UT-LEE for MVP

Two games in, and I have been able to remain neutral except for the mere fact that the other night Chase Utley and Cliff Lee played superb games. They should just combine their names for MVP this year, as both have provided more for the Phillies then anyone could have asked for.

With the series tied at 1-1, I think that it may be similar to the Celtics vs Bulls playoff series earlier this year--meaning it will all come right down to the wire at the end of the series.

The Longest Baseball Season Ever...or at least it feels like it

About two weeks ago, I was jumping up and down, I was raising my cup to cheers, and I was ecstatic beyond belief. Why? Because my four favorite teams were the last four contenders in the 2009 baseball season.

A little bit ago, I wrote up a post about all the teams that I enjoy watching.

Among those teams I said the Phillies, the Yankees, the Angels, and the Dodgers, each for their own reasons.

With the 2009 season coming to an end, the last two teams left are the Phillies and the Yankees.

And to be honest, I don't know who to cheer for?

Do I cheer for my hometown team? Or do I cheer for the team that I have enjoyed watching since the time Wade Boggs graced their roster?

I wouldn't have minded it being a Phillies, Angels World Series because each of their teams lost a respected part of their team at the beginning of the season, and I think it would have been good karma.

I also wouldn't have minded the Dodgers playing the Yankees in the World Series because it would have been nice to see Torre take on his old team.

And the Dodgers vs the Angels? Well I don't think anyone else besides me on the East Coast would care, but it would have been a lot of fun to be in LA for it!

But with this...who do I cheer for? Or do I refrain from watching baseball for the week and just let it all happen without my knowledge? I mean--I have watched how many days of baseball this year--starting with the WBC back in MARCH and now the World Series going into NOVEMBER.

This truly has been a marathon of a baseball season. I can't say I don't love it...baseball is everything to me, but the guys have got to be tired.

Let's hope that the Phillies and the Yankees can put in one last good week of baseball to make what feels like the never-ending season, completely worth the wait for the series. And let's hope the weather stays nice too...or else we might see these games make it to Thanksgiving....Turkey Series anyone?

The Windy City's torch gets blown out first round

For many people, 2016 is a distant thought.

Yesterday, the city of Chicago wasn't thinking about anything other than 2016.

Plastered on the walls of subway stations, coffee shops, and museums were posters sporting the idea the 2016 Olympic Games being brought to Chicago.

Those signs are now being ripped down as the city of Rio was victorious while the city of Chicago lost in the first round of voting yesterday. It only makes sense that the clouds cried so many tears yesterday in downtown Chicago, because sadness could be felt all around.

When Medill Newsroom students were asked what angle they were going at the story from, on responded, "disappointment."

What a perfect word to describe the feeling that overwhelmed so many people yesterday. For Chicago people, it meant work on their subways and trains wouldn't be done. For athletes, it meant no automatic bid in 2016, and for the rest of the country it meant losing the opportunity to see their athletes perform at the top level in a relatively close and affordable venue.

Disappointment.

As the announcement was made, I reached for my phone and texted two national team field hockey members. Both of their responses were "So sad," and one included an unhappy emoticon.

The United States will have to hope that the voting process of the 2020 Olympic games brings a better outcome. But for now, the Chicago residents will have to go back to their daily life, and the athletes will have to keep their eyes on the upcoming 2012 Olympics before worrying about how they will qualify for the following one.

A Field Hockey Filled Week

Coming back from a 3-0 deficit in field hockey is almost unheard of, especially when the three goals are scored in the first 20 minutes by the same player. This not only knocks the confidence out of players, but lights a fire under the behinds of the ones in the lead. Once its 3-0, it feels like the pounding will never stop--and normally for a team like Duke, the pounding doesn't stop.

However, yesterday it did.

In a stunning upset, Drexel came back from 3-0 deficit, to rally 3 second half goals, and an overtime goal to go on to win the game 4-3.

Just last Sunday, I watched Drexel as they took on LaSalle. Drexel fell early, 1-0, but scored 4 second half goals to take the game 4-1. 

Is Drexel just a second half team, or do they think it's fun to let the other team think they have a chance?

Either way I am sure the team is celebrating their fantastic win. When they become the first half team too, I think the scores that will light up on the board will be beyond belief. Have no doubts, Drexel is in it this year and has a good chance of competing even with teams of the caliber of University of Maryland, University of North Carolina, and Wake Forest.

In other field hockey news,  nothing else has been quite as stunning or shocking as the Drexel win over Duke to close the first full week of competition in NCAA Division 1 field hockey.

Fans from Princeton and Ohio State that gathered at Syracuse witnessed a close match on Saturday, as Princeton tied  Ohio State in the last minute of the game and went on to win in overtime. And on Friday, fans at Syracuse saw as Syracuse won a hard fought match against Ohio State. Today, Syracuse takes on Princeton in what is sure to be a thriller.

Other games were simply blowouts. Old Dominion took out Villanova 7-1 last Sunday, and just days prior knocked the wind out of Penn State. However, the team couldn't keep it together vs Maryland on Friday when they suffered a 6-3 loss.

Maryland has been nothing short of it's usual caliber as the team has won it's first four games with two shutouts vs Ohio and Boston University, and one huge win over Northwestern (7-2).

North Carolina has been showing their true tar heel colors leaving nothing behind as they have scored a total of 11 goals in just three games, with wins against Michigan (2-1), Iowa (5-0), and Wake Forest (4-1).

The loss for Wake Forest was disappointing after coming off two huge wins last weekend: Iowa (3-2) and Michigan (2-1).

Some NEC teams saw a different mix of games this week.

Quinnipiac saw a tough Friday as they opened up their season with an away game at Boston College, where they lost 5-0.

However, Rider showed people that they are not to be counted out this year as they have won their first three games including a win against Temple (4-1).

Monmouth also had a stellar week with three 2-1 wins over LaSalle, Colgate, and Penn.

Over in the A10's

Things have been mixed for Temple as they defeated St. Francis but went on to lose to previously mentioned Rider.

The UMass field hockey team has been trucking with early wins agains Providence College and 9th ranked Iowa. However, the team interrupted those two wins with an overtime loss to BU.

Westchester doesn't want to be counted out either as they have won their first three games, including an 8-0 win over St. Francis to open up their season followed by 5-4 win over Rutgers in double overtime, and a 5-0 win over Lehigh.

So as the first week comes to an end, the playing field has been mixed: Some of the same teams are shining (UMD and UNC), and some dark horses are making their pass (Drexel and Rider). It is hard to predict what will happen as the season will be in full swing very soon.

Lots of teams are pushing this year.

I don't think anyone can be counted out just yet.

The View from the Press Box

I live in a town that loves baseball. The love for baseball came to the Lehigh Valley along with the addition of Coca-Cola Park last year, which now houses the AAA Affiliate of the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies--The IronPigs. 

Maybe it is the endless oinking signs that flash on screen, or the creative mascots named respectively after the element "Iron," or maybe it is the pig masks that are sold around the stadium, or the attachment to the Phillies--whatever it is, the fans love it. Two nights ago I spent my first night at the ballpark, and it was one to remember.

My first experience viewing a game at Coca-Cola Park was not in the stands. My first experience viewing a game at Coca-Cola Park was from the Press Box, and it was with the opposing team's announcers Steve Hyder and Dan Hoard of the Pawtucket Red Sox broadcast team..

I originally contacted Steve in order to do an information interview for an internship seminar class. After getting into a car accident, I was unable to meet with Steve as I had to travel from Rhode Island to Pennsylvania to get my car fixed. Due to the circumstances, Steve agreed to meet with me another time, but when no other times seemed to work, we found the perfect alternate. Steve was going to be broadcasting the Pawtucket Red Sox game when they came to Coca-Cola Park to take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Instead of an informative interview, I was going to experience the press box and everything that goes into the radio broadcast for a minor league game.

Steve left a press pass for me at the will call ticket box. The pass gave me unlimited access to the Press Box and the field itself. If I have never mentioned before how much I love baseball fields...GOSH do I love baseball fields---the soft grass, the clay dirt...I just love it. So when Steve invited me to join him on the field for the Sox batting practice, I jumped at the opportunity. This is when Steve and his partner get the pre-game interviews with players, catch up with the manager, and try to get nice little bits. 

While Dan did the pre-game interviews, Steve introduced me to several players and the manager, explaining to them who I was and what I was interested in doing. Everyone was great. I even got to meet the league MVP last year: Jeff Bailey. I watched as he tossed a ball to a fan, and realized how much I just love being around baseball players.

As batting practice continued, Steve and I talked about the profession a bit more and what it is like to do broadcasting in the minor leagues. The minor leagues is different from the majors because these guys are all competing with each-other, but each of the guys still respects one another. Steve explained to me that going for a commentating job in the big leagues is much harder because they get past players to do all that stuff now. He added that working for a minor league team is better to break into and you still get the insides of everything. He said he never has any problems interviewing the guys.

As batting practice wrapped up, we headed back up to the press box, and soon after the game was to start. Prior to the game starting, I watched as Steve highlighted statistics that he wanted to be sure to mention in his broadcast, and then I watched as Dan and him rotated back and forth in doing play-by-play and color during the game. I could really see how their personalities shines in the broadcast--and it really got me more interested in going into the profession that i have been so interested in all along. While Dan and Steve rattled off statistics of past players and present players I just kept thinking how much baseball has to mean to someone to do this job...

In fact, Steve even said it to me: "You gotta really love baseball to do this job."

And man, do I love baseball.

Anything Ken can do....Part 2

A little under a week ago, I wrote an update about the woman runner who many have suggested to really be a man.

Well here is a story of a real young lady who outdid the boys this week.

Katie Reyes, a little league baseball player, was the top player for her team in the Little League World Series this week as she led her team to victory.

Check out the YAHOO Sports article here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Katie-Reyes-becomes-first-girl-gamewinner-at-Lit?urn=mlb,185105

Anything Ken Can Do, Barbie Can Do Better

Unless Barbie is suspected of being a Ken.




Recently, the sports news waves have been on a rip tide with articles about track runner Caster Semenya.

Semenya is a runner from South Africa who has ran HER entire life and is now under scrutiny that she may possibly be a man--not a woman.

I have been reading various articles trying to figure out how to go at this, but I have found it truly difficult.

The top article that I have come across was published in The New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/sports/22runner.html?_r=1&ref=sports


The article goes on to describe how a man and a woman are not simply determined by XY or XX chromosomes. Some men can even have XX chromosomes, but the average person does not know this. Caster may not know she had male characteristics. Caster may have just thought she was unordinarily fast for a woman--and if no one ever told her different, then she had no reason to think different. Now she under a whole lot of scrutiny, when it's the coaches who have seen her through the years who should be put under the questioning. SOMEONE before this year must have thought "hey she is really fast, maybe she isn't completely a she."

So here's my question: Shouldn't the tests have been conducted before she was allowed to run in the event? It would save the runner a whole lot of embarrassment--and keep the media and others in their place.

Or maybe people just don't want to believe that a woman could physically be so good.

Newsflash--maybe she could be.

Latest Installment to My Steroid Article Collection

Today, the latest installment to my steroid scandal library of articles was published in the Morning Call. For those that don't know, I have become an avid editorial writer when it comes to the use of steroids in professional baseball.

Why so much writing on such a thing?

Because it means something.

I love baseball. My brother loved baseball. The neighborhood kids always loved baseball. Growing up backyard fun was simply about blasting a ball as far out of the backyard as we could. Of course--it was a tennis ball and a tiny aluminum bat. But it was the beginning of hopes for all of us to go on and someday play a sport on a real ball field--one with the sweet scent of dirt and rubber, one where the grass is cut to just the right height, and one where for three hours life exists between two white lines.

This is America's past-time, and as I have written in the past, I am tired of athletes tainting the game.

I love this game.

Here is the latest article......try to ignore the senior year of high school picture.

STEROID SCANDAL PART 3

Dustin Pedroia-Born To Play

Book: Born to Play

Author: Dustin Pedroia - Red Sox 2nd Baseman, Rookie of the Year, AL MVP

Normally when athletes write books, they are pretty well established in their sport. Most of the time they have worked their way up to being the top player, have broken many records, or have faced incredible odds in their many years. Most, however, don't write books after just two years in the big leagues.

But that's Dustin Pedroia for you. It doesn't matter what people think he isn't supposed to do, he will just go do it, and that is exactly how his baseball career is explained in his book, Born To Play.

Pedroia, who is the Mogsy of baseball, writes about the challenges that he faced in getting to the big leagues. Always being short, Pedroia was always told that the MLB was out of his reach, that he couldn't make it, and that his arm would never be strong enough.

As one of Pedroia's coaches explains in the book, just telling him he can't is the perfect way to get him to do exactly what you want him to do.

Born to Play, which was released just a two and a half weeks ago, is more than the story of a Major League Baseball player. It is the story of a person who got his way by pushing and shoving to get there. He didn't sit back and let people just watch. Pedroia explains that when things didn't look like they were going to go in his advantage, that he immediately would say something. It didn't matter who the person was, Pedroia always spoke his mind.

This is how Pedroia got a full scholarship to ASU, and how he moved through the minor league system with the Boston Red Sox. Pedroia made his future happen--he didn't leave it to fate.

He worked hard and did what people told him.

In his book, he chronicles his first years playing baseball, obstacles he faced such as a broken leg, a smashed face, and crippling hand. These could tear any player down, but not Pedroia, he always fought back.

That is the best part of the book. It almost makes you laugh at times--to hear this guy talk about how he was cursing at big league scouts.

Overall, the book is a quick and easy read. Would I call it absolutely inspiring? Not the most--but it def. does hit a chord. A good read for any athlete who has ever been told they can't, and a good read for any baseball fan.

Virtual Sports

Virtual sports are the next big thing, apparently, and no I don't mean professional Wii competitions.

The Ultimate Sports Insider reported on July 16 that there will no longer be state funding for athletics at the University of New Orleans. In order to keep the athletes going, without the use of a lot of money, UNO is thinking of having virtual swim meets.

This means that the swimmers will swim at their own pool--get official times--and then put them up to times that swimmers log on the same day, at the same time, in their own pool.

Virtual athletics is something that needs to be avoided--at all cost. Competition is what makes all the dreaded practices worth it. Showing up on game day--or meet day--is exciting because you know that you worked so hard to be there. It is exciting because when you show up at the field, or the pool, or the track, you can see your opposition. You can see if they are excited, nervous, tough, big, small, intimidating. With virtual athletics, you lose the excitement, especially in a sport like swimming, where knowing where your competition is in the pool--three, four strokes behind--or three, four strokes ahead, affects the way you push and when you push to finish ahead of them. You can't simulate a competitor. 

Virtual athletics will virtually slow down swimmers and make them less excited to be there. Showing up for a meet will feel the same as showing up for practice, and you should always feel different when you show up for game day. 

What's next...virtual track meets? golf? cross-country? gymnastics?

Let's just put Wiis in the gyms....

Dinner with an Olympian...

It is no secret that I have looked up to several members of the National Field Hockey Team since I began playing in 8th grade--so last week, when I got to sit down next to an Olympian for dinner, I was in a bit of shell shock. 

I don't think I even introduced myself--and it had been the third time that day I had interacted with her.

It is one thing to say that you met movie stars like Brad Pitt or Kevin Costner, but it is another thing to say you met an Olympian. These are the people who play for pride--but no money. They are the people who represent our country out on the playing field--everything that we stand for--respect, dedication, determination, and passion. They are the unsung heros. 

So what Olympian did I sit down to dinner with?

Rachel Dawson.

This was just hours after she made a speech that brought tears to the eyes of many young girls.

Last week, I had the opportunity to work the Princeton Field Hockey Camp--a camp that I have both played at and worked at before. However, this year the itinerary was different. This year there was to be a guest speaker. When I asked the head coach who the guest speaker was, and she told me Olympian Rachel Dawson, I was in awe. I was going to meet an Olympian. 

Now--I have actually met an Olympian before: Diane Moyer, and I have even played on the same field as National Team members But this was somehow different, for me, probably because I had never gotten to see Moyer compete, and because when I played with Katie O'Donnell in a Futures Tournament, I was oblivious to the fact that she was possibly, if not, the best player in field hockey at the time. But in this case, I had cheered the for the National Team through their entire journey to Beijing, I had cheered for Dawson while she and her teammates took on other countries in the Olympics, and now I am still cheering for Dawson and the National Team as they shift their focus to the 2012 Olympics. This is part of my lifetime--and it is nothing short of amazing.

I walked into the auditorium to meet with the head Princeton coach over camp business, but I stuck around to watch Dawson talk to young hopeful field hockey girls.

With her hands reaching for her toes and her body bent at the waist, Dawson opened up by saying that this is how she goes into every game--pretending to stretch those hammies and taking it all in. 

Dawson described her journey to becoming an Olympian, and how it all began with a dream. Dawson, who once aspired to play basketball in college, realized in high school that field hockey was the right path for her. She then went onto one of the top teams in the nation: University of North Carolina, where she was a consistent starter. Dawson told the girls that her biggest dream was to go to the Olympics--and how inspiring it is, because Dawson has had the opportunity to play in the Olympics.

Reaching the dream, of course, was not easy. It took making sacrifices. Dawson, a standout at UNC, was having the season of her life. She and her teammates were undefeated and headed for the ACC Playoffs, and likely the NCAA Championship in the future. But during the season, Dawson was offered an opportunity to train with the national team. 

After thinking it over, Dawson chose to train with the National Team, and she never looked back on that decision. She ended up making the National Team roster which in turn led to her fulfilling her dream of playing in the Olympics. Dawson, now has a new dream--standing on the podium at the 2012 Olympics in London. She has the first step down: She has envisioned herself standing on that podium. And every aspiring athlete knows--if you can see it...it can happen.

Dawson described that there were also people along the way who helped her in getting to where she is today. Standing near by was Kristen Holmes-Winn, the head coach at Princeton. Dawson explained that she knew Winn for some time on the hockey field, and that this summer the two had gotten to team up for the first time, which was something Dawson had always hoped would happen.

As the presentation came to an end, Dawson offered a piece of advice to the girls about going for their dreams and not being scared. Her words were: "Don't look at your feet...Just Dance."

The girls in the audience sat quietly through the presentation taking it all in. Some of them probably envisioned themselves achieving their own dream--whether it be standing on the podium at the Olympics or just making their varsity squad. No matter what it was, the looks on their faces said that Dawson had hit a chord--and that these kids were ready to go out and succeed at fulfilling their own dreams.

That night, in the camp store, one girl came in and said to me:

"Did you get to see Rachel's speech today?"

I replied, "Yes--and it was absolutely awesome."

The girl responded by saying, "It brought tears to my eyes."

A Runner Who Runs Through it All...

I thought this was a great story that ran in the New York Times today, so I decided to post a link.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/sports/09ultra.html?_r=1&hp

An unfortunate loss on 4th of July

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was shot and killed today. He was 36. His death is the latest in a string of celebrity deaths that have occurred in the last two weeks--starting with Ed McMahon. 

Rest in Peace

Do the Japanese players in the MLB get lonely?

This past week most Red Sox fans were concerned with the outing that Dice-K had on Friday night. Simply put, it was terrible. If you missed it, be glad you didn't see it, and if you saw it, I was scratching my head too. Here is a guy who pitched fantastically in the World Baseball Classic, but then comes back to the Sox and can barely muster up any strike-outs. 

Francona puts him on the disabled list, and then everything seems okay.

But a couple weeks later Dice-K has fallen again, and no one can give an answer why.

Wait--one person can.

His translator.

Maybe I am too concerned with the wrong things when I watch baseball sometimes, or maybe I just pick out details. 

Does anyone else think that maybe the guy is ready to go to Japan? It must be hard to play on an American team and not be able to communicate with your own teammates or manager without a translator.

When I traveled to Italy and attempted to play field hockey there, I had a really hard time. A lot of the practices turned into two hour runs for me, rather than 2 hour games of field hockey. Baseball is slightly different as it doesn't require talking each second of the game, but it still requires communication with your team on and off the field. The only person I felt a real bond with playing field hockey over in Italy was the one girl from Spain who could speak English with me. Other than that, I had no one. Who does Dice-K have ? Is he getting lonely? How do he guys deal with not being able to communicate? Does it hurt him and the team? 

You got to wonder what is going on inside his head when he wants to crack a joke with the guys...and he just simply can't. 

Phillies Stadium

A Tiger in the Rough

Just when you get a little bit skeptical about if a comeback is possible--Tiger Woods proves that it is beyond possible.

When the scores of round one of The Memorial Tournament were released, I expected to see Tiger Woods at the top of the list.

1. No Tiger

Then after that a bunch of people tied for 2nd and 7th place. Still no Tiger.

I kept scrolling.

Ah there you are Tiger. Way down below the guys who are in 17th place.

I think to myself, "Man...I really wanted to see him win."

I don't know what I was thinking.

Yesterday, Tiger Woods won The Memorial Open. The guy is just unbelievable. I have several friends who have gone as far as to say that golf is not a sport. But looking at the way Tiger plays, I don't know how anyone can say that. First, the guy is a class act. He is modest, determined, and friendly. He goes out there and he does his job. He loves every moment of it. He is in shape. He possibly the best looking guy on the field. And he is simply nothing short of an extraordinary athlete.

People say that watching LeBron James is the highlight of sports.

No.

Watching Tiger Woods is the highlight of sports.

Watch here as Tiger makes an Eagle shot yesterday at the tournament. This is possibly the turning point in the entire match.

Tiger

In the conference room.....

There are days where you wake up and go to work thinking, "What great thing could happen to me at work today?"

The answer earlier tonight, for me, was having the opportunity to go down to Fenway for the pregame press conference with Manager Terry Francona.

There has been never a great--or more intimidating--opportunity in my life. Just this past week, for the first time, I saw a press conference room. That conference room was at ATT Ballpark where the San Francisco Giants play. I saw that conference room during a stadium tour. Tonight, I saw the Boston Red Sox press conference room, at Fenway, when the spotlight was on.

Francona fielded questions from a number of reporters including ones from Fox7, the Globe, and NESN. 

Oh, and one from a WBZ intern as well.

Unfortunately, much like the first time I ever pitched in a softball game (when I was 10), I choked a little bit. My words were a little rushed together, and the name of the player I was asking about was a little muffled. Nothing like nerves. 

I became live bait, and Francona ate me alive, but it's okay because prior to responding to me, he ate another reporter alive who decided to keep attacking the issue of Julio Lugo, one of the two shortstops for the Red Sox. 

In my mind, I kept standing up for everything Francona was saying. Francona told the guy that he won't ever talk about a player and his place with the public because the media can change what they say each week. Francona said that he doesn't have that opportunity. Where as the media can go on the air in a week and just say "Well we were wrong," a coach cannot take back what he says. And for that I give Francona a great deal of respect. Some coaches will go out there and put their players under a bus, but he respects his team, as they respect him, it appears.

Of course the reporter continues to get at him, and Francona seemed a little angered--so I should have known better than to open my mouth. 

But that's okay because it is all in the experience, and tomorrow's another shot. 

Oh and after choking in my first ever softball pitching experience, I led my team to a 10-0 victory the second time around.

--I think that's good news for the next time I have an opportunity to sit in on a press conference.

Over-pitched

Last week Boston College played Texas in the NCAA Baseball Playoffs, but this wasn't just a simple 9 inning game.

Nope, this turned into a 25 inning marathon--7 hours long. To date, it is the longest NCAA baseball game ever. 

As I was browsing around the latest releases on MLB.com I took notice to a piece about college pitchers being over worked. It discussed the closing pitcher for the BC vs Texas game for Texas, who had pitched 169 pitches.

Last night Brad Penny was taken out shortly after he pitched just over 100 pitches.

Another pitcher during the game pitched around 139 pitches in 9 innings, an amount he was marked to have never reached.

Last night Kevin Millwood of the Texas Rangers barely made it to 120 pictures.

Arms get tired.

These college kids are def. over pitching, but I think the article I read was concerned for the wrong reasons.

In general, over pitching isn't good for anyone. LIttle leagues even have rules about how many innings a pitcher can pitch. (I think this rule would be better if it was how many pitches a pitcher could pitch). But the writers of the piece on the college pitchers were saying how the college coaches weren't concerned with their guys getting drafted and that the college coaches weren't looking out for the best interest of their player's futures. IE. if a guy is throwing up to 169 pitches, how will his arm fair in the long run for an MLB team that he may never play for? 

My question is, especially at a time when jobs are so slim, would a college coach be MORE concerned with an individuals future in the sport than their ability on the field for them. College coaches, especially football, baseball, and basketball are kept because of their accomplishment of having a winning season, going through the playoffs, and winning a championship--anyone else is on the chopping block.

This of course sounds unfair to the athletes who are--at least thinking about--trying to make it big. But when the guys sign up for college baseball, they sign with a team--they get paid to play for that team through scholarship money (most of them anyway) and it becomes part of their job. They are to represent their team just the way they would represent a team in the job field. Lots of people work more hours than they are supposed to, so throwing a few extra pitches shouldn't be a reason to say that a coach "isn't looking out for its players best interest."

169 pitches would be way too many pitches for anyone though.

However, when you have no one left, by the 25th inning of the game,--who do you put in? 

There's No Crying In Baseball

Breaking Barriers-a Thank You

A little under a year ago, I received an email from a woman by the name of Justine Siegal. She told me that she had read an article that I had written about girls playing boys sports--aka girls playing SPORTS, and sometimes girls being better than some boys at those sports. She wanted to see if I would be interested in starting a club baseball team for women at the University of Rhode Island. I wish I could say that I was able to. But I found myself--by myself. I wish I could have started that team. Siegal seemed so enthusiastic and pumped that it got me excited.

But something more recent got me excited--the news that Siegal is now one of the coaches of the Brockton Rox baseball team. She is the first woman to ever coach a professional men's baseball team.

It is decades ago that women graced professional baseball with the boys. Toni Stone was one of the first as she played in the negro leagues, where she proved that she could hang with the boys. However, no woman, until now, has ever coached a professional men's team.

The other night I went to see Night at the Museum 2. I know--wow, how does one compare baseball with this Ben Stiller comedy? That's easy.

During a scene in the film, Amelia Earhart is confronted by several black pilots.

They say to her:

"Ma'am we would just like to thank you."

"For what?"

"Well a lot of people didn't think we could fly either. Thanks for clearing the runway."

So Justine Siegal--Thanks for breaking down barriers.

My only question now is how long will it be until the teams start drafting some women--and playing them too?

Boston Bruins Goalkeeper: Tim Thomas

In my third day at WBZ-TV CBS Sports in Boston, I had the opportunity to meet Boston Bruin Tim Thomas. This would be my first time meeting a professional athlete somewhere other than at an athletic venue.

Dressed in a black shirt, khaki shorts, and sporting kicks, Thomas appeared relaxed and at ease walking into the office. I guess after you play a sport in front of thousands of people and on national television--walking into a sports department at a TV station seems really casual.

After introducing himself to the other intern and myself, his first question was: "Which TV is the Red Wings game on?" For him, ice hockey season's not over until the Stanley Cup is won, it appears.

Soon after, Thomas did a one-on-one interview with anchor Steve Burton. He handled it similar to the way he handled most of the season: with grace and skill.

When Burton asked Thomas what he thought about the Bruins losing to the Hurricanes in the playoffs, Thomas told Burton that the best team did not win the series, but that the team that played the best in the series won the series. He continued by telling Burton that the expectations are high for next year and that it takes time to win a Stanley Cup. Thomas mentioned that the Detroit Red Wings (who beat Chicago tonight 6-1), did not win the Stanley Cup in the past by just getting good over night. It took the Red Wings time, and it will take time, but the Bruins will get it.

Prior to the interview with Thomas for the "Sports Final" show, I had the opportunity to chat with Thomas in the office. I was interested in what he was taking his time to do in the offseason.

He mentioned that he is moving into a new house and that he is heading out to Vermont for a little, and to Vegas for the NHL awards in June. Of course, he will be working out as well as he hopes for a longer playoff run next year and another chance at winning the Stanley Cup.

The Curious Count

On Thursday night, I went to a Pawtucket baseball game with my friend Jill. As we watched foul ball after foul ball get knocked into the stands, we pondered a bit.

How many baseballs do teams go through in one game?

Apparently, we aren't the only ones who have ever asked that question.

Last night, on my first night at my internship, the curiosity question on WBZ-TV's website for the sports team was almost identical.

When Dan Roche did his 5:00 news sportscast, he answered that question--with a little help from guys down at the Red Sox.

Apparently, teams have 10 dozen balls ready before games. 120 balls! I can't imagine that they go through that many in EVERY game, but if so that is an incredible amount of rubber.

And a sidebar: All those balls have to be rubbed in mud before they get used. Why? Roche said that it was because back in the day balls used to have a shiny material over them, and when a player got hit, he was killed. 

The mud they use? Special mud, it seems, from New Jersey---I guess that's why it's called the dirty.

A Familiar Face Dominating the Courts

Growing up, I played a lot of sports. I played baseball, softball, basketball, roller hockey, miniature golf, field hockey, soccer, and tennis. I was really only ever good at three of the sports mentioned. However, my brother was really big into tennis. But he wasn't the only one in Bethlehem that loved tennis. A family of sisters dominated the tennis world in my hometown, when I was in elementary school. One of my friends was one of these sisters.

Her name is Amanda Granson.

As we started to grow up, Amanda moved south, because there was a school much better suited for her and her tennis talents than that of the schools up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Her sisters had made it into division 1 colleges, and Amanda had the same aspirations. She wanted to go all the way.

When I was in high school, I remember hearing someone say that Amanda had worked her way into the top 10 women's tennis players in the nation. I was astounded. Being the top 10 in anything is simply wonderful, but at a sport that takes such skill and dedication: that's beyond impressive.

As senior year rolled around, I learned that Amanda had chosen to go to Duke for her college career. I don't think she could have made a better decision. It was now close to her home, the college was already in the family, and the school itself is masterful in almost every way.

We are now going to be seniors in college, and Amanda is still dominating the tennis world.

This past week, the NCAA finals for tennis aired on ESPN. None-other-than Amanda herself was playing in the NCAA finals--on the winning team.

ESPN2 has been showing replays, and people have been blowing up Amanda's Facebook wall with "Congratulations."

So with this NCAA final behind her, Amanda can now focus on her senior year--but this will not be the last of her on ESPN--that's for sure.

Everyone loves a feel good story...

Whether it is about the slumdog in India who wins a game show, or about the pilot who landed a plane safely on the Hudson after unexpectantly falling from the sky uncontrollably--everyone loves a feel good story.

The latest feel good story is related to Brett Gardner and the New York Yankes.

Decades ago, Joe Dimaggio and Babe Ruth would go to children's hospitals and promise people homeruns. Dimaggio and Ruth were homerun sluggers so their promises were normally golden.

But this past week when Gardner visited a children's hospital, a girl gave him a bracelet predicting that he would hit a homerun if he had it on him. Gardner who had only hit one homerun up until that point said that he would try his best and thanked her. 

So the other night Gardner steps up to bat, and he takes a swing at a pitch. The ball falls just inside the foul line in left field and gets to the wall. Gardner puts on his wheels and hits first base, he hits second base, he hits third base, and he comes diving into home--for an in the park homerun. The hit was no slug, it didn't go out of the park, and it sure as hell wasn't a Dimaggio or Ruth hit, but with his speed around the bases Gardner was able to give the little girl the homerun she had predicted. 

However, that isn't the feel good part--although you may feel good, now you will feel better.

The next morning the little girl and her family received a phone call, and it wasn't Brett Gardner to tell them about his homerun. No, it was a call that a heart had become available for the girl--something she and her family had been waiting months for.

Now, that makes you feel good.

Will the Irish need luck or get by with skill?

Now that the Bruins season has been ended by the Hurricanes, the only playoffs left for New England to focus on are the NBA playoffs. 

Of course, New England fans will always be thinking ahead and hoping for the best for their Red Sox--but with two months to go to the all-star break, all New Englanders should really be thinking about is the present-- the Celtic vs Magic matchup tomorrow night.

After beating the Chicago Bulls in what felt like a "double" series, with all the overtimes, I didn't think that the Celtics could find the energy to get through another series, but of course my prediction was off and the Celtics have gone to a game 7 with the Magic--making the NBA playoffs feel like an entirely new basketball season all together.

According to NBA.com, the Celtics have never failed when they had a 3-2 lead in the playoffs and have only failed three times in game 7. Will Captain Pierce, Coach Rivers, and guard Ray Allen be able to keep that failure stat at 3, or will the Celtics get danced all over in their journey to become the NBA champions for the second straight year?

What a Klepto

When Jacoby Ellsbury stole home last month against the New York Yankees, Andy Pettitte felt wildly embarrased.

But not as embarrassed as Will Ohman of the Dodgers felt when Jason Werth of the Philadelphia Phillies stole not just one base but three bases on him in the seventh inning, including home plate last night.

Werth also stole third base earlier on in the game, making him the first Philly since Garry Maddox in 1978 to steal four bases, according to The Morning Call.

It also made him the first major leaguer to steal three bases in one inning since Eric Young in 1966, according to The Morning Call.

Werth, who proved himself last season, again proves his worth.

Happy days for Boston

The playoffs are in full swing in both the NHL and the NBA, and both have been mutually exciting in New England. Fans are walking around the beach in their Bruins and Celtics getup. The hats are out, the jerseys are rocking, and the greens (Celtics) and yellows and blacks (Bruins) are taking over South County in Rhode Island. I can only imagine the hype in Boston during this playoff season.

Last night I sat down to watch the Bruins game, and I realized that if I liked basketball as much as I enjoy watching ice hockey, and I was a Celtics fan, I would have had to make a terrible decision last night. I would have had to choose between one or the other. And if I was a Boston Red Sox fan...well then the world would have ended, because I would have had to have chosen between three games. This is why man created TIVO. 

The good news is I am not a dedicated Red Sox fan, and I don't like watching basketball as much as I enjoy watching ice hockey. No TIVO for me. Just the Bruins, me, and my housemate's boyfriend last night. I think that his jolts and reactions were much more entertaining than the game, which seemed to be a beat-down, as the Bruins got started early in the first period.

With three goals by the end of the second period, the Bruins looked unstoppable. They also seemed to be getting under the skin of Carolina with each play. Carolina players began throwing what would be "flagrant" fouls in basketball and were then placed in the penalty box allowing for even more brutality performed by the Bruins. By the third period, the Carolina players were so annoyed that one of their own threw a punch causing him to be fined by the NHL. The Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford, as he stated in an interview on NHL.com that the punch was a long time coming as the Bruins have been throwing punches all week.

Five games into the series: Bruins 2. Carolina 3. 

As Boston fans cheered over the Bruins win last night, the cheers became mixed with other cheers: cheers for the Celtics, as the Celtics defeated Orlando 95-94 on Orlando's home court.

Happy days in Boston as their teams strive toward championships. 

Can the Bruins hold off Carolina for two more games?

And can the Celtics continue through the playoffs--even after their tiring series with the Chicago Bulls?

Players keep striking out with steroids

After two previous writings that I submitted to the Morning Call on steroid use in baseball, I didn't know if I had it in me to write another one with the news of Manny Ramirez using steroids. But I will always have an opinion on this.

When I turned on ESPN this morning, Mike and Mike was on. They were discussing the Ramirez case--for about three hours now I have had ESPN on in the background of my room, and the majority of the day, they have talked about Ramirez, and they have talked about the use of steroids in baseball in general.

The most interesting fact that I heard this morning was that 7/10 best hitters since 1980 have been busted for steroids.

On that list of seven was:

Barry Bonds

Mark McGwire

Sammy Sosa

Alex Rodriguez

Gary Sheffield

Rafael Palmiero

Manny Ramierez

The other three:

Ken Griffey Jr.

Jim Thome

Frank Thomas

Who is next to test positive for steroids? It's just a matter of time.

And will Ramirez return in 50 games still being loved by his fans? or Will the Manny Ramirez wigs all be in the garbage before then?

Yankees are the dust underneath a pair of Sox...

The Boston Red Sox are officially 5/5 vs the New York Yankees this season, as the Bo-Sox went on to sweep the Yankees in their second set of games this season. Last weekend, the Sox took the Yankees down on their home field, and this week the Sox took the Yankees down in the new Yankees stadium.

I was lucky enough to snag bleacher tickets to Monday night's game when tickets first went on sale. However, due to low temperatures and the pouring rain all day my brother and I decided it wasn't going to be an enjoyable experience. Boy--were we right. Not only did the Yankees lose again, but it seems that many fans seemed to lose out on seeing the game after being told that the game's rain delay was over and that the game was officially postponed--when it wasn't.

According to "Lady At the Bat Blog" and a New York Times article, after attempting to wait out the pouring rain, many fans started exiting the field. Apparently stadium workers told fans that the game would be made up at another time. That being said, the fans left thinking that they would be treated to the make up game or an exchange of tickets for another game. However, at 9:00 it was announced that the teams would play, but all those fans who left wouldn't get to see it. Due to the Yankees ticket policy, all the fans who bought tickets and left would not be able to get back in--and they weren't. This left the stadium almost completely empty.

The new stadium has seats going for over $1,000 so seats behind home plate have been empty for several games leading up to the Sox series this past week. Unfortunately, due to an error by the Yankees personnel, those seats were again seen empty. 

Me. I got to watch the game from the comfort of my own home. Sure, I lost 20 bucks on my bleacher seats, but it's better than driving up, being told by the personnel that the game would be made up, leaving the stadium, and not being able to get back in. 

And I didn't catch pneumonia.

Lib's Half Marathon

Scoreboard of the day:

Libs: 1

Half Marathon: 0

Libs Car: 1

Libs: 0

Libs overall half marathon time: 2 hours and 20 minutes

--originally I had posted 2 : 22 but after the final results... 2:20!!!

It is a really good thing that I didn't have to use my fingers at all to run a half marathon, because had I, I probably wouldn't be able to write this article right now. Every body part that contributed to the half-marathon run this morning feels like it needs to be amputated--But that's ok because that means I did it. Today, I ran a half-marathon--I ran all 13 miles of it.

I decided at the beginning of the semester that it was time to try something new. The last time I tried something new (ie going abroad) it seemed to work out well. That is when I decided that I wanted to attempt a half marathon. I have to be honest--I never thought it would happen. I assumed that I would get through a few weeks of training and throw in the towel. But somewhere along the way, I embraced  the running. Suddenly, it was an addiction and no longer a chore. Suddenly, I woke up every morning wanting to run, even on my days off. Before getting really into training, I had talked with a bunch of my friends about running. We all had come to an agreement that we each hated running for the same reason: It had always been used as punishment in our sports. Every time we had to run, it reminded us of those times. Therefore, running had always been a punishment or a chore for me rather than a hobby. 

This semester it turned into a hobby. And I grew to love it, even when it was 20 degrees. I remember the first four miler that I had to do. I was home for the weekend and threw on a couple of layers. I went out and ran to the high school and back. My neck froze, and I remember thinking I had frost bite. I walked in the house and said "MOM! I think I have frost bite!" "No dear...you are just cold."

The next week my housemate turned 21, and while I walked around with a water bottle someone asked me why I wasn't drinking anything. I said, "I'm training for a half marathon. Running is hard enough for me as it is. If I drink all semester, I will just make it harder." He gave me a fist bump and said that it was something he could never do.

I remember my first 6 miler. It was the weekend my friend had come up to visit from Florida. I set my alarm for 7 o clock. When 7 o'clock rolled around, I hit snooze. For the next hour I tossed and turned in my bed. At 8:00 I couldn't handle it anymore--I WANTED to run. I think that was the first time I really believed that the half-marathon was going to happen.

For the next several weeks I continued to train. 7 miles...8 miles...

8 miles was as far as I had gotten. I wanted to push for 10 one day, but I just couldn't get myself to. This worried me, and suddenly I thought that the half marathon might not happen. Two weeks later, this past Sunday, I pulled my groin teaching a girl how to do a deceptive sweep. I thought that the dream was over.

I rested all week, did a shake out on Thursday, and I hoped for the best. I wanted to run this race.

Today, it happened.

I don't know if it was all the support I gained along the way as I told people what I wanted to do, or if it was the dream I had last night that I would finish the race, or if it was the thought that I finally did some sort of training for no one other than myself that got me to that finish line. But something got me there. I must admit, I was a bit lucky before the race. Others may say I should have felt unlucky, but moments before taking one last pee break and stretching it out, I locked myself out of my car. This ultimately...sucked, but was extremely helpful in getting me to focus on something other than the race (I did get back in after the race).

The race seemed to come and go as I ran past live bands, through a scenic park, around the city of Allentown and into J Birney Crum Stadium. Around mile 10, I thought of how easy it would be just to start walking, but I convinced myself that I hadn't trained all semester, I hadn't skipped out on a cheesesteak after a Phillies game, and that I hadn't cut fruity drinks out of my diet for no good reason. I was 100% in this to run it. And I did.

I have never felt more strong--or more weak in my life (I think my legs need to be cut off). And I must say: It is nothing short of the best feeling in the world.

A Phillies vs Mets Friday

Mets: 7

Phillies: 4

In my first major league baseball outing since June of last year, I have to admit, I was disappointed. I have attended many baseball games since I was younger. I have seen the Phillies at least five times, the Yankees once, the Red Sox twice, the Baltimore Orioles once, and all the teams that have visited them including the Blue Jays, the A's, and the Rockies. I saw Nomar Garciaparra's first in-the-park-homerun. I saw Chase Utley hit a walk off homerun in the bottom of the 12th in his rookie year. I saw Mo Vaughn get booed. I've witnessed, in person, the no way Jose cheer for Jose Canseco. I have experienced the obstructed view in Camden Yards in left field. I have seen Cal Ripken Jr. take the field. I have seen a lot of baseball games. But I have never seen a rivalry game. That is, until last night.

Last night was the first Phillies vs Mets game of the season. Going to a Phillies game is always normally very exciting. The crowd is fun, the weather always seems to be perfect, and the mascot seems to get everyone excited. I didn't expect anything less when I got in my car to drive to Citizens Bank Park to see the World Champions take on their arch rival. What I got was a disappointing loss: 7-4.

I have to admit, part of the reason that I was so excited to go to this game was to see the Phillies fans mutter terrible things at Mets fans. Last year, when I attended a game the man sitting next to me asked if I had ever been to a Phillies vs Mets game. When I responded, "No." He was taken aback. "You must go, they are the most fun!"

So that is when I put it on my to-do list.

However, the tone of the game was set by the Mets from the first inning, when they took the lead with 2 runs right off the bat. Then, they just kept adding runs. The Phillies almost seemed to be making a comeback with a three run inning and an Utley homerun later on, but couldn't make up their lost ground.

Things looked really good for the Phillies at one point, but a baserunning error with the bases loaded and a pick-off of Jimmy Rollins when he was on first base ended any hopes of the Phillies coming back.

At least there was some oomph in the stands, as the Philly mascot shot free hot dogs into the stands through a hot dog canon. However, whoever engineered the hot dog canon, didn't engineer well enough, as several of the hot dogs burst into pieces as they were released from the canon showering fans with bits and pieces of pig meat. 

In another instance, fans a section over from me were surrounded by security guards, ushers, and a few policemen. It took a while to figure out who they were motioning to, to leave the stands. When they finally got the man that they wanted, one of the ushers walked to his seat. The usher began picking up cans of beer--obviously not bought in the stadium. By the time the usher was done picking up the cans, she could be seen holding twelve empty ones. The man began to argue pointing at his shorts that there was no way that he brought those in--he had just two pockets and no bag. Immediately, the Phillies fans in the area began pointing at the Mets fan sitting in front of him. Clearly he hadn't brought the cans in, but it was fun to boo him anyway.

A grade for my first rivalry baseball game?

Phillies: D+ -- They gave us a little excitement, but their two base running errors were things that they should have learned in T-Ball.

Mets: B -- They got the win, but they didn't give any excitement. They got started in the first inning, added a few runs along the way, but didn't have anything bigger than a double.

Fans: B -   -- They were fun, but not as fun as usual. The Mets really sunk the fans early I think.

Overall: C+  /  B-

A Photo Finish

As the NBA playoffs are in full swing, people have got to be wondering how the Celtics and the Bulls players are holding up, and how their bodies will be holding up following each team's amazing playoff run.

The two teams have now gone to over time three times in the series, and in this past game, the teams went into triple overtime.

Will either team be able to survive another series after this? It is almost as if they have played a series within a series.

Tomorrow night will be the deciding game. At this point, I think that fans wish both teams could push through to the next round, as they have given the most exciting basketball this year.

Maybe tomorrow night fans will get a quadruple overtime.

Pick a team, any team.

For nine out of twelve months, I live in New England--that puts me in Red Sox Nation territory.

For the other three months, I live an hour north of Philly. By default that should make me a Phillies fan.

I guess it makes sense to me, that because I live in both places, I average out a team somewhere in the middle: The New York Yankees.

:::waits for the boos::::

The New York Yankees have been my favorite team since Wade Boggs graced third base for them. My brother was the one who pointed Boggs out to me when I was younger. I haven't looked away from the Yankees since, except when I enjoyed Bogg's run on the Rays for a bit of time--so for a little while you could call me a Rays fan. 

And before all that: I was a Cubs fan and a Braves fan, because at one point in time my little league teams were called the Cubs and the Braves.

This past year I even rooted for the LA Dodgers a bit. As Joe Torre moved, so did a little bit of my heart.

And at the beginning of the season, after news broke about the rookie pitcher who had been in a car accident, I couldn't help but root for the Angels.

The point here is that while I am a Yankees fan at heart, I believe that it is okay to like other teams.

:::Waits for more boos:::

I love the Philadelphia Phillies, because every time I walk into that stadium I witness a great game.

I enjoy the Boston Red Sox because they have something very important to me: my wedding venue. The only witness that I need at my wedding is the Green Monster.

I like the Atlanta Braves because Chipper Jones has always been a respectable player.

I like the Baltimore Orioles, because at one point Cal Ripken Jr. was a premier ballplayer--steroid free, and nothing but respectful out on the field.

I think that it is way too hard to claim a team, at this point, for many reasons. 

1. Players get traded all the time. How can I just stop liking a player once he is traded, especially if I followed him through the farm league, through the minors, and right onto the field. (Chase Utley).

2. A team isn't just the players on that field, a team is an atmosphere. It is an atmosphere created by the fans, the coaches, and the announcers. If the atmosphere is great, I can't help but falling for the team.

3. I have respect for any ballplayer who makes it in the big leagues (the right way), and can take the heat from the media and still perform to his top ability.

4. Fantasy Baseball is my defense. I have never played Fantasy Baseball, but for all those people who do and who nag me that I can't like the Yankees...and the Phillies...and the Dodgers: Isn't that essentially what you are doing, picking your favorite players--the best players--who are from a variety of teams? 

I think that I will stop saying I am a Yankees fan. And just start saying that I am a players fan.

And no it isn't because of the sweep this past weekend.

Going to "Church"

Have you ever walked into a gym, and realized that no one around you talks? Everyone is synchronized in their steps on the elliptical, their breaths on the treadmills, their cycles on the bicycle. Each person's eyes are fixated either on the world in front of himself or herself, or on a book or magazine. Going to the gym, is like going to a church. Silence surrounds, people take part in the same routines, and at the end of the day, people feel refreshed. For many, the gym, is their church.

Here is an aural postcard that I have made that states some of the other similarities. Enjoy.

Going to "Church"

"Mathketball" and "Student-Athlete"

There is Math.

There is Basketball.

There is Mathketball.

There is Student.

There is Athlete.

There is Student-Athlete.

This is slightly laughable, seeing as this past week One Tree Hill used the term mathketball to describe what people who attend elitist elementary schools play at recess as opposed to basketball. But I would like to use it, here, as a way of describing the balance between math and basketball that person needs early on in life--and even extend that on to the word more well known: Student-Athlete. In high school, we develop life skills by playing sports--as well as in college. Sports are our extra-curriculars in high school that help make us diverse, and well-practiced in every-day aspects of life. We go to school for 6 hours a day, and we play our sports for two or three hours a day. We are student-athletes.

Yesterday,  the Associated Press released information that a high school basketball player from San Diego High School in San Diego, CA, by the name of Jeremy Tyler, is dropping out of his junior year of high school to play professional basketball in Europe.

Now, I have heard of many players skipping their last few years of college to go on to the NBA. Heck, even non-athletes skip their last few years of college to go professional--Bill Gates for example. But I question any student-athletes choice to leave high school.

In fact, even the NBA said has a rule that basically says, "Hey, kids don't drop out of high school to play pro ball with us, because we won't draft you until you are at least 19." 

At the high school level, you are still considered a young-adult. You are at time in your life when you are making decisions that will affect you for the rest of your life. Dropping out of high school prohibits you from going to college right away when you decide you want to go back to school. Going professional means never having the opportunity to play college ball, where most players acquire skills and show off to the professional level coaches in a pool of people that are also hoping to make it big one day. I can't even say how much it has been stressed in my life that being a student-athlete means being a student first and an athlete second. I understand that this could be different for a basketball player--seeing as neither of the sports that I played had professional sports, but should a junior in high school really be growing up so fast? Should athletic students really just become athletes before the age of 18 or 19? Even younger kids who go on to perform in the Olympics go through home-schooling.

Also, how will it feel years down the road to know you missed out on your senior season of basketball? Your high school graduation? Your high school senior week? What happens if in his first few months, or years, of going pro, he suffers a career-ending injury. What happens if his junior year of high school is the year that he has plateued. Going from high school to college is challenging enough as the pace of sports is just so much faster. I can't even imagine how much faster a professional basketball game moves in comparison to a high school game. What does it tell people who look up to him? 

Sometimes people ask me who I would sit down to eat lunch with, dead or alive, if I had a choice.

I think Jeremy Tyler would be my latest choice--however, I wouldn't want it to be for another ten or twenty years. I would only have one question for him:"Was it all worth it?"

A Listen

Have you ever wanted to go to a place because of the way it looked in pictures in a book or on a television screen? The answer to that question is probably simple: Yes. 

I have always wanted go to to Wrigley Stadium, where the Chicago Cubs play, because it looks absolutely amazing in pictures. I have always wanted to get married in Fenway park, because of how beautiful it looks. And I have always wanted to witness a basketball game in Duke's gym because of how crazy the atmosphere appears on the television and how amped the fans seem during shots caught on camera.

But what about the sound of a place. What about the sounds of our favorite sport places? What does Wrigley Stadium sound like? What would be the acoustics of a wedding in Fenway Park? What would our ears go through if we sat through a Duke basketball game in their own gym? 

What do our places of sport sound like? 

Here is the University of Rhode Island gym's soundscape--that I took several weeks ago, beginning with the cardio room and moving on to the weight room.

Take a listen here:

URI Gym Soundscape

Run, Run, Run, As Fast as You Can

Natural runners are a rare breed. I have always said that their muscles develop differently, their metabolism is naturally faster, and for some reason their body is built to look perfect in spandex. But every year, every weekend, there are opportunities for people who don't have those special muscles, that awesome metabolism, or that attractiveness in spandex to go out and run a race. There are fun runs, mile runs, 5Ks, 10Ks, 5 milers, 1/2 marathons, and full marathons. 

People run these all for different reasons. Some people are doing it to get fit. Others are doing it to donate to a special cause. And others are doing it to win. At my first 5K, I met a woman who was running her first 5K as well. She said to me, "Are you doing this for fun, or for the kill." I responded by saying, "I am just here for the experience." Another woman that I met had been running for over thirty years. She was surely in it for the kill. I watched kids take part in the earliest race of the day, the fun run, and then I watched more kids take part in the mile run. Even kids who had to walk the whole mile--did it. It was an extraordinary experience. So I can only imagine what people are feeling today at the Boston Marathon.

According to the Boston Athletic Association's website, the first Boston Marathon took place in 1897, and has moved several times. In the early years of the Boston Marathon, the length was 24.5 miles. In 1927, the race extended to 26 miles. 

Today marks the 113th Boston Marathon. 

Most marathons take place through out the year and people can register on their own to run in them. This includes half marathons as well. But for the Boston Marathon, one must qualify. It isn't enough to just want to run a marathon at some other point in the year, no someone must be in it for the kill, in order to qualify. 

In order to qualify, one must race in another race somewhere else that is considered a "qualifying race." At this race, a person must finish the race by a certain time determined by their age bracket. For example, according to the B.A.A. website, a male who is in the age bracket of 18-34 must finish in under 3 hr and 10 minutes, and a female in the same age bracket must finish in under 3 hr and 40 minutes. 

There are several age groups, and even two separate categories. The Boston Marathon doesn't discriminate against the handicapped, as it holds a Push Rim Wheelchair race as well. 

Approximately 25,000 people are set to race today--and they will be run, run, running as fast as they can.

Spring into action

As many college athletes can agree, there is no tougher season than the off-season. The off-season requires getting oneself mentally and physically prepared for the next season. It is all about forgetting past mistakes, close losses, and even big wins. It is about setting new goals and higher expectations. It means getting up at the break of dawn and practicing when the rest of the people in the same time zone are sleeping. It means harder runs, longer practices, and tough lifts. It means pushing oneself above levels ever expected, so that one can perform at peak level next season. It's all about dedication and commitment. And it all feels like hell while its happening.

For many athletes, the off-season can serve as their season. Seeing as not all college athletes are starters or second-string, many college athletes see their off-season as their one chance each year to get to play and prove oneself for the following year. It is the athlete's opportunity to get playing time and remember what it felt like to be on the field when he or she was the star athlete at their high schools.

Spring season is that opportunity for college field hockey players.

Many college field hockey players can attest that the spring season is no walk in the park. However, playing in spring tournaments is the huge pay-off after all the early mornings. 

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to Princeton University to watch a spring field hockey tournament. Six teams competed in an all day tournament. Among these teams were: Princeton, UConn, BC, Temple, PSU, and Syracuse. And each team looked great out there--sure each team had things to work on, but if this is a prequel to the Fall 2010 season, then people should be getting really excited over the growing sport.

First, the sport has evolved this year, as new rules have been implemented at the NCAA level. Originally, when a foul occurred players would have to place the ball where the foul happened, and then pass or hit the ball to a teammate. Now, players can take the free hit and turn it into a free dribble. Instead of passing, players can now take the ball themselves to new space. The pace of the game is now faster, and the players seem to be getting acquainted  with the rule very quickly. However, the rule is subjective in the eye of the ref, meaning refs are going to call the rule differently, because there is no exact science to the new rule. 

As the competition went on through out the day, players tested out their practiced chip shots, reverse chips, passes, and new spin moves. Everything looked smooth, and the girls seemed genuinely excited to be out on the field playing.

There was however one "casualty" during the day. The tournament lost a ref for the day following a ball hitting him in the face. The ref needed to be removed from the field and stitched up. This wasn't the only wild ball that caught someone off guard. #6 for Princeton took a chip shot off the head, from a BC player's stick, in the first game of the tournament. She went down, but within minutes was standing again. When Princeton took the field again for their second game about an hour and a half later, #6 was back on the field playing. 

That's what these tournaments are all about--being tough and showing that you didn't go through the spring training for nothing. More teams need athletes like that, ones who aren't afraid to get back out there after getting taken out--literally. 

Spring season is a time to fines the skills, but also to prove how tough one really is. With a stellar spring like this, one can only imagine how fantastic the fall will be.