Monthly Archive: August 2012

Aug 30

National Dilemma

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MLB

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Should the Washington Nationals continue to pitch Stephen Strasburg into September and the postseason or should they hold firm to their innings limit for him? In a ‘lose-lose’ situation, manager Davey Johnson and the rest of the coaching staff have a huge dilemma on their hands.

In 2010, his first season as a professional baseball player, Stephen Strausburg underwent “Tommy-John” surgey to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. The surgery forced him to miss the next twelve months, but it also put an emphasis on the protection of his right arm. He made his big league return on September 6, 2011. In today’s medical world many athletes overcome such injuries that in recent past would have ended said player’s career. Many pitchers bounce back after “Tommy-John” surgery, but there always remains a vulnerability for them.

Since before the season began the plan by the organization was to limit Strasburg’s innings count to anywhere from 160 to 180 innings for the year. Back on February 20 in Viera, Florida, Nats general manager, Mike Rizzo said “There’s not going to be a whole lot of tinkering going on. We’re going to run him out there until his innings are gone and then stop him from pitching” (The Washington Post).

I don’t think anyone however, (the Nationals included) predicted that they would be one of the best teams in baseball this year. At the end of August they have the second best overall record behind the Cincinnati Reds and have a five game lead over the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League East. Such a pitch count on ‘franchise-player’ is understandable, especially for a ‘basement dweller’, but the Nats have put themselves in a position they have never been in before. They are primed for their first playoff appearance in team history. Not since before their move from Montreal to Washington D.C. has this organization been to the playoffs. If the Nationals shut down Strasburg and then get eliminated in the playoffs they will face the expected scrutiny and judgement of their decision. “If only Strasburg were pitching” is what they’ll hear from the fans and the media. But if they decide to keep him pitching and they lose in the playoffs anyway, those same critics will lament their decision as ‘selfish’ and ‘near-sighted’, one that could jeopardize the future of their team.

Even before his season-ending elbow injury in 2010, Strasburg had yet to build up a desirable amount of major league innings. From the time he was drafted in June of 2009 to the time of his Nationals debut a year later, he had only amassed 44 innings pitched in the minors and majors combined. In May Strasburg commented on his lack of innings and his vulnerability to injury;

“I think what led me to get hurt was not being in as good of shape,” Strasburg said. “When you’re only throwing five innings in the minors and then you come up here and throw 90-something pitches your first game and then expect to do that every five days, it’s a big adjustment. You look at what I was used to in college, we were done at the end of May. It was a long year. I needed to be in better shape than I was in college, and I can say I wasn’t as in good of shape as I was in college. I think that’s what led to breaking down and having a serious injury” (The Washington Post).

In his first full season as a starting pitcher, Strasburg has been the man. As of today he is 15-6 with 186 strike-outs and an ERA of 3.05. Clearly he is the ace of the Nationals and is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Now Washington is at a crossroads. As the season enters its final month it appears they are going to make the playoffs. Do they sit him when the team needs him most or do they shut him down in order to protect his arm? Does sitting him ‘rub off’ wrong on his teammates? Is he above everyone else and too special to risk playing? Whichever decision they make, the Washington Nationals are in a ‘no-win’ situation. Unless of course they somehow win it all without him.

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Aug 29

Hard Knocks week 3 recap

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NFL

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This week on Hard Knocks we saw a new level of intensity take over the Dolphins camp. This is good news since that intensity seemed to be lacking through two pre season games, both of which have been losses. The offensive line have been especially guilty of laziness so far, even early in the Fins’s 2nd preseason game. While watching film on the second game, head coach Joe Philbin pointed out that not only did the O Line get beat on the play, easily letting the Carolina Panthers in to the backfield, but they gang tackled Reggie Bush. Adding insult to injury, no one even bothered to offer Bush a hand to get up. This is not the kind of attitude, much less the effort that you’re looking for in your starting line up.

The Hard Knocks series introduced us to one of the Dolphins undrafted rookie free agents, DT Chas Alecxih. Alecxih was riding jet skis with his friends, when he decided to take off by himself and venture out further into the Gulf of Mexico. Once out of eyesight, as luck would have it, his jet ski broke down. After jumping into the water to relieve himself, the jet ski caught a sea current and he could not catch back up to it. This is a man who is just thankful to be alive after being stranded out in the Gulf. He was spotted by a search crew only minutes before the effort was called off. Also featured was Chas’ bromance with fellow undrafted rookie free agent, DE Jerrell Root.

Early in the episode, guard Eric Steinbach was revisited, who was contemplating retirement. Steinbach didn’t practice last week because he was trying to let his body recover from back surgery that kept him out all of last year. Unfortunately, his body gave up on him and Steinbach retired after a career that saw him as one of the top guards in the league for a couple of seasons. He went out in a manner that commanded not only self awareness, but also an acceptance of the limits of the human body. Steinbach gets all the respect in the world for knowing when his career was over and stepping out of the spotlight (as gracefully as a man who stands 6’6 and weighs 300 pounds possibly can).

The third game of the preseason is generally used as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. Starters will play the first half, and in most cases, also well into the third quarter. The third week of preseason always brings with it a heavy sword. This is the week that contains the first round of major roster fat trimming. Fifteen players need to be cut by the end of the week in order to meet the league requirement at this stage in the preseason. Some players that were cut felt slighted because they thought that they weren’t given a fair shot. There were cries about a  lack of repetitions. There were some players who were just grateful for the opportunity to try out, like DT Chas Alecxih who was profiled earlier. There were players cut who have become fan favorites through Hard Knocks. TE Les Brown was one of these players. He was featured early and often on the show, though they mostly featured his struggles. He is 25 years old and just starting to try and play professional football, which means he comes in with a disadvantage. His blocking was of poor quality and he never really seemed to get open. The thing that kept him around as long as he did is his attitude. The guy never stopped trying. His effort was consistently relentless. It’s a sad story, but not unexpected. Brown’s reps in practice had dwindled, which is usually a sign that there is nothing to see.
Former 1st round pick, CB Vontae Davis was traded this week to the Indianapolis Colts for undisclosed draft picks. This move also wasn’t all that surprising for Dolphin fans. Davis’s time in Miami has been a roller coaster to say the least. He is often charged with loafing on plays and picking which plays to put forth maximum effort, which has been pointed out on previous episodes.

The third game didn’t offer much for the Fins to look forward to this week. The offense still looked pedestrian and the defense was exposed again as Matt Ryan put up solid numbers on the Fins first unit defense.

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Aug 27

Can ‘Vols HC Derek Dooley Get Off The Hot Seat In Rocky Top?

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NCAA

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Recently my co-hosts and I were discussing the excitement of the approaching college football season on the radio. This conversation ultimately led to what games were going to be played to open the season. Friday night (Aug 31) the nation will be subject to an ACC vs. SEC match-up, North Carolina State University against the Tennessee Volunteers.

Eventually the next topic that was raised was the typical debate of whether a football team who has been down-and-out can make a comeback and reach their once former glory, such as the ‘Vols.

The ‘Vols and coach Derek Dooley have fell short losing six of their last eight games down the stretch last season. Tennessee won one conference game in the SEC which included an overtime victory over a sub-par Vanderbilt team. This has caused head coach Derek Dooley’s seat to become increasing hotter by the day. With the recent release of their best wide receiver, Da’Rick Rogers for “violating the team’s substance abuse policy”, the heat and pressure may have increased.

Tennessee has failed to live up to expectations the last couple of seasons, which many expected after the departure of the always loved Lane Kiffin. Before Kiffin jumped ship to University of Southern California he left UT to dry. He cost the program massive personnel losses. Lane also ran players off campus with his exceptional lack of personal skills coupled with recruiting players who couldn’t apply with the academic standards or operate within the confines of proper-behavior.

After two disappointing seasons, Tennessee looks to be on the up and up after their irrelevant hiatus in the SEC. Head coach Dooley voiced his outlook this summer on being a punching bag for the SEC. “You’re not going to have Tennessee to kick around anymore, I feel like we got a team that can go toe-to-toe for four quarters with all the teams in our league.”

The Tennessee Volunteer faithful are hoping this becomes reality. Dooley took over a mangled football program with low scholarship numbers. Dooley was given the complicated- task of cleaning-up and was asked to win in the country’s hardest conference while doing it.

Dooley is a leader of good quality both on and off the field. Unfortunately for him, this doesn’t earn him an automatic “W” in the standings column. ‘Vols fans are only interested in one thing; becoming relevant in the SEC once again and Dooley’s overall record of 11-14 will not cut it. Tennessee finished last season 5-7 with a SEC finish of 1-5 (6th in East). If Dooley is going to get off the “hot seat”, his ‘Vols need to at least finish 3rd in the SEC East, while making a trip to a bowl game.

Dooley deserves the opportunity to prove he is capable of putting Tennessee back on the map. He took over a program which was depleted while most coaches shied away. ‘Vols fans, don’t be so eager for the firing of Dooley, you never know who you might end up with next (Bobby Petrino).

Come Friday night, Tennessee will take on coach Tom O’Brien’s NC State Wolfpack. A Wolfpack win over an SEC school in front of a packed stadium sets up a bowl season and improved recruiting for a couple of years. It also helps raise the temperature of Dooley’s seat a little more. If Tennessee wins, it creates a good start towards making it to a bowl game.

 

Tennessee’s 2012 schedule.

Aug 31 – NC State Wolfpack (Georgia Dome)

Sep 08 – Georgia State Panthers

Sep 15 – Florida Gators

Sep 22 – Akron Zips

Sep 29 – at Georgia Bulldogs

Oct 06 – BYE

Oct 13 – at Mississippi State Bulldogs

Oct 20 – Alabama Crimson Tide

Oct 27 – at South Carolina Gamecocks

Nov 03 – Troy Trojans

Nov 10 – Missouri Tigers

Nov 17 – at Vanderbilt Commodores

Nov 24 – Kentucky Wildcats

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Aug 27

Joe Southwick Has No Easy Task Replacing Kellen Moore as Boise State QB

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NCAA

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Joe Southwick has big shoes to fill as he is named the new starting quarterback for the Boise State Broncos. Southwick has been the backup to Kellen Moore, who has since been signed as an undrafted rookie by the Detroit Lions. With the exit of the record-setting quarterback, Southwick was given the reigns to the Bronco’s high-powered offense. “He’s prepared really hard the last three or four years, and he’s earned this opportunity,” Petersen said in Boise on Sunday.

Grant Hedrick and Jimmy Laughrea were also competing for the job, but with the experience of Southwick, he ultimately was the clear favorite going into camp and why shouldn’t he be? He understands the style of offense the Broncos are accustomed to playing and has the experience to run it. What more could you ask for in regards to replacing a “legend” in Kellen Moore?

Even though Moore was the outright starter for the Broncos, Southwick did see on-field action, having a career completion percentage of 73.8 percent over the course of two seasons. Joe Southwick’s Sunday media session gave him the opportunity to speak about his new found understanding of what his new job entails.

“Just being smart with the ball. That’s something coach (Chris Peterson) and me have talked about,” Southwick said. “It’s just limiting turnovers and not taking sacks. Those are two categories in college football and the NFL that dictate a lot of what happens in a football game.”

Coach Peterson addressed the media in his own jabber session and discussed the progression of his starting QB. “It’s not like he’s the finished, final product. Nobody on our team is. But that guy has got the ball in his hands every single snap for us, so it has to be right, it has to be exact and it has to be now,” Petersen said. “… It starts at that position right there. There’s just a couple things we’ve got to make sure that guy does to be successful.”

Joe Southwick will be given an early test as his Boise St. Broncos travel to take on the #13 Michigan St. Spartans on August 31st. The Broncos, however, are a six-point underdog going into Spartan Stadium. Friday night will be the junior’s first opportunity to showcase his talents under the brightest of lights.

 

 

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Aug 26

Put Your Popcorn Away, Terrell Owens Cut In Seattle

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NFL

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Put your popcorn back in the cupboard, Terrell Owens was cut by the Seattle Seahawks today. Does this mean he will retire? HSH hopes so, don’t be the receiver we all know too well. You have all seen the athlete who continues to jump from locker-room to locker-room and it never ends like they hoped.

The future Hall of Famer’s 4.4 40-time a few weeks ago was enough to get him a workout with the Seahawks coupled with a 1-year deal. T.O. was able to remain fast, but not fast enough to remain Pete Carroll’s roster.

The Seahawks have not made an official announcement, but like most superstars Owens tweeted that he is no longer with the team.

In two preseason games, Terrell had a collection of drops along with two catches, against the Chiefs. The best glimpse of Terrell Owens of old this preseason was his twisting over-the-shoulder catch in the Seahawks’ 44-10 win against the Chiefs.

As stated above, this needs to be the last of Terrell Owens in the NFL. I don’t believe another team will knock on his door to give him another shot.  Owens has given us an abundance of controversial highlight reels coupled with some of the best catches seen in the NFL. Terrell walk out the locker-room with a small amount of decency left, but before you do hang your cleats up before walking out.

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Aug 26

How An Unnamed Source Temporarily Put Virginia Beach On The Sports Map

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NBA

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Admit it: Even though “Virginia” and “Beach” are two pretty helpful clues, you still couldn’t quite pinpoint where Virginia Beach is on a map without looking it up. I know I couldn’t when I heard the news Thursday that the city of Virginia Beach was pursuing the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. In fact, if you believed a report by Philip Newswanger and Bill Cresenzo of Inside Business, a journal covering greater Virginia Beach, the Kings were already on their way east, maps in hand.

The key sentence in the Inside Business story is this: “City officials and the Maloof family are expected to announce Wednesday that the Kings will land in Virginia Beach, sources said.”

As we soon realized, those sources were way off. In the hours after the story went online, two reporters from the Sacramento Bee, as well as NBA reporter Sam Amick of SI.com, heard from other sources that there was no announcement planned, that no one from the Kings was coming to the Tuesday city council meeting preceding the announcement, and, ultimately, that the Kings have no plans to move to Virginia Beach. Kings co-owner Joe Maloof told CBS13 in Sacramento that the team hasn’t spoken with anyone from Virginia Beach.

The stream of reports contradicting the Inside Business story surely left many readers wondering just where the notion of the Wednesday announcement came from if, by most accounts, it’s simply not the case. We won’t know for sure, since Newswanger and Cresenzo, like most journalists, are unlikely to identify their unnamed sources. Still, there are enough clues for a plausible theory or two.

The sentence following the part about the announcement in the Inside Business story could be a hint. It says, “Virginia Beach-based Meridian Group, a marketing communications firm, is expected to handle the public relations for the announcement.” It’s possible the sources who misled Newswanger and Cresenzo were a part of the firm. The Meridian Group gets some publicity with a mention in the story, even though the announcement isn’t taking place, so the firm would have a motive to lie.

Even if Meridian provided information it believed to be true, the company is a secondary source that couldn’t facilitate an announcement if it weren’t green-lighted by the Kings, arena builders and the city. Meridian may have received false or confusing information from one of those parties and passed it along to Inside Business.

Still, the inclusion and placement of the Meridian Group sentence might simply be a product of the kind of journal Inside Business is. It covers local commerce, and the firm appears to be the most prominent area business involved in the story. That would warrant high placement in the story, so there’s plenty of reason to believe the sources didn’t come from Meridian.

Sources, particularly those who provide false information, often act with their own agendas in mind. Such is the case with politicians, too, and the Inside Business sources may well have been a local elected official. Giving the voting public the idea that a pro team has already committed to come would likely boost support for a politician’s vote in favor of a tax hike that would finance arena construction. Even if the team and others issue a stream of denials, as happened here, it advances the idea that the Kings are somehow in talks to play in the proposed arena, whether that’s true or not. Voters are left to trust the denials from the Kings and far-flung reporters or trust what they read in a local journal, and the publication they know best has a strong chance of winning out.

The same motivation exists for the companies who would build and operate the arena. They guaranteed Virginia Beach mayor Will Sessoms a professional team would come if the arena is built, the mayor told Inside Business. They stand to benefit from creating a perception that pro teams are considering Virginia Beach, even if that’s not reality. And if they don’t fulfill their guarantee, there’s nothing in the story that indicates a consequence to that.

Whoever the sources are, it doesn’t appear they’re anyone from the Kings organization. The Inside Business story includes a quote from co-owner George Maloof Jr. that appears to have been a week old at the time of publication, as evidenced by its inclusion in this Philadelphia Daily News article. Inside Business edited its story late Thursday to include a statement from a Kings spokesman, but the editors, strangely, went out of their way to note the statement was sent to other media outlets hours before it got to Inside Business. That might indicate the publication was upset that someone from the Kings provided false information, but I think it’s more likely a sign that Inside Business has had little contact with the Kings.

Newswanger and Cresenzo would have been wise to contact the Kings and ask them if what they’d heard about the Wednesday announcement was true. That would have allowed them to get a more recent statement from one of the owners or someone else in the organization. If the reporters were rebuffed, they should have noted their attempt in the story. Without comment that was less than a week old or evidence that an attempt was made to get it, we’re left to assume that Newswanger and Cresenzo failed to properly confirm their unsourced information with one of the principles in their story, leaving themselves open to inaccuracy and mistrust.

Regardless of the track record of the journalists who report the news we consume, we should all be wary of what we read. The next time you hear about a team that might going one place or a player who might be going another, it’s worth careful examination and waiting to hear or read about it a second time before you believe it’s true. Don’t get your hopes up – and don’t set your fantasy rosters – until you’re sure.

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Aug 26

Are You This Years Fantasy Football Champ?

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NFL

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I think a mass-majority of football fans share the same blissful feelings I have for football season. Preseason is winding down, coaches are making their final cuts, rookies are praying they have what it takes, and veterans are hoping their roster spot is secure. The last and arguably the biggest decisions to be made are about Fantasy Football.

 If you’re anything like me, you have been waiting a long time at a shot at redemption. I’ve been waiting patiently since I made a run-of-the-mill 2nd and 7th place finish last year. Or as some of you would say, “first place loser” and 7th place, either title is fitting. If you play fantasy football then you know what it is I’m referring too. You also know about the preparation, the studying, the notes, the time away from family which ultimately leads to draft day!

 Before the draft begins we always say “new season and new plan”. So what do you do when draw the 5th pick this year? Foster is gone, Rice is gone, Rodgers is gone—no big deal, you have a plan. What if have the last pick? Who cares, now you get two- in- a- row.

 The second round is where you’re going to make your biggest move and make your mark on the draft. The third round is where you find your groove and get in a rhythm. The fourth round is where all your preparation comes into play. This is where all your studying to discover this year’s sleeper pick unfolds. You slide your mouse over the selected player of choice and boom. The biggest sleeper in this year’s draft is yours!

 Now all your research and analysis is coming together. You got this, it’s yours, and this is your year. For those of you who play understand, for those of you who don’t play won’t be able to experience it until you have. You won’t know the excitement that comes with checking your phone or computer every two minutes to check this year’s sleeper pick stats.

 You won’t know the joy of changing the channel every 3 minutes to see if your defense is on the field. You also won’t know the frustration of having a benched wide receiver score 30 points and your starter score 3. Most importantly you won’t know the bitter-sweet agony of hoping Drew Brees throws for 3 TD’s and 300+ yards while still hoping he loses to your favorite team.

 Fantasy Football has changed the way I view football while adding additional excitement.  It is intense, it is exciting and at times it is so depressing you just can’t handle the outcomes. So good luck cry, laugh and yell. I hope you place better than myself.

Sincerely yours,

Never placed better than 2nd

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Aug 26

The Boston Red Sux

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MLB

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On Saturday the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox finalized one of the biggest trades in history. The Sox sent All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, starting pitcher Josh Beckett, outfielder Carl Crawford and infielder Nick Punto to the Dodgers in exchange for first baseman James Loney and minor leaguers Rubby De La Rosa, Ivan De Jesus, Allen Webster and Jerry Sands.

By making this deal the Sox freeing up more than quarter of a billion dollars in cap space. Gonzalez, Beckett, Crawford and Punto have a combined $262.5 left on their contracts for after the 2012 season (ESPN.com). Never in the history of baseball has there been so much money on the trading table between two teams.

This year the Dodgers are going ‘all out’ in an effort to win a championship. Just one year after their former owner Frank McCourt bankrupted the organization, the Dodgers are now the big spenders. Thanks to Magic Johnson and his other co-owners the team has been aggressive, going after and acquiring All Star players. Just before the July 31st trade deadline they acquired All-Star infielder Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins and now to go along with the four guys from Boston, the Dodgers have a pretty nasty team.

Then there are the Red Sox. Where do I begin? To say they are a disaster would be an understatement. They have been a train wreck for the past 12 months. And not simply a train wreck, but one that has gone off the tracks and down a never ending mountain side. They are still crashing. Just because they have cleared cap space doesn’t mean they are going to fill that space with any decent talent.

One year ago the Red Sox were cruising. They were in first place and it looked like they were going to stroll into the playoffs as division champs over the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. Going into September they had a nine game lead over the Rays for at least a wild-card spot. But as we all know they went 7-23 over the last 30 games for one of, if not, the worst collapse in baseball history. And of course after the season heads needed to be chopped off so out went manager Terry Francona and General Manager Theo Epstein. Both sides claimed these decisions were mutual.

Instead of Francona and Epstein, guys like Beckett, John Lackey and perhaps even Jon Lester should have gotten the boot. The reported ‘chicken and beer scandal’ by these guys only added fuel to the grease fire. The Red Sox replaced Francona with his polar opposite, Bobby Valentine, and replaced Epstein with Ben Cherington. Valentine couldn’t have been a worse fit in Boston. The players still loved Francona and preferred his style of managing. In an attempt to show Red Sox Nation they had control over the clubhouse they brought in Valentine as a ‘take no shit’ disciplinarian. Huge mistake. When you mix a manager like that with a clubhouse that has bought into Francona’s system for the previous eight years, you’re asking for trouble. Since day one Valentine has failed to gain the support of his team. And as for Cherington I have very little to say. He is horrible. The new guys he has brought in have done nothing. And now that he has cap space to work with I expect him to go after the big, flashy names as if he is if he is a twelve year old playing MLB the Show. Even if he had an idea for what he is doing, he most likely won’t be able to land any legit players for a while. The negativity swirling around the Red Sox clubhouse, management and media will surely scare players from other markets away.

For a team so loaded with talent this has to be the biggest two year disappointment I have ever seen. Only two off-seasons ago they acquired the highly-sought after Crawford and Gonzalez and were favored by many to win the World Series. Less than two full seasons of horrible management later, both guys are gone. With Crawford the Red Sox were suckered into buying damaged goods but with Gonzalez he been their best and most consistent hitter in their line-up. In order to get rid of injured and cancerous players like Beckett and Crawford the Sox were willing to let go of Gonzo in a package deal. It seems like they’re all ‘gonzo’ now. The only players left from their championship teams are David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jacoby Ellsbury. And I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if they all go ‘running for the hills’ after this season.

The changing of the guard has come for the Boston Red Sox. But with a horribly bitter taste. We all know that in sports you can’t keep the same championship team on the field year after year just because they got it done once. You have to evolve with the time and keep updating and improving your club to stay relevant. With that said however, this has to be the worst transition I have ever seen with any organization in all of sports. The way the Red Sox were on top of their sport, even briefly dethroning the Yankees, and now they way they have come crashing down has made me sick. They have behaved like children, kicking and screaming all the way down.

With that said the local Boston media needs a house cleaning as well. In a town where the fans are forever loyal, the media certainly is not. They love their players when they’re winning and stab ‘em in the back when they’re not. Writers like Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe, will point the finger at specific players and coaches and exaggerate the hell out every miniscule report. This negativity certainly does not help create a winning atmosphere. After the way things have gone down recently for this organization I’d be surprised if any big name free-agents would want to even go to Boston, knowing they will be under such a microscope.

The players and the media are certainly responsibly for their share of B.S. but I have to ask; where the hell have the owners been?! John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino were saviors for this franchise when they bought the team ten years ago. They completely changed the culture of the franchise. They brought in new management and new players and with the help of Epstein, they rebuilt the farm system. They saved Fenway Park from the wrecking ball. And they brought a World Championship to New England for the first time in 86 years and another in 2007. They were kings of the town. It would take a lot for their Red Sox legacy to be permanently damaged but I have to say, they have been asleep at the wheel here. Is John Henry more concerned with his Liverpool football club than with the Red Sox? Instead of watching the house burn down around them they need step in and take charge.

So it’s now officially over. The fat lady has sung. The Boston Red Sox have thrown in the towel on their historic ten-year run and are now entering the dreaded, rebuilding phase. As a Sox fan I have gone through all the grief stages the past twenty four hours; shock, confusion, anger and sadness. But it is now time to start anew. If the organization is serious about taking this team in a new direction they need to ‘clean house’ this coming off-season. And they can start by firing Valentine and Cherington.

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Aug 25

Go Ahead Cry, Laugh and Yell

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NCAA

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The atmosphere of college football is one that seems to be from another world. One that is away from the stress of real life. The students and fans alike line up at the stadium gates as early as 8 a.m. to secure the best seats. It is a world where you can root for your favorite team to beat your arch rivals, while joining in the occasional “trash talk”.

This setting allows us to become angry when our team loses, which can easily result in “chucking” the remote at the television or leaving dents in the wall. It also allows us to be elevated into extremely happiness when our team earns a “W” in the result category. The emotional response to this can result in giving a total stranger a hug or an unorthodox high-five.

College football brings out an abundance of emotions which vary from one person to another. It is also one of the most enjoyable times of the year. It gives us an excuse to spend time with our friends and family, and even the annoying guy who appears to hate every team known to man. It creates a Saturday tradition of coming together at the family home, parking lots, sports bars, and stadiums.

If you’re anything like me, you may have to drive a long distance to see your favorite team play, or it may be just around the corner. Either way, take the time to enjoy yourself with friends and family. Take a deep breath and slow this ever increasingly rapid world down for a few hours. During this sacred time, called “game day”,  fathers and mothers begin to teach their children about their Alma Maters or their favorite schools. Children decorate their faces with paint and stickers that brings out smiles as wide as goal posts, anxiously waiting for the game to begin.

If you’re lucky enough to attend a college football game during these tough economic times, you will be a part of this atmosphere which makes college football so great. Among all of the excitement is the vast ocean of enthusiastic fans collectively wearing their team’s apparel, creating a band of unity as far as the eye can see. This is also one of the few times when you’re able to carry on a conversation with someone you have never met because he or she is a fellow fan.

Friends, fans, and families stretch for miles eating, drinking and singing their school fight songs. Each member enjoys the benefits of tailgating and cooking outside. Tailgate food always finds a way to be more appealing and satisfying than that of a gourmet restaurant.

Once inside the stadium, your eyes behold the sight of the beautiful field and the fans that surround it. The place begins to buzz with electricity in anticipation for the players to make their grand entrance onto the field. The noise starts to become bone-rattling and you add to the chaos by yelling at the top of your voice. Say what you want about the NFL or any other sport, but nothing comes close to the incredible atmosphere at a college football stadium in the fall.

The amity, fellowship, and brotherhood of college football will make you laugh, cry, and yell at the top of your lungs. Remember to take the opportunity to thank a service member, past and present when able. Stand-up when the National Anthem is played and sing your fight song proudly, but most importantly, remember to enjoy all of it with your friends and family.

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Aug 24

Lance Armstrong Stripped Of His Tour De France Victories

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Misc. Sports

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One of America’s sports heroes, Lance Armstrong, has given up his fight against charges that he was doping during his incredible stretch of seven straight Tour De France victories. The USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) stripped Armstrong of his titles. This comes along with the news that Armstrong will receive a lifetime ban from competitive cycling, although he really isn’t all that competitive any more. Along with those sanctions, the USADA could demand that he give back his bronze medal from the 2000 Olympics, as well as any titles he won, which could include any and all cash earnings from that time period.

Armstrong hasn’t admitted guilt at all. In fact, quite the opposite. He points to the hundreds of drug tests he passed, not only during that amazing 7 year stretch, but before and after as well. Armstrong simply doesn’t want to enter an arbitration process with the USADA that he sees as unfair. The problem with that view is everyone will take his unwillingness to fight the charges as an admission of guilt. To protect not only his trophies, but his reputation, if innocent, Armstrong should fight the charges tooth and nail. With how vigorously Armstrong has denied these charges for the past decade, it seems odd and a little disheartening to learn that he would just give up the fight because he is just tired of dealing with it. In essence, he is going down without a fight. Is that the lasting message he wishes to leave with his fans. Not only the millions of sports fans who followed his career, but the millions of cancer survivors who couldn’t care less about sports, but saw him as someone who overcame the disease to claim the top spot of his industry. One could argue Armstrong was the single most popular American athlete during his seven year winning streak. Now he will join the likes of Mark McGwire, who also played America’s sports sweetheart and destroyed that by taking PED’s.

Millions of people looked to him as a beam of inspiration after overcoming testicular cancer to go on to be America’s cycling superstar. He has let every single one of those people down in a major way. His message was always you can overcome anything with hard work and dedication. All the while, there was a fine print on that message and its significance is far greater than Armstrong probably would have imagined.

This is all part of a bigger issue. Performing enhancing drugs aren’t just a problem in cycling, as Major League Baseball has had its steroid policy in place for almost 10 years now, although it apparently isn’t working as well as we had thought, with two players being suspended 50 games each just within the past week. It seems as these athletes think they’re invincible. There are rules in place to prevent this sort of thing and there are players out there whose egos are so inflated that they assume that they won’t be caught.
Perhaps the MLB should adopt cycling’s steroid policy, in which one failed test gets you banned for life. Maybe then we will have a level playing field

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