Have a fantastic Friday

Watching the NHL Playoffs this weekend? Maybe the NBA? Hopefully enjoying the nice spring weather and going outside for a round of golf, some tennis, or perhaps coaching a youth baseball, softball or soccer game using your CoachDeck cards. Whatever the plan, make it fun and make it sporting!

Sports alive and well in the United States

There are some doom and gloom prognostications about the state of professional sports in the United States. Football has a concussion problem. Parents are no longer allowing their children to play. Baseball has a millennial issue. The game is too slow for the new, “I need to know everything now” generation. Pro basketball does not relate to the common fan.

Well, over 100 million people watched the Super Bowl, Major League revenues continue to soar, and the NBA’s ratings are up 30% this year. What is America’s pastime? Watching sports, enjoying our teams, and rooting for athletes. We believe it always will be.

Another exciting weekend ahead

Top ten college football games, a full NFL, NBA and NHL schedule, maybe, (Houstonians hope) a Game 7 MLB playoff game, you’ve got it all this weekend. Don’t forget to get out and enjoy the fall weather and get some exercise and play with the kids!

What more could a sports fan want?

The Cubs and the Indians in the World Series. College football. NFL. Hockey season has started and so has the NBA. It’s that magical time of year when the four major sports seasons collide in spectacular fashion, if only of for one more day. Savor it, sports fans. It is like the Hailey’s comet of fandom!

Read this month’s OnDeck Newsletters here!

OnDeck is out and available online. We’ve got a great article from former NBA star, Keith Van Horn about sports parent dysfunction, and much more. Check them out here and you can even subscribe so that you don’t miss a future issue.

Kevin Durant’s MVP Speech

If you weren’t a Kevin Durant fan before he won the 2013-14 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, you will be after watching his acceptance speech. Those who believe all NBA players are about themselves and nothing else, should take a few minutes to enjoy a humble KD thank each teammate individually as well as everyone in the Oklahoma City Thunder organization, before moving on to his family and friends in a heartfelt, tearful tribute.

Rick Reilly on Kawhi Leonard

ESPN.com’s Rick Reilly has written back-to-back articles we want to share. First, if you follow the NBA, you know that the San Antonio Spurs are in the Finals against the Miami Heat. You may also know that Kawhi Leonard has emerged as one of the Spurs stars. However, you may not know the back story that haunts and drives him. Now you do. Tomorrow’s article is about an athlete who survived the Aurora, CO shootings.