Sports culture.

Nothing can bring people together and tear people apart more than sports.

A person feels an instant sense of comradeship when they find out that a stranger shares the same love and interest for a specific sport. Two complete strangers could become sworn enemies just because one of them is wearing a different colored jersey.

 This happens around the world. Whether in professional sports, or in street games, people see sports as a way to communicate and share with one another. When I was young I remember going to soccer games and the crowd being incredibly loud and passionate. They would yell at the opposing team and wear the colors of their team as if they were getting paid for it.

There were kids as young as five, if not younger, sporting a specific jersey and having his/her face painted with a favorite team's colors.

Sports will always be one of those things that we can be passionate about. Sports will always be one of those things that we use as an excuse to go out to a bar with friends, throw a viewing party at home, or simply discuss the games the next morning.

Sports is more than just who scored, it has become a social event and it has also been deeply rooted into our cultures and it will most likely never go away.

Art Howe upset with "Moneyball"

"Moneyball" was released in theatres last week to rave reviews. It is based on the book "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game" by Michael Lewis, and tells the story of Billy Beane and the 2002 Oakland A's. Beane was given a very small budget for players, 28th in the league that year, yet managed to assemble a team that won over 100 games. He was able to accomplish this through what is known as sabremetrics.

Art Howe, former Mets manager, was the Oakland A's manager at the time, and he felt slighted by his portrayal in the aforementioned film. In the film, Art Howe is portrayed as simply unimportant, with pretty much all of the teams success the result of Billy Beane. One scene even has Beane, portrayed by Brad Pitt, laughing at Art Howe being given credit for the teams success. Howe stated of the movie "It wasn't even close to my personality. They just went out of their way to degrade me." The Oakland A's did achieve great success under Art Howe's managerial reign, twice winning over 100 games, however as Moneyball argues Art Howe deserves little credit for the teams success. It is an age old question in baseball, and a battle that is still being fought by sabremetric analysts. What do yo think?

Hoffman and Rivera

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/6995779/buster-olney-mariano-rivera-trevor-hoffman-plenty-common

This is one of the best sports articles I have ever read. It was written by the great Buster Olney of ESPN and he does a very good job looking at the two greatest closers professional baseball has ever seen. Of course I was extremely bias when I read this article because Trevor Hoffman was one of my heroes when I was growing up in San Diego. In my heart he will always be the greatest closer, but in reality the greatest closer of all time is the great Mariano Rivera. Even though Rivera now has the all time saves record, it is important not to forget the accomplishments of Hoffman who was the first to 500 and 600 saves. Olney was the perfect man to write this article because he was the beat reporter for both the Padres and the Yankees when there two superstars were up and coming. Both Hoffman and Rivera will be in the Hall of Fame for their accomplishments. Both men worked their tails off to become the best which is exactly what they became.

A Ray of Hope

With a Russell Martin ground ball and a Matt Joyce swing, the season comes down to one day for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Seemingly destined for an October full of par 3's and halfway houses on the green, the Tampa Bay Rays are tied for the American League lead in the Wild Card race, with the Boston Red Sox. The Rays were able to gain a game in the standings and take a share of the lead, Monday night in Florida, as the Red Sox fell to the Orioles in Baltimore. Tuesday night, the Yankees took a lead into the seventh inning, and looked to put the final nail in the coffin, for the would be Cinderella story of the A.L. East. However, with the bases loaded after scoring the go ahead run, and no outs, Yankee catcher Russell Martin hit a ground ball to Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, which resulted in a season saving triple play. This set the stage for late game drama in the sunshine state.

Minutes later, Rays outfielder Matt Joyce hit what could possibly be the biggest home run for the Rays this season, on a pitch from the Florida teams closer from last year. Rafael Soriano, saw the ball which left his hands only seconds ago, soar over the right field wall and into the story books.

With the Red Sox also winning Tuesday night against the Orioles, the season comes down to one game for each team tomorrow. If the standings hold up, there would be a one game wild card playoff in Tampa Bay on Thursday to determine who goes on, and who goes home.

162 games all comes down to a Wednesday night. The Red Sox send Jon Lester to the mound tomorrow on three days rest, and the Rays will choose David Price to duel it out with New York. Both games start tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Information for this article found here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310927130

  

Going Too Far

John Lackey, Red Sox pitcher, has filed for divorce from his wife, Krista. It is perfectly acceptable for media outlets, such as TMZ, to break this news at a time when the Red Sox are in the spotlight.

Some news organizations are questioning Lackey's character for divorcing a woman who is battling breast cancer. Although a bit harsh, this detail is something that people want to know, and it can be justified.

What can not be justified, however, are the actions of one mystery reporter who completely crossed the line in a professional media/athlete relationship.

"Let me tell you the truth. Thirty minutes before the game, I got a text message on my cellphone from one of you ... somebody in the media, talking about personal stuff," Lackey told the Boston Globe. "And I shouldn't even be standing up here having to deal with this. I'm sitting here listening to music. I don't know who got my phone number, but that's over the line."

Lester was understandably testy throughout the interview. In addition to the Sox's desperate struggle to get to the playoffs and his own personal problems at home, he now has to deal with harassment from media on his private cell phone.

Sure, reporters have to do their best to get a scoop. Whether or not players like it, they can roam the clubhouse and try to corner the athletes for a quote. Reporters can ask tough questions during a press conference and make players uncomfortable. But there are lines that should not be crossed, and this mystery reporter went WAY too far.

There is a reason why the press are kicked out of the clubhouse in the moments before a game starts; the players deserve privacy and peace to compose themselves before walking onto their diamond stage. Harassing text messages during 30 minutes before a game is not only rude and unethical, it could have potentially damaged his game. This reporter might as well have trespassed on Lackey's property and knocked on his door during dinnertime.

Colts Can't Win Without MVP

"Peyton Manning won't receive any MVP votes in 2011.

But maybe he should"

That lede couldn't have been written any better.

Peyton Manning has to be chalked up as one of the most important players on a team in the history of the NFL.

The Colts horrendous start to the 2011 season definitely proves it.

Manning, who has undergone two neck surgeries this year, status for the season is up in the air and if I'm a Colts fan, I'm scared not only for this season but for next as well.

The Colts have never been known for being a defensive team. Offense won every game they played and the leader of that offensive colt was Peyton.

Now that he is gone, the Colts offense is as atrocious as its defense.

Through all this rambling the key point to note is that Peyton Manning deserves the MVP award this year because he truly is thee Most Valuable Player in the NFL.

Here is USA Today's story on the issue. LINK

The Line Between Fan and Journalist Blurred Once Again

http://www.nesn.com/2011/03/the-news-sentinel-editor-tweets-to-high-school-recruit-collin-hartment-to-attend-butler.html

The story was widely reported, but this comes from NESN, the New England equivalent to New York's SNY.

As the story goes, Tom Davis, a sports editor at the Fort Worth News-Sentinel, tweeted a college basketball prospect, trying to sway him to attend his alma mater, Butler.

This is an instance of something that was covered in class, giving up being a fan to be a journalist. Though he is not directly related to college basketball and does not cover it, I still see it as unprofessional to do something like this.

It is made even more laughable because the kid to whom he tweeted had already been committed to Indiana for 4 months when the tweet was sent. Not that these tweets ever actually sway a player, but it makes the situation even more puzzling.

In my opinion, this is far over the line. There is an etiquette developing on Twitter, and this definitely does not fit into the code. In the same light, it's inappropriate to "fish" for a retweet by saying something like "wow @__________ had an awesome game tonight! what a great player!"

Obviously, it's not some sort of fireable offense, but it would personally change my view of a certain journalist.

A world without the NBA

Picture: Google images.

Here we go again. We just finished with the NFL CBA drama, and now the National Basketball Association (NBA) postponed camp and cut 43 preseason games, because league officials and the players’ union weren’t able to come up with an agreement.

The main issue stems from the financial capability of all teams to participate equally for the championship-- it boils down to a hard cap vs a soft cap-- but fans really don't care, they all just want the season to start already and continue the stories. Plus didn’t Dallas’ championship run, the Spurs’ remarkable season, the rise of the Thunder, and even Memphis’ play in the first round of NBA playoffs last year prove this stuff wrong.

Anyway, here’s a realistic message to the NBA: as sad as it will be, the world will continue to spin without your league. Why?

#1- Although players will not get the money they were expecting, leagues around the world will be happy to accept most NBA players' services.

#2- The NBA coincides for the most part with the college basketball season, and because of its intense competition and devotion of fans, college basketball already gives the NBA a run for its money. The only problem is that young players will have to aim for a new league, either aboard or…

#3- another home grown league that gains popularity. The self-destruction of the NBA will not be the end of American basketball.

#4- Not to mention the National Hockey League could see an increased in coverage that fans have prayed on hands and knees for.

It doesn’t look like there will be a NBA season this upcoming year, so prepare yourselves, but for me, I can’t wait for the college basketball season so I can see the Red, Storm the court.

--La Guerre

Sources: NY times, NY Post, NBA.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/sports/basketball/nba-postpones-camps-and-cancels-43-preseason-games.html?_r=1&ref=sports

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/nba_postpones_training_camps_nixes_mQbrRVT7nNoha6BTgm6mbM

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/steve_aschburner/09/13/labor-update-tuesday/index.html

How impactful has Twitter been on sports?

I, unlike a lot of people I follow on Twitter, was one of the lucky ones who did not shell out the $60 it cost to watch the Ortiz vs. Mayweather boxing match this past weekend.

I was glad I didn't order the fight, although ever since I was young I always found boxing to be one of the most exciting sports to watch, not only because the fight was short-lived but because everyone on my Timeline recounted the fight step by step.

Some people were extremely descriptive and it felt as if I was sitting in front of a television screen witnessing the fight with my own eyes.

This is not the first time a sporting event takes over both my Twitter timeline and facebook newsfeed. As someone who does not follow sports closely, I am actually extremely grateful for this because I can take part and become involved in the games vicariously through other people.

I have learned about breaking news such as Mariano Rivera recently breaking the save records with his No. 602 save, as well as the quick Ortiz knockout all through Twitter.

Twitter allows sports fans to express their thoughts while keeping everyone well informed, and is it in the process creating more fans?

I know it has affected me in a way, in that I automatically begin doing my own research to see if what I am reading is actually accurate and by doing so I am educating myself in an area that I otherwise would have ignored.

Thank you Twitter, and thank you to the sports lovers that I follow!

After years of complaining from both fans and players alike, the New York Mets are finally considering making some changes to Citi Field. Since its opening, Citi Field has been known as one of the longest ballparks in Major League baseball, and one not hitter friendly.

The major league baseball average of home runs to balls put in play is currently 2.5 percent. At Citi Field this number is a measly 1.9 percent.

Sandy Alderson announced plans to begin analyzing this data after last night's loss to the Cardinals. Any changes to the dimensions of the stadium, according to Alderson, would be "not subtle."

Among the changes planned include a reduction of the 16 foot high wall in left field, comically referred to as "The Great Wall of Flushing", but the team is looking at shortening dimensions in all areas of the ballpark.

I think this is a much needed change for the Mets. They have been a lackluster team since the opening of Citi Field, and have had troubles with both their offense and their defense. These proposed changes would provide a much needed boost to the Mets offense, and also offer a suffering fan base something to look forward too.

Source:

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/shrinking_citi_mets_ready_to_move_DCiQ3nY97wjh5tyh2MmbWI

Great Britain Soccer Team?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/sports/soccer/even-for-olympic-soccer-uniting-britain-may-be-tough.html?_r=1&ref=sports

With the 2012 Summer Olympics coming up next year, London and Great Britain as a whole are starting to make final preparations for the games. One of the proposals by the Britain Olympic Committee is to combine the four football (soccer) federations of the United Kingdom into one national team to compete for the gold medal.

If this were to happen it would be monumental since Great Britain hasn’t fielded a national team in the Olympics since 1960. The only problem with this is Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland doesn’t want their teams picked apart to put together a super team to compete in England’s Olympic Games.

The other nations simply don’t want their identities ruined and are not happy about players from their countries playing side-by-side with their bitter rivals in England. Whether or not the nations allow their players to compete on the team The Olympic Committee said they will probably still field a United Kingdom team, it just might be with players solely from England.

It would be nice to see the United Kingdom in the Olympics since the games are being held in the birthplace of modern soccer. But if the smaller countries don’t want to break up their teams to field a combined squad of players than maybe they shouldn’t have to. When I hear the United Kingdom or Great Britain I think of England it would be a great idea if it worked out but if the smaller countries don’t want it then England should for once… listen to what they have to say.

Danton's Prison Time Saves a Life

Mike Danton, former NHL player, spent years in prison for plotting a murder. Back on the ice, he is using the lessons learned to save a life.

While playing for IFC Ore in Sweden, Danton watched his teammate, Marcus Bengtsson, hit the ice in a fit of convulsions. Relying on instinct and experience, Danton dropped down next to his friend and got to work. As soon as Bengtsson's jaw unclenched, Danton reached his hand in to prevent possible choking on the tongue.

"I have seen seizures before. In prison, druggies would come in off the streets and have withdrawals. So, when the convulsions did not (stop) after a couple of minutes, I knew something was wrong," said Danton.

Danton was convicted in 2004 on conspiracy to commit murder. David Frost, his former coach, was thought to be the target for Danton's hired hit man. It was later discovered that Danton's target was actually Steve Jefferson, his estranged father.

After playing for both the New Jersey Devils and the St. Louis Blues, Danton was sentenced to 90 months in prison where he took a first aid course and was certified in first aid response.

Denton must have paid attention in his lessons, because Bengtsson survived the incident and is recovering well in a local hospital.

"I know this is going to sound nuts, but I'm glad I went to prison," said Danton. "I don't like the length of time I went there for. But I'm fortunate for the opportunity, because the negative-slash-downward spiral that would have happened would have been 10 times worse. It saved me in a way."

For critics and judgmental hockey fans, this was Danton's way of proving that a man can change for the better.

Post-prison, Danton hit the books at St. Mary's University, where he also finally started to play hockey again. He has said that he plans to get his Ph.D. in psychology.

Has this athlete finally found the right path?

Read more here at the NY Daily News.

Kyle Anderson Chooses UCLA

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/high_school/basketball/john_anthony_anderson_picks_ucla_vUQTk8eKb9gr4iBxN4Xm8N

This story was inherently newsworthy in the New York area because St. John's was in Anderson's final list of five schools that he was considering, along with Seton Hall, Georgetown, Florida, and UCLA.

But, the more interesting story is deeper than that.

Anderson is a top 5 player in the country from the Class of 2012, which meant his commitment had important implications for both the school he chose and those he did not.

His skill has landed him in the spotlight since he was young, and that national interest only grew as he got closer to his decision.

In a time when players go on ESPNU to announce their decision and ultimately make a media circus of the whole thing, Anderson took a different route.

For a time, he maintained that he would make his decision on the date of his 18th birthday, September 20th. His father, Kyle Sr., ran most of his recruitment.

To his credit, Anderson Jr. is, himself, as intelligent and savvy person off the court as he is a player on.

That fact, together with help from his father, resulted in one of the most drama-free, professional public recruitments in recent memory.

Many people drew parallels to the way LeBron James handled his big decision in the Summer of 2010. Because James handled it the way he did, media and fans scorned him and those negative feelings persist.

Anderson, on the other hand, is coming away from this being perceived as a consummate professional because he kept things low-key and business-like throughout the entire process.

After his decision was announced last night via his Twitter page, fans from schools he did not choose congratulated him and wished him the best of luck. The feeling from the media was the same. Anderson was an interesting and skilled high school player to cover and many recognize that.

Not a negative word has been spoken about him as a person regarding his decision and, because of the way he chose to handle things, he deserves that.

Patriots capitalize on Charger's mistakes

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/sports/football/ones-rumbling-ones-stumbling.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

I had to pick this article because it is not very often that a Chargers game will make its way into the New York Times. This article was written by Judy Battista and I thought that she did a good job writing this article. She didn't give us a play by play version of the game but coming from someone that watched the whole game, she hit on the key points that should have been mentioned.

She did a very good job in describing the key fumble that changed the game which happened mid way through the fourth quarter when Charger's running back Mike Tolbert fumbled as the Chargers were driving. And she did a good job in highlighting Tom Brady. His first two weeks of the season have been nothing but impressive. It doesn't matter who the Patriots put on the offense with him. He always seems to make every player around him better and yesterday was no exception. The Chargers have a lot of work to do going forward. I do believe that they will make the playoffs but key mistakes always seem to hurt the Chargers because they always pick the wrong time to make mistakes. 

Syracuse & Pittsburgh Out; What's Next For The Big East

Syracuse and Pittsburgh undoubtedly have been two of the top programs in the Big East for a while now but as of today, the are no longer.

The announcement has been made that both teams will be leaving the Big East and going over to the Atlantic Coast Conference, better known as, the ACC.

What seems to be a realignment of sorts has left the Big East with question marks all over especially with reports that Connecticut, Rutgers and West Virginia are also possibly attempting to head over to the ACC as well.

Though there is a 27 month waiting period before Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and who ever else decides to join them can be a part of the ACC, the Big East has to make moves to regain its "hardest conference in the nation" title by adding teams that have won on a consistant basis and can produce a nice swirl around the conference.

Here are some options:

1. Baylor - A program that is on the rise thanks impart to two straight strong recruiting seasons, this years and next, could definitely use some exposure. Why not test the new found talents in the Big East?





2. Kansas - Not quite sure what is going on in the Big 12 but there have been talks of Kansas possibly joining the Big East and with their track record over the years, they would definitely fit into the conference easily.





3. Butler - If there has been any team in the past two years that has earned more respect than any other college team in the nation, it's Butler. Two straight years in the NCAA Finals definitely gives them the chance to make a run for a bigger conference. Only question is, could they sustain these runs in a harder conference.





4. Arizona - A combination of the both Butler and Baylor, Arizona had a great stretch of run in the tournament last year and are poised to have 3 of the Top 20 recruits from the 2012 Class join them. A bigger stage for a bigger team seems suitable.





5. Honorable mentions - Tennessee, Memphis, Kansas State and Xavier.

The question is though, which couple of teams are willing to join the Big East and which rather remain in their conference. There are plenty of teams in the nation other then those listed that could make the jump but would any of these teams help out a conference that has already lost two and could potentially see three of it's powerhouse programs gone by 2013?

Article Link

Hey mom, I’m on TV

Picture: Boys and Girls vs Lincoln H.S. in the Basketball finals at MSG. Picture from the NYTimes.

You may not know about the thrilling rivalry between Boys and Girls and Lincoln High School basketball teams in Brooklyn, the strength of the near perfect Tottenville and George Washington baseball teams, or even the fierce Fort Hamilton Tigers football team. But you may see these teams on TV soon.

The Board of Education’s Public School Athletic League (P.S.A.L) and Cablevision’s MSG Varsity is nearing a half-a-million dollar deal that will broadcast many public high school games through some parts of the city and the Tri-State area.

Let’s throw away the political and moral issues that this deal could implement in the future like the right age to be treating kids as pros, and the money the city government will be making off children, and let’s just yell out to the heavens– IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!!

For decades New York City high school sports have been covered in the media by various newspapers, and in recently many blogs and websites. Other school systems in other states had their sports broadcasted for years, and are truly popular among residents. It’s about time the largest public school system in the country, in probably the most influential city in the world, do this.

Now let’s ask those political and moral questions. Is this right? Is this too extreme? It’s okay to make money off of college athletes, because they are on scholarships (NCAA’s form of wages), and of adult age. But now we are talking about making money off of high school kids. Forgive my language, but is it okay to “slave,” or “pimp,” these kids out. There are no scholarships here, after a while we know this will expand – sports ventures always do—and when it becomes 1 million, and then 2 and 3 million to broadcast public school games, who will be getting the cut. The schools? The government? The coaches? I bet it won’t be the poor high school players, some of who don’t have close to enough to go to the next level of education. It seems like the argument will be that these kids will get “exposure,” which could “possibly” lead to academic scholarships for colleges and in some cases more. But not all of them will, and this is definitely not the same case as colleges.

While those deep words are weighing on you, let me remind you of my position, by saying I have been waiting for this move for long time and I am excited for it. I don't really know what issues this may bring, but since I used to play P.S.A.L. baseball for Boys and Girls High School I have always wanted to say “Hey mom, I’m on TV.” I’m pretty sure the kids of this age do too. Now when high school sports are shown on TV, I can enjoy watching my Boys High Kangaroos destroy the Lance Stephenson-less Lincoln Rail-Splitters in the finals, and during the season too!

-- La Guerre

Soucres: NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/sports/cablevisions-msg-varsity-nears-deal-for-psal-games.html

USA rugby showing its teeth as a future world power

Picture: Mike Petri, Scrum half of the USA rugby team. Picture by La Guerre

On September 11, 2011, the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, most warm-blooded American families watched memorial ceremonies and football games on the first Sunday in the NFL season.

However, elsewhere many were paying attention to the first round of the Rugby World Cup Pool C in New Zealand, where a young USA team put the events of 9/11 on their back, and confronted a much more talented, and experienced Ireland team.

The USA Eagles played hard against Ireland, but lost 22-10, which is probably one of the reasons you’re only hearing about this now. The other is the fact that USA rugby just isn’t popular, and probably never will be. But I dare you to tell that to the players’ face, because they definitely don’t play like it.

Ireland is ranked the eighth strongest team in the world and many critics exclaimed that even with the loss USA (#18) is getting more powerful with every world cup. In fact the USA team recovered from that loss and defeated Russia. Mike Petri – a Brooklynite on the team – scored the only try against Russia in the win, and he talked to me earlier in the year about the importance of this tournament to the development of rugby in the USA.

Now the Eagles are third of five in Pool C with 1 win and one loss. Just like the article below suggest, “second tier” teams like the USA are starting to build themselves and become stronger programs. Of course if may take many more Rugby World Cups, before they are recognized as a world power, but it doesn’t seem like it’ll take that long with the showing this USA team is having.

Now honestly, let’s be real, if the USA didn’t invent and play gridiron football—this nation probably would have dominated rugby too. The amount of money, time, and man-power that is used for the nation’s most popular sport is overwhelming. But hey, what’s so wrong with Americans loving American football, or even American baseball for that matter.

Just in case you were wondering, USA’s next game is on Friday, September 23, against Australia—the second ranked team in the world. A win against the Aussies or even a close loss will really make a statement for the future.

-- La Guerre

Sources: nytimes/ IRB (international Rugby Board)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/sports/rugby/13iht-rugby13.html?_r=2&src=recg

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/sports/rugby/2011-rugby-world-cup-us-defeats-russia.html

http://www.irb.com/rankings/

Personal lives of Athletes.

Unless it is Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter, the personal lives of any other Yankee remain obscure to the public. Recently there have been a few athletes who have married into Hollywood and have had their romantic lives on display for the world to watch. 

The Kardashian sisters have boosted the fame of their basketball significant others, Lamar Odom and Kris Humphries. The guys were previously unknown to the public eye unless one follows sports closely. Now they are both known worldwide and have their personal lives recorded for reality television.

 Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly's split also made headlines, while A-Rod is reported to be in and out of relationships with some of Hollywood's favorite leading ladies in the likes of Cameron Diaz and Kate Hudson. 

The split between Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush came about when Bush refused to be a part of the kind of lifestyle that Kim is used to. Bush wanted no part in being chased by paparazzi and having his every move taped and broadcast on the E! network.

The question is if whether or not Bush was right in pulling himself away from this situation. Does an athlete's involvement with celebrities and constant media exposure affect their sports performance? Does it affect their relationships with their teammates, which is crucial to their overall performance?

 

 Rihanna and then baseball boyfriend Matt Kemp

Maybe it is best for sports stars to keep their personal lives private and if the heart wins and they fall for a Hollywood starlet, they better hope the actress respects his desire of making sure their relationship stays under wraps. 

-Karla Rodriguez

Mariano Saves #600

I found this NY Post article particularly interesting as it dealt with a man who has been dominant for almost my entire life. Mariano Rivera saved his 600th game yesterday. While the save statistic is rather useless in evaluating pitchers, saving 600 games is certainly an impressive stat. He is now just 1 save shy of the all time record, currently held by Trevor Hoffman. It was Rivera's 41st save of the season, adding to a career that has already seen numerous 40 save seasons and cementing his legacy as the best closer. The article mentioned that Rivera chose to share an embrace with Derek Jeter after the save, as this feat combined with Derek Jeter's 3000th hit earlier this year simply added to the Yankee magic that we have all known for so long. The article finished up with a great quote by manager Joe Girardi, who formerly caught for Mariano and the Yankees in the 90's. “I don’t know if we will ever see [again] what Mo and Trevor Hoffman have done,” Girardi said. “He is the best closer ever in the game. He has given Yankee fans something to be proud of.”

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/rivera_blows_away_for_th_save_cw0sHBI2AbWZ8da2dgUsDO#ixzz1XwCuppPa

The Birds Bow Out Again

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/sports/baseball/blue-jays-and-orioles-compete-far-from-the-pennant-races.html?_r=1&ref=sports

I found this story on the Times' website and I thought it was really unique. Around this time the MLB season is coming to a close and most sports writers are talking about playoff bound teams like the Yankees, and the Phillies. But in this story Tyler Kepner decided to talk about the final meeting between the Blue Jays and the Orioles, both clubs are on track to finish 4th and 5th respectively in the AL East this year.

If this series had occurred near the end of a season in the 1990's the stands would have been packed and the teams might've been playing each other for a shot at first place in a division usually dominated by the Yankees and Red Sox. In 1992 and 1993 the Blue Jays won back to back World Championships playing in front of sell-out crowds, and Toronto was absolutely in love with the team. Lately, the locals have been spending their summers waiting for the Maple Leafs to begin their next NHL season.

The days of Joe Carter and Cal Ripken Jr. are long gone and the three game weekend series between the two teams generated a low turnout; a combined attendance of just under 46,000. The Roger Centre alone sits over 50,000 spectators at full capacity. At the beginning of the year even The Hard Rock Cafe decided not to renew their lease as one of the restaurants with a view of the field at the Blue Jays home. The space is now plastered with billboards hiding what was once a unique feature of the stadium.

Kepner interviewed coaches or players from both sides and the feedback he received was very optimistic. But when it has been 14 seasons since the Orioles have had a record above .500 that is all you can do to keep the hope alive. Over the summer I spent a weekend in Baltimore at a hotel that was steps from Camden Yards, and on my walk to the Inner Harbor I passed a whole row of sports pubs and bars catering to the gameday crowd. I couldn't help but think how electric the neighborhood must've been when the Orioles made it to the AL Championship series in 1996 and '97.

It would be great if one of these teams can make a run in the next few seasons, because even if they are in the same division as my beloved Yankees I think it is fair to say that every team deserves a chance to have a great season.

Brady's 517 Yard Opener

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/sports/football/nfl-football-roundup-patriots-dolphins.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

This article was published in the New York Times Tuesday morning and it was written by the associated press. The article was about Tom Brady and his very impressive start to the 2011 football season. The Patriots beat their division rivals the Miami Dolphins 38-24 in what was the first of two Monday Night Football games on ESPN. The Patriots gained 622 yards of total offense which was the most in franchise history. Wes Welker did set a Patriots record with a 99 yard touchdown reception which is the longest play in Patriots history. But the star of last nights game was the legendary Tom Brady. The three time Super Bowl winner was 32 or 48 passing and became the eleventh player in NFL history to throw for at least 500 yards in a game.

This article also covered injuries that took place around the league during week 1 of the season. The St. Louis Rams took a big hit to their offense losing their starting quarterback (Sam Bradford) and starting running back (Stephen Jackson) for at least one week. The San Diego Chargers lost their Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding for the season after he torn his ACL on the opening kickoff of the season. And both the Panthers and Chiefs lose stubs in their defensive unit. 

Computers as Sports Reporters?

"Wisconsin looks to be in control of the game as it leads 34-3 at the end of the second quarter.

Wisconsin expanded its lead to 27-0 when Montee Ball ran for a one-yard touchdown to finish a four-play, 65-yard drive. The key play on the drive was a 63-yard pass from Russell Wilson to Ball.

UNLV closed the gap to 27-3 when Nolan Kohorst finished off the 12-play, 64-yard drive with a 37-yard field goal..."

This news brief from the Wisconsin- U.N.L.V. game is nothing more than just another running game story that sports reporters dread having to do- right?

Wrong.

This article was actually written by a computer and the recaps were automatically published within 60 seconds of the end of each quarter.

Narrative Science, based out of Evanson, IL, is responsible for this new phenomenon in reporting. With the motto "We turn data into stories," this company creates programming that proves artificial science is quickly moving into human territory. The company uses this technology not only for sports-related stories, but for a number of other subjects, including finance and the housing market. Essentially, any article that is based on statistics and data can be written by a computer.

“The quality of the narrative produced was quite good, as if written by a human, if not an accomplished wordsmith," said Oren Etzioni, a computer scientist at the University of Washington.

Despite its novelty, this new technology poses a number of ethical questions. Journalism, like many other fields, is struggling during this recession. Hundreds of people across the country are getting laid off as newspapers rapidly close their doors. The use of this computer system may only add to the layoffs, removing the need to hire reporters to write running game stories. Have we gone too far by continuing to replace humans with machines? Moreover, is it "true" journalism when it is written by a computer?

On the other hand, this system may prove to be a good thing for the sports journalism world. No reporter wants to be responsible for running game stories; they are stressful and don't allow any room for creativity. It is possible that by allowing a computer to write the technical stories, time will be freed for reporters to concentrate their efforts on more quality stories instead.

Maybe this technology won't catch on at all. Who knows? Only time will tell; this is just one more example that proves the journalism field is in technological turmoil. I, for one, am eager to see what will develop in the future.

Click here for the full NY Times article.

The Rebirth of American Tennis

-- American Donald Young leads US surprise at Open. Picture from Fox Sports.

A couple of months ago, I tweeted a bold, but honestly statement. “American tennis is dead.” Well think about it, for the past couple of years in the men’s competition, foreign names clogged up the winner’s bracket, while American players took a back seat. No American male has won a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick’s remarkable finish in the U.S. Open in 2003. For a while on the women’s side, future Hall of Famer Serena Williams was still dominating the WTA—then she got hurt. Holy moose crap! Are you serious? The nation that produced tennis royalty such as John Mcenroe, Arthur Ashe, Andre Agassi, Chris Evert, Billy Jean King and so much more had been reduced to nothing. Venus, the older Williams sister was suffering with injuries and age, and the top ranked American male at the time, Roddick lost his way. Furthermore there was barely news of any youngin’s in the making (See Ryan Harrison and Melanie Oudin.)

I was all about to fall into the common thinking that Americans had given up on “boring” tennis to play more “exciting,” money grabbing sports like football, baseball, and basketball. But then something happened during this year’s U.S. Open that made the heartbeat of American tennis beat faster than it has in a while. Maybe it’s because they’re at home, or maybe it’s because they’re feeling the constant criticisms in the media, but for whatever reason, American tennis players came alive again.

Starting with Donald Young—an American player from Chicago— who many had given up on after calling him a prodigy in his early days. He came back as a wild card in the U.S. Open and won three games elevating himself to the round of 16 in the Open, while defeating top ranked professional #14 Stanlislas Wawrinka. It would have been something if he could have defeated #4 Andy Murray of the United Kingdom, but maybe that would be asking too much for the #85 ranked player in the world at the moment.

Besides Young, Americans were all over the Open. Although no American male reached the Semis, they made a great showing. #28 John Isner, and veteran #21 Andy Roddick made the Quarters, and #8 Mardy Fish had a great tournament before his lost in a thriller to #11 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the round of 16. Then there is Serena Williams. She came back fierce, fast, flexible and completely healthy. The former #1 glided through the Open, making younger women from around the world look like rookies, until she lost in the finals after a breakdown to Australian Samantha Stosur.

With all the excitement it seems American tennis is buzzing in the media again. Maybe next year in the Australian Open I'll tweet “American tennis is alive and kicking.”

--La Guerre

Sources: Article by NYDN Filip Bondy

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-09-05/sports/30136960_1_andy-roddick-john-isner-novak-djokovic

Information from SI.com and ESPN.com

Is Super Nova really the rookie of the year?

Yankees rookie pitcher Ivan Nova has 15 wins. FIFTEEN!! If that’s not ridiculous enough to believe, then the fact that the Yankees have not lost a game with Nova on the mound since June 3^rd must be impossible. Personally, I love to see him on the mound as a Yankee fan, because he creates some optimistic thoughts about young starting pitching that the bombers haven’t seen probably since the days of Andy Pettitte— he definitely has caused a stir. As a matter of fact, many reports say that he is the clear front runner for this years’ American league rookie of the year award. But is he really worth the honor of being thee best rookie of the AL.

He pitches with an aggressive swagger while blending a humble tone, which creates the perfect baseball character. Personality aside, he has a mix of pitches that makes him deadly if he uses them efficiently. It’s no secret that Nova is a groundball pitcher. However, after his call up from the minors in mid-season, Nova returned with a sharper slider, and coupled that with a mid -90s fastball and a curveball with a deceiving drop. His accuracy still needs some work, but the fact that his game dramatically increased and can’t be disputed. His stat line currently reads 15-4 (78.9%), 3.94 era, 1.34 whip— and that makes him the Yankees’ real number two pitcher. Other important stats are 87 strikeouts (definitely a groundball guy) and 50 walks. At age 24, this is definitely a guy the Yankees should keep and develop, but back to the question at hand, is he the rookie of the year?

Well his competition includes the Mark Teixeira-like Mark Trumbo on the Angels, the electrifying Eric Hosmer on the Royals, Michael Pineda of the Mariners, and Jeremy Hellickson of Tampa Bay.

I’m going to rule out Trumbo, because while homers (26) are pretty, low batting averages (.254) are hideous and they usually don’t produce award winners. Then I’ll cut Hosmer, because he slightly fell off the RoY radar while the pitchers got more looks, but his .287 batting average, and 16 homers in nearly 500 at bats makes him the most complete player, and definitely a future star. And then there were two.

Honestly Pineada, and Hellickson have better numbers than Nova. They could be better pitchers on worst teams. The Mariners and the Rays most likely are not making the post season this year. However, Pineada (9-9) collected a ridiculous 163 strikeouts to go along with his 3.74 era, and 1.09 whip, which makes him a fantastic pitcher a possible future number one. Also, Hellickson (12-10) has the lowest era of the three (2.90), 107 strikeouts and a 1.13 whip. The usually argument is, if these pitchers were on the Yankees, the results would be more similar—an argument that reflects the recent Zack Grenkie (16-8) and Felix Hernandez (13-12) Cy Young wins. But as the old saying goes “coulda, woulda, shoulda, but ya didn’t.” Who knows how those pitchers would have performed on the top stage. Look at former Yankee Javier Vasquez, who could be a great pitcher—just not on the Yankees. Hold up, the Yankees are still dealing with this kind of breakdown, now with Allan James Burnett. The 18-game winning season he had with a fourth ranked Blue Jays team in 2008, makes you wonder why he has never won more than 13 games for the “run producing” Yankees.

Neither Hellickson, nor Pineada, could rattle Nova’s exciting 15-4 record. One more win will tie the rookie with Yankees legend Ron Guidry’s rookie season, and if hits 17 he will tie the rookie seasons of CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander’s—Verlander by the way won the rookie of the year award that season. An unthinkable 18 wins would put Nova on another level since no AL rookie has done that since 1976.

In my opinion the new Yankee spectacle deserves the award as much as the other two or three guys. He handles the major league pressure just right and he rose from being sent down, to being relied on. At the end of the day the most important thing in a baseball game, or in any game, is to win, and Nova has done just that.

--La Guerre

Sources:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/836433-ivan-nova-front-runner-for-al-rookie-of-the-year

baseball-reference.com

Should Coaches Ban Athletes from Twitter?

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/15416882/coaches-twitter-ban-isnt-stunting-players-its-protecting-them

This article is from about a month ago, but it is a blossoming debate in the college sports. Should coaches ban athletes from Twitter?

Gregg Doyel is a well-respected columnist, but I disagree with him on this.

When a coach bans players from Twitter, it is akin to giving up. Instead of educating these athletes about the possible dangers of managing social media, they ban it all together, limiting the athletes' ability to speak his mind.

College is supposed to turn young men into seasoned men who are ready for the real world. Some of these guys will go on to play professionally. Will someone be there to ban Twitter then? Media coverage will only grow as these guys get older. Instead of banning it all together, these programs need to educate athletes on how to use it effectively.

Some players have boosted their reputation through their Twitter account. North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall is praised for not only not screwing it up, but portraying himself as a mature college athlete online. Check out his witty jab at the NCAA from last week.

If coaches are recruiting guys who need to be babied, should they be recruited at all? Coaches who ban Twitter are admitting that they're recruiting players, not mature young men. But, if that's how they want to run it, that is their call.

5'4" Walk-on Gets Scholarship

The best thing about sports is there's always a chance to do the impossible. When everyone thinks you can't, you work hard and you can.

5'4" Eric Valentin earned a D-1 Scholarship from The University of Wisconsin- Green Bay Men's Basketball team through hard work and dedication even before he was awarded the scholarship.

The walk-on transferred from Dayton State Community College during the summer of his junior year. As a junior, Eric tried out for the team and made it, playing 5 games during the entire season. Though he was only a walk-on, Eric took practice as though he was a starter and helped each of his teammates get better. Through hard work both on and off the court, (Eric worked 10 hour shifts almost everyday during the summer to pay to go to school and play basketball), Head Coach, Brian Wardle, awarded Eric with the scholarship during a conditioning session in the fall calling him one of the hardest working people on the team.

After being presented with the scholarship, Valentin is asked to tell his teammates what it is and he responds, "A scholarship. Hard work pays off."

This is definitely one of the type of sports stories I enjoy hearing/reading just because it really brings the truth out of the quote, "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard." Eric Valentin definitely is at a height disadvantage but isn't letting that stop his drive.


To read more on this, Click the Link: Flying with the Phoenix: Valentin's Surprise Ride

Strasburg Returns with Spark

Last night in Washington, D.C., Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg made his much anticipated return from the D. L. Strasburg was placed on the disabled list late last season, after having Tommy John surgery on his electric right arm, following an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament. The right handed phenom, who was the number one overall draft pick out of San Diego State University three seasons ago, picked up seemingly right where he left off. Last night, Strasburg went 5 innings, only allowing 2 hits, while allowing no runs, no walks, and striking out 4. Strasburg is anticipated to make five more starts this season, which will all surely be watched closely. Further information can be read here: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=At9lWWl3lNS7BahRGtwo3RY5nYcB?slug=lc-carpenter_strasburg_return_nationals_dodgers_090611