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.