The USA loves sports of all kinds, and there are few competitions more American than the NFL. To hammer that point home, most of the world outside the US refers to the NFL as simply, American football.

It’s estimated almost 75% of US citizens regularly watch American football in some form, whether NFL or college-based competitions. When NFL games are broadcast live on television, audiences of around 16-17 million are commonly recorded.

Around the world, the figures are even higher and around 400 million people globally refer to themselves as NFL fans. When the season-ending showcase event, the Super Bowl, is broadcast, over 150 million people watch inside and outside the USA.

Though some sports do record higher global audiences, these are games played by athletes and teams across several nations. While some American football teams do exist outside the US, these are insignificant in comparison to those nation’s other sports.

While watching the NFL is a ritual ingrained in US culture, new fans around the world are often far less experienced. For true NFL fans, watching a game involves a little more preparation than simply turning on the TV.

Here is our beginner's guide to the essentials everyone needs to become a true NFL fan.

• The team

Don’t panic, we’re not suggesting you ask the bank for millions of dollars to start your own franchise. What we are saying is, you should find an existing club that you can adopt as your own.

Like many things in life, the more you put into sports, the more you get out. We can all appreciate the abilities of the athletes but, for the real experience, we need to be emotionally invested.

By choosing a team to support, we open ourselves up to the highs and lows of winning and losing. Choose based on location, color of jerseys, or some part of the team’s story but choose once, and never change.

• The knowledge

Once you have a team, you need to immerse yourself in the information that will keep you invested in them. Read the stats, learn about the legends, and research the stories, other fans will expect you to know this information.

Once you have the background and the history, you need to keep up to date with the current team news. By knowing the players, their talents, and their injuries, you can be ready for the next piece of the puzzle.

• The odds

Emotional involvement is one thing, but the more you have at stake, the more exciting an NFL game can be. By joining a sportsbook and placing wagers on your team’s games, the watching experience can be heightened even more.

To give this some context, spinning a roulette wheel is always more exciting when you have chips on the table. If you have doubts, try playing a few rounds of Lightning Roulette at Rainbow Riches and see for yourself.

• The merch

Once you know the team, the news, and the odds, you need to demonstrate your allegiance to other people. Pick up a club jersey, scarf, flag, or cap, or anything you can do to associate yourself with your team.

By doing this, you can ensure you’re quickly recognized by fellow fans and rivals so you can interact accordingly. The superstitious among us would also argue that wearing the right outfit is critical to aiding your team’s success.

• The crew

Watching the NFL can be a solo activity, and many people much prefer it that way, but not most. By assembling a crew of like-minded people with whom to watch games, you turn an activity into an event.

Gather together friends, family, or colleagues, and turn game viewing into a social occasion that everyone can enjoy together. This allows you to feed off each other’s energy, and gives you an audience for those witty and insightful observations.

• The set up

Before any game begins, you need to make sure you have everything you need to sustain yourself through it. Beers or sodas need to be in the cooler, snacks in the oven, on the grill, or ordered for delivery.

Chairs need to be positioned correctly around the screen and any mid-game errands should be scheduled for the half-time break. Of course, all this is irrelevant if you don’t have the most important ingredient, which we’ll come to next.

• The TV

If you’re going to watch NFL properly, it should be in HD, with surround sound, on the biggest possible screen. If you have a choice of venue, choose the one with the best TV technology for the greatest viewing experience.

You’ll also need to make sure you have the right broadcast or streaming service for your chosen game. Different matches are offered through different channels in different locations, do your research and preparation in advance to avoid disappointment.

Once you have all this in place, you’re ready to begin your career as a real NFL fan. Now all you need to do is learn to handle winning with humility and losing with grace, if you can.

In December 2022, Don Mattingly was, once again, on the ballot to join other legends of the game in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but somewhat unsurprisingly, the former player, manager, and coach missed out yet again, the 15th time he has been on the ballot only to be passed over by those on the 16-strong committee.

On this latest occasion, Mattingly once again didn’t get enough of the required votes from the committee, and just Fred McGriff, 1995 World Series champion, and enjoyed a 19-year MLB career before calling it a day and retiring in 2005.

Despite the remarkable achievements Don Mattingly manifested throughout his career as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, he unfortunately does not grace the halls of the Hall of Fame. Although the MLB scores and standings he achieved, including a .307 lifetime batting average and ranking among the top 10 in the American League in hitting five times, are impressive, they may not meet the longevity and consistency standards typically valued by Hall of Fame voters. Mattingly's career, while stellar, was relatively short due to his injuries. In essence, a Hall of Fame award doesn't just look at the zenith of a player's career, but at the player's sustained performance over an extended period. So, despite Mattingly's undeniable talent and contribution to the game, his exclusion from the Hall of Fame is due to the brevity of his peak performance years.

Mattingly was up against a host of players who were up for a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, including controversial nominees including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons, and Rafael Palmeiro, who have all been linked with steroid use and any player who wants to get in, must receive a dozen votes from the 16-person committee.

Don Mattingly got eight, Schilling seven, Dale Murphy six, Bonds, Clemons, and Palmeiro all received less than four votes, as did Albert Belle. On the disappointment of missing out again, Mattingly commented;

“It’s a desire [to be a Hall of Famer],”

“I think every player, it would be something that if you felt like you knew you’ve done enough. Obviously, people look at it as being on the borderline, right? There’s people that voted for you, people that didn’t, different committees put you on, and things like that. So obviously, you’re one of those guys that’s on the borderline.’’

“I don’t know how else to look at it other than you played your cards, proud of my career to an extent,’’

“I know it didn’t end the way I wanted it to as far as production or time. But those are also cards that you’ve been dealt, and you do the best you can with it.” Mattingly added.

Mattingly was a six-time MLB All-Star pick before his career was ended abruptly due to back issues, and he also won nine Gold Gloves and was the American League MVP for 1985. His playing career ended in 1995, and he spent three years as a coach at the New York Yankees before a two-year spell with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His first managerial role was at the Dodgers between 2011 and 2015 before he moved to join the Miami Marlins, where he enjoyed six seasons in charge, winning the National League Manager of the Year award in 2020.

He took over as coach of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023, and they are currently third in the American League East with an 81-67 record, and he’ll be hoping to take the team deep into the post-season, something they haven’t managed since losing the American League Champion Series to the Cleveland Indians in 2016.

Baseball lost one of its legends today with the passing of Brooks Robinson.  He was 86 years old.

Signed in 1955, Robinson played all 18 of his MLB seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.  Initially playing at Second Base, Robinson was moved to Third Base, where he would become the finest defensive player at his position, winning 16 Gold Gloves.  Robinson was named an All-Star 18 times, and won the National League MVP in 1964.  He would also lead the Orioles to World Series Titles in 1966 and 1970.

Although Robinson is mostly known for his glove, Robinson was a very good hitter, collecting 2,848 Hits, with 268 Home Runs and 1,367 Runs Batted In. 

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

Casino games are games of thrills, and the excitement of winning or near-misses could bring that surge of dopamine like never before. However, with these thrills, it is easy to get carried away and not see the damaging effects constant casino gambling can cause. Hence, it is vital to put oneself in check by utilizing health habits to help keep the urge to gamble under control.

In this article, we’ll review five healthy habits every casino enthusiast should consider adding to their routine. These tips for first time gamblers will ensure the best gaming experience possible.

Healthy Gambling Habits

Are you in a hurry and can’t go through the whole article? We’ve got you covered here. We’ve made a list of the 5 healthy habits below:

• Set a budget.
• Take periodic breaks from gambling.
• Adhere to responsible gambling rules.
• Find engaging casino communities.
• Enjoy your gaming experience.

Set a Budget

One important rule to help keep casino gambling under wraps is having a budget from the start. When you have a set budget, you can ensure discipline in your gambling and prevent overspending, which can affect your financial health. It’s important that you have a limit which signals you to stop.

However, having a budget isn’t as important as sticking to it. To do this, you can have a separate bank account for gambling. Hence, once the money is exhausted, you can stop playing. Another idea would be to try out casinos with small minimum deposits.

Take Periodic Breaks From Casino Gambling

A good player always knows when to step back from the game. As a casino enthusiast, you must ensure you can easily detach from gambling and do other fun activities. This way, you can make better decisions when you return to the game.

If you’re confused as to other activities you can carry out while on a break from gambling, we’ve highlighted some below:

• Pick up other hobbies (working out, reading a book, hiking, or even short walks).
• Learn new skills.
• Hang out with friends and family.

Remember About Responsible Gaming

Playing casino games without any restraints is sure to end in a horror story. Hence, playing responsibly involves understanding the risks involved with various casino games and navigating them properly. We encourage players to engage in gambling responsibly. 

Responsible gaming involves understanding when you need help. Organizations like the Responsible Gambling Council could be helpful if you struggle to stop or know someone with the same issue. Also, we’ve highlighted various healthy gambling habits and the unhealthy ones which could require getting help below.

Find Engaging Casino Communities

Finding a network of like-minded casino enthusiasts who are intentional about their gambling habits could help keep gambling in check. You can find these communities on social media, online forums, or even at the ground-based casino.

These communities can also share tips and experiences on being a better gambler and ensuring balance with other life aspects. Also, being part of a community could even improve your gaming abilities. They could share tips about various games and tournaments to help develop your skills and win money. Finally, the community could even have physical meets, allowing you to interact with new sets of people.

Enjoy Your Gaming Experience

Always remember it’s just a game, and the purpose is to have fun. So, to keep the fun going, play the games you enjoy and experiment with new games as much as possible. Experimenting with new games also helps to bring a new thrill to the game, making it feel like your first time playing the casino.

You can also participate in tournaments or try out new casino operators to spice up your casino experience. You could also share with friends online and exchange ideas to help with getting the best picks and strategies.

Conclusion

Being a routine casino player could be all fun until you notice you can’t stop. Hence, exercising discipline and imbibing healthy habits could be a great way to ensure you balance your gaming habits. Also, keep in mind that whenever you find your habits spiralling out of control, it is important to always seek help.