NFL Newslines

Over a month after the Super Bowl and over day since free agency has begun, the NFL has some new headlines. Looking back, we saw that New Orleans can sure throw a party, especially for a Super Bowl. A week before that, the NFL's best managed to save the Pro Bowl...for now. Lastly, free agency has begun and the league's being shook up. There's so much going on in the NFL right now.

Despite the power going out in the Mercedes-Benz Dome midway through the third quarter, New Orleans threw a great Super Bowl. It seemed like all week long the media was constantly fixated on the never ending party being thrown in the Big Easy. Then came the game itself. Everything was good until the power went out because Beyonce managed to use it all. It was either that, or the Forty Niners have a curse which they cut the power at random times wherever they play because there power went out in San Francisco earlier last season. Either way, New Orleans proved itself as a great host for a Super Bowl.

However, a week before that, all eyes were on the Pro Bowl. Peyton Manning came out wearing the jersey of a totally different conference and a determination to prove the Pro Bowl's worth. Commissioner Roger Goodell threatened to drop the Pro Bowl if there was a lack of effort displayed, as there was in 2012's Pro Bowl. However, the game was a blowout, ending 62-35 in favour of the NFC team. Such a thrashing proved that the Pro Bowl wasn't just a recreational game.

But Finally, the latest and greatest NFL topic has been the recently born free agency period. Among the hype has been Wes Welker, who didn't resign with the New England Patriots, has gone ironically to the Denver Broncos. This means he has gone from one cannon, Tom Brady, to another, Peyton Manning; two quarterbacks whose names often can't be mentioned separately. Other headlines include Steven Jackson moving to Atlanta where he will replace Michael Turner, who was cut after failing a physical earlier this month. Also, Matt Cassel will go to Minnesota to compete with incumbent quarterback Christian Ponder.

And so, the NFL Offseason is under way. Ironically, the offseason is almost as followed and debate as the actual playing season is. The next few months will help define and shape the coming season.

"Wherever I Wind Up" by RA Dickey

In R.A. Dickey’s memoir, Wherever I Wind Up he recaps his journey as a person and as a baseball player. R.A. Dickey’s story is truly inspiring and captivating. His book did a great job of describing Dickey’s struggles in both life and baseball. The book begins in Dickey’s childhood and tells the story of his journey up to a recent point in Dickey’s life. R.A. Dickey’s Wherever I Wind Up reveals life lessons universal in life such as the values of determination, flexibility, and courage.

            R.A. Dickey literally came from nothing. He was born to unmarried parents, whom eventually married, and then divorced. His mother had alcoholism problems which motivated him to leave his mother and younger sister and go live with his father. It wasn’t long before Dickey didn’t feel welcome in his father’s trailer home, and he resorted to sleeping in his car as well as vacant houses. However, baseball was R.A.’s haven and he made something of himself by being a star pitcher in High School, then later in college at the University of Tennessee. Even after college, Dickey still exhibited vast amounts of determination. It took multiple setbacks and obstacles to make it to Major League Baseball. He never gave up, and strived to be his best despite what the circumstances may have been. Determination was a huge factor in R.A. Dickey’s story.

            Another big character value displayed by Dickey was his flexibility. Not physically, but mentally. His life story centers on his switch from being a generic speed pitcher into a knuckleball pitcher. This transition took place at a low point in R.A.’s baseball career. He was nearly out of chances with advancing his career when he decided to transform into a unique genre of pitcher. This exemplified extraordinary flexibility. To be able to drop what you know and have been doing for many years and suddenly learn something totally new is remarkable. It sets an example for people with maybe less exciting careers, and if they’d change their career or even just a method, they’d be better off.

            The last, and possibly most valiant theme told in Wherever I Wind Up was courage. Dickey showed an immense amount of courage time and time again. Even his transition as described earlier took loads of courage. Courage can be hard to come by especially during difficult times; however, R.A. Dickey was able to channel his passion and exhibit great amounts of courage. Times where Dickey showed his courage were during parts of his baseball career where he was in a tight spot during a game and was able to battle his way out. It showed athletic skill, but more importantly it showed the courage to not fold under pressure.

            Wherever I Wind Up was an inspiring book and quite unforgettable. It told the tale of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey and his rise from nothing into one of the most respectable athletes and people around. It exemplified numerous universal character traits; traits that are vital not just for athletes but for the ordinary person as well. Inside every professional athlete is an ordinary person. Even though it can at times be hard to believe, these people are just like us and come from all backgrounds. It is people like R.A. Dickey who truly exemplify that inside every rags-to-riches athlete is a remarkable person.

John Doyle's The World is a Ball

The World is a Ball: The Joy, Madness, and Meaning of Soccer

By John Doyle

            Recently, I read John Doyle’s book The World is a Ball: The Joy, Madness and Meaning of Soccer. John Doyle, a television critic for the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, traveled throughout countless destinations throughout the world to cover different international soccer tournaments. The book is written as a travelogue, recapping his encounters throughout the world with supporters and players of various teams. Doyle intriguingly describes how the fans, the hosts, and the culture of the game changes the sport of soccer itself and its many outcomes. In The World is a Ball, John Doyle expertly transcribes his experiences with culture, travel, and competition within the sport of soccer.

            John Doyle visited numerous countries in his travels following soccer. He witnessed many interesting events and met countless intriguing figures. A common encounter throughout his book was with the “Oranje Army”. The Oranje Army is the supporters’ group for the Dutch National Team. Throughout World Cups and European Championships, the Oranje Army would engulf city streets and stadium grandstands in orange. One memorable instance was when the Netherlands won an important game in the 2008 European Championship in Bern, Switzerland. After the game, the Oranje Army stole police tape (the kind that’s commonly associated with crime scenes) from the streets. Even though we know this tape to be yellow, the Swiss police happened to have orange tape. The tape quickly became party streamers and the train station in particular was covered in the orange tape. Many other nations and their fan organizations were associated with specific personalities. England was and is most commonly made out as hooligans; Ireland is associated with green, lederhosen, and leprechauns, while France was known for its bigotry, more commonly with its players rather than its supporters.

            Doyle, while creating a book focusing on worldwide soccer, also succeeded in making a very descriptive travel guide. In Germany for the 2006 World Cup, Doyle described his encounters with drunken passengers on trains, particularly ones with restaurant cars. In adventures to South America and Italy he described his conversations with cab drivers, some much more friendly then others. Finally, Doyle also succeeded in describing the atmosphere in sports bars and city streets. He was able to vividly display local people and how they went about their life in local coffee houses and diners.

            Lastly, Doyle was able to make intuitive connections between culture and psychology and the sport itself. One good example of this was John Doyle’s observation of cockiness among the members of the French team, exhibited during an open training session between the team and the press. He also related to the repetitive woes of the English team to the overrating and overpaying of their players. One of his most impressive conclusions was how Toronto developed into a very soccer-centered city because of its different European immigrant ethnic populations.

            John Doyle concluded his book by stating the game of soccer closely reflects the world and life, in the sense that both have a soul, and both have the potential to have heartbreak, even though you carry on after heart break in both cases. John Doyle’s book can satisfy both soccer fans and those interested in the world and its culture. Especially to anyone with an interest in learning about life in foreign countries, this book would make a great read. 

Spurs Scandal?

A breaking story so far this week is the controversial San Antonio Spurs' decision to rest their starters in Thursday's game against the Miami Heat. Head Coach of the Spurs, Gregg Popovich, sat Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Danny Green, and Manu Ginobili; in fact, those players didn't even make the trip out to Florida. This has angered basketball fans, and Commissioner David Stern. Here's why neither have a right to complain.

As a Head Coach of a professional team, regardless of the sport, you have to make the hard call. Of couse, you want to be as competitive as possible, 24/7. But in order to stay highly competitive, you have to keep your players healthy. Thus, you have to be proactive, and lay back. You have to lose some, to win some. This is what Coach Pop tried to do. He wanted to avoid letting his players become fatigued. This back fired, and it obviously shouldn't have.

I can understand why fans could be mad. They paid all this money to watch all-stars, and it turns out they've been benched. I've been there, done that, personally. But, David Stern needs to stay out of it. If he turns out to follow through on his statement, and sanction the Spurs, he would be abusing his powers. So, he needs to back off.

Gregg Popovich made the right call. Everyone else needs to respect his decision has a coach. There is emotion here, where emotion does not belong.

Welcome Back, Fighting Irish

Notre Dame overcame their final obstacle that was standing in the way of a perfect season. Notre Dame has a flawless 12-0 record to finish their regular season. They are most definitely playing in the BCS Championship. Who will win the other slot to play in collegiate football's biggest prize? It's a toss up between  two SEC rivals: Alabama and Georgia. How will it be decided? The SEC Championship Game. Here's your anticipation guide to the most important, as well as the second most important, game this football season.

I am actually somewhat satisfied that Notre Dame has returned to their pedestal of greatness. As a writer and sports fan who hasn't been on the planet long enough to see the 1970's or 1980's version of the Fighting Irish, I am coherent to the fact that Notre Dame is a dominant team, but up until now, I never witnessed any evidence. I now have my evidence. The cool thing about Notre Dame is that they make themselves cool by being old-school. Classic black and yellow jerseys without any names makes them sport the retro look, as well as their end-zones only having diagonal lines and every referee, coach, player, and fan being in the presence of Touchdown Jesus making the stadium old-fashioned, yet interesting. All these factors make South Bend a Mecca of College Football.

Notre Dame maybe fun and fancy, but who will get a chance to take a swipe at their perfect season? The SEC Championship is set to be a bash. Alabama and Georgia will face off in what could be the season's most interesting game. Alabama is the overwhelming favourite, but one mustn't overlook the Georgia offence.  If Alabama wins, as they should and will be ashamed if they lose, Alabama will give Notre Dame a run for their money in the BCS Championship, which is too close to call at this point. If Georgia pulls an upset...all bets are off. In the scenario in which Georgia advances to the National Championship, Notre Dame would have a more definite edge. Either way, Notre Dame should have an edge on both contestants.

Welcome to the Bowl Season everyone! Let the bash begin!