Birdman

In our society today there is a big focus on the aspects of sports. One quote that I think best describes sports was by a writer named Susan Casey. She said "Sports remain a great metaphor for life's most difficult lessons. It was through athletics that many of us come to understand that fear can be tamed; that on a team the whole is more than the sum of its parts; and the ability to be heroic lies, to a surprising degree within". Sports have taught us these lessons and is part of the overall integrity of the game. Even though sports teach us the good things in life there is also a dark side. Athletics who go down this path disregard the rules of the game and seek to get an edge on the competition. One of the major problems in the sporting world today is the impact of drugs. Drugs have gone from therapeutic uses to personal enhancement and muscle building. Recently, an issue that has blown up in the media is HGH. HGH or Human growth hormone is a protein responsible for the growth in both men and women. It targets the breakdown of cells and is designed to stimulate the immune system. The primary ways HGH can be abused is to increase muscle mass and strength. A player that has been linked to HGH is Paul Byrd. Paul Byrd is a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and according to Tom Withers from AP sports took HGH under doctor's supervision before it was banned in the MLB. Jeff Passan of Yahoo sports reported that the Indians just exercised the 7.5 million option on him and will keep him another year. The question that has been issued is should the Indians have brought back someone that took an illegal substance? In my opinion, I think that it is wrong. As an organization you send the wrong message in that you condone cheating and he knew what he was doing when he took it. More importantly what message do you send to the youth? A way you can attain more money is to cheat the system. It is a situation where they needed to look more at the situation rather than the players stats. It is unfortunate that people value stats rather than morals and this needs to be addressed.

Duquesne Player Shootings

Over the years there have been many tragedies that have rocked the world. They have changed the landscape of our society and will always be everlasting images in our culture. These tragedies have made us more aware of how precious life is because it can be gone in an instant. It is important to live to the fullest because our time here is short. One tragedy that rocked the world was the Duquesne Player Shootings in September of 2006. According to Alan Robinson of the Associated Press five Duquesne Basketball players were shot early Sunday morning on September 17, 2006. The players that were involved were Sam Ashaolu, Stuard Baldonado, Kojo Mensah, Aaron Jackson and Shaun James. Bill Schackner of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that the five players had been at a dance in the Duquesne Union. After the party the Duquesne players were walking back to their dorms and ran into a group of people who were not students. One of the members had been upset and pulled out a gun firing several shots that left four of the players injured and Sam Ashaolu was put in critical condition. It was a terrible situation and forced the Duquesne community into turmoil. The campus had always been a tight knit community and this incident was something totally unexpected. Since this incident occured many schools around the country have taken the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their students. Schools want their students to be safe and not have to fear the outside surroundings. Eventually, the suspects were caught and given their punishments. The question I have to ask is were the punishments appropriate for the crime? In my opinion, the verdicts were to lenient towards these people. Joe Mandak of the Seattle Post said that shooters Derek Lee and William Holmes will get 7-14 and 18-40 years respectively. How is this possible that someone who can shoot another person can get off this easy. This incident wasn't an accident and one player was almost killed. I feel that both should get life in prison and there should be no plea agreement. As a person how can you bring yourself to shoot another person? These guys deserve more for their crime and they ultimately have ruined these players lives. These players will always remember that night and these two gunman will eventually be free. Another issue that should have been addressed is the families of the players. Their parents sent them to school not only to play basketball, but to get an education as well. The parents will always be worried about their children and to let these men off like that is a shame. The crime and punishment will never be justified and I think the verdict was a big mistake.

Fab Five

Over the years there have been many great teams that have been put together in college basketball. The 1990's featured the great Duke, UCLA, and Kentucky teams that were able to transcend the sport. These teams helped to form the framework of many of the modern teams today. These teams drew record crowds and revolutionized the culture and tradition of college basketball. One team that I feel had the most significant impact on college basketball is the Fab Five. The Fab Five will be embedded into the memory of college basketball forever. The Fab Five was the infamous Michigan team that consisted of five freshman named Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson, and Jimmy King. According to Steve Weiberg of USA today the Fab Five won 56 games and reached the NCAA finals in each of their two seasons together. As a result the Fab Five became the face of college basketball because no group of players that young had ever accomplished what they had done. The Fab Five set the tone for future generations in that they were the first to go against the cultural norms. They wore baggy-style shorts, were big trash talkers and played with a style no one had ever seen before. These 5 started the fashion trends and the hip-hop style that is seen throughout college basketball today. The problem that the Fab Five has today is the scandal that they were involved in at Michigan. Jemele Hill of ESPN.com said that former Michigan booster Ed Martin illegally lent more than 600,000 to four Michigan basketball players, including 280,000 to Webber. Webber denied the accusations, but later pled guilty in federal court in 2002. Jemele Hill also reported that in 2002 Michigan had to forfeit games that they won, take down banners, and give back tournament money. Also, Webber was not allowed to associate with Michigan for 10 years. The question that I have to ask is was the punishment for the players appropriate? In my opinion, I think it was the wrong decision. The Fab Five was a once in a lifetime type team and to not acknowledge their accomplishments is wrong. Michigan should accept these players and even though they made a mistake I think that they should reconcile. Those five players were young and didn't think about the consequences of their actions. They have grown older and I am sure that they are sorry for the negative publicity that the university received. The Fab Five changed the culture of college basketball and will always be remembered. I think that their jersey's should be retired and both parties should put their past behind them. It would be a shame to not honor this great legacy.

Kelvin Sampson

Sports are part of our daily lives and will always reflect our culture. They provide a way for people to get away from the pressures of life and enjoy an event. Sports give the average person a way to dream that one day they can be in that same position. It is a unique activity that will surely grow in the future. Sports teach us more than just athletics, but they can give insight on how to be better people. The most important things that I think sports teach us are the aspects of sportsmanship, team play, and integrity. Sportsmanship is the idea that teams will play with honor and are fair, team play recognizes the importance of a team and that it is more important than a single person, and integrity is the aspect of honesty. These aspects have been passed down from generation to generation and form the essence of sports. Recently, these aspects have been called in question in the world of college basketball. The issue that has been addressed deals with the Indiana Hoosiers coach Kelvin Sampson. Kelvin Sampson broke numerous NCAA rules by making extra calls to potential recruits and made visits with them off-campus. As a result Indiana was forced to bring down punishments on the program. According to Andy Katz of ESPN Sampson will lose his 500,000 bonus for the 2007-08 season, the team will lose a 2008-09 scholarship reducing the number of scholarships to 12, and his assistant who helped him will be banned for a year from off-campus recruiting and making phone calls. This is a horrible situation for the sport and the university of Indiana. One of the most glaring issues though is that Kelvin did the exact same thing a couple of years ago for Oklahoma. Andy Katz also mentions that in the 2005-06 season Kelvin and his staff made more than 550 illegal calls to 17 different recruits. The question I have to ask is Why would someone continue to do something that they knew they had already got caught for? In my opinion, Kelvin has lost sight of what it means to be a coach. Coaches are suppose to serve as models to their players and to help them in their time of need. As a player I would look at this guy and think he was a cheat and someone I couldn't trust. Kelvin has compromised the sport and has been an embarrassment to his university. He has now given himself a reputation that he will do anything to bend the NCAA rules. This sends a negative message not only to the recruits, but more importantly the parents. What will parents think when they see these transgressions? My guess is that they will be hesitant to send their son to that program. I feel that the punishment was sufficient and hopefully this will deter him from making another mistake in the future.

How Young is to Young

College basketball is a sport that is embedded into our culture. Many of us live and die with our teams in hopes that they can bring home the championship. When I think of College Basketball I think of the legendary giants that strolled the sidelines week in and week out. Coaches like John Wooden, Adolf Rupp, Dean Smith, and Don Haskins. Their legend and their presence have made an everlasting impact that will always define this sport. These coaches played the game by the book and through hardwork and dedication they are the most recognized figures when talking about College Basketball. Recently, though the old methods of coaching have been changed and transformed into something completely different. The new generation of coaches have unlimited access to text messaging, websites devoted to high school players, and AAU programs throughout the country. Coaches can recruit a player with the simple push of a button. The issue that has created a lot of controversy in the basketball world is the recruitment of middle school players. Before kids even taste the atmosphere of high school sports they are being looked at as future athletes that can compete on the highest level. The question is Should coaches be allowed to do this or is the media blowing this issue out of proportion? In many cases I think that the media creates to much controversy, but in in this case I think that recruiting middle school kids is the wrong thing to do. These kids have not grown into their bodies and you don't know how they will turn out. It is a risk that college coaches need to consider before they make their decision to offer. Why are coaches doing this? Is it because they want a leg up on the competition or do they seriously think that this kid can change my program. The two issues that I think will come about by doing this is the target that these kids will have and the ego that comes with it. One assistant from a Top 10 program said that "in recruiting, its all about being first. If you get in on the kid in eighth grade your first." This is true, but how many of us when we were in eighth grade held up to a commitment? All it does is give the kid a target. Before he sets foot on a court people will be gunning for him and if he fails how will he react. This kid is tagged as the next big thing and if he is getting shut down what will happen next. Along with the target comes the ego. Some kids may take this ranking as a privilege and they may get outworked by other individuals leading to a similar situation of failure. One story that encompasses this issue is Ryan Boatwright who is a 14 year old who committed to USC. USC coach Tim Floyd gave him an offer after he saw Ryan play at an AAU tournament. Ryan and his parents flew out to USC to see the campus and Ryan liked it so much he committed. What kind of message does this send? Young players commit, but are they committing to college or just for the game? He still has to figure out what Major he wants to take and this is all before he takes a high school class. Pat Forde; a writer for ESPN said "This is a child with milk on his breath already thrown into a whiskey world." It is up to him how he develops, but his road to success will be harder than ever.

Marion Jones

Track and Field is a sport near and dear to my heart. I was on the track team for four years and these were some of the best times in my life so far. Throughout my career I had a lot of success, but I was never able to get to the big stage. Our team won four straight district championships and I got to three straight regional finals. Every year I knew I would make it to the regional final, but I couldn't take the next step and reach state. Despite my accomplishments in high school I will always have a sense of failure that I will carry with me for a long time. People have said that not many people have had the opportunity that I have gotten and I always think to myself that they also never expect it. The issue that has reminded me about my situation is the recent publicity of Marion Jones. She was highly regarded and was an idol to many. Marion Jones has been a staple in the Track and Field world and was at one time the fastest woman in the world. According to Pat Milton of the Associated Press Marion Jones admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs before her campaign in the 2000 games. The question that a lot of people will have is Should she be forgiven or should she be stripped of her 5 medals? In my opinion, I think that she should be forgiven. She has taken the right steps in attaining this by retiring from the sport. It took a lot of courage and guts to stand up to her mistake and she will always have a black mark on her career. Travis Tygart; a chief executive officer of the Anti-Doping Agency said it best when he said "She captivated the country with the audacious goal of winning five gold medals. She fell short by attaining three and two bronze, but now she is broke and her reputation is ruined. Marion will have a tough time coming back into the spotlight especially when young kids see what she has done. She is facing jail time and her story is becoming more common in the sport. Why shame her even more than she already is? It does nothing for anyone and just creates more controversy.
When I look back at my career it was clean. I didn't take substances and I did it the right way. Although, I failed in one aspect I can be proud that I was truthful. It is an unfortunate situation, but these stories are sure to continue in a steroid era.

NFL Player Retirement Benefits

Today, the NFL is one of the most popular sports in America. It is a league where players make astronomical salaries and are considered role models in society. Recently tough, the league has had to deal with many issues such as the Michael Vick case, steroids, and players getting into trouble with the law. These issues have created unnecessary controversy for the league and is a big distraction to the game. One issue that faces the league is the NFL players and their retirement benefits. Its a situation that seems to be an ongoing struggle where both sides are having a tough time coming up with a compromise. Players feel that the NFL is not compensating them for their services and are feeling cheated and forgotten. The question that should be asked when looking at this story is Are retired players expecting too much from the NFL? In my opinion, I think the retired players are becoming a hindrance on the NFL. Former players like Joe DeLamielleure, Henry Cason, and Willie Wood are bashing the NFL saying they are not providing enough money to help retirees. In addition to their argument about money players like to blame their injury's on the NFL. Why would you blame and hold the NFL accountable for your injuries? The NFL is a high risk profession and the likelihood of injury is high. In contrast to the belief that the NFL doesn't give out enough money the NFL Players Association's goal is to ensure financial security. According to www.nflpa.org the players association sets up a four-track plan that gives athletes the money they need. Step 1 is a severance pay plan where a person with two credited seasons will receive $10,000 for every year he played. Step 2 is the Annuity Program where players with 4 or more credited seasons will receive $65,000 and can receive a distribution at 35 or five years after. Step 3 is the NFL Player's Second Career Savings Plan where a maximum club contribution can reach 20,000 with nine types of investment funds and Step 4 is the Bert/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan where players can receive benefits for each credited season they play. These are only a few benefits that the NFL offers and I don't see where the players are coming from. Although, it is an important process the NFL is doing what they can to help. The NFL is a tough sport and players might need more help, but constantly bashing the NFL is not the answer.

The Baby-faced Assassin

The question that I find myself asking is Why do retired athletes seem to create negative controversy in the news? You would think that they would be able to continue their lives after sports in a positive way and give back to their communities. Recently, an athlete that has made headlines in the news is Isiah Thomas. Isiah Thomas was the all-world point guard from Illinois that led the Pistons to back-to back championships in the 88-89 season. He was a player with phenomenal talent and had a sense of awareness on the court that was second to none. The issue that has been brought upon him is a sexual harassment suit. According to Chris Broussard, an ESPN writer, Isiah was accused of calling former Knick executive Anucha Browne Sanders demeaning names and made sexual advances toward her. Even though these accusations could prove to be false Isiah is a professional and should not be caught up in these situations. On top of that when asked about the situation he said it would be worse if a white man called a black women a demeaning name than it would if a black man called a black women a name. Already his image has been questioned and is perceived as a rude individual. Isiah why would you incriminate yourself even more than you have already been? This is a big case and comments like that are not needed. Another factor that is affected by this case is his role as coach/general manager of the Knicks. What do you think of Isiah now that he has been put in this crossfire? In my opinion, I would let Isiah go and make him think about his life. He needs to step out of the spotlight and handle his business. Isiah has jeopardized his career and will have to repair his image. The backlash in society will be monumental with parents having to explain to their kids the situation he is in. Its an embarrassing situation for the Knicks organization and Isiah needs to reflect on who he has become. Athletes having negative press in the news has become more and more common and hopefully it will be corrected in the future.

College Game

Hello Heisman! Kieth Jackson's famous call from the 1991 game between Ohio State and Michigan. Bryce Drew's game-winning shot for Valparaiso and Doug Flutie's hailmary to beat Miami. These are some of the lasting images that will forever be embedded into the culture of college sports. Its a place where legends like Emmit Smith, Bo Jackson, and Deion Sanders made their marks before attaining greatness in the NFL. College sports provide incredible atmospheres where people from all over the country come to cheer on their teams. The teams represent more than just themselves, but more importantly reflect their fans and university. Although, these aspects make college sports great the issue of whether or not the athletes should be paid is always on the table. Why change what has always been? I personally like college sports better than the pros because of the fact they are not paid. Obviously, these players goals are to reach the professional level at some point, but for now I like to see players who play for the fun and tradition and not for the money. An author named Jim Wynn wrote an article that said "if we pay athletes we corrupt the system." Players would go towards the money and not for the sport.
One example of why players should not be paid is the situation with Maurice Clarett. Clarett was an Ohio State running back that had all the potential in the world. After winning the National Championship as a freshman he was poised to be a Heisman candidate the next year. According to Tom Friend, an ESPN THE Magazine writer Clarett accepted money from a family friend and lied about it to the NCAA. As a college athlete you cannot accept any money from anyone and Clarett was ruled ineligible for his sophomore season. As a result he dropped out of high school and challenged the rule to turn pro. Clarett challenged the rule and ultimately lost. Clarett never returned to school and has never been able to get his life and career on track. In August of 2006 Clarett was picked up by police and they found he had an assault rifle and three handguns in his car near the home of a witness who was to testify against him in a prior robbery conviction. Was this coincidence? I think not, Clarett has become a troubled man with no direction. He listened to the media and negative influences around him that told him he was ready to be paid. Now he is nowhere to be found, a washed up phenom that took money and paid for it. I think that college athletics should focus on their sport and leave the money in the pros. We should keep college sports the same to prevent this from ever happening again. Are these the future images of college sports. If it is then I don't want to be a part of it.

Paid to Play

One question that has spurred a lot of debate in sports is the aspect of players being paid to play. In today's society athletes are making astronomical sums of money and some have never even played a game. Jonathan Yardley, a writer for the Washington Post said it best that the American spectator sports may be losing their souls. His primary focus was the NFL and its salaries. The salary that stuck out most in my mind was "Broadway Joe Namath's contract in 1965. Joe Namath was a Hall of Fame QB that is considered to be one of the best to ever play the game and in 1965 the New York Jets paid him a contact worth $427,000. In contrast to one of the contracts today Mike Vick signed a contract in 2004 worth 130 million with a 37 million signing bonus. The numbers don't even compare and it is becoming more common to see. In my opinion, the players today are making way too much money. Players now gauge themselves to other contracts and expect to be paid top dollar. As a result organizations are forced to dole out money to reel in and keep the players. The integrity of the sports are being called into question when players hold out for more money. Another aspect of being paid to play are the disputes over contract negotiations. Contracts are becoming more difficult with signing bonuses, franchise tags and the length of a contract. One contract that hits close to home is Carlos Boozer and his situation with the Cavs. In 2004 the Cavs said they would pay him 39 million over 6 years if they let him out of his old contract. They let him out and he received a call from the Jazz. He ended up signing with the Jazz for 70 million over 6 years. Boozer shafted the Cavs for more money.
Lastly, an effect of contract negotiations are the ways it affects other sports. In baseball Barry Zito became the richest pitcher in history when the Giants signed him to a 7 year 126 million dollar deal. Also, in soccer David Beckham signed a 5 year 250 million contract to play for a bottom dweller LA Galaxy team. Everyone sees the different contracts and wants to emulate one another. I think that there needs to be more of a balance when distributing money. Average players want to be paid like the elite players and it is compromising their sports. It is reflective of our society in that we compare ourselves to others wanting what other people have. We need to look past our differences and be happy with what we've got. Gone are the days when players showed loyalty to a franchise and played for the love of the game. It is a cycle that will continue in sports and society until we stop letting money drive us.

In my past experiences with writing I've felt that I have developed a good comfort level in the area. Throughout my schooling writing was one of my better subjects and I feel that it is a good way to become a more well-rounded person. Writing paves a way to express your feelings and to get opinions across. One experience I've had with writing was when we had to create a fictional story on the topic of your choice. I created a story about two players who grew up playing baseball together but they were legitimate rivals. Through a coincidence they end up playing on the same team and end up forming a bond the gets their team to the city championship. I had a good time writing it and I was glad that writing gave me that opportunity.