I WANT TO BE A PRO ATHLETE

Ever since I discovered sports I have been fascinated by them. I can remember as a young kid, no older then 6 or 7, waking up earlier then my mother so I could put the t.v. on Sportscenter before my parents woke and put the news on. To me sports news was the only news, 3 minutes at the end of the local news was not enough for me. As I got older I would watch the same episode of Sportscenter hour after hour as it was replayed.

It was about this same time I began to play and compete in the sports like the athletes I idolized. I would day dream, even in the middle of games that I was the key guy for the Red Sox, Celtics, or Giants depending on what season it was. The money wasn't the lure for me, instead it was the simple fact that I would be able to do something I love to do for a living. Still to this day, the idea of being able to play a game and call it a job is something that attracts me. But that is starting to change.

I want to be a pro athlete for the same reason athletes today...I want to do whatever I please, and I want to do it whenever I want.

I want to have an affair on my supermodel wife with multiple woman like Tiger. As the worlds first billionaire athlete why not?

I want to be able to bring guns into an arena and pull it on my teammate over a card game...in the nation's capitol like Gilbert Arenas. Then have the franchise say they will keep me because I am one of the "league's best still."

I want to be a middle linebacker and use that brute force against a cop as he is trying to arrest me for DUI like Joey Porter. And I want to do it before I even play a single down for my new team.

Like Arenas I would like to take my gun with me to a night club-though instead of shooting any one else I will shoot my self in the leg, ending my career with the team I won the Super Bowl with like Plaxico Burress. At least with two years in jail his leg should be fine.

In short I want to be able to do all the things we are told we cannot, and on top of that I want to be able still get the attention and love for it. I still, more then ever, want to be a PRO ATHLETE! (But unlike O.J.- if I got away with killing someone, I would not try to rob someone else in a Las Vegas hotel)

SEEING RED AGAIN...

March Madness is up to its usual tricks. With the basketball tournament under way millions of people are filling out brackets trying to prove to the world their sports knowledge reigns supreme. Trying to prove that they, not the sports experts seen on TV really know what is going on. Call me a skeptic, or maybe even cynical, but I was and have been for a number of years now one of those fans. Every year I fill out the bracket of 64 teams, and every time I finish I feel as if Sportcenter has nothing on me. I alone will get every team right.
There are many ways to choose. You can think you know the teams and what they are capable of. You can choose simply on which school your prefer, or who has the cuter mascot. There is also the theory that having a child, or significant other, or anyone on the outside fill it out for you. When it comes to football picks I know a man who puts dog treats on every team and what team his dog choose to remove the treat from is the team he puts his money on that week.



Being a long time particapent in this MADNESS I go with my gut...and love to see a good upset. As you can see though, my method does not seem to be working for me. Teams in red are teams that are eliminated, by the looks of it I am seeing just as much red as the national government when they look at the country's debt. Though there is one red I am hoping to see on top. Ohio State, known for their scarlet and gray colors, is my choice to win it all this year. Please Buckeyes...help me save some dignity and let me be able to say what all fans want to say when this tournament comes to and end- "I told you they would win it- I picked 'em in the beginning"

WHAT IS GOING ON ?!?

Every off-season in the NFL has shake ups and sideline stories galore, but this year it is a little out of hand; and I thought the Brett Favre soap opera last year was going to be a tough one to top.
First the Chargers cut one of the best running backs in the game over the past 5 at least years in LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson is a former league MVP and just flat out one of the best back in the league- STILL- regardless if he is 30. On top of that the Chargers sent out cornerback Antonio Cromartie to the JETS. That came after deciding to change their minds and hold on to there other running back Darren Sproles. Now why would you cut one of the best backs in the league and then on top of that cut his backup- completely throwing away the one of the best 1-2 back combinations in all of football.
The Chargers aren't the only one getting rid of key backs, the Eagles have said goodbye to Michael Westbrook, who again has been a crucial part of that team over the past years. And who is behind him, who will step in and take his place? LeSean McCoy, who will only be in his second year. I hope for his sake and the Eagles that there is no Sophomore Slump.
The Panthers...where do I begin. They haven't been all that great since they made the Super Bowl in 2004, so what do they do six years later? They cut their QUARTERBACK!
(as well as their best defensive player Julious Peppers) Granted Delhomme is not an elite QB in the league, but still who is his back up, and what are the Panthers going to do? Risk drafting a rookie and become the new LIONS/Laughing-stock of the league. Peppers went and signed with the Bears, with Urlacher and crew it will be pretty interesting to see what happens if the Bears and Panthers meet up.
Thinking of all the key players that became free agents this year, former Charger Tomlinson, former Jet Julious Jones, former Bill Terrell Owens- I would love to be a owner and capatilize on all the mistakes these teams are making right now.

On a side note...Favre was on Jay Leno this week and when Leno gave him a watch as a retirement gift Favre had only this to say..."I haven't made up my mind yet."

NOT A MIRACLE...BUT CLOSE ENOUGH

(Picture taken from Google Images)


It was thirty years ago when the United States Olympic hockey team shocked the sporting world, or rather THE WORLD, by defeating the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics. Al Micheals made the play by play calls for that game, and well everyone knows of that famous line he said as the last seconds ticked away- "Do you believe in Miracles?" That game was not for the gold medal, but instead the right to play for the gold medal which the US went on to win, but that game did so much more then just entertain. It would take hours to explain why that game was so important to the people in this country during that time. I believe that personally they should have classes offered just about that game and all the back stories. If Disney can make a full length movie about that event, then sure some sort of history class should be offered to fill in the blanks that Disney was unable to.
Given that that game was thirty years ago, the new United States hockey team accomplished another great feat. For the first time since 1960 our boys have beaten our nieghbors to the north- team Canada. Even with Sid "The Kid" Crosby, arguably the games best young talent, the red, white, and blue was too much. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1960! So much has happened since that time, the invention of the Internet, the Berlin wall came down, America voted its first African American President into office, the Red Sox snapped the curse, and oooh yeah- that MIRACLE on ice. There really isn't as much of a back story, there is no evil empire to our north threatening to send nukes this way at any minute. There is no fear of the Canadians, or drills done in schools just in case they come charging. But for once we beat them in the game that made them famous. It felt pretty good to watch the despair on their faces as we beat them on their own ice. The game also put fans of the US to ease a little bit knowing that they beat one of the elite power houses of the game, and will not have to see them until the Gold Medal game if both teams make it. Canada and Russia are both thought of as the front runners to win gold. But now the toughest test between the Gold Medal game and Team USA will be the other former member of the USSR- the Czechoslovakians.

TWO FOR TUESDAY

As a huge sports enthusiast it was exciting to be in Bangor, ME last week. The girl's and boy's basketball tournament kicked off and I had a chance to check out one of the most anticipated games. It was a battle between the Minutemen of Stearns High School and the Ponies of Foxcroft Academy. Stearns came into the game with the number four seed while the Ponies were the number 5 seed. The teams had met up twice in the season each notching a win over the other on their home court. For some one who was unable to reach the tournament as a player, and also new to the area and had no clue about the hype that surrounded this event for the people of this Eastern Maine area it was quite exciting. I knew going in that I wanted to write about the event and do so in a non biased fashion, but the fan inside me found it hard not to root for the flash and speed the "visiting" Ponies showed, especially since they were considered the underdogs. The game did not disappoint, and I believe I kept my composure even though I had the Foxcroft coach's daughter behind me egging me on to root for her father's team. The first half ended with a deep two by a Pony player to put his team ahead by 1. Not to be outdone Stearns had their fans up on their seats with a 16-8 point run that saw the Ponies missing what my coach would have called "bunnies" or "gimmes". Eventually though the speed and pizazz of the Foxcroft players was too much for the Minutemen and the game was tied at 52 with only 11.9 seconds left in the 4th. At the 2.9 second mark Stearns fouled star Pony Josiah Richard sending him to the line for a 1 and 1 opportunity. Richard made both, but the pressure was evident not only on his face but by the white knuckles of the coach's daughter clenching her boyfriend's sleeve.


Both teams got some coaching during a late fourth quarter time out. (photo by Andrew Heywood)

As soon as that game ended I hurried out as fast as I could to Sawyer Arena to catch the Bangor High School hockey game that matched the Rams against the Messalonskee High School Eagles. Little did the teams know that it would be a match-up of the same teams that are playing in this weeks Class A quarterfinals for the boy's ice hockey tournament. I got there a little late, and the game was tied 2-2. I was kind of upset by this being an avid hockey fan and growing quite fond of the Rams hockey team. Late in the second period stand-out freshman Zack Papsadora. The score remained 3-2 into the third period but it didn't take long for the beating to ensue. Junior forward Joe Seccareccia to scored two third period goals. Both goals were assisted by Nic Cota. Junior Phil Frost and senior Ryan King got involved in the fun each netting a goal of there own. Bangor went on to win easily by a final score of 7-2. Will be interesting to see what will come when these two face off in the play-offs February 23 at the same arena.


The Rams and Hawks get ready for the puck to drop in the third period. (Heywood)

Slam Junk Contest

This past weekend was full of sports, enough to keep any fan happy. The Olympic games were kicked off Friday, the University of Maine men's hockey team played a two game series against Hockey East Rival Boston University, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) was on their All-Star weekend break. This years events took place at the new Cowboys Stadium and was hosted by Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks.
The festivities included the celebrity game where actor Michael Rapaport shut down NFL wide receiver and fellow loud mouth Terrell "T.O." Owens. Though Rapaport only had four points in the game that also included members of the Harlem Globe Trotters, he was able to keep T.O. from scoring. Owens had been the reigning two year MVP for the celebrity game.
There was also the game between the rookies and sophomores of the NBA in what is called the Rookie Challenge. The rookies were lead by Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans and the Milwaukee Bucks' Brandon Jennings. The sophomores were lead by two players that were big time players last year-their first year in the league- the Miami Heat's Michael Beasley and the Memphis Grizzlies' O.J. Mayo. Though the sophomore have that one year of experience under their belt they were unable to hold of the rookies by a final score of 140-128.
Other events included the game itself that was one by the East in front of 108,713 people. Now it is understandable why the NBA held this years All-Star break inside a football stadium. 108,000 may sound like a lot but you know what they say about Texas- everything is bigger in Texas. That could also be true about the slam-dunk contest.
This years slam-dunk contest was one for the third straight time by the New York Knicks' Nate Robinson. Not that it was much of a competition, he was up against Toronto Raptors' rookie DeMar DeRozan, Los Angelas Lakers' Shannon Brown, and Charlotte Bobcats' Gerald Wallace. None of whom really threw down any kind of dunk worthy of getting the Texas sized crowd of their seats. Nothing quite like the dunk Magic' big man Dwight Howard did in 2008. At one point commentators Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith were offering to go back into the locker room and lace up to show the guys how it was done. Congratulations to Dwight Howard, but it may be a long time before the Dunk Contest is held inside such a large venue. I feel bad for those who gave up a Saturday night to be there, or like me who stayed home to watch.(though it was still not as bad as trying to watch the Pro Bowl)

SUPER SUNDAY

Super Sunday-(American Holiday) a term for Super Bowl Sunday.

If Super Sunday was in the dictionary that's how it should be written in. As an American Holiday. It meets all the criteria, it's a big event where every body gets together for food, drinks, and maybe even a couple laughs. It could even be considered religious, it is on the Sabbath, and depending on how many of those drinks you had you could be on your knees praying by the end of the night.This years Super Bowl had so much more to often then most in recent years have. All the channels, papers, and reporters do a good job in finding the hidden story. Last year there was that of Larry Fitzgerald and how he was playing for his mother. This year however the stories were there as clear as day. New Orleans had Katrina, and the Colts had Pierre Garcon. (Garcon is a Haitian-American player) Of the side stories that surrounded the game that of Tim Tebow and his choice to be in a commercial was annoying. For weeks now ESPN has been going back forth over this pointless issue. "Will Tim Tebow's ad cost him his career?" What career? Yes he is a two-time National Champion, a Heisman winner, but not until June will he be a college grad. His career hasn't started, he is still a college student first. If he wants to do an ad for something he believes in, how does that make him any different then any of the washed up musicians that do commercials for animal rights. I saw nothing wrong with the ad- in fact I was really annoyed that there was so much hype. The people I watched the game with were also annoyed, the second the ad came on you could have heard a pin drop, and for moments after too since no one knew what to say. Why couldn't ESPN focus more on the real issues that are out there. How about doing more for the people of New Orleans who are still trying to get their feet under them from Katrina. There was some of this, but why was their no ad asking for people to send money or give assistance. Pierre Garcon had the weight of Haiti on his shoulders. For days Garcon was like many, unable to get a hold his family. If ESPN can show the story, why can't they give a way for viewers to donate and lend a hand? I'll take a second to do it, here is a link to help. Click for KATRINA or for HAITI. After all they say it is good to share on holidays.


BY THE WAY...SAINTS WON...31-17