Wait..... What?

This month was filled with sports shockers and upsets. I’ve highlighted three stories that caught my eye. Please comment with any other interesting/outrageous sports event s you’ve encountered this month.

WHAT MADE ME GO “HUH?” THIS MONTH IN SPORTS:

The T.O. Show: Really? Like for real? This guy’s ego isn’t big enough as it is? He needs his own show to boost it a little more? Personally, I don’t even consider him one of the greats. His talent may get him on SportsCenter once in a while, but most of the publicity that surrounds T.O. comes from the mockery he makes of himself, not his athleticism. It’s truly embarrassing that his potential is being wasted for the sake of being in the spotlight. I wish he could, for once, blend in to his team and not try to be the center of attention. Then maybe we could see the full athletic capabilities of Terrell Owens and not the show put on by T.O.

It ain’t over till it’s over: I have heard this famous Yogi Berra quote for years. I know it can be applied to most any competition, but my personal experience has been with baseball and softball, though I have seen examples in football. Well, this week I learned of another sport that this quote could be applied to, golf. As everyone in sports world knows, going into the last day of the British Open, Tom Watson was everyone’s favorite. And as everyone in the sports world also knows, Watson was not the winner of the British Open: Stewart Cink was. Personally, I feel for Cink. He won a major golf championship, and all anyone can do is feel sorry for the guy who came in second. I’m sorry he wasn’t the favorite but c’mon people. His athleticism brought him to the championship and his endurance and focus won him a title. Let’s give the man some credit. I understand that Watson made a great story, but unfortunately the ending was not written as planned. I hate seeing headlines that say that Watson lost the title, and Cink didn’t win it. Well, obviously he played well enough to compete with and beat Watson, so he did in fact win the title; it’s not like someone just handed it to him. Let’s give some credit where credit is due.

You don’t need meat to hit home runs: Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers is this year’s winner of the Home Run Derby. Fielder is also a vegetarian. It is pretty uncommon that you see a professional athlete who doesn’t eat meat, especially a male athlete. Fielder was not considered the favorite in the derby; many thought he wouldn’t be able to make it to the last round swinging as hard as he did in the first. Ironically, Fielder won the last round with six home runs but could have easily hit more seeing as he was cut off with five outs still to spare. Not only did he prove those wrong that didn’t believe in his endurance, but he also showed America that people can still be strong, athletic and competitive without eating meat. It is not the necessity, most believe it is, and Fielder showed us that last week. Now let’s just hope he’s not tied to steroids in any way whatsoever. The MLB needs a hero, not another heartbreaker.

The Asterisked List

Throughout my life I have been exposed to many figures that I could call “role models”. Personally, many of these people have been sports figures, specifically baseball players. I remember one of the first players I ever idolized. He seemed like a giant to me, untouchable in the eyes of baseball. I thought for sure he was one of the greatest hitters of all time, that he would most definitely go down in history for his incredible hitting performance. His name was Sammy Sosa.
Unfortunately by now, we all know the story that goes along with this great hitter and the majority of the great hitters of our generation. I will recognize that I can’t lump all great hitters into the “cheaters” category, but regrettably it’s hard not to be a skeptic these days.

By now, you know that I talking about the undeniable “Steroids Era”, as it has been so appropriately named. It seems as though every day I hear about a new player testing positive for some kind of performance-enhancing drug that has long been outlawed my Major League Baseball. I believe the latest news I have heard was actually about Sammy Sosa: he had tested positive for steroids in 2003 when given a scheduled drug test. Not only does this show Sosa’s disregard for the regulations set by Major League Baseball, but it also shows his disrespect for every American baseball fan. Imagine those who have been Cubs fans for decades only to have the reputability of their clubhouse questioned because their players couldn’t abide by the rules.

And not to single out Sosa at any cost because he is by no means the only one breaking the rules. Major names such as Andy Petitte, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguz have all been tied to prohibited performance-enhancing drug abuse. However, the one player that has riddled me the most with his connection to illegal drug use is Manny Ramirez. He never tested positive for “steroids”, but he did test positive for a female hormonal drug that has been known to mask steroid use. Does this mean his years of success with the Red Sox are now null and void? Will his reputation ever be able to come back from this lethal blow? Unfortunately, I can only think the answers to these questions are negative ones.
It seems to me that any player tainted with a connection to steroids is pretty much out of luck, which he should be. Even if some of these all time greats get voted into the hall of fame, their names will be marked with an asterisk explaining how illegal drugs helped enhance their statistics. So congratulations, you made it into the HOF but EVERYONE knows that you cheated your way there…. Seems a little bittersweet, don’t you think?

I want to take a minute to talk about Manny Ramirez in a little more detail. He played with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 when after an 86 year “curse,” they finally won a World Series title. Manny was, for lack of a better term, the man in Boston. He and Big Papi (David Ortiz) had finally granted the wish of Red Sox Nation, to reverse the curse. Ramirez stayed with the Sox until the summer of 2008 when his relationship with the organization became somewhat unsound. Apparently there was a monetary issue with resigning Ramirez, and there was no working it out. In a three-team deal, Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. At this point Ramirez had no ties to steroids, and his fan base easily shifted with him from the eager Red Sox mindset to a more easygoing LA atmosphere. At the beginning of the 2009 season, the Dodgers were maximizing the advertising potential of Manny Ramirez. With the left field stands deemed as “Mannywood”, it seemed that Ramirez had made a new home. And it was not without good reason. As of May 6, the Dodgers were 21-8 and undefeated at home. It seemed that Ramirez had helped jumpstart a potential winning season, but unfortunately, less a day later he would be assigned to the bench. On May 7, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games due to illegal drug use. Not only were there concerns about Ramirez’s reputation and statistics, but many were now also concerned with how the Dodgers would do without their big slugger. Coincidentally, it has almost been 50 games, and the Dodgers are doing just fine - in fact better than fine. As of today (June 23), LA is leading not only their division by eight and a half games and the National League by seven games, but they are also leading the MLB by four games. These statistics should be enough explanation without going in to detail, but I will.

Obviously, Major League Baseball teams do not need players infected with steroids to win games. They need what they have always needed: players with talent, athleticism and heart. Now I’m not saying that there aren’t players still out there playing juiced up and going unnoticed, but it has to be recognized that steroids are nowhere near necessary to produce good results and powerful numbers. You have to remember, all those athletes using steroids are only AMONG those with the greatest numbers (they aren’t the only ones capable of producing such extraordinary figures). The records these juiced “athletes” are trying to break were all set by those uncontaminated by performance enhancing drugs.

I wish I could say the steroids era was over, but unfortunately it is my belief that it is only just beginning. For years to come, baseball fans are going to be continually let down as more of their favorite players are added to the asterisked list.

So boys, let’s lay off the juice and bring baseball back to the All-American past time. Numbers are only numbers; besides what’s the point of getting all those hits or striking out all those batters if you are only going to go down in history as a cheater?

I think Red Sox closer, Jon Papelbon, said it best, “It’s really easy actually… They make a pamphlet for you in Spanish and English and you just read it and know what not to take.”

The Naked Redskin

It seems to me that today’s athletes are less and less concerned with their images. Professional athletes are supposed to be role models and conduct themselves in a good manner in the public eye. Whether it be football or baseball, these sports are America’s favorite past times. These athletes worked so hard to get to where they are, I just don’t understand why they would say something stupid in the media to damage their reputations.

Michael Vick was the quarterback or the Atlanta Falcons before he was arrested for dog-fighting and gambling. This man was a star in the eyes of his fans, but when the public became aware of his acts, his reputation was ruined. Another example is the Vince Young situation. This rookie quarterback for the Titans has been in the media for the last week because of his so-called depression. Although Young denied that he was depressed or made any statements about the situation, the story came out in the media. So even if the allegations are not true, in the public eye, Young seems like a depressed rookie who can’t handle the big leagues. Also, I want to discuss Clinton Portis from the Washington Red Skins. A former Red Skin named Brian Mitchell was conducting his radio show and began to talk about Portis in a negative way. Now instead of handling himself in a professional way, Portis called the radio station yelling at Brian Mitchell. Obviously this was not a good move on Portis’s part, and he could have handled the situation much more maturely. And lastly, but probably the most absurd, is Chris Cooley’s blog. Cooley displayed plays from his team while posing naked and then posted the picture on his website. Obviously the picture was taken down, but not before fans and media could get a hold of it. There are two problems with this issue. First, why would Cooley ever post pictures of his playbook before he was about to play? Second, why was he naked? The entire situation was ridiculous and made Cooley look very immature and asinine.

I don’t know why people work so hard just to throw things away. Vick may play football again, but it will be after his 23 month jail time period. Young will come back and play for the Titans when his body heals but from now on, his mental state will be challenged. Portis’ career won’t be affected by his conflict, but his actions cannot be taken back. And as for Cooley, he will now be seen as the Naked Redskin. Now after all that work, determination, hours of practicing, and years of staying healthy, these players still risk their dreams for stupid minor details. It doesn’t make sense to me, but then again I’m not a professional athlete, so who am I to judge…