ZINEDINE ZIDANE

Zinedine Zidane. The mans name itself is unique. 

Masterclass both on and off the pitch. 

His role as a manager is not appreciated enough. 

Sure, he took on a Real Madrid, one of the best clubs if not the best in the world, but they were struggling mightily under Rafa Benitez during the 2015-2016 season before Zidane took reign  

When Zidane took over Real Madrid were out the La Liga title race by a mile, yet they found the strength as a team to cut the gap to 7 points behind league leaders Barcelona, who they were to face to determine if Madrid can continue to slice the gap even more Barcelona had built upon their 39 game win streak in all competitions.  

But Real and Zidane were on a different mission. It was simply to win. It didn't matter where in the table Real Madrid were at, they were going to compete to win EVERY SINGLE GAME. 

The game proved pivotal to Zidane's' managerial success. A 10-man Real Madrid scrape out a 2-1 victory behind a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal to break Barcelona's 39 game unbeaten streak.

Real Madrid and Zidane are riding high and are now focusing on the Champions League, a tournament they recently have lifted in the 2013-2014 season. 

It's the quarterfinals and Zidane finds himself 2-0 down aggregate against Wolfsburg, a talented and surprisingly overachieving German side. 

He once again proves why Madrid made the right decision. It helps when you have a otherworldly talent like Cristiano Ronaldo who can score hat tricks on command to help your team advance. 

Real Madrid are showing more character than they have in recent memory and scrape their way into the Champions League final for the second time in three years facing none other than their city rival Atletico Madrid, who they faced in the Champions League final two seasons earlier. 

It was a rematch for the books and Zidane and Real Madrid found themselves as the champions of Europe once more. 

Fast forward to the present and Zidane has shown his worth. 

3 Champions leagues IN A ROW(They were they FIRST team to successfully defend the title after winning and the first team to successfully defend the trophy TWICE), 2 La ligas in 4 years coaching, and overall has won 11 trophies in 4 years managing Real Madrid. 

He conquered Europe, a dream many managers never realize, he did it thrice. 

He may have not invented a style of play that revolutionized the way the game was played as Pep did. 

But the success is there. The teams he has built have been some of the best in the world and never fail to perform. Zidane is the perfect ambassador for Los blancos, always encouraging his team and getting the best out of his players. 

It will always be HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS. 

The Silent KILLER

2013 NBA Finals, Game 6. The Miami Heat vs. The San Antonio Spurs. SA leads the series 3-2. The score is 95-92. LeBron James chucks up a three, BRICK. Chris Bosh, towering over everyone, gets the board and passes it out to a backpedaling thousand year old Ray Allen. BANG. WET. Tie game with 5.2 remaining. That iconic commentary that any NBA fan can identify.

Lets rewind a to a possession before. Spurs timeout after a James three to make it 92-94. In bounds, Duncan finds this newborn star Kawhi Leonard. Foul. 19.4 seconds left. Kawhi steps up, if he makes both he ices the game, miss. Next one, swish. The Heat come back down and tie the game, win the game in O.T and win the series in 7. The Heat repeat and create their dynasty. But they also created something else. The created a killer. Kawhi Leonard.

To have the finals ripped away from you. Being 19.4 seconds away from glory, the Everest of basketball. From making 1/2 free throws, to Tim Duncan not being on the floor for rebounding purposes on that game tying possession Miami had. There were mistakes. Correctable ones of course.
There was work to be done and if both the Spurs and Kawhi wanted to reach the finals again, hard work, teamwork and fundamentals would need to the focal point.

2014 NBA Finals. The Spurs and Kawhi put on a masterclass. Beautiful passing, transition basketball, rebounding and defending. Anything you could possibly think of the Spurs were doing. A superstar was born in that series. Kawhi not only put up numbers, but he also help lock down one of the more dominant players in LeBron James. He won his first championship and finals MVP that year.

Now here we are five years later. 2019 NBA Finals between Toronto and Golden State. Series currently tied 1-1. Kawhi has been on a mission this postseason. Locking down everyone he comes across, scoring at will he is essentially what LeBron was for the Cavs but better. His team actually is hungry to win unlike LeBrons Cavs teams that he would lead. I have never seen someone play both sides of the ball so consistently like Kawhi. He is so nonchalant about it that you almost seem to overlook it and check the score at the end to see he put up serious numbers and locked down the opposing teams best player.
I always noticed his play was amazing especially on the defensive side of the ball. He reads passing lanes so well, his long arms and enormous hands help him pick opposing players pockets with ease. I will admit that I believed the Spurs system made him better but he has proven to me that wherever he goes he'll be a star.

He may be somewhat closed off. A man of few words, but despite that you can feel his presence on the court. Regardless of outcome in these final games, we all should put more respek on his name. He put a desperate Toronto team on his back and took them to their first finals appearance in franchise history. Its a team effort of course but they dont make it there without Kawhi. Period.

He will pull up on you. Go on the other end, lock your best scorer up, steal the ball and dunk it in transition. All while not making a single facial expression.

- Miguel tyb