All posts by Wayne Cavadi

Basbeall, MLB

The Atlanta Braves still celebrate Bruce Sutter Day

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(Note to Wayniac Nation. The following link takes you to the November digital issue of Baseball Magazine. Baseball Magazine was the first monthly baseball magazine published in the United States. Founded by Boston sportswriter Jake Morse prior to the 1908 season, the magazine ran for 49 years before shutting down for good. My colleague and former editor Billy Brost decided to take on the daunting task of bringing back one of baseball’s treasures from the dead. Moving forward, I — along with several other writers I have worked with in the past and present — will contribute pieces looking at the history of the game and human interest stories of superstars that time may have forgotten. Hopefully, you follow along the journey.)

The New York Mets made it back to the Fall Classic for the first time since the Subway Series against the New York Yankees in 2000 this past October/November. I incessantly joked around with the Mets’ fans who are my friends and family that Bobby Bonilla — a member of that 2000 squad — was still making more money than Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom combined.

But you know me by now. I said, “Hey Wayniac, there has to be a worse contract than Bobby Bo, right?” Sure enough, there was… and is, as a contract signed long before Bobby Bo’s is still being paid to this day. In fact, it is being paid by a team that is disappointing its loyal fanbase by tearing it down and trading away every fan favorite in order to cut salary for their new stadium. Oh, life’s sweet irony.

Every July 1st my friends — especially The Thread and Holloway — text out Happy Bobby Bonilla Day. Well, Braves fans, you won’t be happy, but it is time for you to recognize Bruce Sutter Day.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN THIS MONTH’S DIGITAL EDITION OF BASEBALL MAGAZINE BY CLICKING THIS LINK!

 

 

Gambling, NFL

NFL Sundays with SBJ: Closer Coffee

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SBJ got back into the driver’s seat last week. Maybe it was because I gave him an A- and not an A on his midseason report card, but he went 5-1 in those free picks for you. You got to love that. This week, he has to make a very difficult decision. Does he predict that The Wayniac’s Texans pull of the Monday Night Miracle… or does he lose his job? Only one way to find out!

2015 SNF/MNF OVERALL RECORD

Public: 22-35 (2-4)

The House: 35-22 (4-2)

Sportsbook Jesus: 35-22 (5-1)

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You see those pie charts people? You do understand that no one beats Vegas, right? You do see that our SBJ is dead even with The House, right? It’s time to believe!

Onward to the SBJ Primetime Specials!

NCAA, Soccer

Back to glory: The Carson-Newman Eagles Women’s Soccer Squad

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The Carson-Newman Eagles Women’s Soccer program was once a force to be reckoned with in Division II. They had been to back-to-back Final Fours just a decade ago, but after their last playoff appearance in 2009, the program has been struggling.

Richard Moodie, a former CNU soccer player himself, was named the Men’s Soccer coach five years ago. A year later, he agreed to take on the Women’s program as well. While he took the Men to the National Championship game in 2013, he quietly and patiently began to rebuild the Eagles Women’s team.

The first three years were a struggle, as they combined to win a total of 12 games. Entering 2015, they were expected to finish 9th in the South Atlantic Conference. Tomorrow, they play their first Championship postseason match since 2009, coming off an unbelievable 18-2 season, sweeping both the SAC regular season and tournament titles. Unbelievable to everyone but themselves of course.

My latest piece at NCAA.com tells their magical story:

Carson-Newman Eagles soaring to new heights

 

 

Basbeall, MLB

Breaking down the Braves trade: Simmons heads to the Left Coast

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When John Hart continued to restructure the Atlanta Braves in his image yesterday, I made it immediately known on social media, how we at Wayniac Nation felt.

But I hesitated writing a post until I slept on it. I didn’t understand trading away Jose Peraza at the deadline for Hector Olivera, but after seeing Ozzie Albies play in person (and snagging this interview with him) I understood that there was a bigger picture and a better prospect to fill the void left by Peraza.

So, I slept on it. And I still don’t understand it.

Why I don’t understand the Braves trade…

Fantasy Football

The WN Fantasy Football Report: Week 10 Start Em and Sit Em

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Man, it doesn’t get any easier does it? Monday brought us a new wave of injuries like Big Ben and Dion Lewis while Tuesday crushed a lot of fantasy football team’s dreams when Andrew Luck was presumed to miss the duration of the fantasy football season.

Add into the fray that Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, Stevie Johnson, Frank Gore and T.Y. Hilton are on a bye, and you have your hands full in a pivotal week of fantasy football. Don’t worry yourselves about a thing. We’ve done the research for you and have nice pieces for your teams to start, and tricky pieces to avoid.

Week 10 Start Em and Sit Ems

Basbeall, MLB

The WN Fantasy Football Report: out of Luck

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This NFL and fantasy football season has simply been amazing when it comes to injury. This past Monday, I gave you a list of the new walking wounded who didn’t make it out of Week 9 standing, but the bigger blow came out of left field yesterday.

Andrew Luck will miss two to six weeks with a lacerated kidney and a torn abdominal muscle. Most of us weren’t aware of it because Luck didn’t show any signs of serious pain or remove himself in the fourth quarter after the scramble that caused the injury to occur. Now the Colts and many fantasy teams — like one of yours truly — are left without a quarterback.

While the Colts have an answer in Matt Hasselbeck, he is not the best option for fantasy football, especially down the playoff stretch. You can wheel and deal and get yourself into a position that you have a mid-level quarterback, but what happens if you have to play the waiver wire?

Rest assured, there are still some options out there. Let’s take a look at a few that — if you are like myself and only have Tyrod Taylor on your bench behind Luck — could save your season.

Ready to save your season?

Basbeall, MLB

The Atlanta Braves Andrelton Simmons was robbed of gold

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MLB’s awards season started last night with the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards announced. As with any award ceremony that presents gold statues — whether it’s the Oscars or some sort of music awards — there are going to be snubs.

Some of the usual suspects took home the award as expected. Yadi Molina snagged his remarkable eighth straight Gold Glove, while Nolan Arenado — the Sharknado — grabbed his third in a row. There were nine new recipients of the Gold Glove Award this year — which for baseball — is good. You can see the full list of winners at MLB.com.

See why Simmons was snubbed in the voting!

Fantasy Football

The WN Fantasy Football Report: Holy injuries, Batman!!! UPDATED

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Last week was bad for injuries in fantasy football. This week, it didn’t get any better. What is up with these major injuries occurring every week… and to the superstars of the NFL?

I remember when I was a little kid, Ronnie Lott had his finger cut off to keep playing. Steve Atwater would hit people so hard they would lose their uniforms, but they got up and played. I’m not calling today’s NFL players soft — hell, if I took one hit like they do, I would be in a wheel chair for years — but there is definitely something afoul.

The Fantasy Football injury report!