Every referee will have a different interpretation of the rules book and what they think is and is not an infraction.
A good referee has a great understanding of the rules and to me doesn't apply the rules too loosely (so that the game is unfair) or too tightly. (So it becomes a whistle blowing competition)
A bad referee is an inconsistent referee. Those referees are useless and hurt games. Early on in a game an athlete should have an idea of how a referee will apply the rules. If a ref lets you get a way with things then you know that you have some more freedom while playing the game. If a referee is strict you know to be really careful.
Referees that fluctuate from strict to loose interpretation within a game are bad for the game.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
So what goes into a road trip
People sort of forget all of the details to a road trip. People forget that you don't just get a bus, hotel and food. You have to work to get that and coordinate a lot of things.
You have to try to plan practice times and reservations around your travel plans which are always subject to change because of weather or traffic. You need to be flexible, a quick thinker and a ready to make a few calls.
Hotel pool doesn't work, then we need to find another place around town. Reservations don't work at the place we want to eat, then we need to find another. Practice field is too wet, then we need to get a ballroom so we can stretch and do some jogging.
Got to get a food order to a restaurant and coordinate the arrival of the food with overtime.
There is so much coordination that goes into road trips. It's so much fun to see a new place but it also requires so much coordination and planning. So much more than is realized. In order for things to be seamless you have to plan well in advance and be flexible and resourceful when variables that you can't control change.
You have to try to plan practice times and reservations around your travel plans which are always subject to change because of weather or traffic. You need to be flexible, a quick thinker and a ready to make a few calls.
Hotel pool doesn't work, then we need to find another place around town. Reservations don't work at the place we want to eat, then we need to find another. Practice field is too wet, then we need to get a ballroom so we can stretch and do some jogging.
Got to get a food order to a restaurant and coordinate the arrival of the food with overtime.
There is so much coordination that goes into road trips. It's so much fun to see a new place but it also requires so much coordination and planning. So much more than is realized. In order for things to be seamless you have to plan well in advance and be flexible and resourceful when variables that you can't control change.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I passed the test
I passed the NCAA Compliance test. I got a 95. Not too shabby, but still room for improvement! Ok only a little improvement...
Monday, August 23, 2010
Is there any better feeling
Is there any better feeling than opening day? I can't really think of a better feeling. Everyone is optimistic and ready for the season to begin. It's such an exciting and happy time.
Some thoughts on WPS
I have quite a few thoughts and suggestions for the WPS.
The first suggestion is to develop some rivalries, some controversy some star players. All of these things are important to increase awareness and media interest. A lot of people aren't interested in WPS because they have a bad perception of the product. When you say women's soccer to them they automatically assume that it is second rate, or boring or slow. These people need to have their preconceived ideas of the sport changed by star players and the media.
Can you tell me which one of these people is a WPS starter and National Team Player?
A) Loren Sherer B)Kelly Chapman C) Katriana Wilson D) Stephanie Cox
How many American Sports fans have heard of Marta? and if they have do they know she won the FIFA Women's Player of the Year award?
How many know who Abby Wambach is? If you are from Rochester you know who she is. Outside of them and a few die hard fans not that many others know who one of the leagues premier players is.
How many WPS fans hate Hope Solo. If the answer is only a handful then they probably aren't paying much attention to her tweets. I love Hope Solo to be honest. The Women's game needs more people like her. She creates controversy and that creates interest.
Poor perception of the league isn't the only thing hurting it.
The venues hurt the league. Some teams play in poor facilities that our not soccer specific and are not decorated in the WPS's teams colors. This causes problems.
A large market for the WPS is the young family with girl soccer players. Big problem here is that to generalize most of these families devote all their weekends to soccer. Most parents aren't thrilled about taking a day that doesn't revolve around soccer and making into a trip to the stadium that revolves around soccer.
Young girls also tend to forget about the game afterwards. They get excited about the team and autographs they get but the next day they often don't go to school and tell all their friends about it. They don't go and read the newspaper for the latest WPS rumors and they often don't try to organize trips with their friends to a WPS game on Friday night. They certainly don't get excited about a fantasy draft for a WPS team.
Many families who watch women's soccer are affluent. Women's Soccer is a wealthier sport than many people probably realize. Wealthy families can afford to do many different things, like going on vacation, the theatre, trying wakeboarding and surfing. These families will go to a WPS game, but not more than once or twice a year because they can afford to spread out their entertainment dollars across many different activities.
Some of my tips for the WPS:
Shorten the season. There are too many games. Less games should increase demand and at the same time lower operating costs. The average fan doesn't go to a large percentage of games. I don't think they will mind a shorter season.
US Soccer and the WPS needs to market a new generation of women's soccer players. Women's Soccer is not remotely close to being on the nation's radar. The chances of WPS being on our radar is about as good as a single engine plane in Alaska being on the radar at JFK International Airport. America should get to know Hope Solo, Kelley O'Hara and Amy Rodriguez.
Take next season off. Next year is the women's world cup. This goes back to supply and demand too. Does Women's Soccer really want to have the small amount of women's soccer fans splitting their money and eyes between the WPS and the Women's World Cup. Splitting their viewership and money will lower ratings for both events/organizations. That's a bad thing.
Try to grow Women's Soccer as a sport and not WPS. Make people interested in the U.S. National team and hope that will generate some interest for pro soccer the year after. The WPS has enough problems to worry about for next season. It should shut next season down and not have to worry about getting people interested in watching a league whose best players will all be on National Team duty. The WPS can use the time to evaluate their business operations and make things more efficient. They can re-evaluate budgets and plan for the future.
One thing the WPS has not done is try to be TOO big like the WUSA. This doesn't mean that the WPS won't have the same fate of the WUSA, but atleast this time the WPS isn't putting itself into debt up to their eyeballs. It might be at their belly button, but it's improvement.
The WPS doesn't lack effort. Everyone in the league works hard and long hours. I do think adopting some of those tips will help the league out.
I don't know if the WPS has hit an iceberg yet and is taking on water. However, I do suspect that it's headed for an iceberg now and the league needs to take measures to change its course and avoid sinking.
WPS fans, I think, should just hope that the league takes next year off. I really believe it's vitally important to do that.
The first suggestion is to develop some rivalries, some controversy some star players. All of these things are important to increase awareness and media interest. A lot of people aren't interested in WPS because they have a bad perception of the product. When you say women's soccer to them they automatically assume that it is second rate, or boring or slow. These people need to have their preconceived ideas of the sport changed by star players and the media.
Can you tell me which one of these people is a WPS starter and National Team Player?
A) Loren Sherer B)Kelly Chapman C) Katriana Wilson D) Stephanie Cox
How many American Sports fans have heard of Marta? and if they have do they know she won the FIFA Women's Player of the Year award?
How many know who Abby Wambach is? If you are from Rochester you know who she is. Outside of them and a few die hard fans not that many others know who one of the leagues premier players is.
How many WPS fans hate Hope Solo. If the answer is only a handful then they probably aren't paying much attention to her tweets. I love Hope Solo to be honest. The Women's game needs more people like her. She creates controversy and that creates interest.
Poor perception of the league isn't the only thing hurting it.
The venues hurt the league. Some teams play in poor facilities that our not soccer specific and are not decorated in the WPS's teams colors. This causes problems.
A large market for the WPS is the young family with girl soccer players. Big problem here is that to generalize most of these families devote all their weekends to soccer. Most parents aren't thrilled about taking a day that doesn't revolve around soccer and making into a trip to the stadium that revolves around soccer.
Young girls also tend to forget about the game afterwards. They get excited about the team and autographs they get but the next day they often don't go to school and tell all their friends about it. They don't go and read the newspaper for the latest WPS rumors and they often don't try to organize trips with their friends to a WPS game on Friday night. They certainly don't get excited about a fantasy draft for a WPS team.
Many families who watch women's soccer are affluent. Women's Soccer is a wealthier sport than many people probably realize. Wealthy families can afford to do many different things, like going on vacation, the theatre, trying wakeboarding and surfing. These families will go to a WPS game, but not more than once or twice a year because they can afford to spread out their entertainment dollars across many different activities.
Some of my tips for the WPS:
Shorten the season. There are too many games. Less games should increase demand and at the same time lower operating costs. The average fan doesn't go to a large percentage of games. I don't think they will mind a shorter season.
US Soccer and the WPS needs to market a new generation of women's soccer players. Women's Soccer is not remotely close to being on the nation's radar. The chances of WPS being on our radar is about as good as a single engine plane in Alaska being on the radar at JFK International Airport. America should get to know Hope Solo, Kelley O'Hara and Amy Rodriguez.
Take next season off. Next year is the women's world cup. This goes back to supply and demand too. Does Women's Soccer really want to have the small amount of women's soccer fans splitting their money and eyes between the WPS and the Women's World Cup. Splitting their viewership and money will lower ratings for both events/organizations. That's a bad thing.
Try to grow Women's Soccer as a sport and not WPS. Make people interested in the U.S. National team and hope that will generate some interest for pro soccer the year after. The WPS has enough problems to worry about for next season. It should shut next season down and not have to worry about getting people interested in watching a league whose best players will all be on National Team duty. The WPS can use the time to evaluate their business operations and make things more efficient. They can re-evaluate budgets and plan for the future.
One thing the WPS has not done is try to be TOO big like the WUSA. This doesn't mean that the WPS won't have the same fate of the WUSA, but atleast this time the WPS isn't putting itself into debt up to their eyeballs. It might be at their belly button, but it's improvement.
The WPS doesn't lack effort. Everyone in the league works hard and long hours. I do think adopting some of those tips will help the league out.
I don't know if the WPS has hit an iceberg yet and is taking on water. However, I do suspect that it's headed for an iceberg now and the league needs to take measures to change its course and avoid sinking.
WPS fans, I think, should just hope that the league takes next year off. I really believe it's vitally important to do that.
Rules
Did you know that there is an NCAA rule that limits the size of paper and what pictures/logos can be mailed to recruits? Talk about ruining creativity.
It's so sad how a men's basketball team or football team in some conference abuses and stretches rules to a ridiculous level and then they necessitate a rules change that really messes things up for everyone else.
It's so sad how a men's basketball team or football team in some conference abuses and stretches rules to a ridiculous level and then they necessitate a rules change that really messes things up for everyone else.
These positions stink
I feel that the worst positions in sports would be goalkeepers and place kickers. No two positions seem to come with more blame than those two. If a team scores a lot of goals against a goalkeeper it's automically assumed to be the goalkeepers fault even if an opponent gets a tons of open shots from close range on them. Same goes for a team that loses a close game because of a missed field goal. No one talks about the third and three that the offense couldn't convert.
You have to have tough skin to play that position. I feel bad for the amount of blame that people automatically put on people in those positions. Coaches face similar peril as do baseball pitchers. If my team gives up 6 runs I assume they were all the starting pitchers fault. In reality they all could have been unearned runs.
You have to have tough skin to play that position. I feel bad for the amount of blame that people automatically put on people in those positions. Coaches face similar peril as do baseball pitchers. If my team gives up 6 runs I assume they were all the starting pitchers fault. In reality they all could have been unearned runs.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Good story
I have a really really great idea for a feature story that I want to do. I have to make sure I do it and most importantly get the person I need to agree to it.
Recently I have been happily busy with pre-season. It's gotten me away from the computer more than I thought it would. I also have been typing up my internship paper, which is the last thing I need to do before I can graduate. That has obviously been a huge priority for me.
Than I will be studying for the coaches test.
Random things to talk about:
The Husky in the center court in Gampel is HUGE. I guess we needed a bigger husky.
We also bought a wake board that I will look to use.
Recently I have been happily busy with pre-season. It's gotten me away from the computer more than I thought it would. I also have been typing up my internship paper, which is the last thing I need to do before I can graduate. That has obviously been a huge priority for me.
Than I will be studying for the coaches test.
Random things to talk about:
The Husky in the center court in Gampel is HUGE. I guess we needed a bigger husky.
We also bought a wake board that I will look to use.
Monday, August 16, 2010
well
Well I actually have TOO much writing and reading to do right now. I need to finish up my work for my internship and need to prepare for a test for work on Tuesday.
It is a lot of fun to be up at Storrs with no school work and just soccer. Really it's a lot of fun and I am so happy to be here and I'm glad that other people are glad to have me back.
It is a lot of fun to be up at Storrs with no school work and just soccer. Really it's a lot of fun and I am so happy to be here and I'm glad that other people are glad to have me back.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A new sport to me
I had never heard of wake surfing until today, so I youtubed it. It looks really cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9CrnY9Ig3U&NR=1
Remember how I told people about the World Sauna Championships? Well that sport is no more. In the last competition someone died and another went to the hospital. After 11 years the event is no more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9CrnY9Ig3U&NR=1
Remember how I told people about the World Sauna Championships? Well that sport is no more. In the last competition someone died and another went to the hospital. After 11 years the event is no more.
Some fight left
It's good to see that the Mets still have some fight left in them. I was scared the Mets had no fight in them. I thought they had given up. Then I read about Francisco Rodriguez, my Mets closer.
Despite the poor season K-Rod, or should we call him KO, still had some fight left him.
He assaulted his father and law after Wednesday's game and was arrested for it.
How about those Amazin Mets?
Despite the poor season K-Rod, or should we call him KO, still had some fight left him.
He assaulted his father and law after Wednesday's game and was arrested for it.
How about those Amazin Mets?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
I'm a Hunter Mahan fan
Hunter Mahan is my new second favorite golfer. Tiger is my favorite. What I like about Mahan is that he did something that I could do. He hit a shot last weekend during the final round past the gallery and into a flower bed...or atleast we thought into a floor bed. It could have gone down the street for all we know. He had to drop, but for once I watched a golf tournament and thought that I could have hit a shot as bad as that.
Atleast Mahan didn't try to whack a ball out of the flower bed.
I once practiced my baseball swing in the flower bed when I was young. My mom didn't appreciate that.
Atleast Mahan didn't try to whack a ball out of the flower bed.
I once practiced my baseball swing in the flower bed when I was young. My mom didn't appreciate that.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Another good bye
So I am staying at my family friends house for the last time tonight. It's sad that it's all over. I remember just getting here, and missing school.
The Brooks's have provided great memories and great food and great hospitality and I am forever grateful to them.
Mr. Brooks is the person who is responsible for teaching me so many wonderful things that I can pass down to others, and hopefully one day my own kids. Rick is the person who taught me to waterski last year. This year I've taken what I learned and started to run with it and do more advanced things other than just being pulled by the boat.
He also taught me how to use a table saw. I may never use that skill but I figured it would be worthwhile to learn. Yes that did take me away from writing one night.
He is also the person responsible for introducing me to golf. I've always wanted to learn and I am thrilled that I have begun the process of becoming course ready. I have a feeling that learning golf is something that will be so valuable by the time I die that it's value to me will be immeasurable. I mean that mostly from the people I will meet and friendships and relationships I will forge because of it. It's also a sport I can play when I'm older and I think it will add years to my life because golf will give me exercise and something to live for...although I am not ready to think about being 75 and retired yet.
It also could help me business wise. For all I know I could have a career in it. (I mean the business side of golf, but don't ever count me out on the playing side. You never know I may be the next Tiger)
Which brings me on a complete tangent.
Does anyone want to be the world's number one golfer? Atleast Tiger still has it...
I am happy that I will continue to get to see the Brook's though. They have family by Storrs so I may get some golfing in. I'll also see them at my Lake House. They have been so good to me and I am thankful for them.
The Brooks's have provided great memories and great food and great hospitality and I am forever grateful to them.
Mr. Brooks is the person who is responsible for teaching me so many wonderful things that I can pass down to others, and hopefully one day my own kids. Rick is the person who taught me to waterski last year. This year I've taken what I learned and started to run with it and do more advanced things other than just being pulled by the boat.
He also taught me how to use a table saw. I may never use that skill but I figured it would be worthwhile to learn. Yes that did take me away from writing one night.
He is also the person responsible for introducing me to golf. I've always wanted to learn and I am thrilled that I have begun the process of becoming course ready. I have a feeling that learning golf is something that will be so valuable by the time I die that it's value to me will be immeasurable. I mean that mostly from the people I will meet and friendships and relationships I will forge because of it. It's also a sport I can play when I'm older and I think it will add years to my life because golf will give me exercise and something to live for...although I am not ready to think about being 75 and retired yet.
It also could help me business wise. For all I know I could have a career in it. (I mean the business side of golf, but don't ever count me out on the playing side. You never know I may be the next Tiger)
Which brings me on a complete tangent.
Does anyone want to be the world's number one golfer? Atleast Tiger still has it...
I am happy that I will continue to get to see the Brook's though. They have family by Storrs so I may get some golfing in. I'll also see them at my Lake House. They have been so good to me and I am thankful for them.
She did it
Meghan Nanfeldt and Shauna Musser and company completed their bike ride across the country for charity. I am so happy for them.
Meghan has come a long way. I remember her telling me that she was going to bike across the country last year and I thought she was slightly crazy at first, but I also knew she would accomplish her ride.
I remember being one of her first donors in March. I donated before our Sport and Event Facility class. It's the only time I've opened my wallet and gave away cash in a classroom. I usually figure buying books is enough.
I can't imagine what biking across the country would feel like on my legs. I can imagine that her seeing the Golden Gate Bridge was even more exciting then those who imigrated and saw the Statue of Liberty many years back.
Meghan is a great friend and I will miss her. I can only hope I meet another friend like her in my last two years in Storrs. I always looked to her for advice and she's someone who I really trusted and am so thankful for. I'll also miss the times we spent watching soccer and playing soccer among other things.
I am also amazed that for all that I talk, that she still actually listens to me. I knew she was a good friend because she would actually pick up.
Meghan has come a long way. I remember her telling me that she was going to bike across the country last year and I thought she was slightly crazy at first, but I also knew she would accomplish her ride.
I remember being one of her first donors in March. I donated before our Sport and Event Facility class. It's the only time I've opened my wallet and gave away cash in a classroom. I usually figure buying books is enough.
I can't imagine what biking across the country would feel like on my legs. I can imagine that her seeing the Golden Gate Bridge was even more exciting then those who imigrated and saw the Statue of Liberty many years back.
Meghan is a great friend and I will miss her. I can only hope I meet another friend like her in my last two years in Storrs. I always looked to her for advice and she's someone who I really trusted and am so thankful for. I'll also miss the times we spent watching soccer and playing soccer among other things.
I am also amazed that for all that I talk, that she still actually listens to me. I knew she was a good friend because she would actually pick up.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Where have I been
I hope people understand that even I need a vacation...err time off to do other things.
I wouldn't call reformatting and loading a new operating system on to my computer "fun"
Spending an hour trying to load anti-virus software isn't "fun"
Spending hours working on my outlook contacts and configuring Outlook is something I did this summer in free time. Two years away from the real world and I began to realize that I really need to organize my contacts. I realized I needed a lists of tasks and reminders for me. Outlook is my new favorite program. Problems arise when you change operating systems though...been working on that today too.
Also spent part of the weekend backing up files..also FUN.
I did get to waterski and really started to get in my element out there. I've progressed from getting up last year, to going outside of the wake, to going really outside of the wake and back and forth like real waterskiiers do. I'm learning the feel for how to make turns etc. It's slightly less natural for me because I've never gone snow skiing before.
Anyway with all the family that has visited and all of the work that I had, and games that I had to work, I barely had time to breathe in the month of July so sorry for not writing as much.
Golf is also something I have been taking up. It's important for me to learn. More business is done on the 9th hole than in the office conference room. Come on has anyone ever been to a productive meeting?
"Hey everyone here is today's agenda: So basically we are meeting to figure out when we are all going to meet next"
My next favorite meeting is the one you have at work where you run down all that you have accomplished. Then you realize you could have accomplished a lot more if you weren't in these meetings.
Golf is something I think I really love. It's fun to learn a new skill, it's fun to hit it well. It's really nice being out in nature on the course and being out there and not having a care in the world. I love that golf gets me away from life. I've spent a couple of hours a week at the driving range trying to get better each time. When it hit it well I am so happy. I could be in debt up to my eye balls and have a disease but would be happy if I hit a golf ball straight, up in the air and to a good distance consistently.
On the flip side if I don't hit it well, nothing can really make me feel right until I hit the ball well again.
So anyway I've been doing grown up personal work, playing golf, WORKING, and seeing family lately. It's taken me away from writing.
It also doesn't help that at work I have been writing about soccer, for work and for my teacher. That takes away from my motivation to come home after a long game or week at the office and type away. More than anything I want to exercise and sleep and crash.
I also finished my third book this summer and for that I am proud of myself.
I wouldn't call reformatting and loading a new operating system on to my computer "fun"
Spending an hour trying to load anti-virus software isn't "fun"
Spending hours working on my outlook contacts and configuring Outlook is something I did this summer in free time. Two years away from the real world and I began to realize that I really need to organize my contacts. I realized I needed a lists of tasks and reminders for me. Outlook is my new favorite program. Problems arise when you change operating systems though...been working on that today too.
Also spent part of the weekend backing up files..also FUN.
I did get to waterski and really started to get in my element out there. I've progressed from getting up last year, to going outside of the wake, to going really outside of the wake and back and forth like real waterskiiers do. I'm learning the feel for how to make turns etc. It's slightly less natural for me because I've never gone snow skiing before.
Anyway with all the family that has visited and all of the work that I had, and games that I had to work, I barely had time to breathe in the month of July so sorry for not writing as much.
Golf is also something I have been taking up. It's important for me to learn. More business is done on the 9th hole than in the office conference room. Come on has anyone ever been to a productive meeting?
"Hey everyone here is today's agenda: So basically we are meeting to figure out when we are all going to meet next"
My next favorite meeting is the one you have at work where you run down all that you have accomplished. Then you realize you could have accomplished a lot more if you weren't in these meetings.
Golf is something I think I really love. It's fun to learn a new skill, it's fun to hit it well. It's really nice being out in nature on the course and being out there and not having a care in the world. I love that golf gets me away from life. I've spent a couple of hours a week at the driving range trying to get better each time. When it hit it well I am so happy. I could be in debt up to my eye balls and have a disease but would be happy if I hit a golf ball straight, up in the air and to a good distance consistently.
On the flip side if I don't hit it well, nothing can really make me feel right until I hit the ball well again.
So anyway I've been doing grown up personal work, playing golf, WORKING, and seeing family lately. It's taken me away from writing.
It also doesn't help that at work I have been writing about soccer, for work and for my teacher. That takes away from my motivation to come home after a long game or week at the office and type away. More than anything I want to exercise and sleep and crash.
I also finished my third book this summer and for that I am proud of myself.
Preparation
So I don't know of anything but if I were to speculate, which means taking a guess or infering, that there will be some bad news or sad news coming up sometime by the end of the year.
It smells like smoke to me, and usually that means there is a fire. I could be wrong, but I may not be. I won't say more than this though.
It smells like smoke to me, and usually that means there is a fire. I could be wrong, but I may not be. I won't say more than this though.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
First Pick?
So I was reading ESPN and saw that UConn's George Springer is in the discussion to be the first pick in the MLB Draft in June 2011. It also said that Matt Barnes could be one of the top collegiate pitchers in the draft next year.
You hear about UConn players for the top pick in say the WNBA draft, NBA draft, MLS draft, WPS draft...now NFL draft....but the MLB draft??? That's amazing...
Can you believe a NEW ENGLAND player...yet alone a UConn player is considered for the top pick?
You hear about UConn players for the top pick in say the WNBA draft, NBA draft, MLS draft, WPS draft...now NFL draft....but the MLB draft??? That's amazing...
Can you believe a NEW ENGLAND player...yet alone a UConn player is considered for the top pick?
Thursday, August 5, 2010
600, 700, 800, 1,000, 1,000,000 Who Cares?
In 1998 I cared about home run records. Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire made baseball so much fun too watch. It was like Mantle and Maris. At the time I cared about home run records. I locked in to my TV to remember and savor the most sacred of sacred records in sports, the Home Run record.
Several years later we had Barry Bonds breaking those single season records and than he caught Hank Aaron.
By the time Bonds broke Aaron's record we knew that Home Run records meant nothing because of steriods. Many of the players who broke records and hit milestone numbers in home runs were doing things to artificially enhance their performance. That means that I DON'T CARE about any home runs they hit. I don't care if they hit 1,000,000.
A-Rod's 600th home run made me yawn. I know that not all of his home runs were all of his hard work. He could hit 1,000,000 and I'd have no more respect for him than I do now. I also don't care about 600 because so many players have hit that many recently. I feel like everytime I turn around someone has hit 500 or 600 home runs. It used to be special because no one ever got that many.
There are two players who home run records I care about. Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey retired, but the guy hit them clean to our best knowledge. Thome also has avoided my suspicions. He's always been a big and strong player and I hope that the home runs he has it are as squeaky clean as I think they are.
Several years later we had Barry Bonds breaking those single season records and than he caught Hank Aaron.
By the time Bonds broke Aaron's record we knew that Home Run records meant nothing because of steriods. Many of the players who broke records and hit milestone numbers in home runs were doing things to artificially enhance their performance. That means that I DON'T CARE about any home runs they hit. I don't care if they hit 1,000,000.
A-Rod's 600th home run made me yawn. I know that not all of his home runs were all of his hard work. He could hit 1,000,000 and I'd have no more respect for him than I do now. I also don't care about 600 because so many players have hit that many recently. I feel like everytime I turn around someone has hit 500 or 600 home runs. It used to be special because no one ever got that many.
There are two players who home run records I care about. Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey retired, but the guy hit them clean to our best knowledge. Thome also has avoided my suspicions. He's always been a big and strong player and I hope that the home runs he has it are as squeaky clean as I think they are.
The number one squash recruit
One sport I've never watched, or know about, is Squash. I didn't honestly know that it was an NCAA sport. It's definitely a Private School sport.
I also had no idea that they ranked squash recruits. I wonder how they do that. The reason I know that is that I saw the number one squash recruit while at work at Harvard Stadium yesterday. Someone pointed her out and said that she was the number one squash recruit. I thought that was interesting.
I will say that seeing the number one college squash recruit is pretty unexciting and bland. It's like eating a naked hot dog.
I tried googling the number one squash recruit and couldn't even find her name. Apparently she's nasty at squash. I assumed that meant she'd be an Olympian but the person I was speaking too said no way.
I couldn't believe that the number one squash recruit had no chance to be an Olympian. I figured since no one really plays competitive squash, that the number one recruit would be a shoe in, but apparently not. I guess I know nothing about squash.
It's probably a good thing too. It's boring enough to have to read about golf on my blog. I can't imagine how brutal listening about the intricacies of squash would be.
I'm rambling on this but I'm sure squash is interesting, I'm just clueless about all of it. I'm sure the number one recruit is really really good, whoever she is.
I think she's the closest I've ever come to an athlete who is dominant at their sport and have had no idea who she was or what she has accomplished.
I also had no idea that they ranked squash recruits. I wonder how they do that. The reason I know that is that I saw the number one squash recruit while at work at Harvard Stadium yesterday. Someone pointed her out and said that she was the number one squash recruit. I thought that was interesting.
I will say that seeing the number one college squash recruit is pretty unexciting and bland. It's like eating a naked hot dog.
I tried googling the number one squash recruit and couldn't even find her name. Apparently she's nasty at squash. I assumed that meant she'd be an Olympian but the person I was speaking too said no way.
I couldn't believe that the number one squash recruit had no chance to be an Olympian. I figured since no one really plays competitive squash, that the number one recruit would be a shoe in, but apparently not. I guess I know nothing about squash.
It's probably a good thing too. It's boring enough to have to read about golf on my blog. I can't imagine how brutal listening about the intricacies of squash would be.
I'm rambling on this but I'm sure squash is interesting, I'm just clueless about all of it. I'm sure the number one recruit is really really good, whoever she is.
I think she's the closest I've ever come to an athlete who is dominant at their sport and have had no idea who she was or what she has accomplished.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Brett Favre
Brett Favre is a player that I get the impression is either loved or hated by most people. I am not most people. I am completely neutral towards the guy. I don't like or dislike him.
Favre has never played on my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. He's never been on a rival team of the Cowboys either. I just never have been passionate about him one way or the other.
Favre is a great Quarterback, although strangely I think of him more for his proneness to throwing an interception than any of his great moments. Favre is a legend and unlike every other legend I have known he has continued to play when old for a new team (Like Emmitt Smith and the Cardinals and Joe Montana and the Chiefs) and done really well. Favre shocked me with how well he played last year.
All I care about Favre and his decision is that it is permanent. There is nothing more annoying than having no idea if your starting quarterback is coming back or not. It's not fair to his team to have to GUESS how to prepare for the next season. Favre needs to make a decision and stick to it. The Vikings season could be screwed because he couldn't figure out if he wanted to play or not. Maybe the Vikings would have drafted differently if Favre knew the chances that he would come back would be slim to none. Favre needs to make up his mind and be honest and not offer the "maybe" answer. The "if I feel like it, we'll see tomorrow" answer gets old after a while. At first that answer fills people with anticipation and hope. As time goes on it feels more and more like "Your not important enough to know now. Let's see if something better comes up"
So whatever Favre does, I just hope it is his final decision. He had a great career and he seems like a good guy but he shouldn't be ruining teams while trying to figure out if he wants to play again.
One thing I will add now that I am thinking about it is that atleast the NFL has more than just Brett Favre.
The NBA lost fans because a star player, Michael Jordan, retired. I think that is because the NBA fan has more of an attachment for a star player than for a team itself. My loyalty in basketball is more for a certain player than a certain team. The NFL is different than the NBA because I think fans are more consistent with which football team they root for. I don't think Brett Favre retiring will effect ratings the way Jordan retiring did.
Personally I stopped caring about the Bulls and NBA when Jordan retired.
I was said when Emmitt Smith retired but I was still a Dallas Cowboys fan and never wavered in my support or enthusiasm for the team.
Favre has never played on my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. He's never been on a rival team of the Cowboys either. I just never have been passionate about him one way or the other.
Favre is a great Quarterback, although strangely I think of him more for his proneness to throwing an interception than any of his great moments. Favre is a legend and unlike every other legend I have known he has continued to play when old for a new team (Like Emmitt Smith and the Cardinals and Joe Montana and the Chiefs) and done really well. Favre shocked me with how well he played last year.
All I care about Favre and his decision is that it is permanent. There is nothing more annoying than having no idea if your starting quarterback is coming back or not. It's not fair to his team to have to GUESS how to prepare for the next season. Favre needs to make a decision and stick to it. The Vikings season could be screwed because he couldn't figure out if he wanted to play or not. Maybe the Vikings would have drafted differently if Favre knew the chances that he would come back would be slim to none. Favre needs to make up his mind and be honest and not offer the "maybe" answer. The "if I feel like it, we'll see tomorrow" answer gets old after a while. At first that answer fills people with anticipation and hope. As time goes on it feels more and more like "Your not important enough to know now. Let's see if something better comes up"
So whatever Favre does, I just hope it is his final decision. He had a great career and he seems like a good guy but he shouldn't be ruining teams while trying to figure out if he wants to play again.
One thing I will add now that I am thinking about it is that atleast the NFL has more than just Brett Favre.
The NBA lost fans because a star player, Michael Jordan, retired. I think that is because the NBA fan has more of an attachment for a star player than for a team itself. My loyalty in basketball is more for a certain player than a certain team. The NFL is different than the NBA because I think fans are more consistent with which football team they root for. I don't think Brett Favre retiring will effect ratings the way Jordan retiring did.
Personally I stopped caring about the Bulls and NBA when Jordan retired.
I was said when Emmitt Smith retired but I was still a Dallas Cowboys fan and never wavered in my support or enthusiasm for the team.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Been on vacation
So the past couple of days have been busy and than relaxing. Either way I haven't done much writing, but I am alive and will be writing more. I had lots of family visit this past weekend, and one day I had work all day, which I have all of tomorrow.
So I'll be writing more, don't worry.
So I'll be writing more, don't worry.