This is going to be my last column for a little while. How long? I'm not really sure. Probably at least two weeks, although with my work ethic it could be much longer. Monday morning I start training camp for football which lasts for two weeks. It's pretty much all day (13 hours or so) so it will leave me with little time and energy to do anything else. After that school starts and with that and football I get even busier if that's possible so I'm hoping I can bang out one small column a week but we'll see.
With that said today is pretty much my last day of summer and the last day I'll have off until thanksgiving. So I feel it's a good time for reflection. This summer probably has been the least memorable one for me in a long time. For one I was too old to play summer football which is something I've done since I was 11 years old (I'm twenty now). On top of that I was supposed to get a Co-op position this summer but that fell through so I got a typical retail job and worked more than was really necessary. My downtime was pretty much spent training for the upcoming season. Not very exciting at all which isn't that big of a deal. School is unbelievably awesome so I can deal with having a more workmanlike summer. The thing that worries me is that this is going to be what summer is like for the rest of my life. That scares me. Summer is without a doubt the best time of the year with the warm weather and the nice tanned skin, the barely there clothing on the ladies, the long days of sunlight it just goes on and on. If this is a preview of my working life than I think I better go for my masters just so I can extend school a little longer.
It didn't help that the sports scene was pretty depressing with all the scandals and the Bonds bashing. So with that said here's my advice for the rest of you feeling like me with a summer being wasted. Mine is over but you can do some things to salvage the rest of it.
1) Go to a baseball game. Minor or Major league, doesn't matter. There's nothing more summer than baseball.
2) Go to the batting cages and take a couple of swings. It's more fun than should be. If you're not having a good time I don't know what to tell you.
3) Go to a drive in movie. Preferably with a girl but if you can't swing a date that's alright. We've all been there.
4) Go for a late night drive into the country and watch the stars. Sounds lame but isn't. No really it isn't.
5) Spend as much time outside as possible. The cold weather is coming, enjoy the sun while it lasts.
That's pretty much it. Hope your summer was better than mine and if it wasn't than seize the day. Wish me luck at training camp. Only two more of these then my football career is over and I'll have a real breakdown.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
College Football VS NFL
The nothing but baseball abyss is almost over. College football is just around the corner. O.K. it's more like a couple of weeks away and as far as following a season from start to finish the college football season for me ranks just a notch above the NFL. Shocking? Well not quite if you break it down scientifically.
Better Atmosphere: Hands down it's college football. The passion of sometimes over 100,000 is absolutely electric and it translates to the televised product. I can only imagine what it's like at the stadium. The NFL fans by comparison are fairly reserved. It's tough to have passion for a professional team like you can for the school you went to or currently go to.
Big Edge: College Football
Better Athletes: Obviously the NFL has the best football players in the world although there is something to be said to watch a player dominate in college. It's a real treat to watch a once in a decade athlete absolutely destroy teams like Reggie Bush and Vince Young. You only get a very brief period (3 years) to enjoy it then it's over.
Edge: NFL
Better Games: A good college game trumps any regular season NFL game. When two teams are undefeated and highly ranked there's nothing like and same goes for rivalry games like Michigan Ohio State. The problem is these games are sandwiched between unwatchable beatdowns. Plus watching two mediocre teams isn't very exciting either. With the NFL everygame is watchable but you don't get the same excitement for the marquee games that college does.
Edge: Even
Better Playoffs: Considering College Football doesn't even have playoffs the NFL will obviously take this one. But if College Football ever adopted a playoff system it would be absolute mayhem.
Big Edge: NFL
Better Video Game: The NFL's got Madden, and College Football has NCAA football. I know Madden is universally considered the best football game ever. But NCAA football is better. (yeah I said it) Dynasty mode in college football were you recruit players, players jump to the pros early, skip class and get in trouble is even better than Madden's franchise mode. I'll fight you to the death over this point and I'm serious.
Slight Edge: College Football
Wildcard:
NFL: Fantasy football. Enough said
College Football: There's something cool about the players leaving every four years. Gives teams hope to recruit better players and it's nice to see kids grow up on the field and not have to witness them grow old and grey with diminished skills like in the NFL.
Edge: NFL
O.K. so when you break it down there's no logical reason why I like College football better than the NFL. But I guess that's the thing about sports it doesn't have to make perfect sense. There's just a youthful enthusiasm with College Football where they're (hopefully) playing for the love of the game and not the money. It's pure and exciting and to me takes the cake even over the NFL.
Better Atmosphere: Hands down it's college football. The passion of sometimes over 100,000 is absolutely electric and it translates to the televised product. I can only imagine what it's like at the stadium. The NFL fans by comparison are fairly reserved. It's tough to have passion for a professional team like you can for the school you went to or currently go to.
Big Edge: College Football
Better Athletes: Obviously the NFL has the best football players in the world although there is something to be said to watch a player dominate in college. It's a real treat to watch a once in a decade athlete absolutely destroy teams like Reggie Bush and Vince Young. You only get a very brief period (3 years) to enjoy it then it's over.
Edge: NFL
Better Games: A good college game trumps any regular season NFL game. When two teams are undefeated and highly ranked there's nothing like and same goes for rivalry games like Michigan Ohio State. The problem is these games are sandwiched between unwatchable beatdowns. Plus watching two mediocre teams isn't very exciting either. With the NFL everygame is watchable but you don't get the same excitement for the marquee games that college does.
Edge: Even
Better Playoffs: Considering College Football doesn't even have playoffs the NFL will obviously take this one. But if College Football ever adopted a playoff system it would be absolute mayhem.
Big Edge: NFL
Better Video Game: The NFL's got Madden, and College Football has NCAA football. I know Madden is universally considered the best football game ever. But NCAA football is better. (yeah I said it) Dynasty mode in college football were you recruit players, players jump to the pros early, skip class and get in trouble is even better than Madden's franchise mode. I'll fight you to the death over this point and I'm serious.
Slight Edge: College Football
Wildcard:
NFL: Fantasy football. Enough said
College Football: There's something cool about the players leaving every four years. Gives teams hope to recruit better players and it's nice to see kids grow up on the field and not have to witness them grow old and grey with diminished skills like in the NFL.
Edge: NFL
O.K. so when you break it down there's no logical reason why I like College football better than the NFL. But I guess that's the thing about sports it doesn't have to make perfect sense. There's just a youthful enthusiasm with College Football where they're (hopefully) playing for the love of the game and not the money. It's pure and exciting and to me takes the cake even over the NFL.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Hall of Fame
This past weekend was quite the milestone fest. Bonds hit number 755, A-Rod hit number 500 and Glavine won number 300. So with that in mind I think it's time to determine just who of the current baseball players will make the hall of fame if they all retired today. There might be some omissions because I'm not really sure if guys like Rickey Henderson are still technically not retired. Plus I'm bound to miss another handful or so players because I'm not very good at this sort of thing.
Anyways now that I've got your interest piqued here we go
Sure Fire Locks
1) Roger Clemens: Has the wins, K's, and the Cy Youngs.
2) Barry Bonds: Possibly the best player ever
3) Greg Maddux: Over three hundred wins, a handful of Cy Youngs and a World Series.
4) Ken Griffey Jr.: Got the home runs and the defence plus no steriod suspision
5) Tom Glavine: three hundred wins, a Cy Young and a World Series
6) Sammy Sosa: The mans hit six hundred home runs. Give him some credit.
7) Mariona Rivera: For his October dominance alone
8) Randy Johnson: Has the K's, the Cy Youngs and a ring.
Safe Bets
9) Craig Biggio: Has three thousand hits and is one of the best ever offensive second baseman
10) Alex Rodriguez: 500 home runs and 2 MVP's.
11)Frank Thomas: 500 home runs, an MVP and a world series ring
12) Mike Piazza: Best offensive catcher ever
13) John Smoltz: Has a world series ring, lots of wins and saves
Good Shot
14) Omar Vizquel: Longevity plus defence should be enough to get him in.
15) Kenny Lofton: Great longevity, lots of stolen bases, great on-base percentage
16) Trevor Hoffman: All time leader in saves doesn't get his due
17) Manny Ramirez: Nearly 500 home runs, world series MVP, good average.
18) Curt Shilling: Numbers aren't overwhelming but he has two rings and one bloody sock.
19) Ivan Rodriguez: Great defence and good offense, an MVP and a world series ring
20) Gary Sheffield: almost 500 home runs but steriod cloud might be enough to keep him out.
21) Jim Thome: A solid long career but no MVP's, no World Series, still he's going to get 500 homers
22) Derek Jeter: Just because of the rings, although his in season statistics are also pretty good.
Anyways now that I've got your interest piqued here we go
Sure Fire Locks
1) Roger Clemens: Has the wins, K's, and the Cy Youngs.
2) Barry Bonds: Possibly the best player ever
3) Greg Maddux: Over three hundred wins, a handful of Cy Youngs and a World Series.
4) Ken Griffey Jr.: Got the home runs and the defence plus no steriod suspision
5) Tom Glavine: three hundred wins, a Cy Young and a World Series
6) Sammy Sosa: The mans hit six hundred home runs. Give him some credit.
7) Mariona Rivera: For his October dominance alone
8) Randy Johnson: Has the K's, the Cy Youngs and a ring.
Safe Bets
9) Craig Biggio: Has three thousand hits and is one of the best ever offensive second baseman
10) Alex Rodriguez: 500 home runs and 2 MVP's.
11)Frank Thomas: 500 home runs, an MVP and a world series ring
12) Mike Piazza: Best offensive catcher ever
13) John Smoltz: Has a world series ring, lots of wins and saves
Good Shot
14) Omar Vizquel: Longevity plus defence should be enough to get him in.
15) Kenny Lofton: Great longevity, lots of stolen bases, great on-base percentage
16) Trevor Hoffman: All time leader in saves doesn't get his due
17) Manny Ramirez: Nearly 500 home runs, world series MVP, good average.
18) Curt Shilling: Numbers aren't overwhelming but he has two rings and one bloody sock.
19) Ivan Rodriguez: Great defence and good offense, an MVP and a world series ring
20) Gary Sheffield: almost 500 home runs but steriod cloud might be enough to keep him out.
21) Jim Thome: A solid long career but no MVP's, no World Series, still he's going to get 500 homers
22) Derek Jeter: Just because of the rings, although his in season statistics are also pretty good.
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