Category Archives: Sports

Hero Jay Withey, who saved 24 lives during Buffalo blizzard, receives Super Bowl tickets as a gift

Jay Withey, a local man from Buffalo, New York, recently made headlines for his heroic actions during the deadly snowstorm that hit the city last month. Withey, who is now known as “Merry Christmas, Jay,” rescued 24 people from the blizzard’s harsh conditions. 


On Friday, he was surprised with Super Bowl tickets by none other than Buffalo Bills legend, Thurman Thomas and his wife Patti. The tickets were presented on behalf of the Bills and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and will allow Withey to attend next month’s Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona.


During the Christmas Eve blizzard, Jay Withey found himself seeking shelter from the harsh conditions. He had spent the night sleeping in his truck with two strangers, just trying to survive. In his search for safety, he broke a window of a school to gain entry. But instead of staying inside and warming up, he ventured back out into the storm. 


He worked tirelessly to rescue others in need, including seven elderly people who were stranded in their cars. He brought them all to the safety of the school. His selfless actions earned him the nickname “Merry Christmas, Jay,” after he left a note explaining his actions and apologized for breaking the window.


In a letter left behind, Jay Withey expressed his remorse for breaking the school window and entering the kitchen. He wrote, “To whom it may concern, I’m terribly sorry about breaking the school window and for breaking in the kitchen. Got stuck at 8 p.m. Friday and slept in my truck with two strangers just trying not to die. There were seven elderly people also stuck and out of fuel. I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom. Merry Christmas.” He signed the note simply, “Jay.”



The Cheektowaga Police Department later shared the letter on social media, along with images of Jay Withey. In the post, they stated that they would like to find him to thank him for his heroic actions that saved people’s lives.


After receiving the Super Bowl tickets, Withey said he was amazed by the outpouring of support from people all over the world. He said he has been inundated with messages of gratitude, including thank you letters from as far away as Australia.

Brandon Shields

Brandon Shields

Author

Kobe Bryant’s Iconic Jersey Expected to Sell for Over $5 Million at Auction

Sotheby’s is auctioning off one of Kobe Bryant’s most iconic jerseys from his MVP season in 2007-2008. According to a report from CNBC, the jersey is expected to fetch a record-breaking amount at the auction. 


Bryant wore this jersey for 25 games during the 2007-2008 season, including during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, where he made a three-pointer that gave the Los Angeles Lakers a significant lead. In celebration, Bryant raised his jersey, an image that can be seen on murals and paintings around the world.


Sotheby’s has estimated that the jersey will sell for between $5 million and $7 million, making it the most expensive piece of Kobe Bryant’s memorabilia ever sold. 


A previous Bryant’s jersey sold for $3.69 million in 2021, however, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectibles, Brahm Wachter, stated that the significance of this jersey adds extra value. He said that to have this jersey from that iconic moment is not only special but it has also served as a point of inspiration all over the world of Kobe in this jersey.


Online bidding for the jersey will begin on February 2nd and will run until February 9th. Even after his death in 2020, Kobe Bryant continues to inspire people from all walks of life, and this has had an impact on the sports memorabilia market.

According to Brahm Wachter, head of streetwear and modern collectibles at Sotheby’s, Kobe Bryant’s lasting effect on people has had an impact on the sports memorabilia market. 


He said “Kobe is someone who doesn’t just inspire basketball players, he inspires other athletes, he inspires executives and business people. It’s somebody that touches a lot of different people and so in that sense, I think perhaps he’s one of the strongest markets, period.”


In that 2007-08 season, Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He led the Lakers to the NBA Finals before the team fell to the Boston Celtics in six games.

Brandon Shields

Brandon Shields

Author

An embarrassment of Riches, Georgia beats TCU 65-7

The Georgia Bulldogs, ranked No. 1, completely overpowered the No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs with a 65-7 victory in the College Football Playoff national championship game at SoFi Stadium on Monday night.

 

This dominant performance by the Bulldogs, led by quarterback Stetson Bennett, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, resulted in Georgia winning back-to-back national titles for the first time since Alabama did so in 2011-2012. There was no hope for a comeback or exciting finish for TCU, as Georgia’s dominance was clear from the start.

 

Georgia made their victory over TCU look effortless, with quarterback Stetson Bennett leading the team to a 52-7 lead with 13:25 left in the game. Bennett, who had a total of six touchdowns in the game, was greeted with hugs and high-fives from coaches and teammates as he left the field, having capped his career with the sport’s highest achievement.

 

Georgia dominated TCU in every aspect of the game, using their strong tight ends for passing plays, finding holes in the running game, and pressuring TCU quarterback Max Duggan into mistakes with their offensive line. Duggan threw two interceptions in the first half, including one with :36 seconds left that led to another Bennett touchdown pass, giving Georgia a 38-7 halftime lead. This was the largest halftime lead in a national championship game since the 2002 BCS, when Miami led Nebraska 34-0.

 

Georgia, with the advantage of having won the national championship the previous year, seemed at ease while TCU, under their first-year coach and coming off a 5-7 season in which they were predicted to finish seventh in the Big 12, seemed overwhelmed. Georgia was favored to win by 13.5 points, the largest favorite in a national championship game since 1998, but TCU had a history of defying odds and winning games when trailing after halftime. They had also gained attention throughout the season for their unconventional mascot, the hypnotoad, and their role as underdogs.

 

This was not a game with a magical ending; rather, it marked the beginning of Georgia’s dominance under Kirby Smart. Since 1990, only Nebraska (1994-95) and USC (2003-04) have won back-to-back national titles. Georgia’s win last year, their first national championship in 41 years, sparked comparisons to Alabama and raised questions about the balance of power between the two programs.

 

Now that Georgia has won consecutive championships, the debate about whether Georgia has overtaken Alabama, which has won six national titles in 12 seasons under Saban, as the top program in the SEC will likely intensify. Smart, who previously served as Alabama coach Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator, has implemented a winning formula at Georgia, leading the team to five SEC East titles, two SEC championships, and two national titles. 

 

He has also recruited seven top-three signing classes, several of which were on the field during Monday’s game.

 

During the first half, Bennett had numerous open receivers and threw only four incompletions, leading to two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Georgia outgained TCU by 233 yards in the first half, the largest margin in any half of a national championship game since 2004. The Bulldogs broke several national championship records and completely overpowered TCU, who was seeking their first national title since 1938.

 

Despite their upset victory over No. 2 Michigan in the CFP semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, TCU was unable to compete with Georgia, the most elite program in the SEC, and the gap between the two teams was evident in the score.

Georgia had a dominant performance in its football game against TCU, scoring a record-breaking 17 points in the first quarter and 45 points overall. Georgia’s strong start and consistent play throughout the game made it clear that they were the superior team on the field.

 

Despite TCU’s reputation for being a team that never gives up and always finds ways to win, they were unable to overcome Georgia’s dominant performance. Georgia, on the other hand, has established itself as a top-performing team and may be considered the best in the country.

Brandon Shields

Brandon Shields

Founder | Team Havoc Studios

The Match-Made in Heaven: Bills vs. 49ers Super Bowl

The NFL is a consistently entertaining sport that has become the most popular professional league in the United States and gained international fame. The drama and unpredictability of the season, which lasts for almost seven months, make it a joy to follow. American football has replaced baseball as the “national pastime” and is unlikely to lose its place as the top sport in the country. The NFL also provides great material for storytelling, with each season having its own unique plot, heroes, villains, and outcome. In the 2023 playoffs, the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills are two teams that have particularly captured the attention of the nation.

 

After narrowly missing a trip to the Super Bowl in the previous season, the 49ers had decided to give Trey Lance the starting quarterback role over Jimmy Garoppolo, who was on his way out of the team. However, a lack of interest in trading for NFL quarterbacks resulted in Garoppolo signing a team-friendly deal to return to the 49ers as a backup. But in a Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks, Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury, leading many to believe the 49ers’ playoff hopes were dashed.

 

After being marginalized in the offseason and nearly being shown the door, Jimmy Garoppolo stepped in as quarterback for the 49ers after Trey Lance’s injury and performed exceptionally well. The 49ers won seven games under Garoppolo’s leadership, were on a four-game winning streak heading into Week 13, and held first place in the NFC West. There was talk of a “Hollywood ending” to Garoppolo’s time as starting quarterback, and it was not unfounded. Despite being well-liked in the locker room and having a loyal fan base, Garoppolo was often criticized by the media for the team’s offensive struggles and was blamed for the 49ers missing out on a Super Bowl appearance in the 2019-20 season and a chance to play in the Super Bowl in 2022. After shoulder surgery and little interest in the trade market, Garoppolo was considered finished in San Francisco heading into the 2022 season.

 

Despite being overlooked and not given any preparation or a playbook, Garoppolo’s return to the starting quarterback role was a story worthy of a feature film. His comeback as a player who had been cast aside was captivating and seemed destined for greatness, potentially leading the 49ers to their sixth world championship. It was a tale reminiscent of Kurt Warner’s “American Underdog” story in 2021.

 

However, Jimmy Garoppolo’s fairy tale ending was cut short when he suffered a potentially season-ending ankle injury on December 4. This seemed to spell the end of the 49ers’ hopes for success in 2022, as they had already lost their promising young quarterback and his capable replacement, leaving the team in danger of finishing with a .500 record. It appeared that the story was over.

 

But the story took an unexpected turn when rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, known as “Mr. Irrelevant” due to being the last pick in the draft, stepped in and led the 49ers to victory. Purdy not only won games convincingly but also elevated the offense around him. He played a key role in the 49ers’ nine-game win streak, helping the team secure the NFC West title and earning the #2 seed in the playoffs.

 

Purdy’s success on the field led to a flurry of accolades and a new plot twist for the 49ers’ season. He proved to be a capable quarterback and had the potential to take the team far in the playoffs. Despite being led by two backup quarterbacks who were largely overlooked in the offseason, the 49ers managed to dominate and draw attention from the football world. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills faced their own challenges during the season. Despite being favored to win the Super Bowl, they encountered injuries and struggled with their running game. They relied on quarterback Josh Allen to carry them to victory, and he delivered. The Bills finished with a 12-3 record, but their lack of offensive balance made them less of a favorite to win the Super Bowl, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals being seen as more likely contenders. Despite this, the Bills remained confident and ready to make a run in the playoffs.

 

Tragedy struck the Buffalo Bills early in their crucial Week 17 game against the Bengals when safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field due to a near-fatal cardiac event. The team was deeply shaken and worried about their teammate, but they rallied together and were heartened by the news that Hamlin is expected to make a full recovery. Motivated by this and their desire to win their first Super Bowl in decades, the Bills will likely be playing with renewed energy in the playoffs.

 

The 49ers and Bills will have to face some tough competition in order to make their matchup a reality. The Eagles, Cowboys, and Vikings all pose a threat in the NFC. The Buccaneers, led by Tom Brady, are also a constant threat. In the AFC, the Chiefs and Bengals are formidable opponents, and the Jaguars, Ravens, and Chargers are longer shots but still capable of causing upsets. Despite this, it is likely that the magical seasons of the 49ers and Bills will continue, but it will be interesting to see how their stories unfold.

 

The tale of the 2023 NFL season has all the makings of a classic sports movie. A promising young quarterback goes down with an injury, leading to the unlikely return of a veteran signal-caller who guides his team to an impressive 13-4 record and victories over some of the league’s top teams. But just as it seems like the veteran has cemented his place as the hero of the story, he too is injured and forced to hand the reins over to a rookie sensation who leads his team on a miraculous run. 

 

With a talented coaching staff at the helm and a team united in their quest to honor a fallen teammate, the stage is set for a Super Bowl showdown between two teams that have overcome adversity and captured the hearts of football fans everywhere. Whether it’s the San Francisco 49ers or the Buffalo Bills that emerge victorious, the final act of this cinematic season will be one for the ages.

Brandon Shields

Brandon Shields

Founder | Team Havoc Studios