Yesterday, Lance Armstrong was formally stripped of all seven of his Tour De France wins, capping off a tumultuous period in his life that spanned since his retirement from cycling.
The action came along with a lifelong ban on Armstrong from competitive cycling by the sports governing body, the UCI. Without waiting for an admission of guilt, officials have decided to strip him of his guilt based on accusations that he knowingly and repeatedly took performance enhancing drugs, or PED's, during his career.
This news is very disturbing to many fans of cycling, casual and dedicated alike. Armstrong was a popular figure, a man you couldn't root against, even if you weren't necessarily rooting for him. He earned renown for his fight against testicular cancer and his charity work through his Livestrong Foundation. He was a gracious winner and a world class athlete, and yet for several months has faced intense and prolonged attacks from those who seek to take it away from him.
It would be one thing if Lance was on an island, standing alone as the only professional athlete who took measure to distance himself from the competition, but he is not. His own sport is rife with it, having disqualified at least one, oftentimes more riders every year since the early 2000's for doping. Other sports, such as the NFL, boxing and Major League Baseball have also seen this trend in their own ranks.
Most of the time, these infractions are for performance enhancing drugs of some sort. Human Growth Hormone (HGH), is frequently used to add muscle mass and repair damage to the body. These, combined with other steroids, give athletes an unfair advantage over others and taint the image of the professional leagues. Sometimes, however, the drug suspensions are for drugs typically classified as "recreational".
While not having any substantial impact on the play of other athletes, nor giving the athletes who take them any real advantage, recreational drugs are still not in the best interest of the leagues and therefore their use must be treated as such. Athletes who cannot refrain from recreational drug use create a bad example of inability to follow the rules of the league.
While it may seem prudent to point fingers, direct the blame at individuals or groups that might seem responsible, it is becomingly increasingly obvious that this is a society wide problem, one that has manifested itself slowly over time. In this day and age, we as a society project this idea into our athletes from a very young age that they must push harder than everyone else to succeed, that they must always strive to be the biggest, the fastest, the strongest. When they get older, these kids try for that very goal, only to eventually reach the obvious physical limitations that hinder their progress. So then what? Performance enhancing drugs come into play, allowing athletes to train harder and longer, getting bigger than they have ever thought possible. Driven to be the best, and unwilling to fail, athletes can spiral into darker realms of life, where they tread into illegal and unethical behaviors.
If this seems a bit like a slippery slope argument, then it is only meant to accentuate what has become a very real issue in the world of sport. For better or for worse, many young kids idolize athletes, which poses the obvious dilemna of what we as a society want our kids to learn from their idols. Three years ago, most parents would be ecstatic to learn that their children idolized Lance Armstrong. Today, that very child would be idolizing someone who is widely regarded as a cheater because of his alleged steroid use.
If this particular subject interests you, or you love a good documentary, I would strongly suggest Bigger Faster, Stronger by Chris Bell. It is a great piece that strongly alludes to steroid use in America through the vantage point of one family of boys. In that film you will see firsthand the influence that athletes have on young children in our society. Heroes such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Hulk Hogan have joined hundreds of other athletes in shamefully, sullenly, tearfully admitting their involvement with steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. How many more need to be caught, tried and punished before we all acknowledge this problem and do something effective to stop it?
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Attack of the Clueless Zebras; How Replacement Officials Are Destroying Football
Sometimes in our lives, we are witness to something so unusual, so ludicrous, so impossibly wrong that we hope to never see it again and will pray we never do. These include Justin Bieber music videos,sweaty back cleavage and the humiliating of peopleofwalmart.com.
However the events that occurred on this weeks MNF game were beyond the point of ludicrous, hardly entertaining and impossibly frustrating for fans of football everywhere.
Replacement officials are dismembering this game. Piece by piece, they are destroying every shred of credibility that the worlds highest level of organized football has to offer, and they are making it a complete and utter joke.
Except we're all done laughing.
I watch NFL games every week and what I see are not men who have officiated at the highest levels of college football for years, I see a bumbling squadron of clowns who traded in their red noses and Ronald McDonald shoes for pinstripes and a whistle.
Was there even some form of testing before these men were deemed appropriate replacements for qualified, capable men like Ed Hochuli? If so, did they have, at the very least, an old high school gym teacher come in to teach them the rules of football? I'm frankly not sure if that was even done, seeing how intent the NFL is on not paying old men to do their jobs. This entire issue is caused by the childish fighting between two groups of stubborn men fighting over who gets the most clams. We have a league that declares itself as "fighting for player safety" and yet players face more risk of injury than ever as cheap shots and extra fluff after the whistle go seemingly unnoticed by replacement officials.
There's an old saying that you don't really know what you've got till its gone. It might seem relevant to this situation based on the amount of harassment the regular officials receive from around the league in their line of work. Frankly, yeah, I'm gonna admit, that's is me. To a T. I always carried a little doubt in my mind about the ability of officials in this league but with what I see on the field these days, I'd counter with another adage;
Beggars can't be choosers.
And make no mistake people, we are, in fact, beggars. We need football more than we should, it's a pleasure, and a vice, and a reward all at the same time. The things this country has done in the spirit of football dwarf the attention some countries give to foreign policy. We will drive a gas guzzling suburban 250 miles to tailgate at an away game, and if the officials miss calls, then by jove we'll let them know it. We are held captive by the very sport we enjoy as entertainment, and the thought of anyone, or any group of middle aged, colorblind, stuttering clowns ruining our beloved sport drives us crazy.
And to clarify, I'm not angry that one of the replacements is an outspoken Saints fan. I'm not angry they instituted the first female referee (one of the only benefits of this dark period) or that she plays poker on the weekends as a hobby. I'm honestly not worried that this group will fail to leave their personal agenda at home and affect games negatively based on their personal hobbies. I AM worried that they will ruin games with their obvious lack of familiarity with the rule book. The problem is that we know, for a fact, that they have given teams unwarranted possessions, time outs, additional penalty yards and have even told players to step it up for their fantasy teams. That is the sort of stuff that honestly just can't happen. It will single handedly undermine the integrity of this game.
After these officials horribly botched the big call in Monday Night Football in front of a huge national audience, the situation has reached a boiling point. Players and coaches, generally seeking to refrain from bad mouthing officials in all but the worst circumstances, are coming out of the woodwork with complaints. The NFL sits in this precarious position with what is hopefully an open mind and one that realizes the potential damage to the league and their customer base the longer these men call the games. It will get much much worse before it gets any better, and I fear we may see ever increasing drastic measures being taken on and off the field that will create further issues.
So please, casual or dedicated fans of the NFL, take a moment out of your busy day to write to your local hometown NFL commissioner and tell him how angry replacement officials make you. We're not even going to have a hockey season due to OTHER groups of old men bickering over money, so we can't afford losing this football season as well. And please, if you see a replacement official on the streets, make sure you throw a damn rulebook at him-or her.
However the events that occurred on this weeks MNF game were beyond the point of ludicrous, hardly entertaining and impossibly frustrating for fans of football everywhere.
Replacement officials are dismembering this game. Piece by piece, they are destroying every shred of credibility that the worlds highest level of organized football has to offer, and they are making it a complete and utter joke.
Except we're all done laughing.
I watch NFL games every week and what I see are not men who have officiated at the highest levels of college football for years, I see a bumbling squadron of clowns who traded in their red noses and Ronald McDonald shoes for pinstripes and a whistle.
Was there even some form of testing before these men were deemed appropriate replacements for qualified, capable men like Ed Hochuli? If so, did they have, at the very least, an old high school gym teacher come in to teach them the rules of football? I'm frankly not sure if that was even done, seeing how intent the NFL is on not paying old men to do their jobs. This entire issue is caused by the childish fighting between two groups of stubborn men fighting over who gets the most clams. We have a league that declares itself as "fighting for player safety" and yet players face more risk of injury than ever as cheap shots and extra fluff after the whistle go seemingly unnoticed by replacement officials.
There's an old saying that you don't really know what you've got till its gone. It might seem relevant to this situation based on the amount of harassment the regular officials receive from around the league in their line of work. Frankly, yeah, I'm gonna admit, that's is me. To a T. I always carried a little doubt in my mind about the ability of officials in this league but with what I see on the field these days, I'd counter with another adage;
Beggars can't be choosers.
And make no mistake people, we are, in fact, beggars. We need football more than we should, it's a pleasure, and a vice, and a reward all at the same time. The things this country has done in the spirit of football dwarf the attention some countries give to foreign policy. We will drive a gas guzzling suburban 250 miles to tailgate at an away game, and if the officials miss calls, then by jove we'll let them know it. We are held captive by the very sport we enjoy as entertainment, and the thought of anyone, or any group of middle aged, colorblind, stuttering clowns ruining our beloved sport drives us crazy.
And to clarify, I'm not angry that one of the replacements is an outspoken Saints fan. I'm not angry they instituted the first female referee (one of the only benefits of this dark period) or that she plays poker on the weekends as a hobby. I'm honestly not worried that this group will fail to leave their personal agenda at home and affect games negatively based on their personal hobbies. I AM worried that they will ruin games with their obvious lack of familiarity with the rule book. The problem is that we know, for a fact, that they have given teams unwarranted possessions, time outs, additional penalty yards and have even told players to step it up for their fantasy teams. That is the sort of stuff that honestly just can't happen. It will single handedly undermine the integrity of this game.
After these officials horribly botched the big call in Monday Night Football in front of a huge national audience, the situation has reached a boiling point. Players and coaches, generally seeking to refrain from bad mouthing officials in all but the worst circumstances, are coming out of the woodwork with complaints. The NFL sits in this precarious position with what is hopefully an open mind and one that realizes the potential damage to the league and their customer base the longer these men call the games. It will get much much worse before it gets any better, and I fear we may see ever increasing drastic measures being taken on and off the field that will create further issues.
So please, casual or dedicated fans of the NFL, take a moment out of your busy day to write to your local hometown NFL commissioner and tell him how angry replacement officials make you. We're not even going to have a hockey season due to OTHER groups of old men bickering over money, so we can't afford losing this football season as well. And please, if you see a replacement official on the streets, make sure you throw a damn rulebook at him-or her.
Monday, September 10, 2012
NFL Sunday a Tough Nut to Crack for Rookie QB's
Chances are, if you caught some football yesterday, you probably witnessed history being made, as there were five teams starting rookie QB's to kick off their 2012 campaign. Yes, five. For most football fans, it served as a source of intrigue, and a chance to watch much ballyhooed signal callers such as Rober Griffin III and Andrew Luck get a taste of the NFL action. It is rumored that Kim Kardashian left her car in busy L.A traffic upon hearing about the "fresh meat" and ran home to update her OkCupid and eHarmony accounts. Subway fired its director of marketing after realizing he had only signed one of the five to make borderline inappropriate comments about footlong sandwiches, and Roger Goodell was seen DVRing the Browns game "just in case" it was worth watching. Chances are, if you tuned in to one of those five games, you are very disappointed that you did, as the five star children combined to throw eleven picks to just 4 touchdown passes. RGIII ended up impressing the most, as he led the upset of the Saints by being very close to flawless in the Redskins 40-32 victory.
I personally ended up watching Luck the most. Deemed the most advanced QB of the five, it was widely believed, and probably still is, that he will flourish in the NFL very quickly. Yesterday, he struggled against the Bears, turning the ball over four times in a losing effort. Yes, he did turn the ball over, but three of the turnovers were caused not by inadequacies on his part but by superb defensive positioning by the Bears. Luck looked like a young Peyton Manning on the field, struggling in his first game but still possessing the framework of a good quarterback.
Tannehill and Weeden are the cut and dry college QB busts this year. Every year we have quarterbacks who excelled in the college game but struggle to make the transition to the pros. I guess I'd have to give the nod to Tannehill over Weeden, but its honestly six of one, half dozen of the other. Gonna be another long season, Cleveland.
Russell Wilson had a pretty subpar outing, doing nothing special and getting out-dueled by the two headed monster that is Arizona's quarterback situation. However, Wilson has a strong defense and run game that will be a very important crutch for him as he looks to build on his first start, and alot of people expect big things from him this season.
Additionally, more history was made when the first female referee to officiate and NFL game was on crew for the Lions-Rams game. Shannon Eastin worked her first game largely without incident and many people didn't even notice the milestone. In related news,Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fined an undisclosed amount by the league for a comment involving football not being played in kitchens. Jones was unavailable for comment on the matter.
Word from the Jets camp is that Tim Tebow has started a public feud against Rex Ryan, as he was told he was still the backup QB after a strong game from Mark Sanchez. Tebow threw a tantrum for more than 10 minutes before his mother arrived to take him home for some pizza rolls and some milk.
And finally, The Ravens host the Bengals on MNF, however half of the Bengals team could not make the trip, since their electronic probation tethers only allow them 100 feet of travel outside the stadium. To combat the short handed situation, members of the teams personal security staff will suit up on the O Line.
Friday, September 7, 2012
When Football Powers Stay in State, Everyone Wins
History will be made on Saturday, when the Michigan State University Spartans travel to Kelly Shorts Stadium for an away game versus THE Central Michigan University. While it is not uncommon for the Big Ten and the MAC to play each other occasionally, quite the opposite, actually, this game will be different. Michigan State has realized the importance of spreading the wealth to football programs in the state not named U of M and not on the banks of the Red Cedar, and has structured a deal to play away games at the stadiums of several MAC teams in the next few seasons, including CMU this year and EMU within the next few seasons.
While some may criticize this deal as accepting charity, I believe it is remiss to view it as anything less than helpful to everyone involved. By returning more money back into the schools in Michigan that are dwarfed by the Spartans, they assure themselves a more competitive football atmosphere locally as well as gaining more respect on a national level. I'm so impressed by the forward thinking sports administration at State for thinking this deal up that win or lose, I respect MSU immensely. In todays' college football scene, every decision is driven single handedly by money and the desire to win, and for a perennial powerhouse school to stop and pay it forward to a smaller (not lesser) program shows a maturity and selflessness that should be embodied more often in collegiate athletics.
With the additional revenue from this game on Saturday, which is expected to be at full capacity in every sense of the word, and the thousands of dollars that will be pumped into the local businesses surrounding the stadium, Michigan State has assured our CMU football program a better outlook for the future, and in what is shaping up to be an exciting in state rivalry will be all the more exciting when the two schools have the maturity and forward thinking to help each other out.
That being said, you will find me in that student section on saturday cheering as loudly as I can for a repeat of my freshman year, when we took down the Spartans in a neck and neck game. I hope that stadium is loud as hell, I hope every Chippewa is proud as hell, and I hope it is a damn good game.
FIRE UP CHIPS.
While some may criticize this deal as accepting charity, I believe it is remiss to view it as anything less than helpful to everyone involved. By returning more money back into the schools in Michigan that are dwarfed by the Spartans, they assure themselves a more competitive football atmosphere locally as well as gaining more respect on a national level. I'm so impressed by the forward thinking sports administration at State for thinking this deal up that win or lose, I respect MSU immensely. In todays' college football scene, every decision is driven single handedly by money and the desire to win, and for a perennial powerhouse school to stop and pay it forward to a smaller (not lesser) program shows a maturity and selflessness that should be embodied more often in collegiate athletics.
With the additional revenue from this game on Saturday, which is expected to be at full capacity in every sense of the word, and the thousands of dollars that will be pumped into the local businesses surrounding the stadium, Michigan State has assured our CMU football program a better outlook for the future, and in what is shaping up to be an exciting in state rivalry will be all the more exciting when the two schools have the maturity and forward thinking to help each other out.
That being said, you will find me in that student section on saturday cheering as loudly as I can for a repeat of my freshman year, when we took down the Spartans in a neck and neck game. I hope that stadium is loud as hell, I hope every Chippewa is proud as hell, and I hope it is a damn good game.
FIRE UP CHIPS.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
5 Questions for the NFL Season
Greetings readers!
If you're currently reading this then you are just hours away from the long awaited start to the NFL regular season. I myself have patiently waited for many months for this moment, pining away for countless hours on talk of ERA, WHIP and batting averages just to keep myself sane until the real deal, the epitome of the American sports reality came back around. Here we are, approaching the last days of baseball season, and as brutal pennant races are playing out I'm glued to my fantasy football lineups like thats what I'm going to school for (It's not). I can say goodbye to Sunday as a day of relative productivity, as I will almost definitely be glued to the TV as well as flipping between 4 or 5 periodically refreshing box scores. I'm going to worship all things Bears in the middle of what has become proud Lion country, and I'm going to do it proudly. I'm going to yell at the TV, I'm gonna laugh, I might cry, I'm gonna pull at my hair in frustration. And I am going to do all of these things and love every damn second of it, because this is football, and it's back.
Now that I'm done gushing about my man crush for football, here are five major questions heading into season and how they could possibly play out.
1. Will the NFL reach a deal with its' veteran referees soon or will the league be stuck with replacement officials?
By all accounts, replacement referees will be used by the NFL for the first week of games, and from there as needed. This group of replacements has done an abysmal job this preseason, botching spots, forgetting rules, making up new rules and just all around creating a joke out of the preseason, which was already a joke to begin with. In the end, the issue comes down to money, as it frequently does in situations like this, and eventually the NFL is going to have to pony up, or see their league turned into a mockery. Their choice.
2. How much will Tim Tebow see the field for the Jets, and how much time should he see?
Tim Tebow going to the Jets in the first place was a weird concept, and then they went ahead and talked about him being part of their punt team, and then, as things often go with the Jets, it became a media circus. Jets coach Rex Ryan insists that Tebow is the backup and troubled starter Mark Sanchez has nothing to worry about, but I'm not really buying it. Frankly, they have a backup quarterback who can't throw and who's only asset will be in the Wildcat, in which case, who cares? He'll get some snaps every game but at the end of the day he's going to get more attention than he deserves.
3. Will Peyton Manning thrive at Mile High?
I think Peyton will do just fine in his new surroundings, and will probably be embraced by the fans there as Elways was before him. I mean hell, they thought Tebow was a football god, just wait until they see No.18 throw a few passes or two. Peyton hasn't thrown for under 4,000 yards since 2005 and only twice in his 13 seasons has he not surpassed that mark. He's old, but he's not done, and I don't see this trend changing, he'll have a pretty good season if he can stay healthy, and with him, Denver will be a contender, at least on paper. At the very least he should be able to get a bit more distance on those bombs in the thin air up there.
4. Which division will see the toughest competition and have the best quality teams?
For me, this is an easy pick. All bias aside, the NFC North has quickly risen to relevancy as of late and will continue to do so this season. This division headlines two top tier quarterbacks in Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, a handful of great receivers and also brings some defense into the mix. Honestly this division could get real interesting as I see Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay all vying for the title, and Minnesota could even get involved if they get hot during the season. It'll get colder than ice at their stadiums but make no mistake, this division is the hottest in football.
5. Can the Giants repeat as Super Bowl champions, and if not, who will hoist the Lombardi this year?
The Giants turned alot of heads last year and it was for good reason. Traditionally, this team has struggled with consistency, yet has still managed to put together a run of success over the past few seasons. Problem is, no team has repeated as Super Bowl Champions since the Patriots did it back in 2004 and 2005. The Giants will have alot of teams gunning for them this season and it will be very difficult to fend off teams such as Green Bay, New England, San Fransisco and Pittsburgh, all of which I see potentially vying for the championship, with it likely going to Green Bay.
Well thats it, my five big questions for this season. I hope it was an interesting read, and I wish a good season on all of you happy fans. If you're NOT going to be watching any football this season, then I hope Gossip Girl keeps you riveted to your seat as much as football does for me.
If you're currently reading this then you are just hours away from the long awaited start to the NFL regular season. I myself have patiently waited for many months for this moment, pining away for countless hours on talk of ERA, WHIP and batting averages just to keep myself sane until the real deal, the epitome of the American sports reality came back around. Here we are, approaching the last days of baseball season, and as brutal pennant races are playing out I'm glued to my fantasy football lineups like thats what I'm going to school for (It's not). I can say goodbye to Sunday as a day of relative productivity, as I will almost definitely be glued to the TV as well as flipping between 4 or 5 periodically refreshing box scores. I'm going to worship all things Bears in the middle of what has become proud Lion country, and I'm going to do it proudly. I'm going to yell at the TV, I'm gonna laugh, I might cry, I'm gonna pull at my hair in frustration. And I am going to do all of these things and love every damn second of it, because this is football, and it's back.
Now that I'm done gushing about my man crush for football, here are five major questions heading into season and how they could possibly play out.
1. Will the NFL reach a deal with its' veteran referees soon or will the league be stuck with replacement officials?
By all accounts, replacement referees will be used by the NFL for the first week of games, and from there as needed. This group of replacements has done an abysmal job this preseason, botching spots, forgetting rules, making up new rules and just all around creating a joke out of the preseason, which was already a joke to begin with. In the end, the issue comes down to money, as it frequently does in situations like this, and eventually the NFL is going to have to pony up, or see their league turned into a mockery. Their choice.
2. How much will Tim Tebow see the field for the Jets, and how much time should he see?
Tim Tebow going to the Jets in the first place was a weird concept, and then they went ahead and talked about him being part of their punt team, and then, as things often go with the Jets, it became a media circus. Jets coach Rex Ryan insists that Tebow is the backup and troubled starter Mark Sanchez has nothing to worry about, but I'm not really buying it. Frankly, they have a backup quarterback who can't throw and who's only asset will be in the Wildcat, in which case, who cares? He'll get some snaps every game but at the end of the day he's going to get more attention than he deserves.
3. Will Peyton Manning thrive at Mile High?
I think Peyton will do just fine in his new surroundings, and will probably be embraced by the fans there as Elways was before him. I mean hell, they thought Tebow was a football god, just wait until they see No.18 throw a few passes or two. Peyton hasn't thrown for under 4,000 yards since 2005 and only twice in his 13 seasons has he not surpassed that mark. He's old, but he's not done, and I don't see this trend changing, he'll have a pretty good season if he can stay healthy, and with him, Denver will be a contender, at least on paper. At the very least he should be able to get a bit more distance on those bombs in the thin air up there.
4. Which division will see the toughest competition and have the best quality teams?
For me, this is an easy pick. All bias aside, the NFC North has quickly risen to relevancy as of late and will continue to do so this season. This division headlines two top tier quarterbacks in Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, a handful of great receivers and also brings some defense into the mix. Honestly this division could get real interesting as I see Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay all vying for the title, and Minnesota could even get involved if they get hot during the season. It'll get colder than ice at their stadiums but make no mistake, this division is the hottest in football.
5. Can the Giants repeat as Super Bowl champions, and if not, who will hoist the Lombardi this year?
The Giants turned alot of heads last year and it was for good reason. Traditionally, this team has struggled with consistency, yet has still managed to put together a run of success over the past few seasons. Problem is, no team has repeated as Super Bowl Champions since the Patriots did it back in 2004 and 2005. The Giants will have alot of teams gunning for them this season and it will be very difficult to fend off teams such as Green Bay, New England, San Fransisco and Pittsburgh, all of which I see potentially vying for the championship, with it likely going to Green Bay.
Well thats it, my five big questions for this season. I hope it was an interesting read, and I wish a good season on all of you happy fans. If you're NOT going to be watching any football this season, then I hope Gossip Girl keeps you riveted to your seat as much as football does for me.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Chippewas Struggle Early, Prevail Late Versus SEMS Redhawks
I've always been of the opinion that support should be earned, not expected. In the case of a university football team and its fans, there is a certain return that every fan expects out of their team every year, something to make it all worth it.
It has been no secret that the Chips have struggled recently, I myself have watched them reach the pinnacle of success just 3 years ago as a freshman and have seen the team plummet to two straight 3-9 seasons since. However, this latest offseason brought about a new sense of hope in the program and fan base. The team was blessed with a very favorable schedule, seven home games at Kelly/Shorts and the chance to upset Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State in front of thousands of loyal fans just dying to see things as they once were. Then the university ponied up money for brand new uniforms to further excite players and fans about what this season held in store.
Indeed, with all this excitement in the air, as well as returning many players from last years team,and with the State game looming so close, everyone viewed last nights' game against FCS school Southeast Missouri State as an easy tune up game for the Spartans.
This one got messy.
In front of a mass of excited students and alumni, the Chips came out very flat and quickly got behind early. Students stood open mouthed in disbelief as the Redhawks dominated early on the ground, running up a 24 point lead on the Chips with 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. The Chips had no real trouble moving the ball on the ground, with running backs Zurlon Tipton and Anthony Garland running wild through the Redhawks early. However, a fumble and a bad interception by three year starter Ryan Radcliffe killed two promising Central drives and gave the Redhawks momentum heading into half.
Fortunately for the Chippewa's, the offense seemed to gain new life after the Redhawks stretched the lead to 14, and with less than seven minutes to go they were able to put two quick touchdowns on the board, using the run game almost exclusively and with a little help from the CMU defense in forcing a three and out.
Watching attentively from the stands, my main concern coming out from half was that the team might squander the momentum and come out flat out of the locker room, but in the third quarter the Chips started to really tighten up the defense and shrink the field for Redhawks freshman quarterback Scott Lathrop. After dominating possession in the first half, the Redhawks only managed a field goal after the break, and CMU scored twice more, once a Tipton scoring run and the other a wide open touchdown pass from Radcliffe to seal the win in the season opener.
While certainly not the easy game that many expected it to be, there were some good things to take away from the game as well as some bad things. Lets break down each part of the team and their performance yesterday.
Offense: A-
While the offense wasn't able to get CMU a lead early, they had a field day with the Redhawks defense, especially on the ground, where the Chips racked up 324 yards with a 7.2 YPC average and several scores. Senior quarterback Ryan Radcliffe was admittedly shakier than I had hoped he would be, and the early interception had many fans thinking back to last season all over again. He made some good plays under pressure and avoiding sacks, yet also missed easy plays where he had plenty of time to get off a good throw.
Defense: B+
Arguably the Chippewa's biggest weakness on paper, the defense had some bright spots yesterday, but overall gave up too many points to a weak football program and also struggled to stop 3rd down conversions. Additionally, the Chips continue to struggle to get ample pressure on the opposing quarterback, as Lathrop had a pretty easy time in the pocket on the night. The tackling looks solid, and the defense is far form porous, but they might have a tough time with some of the bigger schools on the schedule.
Special Teams: B+
Didn't we have an issue with field goals once? Well, whatever that was, it seems to be gone, as David Harman knocked in a short field goal early and was perfect on his extra point attempts on the night. Going back to last season, Harman provides the Chippewas with a suitable kicker who can be relied upon in clutch situations. Our kick return team struggled to give the offense decent field position all night, as we would've been better off kneeling almost every return considering where we ended up. The blocking needs to improve in this unit.
Play Calling: B+
I'm not going to pretend I'm a coach. I'm not going to pretend I know more than Dan Enos. In my opinion he picked a safe, solid strategy last night, exploited the opponents weakness on the ground and it worked for us. Some would say we were to predictable, and that this might hurt us later in the season. While that is hard to say, I definitely feel like Radcliffe needs to take the reins and do something with this team for his final season, and Enos should have the confidence in his quarterback to air out the football and spread the defense.
Concessions: A+
Facing an increased amount of student attendance, the concessions crew seemed to really step up their game early and often, giving a promising image of what we should be able to expect this season.
It has been no secret that the Chips have struggled recently, I myself have watched them reach the pinnacle of success just 3 years ago as a freshman and have seen the team plummet to two straight 3-9 seasons since. However, this latest offseason brought about a new sense of hope in the program and fan base. The team was blessed with a very favorable schedule, seven home games at Kelly/Shorts and the chance to upset Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State in front of thousands of loyal fans just dying to see things as they once were. Then the university ponied up money for brand new uniforms to further excite players and fans about what this season held in store.
Indeed, with all this excitement in the air, as well as returning many players from last years team,and with the State game looming so close, everyone viewed last nights' game against FCS school Southeast Missouri State as an easy tune up game for the Spartans.
This one got messy.
In front of a mass of excited students and alumni, the Chips came out very flat and quickly got behind early. Students stood open mouthed in disbelief as the Redhawks dominated early on the ground, running up a 24 point lead on the Chips with 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. The Chips had no real trouble moving the ball on the ground, with running backs Zurlon Tipton and Anthony Garland running wild through the Redhawks early. However, a fumble and a bad interception by three year starter Ryan Radcliffe killed two promising Central drives and gave the Redhawks momentum heading into half.
Fortunately for the Chippewa's, the offense seemed to gain new life after the Redhawks stretched the lead to 14, and with less than seven minutes to go they were able to put two quick touchdowns on the board, using the run game almost exclusively and with a little help from the CMU defense in forcing a three and out.
Watching attentively from the stands, my main concern coming out from half was that the team might squander the momentum and come out flat out of the locker room, but in the third quarter the Chips started to really tighten up the defense and shrink the field for Redhawks freshman quarterback Scott Lathrop. After dominating possession in the first half, the Redhawks only managed a field goal after the break, and CMU scored twice more, once a Tipton scoring run and the other a wide open touchdown pass from Radcliffe to seal the win in the season opener.
While certainly not the easy game that many expected it to be, there were some good things to take away from the game as well as some bad things. Lets break down each part of the team and their performance yesterday.
Offense: A-
While the offense wasn't able to get CMU a lead early, they had a field day with the Redhawks defense, especially on the ground, where the Chips racked up 324 yards with a 7.2 YPC average and several scores. Senior quarterback Ryan Radcliffe was admittedly shakier than I had hoped he would be, and the early interception had many fans thinking back to last season all over again. He made some good plays under pressure and avoiding sacks, yet also missed easy plays where he had plenty of time to get off a good throw.
Defense: B+
Arguably the Chippewa's biggest weakness on paper, the defense had some bright spots yesterday, but overall gave up too many points to a weak football program and also struggled to stop 3rd down conversions. Additionally, the Chips continue to struggle to get ample pressure on the opposing quarterback, as Lathrop had a pretty easy time in the pocket on the night. The tackling looks solid, and the defense is far form porous, but they might have a tough time with some of the bigger schools on the schedule.
Special Teams: B+
Didn't we have an issue with field goals once? Well, whatever that was, it seems to be gone, as David Harman knocked in a short field goal early and was perfect on his extra point attempts on the night. Going back to last season, Harman provides the Chippewas with a suitable kicker who can be relied upon in clutch situations. Our kick return team struggled to give the offense decent field position all night, as we would've been better off kneeling almost every return considering where we ended up. The blocking needs to improve in this unit.
Play Calling: B+
I'm not going to pretend I'm a coach. I'm not going to pretend I know more than Dan Enos. In my opinion he picked a safe, solid strategy last night, exploited the opponents weakness on the ground and it worked for us. Some would say we were to predictable, and that this might hurt us later in the season. While that is hard to say, I definitely feel like Radcliffe needs to take the reins and do something with this team for his final season, and Enos should have the confidence in his quarterback to air out the football and spread the defense.
Concessions: A+
Facing an increased amount of student attendance, the concessions crew seemed to really step up their game early and often, giving a promising image of what we should be able to expect this season.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Safety and Discipline in the National Football League
How much longer is this league even going to be watchable?
Seriously though, with the way the league has tightened its grip on the game over the past few years I know I'm not alone in wondering that. We might be one or two seasons away from just dressing up all the players in those fat sumo suits and just playing that way. Better yet, lets take out the artificial turf and just have those guys play in giant ass ball pits.
Fans of this game have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of safety oriented rules and policies in the NFL as part of a push by the governing body to reduce injuries to players. These actions come on the heels of the puzzling early deaths of several former players through self inflicted wounds. These deaths, as well as an all around general increase in nasty injuries, has got the league in panic mode, and so the commissioner turned to the one true friend he could count on; more rules.
Now I'm not saying I'm a fan on terrible injuries, and I certainly don't support the suicides of former players. It is very unfortunate that they passed and further still that people must, in a way, argue against these new rules and, in a way, against these fallen players.
However, the integrity of the game DOES NOT need to suffer simply because of these recent deaths and injuries. Recent rule changes have directly changed how players hit, how they play the game, and even what they wear. And we are still not done, as leg and knee pads appear to be on the way as well. (Insert my earlier proposition about the sumo suits)
So how can the game be made safer? Players are getting stronger, bigger and faster every year and we keep pushing the limits of what is "typical" size in all levels of football. You can't keep them from getting faster, thats something that most players are born with. You could theoretically try and control the amount of lifting and other training that players do, but that is also pretty flimsy at best. No, I would say the best bet is looking to restrict player size in the NFL, dependent on position.
Think about it for a second. Do we really need linemen to be pushing 350, 400? If a lineman ends up being smaller, then would we NEED a 215 pound quarterback? How about a 200 pound "jackhammer" back? Guys did not weight this much in the NFL of the olden days, and they got along just fine. Also, they were some of the toughest sons a bitches you would've known. There were hard hits, little to no pads or protection and it was, by all accounts, entertaining. Slowly but surely the weights of players has grown across the board and it is what I would say is the first and foremost reason for increased injuries.
Football can be played perfectly fine by 200 pound linemen, 180 pound backs and with a scrawny little guy with a big arm under center. With more room on the field not occupied by big bodies, it would force players to rely on their general athleticism more than cutoff angles. The game would focus less on pure power and more on agility, quickness and decision making. I, for one, think it would be highly entertaining.
So lets shift our focus to the other half of this equation. If players continue to play aggressively and hit in ways the league frowns upon, they will get fined. Probably a good $5,000-$75,000, for a first time offense, and the sky is the limit after that. Wear the wrong color helmet strap, per league rules? $5,000. Wear different shoes than the NFL rules mandate (even if they match team colors impeccably) $10,000.
And last but not least, if you are accused of putting bounties on other players during games, how about you sit the whole season. Think these punishments are fair? Maybe, maybe not. But if you would see this list, know that it stretches out in other equally ridiculous places and have an issue with that, then let me buy you a beer, we're gonna be friends.
The NFL has made it clear that the current focus of the league is player safety, and as such, they are penalizing what they call "dangerous" plays, which in turn has greatly enraged some defensive players (I'm speaking about you, James Harrison) and has got them up in arms about how they are able to play in the current NFL. Frankly, I'm tempted to agree with them, given the current rules. The NFL has instituted what is sometimes referred to as a "hotfix" in the video game world and I'm gonna apply it here. It is a small, quick fix but not a long term solution. The league champions player safety yet the current safety rules protect only offensive players such as the quarterback, defenseless receivers and returners. Meanwhile, instead of determining how to make things even, they have instead focused on penalizing fashion, social media use and attendance at nightclubs.
Which brings me to my next point. Who here knows Dez Bryant? Are you raising your hand? You shouldn't be, because you probably look weird raising your hand at a computer for no reason. For anyone who doesn't know my man Dez, they should know that he is a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, one of the more wealthy, symbolic and, as of late, carnival like teams in the NFL.
Well, suffice it to say, Dez didn't have a wonderful childhood. This has in turn led him to engage in some questionable behaviors since joining the NFL, and that has got the Cowboys worried. So they did what any sports parent organization would do, and they grounded Dez Bryant. Well, they didn't use that term exactly, but they did release a list of rules that Dez must follow while he is a member of the organization. While on the proverbial "leash", Dez cannot drink alcohol, attend strip clubs and essentially walks around with at least one babysitting security guard at all times. I'm gonna be honest, that sounds like probation.
In addition to be hilariously funny to me, it also got me thinking about where the line is drawn on team discipline. Now, word is, Dez is intent on following the rules, but if he weren't, then what? He is getting paid well and the team has obviously invested heavily in him, but this raises a clear question of how much are NFL teams willing to take from their players before its so long sucka, have fun in the Canadian Sumo Football League.
Seriously though, with the way the league has tightened its grip on the game over the past few years I know I'm not alone in wondering that. We might be one or two seasons away from just dressing up all the players in those fat sumo suits and just playing that way. Better yet, lets take out the artificial turf and just have those guys play in giant ass ball pits.
Fans of this game have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of safety oriented rules and policies in the NFL as part of a push by the governing body to reduce injuries to players. These actions come on the heels of the puzzling early deaths of several former players through self inflicted wounds. These deaths, as well as an all around general increase in nasty injuries, has got the league in panic mode, and so the commissioner turned to the one true friend he could count on; more rules.
Now I'm not saying I'm a fan on terrible injuries, and I certainly don't support the suicides of former players. It is very unfortunate that they passed and further still that people must, in a way, argue against these new rules and, in a way, against these fallen players.
However, the integrity of the game DOES NOT need to suffer simply because of these recent deaths and injuries. Recent rule changes have directly changed how players hit, how they play the game, and even what they wear. And we are still not done, as leg and knee pads appear to be on the way as well. (Insert my earlier proposition about the sumo suits)
So how can the game be made safer? Players are getting stronger, bigger and faster every year and we keep pushing the limits of what is "typical" size in all levels of football. You can't keep them from getting faster, thats something that most players are born with. You could theoretically try and control the amount of lifting and other training that players do, but that is also pretty flimsy at best. No, I would say the best bet is looking to restrict player size in the NFL, dependent on position.
Think about it for a second. Do we really need linemen to be pushing 350, 400? If a lineman ends up being smaller, then would we NEED a 215 pound quarterback? How about a 200 pound "jackhammer" back? Guys did not weight this much in the NFL of the olden days, and they got along just fine. Also, they were some of the toughest sons a bitches you would've known. There were hard hits, little to no pads or protection and it was, by all accounts, entertaining. Slowly but surely the weights of players has grown across the board and it is what I would say is the first and foremost reason for increased injuries.
Football can be played perfectly fine by 200 pound linemen, 180 pound backs and with a scrawny little guy with a big arm under center. With more room on the field not occupied by big bodies, it would force players to rely on their general athleticism more than cutoff angles. The game would focus less on pure power and more on agility, quickness and decision making. I, for one, think it would be highly entertaining.
So lets shift our focus to the other half of this equation. If players continue to play aggressively and hit in ways the league frowns upon, they will get fined. Probably a good $5,000-$75,000, for a first time offense, and the sky is the limit after that. Wear the wrong color helmet strap, per league rules? $5,000. Wear different shoes than the NFL rules mandate (even if they match team colors impeccably) $10,000.
And last but not least, if you are accused of putting bounties on other players during games, how about you sit the whole season. Think these punishments are fair? Maybe, maybe not. But if you would see this list, know that it stretches out in other equally ridiculous places and have an issue with that, then let me buy you a beer, we're gonna be friends.
The NFL has made it clear that the current focus of the league is player safety, and as such, they are penalizing what they call "dangerous" plays, which in turn has greatly enraged some defensive players (I'm speaking about you, James Harrison) and has got them up in arms about how they are able to play in the current NFL. Frankly, I'm tempted to agree with them, given the current rules. The NFL has instituted what is sometimes referred to as a "hotfix" in the video game world and I'm gonna apply it here. It is a small, quick fix but not a long term solution. The league champions player safety yet the current safety rules protect only offensive players such as the quarterback, defenseless receivers and returners. Meanwhile, instead of determining how to make things even, they have instead focused on penalizing fashion, social media use and attendance at nightclubs.
Which brings me to my next point. Who here knows Dez Bryant? Are you raising your hand? You shouldn't be, because you probably look weird raising your hand at a computer for no reason. For anyone who doesn't know my man Dez, they should know that he is a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, one of the more wealthy, symbolic and, as of late, carnival like teams in the NFL.
Well, suffice it to say, Dez didn't have a wonderful childhood. This has in turn led him to engage in some questionable behaviors since joining the NFL, and that has got the Cowboys worried. So they did what any sports parent organization would do, and they grounded Dez Bryant. Well, they didn't use that term exactly, but they did release a list of rules that Dez must follow while he is a member of the organization. While on the proverbial "leash", Dez cannot drink alcohol, attend strip clubs and essentially walks around with at least one babysitting security guard at all times. I'm gonna be honest, that sounds like probation.
In addition to be hilariously funny to me, it also got me thinking about where the line is drawn on team discipline. Now, word is, Dez is intent on following the rules, but if he weren't, then what? He is getting paid well and the team has obviously invested heavily in him, but this raises a clear question of how much are NFL teams willing to take from their players before its so long sucka, have fun in the Canadian Sumo Football League.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Why It's Now Time for the LeBron Hate to Stop
Sports fans have always polarized on big issues in sport, and so it comes as no surprise that when the topic is LeBron James, it basically stands that you either love him or you hate him. On polls of the public's least favorite athletes, he is a guaranteed lock in the top 10, and normally is in the top 5 as well. Is this okay? Has LeBron James really done that much bad that people have a valid reason to hate him after 9 seasons in the league?
No. He hasn't.
Think about the top reasons LeBron James is hated. "The Decision" is probably atop most people's lists of reasons he is hated. They say that by announcing his move to Miami he came off as arrogant, immature and self-absorbed in betraying the city of Cleveland. I can agree with some of those points, and I think later on down the road, he will agree that "The Decision" was not a good idea, and he *gasp! might even apologize for it. Regardless of whether he feels about it years from now, the point I'm trying to make is that it is no longer reasonable to hold that against him. Basketball fans in Cleveland, of all places, have even begun to forgive him because, guess what, they understand the concept of forgiving others for their mistakes. Here's a city that became the epicenter of hate for LeBron James. A city that took down, bowed up or threw out every reference to "the King" within a matter of weeks, and where citizens cursed his name in everyday conversation. I truly understood and sympathized with the way those fans lost their luster that day, but I could not fault LeBron, as some did, for wanting to leave.
It wasn't a matter of "they didn't try to help him" in Cleveland, because they did. He essentially had the run of the front office, had a suitable, not great, but suitable coach, and had an empire built on legions of inspired fans.
But it wasn't going to happen there.
LeBron saw it.
So he left. He announced his decision to leave Miami, and the sports world polarized in an instant, either you hated him or you didn't.
So why do you hate LeBron? You might say he's a bit cocky, or arrogant. Sure, I'll give you that. He's the best player in the league, you can't hate him for knowing that in his head. He still isn't the cockiest player in the league, he doesn't taunt his opponents (KG), or talk trash on the court. Do you hate him because you think he took a backseat in the Finals last year? It isn't behavior you want to see out of your star player, but it's not something you can hate somebody for. Do you hate him for assembling a super team in free agency to wipe the floor with everyone else and go undefeated like the media says they will?! Did that pan out how it sounded like it would?
Why is it still okay to hate a man who has done so little wrong? Are we as fans truly going to condemn him for "The Decision" but forgive and forget the countless players in all professional sports who have been found guilty of DUI's, gun charges, assaults and even rape?
On the court, Lebron is a leader and a team player. He gets teammates involved and many teammates have come out in support of him as a player and a leader. Off the court, he is unselfish as well, evidenced by his willingness to take a pay cut to make the Big Three happen in Miami.
So what possible reason could you have to hate LeBron?
He's a father of two young boys, married to his high school sweetheart. He was raised by his mother after his father walked out, and his success after a childhood like that is normally something society praises. He doesn't mess around at nightclubs or with other vices, and remains of the more well behaved high profile athletes in professional sports.
Whether you love him or hate him, I can't make you do anything. I can only encourage you to look at the reasons why you hate him and decide whether the energy you devote to hating him is really that deserved. The truth is, LeBron is not a bad individual, on or off the court, and the time for hating him for his past transgressions is over. Forgive his "Decision" and make your own.
No. He hasn't.
Think about the top reasons LeBron James is hated. "The Decision" is probably atop most people's lists of reasons he is hated. They say that by announcing his move to Miami he came off as arrogant, immature and self-absorbed in betraying the city of Cleveland. I can agree with some of those points, and I think later on down the road, he will agree that "The Decision" was not a good idea, and he *gasp! might even apologize for it. Regardless of whether he feels about it years from now, the point I'm trying to make is that it is no longer reasonable to hold that against him. Basketball fans in Cleveland, of all places, have even begun to forgive him because, guess what, they understand the concept of forgiving others for their mistakes. Here's a city that became the epicenter of hate for LeBron James. A city that took down, bowed up or threw out every reference to "the King" within a matter of weeks, and where citizens cursed his name in everyday conversation. I truly understood and sympathized with the way those fans lost their luster that day, but I could not fault LeBron, as some did, for wanting to leave.
It wasn't a matter of "they didn't try to help him" in Cleveland, because they did. He essentially had the run of the front office, had a suitable, not great, but suitable coach, and had an empire built on legions of inspired fans.
But it wasn't going to happen there.
LeBron saw it.
So he left. He announced his decision to leave Miami, and the sports world polarized in an instant, either you hated him or you didn't.
So why do you hate LeBron? You might say he's a bit cocky, or arrogant. Sure, I'll give you that. He's the best player in the league, you can't hate him for knowing that in his head. He still isn't the cockiest player in the league, he doesn't taunt his opponents (KG), or talk trash on the court. Do you hate him because you think he took a backseat in the Finals last year? It isn't behavior you want to see out of your star player, but it's not something you can hate somebody for. Do you hate him for assembling a super team in free agency to wipe the floor with everyone else and go undefeated like the media says they will?! Did that pan out how it sounded like it would?
Why is it still okay to hate a man who has done so little wrong? Are we as fans truly going to condemn him for "The Decision" but forgive and forget the countless players in all professional sports who have been found guilty of DUI's, gun charges, assaults and even rape?
On the court, Lebron is a leader and a team player. He gets teammates involved and many teammates have come out in support of him as a player and a leader. Off the court, he is unselfish as well, evidenced by his willingness to take a pay cut to make the Big Three happen in Miami.
So what possible reason could you have to hate LeBron?
He's a father of two young boys, married to his high school sweetheart. He was raised by his mother after his father walked out, and his success after a childhood like that is normally something society praises. He doesn't mess around at nightclubs or with other vices, and remains of the more well behaved high profile athletes in professional sports.
Whether you love him or hate him, I can't make you do anything. I can only encourage you to look at the reasons why you hate him and decide whether the energy you devote to hating him is really that deserved. The truth is, LeBron is not a bad individual, on or off the court, and the time for hating him for his past transgressions is over. Forgive his "Decision" and make your own.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Tim Tebow: The Unintended Cancer
Terrell Owens. Adam "Pacman" Jones. Chad Ochocinco .
These players are just a sample of a select group of NFL players that have at one point been referred to as a cancer to their team. These "cancers" are players that hold a team down through one or more factors such as an attitude problem, poor work ethic or a negative public image.
So how could Tim Tebow possibly be grouped in with these players? He has a stellar attitude and work ethic, and he couldn't be more well liked by the media and fans. He is a proven winner and leader, and is a pure and chaste individual who is very proud of his Christianity.
So what is wrong with Tim Tebow?
I don't want Tim Tebow on my team. Even as a GM or coach, I would still feel this way about him, and its for a very specific reason. Tim Tebow, for all his popularity and glamor, has found a way to be a monumental distraction in what has been a relatively short NFL career. It is unfortunate, because for the most part, it's not his fault. He can't control the media, what they say about him or what they write. Every statement he makes is scrutinized by thousands of fans, analysts and players, and that sort of exposure can be dangerous. His career in Denver quickly became a media circus, resulting in him basically leapfrogging Brady Quinn on the depth chart and then winning him the starting job over Kyle Orton, a proven capable quarterback, without ever having earned the role based on performance.
Tim Tebow gained a lot of respect in the league for his morals and his devotion to the fundamental details of football. His poor statistical performances, even in games that Denver won, were overshadowed by the pure media hype that TIM TEBOW won again, and that the kid was a winner, a saint, a Pro Bowler and just about everything else but a decent quarterback. John Elway repeatedly stood behind Tebow and praised his ability to lead the team. Confident as they seemed that they had found their franchise quarterback, Denver nonetheless won the Peyton Manning sweepstakes and Tim Tebow's time in the Mile High was done.
So now Tebow finds himself in New York, with the Jets, of all teams. All of the leagues biggest ego's, all in one place, and they still haven't found a way to co-exist. And above all of the Jet's current issues stands one huge powder keg just waiting for Tim Tebow to land smack dab in. They have a hard knocks, no bullshit coach who likes to tell it how it is and speak plainly. They have a diva wide receiver who decides when and how much he wants to practice. They have an immensely talented D that under performs in a vast majority of their games. They are in limbo in what is quickly becoming one of the toughest divisions in the league and to top it all off, they have issues with incumbent QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez, a frequent target of criticism from fans and his coach alike during his tenure with the Jets, has been left to consider how quickly he can ( and will) lose his job to fan favorite Tim Tebow if he so much as flirts with slumping play.
This is the Tim Tebow situation. Tim is used to getting what he wants, and he gets it without begging or complaining or even earning it in some cases. His fatal flaw as an NFL player is not his statistical shortcomings, as we have seen before that stats do not always translate to wins and vice versa. His flaw is that he attracts too much attention to himself and his team, and this in turn puts pressure on the front office to make him relevant in any way possible. Even his recent placement on the punt coverage team made national news.
It is regrettable to group Tebow in with other troubled players, because he suffers from none of the transgressions of other players.However, if he is to truly succeed in the NFL, it will require him to find a balance between being the player everyone loves and the player who does right by his team.
Tebow is a rare breed in the NFL, one of the few players who work hard, pray hard, keep their vices down and cherish the game. He deserves a better legacy than a distraction and I think in time, he will see that the true road to success in the NFL is done out on the field and not on camera.
These players are just a sample of a select group of NFL players that have at one point been referred to as a cancer to their team. These "cancers" are players that hold a team down through one or more factors such as an attitude problem, poor work ethic or a negative public image.
So how could Tim Tebow possibly be grouped in with these players? He has a stellar attitude and work ethic, and he couldn't be more well liked by the media and fans. He is a proven winner and leader, and is a pure and chaste individual who is very proud of his Christianity.
So what is wrong with Tim Tebow?
I don't want Tim Tebow on my team. Even as a GM or coach, I would still feel this way about him, and its for a very specific reason. Tim Tebow, for all his popularity and glamor, has found a way to be a monumental distraction in what has been a relatively short NFL career. It is unfortunate, because for the most part, it's not his fault. He can't control the media, what they say about him or what they write. Every statement he makes is scrutinized by thousands of fans, analysts and players, and that sort of exposure can be dangerous. His career in Denver quickly became a media circus, resulting in him basically leapfrogging Brady Quinn on the depth chart and then winning him the starting job over Kyle Orton, a proven capable quarterback, without ever having earned the role based on performance.
Tim Tebow gained a lot of respect in the league for his morals and his devotion to the fundamental details of football. His poor statistical performances, even in games that Denver won, were overshadowed by the pure media hype that TIM TEBOW won again, and that the kid was a winner, a saint, a Pro Bowler and just about everything else but a decent quarterback. John Elway repeatedly stood behind Tebow and praised his ability to lead the team. Confident as they seemed that they had found their franchise quarterback, Denver nonetheless won the Peyton Manning sweepstakes and Tim Tebow's time in the Mile High was done.
So now Tebow finds himself in New York, with the Jets, of all teams. All of the leagues biggest ego's, all in one place, and they still haven't found a way to co-exist. And above all of the Jet's current issues stands one huge powder keg just waiting for Tim Tebow to land smack dab in. They have a hard knocks, no bullshit coach who likes to tell it how it is and speak plainly. They have a diva wide receiver who decides when and how much he wants to practice. They have an immensely talented D that under performs in a vast majority of their games. They are in limbo in what is quickly becoming one of the toughest divisions in the league and to top it all off, they have issues with incumbent QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez, a frequent target of criticism from fans and his coach alike during his tenure with the Jets, has been left to consider how quickly he can ( and will) lose his job to fan favorite Tim Tebow if he so much as flirts with slumping play.
This is the Tim Tebow situation. Tim is used to getting what he wants, and he gets it without begging or complaining or even earning it in some cases. His fatal flaw as an NFL player is not his statistical shortcomings, as we have seen before that stats do not always translate to wins and vice versa. His flaw is that he attracts too much attention to himself and his team, and this in turn puts pressure on the front office to make him relevant in any way possible. Even his recent placement on the punt coverage team made national news.
It is regrettable to group Tebow in with other troubled players, because he suffers from none of the transgressions of other players.However, if he is to truly succeed in the NFL, it will require him to find a balance between being the player everyone loves and the player who does right by his team.
Tebow is a rare breed in the NFL, one of the few players who work hard, pray hard, keep their vices down and cherish the game. He deserves a better legacy than a distraction and I think in time, he will see that the true road to success in the NFL is done out on the field and not on camera.
Monday, May 7, 2012
The Plunk Police
We've all seen it before, a batter hit by a pitch in baseball.
A rather inconsequential part of the game, an accidental occurrence most of the time when it happens. However, baseball has always accepted and informally protected the Hit By Pitch (HBP) as a form of self-policing in the game. For example, another unspoken offense in baseball is for the batter to make an exaggerated showing of watching a home run as it leaves the park. If a pitcher on the opposing team feels the batter made too much of a deal over the homer, he's likely to plunk the batter (or someone else on the team) with a pitch, on purpose. Of course, pitchers will always tell the media the pitch "got away from them", and they never meant to hit the batter. This is how it goes, how it's always gone, and Major League Baseball has decided to let this issue lie undisturbed. It has remained of the few unregulated forms of policing in all professional sports, and a source of some interesting debates for many years.
Last night however, one of baseball's rising stars, 19 year old Bryce Harper was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat of the night by Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels. Harper took his base without incident, and later stole home after Hamels attempted a pick off at first base. Hamels would later incite a firestorm of criticism by saying he meant to hit Harper, as a "welcome to the big leagues" statement. The media today is abuzz with criticism of Hamels from Washington GM Mike Rizzo and former pitcher Curt Schilling, who call the plunking a "punk act" and wrong.
Hamels may likely earn a suspension from the league, not for the plunking itself, but for the confession of purposefully trying to hit Harper. This sort of occurrence begs the question; has self policing in baseball gone too far and finally outdone its usefulness? Hamels said he plunked Harper in defiance of Major League baseball's attempts to "protect" certain players and change the "old school" way of baseball. Is hitting a batter the only way to make a statement in this game anymore? Hamels was absolutely dominant in the game, going 8 full innings while giving up only one run (the Harper steal of home) and striking out 8 Phillies. Why was it not enough for Hamels to dominate the Phillies, a premier team in the NL, and if so, why is it okay to endanger another player deliberately for the sake of making a statement? In every other professional sports league, cheap shots and illegal hits often get penalized, and if they go unpunished, it should be written off as a fault of the league instead of giving the green light for some vigilante retaliation. I'm a Red Wings fan, and I was upset as anybody when Zetterberg was beaten at the end of Game 1 against the Predators in a very cheap fashion. I gave a good holler at the TV, expected a big punishment from the league the next day, but no, the offender got a $2000 fine. Yes, it sucked that justice was not served, but it doesn't merit violence in return. As soon as players start going out of their way to punish other players and cease to let the league handle punishment, the game becomes a circus.
But here is where I see a problem. the Hamels plunking last night was a perfect example of a player not doing anything illegal or taking a cheap shot yet still facing some form of "warranted" retribution? Harper gets plunked for the way he entered the league and Hamels not liking it, Yoenis Cespedes makes himself a target for watching his own homer, a monstrous blast deserving of Sportscenter? Are player supposed to apologize for hitting a ball 430 feet? If a pitcher doesn't like a batter celebrating a home run, then they should take steps to pitch better and not leave a pitch in the zone.
As a fan of baseball, I have seen countless times where a batter has been purposefully hit by a pitcher, and sometimes has suffered injury for it. This form of self-policing has gone too far, I feel, because pitchers now have this unregulated power to dole out punishment as they see fit, and possibly even injure other players. Players at every level should be content to let their play do the talking, and leave the cheap shots at home. If they can not restrain themselves, then the league should take a much closer look at this rampant practice and suspend and fine players as necessary.
A rather inconsequential part of the game, an accidental occurrence most of the time when it happens. However, baseball has always accepted and informally protected the Hit By Pitch (HBP) as a form of self-policing in the game. For example, another unspoken offense in baseball is for the batter to make an exaggerated showing of watching a home run as it leaves the park. If a pitcher on the opposing team feels the batter made too much of a deal over the homer, he's likely to plunk the batter (or someone else on the team) with a pitch, on purpose. Of course, pitchers will always tell the media the pitch "got away from them", and they never meant to hit the batter. This is how it goes, how it's always gone, and Major League Baseball has decided to let this issue lie undisturbed. It has remained of the few unregulated forms of policing in all professional sports, and a source of some interesting debates for many years.
Last night however, one of baseball's rising stars, 19 year old Bryce Harper was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat of the night by Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels. Harper took his base without incident, and later stole home after Hamels attempted a pick off at first base. Hamels would later incite a firestorm of criticism by saying he meant to hit Harper, as a "welcome to the big leagues" statement. The media today is abuzz with criticism of Hamels from Washington GM Mike Rizzo and former pitcher Curt Schilling, who call the plunking a "punk act" and wrong.
Hamels may likely earn a suspension from the league, not for the plunking itself, but for the confession of purposefully trying to hit Harper. This sort of occurrence begs the question; has self policing in baseball gone too far and finally outdone its usefulness? Hamels said he plunked Harper in defiance of Major League baseball's attempts to "protect" certain players and change the "old school" way of baseball. Is hitting a batter the only way to make a statement in this game anymore? Hamels was absolutely dominant in the game, going 8 full innings while giving up only one run (the Harper steal of home) and striking out 8 Phillies. Why was it not enough for Hamels to dominate the Phillies, a premier team in the NL, and if so, why is it okay to endanger another player deliberately for the sake of making a statement? In every other professional sports league, cheap shots and illegal hits often get penalized, and if they go unpunished, it should be written off as a fault of the league instead of giving the green light for some vigilante retaliation. I'm a Red Wings fan, and I was upset as anybody when Zetterberg was beaten at the end of Game 1 against the Predators in a very cheap fashion. I gave a good holler at the TV, expected a big punishment from the league the next day, but no, the offender got a $2000 fine. Yes, it sucked that justice was not served, but it doesn't merit violence in return. As soon as players start going out of their way to punish other players and cease to let the league handle punishment, the game becomes a circus.
But here is where I see a problem. the Hamels plunking last night was a perfect example of a player not doing anything illegal or taking a cheap shot yet still facing some form of "warranted" retribution? Harper gets plunked for the way he entered the league and Hamels not liking it, Yoenis Cespedes makes himself a target for watching his own homer, a monstrous blast deserving of Sportscenter? Are player supposed to apologize for hitting a ball 430 feet? If a pitcher doesn't like a batter celebrating a home run, then they should take steps to pitch better and not leave a pitch in the zone.
As a fan of baseball, I have seen countless times where a batter has been purposefully hit by a pitcher, and sometimes has suffered injury for it. This form of self-policing has gone too far, I feel, because pitchers now have this unregulated power to dole out punishment as they see fit, and possibly even injure other players. Players at every level should be content to let their play do the talking, and leave the cheap shots at home. If they can not restrain themselves, then the league should take a much closer look at this rampant practice and suspend and fine players as necessary.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
How Good are These Tigers?
The 2012 baseball season is still quite young, but as always, there has been plenty of excitement to start off the new season. Since the Detroit Tiger's are the home team and have a strong following around here, I've decided to take a serious look at how good this team is and where I can see them going this season.
Now, at 3-0 and coming off the swept series against the Red Sox, a team that has been an upper echelon team for years despite their current struggles, it might be easy to predict the sky for this ball club. While I don't agree that this makes them an automatic lock for the World Series, I think it is safe to say that the team is off to a very potent offensive start and if they can keep that level of run production up, they need only for their defense and pitching to calm down and they are serious contenders. They currently sit at 2nd in the league in runs scored and OBP, and lead the league in batting average and slugging percentage. Their large offseason acquisition, first baseman Prince Fielder, along with Miguel Cabrera, arguably the most underrated hitter in baseball, have already combined for 5 home runs and eleven runs batted in. I'm not going to drool over "on-pace" numbers because they are incredibly premature at this stage, but at least to this point, the offense seems to revolve well around these two.
From a pitching standpoint, I don't think Detroit has much to worry about. Justin Verlander, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, looked great on opening day, which is no surprise, but it is certainly encouraging to see that he is picking up where he left off last season instead of dropping off. No.2 man Doug Fister has been spectacular for the Tiger's both this season and last after being traded away from the Mariners. Fister is actually a very good starter, he just never got the run support he needed in Seattle, an issue that he will not find in Detroit. And when Detroit needs to turn things over to the 'Pen, they're in good hands, as Duane Below has looked solid early this season, and the returning closer, Jose Valverde, was one of the best in baseball last season, not blowing a save all season on his way to a career high forty nine saves.
Moving on, I think a fair point to be brought up is what is to be done with Brandon Inge. A capable player for the Tiger's in years past, Inge has had a cataclysmic drop in value to this franchise, as both his defense and especially his hitting have been deplorable. Management hoped some time in the farm organization might straighten things out for him, but it doesn't seem to have worked, and on Opening Day, he received boos from his own home crowd. It's an unfortunate situation for all involved because of what he has meant to this organization, but at the end of the day, he remains more of a liability to this team than a viable piece of a contender.
As far as this season goes, it doesn't look like the Tiger's will have much of an issue taking the AL Central, they appear to be the dominant team in the division, both with pitching and hitting, and they are also very viable contenders for the World Series as well. It is possible this team could get even better with a trade, possibly to tinker with their leadoff position or maybe try and move Inge or Young. Either way, the Tiger's have assembled one of the better teams in baseball this season so far, and if they can continue this hot play, they can possible bring home a title this year. Just don't go counting on 162-0.
Now, at 3-0 and coming off the swept series against the Red Sox, a team that has been an upper echelon team for years despite their current struggles, it might be easy to predict the sky for this ball club. While I don't agree that this makes them an automatic lock for the World Series, I think it is safe to say that the team is off to a very potent offensive start and if they can keep that level of run production up, they need only for their defense and pitching to calm down and they are serious contenders. They currently sit at 2nd in the league in runs scored and OBP, and lead the league in batting average and slugging percentage. Their large offseason acquisition, first baseman Prince Fielder, along with Miguel Cabrera, arguably the most underrated hitter in baseball, have already combined for 5 home runs and eleven runs batted in. I'm not going to drool over "on-pace" numbers because they are incredibly premature at this stage, but at least to this point, the offense seems to revolve well around these two.
From a pitching standpoint, I don't think Detroit has much to worry about. Justin Verlander, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, looked great on opening day, which is no surprise, but it is certainly encouraging to see that he is picking up where he left off last season instead of dropping off. No.2 man Doug Fister has been spectacular for the Tiger's both this season and last after being traded away from the Mariners. Fister is actually a very good starter, he just never got the run support he needed in Seattle, an issue that he will not find in Detroit. And when Detroit needs to turn things over to the 'Pen, they're in good hands, as Duane Below has looked solid early this season, and the returning closer, Jose Valverde, was one of the best in baseball last season, not blowing a save all season on his way to a career high forty nine saves.
Moving on, I think a fair point to be brought up is what is to be done with Brandon Inge. A capable player for the Tiger's in years past, Inge has had a cataclysmic drop in value to this franchise, as both his defense and especially his hitting have been deplorable. Management hoped some time in the farm organization might straighten things out for him, but it doesn't seem to have worked, and on Opening Day, he received boos from his own home crowd. It's an unfortunate situation for all involved because of what he has meant to this organization, but at the end of the day, he remains more of a liability to this team than a viable piece of a contender.
As far as this season goes, it doesn't look like the Tiger's will have much of an issue taking the AL Central, they appear to be the dominant team in the division, both with pitching and hitting, and they are also very viable contenders for the World Series as well. It is possible this team could get even better with a trade, possibly to tinker with their leadoff position or maybe try and move Inge or Young. Either way, the Tiger's have assembled one of the better teams in baseball this season so far, and if they can continue this hot play, they can possible bring home a title this year. Just don't go counting on 162-0.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
We're goin to DisneyWorld!
Well folks, March Madness came to an abrupt yet long awaited end last night as bracket favorites Kentucky rolled over Kansas to secure the national title. In a gesture of celebration for the school, ESPN has been gracious enough to leave a picture of some serious man/trophy love makeout session in case we needed a reason to lose our appetite.
I say a long awaited end because this year, like always, The Committed Fan filled out a bracket. He took careful consideration and thought into his bracket. He considered coaches, eligibility, hot streaks, the wind speed inside auditoriums, and the revered science of "Bracketology" as he made his picks. This year, however, a collection of high seeds simultaneously decided they didn't belong in the tournament and went ahead and lost to some teams that no one has ever heard of. I'm pretty sure there was a high school boys team in there somewhere that advanced to the second round. It was ridiculous the amount of brackets that turned to garbage so early on, and how many people simultaneously went "aww, f*@k it", and went back to watching How I Met Your Mother.
All kidding aside, Davis joins several teammates from Kentucky that are going straight to the NBA after only one or two seasons in college, and they are not alone. Now consider what you, the fan, would view as the top 10 players in the NBA right now.
1. Lebron
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Kevin Durant
4. Dwayne Wade
5. Dwight Howard
6. Pau Gasol
7. Carmelo Anthony
8. Derrick Rose
9. Dirk Nowitzki
Now, depending on the fan and who they view as the top players in the NBA, the Committed Fan can pick 5 out of his top 10 players in the NBA right now and notice that they did not play any college ball. Three came right out of high school and two came from overseas. Now, does this undermine the belief that a college career is necessary to refine the game and will make you more successful in the pros? I think it has to call this idea into question, because you have an extremely talented group of individuals who seized their potential and jumped to the NBA and haven't looked back since. Can everybody do it? Of course not. Some players are just made for the college game and will develop, through 4 years of collegiate competition, the skills for the next level. However, as far as the notion of players needing to go through college beforehand to break into the NBA, the idea is quickly going the way of the skyhook.
I say a long awaited end because this year, like always, The Committed Fan filled out a bracket. He took careful consideration and thought into his bracket. He considered coaches, eligibility, hot streaks, the wind speed inside auditoriums, and the revered science of "Bracketology" as he made his picks. This year, however, a collection of high seeds simultaneously decided they didn't belong in the tournament and went ahead and lost to some teams that no one has ever heard of. I'm pretty sure there was a high school boys team in there somewhere that advanced to the second round. It was ridiculous the amount of brackets that turned to garbage so early on, and how many people simultaneously went "aww, f*@k it", and went back to watching How I Met Your Mother.
 |
| My best pick this year? Not filling out a damn bracket. |
Ok, I've got a group of people to give a shout out to. With how nasty the tournament got this year, I was of the belief that no one could have possibly won their bracket pool that everyone seems to have through their work (do bosses check for illegal sports gambling anymore?). However, somehow, people ended up picking some of these games correctly and won their pool. So respect to you sir, or you ma'am, for keeping your cool while others wept and pulled their hair out, for keeping that smug shit eating grin on your face because you knew you had it won. I respect you, and I will do so for the next year, but come March, watch your back.
Interestingly enough, while watching the game last night an important piece of news did come out from the announcers. While it had been previously stated that Anthony Davis was departing for the NBA draft, Kentucky will be able to count on his unibrow returning for a sophomore season to shore up what will undoubtedly be a weakened front line for the Cats.
 |
| "Ultimately, it was a very hard decision, but in the end, my eyebrow had to do what was right for its future. It will be returning to Kentucky next season for Coach Calipari" |
All kidding aside, Davis joins several teammates from Kentucky that are going straight to the NBA after only one or two seasons in college, and they are not alone. Now consider what you, the fan, would view as the top 10 players in the NBA right now.
1. Lebron
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Kevin Durant
4. Dwayne Wade
5. Dwight Howard
6. Pau Gasol
7. Carmelo Anthony
8. Derrick Rose
9. Dirk Nowitzki
Now, depending on the fan and who they view as the top players in the NBA, the Committed Fan can pick 5 out of his top 10 players in the NBA right now and notice that they did not play any college ball. Three came right out of high school and two came from overseas. Now, does this undermine the belief that a college career is necessary to refine the game and will make you more successful in the pros? I think it has to call this idea into question, because you have an extremely talented group of individuals who seized their potential and jumped to the NBA and haven't looked back since. Can everybody do it? Of course not. Some players are just made for the college game and will develop, through 4 years of collegiate competition, the skills for the next level. However, as far as the notion of players needing to go through college beforehand to break into the NBA, the idea is quickly going the way of the skyhook.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Female Superstars: A Brutal Irony
If you're a fan of Tennessee women's basketball, you were probably quite stoked when Brittany Griner was ejected in last nights game. After all, she was abusing the Lady Vol's defense like it was some grade school travel team. Only problem is that when she did get ejected for leaving the bench after a hard foul on a teammate, there was less than a minute left and she had already done her damage. In fact, had she stayed out just a minute or so more, she would've ended with a triple double of points, rebounds and blocked shots. Griner made what should have been a marquee matchup into a rout, and its rumored that Sarah McLachlan has agreed to put her famous hit "The Saddest Damn Song Ever" onto a collage of Lady Vol's players in a desperate PR move to nurse their broken egos.
The problem here is that even while Griner ripped their defense to shreds and had a great game, they actually held her below her season average and for once, the Lady Bears's leading scorer wasn't the 6' 8" forward. I'm assuming she's a forward, but if you're looking for an ESPN box score to tell you her (or any player's) position, you're in for some disappointment. But thats another issue entirely. The problem here is that while the mens college basketball system has super powered teams and just as many up and coming superstars, everything more or less equals out because on any given day, any mens team in the country could play a very close game with or beat a powerhouse squad, such as Duke. The reason? Distribution of talent. The depth of skill that is prevalent in men's college basketball means that every game has that chance of and upset, a barn burner, a court rusher. We thrive on that chance, and what better chance for a team to upstage a contender than March Madness, the national month of Cinderella teams.
I digress. The point I'm making here is that while Griner may be the poster child for women's basketball ( and the only one that most people care about right now), she is also the single biggest example of what is wrong with women's basketball. One player, of larger than usual size or length, makes a huge impact on any game she plays in, as evidenced by Griner's success. However, this problem is not solely limited to Griner. Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Tina Charles. All of these players have been elite level women's players who dismantled other womens teams to a level previously unheard of. In a way, I feel like this dominance is not good for women's basketball. Sure, Griner makes Sportscenter when she dunks in a game, but her success projects the image that the competition she is playing against is just all the more awful. So when Baylor dismantles Chattanooga 91-31 and doesn't break a sweat, the credibility of womens basketball takes a hit. Griner is, forgive my expression, like a man amongst boys out there, and no one likes a bully.
This all may be a little bit overwhelming to some readers. Its okay. Sit down, take a drink of water, get in the shade, and think about it. If sports fans love to watch men's college basketball because every game can be riveting, at least for a little while, wouldn't they enjoy the same aspect out of women's ball? Frankly, if you're not enjoying the Brittney Griner show, you certainly won't enjoy any aspect of the 88-19 or 91-31 wins that the Lady Bears are becoming synonymous with. Men's superstars are kept humble by the pure number of other players who can make them look bad or keep pace with them on a given night (Right Lebron?). This sort of unofficial balance system makes sure that no team racks up some dynastic record of perfection, such as the UConn huskies had for several seasons, and like what the Lady Bears are doing this season at 38-0. When Griner leaves, Baylor will probably fade back into the pack, and teams will be fighting over the next Griner to help them dominate for the next four years. This is not a trend you want your sport to be following.
Look, I'm not here to decide which girls can or cannot play college basketball. It's not up to me, regardless. I'm simply stating that Griner and players like her can be a vicious double edged sword, and I'm simply expressing caution, that the NCAAW doesn't cut themselves too deep. Take me away, Sheryl.
The problem here is that even while Griner ripped their defense to shreds and had a great game, they actually held her below her season average and for once, the Lady Bears's leading scorer wasn't the 6' 8" forward. I'm assuming she's a forward, but if you're looking for an ESPN box score to tell you her (or any player's) position, you're in for some disappointment. But thats another issue entirely. The problem here is that while the mens college basketball system has super powered teams and just as many up and coming superstars, everything more or less equals out because on any given day, any mens team in the country could play a very close game with or beat a powerhouse squad, such as Duke. The reason? Distribution of talent. The depth of skill that is prevalent in men's college basketball means that every game has that chance of and upset, a barn burner, a court rusher. We thrive on that chance, and what better chance for a team to upstage a contender than March Madness, the national month of Cinderella teams.
 |
| Who DIDN'T see that 12 seed beating that #5? Or that #3? Or the #1? |
I digress. The point I'm making here is that while Griner may be the poster child for women's basketball ( and the only one that most people care about right now), she is also the single biggest example of what is wrong with women's basketball. One player, of larger than usual size or length, makes a huge impact on any game she plays in, as evidenced by Griner's success. However, this problem is not solely limited to Griner. Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Tina Charles. All of these players have been elite level women's players who dismantled other womens teams to a level previously unheard of. In a way, I feel like this dominance is not good for women's basketball. Sure, Griner makes Sportscenter when she dunks in a game, but her success projects the image that the competition she is playing against is just all the more awful. So when Baylor dismantles Chattanooga 91-31 and doesn't break a sweat, the credibility of womens basketball takes a hit. Griner is, forgive my expression, like a man amongst boys out there, and no one likes a bully.
This all may be a little bit overwhelming to some readers. Its okay. Sit down, take a drink of water, get in the shade, and think about it. If sports fans love to watch men's college basketball because every game can be riveting, at least for a little while, wouldn't they enjoy the same aspect out of women's ball? Frankly, if you're not enjoying the Brittney Griner show, you certainly won't enjoy any aspect of the 88-19 or 91-31 wins that the Lady Bears are becoming synonymous with. Men's superstars are kept humble by the pure number of other players who can make them look bad or keep pace with them on a given night (Right Lebron?). This sort of unofficial balance system makes sure that no team racks up some dynastic record of perfection, such as the UConn huskies had for several seasons, and like what the Lady Bears are doing this season at 38-0. When Griner leaves, Baylor will probably fade back into the pack, and teams will be fighting over the next Griner to help them dominate for the next four years. This is not a trend you want your sport to be following.
Look, I'm not here to decide which girls can or cannot play college basketball. It's not up to me, regardless. I'm simply stating that Griner and players like her can be a vicious double edged sword, and I'm simply expressing caution, that the NCAAW doesn't cut themselves too deep. Take me away, Sheryl.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Drugs in Sport: An Ethical Question
"Steroids are for guys who want to cheat opponents" -Lawrence Taylor
The battle over steroids and other medical drug use in sports has been around for decades, moving from a laughable issue in the 70's to a full fledged argument today. Entire careers and records have been shattered and tainted beyond repair by the use of anabolic steroids, yet the practice continues even today. When I think about the possible TRUE number of athletes who use steroids who just haven't been caught yet, I can't help but shudder. What we see as a settled issue may just be the tip of the iceberg, and we're not out of the woods yet. While steroids have been a thorn in the side of the MLB in the past several decades, they have afflicted all sports in some degree.
What I see as the real issue here is not the drugs themselves, because steroids do have a lot of practical medical uses that can change lives, I'm seeing a bigger issue with the athletes themselves and the culture they live in, one that promotes winning at all costs.
In this sort of supremacist society, there is no shortage of people willing to do whatever it takes to get tat extra edge, and in a super competitive training camp setting, many players will do what they need to to stay ahead of the competition. For many athletes, the fame and fortune in front of them outweighs any possible negative consequences and makes taking steroids that much easier.
An interesting topic of discussion has surfaced recently in this debate with the notion of allowing steroids and other drug use in all sports settings and trying to regulate the process instead of trying to stop it. Theoretically, this would allow Brett Favre to play around 15 more years in the NFL, so right then and there, this idea loses my support. However, the proposed plan brings up some interesting ideas. Would we see the majority of pro athletes take advantage of this law and use the drugs, or would most stay clean? You have the "good guys", the Tim Tebows and the Peyton Mannings of the world, who would probably not take the pills, and then you have the notorious roid-heads like Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire, guys who popped more pills in one week than the entire cast of The Matrix.
If players are going to find ways to take the drugs regardless of current rules, would it be better to change our stance and attempt to regulate, control and potentially profit from this habit? Some players would benefit from using certain drugs to recover from injuries and prolong their careers just a little bit longer. The level of competition would be raised as a majority of players reached all new levels of physical fitness, which could make the game more entertaining. Are we willing to open the flood gates to potential problems to reap the benefits that come with drug use in sport? How far will sports fans allow the game to stretch and still watch?
Just because an idea is new and revolutionary doe not make it a good idea, and I think this plan falls into that category. Allowing athletes to use steroids opens up a whole new can of worms, and the sports world is not set up to handle those sort of issues. If we allow steroid use on the premise of making money, it will just further cement the growing belief that sports is, and always has been about money.
The battle over steroids and other medical drug use in sports has been around for decades, moving from a laughable issue in the 70's to a full fledged argument today. Entire careers and records have been shattered and tainted beyond repair by the use of anabolic steroids, yet the practice continues even today. When I think about the possible TRUE number of athletes who use steroids who just haven't been caught yet, I can't help but shudder. What we see as a settled issue may just be the tip of the iceberg, and we're not out of the woods yet. While steroids have been a thorn in the side of the MLB in the past several decades, they have afflicted all sports in some degree.
What I see as the real issue here is not the drugs themselves, because steroids do have a lot of practical medical uses that can change lives, I'm seeing a bigger issue with the athletes themselves and the culture they live in, one that promotes winning at all costs.
In this sort of supremacist society, there is no shortage of people willing to do whatever it takes to get tat extra edge, and in a super competitive training camp setting, many players will do what they need to to stay ahead of the competition. For many athletes, the fame and fortune in front of them outweighs any possible negative consequences and makes taking steroids that much easier.
An interesting topic of discussion has surfaced recently in this debate with the notion of allowing steroids and other drug use in all sports settings and trying to regulate the process instead of trying to stop it. Theoretically, this would allow Brett Favre to play around 15 more years in the NFL, so right then and there, this idea loses my support. However, the proposed plan brings up some interesting ideas. Would we see the majority of pro athletes take advantage of this law and use the drugs, or would most stay clean? You have the "good guys", the Tim Tebows and the Peyton Mannings of the world, who would probably not take the pills, and then you have the notorious roid-heads like Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire, guys who popped more pills in one week than the entire cast of The Matrix.
 |
| C'mon Morpheus, no more fooling around. Both colors, I want your entire supply. |
If players are going to find ways to take the drugs regardless of current rules, would it be better to change our stance and attempt to regulate, control and potentially profit from this habit? Some players would benefit from using certain drugs to recover from injuries and prolong their careers just a little bit longer. The level of competition would be raised as a majority of players reached all new levels of physical fitness, which could make the game more entertaining. Are we willing to open the flood gates to potential problems to reap the benefits that come with drug use in sport? How far will sports fans allow the game to stretch and still watch?
Just because an idea is new and revolutionary doe not make it a good idea, and I think this plan falls into that category. Allowing athletes to use steroids opens up a whole new can of worms, and the sports world is not set up to handle those sort of issues. If we allow steroid use on the premise of making money, it will just further cement the growing belief that sports is, and always has been about money.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Why the Fight That Won't Happen is Driving Me Crazy
I'm not a huge boxing fan.
I don't feel like you have to be a casual fan of boxing to understand the general properties of the sport, and its ability to garner huge audiences (i.e Muhammad Ali). There are many well known boxing greats, and lots of very famous bouts between titans in the ring. Another huge potential showdown has been in and out of the works for the past couple years now, and that is a bout between unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. The two have been half heartedly trying to negotiate a fight for a while now, and both have fought matches against middling opponents in the meantime. I think I speak for lots of people when I say we don't CARE about Mayweather vs. Cotto or Pacquiao vs. Santa Claus. We want the big match, the real deal, the moneymaker. We want to put the top two boxers in the world in the ring against each other, winner takes all. I, for one, cannot stand Mayweather Jr. and would relish the opportunity to see him lose, so maybe he can finally shut up. I'd be so excited for this fight to happen, I'd seriously even consider paying to watch the damn thing somewhere. It should be a Congressional mandate that these two fight in 2012. I don't know what your feelings are on the Mayans but we may not get many more shots, you know? Heck, I bet they would probably grant us some sort of extension if we could guarantee the fight was gonna happen soon. Even the Ghost Mayans want this fight to happen.
Listen, we're missing our window here. Theres been allegations of drug use, quarrels over blood testing, theres been scheduling disputes, all intermingled with insults, condescending remarks and other miscellaneous trash talk. Pacman is 33, and may not be boxing much longer. He holds political office in his native Phillipines and wants to expand on that career soon. Mayweather is 34, has had several legal issues and is due for a ninety day jail term very soon. Luckily, a boxer's biggest weakness is their own vanity, and hopefully they both feel like they need this fight to really push themselves into elite status. If this doesn't happen in the very near future, it may not happen at all, and then we'll all be left to wonder what could have been. And me? I'll be checked into Shutter Island, patient DXB-4801, life term.
I don't feel like you have to be a casual fan of boxing to understand the general properties of the sport, and its ability to garner huge audiences (i.e Muhammad Ali). There are many well known boxing greats, and lots of very famous bouts between titans in the ring. Another huge potential showdown has been in and out of the works for the past couple years now, and that is a bout between unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. The two have been half heartedly trying to negotiate a fight for a while now, and both have fought matches against middling opponents in the meantime. I think I speak for lots of people when I say we don't CARE about Mayweather vs. Cotto or Pacquiao vs. Santa Claus. We want the big match, the real deal, the moneymaker. We want to put the top two boxers in the world in the ring against each other, winner takes all. I, for one, cannot stand Mayweather Jr. and would relish the opportunity to see him lose, so maybe he can finally shut up. I'd be so excited for this fight to happen, I'd seriously even consider paying to watch the damn thing somewhere. It should be a Congressional mandate that these two fight in 2012. I don't know what your feelings are on the Mayans but we may not get many more shots, you know? Heck, I bet they would probably grant us some sort of extension if we could guarantee the fight was gonna happen soon. Even the Ghost Mayans want this fight to happen.
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| We give them another year, tops. If we get too generous, we'll look like the U.S government. |
Listen, we're missing our window here. Theres been allegations of drug use, quarrels over blood testing, theres been scheduling disputes, all intermingled with insults, condescending remarks and other miscellaneous trash talk. Pacman is 33, and may not be boxing much longer. He holds political office in his native Phillipines and wants to expand on that career soon. Mayweather is 34, has had several legal issues and is due for a ninety day jail term very soon. Luckily, a boxer's biggest weakness is their own vanity, and hopefully they both feel like they need this fight to really push themselves into elite status. If this doesn't happen in the very near future, it may not happen at all, and then we'll all be left to wonder what could have been. And me? I'll be checked into Shutter Island, patient DXB-4801, life term.
Be our Valentine, Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin is everywhere.
The sports world's newest star, one of only a handful of successful Asian-American NBA players, has risen to absolute stardom in just one week, after being overlooked by many teams in the league. He's off to the hottest start of any NBA player in their first five games, during which he has led the Knicks to a perfect 5-0 record. His hot start includes a 38 point game against the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant, of all people. Yes, Jeremy Lin is everywhere, from replays on TV, to blogs like this one, to Sportscenter Top Plays, hes even been the butt of a few racist jokes( courtesy of Ball Don't Lie). Lin was a star in college, but since he played for Harvard, more credit was given to his academics than his basketball skills. Make no mistake however, Lin can and has balled with the best of them.
The sports world's newest star, one of only a handful of successful Asian-American NBA players, has risen to absolute stardom in just one week, after being overlooked by many teams in the league. He's off to the hottest start of any NBA player in their first five games, during which he has led the Knicks to a perfect 5-0 record. His hot start includes a 38 point game against the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant, of all people. Yes, Jeremy Lin is everywhere, from replays on TV, to blogs like this one, to Sportscenter Top Plays, hes even been the butt of a few racist jokes( courtesy of Ball Don't Lie). Lin was a star in college, but since he played for Harvard, more credit was given to his academics than his basketball skills. Make no mistake however, Lin can and has balled with the best of them.
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| Got my Doctorate in Dunking. |
Given Lin's meteoric, though short rise, I'm not surprised that he has gathered a lot of attention. Lots of guys can put up the numbers he does, and they frequently do. So whats the big deal? Well, Lin is Asian-American, which is unusual in the NBA but also very good for the league. His success thus far will help to promote more of a global market for the NBA, as it is highly likely the Chinese market will embrace Lin as they did Yao Ming when he was the most successful player of Asian descent. He took harsh criticism from Kobe, wasn't intimidated, and even outplayed Kobe, scoring 38 on the Lake show as his team ran past them at home. He does all this on the biggest stay in basketball, Madison Square Garden, a place that has seen its fair share of ballers.
So whats the point of this post? Unless you live under a rock, don't watch sports, or have been missing Sportscenter to watch the Walking Dead Marathon, then you probably have already heard of Jeremy Lin. The point is that he has become America's newest spotlight athlete, a great feel good story that is quickly becoming a huge media event. Lin is the Tim Tebow of the NBA, a like able player who earned everything he was given in this league. America loves a poster boy athlete, and with the Tim Tebow hype on temporary offseason lockdown, they've found a replacement. As a society, we love to love the underdog, the small guy, the hard worker instead of the talented egotistical athletes. We love the gym rats, the Rudy's, the guys and girls that never say no. Tim Tebow is that guy. Jeremy Lin is that guy. We love the athletes who can perform well and be the hero and be humble about it, but we praise their ability to be something other than an athlete, something better. Lin has already said that Tebow is his role model, to which Tebow would probably say something like "Well I don't know why, I haven't done anything important."THAT is why we love these guys.
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| I'm a lover, not a fighter. |
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Pro Bowl Make Me Holla. Also, Doping.
I'm sorry.
It's difficult for me to say this, but.....theres another site. We've been going steady for a couple weeks now, and I just have to say, the connection is stronger than ours. I'll keep in touch, I swear. Its not you, it's me.
Look, look with your special eyes. Thats probably how I would tell you, in an overdramatic fashion, that I've been busy writing for a actual news outlet as of late, which is why I haven't been posting much. I got hired on to Sesame Street to cover sports, and I work under the cookie monster. Honestly though, I know I've been gone recently and to all my original and loyal readers of this site, I want to thank you for reading.
Lets talk about the Pro Bowl. Despite the obvious aspects of this game as being a cash cow for the league and a fan driven popularity contest, I have to wonder if it contributes anything else to society? The game is like a community theater production of Cats, no one really cares that much. You're not watching because you care, you're watching because you're bored as all hell and Gossip Girl doesn't come on until 12. The whole game looks like a glorified warm up, as players are just trying not to get hurt in what translates to an entirely meaningless game. Its played in warm as hell Hawaii, so while the viewers freeze their asses off from Minnesota to Washington, you can watch the players sweat and cool down with giant fans on the sidelines. Thanks for that one, NFL. Thankfully, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said the Pro Bowl could be removed soon, which is great, because then we could all catch Jersey Boys down at the local YMCA instead.
While we're on the subject of raging drug addiction, lets have a talk about competitive cycling. Its unfortunate that the inaugural mention of cycling on this blog is about doping, but at this point, I've reached the point of no return on cycling. Cycling is dirty. Its like a Twinkie picked up off a truck stop bathroom floor, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Honestly though, this isn't just exaggerated hyperbole, there has been a lot of convicted dopers in the competitive cycling circuit as of late. Since 2006, at least 8 riders, including two winners of the race, were disqualified from the Tour or stripped of their titles after testing positive for doping agents. The most prominent alumnus of the Tour, Lance Armstrong, faces much criticism and doubt as to his performance as well. (To his credit, Lance Armstrong has not been found guilty of doping). So you may read that and say, hey, theres only been a handful of riders caught cheating so far, why is that an issue? The issue here, I would say, is that this could be just the visible tip of a very big iceberg. Cycling and baseball are two sports who are developing a very serious PED problem. Its very similar to the Heisman award which was stripped from Reggie Bush this past year. They can't go back and give that award to someone else, so it stays vacant, as constant reminder of someone who broke the rules to get to where they wanted to be. (Cycling awards a vacated first place finish to the rider who finished behind the doper, so as to not have a vacancy.)
It's difficult for me to say this, but.....theres another site. We've been going steady for a couple weeks now, and I just have to say, the connection is stronger than ours. I'll keep in touch, I swear. Its not you, it's me.
Look, look with your special eyes. Thats probably how I would tell you, in an overdramatic fashion, that I've been busy writing for a actual news outlet as of late, which is why I haven't been posting much. I got hired on to Sesame Street to cover sports, and I work under the cookie monster. Honestly though, I know I've been gone recently and to all my original and loyal readers of this site, I want to thank you for reading.
Lets talk about the Pro Bowl. Despite the obvious aspects of this game as being a cash cow for the league and a fan driven popularity contest, I have to wonder if it contributes anything else to society? The game is like a community theater production of Cats, no one really cares that much. You're not watching because you care, you're watching because you're bored as all hell and Gossip Girl doesn't come on until 12. The whole game looks like a glorified warm up, as players are just trying not to get hurt in what translates to an entirely meaningless game. Its played in warm as hell Hawaii, so while the viewers freeze their asses off from Minnesota to Washington, you can watch the players sweat and cool down with giant fans on the sidelines. Thanks for that one, NFL. Thankfully, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said the Pro Bowl could be removed soon, which is great, because then we could all catch Jersey Boys down at the local YMCA instead.
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| I'll send you a fruit basket Roger. Well done. |
Now, relax. Some of you may go into a rage over this and go looking for facts on PED use in the NFL to throw at me. Whatever, lets go there. All professional sports leagues in the U.S have checks for PED's, and I think they do a pretty good job for the most part. Some athletes will always look for that extra edge, and be willing to go where others won't, and thats just a sad fact of life. Do some dopers slip through the cracks? Yeah, I'm sure. Can 53 year old Madonna sing as well as 25 year old Madonna? I don't know about that. All I'm saying is, in some sports, doping is a problem, and cycling has become too much of a "problem" to enjoy on a casual level anymore.
Speaking of huge career choices, we HAVE to talk about where Peyton Manning is gonna go. If you're a Colts fan and still think he'll play for you next year um,.....sorry. Possible suitors include Miami, Arizona, and some outside possibilities include San Francisco, Dallas, Jacksonville, New York (Jets, as if I even have to specify after Sunday) and Washington. Lots of choices, lots of decent choices, one good choice, which is San Francisco, but I highly doubt the 49er's repay a strong year by Alex Smith by swiftly replacing him. He did nothing bad to lose the job, Peyton or not. If I were him, I'd choose either Arizona or the Jaguars. Arizona obviously has star wideout Larry Fitzgerald, and they would hook up oh, oh so many times if one the same team together. Jacksonville just got a new owner and coach, but retain their 9th ranked defense and the leagues top rusher from the recently completed season, Maurice Jones-Drew. Obviously, the team would need some receiver help after signing Peyton, but thats what the draft is for. Hear me out here. If Peyton plays for the Jaguars, he gets Tennessee twice a year, shouldn't be tough to beat, Houston twice, which is quite a bit tougher, but the real gem is getting Indianapolis twice, so he could (presumably) play Andrew Luck, his successor, twice a year and, ideally, beat him. Nothing shows dominance like continually beating the guy who replaced you. Dallas has Romo, who they don't seem to have given up on yet, and the Jets have Sanchez, same situation. Dallas is an awful spot to play at, with a clown of an owner and the most inconsistent and underwhelming team on the planet, hands down.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Finding the Worth of a Superstar
" For 214 Million, I'll move wherever you want me to move, and do whatever you want me to do."
This was more or less my answer yesterday when a friend remarked his surprise at the Detroit Tigers being able to draw Prince Fielder to sign with them. It was said for humor, of course, but it got me thinking. I had already decided that the contract was very large, too large if you would ask me, and a very big risk for the Tigers. There certainly isn't anything that says Prince Fielder won't still be playing at a high level in 9 years, but this writer is only slightly skeptical that at some point, be it one year from now or eight, there will be some regrets in Detroit about this trade.
Now, Prince Fielder isn't the first superstar in professional sports to find the elusive piggy bank, he was just the latest to join the party. In a day and age where massive deals seem to be becoming the norm, teams are eager to be shackled to a player or players for anywhere from 5-10 years, oftentimes with a large sum of guaranteed money. So in today's article, the Committed Fan asks teams, fans and readers like you alike, "what is the value of a superstar?".
First off, lets take a look at the players in question. Now depending on your own definition of what a superstar is, there stands to be a large number of them in any league you look at. Tom Brady, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, Candice Parker, Alex Ovechkin, Albert Pujols and of course, Prince Fielder. These athletes are superstars, no doubting that. They all garner immense publicity, fan support and merchandise sales. When you eventually lure one of these players to your team, it does not come cheaply, but if an owner plays their cards right, they stand to make a lot of money from a potential signing. Superstars are proven talents, freak athletes who owners never have to worry about getting production from, because like the local ice cream truck, when the time comes, it'll be there. It always is. And just like in the world of sports, if the ice cream man is being particularly extravagant one day and wants to charge more for extra sprinkles, there's always the DQ down the road (AKA every other player in the league). The question that needs to be answered, then, is why do owners like sprinkles SO DAMN MUCH?
I'll tell you right now, NFL wide receivers and NBA superstars are the worst. By far. I've never heard of a prima donna hockey player but considering the amount of teeth they've all lost, I'm surprised we hear them speak at all. Everyone has heard a superstar whine or rant at some point in their life. Mostly because we've all more or less been alive for the careers of Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson (Ochocinco). Oftentimes its the same sort of subjects (give me a new contract, "i'm open, throw me the ball", "I hate my team", "I'm always open, throw me the ball", "I'm so under-appreciated", "Did I mention i was open?"), and oftentimes these prima donna superstars will take to twitter or other media outlets to make their case public and, by default, an embarrassment. Suddenly, you realize crushed nut topping would have been a better choice than sprinkles.
Fortunately, the sports world has taken some steps towards slowing this trend by instituting rookie pay scales and salary caps, and lowering guaranteed monies, but overpaid superstars will most likely always exist in this game, which makes it all the more important that the teams, as a league, decide to hold strong and let these superstars sit out for a while. Keep them on the free agent market for a bit, to give them a reality check they won't soon forget. Either that, or we're gonna see the NBA sign a 14 year old to a 30 year, 450 million dollar contract any day now.
This was more or less my answer yesterday when a friend remarked his surprise at the Detroit Tigers being able to draw Prince Fielder to sign with them. It was said for humor, of course, but it got me thinking. I had already decided that the contract was very large, too large if you would ask me, and a very big risk for the Tigers. There certainly isn't anything that says Prince Fielder won't still be playing at a high level in 9 years, but this writer is only slightly skeptical that at some point, be it one year from now or eight, there will be some regrets in Detroit about this trade.
Now, Prince Fielder isn't the first superstar in professional sports to find the elusive piggy bank, he was just the latest to join the party. In a day and age where massive deals seem to be becoming the norm, teams are eager to be shackled to a player or players for anywhere from 5-10 years, oftentimes with a large sum of guaranteed money. So in today's article, the Committed Fan asks teams, fans and readers like you alike, "what is the value of a superstar?".
First off, lets take a look at the players in question. Now depending on your own definition of what a superstar is, there stands to be a large number of them in any league you look at. Tom Brady, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, Candice Parker, Alex Ovechkin, Albert Pujols and of course, Prince Fielder. These athletes are superstars, no doubting that. They all garner immense publicity, fan support and merchandise sales. When you eventually lure one of these players to your team, it does not come cheaply, but if an owner plays their cards right, they stand to make a lot of money from a potential signing. Superstars are proven talents, freak athletes who owners never have to worry about getting production from, because like the local ice cream truck, when the time comes, it'll be there. It always is. And just like in the world of sports, if the ice cream man is being particularly extravagant one day and wants to charge more for extra sprinkles, there's always the DQ down the road (AKA every other player in the league). The question that needs to be answered, then, is why do owners like sprinkles SO DAMN MUCH?
I'll tell you right now, NFL wide receivers and NBA superstars are the worst. By far. I've never heard of a prima donna hockey player but considering the amount of teeth they've all lost, I'm surprised we hear them speak at all. Everyone has heard a superstar whine or rant at some point in their life. Mostly because we've all more or less been alive for the careers of Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson (Ochocinco). Oftentimes its the same sort of subjects (give me a new contract, "i'm open, throw me the ball", "I hate my team", "I'm always open, throw me the ball", "I'm so under-appreciated", "Did I mention i was open?"), and oftentimes these prima donna superstars will take to twitter or other media outlets to make their case public and, by default, an embarrassment. Suddenly, you realize crushed nut topping would have been a better choice than sprinkles.
 |
| Just wait, there's still 7 years left on that contract! |
Fortunately, the sports world has taken some steps towards slowing this trend by instituting rookie pay scales and salary caps, and lowering guaranteed monies, but overpaid superstars will most likely always exist in this game, which makes it all the more important that the teams, as a league, decide to hold strong and let these superstars sit out for a while. Keep them on the free agent market for a bit, to give them a reality check they won't soon forget. Either that, or we're gonna see the NBA sign a 14 year old to a 30 year, 450 million dollar contract any day now.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Women in Sport: A Growing Disparity
Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream.
You're probably quite familiar with that phrase just as I'm sure you are familiar with what he stood for; equals rights and social change. Now, King specifically spoke out for racial change, but throughout American history women have been discriminated against to almost the same extent as people of different races, and just as with racial discrimination, we still struggle with gender discrimination to this day.
It might seem that the sports world could be different, that race and gender would seem so much less important when measuring one person's success. In some ways, sports has been a wonderful medium for the emergence of this idea of a female champion or the groundbreaking success of an athlete of a different color. However, sports still has a long way to go, and after the anniversary of MLK day yesterday, it seemed fitting to me to discuss and point out some of the shortcomings I see in the world of sport today for a female athlete.
As young children, there aren't a whole lot of differences that exist between girls and boys. Physical stature is rarely different, and any gains in size will more than likely be in the girls' favor first, before the boys. At this age, boys and girls unify together to play a sport for fun, and exercise. Winning and losing are present, but are somewhat of an afterthought compared to the pure joy of playing with other children. Here, on the playgrounds and inside the gyms of American schools, is one of the last places that boys and girls will ever have a level playing field for sports and one of the last times they may play on the same team and have no issues with that idea.
Lets look at the high schools. When most people think of high school sports, men's basketball and men's football will probably come to mind, depending on where you live. In some areas of the country, prep football is so worshipped that I'm surprised they even bother having other teams. High school football games are the thing to do on Friday nights, and basketball games always have the largest student sections, people with painted chests and school colors showing proudly. Now here is where the disparity shows. At most high schools, what I described does not happen at any girls sporting event. Women's sports events got so little attention at my school it almost seemed like they were an underground organization. Perhaps this has changed, perhaps it was different where you grew up, and I definitely hope it has and was, because it needs too. I see an awful pattern of submission in the sports world, a trend that surrounds women in sports where they ought to depreciate their efforts to idolize and showcase the men's. I see women and men in sports situations together where confident and skilled young women will essentially close up and default to the men on the team, simply to not offend or "let the better player get the ball".
Now I understand the anatomical differences between men and women as they pertain to sport. Men will almost always be bigger, stronger and faster than their female counterparts. A 6'3" female is considered a forward or even a center on most basketball teams, but a 6'3" male could just as easily be the point guard, the shortest player on a men's starting five. Some sports are easier for men to excel at, some easier for women. However, for someone to think that they are an inferior player to someone else simply because of race is more than just absurd, its appalling. I just don't buy that idea. Women should be considered equals to men in all aspects of life, and they themselves should realize and embrace this principle. Given the chance and opportunity, I believe, no, I know that a confident, focused female player will have no trouble playing as an equal to men. In this day and age, the sports world does not put too much focus on any particular woman's sport, nor do they focus on developing women's sports careers after college sports. All different levels of professional sports leagues exist for women just as they do for men, but you'll never see a WNBA mock draft making the premiere show times for Sportscenter.
When it comes to finding and realizing a practical solution for this disparity, the responsibility lies amongst all of us. Female athletes at all levels should relish the opportunity to challenge men and focus on not giving excuses as to why their performance should be lesser. Male athletes should learn to not take being beaten by a female athlete to be an insult, just as they not insulted by losing to another male. The college sports world needs to change their priorities and stop pushing their two big moneymakers, mens' college basketball and football, while leaving other sports teams struggling to even stay afloat. Respect is hard enough to earn from sports fans in a world with so many teams, we should not give women's sports a harder climb simply because they are played by females.
Martin Luther King's dream was not about sports. It wasn't specifically about women playing sports and being treated fairly doing it, but it was a dream about everyone being equal and having equal rights, and that is a dream I can respect.
You're probably quite familiar with that phrase just as I'm sure you are familiar with what he stood for; equals rights and social change. Now, King specifically spoke out for racial change, but throughout American history women have been discriminated against to almost the same extent as people of different races, and just as with racial discrimination, we still struggle with gender discrimination to this day.
It might seem that the sports world could be different, that race and gender would seem so much less important when measuring one person's success. In some ways, sports has been a wonderful medium for the emergence of this idea of a female champion or the groundbreaking success of an athlete of a different color. However, sports still has a long way to go, and after the anniversary of MLK day yesterday, it seemed fitting to me to discuss and point out some of the shortcomings I see in the world of sport today for a female athlete.
As young children, there aren't a whole lot of differences that exist between girls and boys. Physical stature is rarely different, and any gains in size will more than likely be in the girls' favor first, before the boys. At this age, boys and girls unify together to play a sport for fun, and exercise. Winning and losing are present, but are somewhat of an afterthought compared to the pure joy of playing with other children. Here, on the playgrounds and inside the gyms of American schools, is one of the last places that boys and girls will ever have a level playing field for sports and one of the last times they may play on the same team and have no issues with that idea.
Lets look at the high schools. When most people think of high school sports, men's basketball and men's football will probably come to mind, depending on where you live. In some areas of the country, prep football is so worshipped that I'm surprised they even bother having other teams. High school football games are the thing to do on Friday nights, and basketball games always have the largest student sections, people with painted chests and school colors showing proudly. Now here is where the disparity shows. At most high schools, what I described does not happen at any girls sporting event. Women's sports events got so little attention at my school it almost seemed like they were an underground organization. Perhaps this has changed, perhaps it was different where you grew up, and I definitely hope it has and was, because it needs too. I see an awful pattern of submission in the sports world, a trend that surrounds women in sports where they ought to depreciate their efforts to idolize and showcase the men's. I see women and men in sports situations together where confident and skilled young women will essentially close up and default to the men on the team, simply to not offend or "let the better player get the ball".
Now I understand the anatomical differences between men and women as they pertain to sport. Men will almost always be bigger, stronger and faster than their female counterparts. A 6'3" female is considered a forward or even a center on most basketball teams, but a 6'3" male could just as easily be the point guard, the shortest player on a men's starting five. Some sports are easier for men to excel at, some easier for women. However, for someone to think that they are an inferior player to someone else simply because of race is more than just absurd, its appalling. I just don't buy that idea. Women should be considered equals to men in all aspects of life, and they themselves should realize and embrace this principle. Given the chance and opportunity, I believe, no, I know that a confident, focused female player will have no trouble playing as an equal to men. In this day and age, the sports world does not put too much focus on any particular woman's sport, nor do they focus on developing women's sports careers after college sports. All different levels of professional sports leagues exist for women just as they do for men, but you'll never see a WNBA mock draft making the premiere show times for Sportscenter.
When it comes to finding and realizing a practical solution for this disparity, the responsibility lies amongst all of us. Female athletes at all levels should relish the opportunity to challenge men and focus on not giving excuses as to why their performance should be lesser. Male athletes should learn to not take being beaten by a female athlete to be an insult, just as they not insulted by losing to another male. The college sports world needs to change their priorities and stop pushing their two big moneymakers, mens' college basketball and football, while leaving other sports teams struggling to even stay afloat. Respect is hard enough to earn from sports fans in a world with so many teams, we should not give women's sports a harder climb simply because they are played by females.
Martin Luther King's dream was not about sports. It wasn't specifically about women playing sports and being treated fairly doing it, but it was a dream about everyone being equal and having equal rights, and that is a dream I can respect.
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"Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people." -Martina Navratilova |
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
NCAA Title Game Recap
YAWN.
I'll tell you right now, I did not watch the game. It was supposed to be a really good game, just like the last time these two met, a 9-6 win by LSU, and an epic snooze fest for all who watched. So this time around, I didn't allow myself to be lured into watching the game just because it was a national championship game. I sat close to people who did watch it, and for the vast majority of the game, it seemed to be going the same way as the last game, a low scoring, field goal kicking frenzy.
If you know me well, or can tell from this blog, I'm not the biggest fan of college football. There is something about the game that has never appealed to me, actually several aspects why college football has never had me as a serious fan. Some fans swear by college football, and they completely shun the NFL, for a multitude of reasons and logic.
One of the mains reasons I don't particularly enjoy college football is the players. I feel like there is a general lack of maturity with a lot of young college players, and I do not think there is enough guidance and discipline enforced by programs to keep their egos in check. The bad thing about college football being ruined by the players is that its very similar to a director making a top tier movie and then it comes out that they stole the idea and can't write for shit. Basically, I have beef with college football. I have my reasons, and a lot of people probably wouldn't agree with me, and thats okay, because this NFL fan is happy to take your players after their game (and hopefully them) has matured and fully developed.
There is a great aspect of college football, and that part is the upset games. I remember watching Michigan State lose to my college, Central Michigan on a 48?? yard field goal and I went absolutely crazy. NOW let me tell you the problem with college football. I will not live to see Central Michigan in a BCS championship game. I will not live to see Indiana, or Northwestern, and possibly neither Michigan nor Michigan State in a title game in my life time. Now, you can debate the likelihood that these teams could ever make it with the BCS system, or debate whether it is a good system at all. Seriously, join the party, its been going on for a while. It's Barack Obama's biggest presidential agenda item not named Healthcare System. Now here's why I will never see those things. There is a system in place, a natural order of things. There is a reason so many people who graduated from smaller schools don't wear their school colors and watch their team compete on Saturdays. In Michigan, its because they either have on Maize and Blue, Green and White, or Red and Silver, for those of us who are slightly confused. These days, in college football, you may like a small school, you may have a vested interest in watching Nicholls State or Binghampton or Sierra play on Saturdays. However, more than likely, a fan of those teams cheers on a bigger school, a state school, a major school. If you ever want to cheer for your team in a bowl game, if you ever want to watch the Chili's 3 Bean Dip Bowl because your team is going to take home the trophy, you have to like one of the big guys. You are going to have to pick a big school to like and follow, because your school will never make it to that point. They have no shot, no chance. That's just the way it is.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Week 17 NFL Recap
So, the playoffs are set, and the Giants, Broncos and the Bengals joined the party. As was expected, though maybe not so soon, today was a day of firings. Two head coaches were fired, Raheem Morris of the Bucaneers and Steve Spagnuolo of the Rams, and several general managers joined those ranks as well. We also witnessed the total collapse of the New York Jets, a team that has maintained a noticeable swagger since coach Rex Ryan took the reigns several seasons ago. On Sunday, however, the Jets lost all focus and unity, lost an important game to a lowly Dolphins squad and ultimately make Rex Ryan cry at his news conference after the game. Frankly, If I lost a game to a team who spent the week before the game doing this (credit to Shutdown Corner), I'd be real upset at my team too. I've always liked Rex Ryan, because he's a no bull**** type of guy. He has always been outspoken in defense of his players, and has never met an outlandish claim he couldn't make. By the same token, Rex isn't the type of coach to do this. I would say that in the next week, as a few coaches are expected to be fired, that Rex Ryan could find himself amongst them, because it is safe to say that the team has not performed up to expectations while he has been a coach there.
Well hey, the Colts lost again, wrapping up a beauty of a season in which they lost their star quarterback to neck surgery, then proceeding to limp through 16 straight games with the Three Stooges at quarterback. Now we get to see if this gamble of theirs pays off by bringing them the next Peyton Manning, after Manning's time with the team is done. Paying the price of the Suck for Luck sweepstakes were Bill and Chris Polian, the Vice Chairman and General Manager, respectively, who both were fired by the Colts on Monday. For a Colts fan, you've got to believe your team will return to their winning form simply with the return of Manning, but if you weren't impressed by your team this season without him, you weren't alone.
When I first visited Disneyworld, I was under 10 years old, and let me tell you, it was magical. I rode in the spinning saucer cups, went down the log boat ride, and found my first true love, Space Mountain. And for the record, I'm afraid of roller coasters. I don't particularly enjoy them, but Space Mountain is different. Maybe because its in the dark, which I also....don't like....hmm, thats probably not it either. Anyways, what I'm getting at is that the first couple of times I went to Disney, it was pretty damn magical. I took in every moment of it, and I loved it. Couldn't wait to go back. I can only imagine how closely this compares to Tim Tebow. His win streak was impressive, his will to win was inspiring, and yes, the people loved him! They enshrined him in their homes, wore his namesake on their clothing and bodies, even tatooed his likeness on their children, and at the end of the day, as with all magical things, the magic faded, and the joy was lost. And let me assure you, after a 3 game losing streak, with his most recent loss being a 7-3 loss to the CHIEFS, the magic is lost. Cheer him on in the playoffs (which he did make, I'll admit that) if you want, dispute this post with me and argue with me all you want, but the truth can sometimes be a brutal, cold, disturbing pill to swallow. Also, just a quick thing to point out. The quarterback who bested Tim Tebow this week? Kyle Orton. The guy the Broncos benched in favor of Tim Tebow. All quiet on the Elway front.
I don't know how the playoffs are going to go, but I'll tell you who I want to see in the Super Bowl. I love the 49er's or the Lions from the NFC and the Bengals or Texans from the AFC. If for no other reason than a few new faces in the big game this year.
And from all the competent staff and unpaid contributors to the Committed Fan, Happy Holidays.
Well hey, the Colts lost again, wrapping up a beauty of a season in which they lost their star quarterback to neck surgery, then proceeding to limp through 16 straight games with the Three Stooges at quarterback. Now we get to see if this gamble of theirs pays off by bringing them the next Peyton Manning, after Manning's time with the team is done. Paying the price of the Suck for Luck sweepstakes were Bill and Chris Polian, the Vice Chairman and General Manager, respectively, who both were fired by the Colts on Monday. For a Colts fan, you've got to believe your team will return to their winning form simply with the return of Manning, but if you weren't impressed by your team this season without him, you weren't alone.
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| Not quite sure if they are reacting to the Colt's losses, or their wins. Ouch. |
When I first visited Disneyworld, I was under 10 years old, and let me tell you, it was magical. I rode in the spinning saucer cups, went down the log boat ride, and found my first true love, Space Mountain. And for the record, I'm afraid of roller coasters. I don't particularly enjoy them, but Space Mountain is different. Maybe because its in the dark, which I also....don't like....hmm, thats probably not it either. Anyways, what I'm getting at is that the first couple of times I went to Disney, it was pretty damn magical. I took in every moment of it, and I loved it. Couldn't wait to go back. I can only imagine how closely this compares to Tim Tebow. His win streak was impressive, his will to win was inspiring, and yes, the people loved him! They enshrined him in their homes, wore his namesake on their clothing and bodies, even tatooed his likeness on their children, and at the end of the day, as with all magical things, the magic faded, and the joy was lost. And let me assure you, after a 3 game losing streak, with his most recent loss being a 7-3 loss to the CHIEFS, the magic is lost. Cheer him on in the playoffs (which he did make, I'll admit that) if you want, dispute this post with me and argue with me all you want, but the truth can sometimes be a brutal, cold, disturbing pill to swallow. Also, just a quick thing to point out. The quarterback who bested Tim Tebow this week? Kyle Orton. The guy the Broncos benched in favor of Tim Tebow. All quiet on the Elway front.
I don't know how the playoffs are going to go, but I'll tell you who I want to see in the Super Bowl. I love the 49er's or the Lions from the NFC and the Bengals or Texans from the AFC. If for no other reason than a few new faces in the big game this year.
And from all the competent staff and unpaid contributors to the Committed Fan, Happy Holidays.
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