Brooks&Crowley - March 2020

Brooks&Crowley - March 2020

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 >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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