Dipping Debacle

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:48:42 -0500

Dipping Debacle
By Andrew Pluta

US Senators have been pushing to create a new implication which makes illegal the use of smokeless tobacco in professional baseball. In a recent SI.com article, senators wrote to union head Michael Weiner "When players use smokeless tobacco, they endanger not only their own health, but also the health of millions of children who follow their example." Although this may be true, many player disagree, claiming that chewing, or "dipping" is a personal choice and a sports tradition that has taken place for over a century.

Although it may be unhealthy, it is proven that chewing or dipping relaxes a player and can increase athletic performance. If the MLB were to place a ban, many players would have a difficult time adapting to the change. Players understand that their actions may have an impact on the children who look up to them, therefore many player are making an effort to "dip in private". This includes using spit-less products such as Snooze, and only chewing in the dugout when they are not under a spotlight. Others feel that it is not the US Senate's responsibility to dictate the lives of these athletes. When asked about the issue, Texas Ranger pitcher Matt Harrison states that "If that's what you want to do, then you do it". This seems to be the common opinion of most baseball players, from high school to the major leagues.

Dipping has become a rising trend in high schools across America. Other sports, such as hockey and lacrosse, have started to include tobacco as a part of their culture as well, which is becoming an issue for many parents. While most people have their different opinions, we can all come to the conclusion that the use of tobacco in the MLB has had a great influence on children and other athletes of various sports.

Romanian Fan Breaks Soccer Player’s Cheek

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:09:07 -0500

Romanian Fan Breaks Soccer Player’s Cheek
By Austin Calista
It was a normal Sunday Futbol game between the two teams Steaua Bucharest and Petrolul Ploiesti when something unusual broke out. With a normal amount of fans on this day everything was going normal up until the first half came to a conclusion. Steanua Bucharest had a good lead with a score of 2-0. As they planned to play the next forty five minutes with just as much power and skill as the first half to take a victory from Petrolul Ploiesti. When the final whistle is blown by the referee and the gameplay is stopped both teams turn to head towards their locker rooms for quick breather to recap the game with their coaches.
When no one notices a male Romanian soccer fan jumps out of the stands and starts to jog towards the defender of the Steaua Bucharest George Galamaz. As Galamaz is just about to turn towards this fan because he senses him it is too late. The Romanian soccer fan punches Galamaz directly in the cheek with no intensions what so ever. Although many other fans and players think that the fan is done he starts to charge towards George Galama's teamates. Steaua Bucharest is in a great deal of anger towards this fan for hurting Galamaz and fights this man off until help has arrived.
After this severe injury the game was canceled. Galamaz was injured and immediately sent to the Military hospital in Bucharest. He was held at the hospital for about fifteen hours and then released with forty-five days of resting and cheering on his teammates from the sidelines. As for the fan, he was arrested to an Act of Violence and put in jail for twenty-nine days. The players that helped Galamaz were also giving red cards due to their excessive beating towards the Romanian fan.

Roethlisberger Outshines Brady in Steelers’ Win

Thu, 3 Nov 2011 13:04:30 -0400

Roethlisberger Outshines Brady as Steelers Beat Patriots
By Zach Coyne
Pittsburgh – The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated The New England Patriots in a duel between the two AFC powerhouses on Sunday. The game kicked off at 4:15, and ended with the Steelers finally seizing victory; 25-17. All week nearly every sports analyst claimed that The Patriots would win. Even former Steeler Kordell Stewart said that Pittsburgh had “No chance.”

Tom Brady was 6-1 all time against Pittsburgh. Yours truly was at the Sunday night game last year where he lit up the Steelers in an ugly one-sided victory. The Steelers finally beat New England because they beat Tom Brady at his own game.
The Steelers won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. They then marched down the field each drive on the NFL’s worst defense. Ben Roethlisberger expertly zipped the ball to his speedy wide receivers (minus Hines Ward, who was injured) on each drive. The miss-match of the 6’5, 260 pound tight end heath miller against all the smaller patriots became comical to watch. He finished the game with 7 catches for 85 yards, standing head and shoulders over every patriot defender.
Tom Brady struggled to play from behind, as the Steelers quickly jumped out to a 10 point lead, the patriot’s biggest deficit this year. The Steelers applied constant pressure to the 2-time NFL MVP, and battered all his receivers as they struggled to get open. Eventually Roethlisberger threw an ugly underthrown pass straight to linebacker Gary Guyton, which led to an easy Patriot touchdown. The Steelers played keep away from the best quarterback in the AFC, only punting the ball once all game.
Down by a touchdown, Belichick put the game in the hands of his expert quarterback, who was stripped of the ball, which was hit by Polamalu into the end zone for a safety, securing the game. After an ugly failed onside kick by the Patriots, (they haven’t recovered an onside kick in 18 years) The Steelers ran down the clock for the win.
Game notes: Kevin Faulk played in his first game of the season, having 6 carries for 32 yards. The unstoppable patriot’s tight end Gronkowski had 7 catches for 94 yards. Mike Wallace had 7 catches for 70 yards. Lamar Woodley, the Steelers stud pass rusher, had two sacks, extending his stellar season total to 9, but left the game with a hamstring injury. Stat of the game: Ben Roethlisberger had 50 pass attempts, and the Patriots only ran 50 offensive plays.

Secret Handshake?

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:36:57 -0400

Good Sportsmanship?
By Austin Calista
The head coach of the San Francisco 49ers Jim Harbaugh decides to approach the Lions coach Jim Schwartz with an unnecessary hand shake. Jim Harbaugh has a reputation with San Francisco 49s as a coach willing to do what it takes to get them to the Super Bowl. In his previous years of coaching he has been recognized for taking a team with the same ability and turning them into winners. Jim Schwartz, starting the Lions off with a great season being undefeated looses with a last minute game changer. Schwartz lets his anger interfere and come between the two teams. After the game a conference was held with the 49s head coach Jim Harbaugh, in order to apologize for his extraneous actions.
It was a close game between the Lions and 49ers when it came down to the fourth quarter and there was only a small point difference. As the 49ers pull there team together for the game changer play the quarterback made a phenomenal pass into the end zone. The 49ers finally were able to break through on offense for their second touchdown of the game with 2 minutes to go. Delanie Walker caught a six yard touchdown pass on fourth down to put the 49ers on top. After the Lions turned the ball over on downs they knew it was over. To settle the win, Akers added another field goal.
Some people will argue that the handshake and slap on the back was completely unnecessary while others agree it wasn’t a big deal and the head coach of the Lions is just a sore loser. Although Jim of the 49ers did apologize you can tell there is still going to be a small feud between the coaches if they happen to meet up again.

The Uncertain Future of USA Softball

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:17:57 -0400

USA Softball: Canceled or Not??
By Janelle Hashway

The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) is having difficulties trying to find women and men who are interested and passionate about the amazing and intense sport of softball. Last year the Women’s Softball Squad won the World Cup with Jenny Finch and Monica Abbott pitching. They have a good defense and offense to create their team. But now, in the year 2011-2012, they are having trouble trying to find good enough players. University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst is trying to help this USA team by submitting some of their players. UMass also has a very intense and good team so most of their players are eligible to play on the USA team.

Coach Mike Candrea says that "many people are starting to give up on softball because its a feminine sport. But not all softball players have to be women. Men can play slow pitch softball and even fast pitch if they wanted. It’s not just a girl thing."

A women that owns a softball training business in Uxbridge, Massachusetts is very passionate about the sport of softball. She was a USA pitcher back in the 1980s. She opened her business in 1997 and says that "she has a lot of girls that are very passionate about softball. They work hard and when they work, you can see it in their faces that they really want to get better, and become better. Practice makes perfect, and impossible is nothing."

NHL Cracks Down on Cheapshots and Concussions

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:05:48 -0400

NHL Cracks Down on Cheapshots
By Andrew Pluta

There has been a lot of controversy in the NHL lately regarded the rising number of players experiencing permanent neurological damage due to sustained injuries caused from violent head shots. The NHL has implemented a new set of rules which includes harsher punishment for those involved in intentionally targeting the head of an opponent. Players are starting to realize that the NHL is getting serious when it comes to suspensions this year. This has been causing a great degree of controversy as players feel that the NHL is trying to "soften" the game. Enforcers like Shawn Thornton and Matt Cooke state that violence is simply a necessity and by taking it away, the NHL would be taking a way a "part of the game" that has been cherished by fans and players for such a long time.

Others disagree, claiming that the NHL is too lenient, and it is only a matter of time before players develop long term effects of concussions. Star players like Pittsburgh Penguins center Sydney Crosby and Boston Bruins center Marc Savard are suffering with post traumatic stress disorders after experiencing heavy blows to the head during the 2010-2011 season. Both Players are sidelined for the start of this years season, a tremendous loss to both teams. Other key players, like Pittsburgh Penguins agitator Matt Cooke, will be missing significant amount of time this season due to longer suspensions and stricter rules. Players like Cooke, who are known for being "tough guys" are having a difficult time adapting to the new changes in the league.

Three Down, One To Go

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 07:50:24 -0400

Three Down, One To Go
By Andrew Dulac
For their first time in the Eastern Conference Finals since 1992, The Boston Bruins have made the most of their opportunity taking a three games to two lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dropping games one and four, Boston has responded in games two, three and five with hard battled victories. Last night in Boston the B’s shutdown the Lightning snipers and with some help from lady luck, won game five 3-1 to take a three games to two series lead in the ECF and put themselves in position for their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 19 years.
Things didn’t look so hot for the B’s after coming off of their disappointing game four performance where they lost an early three goal lead tying the series at two games a piece. Just 1:10 into the first period Simon Gagne netted the games first goal on a perfect feed from Lightning sniper Steven Stamkos. Simon Gagne has made him self a well hatted individual in Boston getting the Game winner in game four and netting the game winner in last year’s collapse against the Philadelphia Flyers. Boston was brutally out played by the Lightning in the first getting out shot 14-4, yet still very well and alive in the hockey game. The first period was a workout for the Bruin’s penalty kill as they went out and shutdown the Bolt’s power play with strong and aggressive box coverage.
The second period was all the Bruin’s as they walked right back into the game when Nathan Horton scored the tying goal of a face off win by David Krejci, which was then grabbed by Milian Lucic and sent cross ice for a one time feed by Horton beating the sliding Mike smith just over his right pad. The goal was registered at 4:24 of the period. At 15:56 of the second the Bruin’s strike again as Zdeno Chara would follow his own dump in and slide a pass down to the hash marks toward Patrice Bergeron. Looking up, finding the puck and looking for a hard charging Brad Marchand. The bullet pass redirected by Marchand went right pass the diving Smith and under the Bar giving the Bruin’s a 2-1 lead.
Coming out of the locker room with the lead the Bruin’s had to feel comfortable and confident knowing they have been the best third period team in the NHL this year. Out shooting Boston again in the second, Tampa Bay appeared to be napping in their own end in the second which caused them to come out strong and attack the Bruin’s end. Thomas stood on his head stopping all 11 shots he faced including the save of the year, never mind the save of the playoffs getting his stick in front of a wide open net that Steve Downie appeared to have the game tieing goal. Boston then rode the momentum of that save all the way to the end of the game as Boston did net an insurance goal. Rich Peverley scored on the open net with an assist from Chris Kelly. It was his second goal of the playoffs. Game 6 is a potential opportunity for the B’s to close out the series and finally give the Bruins fan’s another Stanley Cup Final appearance. The game will be played on VS at 8:00 from the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa Bay.

New York Mets Update

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 07:43:27 -0400

New York Mets Update

By Adam Bartlett

On May 19th the New York Mets were hosting the Washington Nationals for the third day in a row. The Mets won with a score of 1-0. The Mets pitcher, Dillon Gee nearly threw the first no-hitter in Mets history. It was in the top of the sixth inning, when Livan Hernandez, the Nationals pitcher, the least threatening hitter got a single shattered any hope of a history breaking game on May 19th. The Mets dominated the day with far more hits than the Nationals, which only had 2 by the top of the ninth inning.

The Germanator

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 07:40:56 -0400

The Germanator
By Tyler Walker
Dirk Nowitzki has been playing lights out in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Dirk has lead the Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals after beat the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round and sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers. He has put his team on his back and has given every defense migraines by hitting shots even with hands in his face as he fades away. If the Mavericks are to win the championship, it will be in large part because of Dirk’s performance.
Dirk has caused many mismatches and capitalizes every time. He is averaging 27.7 points a game on an average of 38 minutes a game. What is most impressive of all of this is that he is constantly drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. His most impressive game of the post season came against the Oklahoma Thunder when Dirk scored an amazing 48 points in the win. Half of his points though, came from free throws as he hit all 24 free throws he attempted. In each of the games in their series with the Thunder, the Thunder focus their defense on trying to get in position to prevent Dirk from getting passes where he wants them. By doing this, the Thunder are able to slow down the Mavericks and keep Dirk from getting as many looks in his sweet spots on the court. Despite their best efforts, the Thunder are unable to completely stop Dirk from pulling up and knocking down his shots. Many times a second man comes to try to contain Dirk but fail despite their best efforts. He just pulls up and drains the shot even with two hands in his face especially down the stretch in critical game situations. This is why some people call him Dirk Nomisski.
If Dirk is going to move on to win his first championship title, the Mavericks will need a few other people to step up and help Dirk out. Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion are going to have to help take some of the focus off of Dirk. If these two can get into a rhythm early and hit consistently from outside, the Mavericks will have a great chance of winning it all. It would be great to see Dirk solidify his Hall of Fame career with a championship ring. This will help get Dirk into a class above many and he will not have to be scrutinized for never winning a championship. I for one will be cheering the Germanator on as he looks to crush anyone in his path. There are many people who hope to see the same. Jeff Eaton put it best when he said “Dirk won’t be stopped, you better believe that” and I couldn’t agree more.