Barry Bonds - Sorry, but you ARE a joke

Recently the big story in baseball was the press conferences for Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi and Giants outfielder Barry Bonds. This coming off an off-season in which the steroids issue has become a hot topic even more so than before.

In Giambi's press conference he applauded baseball's new steroid policy (another joke in itself), but of course he would! He'd be stupid to not after everything he's been through. Bonds had a little more animated conference later in the week.

Bonds took a stand as if to say that he didn't care about everything circling him. He has a cocky attitude, as he always has, and knows he is going to pass Babe Ruth on the all time home run list. But the speculation that he's on steroids or juiced somehow will forever surround any of his accomplishments.. Now I will go on record as to say I've never like Barry Bonds. But the reasons continue to grow.

In his press conference he tried turning the tables on the media and make it seem like he's not the good guy and the media is the one creating the circus and making a joke out of everything. Sorry Barry, but I'm not buying it.

The moment you took a substance that you didn't know what it was, you open yourself up for public questioning and right to know the truth. If you are the leader by far on pace to break the home run record and this kind of question comes up you better be prepared to face the consequences. If you are truly innocent then you have nothing to worry about and shouldn't be stressed out about it. You're obviously not concerned about your public image, otherwise you wouldn't be so cocky on the field as well.

Step up to the plate Barry. You're at bat this season.

Read more...

NASCAR NAS

NASCAR NAS? What is NAS? "NAS" is a little acronym I like to use, representing my feelings towards such activities that I deem to be "Not A Sport." I have had this argument many times so get in your corner and act like a lightweight going against a heavy weight, because I'm coming out swinging.

I base my argument based on the definition of the very word "sport". The source for today will be dictionary.com, which defines "sport as:

sport ( P ) Pronunciation Key (spôrt, sprt)
n.

1. 1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
   2. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.

I also throw in that I have classifications of sports, and they stem down to two basic categories; Category A Sport, and Category B sport. Creative, huh? In order for the greatest sports all over the world to be considered a top notch sport, you want to fall under Category A classification. Category A sports are your real sports such as football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and so on. Category B sports contain all other athletic competitions such as swimming, distance running, slalom, and so on. Let's examine each before we go on.

Category A Sports
The qualifications to b Category A are simple.

• There must be two (or more) teams or individuals competing against each other head on. The outcome of one team directly affects the opposing team (Example: One team scores, the other is immediately behind, no questions asked). This means there are no judges giving scores (umpires and officials are allowed for rule enforcement)
  
• Defense. There must be a recognizable sense of a defense that the plain eye can see. In most cases this is obvious because one team will control the ball (or puck) in an attempt to score. Baseball is the rare exception where the defense actually controls the ball at all times.
• Physical exertion must be evident.
  
• No points systems to determine leaders or champions or rankings. Head to head competition is the only way to judge who the better team is.

Category B Sports
The qualifications for Category B sports are made to state that while not a top notch sport, they are in deed still a sport.

• Head-to-head competition in a different sense. The actions of one team may not directly affect the opposition, but it is clear that one team or individual can out perform the other. Swimming is the best example of this. While one swimmer may be late to dive in, it does not mean the other swimmers were directly affected by this.
• Time may be used to determine winners and losers. Fastest times usually win, but longest times can be used in certain situations.
• Again, no judges allowed.
• Physical exertion must be evident.

And this brings me to the NAS classification. Can anybody argue that auto racing falls into one of these categories? Please try. I admit I am biased because I choose not to ever sit and watch cars go around in circles until somebody finishes (except slot car racing - that can be fun!). But I firmly believe that my categories of sports should be the universal classification from here on.

I continue to cringe and roll my eyes EVERY time that my sports programming world continues to say (more like cram down my throat) that auto racing is a sport. It simply is not. If millions of people do it every day for convenience, travel, or running errands, it is not a sport. Driving is not a sport. Stop me if I've said this enough.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch some World Series of Poker on ESPN.

Read more...

How to Create a Student Section

This one goes out to all of you small school students. You know, the ones that don't have a division one basketball team or a school that will provide a free t-shirt for you every game.

Do you ever get jealous of those kids you see on ESPN when their basketball team is playing? All the schools have them; rowdy student sections. Michigan has all their students in yellow shirts, Notre Dame has everyone in green, Syracuse dresses them all in orange. The best student section of all time resides in Duke with the Cameron Crazies, where the students camp out hours before games just to get a spot in the arena, and are so uniform in their cheers throughout the game.

To be a part of something like that must be a lot of fun. So if it's so fun for them, why can't it be done on the smaller level? If you get a bunch of college students in one area at one time and tell them to be rowdy, odds are they'll be rowdy. So I present my guide to forming a student section:

• Everybody must wear either A) the same color, or B) mix of school colors
• Where to sit? Across from the benches, surrounding the cheer leaders and pep band.
• Get jam packed together and become one.
  
• Make noise when the opposing team shoots foul shots.
• When the visiting team is being introduced there are many things you could do. My favorite is just not watching by either A) turning your back, or B) reading a newspaper)
• Remain standing until the opposing team scores their first points in either half.
• Actually follow and participate in the cheers from the cheerleaders (or pep band).

But how do we get the students of a school together to show their pride and represent themselves? Free shirts always work. But why don't fraternities and sororities get their members together and go to a game together? This is a great way to bond with your brothers and sisters and showing your pride in your school at the same time! I wish people would realize that the likes of Heiges Field House would be exploding if they actually got people to show up. It's embarrassing when the visiting team has more fans supporting them than the home team's students.

So I will make this announcement to all the students of Shippensburg University. I will unofficially declare Saturday, February 26 to be School Spirit Day. The main event will be the basketball double-header in Heiges Field House from 1pm and 4:30pm. I challenge all students to pack Heiges as the teams fight for their playoff lives. Did you know the men's team is fighting for the final playoff spot? Don't you think they would love the support of their students? Get your roommate, your hall mates, your fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, your friends from across campus. Everybody dress in red, white or blue (crazy hair and face paint is purely optional). And pack Heiges Field House as much you can. Jump up and down, be crazy, be nuts. Cheer with the cheerleaders. Sing along with the pep band.

And most importantly, have fun.

Read more...

R.I.P. NHL

Finally, there is something that can take my sports-oriented mind off of the Eagles Super Bowl defeat to the New England Patriots. But this isn't necessarily a good thing. Yes, the Phillies start spring training today with their pitchers and catchers, but I can honestly say that this isn't even the event occupying my mind right now.

The National Hockey League canceled their entire season today. In an event so monumental that it made me, of all people, create a Blogger, it was announced that there would be no recipient of Lord Stanley's Cup. The thought of any miraculous saves, triple overtime playoff games, heavy-weight fisticuffs, or grueling seven game series is now just that; a thought.

So now while the few of us who actually enjoy or follow hockey frown at the money-starving league and it's players, we look forward. Will there be a season ever again? Or is the NHL officially dead? It's hard to think the NHL can possibly make a comeback with any level of success. It has been losing money at a very fast pace and it is hard to recover form the bullets that they have already been impaired with. The NHL needs more than a stitch-up. They need a full reconstructive surgery.

The NHL is now the league with the dubious distinction of being the first to cancel an entire season. Only major league baseball has lost more games to work stoppages, and to be honest, who wants to be in the same boat as baseball when it comes to this? Polls left and right show that a large majority of this nation does not care. ESPNews did a state by state breakdown and just like election time gave us an illustration of red states (that don't care about the NHL being canceled) and the blue states (those that miss hockey). Or, after seeing the map, should I say the red states and red states? All fifty states showed that they do not care about the lock out.

NHL merchandise sales have plummeted,, teams have been fighting bankruptcies, and fans are going away. Now that this NHL lockout has canceled the season, we can focus on everything else. March Madness is right around the corner, followed by baseball opening day, NFL draft, and the NBA playoffs.

Do you believe in miracles?

Read more...