Tag: sports

The Best (and Worst) Numbers to Have in Super Bowl Squares

Super Bowl Sunday is the perfect mix of football, commercials, snacks… and quietly taking your friends’ money.

Super Bowl Squares is one of the easiest ways for even non-football fans to have skin in the game, but whether you win or lose (usually) comes down to one thing: the numbers you get stuck with.

How Super Bowl Squares Work (Quick Version)

Buy squares on a 10×10 grid. Once the board fills up, the numbers 0–9 are randomly assigned to each team across the top and side.

At the end of each quarter, the last digit of each team’s score determines the winner.
Example: If it’s 14–6, the 4/6 square wins.

It’s simple, it’s dumb luck… and some squares are way better than others.

Tip for rookies: A legit squares pool doesn’t assign numbers until after the grid is full. If your friend posts a board with the numbers already lined up and in order? Smile politely, then buy as many of these squares as you can afford…

Which Numbers Are Good in General?

Football scoring isn’t random. Touchdowns (7), field goals (3), and missed extra points create patterns – and over decades of NFL games, some last digits show up way more often than others.

The Best: 0, 3, 4, and 7

They’re common endpoints for realistic scores like 14–3, 27–10, or 24–17.

The Worst: 2, 5, 8, and 9

They usually require weird stuff – safeties, missed kicks, or very specific combinations – which means fewer chances to win.

The Five Best Squares You Can Get

0/0, 7/0, 0/7, 0/3, 3/0

If you land one of those, feel free to start trash-talking early. Why? Because 0 and 7 are everywhere in football scoring. A deep dive by The Washington Post found that 0/0 has historically been the single best square overall.

The five worst squares are 2/2, 5/5, 2/5, 5/2, and 8/8. Those digits usually require safeties, missed extra points, or other rare scoring quirks to hit – and needing that chaos from both teams makes these combinations long shots in any pool.

So, 0/0 is the best then? Well, there’s a catch…

Final Score vs. Quarter Payouts

If your pool pays out every quarter, 0/0 is king.

But if the really big money is on the final score (which is common), 7/0 or 0/7 might actually be the best combos to get. Games can’t end in a tie like 20–20, so 0/0 needs something like 20–10 or 30–20 to hit late.

FanDuel clocked the “final score” chances of 0/7 or 7/0 at 7%. Then it’s 0/3 or 3/0 and 4/7 or 7/4 at just under 6%.

A final score of 0/0 ranks 15th with just a 2% chance of hitting.

What About 1 and 6?

They’re… not great.

  • 1 mostly relies on 21 points (three touchdowns) and doesn’t show up often early.
  • 6 is possible early with two quick field goals, but then it’s clunky combinations with specific scoring paths.

Not the worst, but not what you’re hoping for either.

If you do get something ugly, don’t panic. A blocked extra point helped the Chiefs beat the Niners 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII.

Soccer Knocks Baseball Out of America’s Top Three Favorite Sports

Sorry, baseball. Your long run as America’s third favorite sport is officially over.

A new poll from The Economist shows soccer has moved ahead of baseball in the U.S. popularity rankings, marking a pretty big shift in how Americans say they feel about sports right now. Football is still the undisputed king, basketball remains comfortably in second place, but the real drama happens just below that.

According to the poll, American football is the clear favorite sport in the country, with 36 percent of respondents saying it’s their top choice. That’s not shocking. Sundays still belong to the NFL, not to mention Mondays and Thursdays. And Saturdays are all about college ball.

Basketball comes in second with 17 percent. Again, no surprise there. The NBA has massive star power, a strong social media presence, and games that fit nicely into highlight clips and group chats.

Here is where things get interesting.

Soccer now sits in third place, with 10 percent of Americans naming it their favorite sport. Baseball comes in just behind it at 9 percent. It is a slim margin, but enough to officially bump baseball out of the top three.

That shift feels symbolic. Baseball has long been tied to the idea of America’s pastime, even if that label has been debated for years. Meanwhile, soccer’s rise has been steady. Major League Soccer keeps expanding, international leagues are easier than ever to watch, and younger fans have grown up seeing soccer as a normal part of the sports landscape instead of something “foreign.”

Hockey lands in fifth place, with 4 percent of Americans calling it their favorite sport. After that, things get crowded. Tennis, boxing, and MMA all tie at 3 percent, followed by golf at 2 percent.

None of this means baseball is disappearing, of course.

It still has a massive history, loyal fans, and a long season that fills summer nights. But the poll does suggest that cultural momentum is shifting. Faster-paced sports, global stars, and constant access through streaming and social media are changing how people choose their favorites.

For soccer fans, this is a big moment. For baseball fans, it might sting a little. Either way, America’s sports pecking order is no longer as predictable as it once was.

Here Is Who Is Going to Win Every NFL Playoff Game

The NFL playoffs start next weekend, SB Nation has ranked all of them according to their likelihood of winning it all.

Here’s how they see it:

  1. Seattle Seahawks
  2. Los Angeles Rams
  3. San Francisco 49ers
  4. Buffalo Bills
  5. Denver Broncos
  6. New England Patriots
  7. Philadelphia Eagles (defending champs)
  8. Jacksonville Jaguars
  9. Chicago Bears
  10. Houston Texans
  11. Los Angeles Chargers
  12. Green Bay Packers
  13. Pittsburgh Steelers
  14. Carolina Panthers

But who you got? I saw screw all the prognosticators. (Had to check that spelling.)

Here is what’s going to happen this weekend:

Rams 38 – Panthers 17

Bears 35 – Packers 34

Bills 31 – Jaguars 26

49ers 27 – Eagles 24

Patriots 24 – Chargers 20

Texans 20 – Steelers 14

Then we go on to the divisional round:

Bills 24 – Broncos 21

Patriots 20 – Texans 19

Seahawks 23 – 49ers 14

Rams 42 – Bears 38

And then for the AFC and NFC championship:

Bills 27 – Patriots 24

Rams 28 – Seahawks 21

And of course this will be the first time in history the BILLS win a Super Bowl. Josh Allen is too handsome, he should be holding the Lombardi.

Bills 35 – Rams 31

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 7: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Watching Sports Is Good For Your Brain

Watching sports might actually make you happier in the long run.  And science backs it up.

And a special shout out to all those eliminated from the fantasy football playoffs.  It’s okay to be mad.

Here are five reasons why cheering for your team does more than just pass the time:

1.  It reduces loneliness.  Whether you’re in a packed stadium . . . at a bar . . . or texting friends during the game, you feel connected.  Even if you’re watching alone, there are so many online fan communities you can join.

2.  It helps you let your emotions out.  Yelling at the TV . . . or even mourning a loss releases dopamine.  And that lowers stress.

3.  Sports can strengthen your identity.  Teams connect us to our roots and the city we live in.  And they can help you find your people.

4.  Sports are a low-pressure connection.  It’s easy conversation, and friendly banter.  With no deep talks required.

5.  Watching sports can sharpen your brain.  Crunching all those stats in your fantasy leagues keeps your mind active. Which could help offset those couch beers.

A study from 2024 found watching sports activates reward centers in the brain and may increase long term happiness. So yes, scream at the screen if the ref made a bad call.  It might be good for you.

America’s Most Hated NFL Team Revealed, and It’s Not the Chiefs

If you assumed the Kansas City Chiefs were the villains of the NFL right now, Google says otherwise.

A Canadian sports betting site dug through Google Keyword Planner data to find out which teams get the most negative searches across the country, and the results are pure football-fan drama. If you love NFL rankings, team rivalries, and a little bit of online chaos, this one is for you.

According to the data, the Philadelphia Eagles take the crown as the most hated team in the United States.

The runner-up spot goes to the Las Vegas Raiders, who lead the hate-charts in eight states. That probably won’t surprise anyone who has ever argued with a die-hard Raiders fan, or anyone who has simply seen a Raiders fan.

In third place, the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers tie with six states each. The Jets being on the list feels almost expected at this point. The Packers, on the other hand, might have simply inherited the resentment that comes with decades of winning.

Rounding out the top tier of villainy are two more iconic franchises. The Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers tie at three states each, proving that even though Cowboys fans call their team America’s Team, at least a few states would very much like to opt out.

All of this comes from search trends, not polling, so the data reflects what people are actively googling. And yes, that means people are literally sitting down at their laptops and typing in things like “I hate the Eagles.”

The dedication is impressive.

While the Chiefs didn’t crack the top five, their absence might be the biggest twist. Maybe the Taylor Swift era softened their internet footprint. Maybe Patrick Mahomes is too likable. Or maybe America has simply redirected its energy toward booing the Eagles.

If you want to go full map-nerd, there’s a visual breakdown showing exactly which states hate which teams. It’s a strangely beautiful piece of sports-fan cartography.

In the end, it’s a reminder that football loyalty runs deep, football hate runs deeper, and Google sees absolutely everything.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 02: A Philadelphia Eagles fan cheers before the start of the Eagles game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on October 2, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Timothée Chalamet Crowned “White Boy of the Year” by NBA Star Anthony Edwards

Timothée Chalamet might already have the acting chops to someday land an EGOT, but this week, he added a much rarer title to his résumé: White Boy of the Year.

Yes, you read that right. The “Dune” star received the cheeky honor from Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards during his online “Believe That Awards” show.

Chalamet beat out a surprisingly competitive list of nominees, including Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise, Pat McAfee, and MrBeast. And in true Chalamet fashion, he didn’t just accept the award with a quick “thanks.” The actor joined the show remotely from Budapest, Hungary, where he’s currently filming, and gave a playful acceptance speech. He even joked about teaming up with Edwards for a “Training Day” reboot, which honestly, someone in Hollywood should make happen immediately.

Social media exploded after the segment aired, with fans and celebrities chiming in to congratulate Chalamet on his newest “achievement.”

The internet seems to agree that if there were ever going to be an official “White Boy of the Year,” Timmy fits the bill—charming, talented, and just self-aware enough to laugh at the whole thing.

So if Timothée ever does go on to achieve EGOT status, he’ll actually be in a league of his own—a WEGOT winner, since “White Boy of the Year” clearly deserves its own category.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – Timothée Chalamet attends the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

Pope Leo Proves His Loyalty to the White Sox by Razzing a Cubs Fan

Pope Leo might serve God, but he was born and raised in Chicago, and his second allegiance is to the White Sox.

That loyalty was on full display this past Sunday when the pontiff was gliding through Vatican City in the Popemobile after mass, surrounded by tens of thousands of cheering onlookers. Somewhere in the crowd, one brave (or possibly clueless) heckler decided to test the Pope’s patience by yelling, “Go Cubs!”

Now, Leo may preach forgiveness and neighborly love, but not when it comes to a good crosstown rivalry. Without missing a beat, he fired back, “Han perdido! They lost!”

If your Spanish is a little rusty, “han perdido” means “they lost,” which makes this divine clapback even better.

The Cubs had just been knocked out of the National League Divisional Series by the Milwaukee Brewers, and apparently, Pope Leo wasn’t in the mood for Cub-related trolling.

The moment quickly went viral, with fans around the world praising the Pope’s hometown spirit.

Even Sox fans back in Chicago were calling it “the holiest burn of the season.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time a public figure has shown some baseball bias, but it might be the first time the Bishop of Rome joined the ranks of salty sports fans. Then again, if you’ve lived through as many disappointing Cubs seasons as Chicagoans have, it’s easy to understand why the pontiff’s prayers go toward the South Side instead.

So next time you’re in Vatican City and thinking about shouting “Go Cubs” at the Pope—maybe don’t. Unless you’re ready for some holy smack talk.

Jerry Jones Claims He Flipped Off Jets Fans by Mistake

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is in hot water again, this time for giving New York Jets fans the finger during Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium.

The NFL fined him $250,000 after a fan’s video went viral showing him standing in his luxury suite, flipping off the crowd before quickly switching to his index finger like nothing happened.

In classic Jerry fashion, he claims it was totally accidental. He told reporters he was just celebrating a Cowboys touchdown and meant to give fans a thumbs-up, not a middle finger – a common mistake we’ve all made. 🤪

There wasn’t any antagonistic issue or anything like that. I just put up the wrong show on the hand. But that was inadvertently done, and I’m not kidding. If you want to call it accidental, you can call it accidental.

Sure, Jerry. Because when most people “celebrate,” they accidentally salute someone like they just cut them off in traffic.

The league apparently didn’t find his explanation amusing. The fine came swiftly, with sources saying the gesture was “conduct unbecoming of an owner.”

Fans online were divided. Cowboys supporters largely defended him, calling it a “boomer moment” and praising his quick recovery from middle to index finger. Jets fans, meanwhile, pointed out that being flipped off by Jerry Jones was still the highlight of their day.

At least the Cowboys gave him something to celebrate. They beat the Jets 37 to 22.

The Highest-Paid Athletes of 2025: Ronaldo and Steph Curry Lead the Pack

If you’ve ever wondered how much money the world’s biggest athletes are pulling in, the 2025 rankings just dropped, and the numbers are jaw-dropping.

Spoiler alert: Cristiano Ronaldo is still living that gold-plated lifestyle at the very top.

The soccer superstar takes the crown as the highest-paid athlete of 2025 with a staggering $275 million paycheck. Yes, that’s a quarter of a billion dollars in one year. He’s not just kicking goals on the field, he’s cashing in on global endorsements, sponsorships, and the sheer fact that his name is basically a brand.

Right behind him is NBA sharpshooter Stephen Curry, who secured the #2 spot with $156 million. Not bad for a guy who turned three-pointers into an art form. And rounding out the top three is heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who punched his way to $146 million.

Here’s the full Top 10 list of sports money kings in 2025:

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $275 million
  2. Stephen Curry – $156 million
  3. Tyson Fury – $146 million
  4. Dak Prescott – $137 million
  5. Lionel Messi – $135 million
  6. LeBron James – $133.8 million
  7. Juan Soto – $114 million
  8. Karim Benzema – $104 million
  9. Shohei Ohtani – $102.5 million
  10. Kevin Durant – $101.4 million

What’s wild is how varied this list is. You’ve got athletes from soccer, basketball, baseball, football, and even boxing all cashing in huge. It’s proof that if you’re elite in your sport and marketable off the field, the checks will keep rolling in.

Also worth noting: both Messi and LeBron may be closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, but they’re still sitting comfortably in the top six.

Legends don’t just fade, they keep cashing those endorsement deals. Meanwhile, Juan Soto is one of the youngest on the list, showing baseball still has the power to mint mega-stars.

At the end of the day, these numbers are so massive they almost don’t feel real. But whether it’s Ronaldo’s global empire, Curry’s sneaker legacy, or Fury’s pay-per-view paydays, the takeaway is simple: sports are not just games, they’re billion-dollar businesses.

Macho Man Randy Savage Died in 2011, But His Three-Legged Cat is Still Alive!

Pro wrestling legend The Macho Man Randy Savage died at the far-too-young age of 58, after suffering a heart attack behind the wheel and crashing into a tree.

That was in 2011, 14 years ago.

But about six months before he died, Randy adopted a cat. A three-legged cat. Or, as his brother, fellow wrestler Lanny Poffo called it, a one-armed cat.

Randy named it Junkyard Cat, in honor of his late friend and fellow grappler The Junkyard Dog.

And that cat, we have just learned, is still kicking.

Randy’s estate recently posted a picture of Junkyard Cat, still alive in 2025.

Kenan Thompson of “Saturday Night Live” fame is working on a Randy Savage biopic. There’s no word if Junkyard Cat will make a cameo.

Junkyard Dog died in 1998. “Leapin'” Lanny Poffo passed in 2023.

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