It's hard to belive that Howie Long was not a first round pick in his draft class, but everyone once in awhile an NFL great slips through the cracks and goes unnoticed and until its too late for teams in need of Hall of Fame caliber talent. Representing the state of Massachussetts will be the Somerville-bred defensive end, Howard Matthew Moses Long. The 6'5 defensive lineman played his collegiate ball at Villanova University where he dominated not only on the football field , but in the boxing ring as well. In his first season at the school, Long recorded 99 tackles and later became the Northern Collegiate Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
Howie Long was drafted 48th overall in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders were he would spend his entire football career. In that time, Long became the most unguardable defensive end in the game, notching 84 sacks, recovering 10 fumbles, and catching two interceptions. He helped the Raiders win their last NFL Super Bowl during the team's tenure in Los Angeles in 1984. With eight Pro Bowl invites and three All-Pro First Team selections, Long was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2000. These days Long has taken his talents to Fox Sports where he is one of the most technical analysts in football broadcasting.
Wondering where to go in 2020 for an amazing deal, to beat the crowds, or for a truly once-in-a-lifetime travel experience? These destinations are on travel addicts’ radar for rightfully hyped 2020 events, new offerings, and recent developments that make them a must-visit right now.
On top of the majestic scenery its long been known for, Montana is a newly trendy nature getaway celebrated for its expanding luxury hotel scene, culinary offerings, and shop-local boutiques, according to an American Express study detailing where cardholders are traveling in 2020. But Montana is also about to get more accessible than ever before thanks to emerging flight routes sure to stir up competition. Launching two brand-new seasonal routes to Big Sky country, American Airlines will fly from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana, beginning mid-year and continuing through Labor Day. Take advantage of the new direct route before the secret gets out, and so that they’ll continue next year.
One of the cities featured in Booking.com’s travel trends for 2020, Urugay’s capital Montevideo is a stable and LGBT-friendly destination to visit in South America—a continent that’s seen dips in tourism of late thanks to political instability in travel destinations like Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Travelers identified the city as a trending travel destination for anyone seeking an immersive, one-stop escape; according to the study, “over half (54 percent) of global travelers say they want to go on one long trip to a place that has all of their favorite activities and sights close together.” Montevideo’s offerings include beaches, nightlife, markets, theaters, culinary prowess, and festive Gay Pride Day celebrations in September.
Europe’s intensely overtouristed spots (Venice, Barcelona, Santorini) have new Eastern European hotspots to thank for stealing away some of the spotlight: Romania is making a name for itself as one of the top five most trending Airbnb booking destinations for 2020. The nation that’s home to Transylvania, Dracula’s castle, and well-preserved medieval towns nestled among rolling hills has seen a 298 percent annual increase in Airbnb bookings.