Hi everyone, thank you again for your votes and participation with the brackets. We have made it to the Quarterfinals. While in the team sports Region our final four is three ones and a five seed. On the individual side the World showing how much they love soccer with three soccer legends advancing and Diana Taurasi upsetting Messi as the fourth entrant. Awesome part is on that side only Ronaldo was the lone one seed to advance with a 2 seed, a 3 seed and a 6 seed making it as well. Let’s get to the matchups with some good analysis on the matchups from yours truly.
#1 Kevin Durant Vs #3 Pernille Harder
We first start off with one of the best players in all of mens basketball Vs one of the best in all of women’s soccer. Kevin Durant has missed some time recently with an hamstring injury but is still one of the best players on the planet and the Brooklyn Nets will not stand a chance against the leagues elite without Durant’s services. Durant is averaging 29 points and 7.3 Rebounds per game this season and is still as lethal as ever from 3 point land. He was the number one seed in the East and made it to the Quarterfinals for a good reason. He’s going up against Pernille Harder who plays for Chelsea in the FA Women’s Super Club League. Harder just turned 28 and over recent seasons have come into her own as one of the best overall players in Women’s soccer. This bracket shows that even though she plays for Denmark (not a juggernaut internationally) that her awesome talents are not going unnoticed (a league high 27 goals last season). I have not been voting and will not but will make my predictions of who I think will win in rest of matchups. I think Durant advances barely but Harder is a live dog in this matchup and would not be surprised if Pernille Harder pulls the upset.
1 Patrick Mahomes Vs 6 Diana Taurasi
Next is the highest paid and arguably best quarterback in all of Football Vs a basketball legend and still one of the best in the game. Patrick Mahomes had another great season in 2020l leading the Chiefs to a 14-2 record and a 38-6 TD Int Ratio. Mahomes does have a small black mark losing the Super Bowl in blowout fashion to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but with a banged up offensive line many including myself are giving Mahomes a small pass on that game. Mahomes opponent is Diana Taurasi who have upset the top 3 seeds in succession and with her glaring support is a darkhorse to win this whole tourney. Taurasi had an average of 19-4-5 in a shortened season in 2020 and is still considered arguably the best in the game at the age of 38. With what Tom Brady, Lebron James and Diana Taurasi is doing it makes us realize that sports legends maybe never do fade into the night (they all will eventually but not right now!). I will take Mahomes to win this matchup but bet against Taurasi at your own peril.
5 Derrick Henry Vs 2 Vivianne Miedema
Our third matchup is the best running back in football against the best goal scorer in all of soccer. Derrick Henry had 2,027 yards, 5.4 yards per carry and 17 touchdowns last season showing that not all running backs are a dime a dozen. What makes Henry so imposing is you know the Titans are running the ball and you still can’t stop him!! The stain against Henry was his lackluster performance in the playoffs against the Ravens but after what King Henry did the previous season is was no surprise the purple birds weren’t letting Henry beat them again. Henry’s opponent is the Vivianne Miedema who plays for the Netherlands national team and club Arsenal in the FA Women’s Super League barely survived a 15-2 upset against Justin Thomas in the first round but gained support and steam was never really threatened in any round since. Miedema as I mentioned in my you tube video for the Elite Eight had a stupdifying 52 goals in a 50 game season and had 14 goals in only 15 games in a shortened 2020 Season. I cannot bet against Miedema and with the exception of the last matchup I think Miedema is the second biggest favorite of these four matchups.
1 Lebron James Vs 1 Cristiano Ronaldo
The last matchup is the two most known athletes on planet Earth (put your beers down I don’t even think this is much a debate here). Lebron Vs Ronaldo is so awesome that I was shocked it happened. Lebron is averaging 26-8-8 with a 51 percent field goal percentage for the Lakers and playing the most minutes in the NBA at age 36. Lebron is a unicorn (well one of many with how many aging legends are staying on top right now) with him still being the best in basketball (without much debate) in his 18th season. Cristiano Ronaldo is on the list of athletes that are aging quite impressively still being one of the best in the game at age 35 and plays for Portugal and the Serie A Club Juventus. Ronaldo’s dominance was still in display last season scoring 20 goals in 22 games. The main black eye on Ronaldo’s game is his inability to get Portugal far in the World Cup. But ask Lebron James how hard it is to beat a superior team even when you are the best player on the field/court. Even though it’s a battle of one seeds it’s hard for me to see Lebron losing but I love that it’s not on in hands it’s in yours. So you please vote @stewdrew on twitter #bestathlete #poll or the sports stew with drew facebook page and we will see which of these legends advance.