Couples come in all shapes and sizes and from all sports and entertainment mediums. FanSided is looking at some of the best couples in sports and entertainment.

Valentine’s Day is that wonderful time of year where we all sit back and smell the roses. Why? Because love is in the air! Love can take all kinds of forms, of course, and there’s nothing better than a power couple who knows what they’re about. Strictly platonically, these couples invigorate us, inspire us, and are just all-around great team players that we aspire to be.

There’s no need to get sappy, but if you’ve got love for your favorite power couple, we definitely won’t judge if you shed a few tears or two over them. (Looking at you, Kansas City Chiefs fans.)

And thus, as we indulge in our chocolates and hug our teddy bears, let us read on with heart-eyes as we look at some of the best couples in sports and entertainment handpicked by FanSided’s very own.

Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike

Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike are basketball opposites with Dotson the diminutive point guard and Azubuike the 7-foot big man who dominates in the low blocks. Together, they’ve led Kansas toward the top of the AP Poll and in position to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The inside-outside attack makes them a dangerous duo for opposing teams to contend with. — Patrick Schmidt

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez

One of the most unlikely duos to make a splash this year was Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Some might say the Chiefs were the winners of the Super Bowl, but for others, it was definitely Shakira and J. Lo who dominated the football field. The two brought to Miami songs like “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Jenny from the Block” and “Let’s Get Loud.” If it wasn’t possible to make Miami any hotter already, these ladies definitely turned up the heat and made the halftime performance at Super Bowl 54 one of the best halftime performances, hands down. — Mia Johnson

Lionel Messi and Ansu Fati

Lionel Messi and Ansu Fati are the soccer world’s most wholesome “couple.” Just look at those hugs:

Since the 17-year-old Fati joined Barcelona’s first team, he and Messi seemed to bond instantly. Both clearly know the value of their partnership. Messi has taken the young player under his wing and Fati has provided a spark that could help Messi win another few trophies in his prime. The duo shined brightest recently when Messi assisted on both of Fati’s goals as he became the youngest player to ever score a brace in La Liga.

Honorable mention to: All of us and the USWNT; Inter Milan and Premier League castoffs; Erling Haaland and goals; Antoine Griezmann and any American sports star.  — John Wilkinson

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are clearly the class of professional football when it comes to couples. One has the jovial press conferences and the other has the haircut of a mop, the voice of Kermit with strep throat and the arm of a god. Somehow, the two have come together to win the Super Bowl, toppling 50 years of misery for the Kansas City Chiefs. — Matt Verderame

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl

It’s hard to think of a hockey “couple” more suited for this honor than Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. This season, the duo are the NHL’s top two point scorers and have a combined 163 points in 54 games for the Oilers. McDavid and Draisaitl are a two-headed monster that have catapulted the Oilers into playoff contention, a pair that combines speed and creativity in ways that take your breath away. Though Edmonton has yet to achieve a Stanley Cup with this duo, the pair are the NHL’s most fun and engaging linemates every time they step out on the ice together. — Mary Clarke

Baby Yoda and the Mandalorian

Sorry, Claire and Jamie. Sorry, Peter and… whoever you choose on The Bachelor. The best “couple” on television is Star Wars’ very own Baby Yoda and the Mandalorian. These two have taught us everything about what it means to be good human beings and… whatever species The Child is. Mando’s heart grew three sizes on the day he decided to save Baby Yoda. And Baby Yoda is teaching Mando something new about love with each adventure. We could all learn to be a little more like Baby Yoda and the Mandalorian. — Mia Johnson

Ed Orgeron and Joe Burrow

Ed Orgeron and Joe Burrow were the top power couple in college football this year. The LSU head coach and quarterback shared a past history of being overlooked and underappreciated. Together, they were an unstoppable duo who are the current kings of the sport. Burrow won the Heisman en route to shattering passing records as the Tigers won the national championship. Orgeron won practically every Coach of the Year Award and won over our hearts with his famous “Go Tigers” catchphrase. — Patrick Schmidt

The Dodgers and Mookie Betts

The happiest couple in baseball right now is the Dodgers and Mookie Betts. Sure, this romance is new, untested, and maybe a product of circumstance, but a two-MVP outfield with Betts and Cody Bellinger is enough to get hearts racing in LA. It’s early days, but Dodgers fans can dream of Betts helping snap their 32-year World Series title drought. Don’t ask Red Sox fans how they feel about their front office breaking up with Betts for financial reasons, but for now, Angelinos are happy to give Betts a place to crash at Chavez Ravine. — John Wilkinson

The post FanSided’s best ‘couples’ of sports and entertainment appeared first on Bet Sunday.

The post Presenting the FanSided 2020 Sports Oscar nominees appeared first on Bet Sunday.

The post Welcome to the 2020s: Predicting the next decade of sports and entertainment appeared first on Bet Sunday.

Nobody wants birds. Here are FanSided’s 12 Days of Christmas, in accordance with the gifts our favorite sports and movies have given us this holiday season.

As Andrew Bernard learned the hard way, most of the gifts given in the famous “12 Days of Christmas” are just birds. In fact, if there are any wealthy bird fanatics out there who could afford it, giving your loved one the actual 12 Days of Christmas would amount to 184 birds in total. Nobody wants 184 birds for Christmas.

In light of this undeniable truth, our FanSided staff decided to get together and examine the real gifts our favorite sports and movies have given us this holiday season.

From college football to the NFL and NBA to the entertainment industry and beyond, we proudly present FanSided’s 12 Days of Christmas!

On the first day of Christmas, college football gave to me: a competent LSU quarterback

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow came out of nowhere this year to win the Heisman Trophy and lead the Tigers to the College Football Playoff. He’s the SEC record-holder for yards and touchdowns in a season and easily the best quarterback in LSU history. Then again, the bar was so low you could reach it without standing up. LSU quarterbacks have always held the team back and got Les Miles fired. This year was different, as Burrow was the best present LSU fans could have asked for. — Patrick Schmidt

On the second day of Christmas, the UFC gave to me: two Baddest Motherf–kers in the game

We have been so good this year and as a tasty reward, the UFC gave the fans something it wanted so much: a real Baddest Motherf–ker title, complete with its own belt at the biggest fight card of the year. Jorge Masvidal faced off with Nate Diaz to crown the official BMF in the UFC and when the dust finally settled, we saw Masvidal with the strap around his waste and a potential second BMF fight for next year … and his opponent might be none other than Nate’s big brother, Nick. — Amy Kaplan

On the third day of Christmas, the NFL gave to me: an understanding of what a catch is

The NFL has long been flummoxed when trying to describe what a completed catch is in the rule book. No NFL fan or pundit could be given a better gift than making this a simple rule that was obvious in real time. Commissioner Roger Goodell comes through. — Matt Verderame

On the fourth day of Christmas, college football gave to me: four playoff teams

Four is the magic number when it comes to the college football postseason. LSU, Ohio State, Clemson and TK make the field this year. It’s the first time Alabama has not made the College Football Playoff, so that’s a gift right there if you’ve suffered from Alabama fatigue the last few years. — Patrick Schmidt

On the fifth day of Christmas, the NHL gave to me: five head coaches fired

The NHL is in a bit of turmoil as the holiday season rolls around. Between poor performances and a coaching abuse scandal that is rocking the foundation of the sport, the NHL has seen five head coaches relieved of their duties in just a few weeks. Watch out, your team may be next! — Mary Clarke

On the sixth day of Christmas, Hollywood gave to me: six feet of Adam Driver.

With The Report and Marriage Story already out, fall 2019 has been Adam Driver season and it all culminates in the release of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. The internet loves talking about Driver — Is he a good actor? Is he hot? Or is he just distractingly tall? From movies to memes, all six-feet(-two) of Adam Driver is the gift that keeps on giving. — Shea Corrigan

On the seventh day of Christmas, Luka Doncic gave to me: seven(ty-seven) marks of perfection

Seven is considered the perfect number, so it’s no wonder Luka Doncic wears two of them on his jersey. No. 77 on the Dallas Mavericks was already likable, and exactly no one should be surprised what he’s doing given how much he accomplished as a professional overseas before coming to the NBA, but his production at age 20 is literally unprecedented. Averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game is flirting with triple-double territory that only Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson have ever ventured into for a full season, but he’s doing it on 61.8 percent true shooting as the primary reason the Mavs own the best offense in the league and a 19-10 record. Also, guess how many triple-doubles he had on the season? Not seven, but eight, literally one-upping perfection. Luka Doncic is incredibly fun to watch, easy to root for and right now, he’s the spirit of Christmas embodied on a basketball court. That spirit is perfect, and it wears two No. 7s across the chest. — Gerald Bourguet

On the eighth day of Christmas, in my nightmares Tom Hooper gave to me: eight stars as cats in Cats.

There are more than eight cats in the movie Cats (I Googled it) but there are eight legitimate stars — full-on award-winning, chart-topping movie and/or pop stars — donning the most deranged catsuits/fur technology you will ever see in Tom Hooper’s “musical fantasy” adaptation. (They are Idris Elba, Taylor Swift, Ian McKellen, Rebel Wilson, James Corden, Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson and Jason DeRulo.) — Shea Corrigan

On the ninth day of Christmas, the Phoenix Suns gave to me: (hopefully!) turning the corner on nine years of misery

The Phoenix Suns haven’t been to the playoffs since 2010 (the second-longest active playoff drought in the NBA), they haven’t won 30 games since 2015, and even mentioning the names of draft whiffs like Josh Jackson, Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender is enough to make the most diehard of supporters wince. But for the first time in Devin Booker’s career, he’s got NBA-caliber teammates and a legitimate head coach. The result? Career-best efficiency for Book, a Suns team that’s 11-19 despite facing one of the league’s hardest schedules and missing Deandre Ayton for all but two games, and a shot at finally taking the first step in a prolonged rebuild. This fanbase has continually been put through the ringer, but between having an actual point guard in Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre’s Valley Boyz wave and Aron Baynes filling in for the suspended Ayton, the Suns are taking their first step toward legitimacy by simply competing. Maybe the playoffs won’t happen after a hot start raised expectations, especially during a seven-game losing streak, but even cracking 30-35 wins would be encouraging. — Gerald Bourguet

On the 10th day of Christmas, soccer gave to me: a 10-point lead that Liverpool surely can’t let slip this time, right?

Sure, it would be nice for our true love to deliver us a compelling Premier League title race like we saw last season, but in the absence of that, we get to watch a buzzsaw Liverpool team that looks absolutely determined to snap the storied club’s 30-year league title drought. The Reds lead the Premier League by 10 points (with a game in hand) at Christmas. Of all teams though, Liverpool won’t be assuming it’s over, after they blew a Christmas lead last season. And the Ghosts of Christmas Past run even deeper since, via Opta “each of the last three sides to fail to win the title after being top at Christmas have all been the Reds (2008-09, 2013-14 and 2018-19).” For Liverpool fans, this could be the year they finally win the Premier League, and for us neutrals, we get to watch them hold their breath and see if maybe they can become the next Invincibles in the process. — John Wilkinson

On the 11th day of Christmas, the NFL gave to me: awesome young quarterbacks

After what feels like a century of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger, the league is finally churning the mix. Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and others are leading the way, ushering in what should be the standard for 15 years moving forward. More athleticism, more excitement and more possibilities. Great stuff. — Matt Verderame

On the 12th day of Christmas, MLB gave to me: So, so, so many presents because free agents are actually getting signed before Christmas

After a frigid market last winter left the top free agents unsigned through the holidays (and well beyond), it was refreshing to see big-ticket items Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon go off the board this December. Now, as we wait to see if contending teams open the checkbook for mid-level free agents too, let’s hope we can find a way onto the gift-giving list of those three. — John Wilkinson

The post FanSided’s 12 Days of Christmas appeared first on Bet Sunday.

Christmas gifts can be incredible, or they can be downright disappointing. For the holiday season, our FanSided staff decided to compare our favorite sports teams, athletes, movies and TV shows to what might be waiting under the tree.

From articles of clothing to gift cards to more exciting and unique presents, Christmas gifts can be thrilling or disappointing, often with little ground in between. We’ve all had that one aunt who insists on giving you socks when you wanted toys to play with, that one godchild who continues to give mom essential oils she’ll never use, or that cool relative who just asks your parents what to shop for so they actually get it right.

Across the major sports and entertainment industry in general, 2019 has been jam-packed with teams, athletes, movies and TV shows that have captivated us as well as underwhelmed us.

With the peak of the holiday season fully upon us, it’s time to take a look at FanSided’s favorite teams, players and binge-able content and compare them to the types of Christmas gifts we can expect to find under the tree this year.

New England Patriots are a tie for dad

Dad doesn’t really want a tie for Christmas, but it doesn’t matter because he’s getting one anyway and the same thing keeps happening to every NFL fan outside of New England. Nobody wants them around anymore, but they will damn sure be there in the end. — Patrick Allen

Joe Burrow is a shiny new video game console

There’s always going to be one marquee present waiting for you under the Christmas tree. Sometimes you think you have a good idea of what it might be based on the size, shape and weight of the gift. But most times you really have no clue what is waiting for you under the wrapping paper. That’s what LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was en route to his Heisman season. He is the biggest revelation in college football, and LSU fans will never forget the moment they got this present. — Patrick Schmidt

Star Wars is a 1977 Chevy Impala

Take a look at this old classic. It’s from a well-known brand, and it keeps getting updated over the years. That is, you were excited to see this old car back in the late ‘90s because it’s such a classic, but it kind of disappointed you. Now, it’s trying to live up to its old reputation, and naively, you expect it to be good once again. Strange enough, this old thing still runs pretty well, and you’re happy to have it back! — Mia Johnson

The New York Knicks are an ugly woolen sweater from grandma

Remember over the summer, when the New York Knicks were supposed to land all these big fish in free agency? And then how they didn’t and settled for Julius Randle and the rest of the league’s veteran power forwards? And then how they started the season 4-13 and hosted a press conference to essentially throw their head coach under the bus? Like the oversized, woollen sweater that grandma knitted herself, you feel bad, but the Knicks are just flat-out embarrassing. In the words of Kevin McCallister, “You can get beat up for wearing something like that.” That’s what it’s like to be a Knicks fan in 2019. — Gerald Bourguet

Game of Thrones is a Red Ryder air rifle

In A Christmas Story, all young Ralphie wants in the world for Christmas is a Red Ryder air rifle. After brief disappointment in which his parents subvert his expectation, he gets the gun. Unfortunately, when he goes to play with it, he shoots himself in the face (well, kind of) and then breaks his glasses. Still, when he goes to bed, he declares it the best gift ever.

All anyone could talk about this spring was the highly anticipated final season of Game of Thrones, but the last act went over like a BB pellet to the face. (Startling, undesirable, ultimately harmless.) Still, fans will tell you it’s the best show ever. — Shea Corrigan

Lionel Messi is an extremely generous check from your grandma

It’s the same every single year, to the point where you kind of forget how amazing it is, but in terms of what you’re actually getting, it can do things that no other gift can. Sure, it used to be part of an elaborate package and now it just comes tucked into a simple card, but the value is still there and it should be appreciated. Don’t forget to write your grandma a thank you note, and don’t forget to fully appreciate Messi, whether or not you think he’s the GOAT. — John Wilkinson

BoJack Horseman is that therapeutic self-help book you didn’t know you needed

When you first receive this kind of gift, your initial reaction is feeling shocked and possibly even insulted. This couldn’t possibly be for me, you think to yourself. But when you dive in, you find it to be charming and insightful. It’s laugh-out-loud funny at times and thoroughly heart-wrenching at others as you discover things about yourself. No one is claiming BoJack Horseman has all the answers, just as no self-help book can cure all that ails anyone … but damn it if this story about an animated anthropomorphic horse’s struggle with celebrity, depression, substance abuse, relationships and self-acceptance hasn’t blown away expectations for those who’ve given it more than a passing glance.   — Gerald Bourguet

Avengers: Endgame is a brand new iPhone

This is something that you’ve been waiting for forever to come out, and you’ve been counting down the days ‘til you could have it or see. Everyone’s been hyping it up, and it’s going to be bigger and better than the last one. Endgame certainly did blow past everyone’s expectations, and the iPhone 11 offered another powerful update to the long-running line. They’re exciting, they’re expensive, (and there’s a lot of them), but you love them either way. — Mia Johnson

The Houston Rockets are cash

Getting cash for the holidays is uninspiring, and nowhere near as exciting as receiving an actual gift. In short, it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. With that being said, it still gets the job done at the end of the day. James Harden and the Rockets’ ability to rack up regular season wins are a lot like getting a $20 bill in a Christmas card: Not everybody loves their style, but at the end of the day, it’s still a W. — Gerald Bourguet

The Mandalorian is a fuzzy blanket

Baby Yoda….that is the only explanation needed! — Carrie Bennani

The Pittsburgh Penguins are a sweater that accidentally got a bunch of holes in it

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been a constant playoff presence in hockey for years. The last time they missed the postseason was the 2005-06 season, a lifetime ago for some of us. This year, however, the team has sustained injury upon injury, to the point where their lineup each game looks like it was pulled out of a hat at random from across the NHL’s bottom six. This is certainly not the way Pittsburgh planned this season, much like how your aunt did not plan to have moths eat the sweater she worked tirelessly on all fall for you. The good news, though, is that Sidney Crosby may be able to patch the holes in the Penguins’ lineup through sheer force of will, though it may take some time. — Mary Clarke

Alabama is an Amazon gift card

Gift cards are what you get people when you don’t know what to get them. They’re also what you get people when you’re too lazy to get them a personalized or meaningful gift. It’s boring. It’s unoriginal. It’s been around forever. It’s definitely not exciting or something you rush to play with or use on Christmas morning. — Patrick Schmidt

The Oakland A’s are a rented video game

You know what’s fun? Opening up a gift. You know what isn’t fun? Being told that the gift is only yours for a few years, and then you have to give the gift away to the richest kid on the street. This is what it’s like rooting for the A’s. You have Marcus Semien, Matt Olson and Matt Chapman in your infield? Damn! Enjoy that, they’ll all be wearing pinstripes and underperforming in four years. — Matt Verderame

The post FanSided’s favorite sports and entertainment figures as Christmas gifts appeared first on Bet Sunday.

Thanksgiving is a holiday for gathering – around a table, in front of a television, in a park playing flag football, in the streets at a turkey trot, in line for Black Friday shopping or any other number of places.

No matter what, it’s about getting together with other people (hopefully ones you like) and enjoying each other’s company (again, hopefully).

Of course, there’s a lot of time for conversation as we spend the day eating, watching football and doing whatever else we’re thankful for. Thanksgiving brings us all together and it brings a lot of different viewpoints together.

While you might be able to talk to even your most distant uncle about how bad the Lions are each and every Thanksgiving, some topics are a little more divisive. From paying NCAA players to Martin Scorsese’s opinions on Marvel movies, we asked our editors about how Thanksgiving fits into each section and which conversations to avoid for a peaceful holiday.

DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 22: Detroit Lions fans celebrate Thanksgiving Day during a regular season game between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions on November 22, 2018 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

College Sports

You would think people would have no problem with people getting paid for doing a job, right? Well actually, when it comes to the topic of college athletes receiving financial compensation for competing in NCAA athletics, it’s a hot button issue that should be debated on CNN with Anderson Cooper as the moderator.

If you want to have a food fight reminiscent of Animal House, say, James Wiseman, Joe Burrow and Chase Young can’t pay their light bill with room and board.

If you want to avoid saying, “Okay Boomer” a dozen times to your aunts and uncles who think a “free” scholarship is enough and they “don’t deserve” a dime despite literally having years taken off their life to provide entertainment for them, just talk about the lousy weather and traffic.

A healthy alternative, no, I’m not talking about a plant-based turkey, but the College Football Playoff and who is the best one-loss team. That should be good for reasonable and nuanced conversations between hands of Euchre.

NFL

NFL football on Thanksgiving. It’s traditional, dating back to the Detroit Lions and the 1930s. It’s a time for family. A time for uncles making aggressive political statements. A time for the Lions to disappoint and the Dallas Cowboys to book a horrendous musical act for halftime.

Yes, Thanksgiving is the best of times. We get to eat dinner at 1 p.m. because that’s what the Pilgrims did. Then we undo our belts and slowly pass out to the dulcet tones of Jim Nantz and Joe Buck as gravy drips from the corners of our mouths.

If you can’t get amped up for a food coma with football, you are missing the whole point of Thanksgiving.

27 November 2014: Kansas Jayhawks fans dressed as Turkeys cheer on the Kansas Jayhawks on Thanksgiving during the 1st round of the Orlando Classic between the Kansas Jayhawks and Rhode Island Rams at the HP Field House in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Movies

In no particular order, here is a list of movie-related topics to avoid at the Thanksgiving dinner table:

• Marvel vs. Martin Scorsese

That’s it. That’s the list. Every other 2019 movie controversy — Joker’s incel indulgence, Quentin Tarantino’s foot fetish, Cats’ fur technology — is downright appealing compared to re-litigating the superhero vs. cinema debate.

TV

With so much TV to choose from, it will be remarkable if you find any common ground with your extended family, but don’t be tempted to bring up Game of Thrones final season to fill the silence.

Someone will rant about hating it. Someone will passionately defend it. Someone will forcefully assert they’ve never seen a second of it.

Additionally, we recommend steering clear of:

• The Big Bang Theory: Without a doubt, you have an uncle who loves Big Bang Theory.
• Friends: Everyone knows it was actually bad and a rip-off of Living Single.
• Real Housewives: Let people like what they like!
• 90 Day Fiancé: Thanksgiving is not the time to have the green card discussion.
• The Office: No one wants to hear your cousin’s thesis on how Michael Scott is problematic.
• Democratic Debates: Technically counts as TV.

If you need to break up all the sports talk, we have one universally unifying topic to recommend…

Baby Yoda.

The Mandalorian Chapter 3 / Exclusively on Disney+

NBA

The NBA is a global engine of growth but it still doesn’t touch the national ubiquitousness of college or professional football which means the NBA discussions you encounter on Thanksgiving are likely to be lukewarm and eye-rolling. Uncle Ned asking you, “what about this LeBron fella?” Cousin Ryan, who hasn’t watched an entire basketball game since … ever … extolling the balanced nature of the universe as the Warriors take wallow in the misery they earned, by being incredible at what they do (he leaves that last phrase out).

Keep dad focused on carving the turkey and don’t let anyone bring up Kawhi Leonard making a bajillion dollars while managing the load on his injured knees and you should be fine. Just start working on a plan to sneak away for Clippers-Lakers on Christmas Day.

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 18: Bradley Beal #3 and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards host a Thanksgiving Assist Event on November 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Hockey

The biggest challenge you may face this holiday season will be getting your family to talk hockey at all, depending on your geographical location. South of the Mason–Dixon line? Not a chance, unless you’re a Washington Capitals fan enjoying your unmitigated success so far this year.

For folks up north, the recent firing of Maple Leafs’ head coach Mike Babcock is sure to spark debate among hard-core hockey fans who have taken sides for and against his old-school style of coaching. If it didn’t work for the good boys of Toronto, it surely can’t work anywhere else in the league, right? Speaking of Good Canadian Hockey Boys, any mention of former Sportsnet broadcaster Don Cherry is a sure-fire way to get opinions flying, and a noise complaint sanctioned upon your residence. Avoid at all costs, lest you’re ready for more than talk about his bad suit choices that have plagued hockey culture for decades.

OTTAWA, ON – OCTOBER 11: A young fan displays a Thanksgiving-themed sign before the Ottawa Senators home opener against the Montreal Canadiens at Canadian Tire Centre on October 11, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

MMA

Let’s be honest, there was a lot this year in the MMA world that should probably be avoided, and we covered that in-depth here. Some of it is light-hearted fun, like Henry Cejudo wanting to fight women to much more serious like pretty much anything Greg Hardy or Conor McGregor did this year. But overall, the biggest topic to avoid this holiday season is anything that starts with “Colby Covington said …”

Just don’t do that to yourself, trust us.

Soccer

Around the world there is always soccer’s one debate to rule them all – Messi vs. Ronaldo – but more than likely your cousins and uncles here in the States know the sides but don’t have strong enough opinions for you to avoid it all together. Unless your uncle is a Madridista, don’t worry too much about avoiding soccer’s unending GOAT debate.

Here at home, the soccer topic that is most likely to have both a wide base of recognition and some deeply divisive opinions is the United States Women’s National Team.

As we wrap up a World Cup year, the USWNT – and particularly the pink-haired figurehead of Megan Rapinoe – are a household brand across the U.S. Whether it was not going to the bleeping White House, racking up 13 goals against Thailand, winning another World Cup or fighting for more equitable pay and treatment, the USWNT have most certainly done something that one member of your family hates and something that another one loves.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 23: The Best FIFA Women’s Player Award Winner Megan Rapinoe of Reign FC and United States and The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award Winner Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Argentina pose for a photo with their trophies during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 at Teatro alla Scala on September 23, 2019 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Simon Hofmann – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

MLB

The MLB hot stove has yet to really heat up this winter, but at least it hasn’t been so slow as last year, forcing you to discuss labor laws and possible collusion (no, not that kind) with your baseball-loving family.

Luckily, the Houston Astros have provided the perfect topic to either stir a family feud or to be avoided all together: cheating. More specifically, using a camera to steal signs and then relaying information about pitches by banging on a trash can. Whether you want to get into it or not with the diehard Astros fan in your life, be sure to design elaborate methods for deciding which dishes to pass and always have a back-up method of communication.

Just whatever you do, please don’t bang your plate too loudly on the trashcan as you clean it, they might know which kind of pie is coming out next.

The post All the sports and entertainment topics to avoid at Thanksgiving dinner appeared first on Bet Sunday.