Early Scholarship Offers

Over the weekend eight-grader Dylan Moses, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, went to a University of Alabama football event. While there Head Coach Nick Saban offered the eight-grader a scholarship for football. Now Dylan isn’t even in high school yet and his anticipated graduation date is 2017.  Recently it has become more popular for Division I schools to offer scholarships to kids not even in high school. Though it is more common for basketball it does happen quite often in football. The question is whether or not this practice is right or wrong. I believe that there is nothing wrong with it.

The first reason why I don’t believe this practice is wrong is because they are just verbal commitments. The school and the coaching staffs involved are just making a verbal commitment to the player based on several variables. The first is whether or not the player will be able to maintain the correct GPA. The second variable is whether or not the player continues to be a dominate force on the court or the field. A third variable is whether or not the player gets injured. Because these are just verbal commitments nothing is contractual and binding making it easy for the teams to back away if something is not right. 

The second reason nothing is wrong with this practice is because it allows the schools to see what kind of student-athlete they are going to get. After offering a young student a scholarship, the schools will be able to tell whether or not they are going to want the player on the team. If the player becomes lazy or satisfied, the coaches will be able to tell. If this occurs, the coaches are most likely not going to offer the player a scholarship when it comes to the actual time to offer the scholarship to the player.

The third reason it is not wrong is because it is becoming a common practice. With this, if a school is not participating in such recruiting practices they will lose players because they will end up “late to the party.” Losing players will result in losing games and quite simply that is not worth it for what the coast of an early verbal scholarship costs. The reward is bigger than the risk. 

While many might consider this practice to be wrong, I believe that it is a low risk high reward practice that ultimately is nothing more than a “IF” commitment because of all that variables that must go right in order for the commitment to come to tuition. So, good luck Dylan. Continue to do what you do on the field and the classroom, but don’t believe that you have a scholarship no matter what because you are still going to have to work for it.

-JM

P.S-I am sorry about not posting that often this past week. Currently with work and school I have been very busy leaving a little amount of time for the blog. I just wanted to let you know.

A Fine Line for Coaches

In the news the past few days there has been this story of California Golden Bears Men's Basketball Coach Mike Montgomery shoving his star player Allen Crabbe. Montgomery initially called the tactic a motivational technique because Crabbe was not playing very hard and that he would do it all over again because, well, "it worked."

 

 It did not take Montgomery very long to back track his statements. Later, on the same night he expressed he did nothing wrong, he expressed a statement of apology and then expressed further on that. "There's no excuse," Montgomery uttered. "I've been doing this 31 years. There's no excuse. I know better. It's totally out of character for me. I think things have changed in terms of how you can deal with kids. There's a heightened sensitivity to these kind of things but that doesn't change it. But there's nothing that makes it right. I was wrong. You have to just acknowledge that and push forward."

Crabbe, the player involved, stated that he understood why his coach did it and that he has not thought to much about it since it happened. Well judging by his reaction, he clearly did not like. Personally I think he was saying what was expected in order to not make it a bigger media story than it already was.

Another incident that happened in the fall involved Senior football player Derek Graves and Head Coach Mike Kramer at Idaho State University. Graves, a wide reciever, preferred to do his one-on-one drills against veteran cornerbacks and not the freshman on the team. (For those who may not know one-on-one for a WR-CB is when the wide receiver runs a route and only one cornerback is defending him) During one practice a freshman line up to go against Graves in a one-on-one drill. When this occurred Graves waved him off and asked an older more experience player to come face him. Upset with this Kramer came running across the field screaming and eventually pushing Graves to the ground. Its reported that Kramer told Graves, "He's a varsity f------ player," before shoving him to the ground. Kramer was only suspended one game.

I understand that coaches need to be able to touch players because athletics are very movement based. However, there are two ways that a coach should never touch or engage in contact with a player. The first of these, for obvious reasons, is sexually. The second of these is with any aggression. Coach should never lay a hand on a player of theirs in an aggressive manor. Coaches should understand one thing, THERE ARE WAYS TO GET TO YOUR PLAYERS WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT.

Playing three years of high school football and four years of college football at Ferrum College I never once had a coach touch me in an aggressive way. I have had many motivational experiences and stern what to dos without a coach touching, pushing, or laying a hand on me. And if a coach should not understand that, more should be done to punish them. If a player does not like something that a coach is doing and aggressively lays his or her hands on their coach, they would more than likely be suspended for a while or kicked off of the team. The actions should be treated as the same.

Coaches should also be aware of how they are treating a player verbally as well. The one thing a coach should learn is how each of their players reacts to verbal criticism and which ones can handle it and which ones cannot. Some might be able to handle name calling as it might motivate them and some might not be able to handle it taking the statements to heart and feeling as though they have been insulted. I was in the first of the two categories, but I do know individuals who I played with who are in the second.

Coaches these days need to understand that not are athletes are created out of the same mold and that they must approach and coach each differently. However, a coach should never put his hands on a player in an aggressive manor. Its unprofessional and it is not needed in coaching. There is a fine line in for coaches but the great ones are able to walk it well.

-JM

Respect for Women in Athletics

Since the night I wrote my first blog, a week or so ago, my little sister has been bugging me to write a blog that “has something to do with women sports.” I’ve been waiting for the right moment; you could say I’ve been waiting for a sign. Well, today ESPN played a feature about Kansas Jayhawks’ Men’s Basketball Strength coach, who just so happens to be a women. While watching this feature, I realized today was that day. So, here it is. 

There is one thing about women athletes and women in athletics that I think they should get more of, RESPECT. 

Though many may find it hard to sit through or watch a women’s athletic event that does not mean you can simply disrespect them for what they do. Most of them have more gumption than half the ignorant jackasses that disrespect them. 

They may not be as big or strong as male athletes but they still work their asses off.  Gone is the time where athletes, man or women, just show up to play a game. Being an athlete in the High School, College, or Professional level requires crazy work ethic and dedication. These girls go to the weight room and lift, they put on running shoes and run, and they also show up to practice and work. They do all the same things in preparing as men do, so why not show them a little more respect. 

A second reason Women Athletes should earn more respect is that they are indeed incredibly talented. Just because they are not a man does not mean they are not good at their respective sport or activity. I know many women soccer players and basketball players who would kick my ass right now in a variety of competitions. Talent does not lie within a sex; it lies within the given individual. Talent also only means so much. A man could be more talented than a woman, but if the women out trains him she’ll win. Work beats talent. 

A third reason would be that these women are just as competitive as any man. Athletics only are very competitive. It you are not competitive, you will not succeed in athletics. I know way too many people who look at a girl and cannot picture her getting intense just because she is beautiful and wears dresses and make-up. I tend to believe that my little is beautiful, however, when she loses a volleyball match, a softball game, and/or does not perform very well in the game she gets very upset, just like how I did. These girls want to do their best, they want to be great, they want to win and when they don’t they are not happy, NOTHING different from the boys.  

Also these women are very knowledgeable about their sports and what needs to be done in order to be great. By practicing and training all the time, these women learn just as much techniques and strategies’ as the men do. A prime example of this is the lead strength coach for the Kansas Jayhawks’ Men’s Basketball team. She gets those guys in shape and fine tunes their bodies for them to be great and she is the best at it. Please watch this video for more on her. 

I am also tired of the statement, “if women athletes want to be taken more seriously they should not showing themselves as sex symbols in commercials, or playboy, or,” the list just continues. Men athletes do the same. Did you not see the 30 second Super Bowl commercial where David Beckham stood only in his underwear the entire time? If you got it, flaunt it.

Women athletes also have to endure just as serious injuries as male athletes, which brings the same intense rehab treatments. Just because they are girls does not mean that they do get hurt or do treatment. They not only have to go through the same injuries as men, people forget, they also have to go through a fight with Mother Nature quite often. Because of this they should get even more respect. Many of these women, mainly in professional sports, give birth. They have to go through wild hormone changes in a nine-month span while a human being is growing within them and the deliver it. Then after birth they have to go through intense workouts in order to get back into playing shape. 

Women Athletes bleed, cry, sweat, work, train, and rehab as much as the men do. Its time they get a little respect for it. 

-JM

Rivalries in Professional Sports

While playing around on ESPN today I saw a quote that instantly made me cringe. The quote was from current New York Yankee Kevin Youkilis. “I'm a Yankee today and I'm excited," Youkilis muttered, "I'm proud to be a Yankee.” You see, the other day Kevin stated how proud of a Boston Red Sock he was and how he will “always be a Red Sock.” For those of you who do not know Youkillis played eight seasons for the Boston Redsox from 2004 until midway through last season when he was traded to the Chicago Whitesox. This offseason Youkillis signed a one year, twelve million dollar contract to play for the Yankees, the Redsox arch rivals. 

The Redsox and the Yankees have a long hated rivalry that can be traced back primarily to the day the Redsox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. I’m sure before that day they didn’t much care for each other either, but that day caused the hatred level to climb unprecedented heights. Since that day the two teams and fan bases have loved to hate each other. 

Because of the history between to two teams I cringed when I saw an ex-Redsox, who had hated the Yankees for so long, say he was proud to be one. The sad thing about me cringing is that I am not a fan of either team. I cringed because, for really the first time it struck me, sports rivalries will never be like they were. 

Being a fan of the Washington Redskins myself, I tend to hate the Dallas Cowboys the most. The chant, “We Want Dallas,” is very popular among us fans; however, the same power it holds today is not the same power it held when it first began.  As fans we hate the Dallas Cowboys, but do we really hate the Cowboys, or do we hate their symbol and what it stands for more than we hate the players themselves? This can be a question asked to all fans of professional sports about their rivals. 

In this day of free agency players change teams more than a Priest prays. This makes it very difficult to hate a player with the same passion knowing that someday he could wind up playing for your favorite team. Because this same hate towards the players cannot be expressed as they were before free agency, the rivalry cannot and will not be the same. 

Before free agency fans of the Redskins could easily hate Roger Staubach with a passion because they knew there was little chance he would end up playing for the Redskins. Today, the Redskins fan will “hate” Cowboys players, only while they are wearing the symbol of the team. A prime example of this could be Stephen Bowen. Bowen is currently a defensive lineman for the Redskins, though he played several years with the Cowboys, fans of the Redskins have found a special place in their heart for one of the captions of their team. When rivalries were in their prime, players could not have switched sides of the same rivalry and be as easily welcomed. 

A second reason that rivalries will never be the same is because of the players themselves. It was very common for players during that period before free agency to have played their entire careers with one team. This caused the players to take a much greater pride in the team they played for and a much greater hate in their rivals. Pride cannot be as easily attained now when a player plays in a League for ten seasons, but plays for six different teams. How is a player now supposed to gain the same level of hate for one individual team in a shorter period of time? I’ll tell you, he can’t. 

These rivalries, in all these professional sports have been tarnished, to a certain degree forever. The hate for a certain team is no longer directed towards the players as it was back in the 60s, 70, 80s, and early 90s, the hate now is directed at the symbol being worn on the uniform. The hate fans have for fans of their rivals remain the same; however, the purity of rivalries in sports is no more.  Those of us who were born and became fans after will never be able to experience the same rivalries that are parents did. 

Thank you, free agency, for ruining the purity of rivalries in professional sports.

-JM

LeBron is better than Jordan

 

Okay, so it’s not that simple is it? Hopefully I have your attention though.  LeBron’s career is still in progress so I’m not going to get into the numbers too much.  I will say, though, that LeBron is still ~3 ppg behind Jordan and is also missing quite a few other trophies and accolades that MJ achieved.  But that’s not how I am basing my comparison here.  I grew up thinking the world of MJ and I am a very admitting “LeBron hater.” Only after realizing Jordan’s imperfections off the court did I start to compare him and LeBron from an unbiased perspective. I guess it took a dislike for both athletes to really compare them for what they are – very different! 

Yes, comparing these two amazing basketball players is, as they say, like comparing apples to oranges. Not only do they play different positions on the court, but they also have their own unique advantages and disadvantages when making this argument. It's hard to keep this argument concise, but I tried!

LeBron, at 6’8” 250 lbs is a physical specimen. He possesses all of the speed and talent of MJ but is far more of a physical force than Jordan who was still an impressive 6’6 216lbs. While Jordan still edges him in championships and ppg among other things, there is no denying that LeBron just edges him in the physical domination category.  Basketball is a team sport, which makes a “1-on-1 comparison” very misleading, but if Jordan and LeBron squared off in their respective primes, I’d take LBJ every day of the week. However, the Bulls would probably win the game, hah!

It does intrigue me, though, how Jordan managed to score more ppg and win more titles (LBJ still has plenty of time, but that is unlikely) than LeBron in a time when defense was actually still played in the NBA. I attribute this to a few things. First, Jordan made everyone around him better, and not just by passing the ball (both have similar assist numbers). MJ had that intangible ability to motivate and elevate his teammates that maybe LBJ just doesn’t have. MJ also had great role playing teammates. LBJ is surrounded by talent, but Miami and Cleveland weren’t quite built like Chicago. Also, Jordan was coached by one of the greatest ever in Phil Jackson, and LeBron has yet to be on a team coached by anyone close to Jackson. Last and probably least important, at 6’6 Jordan is smaller than LBJ, but the league has grown on average and there were not as many humongous athletes as there are today. That being said, maybe Jordan didn’t “need” to be as big as LeBron to have his success in the 80’s and 90’s. I still think Jordan and his Bulls would have a lot of success in today’s NBA, but that’s a hard call to make when the league has changed so much. Would the fact that the NBA has gotten taller and stronger have an effect on their success? Or would their balanced team-style play and Jordan’s speed and skill still give them the same amount of dominance?

I’ve already stated my opinion on this, but I’ll say it again. Based on raw size, style of play and talent, LeBron would have been better than Jordan in his prime. But I have to reiterate, this comparison is so difficult to make because everything and everyone has changed so much. Maybe if Jordan was born in 1985 he would have become more like the guys in this era; who knows? I know this blog has been scattered and I have been ranting, but I hope my point has been clear. Thanks for reading, please feel free to disagree and comment!

-Vince M. L.

Image credit: http://hectornba.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/lebron-james-michael-jordan.jpg

TOP TEN Sports Couples of 2013

As “Hitting A Touchdown” progresses you will quickly learn that there are two things that I love to do, stuff in honor of and countdown lists. Today will mark the first for both. In honor of today being Valentine’s Day I decided that I would have a countdown of the Top Ten Sports Couples for 2013. 

In order to qualify for this list both the male and female must have been, or is, a professional athlete. In order to decide my list the following factors were considered: career accomplishments, length of relationship, and children. 

Without any further ado, here is my Top Ten Sports Couples of 2013…

#10- Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIIroy 

Caroline and Rory

                Dating for a year or so now, Rory and Caroline became engaged just three weeks or so ago. Rory, a professional golfer since 2007, has won both the U.S. Open (2011) and the PGA Championship (2012). In 2012, Rory won PGA Player of the Year Honors and was the PGA Leading Money Winner. Caroline, who is a professional women’s tennis player is currently ranked #10 in the world and held the #1 position for a period of 67 weeks. She also holds a 352-131 record overall.

#9- Alex Ovechkin and Maria Kirlenko

Alex and Maria

                Alex is currently a hockey player for the Washington Capitals in the NHL. Drafted as the first overall pick in the 2004 draft, Alex won the Rookie of the Year honors.  He is a 5x All-Star, 2x NHL Most Valuable Player, and has won many International Competitions as a member of the Russian Hockey Team. His career statistics include over 330 goals and over 340 assist. Maria currently holds the #6 position in the world for women’s tennis and won the 2012 Olympic bronze medal.  Her current professional record is 333-232. Alex and Maria became engaged in late 2012.

AJ and Heather

#8- AJ Feeley and Heather Mitts

                AJ and Heather were married in 2010. AJ played 10 seasons in the NFL as a quarterback for five teams. His career statistics include a 55.8 completion percentage, 28 touchdowns to 31 interceptions, and a 69.1 QB rating. Heather, who carries the couple to this ranking, is a member of the National US Women’s Soccer Team and currently plays professionally for the Boston Breakers in the NWSL. In her career she has helped the National Team win three Olympic gold medals and the Silver in the World Cup.

#7- Candace Parker and Shelden Williams

Shelden and Candace with their daughter in 2012

                Candace and Shelden were married in 2008 and both currently play professional basketball. Candace was the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2008 WNBA draft. She went on to be the Rookie of the Year, a WNBA All-Star, and 2x rebound champion. She has also won 2 gold medals as a part of the US Women’s basketball team.  Shelden was the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He played in the NBA from 2006-2012 for seven totals teams. He is currently playing professionally in France for the Elan Chalon. The two have a three year old daughter named Lailaa.

#6- Casey Daigle and Jennie Finch 

Casey and Jennie with their sons Ace and Diesel

                Casey, a career minor league baseball pitcher, and Jennie, a US Softball star, married in 2005. In his career, Casey has only played 10 games in the MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In those 10 games he is 3-4 with a 7.16 ERA and 30 strikeouts. He is currently in the San Francisco Giants minor league system. Jennie, also a pitcher, has had a much better professional career and is the reason they are this high. Her reputation as a fast thrower and intimidating pitcher helped the US Softball team win both Gold and Silver in two different Olympics. The couple has three children: Ace, six years old, Diesel, 19 months, and Paisley who is only a month old.

#5- Bret Hedican and Kristi Yamaguchi

Kristi and Bret with their Daughters in 2008

                Bret and Kristi married in 2000. Kristi is very well known figure skater who won an Olympic gold in 1992. She also one two World Championship gold medals, two junior World Championship gold medals and a Junior World Championship bronze metal.  While at the 1992 Olympic Games Kristi met Bret, who was a member of the US hockey team. Overall Bret is a two time Olympian and has also played in over 1000 career NHL games for five teams spanning 1991-2009. Bret was able to be a part of one Stanley Cup Championship team in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. Bret and Kristi have two daughters, Keara who is nine and Emma who is seven.

#4- Curtis Conway and Laila Ali

Curtis, Laila, their young children, and two of Curtis' other kids in 2011

                Curtis is a former NFL Wide Receiver who played 12 seasons for four teams, mainly the Bears. In his career Curtis has 594 receptions, 8,230 yards receiving, and 52 touchdown receptions. Daughter of legend Muhammad Ali, Laila is one of the most successful female boxers of all-time. She posts a 24-0 professional record with 21 of them being caused by knockout. In her career, she has held both the WIBA Championship Belt and the IWBF Championship Belt. Curtis and Laila married in 2007 and, along with three children from Curtis’ pervious relationship, have two children of their own. Their son is Curtis, Jr. and their daughter is Sydney, who is four and two respectfully.

#3- Matt Treanor and Misty May-Treanor 

Misty and Matt during his stint with the Marlins

                Misty, a professional beach volleyball player, has had a better career than her husband. Misty has won three Olympic gold medals, three World Championship gold medals, one World Championship silver medal, and one Pan American bronze medal. She recently retired after the 2012 Olympics. Her husband Matt is a career journeyman catcher in Major League Baseball.  Currently a free agent, Matt has played in the MLB since 2004 and for five teams. His career statistics include a .222 batting average, 18 homeruns, and 129 runs batted in. The couple married in 2004 and has no children.

#2- Aaron Ross and Sanya Richards

 

Sanya and Aaron at their Wedding

                Aaron and Sanya currently have no children and have been married since 2010. The reason they are number two on the list is because of how successful both of their individual careers have been.  Aaron, a cornerback in the National Football League, has tallied 246 tackles, 10 interceptions, and two touchdowns in his career that began in 2007 as a first round pick by the Giants. With the Giants he helped the teams win two Super Bowls for the 2007 and 2011 seasons. He is currently a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sanya, on the other hand, is a member of the US Track and Field team. She competes both individually and a part of relays. During her career she has won four gold Olympic medals, one silver Olympic medal, five gold World championship medals, one silver World Championship medal, and both a Gold and a Silver medal in the World Indoor Championships.

And finally, the #1 sports couple on this Valentine’s Day 2013 is……. 

Nomar Garciaparra and Mia Hamm

 

Mia and Nomar with their daughters during his stint with the Dodgers

Nomar and Mia

                Both Nomar and Mia have had stellar careers; they’ve been married since 2003 and have twin daughters, Ava and Grace, who will be five on March 28, and a son named Garrett who was born in January of 2012, making him one.  Mia is, without a doubt, the best female soccer player on the planet. She played for the US Women’s National Team from 1987-2004, joining the team when she was only 15 years old. During this period Mia started 29 of 33 international games, scored 13 goals, 15 assists, and lead the US team to two FIFA World Cup and Olympic gold medals, one Olympic Silver medal, and one FIFA World Cup bronze medal. Nomar was a professional baseball player in MLB for 14 seasons. Over that period he played with the Athletics, Dodgers, and Cubs, however he spent most of his time with the Boston Redsox. In his rookie year, Nomar was able to win the American League Rookie of the Year and was a Silver Slugger. From there the success continued as he ended up being a 6x all-star and two times he led the American League in batting average. His career stats include a .313 batting average, 229 homeruns, and 936 runs batted in.

Congrats to Nomar and Mia for being named #1… although this isn’t that cool to them considering haha

-JM

(NONE OF THESE PICTURES ARE MINE)