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General Sports

Who do you just love to hate?

Almost every good story needs an antagonist, someone you’re always hoping fails, even if you don’t necessarily root for the “good guy” to succeed. The same is probably even truer when it comes to sports. When two teams you don’t particularly care for face off in a championship game, don’t you generally root for the team you hate less, as opposed to the team you like more?

The team that is the measuring stick for all detested teams is, and will probably always be, the New York Yankees.  Only Yankee fans want that team to win. You’ll never find a time when someone from Texas, or Colorado or LA or Cincinnati or really anywhere outside of the tri-state area says “yeah, if my team can’t make it, I’m pushing for the Yanks.” It just doesn’t happen.

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Boxing

THIS ISN’T JUST ABOUT JOE MESI

THIS ISN’T JUST ABOUT JOE MESI
by Gail Carelli

If you’re reading this article, then you might already know that the Nevada State Boxing Commission revoked Joe Mesi’s license after his Heavyweight bout with Vassily Jirov.  Mesi won the fight, but at a high cost: he suffered from at least two subdural hematomas. Defined in simple terms, a subdural hematoma is bleeding in the brain caused by severe blunt force trauma to the head. It is quite often fatal, and is the leading cause of ring fatalities. See the Journal of Combat Sport, at http://ejmas.com/jcs/.  

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All Other Sports

2005 French Open Preview

Grand slam tennis is back in Europe for the first time in nearly a year. The French Open, or Roland Garros, as referred to by the locals is the most diverse slam of them all. Clay presents a completely different level of play; some of the best tennis players in the world won’t make it past the first round.

Completely unknown players succeed in France, players like: Gaston Gaudio, last year’s champion, or Fabrice Santoro, a player who dominates on the clay circuit but can’t seem to make the proper conversion to hard-court. It is the players who grew up playing on clay. The true journeymen of professional tennis win at Roland Garros.  

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All Other Sports

The Good Truth

Somebody needs to step up.

Somebody needs to wake up and become the leader, to speak the truth, to do the right thing, to expose the wrong.

Categories
General Sports

The Real North vs. South

   There is one rivalry in sports that I just don’t understand. It’s not as much a rivalry between teams as it is a rivalry between fans!! The rivalry that I am talking about is the one between the Chicago Cubs and White Sox.

   These two teams first began the Cross-Town Classic back in 1997. They have played each other 6 times a year: 3 times at Wrigley Field and 3 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Categories
General Sports

Catching Up With Old Friends

        One thing you learn as time goes on is that things change.  For instance, when I was in college, the term “single malt” meant having only one forty instead of two.  But just as tastes change, so do people.  Take Jason Giambi, for example.  At one time, he was a king, treated as a hero wherever he went in the Bay Area.  When he played for Oakland, Giambi was free to grow his hair long, sport a goatee, ride his motorcycle, take steroids, and drink heavily, and people loved him for it.  A’s fans started “MVP!” chants every time he came to the plate after August 1st, and his own teammates carried him off the field on their shoulders.  He was the leader of a young, cocky team that looked up to him like a big brother.

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All Other Sports

Ain’t Hell Sweet

As USA Cyclocross team member Sarah Kerlin rounds the corner of the course, she sees the “Death Drop,” the steepest portion of the World championships course in Germany. The entire course is covered in snow but the “Death Drop” is covered with ice. The frozen grade was the most extreme obstacle Kerlin had ever faced, but in Cyclocross, the danger is half the fun.

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All Other Sports

Giaco-who?

When the race for the roses was all said and done it wasn’t the obvious favorite Bellamy Road, who had previously stomped on competition just about everywhere. Nor was it the feel good story of Afleet Alex, who inspired many with his humble beginnings, and gracious owners. Frankly it wasn’t anybody I had previously picked as my favorite to win it in my last article, but I can assure you, not many can say they did.

It was a virtually unknown horse by the name of Giacomo, who with lowly 50-1 odds, shocked everyone and became the second biggest long shot to win the race in its 131 year history.

Categories
General Sports

Nash’s Bridges

Steve Nash is point guard for the #1 seed Phoenix Suns, the best team in the NBA. Steve Nash led the NBA in assists for the team that led the league in scoring. Steve Nash is the 2004-2005 NBA MVP. Steve Nash is white.

See any connection?

Unless you’re Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBetard, you probably wouldn’t. At least I would hope not.

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All Other Sports

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home…

It’s derby time, and here are some of my favorite’s in the run for the roses! No doubt I am a huge horse racing fan, and the Kentucky Derby is one of my favorite sporting events of the year.