Of all the US states that have legalized sports betting since the Supreme Court decision of 2018, few have endured as wild a ride as Illinois.
Lawmakers in the state officially approved sports betting back in 2019. By March 2020, physical sportsbooks were open for business, taking bets on the NCAA Tournament, which seemed like an ideal time to launch a betting sector. In a normal year, it would have been. However, 2020 was not a normal year and the fledgling Illinois sports betting sector soon suffered the same fate as other leisure sectors throughout the US.
One problem that was particular to Illinois was the 18-month in-person registration requirement for mobile betting. This required betting fans to register with physical sportsbooks before they could use mobile apps. Fortunately, this was suspended for most of the second half of 2020 and although it has beenreinstated, many Illinois sports fans are now able to bet using their mobiles.
DraftKings
DraftKings established itself thanks to the rise of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) during the 2010s and has been one of the first operators to embrace sports betting, launching its New Jersey platform just three months after the Supreme Court decision.
WSN.com reports that the sportsbook set up operations in Illinois on August 5, 2020, through a partnership with the Casino Queen casino venue. Since then, it has been gaining popularity among sports betting fans thanks to an app that offers competitive promotions such as daily odds boosts and deposit bonuses, all packaged in a sleek and user-friendly design.
William Hill
One of the oldest names in the betting business, with a brand that dates back to 1934, William Hill entered the Illinois market thanks to a deal with the Grand Victoria Casino. Despite being one of the later entrants to the state, it has made significant inroads with Illinois sports bettors.
The William Hill brand needs little introduction, but they are notable for having updated their betting model to adapt to the modern online market, producing an easy to use betting app that is clear and free of clutter, and offering access to an impressive variety of betting markets, including a strong live betting section and access to stats and data to help bettors plan their wagers.
FanDuel
FanDuel is the main rival to DraftKings in the DFS sector and has taken a similarly proactive approach to getting a piece of the sports betting market. It was able to gain a foothold in Illinois through an arrangement with the Par-A-Dice Casino and has developed a strong following.
The FanDuel sportsbook is one of the most aesthetically pleasing betting platforms available to Illinois customers. The platform provides an easy-to-use navigation system and an impressive welcome bonus. A great site forfootball fans and newcomers, FanDuel’s app has certainly caught on with Illinois fans.
BetRivers
Powered by betting industry titan Rush Street Interactive, BetRivers has the distinction of being the first Illinois sportsbook to go live, launching on June 18, 2020, following the Rush Street Rivers Casino Des Plaines being the first retail betting location to go live, on March 9, 2020.
The BetRivers app provides a handy $250 first deposit match for new customers. The app has been successfully deployed in a number of other states, notably in the thriving betting markets of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. While not as flashy as the mobile platforms produced by some of its rivals, this app provides a solid and reliable sports betting platform.
PointsBet
PointsBet, which was founded in Australia in 2017, doesn’t have the highest profile among the US sports betting fraternity, but that is changing. The company was relatively unknown when it entered the New Jersey market, but it soon proved to be extremely popular and has been able to extend its brand to Illinois, thanks to a deal with Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero.
PointsBet have been able to earn a strong reputation with Illinois sports betting customers thanks to their excellent marketing, which includes a range of promotions, including bad beat refunds, odds boosts and other user-friendly deals.
This app is also popular thanks to the innovative PointsBetting system. This offers bettors the chance to risk and win more on a bet, based on the extent to which their selection wins or loses, combining traditional sports betting with some of the strengths of spread betting.
Summary
Illinois is one of the most significant sports betting states in the US and is well served by a number of top sports betting apps, giving bettors a wide and varied selection of wagering platforms.
There have been some incredible franchises over the years. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the most successful team in history, the Green Bay Packers swapped one Hall of Fame quarterback for another, and the New England Patriots were hated across the country.
Success breeds jealousy, but it also encourages head coaches and players to up their expectations. The Kansas City Chiefs are the franchise that has stepped up to the plate in the last five years due to their incredible performances. They have been so good that they are now the NFL’s next ruling dynasty and may sit on the throne for decades.
Like all the great locker rooms, Kansas City has no desire to ease off the throttle and lose momentum. Sure, the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl to Tampa Bay, yet you can be sure they’ll try and rewrite that mistake this time out. The American football odds already rank them as the +450 favorites ahead of the Buccaneers at +700.
When you look at what Andy Reid’s men have achieved since 2016, it’s an inevitable conclusion. The Chiefs added a fifth consecutive AFC West title in 2020, around six weeks before losing out in Super Bowl LV. The season before, Patrick Mahomes famously led a revival to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 and claim Super Bowl LIV.
Add the 2019 AFC Championship game to that and it’s clear that Kansas City has the drive to challenge for honors for the foreseeable future. Recent history proves it beyond doubt.
What makes the Chiefs a fantastic football team is the people they have in the most important places of the franchise. NFL franchises always need to be loaded in offense and defense, as Green Bay highlighted last term, and patient owners are always welcome. However, the key positions are head coach and QB.
In Kansas City and the entire state, supporters look at the two men and see greatness. Andy Reid is already a Hall of Famer in everyone’s eyes, even if the NFL hasn’t made it official yet. Mahomes, on the other hand, has transcended the quarterback position with his incredibly powerful arm and ability to hit moving targets on the run.
Of course, Mahomes is a legacy quarterback with a full career at his mercy. However, Reid is only 63 and may easily have another decade at the top level, health permitting. To put it into perspective, Mahomes is the +450 favorite for the MVP award, while Reid is +2200 to be the Coach of the Year.
Competition is what forces franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs to milk every ounce of talent out of the roster. Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are legends of the game that lead the chasing pack, but it’s the host of young players that will ensure Reid and Mahomes keep their eyes on the ball.
The Buffalo Bills, who are +1100 third favorites for the Super Bowl title, have Josh Allen and will be contenders for years because of him. Lamar Jackson’s combination of throwing and rushing skills has the Ravens holding their breath this season, whereas Kyler Murray could transform the Arizona Cardinals’ fortunes.
These men are threats to the dominance of Patrick Mahomes, yet you can bet the Chiefs won’t shirk the responsibility. Instead, they’ll rise to the pressure and take on every contender that steps up to the plate.
The NFL has an array of excellent football teams, many of which can string together a Super Bowl-winning run. Overall, though, it’s the current Chiefs’ roster that appears as if it’ll go down in the annals of history.
The Toronto Blue Jays are bidding for their first World Series title since 1993. There is confidence within the Canadian city that their long wait for the major prize could end this year.
The Blue Jays, the only team from Canada playing in the Major League Baseball (MLB), have been performing impressively in the American League (AL). They have a winning record of 45-42 (.517), which gives them a strong chance of reaching the playoffs.
Toronto supporters will be hoping their team can go further than they did in 2020. Their World Series dream fell at the first hurdle in the postseason as they were beaten by the number one seeds in the AL, Tampa Bay. The team from Florida went all the way to the World Series where they lost to the LA Dodgers.
The regular season is now well underway and the Blue Jays have MLB odds on bet365 of +2200. Those odds indicate Toronto are not one of the frontrunners for the title. The Dodgers are the favorites in the betting to defend their crown, however, as recent results show, it is no easy feat.
Toronto may enjoy being the underdogs this year. There will be less pressure on their shoulders if they do reach the playoffs. When successful in 1992 and 1993, they were the fourth seeds in the AL, so maybe avoiding one of the top seeds could prove advantageous.
Home runs have not been a problem for the Blue Jays so far in 2021. As of the halfway stage in the regular season, no team in the AL has scored more. If that continues, they are going to prove a dangerous match for any team in the MLB.
Another strong guide for assessing a team's performance on the field is the difference between home runs scored and conceded. Toronto has a +79 record. This would indicate they are a little unfortunate to have a .517 record. If they continue to score so strongly, that percentage should improve.
Their first aim will be to try to win the AL East division. They currently trail Boston Red Sox (604) and Tampa Bay (.589). The series against those two rivals will prove crucial in determining who lands the title.
The standout performer for Toronto in 2021 has been Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He has had an outstanding season with the bat. He was named in the AL’s All-Star team where he was the starting first baseman.
Guerrero Jr, a son of the MLB’s Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr, leads the league in On-Base Plug Slugging (OBS). He is one of only three players who are over 1.0 in 2021 along with Shohei Ohtani and Fernando Tatis Jr.
The 22-year-old has an exciting future in the league. Blue Jays fans will be hoping he helps deliver a lot of success with the Canadian franchise, including at the end of the current campaign.
This year’s World Series begins on October 26 and if a seventh game of the series is needed, that will take place on November 3.
You may be wondering what a professional footballer does with their free time, when they spend the majority of their days on the pitch or at the training ground. Well, it turns out, many of them are just like the rest of us, enjoying their downtime by playing games. Be it video games, PC or even casino games, here’s our list of 5 pro footballers who absolutely love gaming.
Kicking off the list (no pun intended) is Jesse Lingard. The England and West Ham midfielder is an avid video gamer who spends a major portion of his free time playing console games like FIFA and Call of Duty. In an interview at his parent club, Manchester United, Lingard reported that he only got into gaming after a disappointing cup final defeat in 2018. He also revealed that he isn’t the only Red Devil to enjoy online gaming, as Marcus Rashford, Dan James and Paul Pogba regularly join him to play Call of Duty: Warzone.
PSG superstar Neymar is one of the biggest gamers in world football, playing on both consoles and PC. In fact, he even has custom computers built for him. The left-winger has a whole host of games in his repertoire, including Pro Evolution Soccer, GTA and Fortnite. Recently, he actually became a playable character in the viral battle royale game! This collaboration comes as little surprise, as Neymar has always been a huge fan of the game, even playing on live streams with professional gamers like Ninja.
Yes, that’s right, one of the greatest footballers of all time is a huge fan of games. Not the type you of games you might be thinking of, however. While others may spend their time on a PC or console, Cristiano Ronaldo is much more comfortable at the poker table. While he generally keeps his love of casino games private, the Juventus forward is known for promoting events and tournaments for popular poker companies. If you want to give similar casino games a try, check out online casino Canada for a variety of exciting options.
Another player with a knack for video games is FC Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann. The French international is an enthusiastic console gamer, and has even become a part of Team Xbox. As part of the collaboration, Griezmann was given a personalized Xbox Series X, which he used to play games like FIFA and Fortnite.
Another player who loves to try his hand at the poker table is Spanish defender Gerard Piqué. In fact, he’s actually very skilled at the game. He is said to be as adept as some professionals, often taking part in high-level events like the World Series of Poker. He truly demonstrated his prowess by winning over £300,000 (over $400,000) at the European Poker Tour in Barcelona – a high-stakes game with a considerable £22k buy-in.
So, there you have it. Professionals on the field, but definitely amateurs on a console, these five footballers are living proof that gaming is for anyone and everyone.
When it comes to American Football, or any sport for that matter, there are always certain positions that get all the credit whilst others do an important, less recognized role for the team.
In American Football, the safety is the role that flies under the radar. Not today. Here we look at the top safeties in NFL history.
Number 5. Steve Atwater
Kicking off our top five safeties of all time is Steve Atwater. Now, you might think of Atwater as a linebacker but, make no mistake, he was a safety; his style of play, however, was linebacker-esque. He made an immediate impact on the Denver Broncos when he was drafted back in 1989. The Arkansas grad catapulted their run defence and instantly set about making tackle after tackle.
There was a four year stretch where he averaged 149 tackles a season; that’s a simply crazy haul when you compare to the tackle average of safeties in the modern game. His career was capped off with a Super Bowl win.
Number 4. Brian Dawkins
We were tempted to put Brian Dawkins higher on this list purely for his intensity and impact. The Eagles legend was an absolutely fantastic leader who wasn’t afraid to make the big tackle or the rough hit. A lot of the advantages that his team got with him isn’t even on the score sheet either; that makes him ten times more valuable.
That said his stats aren’t to be ignored; he had 37 career interceptions and 1,118 tackles that earned him nine Pro Bowl nods and four First Team honours. Very few in the game can rival Dawkins’ passion and drive.
Number 3. Ed Reed
What can you say about Ed Reed? In truth, maybe not much. What you can say though is that he was an outstanding safety. Reed was overshadowed at times due to the impact of Ray Lewis at the linebacker position.
Many though would say it was Reed that truly kept the defence together. He was constantly flying around the field to make big hits and snag interceptions at crucial times.
Those qualities earned him the Defensive Player of the Year award back in 2004; it made him the first safety to scoop the award in two decades. On top of that, he also made the Pro Bowl nine times and led the league in interceptions on three different occasions.
Number 2. Troy Polamalu
It’s hard to imagine anybody playing the way that two-time Super Bowl winner Troy Polamalu did back when he was on the football field. He played with a tremendous amount of heart and was a stalwart in the Pittsburgh Steelers side between 2003 and 2014.
Polamalu had a trademark hit on him and when it came to the passing game he’d zip around to acrobatically make interceptions that often looked impossible.
Despite being one of the shortest players for the safety position, his impact and loyalty to Pittsburgh mean he deservedly goes down as one of the best safeties in NFL history.
Number 1. Ronnie Lott
On our number 1, we have to disagree with TwinSpires list of the Top 10 Safeties in NFL history. They put Lott in second, but for us he tops the list. Lott is the epitome of a fearless leader. His reading of plays made it seem as if he was always one step ahead of the opposing team.
He knew exactly when to wrap up a fast playmaker and when to stand up and lay him out. Lott bounced around teams donning the colours of five different franchises, but it didn’t damage his reputation.
Across his career he had 63 interceptions and returned five of them for touchdowns. Finally, how can you talk about Lott and fail to mention the fact that he literally chose to amputate a broken finger just so he could return to the game and continue playing; absolutely insane.
There you have it, the best safeties in NFL history. Did we miss anyone? Let us know.
Casinos are places in which we should only be focused on our entertainment by the table or slot machine. To keep it that way we need to choose a good casino, because only if the place is proper, we can relax and enjoy our time without worrying about anything else. So, what are the features of a good in-site casino?
Finishing a dealing course is not a big deal, but it takes professionals to master all the moves and strategies of dealing. They know how to calculate the odds, figure out what cards will be drawn next and make sure that the game flows smoothly. Professional dealers help us feel comfortable, we trust that they count our payouts properly and there is no one in the room trying to cheat us.
Casino employees also need to know how to keep casinos clean, they take care of glass and make sure that everything looks good and smells nice. They are taught to be elegant, nice and always with a smile on their faces. It is hard work since not every customer is calm and nice, especially when some of them are drunk.
Casinos differ from each other, some are small and cozy to play in while others are huge with hundreds of tables. Some have luxurious rooms with the mirrors on the walls or crystal chandeliers hanging above your head while others are rather dark and full with cigarette smoke. More modern casinos might be packed with neon lights and made in galaxy style. The most important thing that you need to be careful about when choosing a casino is how comfortable you feel in it. If a basement-like small casino is not your cup of tea, find one that is more spacious and brighter inside.
Casinos can be on every level of luxury you can imagine, but it comes with a price. Everything is good when the price is well-balanced taking quality of service into consideration, because then it is you who decides which casino you can afford to go into. The problem might be when the casino only seems to be luxurious and the price is high, but in fact the level of service is poor and you are unsatisfied.
Whether you are entering a new place or entering it again, there is always that feeling of anxiety and nervousness. What if I win? What will happen then? Or what if I lose all my money? If you do not like that kind of stress, go into the casino when there are less people in it. On the other hand if you enjoy this buzz of crowd inside, choose a busy one during some fine night.
If you see a casino that is constantly empty, that is a red flag for you.
This feature is important since some gamblers can become hostile towards others while losing or getting drunk. You need to be sure that they are going to be moved out of the establishment by security to keep you safe while gambling. This should also involve kicking out even richer gamblers while they are getting too aggressive towards their competitors or dealers.
There are not many casinos in which you can play with real money anymore. That is why chips were invented. Chips are credits which can be exchanged in the casino for cash. When gambling with chips, you can lose as much as you want and still come out without losing your money.
The best casinos have chips which cannot be copied and any attempt to do so is immediately noticed and the person responsible for this will not get away with it. Also, there should be a system that does not allow stealing of chips by people pretending to leave but in fact stay close enough in the casino.
Environment is also an important aspect of a good casino. Clean gaming floor isn't a characteristic of every casino out there. During gambling people spill drinks, smoke cigarettes and that is how the whole room might get sticky. A good casino is always clean and tidy including bathrooms that might be another part of the casino hard to keep clean during gaming nights. Drunk gamblers and massive numbers of people coming to casinos every night may create quite a mess and working janitors have hard times keeping it clean.
For a good casino, the gaming floor has to be tidy all the time and that is easy to check in person before you drop your money there.
When a casino is open several years it means that the business model behind it works and owners know what they're doing. You need to be cautious with freshly opened establishments since they have to earn your trust first and it is not easy.
Have a good marketing team that provides fresh promotions, daily bonus offers and news from the world of casino gambling
This will keep you intrigued, interested and coming back more often. Promotions are a way to make new customers and maintain loyalty programs for existing ones.
Of the four major tennis grand slams, Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious. It dates all the way back to 1877 and was closely followed by the US Open, which was established in 1881. There’s something about the English competition that sparks a tennis fever throughout the nation, and many people feel a connection to the grass-based tournament. With Wimbledon right around the corner, it is a great time to start getting excited about it. Here are some ways you can prepare for this historically and culturally rich event.
The spot where The Championships, Wimbledon became famous and grew into the marquee event it is today was originally known as the All-England Croquet Club. It was in 1876 that people began playing lawn tennis there, and the location soon became known as the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
The only event held at the inaugural competition the following year was Gentleman’s Singles, which was contested between 22 players. Men played three sets at this time, and the first-ever winner was Spencer Gore after he prevailed over William Marshall. Tennis surged in popularity in the years that followed, and croquet was gradually phased out at the club altogether. Ladies’ tennis was added in 1884, and the first competition was won by Maud Watson. She received a silver flower basket for her efforts.
In the early decades of the competition, it had a strange format that would be unheard of today. The reigning champion was only required to play in the final each year and would come up against the finalist of the tournament format. For a long period of time, the event was only open to amateur players. This changed in 1968 when the open era began and created all the Hall of Fame players known today. Despite being a quintessentially British event and engrained in the country’s culture, few British players have found success in the tournament over the years.
One way to get in the mood for Wimbledon is to go out and get playing tennis, yourself. The competition is set during the height of summer, and people are usually perked up by the increased levels of vitamin D they are getting. By venturing out into the sunshine for some intense physical exercise, you can boost your happiness levels while also preparing for Wimbledon.
You could try to recreate the old days of the London tournament when it was only contested by amateurs. Devise a tournament format with some mates and have a fun day out at the courts as you compete to win the top honours. If you’ve never played tennis before, now could be the perfect opportunity to learn. In fact, it’s never too late to get into a sport, and there are lessons available for people of all abilities.
If you don’t have access to tennis courts or are simply unable to get out and about, a fantastic alternative is to play computer games. Tennis has been represented countless times in a digital format over the years. Indeed, the first game ever invented, Pong, was based on tennis. The graphics and gameplay have improved massively since that 1972 offering from Atari, and there are now some highly immersive and engaging options out there to choose from.
For console players, EA Sports created a couple of offerings in Grand Slam Tennis and Grand Slam Tennis 2, released in 2009 and 2012 respectively. The games gave players the chance to play at Wimbledon as current stars or legends of the game. There are plenty of options for mobile players as well. These include titles like Stick Tennis and Tennis Club Story.
It seems that no subsection of the gaming industry has been forgotten about when it comes to tennis games, as there are also a few games to choose from in the online casino industry. One of the most notable free online slots to get people in the mood for Wimbledon is Centre Court from Microgaming. This features the iconic green colours of the competition, along with tennis stars dressed in white. Fans of this game may also enjoy other sports titles like Badminton Champion and Football Glory. Once players have got the hang of these titles for free, they can then even go on to play for real money.
Using a combination of all of these methods should help get you ready for Wimbledon this summer. As a final note, you could also check out some classic videos from the tournament to hype yourself up even more. There are too many notable moments to choose from, but Andy Murray and Roger Federer’s 15-minute game from 2015 could be a good place to start, with that iconic game being up there with the best of all time.
Los Angeles is a vibrant city offering hundreds of services that you probably have never even considered before. It makes it the perfect city for you to unleash your creative side, and try new hobbies.
Learning To Surf
One of the main reasons people visit Los Angeles is to experience the beaches and to ride the waves while surfing. There are several suitable beaches that have businesses who are there to teach you how to surf. Usually, they can provide a board and a wetsuit for you, so you only have to show up with your swimsuit to get started.
Trapeze School Is In Town
If surfing isn’t quite your thing, then consider going for something very different, such as learning a circus trick. Trapezing is becoming more popular as a way to express yourself and learn something new in the city, there is even a trapeze school located at the Santa Monica Pier. They welcome anyone aged 6 and above, regardless of your fitness level.
It’s a great way to get over your fear of heights, and have fun at the same time. Not only are they fun, but they are considered a great workout too.
Writing And Producing Music
Many LA locals, tourists and visitors have long utilized recording the city and state in general to be creative with music. Whether that was for recording a music video in the iconic streets, or going to a recording studio to record some music yourself. Even those that have never written music before or sang anything have come to this great city to try it.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, there are spaces to create, write, produce and practice mixing with no distractions. It offers a great outlet to let loose and be creative, even if it’s just for you. Of course, you can visit with friends to create music together, or go with a more experienced individual to help train you.
There are different places for different uses for music, whether you want to just sing, or focus on instrumentals. There are even studios to help create movie scores, as well as video game soundtracks. There are a wide range of music recording studios in Los Angeles offered by Pirate, with expert equipment at affordable prices. They have rehearsal studios, production studios and even podcast studios if that’s what you’re looking for.
Learning To Ride A Horse
Whilst you may not associate horse riding with Los Angeles, there is actually an equestrian center nestled into the heart of Griffith Park. They offer a wide range of services, from horse shows, riding lessons or even trail rides. There are a few academies on site that you can have a look at if you want to try something different.
Whether you’re into western riding, English riding, dressage or something more unique like jumping classes. There will be options for those who have never ridden before, and options for experienced riders. There are over 55 miles of trails in Griffith Park alone, so you can rent horses by the hour and take in the views.
Getty Center Art Classes And Workshops
You’re probably familiar with the Getty Center, which is one of Los Angele’s most famous museums, but did you know you can actually learn how to create art here? The Getty Center and Getty Villa offer classes and workshops covering a wide range of art styles.
You have classes about drawing, pen and ink work, sculpting and even jewelry making. If you’re into something more unique, then you could take an advanced workshop for gliding, which is an old medieval art style. There will be classes for those of all styles and experience levels, even if you’ve never painted before. So, it’s worth keeping an eye on what they have available and when, in order to book in.
Dancing As An Outlet
LA has long been a place for creatives to come together to express themselves, such as with dancing performances. There are many different dancing studios that offer classes on different dance styles, such as ballet, hip-hop, swing, salsa or even tango, amongst others. The same venues will also offer community performances that people can sign up for.
Cooking Up A Storm
As you will probably be aware of, LA is a multicultural city with a wide range of restaurants that focus on unique cuisines from around the world. As such, you’ll be happy to hear that there are actually quite a few classes focused on these cuisines available for you to look into.
Most of these classes only require a signing up one time fee, with the supplies and utensils provided, headed by an experienced cook. Even if you’ve never cooked before in your life, there will be classes to teach you everything you need to know.
When you look at the way that society portrays beauty in women, bigger women are rarely the subject of praise. However, some songs decided to go against the grain and celebrate women that were not the typical vision of beauty. We have come up with a list of songs that challenge the beauty norms. These were not just any songs, though. These were hits that had a major impact on the perception of unique ladies!
Music Proves That Men Love Different Women
Before we get into the specific songs that helped to challenge the beauty norms, we have to stop and consider the message that these songs portrayed. Specifically, it showed that men liked to date and be with women that were not the typical beauties shown on magazine covers. Such music is the exact reason why men flock to BBW dating sitesto meet ladies. Although thicker women might not get the feature on GQ, they are still widely loved. BBW have curves, confidence, and attitude. Best of all dating services allow people to meet them quickly and easily from all over the world. Although using websites to meet atypically beautiful women is not something that every man has thought about doing, it’s a fantastic way to encounter new people.
Hits That Reveal Big Women Are Great
Many hits have emerged that celebrate women of different shapes and sizes. The songs below show various reasons why people love to meet and date BBW and other sorts of ladies, too.
The hard rock band AC/DC is probably the best Australian export in the music world today. They have been around for decades and rocked out to songs like Whole Lotta Rosie. The basis of this song is that the singer met a Tasmanian woman who was very large but also rocked his world for a night. She was a very special woman that is immortalized!
The famous Sir Mix-A-Lot wrote Baby Got Back and completely changed the conversation around women with a a curvy body shape forever. Thick and chubby women were eschewed for buxom thin ladies, but this song helped people realize that there is beauty in the curves of the female body and that it attracts men.
Freddie Mercury and company knew what they were talking about. This song tells the listener that big beautiful ladies make the whole world go round. These women add flavor and spice to the dating world, and Queen recognized it.
The song by MIKA kind of pokes fun at big women by teasing them about filling up the room like a balloon, but they also insist that big girls are beautiful. This song explores the dichotomy facing big women: they are simultaneously desired and social pariahs.
This song talks about women in comparison to one another, maybe in a not-so-cute way, but it also shows that people of all sizes are worthy of celebration. The song is unusual for The Smiths, and it could have been a little more positive, but it was still on the right track.
Many songs exist that show how men love big women and ladies who are entirely unique. Although some of these songs are not as flattering as they could be to the women involved, they do help get the message out that these women are worthy of being seen as beautiful and valuable individuals. You don’t have to be someone that fits into a mold!
The MLS (Major League Soccer) is constantly being compared to the English Premier League, and the truth is, on many accounts, it can’t compete. The Premier League has better players, is viewed around the world, and is a financial powerhouse. However, that’s not to say that the MLS doesn’t have some amazing qualities. Here are six things that the MLS does better than the Premier League.
Hooliganism has been associated with soccer in England for decades. It became particularly bad in the 1980s but is still a part of the game today. The MLS doesn’t have that problem, though. The people behind the MLS have aimed at fostering a family-friendly environment. That’s not to say that the MLS doesn’t attract passionate fans, though.
The MLS has a salary cap on players, which creates a level playing field for clubs. This creates a competitive environment that allows every club to have a shot at the title. The downside of the MLS’s salary cap is that the best American players end up playing for European clubs. In European leagues, the spending is completely out of control, with players earning massive wages and clubs competing on spending power.
The MLS is set up differently from every other soccer league in the world. Instead of a total points-based system, it has playoffs (like other American sports). It works like this - the 34 MLS teams are split into two conferences (the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference). Each team plays every other team in their conference twice. The top seven teams in each conference then get entered into a knock-out style tournament to lift the MLS cup. This isn’t as competitive as the Premier League, but it makes the end of the season far more exciting.
Soccer in Europe is extremely competitive. Unfortunately, this level of competition sometimes turns into a culture of disrespect. Players argue with referees, fans throw things at players, players make obscene gestures at fans… you get the picture. In the MLS, this sort of behavior is very rare.
If you’re a foreign player wanting a chance to play in England, there is a difficult process of entry. This is designed to stop an influx of overseas talent taking all of the opportunities instead of English players. In the MLS, it’s easy for foreign players to get into the country. This allows a lot of South American players to get a chance at professional soccer. However, it doesn’t stop young American players from traveling to Europe with programs like Soccer to Football. The draw of European soccer is too strong for American players.
In the English Premier League, the bottom three teams get relegated to the Championship (the 2nd tier league). That means professional soccer players get moved around from league to league, having their wages slashes and careers ruined. That’s not the case in the MLS. Once a team has been accepted into the league, they are there to stay. This provides more stability for players and fans.