“I felt extremely excited,” he said. “It was a dream of mine since I was a kid.”

Wade was born in 2005, in the small town of Agency, Missouri, about thirty minutes north of Kansas City. However, the doctor’s realized quickly that not everything would be perfect. Just four days after his birth, Wade was diagnosed with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS), a genetic growth disorder. 

Because some of his organs were outside of his body at birth, extensive surgeries had to be performed to put everything back in place. 

“Most of the worst parts were before he could remember,” Wade’s mom, Paige Stanton, recalls. “It was probably harder on his dad and I at that point than for him. But the older he got, the harder the surgeries were for him.”

When Wade was three years old, he had the first of two tongue surgeries. Due to BWS, his tongue was larger than his mouth, so a surgery was performed to make his tongue the proper size. A main characteristic of BWS is a large tongue, and this can cause issues with speaking and breathing. At five years old, Wade began speech therapy.

He would go in for an hour every day to work on syllables that were specifically hard for him. He stopped attending speech therapy after sixth grade but went back his sophomore year of high school, after his second tongue surgery.  It wasn’t an easy thing for him to do, not necessarily because talking was difficult, but because to his own ears, Wade sounded normal. 

“Speech therapy was hard to overcome because I wasn’t motivated,” he said. “To me, I sounded fine.”

In addition to his speech complications, Wade was still dealing with the repercussions of the surgery he had at birth- the one that was performed to put his organs back inside his body. 

This early surgery left scar tissue in his abdomen, which had to be cleared out on four different occasions. Each was difficult and taxing on his body, resulting in a two week recovery period and mild to severe pain almost daily. However, he was strong for each and every one. 

“Honestly, he was a trooper through everything, really,” Paige said. “He very seldom complained about any of it and we never let him think he was different than any other kid.”

Wrestling had been the center of Wade’s life from the time he was four years old. His older cousin, Cage, started the sport and naturally, Wade wanted to do the same. His parents signed him up fairly quickly, and soon he was wresting for Buchanan County Wrestling Club. It was a struggle for Wade to acclimate to the sport at first. “I cried every match,” Wade said. “I was absolutely terrified.” 

His parents refused to let him quit. He didn’t win any matches his first year, but from then on he continued to improve and his love for the sport only grew. 

So at 11 years old, Wade already had seven years of wrestling under his belt and in 2018, he competed in Liberty Nationals. It was a tough tournament, especially due to the scar-tissue buildup in his abdomen. After beating a kid from Kentucky in the finals, he finally held the title of national champion that he had been working towards for so long. 

Photo courtesy of Wade Stanton

Working hard and keeping a strict diet, he practiced wrestling almost every day, and stayed in the weight room. In high school, he led his team with the same work ethic that he held himself to which resulted in them winning two state titles over his four years.

In 2022, Wade committed to William Jewell University to further his athletic legacy. It was something he had fought for, and finally seeing it to fruition was an unimaginable feeling. 

The university announced that they would be cutting their wrestling program in November of 2023. “I was heartbroken,” Wade said. “Wrestling was my dream, and having that taken away from me felt like a piece of me was taken away.”

The next day, Wade entered the transfer portal. Drury University was the first choice. 

He committed to Drury and by early December he was on the mat with his new teammates and coaches in his corner. The Drury opener was his first taste of college wrestling, but it didn’t have the smooth start that his previous matches had. 

“It was pretty nerve racking because it was my first ever college match,” Wade said. He lost his first match and knew he needed to fix something. “I was terrified because I just committed to this school and I wasn’t wrestling right.”

But Wade knew what he needed. After that loss, he immediately went to find his dad. 

“It’s still just wrestling,” Wade remembers his dad telling him. “You’re still just doing what you love.”

After that, things improved drastically. 

Photo courtesy of Wade Stanton

Four months later, Wade is working just as hard as he was when he began his wrestling career. He is trying his best to be a leader on and off the mat. And while Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome continues to be something he battles, Wade is grateful for all of the things he has learned because of it. 

“At this point I’ve really learned to wrestle with BWS,” Wade says. “It’s just something you learn to deal with.”

“Wade is one of those guys that makes the whole room better,” says his teammate and friend, BK Seago. “He brings a sense of urgency that helps uplift others into doing the same.”

Despite having to undergo 16 plus surgeries, CAT scans, ultrasounds, cancer screenings, speech therapy and more, he’s bounced back stronger every time. Wade Stanton continues to fight.

Article written by Kaelyn Southall

Featured photo courtesy of Wade Stanton

The post Wrestling with BWS  first appeared on Drury Mirror.

On Sunday, Jan. 21, the Buffalo Bills experienced a season-ending loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. In this Divisional Round game, the teams vied for a spot in the AFC Championship Game.

In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Chiefs leading 27-24, Bills kicker Tyler Bass attempted a 44-yard field goal that would’ve tied the game. The kick pushed wide right and missed, something that happened years before to the Bills’ former kicker Scott Norwood during the 1991 Super Bowl.  

Played at the Bills’ Highmark Stadium, home team fans weren’t happy with the outcome. Some fans allowed this disappointment to turn into hostility. According to FOX Sports, some Bills fans hurled snowballs at Chiefs players at the end of the game, which led some Chiefs players to fire back on social media. However, some supposed Bills fans also reportedly sent death threats to Bass over social media. Bass deactivated his Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, accounts soon after the game.  

Football fans on X predicted the arrival of death threats minutes after Bass’s failed kick, signaling that this isn’t a one-time phenomenon. Fortunately, the majority of fans have condemned those reportedly sending death threats. “If you were one of the people who felt the need to send a death threat to Tyler Bass, please feel free to unfollow me, block me, I don’t care. Always my team!!!” one X user wrote.  

The Bills Mafia, as fans affectionately call themselves, came together to support Ten Lives Club, a nonprofit for which Bass is a brand ambassador. As of Feb. 1, the New York-based cat adoption group had received hundreds of thousands in donations primarily from fans giving $22 in Bass’s name. Many fans outside the Bills Mafia have also supported the nonprofit or donated to other causes in Buffalo, New York.  

However, some X users are still targeting Bass, not in direct support of the death threats but attempting to justify why people may be sending them. “Tyler Bass is so soft, you’re a professional athlete you can take some criticism,” one X user wrote. Another user wrote: “tyler bass be a man.” 

Social media enables sports fans to connect with their favorite players, but it also masks those who want to express negativity. In a 2021 study involving professional footballers, NBA, and WNBA players with large social followings, researchers found hundreds of targeted negative comments, including racism and threatening or violent language. 

In 2021, the American College of Sports Medicine reported that approximately 35% of elite athletes, including professionals, suffer from at least one mental health concern, such as disordered eating, burnout, depression, or anxiety.  

The NFL offers opportunities for its current and former players to get help for their mental health concerns. According to their website, the league commits “to helping build a positive culture around mental health by providing players and the NFL family with comprehensive mental health and wellness resources and equipping them with the tools to succeed, on and off the field, over the course of their lives.” 

Players can access family health benefit plans that provide extensive coverage for mental health needs. The league also organizes NFL Total Wellness and the NFL Player Care Foundation, which advocate for mental health by providing licensed clinical staff and team mental health training. Players, staff and their families also have 24-hour access to the NFL Life Line, which allows them to connect confidentially with a trained counselor over call or online chat. This service operates similarly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 988.  

Despite this unfavorable end to the season, Bills’ coach Sean McDermott remains confident in Bass and his team. Bills’ quarterback, Josh Allen, also stands by Bass. In his post-game press conference, Allen said, “You win as a team, you lose as a team. One play doesn’t define a game. It doesn’t define a season.” 

Allen stated that losing is the second worst part of the game – injuries ranked first.  

“It’s surreal,” Allen said. “On the bright side, we woke up this morning, right? We’re all here.” 

The post Tyler Bass’s missed kick sparks national support, mental health awareness first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Drury Athletics has always been a dominant power, from their membership in the NAIA to their present NCAA Division II membership. Since joining the NCAA, Drury has amassed 23 team national championships, the fourth most among active Division II schools.  

In recent years, Drury has reaffirmed their commitment to athletics by adding new sports, such as women’s and men’s lacrosse, women’s and men’s rugby, stunt, and men’s hockey, to name a few.  

Adding these new sports combined with Drury’s academics allowed a record-breaking 413 freshmen to arrive on campus in 2022 (Drury University, 2022). Drury now boasts 21 NCAA Division II and 12 non-NCAA sports, a whopping 33 sports for a campus with just over 2,400 students enrolled.  

Many of these sports have boasted success in recent years as well. This past year, the women’s basketball team won their seventh consecutive Great Lakes Valley title, solidifying their history in Drury athletics and the Great Lakes Valley Conference.  

In addition, women’s basketball has gone undefeated in the conference three times. Taking it to the turf, women’s soccer has also been heating up following their 2021 GLVC conference win. They are currently the only undefeated team in the Great Lakes Valley Conference at the time of publication.  

To the ice, men’s ice hockey is off to the best start in program history, 4-0, as they get set to take on Maryville and SIU-Edwards at Jordan Valley Ice Park in the coming weeks.  

Lastly, following their two recent top-three finishes Drury’s triathlon team is ranked 10th by the NCAA. They are one of three Division II programs in the NCAA’s top 10.  

These athletes excel not only on the competitive field but also the academic field. This past school year, “Drury had 253 student-athletes earn Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors” (Drury Panthers, 2023). Student-athletes receiving this honor met a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 for two semesters at Drury (Drury Panthers, 2023). 

Drury’s baseball team had the most student-athletes given this honor, producing 33 recipients, while volleyball honored 13 out of their 16 players (Drury Panthers, 2023). 

The success of these athletes, both on and off the competitive field, would not be possible without the administration and professors working tirelessly with student-athletes and their programs. 

In addition to the record-setting athletic accomplishments these past years, Drury athletics is also making monetary moves. For the past four years, Drury has conducted a Champion Challenge, which crowdfunds its 33 athletics programs.  

Money raised with this campaign “helps underwrite the Athletic Department” funding of all the programs (Drury Panthers, 2023). The sports and the athletes promoted this campaign and “reached the highest total in its four years, totaling $288,630” (Drury Panthers, 2023). The large external support of Drury Athletics capitalizes on the recent success and pushes for even more in the future.  

However, Drury athletics hit a stall last year when sanctions from the NCAA came down regarding the university’s failure to certify student-athletes’ eligibility. According to the NCAA, “over three academic years, Drury improperly certified eligibility for over 50 student-athletes across 14 sports” (NCAA, 2023).  

Upon the NCAA’s investigation concluded, “84 violations of NCAA rules occurred” (NCAA, 2023). As a result, through the NCAA’s negotiated resolution process, the NCAA enforcement staff and university agreed on three violation consequences.  

The first is that Drury Athletics is put on three years probation. The second is that Drury’s athletic department faces a $5,000 fine. The third, arguably the most hard-hitting for Drury’s student-athletes, is the “vacating of all records in which the student-athlete competed while ineligible” (NCAA, 2023).  

Sadly, this rips away the Drury’s men’s swimming & diving Great Lakes Valley Conference championship and their 2021 NCAA-II national runner-up finish. (NCAA, 2023). (The Director of Compliance responsible for the violations no longer works in the athletic department.)  

As for the future, Drury is looking to put behind the NCAA infractions and refocus on its goals of more athletic success while providing student-athletes with a top-tier education. In collaboration with the 150-year anniversary, Drury is continuously taking steps to provide the best environment for student-athletes. 

Featured photo by Dani Pluchinsky

The post The New Drury: Athletics and Academics first appeared on Drury Mirror.

As another basketball season turns its page from February to March, and the stakes get a little bit higher since the Drury women’s basketball team won their 23rd straight contest against the Lewis Lady Flyers. The win helped the 2nd ranked Lady Panthers keep pace with the top ranked team in the nation, Ashland University, and finish the GLVC conference schedule undefeated. The Lady Eagles are also Drury’s only loss on the year. That game happened back in November, so a lot has changed since then, though both teams have remained dominant throughout the season. 

“They have been really good all year and were the toughest team we have played this year,” Sophomore Caitlyn Daniels said. “We would love another crack at that team, because we feel we can beat them. We’re a little bit of a different team than we were that early in the year, so there’s a lot of belief in our locker room that it would go a bit different this time.”  

The Lady Panthers are looking to get over the hump this season. They have finished as  national runner-up twice and have made it to the regional round numerous times. Coach Amy Eagan is hoping to bring that illusive national title home to Springfield. 

“It has been very tough trying to right the ship and finally win the big one,” Sophomore Anna Hit said. “I think Coach Eagan is great and she can help us get there. She has been great all year and she has pushed us hard. We are ready for the challenge, but now it is up to us to go out and win some big games.” 

Drury will most likely get an automatic bid, and home court advantage throughout the first two rounds, especially if they can win the GLVC tournament in Indianapolis. They will have to go through some teams that tested them though to get there. 

“We obviously have been winning our games in conference, but it hasn’t been as easy as people think,” Daniels said. “At the end of it, we got pushed to the limit. We got tested. It was good for us because we will see teams that will make it difficult. We have to continue to be tough and see how far we can take this. We want home court advantage, but we will have to focus on the conference tournament for that to happen.” 

Drury has all the pieces to be at the top when it’s all said and done. At the end of the day, it will come down to the players, but there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of confidence in the Lady Panthers locker room. 

“We all believe we can win a championship. We have all the right pieces to do it. We have scoring, we have a great defense, and we have the will to win,” Senior Alana Findley said. “ Coach has instilled that into our DNA. We are the only people that can stop us. If we lock in and focus and put it all out there to end the year, we can beat anyone left standing.”

Article by Garrett Rodgers

The post Climbing The Mountain first appeared on Drury Mirror.

The Tar Heels were electric this year, entering the tournament as an 8 seed. That didn’t stop them from battling their way into the final four teams. Carolina seemed to be a team of destiny after they were put up to a huge test against their archrival Duke. The Duke Blue Devils’ legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski, or Coach K as he is better known, led the Bluedevils to the Final Four in what he announced before the season would be his last year coaching. Duke is a very popular team and many people were excited to see if Coach K could get another championship on his way out the door. I was not one of these people. Hating Duke for me is like hating the Yankees, Warriors and Cowboys, it’s just a must as a fan of parity in sports. Anyways, North Carolina would heroically send Duke back home after an amazing game in the Final Four.

The reason we love March Madness as sports fans is because of the feeling that anybody can win. Any team, no matter what conference they’re from, and no matter how small their school is, can get hot at the right time. This year certainly proved these hopes as 15 seeded Saint Peter’s was able to get to the Elite Eight. The Peacocks didn’t get there by accident as they proved by beating 2 seed Kentucky and 3 seed Purdue. The Peacocks were the first 15 seed ever to get to the Elite Eight. What a year it was for them and head coach Shaheen Holloway. He was an inspiring figure during the tournament for his belief in his players and the ‘never say die’ attitude that they carried along the way. The Peacocks would ultimately fall just short of the Final Four after running into red-hot North Carolina.

After the dust settled, North Carolina bested Duke and punched themselves a ticket to the championship game. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, 1 seed Kansas was clearing the field. They looked strong as they moved through the tournament. They compiled several impressive wins by double digits and dismantled Villanova to reach the championship game.

Carolina vs Kansas is one of the best matchups sports fans could’ve asked for. Two historic programs with title dreams on the line in a one-game take-all showdown. The game started about as bad as it could for Kansas. They found themselves in a hole early on. Carolina dominated them on the boards and had several offensive rebounds that kept their lead growing. Carolina’s post presence was immense and it seemed like Kansas had no answer.

The Tar heels were the better team plain and simple. They walked into halftime with a 15-point lead. I may or may not have turned the channel for a short while. The game looked over to me. Kansas was deflated and beaten. But something changed when they came out of the tunnel into the second half.

The Jayhawk’s star trio of Christian Braun, forward Jalen Wilson and guard Remy Martin began to make plays and get buckets. The Carolina lead began to dwindle and the momentum completely shifted in favor of the Jayhawks. At the end of the game, there was an exchange of buckets that shifted the lead back and forth. However, Kansas was able to take a three-point lead with just a few seconds left. After a questionable North Carolina possession, they got another chance to tie it. The last-second three-point heave by Carolina missed and the Kansas Jayhawks were crowned National Champions. It was the first National Championship win for Kansas since 2008 and their fourth title in program history.

It was a great year for college basketball and we were blessed with some awesome games. Congratulations to the fans and to the Kansas Jayhawks.

Article by Payton Hannah

The post 2022 March Madness review first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Nikko is known on campus for being one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. He is gracious and always seems to be in a good mood. He also helps others without asking and is respected by his coaches and teammates.

Calabro has been the spark in the Panthers lineup as he has batted a whopping .419 over the first quarter of the season. That puts him in the top tier of players for batting average in the entire country. He has hit five homers and tallied 26 hits to add to his production.

Calabro clearly is a great player and he credits his success to his coaches and teammates. He said that his mentality in the game is to “trust my coaches and the process that comes with it.”

Calabro also believes that he has such a high work ethic thanks to the way he carries himself in life. He gives his all to “become the best version of myself and to help others do the same.”

This drive and love for the game started at a young age for Calabro. He recalls that “ever since I could remember, I was playing ball.” This passion for playing baseball has continued to this day.

As the Panthers move forward into the season, the hopes of winning and making it to the national tournament are on the minds of all. Calabro especially believes that the Panthers have what it takes to get there. The team has had success in the past and wants to get back to a regional as they did in 2019.

Calabro recalled how special that moment was, “It was awesome to be with the guys that you have worked so hard with all offseason and during the regular season, be rewarded by hearing our name get called to go”.

Calabro believes that this year’s team has a special talent and the same drive to get to a regional as the 2019 team had. Nikko asserted that “we’ve got the talent, there’s no doubt there. It’s just about putting it all together and trusting one another.”

As a Drury student, I am rooting for the team to keep up and the good work. I also am proud of Calabro and wish him continued success.

Article by Payton Hannah

The post Panther Profiles: Drury Baseball’s Nikko Calabro first appeared on Drury Mirror.

The women’s basketball team has been nothing but phenomenal for three years and counting now. They have risen to be one of, if not the greatest program in the country. The three-year stretch of dominance has included a staggering 81-6 record, a 32-0 season, and a national championship game appearance.

The Panthers remain hungry for a chance to win a national title. After going 32-0 in the 2019-2020 season, Covid would cancel the national tournament. The next season brought a focus and drive to get to the title game that they deserved after the incredible season they had accomplished the previous year. The Panthers were able to destroy in the regular season and make a run to the 2021 title game. In a fierce battle, the Panthers would fall just short of their ultimate goal as they were defeated by Lubbock Christian. The grind of long championship runs now has become the standard for the players and that is certainly the case for this season.

Forward Azia Lynch powers through a block for an easy two points. Lynch has pulled down more than 60 rebounds this season on the offensive and defensive side for the Lady Panthers. Photo by Byron King.

Forward Bella Sparaco echoed this belief, “It’s less of a goal and more of the expectation at Drury as a Women’s Basketball player. The standard is to win. There’s a huge emphasis on the national title this season because we’re more than capable of coming home with a ring in March.”

Sparaco also believes the Panthers have a mental edge over the competition thanks to the shared energy and drive this team has to win. Sparaco explained how “A lot of teams by playoff time are really gassed and ready to be done. I think going in every day with a positive attitude does a lot. Also, encouraging my teammates and bringing great energy to every workout, practice and game is more important than a lot of people understand.”

Terrion Moore from Kansas City, Kansas shoots a three. Moore finished the game against Missouri S&T with 9 points, 4 assists, and 3 forced turnovers. Photo by Byron King.

Senior guard Paige Robinson also has high expectations for this team. The Panthers are currently 25-4 with two games left before the GLVC tournament. Robinson believes that the team is ready for what’s ahead and they are all focused on one goal.

Robinson remarked that “We’ve had a really great start to the season so far and I expect us to build onto that. We know our end goal so we’re going to do everything in our power to accomplish that.”

When asked what makes this team special, Robinson stated that “This team is special because it has a deep roster that brings a lot of skill to the table. Everyone brings their A-game every day to practice, workouts and games.”

Special, a perfect word to describe what this run has been and what these players have meant for the university. The whole campus is excited to continue watching and supporting our Panthers. We have their back and are ready to watch them do some damage this postseason.

Article by Payton Hannah, featured photo by Byron King

The post Drury Women’s Basketball gets ready for Playoffs first appeared on Drury Mirror.

The scoring started quickly with a touchdown by Odell Beckham Jr. that would be one of the two catches the wideout hauled in. Unfortunately, Beckham went down with a knee injury soon after and left the game. The Bengals, for a large portion of the game, were stagnant on offense. However, they were able to score on a Joe Mixon touchdown pass. Yes, Joe Mixon, the runningback threw a touchdown.

The Rams defense was expected to show up big time as they had a huge advantage over the less than impressive Bengals O-line. That’s exactly what they did. The Bengals offense this year and during the playoffs were rolling. However, Joe Burrow found himself running for his life thanks to Von Miller and Aaron Donald. Both of them had an absolute field day. Donald especially was terrific as he compiled two tackles for loss and two sacks. Donald was huge on a critical third-down stop and the 4th & 1 play that won the game for the Rams.

Many considered Donald to be the MVP of the game. That was certainly a fair assessment but the award went to equally important contributor Cooper Kupp. Kupp was nothing short of amazing down the stretch for Los Angeles. He had started slowly as Beckham was getting looks early on. After Beckham went down, Kupp turned into prime Jerry Rice. Nearly every important offensive play went to Kupp in the second half. He picked up several crucial 3rd downs and scored two touchdowns. One of which came after a long drive where he was targeted repeatedly and the Bengals defense could do nothing to stop him.

After the game, many Bengals fans took to Twitter to point out the inconsistency with the officiating. There looked to be a questionable holding call on Bengals linebacker, Logan Wilson, late in the game that if not called, would’ve likely meant a win for Cincinnati. It is certainly true that the officiating had been mostly silent and had let the two teams play freely. That is exactly what happened on the Bengals’ second touchdown in the game caught by Tee Higgins. The touchdown grab was clearly a missed call as Higgins illegally grabbed Rams corner, Jalen Ramsy, by the facemask and threw him aside.

So all in all, both teams had lucky breaks. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic game and a win for football fans.

Article by Payton Hannah

The post Super Bowl LVI Review first appeared on Drury Mirror.

It was a season to cherish as Tom Brady has recently declared retirement. As a lifelong Peyton Manning fan, I have had plenty of moments of rooting against Brady with all I could muster. He always sent a cold spell into your chest when he had the ball late in the game. Now that he is leaving the league it has hit me just how sad this is. Whether you are a Brady fan or not, it cannot be denied his greatness and the impact he has made on the game. I will truly miss him.

On a high note, there are finally going to be some new teams in the Super Bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals will be making their first Super Bowl appearance in decades. Many pundits had them finishing last in their own division this year. However, second-year quarterback Joe Burrow, or Joe Burr as he is often referred to, had a tremendous year and carried the team to the big game. Burrow and the Bengals have ultimately changed the culture in Cincinnati. The Bengals had not won a playoff game since 1988! When they take the field for the Super Bowl, they will be the underdogs. They seem to like that narrative as they have won two of their three playoff games this year with that same mentality.

Along with Burrow, the Bengals bring a collection of weapons. Rookie wideout and former LSU teammate of Burrow’s, Ja’Marr Chase has been nothing short of electric. Wideout Tee Higgins and kicker Evan McPherson are also great players to watch for. The Bengals top it off with an excellent running game thanks to Joe Mixon in the backfield.

Lining up against the Bengals will be the Los Angeles Rams. This team is full of stars. It is of little surprise that they were able to make it to their home stadium for the Super Bowl this year.

The Rams had an “all or nothing” approach this year as they went out and traded for receiver Odell Beckham and defensive star Von Miller. These players rounded out their already impressive roster with Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsay, Van Jefferson and the NFL’s best receiver this year, Cooper Kupp.

Perhaps the Ram’s biggest move of the last offseason was to sign veteran quarterback Matt Stafford. Stafford has always been a talented player, but there were doubts about his ability to get it done when it mattered. Coming into this year’s playoffs, Stafford had never won a playoff game. That being said, he was a Detroit Lion, so that leaves little to work with. Stafford had a great year and has continued to be solid in the playoffs.

My prediction: I think the Rams defense will get to Burrow several times in the game. The Bengal’s offensive line is not one of the best by any means. This is deeply troubling for the Bengals as the Rams’ defensive front might be the best in football. Burrow will have to throw quickly and hit a lot of slants and screen passes.

As for the Rams offense, they will need to keep the pace for the whole game. There have been times where they start out hot and then get a little uneasy as the game nears the end.

If I was thinking with my head and just looking at the rosters on paper, I would pick the Rams. However, Joe Burrow seems to be a man of destiny in these situations. He should’ve lost to the Titans and the Chiefs, but the Bengals just won’t stop marching. With that in mind, my final prediction is the Bengals win on a last-minute field goal.

Article by Payton Hannah

The post Super Bowl LVI: Previews and predictions first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Originally, Irving planned on only playing road games for the Nets this season. This was due to the New York City vaccine mandate for all employees. The Nets were silent on the issue of Irving’s availability until October 12. 

The Nets’ general manager Sean Marks decided to not involve Irving in any form with the team until he can become fully available. Marks stated, “Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently, the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.” 

Since this has happened, Irving has appeared on his social media platforms to discuss his decision to remain unvaccinated. On Instagram, Irving explained that “I chose to be unvaccinated, and that was my choice, and I would ask you all to just respect that choice.” Irving has taken it upon himself to be a “voice for the voiceless” when it comes to the issue of vaccine mandates. 

Irving continued on his Instagram live exclaiming, “This is my life. I get to do whatever I want with this, this is one body that I get here. And you are telling me what to do with my body? This has everything to do with what is going on in our world. And I am being grouped into something that is bigger than just the game of basketball?” 

Irving also has stated that his reasoning for not getting the vaccine has nothing to do with being “anti-vax.” 

Many fans and sportscasters have worried that Irving will simply retire and there is a growing belief that he does not care about winning or even about basketball. 

Kyrie responded to these narratives, “It’s about choosing what’s best for you. You think I really want to lose money? You think I really want to give up on my dream to go after a championship? You think I really just want to give up my job?” 

Kyrie’s decision to speak out against the vaccine has drawn both praise and criticism from the public. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said of Irving, “This is some of the stupidest nonsense I have ever seen.” 

Irving “is compromising the championship aspirations of an organization that he signed up to represent,” Smith said.

The Nets signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in the 2019 offseason. After adding James Harden to the mix via trade last season, the Nets have been an overwhelming favorite to win the NBA championship this season. Kyrie’s absence throws a wrench into the Nets’ championship hopes as he is unquestionably a critical part of the team. 

Irving’s decision has certainly drawn several bits of criticism. However, there have been many to come to his defense. Many conservative political commentators, anti-vaccine and anti-mandate voices have praised Irving for his decision. 

Conservative commentator Candace Owens tweeted, “People that stand up for their beliefs in the face of brainwash, media propaganda, and a worldwide peer pressure campaign are the kind of people that you should look up to.  @KyrieIrving is someone to look up to. Never, ever do what makes you uncomfortable.” 

There has been no change in Kyrie Irving’s game status or any further statements from him as of October 27. The sports world and fans alike will be watching over this for weeks to come. 

Article by Payton Hannah

The post Basketball player Kyrie Irving’s stance on vaccine mandates sheds light on the future of sports in a world with COVID-19. first appeared on Drury Mirror.