Tuesday, June 30, 2009
this might help people deal with losses
I was reading an article in the NCAA Champion Magazine. It was talking about winning and losing. Anyway it mentioned that talking about a loss can be a helpful way to recover from it.
Reading the NCAA Champion Magazine
Well I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Thats a good thing. I almost finished the book I bought on the 1999 Women's World Cup. Just two chapters left.
I'm one of those people who buys/gets so many books and finds the time to only read a few. I also tend to start a lot of books and don't get to finish them.
I have 3 books that I'd love to read this summer and another two I'd love to finish. I bet I only get around to knocking one or two of them off. Working out also takes up time in my life.
Anyway
Here are some average in season weekly time commitments for Division I athletes:
Men's Basketball 40 hours on athletics, 32 on academics
Women's Basketball 36.1 hours on athletics, 37.4 on academics
Football FBS 44.8 hours on athletics 39.5 on academics
Men's Soccer 33.6 hours on athletics 39.1 on academics
Women's Soccer 34.1 hours on athletics 39.6 on academics.
Those are averages.
No female Division 1 sport averaged more time on athletics in season than on academics.
I am guessing this is not all countable hours, because the NCAA limits all countable hours at 20 hours per week in season and 8 hours per week out of season. Athletes could count non countable activities (voluntary practices) as part of those average hours in the study. Also if an athlete wants to workout in their free time they can. There is no rule stopping them from doing what they want to do.
Division 1 baseball, men's golf, men's ice hockey, men's basketball and FBS football averaged more time on athletics than academics during season.
The sports that spend the most time away from campus in season are: baseball, softball, mens and women's golf, men's and women's skiing, women's volleyball, women's basketball and women's soccer.
Across the divisions and sports 50% of male athletes and 33% of female athletes wish they spent more time on their athletics than they currently do. 59% of student athletes wish they had more time for academics, 65% wanted more time for socializing, 68% wanted more time for relaxing and my personal favorite, 75% of student athletes wish they had more time for sleeping. (I agree on the sleeping part.)
I'm one of those people who buys/gets so many books and finds the time to only read a few. I also tend to start a lot of books and don't get to finish them.
I have 3 books that I'd love to read this summer and another two I'd love to finish. I bet I only get around to knocking one or two of them off. Working out also takes up time in my life.
Anyway
Here are some average in season weekly time commitments for Division I athletes:
Men's Basketball 40 hours on athletics, 32 on academics
Women's Basketball 36.1 hours on athletics, 37.4 on academics
Football FBS 44.8 hours on athletics 39.5 on academics
Men's Soccer 33.6 hours on athletics 39.1 on academics
Women's Soccer 34.1 hours on athletics 39.6 on academics.
Those are averages.
No female Division 1 sport averaged more time on athletics in season than on academics.
I am guessing this is not all countable hours, because the NCAA limits all countable hours at 20 hours per week in season and 8 hours per week out of season. Athletes could count non countable activities (voluntary practices) as part of those average hours in the study. Also if an athlete wants to workout in their free time they can. There is no rule stopping them from doing what they want to do.
Division 1 baseball, men's golf, men's ice hockey, men's basketball and FBS football averaged more time on athletics than academics during season.
The sports that spend the most time away from campus in season are: baseball, softball, mens and women's golf, men's and women's skiing, women's volleyball, women's basketball and women's soccer.
Across the divisions and sports 50% of male athletes and 33% of female athletes wish they spent more time on their athletics than they currently do. 59% of student athletes wish they had more time for academics, 65% wanted more time for socializing, 68% wanted more time for relaxing and my personal favorite, 75% of student athletes wish they had more time for sleeping. (I agree on the sleeping part.)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Baseball vs Football
This is George Carlin on the differences between baseball and football. I thought it was funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om_yq4L3M_I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om_yq4L3M_I
Here is a really weird thought
I'm not a Jose Canseco fan at all. I think he's a little strange but I must admit that he seems to be one of the most truthful major league baseball players from the steroid era. For that reason I have gained some respect him.
Found this really interesting
In 1990 UConn women's soccer and Santa Clara Women's Soccer met in the Final Four. UConn won in penalty kicks.
The UConn goalkeeper stopped a Brandi Chastain penalty kick.
10 years ago Brandi Chastain was the woman to knock in the game winning penalty kick in front of 90,000 people at the Rose Bowl in the Women's World Cup. That kick by Chastain is probably the single most famous moment in the history of US Soccer.
China couldn't stop Brandi Chastain, but UConn could.
The UConn goalkeeper stopped a Brandi Chastain penalty kick.
10 years ago Brandi Chastain was the woman to knock in the game winning penalty kick in front of 90,000 people at the Rose Bowl in the Women's World Cup. That kick by Chastain is probably the single most famous moment in the history of US Soccer.
China couldn't stop Brandi Chastain, but UConn could.
Pele
I mentioned Pele when I was interviewed yesterday by ABC 40 and I realized that I had never seen him play. So I searched you tube and I found out why he is considered to be amazing. On a second thought, I also hope I pronounced his name right
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySdwCQBP4nY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySdwCQBP4nY
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Mets are boring me
I'm getting bored of watching my Mets play. Seriously. Someone's injured, someone can't field, they all strike out, we don't score.
The Mets have been SO BORING lately. I'm glad I don't get their games. I'd suffer through them if I did.
The Mets have been SO BORING lately. I'm glad I don't get their games. I'd suffer through them if I did.
The Shutout
So I traveled once again to Lusitano Stadium to watch some soccer. UConn soccer of course. Well I saw the Western Mass Lady Pioneers, but I was there to support the current and former UConn players.
Mandy Schwartz had a shut out in goal.
Also here is a tip. If someone on Mandy Schwartz's team scores a goal, don't look at the person who scored for a good celebration. Look back to Schwartz, she'll be sure to keep you entertained.
I will also say that Mandy Schwartz will be the most important person on her team this year. What she does better than anyone else on her team (I'm sure of this, even though I haven't been around most of the team) is to keep her team loose. She keeps things exciting and fun. That is very important. Most people won't notice that but I'm telling you that she has a really positive effect on her team. Just being herself will do a lot for her team. She will be vital to her teams success this year.
I look up to Ryan Grace and Mandy Schwartz because they all have entertaining personalities.
Sam Kelley, Shauna Musser, Kacey Richards and Courtney Wilkinson Maitland also played.
I remember Kelley having her jersey being tugged on and she somehow got a word from the referee about it.
Shauna had a really nice sequence in the game where she got the ball moving up field well.
Courtney Wilkinson Maitland also played well.
Kacey Richards had a beautiful header that she knocked in for a goal. I was thrilled about that. She got a "fist pump" out of me. Like a real fist pump. I was excited she scored. I wanted to see a UConn player score badly. I miss the feeling of that happening
Meghan Cunningham is quite clearly one of my favorite athletes at UConn, but Kacey Richards is one of my favorite women's soccer players to watch. You'd never know that because I rarely talk about her. (Truthfully, I struggle to pick favorites, I root for all UConn athletes.) Most games that I saw for women's soccer were the view from behind the goal. That is not the best place to watch soccer. It's much harder to understand the game from there and much harder to appreciate the play of defenders and midfielders from that view.
If I have one goal it's to understand the game of soccer from the midfield and defensive perspective. I've always preferred to be a defender through-out my life when it comes to sports. I always appreciated the hard workers on the glass in basketball, the shut down corner in football, and the great fielding baseball player. Right now I don't appreciate midfielders and defenders enough.
I will never ever forget the hustle Kacey Richards had against Yale. I will never ever forget that play. I don't forget Bildstein's clutch kick, but unlike most people I also will not forget Richards hustle that made that play possible. It's so hard to put in words how important that play was and how important that hustle is. I love that sort of effort. To me Kacey Richards hustle is legendary because of what it lead to. I always hear stories in sports about times when someone didn't give up and it paid off. Coaches use those stories to motivate their teams. You see these stories in sports movies all the time. I will never forget that hustle and I will probably use Richards hustle at some point in my life to give some sort of lesson about life or sports.
It also can be really hard to see, but sports can teach great lessons in life.
Random but I felt like writing that.
Kacey Richards also made a nice move during the game. I can't quite remember what she did, but I do remember thinking to myself that what she did was nifty.
I wish I could write more about Courtney Wilkinson Maitland's play other than it was solid. I tried to make sure that I watch her play so I could appreciate how good she is. I didn't pay enough attention. I was too busy listening to a parent on the New York team.
Parents are very important but they have to be careful too. It's important that parents be there to show support and to lend support after tough games but I don't think it does athletes any good to hear their parents getting on them. I think it hurts their confidence and distracts them. They don't need to be silent, they should cheer and be supportive but they shouldn't go overboard. This guy at the game today went overboard.
Maitland will get in my blog for another reason though.
Never in a million years did I ever think that someone would meet me and go "your that person who writes about Meghan Cunningham."
She would be that person.
I said maybe. I haven't quite gotten used to hearing someone tell me that your the person who writes about Meghan Cunningham. I guess I'm known for something, which is better than being known for nothing.
I also said that "If you don't say it crazy no one will remember it." That is the truth. I know I've said some things that are just out there. I think every time I speak about Meghan Cunningham, or people bring her up to me, I think to myself that I need to go "Don't worry, I'm not a creep."
My whole goal is for people to appreciate the fact that playing two sports is not easy and that she and the 3 other UConn athletes that did that this past year deserve recognition for it.
One thing that I have learned through being in the media for a little bit is that being boring does no good. If I said "Meghan Cunningham is a two sport athlete and you should support her because that's tough work" then you would probably forget that. I want to get the point across (I think I've done a good job of that) that being a two-sport athlete is really impressive and really cool. I have to say something provocative or wild or crazy so that people will remember it. If I make up the word "Amazingness" to describe her than most people will take notice of Meghan Cunningham. That is a good thing. Unfortunately people also take notice of me and they go "He's crazy." That's ok, because as long as I get the point across I'm happy.
People don't realize that so much is taped for television. Most of it is edited out for the news. People take hours of footage, or minutes of press conferences and have to put them into 5 second sound bites. The stuff that you see in print or on television is almost always the most provocative, the most interesting quotes etc. because they are interesting and because you will remember them. If I don't write something crazy, you won't remember it and I will have failed as a communicator. If you don't believe me think about the lines in a movie that you can remember. I can guarantee it wasn't some lame quote. The best teachers and coaches can come up with some weird analogies that get a point across. For example in marketing you should use the rifle approach, not the shotgun approach. I remember that courtesy of a teacher that I don't want to get fired for saying that.
Somehow Meghan Cunningham was once again brought into this. I wish I wrote those paragraphs on why the Midfielders and Defenders at UConn are so good. One day, One day that will happen. I bought soccer for dummies, hopefully that will teach me a few things. Hopefully I'll learn to look for certain things.
What I will say about Courtney Wilkinson Maitland is that I never remember her messing up, which is a complement for any defender.
I do remember being impressed by her at a game this year that I saw on TV. I think it was the regular season West Virginia game, where the UConn defense came up huge. I definetly remember Stephanie Labbe making some amazing saves. I just can't remember if it was the Regular Season West Virginia game or the Big East Tournament West Virginia game. It's easy for me to get the two confused because I watched both on television and both went to overtime.
I also learned that women's soccer really has no memory of what happened in October against St. Johns. I wasn't the only one who remembered this game, which makes me really happy. When Meghan Nanfeldt brought up the subject of St. Johns I seemed to see some blank stares from the team. Atleast Meghan and I and Brittany Perrotti saw and remembered that game. As a matter of fact the game was brought up in our Husky Sport class.
All in all I enjoyed going to the game today. There was no sun at the Lake House but there was plenty of it in Ludlow. Western Mass won 3-0. Mandy Schwartz had a shut out and Kacey Richards scored. I was really happy. Plus I got interviewed and I love being interviewed.
I was interviewed for ABC 40. Shawn Nicklaw was interviewed after me. Meghan Nanfeldt didn't go because she was saving her voice. We were asked to talk about the US Soccer teams recent success. I said that losing to Brazil is ok because Brazil is good, it's where Pele was from and at least we beat Spain. The reporter said I was really good, which I knew I would be. I'm good when I talk about sports. Often quiet when I don't. I'm actually sort of shy until I really get to know someone well. Then I don't shut up. Many people would vouch for that, especially the second part.
I mentioned UConn men's and women's soccer during the interview. I put a plug in
for them as the reason that I like soccer. I hope that part airs. Atleast I tried. Free advertising!!! Hope it worked. I also had all of my UConn gear on.
Also I love the Western Mass Lady Pioneers even more because I got dinner and popcorn and a free ticket out of my trip. Plus I found cheap gas.
Today was a good day. I found the sun and watched a sporting event.
Most importantly I got to watch the game with a good friend, Meghan Nanfeldt. It's so nice to be able to relax and watch a game. I often don't get the chance to do that because I tend to be so involved at games.
Meghan also needs to get credit for a great save that she made while I was being interviewed. I nor the cameraman needed to be on the blooper reels.
Renee Montgomery once made a beautiful save at a basketball game. She ran into a cameraman and the cameraman dropped the camera, but Renee caught the camera in the air by the handle to save the camera from crashing into the floor. That is great eye hand coordination.
Mandy Schwartz had a shut out in goal.
Also here is a tip. If someone on Mandy Schwartz's team scores a goal, don't look at the person who scored for a good celebration. Look back to Schwartz, she'll be sure to keep you entertained.
I will also say that Mandy Schwartz will be the most important person on her team this year. What she does better than anyone else on her team (I'm sure of this, even though I haven't been around most of the team) is to keep her team loose. She keeps things exciting and fun. That is very important. Most people won't notice that but I'm telling you that she has a really positive effect on her team. Just being herself will do a lot for her team. She will be vital to her teams success this year.
I look up to Ryan Grace and Mandy Schwartz because they all have entertaining personalities.
Sam Kelley, Shauna Musser, Kacey Richards and Courtney Wilkinson Maitland also played.
I remember Kelley having her jersey being tugged on and she somehow got a word from the referee about it.
Shauna had a really nice sequence in the game where she got the ball moving up field well.
Courtney Wilkinson Maitland also played well.
Kacey Richards had a beautiful header that she knocked in for a goal. I was thrilled about that. She got a "fist pump" out of me. Like a real fist pump. I was excited she scored. I wanted to see a UConn player score badly. I miss the feeling of that happening
Meghan Cunningham is quite clearly one of my favorite athletes at UConn, but Kacey Richards is one of my favorite women's soccer players to watch. You'd never know that because I rarely talk about her. (Truthfully, I struggle to pick favorites, I root for all UConn athletes.) Most games that I saw for women's soccer were the view from behind the goal. That is not the best place to watch soccer. It's much harder to understand the game from there and much harder to appreciate the play of defenders and midfielders from that view.
If I have one goal it's to understand the game of soccer from the midfield and defensive perspective. I've always preferred to be a defender through-out my life when it comes to sports. I always appreciated the hard workers on the glass in basketball, the shut down corner in football, and the great fielding baseball player. Right now I don't appreciate midfielders and defenders enough.
I will never ever forget the hustle Kacey Richards had against Yale. I will never ever forget that play. I don't forget Bildstein's clutch kick, but unlike most people I also will not forget Richards hustle that made that play possible. It's so hard to put in words how important that play was and how important that hustle is. I love that sort of effort. To me Kacey Richards hustle is legendary because of what it lead to. I always hear stories in sports about times when someone didn't give up and it paid off. Coaches use those stories to motivate their teams. You see these stories in sports movies all the time. I will never forget that hustle and I will probably use Richards hustle at some point in my life to give some sort of lesson about life or sports.
It also can be really hard to see, but sports can teach great lessons in life.
Random but I felt like writing that.
Kacey Richards also made a nice move during the game. I can't quite remember what she did, but I do remember thinking to myself that what she did was nifty.
I wish I could write more about Courtney Wilkinson Maitland's play other than it was solid. I tried to make sure that I watch her play so I could appreciate how good she is. I didn't pay enough attention. I was too busy listening to a parent on the New York team.
Parents are very important but they have to be careful too. It's important that parents be there to show support and to lend support after tough games but I don't think it does athletes any good to hear their parents getting on them. I think it hurts their confidence and distracts them. They don't need to be silent, they should cheer and be supportive but they shouldn't go overboard. This guy at the game today went overboard.
Maitland will get in my blog for another reason though.
Never in a million years did I ever think that someone would meet me and go "your that person who writes about Meghan Cunningham."
She would be that person.
I said maybe. I haven't quite gotten used to hearing someone tell me that your the person who writes about Meghan Cunningham. I guess I'm known for something, which is better than being known for nothing.
I also said that "If you don't say it crazy no one will remember it." That is the truth. I know I've said some things that are just out there. I think every time I speak about Meghan Cunningham, or people bring her up to me, I think to myself that I need to go "Don't worry, I'm not a creep."
My whole goal is for people to appreciate the fact that playing two sports is not easy and that she and the 3 other UConn athletes that did that this past year deserve recognition for it.
One thing that I have learned through being in the media for a little bit is that being boring does no good. If I said "Meghan Cunningham is a two sport athlete and you should support her because that's tough work" then you would probably forget that. I want to get the point across (I think I've done a good job of that) that being a two-sport athlete is really impressive and really cool. I have to say something provocative or wild or crazy so that people will remember it. If I make up the word "Amazingness" to describe her than most people will take notice of Meghan Cunningham. That is a good thing. Unfortunately people also take notice of me and they go "He's crazy." That's ok, because as long as I get the point across I'm happy.
People don't realize that so much is taped for television. Most of it is edited out for the news. People take hours of footage, or minutes of press conferences and have to put them into 5 second sound bites. The stuff that you see in print or on television is almost always the most provocative, the most interesting quotes etc. because they are interesting and because you will remember them. If I don't write something crazy, you won't remember it and I will have failed as a communicator. If you don't believe me think about the lines in a movie that you can remember. I can guarantee it wasn't some lame quote. The best teachers and coaches can come up with some weird analogies that get a point across. For example in marketing you should use the rifle approach, not the shotgun approach. I remember that courtesy of a teacher that I don't want to get fired for saying that.
Somehow Meghan Cunningham was once again brought into this. I wish I wrote those paragraphs on why the Midfielders and Defenders at UConn are so good. One day, One day that will happen. I bought soccer for dummies, hopefully that will teach me a few things. Hopefully I'll learn to look for certain things.
What I will say about Courtney Wilkinson Maitland is that I never remember her messing up, which is a complement for any defender.
I do remember being impressed by her at a game this year that I saw on TV. I think it was the regular season West Virginia game, where the UConn defense came up huge. I definetly remember Stephanie Labbe making some amazing saves. I just can't remember if it was the Regular Season West Virginia game or the Big East Tournament West Virginia game. It's easy for me to get the two confused because I watched both on television and both went to overtime.
I also learned that women's soccer really has no memory of what happened in October against St. Johns. I wasn't the only one who remembered this game, which makes me really happy. When Meghan Nanfeldt brought up the subject of St. Johns I seemed to see some blank stares from the team. Atleast Meghan and I and Brittany Perrotti saw and remembered that game. As a matter of fact the game was brought up in our Husky Sport class.
All in all I enjoyed going to the game today. There was no sun at the Lake House but there was plenty of it in Ludlow. Western Mass won 3-0. Mandy Schwartz had a shut out and Kacey Richards scored. I was really happy. Plus I got interviewed and I love being interviewed.
I was interviewed for ABC 40. Shawn Nicklaw was interviewed after me. Meghan Nanfeldt didn't go because she was saving her voice. We were asked to talk about the US Soccer teams recent success. I said that losing to Brazil is ok because Brazil is good, it's where Pele was from and at least we beat Spain. The reporter said I was really good, which I knew I would be. I'm good when I talk about sports. Often quiet when I don't. I'm actually sort of shy until I really get to know someone well. Then I don't shut up. Many people would vouch for that, especially the second part.
I mentioned UConn men's and women's soccer during the interview. I put a plug in
for them as the reason that I like soccer. I hope that part airs. Atleast I tried. Free advertising!!! Hope it worked. I also had all of my UConn gear on.
Also I love the Western Mass Lady Pioneers even more because I got dinner and popcorn and a free ticket out of my trip. Plus I found cheap gas.
Today was a good day. I found the sun and watched a sporting event.
Most importantly I got to watch the game with a good friend, Meghan Nanfeldt. It's so nice to be able to relax and watch a game. I often don't get the chance to do that because I tend to be so involved at games.
Meghan also needs to get credit for a great save that she made while I was being interviewed. I nor the cameraman needed to be on the blooper reels.
Renee Montgomery once made a beautiful save at a basketball game. She ran into a cameraman and the cameraman dropped the camera, but Renee caught the camera in the air by the handle to save the camera from crashing into the floor. That is great eye hand coordination.
I Re-read this article
Meghan Cunningham scored the game winner last night, seconds before the final whistle.
CLUTCH.
As Ryan Grace would say "Ohhhh Wooooorrrdddd"
Becky Gundling scored the first of the teams 3 goals for the New England Mutiny. She scored it from 25 yards out.
Also Mandy Schwartz had 17 saves in her last game for the Western Mass Lady Pioneers.
CLUTCH.
As Ryan Grace would say "Ohhhh Wooooorrrdddd"
Becky Gundling scored the first of the teams 3 goals for the New England Mutiny. She scored it from 25 yards out.
Also Mandy Schwartz had 17 saves in her last game for the Western Mass Lady Pioneers.
WNBA and NBA stuff
Renee Montgomery is averaging 6.8 points per game and about 17 minutes per game.
Charde Houston is averaging 23 minutes with 14.2 points per game. She also is adding 4.2 rebounds per game and 2.7 assists per game. Geno said that he thought Charde would be a good pro player. She is proving him right.
Both Renee and Charde play for the Minnesota Lynx.
Ketia Swanier has played in 10 games for the Phoenix Mercury. She's averaging 1.9 points and a rebound per game.
Diana Taurasi is averaging 21.1 points per game, with 5.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 blocks per game with the Phoenix Mercury.
Sue Bird is averaging 12 points, 7 assists and a rebound per game with the Seattle Storm.
Swin Cash is averaging 11.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game with the Seattle Storm
Rudy Gay averaged 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Memphis Grizzlies. He started 78 of the 79 games he played in
Kevin Ollie averaged 4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played in 50 games and started 21 of them.
Charlie Villanueva averaged 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the Milwaukee Bucks. He started 47 of the 78 games he played in.
Jake Voskuhl averaged 0.9 points 1.6 rebounds and 0.2 assists for the Toronto Raptors this year. He played in 38 games.
Caron Butler averaged 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Washington Wizards. He played in 67 games.
Josh Boone averaged 4.2 points and rebounds and 0.5 assists per game for the New Jersey Nets. He played in 62 games. He averaged 0.8 blocks per game.
Marcus Williams played in 9 games for the Golden State Warriors this season. He averaged 1.3 points. 0.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Hilton Armstrong played in 70 games for the Hornets in the regular season. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game. He also started a game for the Hornets in the playoffs and averaged about 4 points and 2 rebounds per game.
Richard Hamilton played in 67 games for the Detroit Pistons and he averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. He started all 4 playoff games and averaged 13.3 points and 5 assists per game in the playoffs.
Emeka Okafor averaged 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Also averaged 1.7 blocks per game. He started 81 of the 82 games he played in for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Ray Allen averaged 18.2 points in the regular season along with 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game for the Boston Celtics. He averaged nearly the same numbers in the playoffs. He started all 79 games that he played in during the regular season.
Ben Gordon averaged 20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game with the Bulls in the regular season. He averaged 24.3 points in the playoffs. He started 76 of the 82 games he played for the Chicago Bulls.
Donyell Marshall played in 25 games for the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 1.6 rebounds and 3.8 points in 7.6 minutes per game. He also played in 6 games for the 76ers in the playoffs averaging 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game.
O'Brian White hasn't played in a game yet, but he is back to practicing with his team.
Charde Houston is averaging 23 minutes with 14.2 points per game. She also is adding 4.2 rebounds per game and 2.7 assists per game. Geno said that he thought Charde would be a good pro player. She is proving him right.
Both Renee and Charde play for the Minnesota Lynx.
Ketia Swanier has played in 10 games for the Phoenix Mercury. She's averaging 1.9 points and a rebound per game.
Diana Taurasi is averaging 21.1 points per game, with 5.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 blocks per game with the Phoenix Mercury.
Sue Bird is averaging 12 points, 7 assists and a rebound per game with the Seattle Storm.
Swin Cash is averaging 11.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game with the Seattle Storm
Rudy Gay averaged 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Memphis Grizzlies. He started 78 of the 79 games he played in
Kevin Ollie averaged 4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played in 50 games and started 21 of them.
Charlie Villanueva averaged 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the Milwaukee Bucks. He started 47 of the 78 games he played in.
Jake Voskuhl averaged 0.9 points 1.6 rebounds and 0.2 assists for the Toronto Raptors this year. He played in 38 games.
Caron Butler averaged 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Washington Wizards. He played in 67 games.
Josh Boone averaged 4.2 points and rebounds and 0.5 assists per game for the New Jersey Nets. He played in 62 games. He averaged 0.8 blocks per game.
Marcus Williams played in 9 games for the Golden State Warriors this season. He averaged 1.3 points. 0.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Hilton Armstrong played in 70 games for the Hornets in the regular season. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game. He also started a game for the Hornets in the playoffs and averaged about 4 points and 2 rebounds per game.
Richard Hamilton played in 67 games for the Detroit Pistons and he averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. He started all 4 playoff games and averaged 13.3 points and 5 assists per game in the playoffs.
Emeka Okafor averaged 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Also averaged 1.7 blocks per game. He started 81 of the 82 games he played in for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Ray Allen averaged 18.2 points in the regular season along with 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game for the Boston Celtics. He averaged nearly the same numbers in the playoffs. He started all 79 games that he played in during the regular season.
Ben Gordon averaged 20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game with the Bulls in the regular season. He averaged 24.3 points in the playoffs. He started 76 of the 82 games he played for the Chicago Bulls.
Donyell Marshall played in 25 games for the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 1.6 rebounds and 3.8 points in 7.6 minutes per game. He also played in 6 games for the 76ers in the playoffs averaging 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game.
O'Brian White hasn't played in a game yet, but he is back to practicing with his team.
Willis has a leg up
Willis Reed is beating the Mayor of Storrs right now.
Cotiut is 6-4-1
The New Bedford Bay Sox are 6-10.
Cotiut is 6-4-1
The New Bedford Bay Sox are 6-10.
Baseball Update
I can't imagine just how many baseball games have been canceled this year from all of the rain.
Anyway Pierre LePage is still hitting above .300, he is at .308 with 4 RBI's, 3 doubles and 5 stolen bases.
6 of Mike Olt's 10 hits have gone for extra bases. He has 3 homeruns and 7 RBI's so far.
Elliot Glynn has been pitching really well. in 13.1 innings he has 1 win, 10 strikeouts, an era of 0.67 and has given up just 7 hits and 1 walk.
David Fischer has an era of 1.42 with 9 strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
In the NECBL Kevin Vance picked up a win in his only appearance.
Mike Nemeth is hitting .298 with 4 doubles, a triple and a home run with 11 RBI's
Doug Jennings has 29 strikeouts in 26 innings with one complete game.
Michael Zaccardo has an ERA of 2.12 and has 3 wins in his 3 starts. In 17 innings he only has 2 walks and 1 hit by pitch.
Nick Ahmed is playing in the Atlantic College Baseball League and is listed as an outfielder.
Anyway Pierre LePage is still hitting above .300, he is at .308 with 4 RBI's, 3 doubles and 5 stolen bases.
6 of Mike Olt's 10 hits have gone for extra bases. He has 3 homeruns and 7 RBI's so far.
Elliot Glynn has been pitching really well. in 13.1 innings he has 1 win, 10 strikeouts, an era of 0.67 and has given up just 7 hits and 1 walk.
David Fischer has an era of 1.42 with 9 strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
In the NECBL Kevin Vance picked up a win in his only appearance.
Mike Nemeth is hitting .298 with 4 doubles, a triple and a home run with 11 RBI's
Doug Jennings has 29 strikeouts in 26 innings with one complete game.
Michael Zaccardo has an ERA of 2.12 and has 3 wins in his 3 starts. In 17 innings he only has 2 walks and 1 hit by pitch.
Nick Ahmed is playing in the Atlantic College Baseball League and is listed as an outfielder.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Track and Field
I am amazed by the perfection that is achieved by runners/sprinters.
I remember watching my roommate Errol run and he looked just like the road runner. His legs were moving so fast. Unbelievably fast.
I was watching some Track and Field Championships today and I couldn't help but notice how perfect the runners in the 110 meter hurdles were. It looked so effortless and consistent. It was like 1, 2, 3, jump, 1, 2, 3, jump. It was so synchronized and so perfect. It was remarkable to watch.
I remember watching my roommate Errol run and he looked just like the road runner. His legs were moving so fast. Unbelievably fast.
I was watching some Track and Field Championships today and I couldn't help but notice how perfect the runners in the 110 meter hurdles were. It looked so effortless and consistent. It was like 1, 2, 3, jump, 1, 2, 3, jump. It was so synchronized and so perfect. It was remarkable to watch.
See...I TOLD YOU SO
Once again I am proved right. I love it when I am proved right.
So the New England Mutiny won 3-2.
Guess who scored the game winning goal?
YEP YOU GUESSED IT
Meghan Cunningham.
Meghan Cunningham likes to prove me right. Come to think of it I also wrote that Women's Soccer would get to the Big East Championship game in 2008...(I never put it on a blog...but I remember thinking it and writing a word document about it)...who sent them there? Meghan Cunningham, with her game winning Penalty Kick.
I told you she was good. I've been saying that for months. Cunningham helped prove that again tonight.
She scored the game winning shot late in the game off of a Karen Gurnon shot. It was scored within the last 3 minutes of play.
I had thought about going to this game about a month ago, but I was seduced by nice weather to sit back and relax at home. I sort of wish I had gone.
This sounded like a really great game. I'm telling you, you can see great sporting events anywhere.
So the New England Mutiny won 3-2.
Guess who scored the game winning goal?
YEP YOU GUESSED IT
Meghan Cunningham.
Meghan Cunningham likes to prove me right. Come to think of it I also wrote that Women's Soccer would get to the Big East Championship game in 2008...(I never put it on a blog...but I remember thinking it and writing a word document about it)...who sent them there? Meghan Cunningham, with her game winning Penalty Kick.
I told you she was good. I've been saying that for months. Cunningham helped prove that again tonight.
She scored the game winning shot late in the game off of a Karen Gurnon shot. It was scored within the last 3 minutes of play.
I had thought about going to this game about a month ago, but I was seduced by nice weather to sit back and relax at home. I sort of wish I had gone.
This sounded like a really great game. I'm telling you, you can see great sporting events anywhere.
Friday, June 26, 2009
i wish
I wish I could talk about the interesting things that I did at work today, but I can't. I'm not allowed to. I did have fun and learned a few things.
More Random Stuff
Another Baseball player, Dennis Accomando signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Braves and was sent to a minor league affiliate.
Jeff Adrien's twitter says that he has options for where he wants to play in the NBA. He wasn't drafted, which I think is a big mistake. He may be undersized, but he is a winner. He is scrappy, intense and gets after it. He always hustles and brings 110%. He was one of my favorite players throughout the years. He has "it" He is a winner and I think he will make an NBA team.
A.J. Price was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the 2nd round.
Men's Soccer was picked 20th in the pre-season. It's nice to see a ranking for them. I know soccer fans have been concerned about the losses of O'Brian White, Dori Arad, Oscar Castillo and Akeem Priestley to name a few. People forget that we still have Tony Cascio, Toni Stahl, Josh Ford and Mike Pezza...to name a few. An incoming freshman, was named a parade high school all-american. His name is Jossimar Sanchez.
Mike Rutt finished 7th in the 800 meter run at the US Track and Field championships. He qualified for the semifinals.
Jeff Adrien's twitter says that he has options for where he wants to play in the NBA. He wasn't drafted, which I think is a big mistake. He may be undersized, but he is a winner. He is scrappy, intense and gets after it. He always hustles and brings 110%. He was one of my favorite players throughout the years. He has "it" He is a winner and I think he will make an NBA team.
A.J. Price was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the 2nd round.
Men's Soccer was picked 20th in the pre-season. It's nice to see a ranking for them. I know soccer fans have been concerned about the losses of O'Brian White, Dori Arad, Oscar Castillo and Akeem Priestley to name a few. People forget that we still have Tony Cascio, Toni Stahl, Josh Ford and Mike Pezza...to name a few. An incoming freshman, was named a parade high school all-american. His name is Jossimar Sanchez.
Mike Rutt finished 7th in the 800 meter run at the US Track and Field championships. He qualified for the semifinals.
Of champions
I try to eat the Breakfast of Champions, Wheaties for breakfast.
This upcoming year I will take the Classes of Champions:
Glassblowing, Dance Movement, Weightlifting and Swimming.
This upcoming year I will take the Classes of Champions:
Glassblowing, Dance Movement, Weightlifting and Swimming.
A Real Bidding War
I mean this...I mean how could I not inform people of the ability of bidding on a game used Meghan Cunningham jersey...
I am being 100% completely totally serious about this one and have the link to prove it. It's to raise money for breast cancer awareness. The summer league team she is on is auctioning off the jerseys. So why don't you bid on Amazingness's jersey and help support a good cause?
http://mutinysoccer.com/online-jersey-bidding/
Sometimes I am glad I surf the internet.
Three other current UConn players are having their jersey's auctioned off. Becky Gundling, Karen Gurnon and Erin Clark.
I am being 100% completely totally serious about this one and have the link to prove it. It's to raise money for breast cancer awareness. The summer league team she is on is auctioning off the jerseys. So why don't you bid on Amazingness's jersey and help support a good cause?
http://mutinysoccer.com/online-jersey-bidding/
Sometimes I am glad I surf the internet.
Three other current UConn players are having their jersey's auctioned off. Becky Gundling, Karen Gurnon and Erin Clark.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
People I should stop overlooking..
I hate myself right now.
I wish I would say more about how good Kacey Richards, Annie Yi and Courtney Wilkinson Maitland are.
Oh and Karen Gurnon was pretty good too. As a freshman she was third on the team in minutes. Coaches will only keep really good players on the field for over 1950 minutes in a season.
They get shortchanged when I talk about their team because well I only understand so much about soccer. I know what a good goalkeeper looks like...I understand what they have to do. I know that forwards are supposed to score.
I have to learn more about the game to completely understand and appreciate how good defenders and center/defensive midfielders really are...even though if I played soccer, I'd be a defender.
Richards has been recognized by the Big East both of her first two seasons. She also was the highest rated recruit in her class...Top 25 in country. She played the most minutes on her team in 2008. She was the only player to start every game. That speaks to her abilities much more than anything else that I could say.
I do remember her scoring from pretty far out against Syracuse. It was a pretty good goal if I remember correctly.
But more than anything she needs to be commended for her hustle in the Yale game. I am almost sure it was Richards that ran after a ball that was rolling on the opposite end of the field against Yale and kicked it up field to give UConn a chance. I remember thinking to myself as she was running hard after the ball "wow, I am absolutely in love with her hustle, too bad it won't effect the outcome of the game."
It did effect the game. It was one of the few times that I had given up on one of my teams late in a game...I mean really I still think my Cowboys can win if they are down by 17 at the two minute warning.
That hustle is what lead to the hand ball that lead to Cory Bildstein's great free kick...which lead to Annie Yi's game winner.
Annie Yi shouldn't remember that game. I remember her lying on the ground on several occasions that game. I don't know how she finished the game. It looked like she probably had a pretty bad headache going on.
Annie Yi doesn't get enough love, at all. I mean at all.
First of all, I remember going up to a couple of football players in 2007 and telling them how happy and proud I was that UConn was ranked in football...right in front of Yi. I knew women's soccer was doing well, but really had no clue what exactly they were doing in 2007. I wasn't at any of their games in either 2006 or 2007. I was all about football in 2007... I was caught up in that amazing season that seemingly came from the middle of nowhere.
Yi was the one who scored a goal in the game against WVU in the Big East Tournament. It was a nice goal. It was a really great pass from Ashley O'Brien to Yi. I was impressed. So was Kaili McLaren with O'Brien.
Yi has been the leading goal scorer for women's soccer the past two years. Leave it to me to not talk about the leading goal scorer on the team. Seriously, only I could talk so much about a team and not talk about the person who scores and not about the one who receives yearly recognition from the Big East (Kacey Richards).
Seriously only I could do this.
Don't feel bad, it's who I am. I bought a Joe McEwing baseball jersey. He is a career .251 hitter, with 25 career home runs and 158 career RBI's. He played in 754 games in his career. In an average year he hit 5 home runs and had 34 RBI's. I spent money on a jersey of his...and proudly wear it.
I also have bought a Richie Anderson jersey and Dexter Coakley jersey...you probably don't know who they are either.
From Richie Anderson to Courtney Wilkinson Maitland...only I can do this...I heard that Maitland was red-shirted as a freshman...because she's so good...and she'd be even more ridiculously good as a red-shirt senior than regular senior. I noticed that she came up with some good plays as a defender when the games were on TV this year. I could see what she was doing at those games.
I will have to change where I sit at games too. I need to see soccer games from where I can see the whole field well, rather than just one part well.
Maitland picked up an assist this year and she also was one of the leaders in minutes with 1733. That was 4th on the team.
Now when it does come to minutes I will have to do some investigating. As someone who has just begun to watch soccer I have begun to notice that teams typically sub-out attacking players much more frequently than defenders, so it probably pretty typical that Maitland, and Gurnon and the defenders play more minutes than the attacking players. But still playing that many minutes is a testament to good conditioning and hard work. You won't play that long if your not good.
I wish I would say more about how good Kacey Richards, Annie Yi and Courtney Wilkinson Maitland are.
Oh and Karen Gurnon was pretty good too. As a freshman she was third on the team in minutes. Coaches will only keep really good players on the field for over 1950 minutes in a season.
They get shortchanged when I talk about their team because well I only understand so much about soccer. I know what a good goalkeeper looks like...I understand what they have to do. I know that forwards are supposed to score.
I have to learn more about the game to completely understand and appreciate how good defenders and center/defensive midfielders really are...even though if I played soccer, I'd be a defender.
Richards has been recognized by the Big East both of her first two seasons. She also was the highest rated recruit in her class...Top 25 in country. She played the most minutes on her team in 2008. She was the only player to start every game. That speaks to her abilities much more than anything else that I could say.
I do remember her scoring from pretty far out against Syracuse. It was a pretty good goal if I remember correctly.
But more than anything she needs to be commended for her hustle in the Yale game. I am almost sure it was Richards that ran after a ball that was rolling on the opposite end of the field against Yale and kicked it up field to give UConn a chance. I remember thinking to myself as she was running hard after the ball "wow, I am absolutely in love with her hustle, too bad it won't effect the outcome of the game."
It did effect the game. It was one of the few times that I had given up on one of my teams late in a game...I mean really I still think my Cowboys can win if they are down by 17 at the two minute warning.
That hustle is what lead to the hand ball that lead to Cory Bildstein's great free kick...which lead to Annie Yi's game winner.
Annie Yi shouldn't remember that game. I remember her lying on the ground on several occasions that game. I don't know how she finished the game. It looked like she probably had a pretty bad headache going on.
Annie Yi doesn't get enough love, at all. I mean at all.
First of all, I remember going up to a couple of football players in 2007 and telling them how happy and proud I was that UConn was ranked in football...right in front of Yi. I knew women's soccer was doing well, but really had no clue what exactly they were doing in 2007. I wasn't at any of their games in either 2006 or 2007. I was all about football in 2007... I was caught up in that amazing season that seemingly came from the middle of nowhere.
Yi was the one who scored a goal in the game against WVU in the Big East Tournament. It was a nice goal. It was a really great pass from Ashley O'Brien to Yi. I was impressed. So was Kaili McLaren with O'Brien.
Yi has been the leading goal scorer for women's soccer the past two years. Leave it to me to not talk about the leading goal scorer on the team. Seriously, only I could talk so much about a team and not talk about the person who scores and not about the one who receives yearly recognition from the Big East (Kacey Richards).
Seriously only I could do this.
Don't feel bad, it's who I am. I bought a Joe McEwing baseball jersey. He is a career .251 hitter, with 25 career home runs and 158 career RBI's. He played in 754 games in his career. In an average year he hit 5 home runs and had 34 RBI's. I spent money on a jersey of his...and proudly wear it.
I also have bought a Richie Anderson jersey and Dexter Coakley jersey...you probably don't know who they are either.
From Richie Anderson to Courtney Wilkinson Maitland...only I can do this...I heard that Maitland was red-shirted as a freshman...because she's so good...and she'd be even more ridiculously good as a red-shirt senior than regular senior. I noticed that she came up with some good plays as a defender when the games were on TV this year. I could see what she was doing at those games.
I will have to change where I sit at games too. I need to see soccer games from where I can see the whole field well, rather than just one part well.
Maitland picked up an assist this year and she also was one of the leaders in minutes with 1733. That was 4th on the team.
Now when it does come to minutes I will have to do some investigating. As someone who has just begun to watch soccer I have begun to notice that teams typically sub-out attacking players much more frequently than defenders, so it probably pretty typical that Maitland, and Gurnon and the defenders play more minutes than the attacking players. But still playing that many minutes is a testament to good conditioning and hard work. You won't play that long if your not good.
HASH
So that's the 4th first round pick from UConn this academic year...that comes to my mind.
O'Brian White in the MLS draft, Renee Montgomery in the WNBA draft, Donald Brown in the NFL Draft and Hasheem Thabeet in the NBA draft.
I wonder if any other schools have done that in one year?
We came close to the first round when it comes to the WPS draft...Meghan Schnur was a second round pick...although the WPS is special because it's their first season ever.
Dan Mahoney was a 4th round pick in the baseball draft.
Hasheem will also be the first player ever from Tanzania to play in the NBA.
I thought Hasheem was very good on television. He sounded good. He sounded humble and he represented UConn really well. He will be missed and hopefully fellow life-size poster alum, Rudy Gay will play well for the Grizzlies and get UConn even more respect.
O'Brian White in the MLS draft, Renee Montgomery in the WNBA draft, Donald Brown in the NFL Draft and Hasheem Thabeet in the NBA draft.
I wonder if any other schools have done that in one year?
We came close to the first round when it comes to the WPS draft...Meghan Schnur was a second round pick...although the WPS is special because it's their first season ever.
Dan Mahoney was a 4th round pick in the baseball draft.
Hasheem will also be the first player ever from Tanzania to play in the NBA.
I thought Hasheem was very good on television. He sounded good. He sounded humble and he represented UConn really well. He will be missed and hopefully fellow life-size poster alum, Rudy Gay will play well for the Grizzlies and get UConn even more respect.
Confidence..its a funny thing
I was thinking about confidence in athletes. I tend to talk about not having enough of it.
Not having enough of it takes away from a person's aggressiveness. You become too much of a passer.
Having too much of it makes you look really stupid. You become too much about yourself and don't use your teammates properly to get a win. You also can become to much of a show-off. You take shots from places you have no business taking them from, and you try moves that you can barely do in practice at key points in games. Too much confidence can also lead to complacency, which is not good at all.
My favorite thing about Coach Auriemma is that he doesn't ever allow his team to be complacent. I believe that I read that after he won his first championship, as he was celebrating with his team after the game back at the hotel, the team started to watch the game over, and at a certain point, Geno stopped the tape and was about to rewind it to instruct the team on something...right after they won the National Championship.
It's not good to lack confidence or have too much of it and finding the middle ground can be tough.
But, if I had to choose between a person who has no confidence and one that has too much of it, I'd always go for the one that has too much of it. If you never take the shot it's impossible to win.
To tie this in, Jimmy Johnson cut one of his Cowboys kickers after he came over to the sideline and said "Well coach, I've lost my confidence."
Not having enough of it takes away from a person's aggressiveness. You become too much of a passer.
Having too much of it makes you look really stupid. You become too much about yourself and don't use your teammates properly to get a win. You also can become to much of a show-off. You take shots from places you have no business taking them from, and you try moves that you can barely do in practice at key points in games. Too much confidence can also lead to complacency, which is not good at all.
My favorite thing about Coach Auriemma is that he doesn't ever allow his team to be complacent. I believe that I read that after he won his first championship, as he was celebrating with his team after the game back at the hotel, the team started to watch the game over, and at a certain point, Geno stopped the tape and was about to rewind it to instruct the team on something...right after they won the National Championship.
It's not good to lack confidence or have too much of it and finding the middle ground can be tough.
But, if I had to choose between a person who has no confidence and one that has too much of it, I'd always go for the one that has too much of it. If you never take the shot it's impossible to win.
To tie this in, Jimmy Johnson cut one of his Cowboys kickers after he came over to the sideline and said "Well coach, I've lost my confidence."
No entiendo
I really don't understand why people constantly doubt UConn football. It really makes no sense to me.
People have this idea that because Donald Brown left that the team will be no good. The last time I checked UConn, in it's short Division 1 history, has always had a good running game. Cornell Brockington and Terry Caulley were excellent and the full back Deon Anderson (not a running fullback) was solid too.
Yes UConn has lost two good lineman, but they have two capable replacements, including some highly regarded players, like Jimmy Bennett who was a freshman last year. On top of that Moe Petrus, who was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team is also returning.
We lost Darius Butler, a great player, but Robert McLain has been solid the last two years when he has played. I am very comfortable having him starting opposite of Jasper Howard. Robert Vaughn will still be at safety too.
Cody Brown will be difficult to replace, but year in and year out we seem to be able to develop great defensive lineman. Twyon Martin and Kendall Reyes both played well when I saw them play. Alex Polito has hopefully recovered from his injuries too. Lindsay Witten was the odd end out last year because of both Julius Williams and Brown's stellar play at end. Hard Hittin Lindsey Witten (Ryan Grace gets credit for that) has all the potential to be a high draft pick in next years draft. He will get some time to really show off his skills as a senior. I can not wait to watch him next season.
Finally, we come to the running backs themselves. The ones who replace Donald Brown, and those would be Andre Dixon, Jordan Todman and Meme Wylie. We've already seen how great Andre Dixon can be. In 2007 he was dominant and a joy to watch. He was my favorite player on the team. He'd start shaking those dreads and getting the fans fired up before games. He'd run through people, like Marion Barber. He was the UConn offense in several of our Big Games. He was so important against Louisville and USF. If he can be what he was in 2007 that would be great. Somehow I think a year of having to watch Brown ahead of him will also have helped Dixon. It will have motivated him, and he probably learned a few things. Jordan Todman could also start. He is an electric running back. An elusive running back and a play maker. He is so much fun to watch. As a matter of fact when our running game wears down other teams defense's at the end of games, it is really fun to watch. Todman was a solid contributor last year and I would expect that he be even better with more strength and experience as a sophomore. Finally Meme Wylie had a great spring and will provide depth at the position. I see no reason why these running backs can't shoulder the load that Donald Brown had. They are all talented and they still have a good line in front of them.
I think that the receiving corps will be better this year. Last years freshman will have improved. Marcus Easley had a fantastic spring game and hopefully Brad Kanuch will have healed from his injuries. They will also benefit from a new offensive system and some highly regarded incoming freshman who will have a chance to contribute immediately.
I do think that Zach Frazer is a more than capable quarterback. He has a strong arm and I think that he has the makings of a good quarterback. It's hard to look at what he did in one year, when he wasn't expected to have to play and think that it's an accurate portrayal of his entire career. He is also going to play in a new offense, an offense similar to what he had in high school.
I don't understand the doom and gloom that some people have with our football team. I think they could have a better record this year than last year. I think we can compete with all the teams on our schedule. People also forget that we were in that West Virginia game for a long time. This team is constantly improving, because every year the talent that enters the program gets better and better. Relax, UConn football will be just fine in oh-nine.
Oh and one last thing, before I forget, UConn has one of the best linebacking corps in the country with Lawrence Wilson, Scott Lutrus and Greg Lloyd.
People have this idea that because Donald Brown left that the team will be no good. The last time I checked UConn, in it's short Division 1 history, has always had a good running game. Cornell Brockington and Terry Caulley were excellent and the full back Deon Anderson (not a running fullback) was solid too.
Yes UConn has lost two good lineman, but they have two capable replacements, including some highly regarded players, like Jimmy Bennett who was a freshman last year. On top of that Moe Petrus, who was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team is also returning.
We lost Darius Butler, a great player, but Robert McLain has been solid the last two years when he has played. I am very comfortable having him starting opposite of Jasper Howard. Robert Vaughn will still be at safety too.
Cody Brown will be difficult to replace, but year in and year out we seem to be able to develop great defensive lineman. Twyon Martin and Kendall Reyes both played well when I saw them play. Alex Polito has hopefully recovered from his injuries too. Lindsay Witten was the odd end out last year because of both Julius Williams and Brown's stellar play at end. Hard Hittin Lindsey Witten (Ryan Grace gets credit for that) has all the potential to be a high draft pick in next years draft. He will get some time to really show off his skills as a senior. I can not wait to watch him next season.
Finally, we come to the running backs themselves. The ones who replace Donald Brown, and those would be Andre Dixon, Jordan Todman and Meme Wylie. We've already seen how great Andre Dixon can be. In 2007 he was dominant and a joy to watch. He was my favorite player on the team. He'd start shaking those dreads and getting the fans fired up before games. He'd run through people, like Marion Barber. He was the UConn offense in several of our Big Games. He was so important against Louisville and USF. If he can be what he was in 2007 that would be great. Somehow I think a year of having to watch Brown ahead of him will also have helped Dixon. It will have motivated him, and he probably learned a few things. Jordan Todman could also start. He is an electric running back. An elusive running back and a play maker. He is so much fun to watch. As a matter of fact when our running game wears down other teams defense's at the end of games, it is really fun to watch. Todman was a solid contributor last year and I would expect that he be even better with more strength and experience as a sophomore. Finally Meme Wylie had a great spring and will provide depth at the position. I see no reason why these running backs can't shoulder the load that Donald Brown had. They are all talented and they still have a good line in front of them.
I think that the receiving corps will be better this year. Last years freshman will have improved. Marcus Easley had a fantastic spring game and hopefully Brad Kanuch will have healed from his injuries. They will also benefit from a new offensive system and some highly regarded incoming freshman who will have a chance to contribute immediately.
I do think that Zach Frazer is a more than capable quarterback. He has a strong arm and I think that he has the makings of a good quarterback. It's hard to look at what he did in one year, when he wasn't expected to have to play and think that it's an accurate portrayal of his entire career. He is also going to play in a new offense, an offense similar to what he had in high school.
I don't understand the doom and gloom that some people have with our football team. I think they could have a better record this year than last year. I think we can compete with all the teams on our schedule. People also forget that we were in that West Virginia game for a long time. This team is constantly improving, because every year the talent that enters the program gets better and better. Relax, UConn football will be just fine in oh-nine.
Oh and one last thing, before I forget, UConn has one of the best linebacking corps in the country with Lawrence Wilson, Scott Lutrus and Greg Lloyd.
Travelers Championship
I love getting free tickets to events.
I love telling people that I get free tickets to events even more. It makes me sound much more important than what I really am.
As part of my sports marketing class I got a free ticket to one full day of the PGA Travelers Championship Tournament.
I am not a huge golfer. My parents don't golf. I'm not a huge fan of golf either. I'll watch Tiger Woods. He's my favorite. I love mini golf the best because I love drilling the clown in its mouth.
I've played maybe 9 holes all together in my life of real golf. Of course all of those holes were played in New Hampshire. I remember on one of the first holes that I played on I hit 3 golf balls into a swamp. I couldn't find them so I took another tee shot. This one looked fantastic. I was so proud of myself. It was headed to the green.
It kept going and going and going...and it went over the green, bounced in the street and into the tennis courts....needless to say I just dropped the ball at that hole.
I had an amazing tee shot on one other hole. I decided that what the I'd try and drive the ball over the trees rather than go around them. I almost never hit the ball straight by the way. I have a huge slice in my shot. Amazingly it went over the trees and got to the green. I also took lessons once in golf.
It's a sport I'll probably play a little bit of when I get older, but it's kind of lame for me at the moment. Too much finding of the ball in weird places for me. It's also kind of slow. Knowing myself I'd probably hit the ball and after my follow through I'd go run/sprint/jog after the ball. I'd also get a lot of stares from people.
Which also reminds me, I'm not a member of a country club. My grandpa is, but he doesn't golf. The first time I remember trying to eat at a country club restaurant was not a good experience. We had just gotten off a plane and were starving. We didn't have our collared shirts on. It sort of bothered me that you had to dress up to eat there, but I wasn't too mad because it's their place and their rules. What did bother me were the looks from the people at the club at my family. It looked like they were looking down on us and I will never forget feeling like that.
Consequently for me, (with my history with the sport of golf) a golf tournament has not been a prized sporting event to me.
I had been to a Rodeo, Nascar Race, IRL Race, Tractor Pull and outrigger canoe race (from a distance on the beach) all before a golf tournament.
I had low expectations coming into the Travelers Championship, but I wanted to experience a golf tournament and Greg Mihailides encouraged me to go.
Once again Greg M has proved himself to be an absolute genius.
I went to the Celebrity Pro-Am tournament because I figured that it would be the coolest event for me to see all week. It wouldn't be jammed pack like it would be for the actual professional tournament. I'd also possibly see people that I had heard of play...(Luke Wilson, Sandy Koufax, Roger Staubach, Chris Dailey, Randy Edsall, Chris Berman, Doug Flutie, Joe Pesci, Ray Allen to name a few)
My first impression of the golf tournament will surprise you. It reminded me almost exactly of the NASCAR race I had been too. The parking at Travelers was just like the parking at Pocono Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway...a big grass field. The venue also had a lot of tents up...like a NASCAR race...with all of the places to buy gear and souvenirs. It looked like sponsors of golf equipment brought moving stores...like race teams do.
The parking lot was full of cars that were mostly from Connecticut. I'd say 90% were from CT. There were also a lot of local sponsors. I took the time to read through the entire list...and it took some time to look through it. I'm sure the sponsors appreciated that...there were just so many that I can't possibly remember who they were.
Everyone there was really friendly and helpful. I was sort of confused when I got in, but I went to the first hole number sign that I could see and started watching. The one pro golfer that I had heard of and wanted to see was Vijah Singh. To my surprise he was at that first hole that I saw being played. I was so happy. The pro I came to see, I actually found.
Vijah Singh looked like an athlete. He was huge. Much bigger than I thought. He could have played football or basketball with his body. He was easily over 6 feet tall. So often when I think of golf I think of an old nonathletic businessman playing. (no offense) Vijay Singh broke that stereotype. He was by far the best in his group...which isn't surprising when you play with Joe Billy Bob from Travelers.
Singh was fun to watch so I followed him around to 3 holes...and got soaked in rain in the process. I learned some golf etiquette at these first 3 holes. For example, you stop moving when the players are about to hit. You also have to stay completely quiet. (I'm sorry, but it really was tempting, so tempting just to yell in the middle of it...{I'm well behaved, never ever got a detention and was never grounded} but it was just so tempting because it was too quiet.
I also got to see that some people follow around their favorite golfer around the course. Others stay at the same hole. Greg M told me about that and he was right, as usual.
I decided that I'd stop following Vijay around and that I'd start looking for celebrities and people with personalities...who would talk and be a little less serious.
I went to the first tee randomly. I got really excited because I saw Chris Berman going through the clubhouse and getting ready to play. Then I saw Steven Slade (The UConn photographer) so I knew that someone important was about to play.
The first group was Chris Berman, Dwight Evans and Doug Flutie. I think Flutie hit it off of a tree. Evans had a great shot. Berman hit a ground ball. Yes a ground ball...and he had a good enough personality to go to the crowd "BACK, BACK, BACK, GONE." Berman was much taller than I thought he'd be.
The next celebrity group I saw was Luke Wilson and Chris Dailey's group. Luke Wilson had a great tee shot. His second shot...well not so much...let's just say he was in the crowd. Chris Dailey was pretty good. I heard her say that she was so nervous to start and that she was afraid that she would swing and miss. I thought she played the first hole pretty well.
I stayed at the next hole once I heard who was playing next. It was Joe Pesci, Roger Staubach and Jennifer Rizzotti. Easily the best pairing for me. I love the movie Goodfellas. Pesci had a big role in that movie... The Cowboys are my favorite NFL team...Staubach is a Pro football hall of famer and two time super bowl winning QB from the Cowboys. He also won the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP. He is one of 4 football players ever to have done that. I also love the UConn Women's Basketball team. Rizzotti was on the undefeated 1995 team and was named National Player of the year in 1996. She currently coaches at Hartford and has done a tremendous job.
Staubach was pretty good but he joked that he had trouble getting up hills now. Rizzotti was solid too.
As the holes went on I saw that Roger Staubach was signing autographs and was being really nice. I actually had a pen on me and decided that I'd try to get his autograph. He is Roger Staubach...too bad that doesn't mean much to most people my age, as he was an amazing player...in the 1970's. I missed the first two opportunities but he kept signing and when he had to go hit he promised to sign again. He genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself. He joked with the fans. He talked about the Cowboys, he even threw a pass to a fan at the event. He through a perfect spiral. Not that many people can say they caught a pass from Roger Staubach, but some guy off the streets can say he did. Roger Staubach was awesome. The tournament is lucky he came. He single handily made the experience of the tournament great.
Here are some highlights of his...and the hall of fame article on him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNJvW8w5JSU
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=201
I finally was able to get his autograph after tons of waiting. He happily signed and I told him "You know Roger, this makes up for all of the psychological abuse that I take as a Cowboys fan here (in Connecticut)..which made him and the rest of the group laugh. He said that this was going to be a good year for My Dallas Cowboys. I hope so...and he did say that the new stadium is tremendous.
I also went over and got Jennifer Rizzotti's autograph. She had fewer requests than Roger and was more than happy to sign. I think I shocked her when I told her "This past year (referring to the 2009 women's team...I was also wearing a Nike UConn hat...) was the highlight of my college career." It was, and I mean that. I wanted to see UConn win a National Championship in something as a student at the school. It meant even more to me that it was a team that went undefeated and was one of the big 3 teams at a University. (basketball teams and football)
The reason I think it might have shocked her, is because I highly doubt many guys in 1995 went up to her when they won and said that the women's basketball team winning the national championship was a highlight of going to college. It speaks to just how much the women's basketball program and game itself has grown throughout the years. Rizzotti should take some pride in knowing that she helped lay the foundation for this success of this 2009 UConn team.
Joe Pesci also mingled with the fans a little bit. He was hard to recognize because he was wearing a hat and had a beard. He was also much, much shorter than I thought he was.
One thing I realized is just how important and hard it is to choose the celebrities that come and play at events like these. Tournaments have to choose wisely. They need to get celebrities that will draw crowds but they also have to be careful not to choose celebrities that will draw crowds and then disappoint them with their arrogance and poor attitudes. I never knew just how close the players get to the fans. Fans can hear and almost touch the golfers. As an organizer you must select your celebrities wisely. They got it perfectly with Roger Staubach., Had that been someone else, who wasn't fan friendly, I could have left the tournament unhappy.
All in all the Travelers Championship Celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament was a great experience. I couldn't believe how many volunteers there were either. It was a lot of fun and I would definitely recommend checking it out. The golf course was beautiful too and I realize that I wouldn't mind going back to see a few hours of golf by some professionals and great personalities.
The tournament definitely exceeded my expectations.
To re-iterate...Roger Staubach was truly a great guy.
I love telling people that I get free tickets to events even more. It makes me sound much more important than what I really am.
As part of my sports marketing class I got a free ticket to one full day of the PGA Travelers Championship Tournament.
I am not a huge golfer. My parents don't golf. I'm not a huge fan of golf either. I'll watch Tiger Woods. He's my favorite. I love mini golf the best because I love drilling the clown in its mouth.
I've played maybe 9 holes all together in my life of real golf. Of course all of those holes were played in New Hampshire. I remember on one of the first holes that I played on I hit 3 golf balls into a swamp. I couldn't find them so I took another tee shot. This one looked fantastic. I was so proud of myself. It was headed to the green.
It kept going and going and going...and it went over the green, bounced in the street and into the tennis courts....needless to say I just dropped the ball at that hole.
I had an amazing tee shot on one other hole. I decided that what the I'd try and drive the ball over the trees rather than go around them. I almost never hit the ball straight by the way. I have a huge slice in my shot. Amazingly it went over the trees and got to the green. I also took lessons once in golf.
It's a sport I'll probably play a little bit of when I get older, but it's kind of lame for me at the moment. Too much finding of the ball in weird places for me. It's also kind of slow. Knowing myself I'd probably hit the ball and after my follow through I'd go run/sprint/jog after the ball. I'd also get a lot of stares from people.
Which also reminds me, I'm not a member of a country club. My grandpa is, but he doesn't golf. The first time I remember trying to eat at a country club restaurant was not a good experience. We had just gotten off a plane and were starving. We didn't have our collared shirts on. It sort of bothered me that you had to dress up to eat there, but I wasn't too mad because it's their place and their rules. What did bother me were the looks from the people at the club at my family. It looked like they were looking down on us and I will never forget feeling like that.
Consequently for me, (with my history with the sport of golf) a golf tournament has not been a prized sporting event to me.
I had been to a Rodeo, Nascar Race, IRL Race, Tractor Pull and outrigger canoe race (from a distance on the beach) all before a golf tournament.
I had low expectations coming into the Travelers Championship, but I wanted to experience a golf tournament and Greg Mihailides encouraged me to go.
Once again Greg M has proved himself to be an absolute genius.
I went to the Celebrity Pro-Am tournament because I figured that it would be the coolest event for me to see all week. It wouldn't be jammed pack like it would be for the actual professional tournament. I'd also possibly see people that I had heard of play...(Luke Wilson, Sandy Koufax, Roger Staubach, Chris Dailey, Randy Edsall, Chris Berman, Doug Flutie, Joe Pesci, Ray Allen to name a few)
My first impression of the golf tournament will surprise you. It reminded me almost exactly of the NASCAR race I had been too. The parking at Travelers was just like the parking at Pocono Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway...a big grass field. The venue also had a lot of tents up...like a NASCAR race...with all of the places to buy gear and souvenirs. It looked like sponsors of golf equipment brought moving stores...like race teams do.
The parking lot was full of cars that were mostly from Connecticut. I'd say 90% were from CT. There were also a lot of local sponsors. I took the time to read through the entire list...and it took some time to look through it. I'm sure the sponsors appreciated that...there were just so many that I can't possibly remember who they were.
Everyone there was really friendly and helpful. I was sort of confused when I got in, but I went to the first hole number sign that I could see and started watching. The one pro golfer that I had heard of and wanted to see was Vijah Singh. To my surprise he was at that first hole that I saw being played. I was so happy. The pro I came to see, I actually found.
Vijah Singh looked like an athlete. He was huge. Much bigger than I thought. He could have played football or basketball with his body. He was easily over 6 feet tall. So often when I think of golf I think of an old nonathletic businessman playing. (no offense) Vijay Singh broke that stereotype. He was by far the best in his group...which isn't surprising when you play with Joe Billy Bob from Travelers.
Singh was fun to watch so I followed him around to 3 holes...and got soaked in rain in the process. I learned some golf etiquette at these first 3 holes. For example, you stop moving when the players are about to hit. You also have to stay completely quiet. (I'm sorry, but it really was tempting, so tempting just to yell in the middle of it...{I'm well behaved, never ever got a detention and was never grounded} but it was just so tempting because it was too quiet.
I also got to see that some people follow around their favorite golfer around the course. Others stay at the same hole. Greg M told me about that and he was right, as usual.
I decided that I'd stop following Vijay around and that I'd start looking for celebrities and people with personalities...who would talk and be a little less serious.
I went to the first tee randomly. I got really excited because I saw Chris Berman going through the clubhouse and getting ready to play. Then I saw Steven Slade (The UConn photographer) so I knew that someone important was about to play.
The first group was Chris Berman, Dwight Evans and Doug Flutie. I think Flutie hit it off of a tree. Evans had a great shot. Berman hit a ground ball. Yes a ground ball...and he had a good enough personality to go to the crowd "BACK, BACK, BACK, GONE." Berman was much taller than I thought he'd be.
The next celebrity group I saw was Luke Wilson and Chris Dailey's group. Luke Wilson had a great tee shot. His second shot...well not so much...let's just say he was in the crowd. Chris Dailey was pretty good. I heard her say that she was so nervous to start and that she was afraid that she would swing and miss. I thought she played the first hole pretty well.
I stayed at the next hole once I heard who was playing next. It was Joe Pesci, Roger Staubach and Jennifer Rizzotti. Easily the best pairing for me. I love the movie Goodfellas. Pesci had a big role in that movie... The Cowboys are my favorite NFL team...Staubach is a Pro football hall of famer and two time super bowl winning QB from the Cowboys. He also won the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP. He is one of 4 football players ever to have done that. I also love the UConn Women's Basketball team. Rizzotti was on the undefeated 1995 team and was named National Player of the year in 1996. She currently coaches at Hartford and has done a tremendous job.
Staubach was pretty good but he joked that he had trouble getting up hills now. Rizzotti was solid too.
As the holes went on I saw that Roger Staubach was signing autographs and was being really nice. I actually had a pen on me and decided that I'd try to get his autograph. He is Roger Staubach...too bad that doesn't mean much to most people my age, as he was an amazing player...in the 1970's. I missed the first two opportunities but he kept signing and when he had to go hit he promised to sign again. He genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself. He joked with the fans. He talked about the Cowboys, he even threw a pass to a fan at the event. He through a perfect spiral. Not that many people can say they caught a pass from Roger Staubach, but some guy off the streets can say he did. Roger Staubach was awesome. The tournament is lucky he came. He single handily made the experience of the tournament great.
Here are some highlights of his...and the hall of fame article on him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNJvW8w5JSU
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=201
I finally was able to get his autograph after tons of waiting. He happily signed and I told him "You know Roger, this makes up for all of the psychological abuse that I take as a Cowboys fan here (in Connecticut)..which made him and the rest of the group laugh. He said that this was going to be a good year for My Dallas Cowboys. I hope so...and he did say that the new stadium is tremendous.
I also went over and got Jennifer Rizzotti's autograph. She had fewer requests than Roger and was more than happy to sign. I think I shocked her when I told her "This past year (referring to the 2009 women's team...I was also wearing a Nike UConn hat...) was the highlight of my college career." It was, and I mean that. I wanted to see UConn win a National Championship in something as a student at the school. It meant even more to me that it was a team that went undefeated and was one of the big 3 teams at a University. (basketball teams and football)
The reason I think it might have shocked her, is because I highly doubt many guys in 1995 went up to her when they won and said that the women's basketball team winning the national championship was a highlight of going to college. It speaks to just how much the women's basketball program and game itself has grown throughout the years. Rizzotti should take some pride in knowing that she helped lay the foundation for this success of this 2009 UConn team.
Joe Pesci also mingled with the fans a little bit. He was hard to recognize because he was wearing a hat and had a beard. He was also much, much shorter than I thought he was.
One thing I realized is just how important and hard it is to choose the celebrities that come and play at events like these. Tournaments have to choose wisely. They need to get celebrities that will draw crowds but they also have to be careful not to choose celebrities that will draw crowds and then disappoint them with their arrogance and poor attitudes. I never knew just how close the players get to the fans. Fans can hear and almost touch the golfers. As an organizer you must select your celebrities wisely. They got it perfectly with Roger Staubach., Had that been someone else, who wasn't fan friendly, I could have left the tournament unhappy.
All in all the Travelers Championship Celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament was a great experience. I couldn't believe how many volunteers there were either. It was a lot of fun and I would definitely recommend checking it out. The golf course was beautiful too and I realize that I wouldn't mind going back to see a few hours of golf by some professionals and great personalities.
The tournament definitely exceeded my expectations.
To re-iterate...Roger Staubach was truly a great guy.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
I MET ROGER STAUBACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I met Roger Staubach today in Cromwell at the Celebrity Pro-Am Travelers Golf Tournament.
I also met Jennifer Rizzotti today too.
I was a few feet away from Luke Wilson and Joe Pesci too.
Much more on this tomorrow...I am exhausted from an enjoyable day.
I also met Jennifer Rizzotti today too.
I was a few feet away from Luke Wilson and Joe Pesci too.
Much more on this tomorrow...I am exhausted from an enjoyable day.
Just want to inform everyone
What I talk about all depends on where I am working. If you notice people on TV that talk are like former military officers etc. They don't usually analyze/report while they are doing their job. I never claim to be a reporter...I consider myself more of a story teller/recognizing good people/remember that great game/researcher...ok fine a writer...but not a reporter. I am not out to break stories or become famous. I'd rather be considered a press secretary or Sports Information guy than reporter.
I will not write about something I become heavily involved in because I don't even want to come close to mentioning or implying the "secret ingredients" of something.
Notice I rarely speak about my internship...
Enjoy what I write, enjoy it now, because one never knows if I will be able to speak about that subject for a while. I've signed waivers before promising to keep my mouth shut, and I keep up my end of the bargain. If I make a commitment I stick to it.
I will always write about sports, but what I write about might vary. I might keep private writing to help me reminisce, but I may not be posting it depending on what new opportunities arise.
I will not write about something I become heavily involved in because I don't even want to come close to mentioning or implying the "secret ingredients" of something.
Notice I rarely speak about my internship...
Enjoy what I write, enjoy it now, because one never knows if I will be able to speak about that subject for a while. I've signed waivers before promising to keep my mouth shut, and I keep up my end of the bargain. If I make a commitment I stick to it.
I will always write about sports, but what I write about might vary. I might keep private writing to help me reminisce, but I may not be posting it depending on what new opportunities arise.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Is this a sign of peace on earth?
I was looking through stuff. I found a Tennessee Women's Basketball media guide. My favorite part of the media guides is the part that allows me to look at the facilities that all the different schools have.
I randomly looked at Angie Bjorklund's write up. Probably because Willis said she was nice.
It says she likes to play the guitar, travel and hike.
I thought the guitar part was really interesting.
We all know that Maya Moore loves to play the drums.
Peace on Earth will exist when Moore and Bjorklund start a band and Geno and Pat Summitt sing a duet.
Other Musical Huskies that I know of...
We also know that Kaili McLaren can sing and that Maya Moore can too.
Tina Charles can rap.
Mandy Schwartz is the best karaoke singer in the history of the student union.
I know that Terrence Baltimore is either a good writer/rhymer or singer or both.
Tyrone Faverey makes some of the best hip-hop and R and B beats. And of course I need to thank him and Errol for introducing me to B-More Club.
And as Tyrone has told me 1,000 times...I suck at making beats.
Tyrone is unbelievable at it though. I think Maya Moore complemented him on it once. I have a couple of Tyrone's songs on my Ipod. You should definitely listen to his stuff. It's really good.
Jamaal Smith also is good at making beats.
Kalana Greene is a DJ. I also know that she would air-drum to a song from rock-band during warm ups. I think the song was called Maps. Not sure on that...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsOodmBOr9Y
I'm sure that there are some football players that I haven't mentioned who are musically/lyrically talented
I randomly looked at Angie Bjorklund's write up. Probably because Willis said she was nice.
It says she likes to play the guitar, travel and hike.
I thought the guitar part was really interesting.
We all know that Maya Moore loves to play the drums.
Peace on Earth will exist when Moore and Bjorklund start a band and Geno and Pat Summitt sing a duet.
Other Musical Huskies that I know of...
We also know that Kaili McLaren can sing and that Maya Moore can too.
Tina Charles can rap.
Mandy Schwartz is the best karaoke singer in the history of the student union.
I know that Terrence Baltimore is either a good writer/rhymer or singer or both.
Tyrone Faverey makes some of the best hip-hop and R and B beats. And of course I need to thank him and Errol for introducing me to B-More Club.
And as Tyrone has told me 1,000 times...I suck at making beats.
Tyrone is unbelievable at it though. I think Maya Moore complemented him on it once. I have a couple of Tyrone's songs on my Ipod. You should definitely listen to his stuff. It's really good.
Jamaal Smith also is good at making beats.
Kalana Greene is a DJ. I also know that she would air-drum to a song from rock-band during warm ups. I think the song was called Maps. Not sure on that...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsOodmBOr9Y
I'm sure that there are some football players that I haven't mentioned who are musically/lyrically talented
My House is sinking
I just want to give you an idea of the amount of information that is printed for sport.
Seriously there are TONS of information and statistics.
I have two shoe boxes full of information from the 2007-2008 women's basketball season and there are probably more papers that I haven't uncovered yet...From quotes, to articles, to statistics, to box scores, to records, it's just amazing how much information there is.
Here is an update: As I was packing I found a box score lying around in my car. As I took clothes from my closet I noticed more box scores in there.
I know that some schools/teams have binders full of every single print out of every single sport for every year.
Look at the picture of the war rooms for NFL teams on draft day.
I have more sports information then any human being should. I have programs from tons of baseball games that I just found too.
My house is sinking because of all this stuff.
Seriously there are TONS of information and statistics.
I have two shoe boxes full of information from the 2007-2008 women's basketball season and there are probably more papers that I haven't uncovered yet...From quotes, to articles, to statistics, to box scores, to records, it's just amazing how much information there is.
Here is an update: As I was packing I found a box score lying around in my car. As I took clothes from my closet I noticed more box scores in there.
I know that some schools/teams have binders full of every single print out of every single sport for every year.
Look at the picture of the war rooms for NFL teams on draft day.
I have more sports information then any human being should. I have programs from tons of baseball games that I just found too.
My house is sinking because of all this stuff.
I thought this was a funny quote
Ok I just feel like posting this.
My sister wanted me to see her yearbook and I'm looking around.
I read the superlatives.
For best looking someone said "I'd like to thank my mother because my father had nothing to do with this"
Random...
I feel bad for Billy and Danielle too. The last time I saw their heart on the pavement when I was biking it had a skid mark through it.
My sister wanted me to see her yearbook and I'm looking around.
I read the superlatives.
For best looking someone said "I'd like to thank my mother because my father had nothing to do with this"
Random...
I feel bad for Billy and Danielle too. The last time I saw their heart on the pavement when I was biking it had a skid mark through it.
Back in Stamford
Well the past couple of days I have been home in Stamford for my sister's High School graduation. I am heading back North tomorrow. I plan to stop by at the Travelers Championship for the Pro Am at some point. There is no one in particular I want to see. Joe Pesci, Chris Dailey, Randy Edsall, Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie and many others will be playing. I just would like to attend a golf tournament because I've never been before. I'd like to see how it is set up and what goes into setting it up. I may go back on Saturday or Sunday depending on how things shape up for the weekend.
I will also be stopping up at Storrs on the way up. I will also be at the W-League Game at Lusitano Stadium on Sunday. I will be pulling for the UConn players and against this certain player on the opposing team whose famous for kicking things that aren't a ball. It's been about a month too long since I've seen a UConn athlete compete...not counting highlights.
I'm sorry if I haven't written as much as usual but I've been a little busy these past couple of days. Hopefully you have plenty to chew on from before.
I did buy a couple of sports books while I was in Stamford. We'll see if I get the time to read them.
I will also be stopping up at Storrs on the way up. I will also be at the W-League Game at Lusitano Stadium on Sunday. I will be pulling for the UConn players and against this certain player on the opposing team whose famous for kicking things that aren't a ball. It's been about a month too long since I've seen a UConn athlete compete...not counting highlights.
I'm sorry if I haven't written as much as usual but I've been a little busy these past couple of days. Hopefully you have plenty to chew on from before.
I did buy a couple of sports books while I was in Stamford. We'll see if I get the time to read them.
More from Dan Tof
Dan Torf sent me a link about a couple of UConn baseball players. Apparently there are scouts that think that Matt Barnes, a UConn pitcher, will develop into a great pitcher.
The same scout also said that a lot of people are paying attention to George Springer and that he is a 5 tool player.
The same scout also said that a lot of people are paying attention to George Springer and that he is a 5 tool player.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Dear person
Dear person who said that the road game they were most looking forward to is Women's Soccer at St. Johns,
You are my hero.
From,
Me
You are my hero.
From,
Me
I hope
I hope that I was able to entertain one person during this past month of rain.
I have been so bored inside this past month and I have not been able to be outside as much as I would have liked. If I entertained one person with anything I wrote while they couldn't be outside I'd consider myself useful.
I have been so bored inside this past month and I have not been able to be outside as much as I would have liked. If I entertained one person with anything I wrote while they couldn't be outside I'd consider myself useful.
This really makes me smile
I have to say watching highlights of Stanley Robinson posterizing Chattanooga really makes me smile. I do not get tired of watching him destroying the rim with his dunks and destroying shots with his blocks. I wish I had tape of his highlights so I could watch that on my big screen.
He is a better athlete than Rudy Gay.
Breaking ankles also really makes me smile.
A.J. Price is really good at that.
Real Speed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aizz6YDvm0c&NR=1
slow motion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1fZ10tpPX8
He is a better athlete than Rudy Gay.
Breaking ankles also really makes me smile.
A.J. Price is really good at that.
Real Speed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aizz6YDvm0c&NR=1
slow motion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1fZ10tpPX8
Brittany Tegeler scores again
Brittany Tegeler scored the first goal and match winning goal in a game against her former teammates, Lauren Ebert and Cory Bildstein.
Both Ebert and Bildstein played the entire 90 minutes.
Both Ebert and Bildstein played the entire 90 minutes.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Underrated-overlooked athletes
Too often people get caught up in the statistics that a player possesses. Their points per game, vertical jumps and their overall skills. Sometimes the fact that they aren't the best player on the field is ok because they have extraordinary character, work ethics or personalities. It's what they bring besides skill that is important. Athletes full of optimism and good work ethics are very important parts of successful teams.
I thought that Tahirah Williams was a very important part of her team because she was always upbeat and high fiving everyone. Keeping your team upbeat and optimistic at all times is important. It pays off. It doesn't show up in the score sheet but it pays off. I thought she was important just cheering from the bench in the 2008 Elite 8 game vs. Rutgers.
I think players who get injured can be inspirational to their team. Even if they return with less skill then before their injury, they usually bring with them a determination and will to win. They bring with them toughness and a great work ethic. They also make the most of all their opportunities. That will all rub off on their teammates. Teams can also use injuries as rallying points. It forces everyone else to pick it up and play better to make up for a lost player.
Being a part of a team doesn't always have to do with skill level. Often times it's a combination of things that includes chemistry, personality and character. You can't measure that and put it in a box score. It often goes unnoticed, yet it has a huge impact on teams.
Hard workers in practice are really important because they challenge everyone else.
Players who lack amazing skill but bring with them hard work and optimism will always be a vital part of a team.
People tend to do what people around them are doing in group settings. If a few people are working hard, everyone will begin to work hard. If people are goofing off, others will goof off. That's why having high character hard workers are important, even if they don't receive the most playing time. They will always push everyone else on the team to work hard and be the best that they can be.
This is also why it's very important to choose wisely for captains and why seniors are so important on teams. They both have a lot of influence over their teammates. If they set good examples, everyone else will fall in line.
People also will believe things that are said over and over again. Someone who keeps people upbeat will help their teammates believe that a game is still winnable until the very last second. If people think a game is a lost cause they won't bother chasing down a ball with 10 seconds left.
Players with big personalities who are confident and upbeat are very important. Often times athletes will gravitate to someone on their team who has a big personality. That big personality has a lot of influence on everyone else on a team. If they are positive and upbeat they will be a good influence on their teammates.
I think teams cut "Big Personality Players" if they become negative because they are so influential. I love Terrell Owens and his work ethic, but I think he is an example of this. T.O. has a big personality and he sucks people in with it. It can be good for team chemistry if he stays positive, but bad if he starts to complain.
Everyone on a team is important.
I thought that Tahirah Williams was a very important part of her team because she was always upbeat and high fiving everyone. Keeping your team upbeat and optimistic at all times is important. It pays off. It doesn't show up in the score sheet but it pays off. I thought she was important just cheering from the bench in the 2008 Elite 8 game vs. Rutgers.
I think players who get injured can be inspirational to their team. Even if they return with less skill then before their injury, they usually bring with them a determination and will to win. They bring with them toughness and a great work ethic. They also make the most of all their opportunities. That will all rub off on their teammates. Teams can also use injuries as rallying points. It forces everyone else to pick it up and play better to make up for a lost player.
Being a part of a team doesn't always have to do with skill level. Often times it's a combination of things that includes chemistry, personality and character. You can't measure that and put it in a box score. It often goes unnoticed, yet it has a huge impact on teams.
Hard workers in practice are really important because they challenge everyone else.
Players who lack amazing skill but bring with them hard work and optimism will always be a vital part of a team.
People tend to do what people around them are doing in group settings. If a few people are working hard, everyone will begin to work hard. If people are goofing off, others will goof off. That's why having high character hard workers are important, even if they don't receive the most playing time. They will always push everyone else on the team to work hard and be the best that they can be.
This is also why it's very important to choose wisely for captains and why seniors are so important on teams. They both have a lot of influence over their teammates. If they set good examples, everyone else will fall in line.
People also will believe things that are said over and over again. Someone who keeps people upbeat will help their teammates believe that a game is still winnable until the very last second. If people think a game is a lost cause they won't bother chasing down a ball with 10 seconds left.
Players with big personalities who are confident and upbeat are very important. Often times athletes will gravitate to someone on their team who has a big personality. That big personality has a lot of influence on everyone else on a team. If they are positive and upbeat they will be a good influence on their teammates.
I think teams cut "Big Personality Players" if they become negative because they are so influential. I love Terrell Owens and his work ethic, but I think he is an example of this. T.O. has a big personality and he sucks people in with it. It can be good for team chemistry if he stays positive, but bad if he starts to complain.
Everyone on a team is important.
Athletes reading
When I was in little league I bought a book about Bob Gibson and started reading it. (I re-read that and realize how weird it was that I did that in little league...when I was 12 I read a book about Bob Gibson...that's how much I like sports) I was a pitcher and Bob Gibson's writing influenced me one game. I read a part where he said that you needed to "own the inside of the plate." That you should never be afraid to throw inside. To be aggressive and to go after hitters.
I did throw inside my next game. I hit 3 batters in two innings on a cold day. Gibson certainly influenced me. After my third hit batter I heard that the other team wanted to meet me in the parking lot after the game. That part never happened!
I don't think I was rocked in my 2 or 3 innings of work. Maybe I gave up a run. I don't really know, but that book influenced me to be aggressive. Despite hitting batters, it made me a better pitcher that day because I became aggressive.
I think that athletes should do more reading to prepare for games. Obviously I hope it doesn't influence them to throw a baseball wildly.
I think it would be extremely useful for athletes if they went to a bookstore and bought an autobiography on a really successful coach or athlete and read about what motivated them. Read about their hard times and how they overcame them. Learn what their keys to success were. I think that they would learn a lot because they will be able to relate to these successful athletes or coaches. I think reading over the summer about sports can have a really positive impact when your in season, and when your training.
I did throw inside my next game. I hit 3 batters in two innings on a cold day. Gibson certainly influenced me. After my third hit batter I heard that the other team wanted to meet me in the parking lot after the game. That part never happened!
I don't think I was rocked in my 2 or 3 innings of work. Maybe I gave up a run. I don't really know, but that book influenced me to be aggressive. Despite hitting batters, it made me a better pitcher that day because I became aggressive.
I think that athletes should do more reading to prepare for games. Obviously I hope it doesn't influence them to throw a baseball wildly.
I think it would be extremely useful for athletes if they went to a bookstore and bought an autobiography on a really successful coach or athlete and read about what motivated them. Read about their hard times and how they overcame them. Learn what their keys to success were. I think that they would learn a lot because they will be able to relate to these successful athletes or coaches. I think reading over the summer about sports can have a really positive impact when your in season, and when your training.
I love it when I make people famous
"but nah, at sun games when im throwing out shirts i feel like melissa busque picking a seat in class"
My friend who reads my blog came up with that one, it made me really laugh. He can't decide who to throw T-Shirts to at his job with the Connecticut Sun.
My teacher in psych once made fun of Busque and Jessica Shufelt because they couldn't figure out where to sit even though the class was full of empty seats.
I was joking when I said Professor Magley made Busque famous, but I guess she really has. People use her in quotes now.
Busque will know she's famous when people go up to her and challenge her to a game of musical chairs.
I'm sorry I had to put that last one in.
This quote is also sort of funny to me because I did notice...(because as someone who follows all UConn sports, I recognize many athletes) that Busque was someone who tried really hard to get on the big screen at games and try to catch free T-Shirts that are shot into the stands. I saw her wave her hands several times when they were shooting T-Shirts. I never saw her get one.
My friend who reads my blog came up with that one, it made me really laugh. He can't decide who to throw T-Shirts to at his job with the Connecticut Sun.
My teacher in psych once made fun of Busque and Jessica Shufelt because they couldn't figure out where to sit even though the class was full of empty seats.
I was joking when I said Professor Magley made Busque famous, but I guess she really has. People use her in quotes now.
Busque will know she's famous when people go up to her and challenge her to a game of musical chairs.
I'm sorry I had to put that last one in.
This quote is also sort of funny to me because I did notice...(because as someone who follows all UConn sports, I recognize many athletes) that Busque was someone who tried really hard to get on the big screen at games and try to catch free T-Shirts that are shot into the stands. I saw her wave her hands several times when they were shooting T-Shirts. I never saw her get one.
I missed her
I missed Melissa Busque. She must have found a seat before Professor Magley could point one out to her. (you would have had to have been in Schenker for psychology II to understand that one)
Professor Magley did a lot to make Busque famous.
Just kidding.
She's playing for the Ottawa Fury in the W-League.
For the past two years she played with the Laval Cometes. She had 3 goals and an assist in the past two years with Laval. She was the co-leader among freshman at UConn in points in 2008.
The record for points by a freshman at UConn in a season is 65, by Mary Frances Monroe.
As a player at UConn she reminded me of the energizer bunny because she was always running hard.
Former UConn player Brittany Tegeler scored two goals in her game yesterday. Tegeler's team beat the team with the player that kicked Busque in the head last year. They won 9-0. That's a beating that they deserve.
Aren't you impressed with my ability to tie things in?
Professor Magley did a lot to make Busque famous.
Just kidding.
She's playing for the Ottawa Fury in the W-League.
For the past two years she played with the Laval Cometes. She had 3 goals and an assist in the past two years with Laval. She was the co-leader among freshman at UConn in points in 2008.
The record for points by a freshman at UConn in a season is 65, by Mary Frances Monroe.
As a player at UConn she reminded me of the energizer bunny because she was always running hard.
Former UConn player Brittany Tegeler scored two goals in her game yesterday. Tegeler's team beat the team with the player that kicked Busque in the head last year. They won 9-0. That's a beating that they deserve.
Aren't you impressed with my ability to tie things in?
A coaches quote
I liked this quote...which I will paraphrase. I heard Jimmy Johnson, the former Dallas Cowboys two time Super Bowl winning coach, say this.
treat a person the way they are and they will stay the way they are. Treat a person based on their potential and they will reach their potential.
treat a person the way they are and they will stay the way they are. Treat a person based on their potential and they will reach their potential.
All-Star Votes
So here is who I voted for the baseball All-Star game
AL
Kevin Youkilis Red Sox
Aaron Hill Blue Jays
Jason Bartlett Rays
Evan Longoria Rays
Joe Mauer Twins
Jason Bay Red Sox
Torri Hunter Angels
Jacoby Ellsbury...his range in Center Field is impressive...although Torri Hunter is pretty good in CF too. Red Sox
NL
Albert Pujols Cardinals
Orlando Hudson Dodgers
Hanley Ramirez Marlins
David Wright Mets
Omir Santos (Write in for Catcher) Mets
Carlos Beltran Mets
Ryan Braun Brewers
Matt Kemp Dodgers
FYI I am a Mets fan first
My AL team is the Minnesota Twins...
Then I will also root for the Rays, Red Sox and Blue Jays.
AL
Kevin Youkilis Red Sox
Aaron Hill Blue Jays
Jason Bartlett Rays
Evan Longoria Rays
Joe Mauer Twins
Jason Bay Red Sox
Torri Hunter Angels
Jacoby Ellsbury...his range in Center Field is impressive...although Torri Hunter is pretty good in CF too. Red Sox
NL
Albert Pujols Cardinals
Orlando Hudson Dodgers
Hanley Ramirez Marlins
David Wright Mets
Omir Santos (Write in for Catcher) Mets
Carlos Beltran Mets
Ryan Braun Brewers
Matt Kemp Dodgers
FYI I am a Mets fan first
My AL team is the Minnesota Twins...
Then I will also root for the Rays, Red Sox and Blue Jays.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
I went cycling today and joined this...
I went out for my usual 26 mile ride in Ashburnham on this Saturday morning. It's really nice. I go out on Route 119, go past Mount Watatic, into New Hampshire, and stop at the Cathedral of the Pines, and see Mount Monadnock from a distance.
Usually it's just me and the road. There isn't too much traffic and often on the weekends all I hear are Harley's passing me by. Occasionally I hear gunshots going off at the shooting range too. That takes a little time to get used too. I always ride through there a little bit quicker than other places for obvious reasons.
Today I saw a lot more cyclists than usual. I wasn't sure what was going on. I past one guy. Then I past another. Still there was someone in front of me...who I passed right over the New Hampshire line. I thought it was really odd. It was like I had joined part of a race or tour. Than I saw these yellow cars with bike wheels on the back of them. I had indeed just out of chance joined a bike ride in progress. It was a Harpoon Beer Brewery to Brewery ride that started in Boston and will end in Vermont. I was quite surprised to all of a sudden join this. But I was more than happy to pass a few people before I turned off route 119 to continue on my ride.
Usually it's just me and the road. There isn't too much traffic and often on the weekends all I hear are Harley's passing me by. Occasionally I hear gunshots going off at the shooting range too. That takes a little time to get used too. I always ride through there a little bit quicker than other places for obvious reasons.
Today I saw a lot more cyclists than usual. I wasn't sure what was going on. I past one guy. Then I past another. Still there was someone in front of me...who I passed right over the New Hampshire line. I thought it was really odd. It was like I had joined part of a race or tour. Than I saw these yellow cars with bike wheels on the back of them. I had indeed just out of chance joined a bike ride in progress. It was a Harpoon Beer Brewery to Brewery ride that started in Boston and will end in Vermont. I was quite surprised to all of a sudden join this. But I was more than happy to pass a few people before I turned off route 119 to continue on my ride.
Pitea/Labbe
It's been way too long since I've written about Stephanie Labbe's progress and Pitea.
I love google translator, it helps me get up to speed fast.
Here is the translated version of some comments from fans about Pitea's 1-1 tie with Umea, the team that is 1st in the Damallsvenskan standings.
What fighting game you do girls!
Hope you heard the support from the stands (for the first time in years)
Älvsby girls squad led YIPPEE! (Thank you)
Is so cruelly impressed with your game today!
A translation from the press conference...Peter is the coach of Pitea.
21.06 Peter a little disappointed at the situation which led to the acknowledgment, think it should have been free kick. But he is satisfied with the game in general and with the defense this game in particular. Very happy with Camilla and Mari on the middle and of course Labbe in bag.
Here is another thing I translated from an article:
It had also Piteå Canadian landslagsmålvakt Stephanie Labbe made one magnificent save after another.
Labbe's team has picked up a couple of ties in their league play of late. This last tie was really good for Pitea, because it was against the team in 1st place in the league.
There is some other Damer Svenska Cupen (I have no idea, your just as lost as I am) that Pitea won two games in. If I had to guess it's a swedish women's soccer tournament.
Also I love translating these articles. Sometimes the translations are so funny.
I love google translator, it helps me get up to speed fast.
Here is the translated version of some comments from fans about Pitea's 1-1 tie with Umea, the team that is 1st in the Damallsvenskan standings.
What fighting game you do girls!
Hope you heard the support from the stands (for the first time in years)
Älvsby girls squad led YIPPEE! (Thank you)
Is so cruelly impressed with your game today!
A translation from the press conference...Peter is the coach of Pitea.
21.06 Peter a little disappointed at the situation which led to the acknowledgment, think it should have been free kick. But he is satisfied with the game in general and with the defense this game in particular. Very happy with Camilla and Mari on the middle and of course Labbe in bag.
Here is another thing I translated from an article:
It had also Piteå Canadian landslagsmålvakt Stephanie Labbe made one magnificent save after another.
Labbe's team has picked up a couple of ties in their league play of late. This last tie was really good for Pitea, because it was against the team in 1st place in the league.
There is some other Damer Svenska Cupen (I have no idea, your just as lost as I am) that Pitea won two games in. If I had to guess it's a swedish women's soccer tournament.
Also I love translating these articles. Sometimes the translations are so funny.
A good omen...
The last time UConn Soccer won a National Championship was in 2000. I looked at the picture and noticed that Nike was sponsoring them. Guess who will be sponsoring UConn Soccer now??? Yep, Nike.
Friday, June 19, 2009
If I read an article correctly
Brittany Taylor will be in London in July to compete in a U-23 tournament.
I always think it's cool when athletes get to travel far distances to show off their skills.
You get to do what you love in places that you wanted to visit.
Sometimes, like a UConn team's trip every other year to South Florida, it's all business and no play. When it's not, it's a lot of fun.
I'd also volunteer to help out any team that will play a game in Florida this year. What ever you want me to do, I will do it so long as I can go to Florida. I won't mind being stuffed into the cargo hold either.
I've got family in Tampa that I'd love to go and visit.
And yes our basketball teams are so lucky. They have been able to play in Cancun, The Virgin Islands and Hawaii to name a few places. I know the women went to Italy not that long ago too.
Willis Reed told me that rowing goes to Miami for a little bit too.
I also love the 305. I spent 3 weeks taking summer classes at the University of Miami when I was an incoming High School senior. I got college credit for those sports management classes at THE U. THE U is a great university, despite what some people might think.
I always think it's cool when athletes get to travel far distances to show off their skills.
You get to do what you love in places that you wanted to visit.
Sometimes, like a UConn team's trip every other year to South Florida, it's all business and no play. When it's not, it's a lot of fun.
I'd also volunteer to help out any team that will play a game in Florida this year. What ever you want me to do, I will do it so long as I can go to Florida. I won't mind being stuffed into the cargo hold either.
I've got family in Tampa that I'd love to go and visit.
And yes our basketball teams are so lucky. They have been able to play in Cancun, The Virgin Islands and Hawaii to name a few places. I know the women went to Italy not that long ago too.
Willis Reed told me that rowing goes to Miami for a little bit too.
I also love the 305. I spent 3 weeks taking summer classes at the University of Miami when I was an incoming High School senior. I got college credit for those sports management classes at THE U. THE U is a great university, despite what some people might think.
Stanley Robinson
I must say that I was really really really impressed with Stanley Robinson in the NCAA Tournament and I look forward to him having a big year in 2009-2010. He is the best athlete that I have ever seen play basketball in person. He has freakish athletic ability.
Here are his 1st round highlights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fk5DqNS5mo
Here are his 1st round highlights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fk5DqNS5mo
Hasheem
In case your not facebook friends with Hasheem, here is a video he posted of an interview he had on ESPN's First Take. It's a pretty good interview, I enjoyed watching it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xESyqzS4Qd4
Here is what a 7 foot 3 dancer looks like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjADO-KPxzU&feature=related
I will also say that I've had the chance to stand next to Hasheem several times. Once at a track party, and many other times around campus. It is quite an unforgettable experience.
Everyone in Storrs loves Hasheem and I wish him the best at the next level.
And here are some highlights of Hasheem at UConn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GFC5892OTs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xESyqzS4Qd4
Here is what a 7 foot 3 dancer looks like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjADO-KPxzU&feature=related
I will also say that I've had the chance to stand next to Hasheem several times. Once at a track party, and many other times around campus. It is quite an unforgettable experience.
Everyone in Storrs loves Hasheem and I wish him the best at the next level.
And here are some highlights of Hasheem at UConn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GFC5892OTs&feature=related
And some goalkeeping stats
Mandy Schwartz and Jess Dulski are 2nd and 3rd respectively in the W-League in total saves. Dulski is averaging just below 10 saves per game (9.6). I believe that would put Dulski 2nd in the W-League in terms of saves per game...which is a stat that is not officially kept by the league. I actually had to do some quick math to figure that out. Mandy is tied for most games played. She averages (8.4) saves per game.
Former UConn player Brittany Tegeler is tied for 18th in the league in points.
Former UConn player Brittany Tegeler is tied for 18th in the league in points.
An oddity that only I would care about
My sister's 18th birthday will be on UConn Women's Soccer's Senior Day.
My 21st birthday will be on UConn Men's Soccer's Senior Day.
That is a little odd.
I actually will be working for sure on my 21st birthday at a different event that same day. However, because the game is earlier in the day I will be able to enjoy the soccer game in it's entirety.
So women's soccer just released their schedule. As I said earlier, September 24th will be a great day. Great things will happen that day. That day is circled in my mental calendar.
This could be the last time I get the chance to see these two teams play, so I am tempted, really tempted to actually travel to that game.
The game that those two teams played last year was sad. There were some local young kids who were brought to that game and they had to see such blatant unsportsmanlike conduct displayed by the visiting school. It had to be explained to these kids that what was going on was wrong.
Great things will happen the next day, September 25th on what would have been been my paternal grandmother's 100th birthday..this according to a schedule that I got in April...This day is also circled in my mental calendar.
My 21st birthday will be on UConn Men's Soccer's Senior Day.
That is a little odd.
I actually will be working for sure on my 21st birthday at a different event that same day. However, because the game is earlier in the day I will be able to enjoy the soccer game in it's entirety.
So women's soccer just released their schedule. As I said earlier, September 24th will be a great day. Great things will happen that day. That day is circled in my mental calendar.
This could be the last time I get the chance to see these two teams play, so I am tempted, really tempted to actually travel to that game.
The game that those two teams played last year was sad. There were some local young kids who were brought to that game and they had to see such blatant unsportsmanlike conduct displayed by the visiting school. It had to be explained to these kids that what was going on was wrong.
Great things will happen the next day, September 25th on what would have been been my paternal grandmother's 100th birthday..this according to a schedule that I got in April...This day is also circled in my mental calendar.
I read this online
According to her head coach, Jessica Shufelt played well in a recent game. The coach also said that the team is continuing to improve. Shannon Algoe and Jess Dulski from UConn are also on Shufelt's team, the Rochester Ravens.
Some of UConn's summer league players that were drafted haven't been playing recently. That leads me to believe that they have signed to go professional.
I know that Peter Fatse signed with the Brewers, John Folino signed with the Cardinals, Dusty Odenbach signed with the Royals, David Erickson signed with the Padres.
The Marlins, being the Marlins haven't released who they have signed yet.
Dan Mahoney has no stats on the Bourne Braves site, I'm guessing he has signed with the Marlins.
According to Harold Brantley's summer league team, he is expected to sign with the Marlins. He is no longer on the team roster and they have replaced a player because of him...Guessing that he too has signed with the Marlins.
Also, learned this from uconnhuskies.com...Pierre LePage ended the years with a 10 game hitting streak. He is hitting .333 in the Cape League so far.
Some of UConn's summer league players that were drafted haven't been playing recently. That leads me to believe that they have signed to go professional.
I know that Peter Fatse signed with the Brewers, John Folino signed with the Cardinals, Dusty Odenbach signed with the Royals, David Erickson signed with the Padres.
The Marlins, being the Marlins haven't released who they have signed yet.
Dan Mahoney has no stats on the Bourne Braves site, I'm guessing he has signed with the Marlins.
According to Harold Brantley's summer league team, he is expected to sign with the Marlins. He is no longer on the team roster and they have replaced a player because of him...Guessing that he too has signed with the Marlins.
Also, learned this from uconnhuskies.com...Pierre LePage ended the years with a 10 game hitting streak. He is hitting .333 in the Cape League so far.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
After work
After work I went and played some soccer up at the fields at Franklin Pierce. After I got home my dad went EWW because I told him that I had played soccer outside in the rain.
It was at this moment that I realized why I talk and write about sports and why I don't play them at the college level...My dad thinks that playing sports in the rain is disgusting and a huge waste of time. No wonder he never pushed me to excel in sports.
Also FYI..I'm pretty bad at soccer...you wouldn't even want to be paid to watch me... I'm really just learning how to play...
It was at this moment that I realized why I talk and write about sports and why I don't play them at the college level...My dad thinks that playing sports in the rain is disgusting and a huge waste of time. No wonder he never pushed me to excel in sports.
Also FYI..I'm pretty bad at soccer...you wouldn't even want to be paid to watch me... I'm really just learning how to play...
Shawn Nicklaw's goal
Ok, I've spoken so much about Cory Bildstein's goal vs Yale.
But you know what, Shawn Nicklaw deserves to be recognized for this unbelievable goal.
I haven't talked about this goal because I don't remember being at this game. One thing I must say is that women's soccer was generally pretty good about having their games played at times when other sports weren't playing. If there is a time when men's soccer, field hockey, football and volleyball are going on I'll be more than happy to work any of those games...but since I work, I miss games. Men's Soccer was one of the teams who often played at the same time as other teams so I wasn't able to attend all of their games. I wish I could have.
I wish I was there to see Shawn Nicklaw's goal live.
I also wish I got to see Dori Arad's game winning goal on Senior Night.
Here is Shawn Nicklaw's amazing goal which is filmed by the world's most famous camera person, Wintana Araya.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H68kIK8sxlc
I think it's funny how you can hear the goal patrol talking to the goalie after the goal was scored.
Here was another great goal, a match winner by O'Brian White vs Cincinnati.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il28boGYHa0&feature=related
Both the 2007 5-0 vs South Florida and the comeback vs Cincinnati in 2008 come to my mind when I think of great soccer games. The game against Tulsa where O'Brian White scored really late in the game to ultimately tie the game was memorable too, as was the 1-0 win over Notre Dame with Cruz Hernandez's game winner. Games like these helped convert me into a soccer fan...much like Women's Soccer vs. Yale, St. Johns and WVU did...and Bacary Sagna's bicycle kick to save a goal for the Arsenal against Aston Villa also got me interested in the world's most popular sport.
Here is this amazing play...this is an extremely athletic play...I also don't know what language this is in...but I found the video of Sagna.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tX9_6PZ0E0
But you know what, Shawn Nicklaw deserves to be recognized for this unbelievable goal.
I haven't talked about this goal because I don't remember being at this game. One thing I must say is that women's soccer was generally pretty good about having their games played at times when other sports weren't playing. If there is a time when men's soccer, field hockey, football and volleyball are going on I'll be more than happy to work any of those games...but since I work, I miss games. Men's Soccer was one of the teams who often played at the same time as other teams so I wasn't able to attend all of their games. I wish I could have.
I wish I was there to see Shawn Nicklaw's goal live.
I also wish I got to see Dori Arad's game winning goal on Senior Night.
Here is Shawn Nicklaw's amazing goal which is filmed by the world's most famous camera person, Wintana Araya.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H68kIK8sxlc
I think it's funny how you can hear the goal patrol talking to the goalie after the goal was scored.
Here was another great goal, a match winner by O'Brian White vs Cincinnati.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il28boGYHa0&feature=related
Both the 2007 5-0 vs South Florida and the comeback vs Cincinnati in 2008 come to my mind when I think of great soccer games. The game against Tulsa where O'Brian White scored really late in the game to ultimately tie the game was memorable too, as was the 1-0 win over Notre Dame with Cruz Hernandez's game winner. Games like these helped convert me into a soccer fan...much like Women's Soccer vs. Yale, St. Johns and WVU did...and Bacary Sagna's bicycle kick to save a goal for the Arsenal against Aston Villa also got me interested in the world's most popular sport.
Here is this amazing play...this is an extremely athletic play...I also don't know what language this is in...but I found the video of Sagna.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tX9_6PZ0E0
D 1 vs D 2
I never really realized quite how different things are between a Division 1 athletics program and a Division 2 athletics program. I have been enlightened now. The first thing is that you get spoiled if you work in a Division 1 program when compared to a Division 2 one. The budgets are completely different.
Coaches also do more than just coach. At a division 1 school, I think of coaches, coaching, recruiting and coaching some more. At a Division 2 school the coaches coach and do administrative work in many cases. I know of a school where a volleyball coach is the senior women's administrator and the women's soccer coach is the assistant athletic director. The Compliance and Sports Information office work together to market too. Many of the other coaches are part-time coaches too. They have jobs beyond coaching at college.
I've noticed that it's a lot different than Division 1.
Coaches also do more than just coach. At a division 1 school, I think of coaches, coaching, recruiting and coaching some more. At a Division 2 school the coaches coach and do administrative work in many cases. I know of a school where a volleyball coach is the senior women's administrator and the women's soccer coach is the assistant athletic director. The Compliance and Sports Information office work together to market too. Many of the other coaches are part-time coaches too. They have jobs beyond coaching at college.
I've noticed that it's a lot different than Division 1.
The Power of Willis
Willis Reed's interning abilities are clearly showing. She has helped the Cotuit Kettleers to a 2-1-1 record in the Cape League.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
I got
I got a 70 on the test. I should have done better. I took the D2 test for sports other than basketball and football...and I'm not as familiar with D2...but then again I did not do too bad since I didn't study for it.
I'm going to take a test and not prepare for it
Don't worry...I'm going to take a practice test given to college coaches about ncaa rules. I don't expect to pass...but I want to see how I do.
Here is the Division 2 test for not basketball or football sports
http://web1.ncaa.org/coachesTest/exec/practiceexam?division=2
Here is the Division 2 test for not basketball or football sports
http://web1.ncaa.org/coachesTest/exec/practiceexam?division=2
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Eww
As of 2005
according to a report on Drug Usage in NCAA sports...12.3% of Division I athletes smoke cigarettes....eww...disgusting
according to a report on Drug Usage in NCAA sports...12.3% of Division I athletes smoke cigarettes....eww...disgusting
According to a 1997 study...
The highest GPA's of prospective Division 1 student-athletes were female athletes, followed by male Olympic athletes followed by revenue producing male athletes.
The highest SAT scores for prospective Division 1 athletes were male Olympic athletes, followed by female athletes, followed by male revenue producing athletes.
Overall in 1998 4.1% of prospective female athletes, 6.3% of prospective male Olympic athletes and 13.2% of prospective male revenue athletes were ineligible.
All from 1998
Female prospective student athletes had a higher SAT score average over the national average by 102 points, Male Olympic prospective student athletes had a higher SAT score average over the national average by 82 points. Male Revenue athletes averaged 31 points lower on the SAT than the national average in 1998
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/a27d87804e0dac579fcaff1ad6fc8b25/report_99-03.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=a27d87804e0dac579fcaff1ad6fc8b25
The highest SAT scores for prospective Division 1 athletes were male Olympic athletes, followed by female athletes, followed by male revenue producing athletes.
Overall in 1998 4.1% of prospective female athletes, 6.3% of prospective male Olympic athletes and 13.2% of prospective male revenue athletes were ineligible.
All from 1998
Female prospective student athletes had a higher SAT score average over the national average by 102 points, Male Olympic prospective student athletes had a higher SAT score average over the national average by 82 points. Male Revenue athletes averaged 31 points lower on the SAT than the national average in 1998
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/a27d87804e0dac579fcaff1ad6fc8b25/report_99-03.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=a27d87804e0dac579fcaff1ad6fc8b25
According to some research
In 2006-2007 there were 9 Division I men's bowlers...in total...I guess they play against other divisions....not quite sure how that worked in 06-07...I wonder if it is still a D1 sport...
further research...there were 29 men's bowlers across the country in all divisions...
further research...there were 29 men's bowlers across the country in all divisions...
Ohhh Interesting things I found
so as of 2006 the median average College Football team had a revenue of 10.6 million and spent 8.5 million
The median average men's basketball program had 4.0 million in revenue and 2.7million in expenses.
The median average women's basketball program had 183k in revenue and 1.5million in expenses.
All of these are Football Bowl Series schools...
The median average men's basketall coach at a FBS school made over $611,000 in 2006. The median average women's coach at a FBS school made $241,500
Women's coaches salaries increased by 5% more than men's coaches salaries in that time span. 20% to 15%
The median salary of a football coach in 2006 was 855,000 and schools spent another median average of 1.46 million on football assistant coaches.
The largest revenues of a football team in 2006 was $63 million, Men's basketball $21.4 million and women's basketball was $5.4 million
In 2006, of the 119 schools 67 football programs, 68 men's basketball programs and 2 women's basketball programs had more revenue than expenses.
The 3 largest sources (on average) of generated revenue for a FBS school is 1. Cash Contributions from Alumni and others, 2. Tickets Sales, 3. NCAA and Conference Distributions.
Salaries, Grants in Aid and Facilities Maintenance are the largest expenditures. (on average)
Based on the median averages of FBS schools, only Men's Basketball and Football made money. Women's Basketball is on average the biggest money loser.
Since I love soccer...here is some soccer money. The average men's soccer program made $86,000 in generated revenues and had expenses of $569,600...women's soccer made on average in generated revenues $42,700 and spent $669,500...basically the average soccer program at a FBS school loses a lot of money.
anyway there are a lot of tables here...I hope I explained everything well and correctly. Here is a link to what I was looking at.
http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/NCAA_Revenues_Expenses.pdf798f201d-c82a-4cb3-9b05-e845a3cf24ec.pdf
The median average men's basketball program had 4.0 million in revenue and 2.7million in expenses.
The median average women's basketball program had 183k in revenue and 1.5million in expenses.
All of these are Football Bowl Series schools...
The median average men's basketall coach at a FBS school made over $611,000 in 2006. The median average women's coach at a FBS school made $241,500
Women's coaches salaries increased by 5% more than men's coaches salaries in that time span. 20% to 15%
The median salary of a football coach in 2006 was 855,000 and schools spent another median average of 1.46 million on football assistant coaches.
The largest revenues of a football team in 2006 was $63 million, Men's basketball $21.4 million and women's basketball was $5.4 million
In 2006, of the 119 schools 67 football programs, 68 men's basketball programs and 2 women's basketball programs had more revenue than expenses.
The 3 largest sources (on average) of generated revenue for a FBS school is 1. Cash Contributions from Alumni and others, 2. Tickets Sales, 3. NCAA and Conference Distributions.
Salaries, Grants in Aid and Facilities Maintenance are the largest expenditures. (on average)
Based on the median averages of FBS schools, only Men's Basketball and Football made money. Women's Basketball is on average the biggest money loser.
Since I love soccer...here is some soccer money. The average men's soccer program made $86,000 in generated revenues and had expenses of $569,600...women's soccer made on average in generated revenues $42,700 and spent $669,500...basically the average soccer program at a FBS school loses a lot of money.
anyway there are a lot of tables here...I hope I explained everything well and correctly. Here is a link to what I was looking at.
http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/NCAA_Revenues_Expenses.pdf798f201d-c82a-4cb3-9b05-e845a3cf24ec.pdf
Never thought of it like this
I was reading an article on Forbes Sports Money about the salaries of professional head coaches and it mentioned one important and interesting thing to me. Basically teams want to make sure that they pay their coaches enough to show the players on the team that their coach is to be respected.
Cape Cod Leagues and NECBL
Cape Cod league
Through 4 games Pierre Lepage is hitting .333 with a double and two rbi's
3 of Mike Olt's 4 hits have been for extra bases. He has two doubles and a homerun and 3 RBI's in 4 games. Olt has also been playing 3rd base, not shortstop.
Elliot Glynn hasn't given up a hit or walk in 1.2 innings of work.
In 3 games George Springer is hitting .400. with an RBI.
David Fischer has given up 3 hits and no runs in 2.1 innings.
NECBL
Mike Nemeth is hitting .308 with a triple, homerun and 7 RBI's in 7 games.
Michael Zaccardo has an era of 1.50 and has thrown 6 innings giving up 5 hits and a walk.
Through 4 games Pierre Lepage is hitting .333 with a double and two rbi's
3 of Mike Olt's 4 hits have been for extra bases. He has two doubles and a homerun and 3 RBI's in 4 games. Olt has also been playing 3rd base, not shortstop.
Elliot Glynn hasn't given up a hit or walk in 1.2 innings of work.
In 3 games George Springer is hitting .400. with an RBI.
David Fischer has given up 3 hits and no runs in 2.1 innings.
NECBL
Mike Nemeth is hitting .308 with a triple, homerun and 7 RBI's in 7 games.
Michael Zaccardo has an era of 1.50 and has thrown 6 innings giving up 5 hits and a walk.
Maya Moore
For all this Meghan Cunningham talk I often fail to talk about Maya Moore.
Maya Moore is one of my all-time favorite athletes. I mean like Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith level. I am completely biased because I had the privilege of being able to speak with her.
What everyone notices when they get the chance to speak with Maya Moore is that she is a better person than basketball player. That's why she's one of my favorite all-time athletes.
It goes without saying how good she is at basketball.
My family (entire family...which doesn't usually watch sports) has begun to enjoy watching the UConn Women's Basketball team because I go to UConn and because of Maya Moore. They may not always be able to remember her name (part of that has to do with their age...just kidding) but they know her face and achievements. They always remember seeing how great she is on the court...and they enjoy listening to her speak in interviews because she sounds really nice and really intelligent. Both of which are true.
Whenever someone brings up Maya Moore I can't help but mention that her GPA is much higher than mine...around a 3.7 at last check...and that she is extremely humble, down to earth and nice. What's funny is that in my family, that's all they seem to really care about hearing. The stats don't really matter as much. It's the fact that she is a great person.
Realistically, that's what should matter.
I'm amazed that my family can talk...and actually bring up...the women's basketball team to me. I have such a big mouth. Usually I'm the one who brings up sports, but not when it comes to UConn women's basketball. It's always them. My grandpa in Florida, My aunts and uncles...they all know about Maya Moore and the teams success...even though they don't live in Connecticut. They called me to tell me how much they enjoyed watching the women play, and how amazing it was for them to go undefeated and win all their games by 10 or more points. They often repeat that to me as if they want me to say that it's just a dream...but it's not...even my grandma, who could care less about sports, is impressed by the team when they are on the news. She may even watch a game or two but not admit it to me.
My family will walk up to my game room and see some sports posters from all of UConn's teams...Michael Jordan posters...Emmitt Smith posters etc...But they see the UConn Women's Basketball posters and they point to them and go "that's my team" and "Those girls were so good this year."
It's a relief to me that, sometimes, occasionally, I don't always have to shoulder the burden of starting a conversation about sports.
Maya Moore is one of my all-time favorite athletes. I mean like Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith level. I am completely biased because I had the privilege of being able to speak with her.
What everyone notices when they get the chance to speak with Maya Moore is that she is a better person than basketball player. That's why she's one of my favorite all-time athletes.
It goes without saying how good she is at basketball.
My family (entire family...which doesn't usually watch sports) has begun to enjoy watching the UConn Women's Basketball team because I go to UConn and because of Maya Moore. They may not always be able to remember her name (part of that has to do with their age...just kidding) but they know her face and achievements. They always remember seeing how great she is on the court...and they enjoy listening to her speak in interviews because she sounds really nice and really intelligent. Both of which are true.
Whenever someone brings up Maya Moore I can't help but mention that her GPA is much higher than mine...around a 3.7 at last check...and that she is extremely humble, down to earth and nice. What's funny is that in my family, that's all they seem to really care about hearing. The stats don't really matter as much. It's the fact that she is a great person.
Realistically, that's what should matter.
I'm amazed that my family can talk...and actually bring up...the women's basketball team to me. I have such a big mouth. Usually I'm the one who brings up sports, but not when it comes to UConn women's basketball. It's always them. My grandpa in Florida, My aunts and uncles...they all know about Maya Moore and the teams success...even though they don't live in Connecticut. They called me to tell me how much they enjoyed watching the women play, and how amazing it was for them to go undefeated and win all their games by 10 or more points. They often repeat that to me as if they want me to say that it's just a dream...but it's not...even my grandma, who could care less about sports, is impressed by the team when they are on the news. She may even watch a game or two but not admit it to me.
My family will walk up to my game room and see some sports posters from all of UConn's teams...Michael Jordan posters...Emmitt Smith posters etc...But they see the UConn Women's Basketball posters and they point to them and go "that's my team" and "Those girls were so good this year."
It's a relief to me that, sometimes, occasionally, I don't always have to shoulder the burden of starting a conversation about sports.
I LOVE THIS BLOCK
I love this Maya Moore blocked shot for two reasons. She stuffed the Villanova player pretty badly...secondly I get in this video...for a millisecond...I had some nice seats that day.
I thank that person for those seats again. He or She knows who they are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRnr5ghWCcA&feature=related
I thank that person for those seats again. He or She knows who they are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRnr5ghWCcA&feature=related
Monday, June 15, 2009
Someone else said this the best
As a Mets fan, as I saw Endy Chavez make that leaping catch to rob Scott Rolen of a home run in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS I thought to myself "It can't get any better than this"....and I was right.
George Springer is good
I love baseball and I am very pleased to see that the UConn baseball team played so well this year.
George Springer had a lot to do with that. He was a lot of fun to watch because he made things happen with his legs, scoring 75 runs (most in school history) and his bat..16 homeruns (tied for 3rd in school history)
Springer is the reason why I got to click on the courant.com and see an article about UConn baseball. He was a freshman All-American, the Big East Rookie of the year and All Big-East first team player. Springer also won a weekly award from the Big East in baseball, which is an award not often won by a UConn player.
It is very nice to see that UConn baseball played well and got recognition for it. I wish more people got the chance to see him this year.
I know it's cold for a good part of the season, but if you bundle up you can at-least stop by and catch a few innings if not the whole game. The weather is by far the biggest obstacle to baseball in the Northeast.
I must say that the best thing about basketball is that it's indoors! Soccer, Field Hockey and Football also get the best deal when it comes to weather....maybe not so much in August when they start practicing, but at-least their games...in the beginning of the season...are not bone chilling. I don't mind watching soccer in a warm drizzle...or in the pooring rain...as would have been the case for the UCLA women's game. I got soaked from that...
For Football games in 2007 we asked the rain gods to continue to make it rain. It made the games fun and we thought it was good luck since we won all the games with rain. The only bad part was the walk back to the buses and cars from the stadium. You easily got covered in mud.
What are the craziest things I've done...
Let's see I've watched Men's Soccer...I stayed to watch them play before leaving for Thanksgiving break....when it was maybe 25 degrees out. I watched Women's Soccer vs UCLA in the rain...I watched track and field in the rain...the same day I got up really early...like 6:30am to see rowing, I've seen softball in the rain, I've seen baseball in the rain. I've definitely seen Lacrosse in the rain...in the cold...when I had a cold. Of course I loved seeing football in the rain. I think I saw field hockey with flurries once.
Yes, I'm crazy and I know it...but If I watched football in the rain...then why can't I watch other sports in the rain??? I'm probably the first person ever to think like that. Also, if you think no one cares about your team...that would be wrong...considering how many bad weather games I've seen from all of our teams.
I've also gone for a run during a thunderstorm...was caught biking in a thunderstorm...biked when it was snowing out once. Biked when it was 20 degrees out once. I shoveled a driveway once...while it was snowing...because I felt like playing basketball... I also started kicking around a soccer ball during finals at like 10pm by hilltop and I ran stadiums on several occasions late at night.
I figure that I need to get in some exercise...so who cares if it's late at night...and also my body is made of 70% water...so why should a little bit of it falling from the sky stop me from doing something?
And really, I'm not that crazy of a person...I'm not that kind of person who is a daredevil...by any means...so don't get the wrong impression.
What else have I done?
I sat in the last row at Shea Stadium in the rain once...with the wind blowing the rain off of the roof and back into the stands. I saw a football playoff game at Giants stadium...when it was freezing...I had beer spilled on me at an NHL game. I got sunburned at a NASCAR race...when it was 50 degrees out for the race...
George Springer had a lot to do with that. He was a lot of fun to watch because he made things happen with his legs, scoring 75 runs (most in school history) and his bat..16 homeruns (tied for 3rd in school history)
Springer is the reason why I got to click on the courant.com and see an article about UConn baseball. He was a freshman All-American, the Big East Rookie of the year and All Big-East first team player. Springer also won a weekly award from the Big East in baseball, which is an award not often won by a UConn player.
It is very nice to see that UConn baseball played well and got recognition for it. I wish more people got the chance to see him this year.
I know it's cold for a good part of the season, but if you bundle up you can at-least stop by and catch a few innings if not the whole game. The weather is by far the biggest obstacle to baseball in the Northeast.
I must say that the best thing about basketball is that it's indoors! Soccer, Field Hockey and Football also get the best deal when it comes to weather....maybe not so much in August when they start practicing, but at-least their games...in the beginning of the season...are not bone chilling. I don't mind watching soccer in a warm drizzle...or in the pooring rain...as would have been the case for the UCLA women's game. I got soaked from that...
For Football games in 2007 we asked the rain gods to continue to make it rain. It made the games fun and we thought it was good luck since we won all the games with rain. The only bad part was the walk back to the buses and cars from the stadium. You easily got covered in mud.
What are the craziest things I've done...
Let's see I've watched Men's Soccer...I stayed to watch them play before leaving for Thanksgiving break....when it was maybe 25 degrees out. I watched Women's Soccer vs UCLA in the rain...I watched track and field in the rain...the same day I got up really early...like 6:30am to see rowing, I've seen softball in the rain, I've seen baseball in the rain. I've definitely seen Lacrosse in the rain...in the cold...when I had a cold. Of course I loved seeing football in the rain. I think I saw field hockey with flurries once.
Yes, I'm crazy and I know it...but If I watched football in the rain...then why can't I watch other sports in the rain??? I'm probably the first person ever to think like that. Also, if you think no one cares about your team...that would be wrong...considering how many bad weather games I've seen from all of our teams.
I've also gone for a run during a thunderstorm...was caught biking in a thunderstorm...biked when it was snowing out once. Biked when it was 20 degrees out once. I shoveled a driveway once...while it was snowing...because I felt like playing basketball... I also started kicking around a soccer ball during finals at like 10pm by hilltop and I ran stadiums on several occasions late at night.
I figure that I need to get in some exercise...so who cares if it's late at night...and also my body is made of 70% water...so why should a little bit of it falling from the sky stop me from doing something?
And really, I'm not that crazy of a person...I'm not that kind of person who is a daredevil...by any means...so don't get the wrong impression.
What else have I done?
I sat in the last row at Shea Stadium in the rain once...with the wind blowing the rain off of the roof and back into the stands. I saw a football playoff game at Giants stadium...when it was freezing...I had beer spilled on me at an NHL game. I got sunburned at a NASCAR race...when it was 50 degrees out for the race...
Re-Iterate something
I know I have a tendency to compare Meghan Cunningham to biblical proportions. I have fun with it, hopefully anyone who reads this understands that I am not being serious. It's sometimes hard to tell when your reading...and there are no facial expressions or change in tones.
I think I do this re-iterating a lot. I feel like I should...just so people don't think I'm completely weird and insane and I don't think I can say how impressive I think it is to compete in two sports at a Division 1 level enough.
Of all the athletes at UConn that I feel are not well known enough it's her. She's on a team with an impressive history and tradition in their sport, women's soccer. She also runs track and does things that few who run it as their only sport do.
She blends in on campus. You'd have no idea who she was. Most people haven't heard her name. People in Storrs could tell you everything about Joe Billy Bob who plays 2 seconds in 40 point blow outs for basketball but nothing about an athlete who participates in multiple sports and actually helps win big games. That just doesn't make sense to me. It's so weird to me how people trivialize athletes because of the sport they play...as if it doesn't require the same hard work to be good at track and soccer as it does to be in basketball. Hard Work and Results is what should determine recognition. Meghan Cunningham has worked hard and has the results to back it up.
It's not like Cunningham doesn't compete either. She's won races in track. She's kicked game winning penalty kicks (TWICE) in her two years in Storrs so far, that advanced UConn a round in tournament play. She also plays in an amateur soccer league and I believe she made a penalty kick under pressure there too.
Just think about that, The fall and summer is taken up by Soccer, winter and spring is track. She's always in season.
I'm sure Meghan Cunningham doesn't care about receiving attention for what she does. No athlete competes because they want attention. They compete for a love of the game and to support their teammates...yet to me it would be a dis-service to sports if people weren't at-least aware of what she does.
No she's not climbing Mount Everest, or curing cancer, but she does a lot more when compared to all of the other people in the sports world who get attention. She definitely deserves to be recognized for competing in several sports and being a student-athlete. If I remember correctly the media guide said she had a 3.86 as a freshman in her first semester.
FYI: Usually basket weaving isn't taken by freshman either, that's something that you might see on my schedule for my last semester. That argument about athletes who take easy easy easy classes probably won't work here.
So I want to re-iterate, no matter what insane thing I say...it's not meant to be serious. It's a way of stretching the truth and making people understand that I do think that what she does is extremely impressive and worth paying attention too.
As a side note I was very pleased and impressed to see that the women's soccer team came to watch Meghan Cunningham race at a track meet and support her along the way. They know she's a great athlete, you should too.
I think I do this re-iterating a lot. I feel like I should...just so people don't think I'm completely weird and insane and I don't think I can say how impressive I think it is to compete in two sports at a Division 1 level enough.
Of all the athletes at UConn that I feel are not well known enough it's her. She's on a team with an impressive history and tradition in their sport, women's soccer. She also runs track and does things that few who run it as their only sport do.
She blends in on campus. You'd have no idea who she was. Most people haven't heard her name. People in Storrs could tell you everything about Joe Billy Bob who plays 2 seconds in 40 point blow outs for basketball but nothing about an athlete who participates in multiple sports and actually helps win big games. That just doesn't make sense to me. It's so weird to me how people trivialize athletes because of the sport they play...as if it doesn't require the same hard work to be good at track and soccer as it does to be in basketball. Hard Work and Results is what should determine recognition. Meghan Cunningham has worked hard and has the results to back it up.
It's not like Cunningham doesn't compete either. She's won races in track. She's kicked game winning penalty kicks (TWICE) in her two years in Storrs so far, that advanced UConn a round in tournament play. She also plays in an amateur soccer league and I believe she made a penalty kick under pressure there too.
Just think about that, The fall and summer is taken up by Soccer, winter and spring is track. She's always in season.
I'm sure Meghan Cunningham doesn't care about receiving attention for what she does. No athlete competes because they want attention. They compete for a love of the game and to support their teammates...yet to me it would be a dis-service to sports if people weren't at-least aware of what she does.
No she's not climbing Mount Everest, or curing cancer, but she does a lot more when compared to all of the other people in the sports world who get attention. She definitely deserves to be recognized for competing in several sports and being a student-athlete. If I remember correctly the media guide said she had a 3.86 as a freshman in her first semester.
FYI: Usually basket weaving isn't taken by freshman either, that's something that you might see on my schedule for my last semester. That argument about athletes who take easy easy easy classes probably won't work here.
So I want to re-iterate, no matter what insane thing I say...it's not meant to be serious. It's a way of stretching the truth and making people understand that I do think that what she does is extremely impressive and worth paying attention too.
As a side note I was very pleased and impressed to see that the women's soccer team came to watch Meghan Cunningham race at a track meet and support her along the way. They know she's a great athlete, you should too.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
NASCAR race was exciting
NASCAR race was great today. Most people who think of NASCAR don't possibly get the appeal of it. It's like watching traffic if you don't have a favorite driver. If you do it's exciting. It's also exciting because there is no fuel gauge, and the radio is open for anyone to hear. This allows the public and fans to know everything that is going on for a driver and team. For example at this last race the leading drivers with one lap left were both dangerously low on fuel. First place ran out of gas. Then second place ran out of gas. The person in 3rd with 1 lap left, in 3rd by a good amount, ran out of gas on the last turn and coasted for the win. As a fan it was exciting.
Also, if you can't tell, I like almost every and any kind of sport...even if you don't think NASCAR is a sport...as I know many of you don't. I consider it one, especially since I've seen auto-racing up close and personal.
Also, if you can't tell, I like almost every and any kind of sport...even if you don't think NASCAR is a sport...as I know many of you don't. I consider it one, especially since I've seen auto-racing up close and personal.
More insightful things
A trusted source of mine said that Leah Andrianos of the track team is a very nice person.
I also heard that she thinks no one cares about track.
That's not true. I love track. I worked the entire second meet as a volunteer and watched the entire first meet in the rain. I've even been to the Blue and White track meet...once...my roommate Errol Watson was on the track team. Sadly it was the only time I saw him race before he left school.
That right there sort of gives away my identity. As a matter of fact when the track team ran around campus, one of my friends on the team past by me and pointed out to the team that I was there biggest fan. I also informed one of the Bennatan brothers when their home meets were. I don't know which one. I also informed Meghan Nanfeldt of her schedule too. People don't realize that the athletes often have no idea. They just take everything game by game and practice by practice. They report where and when their coaches tell them too. They play, they usually (atleast I have found) don't get caught up in schedules, standings and statistics. The ones that do know about them usually have a lot of media people around who tell them.
Errol's got to be proud that I am writing a blog though. He thought I should be doing something like this. He once tried to get NFL players colleges past me. He'd go Amani Toomer, I'd go Michigan, He'd go Dan Marino, I'd go Pitt, He'd go Nate Newton, I'd go Florida A and M.
I also heard that she thinks no one cares about track.
That's not true. I love track. I worked the entire second meet as a volunteer and watched the entire first meet in the rain. I've even been to the Blue and White track meet...once...my roommate Errol Watson was on the track team. Sadly it was the only time I saw him race before he left school.
That right there sort of gives away my identity. As a matter of fact when the track team ran around campus, one of my friends on the team past by me and pointed out to the team that I was there biggest fan. I also informed one of the Bennatan brothers when their home meets were. I don't know which one. I also informed Meghan Nanfeldt of her schedule too. People don't realize that the athletes often have no idea. They just take everything game by game and practice by practice. They report where and when their coaches tell them too. They play, they usually (atleast I have found) don't get caught up in schedules, standings and statistics. The ones that do know about them usually have a lot of media people around who tell them.
Errol's got to be proud that I am writing a blog though. He thought I should be doing something like this. He once tried to get NFL players colleges past me. He'd go Amani Toomer, I'd go Michigan, He'd go Dan Marino, I'd go Pitt, He'd go Nate Newton, I'd go Florida A and M.
So I was watching the National Championship game
Yeah I bought the DVD. I don't know what I don't have from the National Championship this year.
Anyway Kalana Greene's 3 point play was so good.
AND TIFFANY HAYES...People watch midway through the first half. Watch her intercept the pass, twist and fall down and be able to maintain the dribble. That is why you work out. That is why you do all those balance exercises. You do all that so you are prepared to make that ONE play in a National Championship game. That was great athleticism. I rewound that several times and watched it.
I also rewound a great play. Maya Moore cut from the baseline to the 3 point line. Tina Charles set a pick for her and then as the defenders followed Moore, Tina rolled towards the hoop. Renee (I think) hit her with a pass for an easy lay-up. It was beautiful basketball.
I also didn't realize how on fire Angel McCoughtry was to start the game. Nor did I realize just how many rebounds Tina Charles had in the first half. Charles was absolutely dominant.
And lastly. GREG MIHAILIDES PICKED OUT A GREAT TIE. GREG MIHAILIDES is the person to go to when you need to choose a tie for a National Championship game.
Anyway Kalana Greene's 3 point play was so good.
AND TIFFANY HAYES...People watch midway through the first half. Watch her intercept the pass, twist and fall down and be able to maintain the dribble. That is why you work out. That is why you do all those balance exercises. You do all that so you are prepared to make that ONE play in a National Championship game. That was great athleticism. I rewound that several times and watched it.
I also rewound a great play. Maya Moore cut from the baseline to the 3 point line. Tina Charles set a pick for her and then as the defenders followed Moore, Tina rolled towards the hoop. Renee (I think) hit her with a pass for an easy lay-up. It was beautiful basketball.
I also didn't realize how on fire Angel McCoughtry was to start the game. Nor did I realize just how many rebounds Tina Charles had in the first half. Charles was absolutely dominant.
And lastly. GREG MIHAILIDES PICKED OUT A GREAT TIE. GREG MIHAILIDES is the person to go to when you need to choose a tie for a National Championship game.
Dan Torf is an investigative reporter
According to Dan Torf the most amazing UConn Husky is becoming more amazing.
Another visit to Storrs
I got a phone call from my dad who can't drive because of his knee injury to see if I could pick him up if my mom brought him to Storrs....the half way point between my home in Stamford, CT and Lake House in upstate Massachusetts...on the border with New Hampshire.
I agreed, especially since it was 57 and raining. I'm sure he appreciated it. I enjoyed being able to visit Storrs...when it's nice out. No rain, no wind in between Gampel, and the School of Business. Just the sun. It was great. It's the weather I wish I always had when I was at college. It sucks that it's cold for so much of the year. You don't want to go outside and when you do you are in a hurry. When it's 10 out you don't stop and say hello to your friends around campus, you wave and run for warmth.
I stopped by briefly. I saw one athlete. One athlete and that would be Jacquie Fernandes.
Here is a link to the quotable Fernandes...didn't know this existed.
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/jacquie_fernandes/
I picked up a copy of the 2009 National Championship Game on DVD too.
I also stopped at the Dairy Bar to pick up a Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake. I usually get one or two a year.
The Dairy Bar is great because they promote to teams with posters in the Dairy Bar. They have a Field Hockey poster from 2007, the Field Hockey program has 2 National Championships. They also had a 2008 Women's Soccer poster up. Women's Soccer has been to 8 final fours.
Thought those teams would be happy to know that they are being promoted...especially during the summer when a lot of people visit the Dairy Bar...campus was packed today with youth athletes.
Also the North garage is not open. I would think that it would be open in the fall. It has to be unless we want riots to break out.
I agreed, especially since it was 57 and raining. I'm sure he appreciated it. I enjoyed being able to visit Storrs...when it's nice out. No rain, no wind in between Gampel, and the School of Business. Just the sun. It was great. It's the weather I wish I always had when I was at college. It sucks that it's cold for so much of the year. You don't want to go outside and when you do you are in a hurry. When it's 10 out you don't stop and say hello to your friends around campus, you wave and run for warmth.
I stopped by briefly. I saw one athlete. One athlete and that would be Jacquie Fernandes.
Here is a link to the quotable Fernandes...didn't know this existed.
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/jacquie_fernandes/
I picked up a copy of the 2009 National Championship Game on DVD too.
I also stopped at the Dairy Bar to pick up a Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake. I usually get one or two a year.
The Dairy Bar is great because they promote to teams with posters in the Dairy Bar. They have a Field Hockey poster from 2007, the Field Hockey program has 2 National Championships. They also had a 2008 Women's Soccer poster up. Women's Soccer has been to 8 final fours.
Thought those teams would be happy to know that they are being promoted...especially during the summer when a lot of people visit the Dairy Bar...campus was packed today with youth athletes.
Also the North garage is not open. I would think that it would be open in the fall. It has to be unless we want riots to break out.
No goals were scored
No goals were scored in a game between the New Jersey Wildcats and New York Magic in W-League play.
Why does this matter?
Lauren Ebert played 90 minutes for the Wildcats. I assume she had an impact on the Magic only taking 5 shots and scoring no goals.
Why does this matter?
Lauren Ebert played 90 minutes for the Wildcats. I assume she had an impact on the Magic only taking 5 shots and scoring no goals.
Coach Calhoun gets some props...cylcing accidents
I love coach Calhoun. He had his annual charity biking event. Apparently he ran over a pothole and he flipped over the handle-bars, breaking 5 ribs, damaging his bike and also got some bruises. It was 12 miles into his ride. He completed the final 38 miles after his leg wounds were treated...with his 5 broken ribs. That's toughness. He gets a lot of love from me for that. He collapsed after the race and was taken to the hospital but he is said to be fine.
http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-calhoun0614.artjun14,0,4448648.story
Back in high school I got into a biking accident. I was going down a hill and a car came by and inadvertently forced me into loose gravel. It was also a hill that is a turn too. If I tried to turn to continue down the road I would have had the bike slide out from underneath me because of the gravel. If I avoided turning (So I wouldn't have the bike slide from underneath me) I would have hit a telephone pole or tree. I was in quite a pickle. So I decided that I would try and stop...slowly. That didn't work. I went over the handle bars and landed either in the street and gravel or the side of the road. Apparently it was a nasty fall. The guy in the car asked me which bones I broke. I told the guy I was fine. He looked at me as if I was nuts.
This is a funny clip that somewhat relates to my story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsM0CwqGrBs
I was and I wasn't ok. I was actually more concerned if my bike was ok. It was ok. I was bruised and in some pain and if I was 67, would have broken some bones. I kept on going and finished my ride. I felt great on my bike. It felt like nothing had happened. When I got home I soon realized how much it really hurt. I could barely get up the stairs. I didn't want to get up. I lay down on a rug next to my kitchen for about an hour...with some ice. I don't remember if I biked the next day. It wouldn't surprise me if I did.
What's even funnier about this is that a girl predicted this would happen. I met a girl a day or two before she told me she had a dream about me. I thought it was a little odd, maybe she was trying to pick me up. I mean it is sort of odd to have a dream about someone you just met and even odder to tell them about it if you did. This girl told me that she had a dream that I fell off my bike on a hill and that she and her dad drove past me. I forget if I died in her dream or if she saved me. I can be superstitious so after she told me that I began to wonder if I would get into a cycling accident later in the day. I was relieved to make it home safely after cycling that day. However, a week or two later the accident that I described in the second paragraph really happened. I fell off my bike on a hill and a car passed me by. Just like her dream. Scary.
http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-calhoun0614.artjun14,0,4448648.story
Back in high school I got into a biking accident. I was going down a hill and a car came by and inadvertently forced me into loose gravel. It was also a hill that is a turn too. If I tried to turn to continue down the road I would have had the bike slide out from underneath me because of the gravel. If I avoided turning (So I wouldn't have the bike slide from underneath me) I would have hit a telephone pole or tree. I was in quite a pickle. So I decided that I would try and stop...slowly. That didn't work. I went over the handle bars and landed either in the street and gravel or the side of the road. Apparently it was a nasty fall. The guy in the car asked me which bones I broke. I told the guy I was fine. He looked at me as if I was nuts.
This is a funny clip that somewhat relates to my story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsM0CwqGrBs
I was and I wasn't ok. I was actually more concerned if my bike was ok. It was ok. I was bruised and in some pain and if I was 67, would have broken some bones. I kept on going and finished my ride. I felt great on my bike. It felt like nothing had happened. When I got home I soon realized how much it really hurt. I could barely get up the stairs. I didn't want to get up. I lay down on a rug next to my kitchen for about an hour...with some ice. I don't remember if I biked the next day. It wouldn't surprise me if I did.
What's even funnier about this is that a girl predicted this would happen. I met a girl a day or two before she told me she had a dream about me. I thought it was a little odd, maybe she was trying to pick me up. I mean it is sort of odd to have a dream about someone you just met and even odder to tell them about it if you did. This girl told me that she had a dream that I fell off my bike on a hill and that she and her dad drove past me. I forget if I died in her dream or if she saved me. I can be superstitious so after she told me that I began to wonder if I would get into a cycling accident later in the day. I was relieved to make it home safely after cycling that day. However, a week or two later the accident that I described in the second paragraph really happened. I fell off my bike on a hill and a car passed me by. Just like her dream. Scary.
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