I've been wanting to share this clip for a while, ever since the Tiger story broke. I see similarities between Tiger's eventual comeback and the way Kobe has erased his past.
Enjoy
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Johnny Weir Is A Real Man: My Reactions
After reading the following story, posted by ESPN, I looked over the comments that were made and became disheartened. However, it wasn't just the remarks that affected me, the questions asked by writer, Jim Caple, regarding Weir's sexuality were also bothersome.
Put simply, the piece is about Johnny Weir, a figure skater with a loud personalty, a passion for the performing arts, tremendous athleticism, and a clear sense of self.
Now to the comments. I was blown away by the hurtful and classless remarks made by other readers. I know these folks represent just a fraction of the ESPN.com readers but I was not unimpressed. If you recognize any posters from the following pictures, please ask them to leave their intolerance at home.
On final note: Rick Reilly recently wrote a good piece on the death of Mike Penner aka Christine Daniels who was a transgender sports writer. I wonder how Christine would react to Caple's story if she were alive today? She'd probably shake her head in disappointment. Reilly's article can be found below.
Mike Penner - Christine Daniels
Johnny Weir Story
Put simply, the piece is about Johnny Weir, a figure skater with a loud personalty, a passion for the performing arts, tremendous athleticism, and a clear sense of self.Right from the get go, Caple asked Weir about his sexuality as if it was relevant to the story. Jim cited that his readers would be curious to know. It was clear that Caple asked these questions because he was interviewing a male figure skater. In the story's accompanying video, Jim cited that for a story he's ridden with cyclist Floyd Landis -wonder if he asked Floyd the same question? Jim, how about a little class?
Now to the comments. I was blown away by the hurtful and classless remarks made by other readers. I know these folks represent just a fraction of the ESPN.com readers but I was not unimpressed. If you recognize any posters from the following pictures, please ask them to leave their intolerance at home.
Mike Penner - Christine Daniels
Johnny Weir Story
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Mark McGwire: Convenient Explanation, Absent Apology, Immaturity
So with the news that has come out about Mark McGwire I thought I would offer one more opinion.
Today on Mike and Mike in the morning, Tony La Russa was interviewed and asked the question, "did you ever suspect anything was going on?" La Russa claimed that he never suspected any steroid use in his locker room and that the weight lifting program outlined by the team was intense but legit.
To that I say - "Child please". Somebody who has been engrossed in the culture of baseball for as long as La Russa would have knowledge of steroid use. Put it this way, if an everyday office employee was asked about drama or gossip in their office the majority of folks could share quite a bit. There's no way Tony couldn't have been privy to steroid use in his on locker room.
Also, listen to the language that Mark is using to describe his use of HGH and steroids. He explains PED's as a cure, "it was going to help me heal faster". Well isn't that a cute and neat response. Former PED users would never state that the reason they injected themselves was to become stronger or faster - there would be no pity. Mark wants to reenter baseball and to do so he needs forgiveness. Responses such as this play on the fact that we love to forget/forgive. Shouldn't we hold Mark and other users accountable for the affects that PED's have on the body beyond those of a recovery aid?! As a sports fan please don't accept this answer, demand that athletes who used PED's be held accountable for all of the affects that steroids have on an athlete not just some of them.
I'll also point out that Mark has left out one very important apology - his apology to Congress. And while he never lied under oath, simply because he didn't say anything, he did make a mockery of those proceedings. He wasted this counties time and insulted our intelligence.
Lastly, his timing shows great selfishness and immaturity. By Mark waiting till the long arm of the law (Congress) extended no further before making his tear filled apology highlights the fact that he wanted to own up to his mistakes, just not to the consequences that accompany them. Amazing.
I hope Mark McGwire denied entry into the Cooperstown but if by some odd chance he's voted in, his plaque should be adorned with quotes from this past week.
Afterthoughts:
- What do you think of Bud Selig's comment, "The so-called "steroid era" - a reference that is resented by the many players who played in that era and never touched the substances - is clearly a thing of the past, and Mark's admission today is another step in the right direction." Steroid era over? I believe it is until the next star is busted.
- Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds, you're on the clock.
Today on Mike and Mike in the morning, Tony La Russa was interviewed and asked the question, "did you ever suspect anything was going on?" La Russa claimed that he never suspected any steroid use in his locker room and that the weight lifting program outlined by the team was intense but legit.
To that I say - "Child please". Somebody who has been engrossed in the culture of baseball for as long as La Russa would have knowledge of steroid use. Put it this way, if an everyday office employee was asked about drama or gossip in their office the majority of folks could share quite a bit. There's no way Tony couldn't have been privy to steroid use in his on locker room.
Also, listen to the language that Mark is using to describe his use of HGH and steroids. He explains PED's as a cure, "it was going to help me heal faster". Well isn't that a cute and neat response. Former PED users would never state that the reason they injected themselves was to become stronger or faster - there would be no pity. Mark wants to reenter baseball and to do so he needs forgiveness. Responses such as this play on the fact that we love to forget/forgive. Shouldn't we hold Mark and other users accountable for the affects that PED's have on the body beyond those of a recovery aid?! As a sports fan please don't accept this answer, demand that athletes who used PED's be held accountable for all of the affects that steroids have on an athlete not just some of them.
I'll also point out that Mark has left out one very important apology - his apology to Congress. And while he never lied under oath, simply because he didn't say anything, he did make a mockery of those proceedings. He wasted this counties time and insulted our intelligence.
Lastly, his timing shows great selfishness and immaturity. By Mark waiting till the long arm of the law (Congress) extended no further before making his tear filled apology highlights the fact that he wanted to own up to his mistakes, just not to the consequences that accompany them. Amazing.
I hope Mark McGwire denied entry into the Cooperstown but if by some odd chance he's voted in, his plaque should be adorned with quotes from this past week.
Afterthoughts:
- What do you think of Bud Selig's comment, "The so-called "steroid era" - a reference that is resented by the many players who played in that era and never touched the substances - is clearly a thing of the past, and Mark's admission today is another step in the right direction." Steroid era over? I believe it is until the next star is busted.
- Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds, you're on the clock.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Oldest College Hockey Rinks, the Gut
Travel Ten: Oldest college hockey rinks
New Ads for The University of Vermont
I'm sure you've noticed that when a game is aired on TV the two schools playing show ads that promote their respective schools. The University of Vermont is no different and recently produced three new television ads. Be on the lookout for these ads when Marqus Blakely and the men's basketball team welcome in BU on Sunday, January 17th on ESPNU at 2:00pm. Or catch the Hockey Cats travel to UMass on Sunday, January 24th at 3:00pm on ESPNU.
Enjoy.
Comments?
Enjoy.
Comments?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Gilbert Arenas - Providing A Variety Of Amusements
With all the news that's been circulating about Gilbert Arenas a few thoughts came to mind, which I think are worth sharing.
There are plenty of curses in major sports, such as the Curse of the Bambino, Curse of Billy the Goat, and the Madden Curse. (Recently my favorite has been the Sports Illustrated Cover Curse.) I mention these because in '08 Gilbert Arenas was on the cover of EA Sports' NBA Live video game and although there's no curse directly related to the game, it did start a negative chain of events for Arenas.
Soon after his appearance on the game's cover he suffered multiple injuries from which he has arguably never recovered from and of course the latest episode - Arenas bringing four guns into the Wizards locker room, which supposedly started over a gambling debt. I won't get into the issue of gambling now but it is certainly another matter that is not receiving much attention.
Another matter that I found startling is the NBA's written gun rule, which prohibits anyone from bringing a gun(s) onto company property. I learned of the rule after reading about Arenas' infamous gun show and immediately thought, "what kind of people are in the NBA if there needs to be a spelled out gun rule???"
You've all seen this picture by now but its worth sharing because it's funny for all the wrong reasons. Not to say this situation lacks humor, because it doesn't, but Arenas' attempt at humor falls well short. This picture demonstrates his immaturity and points to the cloud upon which stars in this country think they walk upon.
Now to the humor....
Remember the name of the Washington Wizards prior to 1995? You got it - Washington Bullets. And before then, the team was actually known as the Baltimore Bullets.
That said, let's pick up the team during the 90's, when D.C. had a particularly high crime and homicide rate, which unfortunately but coincidentally aligned with the team's name. Isn't it funny that Arenas plays for a team formally know as the Bullets? Oh, and if there happens to be a dramatic increase in demand for Bullets gear I guess we know who's responsible.
Adding to the humor is the following picture of the Wizards mascot, G-Man. Make of it what you will but you have to agree the team might want to dispense of the air gun for the next few games.
For such a sad situation I'm glad humor can be found. As for Arenas though, doesn't he wish it was 2008.
Side notes:
- Although he continues to lose sponsors, how happy is Tiger to have a distraction such as this to shift the conversation away from him? For example, no one seems to have noticed that the 2010 PGA Tour started in Kapalua today.
- Don't be surprised if Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor comes out soon in support of Arenas. After all he did publicly support Michael Vick.
There are plenty of curses in major sports, such as the Curse of the Bambino, Curse of Billy the Goat, and the Madden Curse. (Recently my favorite has been the Sports Illustrated Cover Curse.) I mention these because in '08 Gilbert Arenas was on the cover of EA Sports' NBA Live video game and although there's no curse directly related to the game, it did start a negative chain of events for Arenas.
Soon after his appearance on the game's cover he suffered multiple injuries from which he has arguably never recovered from and of course the latest episode - Arenas bringing four guns into the Wizards locker room, which supposedly started over a gambling debt. I won't get into the issue of gambling now but it is certainly another matter that is not receiving much attention.
Another matter that I found startling is the NBA's written gun rule, which prohibits anyone from bringing a gun(s) onto company property. I learned of the rule after reading about Arenas' infamous gun show and immediately thought, "what kind of people are in the NBA if there needs to be a spelled out gun rule???"
You've all seen this picture by now but its worth sharing because it's funny for all the wrong reasons. Not to say this situation lacks humor, because it doesn't, but Arenas' attempt at humor falls well short. This picture demonstrates his immaturity and points to the cloud upon which stars in this country think they walk upon.
Now to the humor....
Remember the name of the Washington Wizards prior to 1995? You got it - Washington Bullets. And before then, the team was actually known as the Baltimore Bullets.
That said, let's pick up the team during the 90's, when D.C. had a particularly high crime and homicide rate, which unfortunately but coincidentally aligned with the team's name. Isn't it funny that Arenas plays for a team formally know as the Bullets? Oh, and if there happens to be a dramatic increase in demand for Bullets gear I guess we know who's responsible.
Adding to the humor is the following picture of the Wizards mascot, G-Man. Make of it what you will but you have to agree the team might want to dispense of the air gun for the next few games. For such a sad situation I'm glad humor can be found. As for Arenas though, doesn't he wish it was 2008.
Side notes:
- Although he continues to lose sponsors, how happy is Tiger to have a distraction such as this to shift the conversation away from him? For example, no one seems to have noticed that the 2010 PGA Tour started in Kapalua today.
- Don't be surprised if Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor comes out soon in support of Arenas. After all he did publicly support Michael Vick.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Creative Majors at Boise State
The following picture screams of middle school humor but I'll share anyways. (Check out Johnson's major)
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Cats Faced Final Four Team??
After a terrible loss to Nebraska in which UVM looked completely outgunned, Senior May Kotsopoulos made a bold prediction:
“I think they are the second best team that I have ever played,” UVM senior guard May Kotsopoulos said about Nebraska. “They are not as good as UConn, but they are very good. I think they have a good chance of being in the Final Four.”
UVM was hoping for a better showing on their home court but yesterday was not their day. Adding to the team's frustration must be the fact that each time they played UConn they held the Huskies to under 94 points and kept it closer than 44. Oh, and both meetings between the Cats and Huskies were in Storrs!
However, if Nebraska reaches the Final Four May's prediction won't seem outlandish and this loss won't sting quite so bad.
Full article
Highlights
PS - How terrible are Nebraska's uni's!?
“I think they are the second best team that I have ever played,” UVM senior guard May Kotsopoulos said about Nebraska. “They are not as good as UConn, but they are very good. I think they have a good chance of being in the Final Four.”
UVM was hoping for a better showing on their home court but yesterday was not their day. Adding to the team's frustration must be the fact that each time they played UConn they held the Huskies to under 94 points and kept it closer than 44. Oh, and both meetings between the Cats and Huskies were in Storrs!
However, if Nebraska reaches the Final Four May's prediction won't seem outlandish and this loss won't sting quite so bad.
Full article
Highlights
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