Out Loud Sports Blog

      Yesterday, I shared my predictions for Euro 2020 with you all. But that is just one part of this big summer of soccer that we are heading in to. We also have the Gold Cup next month and starting this weekend is the Copa America.      So, today I figured I should share some predictions for the upcoming Copa America in Brazil. The format will be similar to yesterday's entry. I will share who I think are the favorites and then some potential dark horses to win the competition.      Admittedly, doing this list for the Copa America is a little bit more difficult than it is with the Euros, simply because there are more teams competing in the European Championships. But this is one of the most talented regions in the world, so let us begin this look into the upcoming South American championships. The Favorites: Brazil:  Even to those who are not the most passionate followers of soccer, it probably comes as little surprise to know that Bra...

      2020 was a year filled with heartbreak and pain for so many and for many different reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic changed so many things about our lives and either cancelled so much or put many things on hold.      Compared to the tragedies that were experienced in the lives of so many over the past year-plus, sad things that took place in the world of sports seem relatively miniscule.      On top of the financial impact of the pandemic - which I have talked about in previous posts - so many games and events were either cancelled or postponed.      But while they may look a little bit different than they would traditionally, the big sporting events are coming back. The international sporting community - which has lost so many events during the pandemic - has a loaded calendar to look forward to this summer.      On top of already scheduled events, the postponed Olympic Games and the European Championships a...

      Today's entry comes with a tad bit of breaking news, Shortly before this writing, it has been revealed that at a meeting next week in Chicago, the College Football Playoff committee will discuss the possibility of expanding the playoff field from four teams to twelve.      If it happens, this would be a huge move that could have a huge ripple effect felt throughout all of College Football at the FBS level.      Previously, I expressed my personal disposition that the CFP should be expanded to six teams - a format that would mirror the NFL's system before that was expanded to include seven teams from each of the two conferences. I thought that there would be a very simple way of executing this system.      Much like the NFL's former playoff format, the top two teams would receive a bye and immediately go in to the second round. Seeds 3-6 would play each other in the opening round (3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5) with the top remainin...

      The NFL offseason: a time to re-charge the batteries, get the mind right and re-focus on what lies ahead.      For most players, that entails a combination of training, working out on their own and jetting off for vacations.      While, in my opinion, the offseason does not go by fast enough, it is as the old saying goes, time flies when you are having fun. Fun may be used loosely in a lot of cases, but training camp is getting closer and closer.      This offseason stands in stark contrast to last offseason, the year that was guided primarily by circumstances rather than football. The pandemic forced all offseason activities to be to virtual meetings. Players, coaches and families were not able to go on vacations and get away.      This was not an attractive option, nor was it an option at all. Stay-at-home orders and shutdowns meant that world-class athletes were also experiencing the same stir-crazy feel...

      The UEFA Champions League has to endure a lot this season. The season itself - just like last season - was impacted in several different ways by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We all had to witness the extremely and unequivocally unsuccessful European Super League project.      While the Super League was in many ways unnecessary, those behind the project - for as disappointing as their ulterior motives were - brought up some good points. Their are some changes that would make the current Champions League format better.      Real Madrid's President Florentino Perez, one of the biggest backers of the proposed European Super League, made the point that some fans may not be as excited to watch the big boys of European club football play against the minnows of the European game. I do agree with the concept that we may not need games such as Real Madrid vs Basel or Manchester City vs Shaktar Donetsk, with no disrespect intended whatsoever to ...

      "It looks it's quarterback time again in Chicago!"       Those were the words that Adam Schefter exclaimed when the Bears traded with the New York Giants to move up in the first round of the NFL draft this past April.      Those are also the words that send Bears fans' minds into a head-spinning flashback thinking of the team's history with quarterbacks.      Those are the words that - when Roger Goodell and a guest picker made their way to the stage - unquestionably had Bears fans barely able to watch when it came time for the franchise to select its next signal caller.     Those words elicited thoughts about past quarterbacks and how or why things did not work out.       Bears fans could not help but think of a history replete with Hall of Famers at just about all of the other positions. We also could not help but think of our far less than glamorous history at the most important position i...