LOST IN THE WOODS



In case you didn't know, the number one golfer in the world has returned the PGA tour to prove to everyone that he still should have that seed. Dozens of media members and fans form in flocks and gaggles to spectate the greatest golfer ever. Nothing new there. But where was the PGA or even the sport of golf before Tiger Woods came back? It was no where. You didn't see highlights on Sportscenter. There was no awesome NBC or CBS coverage of events and no one spoke a name other than Tiger for the entire time Tiger was out rehabing his knee injury. So it's now good to officially realize that the sport of golf is absolutely nothing without Tiger Woods. There is no TV airtime or Sportscenter highlights without Tiger. There isn't even mention of a match taking place unless Tiger is in it. This has been something I have denied for years until now. Tiger being out for months is proof that there is no life after Tiger. What's going to happen when he decides to call it quits. Does the PGA invest in a PGA Classic Channel like ESPN does to re-live Tiger moments and what the sport of golf used to be like? It will be more than interesting to see the outcome of the PT ("post-Tiger") era of the PGA.

AWESOME.....YOU CAN SPELL!


Give me an....aw forget it about. It's worthless to even waste my blog space with this but I really feel like I need to. Cheering participation has boggled the minds of many youthful males across the country for years. Yeah sure, let us jump around screaming letters and saying "go team" with "cute" little outfits on and maybe if we feel extra excited, we'll use some pom-poms. Many females get extremely offended when we (males) describe cheering as an activity and not a sport. Colleges across the state and country consider cheering a non-varsity activity. There are cheering competitions, not tournaments, and in tournaments you could at least match a cheering squad up against another and battle for a championship, not a bad idea! But in my mind, still not a sport. I hear alot of: "you couldn't do half the things we do!" or "it's not as easy as it looks, there's alot of flips and jumps and strength involved ya know!" These comments usually come from the girl that has had at least 5 too many ring dings and can barely hit the floor and roll let alone produce backflips and make herself fully extended from the top of a pyramid. I also would like to know where the "flyers" are located on cheering squads. The "flyers" are typically the smaller girls that are on the top of pyramids or the ones that do the flips. Lately I can't tell which girl is the base and which is supposed to be the flyer. Although there are a few exceptions to the rule, such as the ladies in the picture shown top, left. But for the most part, outside of professional sports, these results aren't likely. So if you're going to consider cheering a sport, can you at least look like athletes or at the very least, sweat a little bit?

SHOOT IT!!!



The 2009 high school basketball tournament has arrived here in the state of Maine and people in participating communities couldn't happier to support their teams. It's arguably one of the greatest times of year for sports fans in the state of Maine. Over the last 6 or so years I have attended the tournament, I enjoy everything that surrounds it and the people involved except for one little tiny factor that eats away at my insides. Get a stinkin shot clock! There isn't one! So during a Class D girls matchup on a friday night where points are at premium, a team with a 10+ point lead can just stand there and hold the ball and wait for the opposing team to play defense or foul. It's pointless and it doesn't show the kids discipline or responsibility and it also helps produce a game in which the final score is 19-7. I'm tired of it and I think it needs to change to make the games a little more exciting and allows the game to be played at a more level playing field.

PRO BOWLING


I'm not talking about a Pete Webber of the Pro Bowling Association, I'm talking why the PBA attracts more viewers than the NFL Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl needs to do something different to attract a bigger and wider audience because these days, lets face it, no one watches. Why? There is no interest and it's almost pointless. It's taken as a joke around the league with players rejecting their nominee into the Pro Bowl and other players on defense not playing any. The NBA is able to attract viewers because players actually show up and they have so many superstars that to see them play together is entertaining. They also have events leading up to the actual game like a slam dunk contest or three point contest that makes the event even more special. Major League Baseball finally, after years of not doing so, has attracted more viewers by making the game mean something like home field advantage for the respective league in the World Series. The NFL needs to do something like make it seem like a big deal. Make the Pro Bowl give cash rewards to player for particular stats. Like 100 dollars for every tackle or 1,000 for a touchdown or something. Give the players an insentive to make them play hard and show up. I didn't even know what TV station the Pro Bowl was on this year. NFL, make it respectable and as interesting as the NBA and MLB or you're Pro Bowl is going to be a distant memory.

KOBRON-MANIA




What does this mean? Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are on top of the NBA and rightfully so. They are by far the two best talents performing in the NBA and each of them have their respective team near the top of the rankings. My question is, why does one have to be more superior than the other? I'm sick of the talk. Listen, I'm a massive LeBron fan and a respected Kobe viewer. Nevertheless, I don't think James is any better than Bryant and talent wise, I don't think Bryant is any better than James. Look, they both rely on an average supporting cast that would struggle to stay in the top 8 of each conference without their superstars. Both have tremendous leadership qualities that are vital for team success. Kobe has more rings and chances but for obvious reasons. Kobe is older than LeBron and has had better teammates in the past. LeBron finally has something that Kobe has always had, an average, good decision making point guard. Now their playing feilds are even. Kobe might have the advantage because of players coming off the bench but also takes hit now with the loss of their starting center, Andrew Bynum. LeBron might have an advantage because he doesn't always have to be the leading scorer and lately, big-man Zydrunos Illgouskas and point guard Mo Williams has proven that. I don't want to keep hearing debate, although I'm going to whether I like it or not, about who is a better player right now. As far as I'm concerned, this year, they're as even as they can get. I declare right now, that this year determines the better player. Which ever one can manage their success with their team better, is the winner of this debate.

I KNEW IT!

I'm going to start this one by throwing a disclaimer out for all readers: I am a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan which in turn makes me completely hate the New York Yankees. With that being said, I have always disliked Alex Rodriguez going back to the Seattle Mariner days with Ken Griffey Jr. So my following statements are in no way of the biased nature. Yankee fans all over have had their chins seemingly glued to their chest after the latest news released by Sports Illustrated. Alex Rodriguez allegedly tested positive for anabolic steroids in an anonymous test taken in 2003. Am I the only one that is not completely shocked by these allegations? I turn on ESPN and any other major sports network and its the "shocking, breaking news". No it's not. It would be shocking and breaking news if we found out that Alex Rodriguez was a woman, and even that would only be shocking to some. But either way, America, outside of Boston Red Sox fans, seems to be blown away by these allegations. Come on people. Seriously? This is hard to take? I was shocked when the Yankees were able to sign an All-Star team last off-season and failed to make the playoffs. To America, but mainly Yankee fans, it's time to open your eyes. Your pretty boys aren't as flawless as you might think they are. Derek Jeter has earned respect throughout America without help. "A-Fraud" now has lost respect, whether or not the allegations are true, he has. For Yankee fans, it's time to let go of A-Rod and accept the player you have for who he really is: a fraud.

PUT UP YOUR DUKES!


I have contemplated for years, while growing up, on how to make my college basketball watching experience better outside the month of March. As many know, March Madness occurs obviously during the month of March as major college basketball teams across the country get ready for a 64 team tournament. This is one of the greatest times in all of sports and it does not fail at intriguing my interests. Here's the kicker: outside of March, I put any televised college basketball games on the same level of interest as a Barbara Walters special with a character from That 70's Show. If you happen to be a fan of a major college that is not Duke or North Carolina, and in some cases UConn, you are out of luck on watching them on TV on a regular basis outside of the tournament. I get why Duke or NC are on TV, the demo is huge for those teams and they are consistently successful. I'm just getting fed up with a Duke/Georgia Tech match-up on prime-time TV which is a situation in which Duke is ranked #2 in the country and Georgia Tech is below a .500 record. Even the biggest of Duke fans are trying to find out who's going to be the next Iron Chef of America instead of watching what proved to be the blowout everyone knew it would be. I love March Madness and the constant battles during tournament time, but the NCAA and television networks need to make something happen to grab more of my attention outside that month. Add a flexible TV schedule so that you can have a top ten seeded team playing another top ten team. Do more to fight the Duke/UNC ratings. PUT THOSE DUKES UP AND FIGHT!

SUPER COVERAGE!


For the past week, I have completely blocked myself from watching TV. The reason for this is simple. Starting two weeks ago, I was surfing through the channels trying to find something to watch and I could not hit a station without finding massive coverage of the Super Bowl. What's the deal? I understand networks like ESPN or NBC carrying coverage of the Super Bowl because ESPN is all sports and NBC is carrying the Super Bowl. But what's the deal with all other networks making the Super Bowl seem like it's the cure for cancer. It's the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals and it's blowing up the Northeast. I'm not biased in my opinion because if it was the Dallas Cowboys, I would be saying the same thing because it's ridiculous how much TV time the Super Bowl preview is getting. The Cardinals didn't even have fans until like Wednesday and the Steeler fans are acting like they haven't been through this before. I just want to be able to watch How I Met Your Mother or House on TV without hearing or seeing how the Cardinals are going to pick apart that great Steeler defense. Don't get me wrong, I love the Super Bowl and all the food and adult beverages that sorround the event, but I don't need to see Katie Couric standing by with heavy-set Steeler fan Slobby Joe talking about how he hasn't slept for days because he's so excited about the Super Bowl! Calm down on the coverage and chill out on the anticipation of the Super Bowl and try your hardest to lead and live normal lives until the day of. That's all I'm asking.