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Considering how the Internet has ‘virtually’ brought all of the countries of the world together over the past couple of decades in terms of entertainment options, it’s interesting how certain sports or events still are heavily associated with certain countries. I’d definitely say that’s the case with baseball for instance as it’s largely played in and associated with the Unites States. ‘Only in America’ would a ‘World Series’ of a sport consist of just two countries (in this case the US and Canada). Another sport that is certainly very USA-centric despite often being played in schools and the like is Basketball.

As started, it’s commonplace for basketball (and for girls often netball) to be played by youth in various countries, but really it’s only in the United States that there such a clear pathway through to college and the pro leagues, culminating in the dizzying and lucrative heights of the NBA.The National Basketball Association league,was founded in 1946 and consists of 30 teams (including one Canadian team). Tickets for NBA games start at a low price but can go into the thousands of dollars for in-demand seats and games. Vast TV audiences tune in, and there is growing Chinese interest in watching basketball too (some 800 million viewers watched the 2017–18 season).

In terms of the teams to follow, in the history of basketball teams with the most championship wins, both Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are top of the pile with 17 NBA final wins a piece. There is a gulf between them and the third most wins team, the Golden State Warriors with 6 wins (shared with Chicago Bulls on 6 wins also, and San Antonio Spurs on 5 wins). Longevity is the name of the game with Los Angeles Lakers winning their first final in 1949 and most recent in 2020. Sports betting on basketball is ever popular too with basketball betting types like over / under (a certain number of points), HT /FT, Quarter betting and Asian Handicap bets being popular types of betting options.

Despite the sport being very US focused over the decades, that hasn’t stopped some of the big names of the sport from gaining fame on a worldwide scale. The likes of Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant (RIP), Dennis Rodman, the Harlem Globetrotters (whose entire point and intention was the spread the Basketball word) the list goes on. It speaks to the influence of basketball that we know these players by face and name even if we haven’t personally even seen them play!

Basketball is popular all over the US and indeed the world. Although fans of players and teams around the world may not have even watched their games in person, they have long been impressed by their performances in televised games. Exciting, come-from-behind matches leave deep memories in the hearts of fans.

Loyal fans of the sport, often collect related items, such as posters of their favorite players, key chains that symbolize the team, or pins in the shape of team badges. Fans often choose Custom Enamel Pins, and they can choose any pattern and shape of these pins. Fans’ favorite player portraits and team logos are the first choice. Wearing such pins not only adds color to the outfit but also expresses love for the players and teams.

 

The simple answer is yes, they have.

In fact, two athletes have won gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics, although the first of them, Gillis Grafström, did so in the same discipline. At the Games of the VII Olympiad in Antwerp, Belgium in 1920, in the days before the Winter Olympics, Grafström won his first gold medal in men’s figure skating. Four years later, at the first Winter Olympics, or ‘International Winter Sports Week’ as the event was originally known, in Chamonix, France in 1924, he won his second in the same event. Just for good measure, Grafström also won a third consecutive gold medal in the same event at the second Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1928. We are of course ‘going back’ a long way to find such an example. It was a different world back then, whereas today we have distractions like blockbuster movies and online pokies real money, back in the 1920’s more focus could be attributed to sports and the like.

However, in Olympic history, just one athlete has won gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. That athlete was Edward ‘Eddie’ Eagan who, at the 1920 Summer Olympics, defeated Norwegian opponent Sverre Sørsdal to win his first gold medal in the 175lb, light-heavyweight boxing division. Twelve years later, at the age of 34, Eagan competed as part of the USA I four-man bobsleigh team at the Winter Olympics in Lake Place, New York and duly collected his second Olympic gold medal. In the modern connected, world this combination or fortune and skill would likely be as well suited to online casinos usa, as it would an athletic endevour.

The NFL has seen some truly exceptional quarterbacks in its 101 years of existence. If you aren’t familiar with American football or you don’t know what the role of a quarterback is, think of it as sort of spiritually akin to a striker in English football (or “soccer”); a quarterback leads the offensive line and calls plays for their team in huddles. As you can imagine, the role of the quarterback is therefore incredibly important to any NFL team, so having someone who’s going to lead the charge effectively is crucial. Here, in no particular order, are the 10 best NFL quarterbacks the sport has seen in the time since the league was founded.

Tom Brady

It might be an obvious place to start, but Tom Brady is undoubtedly one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Statistically, his play is unassailable; his time with the New England Patriots cemented his reputation as one of the sport’s finest, and his current tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sees him continuing his astonishing run of form. Analysis shows that over the course of his career, Brady has won 77.3% of his games, which is no fluke.

Doug Flutie

Despite his retirement in 2006, Flutie can certainly stake a claim to being one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL. In a recent interview, Flutie compares himself to athletic superstar Patrick Mahomes, and although Kyler Murray might be a more obvious choice, Flutie is right; his grace and speed made him a threat during his time with the NFL (and the CFL, in fact). Flutie may never have won a Super Bowl, but he still deserves to be remembered alongside the greats.

Drew Brees

Drew Brees consistently overcomes his height in order to be one of the most effective quarterbacks at the professional level. He’s got incredible mechanical skill; watching him play is like watching a precision watchmaker, so masterful is his understanding of game flow and playmaking. His status as the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV should speak volumes about his abilities; Brees isn’t a quarterback you want to dismiss when you’re talking about the true greats.

Joe Montana

The NFL can be a hotheaded place. Tempers run high and players often lose their cool when plays don’t go their way, but there’s a reason Joe Montana earned the nickname “Joe Cool” during his time on the field. Montana is characteristically humble when assessing his own legacy; he thinks Tom Brady is the best quarterback to play the sport. Still, we reckon Montana himself has a shot at that title, not least thanks to his incredible 97-yard drive at Super Bowl XXIII.

Peyton Manning

Just like Brees, Manning’s is another mind that would make for fascinating analysis. His ability to keep a calm, level head and watch the game unfold is incredible; he never loses his cool when faced with the defensive line, and he’s got an amazing knack for knowing opposing team plays. His ability to dodge pressure from his opponents is also legendary; he achieved a 303 sack rate across 17 seasons, which is pretty impressive even for a player at his level.

Dan Marino

Watching Dan Marino pass is like watching a man possess. The springy action with which he lets the ball loose when he’s passing is unrivalled in the quarterback stakes, and for that alone, he deserves a place on this list. Marino played during an era when the NFL was unquestionably much nastier and more brutal than it is today, and the fact that he was able to notch up the records he did is all the more impressive in that light. Make no mistake: Marino is one of the OG greats.

Aaron Rodgers

Have you ever heard the term “football IQ”? This term refers to a player’s ability to analyse the game in front of them and understand what plays to make based on the “direction” of the game. Rodgers has an incredibly high football IQ, rivalling perhaps even Peyton Manning’s. He can act as a skilled pocket passer, avoid pressure when it’s needed, and make a quick pass in a pinch. Rodgers excels in many different areas, and although he may not match Brady for sheer star quality, he’s got it where it counts.

Otto Graham

Now here’s an old-school player. Graham had a short career, playing for the Cleveland Browns for only nine years before retiring from the sport, but that doesn’t make his meteoric rise any less impressive. During his time with the Browns, Graham took them to the championship finals every single year that he was playing, and the Browns won a staggering seven of those games. Is that a coincidence? Given Graham’s incredible mastery of the ball, we don’t think so.

Johnny Unitas

While we’re talking about the all-time greats, let’s not forget about Johnny Unitas, who brought a lot of innovation to the quarterback role. Unitas came into his own during the final minutes of a game, at which point he came alive, making incredible precision passes and dictating the pace of the game expertly. It’s Unitas who devised the two-minute drill that has become famous throughout the NFL; if a team has ever turned a game around in the final minutes, it’s Unitas they have to thank.

Roger Staubach

Rounding out our time with classic players, Roger Staubach cannot be overlooked. He was the face of the NFL for a long time; having served his time in Vietnam, he returned from the war in order to pursue a career in professional football. Staubach wasn’t the kind of showy hero that many QBs like to be today; instead, he was a workhorse, playing consistently brilliantly across every single game in which he took part. Staubach is a true working man’s hero in that regard.

The world’s greatest football players set eye-catching new records each season as they bid for glory in the NFL. However, some records are so emphatic that they may never be broken. We have rounded up some of the most impressive records that players and teams have set over the past 100 years:

Most Consecutive Starts – Brett Favre (297)

The legendary quarterback was a model of consistency in the NFL and his stellar career was rarely blighted by injuries. Favre hit headlines when he broke Jon Jaworski’s NFL record of 116 consecutive appearances, but he was only just getting started. He ended up featuring in 297 games in a row, and 321 if you include playoffs. Favre also broke Dan Marino’s record for touchdown passes, but Peyton Manning eventually surpassed him on that front.

Most Receptions – Jerry Rice (1,549)

Rice holds every important receiving record imaginable, including most receptions, most receiving yards (22,895), most receiving touchdowns (119), most consecutive one-plus pass receptions (274), most five-plus reception games and most 1,000-yard receiving seasons (14). He also holds the record for the most overall touchdowns (208) and most career yards from scrimmage (23,540).

Best Regular Season Record – New England Patriots (16-0)

The Pats put together a perfect 16-0 season in 2007, but still ended up losing the Super Bowl to Eli Manning’s New York Giants. The only other team with a perfect season was of course the Miami Dolphins of 1972, and they did win the Super Bowl. Can any other team enjoy an unbeaten regular season in the 16-game era? The Chiefs are Super Bowl favorites in the NFL betting, but it is hard to imagine them winning every game next season.

Most Sacks in a Game – Derrick Thomas (7.0)

Dave Krieg could be forgiven for shuddering whenever he hears the name Derrick Thomas. The Seattle Seahawks QB was on the end of a record-breaking beatdown from Thomas, who sacked him seven times in a single game in 1990. No player has achieved more than 5.5 sacks in a game since then.

Most Interceptions in a Game – Jim Hardy (8)

The opening game of the 1950 season was one to forget for the Cardinals QB, who threw a record-breaking eight interceptions against the defending NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Most Receptions in a Season – Michael Thomas (149)

Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison blazed a trail of destruction across the NFL when he made an astonishing 143 receptions in 2002. That left him 31 catches clear of his closest competitor, Hines Ward. Antonio Brown and Julio Jones could not topple his record, and it looked pretty safe. However, New Orleans Saints wide receiver broke that mark in 2019 when he achieved 12 catches for 136 yards in his final game of the season, taking his total to 149.

Most Consecutive Away Wins – San Francisco 49ers (18)

The Niners surged to an impressive 18 consecutive wins on the road between 1988 and 1990. Joe Montana and Steve Young were battling it out for the starting QB role, while Rice was in his pomp, and the 49ers won consecutive Super Bowls during this golden era.

Most Points in a Quarter – Don Hutson (29)

The fabled receiver delivered one of the greatest individual performances of all time during the 1945 season. Hutson scored 29 points – four touchdowns and five PATs – in the second quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions, leading the Green Bay Packers to a 57-21 and vindicating his decision to come out of retirement to play that season.

Most Receiving Yards in a Game – Willie Anderson (336)

Flipper was the star of the show during a 20-17 win for the Rams in 1989. His team looked all but certain to lose to the New Orleans Saints, but Anderson scored a game-tying touchdown deep into the fourth quarter. It went into overtime and Anderson added 40 yards to his total, ultimately receiving for 336 yards. He finished the season with a career-high 1,146 yards off just 44 receptions.

Most Rush Yards in a Season – Eric Dickerson (2,105)

The Hall of Fame running back was electric during the 1984 season. He set a new league record of 2,105 rushing yards in just his second year as a pro, and also led the league for rushing touchdowns. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson actually came within 10 yards of breaking Dickerson’s record in 2012, but he could not quite make it.

Most Rush Yards in a Career – Emmitt Smith (18,355)

Smith rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 11 out of 15 seasons in the NFL. He led the league for rushing yards four times in five years during an iconic period for the Dallas Cowboys, and he remains the league leader for career rush yards.

Most Seasons – George Blanda (26)

The evergreen Blanda holds an embarrassment of pro football records. He played in the most seasons (26), led the league for points during the most seasons (8), made the most kicks (943), and he was also the oldest player to appear when he took to the field at the age of 48 in 1975. Blanda is also a joint record holder for the most passing TDs in a game (7), and the most consecutive seasons leading the league for pass completions (3). He does, however, hold one unwanted distinction – most passes intercepted in a season (42).