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junker-town · 4 years

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An NFL player’s guide for the right (and wrong) time to hurdle

Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley are two of the NFL’s best hurdlers. | Credit: Getty Images / SB Nation illustration

NFL players aren’t going to stop hurdling, but hopefully they take these suggestions into consideration.

Hurdling is both an exciting and terrifying aspect of football. When hurdling another player actually works, it’s awesome. But when it goes poorly, it’s embarrassing, and worse, it can lead to an injury.

Hurdling has been a go-to highlight move for years, but recently it seems to that more and more players are doing it in the NFL.

That doesn’t mean every player should attempt it during a game. Luckily, we put together a handy guide to help.

Hurdle if you have the genes to do so

Case in point: Ezekiel Elliott

Elliott was drafted by Dallas fourth overall in 2016, and led the NFL in rushing twice in his first three seasons. His production over the last few years has made him worthy of being considered one of the NFL’s best backs.

Doing things like this certainly helps that reputation. Elliott absolutely destroyed Eagles cornerback Tre Sullivan during a Sunday Night Football game in 2018:

Zeke, this man has a family pic.twitter.com/K6GRcEvZaM

— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) November 12, 2018

That is absolutely perfect form: he clears the defender with ease and lands his feet and body forward so he can keep barreling downfield.

“Zeke says if these guys are gonna go low, I have to be able to show them that I’m gonna go over the top of them by hurdling ‘em,” said Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett in NFL Films’ The Hurdle.

He also had this hurdle against the Bears in 2016, during which he was airborne for a solid three years:

This isn’t a new move for Zeke whatsoever. He also did it at Ohio State:

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Part of the reason Zeke can hurdle like this is that it’s literally in his genes — he hurdled in high school, and his mother, Dawn, was an all-conference track star at Missouri. His sister Lailah is a sophomore on OSU’s track team, where she runs hurdles, too. His other sister Aaliyah ran track and hurdles in Missouri as well.

It runs in the family... (Photo cred @pj844) pic.twitter.com/ipmTwuWRBC

— Momma, Mom & Mommy (@itz_mizdee) November 12, 2018

Not all running backs agree with his decisions to go jump over defenders, though:

“He better stop that,” said Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett in 2017 via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. ��That’s one thing that I don’t like. When you get airborne, you’re at the mercy of the hit, and sometimes you can’t protect yourself.”

Dorsett disagrees with Zeke hurdling, but genes don’t lie.

Hurdle if you’ve ever won a state championship in the event

Case in point: Todd Gurley

The Los Angeles Rams running back is a freak of nature, and he could probably hurdle in every single game if he wanted to. One of his best hurdles came during a 2017 game against Washington when Gurley jumped over D.J. Swearinger like it was nothing:

“You don’t really ever teach a guy — that’s not something that you coach,” said Rams head coach Sean McVay via The Hurdle. “I think certain guys, they just kind of have had to feel how to control their body and really since they were younger kids.”

Gurley does this type of thing a lot:

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

A good reason Gurley is so good at this? He won a hurdling state championship in high school in North Carolina, setting school records in the 110 and 300 meters. Gurley’s high school track coach, Andrew Harding, thought Gurley was a good enough hurdler to win a gold medal in the event.

“That’s how talented he was,” Harding told ESPN in 2017. “I really do believe he could have been that. I don’t make that comment with just about anybody, but Todd was that gifted.”

Like Zeke, Gurley hurdled in college, too:

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Although Gurley hasn’t gotten injured from hurdling, he realizes the risks that are involved.

“One day, it’s probably going to end bad,” Gurley said on ESPN’s Undisputed in 2018. “Until then, I’m going to keep jumping. For the most part, it’s more DBs. Most DBs are not going to hit a running back high, especially if they’re going 100 miles per hour fast at them. It’s kind of just a reaction and for the most part, it’s been working.”

Hurdle if you’re 6’5 and have impressive athleticism

Case in point: Josh Allen

The Bills’ first-round draft pick made his second career start on the road against the Minnesota Vikings in 2018. He finished with 39 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including this amazing hurdle over the Vikings’ Anthony Barr for a first down:

This just in: Josh Allen has ups!#BUFvsMIN #GoBills pic.twitter.com/xv6cxtKu2h

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 23, 2018

“I was trusting my feet, trusting my gut,” Allen told ESPN after the game. “There was a guy who was maybe three yards in front of the sticks. I knew we needed a first down there and we went on to score on that drive. It was a big play, but it was just another first down.”

This type of play coming from Allen might’ve been unexpected coming from a quarterback. But as Adam Stites pointed out, Allen’s athleticism shouldn’t be too surprising:

He had above-average results in just about every drill at the NFL Combine, including his 4.75-second 40-yard dash, 33.5-inch vertical, and 119-inch broad jump. But other quarterbacks have put up similar numbers and never looked good on a football field.

Those who want the Bills’ franchise QB to stay healthy might not want him to hurdle and risk injury, but it’s pretty awesome that Allen is able to do this in the first place.

Hurdle if you have ridiculously strong, tree-trunk like legs

Case in point: Saquon Barkley

The former No. 2 overall draft pick made a name for himself in college, where he finished as Penn State’s all-time rushing touchdown (43) and total touchdown (53) leader. But he was powerful off the field, too. Back in 2017, Barkley broke a Penn State weightlifting record when he did this:

Penn State Strong! Barkley 405lbs Power Clean pic.twitter.com/1LnAEYqy73

— Iron Lions (@IronLions1) June 29, 2017

Barkley’s thighs are so jacked we once came up with 20 nicknames for them. His speed and athleticism for his size is quite the combo. At the combine, he checked in at 6’0, 233 pounds, and still managed to run a 4.4 40-yard dash with a 4.24 shuttle and 41-inch vertical leap. During Barkley’s rookie season with the New York Giants, he rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns, and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

During that same rookie season, he hurdled over dudes like Malcolm Jenkins with ease:

Best 9-yard run you'll ever see? @Saquon #PHIvsNYG : @nflnetwork + @NFLonFOX + : https://t.co/DJUityQHC9 pic.twitter.com/fbSXGmIRo4

— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2018

To avoid risking injury, Barkley may not hurdle in the future all too often, but it’s certainly fun to see when he does it.

Hurdle if you can make a pass rush play

Case in point: Seattle linebacker Mychal Kendricks

The eight-year NFL veteran suffered a knee injury in December 2018 that sidelined him for the rest of the season, but he’s fully healthy for Seattle this season. So healthy, in fact, that he freaking hurdled Ravens running back Mark Ingram while trying to pressure Lamar Jackson:

Mychal Kendricks with the pass rush hurdle @MychalKendricks pic.twitter.com/TLKNlD18ie

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 20, 2019

Granted, Ingram was probably a lot easier to hurdle than, say, an opposing offensive lineman, but Kendricks made a good decision here since he was able to get to Jackson afterward.

Hurdle if you’re an ageless wonder

Case in point: Vernon Davis

During his NFL Combine, Davis ran a 4.38 40-yard-dash — part of the reason he was the No. 6 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2006, the fourth-highest tight end selected in draft history.

Incredibly, Davis has been able to maintain a 14-year NFL career, which is double the average league career length. At 35 years old, his style of play hasn’t slowed down one bit. During a 2019 game against the Eagles, he showed off this hurdle:

What’s even more impressive is that he scored a 48-yard touchdown after making this leap!

I’m just saying, I don’t know many 35-year-olds who can hurdle like this.

Don’t hurdle if you’re a tight end born after 1996

Making mistakes when you’re still a young player is part of the game of football. That’s been evident with tight ends, who have made incredibly poor decisions to hurdle in games, especially in 2019.

Case in point: Ravens TE Mark Andrews

The 23-year old Andrews tried hurdling against the Cincinnati Bengals and well, he ended up fumbling the football because of it:

Some things are just a little too ambitious...#CINvsBAL | #SeizeTheDEY pic.twitter.com/8Y41z7ROqY

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 13, 2019

But even after the game Andrews admitted he isn’t ruling out hurdling completely in the future.

“I’m not going to stop being me, being an aggressive player,” Andrews said via Penn Live. “It wasn’t anything they did. I hit the ball out with my own knee, and I gotta be better than that. I can’t do that to my team. That’s not acceptable.”

Case in point: Buffalo Bills TE Dawson Knox

Knox was selected by the Bills out of Ole Miss in the third round of the draft. Call it a rookie mistake, but Knox made an equally ill-advised decision to hurdle against the Titans:

O U C H (via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/YCCLrDyOt0

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 6, 2019

The best part in this video is the announcer going “Mm!” during the replay because yeah, ouch.

Case in point: Lions TE T.J. Hockenson

Hockenson — a former Iowa Hawkeye and Detroit’s first-round draft pick — made a bad he had this scary hurdle attempt against the Kansas City Chiefs:

The hurdling phenomenon may have just come to an end. TJ Hockenson is hurt after this play pic.twitter.com/Dv4pGGCD5W

— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) September 29, 2019

What’s worse is that Hockenson actually got hurt on this attempted hurdle, and had to get carted off the field after the play.

Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

He was in the concussion protocol for a couple weeks because of this injury, too. But like the Ravens’ Andrews, Hockenson isn’t completely ruling out hurdling in the future:

“Nah, I’m going to go out there and play the game,” Hockenson said when asked if he’d stop attempting to hurdle. “I’m not worried about anything else. I’m just going out there to play the game, whether that opportunity presents itself or not. I’m not going to change anything based on one thing.”

Don’t hurdle if it’s illegal

Case in point: Hurdling over linemen to try and block kicks

In 2017, the NFL banned defenders leaping over linemen to block kicks. It’s a pretty tragic rule change, because at its best it produced beautiful block plays like this one:

That’s former Seahawks DB Kam Chancellor hurdling against the Panthers in the playoffs in 2014. This particular block didn’t count (Chancellor ran into the kicker after the hurdle), but it was still an amazing attempt.

Here’s what the NFL rulebook says about leaping now:

Running forward and leaping across the line of scrimmage in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or Try Kick, or apparent kick, unless the leaping player was in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped. A player who is more than one yard behind the line of scrimmage before or at the snap, may run forward and leap, provided he does not cross the line of scrimmage or land on players.

That doesn’t mean players haven’t tried. During a 2018 game between the Seahawks and Vikings, Bobby Wagner used his teammates to jump over the line to block a kick:

Bobby Wagner is a freak pic.twitter.com/tIA4EMxDha

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) December 11, 2018

The refs should have called a penalty on the play since you aren’t allowed to use your teammates for leverage, but they didn’t throw a flag. So Wagner got away with one there.

There are obvious concerns with hurdling linemen, and the first one being safety.

Don’t hurdle if you’re playing in a dang preseason game

Case in point: Reggie Bush

During an August 2015 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos, the then-49ers running back Bush attempted to hurdle five-time Pro Bowl corner Aqib Talib. Let’s just say it did not go ideally:

First of all, to address Bush’s decision to hurdle: this is absolutely terrible, especially given how low Bush still was to the ground. Bush was lucky he didn’t get hurt here, as Niners Nation pointed out at the time.

Bush, at least, could laugh at himself after the game:

Lol damn did it look that bad on TV? All I could do was laugh at myself! #iwasntready… https://t.co/M9Lb0ABloi

— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) August 30, 2015

Glad Bush found the humor in this, but just a bad idea all around here.

As you can see, there’s a very thin line between being a highlight and a blooper when it comes to hurdling.

What side of that line you might end up on might be a bit difficult to gauge in the middle of a play, but hopefully this guide helps. While NFL players aren’t going to stop hurdling completely, they can certainly take these suggestions into consideration.

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braddavis2410 · 6 years

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You’re Still In First Place, Pittsburgh Pirates

My Dearest Pittsburgh Pirates,

I said that I wanted a 4-2 week and you delivered. I’m rather impressed. The week started with a snow out in Chicago on Monday which is when we last spoke. You followed that up by winning two out of three against the division favorite Chicago Cubs. Not easy to pull off on the road though Anthony Rizzo’s trip to the disabled list certainly helped your cause. You didn’t have to face Yu Darvish or Jose Quintana though both of them are off to rough starts anyway. They also didn’t have to face your best pitcher, Jameson Taillon, so it all evens out in the end. You followed that with trip to Miami to play the Derek Jeter owned, rebuilding Marlins. After losing game one in sloppy fashion, you rebounded to win game two 1-0 on Saturday thanks to two bunt base hits and capped it off with a solid 7-3 victory behind a strong outing from Ivan Nova. You are 11-4 and still sit atop the National League Central. You are tied for the second best record in the NL and you are tied for the fourth best record in all of baseball. The bats weren’t as electric this week but you kept finding ways to win which is a sign of a (gulp) good team. I hesitate to use that term simply because it’s still so early and things like Corey Dickerson having the highest lineup drive percentage and the highest WAR in baseball seem unsustainable. The pitching has been better than expected and even the bullpen seems to hopefully be calming down. Who knows how far this will go but all I know for sure is that so far I’m very much enjoying the ride.

Jameson Taillon has become the unrequited ace of this staff. After him, the second-best pitcher in the rotation has by far been Trevor Williams. People might think that his current record of 3-0, his 1.56 ERA, and his 1.21 WHIP are unsustainable statistics. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that he will keep those numbers but his 3.03 FIP is a stat that’s far more interesting to me. It’s not out of the question that he could have a consistent mid 3’s ERA because that’s what he’s been doing for a year now. Over his last year as a starter, Williams is 10-9 in 28 starts with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Batters splits over that time against him are .251/.324/.380 for a .704 OPS against. He has given up 14 home runs in 163 2/3 innings over that time. That means he gives up one homer every 11.7 innings. All of those numbers include a BABIP (batting avg of balls in play) of .290 which is high and could also go down. Those aren’t exactly ace-type numbers but they are really good if that’s your #3 starter. And keep in mind that he’s young and still learning. He could conceivably improve as he gets older. If he continues like this, the idea of Taillon, eventually top prospect Mitch Keller, and Williams at the top of the rotation becomes very attractive. We will see if the league figures Williams out and if he will have to adjust to keep performing at this level. So far getting him in a trade for a coach that ended up getting fired anyway looks brilliant.

The bullpen still left a lot to be desired after last week. I begged for Neverauskas and Smoker to be demoted for Siegrist and Schugel while not being fully aware that Schugel was coming back from an injury and just started a rehab assignment this week. Siegrist still hasn’t reported to AAA so it seems unlikely we will see him anytime soon, if at all. You did finally send down Smoker and Clay Holmes who was brought up after Musgrove hit the DL. You brought up Kyle Crick, the reliever you received as part of the Cutch trade. He’s a hard thrower with upside so you would hope he can at least be a better option than Josh Smoker. Richard Rodriguez, signed to a minor league deal this offseason, was the other pitcher brought up. He’s at least interesting because his last two years in the minors have been very good. He’s sported ERA’s of 2.53 and 2.42, WHIP’s of 1.10 and 1.05, and a .216 batting average against in both seasons. In those two seasons, he pitched 152 1/3 innings, walked 43, and struck out 161. Those are dominant numbers. He got lit up in five innings in the majors last year but that’s a ridiculously small sample size. He’s a hard thrower but he is already 28. Sometimes you wonder why someone who is so good in AAA hasn’t got more of a chance in the majors. I like his upside so we will see. This week you also acquired Enny Ramirez off waivers from Washington. He will report in the next day or two which hopefully means the demotion of Neverauskas is finally upon us. Ramirez threw 55 2/3 innings in the majors last year for the Nationals with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. His 10.5 K/9 were impressive and his 3.7 BB/9 were not. He pitched 75 2/3 innings the two years prior in Tampa Bay with WHIP’s of 1.73 and 1.53. That’s not good. I like that he has major league experience and if this is our last option out of the bullpen, I feel a lot more comfortable with him then our previous options. Hopefully these additions can stop the bullpen carousel that could very well be a season long issue.

I’ve spoke extensively about how important keeping Polanco healthy is to your season, even after only one hit the entire weekend. It’s very important to keep Francisco Cervelli healthy too. Let’s start with the fact that he currently holds a .904 OPS, a 135 OPS+, and that he’s been extremely clutch sporting a 1.274 OPS with runners in scoring position including 2 homers and 12 RBI’s. The job he does behind the dish might even be more vital. Every pitcher he’s ever caught raves about the help he provides them. Ivan Nova decided to resign with you partially because he loved Cervelli’s insight so much. You also see how seasoned he is compared to your other options. Elias Diaz started for Cevelli on Friday night and he had an adventurous night. He was 2 for 2 with a walk and a two-run homer. That’s a pretty good night. Defense was another story. With a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 5th, the Marlins had the bases loaded and one out. Starlin Castro hit a sacrifice fly to Polanco in right field scoring a run and tying the game. Polanco still made the throw to the plate and Diaz tried to catch the runner tagging to take second. He airmailed it into center field allowing both runs to score and putting them up by two runs. I’ve honestly seen Cervelli make similar mistakes but it’s always worse when it basically costs you the game. The defensive play I had a bigger problem with was when the Marlins got their first run. With two outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd in the bottom of the 2nd, the Marlins’ pitcher, Dillon Peters, was batting. Chad Kuhl threw a slider in the dirt to Diaz’s non-glove side. Instead of sliding over and using his body to block it, Diaz lazily just tried catch it and it turned into a wild pitch. That slide and block is a Cervelli specialty. That’s not acceptable especially in that situation and Cervelli would know that. It’s those little elements that show off his importance. He already took a pitch off the hand yesterday so who knows how long until he has a stint on the DL. If he keeps hitting in any capacity like this, he becomes more essential than ever.

Naturally all of this good news had to be met with some bad news. The pitch that hit JHay yesterday broke his hand and he will miss six weeks. That means he’s back around the end of May. Not the end of the world but we will see a drop in defense at that position if Adam Frazier becomes the everyday starter with SRod getting starts against lefties. Frazier can hit but watching him boot an easy grounder yesterday after JHay left the game isn’t reassuring. You will go into this week JHay-less back at home for a quick three game homestand against the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies were a wildcard team last year and are out to a 9-8 record so far. Not bad. Thanks to a fight that broke out after a pitch was thrown at him, perennial MVP candidate Nolan Arenado will not play in the series because he’s serving his five-game suspension. That’s now two of the last three series where arguably the team’s best player is out. You need to take advantage. You already did once against the Cubs. After that, you travel across the state to Philadelphia to take on the upstart Phillies in a four-game series. They are 9-5 and currently sit in second place in the NL East. That series should begin with a (not so) friendly face. Jake Arrieta was signed by the Phillies this offseason for 3 years, 75 million and he is scheduled to start game one of the series on Thursday. Fun times. This will be the first week you don’t have a day off so make sure to pace yourself. These are beatable teams but nothing is ever a given. Take care, be safe, and talk to you next week.

Surprisingly Still Steeped In Success,

Brad

P.S. still stands for “Plugging Something” which remains the unchanged phrase. I would like you remind you that my new podcast that I co-wrote with my friend Chris Maxwell called DEATH AT SUNSET: HARD TIMES AND SOFT DRINKS is now available on Apple Podcasts (aka iTunes), Stitcher Radio, Google Radio Play, and SoundCloud. Follow P.I. Jack Dime as he searches for a missing bus boy and stumbles upon a conspiracy involving a Los Angeles booze shortage. This comedy sunshine noir story is told in four, 20 (ish) minutes episodes. Please listen, rate, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks so much for your support of this blog and of our new endeavor!

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furederiko · 7 years

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Tis the start of the week, thus it's time for Random-News-Digest! Only a few categories, though...

Disney Live Action

"Beauty and the Beast" has had its big Hollywood premiere several days ago, following the UK one that was already held in a prior date. Which means, critics have begun voicing their opinions about it. From what I read so far, the response was... rather divisive. Some called it a loyal, bold, and faithful adaptation of the original, that would bring together old fans and new ones alike. Some praised the movie to the point of predicting it to be one of the year's first best-selling title so far, that it's going to make a lot of money. But on the opposite side, there were those who weren't as pleased with the adaptation. Collider called it "too much of a good thing", and The Hollywood Reporter likened it to a "crystal-meth-like narcotic high that lasts about two hours"! Both which... can mean good and bad at the same time. Of course, the rule of the thumb is, everyone has the rights to have their own personal and subjective opinion. So in the end, it's all just a matter of taste. Knowing that, it's hard to pinpoint which one of these responses is the accurate one, without actually seeing the movie with our own eyes. In fact, even you and I might have a completely different opinion about it. That's just the way it is.

Backlash to the movie also came in other areas. The first one was about Disney's approach to the 'renewed' sexual orientation of one character, that made fans both buzzing in cheer and jeer. The movie might not even gain access to Russia JUST because of it! WOW. In an interview with Attitude Magazine, director Bill Condon (who is openly LGBT, in case you're not aware) stated that Josh Gad's LeFou might be heading towards a more 'queer' trajection in the movie. Basically crowning him as Disney's first openly LGBT character in the big screen. This is said to be an update from the original animated movie, that originally placed his character as some kind of idiot manservant comic-relief to Gaston. Who, by the way, in the movie is played by the loveable dashing actor Luke Evans. Thus making perfect sense that anyone, regardless of their gender, might easily have a crush on him *wink*.

In my opinion (rhyming nicely with LeFou's actor's point of view), I see nothing wrong with it. In fact, this is a natural progresive albeit MINOR update that embraces the change in our culture and society. If not something that simply works as a subtle tribute to the late Howard Ashman, the original lyricist of the animated movie, whose fingerprints are all over the animated movie. C'mon guys, it's the year 2017! But why minor, you ask? Because if you actually pay attention to the character of LeFou in the animated movie, there has ALWAYS been a hint of attraction to his boss. Something that went beyond mere "I respect my boss so much, I'll go with him wherever he goes". It WAS there all along, so what Disney is doing, is nothing more than a confirmation. Problem is, there are people who simply don't want to accept this, and being an internet era, immediately voiced their disagreement. Especially after USA officially became a 'discriminative country' thanks to its new elected leader. This kind of reaction feels... ODD, if you ask me. But to each their own, so who am I to judge, right? Besides, just like above, I need to see the movie first before I can fairly say whether this update is for the better or opposite, or even worth the pointless argument alone.

The other negative buzz, was the ridiculous questioning of lead actress Emma Watson's feminism stand! With some even going so far as calling her... a hypocrite. YIKES! Yes, this came following her rather revealing photo shoot for an interview with Vanity Fair. This reaction, was also... ODD. Pray tell, WHAT is really the point of being a feminist? Isn't it, the FREEDOM of choice for women to express themselves, to stand proud without the need to be approved by men? Isn't that... what Watson was doing? Hmmmm. Which is why I'm feeling confused about the reasonings behind these decries. Does this mean, a fully grown-up actress (albeit growing on-screen from an innocent child one), is NOT allowed to do both? Posing elegantly in a magazine for a mature art piece, and still be a feminist who stands up for female rights? Once again, do tell me what's the point of feminism. Because the way I see it, if she's not allowed to perform such pose just because she's a woman, then isn't that... sexist instead? And for crying out loud, it's her own body too, not ours! Really, please elaborate me on this (which is a sarcastic rhetoric, in case you don't realize one). I thought being feminist is an ideal that extends more than just about women wearing pants...

As of writing, "Beauty and the Beast" is sitting at a score of 73%, aggregated from 44 critics on RottenTomatoes. This number will definitely fluctuate in the coming weeks, so it's not the end result. For the sake of pure numerical comparison only (not quality, that'd be subjective), Disney's previous two live action remakes ranked higher. Kenneth Branagh's "Cinderella" ended with a 83%, while Jon Favreau's recent Academy Award winning "The Jungle Book" finished with a heaping 95%. To be fair, I'm never a fan of the original animated movie in the first place, so my interest to see this movie hasn't been as high as those other titles. But now my curiousity has peaked at the highest level, because I just need to see whether these absurd complains are true, or that these people are only making too much of a big deal out of nothing. I have a feeling it's the second one...

Currently in production for a December 25, 2018 release, is the long awaited sequel "Mary Poppins Returns". Disney Studio has officially released the first look for lead actress Emily Blunt as the titular character via Twitter. And well, response to this one was generally positive. Which was on point, if you ask me, because Disney is keeping most of Poppins' signature looks in tact. That is something that would easily please fans of the first movie that starred the legendary Julie Andrews. Of course, with the risk of sounding pessimistic, "Beauty and the Beast" also had the same warm-welcome at first. But look at what is happening now, right?

Anyway, I expect we're going to see more of the other cast really soon. Just a reminder, Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer are set to portray the adult versions of Michael and Jane Banks, the children that Poppins nannied in the first movie. Lin-Manuel Miranda is set to play Jack, a street lamplighter who will aid Poppins in her mission to bring back joy to the Banks. While Meryl Streep will be playing her cousin. Will this movie be as captivating and genuinely endearing like the first one? Or will it suffer unnecessary backlashes, because people in the modern age are more prone to complain about everything and can't seem to shut their mouth for just a moment to enjoy something as is? As always, we'll see... hahaha.

X-Men Universe

Before you ask, NO, I won't talk about that X-Men TV show that had just cast its Polaris. I couldn't care less about it, so this is as far as I go on even mentioning one. Yep, I'll just focus on talking about the movies instead. But nope, I won't talk about that NOT-Supernova X-Men movie, which I couldn't care less. Not even "Logan" as well. Even if critics everywhere are praising the movie, seemingly unable to find any flaws in the R-rated gruesome comic book adaptation, that is already raking a great amount of money in its first weekend (and exceeding expectations too). I just don't have that much interest for Hugh Jackman's last foray as the titular character, and will not watch one until.... the home video is out. That's all I can say.

Instead, I'm going to talk about another title that seems to be in pre-production process. Yes, "Deadpool 2"! Sequel to the surprise hit that made FOX shifted direction into venturing the R-rated superhero business. Apparently, there's a short for the sequel that has been playing in front of "Logan". Not to worry though, because FOX and lead actor Ryan Reynolds has kindly released this 03:41 minutes butt-sho... er, I mean "No Good Deed" online for everyone to see. So it's not just limited to those who are watching "Logan" anymore. Lucky for me, eh? Then again, that's not such a big deal anyway (Deadpool: "R U effing kidding me?"), because writer-producer Rhett Reese has clarified that this footage will NOT be used in the movie itself. What's the purpose then? Simply a final message to Hugh Jackman before he rides off into the sunset. After all, with Wolverine officially gone, the burden has fallen to Reynolds' shoulder to carry the flag of the FOX-Marvel franchise. Reese also confirmed that his sequel is currently in casting mode, hence why there is no release date given for the movie just yet.

Speaking of casting, another big name has been thrown to the "Who Should Play Cable" hopefuls. This time, it's a popular name that would make Netflix's fans happy, particularly those who are watching "Stranger Things". According to The Wrap, Hawkins Police Department Chief himself, David Harbour, has been considered for the role of the future-based mutant. He even said to have screen-tested for the part. Of course, knowing what happened to previous contenders like Kyle Chandler, this doesn't necessarily mean Harbour is set for the role. So don't get excited too much too soon about it, because it might very well be just a passing news in the near future. Not to mention, The Wrap's source El Mayimbe isn't as reliable as he used to be anymore, with most of his scoops regarding "Logan" turning out to be false. Nevertheless, it's still interesting to see the range of actors they are looking for the character.

Personally, while I think Harbour's a fantastic actor, I just couldn't see him as Cable. Not saying that he won't be able to pull it off, but I'm expecting someone who's a little more... stern and naturally buffed, considering the character itself has always been like that. That's nothing Hollywood can't fixed of course, but those who already came with the built would be better. Perhaps, the likes of John Cena, or Joe Manganiello would fit my criteria for this role? Even the recently cast Black Bolt, could be a better choice... physique-wise. Anyway, let's just hope we'll hear more about the casting soon. With "Logan" already out on the market, and its actor posting a final message to Wolverine fans, it makes sense that FOX would be moving ahead with "Deadpool 2". To keep the hype strong for their favor, what else?

Marvel Studios

"Doctor Strange" has been released for home video for quite some time now. Thanks to this, director Scott Derrickson has been making rounds about his movie once more, either with the press or via social media. He's been answering questions on Twitter lately, and his response might have hinted on what we can expect from the as-of-yet-unnannounced sequel. To be honest, since "Doctor Strange" was a success and a easy hit among audience, even snagging some prestigious Awards honors ever since (like Academy Award?), a sequel is nothing more than a sure thing. Highly likely Marvel Studios consciously opts to not reveal too much about it though, to keep the momentum and attention towards current projects instead. Heck, confirming its sequel for Phase 4 could even be considered spoiler alert for "Avengers: Infinity War", right? A movie that will see Benedict Cumberbatch's second return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Intriguingly, while Derrickson hasn't been confirmed to return for the directorial duty, the way he responded with ideas and everything, seems to have partially confirmed that he would definitely be back, or at least involved in the sequel.

As for what he said about the inevitable solo sequel, Derrickson has revealed several interesting bits. When asked about the potential of Jericho Drumm, or more familiarly known as the Master of Mystic Arts Brother Voodoo, Derrickson replied that his brother, Daniel Drumm's demise might not serve as a mere pointless random incident. After all, this IS Marvel Studios we're talking about, and not FOX nor Warner Bros. His death will surely triggered an after-effect from his younger brother. Since in recent years Jericho has become a Sorcerer Supreme himself, it makes perfect sense to see him joining the sequel as Strange's apprentice. To add credential to this, do remember that when Chiwetel Ejiofor was cast, many sites have speculated that he's playing Jericho instead of Mordo. As for which actor should play Jericho? Expect Marvel Studios to target big names. I don't know, how about... Trevante Rhodes from the latest Best Picture Winner "Moonlight"? *grins*

The brief inclusion of Dormammu the Dread in the movie, would naturally pave way to another key character in the Doctor Strange lore: his equally magical romantic interest, Clea. It wouldn't be surprising to see the character incorporated in the sequel, because as Derrickson himself stated, "you can't tell the story of Doctor Strange w/out eventually dealing w/Clea.". It's safe to say that we haven't seen the last of Dormammu, thus his silver-haired sorceress nephew will surely come into play as well. As for the villain, Derrickson mentioned the name Nightmare once again, but unlike before, he has backtracked a bit with a tinge of uncertainly because he's a "tricky villain to get right". In my opinion, going with Nightmare would allow Marvel Studios to completely venture to the realm of horror genre, and that's certainly going to be a challenge. It could open the gate for supernatural characters like Blade, or Moon Knight too. Especially since Derrickson is clearly a fan of the latter, as much as the Fantastic Four.

Promotional materials have begun hitting the internet, in anticipation of the arrival of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2". We get to see more of Kurt Russel's Ego, as well as Yondu and Nebula who both have been hinted greatly to be joining the team. The movie will open on May 5, 2017 in the US, but I won't be surprised if it arrives earlier in other countries. In fact, I believe it will be available here late next month. Because that's how it has always worked for Marvel Studios movies. We almost always get a May movie in April. The good news is, even after seeing the third and latest trailer, I still don't have any clue about what the movie is all about. Which is good, because I'd love nothing more than some elements of surprise!

Meanwhile, the July movie, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is said to have begun additional photography as we speak. Or 'reshoots', in case you prefer a much pessimistic sounding choice of words. According to reports from social media, a crew for the movie was spotted at Disneyland California. Not just that, a school bus scene apparently has been filmed outside of LA's Van Nuys High School. There isn't an official confirmation for reshoots like this, but it is said that lead actor Tom Holland and his personal assistant- best friend Harrison Osterfield will be meeting with co-star Jacob Batalon very soon. Is it for this reshoot? It's anyone's guess.

As for "Infinity War" that's currently in production, there's a rather startling news that was sparked from Atlanta Business Chronicle. Namely, the claim of Pinewood Atlanta Studios' co-owner, that there is a "largest film production ever with a $1 billion budget." going on right there. Easy bet obviously went to Marvel Studios, considering "Infinity War" is gathering a huge number of actors and resources, to create what seems to be a 'Two-Parts Finale' of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Mind you, NONE of this was official news. It was never stated openly that "Infinity War" was what the co-owner was talking about. It's all a result of speculation and pure assumption. But since we know how the internet works, it's more than enough to drive people talking. Both in praise and cynical tone.

Interestingly, this wasn't even new. Bleeding Cool, had also reported the same rumor before. Calling the combination of "Infinity War" and the 2019's UNTITLED Avengers movie to reach the exact same number. So is this true, then? Though I'm inclined to believe its possibility, there's always a high chance that it's nothing more than an exaggeration. After all, Bleeding Cool in particular has been known to be an anti-Kevin Feige fansite, who favors the side of Marvel Comics (as well as Marvel TV) more. That alone is enough to make me question the foundation behind their report. Not to mention, they don't really have a good track-record in reporting insider info. Remember, they were the one who assumed that Chiwetel Ejiofor would be playing Brother Voodo. And we all know how that turned out to be, right? Sean Gerber had posted a fine thinkpiece about how this situation does NOT make sense, pointing out some valid reasons for this to be illogical. Go ahead and read it on Marvel Studios News.

Marvel TV

Production has officially begun for Marvel's "The Inhumans" last week. Precisely on March 3, 2017. Photos of Black Bolt from the set has already begun circulating on the internet (courtesy of Reel News Hawaii)! So fast, huh? A few days prior, the remaining core cast members have been announced. Joining the already announced Iwan Rheon and Anson Mount, were the other Inhumans Royal family characters, as well as two more supporting ones.

The first one to be announced was gorgeous actress Serinda Swan, who was cast to play Medusa Amaquelin. Medusa is the wife of Black Bolt, which means she's the Queen of the Inhumans. Interestingly, this isn't Swan's first comic book role, as she has portrayed the magician Zatanna in the TV series "Smallville" before. Her casting announcement was followed by Asian-American actor Ken Leung, who will be portraying Karnak Mander-Azur. Similar to Swan, this wasn't Leung's first comic book role, as he has played the mutant Spike in FOX's critically panned "X-Men: The Last Stand". To put it simple, Leung is officially both a mutant and inhuman now. How cool is that?

Several others, and arguably lesser characters were announced all together as the production officially began. African-American actor Eme Ikwuakor is set to play Gorgon Petragon. Australian actress Isabelle Cornish will portray Crystal Amaquelin, who is Medusa's younger sister. Mike Moh, familiarly known by gamers all around the world as Ryu in "Street Fighter Assassin's Fist" web-series and its sequel, has been cast as Triton Mander-Azur, who is Karnak's blood-brother. Hawaiian native Sonya Balmores, will portray the Inhumans Royal Guard Auran, while Ellen Woglom's character is currently undisclosed to not spoil the storyline. The same announcement also confirmed the appearance of one key character of the Royal Family: LOCKJAW!!!

As for the characters they are playing, if the official announcements were any indication, then we might be seeing a very faithful adaptation of the comics. Black Bolt will have the power of his devastating voice. Medusa would have her 'powerful hair'. Karnak will be Black Bolt's brilliant strategist with the natural ability to pinpoint weakness in all things. The same with the other three. His brother Triton will have his fish-like ability, Gorgon will have his super strong legs and hooves, while Crystal is a master of elements. Just like in the comics! The only change that seems apparent, is the switching of Karnak and Triton placing in the Mander-Azur family. In the comics, Triton has been described as the older son. But seeing their actors age, it seems this might be reversed. Which shouldn't be a surprise, since many adaptations have been practicing the exact approach ("Ultimate Spider-Man" animated shows, for example). For more information on how these Royal characters are linked as a Family (they are literally siblings and cousins), MCU Exchange has provided an excellent infographic for our convenience. As for Woglom's mystery character, interestingly, she is said to be working at a private aerospace company, with a passion for all things space and lunar. This is a vague hint that the setting of the show would take place out of Earth, and perhaps on the Blue Side of the Moon. Could she be an important character from the comics too, then? That's certainly a possibility.

It's safe to say, that the hype level for the show just skyrocketed due to these announcements. For me personally, it's Lockjaw's inclusion as well as Moh's casting that basically sealed the deal. The moment I saw Moh's name, I think I nerded out, because I've been wanting to see him play a Marvel heroes. Sure, he'd make a far better Shang-Chi than Triton, who will be covered by scales and prosthetics throughout the show. And yes, he'd make a better Karnak too, since he's an actual martial art practitioner (in fact, I wonder why he's not switching role with Leung?). But the fact that he's a Marvel actor now, is enough to make me happy. Of course, it's when I read that the show will incorporate a 2000-pound giant mutt with the power of teleportation, that I basically lost it. After all, you simply can't have a faithful Inhuman show without Lockjaw!

Intriguingly, most if not all of the names in this cast are on a 'different' level than your average TV actors. If you pay attention, most of them have had big screen roles as well. Swan was in "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" and "Tron: Legacy". Leung was recently in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". Cornish was as suspected, the younger sister of movie actress Abbie Cornish. She has been a contender for "Transformers: Age of Extinction" before, but more importantly, she's also a "Home and Away" alumn, a.k.a the show that gave birth to lots of Hollywood big names such as... yes, Chris Hemsworth. Mount was in "Non-Stop" among many other titles. Ikwuakor and Moh mostly had roles in TV, but have been involved in big movie productions before. There has been a wide speculation that Marvel TV was looking for actors who could fit both mediums nicely, considering "The Inhumans" will have an exclusive 2-weeks IMAX debut before proceeding later on as an 8-episodes TV show on ABC. Clearly, this IS indeed the case, and I'm genuinely pleased. Speaking of IMAX debut, the theatre chain itself had announced via Twitter that the first two episode will arrive in one feature-length movie format on September 1st, 2017 (additional scenes will be added for the TV version). This practically confirmed previous report that it will debut on Labor's Day. That's only less than 6 months aways!

If there's any lingering question I have about this show, is how it will play out in the MCU. How significant it will be in the bigger picture. Remember, Marvel Studios had this as a movie planned for Phase 3 once, before "Homecoming" and the sequel of "Ant-Man" shuffled it away to 2019. Kevin Feige had since mentioned that there's still a plan for the movie in Phase 4, but then ABC and Marvel TV announced it a mini-series. Will the one produced by Marvel Studios be using the exact same cast to this one? Will fans' expectation to see Mount's Black Bolt as part of an Illuminati that consists of Robert Downey Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch, Chadwick Boseman, and others, exceeds more than just a wishful thinking? Or will... everyone be recast, similar to the fate Linda Louise-Duan who is not reprising her "Doctor Strange" role in the upcoming Marvel's "The Runaways". As great as these actors are, I doubt they have the high-profile needed to sell a high-budget movie version to a global audience. Which is why many have imagined the likes of Vin Diesel, Jessica Chastain, and other A-list actors in these roles instead. Technically, this show CARRIES the greatest potential to be an actual bridge between the TV and Movie side. But judging from the current situation between Marvel Studios and Marvel TV, it'll be far wiser to not get our hopes up too high. Yes, ABC is a network owned by Disney, but even the House of Mouse has no power to settle what's happening between the two divisions. Especially since both are reporting to a different boss *sigh*. Let's just hope for the best, shall we?

As for the other shows, it seems Marvel's "Cloak and Dagger" has wrapped production of its first episode. At the same time, "Runaways" is close to wrapping its in production, as some candid photos and videos have hit the internet from Long Beach's Ernest McBride High School. Despite the intention to keep things tightly kept in secrecy, eager fans will still find a way to get information anyway. THAT my friend, is how our internet works! LOL. Unfortunately, as great of an idea these two shows are, the chance of me watching both has only continued to wane. As I said, unless it's through illegal means (which is NOT recommended) I don't think I'm going to watch both. Why would I purchase a Hulu and Freeform account to watch one show, right? Looks like it's a good thing that my interest for "The Inhumans" has spiked enormously. In the end, that might be the only new Marvel show I'd be watching. Or is it? According to IMAX CEO Greg Foster, they are "already looking for a second series" to work with. Could we be seeing more Marvel shows with "The Inhumans" treatment then? That's a possibility...

Netflix

The 4th and final Defender's member so far, the last character that Marvel TV promised several years ago, will be upon us in just one week from now. Yes, Danny Rand will be debuting on Marvel's "Iron Fist" on March 17th, 2017. Hype is high, as well as expectations, and as I said, if the last trailer was any indication, then this is going to be an interesting show. At least for me personally.

Unfortunately, just two weeks before all episodes of the show is released worldwide, showrunner Scott Buck just had to 'run his mouth' and well... revealed something underwhelming. That's like... taking cues of DC Films for their impressive bad-marketing stunt. In this case, it's concerning Danny's iconic costume. Talking to Games Radar, Buck stated that fans should NOT hold their breath to see Finn Jones wearing one. In this show, that is. To be fair, the same thing happened on the first season of Marvel's "Daredevil", where it took 12 episodes before Charlie Cox' Matt Murdock consciously shifted from black beany to a specially crafted costume. So there's no reason for us to be shocked. Even so, this news was still disappointing to fans nonetheless. Why? Because every Netflix shows afterwards, had been real shy on implementing one. Marvel's "Jessica Jones" only revealed one just to make fun of it, and Marvel's "Luke Cage" only featured a very quick glimpse of one in its 4th episode. Both ended up serving as mere passing nods. That's why somehow, fans are expecting a change in this repetitive scenario. Because once, or the first time, is okay, but doing it again and again every year? That will get old real fast.

And yes, I do feel slightly disappointed with this. I mean, if anything, at least Danny should be wearing a similar attire to the one Matt wore in his series' first season. That's practically an all-black version of Iron Fist's attire, right? Many fans (through various fansites) have also pointed out one VERY logical thing. Similar to rich characters like Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, and others, Danny has a reputation he has to protect. He's the heir of a wealthy businessman. He OWNS a company, and is supposed to be its long-lost CEO. Can he damage such esteemed position by openly beating up thugs and evil henchmen as a vigilante, exposing himself to the world? Even Buck's statement contradicted this very issue: "There was no good reason we could imagine to put Danny Rand in a costume because Danny Rand is still discovering who he is as a hero and where he is going to be, so he’s not yet ready to put on a mask or a costume.". Eventhough he backtracked a bit by saying "At the same time he is someone who is rather well known as a billionaire, so he can’t necessarily go out in public and do the things he does without being recognized. It does become an issue for the character.". Seriously? THAT makes for a good reason, right? Let this sink in to your brain for a bit. Of course, Buck might simply be hinting at some surprises in store, that we can only learn by watching the series. So for now, let's just give this show the benefit of doubt.

Pocket Monsters

Still playing "Pokemon GO", eventhough the addition of Generation 2's species isn't as big as it should have been? Well, worry not, because according to John Hanke, more "major new releases" will arrive this year. Yes, and there are 3 of them too! Speaking in an App Convention, the Niantic boss confirmed that there are major quarterly updates being planned for their successful App this year. There aren't any official announcement about what they will be, but two of them might have already been revealed through interviews.

The first one, is 'Gym System Overhaul'. A statement that came straight from Hanke himself. I can't help but wonder what this means. To be frank, I've been hearing many complaints regarding the state of Pokemon GO's Gyms nowadays. Either it's becoming rather dull due to being monopolized by high-level players, or the fact that it now mostly consists of the same types and species over and over again. This isn't surprising, since several Pokemon like Vaporeon, Gyarados, Snorlax, and others have become the game's top-tiers. Hence, their presence on Gyms have not only become a norm, it's an underwhelming and annoying repetitive sight. No wonder many players have walked out because of it. I'm curious whether the App will eventually choose to go the Core Game route, by assigning fixed Pokemon on Gyms instead of letting players assign their own. But what about the battle part? Well, that's where... 'Battling' comes to play. Just imagine how the fanbase will react when they know they can do Pokemon Battle with other players. Won't that be a lot of fun?

The second update, is something I have long expected to arrive in the App. And what is that? 'Trading'. Yes, the ability to exchange Pokemon with other players. This is the exact reason why I speculated that a Battling feature might be coming as well. Because the ability of Trading, means there will be interaction between players in the App. After all, just the thought of seeing an alert with the tune of "There's another Player near you" is enough to thrill me! Tatsuo Nomura, the Senior Product Manager for Niantic has even confirmed that this Trading system "won’t be through the internet ...The person needs to be in your proximity". This is GREAT news. I've mentioned on my First Impression last year, that "Pokemon GO" has massive potential it can explore. Trading, which might trigger Battling, is one of its key social feature, and is a step to the right direction. Not only it will enhance gameplay, it will also enhance real-life social aspect of the game. I can already imagine players meeting new people, interacting, and develop a healthy community if not deeper relationship with one another. That's precisely what Niantic's earlier title "Ingress" has successfully accomplished, right? It has even spawned a bishoujo Manga! So just imagine what "Pokemon GO" could be when it can replicate the same feature. Fans are going to love it!

A quick disclaimer note, do mind that what I just said on the previous two paragraphs are combination of fact, and personal speculations. The Gym Overhaul and Trading are facts, albeit not yet officially announced, while the Battling and other bits are my own wishful thinkings. So until we hear actual confirmation to these features, take it with grains of salt. Oh, and by the way, included in the Hanke's statement, was a "systemic solution to spoofers". I can't really comment on this, because I'm not quite sure what it means. Mind you, I'm not THAT fluent on the gameplay, due to being a casual gamer. But of course, the general notion is, Niantic is hard at work to stop players from cheating on the game. And that's a good reassurance to existing players.

Sidetracking a bit, the first trailer for this year's movie have been officially released by The Pokemon Company. There are two versions, the normal-length and shorter one, but the content of both are practically the same. Serving as the 20th anniversary movie, "Gekijouban Pocket Monster, Kimi ni Kimeta!" is a retelling of Satoshi's first encounter with his most loyal and trusted companion, Pikachu. After seasons of TV series, and 19 movies, that had the pair travelling together with various other Pokemon and close friends, it's time to revisit the harsh and tumultous starting point between the two. A fated meeting that has evolved into a strong bond that inspires many Pokemon fans all around the world. The movie will premiere in Japan on July 15, 2017. Will you come to the theatres to see this nostalgic tale? I know I would I could...

Nintendo

Nintendo's new hybrid console, the Nintendo Switch has been released! Have you purchased one? In alternate universe where financial situation is not an issue, I would've already been playing one right now. Heck, I might have been among the line of those first queue to get my hands on one *sigh*. So yeah, despite my desire to own one, I have no choice but to wait until things are more... stable. It could happen in a few months, later this year, or even next year, only time will tell (and God knows when).

Response for the release has been generally positive. Including that ODD-sounding cartridge mouth-testing stunts everywhere. LOL. Yes, some folks are holding back until Switch has more exclusive titles like "Super Smash Bros", a core "Pokemon" title, or the likes, but many who has purchased one are pleased with its features. As well as its launch titles. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" in particular, is an easy crowdpleaser. Fans of the franchise immediately fell in love with the game, calling it fun and amazing. In fact, IGN rewarded it with a full score of 10 on their review! Something that is rarely done by the Entertainment Site. Of course, with the good also comes the bad. Other title, like the much anticipated "1-2 Switch" didn't perform as successful as it's expected. Then again, you can't have it all, right?

Nevertheless, Reggie Fils-Aimé, the President of Nintendo America has conveyed his thankful message to all fans who have supported Nintendo by getting Switch. It remains to be seen whether Switch will stand strong amidst competition with bigger Ultra-HD consoles like Playstation 4 or Xbox One. Moreso the rumored high-tech Project Scorpio from Microsoft's front. There's always the possibility that Switch will end up suffering like its predecessor Wii U, and not gaining much love like the groundbreaking Wii. Let's just hope this hybrid console will bring Nintendo back to its prime.

For now, gamers can enjoy other available games like "Just Dance 2017", "Disgaea 5", "Othello", and others, while they wait for more titles to arrive throughout the year. One of it is "Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers" that will released on May 26 in Japan, North America, and Europe. It's a remake of the classic title, with new characters and bonus features. And that's just one of the Switch's upcoming title! Here's hoping it will be getting even broader titles in the future. Like that rumored "Pokemon Stars", perhaps? That would be super dope... :D

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junker-town · 5 years

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Tiger Woods, who won the 2019 Masters, looked decrepit in his 1st round at The Open

Photo credit should read ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images

Everything is gravy after the 2019 Masters win, but Tiger looked old and bad in his first round at the Open, so much so that he was asked the question if he’d even play the second round.

Tiger Woods’ 2019 season is already and will always be an unqualified, legendary success. That was the case as soon as he tapped in on 18 to win the Masters in April. With that context out of the way, right now he looks and plays like a guy who should pack it in for the season. This would be fine and perfectly acceptable! He’s done enough and accomplished something this year that, had you watched him for most of the preceding five years, felt like a fantasy. He was never going to play again, nevermind win the Masters.

But right now? Tiger looks a lot more like the broken-down and uncompetitive iteration from 2014 or 2015. He looks like someone who achieved that fantasy comeback Masters win and then, deservedly so, exhaled and put his feet up to celebrate all summer. The rest of the year, and if we’re being honest, maybe his career, is gravy. He’s said as much, continually referring to the “gift” it was just to be able to stand up without pain and walk again, let alone play golf.

But then he won the Masters and we all started talking about chasing Jack Nicklaus’ record again and sort of forgot the context of the prior five years in our hysteria.

Tiger’s opening round at The Open was a slog, and from the very first strike, when Tiger appeared to grimace after his opening drive.

Tiger Woods is off the first tee at Royal Portrush. Little grimace after his drive. Not good. pic.twitter.com/Fm2aotBFO7

— Kyle Boone (@Kyle__Boone) July 18, 2019

The day would be full of pained looks and exasperated sighs. The play was a wave of dicey short game shots, poor putting strokes, and inconsistent tee balls. The start at Portrush presents multiple birdie chances but Tiger scrambled to make pars through his first four holes and then the tightrope snapped and he played the final five holes of the front nine in 5-over. None of it looked very fun and it was clear Tiger was not going to be competitive in the final major of the men’s season.

It would take more than four hours before he poured in his first birdie of the day, coming on his 15th hole of the round.

Tiger's first birdie of the day comes at the 15th. He'll take in as much love as he can #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/vy9OtF91Pk

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 18, 2019

The final tally was a 7-over 78 that had him in a tie for 140th place. That’s the injury-plagued province on a major leaderboard he occupied before last year’s comeback. It’s his highest first round score ever at The Open.

This round came after Tiger took a month off and got away following a quiet U.S. Open exit and missed cut at the PGA Championship. He said he needs to play less in order to play longer, and that all makes sense. But Thursday, he did not look like he just had a month off but more like the worn-down delirious guy from last year’s Ryder Cup, who was playing for the 7th time in nine weeks.

After the round, he cited “Father Time” and told Golf Channel’s Steve Sands that he was “not moving the way I’d like” and “can’t hit all the shots I want to hit.” But he did emphatically say “yes” to the question of if he’d play on Friday. The fact that it was a question should give you some indication of how he looked.

Tiger’s 78 is excusable. Nothing is a failure after what happened in April. But given what he tells us it takes to get ready just to play one round of golf, what’s the point of playing the rest of the year? The PGA Tour and its deep pocketed sponsors of the remaining WGC and FedExCup won’t like to hear it. But shut it down, captain the Presidents Cup team, and prepare for the majors next year — specifically the ones that are played in temperatures above 70 degrees and more benign on your decrepit, creaky body. This Northern Irish setting was not that.

Tiger was not the only player on the strugglebus on Thursday, as the Open beat up some of the best in the world in both dispiriting and amusing ways. Here were a few more:

The pot bunker tumble

South African Justin Harding has had himself a career year, but this was a moment where he’d probably prefer to burrow a hole and hide in this Portrush pot bunker. This was a double scoop of embarrassment with both the failure of the shot slamming into the bunker face and then the tumble down into the sand.

View this post on Instagram

Which one of your friends would do this? #TheOpen

A post shared by Golf Channel (@golfchannel) on Jul 18, 2019 at 7:09am PDT

We need a recount

David Duval’s round at Portrush started well enough with red numbers on his first two holes. Perhaps the former world No. 1 and 2001 Open winner had found something for one week. Then the round unraveled, quickly, and the bogeys we expected from the part-time player came in buckets. Then the round just got blown out to sea completely with a 14 on the par-5 7th hole.

The explanation sounded like something from the C flight at a club championship or local qualifying match. Duval apparently lost his first two tee shots, then played the wrong ball from his third. What was believed to be a 13 was actually a 14 after a slow and deliberate post-round recounting of how it all went wrong.

This description of David Duval's 14 (changed from a 13 after his round) is wild. Hope the extra shot doesn't cost him making the cut! pic.twitter.com/aF9pVVxT5c

— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) July 18, 2019

The 13-turned-14 were the entree in a 20-over 91 that, as you’d expect, has the former great in DFL. After the round, Duval delivered this inspirational poster quote to the AP’s Doug Ferguson.

This is solid from Duval: "You have an obligation as a professional athlete. If you play, you post your score. Am I happy about that? Is there some ... embarrassment to it? I don't know. But I teed off in the Open and I shot 90 today. So put it on the board."

— Doug Ferguson (@dougferguson405) July 18, 2019

The only issue is Duval withdrew from the last two Opens after high opening round scores, as Golf.com’s Josh Berhow noted. He’s also, if we’re being honest, more of a professional commentator than athlete at this point, no? That does not mean he doesn’t have the right to go out there and post whatever number he wants as a former British Open champion.

The first hole fiasco

Tiger’s 78 was bad, but at least it was not 79. That was Rory McIlroy’s final tally after an opening quadruple bogey and a closing triple bogey. Rory carded every score in between in what was a disaster of a day for the home crowd and betting favorite. We went into greater detail on Rory’s round and his diminished confidence here but while you’re wallowing in Tiger’s relative uncompetitiveness, you can remind yourself that the player near the very top of the game and in his peak at the moment did one worse.

Just act cool

Dustin Johnson is one of the most naturally smooth and cool golfers on the planet. Legendary golf writer Jim Moriarity once described him as having “the oily gait of a jungle cat.” We use the qualifier “naturally” smooth. The problem is when you tell him to play it or act it. Then? Well, as we’ve seen over and over, it’s nothing but forced awkwardness and confusion and unintentional comedy. This was maybe my favorite non-golf clip of the entire opening round.

“So all you need to do DJ is walk forward, take your yardage book out and make it look like your getting a yardage... got it?” .... pic.twitter.com/rS4F976jFU

— Duncan Carey (@DuncCarey) July 18, 2019

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junker-town · 5 years

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Luka Doncic shows the underappreciated importance of the ‘last step’

Luka Doncic is athletic, just not in the narrow way we talk about it. That says more about us than him.

Spend an afternoon combing through pre-draft scouting reports of Dallas Mavericks rookie sensation Luka Doncic, and you’ll notice a common theme.

ESPN’s Mike Schmitz — the gold standard of draft analysts — wrote that Doncic “lacks explosiveness for a guard or wing” and “isn’t the most functional athlete.” Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo noted that Doncic’s “athletic ability has come into question.” NBADraft.net said Doncic “can be considered a marginally average athlete by NBA standards” and suggests “his first step is slow even for European standards.”

A prophetic Nov. 2017 Sporting News article wondered if “a slew of gifted freshmen” who are all “more athletic than Doncic” would leapfrog him by draft time.

Even Doncic’s peers spoke of him in the same vein. In the weeks before the June draft, Uproxx’s Oliver Maroney asked five American-born players plying their trade overseas to give their own Doncic scouting report. Their answers included 11 forms of the word “athletic” and two more references to him not being “explosive.” (Control + F it, if you don’t believe me).

If you’re looking for a reason three teams passed on a teenager that was named the most valuable player in the second-best league in the world, this is it.

And that concern has some merit, at least by the widely accepted definition of these hoops buzzwords. This clip of Doncic playing against NBA two-way player Jordan McRae in Europe last season sure displayed what most would call a lack of athleticism.

Jordan McRae's length and quickness on defense revealed some of Luka Doncic's biggest weaknesses yesterday. #GTGRadar pic.twitter.com/FHKZTTqPx1

— Chris Schmidt (@ChrisSchmidt27) November 15, 2017

Yet here Doncic is, dazzling Mavericks fans early in his NBA career. How can someone this unathletic be so successful?

Maybe it’s because he’s been able to overcome his lack of athleticism. Or maybe it’s because we actually define athleticism in an incredibly narrow way.

Consider the most damning sentence of all those links: NBADraft.net’s claim that Doncic’s “first step is slow even for European standards.” That phrase — “first step” — has evolved into hoops shorthand to describe any element of athleticism, whether it’s 0-to-60 speed, leaping ability, power, strength … take your pick.

Taken literally, though, a “first step” is just that: the beginning of a multi-stage process. Players with dynamic first steps, like Doncic’s teammate Dennis Smith Jr., still have to take additional steps to finish their moves. Even Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t cover the entire length of the floor in one leap.

Yet you never hear about how Smith or anyone else needs to improve their “second step,” “third step,” or “fourth step” to maximize the head start they gives themselves. You instead hear about how their first step shows their athleticism, and every other “step” is grouped into an entirely different category like “craft” or “skill” that may or may not get better with experience and hard work. These terms and “first step” function as basketball antonyms.

Luka Doncic is proof that they shouldn’t be. It’s true that Doncic’s “first step” is weak. Defenders can anticipate it and beat him to the spot, even with lots of space.

But the difference between Doncic and other players that do have elite first steps is that Doncic actually takes the term literally. Like a boxer that sets up his opponents with jabs before delivering the killer blow, Doncic uses the first step to get himself in position to drop his version of a right hook. Let’s call it his last step.

Doncic’s last step packs one hell of a punch. Look how far spindly Timberwolves wing Josh Okogie staggered after this Doncic “last step.”

Stop the clip at the very moment Doncic’s toe hits the floor for the final time, and it’s striking how much flexibility Doncic is showing. If you drew a straight line between his front and back feet, it might break your tape measure.

But rather than lose his balance, Doncic had the power in his legs to rise up as his defender stumbled backwards. He beats his man off the dribble, which is supposedly his weakness. He just does it by gaining separation at the end of the move, not the beginning.

You see that same process — the first step setting up the decisive, large final steps — throughout Doncic’s game. He uses that method to beat defenders in the open floor.

He also uses it in tight spaces, whether it’s to ward off shot-blockers like DeAndre Ayton...

or to power through tough defenders like Robert Covington, an all-defense selection last season.

The key is that Doncic deploys the last step to accelerate and decelerate, to equally devastating effect. The same gallop that leaves Covington and Mike Muscala in the dust also digs into Ayton, shoving him out of the play. Doncic goes from this position.

To this position, all while staying coordinated enough to finish the play.

Doncic’s last step serves him well in pick-and-roll situations, activating both his scoring and his supernatural vision. He uses a series of choppy stomps to run his defender into a screen, then pushes forward with those final long jumps to go through or around the help. Without those shorter steps, Doncic isn’t in position to finish defenders off. Without that final, long step, those shorter steps can easily be anticipated.

Watch Doncic’s footwork closely on this drive and finish over Karl-Anthony Towns.

It takes Doncic seven steps on a curvy route to get from out of bounds to the hole. Four run his man into DeAndre Jordan’s screen. The fifth takes Doncic inside the arc, but is purposely short to plant for lift off. It’s only at Steps Nos. 6 and 7 when Doncic gallops from 20 feet away to deep into the paint, and it’s only that final step that powers through Towns’ chest for the bucket and the foul.

And Doncic’s last step also works against defenders who try to close his space. When quick young Bulls big man Wendell Carter Jr. tried to cut off Doncic’s sideline drive, Doncic simply planted that last step right between his legs to open a passing lane.

Few scouts would consider Doncic more athletic than Carter, yet how do you explain Doncic creating that kind of separation despite getting beat to the spot? Maybe it’s an example of Doncic’s craft winning out over Carter’s quickness. Or, maybe Doncic taking that large step to knock Carter back and balancing himself to make the pass is its own form of athleticism.

I vote the latter, especially when you consider how Doncic uses the same last step to go backwards as well, whether off the catch or the dribble.

How many people on this planet can do the splits before launching even a crumbled up piece of paper into a trash bin from 26 feet away, let alone a basketball through the net with seven-plus feet of arms in their periphery? (Try it yourself. Just don’t hold us liable for any shredded ligaments that result).

A universal definition of athleticism encompasses traits like strength, flexibility, and balance, all categories in which Doncic would rate in the 90th (or better) percentile among NBA players.

But we too often fall for the trap of associating the term with flying through the air or quick-twitch muscles that switch on before the opponent’s. We should realize the limitations this places on our analysis, and yet we still can’t help ourselves. We make the rhetorical assumption that many of the 450 most successful professional athletes in the world somehow made it to the pinnacle of their sport by overcoming a lack of “athleticism.”

That assumption is becoming especially costly as the game is increasingly played on the move and in space, two places where 0-to-60 speed and leaping ability matters less. Last June, a FanPost arguing on Doncic’s behalf on SB Nation’s Kings site Sactown Royalty noticed something funny. Six of the 10 small forwards ranked highest in ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus last season had predraft scouting reports that questioned their “athleticism,” as did the league’s reigning MVP (James Harden) and its 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year (Draymond Green). This intrepid Kings fan acknowledged that Doncic’s “athletic” concerns were legitimate, but cited these examples to posit the following:

What it DOES mean is that perhaps elite or even good athleticism isn’t as necessary to success in the NBA as many people seem to think, and perhaps we should be more forgiving of a perceived lack of athleticism in prospects, especially if they make up for it with skills like playmaking ability, elite passing, or high BBIQ.

The Kings, of course, passed on Doncic to select Marvin Bagley, a pogo-stick big man that’s still learning how to actually play the game. Maybe if the Kings saw Doncic’s positive traits as different forms of athleticism instead of gimmicks used to mask a fatal flaw, they’d be enjoying Luka-mania instead of the Mavericks.

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