Christmas Time, Jingle Bells, and oh so many Bowl Games.

"It's the mooooooost, wonderful tiiiiiiiiime, of the year!!!" Yep, that's right everyone, it's Christmas Time once again.  Colorful lights every where you turn, the sound of Christmas music pouring out of drug store speakers, and that ever-present aura of goodwill and cheer.  And of course, the most important facet of late-December culture, college football bowl games.  There really isn't anything like them.  I mean what other sports league culminates in a cornucopia of championships spanning across the entire country pitting different worthy and skilled teams against one another, putting their respective seasons on the line and playing for trophies, tv spots, money, and the most important of all, bragging rights on college football's biggest stages.  Just the fact that there are so many bowl games played in mid-December to early January is the essence of awesomeness in itself.  Along with hearty holiday dinners, one can expect to cozy up to the fire with a huge mug of hot chocolate, as well as a hard-hitting and exciting championship football game.  I don't care what anyone says about those earlier "less-important" bowl games; each one is a thrill on it's own, and they really encompass the passion and determination that I so dearly love when it comes to all college sports, especially football.  There is so much undiscovered, covered-up football talent in this country, and college bowl games really allow these players and teams to portray what they have to offer to the world.  Just because these teams play out of DII colleges or are not from big football regions, does not mean that they can't throw/run/tackle/kick/or coach like the rest of America.  These teams/players/coaches all have something to prove, and I believe that there is no better way to give them that opportunity then in a College Football Bowl Game.

I've always been a college football fan, starting since I was groomed as a Seminole from birth, and then  finding my love for the game on my own through EA Sports video games and throwing around the old pigskin with my dad.  And how could I forget watching those exciting games on television every Saturday; beginning with College Gameday and culminating in those top-ten prime time match-ups that everyone wanted to see, mostly due to National Championshp implications.  It is in those Saturdays that I could find solace from annoying homework and chores and just relax and immerse myself in a culture that I was proud to be a part of.  It is in this month of mid-December/late-January that I find myself bubbling with these emotions once again, not only because of the Christmas Season, but because of this time of the year being one giant Saturday for me.  The first couple bowl games imitate those gritty high-noon games where players battled the elements, but also played to win.  Then, of course, this wonderful season will end with the National Championship in January, the biggest prime-time game of them all, where the entire country will watch in anticipation to see who the next true Champions are.  I really could keep talking about bowl games and Roses and Oranges all day, but I believe that I should just let the games themselves speak for me and what I am trying to get at.  Happy Holidays everyone, and remember to go "bowling" this winter season, no matter who is playing.  

ACC < SEC, for now...

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is home to many great football programs.  Such teams include the Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes, Clemson Tigers, and Virginia Tech Hokies.  There's only one problem though.  These teams are not what they used to be, and long story short, suck compared to the powerhouse conferences of the SEC and the Big 12.  FSU, being ranked at an average of 8 in the top 25 polls this season, has manhandled this conference for the entire season with an ACC record of  7-1, with Clemson coming in with the same record, having their only loss given to them by FSU.  Since the ACC is such a big conference and has to cover alot of ground on the east coast, it was decided way back when to split it into two separate regions, the Coastal and Atlantic divisions.  Florida State and Clemson are both in the Atlantic division, and have both had very worthy seasons, finishing the regular seasons well within the top 25.  The Coastal side of the ACC, however, has been a huge mess the entire season.  The top three records are all 5-3 and they belong to Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami.  Now, not that this takes away anything from the prestige and history of the Atlantic Coast Conference, but to only have two teams in the tops 25 out of 12 solid teams is nothing to be too proud about.  There were times in history when the ACC was better than the SEC; producing powerhouse national championship teams.  Florida State had a great run in the 90's with and undefeated season and two national championships.  Miami was a force to be reckoned with, and Virginia Tech was known to pull many heartbreak upsets from time to time.  So, what happened to all this skill and glory?  And why does the SEC seem to dominate the sport of college football nowadays?

The answer is really within how certain teams go about the recruiting process, and the help that those teams get that is slightly out of their control.  Sure, any team can offer a top recruit a substantial scholarship offering cost benefits and apparel and such, but it really comes down to the players decision to where he will end up.  And long story short, that skilled and top-ranked player is going to want to go to a skilled and top-ranked university to play; a school with a history of college greatness and lore.  FSU is one of these schools without a doubt, and it is no surprise that they consistently pull in the number one ranked draft classes year after year.  Many SEC schools pull in good recruits as well, just because they are that good and the history of the conference that they play out of is so rich and well known.  In other words, college football is beginning to become monopolized in a way, and it will be difficult for, say teams in the ACC, to fight against the tide and make a name for themselves.  Miami and Vtech are not what they were, not even close.  I believe that for the ACC to get back on the map and get some respect as a football conference, that they will need to step up their recruiting substantially, and begin acting like they belong in the same breath as the SEC.  One day the roles will be reversed, and computers will know to show a little more respect.

It was good while it lasted Stoops...

Over the Thanksgiving break, Florida State Football fans got some upsetting news from the coaching staff that we have all come to know and love.  Our very own Defensive Coordinator, Mark Stoops, will be stepping down from his position here at FSU to fulfill the job of Head Coach over at Kentucky University.  The wildcats had a season to forget this year, posting a pitiful 2-10 (0-8 in conference play) record with both of their wins coming against Div. II teams.  They also fired their head football coach, Joker Phillips, based off of the poor effort put into this year.  Mark Stoops, on the other hand, has had a great season as the DC for the Florida State Seminoles, grooming the defense into one of the best in the country, and helping the team to a solid 10-2 record.  Without the work of Stoops this year, who knows how the Seminoles would have fared this season.

Even though this is big news for the Stoop family and for Mark himself, he will be severely missed here at FSU.  Since Stoops has joined the team back in 2009, Florida State has consistently had one of the nation's best defenses, and because of this, has helped coach the team to top-ten rankings and bowl games every year.  I know I speak for all of Seminole Nation when I say you will be missed Mark Stoops.  We hope the best for you in Kentucky.

Scalp 'em!!!

A Thanksgiving sports story that I have isn't exactly a single story that I remember way back when, but actually, is an accumulation of many years of Thanksgivings that revolve around watching a certain special football game that actually occurs only a couple days after Turkey Day.  This game is, of course, the annual Florida State vs. Florida college football game.  One of the biggest rivalry games in all of college football, and in the country, ranks right up there with the Iron Bowl (Alabama vs. Auburn) and the heated Yankee's vs. Red Sox rivalry.  Seeing as my parents are both Alumni, the watching of this game the Saturday after Thanksgiving has become a pretty steadfast tradition in our household.  My parents both bleed Garnet and Gold, and over time, have influenced me heavily in my decision to go to FSU as well.  I wouldn't have it any other way either.  The battle of the Florida Schools is usually a very gritty game, with two sets of fan bases that hate each other passionately.  It is no surprise that you will see fans going all out for this game, covering themselves in body paint and cheering on their school until their lungs cannot cheer any more.  Sitting there watching those games on tv doesn't even inhibit my emotions from wanting FSU to win, to hating the refs for making countless boneheaded calls.  That was the only option that I had for partaking in this game.  That was, until this year.

Being a freshman at Florida State University has its ups and downs, but the positives outweigh the negatives by a long shot.  One of these countless positives includes being able to attend all the home football games for free, just because I am a student here.  Seeing as the Florida game was at home this year, I made sure that I was one of the first students to reserve a ticket online.  I knew that attending this game would be hard, seeing as I would have to fly home from Connecticut a day early and probably miss the first quarter.  This did not stop me from trying to pursue my dream of attending this awesome game, and I was able to get there in a timely fashion.  To my dismay, however, I arrived to a dead Doak Campell Stadium, with the Gators leading the game 13-0.  As the second half rolled around, you could feel the electricity begin to fill the stands once more.  FSU scored 20 unanswered points after being shut out for the first half, and the future was looking bright for all of us fans and the players on the field.   I could not believe that I was actually at this game, and that I was about to watch my own college team beat the Gators in person.  As everyone already knows, however, my dreams quickly faded as my Seminoles began to falter and opened up the door for the Gators to score 24 more points in less than two quarters, while all we the fans could do was watch, horrified.  As the game came to a bitter close, my emotions were filled with hate and anger at the world, and especially the population of Gainesville.  This would be a Thanksgiving to remember for sure, but hopefully, next year would be one to remember for all of the right reasons.

Turkey Day Road Race

For living in such a small town in one of the smallest states (Connecticut) in the United States of America, I feel like I am truly blessed to live in a place that hosts one of the nation's largest road races on Thanksgiving Day, that race being the Manchester Road Race.  Over 20,000 people run in this annual race that runs approximately 4.8 miles long and is populated by a mix of elite runners that come from all across the world, as well as excited locals who run for success and a good time.  Most of these pleasure runners also dress up in various original and hilarious costumes, a growing tradition that has begun to catch on. People who don't run in this race have also brought the run into their Thanksgiving day cultures, making sure to watch the race and cheer on the runners while enjoying some early morning brews along with friends and family.  In my opinion, their isn't any better way to spend a Thanksgiving morning than waking up bright and early, tying up the old running shoes, and walking down to main street (the start of the race), to be greeted by thousands upon thousands of people in high spirits and costumes ready and rearing to earn their dinner's later on that night.  The atmosphere that abounds through the crowds is indescribable, and the people you see walking around can only be described as ready for a good time.  The loud speakers that you hear all around you announcing the nearing minutes to the start of the race, paired with a jolly, "This is Thanksgiving in Manchester!!" really emphasizes the point that everyone should be thankful for the community that they are a part of, and be gracious for the opportunities that they have.

This year's Thanksgiving Day Race was especially important to me because of the fact that it was going to be the first time I would be home in over 3 months, due to going to college on the opposite side of the East Coast (Florida).  On top of being able to immerse myself in New England Thanksgiving culture once again, and run in one of my favorite holiday traditions, I was going to be able to see my family once again, as well as the countless friends that I left behind August prior.  The chill morning that Thanksgiving Day brought reminded me of all the Thanksgiving's before this, and all of the memories that I have accumulated over the years both running and watching the Turkey Day Race.  It will forever be a part of me and my family, and I know that as long as I am able, that I will make it my mission to run/walk/crawl in the annual road race that has become a part of my livelihood  my culture, my DNA.  Some memories are great to hold on to, but some are even better when you add to them every year.   

You Can Never Be TOO Flashy

Athletes these days are frequently criticized for the way that they bring in to much celebration, showboating, and theatrics into the sport that they play with no respect to the actual league itself.  Many sports that are infamous for housing players that revolve their style of game play around such flashy actions include the NBA, most soccer leagues, and without a doubt the leader in this category, the NFL.  Most critics believe that it is the frequent TD dances and off-field antics that make the NFL a joke to the game of football and are constantly taking away from the good 'ole days when an athlete was defined by his skill at the sport, and his talent alone.  I believe that this new era of sport, football especially, should be embraced and brings in an entire new fan base on top of the already thousands of fans that are devoted to the sport.  Football players such as Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, and Terrell Owens bring a sense of diversity and culture to the game of football and give fans a whole new reason to cheer for their favorite players.  Its not just the excitement of who will score or how many points a certain player will rack up, but now fans can look forward to the new TD dance that that one player might bring out, or the latest trick that someone pulls off a makes sports history.  An athlete can never be too flashy and whatever they end up doing can only grow the game that they are a part of.  When a kid sees Tebow "Tebow" or watches Aaron Rodgers put on his invisible title pass after a perfect TD pass down field, that kid falls in love with football even more and has someone to idolize.  This is the future of sport and the future is bright.

ahh....the Miami Marlins...lol

I recently read an article on Deadspin.com that talked about how the Miami Marlins, formerly the Florida Marlins, were the epitome of a disgrace to the game of baseball this past season and this offseason as well.  The recent trading off of Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Emilio Bonafacio, and Mark Buehrle, as well as the firing of Ozzie Guillen, have put the slim remainder of the Marlins fan base in a state of rage and shock.  First of all, the Marlins put on a season performance that was less than worthy to talk about (69-93), not to mention the ridiculous amount of money that was spent on building a new stadium just for the club in the heart of Miami and the changing of the team name to the Miami Marlins. Seeing as it was a new beginning, I'm sure many of the old Florida Marlins fans, as well as the new fans spawned from the new baseball interest in Miami, expected ALOT more.  So its the offseason now, lets just count on the solid players they still have and hopefully they will bounce back positively next year.  Yeah well thats a joke now seeing as the Marlins organization has decided to trade the majority of the team's offense and pitching staff that actually contributed to the team.  This entire mess has all seemed very sad and comical to me at the same time, most likely in part of my personal favorite team, the Boston Red Sox, going through the same troubles as the Marlins, boasting an identical 2012 record and firing the first time coach Bobby Valentine who was promoting a solid season ahead.  I have also recently befriended some true Miami natives who are avid baseball fans and feel obliged to root for the Miami Marlins.  Sitting and watching Sportscenter with them the day that the trade news came out was like being immersed in a riot with people screaming to the right and left of me, cursing to the digital man on the screen, and crying over the shocking list of names that he was displaying.  I admire their dedication and emotional pull to the team they love, and sympathize with them as a fellow fan who has just gone through a tough season to watch.  Why do us fan's put ourselves through the stress and inner turmoil that comes with rooting and caring about our team, whether they win or bring about the lowest lows?  Whatever the reason I know that I will just have to suck it up and follow my Red Sox into the dark shadows of 2013, leaving my Marlin friends to wallow in their depression.  Being a sports fan is a pretty sadistic and twisted hobby, but I'm sure as hell glad that its my hobby.

Come on down to Real Madrid World!!!

Politics in sport can be seen throughout the many leagues and different sports across the world.  Soccer is one of those sports that has continually been seen promoting their players and spending money in a way that manipulates their audience and their fans.  For example, the Spanish Premier team Real Madrid has begun work and started rumors based on the creation of a private island totally devoted to the fans and organization of Real Madrid.  The island alone would cost millions of dollars to buy, and then with the building and staffing that would have to be done to create this resort, would put the dollar deficit into the billions.  Now sports are a big deal to people, and soccer is especially big when it comes to the European population, but a private island resort based solely around a single soccer team seems incredibly ridiculous.

My ad deals with soccer and Christiano Ronaldo, along with the overall theme that has to deal with athletes being overpayed to play like other athletes of the same caliber.  I will try to implement politics into my ad by talking about the new Real Madrid Island in the ad, and on how Ronaldo is just another attraction in this massive financial conglomerate.  I feel like the politics of the sport take away from the actual quality of the game, and this will be a perfect way to demonstrate it.

Golf and the art of Selling Out

As the PGA Tour Season winds down and the minuscule month of an off season approaches, many players and equipment sponsors are beginning to look for new signings and sponsorship deals that will boost their public attention, as well as their appearance in the media.  Brands such as Nike Golf and Titleist are two of the most well known golf superbrands in the game today, and both work around the pinnacle of advertising and player sponsorship.  Titleist, for almost as many years as it has been around, has run off of the advertising claim that they produce the number one ball in golf.  Commercials promoting the brand will almost indefinitely portray the linchpin to the company, the Pro V1 and Pro Vx golf balls, and describe to the viewer how no other brand of ball comes even close to the number of played by professionals across the world.  Titleist commercials also try to appeal to the amateur golfer as well, which is the largest and most profitable market for golf that the world has to offer.  These commercials usually promote the same equipment and apparel, but put the focus on becoming a better golfer, and how Titleist equipment will help you achieve just that.  Now, Nike, on the other hand, has taken a more alternative approach to its ads and sponsorships as of late.  When it comes to advertising their golf balls or clothing, the commercials that you see will almost always depict one of the staff pros that is sponsored by them, and they will be portrayed in a new-wave sort of manner that brings the cool and youthful side of golf into play.  I believe their objective is to promote a new, radical, and fresh take on the game of golf, and with that, a new following that will break away from the old and comfortable, and into the new and alternative golfing lifestyle of Nike.

Now the big news in the golfing world as of late has to deal with the new professional signings that Nike has managed to snatch up for the next season.  The biggest golfer on this list has to be, without a doubt, Rory McIlroy, the number one golfer in the world.  Now Rory doesn't just bring obvious talent and prestige to the company, but he also brings millions of young golf fans as well.  Being only 23 and at the peak of his golf game, he has become the face of the new golfer; the young, talented, alternative, and recognizable athlete.  Now this signing has brought about more interest in the golfing world due to who Rory was previously signed with: Titleist.  Titleist has made a name for itself over the years as a company with strong fundamentals, world-class equipement, and for starting rookie Tour member out on the right foot.  Some previous golfers that Titleist has sponsored in the past are the cream of the crop, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.  However, these golfers as well have left the company many years ago and switched to more attractive sponsors.  Nike, being one of these new-wave brands, is most famously known for sponsoring Tiger Woods and promoting him as an athlete.  If it wasn't for Nike, some might say, Tiger Woods wouldn't be as famous as he is today, no matter what his accomplishments in golf entail.  The point I am trying to get to here is that golf is turning into a sport that revolves and functions around endorsement deals that are blown up into millions and millions of dollars.  The Rory McIlroy deal has been rumored to be 10 Milllion dollars deep, with Nike paying out of pocket for Rory's name with the brand.  I believe that the game of golf needs to stop promoting these sellout situations, and I think that the players should pay more homage to the brands that raised them as rookie and helped them get on their feet.  I also believe that it is this ridiculous amount of money and the aura that comes with it that deters average people from playing golf and from becoming intertwined with the the culture of the game.  Long story short, professional golfers should be less worried about who is paying for their entire lives than on focusing on their golf games and promoting the sport in a positive way.  The advertisement and sponsorship way may be the future of the game, but I believe that for the healthiest growth, players should stick with the sponsors that have groomed them and work out of these companies to help teach, promote, and grow the beautiful game that millions around the world have come to know and love.

Ronaldon't (cont.)

Athletes nowadays seem to be leaning towards the flashy side of the sport, especially when it comes to having reputations and being overrated in their respective sport.  Usually when this is the case, money is involved and is a strong proponent in their performance and how they are portrayed amongst fans and the team.  Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the biggest culprits of these acts, and has become a namesake in the soccer world for being overpayed, being too flashy, and being a wimpy player.  I will give him that he is a good soccer player, I mean, you have to be somewhat proficient at the sport to play it professionally, but it is the combination of all his other attributes that make him a joke in my eyes and the eyes of all other non-Real Madrid fans.  The ad below is praising Ronaldo on all of his forefront characteristics, and the ones that have made him so successful.  I will alter this ad in a way that makes more sense to the realists of the soccer world and in a way that will describe him accordingly.  I will also try to alter his appearance as well that will emphasize his overrated skill, attitude, and the lack of respect that most people have for him.

"Ronaldon't"

There is this Nike ad that is supporting the soccer player Christiano Ronaldo, and it is basically a picture of him with the caption beside him saying, "Christiano Ronaldo: Young, Gifted, and Portuguese." Now while everyone knows that he is young and Portuguese and somewhat skilled at soccer, I believe that these are not some of his more prolific traits.  I will admit that I am not the biggest soccer fan known to man, but I definitely now soccer culture and the split following that Ronaldo has collected over the years playing for both Manchester United and now Real Madrid.  Being a Chelsea fan myself, I have never really let myself become a fan of Ronaldo ever, and I have a few very good reasons why, besides the fact that he has played for teams that I despise.  These reasons are that he is extremely over payed as an athlete (making over 1.4 million USD a month and upwards of 17.5 million USD a year), and the fact that he never plays to that kind of potential.  Sure, he is good at soccer, but come on now people, no one deserves that kind of money to sit right by the goal everygame and look for a well timed cross just so you can pop it into the net.  Then there is the fact that he has also made a name for himself in the soccer world as a "flopper".  A player who "flops" is known to act out or really emphasize any body contact that a defender or other player will make towards them, usually drawing a foul that wasn't there or pretending to act injured just to make a point.  No matter what the outcome, a "flopper" like Ronaldo always looks like a total baby and in my mind, a p**** and a b****. Soccer is meant to be played with a sense of dignity and respect for the game that is so well respected around the world, not to fake injuries or act like a clown.  It is these aspects of Ronaldo that cause me to hate him so much.

My plan for the adbuster is to take the Nike ad that I mentioned before and edit the three words that they  used to describe Ronaldo as.  These three words will be very congruent to the fact that he is overpayed and a wimp in the soccer world.  His pretty boy attitude and clownish behavior will also be emphasized in a way by editing his jersey and appearance as he is shown in the ad.  My overall goal is to make an ad that rips on Ronaldo and shows everyone the kind of soccer player and person he really is.

This is Sportscenter

Still to this day the show Sportscenter is one of my favorite TV shows of all time.  Its not just the fact it consists of numerous sports clips and score updates, but the fact that it usually encompasses two of my favorite genres of television: sports and comedy.  Now the comedic side of Sportscenter is usually toned down for the most part during live shows and what not, meaning the sports highlights and interviews take center stage.  The comedy aspect of Sportscenter is most commonly seen in their Ads and commercials however, when the camera's are not live and the atmosphere is much more relaxed.  One of my favorite ads for Sportscenter of all time features one of my favorite hockey players, Alex Ovechkin, a Russian-born athlete who plays for the Washington Capitals.  The scene starts out inside the offices of ESPN, the main set for all of the "This is Sportscenter" ads.  Ovechkin is in full hockey garb filing some papers in the dark.  One of the Sportscenter anchors walks by and notices him in the room.  As he approaches Ovechkin and turns on the light he asks, somewhat sarcastically, "Hey why are you filing papers so late and in the dark?  Are you a Russian spy or something?" The two exchange laughs and the anchor walks away and leaves Alex to his business.  As soon as the anchor leaves, Ovechkin's face changes into a serious glare and grabs some papers as he looks to the ceiling.  The goalie for the Washington Capitals, Michal Neuvirth (a fellow Russian), appears out of one of the tiles and throws Alex a rope, saying "That was too close" in Russian, as Ovechkin agrees saying, "Too close" as well.  It is this kind of comedic genius that makes the Sportscenter ads so funny and so relatable to the athletes they are portraying.  Just the thought of an office being run by athletes from all sports and walks of life makes this ad one of my favorites, as well as all "This is Sportscenter" ads.

A sports ad that i have come to frown upon lately is the Peyton Manning commercial where he is promoting the new Buick car and is acting like a real southern hick while driving it.  Yes, everyone knows that he is a superstar football player.  Yes, everyone knows that he hails from the south and has always been immersed in that culture (graduated from Tennessee University).  But come on Buick, the commercial is just awful and the jokes seem kind of derogatory.  This is probably just my personal feelings on how I feel about the commercial, but I just don't like Peyton Manning or the way they are promoting the car.  Buick should take notes from Sportscenter if you ask me.

Average Morning

The worst sound known to man.  That awful ringing bellowed against my ear drum as I quickly awoke from my comfortable state.  It should have gone off 20 minutes ago, but decides to wake me up now.  Terrific.  Feeling drowsy and tired I roll out of bed to a closet full of hangars and coats; not one article of clothing is clean and hanging up.  I look down on the floor to find the entirety of my wardrobe lying in a heap, waiting to be washed and burning my eyes from the stench.  'What else is new' I mumble to myself and plunge my hands into the mass of dirty laundry, playing my usual game of "mystery outfit" and wearing whatever I manage to pull out of the pile first.  I hobble down the stairs and open the fridge to find an abundance of variety; a jar of pickles and two bottles of Powerade.  'Breakfast of champions' I think to myself as I wash down a salty spear with Mountain Berry Blast, 'And I'm sure the day is only going to get better'.  At this point the sarcasm is literally dripping out of my mouth.  

Traffic is the nemesis for my lead foot as I come to a screeching halt.  I feel like everyone is stupid for going to work at the same time as me, and that no one understands how my day is going.  Its almost like the world is against me at this point, and that everyone planned to get on the highway at the exact same time.  I see an open section in the lane to the left of me and I turn my blinker on as I prepare to turn.  Well I guess my idea was as good as the guy in front of me too as he copies my actions and cuts me off like its his job.  My usual colorful vocabulary began to spew from my mouth as I gave the driver in front of me a piece of my mind, as well as a few choice hand gestures to go along with it.  'Man if I didn't need to pay off this car loan I swear to God I'd ram this bastard' I tell myself to keep up with my tough guy moment, knowing inside that I was truly full of shit.

It felt like years before I got to office, setting all of my morning stress onto my desk chair as I fall into it with thud.  My eyes almost roll back into my skull as I begin to drift off until I see an out of place note sitting on my desk.  The desk chair's wheels screech loudly as I roll closer to my desk and pick up the post it.  Of course its a note from my boss saying that I need to see her ASAP.  You know, the usual note that you love to see on an awful morning.

The envelope felt like a ton of bricks in my hand, and my temperature was rising as  I began to comprehend a few of the important words that my boss was dribbling out of his fat face.  In essence I was being let go, and I didn't give a f*** in this point of my day.  I decided to keep my words to myself, and my thoughts inside.  As I left the office i only had one thing to say to myself.  "Congratulations sir, you just had one hell of a morning!!!"

You just gotta love that smell...

Growing up and throughout my childhood, water was never a thing that I learned to fear or stay away from, but actually quite the opposite.  From as early as I can remember, swimming was a passionate hobby for me, and as I grew up, it became a love affair.  Now in the norms of competitive swimming, I started late.  Very late actually.  My first year of competitive swimming did not actually occur until my freshman year of high school, while most of my team mates had been swimming on teams and practicing to best times all their lives.  Now just because I was a relative beginner in the world of swimming competition, didn't mean I wasn't any good.  Like I said before, swimming had always been a passionate hobby for me, and some of my earliest memories had to deal with swimming lessons at our local pool in the early morning; my mom dragging me out of the warm serenity of my bed and into the cold, yet refreshing, chill of the placid water.  And of course, how could I forget that ever present odor of fresh chlorine wherever I turn, and that constant sound of splashing and yelling.  Arrival at the pool always meant the days first bold move as well; jumping in to that stark water and out of the sleepiness and fatigue that has enveloped your body from a night of peaceful rest and relaxation.  It is a feeling that many would connect to annoyance or disparity, but I learned to love that rush of adrenaline and the burst of energy and motivation that would follow and lead you into the swim practice.  The water was now under your control, and the motion of your body never felt so free and fluid.

Over time, this trigger would mesh with the memories of my high school swim team, and all that encompassed it.  Chlorine is a smell that, even today, triggers all the emotions that I can remember from my competitive swimming days.  The squeak of the locker room floor from wet feet, the constant sound of rushing shower water, and the chill of your body when it was time to eventually jump into that ice-cold pool. My earliest memories coincide so nicely with my memories now that I have with swimming, so I definitely will be using them in my essay as a trigger to either begin the paper or bring it to a clean and summarized end.  My story and timeline in this sport is very unique in that I did not start at until I was older, but at the same time, had been doing it all of my life.  I think that is what makes my relationship with swimming so special, and why my various memories and triggers will draw the reader in and hopefully relate to the emotions and events that I am portraying. 

Sport: The Definition of a Community, a Culture, and Ourselves

Ah Klosterman, your words are so true and never fail to speak to me on a deep, yet so superficial level.    In his essay 33, Klosterman writes about the rich and dominating basketball culture of the mid to late 1980's.  And when I say this, I obviously mean the intense, overblown, highly-contested battle of the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics.  The focus wasn't just on the battle between Bird and Magic on the court, however, but on the hostile and very racial culture that was produced between opposing Lakers and Celtics fans.  This heated rivalry that was created from the success of these two teams helped to form the hatred these fans have for each other nowadays, as well as the racial issues that are so often associated with the sport of basketball, as well as other big time sports in the United States.  Klosterman identified how the Larry Bird-led Celtics were mostly Caucasian in an NBA full of African-American-run teams; one of these teams of course being the LA Lakers.  The stars of Bird and Magic Johnson (Lakers) began to emerge from the two teams, and it wasn't long before these teams began winning the right games and establishing themselves as the best teams in the league.  Now how could two teams have so much success, but at the same time, be so different in their racial make-up, style of play, and overall fan base??  Well, for starters, maybe physical and mental prowess in a sport isn't solely based on race or where a person comes from.  Maybe skill set and a team's chemistry are both learned and achieved through long hours in the gym and at practice, as well from a great passion for the game.  Even if this really is the case, there is no way to escape how race and ethnicity defines a community (such as in Boston and LA), and how people tend to choose sides within these sporting communities so that they can feel like a part of something that they can really embrace as their own.

This passion for sport and the community that a person may find themselves in always depends on the kind of person that he/she is.  Some might even say that age is one of the biggest proponents to one's love of a sport, and that that "fire inside" may tend to dwindle and die as one grows older.  The End of Practice, a poem by Rodney Jones, is a perfect description in my opinion of how youth athletics is one of the most highly contested levels of sport in both the amount of passion that is shown from its players and fans, and in how it creates communities that surround teams and entire towns.  These athletes treat every day like another chance to prove themselves yet again, and practice like their lives depend on it.  Especially when it comes to high school sports, such as football, the players and coaches who devote their time to the game aren't usually there just to have a good time.  Sure, they both have outstanding passions for the game that they play/teach, but it is through the victories, loses, and intensities of games that these kids and adults find their true belonging.  And out of this raw emotional atmosphere comes the passion of the fans who seem to be drawn to every game to watch their son/daughter, cheer for their friends, believe in a team, or believe in an entire town.  There is no other event or activity on this planet that can bring communities together like sports can.  In the poem, Jones talks about the young athletes angst and drive to shine in practice, win the respect from their coaches, and in turn, gain that feeling of accomplishment that is found through a winning touchdown/goal/run and is acknowledged by a community of parents, friends, fans, and elders.  Sure, at times race can be an influence on the makeup of a sports community, as was the case with the Lakers and Celtics, but that is not the only aspiring factor that describes a culture such as this.  I believe that it is the role that all of us fans must take, as well as the athletes that we cheer for, to bring a community of people together to believe in something, no matter what that may be.  Winning that first game, beating that rival team, or even taking that deep run in the playoffs to an eventual championship are all examples of how sports teams allow us to believe in something bigger than ourselves.  When a community forgets its troubles and problems, and can come together to share in a sporting heritage that fuels both the passion of its fans and athletes, that is when that community becomes a culture, and that is how every single person within that culture can choose to define themselves.  No matter what color our skin is or where we come from, we are all sports fans inside, and we all can choose to believe in something that we are truly passionate about.

Dear Nick...

Dear Nick Watney,
Hey man congrats on your latest win at Bethpage Black.  I watched every round and got so pumped when you were in both final groups in the weekend.  Man I love everything about your golf game, and watching you really makes me want to become a better golfer.  I don't know what it is, but I can connect to the way you manage your round, bounce back after mistakes, and the way you carry yourself on the golf course.  You never seem mad at yourself over a bad shot or a missed put, and you always seem to be having a good time.  Thats definitely something that I need to work on because as you and I both know, golf is such a mental game, and it can really tear you down if you let it get to you in the heat of the moment.  So I just wanted to let you know that I'll be working towards a "cooler head" while I play, and always keep in mind that my first priority is to have fun, no matter what the situation (you seem to do this even when there are hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line so...yeah props man).

Also wanted to say that I respect you for the way you handled yourself during this 2012 PGA season.  You seemed to pop up on a few leaderboards here and there, but as you would probably admit, you were having a pretty lack luster season; one that an accomplished golfer such as yourself would be disappointed about.  That was why I was so impressed when you silenced all the haters and won your first tournament of the season last week at the Barclays.  Not only was this the first tournament of the playoffs, meaning it shot you to the top of the FedEx points list, but it was also important for all those Ryder Cup captains to see that you still have incredible game and can bounce back after some bad play.  That is definitely something that I idolize in you and will take away for my own upcoming golf season.  Keep it up man and I know you'll do some more great things.  I know that if I follow your game, I'll improve my game as well.

Best of Luck,

Turner Meek

The Pro, the Am, and the Worlds Biggest Fan

Sports fanatics are a special kind of people.  When you talk to people who label themselves as lovers of sport, they could be referring to a variety of different things in coherence to the actual sport.  There are spectators, participants, recreational enthusiasts, and even people who have jobs that revolve around the world of sports or a certain sports team, even when it does not mean they actually play for the team.  The bottom line is that a sports fan can come from many walks of life and be interested in sport on many different levels.  But all sports enthusiasts do share that common love for the game they follow, and will never have trouble expressing their feelings about it, as well as the passion to compete, no matter what skill level they are at.

When asked about the difference between Participants and Spectators, I really have little trouble discerning the two at an obvious level.  Sure, one person plays the sport, and the other watches the sport.  Pretty simple stuff.  But on a much deeper, passionate level, one can begin to see how the two are very much alike.  To participate in a sport, especially if it is on the professional level, one must be in the top echelon of his/her skill level in that sport, and must be able to compete on a daily basis with some of the top athletes in the world.  Now I'm not saying this is the norm for every sports league in the world, but in a very basic sense of the term, all professional sports leagues ARE competitive.  Every person on that field, rink, or course must have that special set of skills, endurance, and passion for the game to be able to compete with his/her competitors and prove that they should be making a living off of their skill set and ability.  Now for every professional game, there needs to be a crowd, and in that crowd, you will find fans.  Sports fans, of course, are not your typical, out of the box, jaded fan of any activity or hobby.  Sports fanatics are a different breed by far.  Body paint, fight songs, war chants, mascots, homemade signs, and even crazy pregame rituals are almost never seen at movie premieres, wine tastings, or musical gatherings.  Now I'm not saying these things don't happen at other "fan-based" gatherings, but one will usually find these at a sporting event.  Sports fans have the same (if not more) passion than the athletes out there playing their hearts out.  Fans put their hearts and souls into cheering for their favorite players, teams, and even colleges (where I believe the passion for both the players and fans is by far at its highest level).  These fans are almost always athletes themselves; not playing at the professional or collegiate levels of course, but at an amateur level where the passion and sportsmanship fits the skill level and intensity of the players.  Sport is one of the few things in this world that is not racist, bias, or sexist when it is at its purest form.  All fans of sport can participate in sport if they want, and if that isn't for them, then they can choose to watch and cheer, and every single person who does those things fits into the category of a sports fan.  Sure, at some levels there may be more on the line in terms of money and lively-hood, but a sports fan is a sports fan no matter who they are.  And in this sense, a sports spectator is anyone watching a sport and feeling passionate about the outcome, whether they are on the sideline, in the bleachers, or even on the field.

The article that I read regarding Participants versus Spectators (pg. 37-) is a good piece of writing that really helped me gain some knowledge and information on this important aspect of sport.  If I was to choose this topic for a future essay, I know that I would take some of the detailed sections on participant levels, social class, and sports spectators and really embellish my point through them.  The article will really help me get my thesis across and prove interesting topics that will allow the reader to gain a full perspective on the world of sports spectator-ship, participation, and recreational activity.  Hopefully, by using this source, I will encourage the reader, if they don't already, to begin to participate in a sport that they have always been curious in trying, or in the very least, go see a sporting event first hand, and become a sports fan.

Memories and Emotions....and a seat in the crowd

When I think of sports and the rich history that envelops them, the works of Klosterman and Wright do not usually come to mind, but after reading The Greatest Game I Ever Saw (Klosterman) and the poem Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio (Wright), I can see why these sports writers are so often referred to and connected with in relation to sports and the emotions that are brought out in people because of them.  In Three-Man Weave, Klosterman describes a junior-college basketball game that he saw when he was a young kid, and how it was one of the first experiences he had with a sporting event where the game had an awe-inspiring influence on him.  Seeing as the game pitted a team of only 5 under-privileged players against a fully-rostered, capable team, with the smaller team coming out on top, I can't blame him for feeling so highly about what he witnessed.  Klosterman also emphasized how he felt like one of the special few people who witnessed something miraculous, due to the fact that the small team fell to only three members by the 4th quarter, and still managed to come out on top.  He also felt this way because of the small crowd that came out to watch this game, with no media following during or after the game either.

Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio is a short poem that depicts a crowd of people attending a high school football game and the emotions that arise as the sport begins.  The many different people watching this game all come from different backgrounds and ethnicity's, and have unified themselves in their love of football and watching the sport.  The poem describes how the fathers of the boys playing idolize their son's positions and how some people even view them as hero's, just as a child would worship his/her favorite professional athlete.  The point of this poem is to provoke the emotions brought about from sport, especially the ones that bring communities together to share in a ritual of pure sportmanship and game.

These two pieces of writing share many qualities, many of which revolve around how sport provokes memories and influence the emotions people have.  For instance, Klosterman reiterates time and time again that he remembers the juco (junior college) basketball game as one of the first games that he remembers attending and feeling like he was a part of something great.  He could feel the small team's (United Tribes TC) passion for the game, angst when it came down to the wire, and pride/ecstasy when they were able to pull off the victory with only three players on the court.  It is this kind of emotional roller coaster that draws people in to watching sport, I believe.  Humans are always trying to search for good forms of entertainment, especially when it is something that they can relate too.  Sports fans are the best kinds of entertainment seekers because they often play the sport that they watch as well, meaning they can feel a players mistake or success, because they have done the same before.  Even when a sports fan has never participated in a sport, it is that raw emotional atmosphere that pulls them in and allows them to relate just as well.  Usually when it comes to sports fans, they like to circulate around a city or complex that hosts a loved sports team.  It is almost like they are drawn to this hallowed ground to perform rituals of entertainment and pleasure, which in other words, is partaking in the crowd of the sporting event.  This action really makes the point that sports create communities and cultures within these areas, almost as if the city or town where the sports team is based acts as a hub for people to express themselves and come together to join in the thing that they love.  It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, attending a sporting event on common ground where other fans are all around you brings out emotions that few people know they have, and allows everyone to relate to the situations they witness, and in turn, forget about their lackluster lives and focus on something that they love.

Using these sources in an essay based around memory and sporting events would create flow and sustenance in the paper because of the way that they complement each other and feed into the thesis of how memory thrives off important sporting events in a person's life, and vice versa.  In relation to the poem by Wright, I can remember how my high school football games where the big events of the Autumn season, and how it was one of the first times that I could come together with a large mass of people and cheer for a sporting team that I was a part of and could relate too.  Many different people attended these events, but we didn't exploit these differences in those people, only grew closer due to our common interest and love of the team and sport.  Sports, such as football, are the few things in this world that are able to bring massive groups of people together, and I would take advantage of this fact in my essay by focusing on stories where fans come together to watch such events, creating memories and fueling emotions in the process.  Even if the media had no such influence on the hype of the event, such as was the case in Klosterman's tale, it would only be the excitement of the crowd and players that  would create the hype, thus resulting in a memorable game.  I would most likely reference a game such as this, then relate it to my own sporting life, describing my memories and emotions that have formed because of these life-fulfilling events.

It all started with some Sox...

Baseball in the Northeast has always been a pivotal aspect of life for New Englanders such as myself.  The rich history of the teams and stadiums in this region of the United States have always been the the forefathers of baseball for the rest of the country to look up to and idolize.  Living in Connecticut, I was smack in the middle of two historic baseball franchise zones, these of course belonging to the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Whenever a person visits CT, they'll notice that baseball lore and passion runs rampid through the cities and towns of this small, charming state.  Everywhere you turn, you'll see Red Sox and Yankees flags, bumper stickers, and even tattoos.  People living here have no choice but to pick a side, no matter what their love of sport entails.  Lucky for me, I was born into a family that worshipped sport, demanded sport, and breathed sport, all at the same time.  This sport, or should I say team, was the Boston Red Sox.  Having some family from outside Boston definitely helped the matter, but our family had grown to accept this team into our home, and implement the passion and love for baseball and the Red Sox into every offspring that entered life as a member of our family.  Growing up as a Red Sox fan, I soon grew to love the game, the players, Fenway Park, and every other historical aspect of Boston baseball.  Soon, this love of sport and Boston sports grew into a love of New England Patriots Football, Bruins hockey, and even Boston Cannons lacrosse.  Some say that it all started with a spark, and in this case, the spark of Red Sox baseball grew into a teeming wildfire of a love of sport, no matter what it may be.