There are times when politics and sports get intertwined. Normally it's not too pretty, but there are lessons to be learned. I think that there are multiple lessons and realities that can be taken from the Boston Marathon tragedy. First, tragedies shouldn't scare us from public events. While the attacks on Boston had no connection to marathons at large, sports are often common targets for violence. This shouldn't be a deterrent to participating in, and spectating, sporting events. Also, sports often serve as a stage for international politics.
There was talk of changing marathons so that all 26.2 miles would be secure. I don't think this is a good idea. Runners should be able to run marathons with no fear whatsoever. Making marathons "high security", like airports, would be a hassle, and would make marathons exclusive in a way. Police officers are one thing, but metal detectors and body scanners would just make people not want to watch marathons. Also, tight security is just going to scare runners more. The fact is, being in a free society, we should have the right to run marathons. With tight security, marathons will focus more on being safe, than personal accomplishments. Marathons are public events shared by a community; marathons, as well as other events, are best held without the fear of terrorism.
There are many stages where political views are expressed. The press, cinema, and internet are just a few outlets. But one of the largest transmitters of opinion is sports, especially on a global level.Throughout the Olympics and especially soccer, politics are often transmitted. Regrettably, these opinions are often reproduced forcefully, memorably through acts of terror. Palestinian soccer players in Israel are tormented and persecuted, but vice versa, Palestinians killed numerous Israelis in the Munich massacre of the 1972 Olympiad. Maybe the reason why sports are targets of terror is that sports are universal. Almost every culture has athletic competitions. Sporting events get a lot of attention from a vast audience. There's also peaceful forms of protests in sports. There's Tim Thomas' infamous political goalie masks as well as athletes having mottos on their undershirts that are revealed when he or she scores. Peaceful sporting political expression can have a very large impact. Sports and Politics are definitely not separated, both are part of culture and will probably be long intertwined.
Sports are just like politics. They require strategy, opinion, and most importantly, the ability to please the population. The link is fascinating. Sports allow those with opinions to spread their views - peacefully or not.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Master's Review
The Masters' this year was full of controversy and excitement. Tiger Woods entered the tournament number one in the world, but he exited the tournament in controversy. But in the end, it was an Aussie who donned the Green Jacket.
The controversy didn't start until after the second round. At Hole 15, Tiger Woods hit the flagstick and the ball bounced backwards into the water. Woods could have either a) played the ball from besides the water in the "drop-zone", b) played the ball from behind the water, but still on the same projectory, or C) dropped the ball from where his last stroke was. Woods went with the final option, but with a catch. He admittedly dropped the ball two yards in front of where his last stroke was on purpose. This set Woods up for a decent stroke that would allow him to minimize the damage. When the Masters' Committee found out, they discussed the matter amongst themselves and with Tiger Woods. Woods was given a two stroke penalty, pushing him away from the lead. The public was outraged. Many called for him to withdraw from the tournament. While the penalty did set Tiger a fair way from the lead, (No pun intended) it didn't knock him out of contention. Personally, I thought the punishment was fair. For such a minor amount of yardage, dropping out of the tournament would be a tad over the edge.
However, the magic doesn't reach the climax until the final round. In this case, the defining moments were deep into the fourth and final round. When Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Adam Scott of Australia, both had a score of -9, everyone knew this was just another thriller. The first playoff hole was the eighteenth, which both players recorded a par. Impending celebrations would have to wait. It was on to the tenth. Cabrera came up just a little short by failing to make a birdie. Scott, however, did make a birdie, and became the first Australian to ever win the masters. Scott's inspiration, Greg Norman, is the only other Aussie who came close to winning the Masters in 1996 when he surrendered a six stroke lead. Like his idol, Scott also broke down in the final round last year, except Adam had a four stroke lead at the British Open.
Golf is one of those sports with a very global reach. Which is interesting because it's often viewed as a "Rich Man's Sport" while other internationally popular sports are popular be sauces they require little equipment. (For example, association football/soccer, in theory only takes a couple fabrication of home items found in African homes. A large part of golf is mental. Because of this, I could very easily see both genders competing against each other. The only dividing factor between males and females in golf would be driving distance. In the short game, physical strength doesn't matter nearly as much as finesse and fundamentals.
The Masters has kicked off a bit of a summer fiasco for the PGA. The four major tournaments are starting to begin their cycle, just as the prestigious tennis tournaments have their own cycle. Golf is just another game that's so fascinating to follow because of its global reach and intricate competition.
The controversy didn't start until after the second round. At Hole 15, Tiger Woods hit the flagstick and the ball bounced backwards into the water. Woods could have either a) played the ball from besides the water in the "drop-zone", b) played the ball from behind the water, but still on the same projectory, or C) dropped the ball from where his last stroke was. Woods went with the final option, but with a catch. He admittedly dropped the ball two yards in front of where his last stroke was on purpose. This set Woods up for a decent stroke that would allow him to minimize the damage. When the Masters' Committee found out, they discussed the matter amongst themselves and with Tiger Woods. Woods was given a two stroke penalty, pushing him away from the lead. The public was outraged. Many called for him to withdraw from the tournament. While the penalty did set Tiger a fair way from the lead, (No pun intended) it didn't knock him out of contention. Personally, I thought the punishment was fair. For such a minor amount of yardage, dropping out of the tournament would be a tad over the edge.
However, the magic doesn't reach the climax until the final round. In this case, the defining moments were deep into the fourth and final round. When Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Adam Scott of Australia, both had a score of -9, everyone knew this was just another thriller. The first playoff hole was the eighteenth, which both players recorded a par. Impending celebrations would have to wait. It was on to the tenth. Cabrera came up just a little short by failing to make a birdie. Scott, however, did make a birdie, and became the first Australian to ever win the masters. Scott's inspiration, Greg Norman, is the only other Aussie who came close to winning the Masters in 1996 when he surrendered a six stroke lead. Like his idol, Scott also broke down in the final round last year, except Adam had a four stroke lead at the British Open.
Golf is one of those sports with a very global reach. Which is interesting because it's often viewed as a "Rich Man's Sport" while other internationally popular sports are popular be sauces they require little equipment. (For example, association football/soccer, in theory only takes a couple fabrication of home items found in African homes. A large part of golf is mental. Because of this, I could very easily see both genders competing against each other. The only dividing factor between males and females in golf would be driving distance. In the short game, physical strength doesn't matter nearly as much as finesse and fundamentals.
The Masters has kicked off a bit of a summer fiasco for the PGA. The four major tournaments are starting to begin their cycle, just as the prestigious tennis tournaments have their own cycle. Golf is just another game that's so fascinating to follow because of its global reach and intricate competition.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Final Four Galore
The aftermath of the 2013 NCAA Tournament has set in; its conclusion was just under a week ago. Louisville built upon last year's Final Four appearance by going the distance this year. Upsets came early and came often. Most notably, Florida Gulf Coast's upset of Number 2 Georgetown made headlines for weeks. But in the end, it was the Final Four that got us all up off our feet.
The upset that everyone talked about was Florida Gulf Coast over Georgetown. Many people didn't even know such a college existed. However, Georgetown, favorites to go the whole way, fell to this basketball minnow. The nation was taken by storm by the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles who not only won one game, but two to advance into the sweet sixteen where they were valiantly beaten out by the Florida Gators. Another headliner upset was Number 14 Harvard beating Number 3 Arizona. Though Harvard's run was short lived, it was the first time Harvard won a NCAA tournament game since 19461.
However, things don't truly heat up until the Final Four. Louisville and Wichita State (Surprise!) played in the first game, while Michigan and Syracuse played in for the other ticket to the finals. Louisville won the first game, while Michigan won the second. This set the stage for a fantastic final. The game was close throughout, but it ended with the Louisville Cardinals having an eight point advantage over the Michigan Wolverines.
NCAA Basketball's through, giving way for baseball and eventually football to transition into the sports spotlight. Sports fans can only hope to have a tournament next year as exciting as this year's.
The upset that everyone talked about was Florida Gulf Coast over Georgetown. Many people didn't even know such a college existed. However, Georgetown, favorites to go the whole way, fell to this basketball minnow. The nation was taken by storm by the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles who not only won one game, but two to advance into the sweet sixteen where they were valiantly beaten out by the Florida Gators. Another headliner upset was Number 14 Harvard beating Number 3 Arizona. Though Harvard's run was short lived, it was the first time Harvard won a NCAA tournament game since 19461.
However, things don't truly heat up until the Final Four. Louisville and Wichita State (Surprise!) played in the first game, while Michigan and Syracuse played in for the other ticket to the finals. Louisville won the first game, while Michigan won the second. This set the stage for a fantastic final. The game was close throughout, but it ended with the Louisville Cardinals having an eight point advantage over the Michigan Wolverines.
NCAA Basketball's through, giving way for baseball and eventually football to transition into the sports spotlight. Sports fans can only hope to have a tournament next year as exciting as this year's.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Here We Go: MLB Opening Day
Temperatures are climbing in some places, while other places around the country didn't get the memo and are continuing to be snowed upon. As March rolls into April it is time to kick off the ultra-marathon known as Major League Baseball. The offseason has managed to shake the league beyond recognition; many teams have new faces and also a lack of familiar faces. These roster changes will have a direct impact upon the next few months and the outcome of the upcoming season.
The trading and brokerage firm the past few months had to have been the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays went from the twenty third largest payroll in 2012 ("MLB Salaries", CBSSports.com) to the tenth largest ("2013 Payrolls and Salaries For Every MLB Team", DeadSpin) in one offseason. They acquired Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, and former Miami Marlins Jose Reyes and Josh Johnson. With all the acquired talent, the Blue Jays' only worries should be injuries and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays ironically ended up with former Blue Jays Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson. However, those two combined with the prior roster of the Rays should have a threat for the Al East teams. The late powers of the Al East, the Yankees and the Red Sox, have aged and receded.
In other areas of the American League, multiple teams have made improvement to attempt to overthrow long time kings of their respective divisions. For example, the Chicago White Sox have built a decent team to try to take on the Detroit Tigers. Out west, the Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland A's put together all star lineups to try and give the Texas Rangers who themselves have aged and lost talent, such as Josh Hamilton, to up and coming teams, like the LA Angels.
Meanwhile, the National League has its own power houses. The East is one of the most competitive divisions in the National League. Stephen Strausberg and Bryce Harper are starting to have an edge on the elite three, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and the Philadelphia Phillies. A power struggle is occurring in the NL Central; the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Pittsburgh Pirates all should be relatively close in the upcoming season. The least hyped division, however, would be the NL West. The San Francisco Giants, who've won two titles in three years. Other members of the division include the Dodgers, who are rebuilding from a recent bankruptcy, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, who've been strong in recent years.
It looks like an interesting season in baseball. The long, odyssey-like journey of season should allow for lots of twists and turns throughout the season.
The trading and brokerage firm the past few months had to have been the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays went from the twenty third largest payroll in 2012 ("MLB Salaries", CBSSports.com) to the tenth largest ("2013 Payrolls and Salaries For Every MLB Team", DeadSpin) in one offseason. They acquired Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, and former Miami Marlins Jose Reyes and Josh Johnson. With all the acquired talent, the Blue Jays' only worries should be injuries and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays ironically ended up with former Blue Jays Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson. However, those two combined with the prior roster of the Rays should have a threat for the Al East teams. The late powers of the Al East, the Yankees and the Red Sox, have aged and receded.
In other areas of the American League, multiple teams have made improvement to attempt to overthrow long time kings of their respective divisions. For example, the Chicago White Sox have built a decent team to try to take on the Detroit Tigers. Out west, the Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland A's put together all star lineups to try and give the Texas Rangers who themselves have aged and lost talent, such as Josh Hamilton, to up and coming teams, like the LA Angels.
Meanwhile, the National League has its own power houses. The East is one of the most competitive divisions in the National League. Stephen Strausberg and Bryce Harper are starting to have an edge on the elite three, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and the Philadelphia Phillies. A power struggle is occurring in the NL Central; the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Pittsburgh Pirates all should be relatively close in the upcoming season. The least hyped division, however, would be the NL West. The San Francisco Giants, who've won two titles in three years. Other members of the division include the Dodgers, who are rebuilding from a recent bankruptcy, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, who've been strong in recent years.
It looks like an interesting season in baseball. The long, odyssey-like journey of season should allow for lots of twists and turns throughout the season.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
European Soccer Outlook
The quarter-final draw for the UEFA Champions' League has been announced, and thus scrutinized, discussed, and predicted. Managers from around the English Premier League have been are debating over the state of 'English Football' after not a single English club has advanced into the quarter-finals. Also in the news of England and soccer has been the recent calling up of centre-back Rio Ferdinand to the
National Team, and Sir Alex Ferguson's reluctance to let him respond to the call. There's so much to talk about in the world of European soccer.
Sixteen teams have been abbreviated to eight in the UEFA Champions' League. No English teams remain, to the alert of critics. Of course, there were multiple shockers in second round play taking place earlier this week. AC Milan went into the second leg of the tie versus FC Barcelona ahead on aggregate 2-0. Barcelona was required to score two goals to send the second game into extra time and possibly penalties, or a minimum of three goals to win outright. They scored four, with no one other then Lionel Messi contributing two goals to the total. Another head-liner was Real Madrid's defeat of Manchester United. Manchester United had a slight advantage in the second game, having drawn the first at one goal a piece. Manchester had the momentum of one away goal. Instead, Nani was sent off in a controversial play, and Real Madrid scored two goals after United scoring only one; thus allowing Madrid to advance into the quarter-finals. The last game of major speculation was the tie between Bayern Munich and Arsenal. Bayern won the first match in London one-to-three. However, Arsenal struck back as hard as they could in Munich, winning a game filled with controversy 2-0, yet very nearly making the score 3-0 towards the end. Thus, the aggregate was 3-3, and Bayern Munich advanced on the away goals rule, meaning Bayern scored more away goals so they advance. So, after all the drama, the quarter-final draw consists of:
I think that the amount of power in this quarter-final draw shows that the English shouldn't hang their heads. There's a lot of good soccer out there whether its German, Italian, Spanish or Turkish. I think there are someNemanja Vidić surprises in the draw though. One that really sticks out is the match up between PSG and Barcelona. Of course the draws are random, but Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are arguably two of the better teams of the eight remaining. However, it is probably widely known that Barcelona has the upper hand. Another key pairing is Bayern Munich and Juventus. Juventus is the last Italian team left in the Champions' League which will serve as fuel to the team. However, Bayern Munich are hungry to go all the way after being the runners up to Chelsea. In addition, Borussia Dortmund shouldn't have a tough time with Malaga, a Spanish club lost in the shadows of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Speaking of Spaniards, Real Madrid shouldn't have an issue with the little known Turkish club going by the name of Galatasaray.
On a final note of discussion, the 32-year-old Manchester United back Rio Ferdinand has been in the news lately for his calling up to the English National Side. He's played a vital role in United's defence lately. During
Nemanja Vidić's injury-related absence, Rio has stepped it up, contributing largely in United's last four games, all being clean sheets, or shut-outs as described in hockey or American football. However, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reluctant to let Ferdinand go play for the national squad, citing that he may be playing to many matches and thus cause to much physical stress on the 32-year-old footballer. However, I don't think this is a valid point, because during World Cup Qualifying matches, he will have to miss league games to play international games; Many of Ferdinand's Manchester United team-mates already do just that.
There's so much going on at the moment in the world of soccer. Many of the European leagues, such as the Premier League, have less than ten matches to go in the season. Soccer is at its busiest this time of year.
National Team, and Sir Alex Ferguson's reluctance to let him respond to the call. There's so much to talk about in the world of European soccer.
Sixteen teams have been abbreviated to eight in the UEFA Champions' League. No English teams remain, to the alert of critics. Of course, there were multiple shockers in second round play taking place earlier this week. AC Milan went into the second leg of the tie versus FC Barcelona ahead on aggregate 2-0. Barcelona was required to score two goals to send the second game into extra time and possibly penalties, or a minimum of three goals to win outright. They scored four, with no one other then Lionel Messi contributing two goals to the total. Another head-liner was Real Madrid's defeat of Manchester United. Manchester United had a slight advantage in the second game, having drawn the first at one goal a piece. Manchester had the momentum of one away goal. Instead, Nani was sent off in a controversial play, and Real Madrid scored two goals after United scoring only one; thus allowing Madrid to advance into the quarter-finals. The last game of major speculation was the tie between Bayern Munich and Arsenal. Bayern won the first match in London one-to-three. However, Arsenal struck back as hard as they could in Munich, winning a game filled with controversy 2-0, yet very nearly making the score 3-0 towards the end. Thus, the aggregate was 3-3, and Bayern Munich advanced on the away goals rule, meaning Bayern scored more away goals so they advance. So, after all the drama, the quarter-final draw consists of:
- Bayern Munich v. Juventus
- Paris Saint-Germain v. FC Barcelona
- Malaga v. Borussia Dortmund
- Real Madrid v. Galatasaray
I think that the amount of power in this quarter-final draw shows that the English shouldn't hang their heads. There's a lot of good soccer out there whether its German, Italian, Spanish or Turkish. I think there are someNemanja Vidić surprises in the draw though. One that really sticks out is the match up between PSG and Barcelona. Of course the draws are random, but Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are arguably two of the better teams of the eight remaining. However, it is probably widely known that Barcelona has the upper hand. Another key pairing is Bayern Munich and Juventus. Juventus is the last Italian team left in the Champions' League which will serve as fuel to the team. However, Bayern Munich are hungry to go all the way after being the runners up to Chelsea. In addition, Borussia Dortmund shouldn't have a tough time with Malaga, a Spanish club lost in the shadows of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Speaking of Spaniards, Real Madrid shouldn't have an issue with the little known Turkish club going by the name of Galatasaray.
On a final note of discussion, the 32-year-old Manchester United back Rio Ferdinand has been in the news lately for his calling up to the English National Side. He's played a vital role in United's defence lately. During
Nemanja Vidić's injury-related absence, Rio has stepped it up, contributing largely in United's last four games, all being clean sheets, or shut-outs as described in hockey or American football. However, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reluctant to let Ferdinand go play for the national squad, citing that he may be playing to many matches and thus cause to much physical stress on the 32-year-old footballer. However, I don't think this is a valid point, because during World Cup Qualifying matches, he will have to miss league games to play international games; Many of Ferdinand's Manchester United team-mates already do just that.
There's so much going on at the moment in the world of soccer. Many of the European leagues, such as the Premier League, have less than ten matches to go in the season. Soccer is at its busiest this time of year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)