Sunday, October 24, 2010

NFL's Crackdown on Helmet to Helmet hits

Honestly, I think the NFL all of a sudden handing out staggering fine amounts for unflagged hits is just ridiculous. If you hand out a hefty fine for a blatant and illegal helmet to helmet hits like the pair dished out by Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather onto defenseless Ravens Tight End Todd Heap, resulting in a major concussion. In that case where he was penalized for the tackle(s) I agree with the huge 50,000 dollar fine that he received. I even say suspend him. Just don't touch a player for a legal hit.

Two players fined for such tackles last weekend were Steelers linebacker and former defensive player of the year James Harrison and Atlanta Falcons Cornerback Dunta Robinson. Harrison was fined 75,000 for two incidents where he launched his body at the unsuspecting Browns players making a crushing helmet to helmet blow. In neither case were the hits illegal nor was the laundry thrown because they were both on runners, making them legit hits. If the rulebook says you're allowed to do a certain type of tackle you can't fine a player for doing it.

-A

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

United Star Rooney wants out

Manchester United Forward Wayne Rooney, one of the most recognizable faces in all of the soccer world wants to leave Manchester United, his team since 2004. After allegations of an affair surfaced about the English National Rooney's play just hadn't been the same as it usually was. As he was jeered by away fans and United supporters alike Rooney's play has faltered this season. He has played in only five of his team's first eight Premier League games and only scored one goal after tallying 34 last season.

This got even worse as Rooney has missed the last few games with "ankle problems" according to manager Alex Ferguson. Rooney has denied that he has had any problems with his ankles and says he just wants to play. Ferguson said that he is prepared to have Rooney comeback to the club when his contract expires in 2012 but is more than prepared to transfer his third star forward in the past two years. Teams like FC Chelsea and Manchester City seem to be the top clubs in contention for Rooney, but if he makes the transfer list you can expect to see a lot more interest surrounding this great player with a bit of a temper.

-A

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Benefits of Sports

Most people have played at least one type of, and probably many sports sometime in their life. Organized or pickup, playing these games have probably given them the chance to meet new people, and provided them with new friends and great memories. Participating in sports also helps feed some people’s competitive spirit, increase their talents, gives them a chance to spend time with friends and it presents an opportunity to get out excess energy that has stored up during the school day. For those that don’t participate in athletics, sports still have a lot to offer for them through entertainment. For some, like trainers, coaches and sports analysts, their job relies on professional and college athletic events. Whether it’s running around for fun, honing specific skills, chasing success, entertainment, or even bolstering the economy, sports are a very beneficial part of a life in America.

Sports are first and foremost a game. Games, and therefore sports are meant to allow people to have fun. Also there are many different types of sports, so even if you don’t like one type, there will always be something else for you. They allow you to enjoy your self with others that you like to be around. As a team progresses through a season they become more than a team. They become a family. This makes being out on the playing field even better because you always have more fun when you are with people you like. Individual sports also provide great fun even if you don’t have that family out there with you. They give you the thrill of competing in that one on one environment, or even against yourself if it is a timed sport. Even when you are on the field/ court alone, you always know you have someone there for you watching and that makes it all the more fun.

Athletics also give you a chance to improve skills you can use both in the sport you play, and in life. Along with teaching you things like balance, sports such as soccer, basketball, and football teach you teamwork, one of life’s most important skills. They also teach you to trust your teammate, which in life leads you to trust others around you. What would a football team be if the Quarterback didn’t trust his line to block for him? What would a group project be like if you didn’t trust your partners to do their part of the assignment? In both circumstances it would just be a total mess, and that’s why the lessons we learn in athletics are important on the field and off.

Sports are also beneficial because they give people a reason to work hard at something. Maybe you come from a poor neighborhood with almost no way out. Maybe you struggle through school and no college will accept you. There is an answer for this. Sports. Athletics and Athletic Scholarships to colleges and private high schools offer kids and teens a chance at a good education and a better life. They also give people a chance to make a name for themselves. Another thing sports gives goes hand in hand with the chance at success. It provides the opportunity at financial stability for life. The best athletes today are raking in well over five million dollars from their contracts and you can add a few million in endorsements to that. What they make in a year, many people would love to make in their life. Sports can lead to huge success, what do people have to lose?

In our world where there must be something going on every second of our lives sports offers great entertainment value. First of all it gives people something to debate and talk about. What team is better? Who will win the Super Bowl? Those are questions that can be heard over and over at any point during the year. Sports are one of the biggest markets in the world, and us Americans embrace it. Families and friends get together for cookouts or to tailgate at the stadium or at home before the big college or pro football game that they will all go in to see. Some of the most watched cable television channels are Sports Channels ESPN and ESPN2. Along with all of that, the most watched show/ event on television is the Super Bowl. This just shows how much Americans love their sports.

The sports industry employs many Americans, and the money generated for the private sector and the government alike is one of its primary benefits. The support that sports gives to the economy goes well beyond the amount of jobs it supplies though. At stadiums you may have noticed, they charge a 10% stadium tax on all food and merchandising items. With the amount of these items that teams sell, this raises a whole lot of money for the local and federal government. Having a sports team in the area also helps local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and bars. People often will fly into a town to watch their favorite sports team. During and after one of these events the bars and restaurants around he stadium will get a huge boost to the amount of customers that they get. Sports teams are an essential part of the American economy because of this huge boost that they provide to the finances of the government and private businesses.

The sports world has the world and country we live in a hold. It is one of the ways we can relieve our stress and ourselves of leftover energy while having fun and improving our physical condition. It teaches us many life lessons and helps us strive for success. It provides many with entertainment and that big game on the weekend provides an escape from the hassle of daily life. And the positive economical impact that the sports market gives to the country is a huge part of why even in a recession we are still staying afloat. Because of all the benefits it gives us, sports are an essential part of life in America.

-A

Sunday, October 3, 2010

MLB Races tight til the end

Two serious MLB Divisional races went right down to the wire, both ending on the regular seasons final day. Today both the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Fransisco Giants clinched the AL East Division and the NL West Division respectively. In a 3-2 12 inning victory over the Kansas City Royal Tampa Bay held of a New York Yankees team that just failed to finish strong (3-7 in last 10), therefore giving the Rays home field advantage up until the World Series if they make it there. There is still hope for Yankees fans, because although they failed to win the division, they still got a wild card spot and have a great chance to make noise in the postseason.

Another Exciting Division clinching game happened today in the Bay Area during which a charging Giants shoved a Padres team that was shrinking under pressure out of its way in a 4-0 win. The victory not only Puts the Giants in and keeps the Padres out of the playoffs, it also puts retiring Braves manager and surefire hall of famer Bobby Cox into the final month of the season to tough it out one more time. This baseball season was exciting all around, and hopefully the postseason will be just as good.

-A