Enjoy reading the March edition of our newsletter!
Review Brooks & Crowley
March 2020
781-277-7321
www.brooksandcrowley.com
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026
*Services Throughout Massachusetts
"Sometimes you get outcoached, and sometimes you get outplayed, but that’s the nature of any game worth watching.”
outcoached, and sometimes you get outplayed, but that’s the nature of any game worth watching.
Sure, the 60-foot buzzer-beater shot at the end of the half rarely goes in, but it’s fun to watch.
Perhaps my attitude about this comes from the fact that my daughters have always been so involved in sports. As someone who went to an all-boys school and had three brothers and zero sisters, I really didn’t know what to do with my daughters when they were younger. I just got them into sports, like I did when I was their age. Now they each play varsity sports every season, and I couldn’t be prouder. Cheering my daughters on over the years strengthened my view that sports are about more than a win-lose binary. The camaraderie, discipline, coordination, and cooperation that athletes learn over the course of their careers are attributes we can all celebrate and learn from. Playing in my own Thursday night league, most of the other guys and I aren’t diving for every shot to win — not at our age. But every game, the one thing I will bet on is that we’re going to have a good time. The NCAA had a commercial featuring athletes who said, “There are over 380,000 student- athletes, and most of us will go pro in something other than sports.” No matter what your pastime, just enjoy doing it. We’ve been lucky this winter, let’s hope March Madness does not apply to the weather this month. –Neil Crowley
BEYOND BRACKETS How I Keep Sports Interesting
you out of the experience and hold you back from being able to enjoy the game as it unfolds.
Now’s the time when it feels like all anyone talks about are March Madness brackets. With everyone from coworkers to former U.S. presidents weighing in, it seems like predicting the outcome of the NCAATournament has become a national pastime. While I can appreciate the fun people have doing it, I can’t say it’s for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love basketball. I was fortunate to come up in a time when the Celtics were dominant in the NBA, and I got a kick out of cheering on their victories. In fact, I still get out on the court myself, shooting hoops at a local Thursday night league, and you can bet my teammates and I will be watching the college teams this month. But when it comes to the brackets and betting on the outcome of sports in general, I’ve never seen the appeal. Whether a person bets on the outcome of a game for friendly competition or for money, the general perception is they’re “making the game more interesting.” But in my view, all it does is take
Take those old Celtics games I’d cheer on in the ‘80s. When we were up by 20 points and started subbing in rookie players, I got excited. It was a chance for these inexperienced players to shine, and it would likely make for a more exciting game than just another blowout. I knew we were going to win, which was all that mattered to me. However, folks who had bet on a wide spread howled at this coaching decision that might lead to a narrower final score. They’d given themselves an ulterior interest that had no bearing on how fun the game actually was to watch and tied themselves to rooting for a very specific outcome. For me, the joy of being a sports fan stems from the surprises. It lets me sit back and appreciate the hard work, effort, and talent both teams take to the court or field, without feeling like I have to hold Bill Belichick or Brad Stevens personally accountable for every loss. Sometimes you get
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Need a Boost? Natural Supplements to Increase Your Energy
As spring kicks off, many people will be tempted to grab a Monster, Red Bull, or Rockstar to get through the day.
BEETROOT POWDER Beetroot powder is made from the roots of the beet plant and is rich in nitrate. Nitrate relaxes blood vessels, creating increased blood flow and oxygen delivery. This enables your body to produce energy more efficiently and maintain energy levels, making beetroot powder a great aid for endurance sports like running, soccer, and biking. In the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, a study reported that athletes could work out for 25% longer when they used beetroot powder. Fatigue didn’t set in until much later in their workout, which improved their training and performance. This spring, say goodbye to energy drinks and get the boost you need with one of these natural energy supplements.
improve brain function, including memory. You can get ashwagandha in pill form at most convenience stores around the world. CREATINE Many people don’t realize creatine is a natural energy booster because they get it mostly in processed, high-sugar energy drinks. However, in doses less than 5 grams, creatine provides impressive benefits during high-intensity activities, short-duration exercises, and sports, including football, shot put, and weightlifting. This compound is found in red meat, pork, poultry, and fish, and when consumed, it releases phosphates that give your body a quick burst of energy. Ingesting more than 5 grams, though, will leave you feeling bloated with a lot of stomach discomfort. Creatine powder can be found at most wellness stores. minimum amount of bodily injury protection people are required to buy in this state is $20,000, despite the fact that many auto accident injuries can cost upward of $80,000 in medical bills. Driving without UM/UIM coverage is an expensive gamble. NO MEANS OF RECOURSE The reason why we want to emphasize the importance of UM/UIM coverage is because an auto accident involving an underinsured driver is one situation where our options are extremely limited. The best accident attorney in the world could argue your case, but if the money for compensating you simply isn’t there, then it isn’t there. Making sure your own policy can step in and make up the difference is the best thing you can do to defend yourself from an otherwise bleak situation.
Energy drinks may give you a quick boost, but the high levels of caffeine and sugar can lead to migraines and increased anxiety. If over-consumed, these drinks can even lead to Type 2 diabetes. To avoid these health hazards, try out a few of these natural energy boosters instead. ASHWAGANDHA Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub found mostly in India. As part of the Ayurveda system, an alternative medicine practice from India, it’s also known as “Indian ginseng.” The Alternative Medicine Review published a study indicating ashwagandha increases the body’s resilience to physical and mental stress by lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol by 28%. Ashwagandha can also help you through long workouts and the 9-to-5 grind because it may also With all the talk of spring-cleaning in the air, it can be a good time to dust off your car insurance and make sure you have the right amount of coverage. In particular, you should look at the amount of uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage you have under your current policy. These often-overlooked numbers can make all the difference in the aftermath of an accident. A ROLL OF THE DICE According to the latest data from the Insurance Research Council, over 12% of drivers in Massachusetts either have no insurance or are underinsured. This may seem like a small amount, but consider what’s at risk. If one of these drivers severely injures you, their insurance policy likely won’t be able to cover your medical bills. The
Spring-Cleaning Your Insurance Policy Do You Have UM/UIM Insurance?
AN EASY INVESTMENT The silver lining is that UM/UIM coverage doesn’t cost much more to add to an existing policy. For most people, it amounts to a few extra dollars a year — and you get a lot in return. You see, UM/UIM coverage doesn’t just protect you when you’re behind the wheel of your car. It can apply when you’re in another vehicle or even when you're a pedestrian. Better still, it extends its umbrella of protection to all members of your household, helping you ensure your loved ones are taken care of. Don’t take your insurance policy for granted. This spring, take a look at the numbers and make sure you and your family are protected from motorists unable to foot the bill for injuries they inflict.
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It takes some serious basketball knowledge — and a lot of luck — to successfully predict the outcome of March Madness. Whether you’re an average hoops fan or an expert, it’s more difficult than you might think. The Smithsonian estimates the odds of a perfect bracket are 1 in 9.2 quadrillion. But gone are the days of relying on the most intimidating mascot to make your decisions. Try to beat those odds with these March Madness technologies. Bracket Madness! Dominate Your Bracket With March Madness Technology
THE NCAA’S ORIGINAL BRACKET CHALLENGE In 1939, Oregon University became the first team to win March Madness, defeating Ohio State University 46-33 in an eight-team tournament. By 1985, the tournament had grown to 64 teams, and the bracket was born. With that kind of history, there’s no better place to create your bracket than with the hosts of spring’s best sporting event: the NCAA’s digital hub. NCAA.com offers you team analysis, real- time updates, and a home for your bracket. With an easy-to-use platform, you don’t have to be a college basketball expert or technology whiz to make your choices and follow your team all the way to the championship.
GOOGLE CLOUD’S STUDENT-LED ANALYTICS It’s one thing to know the numbers; it’s a whole other ball game to understand what they mean. That’s where Google Cloud’s analytics team comes in to help. In 2018, Google partnered with the NCAA to offer live gameplay analysis, and in 2019, the tech giant hired more than 30 college students to contextualize the numbers throughout the tournament. Google’s steps for 2020 remain a mystery, but you can view past records and data at Cloud.WithGoogle.com/marchmadness.
LAUGH OUT LOUD ADOBE’S HACK THE BRACKET What if there was a tool that could compare free-throw percentages or shot accuracy between opponents? Well, now there is! For the past two years, Adobe has offered its data analytics software with a simple-to-use system, Hack the Bracket. The program breaks down points, mistakes, fouls, win percentages, and other statistics into side-by-side comparisons. The software also calculates the percentage of a team winning or losing, giving users a closer look at the game.
Orange Glazed Salmon
Ingredients
• • • •
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• • • •
2 salmon fillets (10 oz total)
Zest from 1 orange
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp ghee
1 tsp tapioca starch
1 tbsp garlic, minced
directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F, and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. 2. Salt each fillet with 1/2 tsp salt. Bake for 6–8 minutes. 3. In a saucepan, combine ghee and garlic and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes.
4. Add rosemary, zest, and juice. Cook for another 3 minutes. 5. Stir in tapioca starch until lumps disappear and mixture thickens. 6. Plate salmon and top with orange sauce.
Inspired by RealFoodWithJessica.com
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026 Inside This Issue
1
Neil Talks March Madness
Ditch the Energy Drinks
2
An Important Part of Your Insurance Policy
3
March Madness Tech to Make You a Predicting Genius
Orange Glazed Salmon
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How the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Got Rolling
A Boston Legacy The History of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
by providence.” But whether by fate or by coincidence, the effect remains the same: Many residents of Suffolk County get to enjoy a day off just in time for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. AN ENDURING LEGACY The St. Patrick’s Day parade remains a proud tradition in this city, and the world has joined in. Even Ireland’s celebration now strongly resembles our own — the traditions of homesick immigrants having come full circle back to the home country. So, regardless if you’ve got any Irish heritage, don some green and celebrate! It’s the Boston thing to do!
to church services. The joyous celebrations we know today were actually born on American soil, right in South Boston. The first ever St. Patrick's Day parade was held by a society of Irish immigrants honoring their heritage in Southie in 1724 — a full 52 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed! COINCIDENCE OR PROVIDENCE? Famously, March 17 isn’t just reserved for St. Patrick in this town. Evacuation Day, celebrating when British troops were driven from Boston by a storm and the approaching Continental Army, just happened to fall on the same date in 1776! George Washington called the bloodless retreat an “interposition
While the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been canceled for this year, that doesn’t mean people can’t show Irish pride on March 17. While other cities like New York may claim large Irish populations and a long and proud history of celebrating the holiday, nothing compares to the way we do St. Patrick’s Day right here in Boston. The reasons for that lie in the very roots of this city. AN AMERICAN SPIN It may surprise some that St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t a day for parades and merrymaking in Ireland itself. For most of the nation’s history, it was a day of prayer — taverns would even shut down as proprietors and bartenders went
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