tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85249854664224948452024-02-19T00:07:00.496-05:00Fanatics By ChoiceDalton Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333279488397455590noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-90864219991909463112013-08-27T13:12:00.000-04:002013-08-27T13:12:12.591-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Ten<div class="MsoNormal">
#1) The Championship Runs – These are what everyone
remembers. The hard work, the luck, the
close wins, the blowouts, the controversies, the questionable decisions, the
last seconds of the clock, the trophy. Is
there anything better than knowing your team is top dog and just proved
it? Absolutely not, unless your team wins
back to back championships. </div>
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The essence of a championship run though is one of two
things: a rag-tag team that has to prove themselves game after game and the
team that looks unstoppable and is.
Sometimes those two meet for the championship even. I can think of two such instances that stick
out to me. The first took place on
February 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2008, Super Bowl XLII.
New England entered the game as the first team to go 16-0 in a 16 game
season and was looking like just the second team in NFL history to win a Super
Bowl undefeated. New York entered with a
10-6 regular season record and, not counting those playoffs, hadn’t won a
playoff game in seven years. The Giants
overcame what was thought to be impossible odds and won, upsetting the Patriots
and capping a historic post season, a historic championship run. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHEv5LLpODIWtbR82pCgHIgqS6k35Pb2wNW2qqTZ84Tqha1e_kOTEWWwdaCXUrU3bt-PcaAnG-yFVlpSqNosl3dufITt3fgQfk1TIMgB80Ehm3AbXJ0nitQJ_3VMuVj0uC9xVIzilPpoe/s1600/Ohio+State+2002+National+Title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHEv5LLpODIWtbR82pCgHIgqS6k35Pb2wNW2qqTZ84Tqha1e_kOTEWWwdaCXUrU3bt-PcaAnG-yFVlpSqNosl3dufITt3fgQfk1TIMgB80Ehm3AbXJ0nitQJ_3VMuVj0uC9xVIzilPpoe/s200/Ohio+State+2002+National+Title.jpg" width="153" /></a>The other game that comes to mind occurred on January 3,
2003. The Miami Hurricanes came into the
National Championship after winning it last year and winning their past 34
games. The Ohio State Buckeyes entered
the game after losing last season’s bowl game but finishing that season with a
13-0 record. The buckeyes won six of
those games by seven points or less. In
the end, Ohio State won much like they did in those close six games, by seven
points. Ohio State finished their
championship run, going 14-0 and being the first team to do so. Both the Giants and the Buckeyes were two
touchdown underdogs going </div>
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into the game. They
proved that, to make history, a championship run is necessary.</div>
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That’s what all teams live for. Winning the championship, making history,
being forever remembered. A championship
run defines a team. It builds legacies,
honors traditions, provides us fans with hope that the same will happen next
season. That’s why we love the
championship runs.</div>
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So there it is, my Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports.</div>
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#10) The Offseason</div>
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#9) The Underdogs</div>
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#8) The Uniforms</div>
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#7) The Stadiums</div>
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#6) The Food</div>
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#5) Making Noise</div>
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#4) The Camaraderie</div>
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#3) The Commentators</div>
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#2) The Rivalries</div>
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#1) The Championship Runs</div>
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That’s my list and I'm sticking to it… for now. Let me know if you think I put something in
the wrong place or left something off the list.
And never quit LOVING sports.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-5383491108574830722013-08-26T16:44:00.001-04:002013-08-26T20:57:24.480-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Nine<div class="MsoNormal">
#2) The Rivalries – Where to start, where to start. There are so many rivalries in the world of
sports that I'm not going to be able to put them all here. Let’s try it anyways.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOtxbI_zQ-n4OEux7LhLVMp7AI6YbuDJNXMjwMVjS6ysNkMVz88Vp1VKGtLc_Rv1IjYUoRTO958YnbHuw7U7PmtLL_mcMbBD7jVttJHWnz0IntSwk2wZEyPJCDgx1lvJ3LaWWHS225qAG/s1600/KobayashiVChestnut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOtxbI_zQ-n4OEux7LhLVMp7AI6YbuDJNXMjwMVjS6ysNkMVz88Vp1VKGtLc_Rv1IjYUoRTO958YnbHuw7U7PmtLL_mcMbBD7jVttJHWnz0IntSwk2wZEyPJCDgx1lvJ3LaWWHS225qAG/s200/KobayashiVChestnut.jpg" width="200" /></a>Slater v Irons, USA v Mexico, Affirmed v Alydar, Australia v
New Zealand, Gatti v Ward, Rice v Sanders, Schwarzenegger v Oliva, Leonard v
Duran, Woods v Mickelson, Busch v Johnson, Williams v DiMaggio, Brazil v
Argentina, Sampras v Agassi, Canadiens v Leafs, Army v Navy, Hogan v Snead,
Earnhardt v Waltrip, Navratilova v Evert, India v Pakistan, Yarborough v
Allison, Ravens v Steelers, Chamberlain v Russell, Manchester United v
Liverpool. Phew! Still with me? Hagen v Jones, Edwards v Keselowski, Bird v
Johnson, Federer v Nadal, Duke v North Carolina, Real Madrid v Barcelona,
Manning v Brady, Texas v Oklahoma, Canadiens v Bruins, Packers v Bears,
Andretti v Foyt, Tennessee v UConn, Giants v Dodgers, Auburn v Alabama, Red
Wings v Blackhawks, Celtics v Lakers, Nicklaus v Palmer, Redskins v Cowboys,
Yankees v Red Sox, Frazier v Ali. And of
course the Grrreatest rivalry in ALL of sports, Ohio State v TTUN. I’ll be frank, I did forget about the rivalry
with the most relish, Kobayashi v Chestnut.</div>
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There they are. I
went through ten different lists of greatest rivalries in sports and I have the
majority above. I want to make it clear
though; it’s not the names that make the rivalry, it’s the actions. A storming of the mound could have started it
or maybe a coach crossing lines. Maybe
it’s just because two teams are in the same state or city even and they want to
prove who the best is. Two teams meet
year in and year out in the playoffs or championship and a rivalry is
born. The best faces the best. All those things are what creates a
rivalry. And don’t we just absolutely
freaking love it as sports fans. I mean,
come on. Would we even care if rivalries
didn’t exist? Of course! Rivalries will always exist and we will always
love them. </div>
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There is certain aspects of a rivalry that we love to see
though. The hard fought game between a
contender and a pretender, that is only a close game because it’s a
rivalry. Team A comes in the clear
favorite. Team B comes in as
mediocre. It’s all thrown off the
table. Once that game starts, those
athletes are the best in the world and they are there to prove it. Team A wins a championship. It’s only loss? Team B was the champion that day. That is a rivalry. Perennial powers face off more than it was
thought possible. They don’t like each
other because no one likes the opposing team.
The thing that makes it special though is the game within the game. A trash talker, a dirty play, some show
boating. The next game comes along and
the feud continues. All of a sudden,
someone realizes something. Maybe a
reporter, a columnist, an owner, a fan, or a coach or player. Those two teams? They just started a rivalry.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4vEcNKqhMDzm9cg_aNI1YSdRQcF7AUiuDIXgCl4zJXPZBzRQ8mSejMn3evnLr5DtzDoUCFCv0ylE93GIi8Aw0aB8FphF2-WE9hba2yjBcpc03T9-bEdzlduQxeAPVNNH8KGtUJAdNmLK/s1600/TTUN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4vEcNKqhMDzm9cg_aNI1YSdRQcF7AUiuDIXgCl4zJXPZBzRQ8mSejMn3evnLr5DtzDoUCFCv0ylE93GIi8Aw0aB8FphF2-WE9hba2yjBcpc03T9-bEdzlduQxeAPVNNH8KGtUJAdNmLK/s320/TTUN.jpg" width="320" /></a>Why is a rivalry important though? It makes that game so much better. It gives TV stations more money and the
commentators more to talk about. It
shows that no team is invincible. So
whether you like the origins of your favorite rivalry or not, continue to root
for your team. Continue to hope and pray
that this year, your team comes out on top over the bitter rivals. While you’re at it, eat that soggy hot dog
and wear that everlasting jersey. And
always remember: when facing a rival, they are the enemy and you win at all
costs.</div>
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Check in tomorrow for #1.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-47194395240877094452013-08-25T15:49:00.001-04:002013-08-26T21:03:50.590-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Eight<div class="MsoNormal">
#3) The Commentators – Commentary has gone along with the
game since the game’s origins. There
have been so many great voices over the years.
To me, these guys, and gals, bring the game to life. I know some people don’t like the
commentators, but they add something to the game if you ask me. A great voice goes a long, long way. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQ4oz3kq3CW6FvYHpQAhwYDHX0O1SDGAGaK_N2OGf0wouzhvF42IQ9UWyWn8MK2dJhfbiIoJk9IdC3qzdHxMKfyEnx7bnrAKWm_HsoW7CwSPa6kHgjdPSkcax7U0ts-NAflDgzMs0lOiy/s1600/Facenda+and+Sabol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQ4oz3kq3CW6FvYHpQAhwYDHX0O1SDGAGaK_N2OGf0wouzhvF42IQ9UWyWn8MK2dJhfbiIoJk9IdC3qzdHxMKfyEnx7bnrAKWm_HsoW7CwSPa6kHgjdPSkcax7U0ts-NAflDgzMs0lOiy/s320/Facenda+and+Sabol.jpg" width="320" /></a>Let’s start with The Voice of God, John Facenda. NFL Films sure as hell knew what they were
doing when they brought him in. Majestic,
profound, simplistic. “It starts with a
whistle and ends with a gun.” “The
Autumn Wind is a raider, pillaging just for fun. He'll knock you 'round and upside down, and
laugh when he's conquered and won.” “As
the fourth period began, Denver’s determined offense still needed more
restoration work from Norris Weese, what it got instead was a demolition job
from the Doomsday Defense.” It is truly
incredible listening to the greatest voice football has ever known. </div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8524985466422494845" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8524985466422494845" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8524985466422494845" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8524985466422494845" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Moving right along now.
Who doesn’t love the English commentary of a European futbol game? “The ball flew straight into the goal, it
looked like a frozen rope.” I don’t know
many English commentators, but Ian Darke is who I like best. Since 2010 he has worked with ESPN,
commentating to us silly, futbol-illiterate, Americans. He did the 2010 FIFA World Cup and will do it
again in 2014. He also commentated the
2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup with Julie Foudy and that’s when I started to love
his commentary. Listen in futbol fans,
Ian Darke is here to stay, thanks to ESPN.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKd7reX5LEpU-914MndSS9JQXGIVovvIFM0GTq_TR4LOzBHHpkSF3yqRa1rdt46SIEhdD_yoA0M9VerVb0O9FYAh4GbYo7_PlUb4IZVts65EccIVMyNXN3jPp6rlufoObcgFECx3tBa_B/s1600/Marathon+Finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKd7reX5LEpU-914MndSS9JQXGIVovvIFM0GTq_TR4LOzBHHpkSF3yqRa1rdt46SIEhdD_yoA0M9VerVb0O9FYAh4GbYo7_PlUb4IZVts65EccIVMyNXN3jPp6rlufoObcgFECx3tBa_B/s320/Marathon+Finish.jpg" width="320" /></a>The last commentator I chose to highlight in detail is
someone who most of you will not know.
He announces the Glass City Marathon and the Sylvania Triathlon and
Duathlon. He is known by me simply as
Announcer Bob which is okay. There’s
someone like him in every state and country.
We all have our favorite marathon announcers, if running is your
forte. You know the scene though. Spectators line the end of the route leading
to the finish line. Every runner has
their family waiting for them to get the picture of them breaking the imaginary
finish tape. The first placers cross the
line, which is great, but the real show begins once the majority start rolling
in. Announcer Bob has his spotter who
catches the runners’ numbers from 50 yards away. He then looks up the number and announces the
runners’ name and home town. Announcer
Bob then goes into detail about the runner and how they talked before the race
or how he knows the family. Sometimes he
talks about the home town; like, “Where the heck is Island Plains, New
York? Good job Tom Smith! Way to finish!” Then there’s the races within the race. The battles to the finish line. “They’re neck and neck, toe for toe, right
down the line! Come on, folks, let’s
hear it for these two fine competitors!”
The crowd goes wild and it’s too close to call. Then, “Here comes Jane Smith and it appears
she’s got some little ones right on her tail!
Congratulations Jane! Great
finish!” If you have any idea what I'm talking
about, then you know this is truly something spectacular to watch. </div>
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Now time to finish things off. I don’t have the time these commentators
deserve to go in depth, so I’ll just throw them a mention to a few who are my
favorites. Pat Summerall and John Madden. Brent Musburger, Brad Nessler, Beth
Mowins. Marv Albert and Reggie Miller. Joe Buck, who does football and
baseball. I think he’s better doing
baseball myself. Bob Uecker. Mike Tirico, who does just about
everything. Al Michaels, who commentated
the 1980 Miracle on Ice and does Sunday Night Football for NBC now. Those names were in no particular order and
definitely deserve much, much more praising than I can give them here. </div>
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Check in tomorrow for #2. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-34156569589446193672013-08-24T11:23:00.000-04:002013-08-24T11:23:47.362-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Seven<div class="MsoNormal">
#4) The Camaraderie – The whole point to play sports or
watch sports is to have fun, right?
Okay, maybe not, but it’s a huge portion of the point, next to
winning. Merriam-Webster defines
camaraderie as a spirit of friendly good-fellowship. Basically, camaraderie is getting along very
well with the people around you. Fans
getting along with fans. Players getting along with players, and coaches. </div>
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To have camaraderie is something special. You can’t find it growing on a tree or even
on eBay. No, it takes two or more people
that just understand each other and, in the end, have a common goal. For the fans, that goal is making sure they
see the whole game and hopefully from a reasonable seat. For the players and coaches it’s obviously
winning the game and eventually winning championships. At least that’s what we hope the players and
coaches want to do, and that their not just in it for the money. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJCN2h8l_wXpplYhZUtvcYU1eT8dVHjChtg2loO7G85ufU6mByuFfHEkHFUqbIOttxi-I74hXdo5b-1smdFqvXsSjdcfT_oIm9FnblFkZQFCsG8PMnMWQ0bVubbUR2qQoyIlWw4E9ASM0/s1600/Walleye+Fight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJCN2h8l_wXpplYhZUtvcYU1eT8dVHjChtg2loO7G85ufU6mByuFfHEkHFUqbIOttxi-I74hXdo5b-1smdFqvXsSjdcfT_oIm9FnblFkZQFCsG8PMnMWQ0bVubbUR2qQoyIlWw4E9ASM0/s200/Walleye+Fight.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i3iaVS61Eg9otCgEjcJkpZ9zcu1g5iV9c2vqKHS_K7aw-Xe1GsIOAj10rHLi0Z1aluhCrtRsK9wy8Ab06rZt2K-N-6cWWUxn00ui3VAHsMK6pZ1pK0z3IAKrimtsyvBUo2uUHmArVCXP/s1600/Son+Father+Game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i3iaVS61Eg9otCgEjcJkpZ9zcu1g5iV9c2vqKHS_K7aw-Xe1GsIOAj10rHLi0Z1aluhCrtRsK9wy8Ab06rZt2K-N-6cWWUxn00ui3VAHsMK6pZ1pK0z3IAKrimtsyvBUo2uUHmArVCXP/s200/Son+Father+Game.jpg" width="200" /></a>What camaraderie really is though, pertaining to the sports
world, is having the greatest time of your life. Having fun.
A team of players competing week in and week out, playing the game they
love with teammates they love even more.
It truly is one of the most perfect examples of camaraderie, next to
America’s Military. When it comes to the
fans’ camaraderie, we all remember the first game our Dad took us to. We all remember when Mom finally picked out a
jersey for game days. A memory I will
always love is going to my hometown hockey team’s games with my
Grandmother. She loves hockey. Not because it’s incredibly hard to skate and
shoot a puck at the same time. Not
because of the scoring or the horn after the score. No, it’s because of the fights. That’s right, my Grandmother loves hockey
because of the fights. She loves seeing
two opponents rip their gloves off and duke it out. The camaraderie that is lost by those two
opponents is surely gained by my Grandmother and I, and I couldn’t love it any
more. </div>
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So there you have it.
Camaraderie is #4. Check in
tomorrow for #3.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-31764642015193565002013-08-23T16:58:00.001-04:002013-08-23T16:58:19.334-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Six<div class="MsoNormal">
#5) Making Noise – There are many types of noise. There’s baby noise, car noise, dog barking at
3 AM noise, you’re annoying, why are you talking to me noise, I live next to
the airport noise, and so much more.
What this article is about though is sports noise. It’s the best noise around and everyone
contributes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1beDs67uQAT2qFPgeWB0W27YI3b-7dk1HKQG4ng1a3vBftzYPWds6sDCXVpcY9qeNX7rk0P5FIjC8Psv8t5ThS1E6qjZ9rCwSOqw5I_nxm3BogRSOVpu9eGyU2S1gtNfsJdMv4iD6jIlI/s1600/Vuvuzela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1beDs67uQAT2qFPgeWB0W27YI3b-7dk1HKQG4ng1a3vBftzYPWds6sDCXVpcY9qeNX7rk0P5FIjC8Psv8t5ThS1E6qjZ9rCwSOqw5I_nxm3BogRSOVpu9eGyU2S1gtNfsJdMv4iD6jIlI/s200/Vuvuzela.jpg" width="200" /></a>From the coach yelling at the players, to the QB or PG
calling out the play, to the fans in the stands, to the band, and even the
humming from the Goodyear blimp. It all
adds up to turn into something great. Making
noise is just so darned fun! There’s no
way you can disagree with me either, because as a sports fan, you expect there
to be loud noises and to make your own loud noises when you go to a game. A touchdown is scored: fans cheer
ecstatically. The home team has a 2
point lead with little time in the fourth quarter of a basketball game: home
fans shout “DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!”.
You’re at an international futbol game:
Vuvuzelas are all you can hear.
Go to any hockey game: there is at least one instance where somebody
yells “HIT SOMEBODY!”. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTezI_bAj2FqgJVD1UXYom45hvstWQGM4T6T1WNtM0nNdNhieue7tsXkMeuvbit67OAtDe0IfwDYWGIZUAkC1wqVljFxUl7V4cqS413iQvZkSVKwkK_ZVmbaB9vrf1ICbcHJsECjhfNj2a/s1600/Noise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTezI_bAj2FqgJVD1UXYom45hvstWQGM4T6T1WNtM0nNdNhieue7tsXkMeuvbit67OAtDe0IfwDYWGIZUAkC1wqVljFxUl7V4cqS413iQvZkSVKwkK_ZVmbaB9vrf1ICbcHJsECjhfNj2a/s200/Noise.jpg" width="198" /></a>And there’s the on field noise. The defense yelling “pass, pass”. The offense getting the play call from the
sideline. The chatter coming from
trainers who don’t have anything to do.
The whistle of the ref. The
bounce of the basketball. The collision
of pads. The squeak of sneakers. The boot of a football or futbol. The ping of the baseball as is comes off the
bat. The puck slamming and ricocheting
off the glass. All those sounds are part
of why we love sports. It all just seems
to make sense. If those noises don’t
happen, it doesn’t seem real.</div>
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They do happen though.
And whether or not you’re making noise because your team is winning or
losing, or you’re doing it because you hate the other team, or maybe you’re
just like any other red blooded sports fan and love to make noise. It’s all okay, all accepted. So go ahead, make some noise people. </div>
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Check in tomorrow for #4.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-45363467426090899562013-08-22T12:57:00.001-04:002013-08-22T13:00:56.080-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Five<div class="MsoNormal">
#6) The Food – As American’s, we consume a lot of freaking
food. As humans, we consume a lot of
freaking food. We all love food. Most of the time, food loves us. As a sports fan, I am not a stinkin’
vegetarian. That’s just unethical to
me. Don’t get me wrong, I love veggies,
as long as they’re smothered in cheese or on my hot dog or burger. This could be higher on the list of Top Ten
Reasons Why We Love Sports, but I choose to put it here at #6 and here’s why.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIzqEhyphenhyphenxKnoMpygrw6eEqdoF2YR_oSOorc-ULobz3K1BD3DWL1PE1TyOrdZch6tZplxSzi2cuuxIXFZKWVCO58jyyaxmpQVTgUI4AFeQ2Eiq-E1GddwChTDqQxETXR1ng-S1YjCi-rv3r/s1600/Kingsford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIzqEhyphenhyphenxKnoMpygrw6eEqdoF2YR_oSOorc-ULobz3K1BD3DWL1PE1TyOrdZch6tZplxSzi2cuuxIXFZKWVCO58jyyaxmpQVTgUI4AFeQ2Eiq-E1GddwChTDqQxETXR1ng-S1YjCi-rv3r/s200/Kingsford.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you like eating food, you like to eat all the time. When game day arrives, for me, it’s all about
what kind of food do we have. Whether
I'm watching the game at home, at a sports bar, or from the stands, it’s all
about the food. The food starts off all
the festivities. Make sure the nachos
are out of the oven before the game starts.
Make sure we got some thick, chunky, spicy salsa. Do we have enough charcoal to make it through
three plus hours of tailgating? All this
and more is why the food is #6. It’s
only the start of great things to come, in particular, the game.</div>
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Of course, once the game starts, everyone is most likely
full and bloated from eating one too many chili dogs or because they finished
off an entire bag of Doritos JACKED.
It’s understandable though. You
can’t watch the game on an empty stomach.
That’s why when halftime or the middle of the fifth inning roll around,
you’re ready for more food. If you’re
eating at a stadium, let me tell you, there are certainly some good, good eats
there. Anything involving pretzel bread
is like Heaven on Earth. If it comes
with grilled onions, always ask for extra.
And if it happens to be covered in chili, don’t be a wimp and eat it with
a knife and fork, not even a Spork. You
man up, or woman up, and eat that sucker with your bare hands! Just make sure you don’t spill anything down
the front of your jersey. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmXXRJdf37m3qLKGE1noI4YVfEtKAGnSrJXV3LCUQaq7ftpyhenTTAcM9r-FO0Jrq6XZW4iOFlYsNupS_AcSzz9yoBr0AHJyN8GEJdl5H-FtGnFHcDgXbI3-vBbaEhT1mZRDIkSkXJamC/s1600/Soggy+Dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmXXRJdf37m3qLKGE1noI4YVfEtKAGnSrJXV3LCUQaq7ftpyhenTTAcM9r-FO0Jrq6XZW4iOFlYsNupS_AcSzz9yoBr0AHJyN8GEJdl5H-FtGnFHcDgXbI3-vBbaEhT1mZRDIkSkXJamC/s200/Soggy+Dog.jpg" width="200" /></a>Now time for my favorite stadium food. You can get these at probably every single
stadium in the United States. MLS, NBA,
NFL, MLB, NCAA, high school, heck, even little league games. They all have that crappy hot dog. You know the one I'm talking about. It comes out of a giant vat of dogs and
wrapped in a piece of aluminum foil. The
bun is soggy and you have to pay for the toppings. Instead of paying for cheese though, you go
the free route and slather a gallon of mustard on that dog and you eat it like
it’s the best damn hot dog you’ve ever had.
But let’s face it, that is the best damn hot dog. That hot dog is what makes the game that much
more special.</div>
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Check in tomorrow for #5. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-59600641667413639332013-08-21T16:29:00.000-04:002013-08-21T16:29:58.858-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Four<div class="MsoNormal">
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</w:wrap></span></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: inherit;">#7) The Stadiums – I am an Ohio State fan. Ohio State is in the Big Ten and huge
stadiums go along with the Big Ten. I
love football stadiums. 100,000 plus
people in one place watching a football game, regardless of what the weather is
like, is just fantastic. The beauty of
some of the more recent stadiums that have been built is pretty great too. Look at Cowboys Stadium, now known as AT&T
Stadium. And it’s obvious that the
stadium is important to the front office because of these new stadiums being
built. Also, all the upgrades that every
stadium gets. It seems like every single
college football season there’s at least ten stadiums that have been overhauled
to fit more fans or got a shiny new jumbotron.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMvTnPQfo9CMG6n9deK07gVLGCOLaaNhcc2inhyphenhyphen7T53t2pzHCOn-DUUXguK2AyjNSvJll-14xXHaMAjODsLOZ-LQXy213nljcHDTNhB30su6OWRvMnWy1zEk5aMREpNVTr6WPQMsA1N0K/s1600/Colosseum+and+Maximus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMvTnPQfo9CMG6n9deK07gVLGCOLaaNhcc2inhyphenhyphen7T53t2pzHCOn-DUUXguK2AyjNSvJll-14xXHaMAjODsLOZ-LQXy213nljcHDTNhB30su6OWRvMnWy1zEk5aMREpNVTr6WPQMsA1N0K/s320/Colosseum+and+Maximus.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">This story isn’t just about football though. Let’s look at probably the greatest stadium
ever built: Circus Maximus. It was the
first super stadium and rightfully so.
Nearly a half mile long and almost 400 feet wide, Maximus held 150,000
people and could have reached a capacity of 250,000. It was built in Ancient Rome, which explains
why it was built. Ancient Romans loved a
good show as evidenced by the Colosseum, another great stadium. I think it’s fair to say that we have
followed in Roman footsteps when it comes to building stadiums.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3H7qgSGjiKPaR7CbRw9pB87hH3nxAuAHNXjeN5EYRUrIcNWRq7ZsiyD2IoU5c7bIkE0Hkux-wEa69Y5PzozBTvVL9w63k5uiRlVwtHEcmbcAs5LZFzTNrinV89AAHCaabg51pORa_wLh/s1600/NASCAR+Motorhomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3H7qgSGjiKPaR7CbRw9pB87hH3nxAuAHNXjeN5EYRUrIcNWRq7ZsiyD2IoU5c7bIkE0Hkux-wEa69Y5PzozBTvVL9w63k5uiRlVwtHEcmbcAs5LZFzTNrinV89AAHCaabg51pORa_wLh/s320/NASCAR+Motorhomes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Football stadiums, check.
Ancient Rome’s stadiums, check.
What else is left? How about
NASCAR? I'm not a NASCAR fan, but they
sure know how to flock people in there.
Who’s ever idea it was to have the motorhome parking in the infield for
NASCAR stadiums was a genius. Those
baseball stadiums. Some of them are the
most b-e-a-utiful things I have ever seen.
How about those futbol stadiums?
The stadiums they construct just for the FIFA world cup, they are
incredible. A stadium built for a single
event lasting for only 4 ½ weeks? If
that’s not stadium love, I don’t know what is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everything that goes along with these great
stadiums just adds to the experience. I
mean, the food, the noise, the announcers, they make the stadiums even
better. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">By the way, one of those is #6,
so check in tomorrow to see which one it is.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-86288163966789743872013-08-20T14:10:00.002-04:002013-08-20T14:10:59.870-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Three<div class="MsoNormal">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>#8) The Uniforms – Who doesn’t love it when they get that jersey
they’ve been wanting for Christmas or the helmet that’s used as a chip and dip
bowl for their birthday. How about when
it was jersey day at school? Let me tell
you, those were my favorite days.
Whenever I got the chance to rock my Emmitt Smith or Chris Spielman
jersey, I was ecstatic. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPzR8v81g3G12wIsH40yn1sjrB8GEpy3vRNf4NGvoGJkvhmhahWeyPMh-HuQBk-Yz-NvsVuxY3d8qS-otJHn_L6btNew2u0K_WOjs9KApgWv_0R7FfZBkcJoWkmGe7hQNNtAw6uPucFEM/s1600/Totti+Jersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPzR8v81g3G12wIsH40yn1sjrB8GEpy3vRNf4NGvoGJkvhmhahWeyPMh-HuQBk-Yz-NvsVuxY3d8qS-otJHn_L6btNew2u0K_WOjs9KApgWv_0R7FfZBkcJoWkmGe7hQNNtAw6uPucFEM/s200/Totti+Jersey.jpg" width="200" /></a>My first jersey I received though, was a Francesco Totti, club Roma
jersey. That’s right, my first jersey
was of an Italian Futboler who I had never heard of. The story is that my Grandfather went to
Italy and decided to get me something. A
Totti jersey seemed to fit the bill. I
don’t remember how old I was when I got, five maybe, but I still have the
jersey. I love that thing. I’ve never seen Totti play and I don’t know
of his stats, but that jersey is special to me.
The first one always is.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RULJoMNGHar2lElzTTBTBPjG-psVilTyaDXG1G0ZB-mRZhXnH3ZosFYDscVdfbmP4l_mar-SsBPK53PUtjqkATeiXJ22ywT0oYRz2NNjqqBeNwj3nOMfmQH13oYLAu7OoiHnj8cNt2mI/s1600/Creamsicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RULJoMNGHar2lElzTTBTBPjG-psVilTyaDXG1G0ZB-mRZhXnH3ZosFYDscVdfbmP4l_mar-SsBPK53PUtjqkATeiXJ22ywT0oYRz2NNjqqBeNwj3nOMfmQH13oYLAu7OoiHnj8cNt2mI/s200/Creamsicle.jpg" width="179" /></a>Now time to talk about the jersey changes. It happens all too often, sometimes good,
sometimes turrible. For example, Oregon
Football. I don’t get it. Something like hundreds or thousands of
different combinations. That’s just
ridiculous. I like it when a team stays
old school. Teams that haven’t changed
their uniforms in decades, sometimes centuries.
Uniforms that stand the test of time.
Those uniforms are the best. Most
teams out there don’t have that though, so they decide to suit up in some
throwbacks. Often times, the throwbacks
are a combination of brown and yellow, blue and puke orange, or even
Creamsicle. Sometimes though, those
throwbacks are just what your team needed and just what you wanted to see.</div>
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Whatever type of jersey you like though, I think we can all
agree there is a certain love for the uniforms.
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Check in tomorrow for #7.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-38630126242064392512013-08-19T15:30:00.000-04:002013-08-19T15:30:36.062-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day Two<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C-rtS5rZAeDE2HY_pdhkabiSkYMXDMrXY4FIej2e3kEom5eH1H0E7Fz2PzMHBhHXdcfTNLa4dN2LWiMoFWqnB-cEIHlBuLL-3ae4fTsMm7WHWppu_f_LVwm8IzM80R1GsQCIME5BvoH9/s1600/DavidVGoliath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C-rtS5rZAeDE2HY_pdhkabiSkYMXDMrXY4FIej2e3kEom5eH1H0E7Fz2PzMHBhHXdcfTNLa4dN2LWiMoFWqnB-cEIHlBuLL-3ae4fTsMm7WHWppu_f_LVwm8IzM80R1GsQCIME5BvoH9/s200/DavidVGoliath.jpg" width="166" /></a>#9) The Underdogs –
Let’s face it; we used to be the underdogs.
I’m talking as a country. Way
before we knew how great sports were, America was fighting off the Goliath
known as Britain. It’s only natural that
we root for the underdogs. Of course,
there is more than just people in the United States reading this so let me
explain why we all love the underdogs.</div>
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To be an underdog you have to be the favorite to lose going
into a game. As humans, we are often
considered only underdogs to Mother Nature, but we have found a way to beat her
time and again. We are the underdogs
every single time though. For those of
you who don’t agree, tell me how much you like being rained on, struck by
lightning, or having a hurricane come through your home town/state. It’s because of those very reasons why we love
underdogs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Just think about it.
The underdog comes in and win the game with all odds against them. It is the ultimate definition of
teamwork. Look at some of the most
recent underdog victories. Texas A&M
over Alabama. Seattle over Green Bay, albeit
with replacement refs. Golden State advances over Denver. The one game Chicago
won over Miami in round 2 of the NBA Playoffs.
The 7 seeds advancing in the NHL Playoffs. And you can’t leave out the always fantastic
wins by underdogs in the NCAA Tournament.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then there’s the historic underdog wins. Broadway Joe and the Jets beat Unitas and the
Colts in SB III. The Miracle on
Ice. Whenever Michigan finds a way to
lose to incoming underdogs. For example,
Appalachian State in 2007 and Toledo in 2008.
Giants beat the undefeated Patriots in SB XLII. Y. E. Yang over Tiger Woods. Let’s never forget when the James Madison
Dukes beat Virginia Tech in 2010. The
2007 Fiesta Bowl. All of Rocky
Marciano’s career. Hoosiers. Texas Western. Jimmy V and the Wolfpack. Oh yeah, and the most important one,
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They were all great moments.
Moments that will last for a very, very long time. Thank you Chuck Norris and remember the 5 D’s
of Dodgeball: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Check in tomorrow for #8.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-42945370544622424482013-08-18T14:23:00.000-04:002013-08-18T14:23:59.331-04:00Top Ten Reasons Why We LOVE Sports: Day One<div class="MsoNormal">
Ask everyone you know
why they love sports. Each person will
tell you something different. You may
agree with them. You may disagree with
them. Really though, it doesn’t matter
if we all love sports for different reasons.
As long as our beloved sports still exist, here’s my top 10 reasons why
we LOVE them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCMQBmy8Xk3aCFui2ZLtqK8P5R0ZgHcP1l-t9-qU87lMuX5z1GOCBuJg2qIFincHeXXFWQH9fmiOLPGw74SPZ1XSAduf5dv17ubyghWoS0OHS11mwHp1FitNZLwaJvDePXliItq88B8Zb/s1600/KD+Rucker+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCMQBmy8Xk3aCFui2ZLtqK8P5R0ZgHcP1l-t9-qU87lMuX5z1GOCBuJg2qIFincHeXXFWQH9fmiOLPGw74SPZ1XSAduf5dv17ubyghWoS0OHS11mwHp1FitNZLwaJvDePXliItq88B8Zb/s200/KD+Rucker+Park.jpg" width="133" /></a>#10) The Offseason – Most sports fans probably don’t like
the offseason at all, but there really is a lot to love about it. The biggest is definitely the
controversies. What are players doing in
their spare time? Where do they go on
vacation? Who are they marrying? Who got arrested? Who got injured? Who’s just out there having fun? Yes, the offseason has many questions. You can’t tell me though that watching Kevin
Durant play a little streetball isn’t the greatest thing ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Or maybe you just enjoy seeing how your favorite team is
preparing for next season. It could be
anything from seeing those crazy college coaches entice those pesky recruits to
play for them or hearing how your favorite NFL QB is organizing some team
activities. And of course there is the
coveted draft. If you’re into that sort
of thing, the draft is probably the peak of the offseason, but not for me. After the draft comes free agency. A player basically chooses who he wants to
play for and you’re hoping it’s your team. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_tmJ-0p7TpOm2QNceCtR0Y5SoUMGlhoVCpKWXml0azYlQZsR2ZMHFKCh6kd-ngJUQ5M3TKlB3vc5c1DPL0Jimmy5MFsiD8SvfHnukMBSooybGCmpfVDlVDn0hcaxyZL9Il6YcPzfaG6w/s1600/A.+Hernandez+Arrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_tmJ-0p7TpOm2QNceCtR0Y5SoUMGlhoVCpKWXml0azYlQZsR2ZMHFKCh6kd-ngJUQ5M3TKlB3vc5c1DPL0Jimmy5MFsiD8SvfHnukMBSooybGCmpfVDlVDn0hcaxyZL9Il6YcPzfaG6w/s200/A.+Hernandez+Arrest.jpg" width="200" /></a>You can’t talk about
the offseason and not mention how stupid players can be though. It’s why some of you hate the offseason. You just want the players to play and coaches
to coach and games to be won. I couldn’t
agree with you more; however, it is nice to see some justice to be served to
some of those idiots.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alas, this is only #10, so make sure to check in tomorrow
for the #9 reason why we love sports. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-29454606462293485162013-07-17T14:28:00.000-04:002013-07-17T14:28:32.949-04:00The Last of the 42's.<div class="MsoNormal">
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April 18, 1929: Larry French debuts for the Pittsburgh
Pirates as the first of the 42’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
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April 15, 1947: Jackie Robinson debuts for the Brooklyn
Dodgers as the speediest of the 42’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
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May 23, 1995: Mariano Rivera debuts for the New York Yankees
as the last of the 42’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
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April 15, 1997: Major League Baseball retires the number 42<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the first to the last, 42 has had some fun times. The most memorable being its ride with Jackie
Robinson. The speedster from Cairo,
Georgia who broke the color barrier. He
may be the most important player in the history of the game.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since the Robinson days, 42 has been adorned by so many, but
maybe the best to wear it is Mariano Rivera.
After all, this story is about him.
From Panama City, Panama and entering the game via Enter Sandman, Rivera
is the undisputed king of the save. He
has over 630 of them and is adding to that in his final year. Rivera is in his 19<sup>th</sup> season in
the league and he couldn’t be happier. <o:p></o:p></div>
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With the All-Star game on and the 8<sup>th</sup> inning
about to begin, Buck and McCarver go silent and the cameras are on Rivera. He throws one last warm-up as the music
starts. You can hear the crowd start to
thunder over the music and the start of something incredible begins. Rivera walks through the gate, and I just know
the fans are standing by now. He starts
his jog to the mound and Citi Field is a madhouse. When Rivera reaches the mound, the cameras
finally leave him, long enough to show the whole stadium on their feet, players
included. It cuts back to Rivera who
tips his cap and the place is at its loudest.
Then Buck comes back on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The top of the eighth is won in 16 pitches. The master is still the master. Rivera walks off the mound to another
thunderous applause and a second ovation.
He reaches the AL dugout and hugs Verlander as if they were the best of
friends. Rivera had just completed his
final All-Star game and did so in fantastic fashion. The AL went on the win the game 3-0 and
Rivera won MVP honors, which included the game ball delivered by Joe Nathan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of all the moments in Rivera’s career, to me, that All-Star
game has to be in his top 10. Rivera
represents class, he represents the Yankees, and he represents the number
42. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mariano Rivera is the last of the 42’s. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-22850396628968375402013-07-07T21:54:00.000-04:002013-07-07T21:54:21.420-04:00Why Dwight Howard went to Houston<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of you are asking just why Dwight Howard is moving to
Houston. He’s somebody who is considered
to be the best center in the game of basketball, when he’s healthy. He’s had playoff experience. He’s had Finals experience. Then he moved to LA and it appeared that the
Lakers were the team to beat in the West, yet again. He got the chance to play with the likes of
Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, and Kobe Bryant, all future hall of famers. Of course, there’s playing for future hall of
fame coach Mike D’Antoni too. The Lakers
have a much bigger budget than the Rockets.
So, why did Dwight Howard move to Houston?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s reason number one.
Dwight Howard doesn’t like Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant doesn’t like Dwight Howard.
Watching the two bickering back and forth during last season was
hysterical. Here’s two guys, who are
great players, on a should be great team, arguing over how well Howard can play
with a back injury. I’m not a Lakers fan
by any means, but something like that should never happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Naturally though, that wasn't the whole story. I don’t know what the entirety of it was, but
here’s my take. The Los Angeles Lakers
is Kobe Bryant’s team. I wouldn't be
surprised if he sat in on owners’ meetings.
When Howard came to LA, he wanted the Lakers to be his team. Therefore, we have a rift among players, and
no one will be happy unless they’re winning games or someone cedes to the
other. Well, neither of those really
happened. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Lakers made the playoffs by the leather of the
basketball, and really only because Howard was finally healthy and Bryant
realized they needed to win games. So
the two set aside their differences and lost in the first round. As soon as that happened, I knew Howard wasn't
staying in LA. There’s no chemistry
between Howard and Bryant and never will be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s reason number two.
The Houston rockets are an up and coming team. They are young. They got their first taste of the playoffs
last season and are looking to take a bigger taste next season with Howard at
center. The Lakers, however, are a
somewhat old team, and without new tricks.
Not including Howard, the Lakers’ stars were all 33 or older. Dwight Howard is 27. Meanwhile, over in Houston, only one player
has been seen on this earth for 30+ years and the core of the team is 27 and
under. Dwight Howard is 27. He also wants to win for a long time. He’ll do that in Houston with those young
players.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There’s also coach Kevin McHale, whose 4 year resume may be deceiving. I believe the man knows how to coach and will
also be in Houston for a while. He may
not be a Mike D’Antoni, but he’s getting there.
James Harden was a pretty good player before he came to Houston, but
McHale is going to make him into a superstar.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dwight Howard is healthy.
Dwight Howard is playing with stars.
Dwight Howard has a team. Dwight
Howard has a coach. Dwight Howard is in
Houston. Dwight Howard is happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-41574974014713138472013-06-10T00:31:00.001-04:002013-06-10T00:33:02.603-04:00Bruins v. Hawks: Predicting the Unpredictability of the Stanley Cup Finals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imm.io/18Q8E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i.imm.io/18Q8E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ladies and gentlemen, it's finally time.<br />
<br />
If I'm being honest, I would have never imagined being here and writing this article six months ago. I, like many others at the time, had lost any hope of a 2013 NHL season. But, as we know, the right people finally came to their senses, and here we are, just three days away from what promises to be a fantastic Stanley Cup final. Here's some keys to the series and how I see them playing out...<br />
<br />
<b>Offense</b><br />
In case you haven't heard, Chicago has a few decent scorers on their team. Bryan Bickell, Patrick Sharp, and Marian Hossa have all proved that they can put the puck in the back of the net this postseason. Combine them with the potential of Jonathan Toews (1 G this postseason) catching fire or "Hatrick" Kane continuing where he left off in Game 5 against LA, and Chicago has every reason to be confident that they can out-score Boston. Boston has never been a team to play amazing offensively, and it hasn't been a huge hindrance this postseason, but it's hard to see a scenario where Boston doesn't have to attempt to run n' gun and outscore the Hawks at some point. <br />
<b>Verdict: Chicago Leads 1-0</b><br />
<br />
<b>Defense/Goaltending</b><br />
Now we're playing Boston's game. The Bruins have only given up three or more goals three times this postseason, two of those occurrences coming way back in round one against Toronto. Boston is, and has been for years, led by their strong defensemen who always seem to be in the right place at the right time. However, Chicago is no slouch defensively either. With Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook leading the way, the Hawks have put together a strong group of six defensemen they can trust. Behind them, netminder Corey Crawford has played surprisingly stellar this entire season and has posted a save percentage of .935 this postseason. Crawford and the Hawks have been good, but not nearly as good as Bruins goalie Tukka Rask. Anyone who seen a single minute of the Bruins-Penguins series will attest to that.<br />
<b>Verdict: Series Tied 1-1</b><br />
<br />
<b>Coaching</b><br />
The Bruins and Blackhawks are both lead by Stanley Cup champions in Claude Julien and Joel Quennville. The Bruins have made the playoffs every year since 2007 when Julien arrived in Boston and have a record of 256-146-56. In 2009, Julien won the Jack Adams Award as the league's best coach. In Chicago, Coach Q has also enjoyed success since his arrival, making the playoffs in all four of his season is Chicago and posting a record of 222-106-44. Although both coaches have proven their worth as top coaches in the NHL, Quennville gets a slight edge do to experience. In 16 NHL season, a Quennville coached team has only missed the playoffs once when his Colorado Avalanche finished the 2006-07 season one point behind the eight seed Calgary Flames. <br />
<b>Verdict: Hawks Lead 2-1</b><br />
<br />
<b>Grit</b><br />
The Bruins win this matchup. Boston finished the regular season with 140 more penalty minutes than Chicago. Just like Chicago likes to stretch the ice and play at an upbeat tempo, Boston likes to slow it down, jam the net, and mix it up occasionally. Oh, and it doesn't get a whole lot more gritty then having a player break his leg and refuse to leave the ice and continue to kill off a minute of a penalty.<br />
<b>Verdict: Series Tied 2-2</b><br />
<br />
<b>History</b><br />
Whenever two original six teams meet in a Cup Final, you have to talk about the history each team brings to the table. Somewhat shockingly, this will be the first time the Bruins and Blackhawks play for Lord Stanley's Cup. The Bruins have won the Cup six times compared to Chicago's four. The Bruins have also won more divisional titles, conference championships, and have more retired jerseys then the Hawks.<br />
<b>Verdict: Bruins Lead 3-2</b><br />
<br />
<b>Home Ice Advantage</b><br />
Both teams have taken advantage of home ice these playoffs with the Hawks going 7-1 at United Center and the Bruins 7-2 at TD Gardens. What may give Chicago an edge on home ice is how much talent the Hawks have invested in their bottom two lines. If coach Quennville can find the proper chemistry and pull the right cards, it's hard to believe that the Bruins will be able to match up line-for-line with the Hawks without eventually getting burned by a mismatch the Hawks take advantage of. The Bruins great goaltending and strong defense will minimize Quenville's opportunities to take advantage of mismatches, but it only takes one bad decision that could cost the Bruins a series that promises to be as hard fought as this one.<br />
<b>Verdict: Series Tied 3-3 </b><br />
<br />
<b>Partying </b><br />
To me, this is probably the single most intriguing question of this series: can<i> anyone </i>in the NHL party as hard and Kane? Hold on Blackhawk fans, hear me out. I know what you're thinking: how could anyone EVER out party this guy?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UcYdcIuVnSg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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As hard as Kaner can party, the Bruins may have a set of challengers that will finally dethrone Kane. <a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/232/063/Tyler-Seguin-and-Brad-Marchand-prepare-for-motorboatin-race_original_display_image.jpg?1337382098" target="_blank">Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand</a>. Although they are long-shots, never in history has Kaner been challenged with not one, but two of the heaviest partiers the NHL has to offer.... at the same time. As much as I would love to see another round of Kaner celebrating the win in downtown Chicago, I'm feeling an upset. <a href="http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/brad-marchand-and-tyler-seguin-partying1.jpg" target="_blank">Seguin, Marchand</a>, and the Bruins have what it takes.<br />
<b>Final Verdict: Bruins win in 7</b>Dalton Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333279488397455590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-28501089487004186382013-06-06T09:15:00.001-04:002013-06-06T09:15:55.782-04:00You should want the Spurs to win the NBA Finals and here's why.<span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2HvUvsBWkhqgHIKA8NYDv2upQBzS3Rekkws1njuTMD30KDJy7DHhom-R4a_9Ki0Lhn7xBvrrjk_O9clzoeqWx9UE3W3J7CpSk26smzWJBH3IatMzOxAxlwEPlbWzAuDjNPu-3IQaOX_U/s640/blogger-image--306899826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2HvUvsBWkhqgHIKA8NYDv2upQBzS3Rekkws1njuTMD30KDJy7DHhom-R4a_9Ki0Lhn7xBvrrjk_O9clzoeqWx9UE3W3J7CpSk26smzWJBH3IatMzOxAxlwEPlbWzAuDjNPu-3IQaOX_U/s640/blogger-image--306899826.jpg"></a></div>The 2007 NBA Finals was the first and only time that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been to the NBA Finals. It was the fourth visit for the San Antonio Spurs, who ended up sweeping the Cavs and winning their fourth ring. In all honesty, I hated the Spurs then. Yes, I'm a Cleveland fan. But I'm a true Cleveland fan. I didn't keep rooting for LeBron to win or do well after he made "The Decision". No, I stuck with my Cavaliers and it has been a very rough go. I felt great when the Cavs beat Miami in the Q that first season though, and again when they won the first draft pick and then when they won the first draft pick again. Now, Kyrie is taking over and I couldn't be happier as a Cleveland fan. Well, maybe I could. If the Spurs beat Miami in the Finals, they will have five rings in five visits and beating LeBron for two of them. I want the Spurs to win, not just to beat LeBron, but to finish the legacy. The Spurs didn't get on a stage when their "Big 3" was formed and promise 7 or 8 championships. Hell, I can't even remember when the Spurs had a true press conference. They play with dignity, class, and modesty. They are the model franchise in the NBA and that's why I would love the Spurs if they beat the Heat.</span><div><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7XaFSB4Vo8xwU2u-6wiN2FCTfZvb4D34XZYvC9NQOjZApuwN5_YTdz9B12OoCU0b3orvYMEplDw8CrplLq9I60lcnryE_growv7il06arnJXa0C_cy8zY0zoB_Jphp-_jVS2mAs6nfZN/s640/blogger-image-1373128365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7XaFSB4Vo8xwU2u-6wiN2FCTfZvb4D34XZYvC9NQOjZApuwN5_YTdz9B12OoCU0b3orvYMEplDw8CrplLq9I60lcnryE_growv7il06arnJXa0C_cy8zY0zoB_Jphp-_jVS2mAs6nfZN/s640/blogger-image-1373128365.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-78387141503323055102013-06-03T17:50:00.000-04:002013-06-03T17:51:15.154-04:00Super Bowl sites every sports fan wants to see.<br />
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Lambeau Field – Capacity 79,594<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Located in Titletown, USA, how can you not have
a Super Bowl here? The NFL has approved
of one cold-weather Super Bowl and that will probably be the deciding factor
for future Super Bowls in the cold. A
Super Bowl Lambeau leap though should really be enough incentive to have a
Super Bowl in Green Bay, Wisconsin. </div>
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Average
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Arrowhead Stadium – Capacity 76,416</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_7oJrLXwJUG8N7_7hnsHQdDstwdaahZyfXVu0TuxLsD5ZuUcGw8TGIFeC01Rrz4D4c0w47m2CqUwB6dNl6UI34NVKuZrSSxxs7wZUrkTeXRatWbL1VX5CKmN48Mkjw23MDahajPBuD35/s1600/Arrowhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_7oJrLXwJUG8N7_7hnsHQdDstwdaahZyfXVu0TuxLsD5ZuUcGw8TGIFeC01Rrz4D4c0w47m2CqUwB6dNl6UI34NVKuZrSSxxs7wZUrkTeXRatWbL1VX5CKmN48Mkjw23MDahajPBuD35/s320/Arrowhead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span>Probably one of the most underrated stadiums in
the NFL. The fans at Arrowhead take
advantage of the shape of the stadium, their cheers reverberating back and
forth between the two sides of the field.
This is one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL and has drawn in more
than 80,000 fans. </div>
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Average February
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Sports Authority Field at Mile High – Capacity 76,125</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span>The air runs thin, you can see every breath you
take, mountains on one side, downtown Denver on the other. Does that not sound like a great Super Bowl
could be played here? Watching Peyton
Manning and the Broncos play Joe Flacco and the Ravens in the AFC Championship
last season felt like a Super Bowl environment. </div>
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Average February temperature: 18-49<o:p></o:p></div>
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CenturyLink Field – Capacity 67,000</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span>Quite possibly the loudest stadium ever built,
ever. Seahawks fans take pride in how
loud they can get and the roof sections are to thank. A beautiful city and a beautiful stadium,
there is no reason that Seattle cannot host the Super Bowl. </div>
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Average February temperature: 37-50<o:p></o:p></div>
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Edward Jones Dome – Capacity 66,965<o:p></o:p></div>
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The name says it all, DOME. Weather is not an issue, so the Super Bowl
should have been played here by now. The
city of St. Louis has the Gateway Arch and truly is a magnificent city. Every NFL city should host a Super Bowl;
might as well start here. Average
February temperature: 70 </div>
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(The game is indoors!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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New Vikings Stadium – Capacity 65,000<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is no doubt in my mind that the NFL will
grant Minneapolis a Super Bowl. After
all, who doesn’t like a brand new and sparkling stadium? This might end up being one of the most
beautiful stadiums not only in the NFL but in all of pro sports. </div>
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Average February temperature: 13-29<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ohio Stadium – Capacity 102,329<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a Buckeye fan through and through, I cannot
leave out the greatest college football stadium ever built. Host to “The Game” every other November, The
Horseshoe has no problems filling it’s seats and more in cold weather. One of the largest capacity stadiums in the
U.S. </div>
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Average February temperature: 22-42<o:p></o:p></div>
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Michigan Stadium – Capacity 109,901</div>
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Begrudgingly, I put this stadium on the
list. I assure you, I am a Buckeye, but
you cannot deny the mass amounts of people that collect here during TTUN home
games. This stadium is the largest in
the U.S. and third in the world when it comes to capacity, probably why they
call it The Big House.<br />
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Average February
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Yankee Stadium – Capacity 54,251</div>
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Most likely, this will never happen. You have to give Yankee Stadium it’s props
though. It has hosted NCAA football
games, will host NHL games, hosted a boxing match, and even some futbol. The only thing that’s left is the Super Bowl,
right?<br />
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Busch Stadium – Capacity 46,861</div>
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Again, won’t happen, but here’s hoping. One of the more beautiful stadiums in the MLB
and will host a future NCAA football game.
Probably the better St. Louis option over the Edward Jones Dome
too.<br />
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Average February temperature: 28-45<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wrigley Field – Capacity 41,058</div>
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Will not ever happen, ever. Wrigley is simply too small to play a real
football game and does not have anywhere close to the seating capacity that the
NFL wants for its most important game.
Oh well.<br />
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Talladega Superspeedway – Capacity 175,000</div>
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<!--[endif]-->A dream that will not be fulfilled. The NFL wants to expand who views their
games. Why not have the Super Bowl in
the heart of NASCAR country. This will
only happen if Ricky Bobby gives his approval.
Shake and bake!<br />
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Average February
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Bristol Motor Speedway – Capacity 160,000</div>
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Again, a lost dream. Bristol actually was scheduled to host an
NCAA football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech in 2005, until both
teams backed out. Now, it seems Bristol
has given up on trying to host a football game with the video tower sitting
right where the 50 yard line would be.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-85564463441558137422013-04-30T00:48:00.001-04:002013-04-30T11:50:09.923-04:00East and South 2013 NFL Draft gradesNow that the 2013 NFL Draft is more than in the books, let's do some draft grades. I have been given the task of the East teams and the South teams. There were certainly some surprises in this year's draft and, of course, the obvious picks. Alright, let's get right into it.<br />
<br />
<u><br />
</u><u>AFC East</u><br />
<i>Buffalo - </i>eight picks, overall draft grade of B-<br />
The Bills are done with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, need someone to compliment WR Stevie Johnson and S Jairus Byrd and need to add depth all over the field. They accomplished two of those.<br />
EJ Manuel, QB - He can run, has a big arm, can take a hit, and allows receivers to go up and get the ball. Most importantly, he has tremendous character. After his name was called by Roger Goodell, he stopped his interview to honor the military service members. Should start Week 1. Pick grade, A<br />
Robert Woods, WR - Can catch and run, does well on the sidelines, and can take a hit while catching the ball. He doesn't make many hand catches though, resorting to catching the ball with his body. Pick grade, B<br />
Kiko Alonso, LB - Has a nose for the ball and blitzes well inside. He can get caught in traffic though, forcing him out of the play and has had two police run-ins. Pick grade, B<br />
Marquise Goodwin, WR - Quick between blocks, has return ability, and can track the ball well. He should play a flex position, switching from the slot to the back field. Pick grade, C<br />
Duke Williams, S - A big hitter, can wrap up, has good closing speed. Between him and Meeks, Buffalo has added some safety depth. Pick grade, C+<br />
Jonathan Meeks, S - Has a little speed but needs to be more consistent. Seems to sit out some plays. Pick grade, C-<br />
Dustin Hopkins, K - A power kicker who kicks well in Buffalo type weather. Pick grade, C+<br />
Chris Gragg, TE - Has some hops for a TE and speed as well. Has some health issues. Pick grade, C-<br />
<br />
<i>Miami - </i>nine picks, overall draft grade of C+<br />
The Dolphins are an up and coming team but need a lot to get past the Patriots. They had holes on the front seven and at DB. They got that in the draft. What they didn't get was O-line.<br />
Dion Jordan, DE - Has some speed, plays with ferocity, does not give up on the play. Should be a good compliment to Cameron Wake. Pick grade, A<br />
Jamar Taylor, CB - Plays for the ball and wraps up well. He also seems to blend into the turf well. Pick grade, B+<br />
Dallas Thomas, OG - Should play tackle for Miami, can block down field, and plays well in a passing offense. He can miss the first level if their not rushing and just continues to the second level. Pick grade, C+<br />
Will Davis, CB - He gets his hands up but can get lost on the field. Pick grade, C+<br />
Jelani Jenkins, LB - He's short and his size plays against him. Can get lost in blockers. Pick grade, C-<br />
Dion Sims, TE - A big target with no top speed. Pick grade, C-<br />
Mike Gillislee, RB - Miami wants him to be Reggie Bush's replacement, he won't be. Can be a good pass catcher. Pick grade, C<br />
Caleb Sturgis, K - Will eventually replace Dan Carpenter. Was consistent kicking the ball. Pick grade, C+<br />
Don Jones, S - Does not have top speed and is better playing over the top. Pick grade, C<br />
<i><br />
</i><i>New England - </i>seven picks, overall draft grade of C+<br />
The Patriots have no one at WR except their TEs. They need a lot of help at DB. They did get the positions but not the players.<br />
Jamie Collins, LB - Doesn't have great size, but is quick and can run over the ball carrier. Looks more like a safety. Pick grade, B-<br />
Aaron Dobson, WR - Will be compared to Randy Moss because he can make the spectacular catch. Is not Randy Moss. Pick grade, B-<br />
Logan Ryan, CB - Can tackle but tackles low. Can give up short yardage all day long and has moderate speed. Pick grade, C-<br />
Duron Harmon, S - A big hitter but plays too deep sometimes. Is not a good blitzer. Pick grade, C+<br />
Josh Boyce, WR - Can catch the deep ball and has size of slot player but not the speed. Pick grade, C+<br />
Michael Buchanan, DE - Is a leverage player and more of a pass rusher than a run stopper. Pick grade, C-<br />
Steve Beauharnais, LB - Plays with brains over talent. Is a pass rusher. Pick grade, C-<br />
<br />
<i>New York - </i>seven picks, overall draft grade of C+<br />
The Jets need a lot on both sides of the ball. After cleaning house they need a great draft, and after Dee Milliner they didn't have it.<br />
Dee Milliner, CB - He's not afraid to lay some lumber, is fast, and watches for the ball. The man thinks he's the intended receiver. The Jets have sold Revis Island and drafted Milliner Island. Pick grade, A+<br />
Sheldon Richardson, DT - Consistently pressures the QB and sees screens developing. He can't be double teamed. Pick grade, B+<br />
Geno Smith, QB - This is the right spot for him, no QB truly deserved the first round. He's a scrambler who can put a lot on the ball. He is very confident and at times reminds me of Brett Favre. Should start week 1. Pick grade, B+<br />
Brian Winters, OT - A strong lineman who gets shoved back entirely too often. Won't play tackle for Jets. Pick grade, C+<br />
Oday Aboushi, OT - He controls his man but can also be pushed back. Won't play LT like he did in college. Pick grade, C<br />
William Campbell, OG - Will play D-line for Jets as their previous two picks were O-line and he did half and half in college. This is a depth pick so he won't play much. Pick grade, D+<br />
Tommy Bohanon, FB - A pass catcher who will play anywhere. Pick grade C+<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>NFC South</u><br />
<i>Atlanta - </i>eight picks, overall draft grade of C<br />
The Falcons don't need much, other than depth. They did get what they wanted.<br />
Desmond Trufant, CB - Can play big and has excellent hands. Can play over zealous. Pick grade, B<br />
Robert Alford, CB - Looks like the intended receiver most of the time but lacks top speed and size. Pick grade, C+<br />
Malliciah Goodman, DE - Great size and can run around the blocker. Uses the fall down tackle. Pick grade, C++<br />
Levine Toilolo, TE - He falls forward when tackled but is a blocking TE, not a catching TE. Not Tony's replacement. Pick grade, C-<br />
Stansly Maponga, DE - A depth pick who won't start anytime soon. Pick grade, C<br />
Kemal Ishmael, S - Good at run support and is a good tackler. Lacks coverage skills. Pick grade, D+<br />
Zeke Motta, S - A big hitter who plays zone well. Will not run down WRs. Pick grade, C<br />
Sean Renfree, QB - A depth pick who will grow under Matt Ryan. Pick grade, C<br />
<br />
<i>Carolina - </i>five picks, overall draft grade of C-<br />
The Panthers wasted this draft after they picked Lotulelei. They needed a lot more than five picks.<br />
Star Lotulelei, DT - Can get off the block and stays with the play. A huge anchor for the D-line who has the ability to blow up the play in the back field. Pick grade, A<br />
Kawann Short, DT - Plays well against a double team and always pushes his man. Sometimes just watches the play. Pick grade, B<br />
Edmund Kugbila, OG - Could dominate in DII but won't in the NFL. Has some technique issues but good size. Pick grade, C<br />
AJ Klein, LB - An old-fashioned LB who plays zone well. Not very quick though. Pick grade, C+<br />
Kenjon Barner, RB - He is quick which means he's not a power runner. Has return ability. Pick grade, C<br />
<br />
<i>New Orleans - </i>five picks, overall draft grade of C<br />
The Saints were dreadful on defense last year and needed more DB help than they drafted. This defense hasn't improved much after Vaccaro.<br />
Kenny Vaccaro, S - A big hitter who finds the ball quickly. Can rush the QB well playing off the D-line. A great start to a better defense. Pick grade, A<br />
Terron Armstead, OT - Blocks well down field, but doesn't always stay with his man. Can lose his battle on run plays. Pick grade, C+<br />
John Jenkins, DT - Good size and initial burst. He follows the ball well when he's not swept off his feet. The double team renders him useless. Pick grade, C<br />
Kenny Stills, WR - Has some speed with a long body. Can play all over the field but won't be a top receiver. Pick grade, C<br />
Rufus Johnson, DE - He will take awhile to be good in the NFL. Pick grade, C-<br />
<br />
<i>Tampa Bay - </i>six picks, overall draft grade of C+<br />
The Buccaneers snatched Darrelle Revis from New York and need a compliment. They have a pretty good offense needing only depth on both sides of the ball.<br />
Johnthan Banks, CB - A big hitter who uses his hands well and looks for the ball. Pick grade, B+<br />
Mike Glennon, QB - Great size and looks like Matt Ryan. Throws off his back foot too often. Could replace Freeman if he doesn't have a good season. Pick grade, B-<br />
Akeem Spence, DT - Has pursuit ability and can blow up the run play. Can be taken out of plays and isn't a pass rusher. Pick grade, C-<br />
William Gholston, DE - Has long arms and gets them up. Can destroy plays in the flats. Pick grade, C++<br />
Steven Means, LB - Good size but should play DE. Pick grade, C+<br />
Mike James, RB - Uses brain over talent but will be a special teams player. Pick grade, C-<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>AFC South</u><br />
<i>Houston - </i>nine picks, overall draft grade of B-<br />
The Texans have finally taken control of Texas and needed players at some key positions. They got them.<br />
DeAndre Hopkins, WR - Catches passes through contact and uses good speed variations. Can turn on the jets and has good initial footwork. He can jump too. Pick grade, A<br />
DJ Swearinger, S - A big hitter who can come up and tackle. He may be fined often because of his hit style. Pick grade, B<br />
Brennan Williams, OT - He can't play the blind side and has trouble against top caliber rushers. Pick grade, C+<br />
Sam Montgomery, DE - Has good size and stays with the play. Has flashes of brilliance. Pick grade, C++<br />
Trevardo Williams, DE - Not great size but may fit anyway. A relentless rusher. Pick grade, C+<br />
David Quessenberry, OT - A depth pick who will play OG. Pick grade, C-<br />
Alan Bonner, WR - He's not a burner like Hopkins but a possession receiver. Also a depth pick. Pick grade, C-<br />
Christopher Jones, DT - A tough player who shows up every play. A shorter player who is a depth pick. Pick grade, C<br />
Ryan Griffin, TE - Not a big play threat. He's a possession receiver who needs to develop his blocking. Pick grade, C-<br />
<br />
<i>Indianapolis - </i>seven picks, overall draft grade of C<br />
The Colts made the playoffs last season due to hard work and a lot of Luck. They needed a better draft to get back.<br />
Bjoern Werner, DE - Can look like JJ Swat and sheds blockers well. Still a lot of football experience to have, Pick grade, B-<br />
Hugh Thornton, OG - Can play tackle. Is a bigger O-lineman. Pick grade, C<br />
Khalen Holmes, C - Can read the defense but be easily pushed back. Pick grade, C<br />
Montori Hughes, DT - He doesn't get consistent pressure but seems to get lucky on some plays. Pick grade, C-<br />
John Boyett, S - Has some health issues but is a depth pick. May start in the future though. Pick grade, C<br />
Kerwynn Williams, RB - Not a power runner but has top gear. He can catch the ball and has return ability. Pick grade, C<br />
Justice Cunningham, TE - A blocker who can catch the ball in a crowd. Is Mr. Irrelevant. Pick grade, D+<br />
<br />
<i>Jacksonville - </i>eight picks, overall draft grade of C+<br />
The Jaguars needed a lot on both sides of the ball. They shored up LT, but that's about it.<br />
Luke Joeckel, OT - Has excellent quickness and gets off the defender with great footwork. Can block down field and take on two defenders. Has power. Will play 12+ NFL seasons. Pick grade, A+<br />
Johnathan Cyprien, S - A big hitter who knows how to tackle. Played in Sun Belt. Pick grade, B<br />
Dwayne Gratz, CB - Plays smart and finished plays. Not a flashy corner who gets beat when he has safety over the top. Pick grade, B<br />
Ace Sanders, WR - Fast with return ability. A patient runner. Pick grade, C+<br />
Denard Robinson, WR - First WR to catch the deep ball at combine. Fast with return ability. No experience. Pick grade, C+<br />
Joshua Evans, S - A big hitter who is a depth pick. Is not a center fielder. Pick grade, C<br />
Jeremy Harris, CB - Has speed but needs to bulk up. Uses hands well. Pick grade, C-<br />
Demetrius McCray, CB - No top gear and is a depth pick. Pick grade, C<br />
<br />
<i>Tennessee - </i>eight picks, overall draft grade of C-<br />
The Titans needed an O-line and receivers and some defense. They got part of the first half.<br />
Chance Warmack, OG - Has strong arms and is quicker than he looks. A good pulling guard. You don't mess with The Belly. Pick grade, B++<br />
Justin Hunter, WR - Has good size and speed. Looks like AJ Green but tries to do too much sometimes. Pick grade, B+<br />
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB - Has long arms and uses them. Can take some bad angles. Pick grade, C+<br />
Zavier Gooden, LB - Has good tackle ability given his size. Lacks some instincts. Pick grade, C-<br />
Brian Schwenke, C - Knows his assignment but can get pushed aside. He can get to the second level. Pick grade, C+<br />
Lavar Edwards, DE - Has good size and strong hands. Pick grade, C+<br />
Khalid Wooten, CB - Has good instincts but not a man defender. Tackling needs improving. Pick grade, D<br />
Daimion Stafford, S - No top speed. Plays better over the top. Pick grade, C-<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>NFC East</u><br />
<i>Dallas - </i>seven picks, overall draft grade of C<br />
The Cowboys seemed to be out of it during the draft, or maybe just Jerry Jones. They got some need picks but not the right players.<br />
Travis Frederick, C - Blocked for record-breaking RB in Montee Ball. Always seemed to move forward. A slower O-lineman. Pick grade, B<br />
Gavin Escobar, TE - Can create space and is a big target. Has great hands but needs to improve blocking. Pick grade, B+<br />
Terrance Williams, WR - Can put it into high gear. Not going to get that extra yard but can be an edge run blocker down field. Pick grade, B<br />
JJ Wilcox, S - A big hitter who wraps up. Looks for the ball and uses his hands. Didn't play top teams in college. Pick grade, C<br />
BW Webb, CB - Takes advantage of bad throws and not afraid to tackle. Has return ability. Pick grade, C+<br />
Joseph Randle, RB - A receiver in the back field but not a strong runner. Pick grade, C+<br />
DeVonte Holloman, LB - A depth pick that will play special teams. Pick grade, C-<br />
<br />
<i>New York - </i>seven picks, overall draft grade of C+<br />
The Giants need help on both lines, at RB and DB. They picked okay to start and it went downhill from there.<br />
Justin Pugh, OT - Can be the lead blocker and is relentless. Can become flustered and continue after the whistle. Pick grade, B-<br />
Johnathan Hankins, DT - A bull rusher who doesn't give up on the play. Can be double teamed. Pick Grade, C++<br />
Damontre Moore, DE - Senses the snap well and has good size. Can get pushed out of the play. Pick grade, C+<br />
Ryan Nassib, QB - Throws well in the rollout and just looks like Eli. Fires the ball every throw and needs some technique work. Pick grade, C+<br />
Cooper Taylor, S - He has an awkward size being too big for S, but not big enough for LB. Will be backup S. Pick grade, C<br />
Eric Herman, OG - A run blocker who plays gritty. Pick grade, D+<br />
Michael Cox, RB - Not much experience. Only a two down back who might be a project player. Pick grade, D<br />
<br />
<i>Philadelphia - </i>eight picks, overall draft grade of C+<br />
The Eagles are now coached by Chip Kelly and his first draft went well. He got players that fit his schemes and added depth where they needed it.<br />
Lane Johnson, OT - Can get down field and takes away the lead rusher. Can play either side and played fast at Oklahoma which fits Kelly's offense. Pick grade, A<br />
Zach Ertz, TE - Can catch the tough ball and doesn't go down easy. More receiver than blocker. Pick grade, B+<br />
Bennie Logan, DT - Can get outside and uses hands well. Is a bull rusher. Pick grade, B<br />
Matt Barkley, QB - Can make reads to change the play. WRs can catch in stride. Can escape from pressure but is sometimes oblivious to it. Pick grade C+<br />
Earl Wolff, S - Can wrap up and is a big hitter. Plays centerfield. Pick grade, C+<br />
Joe Kruger, DE - Has good size but needs to play lower. A depth pick. Pick grade, D+<br />
Jordan Poyer, CB - Plays the ball but is small and has no top speed. Pick grade, C<br />
David King, DE - A run stopper who is a depth pick. Pick grade, D+<br />
<br />
<i>Washington - </i>seven picks, overall draft grade of C<br />
The Redskins needed some DB help and depth on offense. They may have their DBs and got a couple steals, but not a great draft.<br />
David Amerson, CB - Tackles bigger than he is and uses his hands well. Can be beat and plays better in zone. Pick grade, C+<br />
Jordan Reed, TE - Not really a TE. Should play flex but needs to grow at receiving. Pick grade, C+<br />
Phillip Thomas, S - Can snag ball from the air and is a big hitter. Led nation with 8 ints last season. Pick grade, C++<br />
Chris Thompson, RB - A speed back who can compliment Alfred Morris. Health issues let him drop. Pick grade, C+<br />
Brandon Jenkins, LB - A pass rusher and a depth pick. Pick grade, C-<br />
Bacarri Rambo, S - A nose for the ball but is a depth pick. May start in the near future. Pick grade, C+<br />
Jawan Jamison, RB - No top speed but falls forward when tackled. Pick grade, C<br />
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Well, that's it. Criticize me if you like. I'm sure I've made some mistakes but overall it was not a great draft for any team. We will truly see how well I did by the time September rolls around.<br />
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</u>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-34509485410826428172013-04-21T01:46:00.001-04:002013-04-21T01:46:39.547-04:00Some Future Outdoor NHL Games We Want to See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week, reports broke that the NHL plans to add five more outdoor games to the 2013-14 schedule that take place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and two games in New York.<b> </b>With this decision and the past success of the Winter Classic, one could assume that more open-air NHL games are to come in the near future. Here's a few matchups off the top of my head that I would love to see played.<br />
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<b>Detroit vs. Columbus</b><br />
<b>Ohio Stadium</b><br />
<b>Opened: 1922 </b><br />
<b>Capacity: 102,329</b><br />
Columbus is one of the league's most promising up-and-coming teams. With superstar Marian Gaborik and Vezina candidate Sergei Bobrovsky leading the way, the Blue Jackets finally look like a team on their way up. With the University of Michigan getting an outdoor game on their campus in the form of the<br />
2014 Winter Classic, it's only fitting that Buckeye country gets a crack at hockey as well.<br />
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Detroit is only about three hours north of Columbus and is sure to draw a crowd where ever they go, making them the perfect team to help Columbus fill the Horseshoe's 102,000 seats. Columbus has been division rivals with Detroit since the team's inception in 2000 (although this will end in 2013-14 with the NHL's planned realignment) and went 4-0 against the Wings this season. If for some reason Detroit can't make the trip, the Pittsburgh Penguins would also be an ideal opponent to play Columbus in Ohio Stadium.<br />
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<b>Dallas vs. Minnesota</b><br />
<b>Target Field</b><br />
<b>Opened: 2010</b><br />
<b>Capacity: 39,021 </b><br />
If there is one city who hasn't hosted an outdoor NHL game and that deserves too, it's Minneapolis... or St. Paul.... well, you get what I mean. When you imagine what these outdoor NHL games might look like, it's hard not too include the frigid weather and hundreds of frozen lakes that Minnesota is famous for. Plain and simple: Minnesota is perfect for an outdoor hockey game.<br />
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<b></b>The state of Minnesota was blessed with watching their Minnesota North Stars form 1967-1993 before owner Norm Green bought the team and moved the Stars to Dallas. Minnesota would be without an NHL team for seven seasons until the NHL announced that Minnesota was awarded an expansion team to begin play in the 2000-01 season. When the NHL first announced their planned division re-alignment starting in the 2013-14 season, the one positive many fans spotted was the possibility of a Dallas-Minnesota division rivalry. What better have to add fuel to the fire then a nationally televised outdoor hockey game?<br />
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<b>Chicago vs. St. Louis </b><br />
<b>Busch Stadium</b><br />
<b>Opened: 2006</b><br />
<b>Capacity: 46,861</b><br />
St. Louis is filled with up-and-coming talent and play very well with head coach Ken Hitchcock's team first style. Combine that with the beauty of Busch Stadium and the Gateway Arch that overlooks the field (or in this case, the rink), and St. Louis has a legitimate case for an outdoor NHL game.<br />
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The Blackhawks and Blues have played in the same division since 1970, a fact that will remain true with the NHL's re-alignment. Admittedly, St. Louis isn't the biggest of hockey markets. This season, the Blues are 23rd in attendance in terms of percentage of tickets sold with 94.3%. Not to say that St. Louis can expect to play in front of a half-empty Busch Stadium, but whether or not there are 46,000 people willing to buy NHL tickets in the St. Louis area is unclear. By playing Chicago, one of America's strongest and wide-spread hockey markets, St. Louis would be sure to generate the ticket sales and attention from the media that these outdoor games require.<br />
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<b>Montreal vs. Boston</b><br />
<b>Fenway Park</b><br />
<b>Opened: 1912</b><br />
<b>Capacity: 37,400</b><br />
I'll admit it: Montreal-Boston is, without a doubt, my favorite rivalry in the NHL. Both teams have original six roots and the history that comes with them, both teams are consistently good, and, probably most importantly, both teams are great at finding reasons to hate each other.<b> </b><br />
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As any fan of both baseball and hockey like myself will attest too, there is just something that would be awesome about watching a hockey game at Fenway. If I had to choose one possible game to take place from this list, this would be it, without a doubt.<br />
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<b>Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia</b><br />
<b>Beaver Stadium</b><br />
<b>Opened: 1960</b><br />
<b>Capacity: 106,572 </b><br />
Beaver Stadium, home of the Penn State<b> </b>Nittany Lions,<b> </b>is the fourth largest stadium in the world in terms of capacity. State College is conveniently located almost exactly half way between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and would serve as a glorious venue to one of the league's most heated rivalry games.<br />
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<b>Edmonton vs. Winnipeg</b><br />
<b>Investors Group Field </b><br />
<b>Opened: June 2013</b><br />
<b>Capacity: Approx. 40,000</b><br />
Since finally witnessing the return of their beloved Jets in 2011, Winnipeg has proven themselves as one of the best hockey cities in the NHL. When the NHL announced that the Atlanta Thrashers would be moving to Winnipeg, fans all over Manitoba pulled out old Jets jerseys from the attic and lined up to purchase tickets. As thing stands now, it is believed that the Jets have already sold out every home game for the next three to five years. <b> </b><br />
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In June 2013, the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers will unveil their new venue, Investors Group Field. What better place to celebrate hockey in Winnipeg?<br />
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I debated with myself about who I would most like to see play Winnipeg in this theoretical match up, but finally decided on the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton is a young, fun-to-watch team that has the potential to have multiple superstars on their roster by the time this match up would take place (January 2015, at the earliest) and once had a bit of a rivalry with Winnipeg in the 90's before the Jets departed to Atlanta. Other viable options include the Vancouver Canucks and Phoenix Coyotes.<br />
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<b>Florida vs. Tampa Bay</b><br />
<b>Local Roller Hockey Rink</b><br />
<b>Opened: ???</b><br />
<b>Capacity: 343, including standing room only tickets</b><br />
According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, warm cities in Florida and Arizona are the only thing keeping the NHL alive and without them, markets like Toronto and Detroit would crash beneath themselves and the league would be bankrupt within a year. I say, let's take an afternoon to celebrate hockey in these great markets and expose the world to the hockey hot bed (no pun intended) that is Florida. LONG LIVE WARM WEATHER HOCKEY!!!Dalton Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333279488397455590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-29738292347674793172013-04-19T23:51:00.002-04:002013-04-19T23:51:59.686-04:00How the Capitals Can Finally Get Over "The Hump"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On February 7th, the Capitals looked dead in the water. Washington held a 2-8-1 record that placed them dead last in the NHL standings and looked like anything but a team that was one game away from playing for the 2011-12 Eastern Conference Championship. Superstar Alex Ovechkin had only three goals, playoff standout goalie Braden Holtby's play had returned to earth, the PK unit couldn't kill a carnival gold fish, and one quarter of the way through the shortened NHL season, the Capitals season was essentially over. <br />
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Ask a Caps fan today though, and they might try to tell you that those days are a life time in the past.<br />
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Recently, the Caps have gotten off the schneid and find themselves with a 84% of making the playoffs according to<a href="http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html" target="_blank"> SportsClubStats.com</a>. Washington has a two point lead in the Southeast Division with four games remaining, Ovechkin has roared back from his early season slump and might be playing the best hockey of his career, Holtby has finally convinced a few people he is in fact the same Braden Holtby who played for the Caps during their playoff run last season, and, once again, D.C. has a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in the Washington Capitals.<br />
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But with the Capitals late season run comes the agonizing memories Capitals fans have of their team constantly choking away opportunities in the Stanley Cup playoffs. If the Caps want this years Cup dreams to have a different ending then that of their recent nightmares, here is what needs to be done.<br />
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<u><b>Keep Ovechkin Scoring</b></u><br />
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As predictable and obvious as this first point is, it doesn't mean that it needs to be left unsaid. I could use this next paragraph pointing out some stats that prove my point, but I'll keep it simple for all of us: this Capitals team only goes as far as Ovechkin takes them.<br />
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If the goal every three or four game Ovie that we seen at the beginning of this season shows up, Washington may as well accept their first round exit graciously and get a head start on the golf season. But, if somehow, someway, the Capitals get the oh-my-god-how-did-he-score-that-goal-it-should-be-illegal-to-have-a-shot-that-nasty Ovie.... the Capitals are serious Cup contenders in the East. Last year, Ovechkin only netted five goals in 14 playoff games.<br />
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<u><b>Get Good Goalie Play </b></u><br />
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The main difference between recent Stanley Cup Champion teams and their runner-ups seems to be the man between the pipes. When I say this, Johnathan Quick, Tim Thomas, Antti Niemi, and Chris Osgood should all come to mind. We all know the Caps can out-score anybody more often then not, but what remains a question, is if they can find a consistent-enough net minder to seal the deal.<br />
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Holtby played outstanding in the Caps 2012 playoff run finishing with a 1.95 goals against average and .935 save percentage. For the Caps to finally make a deep playoff run, another fantastic outing from Holtby will be mandatory. Holtby has played well this regular season putting up a 20-11 win-loss record and .917 save percentage despite the dreadfully slow start the entire Capitals team suffered.<br />
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<u><b>Play Strong, Tough Hockey</b></u><br />
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The Capitals are built to play offensive, possession based hockey from head to toe. Washington only has three players in the top 100 hitters in the league (Ovechkin, Troy Brouwer and Matt Hendricks) and give up the 12th most goals per game at 2.77. In a sport where every player transforms himself into the ultimate team player who blocks shots, finishes checks and backchecks as hard as they forecheck come playoff time, the entire Capitals roster will need to buy in and outwork opponents if they hope for a deep playoff run.<br />
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<u><b>Stay Healthy</b></u><br />
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Unfortunetly for many past Cup contenders, the things that you have the least control over often times are of the most importance, including staying away from the injury bug. Washington's biggest injury this year comes in the form of Brooks Laich (41 pts in 2011-12) who has been limited to only nine games in 2013 due to a lingering groin injury. Other Captials that have dealt with injuries this season include the offensive-blue liner Mike Green (19 pts in 31 games), forward Marcus Johansson (46 pts in 2011-12, currently listed as day-to-day), and defensemen John Erskine (+8 in 26 games).<br />
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Injuries will surely strike some where this postseason, the Capitals, like every other playoff team, just have to hope luck is on their side.<br />
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<u><b>Play Discipline</b></u><br />
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Washington finished the 2010-11 regular season with the second best penalty killing unit in the NHL killing off 85.6% of penalties. That Caps would see that number drop to 81.6% in 2011-12 and now have the third worst PK in the NHL ahead of only Nashville and Florida. Going into the playoffs where games are often decided by one goal, the Capitals number one team priority should be improving the penalty kill. Washington is 14-4 when not giving up a power play goal and have given up two or more power play goals in eight games.<br />
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The fact is, Washington's penalty kill unit just isn't all that good and can't expect to see improvement in the playoffs. If the Capitals have any chance of winning the close, hard fought, decided by one bounce of the puck games that the NHL playoffs are famous for, they merely can't afford to take bad penalties.Dalton Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333279488397455590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-42747075046938940682013-04-17T00:37:00.001-04:002013-04-17T00:37:32.497-04:00Healing ProcessSports are and forever will be the greatest healing power ever created. In wake of tragic events, sports represent the return to normalcy. There are many steps in the healing process. The first? Honoring those whose lives were lost. The second? Supporting the families of those lost and those who were injured. The third? Keeping calm and not letting our emotions get the best of us. The fourth? Moving forward. Sports lets us move forward. Our teams play, we watch, thoughts of the victims still in our minds. It reminds us just how great this country can be. We are strongest when faced with tragic events and our country's timeline can prove that. Whether we like it or not, life must go on though. We must move forward and continue our lives, allowing sports to help the process. We will always remember the tragic event and forever honor those lost. Continue your life, "Keep Calm and Carry On". Thoughts and prayers to the great city of Boston. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-26411414326117134092013-04-01T01:25:00.004-04:002013-04-01T03:16:24.558-04:00Pens v. Hawks: Which Streak is More Impressive?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the shortened 2012-13 NHL season winds down to it's conclusion (most teams will play their 36th out of 48 games this week) the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks sit atop their respective conferences with relatively large cushions between them and the second place team. Both teams wield two of the most impressive streaks in NHL history.<br />
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The Blackhawks started the season gaining at least one point in each of their first 24 games, making Chicago the home of the longest point streak to start a season in NHL history. Recently though, an impressive streak in it's own right has been thrown together by the Penguins, who are currently riding a 15 game win streak into April, only two games short of the NHL record of 17 in-a-row. With all this said, one can't help but ask the question: which streak is more impressive?<br />
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First, the Blackhawks case. Chicago's streak started on January 19th when they ruined the LA Kings' Stanley Cup celebration with a 5-2 victory to usher in the new season.<br />
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The point streak would rage on for six weeks before hitting it's peak on March 3rd in Hockeytown itself, Detroit, Michigan. The 10-8-3 Detroit Red Wings were looking to end their division rivals' streak after losing an early season matchup with the Hawks 2-1 in OT. With all of America and Canada tuned in to the nationally broadcasted showdown, the Hawks barely escaped Detroit with their streak intact. With only 2:02 remaining in the third period and Chicago down 1-0, Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane would finally bury a power play equalizer to keep the point streak alive. Kane would go on to score the only goal of the shootout to earn Chicago the full two points.<br />
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After 24 games, the Blackhawks streak would come to an end on March 8th in a 6-2 lose against the Colorado Avalanche. Over the course of the streak, the Hawks would average 2.8 goals and 1.8 goals against per game. It's also worth noting that the Blackhawks point streak included an 11 game win streak and five victories by three goals or more.<br />
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As Chicago's streak came to an end, the Penguins were laying down the framework for a streak of their own in western Pennsylvania. On March 2nd, the Penguins defeated the Montreal Canadians 7-6 in OT to snap a two game losing streak. Since then, the Pens have won 14 in-a-row, gone undefeated in the month of March, and now are only two wins away from tieing the NHL's record for longest winning streak at 17 games. With newly acquired veterans Jarome Iginla, Brendan Morrow, and Douglas Murray all in the lineup for Pittsburgh, the Pens look unstoppable. <br />
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But, of course, we wouldn't want to make things too easy on Pittsburgh, would we?<br />
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As has been the case for most of the streak, injuries to key players could slow the Pens pursuit of history. Going into the Penguins next game against Buffalo on April 2nd, the Pens could be without netminder Marc-Andre Fluery (18-5-0, .918 SV%), defensemen Kris Letang (28 Pts), Paul Martin (6 G, 15 Ast), and after suffering a broken jaw in the Penguins most recent win against the New York Islanders, league-leading scorer Sidney Crosby (15 G, 41 Ast).<br />
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If the Penguins defeat the Buffalo Sabres on April 2nd, they will play for the longest win streak in NHL history against the New York Rangers on April 5th.<br />
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The Penguins streak has included four shutouts, six wins by two goals or more, and only three games going to overtime, one of which was a shootout victory. If Pittsburgh's streak extends past 17 wins, it would have to go down as the most dominate streak in recent NHL history. Even if the Pens were to drop one of their next few games, it is hard to argue that Pittsburgh has been more dominate over the course of their streak then the Blackhawks were during their run. Sorry Chicago, as impressive as 24 straight games with a point is, the Penguins take this faceoff.Dalton Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333279488397455590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524985466422494845.post-31867511029560003292013-03-31T23:47:00.002-04:002013-03-31T23:56:27.728-04:00"Win the game"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As my Buckeyes are out of the tournament, I am forced to write about a different team still playing. The Louisville Cardinals have won their way to the overall first seed, past the rounds of 64 and 32. They were sweet and proved to be elite. The team is now scheduled to play in the Final Four against Wichita State after beating Duke. <br />
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I, myself did not watch much of the game. (The last five minutes.) I did however hear about Kevin Ware. Scrolling through Facebook, I came across a friends post saying that he couldn't believe he just saw a Louisville player break their leg. Immediately, I switched over to YouTube to see if he was just messing with me or telling the truth.<br />
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I found a video, watched it once and felt like his teammates in the video. I could not believe it, just like my friend said. I watched the video again only to be more sick to my stomach. I then switched off of YouTube, closed Chrome and closed my laptop. My leg had a sort of phantom pain going through it. I stood up from my chair to reassure myself that I could still walk and my own leg was not broken.<br />
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Sometime later, I switched the game on to find that Louisville was destroying Duke and I forced myself to watch the video again. A Duke player drains a contested three to make the game 21-20 Louisville. Kevin Ware, being the one to contest, launched his body into the air as the player shot the ball and landed on his right leg as the shot went down. Ware's lower leg broke in half, broke the muscle and skin, and stuck out of his body leaving the rest of his leg and his foot dangling as he lay on the floor. He tries to pick up his leg as if to try to get up and lets it fall again as he realizes it's not possible. <br />
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Meanwhile, his teammates on the floor are grimacing, kneeling, and staring at the floor. The players on the bench seem to be frozen until their coach gets up and walks onto the floor to console his players. The Duke player who made the shot gets excited that he made the shot until he turns to see why a timeout was called. He poses a grimace as soon as he sees. The medical staff run over to Ware and cover his leg in a towel and console him, even though he's probably in shock. Rick Petino, Louisville's head coach then walks over to Ware, as do his teammates on the court and pat him on the chest, tell him he's going to be okay, then start to walk away.<br />
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At that point, I'm sure the Cardinals just wanted to walk off the court, into the locker room and pray for Ware. Ware had other thoughts though. He told them to win the game. He said "Win the game, win the game, win the game." Repeating it until the medical staff picked Ware up on the stretcher and carried him to the ambulance. <br />
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The Cardinals certainly did "win the game". With the score 21-20 Louisville and Duke making that shot, had Ware been just fine, Duke could have won the game. Instead, Louisville went on a 64-43 run to "win the game" and win by a staggering 22 points.<br />
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Oh how I wish I could have been at that game. In the final five minutes, the crowd was constantly heard as the Cardinals had taken over the game and were improving on the lead. Then the last minute hits the game clock and the crowd goes berserk. It's a feeding frenzy and Coach K calls a timeout. He pulls his seniors out and congratulates them as they take a seat. The Blue Devils inbound the ball and dribble it past half court and stop. Five seconds left and the Duke point guard drops the ball as Louisville's point guard takes him into an embrace and the crowd goes fanatic as the clock runs out.<br />
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A Cardinal is wearing Ware's jersey and the camera is focused on him. Petino gets a quick post game Q&A. The only Q being Ware's status. Petino tells America that he has broken his lower leg in two places and that the bone popped through the skin. The channel goes to commercial and when they come back the trophy is presented and players drape Ware's jersey in front of it. The Louisville Cardinals play in Atlanta on Saturday, the home town to Kevin Ware.<br />
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I have decided to root for Louisville to win the National Championship, not because of Kevin Ware's horrific injury, but because they have simply dominated every game in the tournament and proved that they can "win the game". Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023521666382961063noreply@blogger.com1