The next piece of the Zander's Facts brand
ZWF #1: Sunday, February 13, 2022
Nearly one year ago, on February 3, 2021, the Zander’s Facts brand was born. The Zander’s Facts Podcast had released its first episode to at least some sort of fanfare. Over the past year, I’ve been able to spread the facts to a worldwide audience on a number of different issues. One year later, on February 13, 2022, the Zander’s Facts brand is officially expanding.
This is Zander’s Weekend Facts. A weekly newsletter focusing on everything I (Zander) am finding interesting across a wide variety of topics. Just like the world-renowned podcast, I’ll be tackling the latest happenings in the news, sports, life, and more. The advantage of a newsletter is I can cover a wide variety of subjects in one edition, while providing external sources that can explain anything much better than I ever could.
The goal of Zander’s Weekend Facts is to give you the facts about anything going on in the world around us. You’ll just have to read these facts, instead of listening to them.
So, let’s get to it! Here is the first edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts:
Football’s farewell
Let’s begin with the main topic of discussion on this week’s episode of the Zander’s Facts Podcast. There’s a big football game taking place in Inglewood, California later today between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams. Super Bowl LVI pits the 10-7 AFC champion Bengals against the 12-5 NFC champion Rams, who are the second team in NFL history to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium.
On the podcast this week, I gave a full breakdown of everything these two teams have been through this season, and how they shape up in this game. I encourage you to check it out (if you haven’t already), but here are some of the main points to know for tonight’s game:
Last season, the Bengals only won four games all season. This year, they are in the Super Bowl. One of the most stunning turnarounds in a single season we’ve seen.
The Rams have bet big on this year being the one. The team traded for QB Matthew Stafford in the offseason, and added WR Odell Beckham Jr., LB Von Miller, and CB Jalen Ramsey as star additions throughout the season. The strategy of acquiring several veteran stars looks to have paid off. If it gets the Rams a championship, look for several other teams to try and replicate it in the future.
Speaking of Rams QB Matthew Stafford, much of his success has been thanks to WR Cooper Kupp. The two have connected for 20 touchdowns this season, becoming the second QB-WR duo to connect for twenty or more touchdowns in their first season playing together. The first involved QB Tom Brady and WR Randy Moss in 2007 with 24 touchdowns.
Both quarterbacks in this game, Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow, did not have any playoff wins before this postseason. It is the seventh time that the two starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl did not have any playoff wins entering the current season.
Zander’s key matchup: The Bengals’ offensive line against the Rams’ defensive front. Cincinnati’s offensive line has been dreadful this season, allowing QB Joe Burrow to be sacked nine times in the divisional round matchup against the Titans. If the Bengals want to have a chance, the offensive line is going to have to give Burrow some time to throw to his electrifying recievers.
One of those Bengals receivers, WR Ja’Marr Chase, has had an amazing rookie season. His 1,455 receiving yards rank fourth in the NFL this season, while his 13 receiving touchdowns rank third in the league.
Want a Zander’s Facts prediction? Go listen to Episode 53 before the game starts tonight at 6:30pm et.
The Rams are looking for their second Super Bowl with a win (1999) and their fourth NFL championship. (1945, 1951) The Bengals would win their first Super Bowl with a victory after previously making two editions of the big game in 1981 and 1988.
What will Putin do?
Heading to the news, the Russian Federation’s buildup of military personnel along the border with Ukraine has dominated the global headlines in the last few days and weeks. Fears that Russian president Vladimir Putin will invade have been growing recently as the country continues to add military might on the Ukrainian borders with Russia and Russian-ally Belarus. Over 100,000 Russian troops have been stationed near the borders.
President Joe Biden held a call with Putin Saturday warning that the U.S. and allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs.” The call appears to have had little impact on the ongoing situation, as the U.S. has announced plans to evacuate most of the staff at the U.S. embassy in the Ukranian capital of Kyiv. According to U.S. sources, Russia is reportedly targeting this Wednesday as a target date for any possible military action.
Earlier this week, Putin held a call with French president Emmanuel Macron. During the call, Putin complained that the U.S. and NATO have not met Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining NATO and that NATO forces pull back from Eastern Europe.
The situation in Eastern Europe is incredibly tense and arguably the biggest point of conflict between Russia and the west since the cold war. It also may be something we talk about on the podcast this week. (hint, hint)
For up to the minute updates on the situation, check out CNN’s live updates: CNN - The latest on Ukraine and Russia tensions
Champions of the world
On Saturday, Chelsea FC won their first FIFA Club World Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazilian club Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. The win continues a magnificent run for the club since Thomas Tuchel took over as head coach in January 2021.
Plus, it’s yet another correct prediction by Zander. You can go check out Episode 51 to hear for yourself. (Which is conveniently linked below!)
Chelsea’s tight schedule continues on, as the Blues face Lille Olympique Sporting Club in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16 next week. Then, a date with Liverpool FC in the final of the EFL Carabao Cup on February 27. Want analysis on those upcoming matchups? Check out Episode 51!
The Champions League returns
Speaking of soccer, the world’s premier club soccer tournament returns this week. The UEFA Champions League is back in action with the Round of 16 getting underway starting this Tuesday. Here’s the schedule for the matches this round:
Sporing CP vs. Manchester City
First leg: Tuesday February 15 at 3:00pm et from Lisbon, Portgual
Second leg: Wednesday March 09 at 3:00pm et from Manchester, England
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Madrid
First leg: Tuesday February 15 at 3:00pm et from Paris, France
Second leg: Wednesday March 09 at 3:00pm et from Madrid, Spain
FC Salzburg vs. Bayern Munich
First leg: Wednesday February 16 at 3:00pm et from Salzburg, Austria
Second leg: Tuesday March 08 at 3:00pm et from Munich, Germany
Internazionale vs. Liverpool
First leg: Wednesday February 16 at 3:00pm et from Milan, Italy
Second leg: Tuesday March 08 at 3:00pm et from Liverpool, England
Chelsea vs. LOSC
First leg: Tuesday February 22 at 3:00pm et from London, England
Second leg: Wednesday March 16 at 4:00pm et from Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France
Villareal vs. Juventus
First leg: Tuesday February 22 at 3:00pm et from Villareal, Spain
Second leg: Wednesday March 16 at 4:00pm et from Turin, Italy
Benfica vs. Ajax
First leg: Wednesday February 23 at 3:00pm et from Lisbon, Portugal
Second leg: Tuesday March 15 at 4:00pm et from Amsterdam, Netherlands
Atlético Madrid vs. Manchester United
First leg: Wednesday February 23 at 3:00pm et from Madrid, Spain
Second leg: Tuesday March 15 at 4:00pm et from Manchester, England
Rapid-fire storylines
To wrap up the week, here are a couple of storylines from the past week you’ll want to know about:
The Walt Disney Company and Hulu on Wednesday announced that sci-fi comedy tv series Futurama would be revived for a run on the streaming service in 2023. The series ran for four seasons on Fox from 1999 to 2003, before being revived by Comedy Central for a three-season run from 2008 to 2013. While the series is returning several cast members from the original run, John DiMaggio, who voiced Bender, has not been confirmed.
Variety - ‘Futurama’ Revival Ordered at Hulu With Multiple Original Cast Members Returning
The bad publicity keeps coming for new Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin. This week, he mixed up two black women Virginia state senators after one of them gave a speech on the senate floor on Black History Month.
Canada has been dealing with protests over it’s covid vaccine mandates. Truckers across the country have come to protest in the capital region of Ontario, blocking roads in the capital city of Ontario and on the Ambassador bridge, a major artery between Detroit, MI and Windsor, Canada.
BBC - Canada bridge protesters cleared by police after a week of disruption
We finally know why former President Donald Trump complained that Americans were having to flush their toilets 10 to 15 times. Turns out, he was flushing paper down the White House toilets.
Axios - Haberman book: Flushed papers found clogging Trump WH toilet
Before we go, remember to check out the latest edition of the Zander’s Facts Podcast! Episode 53 takes a look at tonight’s big matchup between the Rams and Bengals, and Zander makes a prediction for who will hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Plus, Zander gives an update on the college basketball landscape with a month to go until tournament time.
That’s everything you need to know from the past week. Thanks for reading to the first edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts! Remember to download and listen to the next edition of the Zander’s Facts Podcast when it drops this Wednesday! And check out the upcoming edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts next Sunday! Have a great week!
Just remember, baby steps. ZWF will continue to grow and improve. It’s a fact! :)