You spent 10-15 seconds trying to figure out that title, didn't you? On the way home from work, I heard a radio commercial for a local technical college that attacked traditional colleges by arguing "you don't learn how to repair a computer by reading Shakespeare". This reminded me of all of the worthless classes I had to take to graduate with a business degree (IAH anyone?) The university would argue such curriculum is required to provide a well balanced education. Two and a half years removed and I hardly remember how to balance a ledger let alone anything from my astronomy class. While I feel like I learned a great deal from college (calculating profit margins, navigating through financial statements, marketing and sales tactics, why mixing gatorade and vodka is a bad idea). The system is rigid and outdated due to deeply engrained traditions and philosophies of academia. (I learned how to write an argument like that in High School, not college).
As a business major, I wasn't allowed to touch a non-economics business class until I was halfway done with college. How was I supposed to know a marketing degree was right for me if I was stuck taking life science, spanish, and IAH? If I decided after a year that it wasn't what I wanted, I'd be changing majors at the beginning of my senior year. On top of that, many economic principles are difficult business concepts to understand - how am I supposed to really comprehend them without any business background?? Luckily, I ended up enjoying marketing and was quite successful, minus one bad econ class.
In my opinion, anyone beginning a marketing degree should take Marketing 101 on day one so they know what they're getting themselves into. Same goes for any other major (do they have Teaching 101 Mike?) Since I will never ever deal with any science outside of the animals at the zoos that Stacey and I visit, I shouldn't have been required to take any. In addition, IAH is a complete joke and should be eliminated effective immediately. Anyone who had to sit through it should be reimbursed or at least receive a coupon to the Dairy Store (mmm... revenge ice cream!) Instead of taking rediculous prerequisites, I should have been allowed more time to take electives instead of the 3-4 I was allowed to take to complete my 120 credits. I learned of a Entrepreneur class my senior year that would have been a great learning experience in independence and creativity. Sadly, it wasn't even offered to business majors. Having the ability to better tailor your education to your own needs is critical.
Since we're on the subject of college, I want to discuss some college football since I can't go without talking about sports. I would love to see West Virginia take on OSU if Mizzo loses. Pat White and Steve Slaton are like Juice Williams and Mendenhall from Illinois... except a lot better. They will destroy OSU. I am so hopeful that we get to see Illinois vs. Florida in the Citrus Bowl. It would be a very exciting game to watch and I would love to see Ron Zook stick it to Florida.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Merry Thanksgiving Eve Eve
I seriously feel like it's Christmas because MSU is playing the #1 team in the country and I get to see it! Yes, it is only November, but I think this is MSU's best chance in the next at least the next 2, possibly 3 years. I can't wait to see our freshman trio before one of them leaves for the NBA (one of them will after their sophomore year, mark my word). But MSU will bounce back, just like America did after Pearl Harbor and 9/11! (Thanks Saban, you ignorant jackass.) The class of 2009 has a lot of highly ranked players in the midwest and most are considering MSU. I pay a little attention to recruiting and the one thing I can't understand is why so many kids across the country consider OSU. Their program used to be mediocre but when Thad Matta steps through the door, every kid in the country wants to be a Buckeye. I am still trying to find the secret OSU Hummer dealership and Team VIP strip club. Case in point: three of the Top 10 recruits for the class of 2010 are already committed to OSU. Ok, time to stop discussing 16 year olds. Did anyone else hear Master P's son, Lil' Romeo committed to USC? Make em say Uggh!
So here's my initial thoughts on MSU. I really like how they look defensively (which is easy to say being that they haven't given up a point in the first 5 minutes). Their positioning is great - they look like they have the cohesiveness of a Jan./Feb. team on defense. Naymick is a complete liability on defense, though. Offensively, they have some work to do. They get a little bit of a pass since their leader has the stomach flu. They need to improve upon their passing when they get in their half court sets. Chris Allen has really had some flashes of greatness early on with the falling jumper and the turnaround layup. Raymar Morgan looks great on both ends of the court. I am still hoping to see Marquise Gray step up offensively and defensively. I don't know why the referees decided to be so much more conservative 5 minutes into the game. Does anyone know where Maurice Joseph wound up? We just passed the 10 minute mark in the first half, so I'm out.
So here's my initial thoughts on MSU. I really like how they look defensively (which is easy to say being that they haven't given up a point in the first 5 minutes). Their positioning is great - they look like they have the cohesiveness of a Jan./Feb. team on defense. Naymick is a complete liability on defense, though. Offensively, they have some work to do. They get a little bit of a pass since their leader has the stomach flu. They need to improve upon their passing when they get in their half court sets. Chris Allen has really had some flashes of greatness early on with the falling jumper and the turnaround layup. Raymar Morgan looks great on both ends of the court. I am still hoping to see Marquise Gray step up offensively and defensively. I don't know why the referees decided to be so much more conservative 5 minutes into the game. Does anyone know where Maurice Joseph wound up? We just passed the 10 minute mark in the first half, so I'm out.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Baseball in November
Somewhere between the A-Rod and Bonds talk, I got to thinking about the baseball team I would field if I had any choice of players. The result was a payroll of $121,292,075 - third highest in the league. Granted, I have some roster spots to fill, but I would have $73,936,970 to work with if I had the Yankees payroll. That's about $10 million per person. So here's what I came up with. And yes, I did spend way too much time on this.
C Jorge Posada
1B Albert Pujols
2B Chase Utley
3B David Wright
SS Derek Jeter
LF Manny Ramirez
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Magglio Ordonez
SP Jake Peavy
SP Johan Santana
SP CC Sabathia
SP Josh Beckett
SP Brandon Webb
CP Jonathan Papelbon
I love looking at players' salaries on ESPN. My most interesting find: Josh Beckett made $6,666,667 in 07. Is he the devil? Also, 16 of the 25 players on the Florida Marlins make the league minimum of $380,000 and I don't think I've heard of a single one of them. Plus, Jason Giambi is the most overpaid player. For one Jason Giambi, at $23,428,571, you can get:
The Jason Giambi All Stars
C Joe Mauer
1B Prince Fielder
2B Dustin Pedroia
SS Hanley Ramirez
3B David Wright
LF Matt Holliday
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Nick Markakis
SP Francisco Liriano, Fausto Carmona, Scott Kazmir, Justin Verlander, Chien-Ming Wang
CP Jonathan Papelbon
Sad part - you'd still have almost $9 million to spend on the rest of the team.
Stacey and I got the One Month Game Pass from Hollywood Video again. We started with the Simpsons game, so here are some thoughts. I was suprised to see that the game isn't based on the movie. So far, the levels haven't been as true to the show as other games have. One level took place at the Natural Science museum and another involves Lisa and a tree clearing plant owned by Mr Burns. The two player mode is pretty good because only one of you can complete certain tasks. The funniest part of the game are the "video game cliche's" from Comic Book guy (example: spending 3 hours to find one object and the "double jump"). The worst aspect by far is the camera. It doesn't react how it should and turns an easy task like jumping across 3 platforms into a 30 minute task (sadly, it's true). Overall, it isn't as solid as the Simpsons Hit and Run. I'd give it a 3 out of 5.
C Jorge Posada
1B Albert Pujols
2B Chase Utley
3B David Wright
SS Derek Jeter
LF Manny Ramirez
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Magglio Ordonez
SP Jake Peavy
SP Johan Santana
SP CC Sabathia
SP Josh Beckett
SP Brandon Webb
CP Jonathan Papelbon
I love looking at players' salaries on ESPN. My most interesting find: Josh Beckett made $6,666,667 in 07. Is he the devil? Also, 16 of the 25 players on the Florida Marlins make the league minimum of $380,000 and I don't think I've heard of a single one of them. Plus, Jason Giambi is the most overpaid player. For one Jason Giambi, at $23,428,571, you can get:
The Jason Giambi All Stars
C Joe Mauer
1B Prince Fielder
2B Dustin Pedroia
SS Hanley Ramirez
3B David Wright
LF Matt Holliday
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Nick Markakis
SP Francisco Liriano, Fausto Carmona, Scott Kazmir, Justin Verlander, Chien-Ming Wang
CP Jonathan Papelbon
Sad part - you'd still have almost $9 million to spend on the rest of the team.
Stacey and I got the One Month Game Pass from Hollywood Video again. We started with the Simpsons game, so here are some thoughts. I was suprised to see that the game isn't based on the movie. So far, the levels haven't been as true to the show as other games have. One level took place at the Natural Science museum and another involves Lisa and a tree clearing plant owned by Mr Burns. The two player mode is pretty good because only one of you can complete certain tasks. The funniest part of the game are the "video game cliche's" from Comic Book guy (example: spending 3 hours to find one object and the "double jump"). The worst aspect by far is the camera. It doesn't react how it should and turns an easy task like jumping across 3 platforms into a 30 minute task (sadly, it's true). Overall, it isn't as solid as the Simpsons Hit and Run. I'd give it a 3 out of 5.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
No Title
"The Red Sox can have their Nation. The Yankees have the universe."
"It doesn't matter to me," (in response to A-Rod's timing of his opt-out announcement)
"Where was Joe's career in '95 when my dad hired him? My dad was crucified for hiring him."
"I think the most important thing is whoever we hire, give 'em a chance because he's not getting the '96 Yankees. He's getting an even younger team or for the most part a team in transition. Give him a little while."
Ok, I hate Hank Steinbrenner.
Favorite World Series stat: Only 3 Red Sox batted below .300 (Manny, Pedroia, and Youkilis. Jacoby Ellsbury's nickname from here on is "Free Taco".
Colts/Pats is not anywhere near as overhyped as the Yankees turmoil with ARod and Torre. I am really looking forward to it.
America's Teams are in disarray. Think about it - NY Yankees lost their manager, their top player, and are in danger of losing much more. The Lakers' best player wants to be traded, but will reject a trade that would leave his new team barren of talent. (Interesting fact: Kobe is the only player in the NBA with a no trade clause). Notre Dame football (enough said). The only "America's team" that is in good shape is the Cowboys, but they have T.O. so that can turn negative quickly.
Zumaya injured his arm helping his family save things from their house and now he may be ready midseason. He has the worst luck. At least he didn't injure himself playing Wii again.
The Pistons are starting McDyess at center. That puts their starting 5 at an average age around 30. I am glad they got rid of Webber, but I hate this move. He is going to get worn down and will be ineffective come playoff time if he is injury free by that point.
Is the Pac 10 really good this year or are they all just very mediocre?
I am so excited for MSU/U-M. I feel like it is a chance to knock off that arrogant, more successful older brother that I never had. Will MSU ever figure out how to win conference games?
Colin Cowherd is broadcasting tomorrow afternoon from Eddie George's Grill.
Will someone freaking trade me for one of my running backs so I can get something out of them?
This has got to be the worst, most incoherent post I've ever made and I don't give a shit.
"It doesn't matter to me," (in response to A-Rod's timing of his opt-out announcement)
"Where was Joe's career in '95 when my dad hired him? My dad was crucified for hiring him."
"I think the most important thing is whoever we hire, give 'em a chance because he's not getting the '96 Yankees. He's getting an even younger team or for the most part a team in transition. Give him a little while."
Ok, I hate Hank Steinbrenner.
Favorite World Series stat: Only 3 Red Sox batted below .300 (Manny, Pedroia, and Youkilis. Jacoby Ellsbury's nickname from here on is "Free Taco".
Colts/Pats is not anywhere near as overhyped as the Yankees turmoil with ARod and Torre. I am really looking forward to it.
America's Teams are in disarray. Think about it - NY Yankees lost their manager, their top player, and are in danger of losing much more. The Lakers' best player wants to be traded, but will reject a trade that would leave his new team barren of talent. (Interesting fact: Kobe is the only player in the NBA with a no trade clause). Notre Dame football (enough said). The only "America's team" that is in good shape is the Cowboys, but they have T.O. so that can turn negative quickly.
Zumaya injured his arm helping his family save things from their house and now he may be ready midseason. He has the worst luck. At least he didn't injure himself playing Wii again.
The Pistons are starting McDyess at center. That puts their starting 5 at an average age around 30. I am glad they got rid of Webber, but I hate this move. He is going to get worn down and will be ineffective come playoff time if he is injury free by that point.
Is the Pac 10 really good this year or are they all just very mediocre?
I am so excited for MSU/U-M. I feel like it is a chance to knock off that arrogant, more successful older brother that I never had. Will MSU ever figure out how to win conference games?
Colin Cowherd is broadcasting tomorrow afternoon from Eddie George's Grill.
Will someone freaking trade me for one of my running backs so I can get something out of them?
This has got to be the worst, most incoherent post I've ever made and I don't give a shit.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Ultimate Fantasy Draft
I am currently watching the Lions/Bears game... what a surprise to see Fox decided to show this! Devin Hester really is the key to the Bears.
I looked back at our Fantasy draft to see what kind of team I really could draft. Here's the sad news at what could've happened. In bold are the picks I did make.
1.Tom Brady
2.Brian Westbrook
3.Ronnie Brown/ McGahee/C Portis
4.Randy Moss
5.Braylon Edwards
6.Tony Romo
7.Dallas Clark
8.Marshawn Lynch
9.L Coles
10.Marion Barber III
11.Dewayne Bowe
12.New York Giants
13.Minnesota
14.Adrian Peterson
15.Jason Witten
16.Wes Welker
17.Derek Anderson
I looked back at our Fantasy draft to see what kind of team I really could draft. Here's the sad news at what could've happened. In bold are the picks I did make.
1.Tom Brady
2.Brian Westbrook
3.Ronnie Brown/ McGahee/C Portis
4.Randy Moss
5.Braylon Edwards
6.Tony Romo
7.Dallas Clark
8.Marshawn Lynch
9.L Coles
10.Marion Barber III
11.Dewayne Bowe
12.New York Giants
13.Minnesota
14.Adrian Peterson
15.Jason Witten
16.Wes Welker
17.Derek Anderson
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Music
Last year, I made a list of the best songs ever. I thought it would be silly to make another list like that, so I came up with the list of the most important songs in my life. Year by year, these are the songs that I connect with different events, moments, and feelings from my life. Everytime I hear each of these songs, it brings back memories.
1994 "Self Esteem" The Offspring - For Christmas, I received what the kids called a boom box and my first CD - The Offspring's Smash. My mom picked it out because that's what the guy at the store recommended (that store, most likely, was Tape World, which is kind of ironic because it was a CD). My favorite song was "Self Esteem" which is so appropriate because I had a ton of teen angst in middle school.
1995 "Lightning Crashes" Live - The first song I ever slow danced to. I felt like the coolest 6th grader because some hot 8th grader asked me to dance.
1996 "Glycerine" Bush - I don't know why, but this is the song I would most associate with middle school.
1997 "Seasons of Love" Rent - I first fell in love with Rent around 97. Since I can sing almost every song verbatim, I had to include it on this list.
1998 and 1999 - I swear I liked music then, but I really couldn't come up with anything memorable.
2000 "I Will Remember You" Sarah Maclachlan, "In My Life" Beatles - The two senior songs I had (The first was our senior song in Varsity Blues). I am cheating a little, since we graduated in 2001. I still remember getting choked up while singing both, which means it had a pretty big impact on me. Not so much the choked up part, but the fact that I still remember it.
2001 "Wish You Were Here" Incubus, "Thunderstruck" AC/DC - My favorite Incubus song. Plus, freshman year was lonely, so it's fitting. The one thing I loved most about freshman year, though, was football Saturdays. I miss the Thunderstruck entrance (I don't think they do that anymore). Stacey and I decided it is going to be our entrance music to the reception. I wasn't joking.
2002 "I Shall Not Walk Alone" Ben Harper, "Lose Yourself" Eminem - Another tie. The two things I will remember most about sophomore year is the 8 Mile premiere and working at the radio station. I discovered Ben Harper at the radio station - in my opinion he's the most underrated artist of the past decade... he's brilliant. I felt a great deal of independence sophomore year, so the song is fitting.
2003 "Fa Fa" Guster - The first time I really discovered Guster was Tastefest. Although FaFa isn't my favorite Guster song ("Demons" is), it was the one I remembered most from that day.
2004 "Jesus Walks" Kanye West - I feel like Kanye West was the biggest artist of the year. The song doesn't have any ties for me to 2004 - I just like it.
2005 "Don't Stop Believin'" Journey - One of the Lugnut's had this as their intro song. I made sure we played it every chance I had. It reminds me of the long summer days in the ballpark. Plus, I remember it shot up to the iTunes Top 10 just because it was on Laguna Beach one night.
2006 "Mike and Mike Podcasts" - Discovering this gem reinvented my mornings and got me through many boring days of postering campus. It may not be a song, but it was the most important audio to me in 06.
2007 - I really don't know yet. It may be too early to tell.
1994 "Self Esteem" The Offspring - For Christmas, I received what the kids called a boom box and my first CD - The Offspring's Smash. My mom picked it out because that's what the guy at the store recommended (that store, most likely, was Tape World, which is kind of ironic because it was a CD). My favorite song was "Self Esteem" which is so appropriate because I had a ton of teen angst in middle school.
1995 "Lightning Crashes" Live - The first song I ever slow danced to. I felt like the coolest 6th grader because some hot 8th grader asked me to dance.
1996 "Glycerine" Bush - I don't know why, but this is the song I would most associate with middle school.
1997 "Seasons of Love" Rent - I first fell in love with Rent around 97. Since I can sing almost every song verbatim, I had to include it on this list.
1998 and 1999 - I swear I liked music then, but I really couldn't come up with anything memorable.
2000 "I Will Remember You" Sarah Maclachlan, "In My Life" Beatles - The two senior songs I had (The first was our senior song in Varsity Blues). I am cheating a little, since we graduated in 2001. I still remember getting choked up while singing both, which means it had a pretty big impact on me. Not so much the choked up part, but the fact that I still remember it.
2001 "Wish You Were Here" Incubus, "Thunderstruck" AC/DC - My favorite Incubus song. Plus, freshman year was lonely, so it's fitting. The one thing I loved most about freshman year, though, was football Saturdays. I miss the Thunderstruck entrance (I don't think they do that anymore). Stacey and I decided it is going to be our entrance music to the reception. I wasn't joking.
2002 "I Shall Not Walk Alone" Ben Harper, "Lose Yourself" Eminem - Another tie. The two things I will remember most about sophomore year is the 8 Mile premiere and working at the radio station. I discovered Ben Harper at the radio station - in my opinion he's the most underrated artist of the past decade... he's brilliant. I felt a great deal of independence sophomore year, so the song is fitting.
2003 "Fa Fa" Guster - The first time I really discovered Guster was Tastefest. Although FaFa isn't my favorite Guster song ("Demons" is), it was the one I remembered most from that day.
2004 "Jesus Walks" Kanye West - I feel like Kanye West was the biggest artist of the year. The song doesn't have any ties for me to 2004 - I just like it.
2005 "Don't Stop Believin'" Journey - One of the Lugnut's had this as their intro song. I made sure we played it every chance I had. It reminds me of the long summer days in the ballpark. Plus, I remember it shot up to the iTunes Top 10 just because it was on Laguna Beach one night.
2006 "Mike and Mike Podcasts" - Discovering this gem reinvented my mornings and got me through many boring days of postering campus. It may not be a song, but it was the most important audio to me in 06.
2007 - I really don't know yet. It may be too early to tell.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
College Football
Before the season started, I made fun of Jesse "The Bachelor" Palmer for saying that he was excited for different team's chances at the National Championship, including South Florida. I called him a douche bag and I haven't seen him on ESPN since. So far they have beaten West Virginia and Auburn and later today, they will likely be announced as the #3 team in the country. Palmer is still a douche bag.
When I saw that Cal had lost, following LSU's loss earlier, I realized Ohio State was the number one team in the country. Then I got a huge grin on my face because I am convinced we will upset them next weekend. Here's why:
1. In 1998, OSU was favored to beat MSU by 24 at home. They beat every other team by at least 10 points. MSU ended up winning 28-24 in OSU's only loss of the season.
2. Dantonio is a Tressel protege'. He is going to have his team playing up for this game like you wouldn't believe.
3. The number one team has lost the past 2 weeks and this season has been full of upsets.
4. Nobody is giving us a chance. The media and the fans are looking past MSU; the team could too. Their schedule after MSU is Penn St, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan. On the news this morning, they started to discuss the National Championship game and listed the obstacles in their way - MSU wasn't one of them.
5. We're the number 15th ranked offense and 36th ranked defense in the country.
Then I came back to reality and realized why we will lose.
1. It's not 1998 anymore. Tressel is going to be drilling that into the players' heads this week.
2. Dantonio was also aware of MSU's history of losing the game after a big game and said he was going to have his players ready for that one. Fuck Northwestern.
3. The other upsets are going to have no effect on this game.
4. The players probably won't be looking past this game... see #1.
5. They're the number 1 ranked defense. Enough said.
Either way, win or lose, I am so freaking excited for next Saturday - MSU vs. OSU and a possible game 7 of the ALCS. Oh, and I guess I am kinda excited that you guys are coming to visit.
When I saw that Cal had lost, following LSU's loss earlier, I realized Ohio State was the number one team in the country. Then I got a huge grin on my face because I am convinced we will upset them next weekend. Here's why:
1. In 1998, OSU was favored to beat MSU by 24 at home. They beat every other team by at least 10 points. MSU ended up winning 28-24 in OSU's only loss of the season.
2. Dantonio is a Tressel protege'. He is going to have his team playing up for this game like you wouldn't believe.
3. The number one team has lost the past 2 weeks and this season has been full of upsets.
4. Nobody is giving us a chance. The media and the fans are looking past MSU; the team could too. Their schedule after MSU is Penn St, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan. On the news this morning, they started to discuss the National Championship game and listed the obstacles in their way - MSU wasn't one of them.
5. We're the number 15th ranked offense and 36th ranked defense in the country.
Then I came back to reality and realized why we will lose.
1. It's not 1998 anymore. Tressel is going to be drilling that into the players' heads this week.
2. Dantonio was also aware of MSU's history of losing the game after a big game and said he was going to have his players ready for that one. Fuck Northwestern.
3. The other upsets are going to have no effect on this game.
4. The players probably won't be looking past this game... see #1.
5. They're the number 1 ranked defense. Enough said.
Either way, win or lose, I am so freaking excited for next Saturday - MSU vs. OSU and a possible game 7 of the ALCS. Oh, and I guess I am kinda excited that you guys are coming to visit.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Predictions
College Football
Miami def. Texas A&M
USC def. Washington St
LSU def. S. Carolina
Penn State def. U-M
MSU def. Notre Dame in a game that will be embarrasingly close
Georgia def. Alabama
NFL
Eagles def. Lions
Colts def. Texans
Saints def. Titans
Bengals def. Seahawks
Rams def. Bucs
-I'm taking a poll... who realized the NHL preseason began this week? I was shocked when I heard a Blue Jackets game on the radio
-The Falcons getting rid of Schaub has turned into the worst off season move
-Is anyone else sick of seeing the Yankees field their AAA team in April and May, only to come back and win the division in August and September? (which will happen, I promise you)
-How many SEC teams could defeat the best Big 10 team in a 5 game series? My count is 6 (Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, LSU, Kentucky, and Arkansas).
Miami def. Texas A&M
USC def. Washington St
LSU def. S. Carolina
Penn State def. U-M
MSU def. Notre Dame in a game that will be embarrasingly close
Georgia def. Alabama
NFL
Eagles def. Lions
Colts def. Texans
Saints def. Titans
Bengals def. Seahawks
Rams def. Bucs
-I'm taking a poll... who realized the NHL preseason began this week? I was shocked when I heard a Blue Jackets game on the radio
-The Falcons getting rid of Schaub has turned into the worst off season move
-Is anyone else sick of seeing the Yankees field their AAA team in April and May, only to come back and win the division in August and September? (which will happen, I promise you)
-How many SEC teams could defeat the best Big 10 team in a 5 game series? My count is 6 (Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, LSU, Kentucky, and Arkansas).
Friday, September 14, 2007
Sports Weekend
MSU vs. Pitt
Red Sox vs. Yankees
U-M vs. Notre Dame
Shit, even USC vs. Nebraska and Shock vs. Mercury
As you can tell, I'm excited for the sports on TV this weekend.
Here's my predictions:
MSU, Sox take 2 of 3, U-M big, USC, and Shock win title number 3.
Red Sox vs. Yankees
U-M vs. Notre Dame
Shit, even USC vs. Nebraska and Shock vs. Mercury
As you can tell, I'm excited for the sports on TV this weekend.
Here's my predictions:
MSU, Sox take 2 of 3, U-M big, USC, and Shock win title number 3.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
OH how I hate....
A few years ago I created a "OH how I hate Ohio State" cheer. Or maybe I heard it from somewhere, stole it, and forgot where it came. Anyway, it is perfect because Ohioans love that their state begins with OH. After becoming immersed in the OSU culture (which is the culture of 90% of Ohio), I have admired their team pride to the point where I am even a little jealous. They even played "Hang on Sloopy" at the Indians game, which is 2 hours away from campus.
As MSU grads, we have a pretty similar distaste for U-M. However, I haven't enjoyed U-M's recent downfall. It's not fun to see them lose on New Year's and it is sad to watch the final nails put into Lloyd Carr's career. I have that "nobody picks on my brother" attitude with U-M. Their loss to App State and ass kicking from Oregon makes the Big 10 look terrible (Northwestern v. Northeastern... quality football you can ONLY watch on the Big Ten Network!)
Most OSU fans, however, revel in the losses. I would say local tv and radio spends 60% of their college football coverage on U-M's downfall and 40% on OSU. It's as if they are saying "hey, we know we're going to face our own reality vs. Washington this week, but look how bad U-M is doing!" I saw a series of OSU sports drawings in Kroger... one of them was a crowd of OSU fans at a game with 2 sad looking U-M fans in the middle. The glory they take in U-M's misfortunes is pathetic. It makes me feel they envy U-M and the whole state of Michigan and seeing U-M lose gives them more self-worth.
I also heard this week a story about how cops pick up U-M fans who may have decided to spend the night in their car and allow them to sleep in a private jail cell instead so they can avoid people who roam the streets looking for cars with Michigan plates to damage. I know the story sounds like a joke, but the person was serious.
I had my mind made up until I spoke with one of my teachers. He has been teaching at OSU for years and he just had his 20 year anniversary with us. (Side note: Do the math... the guy started teaching with us when I was 4. And I'm his boss! It makes me feel like Topher Grace in the movie "In Good Company". I love it.) I asked him today if the fans at the Horseshoe went crazy over the U-M's loss. He said the OSU game was over before U-M's historic App State loss, but that he wasn't happy to see it. Then he began to compare U-M to a brother, and I realized not every OSU fan was envious.
As MSU grads, we have a pretty similar distaste for U-M. However, I haven't enjoyed U-M's recent downfall. It's not fun to see them lose on New Year's and it is sad to watch the final nails put into Lloyd Carr's career. I have that "nobody picks on my brother" attitude with U-M. Their loss to App State and ass kicking from Oregon makes the Big 10 look terrible (Northwestern v. Northeastern... quality football you can ONLY watch on the Big Ten Network!)
Most OSU fans, however, revel in the losses. I would say local tv and radio spends 60% of their college football coverage on U-M's downfall and 40% on OSU. It's as if they are saying "hey, we know we're going to face our own reality vs. Washington this week, but look how bad U-M is doing!" I saw a series of OSU sports drawings in Kroger... one of them was a crowd of OSU fans at a game with 2 sad looking U-M fans in the middle. The glory they take in U-M's misfortunes is pathetic. It makes me feel they envy U-M and the whole state of Michigan and seeing U-M lose gives them more self-worth.
I also heard this week a story about how cops pick up U-M fans who may have decided to spend the night in their car and allow them to sleep in a private jail cell instead so they can avoid people who roam the streets looking for cars with Michigan plates to damage. I know the story sounds like a joke, but the person was serious.
I had my mind made up until I spoke with one of my teachers. He has been teaching at OSU for years and he just had his 20 year anniversary with us. (Side note: Do the math... the guy started teaching with us when I was 4. And I'm his boss! It makes me feel like Topher Grace in the movie "In Good Company". I love it.) I asked him today if the fans at the Horseshoe went crazy over the U-M's loss. He said the OSU game was over before U-M's historic App State loss, but that he wasn't happy to see it. Then he began to compare U-M to a brother, and I realized not every OSU fan was envious.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Big Ten Network
As I have said before, I love my monopoly-on-most-of-Ohio cable company, Time Warner Cable. We get perfect reception on each one of the nearly 70 channels we receive and it costs just over $70 with internet. (Side note: writing that last sentence made me have one of those really weird, "oh yeah, I live in Ohio." moments. I still am not used to it. Continue...) There has been a pretty entertaining battle lately in the media between my media conglomerate and the Big Ten Network. However, as I sit here on a Saturday afternoon with the option of watching West Virginia/Marshall, Oklahoma/Miami, or Nebraska/Wake Forest, I am pissed. Here's the problem.
The Big Ten Network is charging cable companies $1.10 per customer for rights. (They are charging a ridiculous $.10 per customer in non-Big 10 states). If everyone did this, Time Warner would have to pay $77 to all of my networks for me to watch them.
They vowed that the price is worth it because they are bringing loads of content to Big 10 Fans. Their website claims:
"...the Big Ten Network will feature shows produced by students from Big Ten Universities that will showcase academic breakthroughs, honored alumni, current students, renowned faculty, as well as the academic challenges to name a few."
A) It doesn't. #2) If it does eventually, I don't give a shit and neither does anyone else. We don't need a channel that is a commercial for local universities.
Here is what they are actually showing today: 4 hours of a show called "Big 10 Tonight", 6 hours of a show called "Friday Night Tailgate", 4 hours of a pregame show, postgame show, and evening wrap up, 2 hours of the 1999 Minnesota/Penn State game, and an impressive 7 football games. However, if you have the station on basic cable... you only end up getting to watch 2 football games on a football Saturday! The network doesn't add any more value than the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC Regional coverage. The scary thing is that they will be carrying 8 MSU basketball games, almost guaranteeing that I won't be able to watch any MSU games this year.
Cable companies have been extremely resistant because they know the Big 10 Network doesn't add value and is charging a ridiculous fee. While their negotiations are failing miserable, they decided to step up their ads. Their current commercials feature different Big 10 coaches making statements like "True Buckeye fans deserve the Big 10 Network." The league has grown too greedy and is forcing their coaches to make asses of themselves.
The Big Ten Network is charging cable companies $1.10 per customer for rights. (They are charging a ridiculous $.10 per customer in non-Big 10 states). If everyone did this, Time Warner would have to pay $77 to all of my networks for me to watch them.
They vowed that the price is worth it because they are bringing loads of content to Big 10 Fans. Their website claims:
"...the Big Ten Network will feature shows produced by students from Big Ten Universities that will showcase academic breakthroughs, honored alumni, current students, renowned faculty, as well as the academic challenges to name a few."
A) It doesn't. #2) If it does eventually, I don't give a shit and neither does anyone else. We don't need a channel that is a commercial for local universities.
Here is what they are actually showing today: 4 hours of a show called "Big 10 Tonight", 6 hours of a show called "Friday Night Tailgate", 4 hours of a pregame show, postgame show, and evening wrap up, 2 hours of the 1999 Minnesota/Penn State game, and an impressive 7 football games. However, if you have the station on basic cable... you only end up getting to watch 2 football games on a football Saturday! The network doesn't add any more value than the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC Regional coverage. The scary thing is that they will be carrying 8 MSU basketball games, almost guaranteeing that I won't be able to watch any MSU games this year.
Cable companies have been extremely resistant because they know the Big 10 Network doesn't add value and is charging a ridiculous fee. While their negotiations are failing miserable, they decided to step up their ads. Their current commercials feature different Big 10 coaches making statements like "True Buckeye fans deserve the Big 10 Network." The league has grown too greedy and is forcing their coaches to make asses of themselves.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Cleveland Rocks
Before I dive into my weekend Cleveland trip, I feel it is necessary to discuss college football because I can't believe that you, Mike, both love the NFL (your favorite sport, I believe you have said in the past) and like college football the least. Here's my top 5 things that I love about college football (in no particular order).
The upsets. Appalachian State was paid $400,000 to come destroy Michigan's season and put the first nail in Lloyd (not David) Carr's career at U-M. While that loss was the first time Even if the Raiders beat the Colts, you would forget about it by the next day.
One and done. Michigan's national title hopes are over. Every game matters and they proved it this weekend.
The pagentry. Every school has goofy traditions and peculiar trophies to play for. Just another thing to add to the excitement.
The different offenses and trick plays. The plays Boise State pulled out were ridiculous. Even more ridiculous was that they worked perfectly. Besides what Michael Vick used to do on the field, one NFL offense doesn't look too different from the other.
Rivalries. I had to hear my boss play a song called "we don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan, we're from Ohio" If you have never heard it, enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx5TVBf6cWM (Ignore the added Gwen Stefani beat) This song is another example of how I both love the area's passion and hate the fact that it's against me.
Ok, now that's off my chest, the Tigers season is over. I am sad to say it, but I had the opportunity to travel to enemy territory this weekend and see the Indians in action. Here's why you should start looking forward to next year:
-The Indians only have one starter that's hitting over .300 They also have nobody that is hitting under .255 They are vastly consistent from the top of the lineup to the bottom. Detroit's problem is that they are the exact opposite. Maggs is having an MVP caliber season. The Tigers also have a few guys that aren't pulling their own weight (Inge is hitting .234 and Pudge is a liability).
-They don't really have any holes in their pitching staff. Again, nobody is going to really blow you away, but nobody is going to give up a game the way Todd Jones can. Plus, the Tigers have had way too many injuries, forcing them to start 11 different guys this year, only 3 of whom have started over 20 games (If you're counting at home, the Indians have started 8; half of whom have made 20+ starts.) It's difficult if you can't get your staff into a consistent groove.
-The way both teams look right now, turning around those 6 games looks insurmountable. Catching up to the wild card lead is a little more realistic, but I wouldn't bet against the Yankees.
I'll leave you with my impressions of Jacobs Field compared to the other stadiums I've visisted:
-They have a really cool looking 3 story restaurant off the third base side
-There is an amazing LED board that spans almost all of left field
-The scoreboard has a giant LED screen that they only fully utilized during the player intros, which were awesome. Except for the fact that they played Dropkick Murphy's "Shipping off to Boston" - a great song, but didn't make sense in the context
-The city skyline beyond the outfield was disappointing. They should've put the stadium next to the Browns' off Lake Erie
-They did a great job of positioning the upper deck close to home plate so you could feel close to the game
-The loudest crowd pop was for Kenny Lofton
Overall, I would rank the stadiums I've been to:
PNC Park (Pittsburgh) - Great view of the city, can bring outside food in
Fenway - Historic
Camden - Crab cakes, tvs under the upperdeck overhang were very useful during rain delay
CoPa - Giant tigers, GM Fountain
Jacobs Field - see above
Citizens Bank (Philly) - Amazing cheesesteaks, neon liberty bell sign swung for HRs
I'll leave Skydome and Comisky off the list since it was so long ago that I visited them. Next up will be Great American Ballpark in Cinci next year.
The upsets. Appalachian State was paid $400,000 to come destroy Michigan's season and put the first nail in Lloyd (not David) Carr's career at U-M. While that loss was the first time Even if the Raiders beat the Colts, you would forget about it by the next day.
One and done. Michigan's national title hopes are over. Every game matters and they proved it this weekend.
The pagentry. Every school has goofy traditions and peculiar trophies to play for. Just another thing to add to the excitement.
The different offenses and trick plays. The plays Boise State pulled out were ridiculous. Even more ridiculous was that they worked perfectly. Besides what Michael Vick used to do on the field, one NFL offense doesn't look too different from the other.
Rivalries. I had to hear my boss play a song called "we don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan, we're from Ohio" If you have never heard it, enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx5TVBf6cWM (Ignore the added Gwen Stefani beat) This song is another example of how I both love the area's passion and hate the fact that it's against me.
Ok, now that's off my chest, the Tigers season is over. I am sad to say it, but I had the opportunity to travel to enemy territory this weekend and see the Indians in action. Here's why you should start looking forward to next year:
-The Indians only have one starter that's hitting over .300 They also have nobody that is hitting under .255 They are vastly consistent from the top of the lineup to the bottom. Detroit's problem is that they are the exact opposite. Maggs is having an MVP caliber season. The Tigers also have a few guys that aren't pulling their own weight (Inge is hitting .234 and Pudge is a liability).
-They don't really have any holes in their pitching staff. Again, nobody is going to really blow you away, but nobody is going to give up a game the way Todd Jones can. Plus, the Tigers have had way too many injuries, forcing them to start 11 different guys this year, only 3 of whom have started over 20 games (If you're counting at home, the Indians have started 8; half of whom have made 20+ starts.) It's difficult if you can't get your staff into a consistent groove.
-The way both teams look right now, turning around those 6 games looks insurmountable. Catching up to the wild card lead is a little more realistic, but I wouldn't bet against the Yankees.
I'll leave you with my impressions of Jacobs Field compared to the other stadiums I've visisted:
-They have a really cool looking 3 story restaurant off the third base side
-There is an amazing LED board that spans almost all of left field
-The scoreboard has a giant LED screen that they only fully utilized during the player intros, which were awesome. Except for the fact that they played Dropkick Murphy's "Shipping off to Boston" - a great song, but didn't make sense in the context
-The city skyline beyond the outfield was disappointing. They should've put the stadium next to the Browns' off Lake Erie
-They did a great job of positioning the upper deck close to home plate so you could feel close to the game
-The loudest crowd pop was for Kenny Lofton
Overall, I would rank the stadiums I've been to:
PNC Park (Pittsburgh) - Great view of the city, can bring outside food in
Fenway - Historic
Camden - Crab cakes, tvs under the upperdeck overhang were very useful during rain delay
CoPa - Giant tigers, GM Fountain
Jacobs Field - see above
Citizens Bank (Philly) - Amazing cheesesteaks, neon liberty bell sign swung for HRs
I'll leave Skydome and Comisky off the list since it was so long ago that I visited them. Next up will be Great American Ballpark in Cinci next year.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sports Musings
I watched ESPN's 25 hours of College Football program. It was very impressive, although they weren't broadcasting for all 25 hours. So I don't get where they came up with the idea. Here's my thoughts:
-Jesse Palmer should be hereforth announced as Jesse "the Bachelor" Palmer.
-Palmer announced that he is most excited about the Big East and all of their potential teams that could go undefeated and get into the National Championship game: Louisville, West Virginia, Rutgers, Southern Florida... Yes, he did in fact say he was excited for Southern Florida's chances at getting into the National Championship game.
-Palmer rounded out his excellent commentary by calling Michigan's coach David Carr. Yes, his career with the Texans was so bad, he decided to pack it in and coach.
The summary of my previous thoughts is Jesse Palmer is a douche.
Overall, the show was really exciting. College football is my favorite sport and I now live in one of the top 5 College Football cities. You know it's a college football town when you see Kirk Herbstreet's face planted on the side of a Vitamin Water truck. The excitement here is palpable and students don't come back for another 2 weeks. The sad thing for me is that college football team is my second least favorite team (behind Nebraska).
-Jesse Palmer should be hereforth announced as Jesse "the Bachelor" Palmer.
-Palmer announced that he is most excited about the Big East and all of their potential teams that could go undefeated and get into the National Championship game: Louisville, West Virginia, Rutgers, Southern Florida... Yes, he did in fact say he was excited for Southern Florida's chances at getting into the National Championship game.
-Palmer rounded out his excellent commentary by calling Michigan's coach David Carr. Yes, his career with the Texans was so bad, he decided to pack it in and coach.
The summary of my previous thoughts is Jesse Palmer is a douche.
Overall, the show was really exciting. College football is my favorite sport and I now live in one of the top 5 College Football cities. You know it's a college football town when you see Kirk Herbstreet's face planted on the side of a Vitamin Water truck. The excitement here is palpable and students don't come back for another 2 weeks. The sad thing for me is that college football team is my second least favorite team (behind Nebraska).
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Fantasy Trades
Assuming you have the second set of players on your team, would you accept the following trades?
1. Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens for Tom Brady and Larry Fitzgerald
2. Willie Parker and LJ Smith for Joseph Addai (your starting TE is Chris Cooley)
3. Carson Palmer and Cadillac Williams for Donovan McNabb and Willie Parker (this was the bs counter offer I received)
4. Brandon Jacobs for Lee Evans (the trade I may propose to Mike)
5. Calvin Johnson for Marques Colston (the trade I may propose to Kevin)
6. Brian Westbrook and Jason Witten for Joseph Addai (your starting TE is Dallas Clark)
7. Brian Westbrook and Vernon Davis for Joseph Addai (same situation, different TE)
8. Tony Romo and Frank Gore and Calvin Johnson for Peyton Manning (your #3 WR is Anthony Gonzales, your RBs are Edgerrin James and Fred Taylor, and your other QB is Steve McNair)
9. Philip Rivers and Marvin Harrison for Tom Brady and Braylon Edwards (your other WRs are Steve Smith and Torry Holt, your other QB is Matt Leinart)
10. Tony Romo for Eli Manning
1. Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens for Tom Brady and Larry Fitzgerald
2. Willie Parker and LJ Smith for Joseph Addai (your starting TE is Chris Cooley)
3. Carson Palmer and Cadillac Williams for Donovan McNabb and Willie Parker (this was the bs counter offer I received)
4. Brandon Jacobs for Lee Evans (the trade I may propose to Mike)
5. Calvin Johnson for Marques Colston (the trade I may propose to Kevin)
6. Brian Westbrook and Jason Witten for Joseph Addai (your starting TE is Dallas Clark)
7. Brian Westbrook and Vernon Davis for Joseph Addai (same situation, different TE)
8. Tony Romo and Frank Gore and Calvin Johnson for Peyton Manning (your #3 WR is Anthony Gonzales, your RBs are Edgerrin James and Fred Taylor, and your other QB is Steve McNair)
9. Philip Rivers and Marvin Harrison for Tom Brady and Braylon Edwards (your other WRs are Steve Smith and Torry Holt, your other QB is Matt Leinart)
10. Tony Romo for Eli Manning
Saturday, August 18, 2007
MSU Football
Fuck them. We get a new coach and all of a sudden they are trying to revitalize the program. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for that. The revitalization I am looking for will be seen on the field with their improved effort. Not through some lame overhyped marketing promo for season tickets http://adcsquad.com/msu/fb/wearespartans/index2.html
Why am I so pissed with the football program then? In my attempt to find tickets for the MSU/OSU football game for the center of our semi-planned reunion, I discovered away game tickets are available to season ticketholders only. They should be honored that they have fans willing to drop $30-$40 to watch their crappy program hundreds of miles away from East Lansing. They can hardly get a home field advantage in East Lansing. (Remember the sea of scarlet chanting OH-IO during last year's game at Spartan Stadium?) Never fear, my dad's friend is a season ticketholder who will most definitely not be interested in treking down to Columbus, so we still should be able to get tickets... details to come.
I did come across this, which completely made my day, however unlikely it may be. If they wanted to create a marketing campaign, this is what they should have done. Credit unknown.
Why am I so pissed with the football program then? In my attempt to find tickets for the MSU/OSU football game for the center of our semi-planned reunion, I discovered away game tickets are available to season ticketholders only. They should be honored that they have fans willing to drop $30-$40 to watch their crappy program hundreds of miles away from East Lansing. They can hardly get a home field advantage in East Lansing. (Remember the sea of scarlet chanting OH-IO during last year's game at Spartan Stadium?) Never fear, my dad's friend is a season ticketholder who will most definitely not be interested in treking down to Columbus, so we still should be able to get tickets... details to come.
I did come across this, which completely made my day, however unlikely it may be. If they wanted to create a marketing campaign, this is what they should have done. Credit unknown.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
The Return: Why Soccer is Better
ok, I'm back. I may not post too often, but it will be fun to discuss sports again with you guys. I'm going to start by delivering Kevin with his soccer post I promised over a year ago.
Stadium Experience
I have a much better perspective on the subject now, as I have actually gone to a live soccer game. The experience seemed much more intimate since you can sit closer to the field (for less money). I really enjoyed the die hards that were chanting and drumming. I did not enjoy the people throwing streamers at the opposing goalie -while it was funny, it took 3-4 times before security kicked the person out. What was worse, every time the Crew scored, the team launched confetti that blew over the entire opposing goal. That kind of overcelebration and indirect taunting doesn't belong in sports. The final aspect of the stadium experience - the "promo squad" - was dull. They halftime dance team's routine doesn't come off well when done in the middle of a wide open field and the fan contest lacked imagination.
Game Play
They don't score much. There's two sides to it - boring because of the low scores and frequent ties, exciting when someone actually scores. I don't mind the low scoring so much, but I don't like the 1-0 games or the ties. What I do like is that the game will end after 90 minutes, plus an extra minute or two of "stoppage time", which in my opinion is handed out arbitratily. It seemed like the perfect amount of soccer. Baseball can drag on for over 3 hours too frequently. Plus, the running clock avoids the lull that baseball has between innings and during pitching changes. I can't go much deeper into the game, because I don't understand it enough myself. Put the ball in the net, but don't crowd around it like every 5 year old's game.
Intangibles
To really enjoy soccer, you can't limit yourself to MLS. You have to look at EPL (impressed that I used the acronym?) or at the World Cup. As I said before, the deep rooted rivalries among countries is still alive in soccer, unlike in the Olympics. There's a reason why it's one of the most popular sports among kids. The problem in America with the sport is that there aren't enough people that stay attached to the sport and continue that interest into watching it professionally. It is possible that, slowly, the MLS will give kids athletes to be awed by and will gradually peak more and more people's interest. Much like Jose Canseco both gave birth to and temporarily destroyed my interest in baseball. Sadly, hockey is leaving that door open for them to creep into the #4 slot in America's sports pasttimes.
Stadium Experience
I have a much better perspective on the subject now, as I have actually gone to a live soccer game. The experience seemed much more intimate since you can sit closer to the field (for less money). I really enjoyed the die hards that were chanting and drumming. I did not enjoy the people throwing streamers at the opposing goalie -while it was funny, it took 3-4 times before security kicked the person out. What was worse, every time the Crew scored, the team launched confetti that blew over the entire opposing goal. That kind of overcelebration and indirect taunting doesn't belong in sports. The final aspect of the stadium experience - the "promo squad" - was dull. They halftime dance team's routine doesn't come off well when done in the middle of a wide open field and the fan contest lacked imagination.
Game Play
They don't score much. There's two sides to it - boring because of the low scores and frequent ties, exciting when someone actually scores. I don't mind the low scoring so much, but I don't like the 1-0 games or the ties. What I do like is that the game will end after 90 minutes, plus an extra minute or two of "stoppage time", which in my opinion is handed out arbitratily. It seemed like the perfect amount of soccer. Baseball can drag on for over 3 hours too frequently. Plus, the running clock avoids the lull that baseball has between innings and during pitching changes. I can't go much deeper into the game, because I don't understand it enough myself. Put the ball in the net, but don't crowd around it like every 5 year old's game.
Intangibles
To really enjoy soccer, you can't limit yourself to MLS. You have to look at EPL (impressed that I used the acronym?) or at the World Cup. As I said before, the deep rooted rivalries among countries is still alive in soccer, unlike in the Olympics. There's a reason why it's one of the most popular sports among kids. The problem in America with the sport is that there aren't enough people that stay attached to the sport and continue that interest into watching it professionally. It is possible that, slowly, the MLS will give kids athletes to be awed by and will gradually peak more and more people's interest. Much like Jose Canseco both gave birth to and temporarily destroyed my interest in baseball. Sadly, hockey is leaving that door open for them to creep into the #4 slot in America's sports pasttimes.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
# 4
Wow... I was really bored tonight and decided I must finish this damn thing off. Then I noticed I began writing this in April. It seems like a fitting time to post a blog on why baseball is the best sport.
Why Baseball is the Best Sport
It IS America's pasttime... it is the American sport.
Stadium Experience
The fact that each baseball park is different used to annoy me, but now it is probably the one thing that I enjoy most about the game. The ivy at Wrigley, Yankee stadium's parking lot behind home plate, and of course, the Green Monster. Each makes the stadium experience unique. Half of the fun in going to a game for many people is the romanticism of the large, lush field set in a gigantic ballpark. I still remember exactly how I felt when I first walked into Fenway. You just don't get that kind of feeling by walking into an arena. But you don't have to go to a Major League park to enjoy the baseball experience. You can enjoy a deep minor league system (approximately 245 teams); each packed with wacky promotions that are focused on one thing: entertaining the fans.
The Game
A simplified explanation of baseball is that it is a matchup between a batter and a pitcher... any mistake is magnified for everyone to see. The game really is more complex than that; intentional walks, stolen bases, double plays. Which brings me to a key difference between baseball and most other sports; the importance of statistics. In soccer and hockey, I can only think of basic numbers like goals, saves, shots, assists, etc. Basketball goes a little deeper: rebounds, blocks, 3 pointers. Baseball is filled with statistics; especially after Moneyball. WHIP, RISP, HRANSP. That last one stands for Home Runs Allowed to Non Steroid Players. It hasn't officially invented yet, but it will be used to evaluate pitchers from 1990-2010. So how does the importance of these numbers make baseball better? It attracts fans to follow more than just a teams' record. And it can make a player stand out. Take a guy like Chris Shelton, who can have a phenomenal first month and he's the talk of the league. Did ESPN really compare him to Bonds in the first few weeks of the season? Yes, yes they did. Until he came back to Earth and was shipped to Toledo. The other aspect of baseball games that separates them from soccer is that each game takes on its own personality. You can have a pitchers duel or a shootout. I guess soccer may have this too, but the difference between an offense game and a defensive one is one goal.
Intangibles
The cornerstone of the league is its history... 2004: end of the Curse of the Bambino, 2005: Black Sox Curse ends. I hate to say it, but Bonds chasing down the Home Run record is deservedly a big story. I know soccer has its history too, but the MLS started in 1996. (Yes, I went all out and did research for this. MLB started in 1903 in comparison.) My theory as to why soccer is bigger in just about every country outside of the U.S. (besides the talent gap) is that the rivalries are much more real. Take the heated Poland vs. Germany matchup. We can't have that kind of rivalry because we have few geographic neighbors. Without any competitive rivalries for Americans to become incensed about, we lose the soccer intensity that other countries have. Other countries may hate us and our soccer team, but they aren't rivals.
The mild soccer interest that the U.S. has during the World Cup pales in comparison to the annual summer pasttime. The 162 regular season games and playoff games lead us gracefully from spring to fall. Opening day is a sign that spring is just ahead, the All Star game is the Summer Classic and the World Series brings in fall.
Conclusion
The sport of baseball may be losing its grip as America's pasttime, but it isn't losing out to soccer.
Why Baseball is the Best Sport
It IS America's pasttime... it is the American sport.
Stadium Experience
The fact that each baseball park is different used to annoy me, but now it is probably the one thing that I enjoy most about the game. The ivy at Wrigley, Yankee stadium's parking lot behind home plate, and of course, the Green Monster. Each makes the stadium experience unique. Half of the fun in going to a game for many people is the romanticism of the large, lush field set in a gigantic ballpark. I still remember exactly how I felt when I first walked into Fenway. You just don't get that kind of feeling by walking into an arena. But you don't have to go to a Major League park to enjoy the baseball experience. You can enjoy a deep minor league system (approximately 245 teams); each packed with wacky promotions that are focused on one thing: entertaining the fans.
The Game
A simplified explanation of baseball is that it is a matchup between a batter and a pitcher... any mistake is magnified for everyone to see. The game really is more complex than that; intentional walks, stolen bases, double plays. Which brings me to a key difference between baseball and most other sports; the importance of statistics. In soccer and hockey, I can only think of basic numbers like goals, saves, shots, assists, etc. Basketball goes a little deeper: rebounds, blocks, 3 pointers. Baseball is filled with statistics; especially after Moneyball. WHIP, RISP, HRANSP. That last one stands for Home Runs Allowed to Non Steroid Players. It hasn't officially invented yet, but it will be used to evaluate pitchers from 1990-2010. So how does the importance of these numbers make baseball better? It attracts fans to follow more than just a teams' record. And it can make a player stand out. Take a guy like Chris Shelton, who can have a phenomenal first month and he's the talk of the league. Did ESPN really compare him to Bonds in the first few weeks of the season? Yes, yes they did. Until he came back to Earth and was shipped to Toledo. The other aspect of baseball games that separates them from soccer is that each game takes on its own personality. You can have a pitchers duel or a shootout. I guess soccer may have this too, but the difference between an offense game and a defensive one is one goal.
Intangibles
The cornerstone of the league is its history... 2004: end of the Curse of the Bambino, 2005: Black Sox Curse ends. I hate to say it, but Bonds chasing down the Home Run record is deservedly a big story. I know soccer has its history too, but the MLS started in 1996. (Yes, I went all out and did research for this. MLB started in 1903 in comparison.) My theory as to why soccer is bigger in just about every country outside of the U.S. (besides the talent gap) is that the rivalries are much more real. Take the heated Poland vs. Germany matchup. We can't have that kind of rivalry because we have few geographic neighbors. Without any competitive rivalries for Americans to become incensed about, we lose the soccer intensity that other countries have. Other countries may hate us and our soccer team, but they aren't rivals.
The mild soccer interest that the U.S. has during the World Cup pales in comparison to the annual summer pasttime. The 162 regular season games and playoff games lead us gracefully from spring to fall. Opening day is a sign that spring is just ahead, the All Star game is the Summer Classic and the World Series brings in fall.
Conclusion
The sport of baseball may be losing its grip as America's pasttime, but it isn't losing out to soccer.
Countdown Begins
I too have decided to end my blog. I haven't posted in over a month and I don't feel the need to put words onto the internet anymore. Plus, I want to only write about sports and I really can't keep that up over the summer. BUT I do want to end with a bang, so I've planned out four final entries. This is not one of them. One will argue in favor of Kevin as to why soccer is the best sport. One will side with Mike that baseball is the best. The third will take my own perspective on why hockey is the best and it will highlight my experience in beginner hockey lessons. The final entry is a secret, but it won't be about sports. I do not know how long it will take me to finish them, but my guess is that it might take a little while time for me to decide how I can argue soccer is the best sport. Mike and Kevin, I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog in the past.
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