The Rapid and Random History of the Royal Rumble Match

In 2021, the Royal Rumble match will take place for the first time since its creator, WWE Hall of Famer, the late Pat Patterson passed away. For over 30 years, this battle royale with a twist has been delighting fans of pro wrestling each and every January.

First held in 1988 when “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan won after entering at number 13, early editions of the Royal Rumble were a vehicle used to get big babyfaces over. Hulk Hogan became the first wrestler to win the match more than once with consecutive successes in 1990 and 1991.

The stakes with the Royal Rumble really kicked up at notch the following year when the vacant WWE Championship was up for grabs. Hogan and The Undertaker had traded the world title in controversial circumstances towards the end of 1991, but the match and belt went to “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

Every year after 1992 with the exception of 2016 when the WWE Championship was on the line again, the winner of the Royal Rumble received a world title match at the next major event, WrestleMania. In 1994, the match was declared a draw when Bret “Hitman” Hart and Lex Luger eliminated one another.

WWE hasn’t always taken a consistent attitude to that. Although the 1994 finish was planned, the 2005 Royal Rumble saw John Cena and Batista, the intended winner, accidentally both go over the top rope and hit the floor together.

An infuriated Vince McMahon tore both his quads when getting into the ring and ordering the match to be restarted, so it could reach its intended conclusion. Speaking of the WWE chairman, he entered and won the 1999 Royal Rumble but relinquished any WrestleMania championship opportunity.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the only three-time winner of the match to date, was stripped of his title match in 1997 after referees missed the fact he was eliminated. The Texas Rattlesnake managed to slither back into the ring before the officials noticed.

Getting the push

Austin and Shawn Michaels had never been WWE Champion before winning two Royal Rumbles each. This shows how the match can be used to elevate wrestlers into major title contenders, but it has also been used to catapult those returning from injury back into the spotlight.

A first Royal Rumble win in 2002 for Triple H following the first of two quad tears and Edge coming back from an Achilles problem in 2010 show how the match works that dynamic. Surprise entrants, including wrestlers making comebacks or debuts, are all part of the fabric of this.

Royal Rumble pushes come in many forms. Besides the shock return, there is also a common angle where a wrestler takes out many opponents but doesn’t win the match with Kane setting a then record of 11 eliminations in 2001.

Usually speaking, the Royal Rumble has 30 entrants in it but in 2011 – perhaps to reflect the ever-expanding WWE roster – there were 40 competitors. Alberto Del Rio became the first wrestler born from outside the USA or Canada to win the match.

In the last decade, entrants from the UK, Ireland and Japan have all been crowned Royal Rumble winners. A women’s only match was introduced in 2018, although female wrestlers had competed on occasion against the men with Chyna blazing that trail back in 1999.

Destined for greatness

You would think winning the Royal Rumble would help to secure a place in the Hall of Fame, but as yet wrestling icons like The Undertaker, successful in 2007, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who was victorious in 2000 don’t have spots. That may only just be a matter of time. Speaking of The Rock, there is plenty of speculation about him returning to WWE soon. Always a monster box office draw whether acting in a movie or stepping back inside the ring, the latest Betway betting on headlining WrestleMania in 2021 has him at 4/1 to battle cousin Roman Reigns as of December 30.

Using the Royal Rumble to start that program with the current Universal Champion could bring mainstream attention on WWE in the coming months. Seeing The Rock win another world title is precisely the kind of feelgood moment pro wrestling can go for in the main event of a major pay-per-view.

WWE has been willing to put its top titles on part-time wrestlers in recent years. See 2003 Royal Rumble winner Brock Lesnaror Goldberg for evidence of that. From Kofi Kingston’s acrobatics to the emotional 2006 win for Rey Mysterio, even smaller competitors can get in on the act, and that is what keeps us still watching the Royal Rumble now into its fifth different decade.

Introduction

Like all other businesses, online casino websites also receive their fair share of public opinions and varying reviews. Some of these reviews may be biased towards negativity and disapproval as customers tend to be more critical of any bad experiences. However, this doesn’t mean that all online casinos with bad reviews are bad; you may just be surprised at the inaccuracy of some personal reviews. 

Luckily, newer reviews are becoming more and more reliable compared to the past as the positivity of these reviews are often supported with research and figures. In addition, the industry has seen many new changes such as for ownership, licensing, regulations, and more. With better responsibility on the customers, we have started to see better reliability on reviews and ratings as well. And for fans of online casinos, be sure to find sites where you can play for free on registration for the best deals. 

Development of online casino reviews 

Early years

In the beginnings of online gaming casinos, the industry was flooded with various types of gambling websites for their respective providers. While some gambling sites tried to stay, most of them would obtain the money and disappear. These rogue casinos spurred on an era of cash-grabbing casinos with unfair practices and payout problems. In addition, the aspect of customer service was missing. 

Wave of positive change

As a response to these rogue gambling sites, customers took it upon themselves by setting up reviews and posting their opinions of various online casinos. These lead to the birth of review sites and eventually, a system for reporting and blackmailing any unfair or shady practices. This helped to reform online gambling sites and brought about positive change as they were unable to hide any problems or unlawful acts. 

Prevalent reviews 

While there are definitely lesser rouge sites right now, one still needs to be careful of online gambling sites even if they have received good reviews. However, the chances of stumbling upon a good and reliable site is much higher now. 

Legitimacy of online casino reviews

Details 

Look for reviews that include as many details as possible, describing any fees or important information. A good review should encompass the customer’s experience in a way that is not only personal but also useful for others who are looking into the service. Avoid reviews that are oversimplified. 

Facts 

A good review also includes reliable facts rather than just personal preferences. Some important facts that should be included in a review are the user’s first impressions, the customer service, types of games, and the site’s reputation. For those who are concerned about the financial reliability of the place, look out for details on deposits and payouts, bonuses and promotions as well as other gambling details to take note of. 

Beyond the rating

Remember that the rating of a review does not represent the quality of the online gambling site as these can be subjective. One may decide to give a lower or higher star rating depending on what is more important to their experience. Hence, it is still most important to read unbiased and in-depth reviews as well as from multiple sources. 

Las Atlantis 

For an online casino which began in 2020, Las Atlantis does not have payout track records nor player feedback to reference from. Regardless, the site has managed to keep good reviews and ratings. This is due to the impressive casino design that Las Atlantis offers consisting of free deposits and payouts, an estimated 250 games, mobile pay, and bonus incentives. The casino also has proper licensing and offers customer service in multiple ways. Just for the unique and well-thought-through user experience, the new casino has managed to garner quite a few positive feedback from customers. 

Super Slots 

Likewise, Super Slots is another new casino which began in 2020. It is a sister site to a few other gambling websites such as BetOnline sportsbook and Wild Casino, giving it the advantage of adopting past review material. In addition, although the gambling site is independent, it’s evaluation still depends on the other websites as they are all operating under the same umbrella. This has helped grow positive reviews for Super Slots. The site also boosts licensed software as well as two live casinos, allowing users to pick from cryptocurrencies to traditional banking routes. Mobile play is also available.

Red Dog Casino 

While Red Dog Casino does not belong under the BetOnline umbrella, it is affiliated to well-known sister sites such as El Royale and Slots Empire. What makes Red Dog Casino stand out is the VIP atmosphere that each of the sites oozes, along with licensed RealTime Gaming slots, various interesting games, and a live casino. Not to mention, the promotions and opportunities given out are very generous. But the main highlight of Red Dog Casino is the ability to accept credit cards in both directions, allowing payouts back to credit cards. For those who prefer the banking route, they might just leave the site with a high rating and review. 

Vegas Casino Online 

Accessibility to cash will always garner a gambling site’s high reviews as customers always treasure the ability to cash in and out of their accounts as fast as possible. Vegas Casino Online offers a low minimum deposit and does not charge extra fees for payouts in either direction. With only five dollars in Bitcoin, one can give this casino a try; not to mention it is also a low price of twenty dollars for the traditional credit card route. For those who want to give online casinos a try without making a big investment, Vegas Casino Online is one of the best ways for recreational players and beginners to get started. 

Wild Casino

With a unique theme, easy to use interface and a $5,000 bonus for new players to get started with, it is no wonder that Wild Casinos receives such positive reviews. While a significant amount of positive feedback may come from its sister website BetOnline, Wild Casino also uses Betsoft Gaming which includes games such as Frankenslots Monster and Good Girl-Bad Girl. As public information on the games are easily accessible by customers, this could have boosted their reviews as well. However, for those who are interested in banking, Wild Casino does not offer a menu that is as attractive as Vegas Casino Online or Red Dog Casino. 

Conclusion 

While it is clear that a lot of reviews are subjective, the importance of good reliable reviews is that they help to weed out rogue casinos which can potentially land your finances in danger with their questionable practices. An unbiased and in-depth review of a service can also help customers understand the site better and deem it by their own standards if it is to their taste or not. Always make sure to read from a wide variety of sources as well to get the full picture. 










We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the now defunct Delivery Man of the Year, a trophy that only existed from 2005 to 2013.  We also looked at recently the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, which was mathematically calculated to honor the best closer.  In 2014, a new award, which will likely be the gold standard for closers arrived, the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year.

These awards honor the best modern closers after being named after two Hall of Famers.

Yes, we know that this is embryonic, but that will only be temporary, so we know that this won’t yield anyone…for now.

So how many Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year winners have made the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won either the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

None

The following are the players who have won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

None.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?       

Award in Question

Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF

Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF.

NBA MVP

100%

100%

NHL Art Ross

100%

100%

NHL Hart Trophy

93.6%

96.3%

NBA Finals MVP

91.3%

94.9%

NHL Norris

90.5%

96.4%

NHL Ted Lindsay Award

90.0%

 

NBA All-Star Game MVP

89.5%

91.7%

NHL Conn Smythe

74.2%

85.4%

NFL Bert Bell Award

73.7%

71.4%

NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

73.1%

79.4%

NFL AP MVP

68.3%

74.0%

NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

66.7%

66.7%

NHL Lady Byng

63.8%

76.0%

NFL Defensive Player of the Year

60.8%

71.1%

NFL Super Bowl MVP

60.6%

64.9%

NHL Mark Messier Leadership Award

60.0%

60.0%

NBA Defensive Player of the Year

58.3%

56.5%

NHL Vezina

57.1%

66.3%

NBA Rookie of the Year

56.5%

56.5%

MLB MVP

55.0%

60.2%

NFL Pro Bowl MVP

52.3%

54.8%

MLB Lou Gehrig Award

51.9%

51.9%

MLB Roberto Clemente Award

47.4%

47.4%

NHL Calder Trophy

46.5%

46.5%

NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

46.0%

46.0%

MLB/NL/AL Cy Young Award

44.4%

55.4%

MLB Babe Ruth Award

37.0%

39.3%

NHL King Clancy Award

36.8%

36.8%

NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy

33.3%

36.7%

MLB World Series MVP

33.3%

36.8%

MLB Hutch Award

33.1%

33.1%

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

28.6%

28.6%

NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

27.9%

27.9%

MLB Edgar Martinez Award

26.7%

17.2%

MLB Delivery Man of the Year

25.0%

50.0%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Designated Hitter)

25.0%

30.8%

MLB Comeback Player of the Year

25.0%

25.0%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Shortstop)

23.5%

52.6%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove

21.7%

36.8%

NHL William M. Jennings Trophy

20.7%

40.4%

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

20.6%

20.6%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Catcher)

20.0%

22.5%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Second Base)

18.8%

39.8%

MLB Rolaids Reliever of the Year

18.6%

33.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Shortstop)

18.2%

35.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Pitcher)

18.2%

20.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Second Base)

16.7%

32.7%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Outfield)

16.7%

30.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Outfield)

15.7%

25.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Third Base)

14.3%

14.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Third Base)

13.6%

14.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (First Base)

13.6%

13.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Rookie of the Year

13.3%

13.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Catcher)

10.3%

15.2%

NBA Most Improved Player of the Year

5.3%

3.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (First Base)

3.8%

3.2%

NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

0.0%

0.0%

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year in MLB who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Baseball Hall of Fame: 

None.

The following are the players who have won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year in MLB who are still active.

Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals: 1-3, 46 Saves, 1.44 ERA, 90 SO, 2014, AL

Greg Holland was in his fifth year in the Majors, all of which were in Kansas City.  An All-Star in 2013, Holland was so again in 2014, and posted a 1.44 ERA with a 0.914 WHIP. Holland was ninth in Cy Young voting this year, and he helped the Royals win the American League Pennant.  The Royals won the World Series in 2015, but Holland had to leave late in the season for Tommy John Surgery.  He came back in 2016, but with St. Louis. Holland came back in 2020 to the Royals.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Kansas City Royals.

Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves: 0-3, 47 Saves, 1.61 ERA, 95 SO, 2014, NL

By this point, Craig Kimbrel already won the Rookie of the Year, and was the final NL Rolaids Reliever of the Year and Delivery Man of the Year.  Kimbrel fittingly became the first Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year, and this was his fourth consecutive season leading the NL in Saves. He notably was named the TSN Pitcher of the Year, the second straight time that Kimbrel won that award.  Kimbrel was ninth in Cy Young voting.

33 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Cubs.

Andrew Miller, New York Yankees: 3-2, 36 Saves, 2.04 ERA, 100 SO, 2015, AL

It didn’t take long for a Yankee to win an award named after a Yankee, but it did take Miller long to win an award of any kind as a Major League Pitcher.  Miller debuted in 2006 for Detroit, and he would later play for Florida, Boston and Baltimore, joining the Yankees in 2015.  This was his only year as a closer, and only full year with the Yankees, as he was traded to Cleveland during the 2016 Season.  Miller finished ninth in Cy Young voting this year and had a 0.859 WHIP.

36 Years Old, Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates: 3-2, 51 Saves, 2.23 ERA, 62 SO, 2015, NL

Mark Melancon began his career with the New York Yankees, and he would later throw for Houston and Boston before becoming a Pittsburgh Pirate in 2013.  An All-Star in 2013, Melancon was so again in 2015, where he led the National League in Saves (51) where he was eighth in Cy Young voting.  He led the NL in Games Finished (67) the following year, though he split the season with the Pirates and Washington.

36 Years Old, Playing for the Atlanta Braves.

Zack Britton, Baltimore Orioles: 2-1, 47 Saves, 0.54 ERA, 74 SO, 2016, AL

Zack Britton began his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 2011, and he would be promoted to the team’s closer in 2014.  Britton was an All-Star in 2015, leasing the American League in Games Finished (58), with 46 Saves and a 1.92 ERA, but he took that good number and sliced by nearly two-thirds with a 0.54 ERA.  Britton led the AL in Games Finished that year (63) and Saves (47) and was an All-Star for the second time as well as the fourth-place finisher for the Cy Young.

33 Years Old, Playing for the New York Yankees.

Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3-2, 47 Saves, 1.83 ERA, 104 SO, 2016, NL

Kenley Jansen debuted in the Majors for the Dodgers in 2010 where the native of Curacao has spent his entire career in the bullpen. Jansen became the closer in 2012, and in 2016, he was an All-Star for the first time on the strength of his 47 Saves, 1.83 ERA and 0.670 WHIP.  His 13.6 SO/9 was also among the best in Baseball.

33 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox: 5-0, 35 Saves, 1.43 ERA, 126 SO, 2017, AL (2)

Kinbrel joined the Boston Red Sox in 2016, going to his fifth All-Star Game.  This was best year in Boston, as he was an All-Star again where he again won the TSN Pitcher of the Year, and was sixth in Cy Young voting.  Kimbrel became the first player to win the Hoffman and Rivera Award. He won a World Series Ring the following year, and he would leave Boston for the Cubs, going three-for-three in All-Star Games.

33 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Cubs.

Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers: 5-0, 41 Saves, 1.32 ERA, 109 SO, 2017, NL (2)

Jansen followed up his 2016 Hoffman winning year with another one, and did so at an even higher level.  Jansen dropped his ERA to 1.32, had a WHIP of 0.746 and posted a blistering of SO/BB of 15.57.  Jansen was fifth in Cy Young voting that year.

33 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners: 0-4, 57 Saves, 1.96 ERA, 124 SO, 2018, AL

Edwin Diaz may not have won a game this year, but who cares? He led the AL in Saves (57), and Games Finished (65) and he matched his sub-2 ERA with an even more impressive WHIP of 0.791.  Diaz, who went to the All-Star Game this year, was eighth in Cy Young voting.

26 Years Old, Playing for the New York Mets.

Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers: 6-1, 12 Saves, 2.43 ERA, 143 SO, 2018, NL

From the 12 Saves, you could see that Hader was not the primary closer, but as relief pitching changes, so do stats for an award such as this. Hader fanned 143 batters, a filthy amount considering he only threw 81.1 Innings.  His 15.8 SO/9 and 0.811 WHIP were incredible, and he was named to the All-Star Game in what was his second year in the Majors.  He was also seventh in Cy Young in voting.

27 Years Old, Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees: 6-1, 12 Saves, 2.43 ERA, 143 SO, 2019, AL

A four-time All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds and World Series winner with the Chicago Cubs, Chapman later became a Yankee (twice actually) and in 2018 he was an All-Star for the first time in the American League.  2019 was Chapman’s sixth All-Star year, but first winning any individual award with his 37-Save year. 

33 Years Old, Playing for the New York Yankees.

Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers: 3-5, 37 Saves, 2.63 ERA, 138 SO, 2019, NL (2)

Hader was a more traditional closer this year, but his Strikeout rate remained astronomical with a 16.4 SO/9.  An All-Star for the second straight year, Hader had another great WHIP with a 0.806.  He would become the first back-to-back Hoffman Award winner.

27 Years Old, Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Liam Hendriks, Oakland Athletics: 3-1, 14 Saves, 1.78 ERA, 37 SO, 2020, AL

The native of Perth, Australia, Liam Hendriks was in his tenth season, and his second as a closer.  In the COVID-19 stricken year, Hendricks also posted a WHIP of 0.671 and was ninth in Cy Young voting.

32 Years Old, Free Agent.

Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers: 4-1, 0 Saves, 0.33 ERA, 53 SO, 2020

For the first time in the history of the award, we have a winner who was not a closer, so much so that he had ZERO Saves.  Devin Williams was incredible this year, allowing only one Run in his 27 Innings Pitched.  He was so good in this season, that he had a SO/9 of 17.7 with a WHIP of 0.630. Amazingly, Williams was a rookie, and also won the Rookie of the Year Award.  He also finished seventh in Cy Young Award voting.

26 Years Old, Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

We can’t wait to see how this award plays out in the future.

So, what is up next?

We go back to the baseball playoffs, and the ALCS and NLCS MVPs.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is given to the Goalie(s) who allowed the fewest Goals for their team.  That was our last hockey award, as we return to Baseball, specifically the Relief Pitchers, which will be a little complicated as you will see with the next paragraphs.

The Rolaids Reliever of the Year first came to existence in 1976, and was sponsored by the antiacid product, Rolaids.  At the time, the slogan for the product was “ROLAIDS spells Relief”, so it was a perfect pairing.  

This is the first time that we are looking at a defunct award, as when the new parent company of Rolaids opted to not continue the award, it ended in 2012.  It would be replaced in 2014 with the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year.  Coincidentally, there was a separate reliver award that began in 2005, The Delivery Man of the Year, which ran from 2005 to 2013.

Specifically, with the Rolaids Relief Award, it was awarded on a point system, tabulating Wins, Saves, Losses and Blown Saves.

Nevertheless, these were significant awards in our eyes, and we plan to look at them all!

So how many Rolaids Reliever of the Year winners have made the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Rollie Fingers, San Diego Padres: 8-9, 35 Saves, 2.99 ERA, 113 SO, NL 1977

This was Fingers’ first season in San Diego and the closer had already gone to four All-Star Games and won three World Series Rings with the Oakland Athletics.  This year, Fingers topped the NL in Saves (35), Games Pitched (78), and Games Finished (69), and he was 14thin MVP voting.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Rich Gossage, New York Yankees: 10-11, 27 Saves, 2.01 ERA, 122 SO, AL 1978 

Prior to what was his first year with the Yankees, Gossage already was a three-time All-Star, two with the Chicago White Sox, and one with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  This year, “Goose” led the AL in Saves (27) and Games Finished (55), and was fifth in Cy Young Voting.  Gossage also helped New York win the World Series that year.  As All-Star in 1978, Gossage had five more All-Star appearances, three with the Yanks and two with San Diego.  He retired in 1994 following runs with San Francisco, New York (again), Texas, Oakland and Seattle and had 310 career Saves.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Rollie Fingers, San Diego Padres: 6-13, 37 Saves, 2.52 ERA, 72 SO, NL 1978 (2)

Fingers went to the All-Star Game for the fifth time, and his 37 Saves would not only lead the NL, but would be a personal high. He was eighth for the Cy Young and 14thfor the MVP this year.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Bruce Sutter, Chicago Cubs: 6-6, 37 Saves, 2.22 ERA, 110 SO, NL 1979 

Bruce Sutter was already a two-time All-Star at this point, and in what was his third consecutive All-Star year, Sutter began a four-year streak of leading the National League in Saves.  The flamethrower had a WHIP of 0.977, and he would win the Cy Young with a seventh place finish for the MVP.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Rollie Fingers, San Diego Padres: 11-9, 23 Saves, 2.80 ERA, 69 SO, NL 1980 (3)

This was Fingers’ last year with San Diego, and he went three for four for Rolaids Reliever of the Year Awards.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers: 6-3, 28 Saves, 1.04 ERA, 61 SO, AL 1981 (4)

Fingers returned to the American League, where in the strike-shortened 1981 Season he had his best year of his li6e.  He was first in the AL in Saves (28), and he had the best ERA (1.04) and WHIP (0.872) and he became the first Rolaids Reliever winner to win both the Cy Young and the MVP.  Fingers had three more seasons in the Majors with 341 Saves.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Bruce Sutter, St. Louis Cardinals: 3-5, 25 Saves, 2.62 ERA, 57 SO, NL 1981 (2) 

Sutter was now a St. Louis Cardinal, and his skill as the top closer in the National League remained intact.  Sutter was fifth for the Cy Young and eighth in MVP voting.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Bruce Sutter, St. Louis Cardinals: 9-8, 36 Saves, 2.90 ERA, 61 SO, NL 1982 (3) 

Sutter was not an All-Star this year, but he finished strong again finishing first in Saves (36).   He would be third for the Cy Young and fifth for MVP and in that post-season, Sutter helped the Redbirds win the World Series.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Bruce Sutter, St. Louis Cardinals: 5-7, 45 Saves, 1.54 ERA, 77 SO, NL 1984 (4) 

This was the last great year for Sutter, and coincidentally his final one with St. Louis.  Sutter led the National League in Saves (45) and Games Finishes (63), both of which were career-highs, and he was also third for the Cy Young and sixth in MVP voting.  He played three more years in the Majors, all with Atlanta.  Sutter retired with an even 300 Saves.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics: 4-2, 45 Saves, 2.35 ERA, 70 SO, AL 1988  

Dennis Eckersley converted from a starter to reliever the year before, but this was the year where he proved that this was what he was meant to be.  Eckersley led the AL in Saves (45) this year with a WHIP of 0.867.  The A’s made it to the World Series that year, and he was second for the Cy Young and fifth for the MVP.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Lee Smith, St. Louis Cardinals: 6-3, 47 Saves, 2.34 ERA, 67 SO, NL 1991  

Lee Smith was already a Major Leaguer since 1980, and he already had nine 25-plus Save campaigns.  The Cardinals were his third team, (following Chicago and Boston) and this season he set a personal record with 47 Saves (also league-leading) as well as finishing first in Games Finished (61).  He finished second for the Cy Young and eighth in MVP voting.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics: 7-1, 45 Saves, 1.91 ERA, 93 SO, AL 1992 (2) 

In the three years between Rolaids Reliever of the Year wins, Eckersley won a World Series, and had 124 Saves.  This year, Eckersley was first for the second time in Saves (51) and first time in Games Finished (65).  Eckersley won the Cy Young and MVP, and cemented his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Lee Smith, St. Louis Cardinals: 4-9, 43 Saves, 3.12 ERA, 60 SO, NL 1992 (2)  

Smith led the NL in Saves for the second straight season, and was fourth for the Cy Young this year.  He would also go to his fourth All-Star Game, and his fifth would come the following year.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Lee Smith, Baltimore Orioles: 1-4, 33 Saves, 3.29 ERA, 42 SO, AL 1994 (3)  

Smith was only with the Baltimore Orioles for one season, and it was a good one where he won not only the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, but was an All-Star for the sixth time.  Smith led the AL in Saves (33) and was fifth in Cy Young voting. Smith joined the California Angels the following year and had one more All-Star year with him.  He retired in 1997 after stops in Cincinnati and Montreal with 478 career Saves, which was then the all-time record.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres: 4-2, 53 Saves, 1.48 ERA, 86 SO, NL 1998  

Trevor Hoffman had been the Padres closer since 1994, and this was the year he let everyone in the baseball world know he was elite.  Hoffman was an All-Star for the first time and his league-leading 53 Saves, 1.48 ERA, and 0.849 WHIP landed him second in Cy Young voting and seventh in MVP voting.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 4-3, 45 Saves, 1.83 ERA, 52 SO, AL 1999  

Mariano Rivera was already established as an elite reliever in the American League, and had already won two World Series Championships. This year, Rivera won his first of five Rolaids Reliever of the Year Awards, and he led the AL in Saves (45) with a 1.83 ERA and a 0.884 WHIP.  Rivera was third in Cy Young voting, and he helped the Yankees win the World Series, winning the World Series MVP.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 4-6, 50 Saves, 2.34 ERA, 83 SO, AL 2001 (2)  

Rivera was an All-Star for the fourth time this year, and the season before he won his fourth World Series.  Rivera again had a WHIP under 1.000 (0.905), and was eleventh in MVP voting.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves: 3-2, 55 Saves, 3.25 ERA, 85 SO, NL 2002  

Prior to taking on the role of the Braves’ closer, Smoltz was a top starter for years, going to four All-Star Games, winning a World Series Ring and earning a Cy Young.  Smoltz excelled in this role too, with his 55 Saves leading the NL and finishing third in Cy Young voting.  He would later go back to being a starter, and would retire in 2009, with his final year being split between Boston and St. Louis.  Smoltz had a lifetime record of 213-155 with 3,084 Strikeouts and 154 Saves.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 5-2, 40 Saves, 1.66 ERA, 63 SO, AL 2003 (3)  

Another spectacular season happened for Rivera, whose 1.63 was the second lowest of his career.  In the playoffs, Rivera won the ALCS MVP, but the Yankees lost to the Marlins in the World Series.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 7-4, 43 Saves, 1.38 ERA, 80 SO, AL 2005 (4)  

Rivera was electric again this year, posting his all-time best ERA (1.38) with a phenom20al WHIP of 0.868.  Rivera was second for the Cy Young to Bartolo Colon of Cleveland and was ninth in MVP voting.  Rivera also won the Delivery Man of the Year Award, which was in its first year of existence.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres: 0-2, 46 Saves, 2.14 ERA, 50 SO, NL 2006 (2)  

Hoffman went to his second, third and fourth All-Star Game in between his Rolaids Reliver wins, and was an All-Star again this year.  Hoffman led the NL in Saves (46) and had a sub 1.000 WHIP.  He was again second in Cy Young voting.  Hoffman went to two more All-Stars, the last one as a Milwaukee Brewer. He retired in 2010 with 601 career Saves.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 3-3, 44 Saves, 1.76 ERA, 72 SO, AL 2009 (5) Co-Winner

This was Rivera’s fifth and final Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award, and he would also win his third Delivery Man of the Year (he won his second in 2006).  Rivera would later take the Yankees to another World Series win, his fifth.  He played until 2013, was a thirteen-time All-Star, and retired with 652 Saves, the most all-time.  Rivera entered the Baseball Hall of Fame with a perfect ballot, the first man to do so.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

 

The following are the players who have won the Rolaids Relief Award who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Bill Campbell, Minnesota Twins: 17-5, 20 Saves, 3.01 ERA, 115 SO, AL 1976

This was Campbell’s final season in Minnesota, and he would not only win the inaugural American League Rolaids Relief Award, he was the league-leader in Games Pitched (78) and Gamed Finished (68). Campbell finished seventh for the Cy Young and eighth for the MVP.

Eligible since 1993.  Campbell was on the ballot for one year and received 0.2% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com 

Rawly Eastwick, Cincinnati Reds: 11-5, 26 Saves, 2.09 ERA, 70 SO, AL 1976

The rookie and sophomore seasons of Rawly Eastwick are forgotten gems in the lore of the Cincinnati Reds.  As a rookie, he led the NL in Saves (22) and was third in Rookie of the Year voting while helping the Reds win the World Series. This season, he was even better with a career-high 26 Saves and was fifth in Cy Young voting and thirteenth for the MVP, and he was again a part of the Reds World Series win.  His career regressed after that, and he bounced around to St. Louis, New York (AL), Philadelphia, Kansas City and Chicago (NL) with his Major League career coming to an end in 1981.  He had 68 career Saves, with 48 coming in 1975 and 1976.

Eastwick did not play the mandatory ten years to qualify for the Hall of Fame. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com 

Bill Campbell, Boston Red Sox: 13-9, 31 Saves, 2.96 ERA, 114 SO, AL 1977 (2)

Campbell signed with Boston this year and arguably, this was his last real good season in the Majors, though he played until 1987 with stops in Chicago (NL), Philadelphia, St. Louis, Detroit and Montreal. This year, Campbell led the AL in Saves (32) and Games Finished (60), and was fifth for the Cy Young and tenth for the MVP.  Campbell had 126 career Saves.

Eligible since 1993.  Campbell was on the ballot for one year and received 0.2% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Jim Kern, Texas Rangers: 13-5, 29 Saves, 1.57 ERA, 136 SO, AL 1979 

Jim Kern went to three straight All-Star Games, with this year being his third.  Also in his first season in Texas (he was with Cleveland before), Kern had his best year by far in the Majors.  In addition to his personal best 29 Saves, he also set career-highs in Games Played (71), Games Finished (57), and was fourth in Cy Young voting and eleventh in MVP voting. Kern never had a year close to this again, and he bounced around to Cincinnati, Chicago (AL), Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Cleveland before his career ended in 1986.  He had 88 career Saves.

Eligible since 1992.  Despite being Hall of Fame eligible in 1992, he was not on the ballot.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 12-7, 33 Saves, 3.09 ERA, 37 SO, AL 1980 

This was Quisenberry’s breakout year where the submarine-style Pitcher led the AL in Saves (33), Gamed Finished (68) and Games Pitched (75).  Quisenberry was fifth in Cy Young and eighth in MVP voting, and he helped Kansas City reach the World Series.

Eligible since 1996.  Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996.  Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com

Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 9-7, 35 Saves, 2.57 ERA, 46 SO, AL 1982 (2) 

“Quiz” was finally an All-Star, and he did what he did in 1980, which was lead the AL in Saves (35) and Games Finished (68). He was third for the Cy Young and ninth for the MVP, and this began a four-year streak of top three Cy Young finishes.

Eligible since 1996.  Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996.  Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com

Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 5-3, 45 Saves, 1.94 ERA, 46 SO, AL 1983 (3) 

Quisenberry’s 45 Saves not only led the American League but it would be a personal best for the closer.  He was also first in the AL in Games Pitched (69) and Games Finished (62), and the “Quiz” was the runner-up for the 7y Young with a sixth-place finish in MVP voting.

Eligible since 1996.  Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996.  Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com

Al Holland, Philadelphia Phillies: 8-4, 25 Saves, 2.26 ERA, 100 SO, NL 1983  

After playing in San Francisco for four years, he joined Philadelphia in 1983, and became their closer.  Holland help take the Phillies to the World Series that year but they lost to Baltimore Orioles in five.  The southpaw was an All-Star the following year, and exceeded his Saves mark to 2, but he was used in middle relief afterward, and later played for Pittsburgh, California and the New York Yankees.  He only had 78 career Saves.

Eligible since 1993.  Despite being Hall of Fame eligible in 1993, he was not on the ballot.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 6-3, 44 Saves, 2.64 ERA, 41 SO, AL 1984 (4)

Quisenberry was an All-Star for the third and last time, but he was on year three of four straight Save-leading seasons.  He was again the second-place finisher for the Cy Young, and he was third for the MVP, his highest ever finish.

Eligible since 1996.  Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996.  Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com

Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 8-9, 37 Saves, 2.37 ERA, 54 SO, AL 1985 (5) 

Quisenberry secured his fifth and final Rolaids Relief Award, and it is also marked the last of five times he was the American League leader in Saves (37), the third and final time in Games Pitched (84) and fourth and final time in Games Finished (37).  He played with the Royals until 1988, winning a World Series Ring in 1985, and he later joined St. Louis and San Francisco.  He retired with 244 career Saves.

Eligible since 1996.  Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996.  Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com

Jeff Reardon, Montreal Expos: 2-8, 41 Saves, 3.18 ERA, 67 SO, NL 1985  

Jeff Reardon had at least 20 Saves in the three years before, but he improved that total to 41 this year, which was the only time he ever finished first in his respective league.  He was seventh in Cy Young voting and two years later he helped the Minnesota Twins win the 1987 World Series.  A four-time All-Star, Reardon would later play for Boston, Atlanta, Cincinnati and New York (AL), and he amassed 367 Saves.

Eligible since 2000.  Reardon was on the ballot for one year in 2000 and received 4.8% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Dave Righetti, New York Yankees: 8-8, 46 Saves, 2.45 ERA, 83 SO, AL 1986  

Dave Righetti began his career as a starter where he was the 1981 American League Rookie of the Year.  Three years later he was moved to the bullpen and after two good years in that role, he was named to the All-Star team with league leading numbers in Saves (46) and Games Finished (68).  Righetti was fourth for the Cy Young and tenth for the MVP.

Eligible since 2001.  Righetti was on the ballot for one year in 2001 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Todd Worrell, St. Louis Cardinals: 9-10, 36 Saves, 2.08 ERA, 73 SO, NL 1986  

1986 was the best year of Todd Worrell’s career, which coincidentally was also his rookie year.  Not only would he win the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, he was also the Rookie of the Year.  Worrell led the NL in Saves (36), Games Finished (60), and he was fifth for the Cy Young.  Worrell would later be an All-Star in 1988, and twice for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1995-96).  He retired in 1997 with 256 Saves.

Eligible since 2003.  Worrell was on the ballot for one year in 2003 and received 0.0% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Dave Righetti, New York Yankees: 8-6, 31 Saves, 3.41 ERA, 77 SO, AL 1987 (2) 

Righetti was an All-Star again, which would be the second and last time.  He would have at least 24 Saves over the next four years, and he also played for San Francisco, Oakland, Toronto and the Chicago White Sox.  He accrued 252 total Saves.

Eligible since 2001.  Worrell was on the ballot for one year in 2001 and received 0.4% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Steve Bedrosian, Philadelphia Phillies: 5-3, 40 Saves, 2.83 ERA, 74 SO, NL 1987 

Bedrosian was a Relief Pitcher for most of his career, and his best year by far at it was 1987, where his 40 Saves were league-leading. An All-Star this year, Bedrosian won the Cy Young Award, which was coincidentally the only year he would get a vote.  Bedrosian would later win a World Series Ring with the Minnesota Twins in 1991, and he had 184 career Saves.

Eligible since 2001.  Worrell was on the ballot for one year in 2001 and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

John Franco, Cincinnati Reds: 6-6, 39 Saves, 1.57 ERA, 46 SO, NL 1988 

Franco was an All-Star in the two years before, and he led the NL in Games Finished (60) with 32 Saves the year before.  This season, his 39 Saves topped the National League and his 61 Games Finished were also atop the leaderboard.  Franco was an All-Star the next year, and joined the Mets in 1990.

Eligible since 2011.  Franco was on the ballot for one year in 2011 and received 4.6% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Jeff Russell, Texas Rangers: 6-4, 38 Saves, 1.98 ERA, 77 SO, NL 1989 

Over Jeff Russell’s 14-year career, he was predominantly used in relief, but this would be the first season he became a closer. Russell led the AL in Saves (38) and Games Finished (66), and would me ninth for the Cy Young.  Russell later played for Oakland, Boston and Cleveland before returning to Texas and closing his career in 1996 with 186 career Saves.

Eligible since 2002.  Franco was on the ballot for one year in 2002 but did not receive any votes.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Mark Davis, San Diego Padres: 4-3, 44 Saves, 1.85 ERA, 92 SO, NL 1989 

Mark Davis made his Major League debut in 1980 with the Philadelphia Phillies, and he would later play for San Francisco before joining the Giants in 1987.  Davis was anointed the team’s closer in 1988 and was an All-Star, but he had the season of his life in 1989 where he was again an All-Star and led the NL in Saves (44) and Games Finished (65).  He would win the Cy Young while also finishing sixth for the MVP.  Davis signed with Kansas City afterward but he never had a season like 1989 again.  He went on to play for Atlanta, Philadelphia with a return to San Diego.  Davis retired for good after a brief comeback in 1997 with the Brewers.

Eligible since 2003.  Davis was on the ballot for one year in 2003 and received 0.2% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Bobby Thigpen, Chicago White Sox: 4-6, 57 Saves, 1.83 ERA, 70 SO, NL 1989 

Bobby Thigpen had already been the primary closer for the ChiSox for the past two years, but this year he set a then Major League record in Saves with 57, while also leading the American League in Games Pitched (77) and Games Finished (73).  He only had two more seasons where he had at least 20 Saves, but his skills were eroding quickly and he was out of Baseball by 1994.

Thigpen did not play the minimum ten years to qualify for the Hall of Fame.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

John Franco, New York Mets: 5-3, 33 Saves, 2.53 ERA, 56 SO, NL 1990 (2)

This was Franco’s first of 14 years as a Met, and it was also his last All-Star year.  Franco led the NL in Saves for the second time, and later on in 1994, he would again with 30 Saves, but he was not a Rolaids winner that year.  He finished his career with a season in Houston in 2005, and retired with 424 Saves.

Eligible since 2011.  Franco was on the ballot for one year in 2011 and received 4.6% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Bryan Harvey, California Angels: 2-4, 46 Saves, 1.60 ERA, 101 SO, AL 1991

This Harvey’s best season in the Majors, where his 46 Saves led the AL, as did his 63 Games Finished; both of which were career-highs.  Harvey finished fifth in Cy Young voting, and was an All-Star.  While this was his only Rolaids win, two years ago he had another All-Star season, albeit with the Florida Marlins in a World Series winning year. Harvey had 177 career Saves.

Harvey did not play the minimum ten years to qualify for the Hall.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Jeff Montgomery, Kansas City Royals: 7-5, 45 Saves, 2.27 ERA, 66 SO, AL 1993

Montgomery went to three All-Star Games over his career, which was all but 14 Games as a Kansas City Royal.  A late-inning reliever for most of career, Montgomery had four 30-plus Save years, with the 45 this year being league-leading and his career-high.  Montgomery retired in 1999 with 304 Saves.

Eligible Since 2005.  Montgomery was on the ballot for one year in 2005 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Randy Myers, Chicago Cubs: 2-4, 53 Saves, 3.11 ERA, 86 SO, NL 1993

Before he was a Chicago Cub, Randy Myers was a New York Met, a Cincinnati Red, where the closer was an All-Star and World Series Champion and a San Diego Padre.  With the Cubs, Myers went to two All-Star Games and in 1993, won the Saves Title (53) while also finishing eighth for the Cy Young.  He would again lead the NL in Saves (38) in 1995 and the American League with 45 in 1997 as a Baltimore Oriole.  Myers finished his career in 1998, splitting his time with Toronto and San Diego and would amass 347 total Saves.

Eligible Since 2004.  Myers was on the ballot for one year in 2005 and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Rod Beck, San Francisco Giants: 2-4, 28 Saves, 2.77 ERA, 39 SO, NL 1994

Rod Beck was in his fourth season of Major League service and it was his second straight year as an All-Star.  In this strike-shortened year, Beck led the NL in Games Finished (47) for the second consecutive year, and he would later do so again two more times.  Beck would overall go three All-Star Games, and later play for the Chicago Cuba, Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres.  Beck retired with 286 Saves.

Eligible Since 2008.  Beck was on the ballot for one year in 2005 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Jose Mesa, Cleveland Indians: 3-0, 46 Saves, 1.13 ERA, 58 SO, AL 1995

From the Dominican Republic, Jose Mesa had a 19-year career in the Majors, where he was mostly used coming out of the bullpen. This season, Mesa led the AL in Saves (46) and Games Finished (57), and he was an All-Star for the first time. Mesa was second this year for the Cy Young and fourth for the MVP and he secured 321 career Saves in 1,022 Games Pitched.

Eligible Since 2013.  Mesa was on the ballot for one year in 2013 but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Tom Henke, St. Louis Cardinals: 1-1, 36 Saves, 1.82 ERA, 48 SO, NL 1995

Tom Henke won a World Series Rings with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he led the AL in Saves in 1987.  After leaving the Jays for Texas in 1993, he played two years before going to St. Louis in the NL for his lone year there, where he had his best ERA (1.82), and the second of two All-Star campaigns.  Henke retired on top, as he elected to retire at the end of the season.  

Eligible Since 2001.  Henke was on the ballot for one year in 2001 and received 1.2% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

John Wetteland, New York Yankees: 2-3, 43 Saves, 2.83 ERA, 69 SO, AL 1996

John Wetteland had at least 25 or more Saves in the four years before this season, three with Montreal and one with the Yankees. In this baseball campaign, Wetteland led the American League in Saves (43) in what was his first of three All-Star years.  Wetteland helped the Yankees win the World Series that year while winning the World Series MVP, and after he was a Texas Ranger for his last four years.  He had 330 career Saves.

Eligible Since 2006.  Wetteland was on the ballot for one year in 2006 and received 0.8% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Jeff Brantley, Cincinnati Reds: 1-2, 44 Saves, 2.41 ERA, 76 SO, NL 1996

Jeff Brantley was an All-Star in 1990 as a San Francisco Giant, but it was in Cincinnati where the reliever had his best year.  Brantley led the NL in Saves (44), which was the only time that would happen.  He would late play for St. Louis, Philadelphia and Texas and managed 172 career Saves.

Eligible Since 2007.  Brantley was eligible for the Hall in 2007 but was not on the ballot.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Randy Myers, Baltimore Orioles: 2-3, 45 Saves, 1.51 ERA, 56 SO, AL 1997 (2)

Myers would again lead the league (American) with 45 in 1997 as a Baltimore Oriole.  Myers finished his career in 1998, splitting his time with Toronto and San Diego and would amass 347 total Saves.

Eligible Since 2004.  Myers was on the ballot for one year in 2005 and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Jeff Shaw, Cincinnati Reds: 4-2, 42 Saves, 2.38 ERA, 74 SO, NL 1997 

For the first time, we have a back-to-back winner from a team who was not the same player.  Jeff Brantley won it in 1996, as opposed to Jeff Shaw this year, who was the National League Leader in Saves with 42.  He had more in 48 the year after, but it was a season split between the Reds and the Dodgers.  Shaw had 203 career Saves.

Eligible Since 2007.  Shaw was eligible since 2007 but was not on the ballot.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Tom Gordon, Boston Red Sox: 7-4, 46 Saves, 2.72 ERA, 78 SO, AL 1998 

After eight years in Kansas City, Tom Gordon became the Red Sox’ primary closer in his third year in Boston.  This was arguably Gordon’s best season in Baseball, and it would be the first of three All-Star Game appearances for “Flash”, with the others coming as a Yankee and as a Phillie.  Gordon led the AL in Saves (46) and Games Finished (69), and had a sparkling WHIP of 1.008.  Gordon played 21 seasons and retired with a record of 138-126 with 158 Saves and 1,928 Strikeouts.

Eligible Since 2015.  Gordon was on the ballot for one year in 2015 and received 0.4% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Billy Wagner, Houston Astros: 4-1, 39 Saves, 1.57 ERA, 124 SO, NL 1998 

Wagner was a Strikeout machine this year for Houston with a 14.9 SO/9 with a 0.777 WHIP.  This year saw Wagner go to his first of seven All-Star Games, and while he never led his league in Saves, he compiled 422 over his career.  He also played for Philadelphia, New York (NL), Boston and Atlanta.

Eligible Since 2016.  Wagner has been on the ballot for five years finishing as high as 31.7% in 2020.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Antonio Alfonseca, Florida Marlins: 5-6, 45 Saves, 4.24 ERA, 47 SO, NL 2000

Alfonseca led the National League in Saves (45), but his ERA was 4.24, his WHIP was over 1.500, and his bWAR was 0.5.  He is arguably the worst recipient of this award. He would later play for Chicago (NL), Atlanta, Texas and Philadelphia and had 126 career Saves.

Eligible Since 2012.  Although Alfonseca was Hall of Fame eligible in 2012 he was not on the ballot. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Todd Jones, Detroit Tigers: 2-4, 42 Saves, 3.52 ERA, 67 SO, AL 2000

Todd Jones was a journeyman reliever over his career, often in a closing capacity.  This was his best year, going to his lone All-Star Game and leading the AL in Saves with 42.  Jones would accumulate 319 Saves over 16 years.

Eligible Since 2014.  Jones was on the ballot for one year in 2014 but he did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Armando Benitez, New York Mets: 6-4, 43 Saves, 3.77 ERA, 93 SO, NL 2001

Armando Benitez had his second consecutive 40 Save year with the Mets, and would have another one in 2004 with 47 as a Marlin that led the NL.  Benitez had 289 Saves over a career that also saw time spent with Baltimore, Seattle, San Francisco and Toronto.

Eligible Since 2014.  Benitez was on the ballot for one year in 2014 and received 0.2% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Billy Koch, Oakland Athletics: 11-4, 44 Saves, 3.27 ERA, 93 SO, AL 2002

Billy Koch had at least 31 Saves over his first three years in the Majors which was in Toronto.  The Jays traded Koch to Oakland, and he had the best year of his career, securing 44 Saves and leading the AL in Games Pitched (84) and Games Finished (79).  Despite that, he was dealt to the White Sox, but he floundered after that and was out of the Majors by 2004.

Koch did not play the minimum ten years to qualify for the Hall of Fame.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Keith Foulke, Oakland Athletics: 9-1, 43 Saves, 2.08 ERA, 88 SO, AL 2003

Foulke arrived in Oakland when he was traded for Billy Koch, the Rolaids Reliever of the Year winner the year before.  Foulke won it this year with a league-leading 43 Saves and 67 Games Finished, with a seventh-place finish in Cy Young voting. This was his last year in Oakland, as he signed with Boston and won a World Series.  He retired in 2008 with 191 career Saves.

Eligible since 2014.  Although Foulke was eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2014 he was not on the ballot. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Eric Gagne, Los Angeles Dodgers: 2-3, 55 Saves, 1.20 ERA, 137 SO, NL 2003

The numbers for Gagne were staggering, as he built upon his 52 Save season in 2002 with a 55 Save, 67 Games Finished performance that led both categories.  Gagne’s anemic 1.20 ERA was matched by an even more impressive 0.692 WHIP and 15.0 SO/9. Gagne would also win the Cy Young this season and 

Eligible since 2014.  Gagne was on the ballot for one year in 2014 and received 0.4% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Eric Gagne, Los Angeles Dodgers: 7-3, 45 Saves, 2.19 ERA, 114 SO, NL 2004 (2)

Gagne went back-to-back with Rolaids wins, and while his numbers were still good, they were not at the 2003 level.  Gagne was seventh in Cy Young voting and he had his third consecutive All-Star year.  This was it for Gagne, who had arm trouble and was never the same again. Gagne bounced to Texas, Boston and Milwaukee and retired in 2008 with 187 Saves.

Eligible since 2014.  Gagne was on the ballot for one year in 2014 and received 0.4% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Chad Cordero, Washington Nationals: 2-4, 47 Saves, 1.82 ERA, 61 SO, NL 2005

Cordero was only in the Majors for seven years (six with Washington) and this was easily his best year.  Cordero’s 47 Saves led the NL, and this was the only year he had an ERA under two and WHIP under one.  He had 128 career Saves.

Cordero did not play the minimum ten seasons required to qualify for the Hall of Fame. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

J.J. Putz, Seattle Mariners: 6-1, 40 Saves, 1.38 ERA, 82 SO, NL 2007

Putz was the Mariners closer for three years and he led the American League in Games Finished (65) and the All-Star had a spectacular 0.698 WHIP.  Putz later played for New York (NL), Chicago (AL) and Arizona and would have 189 career Saves.

Eligible since 2020.  Putz was on the ballot for one year and had 0.3% of the vote.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Jose Valverde, Arizona Diamondbacks: 1-4, 47 Saves, 2.56 ERA, 78 SO, NL 2007

Valverde had a breakout year here he led the NL in Saves (47) went to the All-Star Game, and was sixth for Cy Young voting. Despite that, Valverde was traded to Houston and led the NL in Saves (44) again. 

Eligible since 2020.  Valverde was on the ballot for one year in 2020 but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies: 2-0, 41 Saves, 1.95 ERA, 92 SO, NL 2008

After six years with the Houston Astros, Brad Lidge was traded to the Houston Astros where in his first year, he was an All-Star for the second time, won the Rolaids Relief Award, and helped the Phillies win the World Series.  He would also finish fourth in Cy Young voting.  Lidge played five more years, but it was up and down, and he never came close to his 2008 season again.  He retired with 225 Saves. 

Eligible since 2018.  Lidge was on the ballot for one year on 2018 but did not receive any votes.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Heath Bell, San Diego Padres: 6-4, 42 Saves, 2.71 ERA, 79 SO, NL 2009

This was Bell’s sixth year in the Majors and third in San Diego, but it would be his first as a closer.  Bell rose to the occasion, leading the National League in Saves (42) and he was an All-Star for the first time. 

Eligible since 2020.  Bell was on the ballot for one year on 2020 but did not receive any votes.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Heath Bell, San Diego Padres: 6-1, 47 Saves, 1.93 ERA, 86 SO, NL 2010 (2)

Bell went back-to-back for the Rolaids Award, exceeding his 42 Save mark to 47.  This would be the only year where he dropped his ERA to below two, and he was an All-Star again.  Bell had 43 Saves in 2011, and was an All-Star for the third straight year. His All-Star runs were over, as was his stay in San Diego.  Bell played three more seasons, one with Miami, Arizona and Tampa Bay, and accrued 168 Saves over his career. 

Eligible since 2020.  Bell was on the ballot for one year on 2020 but did not receive any votes.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers: 2-4, 49 Saves, 2.56 ERA, 78 SO, AL 2011 (2)

Joining the Detroit Tigers in 2010, Valverde led the AL in Saves (49), Games Finished (70) and Games Pitched (75) this season. He would also win the Delivery Man of the Year Award, and was fifth in Cy Young voting.  Valverde played until 2014, with a final year as a Met, and he accrued 288 Saves.

Eligible since 2020.  Valverde was on the ballot for one year but did not receive any votes.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

 

Let’s update our tally, shall we?       

Award in Question

Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF

Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF.

NBA MVP

100%

100%

NHL Art Ross

100%

100%

NHL Hart Trophy

93.6%

96.3%

NBA Finals MVP

91.3%

94.9%

NHL Norris

90.5%

96.4%

NHL Ted Lindsay Award

90.0%

 

NBA All-Star Game MVP

89.5%

91.7%

NHL Conn Smythe

74.2%

85.4%

NFL Bert Bell Award

73.7%

71.4%

NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

73.1%

79.4%

NFL AP MVP

68.3%

74.0%

NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

66.7%

66.7%

NHL Lady Byng

63.8%

76.0%

NFL Defensive Player of the Year

60.8%

71.1%

NFL Super Bowl MVP

60.6%

64.9%

NHL Mark Messier Leadership Award

60.0%

60.0%

NBA Defensive Player of the Year

58.3%

56.5%

NHL Vezina

57.1%

66.3%

NBA Rookie of the Year

56.5%

56.5%

MLB MVP

55.0%

60.2%

NFL Pro Bowl MVP

52.3%

54.8%

MLB Lou Gehrig Award

51.9%

51.9%

MLB Roberto Clemente Award

47.4%

47.4%

NHL Calder Trophy

46.5%

46.5%

NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

46.0%

46.0%

MLB/NL/AL Cy Young Award

44.4%

55.4%

MLB Babe Ruth Award

37.0%

39.3%

NHL King Clancy Award

36.8%

36.8%

NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy

33.3%

36.7%

MLB World Series MVP

33.3%

36.8%

MLB Hutch Award

33.1%

33.1%

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

28.6%

28.6%

NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

27.9%

27.9%

MLB Edgar Martinez Award

26.7%

17.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Designated Hitter)

25.0%

30.8%

MLB Comeback Player of the Year

25.0%

25.0%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Shortstop)

23.5%

52.6%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove

21.7%

36.8%

NHL William M. Jennings Trophy

20.7%

40.4%

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

20.6%

20.6%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Catcher)

20.0%

22.5%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Second Base)

18.8%

39.8%

MLB Rolaids Reliever of the Year

18.6%

33.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Shortstop)

18.2%

35.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Pitcher)

18.2%

20.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Second Base)

16.7%

32.7%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Outfield)

16.7%

30.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Outfield)

15.7%

25.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Third Base)

14.3%

14.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Third Base)

13.6%

14.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (First Base)

13.6%

13.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Rookie of the Year

13.3%

13.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Catcher)

10.3%

15.2%

NBA Most Improved Player of the Year

5.3%

3.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (First Base)

3.8%

3.2%

NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

0.0%

0.0%

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award in MLB who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Baseball Hall of Fame:

Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels: 2-3, 47 Saves, 1.73 ERA, 98 SO, NL 2006

Already a World Series Champion as a rookie, Rodriguez led the AL for the second straight year.  He was fourth in Cy Young voting and posted a 12.1 SO/9

Eligible in 2023.

Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels: 2-3, 62 Saves, 2.24 ERA, 77 SO, NL 2008 (2)

Rodriguez became the first player to record over 60 Saves (62), and he also led the AL in Games Pitched (76) and Games Finished (69). The Cy Young voters had him in third with him also placing him sixth in MVP voting.  This would be K-Rod’s last year as an Angel as he signed with the New York Mets as a Free Agent.  Later, he had two All-Star years with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he retired after two seasons with the Detroit Tigers.  Rodriguez had 437 career Saves.

Eligible in 2023.

Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins: 2-2, 47 Saves, 2.10 ERA, 89 SO, AL 2009

Joe Nathan was already an established closer, and this was his sixth consecutive season securing at least 36 Saves.  Nathan who was an All-Star this year, would be one six times over his career and accumulate 377 career Saves.

Eligible in 2022.

Rafael Soriano, Tampa Bay Rays: 3-2, 45 Saves, 1.73 ERA, 57 SO, AL 2010

Rafael Soriano was in the Majors for 14 seasons, with only one as a Tampa Bay Ray.  That lone year in Tampa, was his best, as this was the only year he was a league-leader in Saves (45) and had a sub-2 ERA.  Soriano also played for Seattle, Atlanta, New York (AL), Washington and Chicago (NL) and had 207 Saves. 

Eligible in 2021.

John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers: 2-2, 46 Saves, 1.95 ERA, 86 SO, NL 2011

This was John Axford’s third season and the best year of his career.  Axford led the NL in Saves this year (46) and was also ninth in Cy Young voting. Axford would later play for St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Oakland, Toronto and Los Angeles and had 144 Saves over his career. 

Eligible in 2024.

Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles: 2-1, 51 Saves, 2.49 ERA, 41 SO, AL 2012

Johnson was a closer for the first time in his career, and he responded by leading the American League in Saves (51).  He led the AL in the same metric the year after (50) as well as finishing atop the AL leaderboard in Games Finished (63).  He was not an elite closer afterward, playing for Oakland, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and the Angels, ending his career with 178 Saves.

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the players who have won the Rolaids Reliever of the Year who are still active.

Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves: 3-1, 42 Saves, 1.01 ERA, 116 SO, NL 2012

In the season before, Craig Kimbrel won the National League Rookie of the Year while leading the NL in Saves (46).  Kimbrel’s save totals were a little less this year (42), but was still league-leading.  What was really eye-popping was his ERA (1.01), SO/9 (16.7), SO/BB (8.29) and WHIP (0.654).  Kimbrel was fifth in Cy Young voting this year and he also led the NL in Saves the next two seasons.  Kimbrel would later win the Delivery Man of the Year of the Award (2013) and Trevor Hoffman Award (2017).

33 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Cubs.

The Rolaids Reliever of the Year yielded a higher percentage than you would think considering that the Hall of Fame does not have that many Relief Pitchers in the Hall.  As this is now a defunct award, this total is no likely to change much.

So, what is up next?

We are not venturing to far, as we look at another defunct award for Relief Pitchers, the MLB Delivery Man of the Year.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

Hall of Famer Brian McBride made baseball-mad Ohio fall in love with soccer

The criteria for getting into the National Soccer Hall of Fame means that it will stay an incredibly exclusive club, reserved for only the most distinguished pros from the United States. If you haven't represented the US more than 20 times or played at least five seasons in a United States first division professional league, and then been a postseason league all-star at least once, then don’t bother waiting for a letter in the post. It ain’t coming. 

But perhaps there is an exception to be made. And that exception is the player to capture the hearts and minds of a baseball-mad (or mad for any sport other than soccer) state. As it happens, and luckily for the NSHOF Board of Directors, Brian McBride would go on to have one of the most accomplished careers any player from the USA has had, so there wasn’t any need for a special category - we're just spitballing with that exception, just in case. Indeed, Brian McBride was the first-ever pick in the MLS draft in 1996 and it would be 18 years later that he would be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. 

The Columbus Crew had 160 other players to choose from but they made McBride the first pick of the 1996 draft and, in the process, set the striker on his way to becoming one of the all-time greats in the MLS. Following the draft, McBride spent eight years in Ohio and made a name for himself in a state that is obsessed with baseball, which it must be said, is no small feat. 
 
For anyone unfamiliar with the state's connection to baseball, there are two teams that compete in the MLB from Ohio and, before McBride arrived in the Buckeye State, there was very little space in the hearts of Ohioans for any other sporting interests. The Cincinnati Reds had, after all, won the World Series three times in twenty years before McBride's draft pick in 1996 and the Cleveland Indians were runners up in 1995 and 1997. These days it's the Indians who are the Ohio favorites to win another World Series as their MLB odds on bet365 see them at +900 to win the state’s first World Series since 1990. But the point stands: even if it's been a while since any team in Ohio took home a World Series, back in the mid-90s, they were the teams to beat and their news took up all the sports pages.
 
Needless to say, McBride didn’t have a captive audience on his hands when he arrived but, over the eight years, his 72 goals in 177 appearances slowly brought Ohioans to the soccer table. 
 
The center-forward was so prolific in the MLS for the Columbus Crew that he earned himself a transfer to the English Premier League, the world’s most competitive soccer league. After a short spell at Everton, McBride joined Fulham and the cult status he enjoyed in Ohio soon spread to southwest London, with the forward becoming a legend at Craven Cottage. 

The American would eventually leave Europe and head back to the states in 2008 after he joined the Chicago Fire but it was his influence in Ohio that makes him the fabled player that he is today.