View From The Bridge

"You're not great".  In terms of defining Ben Simmons' career so far, the words of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal couldn’t be more fitting. A problematic stint for the Philidelphia 76ers has landed the former number one pick in a tricky sitaution moving foward, as he has made clear that he no longer wants to be part of “The Process” but it seems little to no NBA franchises want a part of him either.  Back in 2016, Ben Simmons was the number one name in college basketball. The 6’9” combo gaurd showed every indication that he was going to be a star in the NBA, getting the nod from the likes of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade. Ever since it has been something of a downward spiral. Injury issues plagued Simmons rookie season and he didn’t offically step onto an NBA court until October 2017 but was quick to bounce back.  Ben Simmons - allproreels.com Consistant seasons in 2018 and 2019 quickly earned him a spot as one of the NBA’s premier play makers and defenders, resulting...

Haas has become a diminishing entity in the world of Formula One for several seasons now. Debuting in 2018, the US-owned Haas has gone from top 4 contenders, to back of the pack scrappers, all in the space of 3 seasons. However, heading in 2021, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner decided to make no significant car developments and instead pool all available resources into 2022. Is it a touch of genius or does it mark the final nail in the coffin?  2022 signals a breath of fresh air for Haas and Guenther Steiner. Not only do the upcoming regulation changes promise to bring more dramatic racing back to Formula One, but could also significantly reshuffle the F1 food chain. So, whilst teams such as Mercedes and Red Bull continue to develop this year's car in their hopes to make their drivers world champions, Haas could have the capability to make a shock return to the top in 2022.  Romain Grosjean driving the VF-20 during the pre-season tests in Barcelona - Wikimedia Commons As ...

This past weekend, the Italian Grand Prix once again delivered on it’s promise to be one of the most unpredictable races on the F1 calendar. In a weekend that saw flashes of brilliance throughout the grid, another Mercedes and Red Bull collision was the story that grabbed headlines and sparked controversy throughout the paddock.  Although both drivers were unharmed in the accident, Max Verstappen walked away from a pointless weekend in Monza with a 3-place grid penalty, after he was deemed the main culprit in his latest clash with the seven time world champion. On the other hand, Hamilton was given nothing more than a bump on the head and a significant advantage heading into the next round. Not only do I believe that the FIA’s findings are wrong, but also feel that their applied penalty is more in the name of ‘tit for tat’ than anything else.  Let’s break it down.  Stage 1 - Under Breaking  With Hamilton exiting the pits and Verstappen starting to enter the breaking ...

Every so often, a singular athlete defines a new generation for their sport. In the world of tennis, Serena Williams was that defining star and dominated every court across the globe for almost two decades. Presently, there are a handful of young stars that are in line to succeed the 23-time grand slam champion, but the trojan horse among them is 18-year-old Emma Raducanu. Bursting onto the scene at Wimbledon, Raducanu showed early signs of promise, entering the tournament at just 18-years-old, and winning her first 3 matches in straight sets. However, a perceived medical issue saw her retire from her 4th round matchup against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic, leaving her exposed to some serious doubt surrounding her future.  Famed controversialist Piers Morgan was met with fierce retaliation from fans when he accused Raducanu of "quitting when she was losing badly" and called her retirement "Not brave but a shame".  Ever since her performances have been nothing sho...

Statistically speaking, Sir Lewis Hamilton is already the most successful driver in Formula One history, boasting 99 career wins, 101 pole positions, and 7 driver world titles. However, his condition as a serial whiner has left a sour taste in the mouth of his fellow drivers and others in the paddock, painting him as an F1 supervillain for this season and beyond.  As one of the winningest drivers in Formula One history, it would be easy to say that most feelings of hate or sourness toward Hamilton are simply out of jealousy or bitterness. After all, the British driver has been at the top of the F1 leaderboards for over a decade and has won every driver's world title since 2016. However, it is the way that Hamilton has conducted himself both on and off the track that has cast a significant shadow over what was once a beloved sporting icon.  Lewis Hamilton - marca.com The serial whiner has developed quite a reputation over the past few seasons and has turned Hamilton into F1's n...

“Overrated” is a term that’s past around quite harshly. Whilst Tatum saw his biggest jump in performance for the Celtics over this past season, there is still some questions surrounding his ability to lead the NBA’s most successful franchise to thier 18th league title.  This past season, Tatum averaged an impressive 26.4 points per game whilst shooting 40.3% from 3, but only managed to lead the Celtics to a bitter first round exit in this years playoffs. At 23 years of age, there are only a handful players in league history that have been expected to step up and lead a professional franchise. That being said, Tatum has certainly had his fair share of help in the form of All-Stars Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward, and Jaylen Brown, all of which have added up to a mediocre supporting cast in Boston throughout 2021.  Jayson Tatum - skysports.com Moving into 2022, the Celtics have had a complete franchise reshuffle, promoting former head coach Brad Stevens to Head of Basketball Operat...