And That's Why I Love Sports!

I'm Back Baby!

2011-05-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

I realize I haven’t written in a while, and I apologize. Not to make excuses, but I was in a bit of a funk but I am back. The sports juices are flowing through me again, and I am ready to write. And I am going to start with basketball and ‘you know who’. He whose name I despise to say, the former “King”. But I will say, that I’m glad he lost his crown after he “took his talents to south beach Florida.” In that city, he is not the King. He was only the King here in Cleveland because he was the only one. In Miami Dwayne Wade is the King.

Anyway, so we’re down to the western and eastern conference finals. It is the Thunder and Mavericks in the West, and the Bulls and the Heat in the East. I am very please to see the Mavericks, not just beat the Lakers but to see them sweep them. I do believe it is time for a changing of the guard, it’s a new era. Not only were the Lakers kicked out of the finals, but so were the Celtics. As much as I hate the Celtics and wish to never see Paul Pierce win another championship, I had mixed feelings about that outcome. I didn’t know who to root for. Call me biased, but I think I wanted revenge on Lebron more than I wanted to see the better team win.

In that series, I think injury was a huge factor. I think the Celtics are a more experienced team then the Heat. But the Heat knew how to use the injuries to their advantage. And in this game, all that matters is how many tallies are in the win column. It doesn’t matter who the better team is, it matters who won. And many times, that’s not the same thing.

The Chicago Bulls had the best record in the NBA during the regular season, have the MVP, have the Coach of The Year, and have beat the Heat every time they played each other in the regular season; yet they are still considered the underdog. Why is that? Does experience beat out youth? I think the Heat is getting too cocky. No, let me correct myself, I think Lebron is getting too cocky. He just finally beat his rival team, the one team the Cavs could never get past, and now he’s playing a young team. The good thing about the seven game series is, it usually brings out the best of the two teams. Let’s just hope that’s what happens here... either way it’s going to be a gripping, and exciting series. This is like watching the Steelers play the Ravens. You know it’s going to be a close game, you know it’s going to become a personal game, and you know it’s going to be a very defensive game. Now I am going to go watch the game, but trust me, I’ll be back. Soon!

And this is why I HATE sports...

2010-05-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I pride myself on the fact that I will always stand by my team no matter what. I am a fan of Cleveland sports, I have to stay positive or I'd always be disappointed by last minutes chokes. BUT Lebron James is the best thing that has came to Cleveland sports in a very long time. And he can't keep getting our hopes up just to shut us down. What the Hell was that?? The last game of the Boston series was a disgrace. Lebron just gave up. He quite playing and let Rondo take the game. How could he do that to us? I don't understand how you can dominate during the whole regular season and then just crumble when it counts. Some people blamed it on drama with Delonte West and his mom, but c'mon!! Seriously!?! You are a professional, you get paid millions of dollars to not let that shit get to you. You have one job in life and that is to make the baskets when it counts. Not fumble all over yourself like you're drunk or have never played a day in your life. I seriously was embarrassed to be wearing my number 23 jersey, and I never thought that would happen. The whole team was off for the whole series. It was like they didn't want to win. They all looked as if they gave up. That just goes to show that if Lebron doesn't do all the work then nothing gets done. That's sad. I'm running out of words that can express my anger, disappointment, disgust...
And now the team fired coach Brown because "Lebron wanted them to." Really??? How egotistical and selfish can you be? I have always respected Lebron James. When I say I'm a Cavs fan people automatically assume it's because of Lebron, but let me tell you... I am a Cavs fan, not a Lebron fan. I won't follow him if he leaves! I will always think he is an amazing player and love what he has done for the city of Cleveland but if he leaves, I'll still be a Cavs fan. And after these last two years of having such faith and coming so close I've lost a lot of respect for him. He has been called the King yet hasn't acted like a king. I do believe he deserved his MVP trophies because he is the most valuable player of the regular season but thats where it ends. If he can't get the job done he doesn't deserve the crown.
AND if he does decide to leave Cleveland after all that the fans have been through with him and the team as well, firing Brown and bringing in Shaq, trying to do whatever they can to accommodate him to get that ring, especially after he was born and raised in Ohio, and the Cavs took him straight out of high school I will have no respect for him. Cuz if he can't get the job done in Cleveland, he sure as hell wont be able to get it anywhere else.
My jersey will stay on it's hanger until further notice...

P.S. Bryan Leonard Covey, you were right, I was wrong. The Celtics played a better series than the Cavaliers. Only for you!! ;-)

Anything is possible

2010-02-08T00:04:00.000-08:00

Ya know one thing I really love about sports is no matter how messed up the world is or even how messed up my world is they never change. They will always be there. You can count on the fact that every Sunday you'll have a football game to watch. No matter what, you didn't pay your rent today well football is still on, the world has tragedies, and football is still on. Playing through everything and always playing in the honor of something makes them play better. I love that a game can save someones hope and beliefs. I love that a game can make people smile again on the worst day of their lives. That is all it takes to change someone mood or even bring people together whether it's a really good or even a really bad game. It's something to bond over. I love that they prove that no matter what, hard work and dedication will ALWAYS pay off.

You know what else I love... routing for the underdog. And when they win. When they beat the odds and win, when they beat the better team when it counts. When they can prove everybody wrong and shut everybody up with one on-sides kick.
And that's why I love sports.

A new found zen

2010-01-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of a new class and the start of new semester. I
walked into a building I've never been in before, on a campus I only
visited once a week last semester. Today was probably about to be the
busiest day of this semester saying how my boss didn't know I had
class and scheduled me to work during the only time I had between
classes. Not even giving me enough time to drive to the next
destination. So anyway, I walk into this building for the first time.
I'm early so I look for a seat. I found a row of rather comfortable
looking chairs facing a dark window. I sit down and think to myself
"Why are these chairs facing this dark window, why are these windows
even here?" then from the dark gloomy glair of an open door across the
way I see what I am starring at. A dark, empty, peacful basketball
court. Now that my eyes have focused I can see the hoop hanging in
solidarity, the shiny wood floor starring back at me. It took my
breath away. I have never felt more calm. It was like it was a sign
from God for me to just take a breath cus' I was gonna get through the
day! :-)

What is going on?

2009-12-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

My teams are failing me. The Steelers play tonight. They play the Browns which according to history is going to be a very good game. However, Hines Ward is out, Troy Polamalu is still out, and Big Ben is still coming off on a concussion. This is the first time I am actually scared to play the Browns. My Steelers haven't been doing so well this season, I think losing to the Browns will not only jeopardize the playoff chances but also lower the teams self esteem and momentum. Could you imagine the previous super bowl champs losing to their 1-11 rivals? Ugh... the thought alone disgusts me. It's bad enough we lost to the Raiders. That was pretty heart wrenching.

Not only are my Steelers failing me, but so are my little Cavs. Now I didn't think they were doing so bad until I was online checking out the latest news in sports and on the the top of the sportscenter.com page was an article entitled "What's wrong with Cleveland?" Now that's my city, don't talk about my city that way. But they are right... What is going on with the Cleveland Cavaliers? That article showed that the Cavs are currently 15-7. Now that doesn't seem too bad, but when you see that at this time last year they were 19-3 it makes you (at least me) a little nervous. I thought everybody said that Shaq was supposed to be our saving grace, and the answer to our championship prayers. Then what is going on? Where is Shaq to save the day and save our reputation? I've been saying since day one I don't think we need Shaq. And I'll say it again... I DON'T THINK WE NEED SHAQ! Until he can prove himself as a valuable player and as a Cleveland Cavalier he doesn't deserve to get so much hype. Especially since he's obviously not doing what he came on to do. That's just my opinion... as I promised! :-)

Go Steelers, beat the Browns tonight!! :-)

Day of Hot Topics

2009-12-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

Ok I know this is so overdone, but I need to address the Tiger situation. I have grown up watching and rooting for Tiger Woods. He truly is an amazing talent. He is part of the reason I love golf. I watch it to see what crazy thing he'll pull out next. After watching him, I had to learn how to play. He is a huge role model to so many people. BUT that does not mean that is life is any less private. Unless what he was doing has anything to do with his golf game then it nobody's business. And since it didn't, everybody needs to mind their own business. I do not condone, nor agree with adultery but if that is what he's doing then let him deal with it. He will get his punishment, it is not up to us to see that he gets caught or gets justice. Leave the poor man alone and let him deal with it himself.

Now that I got that off my chest. Someone please tell me what is going on with my Steelers. Well, Big Ben is hurt AGAIN... so they bring in our third string QB, not our back up QB, Charlie Batch because he is injured as well. So third string quarterback Dennis Dixon is brought in to play against one of our biggest rivals and the best defense yet he's only thrown one career pass ever!! But... in his defense, he did a very good job at running the offense and completing his plays. He was very close to getting the win the team needed so badly. He took us to overtime, but unfortunately couldn't finish the job! Maybe next week, eh?

GO NEW ORLEANS! I am very pleased to see them go 11-0. However, I am very displeased to see that Indianapolis is doing that well as well. But the Saints just beat the Patriots! HAHA good job Saints.

I saw that AI is planning on retiring! Even though I am a new fan to this sport, I am honestly a little sad. He is such a great player. But then I heard that he is planning on returning to the 76ers. I think it's cool he wants to end with the team he started with. And I also thinks it's cool that he is taking time off to spend time with his family. He is at the prime of his career, he could stay and play and make more money (that he probably doesn't need) but he decided to leave while he's ahead and take care of what matter most to him. I think that's awesome!! :-)

There is Nothing Like it

2009-11-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

When your stomach is turning with anticipation, when your head is spinning with excitement, when you scream so loud you feel the team themselves can hear you, when you can't sit down because you want to see him hit that shot, or make that throw. There is nothing like it. That was how I felt last Sunday when my Steelers were beat by our biggest competition the Cincinnati Bengals. That game was already won in my head. And that was where I went wrong. As a fan you should never assume a win. But I did... I really thought we had that game in the bag. But our team did not come to play. I'd like to know where the hell our offensive line went? 'Cuz they weren't at Hines field with the rest of the team. But bad ending aside, that game is the reason I'm addicted to sports. That rush that you get watching your team right on the verge of a win or lose, where the game could go either way. Like when Phillip Rivers won the game for the Chargers in the last few seconds. That game was so intense and so exciting! It is plays like that that keep the fans coming back. Also, the OSU game. In overtime the Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes which is a huge rivalry also. Games that keep us on the edges of our seats is what creates the addicts out there like myself.

The NBA season is finally here!! :-) I think that this time of year basketball gets over-looked because baseball just ended and football is in full roar! To me this is the best time of year. So far my Cavs haven't been living up to the standards of last years championship contenders. But I know they'll come back and be the team we all know and love. They played the Celtics and lost, but they played the Knicks and won. Which to me was a good day, but a friend of mine reminded me that if Lebron gets good and comfortable at MSG then he may leave. That controversy is still up in the air, I have faith he'll make the right choice. :-)

Class in sports

2009-10-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

HAHAHAHAHA, Oh what a good weekend. I woke up Saturday morning to football, then I was able to watch the OSU game... FINALLY! And they won. Woke up Sunday to "Let's find a bar and watch the game." Found a bar and then watched the Pitt game. They won too. And the funny thing about that is, I've mentioned my friend who is a Detroit fan. HAHA That was the first time our two teams have played since we've known each other. :-) I'm trying not to be mean. I do have to say that there was a few seconds there where I was a little nervous... but then I remembered... "It's Detroit!!" haha And Ben Roethlisburger needs to get his head out of the spotlight. The superbowl champs were last year. This is a whole new year and we start over fresh each year. Game one no one cares what your record was last year, no one cares who won what. All the teams are equal yet again. Roethlisburger needs to stop expecting wins and respect because he gets the rings. There are many teams out there who deserve it. It's not like my Steelers were the best team last year. It comes down to luck and ability, and pure experience. If you went on stats we shouldn't have won, but that's ok cus' lucky for us they don't!! :-)
As we sat in a crowded bar, with tvs showing every game just like they promise, and people huddled around that tv that is showing their team and shouting and scream as fans do, we were sitting right between the big screen tv showing the Steelers game, than a smaller but equally exciting tv showing the Angels, Red Sox playoff game. As you know, I don't claim to be an Angels fan, I want it to be clear that I didn't hop on any band wagon just because I live down here but I hate Boston! I was very happy to see the Angels win the first round of the series. I was even more happy to see the Red Sox not win!!! haha
Patriots lost today too, so the city of Boston and a good, old friend of mine, aren't too happy! It's sad how happy it makes me. Did you know Tom Brady has NEVER lost in overtime? I guess he can't say that anymore! haha Cleveland finally won! First win of the year, and they didn't even score a touchdown. I guess that's the bright side of playing an 0-4 team. Raiders couldn't do anything to Eli Manning. Commentators were calling this week a bye week for the Giants. haha

Now I would like to switch gears for a minute... I want to talk about the title of this blog. Class in sports is huge to me. One of the main reasons why I love sports as much as I do. I love rivalry and competition probably more than the next guy being from Cleveland and a Pittsburgh fan, but I don't like when teams and players take it to extremes. For example today with Chad Ochocinco, and Rey Lewis. Those hits were personal. And that's not okay. Each man is out there making a living and doing what they love just as much as the next. These guys were out to shut the other up and are able to end someone career with one hit. That is something a lot of these players don't realize. I find it very low class to trash talk the way Joey Porter does or violate someone's tradition as Tennessee did when they spit on the Terrible Towels. That just shows bad class. Or even when LeBron James wouldn't shake the hands of The Magic players when they won. As much as I love sports, at the end of the day it's 45 minuets and a game. Today during the Steelers game I noticed Hines Ward gave the football from the touchdown he just scored to a group of Steelers fan in Detroit. That was cool!! It costs a player $500 every time they throw a ball in the stands. And he didn't do as a cocky celebration or as a "in your face" type of thing. It was just class! I also saw today that the defensive coordinator from Cincinnati lost his wife last week and after they won the team gave him the game ball. Stuff like that just shows that sports and being part of a team is what makes it "more than a game."

The Reality of Sports

2009-10-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

I GOT THE BOOK!!! :-) Finally, I got LeBron James' book. The book is entitled "Shooting Stars" and I haven't even finished it yet and I already recommend it to every sports fan. LeBron fan or not, every sports fan should read this book. This book is a lot more than just a tell-all or a glorious story of last year's MVP. This book is about athletes going through hardships and sticking to the one thing that makes sense to them. This story is about five friends sticking together to make each others dreams come true. I am not saying this as a Cavs or LeBron fan, but as a writer and a reader. As a writer I do have to say that I think this book could have been written in a different tone that would help it flow better, also it seems a little repetitive. I would have edited it differently, and probably wrote it differently but I would not have changed a thing about the message that is getting across. With that being said I would like to share with you a couple of my favorite lines that I have come across so far. On page 4 LeBron is talking about a game that he lost to the rival high school.
"People who watched me that day tell me I played a great game. Maybe I deserve the
compliment. Maybe I don't, because when it counts, when the game is there to be won or lost,
I missed. I let my brothers Little Dru and Sian and Willie Down."
I think that right there shows what kind of man LeBron is and what kind of basketball player he is. The second line I liked a lot was on page 9. LeBron is talking about a dream he has to put Akron, Ohio on the map.
"But if you with hard enough, tryhard enough, find the right group of guys to dream along
with you, then maybe, because there is always a maybe with dreams, they can come true."
He's right, dreams do come true.

You know, a lot of people seem to think sports are simple and mundane. Just putting a big ball is a bigger hoop, making one little ball cross one big plane, or getting a little ball into a little whole two to three-hundred yards away. But ask anybody who's played sports, or anybody who has watched their team win so victoriously, or lose so sadly. Sports are so much more than some angry guys hitting each other for a couple mil a year. Look at the faces on the guys who just won a championship... Kobe, Ben, then look at the faces of guys who just lost... LeBron, Dwight Howard, Larry Fitzgerald. You can see it in their eyes. That is their life, that's how they make a living, that is their only job in life. They put their heart and souls into being the best teammate they can be.

In the news: Tiger Woods has become the first athlete to hit a billion dollars from endorsements. The Angels made the playoffs... Indians did not! Hockey season is back! The Penguins are looking to defend their title. Mike Tomlin benched Rashard Mendelhall last week because the rookie didn't run the play correctly. Now they have to turn to Mendenhall since running back Willie Parker is not expected to play tonight against San Diego. Brett Farve is not expected to play tomorrow night against old team the Green Bay Packers. HAHAHA Coincidence??

Today is the day of football, I'm off to watch Patriots and Ravens. And while the Ravens are losing, they are still looking pretty good. I'm a little worried! :-/

It's not about the Ws

2009-09-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

Although I voiced my disappointment in my team for losing the other day I just want to be clear that I truly believe it doesn't matter how many numbers you have in the win column as long as you play as a team. I mean who doesn't want to see their team go 16-0 but that doesn't happen as often as we all wish. It all comes down to how the team plays with each other and against everybody else. You have to know when to throw and when to run. Who to rush and can manage outside the pocket. I would rather be 1-2 knowing that they were close, "anybody's games" and we played tough and looked good even though we lost. Compared to say being 0-3 and making stupid, careless mistakes and looking like we are tripping over our own two feet.

In another point of view, everybody (especially where I effing live) seems to think the Lakers are some God sent, heaven-on-earth, unstoppable team. Well I am the first Cavs fans to admit that the Lakers are good, they deserved to win, and Kobe is amazing. BUT... and that's a big but, look at the stats. LeBron had a better season. He scored more points, had more "wow shots", he had less help from his supporting cast and he still made it that far. The Lakers as a team fought for that title and earned it... but the Cavs fought just as hard if not harder. They had more wins! In my opinion the Cavaliers were the better team. Granted they weren't clutch and ultimately that's what it's all about, but that just goes to show the better team doesn't always win.

"Upsetted' and Outraged

2009-09-29T16:02:00.002-07:00

Wow... This was a weird week in sports! The Steelers lost, the Lions won, Bret Farve earned his million dollar salary, and I had to watch the Chargers on tv.... (oh wait no that's normal) I have to say I was very happy to see Detroit win. 19 game losing streak ended at home against Washington. It seems Matthew Stafford was the answer to the prayers of the team and the few fans that stuck by em'. Browns fans are happy, that means they wont be the Lions first victory! We all know the Browns aren't going anywhere fast, but boy are their fans loyal.
I assume you all saw that last minute throw by Bret Favre... Minnesota fans were praising their new, twice-retired QB while 49er fans slowly sat back down in their seats and hid their faces in their hands. Personally, I loved it. I think Favre is out played, but if he can still get the job then hey! more power to him. Plus, the anti-californiaian in me likes to see San Fran lose. :-)
BUT I DON'T LIKE TO SEE PITTSBURGH LOSE!! That's right... see! As in watch. I finally find a way to watch my team live and they lose. And you know what my question is... What the hell happened to Jeff Reed? That man used to be our saving grace. now he missed three field goals in two games. And to the Bengals?? Really?? This just looks like a repeat of 2006. After we won the Superbowl we went 1-2 at the beginning then went 8-8 and didn't even make it to the playoffs. All I have to say is we better not let that happen again!!

So... LeBron's movie comes out Friday and the closest theater to me isn't showing it until next Friday. But luckily I found a theater in LA that will show it Friday now I just need someone to go with me. :-)

Game Day!!

2009-09-27T13:23:00.003-07:00

Before I go into vents and excitements about today's games I would like to announce Lebron James has a book and a movie!! My heart has not stopped racing since I heard that. I am so stoked! I need to get that book, I'm dying not having it!!

Anyway, so today is football Sunday!! Best day of the week! So as I write to you, I sit in front of my old, lame, non HD, relatively small tv watching Miami play San Diego. Now ask, do I care about either of these teams... NOPE! Just another penalty for living in California. I could be watching Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. We all know that game is so much more exciting. All the commentators seem to think Cinci is going to come out on top. I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous... but I have faith in my team. :-) But we'll have to see.

So the Niners lost... HAHAHAHAHA Ya know, I don't have a logical explanation for choosing which teams I like and don't like but I really don't like the Niners. I have a lot of respect for their new coach. Plus I just watched him in the Superbowl shuffle (ROFL), but I just can't root for the Niners. But, I'm also not a huge fan of Minnesota and I really am indifferent about Farve. I like him, I do! And you gotta respect that that man can still pull plays like that out of his ass even though he is like 50 years old. I do believe his time has expired, but if he can still win like that, maybe I'm wrong.

Yay Detroit finally won. I'm so happy for them. Partially because I feel so bad for them not being able to win at all last year. And I have a friend who is a Lions fan and I was kinda starting to feel bad for rubbing it in his face every week that my Steelers are so much better! I mean not bad enough to stop... lol! :-) But he always had me being a USC and Celtics fan, so it evened out!!

Fuckin New England, fuckin Baltimore.. enough said!
Mark Sanchez was in beast mode today, way to go Jets. I like anybody who beats the Titans! Since they spit on our towels, I spit in their face.

So I guess Michael Vick didn't start today. So you'll let him back in the NFL but not let him play. That's kinda a tease. But at least he's re-earning him name and still getting paid!!

Sidenote: Indians dominated today!!! :-) C'mon Cleveland!

Well I'm out of words for now... until later, tata
:-)

Friends in Sports

2009-09-26T14:03:00.001-07:00

So I had a chance to go to an Angels game last night. It was so cool. Not that I'm an Angels fan or anything but living in Cali most of my life I've come to terms that I don't get to see my teams play very often. I wait every year for when the Steelers play the Chargers, and the Indians play the Angels, and the Cavs play the Lakers (that is going to be so exciting this year... I CAN'T WAIT!), and the Penguins play the Ducks, and OSU plays USC. I have to get out of this state or I might just go insane. Or I at least need to find other sports fans so we can tail gate and hang out and talk about sports. My "friends" tend to tease me, saying I don't know anything about sports. Well that kinda pisses me off. So I am now trying to do everything in my power to learn anything and everything about the past and present in sports. I am a little ways behind, but I'll catch up. The best way to learn sports is just by watching games and SportsCenter!! Well I don't have easy access to either so I'm doing the best I can with what I have. But those unfaithful people aren't going to get me down. I PROMISE, I WILL MAKE IT ON ESPN!!!

Now that I have that out of my system... I'm gonna watch Oregon kill Cal since I can't watch Ohio kill Illinois!! :-)

FYI: Fun, Young, Inspired

2009-09-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Hello bloggers
About me: I am fun, young and inspired!! :-) I reside in the south part of Cali. I believe all problems can be solved by sitting in sand and watching the waves rush at me. I love sports!! Most girls who say that are the type of girls who are tall and skinny and super athletic, and were on every team in High School. In High School I was on the cheerleading squad. Not for the short skirts and boys attentions but for the free pass to every football and basketball game. Plus the best seats in the house- right on the sideline!! If it were up to me I'd be talking, watching and learning about sports all day every day!! Now, I love sports, all sports. I'm not bias but I do have my favorite teams. I am proud to say I was born in Cleveland, OH. So naturally I am a fan of Cleveland team. Cavs, and Indians! But the Browns is where I draw the line. I can see a good team, and respect a team and players but the Browns are not a good team, do not have good fans, do not have many respectable players and I don't agree with the way the organization is ran. With that being said, I went to a city a little bit East for my fave football team... that's right, the one, the only six time super bowl champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers! :-)
Ponder that for a while, I'm off to class! :-)
Happy Friday