Pro-Bowl & All-Star Weekend, A Complete Disgrace!

 

This past weekend was an embarrassment for anyone who calls themselves true sports fans for having to witness the atrocity of this year's NFL Pro-Bowl and the NHL All-Star Game. For any sports fan that watched or tried to watch these two events, I feel your pain. The reason for the existence of these games is  to showcase the sports best athletes competing in a game separated by conferences. The NFL Pro-Bowl takes place at the end of the regular season, while the NHL All-Star Games takes place midway through the regular season.

The Pro-Bowl is a joke to any fan that enjoys competitive play from athletes with talent. These athletes are voted in by the fans. Are the fans getting any value out of who they vote? To watch the best athletes in the game treat it as a joke in front of thousands watching and millions viewing. It is a shame people pay good money to see professional players play a game of touch football because that's exactly what it is. A defense can blitz the Quarterback but upon approaching him they lay two hands to his chest as it counts as a sack.

You can argue that it is an appropriate rule for the game is for fun and serious injuries do not need to take place, although what is the excuse for defenses only playing half speed, maybe playing 75% at best? What is the purpose of picking the best defensive players to play in the Pro-Bowl when there is no defense played? It is embarrassing to be a defensive player partaking in this game. When the two teams combine to put up 104 points it only makes you question the authenticity of the game.

The Pro-Bowl would not be such a bad game to watch if it had some minor changes. We as the fans vote for these players to participate in a game which the players of the losing team each earn $25,000. The players from the winning team each earn $50,000. They receive this pay for participating in a game of flag football essentially. Some people who voted for these players won't make that payday for one year's work. Let's give millionaires more money when the amount has little impact on their lives. No, the money they receive should be donated to a charity of their choice to help the community as well as impacting people's lives for the better. Winning this game should provide more significant meaning. Make the Pro-Bowl after the Super Bowl like it once was so the athletes that the fans actually voted in to play can participate.

The NHL All-Star game is no better than that of the Pro-Bowl. Athletes of the game are voted in by the fans to participate in a game of showboating. The difference in this game is that each captain represents the two conferences, and the captains draft the players voted in by the fans. This is a great concept, a very creative approach, but again lack of excitement takes place once the game begins. Half speed skating, light contact on the ice, and a poor display of defensive talent.

Attackers basically skate through the defensive at will without a body rub; it is no wonder goalies get lit up at will and final scores for both teams can reach double digits. The only good thing about the NHL All-Star Weekend is the skills competition. It showcases individual talent at its best in great skills categories. The All-Star Games is no different because it only displays individual talent at its finest; the aspect of "team" is non-existent.

Many fans, myself included, have simply stopped watching All-Star Games. They do not bear a resemblance to a typical game, and even though the game's elite are competing, in both cases the end product is poor. Fans want to see athletes competing at a high level. When you witness a forward splitting the defense as if they were pylons, it certainly takes some of the fun away. One solution is to have the game mean something. While this is impossible for the NFL since the Super Bowl has a host city every year, it could be achieved in the NHL. Simply propose a format much like Major League Baseball (MLB). Have the two conferences play mid-way through the season, and the winning conference gets home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals. Since the MLB instituted this change, its All-Star Games have been by far the most compelling. Players realize that home-field in the finals can be the difference between winning and losing. The NHL and the NFL have the ability to make positive changes...will they?

How "The Culture of Sports" Gets Redefined in Society

As human beings, we live in a world where we want to belong, a place where we want to be accepted and liked by our peers. It is in our nature to feel comfortable to work in a group setting, because  it provides us with a sense of comfort, belonging, and happiness. Sports is the world's greatest avenue for a person to feel accepted. It generally involves  being in a team setting, working with others to showcase your talents as well as helping your teammates show theirs.

As we evolve in society our human nature is becoming more aggressive, and this aggression is sometimes difficult to see. Sport is separated into two components. The first is participating in sport. The second is spectating in sport. Since competitive aggression is normal when participating in sport, it is more important to examine how people take the passion they have for the game and how aggression is sometimes the result. In society, we hold our professional athletes and teams in such high regards to succeed that if failure occurs, we become outraged and full of hate.

Both participating in sports, as well as spectating in sport helps shape who we are as people. It gives us an identity and characteristics that we can share with other people. Being a sports fan gives you a feeling of acceptance; you begin to connect to something that makes you feel happy to watch. Culture is defined as "the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent". It is when we hold this sport culture in such high esteem, that if excellence is not the final outcome, we as fans can become angry and perhaps irrational.

A prime example of how sports fans push the limit of their passion is evident this past weekend when two players received death threats after the loss in both the AFC Championship game and NFC Championship game. The AFC game came down to a game-tying field goal to force overtime from Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff. Cundiff missed the 32-yard kick as Raven nation bowed their heads in disgust. The NFC game was decided in overtime when wide receiver/kick returner Kyle Williams fumbled the football which led to Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes kicking the game-winning field goal to earn the Giants a place in the Superbowl.

Earlier in that game, Williams was preparing to return a kick when it went horribly wrong. The football bounced and just grazed his knee. However, this is ruled now a fumble once it touches any part of his body. The football was recovered by the Giants and 3 plays later from 29 yards out the Giants scored a touchdown. Statistically Williams attributed to the Giants earning 10 points off of his two turnovers. The final score of the game was 20-17 for the Giants. It is reasonable to place a share of the loss on Williams.

Following that loss, Williams received death threats via social media outlets for his two turnovers. One early threat, via Twitter, wished harm on Williams wife and children. Williams is single with no children. Other tweets go as far as exposing his living quarters, "Hey SF fans in the city: Kyle Williams #10 156 Filmore St, San Fransicso, CA 94117. Billy Cundiff was also targeted via Twitter, "R.I.P Billy Cundiff (Ravens kicker), R.I.P Kyle Williams (49ers WR #10).

Both the Ravens and 49ers organization have acted accordingly with NFL security in protecting the lives of these two people following their recent losses. The teams are backing them up accordingly trying to protect their pride as best they can, making comments like, "We win as a team, we lose as a team", and "Mistakes happen in life, mistakes can happen in sport".

The news of these threats has spread around the world like wildfire. NFL Players, other athletes, and public citizens are personally backing Williams and Cundiff via Twitter and other social media outlets, giving them positive remarks and strength to move on with their lives. It is good to know their are still people in this world that hold people's lives and feelings above a game, because at the end of the day it is just a game. A life is  more valuable than that and should never be under the fear of threat(s) from a "loyal fan". My thoughts and prayers go out to these two individuals, for I hope they can move past the ridicule and hatred, and find a positive light in their life to keep moving forward.

Will We Witness the Clash of Boxing's Titans?

Remember a time when the sport of boxing took the soul of a person and made you feel the blood, sweat, and tears of a boxing match? It was as if you were ringside experiencing every blow, every body shot, every big hook or uppercut. It was a  time when boxers were the most iconic athletes on the planet. You do not have to be a boxing fan to the know the names of the greats who have put their body's on the line in every match they had; Ali, Frazier, Marciano, Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis, Foreman, Trinidad, De La Hoya, Robinson, Leonard, and the list goes on.

What is left of the world of boxing in this day in age? It seems that boxing is no longer the major sporting event for sports fans. It seems now that boxing has become a sport of the past, with its enriched history and tradition this sport is slowly diverging. However, their are two particular names still competing in this sport that can take the soul of a person and put the fight back in their hearts. Floyd "Pretty Boy/Money Maker" Mayweather and Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao.

These two men are considered present-day boxing titans. Dominating their opponents is no surprise if you've seen their ring presence and pace they bring to each fight. Floyd Mayweather is the world's BEST pound for pound boxer in the world. He holds an outstanding record of 42 wins 0 losses with 26 of those wins coming from KO (knockout). Pacquiao holds a record of 54 wins 3 losses 2 draws with 38 of those wins coming from way of knockout.

Both of these fighters have earned many titles in different weight classes, which shows you the rarity of how great they are to continually move up and down in weight classes to face opponents and win with ease. Both fighters are in similar weight classes and could easily fight at a reasonable catch-weight that they agree to. The question to ponder now is why have we not witnessed a fight between present-day boxing's most iconic and prolific fighters?

Interestingly enough, there was a potential match to be scheduled back in March 13, 2010. Each fighter would receive a reported 50 million dollars. A record setting payout for any fighter in history of boxing. However, the fight was called off due to disagreements about Olympic style drug tests which means blood tests can be taken at any random time leading up to the fight, including as close as 24 hours before.  Pacquiao's camp refused and stated that drug tests would only be provided if they were scheduled tests. Consequently, on January 7, 2010, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum declared that the fight was officially off.

Mayweather has been relentlessly calling for Pacquiao to step up and fight him on May 5th 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada. Mayweather is insisting on May 5th because he is due to serve an 87-day jail sentence at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas after a plea deal on domestic violence charges. Mayweather began to press for Pacquiao with a series of tweets beginning January 11th, including ones that read, "Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out lets fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see, and "My Jail sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk." Pacquiao said that if Mayweather accepts a 50-50 purse split, each fighter stands to earn around $50 million to $60 million.

Boxing fans are hopeful that this fight can be scheduled, because it will be history in the making and a fight for the ages that no one will ever forget. Let`s hope that finally these two men will enter the ring on May 5th letting their fists do the talking, making their claim as possibly the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time. One man will stand glorious, millions of fans will stand proud!

When Social Media Attacks!

Whatever happened to a thing called "locker room talk"? A place where athletes can communicate amongst themselves to air out any issues they have with each other, as well as bonding with each other privately. Where has the intimate and private communication gone?

Social media has taken over the way we think and respond to problems we face. Twitter seems to be the new media outlet in which athletes can express their thoughts by posting comments on their Twitter page. The Baltimore Ravens are preparing to face the New England Patriots on Sunday, Janurary 22 in the AFC Championship game. One prominent player on the Ravens took to Twitter following his team's win last week agaisnt the Houston Texans.

Ravens safety Ed Reed is a 10-year veteran and 8-time Pro Bowler; you can imagine the influence he would have as both a leader on the defence, as well as the team as a whole. Reed made a comment following the Ravens' 20-13 win over the Houston Texans, about the performance of his QB Joe Flacco. Reed said over his Twitter account, "Flacco was kind of rattled a bit after facing that defence (Houston)". This comment is garnering a lot of media attention suggesting that Reed was being negative or critical of his QB after a key win.

Reed would later state in a video interview with ESPN that the comment was not meant to put Flacco down, rather to motivate him. Flacco shrugged off the comment and stated that it did not bother him even though he was caught off guard by it. Looking at the situation objectively, Reed has a point in that, if the Ravens want to win this Sunday in New England, Flacco must improve his numbers. Although Flacco has a record of 7-0 this regular season against top-10 defences, it's his postseason stats that have Reed worried about how Flacco and the rest of the offence will match up against Tom Brady and the Patriot's defence. In Flacco's eight career playoff games, he has completed just 53 percent of his passes and has averaged only 153.3 yards passing/game. Flacco has thrown six touchdowns and seven interceptions for a quarterback rating of an abysmal 31.5 in his postseason career.

The problem with Reed's tweet however, is that if he had an issue with Flacco's performance why wouldn't he man up to Flacco and handle the issue in private? Instead, by taking to Twitter, he has allowed the media to take it as a far bigger issue then it really is. Only positive comments should be made public with such an important game forthcoming. It is not as motivating a comment as Reed wants to believe. If Flacco under performs this week, will Reed's comment be of partial blame? Or perhaps as Reed says, it helps to motivate Flacco to raise his game to defeat the Patriots on the road, which is always very difficult.

The bottom line is that athletes should be handling problems they have in the locker room and not publicly, because once the media gets grasp of it they will turn it into a bigger story then it has to be. It can possibly lead to animosity between teammates with a huge game upcoming.

Brewers will be in ruins if Braun faces suspension!

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun will accept his NL MVP award in New York despite being accused of testing positive for too much testosterone in his system back on December 10^th when the news of the tests were discovered. Steroid issues have been occurring problems with players in the MLB and strict sentences for being tested positive have been accounted for. Baseball deems taking steroids as a form of cheating, which is a fair assumption because the performance of an athlete is made to be natural as talent and skill are the frameworks of great athletes, once steroids gets involved it now gives an athlete a competitive advantage from their opponents.

The problem I have with this Braun situation is that the MLB is allowing Braun to accept his award knowingly that he tested positive for a performance enhancing substance which Braun utters is complete B.S. If the MLB presents the award to Braun are they not accepting the fact that his stats could have been skewed by a performance enhancer and therefore the fact that he was voted MVP is based on lies and not clean statistics?

 The MLB commission has announced that they would suspend Braun for 50 games starting the 2012 season which Braun is trying to appeal. What is wrong with this picture? Presenting the MVP award to a player who was caught “cheating” in a sense, basically saying okay you had a great season your stats were league bests, you led your team to a division title, congratulations but now you’re suspended for 50 games.

The MLB commission in my opinion should either award Braun with the MVP award, allow him to begin the 2012 season dismissing the allegations of his positive tests, or not allow him to accept the award and suspend him for 50 games for the 2012 season. It only seems fitting that these situations flow accurately with one another. In all seriousness suspending Braun for 50 games is only going to hurt the MLB because they OWN the Brewers franchise.

Braun is an asset to the club in ways that his performance helps to earn wins, and in a business perspective he is important in MAKING MONEY in forms of ticket sales, jerseys, concessions, etc. Fans are attracted to Braun, they go to the games to see him play, he is one of their star players. Teams do not sell seats. SUPERSTARS SELL SEATS; superstars make money for professional teams, and if Braun is suspended he will still be receiving pay from the team so you might as well play the man because it will only turn into a poor financial first half of the season for the Brewers and potentially poor record for the games he’s supposed to miss.

A new trend in Sport or Religion, Tebowing ?

Tebowing is a name that the media has established with NFL Quarterback Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos. The name is a correlation with Tim's last name and the fact that he bows in prayer in big moments of the football games he plays in. The attention created from this act of Tebowing has caught the eye of many athletes, media personnel, comedy sketches such as a skit on Saturday Night Live, and many others. What makes this trend so popular that the media grabs it and takes full control of exploiting it? Tebow is a man of God, a devoted Christian who takes the form of bowing on one knee with his elbow on his knee and fist to his forehead in crucial moments of a game. What is interesting is that this is nothing new for athletes to bow to God in such moments of a highly anticipated game, praying for the outcome of a win, so why is it so popular with this athlete? Well one argument sake is that the last three letters of his last name ends in "bow" and the fact that he is a devoted Christian makes the correlation stick well. The true question to look into now is, does mixing religious acts with sport moments have an affect on the public? Will people of faith who attend church and are asked to bow and kneel by the pew say "Im Tebowing". Rather than taking a knee in the name of God?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU3kMipMRWk