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Should I Subscribe To MLB.TV?

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Baseball (MLB.TV)

For a few glorious hours last night, baseball was back. The New York Yankees faced off against the Washington Nationals in what felt like a throwback to a bygone era. In preparation for the game, I tried to bring to mind the last time I had sat in front of my television with America’s pastime on the screen. That would have been a World Series game, also featuring the Washington Nationals, but at over 250 days ago, it might as well have been a different lifetime. Who was I in November 2019? Who were any of us, pre-2020, pre-coronavirus, pre-quarantine, pre-fraying of our country’s social fabric? The champion Nationals were certainly different, with a roster that boasted the likes of Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Juan Soto, all absent from Opening Day.

The optimism that came from actually starting a baseball season did not last long, overshadowed by Soto’s positive COVID test and an hour-long rain delay that eventually led to the game being called after 5 innings. Another baseball game was played later that night on the West Coast, showing the San Francisco Giants versus the L.A. Dodgers and newly-minted gajillionaire Mookie Betts, but by 10 p.m. ET the images on the screen were so ominous with downpour and bursts of lightning as to cast a pall upon the upcoming 60-day season.

This is all to ask: With Game 1 in the books, how likely is it that we see this “season,” even in its truncated form, to completion? Or put in a more practical way in line with the mission statement of this website: Is it worth subscribing to MLB.TV this year?

I’ve subscribed to MLB.TV as long as I’ve earned a salary. Every February, the $120 charge on my credit card comes as a somewhat welcome surprise, a reminder that baseball is coming. Except for this year. As the calendar whooshed past what was supposed to be Opening Day, through April and May and June, that $120 charge came to symbolize a payment for a service that was never delivered. I kept expecting Major League Baseball to refund me, or at least send me an email about their cancellation policy, but they never did, nor was there any information on the topic on their website. Eventually I called, complaining about what was essentially an interest-free loan, and the fee was returned in full.

Now, MLB.TV wants longtime subscribers back. They’ve decided to price this season at $60, which, as noted by Yahoo! Sports, is actually more expensive per game. Those who bought the package in February and March were given a $76 credit, lowering their cost to just over $45. The MLB is also making this reduced price available for consumers like me who canceled in the summer.

Should I do it? Though the prospect of watching unlimited baseball after four months starved for sports is undeniably appealing, I just can’t shake the feeling that the promise of the 2020 season is nothing but a mirage. In all likelihood, baseball (as well as basketball and hockey, set to return in the next week or so) will be put on hold again after a soft opening. It will follow the well-worn path of offices, restaurants and amusement parks, all ready to reopen with social distance precautions in place, only to be shuttered again by authorities anxious to maintain the illusion of control.

My advice is this: Enjoy baseball while you can. If you have the money to spend, go ahead and treat yourself to as much of the sport that is made available for consumption. Just don’t be surprised when the angry gods of 2020 strike again, taking away one more thing for us to love.

Sports

NAIPO Sponsors Elite IRONMAN Race In Israel

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On November 25, 2022, the prestigious IRONMAN race was held in Israel for the first time in history. As part of a commitment to exhibit athletic excellence around the world, NAIPO, one of the world’s preeminent massage companies, participated as a sponsor. 

Since its founding in 2017, NAIPO has assisted thousands of users in the relentless pursuit to “Find Well-being.” NAIPO and its sister brand O’YEET produce state-of-the-art massager products that promote health and wellness for people of all walks of life, from the weekend warrior to the hardcore athlete. NAIPO’s percussion massagers in particular are designed for recovery after the sort of extensive physical activity an IRONMAN race requires. 

The IRONMAN has been recognized for decades as one of the planet’s most challenging and impressive feats of strength and stamina. Athletes begin the race with a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) swim, followed by a 112-mile (180.2 km) bicycle ride, and concluding in a 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run. This series of events demands racers be at the very peak of both physical and mental health. 

This year’s IRONMAN in Israel represented the 2022 Middle Eastern Championship. It took place in the city of Tiberias, in and alongside the historic Sea of Galilee. NAIPO was honored to partner with IRONMAN as an Expo Exhibitor. NAIPO’s personal massager products aid athletes with post-race recovery, and regular use during training staves off delayed muscle soreness and tension. In other words, NAIPO remains committed not only to helping racers finish the IRONMAN, but also to get them ready for the next one. 

About NAIPO

Founded to satisfy growing consumer demand for health and wellness, NAIPO develops affordable massage products that soothe the body, mind and spirit. In today’s fast-paced modern world, NAIPO’s products ease stress without taking up the precious resources of time and money. NAIPO is constantly conducting market research and soliciting customer feedback to further its commitment to developing industry-leading massage and relaxation products. NAIPO pairs traditional and contemporary therapy methods with modern technologies to produce affordable, comfortable and reliable massage products that help people of all ages and lifestyles “find well-being.” The company’s website can be found at www.naipocare.com.

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How To Pack Beer Cans In Your Golf Bag

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Photo via Amazon

Today is an absolutely gorgeous day, and as I stare out my window this sunny spring morning, all I can think about is playing golf. The golf season is already well underway (unofficially kicked off by the Masters a few weeks back) but because of the vicissitudes of the weather where you live there is a chance you have not played a round yet. Don’t worry: That will all change soon.

If you are a casual golfer like myself, the experience is as much about the social element as it is about getting a low score. It’s about being outdoors with friends—drinking beers, smoking cigars. Amazon sellers obviously know this, which led to the introduction of an innovative and popular product in recent years, the beer cooler sleeve.

Photo via Amazon

Pins & Aces Beer Sleeve 7-Can Insulated Cooler Sleeve – Stores Up to 7 Cans Discreetly In Your Golf Bag – Keeps Canned Beverages Cold While On The Golf Course – Fits In Most Golf Bags Styles & Types — $24.95

Depending on the rules and regulations where you golf, you might be able to pack a bunch of beers into your Yeti cooler and toss it on the back of your cart. Some courses have strict rules against this, however, forcing you to pay out the wazoo for beers from the cart girl, if you can even track her down that is!

Not wanting to get in trouble with authorities, people often just end up packing a beer or two in one of the compartments in their golf bag. But the cooler sleeve presents a better solution. It allows you to fit as many as seven beers in your golf bag, and will keep those beers chilled throughout the several hours of your round. The size of the sleeve allows it to slide neatly into the top of your bag, as if it were just another club.

Having the Pins & Aces beer sleeve may not improve your golf game (although a golf instructor did once tell me that to drink two beers before each round to golf my nerves and overthinking), but it is sure to improve your enjoyment.

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The Best Sleds And Toboggans For Snowy Days

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Photo via Amazon

In the age of Zoom and the Orwellian concept of “distance learning,” snow days are a thing of the past. When heavy snow comes, students can expect another day spent in front of the computer, as Frosty remain unconstructed outside. There are still weekends, however, so opportunities for winter fun are not altogether lost. Their infrequency does mean that kids need to make the most of them whenever possible. To make sure your child is prepared, your family must own a quality toboggan.

The Paricon disc sled is the classic model, and it guarantees the type of snow day fun your grandparents had by rocketing down hills on the lids of metal trash cans.

Photo via Amazon

Paricon Flexible Flyer Round Disc Snow Sled Toboggan — $29.97

Looking for a sled that is a step above the saucer? Then this one by Avalanche Brands is for you. Although more expensive, it fits two people on it so it may actually save you money if you have more than one child. Keep in mind that because it features a rope and handles, you will be expected to do the manual labor of lugging its riders around the snow banks.

Photo via Amazon

Avalanche Brands – Classic Downhill Toboggan Snow Sled Includes Pull Rope and Handles (35″) – Fit for 2 Riders — $39.99

Want your son and daughter to be the envy of everyone in the neighborhood? Then you should opt for the LIFECHOIC inflatable sleds. Perhaps not as reliable as the tried and true models above, they are guaranteed to catch the attention of all who see them. Before long your ears will be ringing with the presumptuous refrain, “I got next!”

Photo via Amazon

LIFECHOIC Snow Sled for Kids and Adults, Giant Inflatable Snow Tube 2 Pack, Heavy Duty with Reinforced Base, Side Handles and Rope, Winter Sledding Outdoor Play — $99.99

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