Every-Thing Sports
What does Jermaine Every "nerd-out" over in sports?
Dec 18, 2018, 7:32 am
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Merriam-Webster defines a nerd as an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits. Society will oftentimes places this term on those they don't feel are worthy of mainstream popularity. When you Google the term "nerd-out," Urban Dictionary defines it as getting overly excited about something that isn't generally cool.
Society has traditionally made it uncool to be a nerd and nerd-out. People have been shunned for their quirks, idiosyncrasies, and generally being different. Lately however, society has made it more acceptable to come out of your shell and be yourself. In essence, it's more acceptable to nerd-out over your favorite things.
When it comes to sports, I've been known to nerd-out over lots of things. There's more than enough to fill up this article and a few more. But to save you guys the boredom, I've trimmed my list down to a few things:
Pro Wrestling
Yes. I love pro wrestling. I have since I was a kid and have no shame about it. I love the storytelling, the psychology, the athleticism, and the ability to be a soap opera. Sure, some may not want to list it in any sports category because the outcomes are predetermined, but I challenge anyone to go through a pro wrestling camp and/or travel schedule. It can be downright brutal. Your favorite athletes have taken to pro wrestling's promos, particularly Ric Flair's.
Football Positional Play
Most people ohh and ahh over a nice throw, a one-handed catch, someone getting trucked, or a huge hit. Those are all great, but I'd rather see a pulling guard pancake block somebody, or a punt downed inside the one yard line, or a good jam on a receiver, or a good route combo that allows a receiver to be wide open. Honorable mention goes to a guy shedding a block to shut down a screen pass. Thank God I have friends who know the game that don't mind my random texts about football.
Basketball Fundamentals
While most of you get excited when guys jack up threes, I take special interest in the way they're able to square their shoulders and feet with the perfect release and follow through. I used to love watching Dennis Rodman rebound. He would follow the ball from the shooters hand, judge the release and rotation on the ball, box out, and then come up with the rebound despite being undersized. He was also one of the best defenders who could easily defend any position on the floor and lock them down. Also, a flawlessly executed pick and roll or fastbreak will give me goosebumps.
Baseball Pitches
Confession: when the Astros were in the World Series against the Dodgers, I cheered when Clayton Kershaw would throw that nasty ass 12 to 6 curveball. Randy Johnson's slider and Greg Maddux's fastball were two of my all time favorites. The Big Unit's slider may be obvious. But Maddux's fastball? It's because he never threw one faster than about 92, but he could pinpoint where he wanted it whenever he wanted.
There are so many more that I'd like to get to, and so much more detail I'd like to go into on the ones listed. However, If I write 1,000 words or more, Fred and Josh will kick my ass. Hit me up on Twitter and we can further discuss my inner sports nerd. Special shot out to all my friends who put up with my randomness and even discuss this stuff with. You guys are the real MVPs.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Early breakdown of how Astros stack up against potential playoff opponents
Sep 17, 2024, 5:03 pm
Though they have plenty of work to do, the Houston Texans are feeling good about their 2-0 start after dropping their first two games last season.
The Texans scored just three points after halftime Sunday night, but a smothering defensive performance allowed them to hold on for a 19-13 win over the Bears. The victory has them in early control in the AFC South after the Colts, Titans and Jaguars have all opened the season 0-2.
It’s the first time since 2016 that Houston has won its first two games.
“I definitely know that Texans football was not what we put on the field (Sunday), at least in the second half,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “We’ll definitely be better, for sure."
Stroud threw for 260 yards and a touchdown, but the Texans punted on five of their seven possessions in the second half and fumbled on another drive. Their only points after halftime came on a field goal early in the fourth quarter.
“Second half we were just flat,” Stroud said. “Just needed a big play or just needed (to) stack plays really. We just couldn’t find our rhythm.”
One thing that slowed the Texans on Sunday was their inability to run the ball effectively. Houston managed just 75 yards rushing against the Bears after leading the NFL with 213 yards in Week 1.
“They had a lot of penetration,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We weren’t able to have the lanes that we had the previous weeks. Something we have to clean up on the offensive side and make sure we just continue to get a head on the hat no matter what they show us.”
The running game was slowed because of an ankle injury to Joe Mixon, who had 159 yards rushing in the opener. He was injured early in the third quarter and returned near the end of the period, but had just two carries for 5 yards the rest of the game as he dealt with the injury. He finished with nine carries for 25 yards.
Ryans said that Mixon got “rolled up” and that it’s too early to know if he’ll play next week.
What’s working
The Texans were relentless in their pressure on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams Sunday night. Houston pressured Williams, the top overall pick in the draft, on 36 of his 37 pass attempts, according to NextGenStats.
Defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter combined for 17 pressures and the Texans piled up seven sacks, which is tied for the second most in franchise history.
Houston had six different players with a sack Sunday night and the team’s nine sacks through two games ranks second in the NFL behind Minnesota’s 11 entering Monday.
What needs help
The Texans must get their running game back on track next week, which will be a tough task if Mixon can’t play. They could be without their top two running backs Sunday with Dameon Pierce dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of the game against Chicago.
Stock up
K Ka′imi Fairbairn has been great this season, with Ryans crediting him for Sunday night’s win. He was 4-for-4 against the Bears, making kicks of 59, 56, 53 and 47 yards. He also made three field goals of 50-plus yards in Week 1 to become the first kicker in NFL history to make five or more field goals of 50 yards or longer in a two-game span.
His 59-yard field goal on Sunday night was the second-longest in franchise history behind a 61-yard kick he made in 2021.
“He’s been consistent,” Ryans said. “He’s on it. He’s the reason why we’re standing here. We talk a lot about offense and defense (but) the kicking game is the reason why we won this game.”
Stock down
RB Cam Akers. Pushed into action because of injuries, Akers fumbled on the Chicago 4 with about 6½ minutes left Sunday. The Bears recovered the ball and it led to a field goal that got them within a score with less than three minutes left.
Injuries
Mixon and Pierce are the main injuries the team is dealing with this week.
Key number
252 — Entering Monday, wide receiver Nico Collins leads the NFL with 252 yards receiving, which is the second most in franchise history in the first two games of a season. Collins, who had a career-high 1,297 yards receiving last season, had 135 yards receiving and a touchdown Sunday night for the seventh 100-yard game of his career.
Next steps
Stroud and Houston’s offense will look to clean up their play and move the ball more effectively when they face an early test in a visit to the Minnesota Vikings, who are also 2-0, on Sunday.