Basketball lost a legend today as New York Knicks icon, Willis Reed, passed away at the age of 80.

A superstar at Grambling State where he led the Tigers to an NAIA Title, Reed was drafted by the New York Knicks with the First Pick of the Second Round of the 1964 Draft.  Reed played at Center and Power Forward, but was incredibly physical at 6’ 9”, allowing him to match up well with the taller opponents of his day.

Reed won the 1964/65 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and he began a seven-year run as an All-Star, a timeframe that included five All-NBA Selections (one First Team and four Second Team).  As the Knicks built around Reed, he led them to their first NBA Championship in 1970, followed by a second one in 1972.

Knee issues forced Reed to retire in 1974.  He would later become a Coach and Executive.

Reed was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.  He was also named to the NBA’s 50^th and 75^th Anniversary Teams, and his #19 was retired by the Knicks.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Willis Reed.

The NFL Draft is a highly anticipated event where football teams have the opportunity to select and acquire the top college football players, shaping the future of their franchises. For sports bettors, the NFL Draft offers a unique and exciting chance to capitalize on their knowledge and intuition about the sport. This comprehensive guide will provide you with insights into the different betting markets available for the NFL Draft and offer valuable tips and strategies to help you make informed decisions when placing your bets.

Betting Markets

Draft Position Bets: This betting market allows you to wager on the draft position of a specific player. You can bet on whether a player will be picked earlier or later than a certain draft position. These bets can be profitable if you have a strong understanding of a player's projected value and how teams may prioritize their selections.

Player vs. Player Bets: In this market, you can bet on which player will be drafted before another. This type of bet is particularly interesting when comparing players in the same position, such as quarterbacks or wide receivers. To succeed in this market, you need to consider factors like team needs, player performance, and potential upside.

Prop Bets: Prop bets are wagers on specific outcomes unrelated to the overall result of the draft. Examples include betting on the total number of quarterbacks drafted in the first round, the number of trades made during the draft, or which conference will have more players selected. Prop bets can be both entertaining and profitable if you have a deep understanding of the NFL Draft dynamics.

Team-Specific Bets: These bets focus on the selections made by individual teams. For instance - let’s say you want to bet on the Carolina Panthers, then you can bet on which player the team will select with their first pick, the position of their first pick, or the total number of picks the team will make in a specific round. To excel in this market, you should be familiar with each team's needs and draft strategies.

Strategies and Tips

Do Your Research: One of the most crucial aspects of successful NFL Draft betting is thorough research. Stay informed about the latest mock drafts, player rankings, and expert analysis. Understanding team needs, player strengths and weaknesses, and potential draft surprises will help you make informed decisions when placing your bets.

Monitor Player Stock: The stock of a player can rise or fall significantly in the weeks leading up to the draft due to factors such as injury updates, scouting reports, and team interviews. By keeping track of these fluctuations, you can identify potential value bets and make well-informed decisions.

Assess Team Needs and Draft Strategies: Each team has unique needs and priorities when entering the draft. Familiarize yourself with the team's roster, areas of weakness, and draft history to gain insight into their likely selections.

Manage Your Bankroll: As with any form of sports betting, it's essential to manage your bankroll effectively. Set a budget, establish your unit size, and maintain a disciplined approach to staking. Remember, the NFL Draft is a highly unpredictable event, so it's crucial to wager responsibly.

Look for Value: Always seek value when placing bets on the NFL Draft. Assess the odds offered by different sportsbooks and compare them to your analysis and predictions. If you consistently find value, you will increase your chances of long-term profitability.

In conclusion, the NFL Draft offers a unique and engaging betting opportunity for football enthusiasts and bettors alike. Remember, the key to success in NFL Draft betting lies in thorough research and keen analysis, allowing you to identify valuable opportunities and capitalize on them. So, get ready to dive into the thrilling world of NFL Draft betting and add an extra layer of excitement to this highly anticipated event!

Following Devin McCourty, we have another significant New England Patriot who has announced his retirement in Dont’a Hightower.

Hightower was the 28^thOverall Pick in 2012, and the All-American from Alabama won the starting strongside Linebacker in training camp for Bill Belichick.  Hightower became a dependable part of the New England defense, later moving to the weak side, but always excellent in his role.   

A large part of the Patriots' success in the 2010s, Hightower helped New England win three Super Bowls, most notably with a strip sack that sparked the Patriots comeback against Atlanta in SB LI.   Along the way, the man nicknamed “Mr. February” collected two Pro Bowls along the way.

After opting out the 2020 Season due to COVID-19, Hightower came back with a solid 2021, but that was the final year for him as a Patriot.  Hightower left New England with 27 Sacks and 569 Combined Tackles.

Hightower, who was not signed to any team last year, will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027, and going into this season, he was ranked #83 among active players (#11 in Linebackers) on our Hall of Fame Monitor.  We don’t think that Hightower will get past the preliminary nomination, but is an excellent candidate for the Patriots Hall of Fame.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Dont’a Hightower the best in his post-playing career.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top Oakland Athletics.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the American League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Oakland continued their tradition as a basement dweller, that develop talent only to trade them when they can no longer afford them.  This makes it very difficult for anyone to crack the Top 50, and no one was able to do so in 2022, but we wanted to show that this reflects the last season. 

As always, we present our top five, which was not affected by the last season:

1. Lefty Grove

2. Rickey Henderson

3. Eddie Plank

4. Jimmie Foxx

5. Al Simmons

You can find the entire list here.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.