Stuff Your Stocking With Timeless Sports Memories
Christmas is a time for tradition, family, and joy, but it’s also one of the best sports days of the year. The NBA has hosted games on Christmas Day since 1947, and this year’s lineup features five matchups between potential playoff contenders. If you’re more of a football fan, you’ll be pleased to hear the NFL has two games streaming on Christmas this year. In honor of this year’s Christmas Day games, let’s look back at some of the most monumental matchups in Christmas sports history. Chiefs vs. Dolphins, 1971 In 1971, the NFL scheduled games on Christmas for the first time. Not only was this game on Christmas, but it was also an AFC Divisional Playoff game. At the end of regulation, the game was tied 24– 24, sending these teams into the NFL’s first overtime game. The game was still
tied after another 15 minutes, leading to a second overtime period. The game finally ended after 82 minutes and 40 seconds of gameplay and has remained the longest game in NFL history. The Dolphins walked away victorious, 27–24, and lost Super Bowl VI against the Dallas Cowboys. While we’d probably be happy about extra football gameplay now, many fans were upset about the game’s length. Some speculate this is why the NFL didn’t schedule another Christmas Day game for another 18 years. Lakers vs. Heat, 2004 Many people consider the Los Angeles Lakers of the early 2000s one of the greatest NBA teams ever. Led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, the team won three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. However, tensions reached a boiling point between the two superstars, which led the Lakers to
trade Shaq to the Miami Heat in 2004. The two met as opponents for the first time in 2004’s Christmas Day matchup. The game was neck and neck, leading to a 104–102 overtime victory for the Heat. Kobe finished with 42 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Shaq had 24 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter. This was the most-watched regular season game between 1998 and 2008.
THE RISE OF CONCIERGE MEDICINE
Personalized Care Is More Popular Than Ever
These days, it seems like every industry is embracing the subscription model. From streaming services like Netflix to the membership-based warehouse club Costco, a monthly or annual subscription is required to enjoy their products. Medicine, as it turns out, is also embracing this trend. Concierge medicine — also known as direct primary care — is members- only health care. Patients typically pay concierge providers an annual membership fee, usually around $2,000 per year, but can reach astronomically high rates of up to $50,000 per year for providers catering to select wealthy groups. While the price tag may seem daunting, concierge medicine is becoming
an increasingly popular source of personalized health care. Here are the advantages and drawbacks of concierge medicine. The Advantages Concierge medicine is a relatively recent invention, becoming an option only in the last 20 years (coincidentally, around the same time the subscription model took hold of the technology industry). Much like streaming services, concierge medicine offers patients easy access to health care, with the ability to schedule appointments when you want them. A smaller pool of patients means your doctor will be more available and have more time to spend with each patient to address their needs and answer their questions. It is precisely what is missing from mainstream medicine: personalized care provided at your convenience. The Drawbacks The increase in the popularity of concierge medicine, both for patients and providers, has significant drawbacks. More providers turning to a concierge model has exacerbated an already difficult provider shortage. Those who cannot afford the annual membership fees must take their business elsewhere, which means worse care for less wealthy patients in an increasingly busy and disconnected health care system. It can be of great benefit if you can afford it, but if not, the quality of your health care will be lower.
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