Some things in life just go together. Popsicles and summer. Bad movies and the Lifetime Network. High school cafeteria pizza and ranch dressing. And of course, College football and drinking.
On June 3 the West Virginia Board of Governors voted to allow West Virginia University to join 20 another college stadiums and allow beer sales in the stands at football games.
Of course WVU being a notorious party school, this raised plenty of questions.
West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck believes this move will "increase civility" amongst a group of fans rated the third worst in the country by GQ magazine and who recorded a nation-leading 1,120 street fires from 1997 to 2003.
Perhaps the extra alcohol will be used to put out couch fires?
Or perhaps the increase Luck is really concerned about is more the monetary type. According to the Daily American, the school stands to gain $1.2 million in revenue per season. If things are already getting crazy, why not make a buck right?
So what do you think? Would you like to see alcohol sales allowed in the stands at more college venues? Or do you believe adding more alcohol will only fuel an already persistently burning fire, both figuratively and literally?
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Back Porch Podcast Stanley Cup Special
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| puckcentral.blogspot.com |
On the other hand, it was an awful loss for the city of Vancouver, which apparently loses its collective mind when coming in second place. Yeah, this happened up there before in 1994, but The Vancouver Sun indicates that this time was far worse. Maybe crazy always feels the need to jack it up a notch from similar crazies of the past? You know, go next level on it?
We get in to those topics and more on this special Stanley Cup edition of The Back Porch podcast!
Enjoy and drop your thoughts below or on Twitter via: @TKWSports
Music info: "Howlin' for You" by The Black Keys and as always some sweet drops from upstairs by Times New Roman.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Your Back Porch Summer Survival Kit
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| http://emptyv.multimedia.cx |
But wait! Summer also can bring up a few issues, which if not addressed properly, can derail your blissful plans of mid-afternoon napping.
The kids are around more, all hyped up on Popsicle juice and bagel bites, and suffering from their generation's most serious epidemic, boredom. With no homework to force them to do and no reason to send them to bed early, if you aren't careful you could be one good thunderstorm away from having your TV sabotaged by Justin Bieber.
Never fear! The Back Porch has put together an emergency kit with four cards you can play to save your summer afternoon!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Concussion Culture of Youth Football
Each autumn fields around the country play host to a similar phenomenon. They are invaded by miniature versions of Ray Lewis' pregame entrance, Chad Johnson's Riverdance, and even the occasional mini-Manning face. From celebrations to the style of cleats worn, what happens on the NFL field almost always trickles down to the game on the youth level.
Recently the world of professional football has made a strong push to address the issues of the prevention and treatment of head-related injuries, while also are making a stringent effort to change the culture surround the topic. If and when this effort will follow the familiar trickle-down pattern to the youth leagues has yet to be determined.
The Center for Disease Control claims that "children and teens aged 5-18 account for nearly 60% of people treated for sports related traumatic brain injuries at U.S. hospitals from 2001 to 2005," as well pointing out that studies have shown football to be twice as likely to produce injuries as the next highest sport, basketball.
Such statistics have folks such as Dr. Anna McKee, a leading researcher in the area of the long-term effects of brain injuries and a member of the group studying former Chicago Bear Dave Duerson's brain, pushing for changes at all levels.
One recent change has been in the area of safety equipment, specifically the helmet, something Dr. William Cook, the managing physician at New River Valley Pediatrics, calls a "key" is preventing concussions.
Riddell, the official helmet supplier of the NFL, has been at the forefront of lobbying for better federal regulations regarding helmets in youth leagues, having spent $80,000 in the first quarter of 2011 pushing for such legislation.
Riddell also boasted the top-rated helmet according to the recent researched published by Virginia Tech. Its "Revolution Speed" helmet was the only helmet to receive five stars in the university's studies.
Across town this particular change has begun to tickle down as Blacksburg's Parks and Recreation Department has begun the process of replacing older helmets with more advanced versions.
Athletic Supervisor Adam Lloyd believes the new helmets are a necessary change, but he also knows changing them all at once is not doable. With an estimated 120 9 to 13-years-old expected to play and each new helmet costing "$10 to $20" more than the old ones, he knows that change will made as the funds allow.
Of course better helmets are just one aspect of the changes Lloyd believes will trickle down to the youth level.
As of July 1, 2011 each local school division in Virginia will be required by law to develop and distribute specific guidelines for how to deal with sports-related concussions at the middle and high school levels, including the identification of them. Schools will now also be required to bench any student with concussion-like symptoms until he or she has been cleared by a licensed health professional.
Blacksburg's youth league guidelines nor the overall guidelines used by the five different rec departments which make up the New River Valley's youth league contain the word "concussion" or provide any direct guidelines in how to handle them. However both Lloyd and Greg HolBrook, Assistant Director of Radford City's Recreation Department, point out that athletes who suffer head injuries are not allowed to participate in practice or game activities until they have official been cleared by a doctor, just as they would with any injury.
But the treatment of a concussion may be far less critical and far less difficult than the identification of the injury.
Dr. Cook believes identifying a concussion can be very difficult because the "vast majority walk away with very little change," leaving coaches and medical staff dependent on player feedback opposed to observable symptoms. He points out that in the past the loss of conscientiousness was used as the clear sign of a concussion, but we now know that to only be true about 10% of the time.
Dr. Cook also emphasizes the critical nature of the identification process. He believes it is "relatively unlikely" a young athlete suffers long-term effects from a single concussion, but rather it is the repeated blows to an athlete who is not fully recovered that result in the most severe problems.
So how well equipped to identify these problems are coaches and volunteers at the youth level?
According to Holbrook, a portion of its coaches preseason meeting is devoted to having an EMT speak with them regarding various injuries issues, including concussions, while Lloyd admits that Blacksburg currently provides no specific training on the topic for coaches or volunteers.
Both groups do have trained medical staff on hand during games and Holbrook insists that Radford's groups also have EMTs "on call" during practice times.
Coaches and staff may not be the only ones able to provide a helping hand in the identification process on game day.
One aspect of the new Virginia High School League rules is the empowering of referees to remove a player who they believe is demonstrating symptoms of a concussion from the field.
This level of awareness should benefit the youth leagues in the New River Valley which, according to their handbook, require two "currently certified H.S. district officials" for each Junior (9 to 10-year-olds) and Senior (12 to 13-year-olds) league contest and at least one for each Mite (7 to 8-year-olds) league game.
As the subject of concussions becomes an increasingly hot topic, Lloyd believes a required level of awareness for those supervising will increase as well. But what about by those participating?
The voluntary level of information regarding concussions requires that players be honest about what they are feeling, something which Dr. Cook think can be a challenge for young players who don't talk about what they are feeling for fear of being taken off the field. He believes the serious nature of these "dings" must be communicated to the players.
Blacksburg has taken a step to do just that.
Though there is no mention of the word, "concussion" on any of its literature to parents or athletes, they do require a separate form be filled out and signed by the parent and the student regarding helmet safety. The form brings a level of awareness to the issues by including the warning "severe brain or neck injury, including paralysis or death" are possible.
Spearheading such efforts for awareness is the massive amount of attention the subject has drawn from the media, such as the Today Show's interview with former NFL player turned surgeon, Mark Adickes, on the topic in August 2010.
The push for awareness among youth has even bled into the world of video games, with 2012 version of the famed Madden football series providing all new scenarios and commentary pertaining to the topic of head injuries.
With concussion awareness in the beginning stages of trickling down to the youth level, a parent may very well ask at what age is it safe for his or her child to begin participating.
Dr. Cook offers that while there is no clear age, with the proper degrees of protection and supervision it is reasonable for children to play full-contact football at a young age, competing against other children of similar ages and weights.
Until legislation is passed enforcing such policies, it appears it's ultimately up to the parent to ensure such precautions are taking place.
Recently the world of professional football has made a strong push to address the issues of the prevention and treatment of head-related injuries, while also are making a stringent effort to change the culture surround the topic. If and when this effort will follow the familiar trickle-down pattern to the youth leagues has yet to be determined.
 |
| http://sportsdiagnosis.com |
Such statistics have folks such as Dr. Anna McKee, a leading researcher in the area of the long-term effects of brain injuries and a member of the group studying former Chicago Bear Dave Duerson's brain, pushing for changes at all levels.
One recent change has been in the area of safety equipment, specifically the helmet, something Dr. William Cook, the managing physician at New River Valley Pediatrics, calls a "key" is preventing concussions.
Riddell, the official helmet supplier of the NFL, has been at the forefront of lobbying for better federal regulations regarding helmets in youth leagues, having spent $80,000 in the first quarter of 2011 pushing for such legislation.
Riddell also boasted the top-rated helmet according to the recent researched published by Virginia Tech. Its "Revolution Speed" helmet was the only helmet to receive five stars in the university's studies.
Across town this particular change has begun to tickle down as Blacksburg's Parks and Recreation Department has begun the process of replacing older helmets with more advanced versions.
 |
| Blacksburg's upgraded helmet verses its old one. |
Of course better helmets are just one aspect of the changes Lloyd believes will trickle down to the youth level.
As of July 1, 2011 each local school division in Virginia will be required by law to develop and distribute specific guidelines for how to deal with sports-related concussions at the middle and high school levels, including the identification of them. Schools will now also be required to bench any student with concussion-like symptoms until he or she has been cleared by a licensed health professional.
Blacksburg's youth league guidelines nor the overall guidelines used by the five different rec departments which make up the New River Valley's youth league contain the word "concussion" or provide any direct guidelines in how to handle them. However both Lloyd and Greg HolBrook, Assistant Director of Radford City's Recreation Department, point out that athletes who suffer head injuries are not allowed to participate in practice or game activities until they have official been cleared by a doctor, just as they would with any injury.
But the treatment of a concussion may be far less critical and far less difficult than the identification of the injury.
Dr. Cook believes identifying a concussion can be very difficult because the "vast majority walk away with very little change," leaving coaches and medical staff dependent on player feedback opposed to observable symptoms. He points out that in the past the loss of conscientiousness was used as the clear sign of a concussion, but we now know that to only be true about 10% of the time.
Dr. Cook also emphasizes the critical nature of the identification process. He believes it is "relatively unlikely" a young athlete suffers long-term effects from a single concussion, but rather it is the repeated blows to an athlete who is not fully recovered that result in the most severe problems.
So how well equipped to identify these problems are coaches and volunteers at the youth level?
According to Holbrook, a portion of its coaches preseason meeting is devoted to having an EMT speak with them regarding various injuries issues, including concussions, while Lloyd admits that Blacksburg currently provides no specific training on the topic for coaches or volunteers.
Both groups do have trained medical staff on hand during games and Holbrook insists that Radford's groups also have EMTs "on call" during practice times.
Coaches and staff may not be the only ones able to provide a helping hand in the identification process on game day.
One aspect of the new Virginia High School League rules is the empowering of referees to remove a player who they believe is demonstrating symptoms of a concussion from the field.
This level of awareness should benefit the youth leagues in the New River Valley which, according to their handbook, require two "currently certified H.S. district officials" for each Junior (9 to 10-year-olds) and Senior (12 to 13-year-olds) league contest and at least one for each Mite (7 to 8-year-olds) league game.
As the subject of concussions becomes an increasingly hot topic, Lloyd believes a required level of awareness for those supervising will increase as well. But what about by those participating?
The voluntary level of information regarding concussions requires that players be honest about what they are feeling, something which Dr. Cook think can be a challenge for young players who don't talk about what they are feeling for fear of being taken off the field. He believes the serious nature of these "dings" must be communicated to the players.
Blacksburg has taken a step to do just that.
Though there is no mention of the word, "concussion" on any of its literature to parents or athletes, they do require a separate form be filled out and signed by the parent and the student regarding helmet safety. The form brings a level of awareness to the issues by including the warning "severe brain or neck injury, including paralysis or death" are possible.
Spearheading such efforts for awareness is the massive amount of attention the subject has drawn from the media, such as the Today Show's interview with former NFL player turned surgeon, Mark Adickes, on the topic in August 2010.
The push for awareness among youth has even bled into the world of video games, with 2012 version of the famed Madden football series providing all new scenarios and commentary pertaining to the topic of head injuries.
With concussion awareness in the beginning stages of trickling down to the youth level, a parent may very well ask at what age is it safe for his or her child to begin participating.
Dr. Cook offers that while there is no clear age, with the proper degrees of protection and supervision it is reasonable for children to play full-contact football at a young age, competing against other children of similar ages and weights.
Until legislation is passed enforcing such policies, it appears it's ultimately up to the parent to ensure such precautions are taking place.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Back Porch's NBA Playoff Resource Guide
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| http://vegasisatrip.com/dining.aspx |
Today's media is the same way. It's abundant and if a person isn't careful, he or she can find themselves stuffed with of low quality info rather than helpful insights from reliable resources.
With the NBA Conference Finals in full swing fans everywhere are chatting it up about the hottest topics from coast to coast. There is a ton of information floating around out there, so it's crucial for any NBA fan to know exactly where to go for the latest news and best analysis if they hope to hold their own in any hardcore discussion.
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| http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog |
So here you have The Back Porch's NBA Playoffs Resource Guide.
The guide features RSS feeds from the NBA, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated, as well as breaking team news from newspapers in each of the team's home cities.
The guide also features a Google Alert for any news containing the NBA Playoffs and an advanced Twitter search of the topic, enabling you to follow the latest playoff chatter.
Don't be that guy who fills up on croutons and that oddly neon-colored macaroni and cheese. Use the guide, get some of the good stuff, and get in the conversation.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Is Being The MVP Such a Good Thing?
Robert De Niro is one of the most accomplished actors in history, so naturally when he is featured in a film one of his multiple awards will find its way into the billing.
Movies are often marketed with the "Two-time Oscar Winner" or "Nine-time Golden Global Nominated" actor in order to build hype and get folks thinking they are about to witness a modern classic.
But it doesn't always happen.
Every now and then a Robert De Niro type will pull a Rocky and Bullwinkle. Every now and then, the performance doesn't live up to the billing of the award winner.
"The Big Three vs. the MVP" has become the common billing for the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat. And while it sounds nice on the surface, recent history tells us it might not indicate such a great forecast for the Bulls and 2010-11 MVP Derrick Rose.
Over the past decade only one NBA MVP has also hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy in the same season he has been awarded as the top player - Tim Duncan in 2003.
Think about that for a second. Only one time in 10 years has the player deemed "Most Valuable" been able to use that value to help his team win four rounds in the playoffs and provide his city with a sweet parade.
This failure includes Miami's LeBron James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a combined three rounds of postseason wins in his 2008-09 and 2009-10 MVP seasons.
That's pretty low, especially compared to the two previous decades which, according to the NBA's online encyclopedia, featured six MVP champions from 1991-2000 and four from 1981-1990.
It's not just the overall title which seems to be eluding these MVPs. In 10 years only two other MVP honorees have successfully won three rounds in the postseason, earned a title in their respective conference, and even had a shot at the title. The 2001 76ers and the 2008 Lakers.
Clearly there has been a decline of postseason success for the leagues MVP, but regardless of any jinx potential, the hardware has been passed out and the billing as been posted.
Now it's up to Rose and the Bulls to decide whether this movie will play out as a Rocky and Bullwinkle-style letdown or as a Godfather II-esque success.
Movies are often marketed with the "Two-time Oscar Winner" or "Nine-time Golden Global Nominated" actor in order to build hype and get folks thinking they are about to witness a modern classic.
 |
| http://ufrsports.com |
Every now and then a Robert De Niro type will pull a Rocky and Bullwinkle. Every now and then, the performance doesn't live up to the billing of the award winner.
"The Big Three vs. the MVP" has become the common billing for the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat. And while it sounds nice on the surface, recent history tells us it might not indicate such a great forecast for the Bulls and 2010-11 MVP Derrick Rose.
Over the past decade only one NBA MVP has also hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy in the same season he has been awarded as the top player - Tim Duncan in 2003.
Think about that for a second. Only one time in 10 years has the player deemed "Most Valuable" been able to use that value to help his team win four rounds in the playoffs and provide his city with a sweet parade.
This failure includes Miami's LeBron James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a combined three rounds of postseason wins in his 2008-09 and 2009-10 MVP seasons.
That's pretty low, especially compared to the two previous decades which, according to the NBA's online encyclopedia, featured six MVP champions from 1991-2000 and four from 1981-1990.
It's not just the overall title which seems to be eluding these MVPs. In 10 years only two other MVP honorees have successfully won three rounds in the postseason, earned a title in their respective conference, and even had a shot at the title. The 2001 76ers and the 2008 Lakers.
Clearly there has been a decline of postseason success for the leagues MVP, but regardless of any jinx potential, the hardware has been passed out and the billing as been posted.
Now it's up to Rose and the Bulls to decide whether this movie will play out as a Rocky and Bullwinkle-style letdown or as a Godfather II-esque success.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Feds enter the BCS picture.
 | |||
| Wikipedia.com |
But do you call the cops on him? Do you really want your city or town's resources going towards corralling open-bathrobe Jimmy and getting his shack cleaned up?
A similar question is currently being asked in the world of college football. Should government resources be used to investigate and/or eliminate the Bowl Championship Series?
Wednesday the federal government seemed to indicate they believe the answer is yes, as the Justice Department sent a letter to NCAA president Mark Emmert questioning college football's lack of a playoff system, as well as whether or not it is benefiting the schools, players, and fans.
The act was something groups such as Playoff PAC have long hoped for, siting a lack rewarding fair competition, the devaluing of the regular season, and the disapproval of fans as reasons the government should become involved.
 | |
| http://www.playoffpac.com/blog/read.aspx?id=33 |
Despite the profit of the bowl system as a whole growing, groups such as Playoff PAC argue the disbursement of funds unfairly benefits schools from the six BCS or automatic qualifying conferences - the ACC, SEC, Big 10, Pac 12, Big 12, and Big East - while offering little to no improvements to the pockets of the non-automatic qualifiers.
Playoff PAC's video breakdown of their complaints about the BCS system.
So what if we believe it's not fair. What if we completely buy into the idea of needing change. Does that justify the federal government going elementary school teacher on the situation and stepping in to ensure everyone gets equal time with the good Legos?
ESPN's college football blogger Andrea Adelson doesn't think so.
In her recent blog she argues that while the system needs to be fixed, the federal government should not be playing the role of handy man. Instead she points to the university presidents as the parties who need to get to work on the issue.
Michael Fielder, head writer of the popular college football blog In the Bleachers, is hesitant to trust many politicians' motivation for involvement and when asked if he saw this as a "PR move" responded with:
Fielder went on to explain that while he can see the legal right for the government to become involved, that doesn't mean it the appropriate measure to take.
In a sense, just because it would be popular, wouldn't automatically make it right. Something President Barack Obama might should have considered before making this promise in 2008.
The Los Angeles Times' Chris Dufresne takes a different approach in his opposition to government involvement.
Dufresne believes the government is merely wasting time and resources asking questions it already has or could easily "google" the answers to. He shines the light on the history of college football for the answers as to how we ended up here, while also detailing how the NCAA basically gave up its right to produce a playoff system when the BCS was created.
Clearly there is a large number of people upset about the current state of the college football postseason.
Clearly, for multiple reasons, some school benefit in various ways more than others.
What is unclear is if this truly constitutes breaking the law and if it truly is a worthwhile cause for government to undertake.
Much like with your sketchy neighbor, just because it's annoying to see an old toilet bowl and various Halloween decor littering his yard in March, always mean it a just cause swat team-esque intervention. Sometimes it does, but not always.
So what's your take? Do you want to see your government involved with college football's postseason?
Monday, April 25, 2011
What to do with no NFL?
It's a Tuesday in the third week of July. You're 12-years-old. You've played out your baseball season, took the annual family beach trip, and watched enough reruns of Yes Dear that you find yourself quoting Mike O'Malley.
So what are you going to do now with your abundance of free time?
This fall NFL fans may find themselves asking a similar questions if the league and Players Union fail to reach an agreement prior to the September 8th start date.
Last week fans were encouraged by the NFL releasing its official 2011 schedule. It was short lived though, as Wednesday it was learned the two groups were no closer to a handshake following their four days of court-ordered meetings and have no plans to meet again until May.
With the league's popularity at an all time high - over 50-percent of the 2010 top-rated television being NFL contests - plenty of folks will have more than a little free time on their hands. So how will they fill this void?
The answers from southwest Virginia NFL fans were anything but clear cut.
"I'll probably pay more attention to hockey," Maine-transplant Tim Coyle answered. "I mean I always pay attention to it, but when it's football season, it's football season."
Turning to another sport seems to be a pretty popular option. Baseball ends in October, the NHL and NBA pick up around Halloween, and of course for the gridiron die-hards the college football season will remain intact.
"There will still be football on Sundays, just maybe not the NFL" Allen Williams stated. He may be very right as the Pac-12 has already made it clear they are ready to bleed into Sunday should the NFL leave the day open and one would like other conferences would follow.
Others think they might become a participate rather than a spectator to fill this void.
Local golf courses would be the most likely benefactor of here, as most respondents indicated mixing in 18 holes on a Sunday would be a nice filler. A smaller number of folks declared they would spend their free time in other type of physical activities - going to the gym, hiking, etc. - but there was a slight New Year's resolution-esque ring to their statements.
So what about folks whose livelihoods are in some way dependent on the league? What will they do?
Shaun Hoy, who pens the weekly fantasy football column for The Roanoke Times, knows one thing is certain. "I'll do a lot less writing" he immediately responded when the topic rose, highlighting the formula: No NFL = No Fantasy Football = No need for advice on benching Terrel Owens.
Shaun's not sure what he'll do to fill the column's gap. He toyed with the idea of a fantasy bowling column, but upon the acknowledgment Roy Munson and Jeffery Lebowski are not "real" bowlers the idea began to lose its steam.
Is this what Sundays in the future will look like?
Though the time-filling options varied, what didn't was the initial response to the question. Disbelief.
Not a single person actually believed the NFL would sit out the 2011 season. In fact there's a good chance the typical first response from fans would have been about the same if I'd have been inquiring about their plans for when aliens attack.
Clearly the situation's urgency has yet to be fully embraced despite the very real possibility of NFL-less Sundays as little as five months away.
Maybe that's why it took some folks a minutes to ponder what they would do. Maybe that's why some of the responses seemed a little unlikely and perhaps, a little less than honest. Surely this will change if the two sides remain at odds as the season grows nearer.
If this is the case I expect far fewer people to go with the P90X option and far more to join up with the lady who responded that she would be devistated and to fill the time would "drink.... a lot."
So what will you do if the 2011 NFL season never comes?
 |
| www.blogs.creditcards.com |
So what are you going to do now with your abundance of free time?
This fall NFL fans may find themselves asking a similar questions if the league and Players Union fail to reach an agreement prior to the September 8th start date.
Last week fans were encouraged by the NFL releasing its official 2011 schedule. It was short lived though, as Wednesday it was learned the two groups were no closer to a handshake following their four days of court-ordered meetings and have no plans to meet again until May.
With the league's popularity at an all time high - over 50-percent of the 2010 top-rated television being NFL contests - plenty of folks will have more than a little free time on their hands. So how will they fill this void?
The answers from southwest Virginia NFL fans were anything but clear cut.
"I'll probably pay more attention to hockey," Maine-transplant Tim Coyle answered. "I mean I always pay attention to it, but when it's football season, it's football season."
Turning to another sport seems to be a pretty popular option. Baseball ends in October, the NHL and NBA pick up around Halloween, and of course for the gridiron die-hards the college football season will remain intact.
"There will still be football on Sundays, just maybe not the NFL" Allen Williams stated. He may be very right as the Pac-12 has already made it clear they are ready to bleed into Sunday should the NFL leave the day open and one would like other conferences would follow.
Others think they might become a participate rather than a spectator to fill this void.
Local golf courses would be the most likely benefactor of here, as most respondents indicated mixing in 18 holes on a Sunday would be a nice filler. A smaller number of folks declared they would spend their free time in other type of physical activities - going to the gym, hiking, etc. - but there was a slight New Year's resolution-esque ring to their statements.
So what about folks whose livelihoods are in some way dependent on the league? What will they do?
Shaun Hoy, who pens the weekly fantasy football column for The Roanoke Times, knows one thing is certain. "I'll do a lot less writing" he immediately responded when the topic rose, highlighting the formula: No NFL = No Fantasy Football = No need for advice on benching Terrel Owens.
Shaun's not sure what he'll do to fill the column's gap. He toyed with the idea of a fantasy bowling column, but upon the acknowledgment Roy Munson and Jeffery Lebowski are not "real" bowlers the idea began to lose its steam.
Is this what Sundays in the future will look like?
Though the time-filling options varied, what didn't was the initial response to the question. Disbelief.
Not a single person actually believed the NFL would sit out the 2011 season. In fact there's a good chance the typical first response from fans would have been about the same if I'd have been inquiring about their plans for when aliens attack.
Clearly the situation's urgency has yet to be fully embraced despite the very real possibility of NFL-less Sundays as little as five months away.
Maybe that's why it took some folks a minutes to ponder what they would do. Maybe that's why some of the responses seemed a little unlikely and perhaps, a little less than honest. Surely this will change if the two sides remain at odds as the season grows nearer.
If this is the case I expect far fewer people to go with the P90X option and far more to join up with the lady who responded that she would be devistated and to fill the time would "drink.... a lot."
So what will you do if the 2011 NFL season never comes?
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Athletes deserve a shot at redemption too
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| http://www.craigerscinemacorner.com |
No, not the feeling of folks pulling for him to win and rock the green coat again - though that was present as well - but rather a feeling of detest and cheers of his failure from those who long ago yelled "unclean!" and swore him off to live his life out beside Judah Ben-Hur's family in the leper caves.
(**Anyone over the age of 25 who hasn't seen Ben-Hur should:
1. Be ashamed and 2. Write on your hand that you immediately must watch it.)
Of course Tiger is not alone when it comes to athletes carrying the "villain" label and being rooted against. Athletes such Mike Vick, Ben Roethlisberger, and most recently a gay-slur shouting Kobe Bryant, are among the ranks of those attempting to pull themselves out of the sports-villain leper cave and rebuild their image.
Fans casting out fallen athletes and even basking in the failures is as commonplace today as a warm beer at Wrigley Field in July, but how long should this go on? How long is too much? At some point we as fans need to stop being so hesitant in affording high profile athletes the same opportunity to change, reinvent, and even redeem themselves that any average person would get.
In regards the the Kobe Bryant situation, Friday morning on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike NBA commissioner David Stern reminded listeners that athletes are humans and everyone has flaws. A hard point for any honest person to argue.
But doesn't that mean everyone is kind of in the same semi-sinking ship? If this is the case why do fans seem so hesitant to toss athletes a life jacket or even just some arm floaties?
Maybe part of the answer lies in our hypercritical nature towards nose picking.
Everyone picks their nose. Fact. But everyone is also completely and utterly disgusted when they catch someone else digging for gold. Despite having fingers just as dirty, folks act appalled to see someone else partaking in such a filthy practice.
Multiple this by about 50,000 and that's the level of disgust the common fan has once the TMZs of the world have pasted a few appalling acts of a popular athlete all over television and the internet. Despite said fan having a few faults of his or her own, seeing the athlete's failure dissected on a national level, right or wrong, sends the shameful meter through the roof.
Of course when this is feed to the public in an open-24-hours buffet-style fashion another issue quickly arises; everyone, regardless of age, can reach the soft-serve knob and completely ruin a dinner of healthy morality.
With the door open for children to see their "heroes" in less-than-heroic fashion a panic is created among many parents, causing many of them to slam the door on the possibility of cheering on the athlete.
For some this is the simplest solution. Slap the athlete with a "bad" person label and call it a life.
But ESPN's Bill Simmon's offers a different take in his column regarding his son watching Tiger Woods.
Rather than blast Tiger and ban his son from ever sporting the TW logo, Simmons wants his son to understand athletes aren't perfect people and that they have faults too.
He wants his son to learn how to appreciate the greatness of the athlete, while understanding everything the athlete does might not be great, or even good. Heck, sometimes it might be flat out awful, but Simmons doesn't want this to floor his son. He would rather the youngster be able to take it in stride, while still valuing the athletes abilities, while also understanding that everyone falls.
For a lot of folks this is easier said than done. Separating an athlete's checkered past from on-field accomplishments, the old "hate the sin, love the sinner" act, doesn't come as easy as it sounds. In fact some seem to refuse even considering it.
So let's speak to the super righteous and go Sunday School for a moment.
How many people have ever objected to cheering on David as he takes down Goliath and proceeds to cut off his head?
What?! None???
Isn't this the same dude who watched a lady take a bath on her roof, knocked her up, and in tried a massive cover-up operation, which ended with murdering her husband? Where was TMZ? They should have been all on this!
That's pretty hardcore, yet folks don't sentence David and his highlight reel to a lifetime in the leper cave. Instead they look at his faults as mistakes to learn from and his redemption as a how-to guide for recovery.
What if a similar attitude was taken with athletes?
What if we focused on learning from their mistakes, rather casting them out?
No matter who you are, there must be consequences for our actions. There must be a punishment. But serving a punishment should not forever eliminate the opportunity for a person to change.
Should athletes be held to a higher standard because of their public roles? Yes!
Do some athletes deserved to be punished, criticized, and even mocked at times for their ignorant and irresponsible actions? Yes!
Will every athlete learn from his or her mistakes and change directions? Nope!
But if fans, the media, and even fellow athletes are going to be bold enough to openly rant over the negative, when an athlete does take the steps to fix things let them be equally bold enough to recognize and accept it.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The Back Porch Podcast with guest Celtics Town's Jay King!
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| www.thewitwiz.blogspot.com |
He shared his thoughts on the Kendrick Perkins trade, the upcoming playoffs, and Brian Scalabrine's dance moves.
Thanks to Jay, a must follow on Twitter for all sports fans!
Take a listen and drop your thoughts!
Oh and about that sweet sweet dancing...
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Thundercats HOOO!!
Things are getting a little crazy over on third earth today as folks welcome home the Thundercats as the 80's cartoon tournament champion. The celebration kicked off early as the Thunder Tank took to the streets with tourney MVP Lion-O atop tossing candy, beads, and beanie baby Snarfs to the crowd. 
Also, President Obama placed a phone call to the Cats in which he invited them to the White House this summer.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The 80's Cartoon Championship!
Well this is it. Ducks Tales and The Thundercats have taken the journey through the bracket and now stand alone in deciding who will walk away with a sweet set of celebratory slap bracelets.
Let's take a little look at the pros and cons for each group.
The Thundercats
Pros:
The Thunder Tank. Is there a cooler cartoon vehicle? Hard to imagine. It jumps, its claws extend, and it even has that chair you can shoot missiles from.
The Sword of Omens is just flat out presidential. Not only does it serve as a weapon, it also has that sweet sight-beyond-sight feature and can throw out the Cat's spot light letting everyone know the party is on!
Cheetara. Enough said.
Cons:
Spandex can get awkward, especially after a big meal.
Snarf is pretty much dead weight when it comes to doing anything.
Duck Tales
Pros:
Money pit. Sure it might hurt at first, but come on. There is a bulldozer full of gold coins in there!
Killer NES game. Thumb blisters? Tape 'em up and roll.
Gizmoduck. Though I'm not real sure how the whole legs to wheel transition works, this guy was the Duckburg's version of Robocop.
Cons:
None of the ducks were really that much fun to pretend to be, especially not the Huey, Dewey, or Louie. Color coordinate a hat and shirt and you're pretty much done.
There was never one solid villain and even if there had of been, the Ducks seemed more worried about teaching morality than punishing bad guys.
So the decision is up to you. Both are worth, but you have the final call!
Let's take a little look at the pros and cons for each group.
The Thundercats
Pros:
Cheetara. Enough said.
Cons:
Spandex can get awkward, especially after a big meal.
Snarf is pretty much dead weight when it comes to doing anything.
Duck Tales
Pros:
Money pit. Sure it might hurt at first, but come on. There is a bulldozer full of gold coins in there!
Killer NES game. Thumb blisters? Tape 'em up and roll.
Gizmoduck. Though I'm not real sure how the whole legs to wheel transition works, this guy was the Duckburg's version of Robocop.
Cons:
None of the ducks were really that much fun to pretend to be, especially not the Huey, Dewey, or Louie. Color coordinate a hat and shirt and you're pretty much done.
There was never one solid villain and even if there had of been, the Ducks seemed more worried about teaching morality than punishing bad guys.
So the decision is up to you. Both are worth, but you have the final call!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Sports Writing in the New Media World
Upon completing my degree in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University I hope to combine my passions for people, sports, and humor in a career in the sports media field. This could mean working for a media outlet, such as a newspaper or television station, or working directly with the public relations department of either a professional or collegiate team. I believe either would provide me the opportunity to grow as a journalist, storyteller, and community builder, as well as making going to work everyday a blast!
So why sports?
Though my life I've worked in a variety of different fields. Schools, churches, door-to-door replacement window sales - which I do NOT advise unless you enjoy being cursed at by elderly women - all of which have had one common thread, connecting with people. And though I've tried other vehicles for achieving this, sports and humor have always been my go-to moves. Writing, broadcasting, and just talking about sports has allowed me to connect with people of all ages, backgrounds, and interest levels with an equal level of success.
Regarding the hiring process, Justin Jarrett of The Island Packet once told me the most important thing was to have quality clips of my work. Despite having a first name for a last name, I believe him. Showing, not only that I am capable of producing quality work, but that I speak with an unique voice in doing so, will be critical in gaining a potential employers attention.
Because of this I believe first step to the hiring process is to provide a quality sample or portfolio of work. I began this process over a year ago with my work at SportsPageNetwork.com.
The next step is what I like to refer to as the job-seeking stage. This will likely include searching websites and online job forums, such as JournalismJobs.com, as well as networking with any and all professional in the field. I will most likely conjure up some of my old door-to-door abilities for this large-scale door knocking process.
Once a potential employer does decide to answer the door and take a look my product, hopefully an interview will result. During this I plan to explain my passions and goals, as well as the benefits I can provide them with. I believe it is important to show employers you have a vision for not only yourself, but how you can impact them.
A crucial part of this vision will be how I plan to utilize digital media and social networking in a way that will benefit them.
For this I can not emphasis enough how important a Twitter account can be. Your typical newspaper writer produces one, maybe two, articles per day. That's a really narrow window for connecting with his or her audience and generally it's one-way. Twitter can provide an almost unlimited amount of connections, as well as instant feedback. This connection allows the writer to become real to the audience. No longer is this just a sports writer, this is a person who has a dog, who loves Colby cheese, or who had a seventh grade crush on Kelly Kapowski. As this relationship grows, the writers' readership grows, and a community is formed.
There may not be a better Twitter follow than ESPN columnist Bill Simmons. Over 1,368,000 followers can't be wrong!
And yes that is back-to-back Saved by the Bell references, don't judge.
Another way sports writers can use digital media is through blogging. Short, informal pieces produced on a frequent and regular basis can also help cultivate the writer-reader relationship, while also providing the reader with a sense of ownership and pride over the relationship. Suddenly the local columnist becomes "my columnist" who writes for "my paper" because the reader feels they are actively engaged in some level of creation. The to making this happen though is the writers' willingness to constantly engage with the readings and acknowledge them from time to time in his or her other works.
Aaron McFarling's blog at The Roanoke Times is a prime example of this. His Daily Briefing provides his readers with quick glance of the news in the sports world, plenty of links, and a format on which to comment. He also, on occasion, hosts live chats with his readers via his blog during sporting events. Both of these activities are effective because Aaron is actively engaged on a regular basis, responding to comments, asking direct questions to his readers, and simply making them feel valued in general.
I also believe a strong sports writer should be knowledgeable of the process of capturing and sharing video online. Since the majority of time the topics being discussed surround events, there is great strength in being able to show readers the event or at the very least guide them in the appropriate direction for finding it on their own. Also, if a writer is capable of producing and editing videos, the opportunities for enhancing his or her text will grow tremendously, as well as the opportunities for the continued growth of his or her community of readers because of the level of intimacy video provides. Let's face it, even if it's thirty seconds of footage around the newsroom, someone will watch it and because of it feel a connection to the writer.
ESPN's Sportsnation does a great job of incorporating simple videos into their programs.
Granted this video isn't going to win any awards, well aside from the ones SportsNation gives itself, but its simplistic nature achieves a level of intimacy which makes the viewer feel as if he or she is in an elite club. It grows the writer/broadcaster-reader/viewer relationship, giving the latter a reason to return for future viewing or reading.
These are of course just scratch the surface of the way digital media can and should be used to enhance the world of sports writing and broadcasting, but are three of the most crucial areas. I believe the most successful journalism are those who build solid relationships with their readers and make those readers feel valued. Digital media can play a huge role in accomplishing both of those goals.
So why sports?
Though my life I've worked in a variety of different fields. Schools, churches, door-to-door replacement window sales - which I do NOT advise unless you enjoy being cursed at by elderly women - all of which have had one common thread, connecting with people. And though I've tried other vehicles for achieving this, sports and humor have always been my go-to moves. Writing, broadcasting, and just talking about sports has allowed me to connect with people of all ages, backgrounds, and interest levels with an equal level of success.
Regarding the hiring process, Justin Jarrett of The Island Packet once told me the most important thing was to have quality clips of my work. Despite having a first name for a last name, I believe him. Showing, not only that I am capable of producing quality work, but that I speak with an unique voice in doing so, will be critical in gaining a potential employers attention.
Because of this I believe first step to the hiring process is to provide a quality sample or portfolio of work. I began this process over a year ago with my work at SportsPageNetwork.com.
The next step is what I like to refer to as the job-seeking stage. This will likely include searching websites and online job forums, such as JournalismJobs.com, as well as networking with any and all professional in the field. I will most likely conjure up some of my old door-to-door abilities for this large-scale door knocking process.
Once a potential employer does decide to answer the door and take a look my product, hopefully an interview will result. During this I plan to explain my passions and goals, as well as the benefits I can provide them with. I believe it is important to show employers you have a vision for not only yourself, but how you can impact them.
A crucial part of this vision will be how I plan to utilize digital media and social networking in a way that will benefit them.
For this I can not emphasis enough how important a Twitter account can be. Your typical newspaper writer produces one, maybe two, articles per day. That's a really narrow window for connecting with his or her audience and generally it's one-way. Twitter can provide an almost unlimited amount of connections, as well as instant feedback. This connection allows the writer to become real to the audience. No longer is this just a sports writer, this is a person who has a dog, who loves Colby cheese, or who had a seventh grade crush on Kelly Kapowski. As this relationship grows, the writers' readership grows, and a community is formed.
There may not be a better Twitter follow than ESPN columnist Bill Simmons. Over 1,368,000 followers can't be wrong!
And yes that is back-to-back Saved by the Bell references, don't judge.
Another way sports writers can use digital media is through blogging. Short, informal pieces produced on a frequent and regular basis can also help cultivate the writer-reader relationship, while also providing the reader with a sense of ownership and pride over the relationship. Suddenly the local columnist becomes "my columnist" who writes for "my paper" because the reader feels they are actively engaged in some level of creation. The to making this happen though is the writers' willingness to constantly engage with the readings and acknowledge them from time to time in his or her other works.
I also believe a strong sports writer should be knowledgeable of the process of capturing and sharing video online. Since the majority of time the topics being discussed surround events, there is great strength in being able to show readers the event or at the very least guide them in the appropriate direction for finding it on their own. Also, if a writer is capable of producing and editing videos, the opportunities for enhancing his or her text will grow tremendously, as well as the opportunities for the continued growth of his or her community of readers because of the level of intimacy video provides. Let's face it, even if it's thirty seconds of footage around the newsroom, someone will watch it and because of it feel a connection to the writer.
ESPN's Sportsnation does a great job of incorporating simple videos into their programs.
Granted this video isn't going to win any awards, well aside from the ones SportsNation gives itself, but its simplistic nature achieves a level of intimacy which makes the viewer feel as if he or she is in an elite club. It grows the writer/broadcaster-reader/viewer relationship, giving the latter a reason to return for future viewing or reading.
These are of course just scratch the surface of the way digital media can and should be used to enhance the world of sports writing and broadcasting, but are three of the most crucial areas. I believe the most successful journalism are those who build solid relationships with their readers and make those readers feel valued. Digital media can play a huge role in accomplishing both of those goals.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Final Four of the 80s Cartoon Championship
It's time for the Final Four of the 80's Cartoon Championship! Scrooge McDuck will take on He-Man and the Thunderscats will battle it out with the Joes. There is no room for pretenders at this point!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Elite Eight of the 80s Cartoon Championship
We are down to the Elite Eight and looking at an epic Thundercats-Transformers showdown, as well as He-Man taking on the Ninja Turtles. Things are about to get real! Whatever that means.
Just for fun, here is a nice list of theme songs. Don't really agree with the rankings, but I did forget how sweet Pole Position's theme was.
Duck Tales vs. Inspector Gadget
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
G.I. Joe vs. Tale Spin
Thundercats vs. Transformers
Lessons to learn from Jim Tressel
It's Sunday morning, the perfect time to learn some life lessons. So with the career of Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel going up in flames as we speak, I think there a few lessons we can learn from the nasty little situation he has put himself in.
Lesson #1 - Think twice, hit forward once.
Emails are can be very dangerous things. One click and suddenly your entire office knows you have that crush on Jessica Rabbit and you're explaining to your boss why a video of a bulldog and stuffed Pokemon going at it with love songs in the background is funny. - Trust me if they don't already find it funny, you'll never be able to explain it.
Tressel forwarded the email regarding his players without thinking of what it might mean in the grand scheme of things. He simply figured it was the easy way out of a tricky situation that he could then wash his hands of.
If only he would have taken a few moments to ponder the ripple effect. To wonder what would happen if people learned he caught a whiff of this and swept it under the rug. If he would have done that, I'm not so sure he hits send.
Lesson #2 - If you are already in trouble, you might as well just get it all out there.
When the heat is on, you are already caught, and a stiff punishment is staring you in the face, go ahead and let it all out. Go ahead and toss in the lamp you broke, the bad grade in Chemistry, and the fact you were caught skipping gym.
Every kid knows a parent can only punish you so much at one time. You can only get spanked so many times in one outting before your old man's tennis elbow kicks in, so why let him rest it? Why not drop it all on them at once, take your medicine, and avoid your folks feeling like you were trying to pull one on them?
Tressel had his chance more than once to fess up to this whole mess, but rather than dump it all out there at once he chose to stay zipped up. He chose to hold back and now he isn't confessing as much as he is being captured. His punishment, which has already grown from two to five games, will no doubt continue to progress as more details come out and more folks feel like they were taken for a ride.
Lesson #3 - The right thing in the real world, isn't always the right thing in the sports world.
Think about this for a second. If you caught your kid smoking on the corner would you rat him out to the cops? Or might you be tempted to see if his older brother, whom he looks up to, could give him a nudge in the right direction?
I'm guessing the latter and why? Because it's the right thing to do. Even though your kid is breaking the law, my money says you'd still try and curb the Camel Light habit in a way other than reporting it to officials.
Now consider this. What the Ohio State players did, wasn't illegal. Heck , it wouldn't even be a bad idea - depending on the choice of tattoos - in the regular world. But they don't live in the regular world, they live in the world of college sports and there it is considered a top-tier crime.
When we hear about these athletes and coaches getting in "trouble," let's just keep it in perspective. Generally they are simply breaking NCAA rules, which isn't good, but also weren't sent down from heaven on tablets.
Lesson #1 - Think twice, hit forward once.
Emails are can be very dangerous things. One click and suddenly your entire office knows you have that crush on Jessica Rabbit and you're explaining to your boss why a video of a bulldog and stuffed Pokemon going at it with love songs in the background is funny. - Trust me if they don't already find it funny, you'll never be able to explain it.
Tressel forwarded the email regarding his players without thinking of what it might mean in the grand scheme of things. He simply figured it was the easy way out of a tricky situation that he could then wash his hands of.
If only he would have taken a few moments to ponder the ripple effect. To wonder what would happen if people learned he caught a whiff of this and swept it under the rug. If he would have done that, I'm not so sure he hits send.
Lesson #2 - If you are already in trouble, you might as well just get it all out there.
When the heat is on, you are already caught, and a stiff punishment is staring you in the face, go ahead and let it all out. Go ahead and toss in the lamp you broke, the bad grade in Chemistry, and the fact you were caught skipping gym.
Every kid knows a parent can only punish you so much at one time. You can only get spanked so many times in one outting before your old man's tennis elbow kicks in, so why let him rest it? Why not drop it all on them at once, take your medicine, and avoid your folks feeling like you were trying to pull one on them?
Tressel had his chance more than once to fess up to this whole mess, but rather than dump it all out there at once he chose to stay zipped up. He chose to hold back and now he isn't confessing as much as he is being captured. His punishment, which has already grown from two to five games, will no doubt continue to progress as more details come out and more folks feel like they were taken for a ride.
Lesson #3 - The right thing in the real world, isn't always the right thing in the sports world.
Think about this for a second. If you caught your kid smoking on the corner would you rat him out to the cops? Or might you be tempted to see if his older brother, whom he looks up to, could give him a nudge in the right direction?
I'm guessing the latter and why? Because it's the right thing to do. Even though your kid is breaking the law, my money says you'd still try and curb the Camel Light habit in a way other than reporting it to officials.
Now consider this. What the Ohio State players did, wasn't illegal. Heck , it wouldn't even be a bad idea - depending on the choice of tattoos - in the regular world. But they don't live in the regular world, they live in the world of college sports and there it is considered a top-tier crime.
When we hear about these athletes and coaches getting in "trouble," let's just keep it in perspective. Generally they are simply breaking NCAA rules, which isn't good, but also weren't sent down from heaven on tablets.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
80's Cartoon Sweet 16! Vote now!
The Sweet 16 of the 80's Cartoon Championship
The first round is done with Voltron upsetting Count Duckula and Alvin and the Chipmunks edging out the Smurfs. The Sweet 16 features a He-Man-Ghostbusters match up that could get ugly, plus Tale Spin and the Muppet Babies going at it.
**If you need a refresher make sure to clink on the names above the ballots for the intros of each cartoon! (Mario Bros intro rap is particularly awesome, make sure to check it out!)
Inspector Gadget vs. Dungeons and Dragons
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Rescue Rangers
He-Man vs. The Real Ghostbusters
G.I. Joe vs. Garfield and Friends
Tale Spin vs. Muppet Babies
Thundercats vs. Super Mario Bros.
Alvin and the Chipmunks vs. Transformers
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