I've said countless times that I fit the phrase perfectly when it comes to "what you see is what you get." I'm active all across the social media board. You know me from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, and Flickr. I talk to hundreds weekly that live anywhere from two to 2,000 miles from me. Social media gives me a pretty big reach, and through it, you get to know me exactly as I am. My "internet personality" is my personality. I don't tweet about being a fan to impress anyone, I don't only post model-type mirror pics on my Facebook, and I speak openly to everyone. If you know me from the web, in person, or both, you know that I'm a stat-junkie sports addict, knit collector, photographer, workaholic, down-to-earth college senior who watches way too much of the "Real Housewives" series and has a bucket list longer than Kate Gosselin's monthly grocery list. It's easy to get to know who I am, but not everyone knows where I come from. Come along with me.
I grew up in a little city called North College Hill. Although I'm west of the I-75 split, I'm not what most Cincinnatians would consider a "west-sider." The stigma of being a west-sider, I'll have you know, is only a reputation developed by Cincinnati east-siders who've never shopped in a mall outside the area near Amberley Village and most of the time live off of mommy and daddy or above their means. My little mile-by-a-mile city is directly north of downtown and two steps from the border of the city of Cincinnati. We're best known for having our own high school with graduating classes of about 100 students and producing two NBA stars.
I was born to a native of the Hoosier State and a born-and-raised Cincinnatian. I grew up in the same house my father lived in as a child. We've watched the area around it change and develop, but there's nothing wrong with the place. I have an older brother who lived under the same roof as me for about 19 years, and NCH (as we refer to it) has recently been dubbed a great place to live in the U.S. Are the houses worth $250,000? No. Is there a Starbucks within a mile? No. Do moms come to the grocery store with their Vuitton purses? Definitely not. But there's nothing wrong with that.
I was prompted to write after hearing recently that there had been a statement on Cincinnati.com that the only thing North College Hill produces are "thugs." I clearly and strongly disagree.
My father and his sisters are graduates of North College Hill High School. Two of them are college graduates and have made incredible lives for themselves. My father is a machinist and work leader at The Carlisle and Finch Co. where has has worked since he was 19 years old. He is successful enough to have provided for a family of four, without a college degree, while my mom stayed at home raising my brother and I for about 17 years. I didn't get a Lexus for my "Sweet 16" and my parents didn't pay to send me to Cancun for my senior spring break. However, they did pay for me to dance competitively for 15 years, bought me my French horn, and handed me down my first car, which I still drive. They've also paid for the majority of my college education and I've never gone without.
My brother is also a graduate of NCH. He obtained a degree as an engineer and now has a career he loves. He's lived on his own for quite a while, and spends his spare time working on a project car.
One of my closest friends Will is graduating in June with me from a five-year program at the University of Cincinnati as an urban planner. He has a bright future ahead of him, is working an incredible co-op right now, and is an active volunteer at his church and with youth groups. He's one of the best guys I know.
And for me? I've always been the good kid. I've never stolen anything, robbed anyone, or loitered on a street corner. I've had one detention in my life for something I didn't even do. I was active in just about every group you could imagine in high school. I was an AP student, a straight-A student, and graduated fifth in my class with a GPA around 4.6. I received multiple scholarship offers, and pursued a degree in journalism. I've been working a part-time job since I was 18, I pay for part of my college education, I pay all my own bills, and I'm set to graduate with a major in journalism and photojournalism, a minor in Spanish, a minor in public relations, and I'll have completed it all in exactly four years. I had reputable internships with the Cincinnati Reds and GoBearcats.com, I'm an active sports photographer, and I've been published numerous times including my most recent achievement of being published in a book about the 2010 Cincinnati Reds, where my photo appears on the cover.
If NCH has caused me to become anything, it's determined. I'm focused and driven and I owe a lot of that to my upbringing. People around me don't live in the best conditions and it instilled in me the drive to rise above. You make the best of what you have, and in this case I feel like I have gone above and beyond what's been expected of me. I didn't have the education provided for me that you'd get at the surrounding coveted private Catholic schools. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and that's a damn good thing. I work for what I have, I've worked hard to get where I am, and this is only the beginning. "Ain't" isn't in my every-day vocabulary, I've never smoked a day in my life, and I've never been in trouble with the law. I am a product of North College Hill, and I'm better off because of it.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Arthur Rhodes Profile
Arthur Rhodes is one man who has not only been able to withstand the test of time in Major League Baseball, but has just gotten better throughout its course. At a ripe 40 years old, the Cincinnati Reds left-handed setup man may be having one of the best seasons of his career. Coming off of a streak of 33 consecutive appearances with scoreless innings, Rhodes has earned his first All-Star Game bid. After a career in the Majors playing for seven different teams, he has earned one of the highest honors in his election to appear in Anaheim for the annual midsummer classic.
The Waco, Texas native spent his first 12 years in the majors in Baltimore, after he was drafted by the Orioles in the second round of the 1988 amateur player draft. After being granted free agency, he headed west to the Oakland Athletics. In the following years, he bounced among five different ball clubs before landing with the Reds in December 2008. Rhodes had an impressive 2009 with the Reds, as he appeared in 66 games with 53.1 IP and a 2.53 ERA. He more than proved his worth and secured his spot in the Reds bullpen; he came back in 2010 with one of his most impressive seasons thus far.
Rhodes had tied the Major League record by going 33 appearances without allowing a run, also held by Mark Guthrie and Mike Myers. His ERA also stood at 0.28. On June 29, Rhodes’ streak was broken by Raul Ibanez of the Phillies. He exited the game with a tip of his hat, and a standing ovation by the fans at Great American Ball Park.
Shortly after, the Major League veteran and All-Star rookie spoke out about something close to heart that he kept behind closed doors for many years. In 2008, Rhodes suffered a loss in his family when his five-year-old son, Jordan passed away.
Rhodes considers his election to the All-Star Game the best thing that’s happened in his career, and he had only wished that his son could be there to share it with him. In a way, he was and always is with him on mound. After entering each game, before he pitches he scratches the initials “J.R.” into the dirt, just behind the pitching rubber.
Rhodes is typically a very stoic and serious player, and it is astonishing that he has been able to pitch through the pain. He has never spoken publicly about it until last month, and the rest of his family also will not share details surrounding the loss. Arthur Rhodes has acknowledged though, that he remains in baseball in part to honor his son, who also loved the sport.
As a seamlessly ageless man is taking the mound in Cincinnati, and is elected to his first All-Star roster, he looks as though he is all business. But the initials tattooed on his leg and in the dirt behind the rubber will let you know that he’s got something else on his mind, and he’s not out there alone.
The Waco, Texas native spent his first 12 years in the majors in Baltimore, after he was drafted by the Orioles in the second round of the 1988 amateur player draft. After being granted free agency, he headed west to the Oakland Athletics. In the following years, he bounced among five different ball clubs before landing with the Reds in December 2008. Rhodes had an impressive 2009 with the Reds, as he appeared in 66 games with 53.1 IP and a 2.53 ERA. He more than proved his worth and secured his spot in the Reds bullpen; he came back in 2010 with one of his most impressive seasons thus far.
Rhodes had tied the Major League record by going 33 appearances without allowing a run, also held by Mark Guthrie and Mike Myers. His ERA also stood at 0.28. On June 29, Rhodes’ streak was broken by Raul Ibanez of the Phillies. He exited the game with a tip of his hat, and a standing ovation by the fans at Great American Ball Park.
Shortly after, the Major League veteran and All-Star rookie spoke out about something close to heart that he kept behind closed doors for many years. In 2008, Rhodes suffered a loss in his family when his five-year-old son, Jordan passed away.
Rhodes considers his election to the All-Star Game the best thing that’s happened in his career, and he had only wished that his son could be there to share it with him. In a way, he was and always is with him on mound. After entering each game, before he pitches he scratches the initials “J.R.” into the dirt, just behind the pitching rubber.
Rhodes is typically a very stoic and serious player, and it is astonishing that he has been able to pitch through the pain. He has never spoken publicly about it until last month, and the rest of his family also will not share details surrounding the loss. Arthur Rhodes has acknowledged though, that he remains in baseball in part to honor his son, who also loved the sport.
As a seamlessly ageless man is taking the mound in Cincinnati, and is elected to his first All-Star roster, he looks as though he is all business. But the initials tattooed on his leg and in the dirt behind the rubber will let you know that he’s got something else on his mind, and he’s not out there alone.
High Atop the Rockies
If Ubaldo Jimenez isn’t yet a household name, it soon will be. The Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher has become the punch in their rotation, and a threat to any batter. After making franchise history in the first month of play this year, there’s no place for this flamethrower to go than up. This season the whirlwind has surrounded upcoming players from the draft such as Strasburg, and the big name pitchers like Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, but it’s the guys that fly under the radar that seem to be making the big splash, Jimenez included.
Born in 1984 in Nagua, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Dominican Republic, Ubaldo Jimenez was signed by the Rockies as a free agent in 2001. The appeal of this right-hander lies in his velocity and arm strength. His four-seam fastball has been clocked as high as 100 mph, but normally sits around the mid-90s. He has the ability to reach top speeds so often that he is frequently the hardest throwing pitcher in the Major Leagues. His two-seam fastball reaches the low-to-mid-90s, and the pitch’s effectiveness can be shown in his high ground-ball percentage, a great advantage for fields conducive to extra-base hits. His pitch range is beyond impressive, as he uses a tricky slider and four-seam fastball most often, and a changeup that sinks so strongly that it is nearly indistinguishable from his split-finger fastball.
Jimenez rose quietly in the Colorado Rockies organization. He made his Major League debut with the Rockies on September 26, 2006. He began his career as a relief pitcher and entered the game in the eighth inning when the Rockies were trailing 11-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He may not have appeared to have the “stuff” Hall of Famers are made of, but he got the job done. He allowed two hits and no runs, and on the last game of the regular season, October 1, he made his first Major League start. Although the Rockies lost, he allowed only three hits and three earned runs over a span of 6 2/3 innings.
His first win came in 2007, on July 29 when the Rockies hosted the L.A. Dodgers. The Rockies won 9-6 and Jimenez gave up four hits and only two earned runs. He also made his first postseason debut that year, in Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jimenez pitched six innings allowing one earned run in the Rockies’ victory. Although Jimenez did not receive a decision for the game, the win secured the Rockies’ sweep of the Phillies. He received his second straight postseason no-decision in Game 2 of the 2007 NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies beat the D-Backs 3-2, and went on to sweep them, sending them to the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Jimenez started Game 2 of the World Series, and although only giving up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, the Rockies suffered a 2-1 loss, and were swept by the Red Sox.
In his 2008 season, Ubaldo Jimenez led the National League in starts with 34. He went 12-12 on the season with an ERA of 3.99. He also boasted the fastest fastball in the Major Leagues at 94.9 mph. No one threw more pitches over 95 mph than Jimenez, at 1,342. During the offseason, he signed a new four-year deal with the club, with an option up to 2013-2014.
Ubaldo Jimenez’s second full season as a starter in the Major Leagues in 2009 was a breakout season for the young pitcher. He improved from 2008, going 15-12 on the season with a 3.47 ERA. He set a franchise record for pitching at least six innings in 25 consecutive starts from May to September.
He also pitched for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, during which he set a single-start strikeout record. On March 10, he struck out 10 of 13 batters in four innings and 65 pitches.
His record breaking didn’t end in 2009. On April 17, 2010 Ubaldo Jimenez threw the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies franchise history. The Rockies won 4-0 against the Atlanta Braves. He struck out seven batters, and walked six, and threw a career-high 128 pitches, 72 of which were strikes. Throughout the course of the game, his fastball hit 100 mph three times. Jimenez was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April, only the second Rockie to do so. He is the second pitcher in Major League history to throw a no-hitter and earn five wins in the month of April. He also set a franchise record in April for consecutive scoreless innings, which was snapped at 25 1/3 in early May. Shortly after, he had 33 consecutive scoreless innings from May to June, setting another franchise record for not only starting pitchers, but relievers as well. He became the first pitcher to have two streaks of at least 25 consecutive scoreless innings in once season since Jack Morris, in 1986. He was named National League Pitcher of the Month again in May, making him the first in Rockies history to win more than once, and the first pitcher since Pedro Martinez to win in April and May since 1999.
This season Ubaldo Jimenez became the third pitcher in Major League Baseball history to win their first 10 of 11 starts and maintain an ERA below 1.00, which his sat at .78. He currently leads the National League in wins, and is second in win-loss percentage.
The talent Jimenez exudes and the skill he possesses have fans and experts alike crying out to hand over the Cy Yound Award to this 26-year-old Dominican. The 2010 season is not even to the half-way point, and there’s no doubt that come September, we will have seen a few more record-breaking performances by Ubaldo Jimenez.
Born in 1984 in Nagua, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Dominican Republic, Ubaldo Jimenez was signed by the Rockies as a free agent in 2001. The appeal of this right-hander lies in his velocity and arm strength. His four-seam fastball has been clocked as high as 100 mph, but normally sits around the mid-90s. He has the ability to reach top speeds so often that he is frequently the hardest throwing pitcher in the Major Leagues. His two-seam fastball reaches the low-to-mid-90s, and the pitch’s effectiveness can be shown in his high ground-ball percentage, a great advantage for fields conducive to extra-base hits. His pitch range is beyond impressive, as he uses a tricky slider and four-seam fastball most often, and a changeup that sinks so strongly that it is nearly indistinguishable from his split-finger fastball.
Jimenez rose quietly in the Colorado Rockies organization. He made his Major League debut with the Rockies on September 26, 2006. He began his career as a relief pitcher and entered the game in the eighth inning when the Rockies were trailing 11-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He may not have appeared to have the “stuff” Hall of Famers are made of, but he got the job done. He allowed two hits and no runs, and on the last game of the regular season, October 1, he made his first Major League start. Although the Rockies lost, he allowed only three hits and three earned runs over a span of 6 2/3 innings.
His first win came in 2007, on July 29 when the Rockies hosted the L.A. Dodgers. The Rockies won 9-6 and Jimenez gave up four hits and only two earned runs. He also made his first postseason debut that year, in Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jimenez pitched six innings allowing one earned run in the Rockies’ victory. Although Jimenez did not receive a decision for the game, the win secured the Rockies’ sweep of the Phillies. He received his second straight postseason no-decision in Game 2 of the 2007 NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies beat the D-Backs 3-2, and went on to sweep them, sending them to the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Jimenez started Game 2 of the World Series, and although only giving up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, the Rockies suffered a 2-1 loss, and were swept by the Red Sox.
In his 2008 season, Ubaldo Jimenez led the National League in starts with 34. He went 12-12 on the season with an ERA of 3.99. He also boasted the fastest fastball in the Major Leagues at 94.9 mph. No one threw more pitches over 95 mph than Jimenez, at 1,342. During the offseason, he signed a new four-year deal with the club, with an option up to 2013-2014.
Ubaldo Jimenez’s second full season as a starter in the Major Leagues in 2009 was a breakout season for the young pitcher. He improved from 2008, going 15-12 on the season with a 3.47 ERA. He set a franchise record for pitching at least six innings in 25 consecutive starts from May to September.
He also pitched for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, during which he set a single-start strikeout record. On March 10, he struck out 10 of 13 batters in four innings and 65 pitches.
His record breaking didn’t end in 2009. On April 17, 2010 Ubaldo Jimenez threw the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies franchise history. The Rockies won 4-0 against the Atlanta Braves. He struck out seven batters, and walked six, and threw a career-high 128 pitches, 72 of which were strikes. Throughout the course of the game, his fastball hit 100 mph three times. Jimenez was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April, only the second Rockie to do so. He is the second pitcher in Major League history to throw a no-hitter and earn five wins in the month of April. He also set a franchise record in April for consecutive scoreless innings, which was snapped at 25 1/3 in early May. Shortly after, he had 33 consecutive scoreless innings from May to June, setting another franchise record for not only starting pitchers, but relievers as well. He became the first pitcher to have two streaks of at least 25 consecutive scoreless innings in once season since Jack Morris, in 1986. He was named National League Pitcher of the Month again in May, making him the first in Rockies history to win more than once, and the first pitcher since Pedro Martinez to win in April and May since 1999.
This season Ubaldo Jimenez became the third pitcher in Major League Baseball history to win their first 10 of 11 starts and maintain an ERA below 1.00, which his sat at .78. He currently leads the National League in wins, and is second in win-loss percentage.
The talent Jimenez exudes and the skill he possesses have fans and experts alike crying out to hand over the Cy Yound Award to this 26-year-old Dominican. The 2010 season is not even to the half-way point, and there’s no doubt that come September, we will have seen a few more record-breaking performances by Ubaldo Jimenez.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Stacks of Sports Literature
This summer has been a whirlwind for me, and for as much as I thought I was going to have time to get some leisure reading in , I haven't had any. Now that the summer is winding down, I'm attempting to get some reading in before I bury my nose in photography and journalism textbooks.
I've had a piece of paper with a list of books on it for the longest time, all books of different sports. Biographies, rule books, inspirational stories, and compilations of short stories. Some have been bought, some I have yet to purchase. The list that follows is awfully long, but I'm determined to complete it sooner rather than later.
If you have a review on any of these books, any input you think I should know, or a book you think needs to be added to the list, feel free to send it my way!
Baseball
The Last Days of Shea - Dana Brand
The Complete Game - Ron Darling
Koufax - Edward Gruver
Game Six - Mark Frost *purchased
Joe Dimaggio: The Hero's Life - Richard Ben Cramer
The Boys of Summer - Roger Kahn
Watching Baseball Smarter - Zack Hample *currently reading
Faith and Fear in Flushing - Greg W. Prince, Jason C. Fry *currently reading
100 Things Mets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die - Matthew Silverman
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero - David Maraniss
Summer of '49 - David Halberstam
Hustle: The Myth, Life, and Lies of Pete Rose - Michael Sokolove
Sports Illustrated: Great Baseball Writing
Wait Till Next Year - Doris Kearns Goodwin *purchased
Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend - James S. Hirsch *purchased
The Long Ball: The Summer of '75 - Tom Adelman *purchased
Throwing Heat - Nolan Ryan, Harvey Frommer
Summer in the City: New York Baseball 1947-1957 - Vic Ziegel
Joe: Rounding Third and Heading for Home - Greg Hoard *purchased
The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball - Tom M. Tango, Mitchel G. Lichtman, Andrew E. Dolphin
Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game - Daniel Okrent
Unwritten Rules of Baseball - Paul Dickson
Forever Blue - Michael D'Antonio
Moneyball - Michael Lewis *purchased
The Machine - Joe Posnanski *purchased
Tales from the Dugout - Mike Shannon
Amazing: The Miracle of the Mets - Joseph Durso
Ball Four - Jim Bouton
The Year the Mets Lost Last Place - Paul D. Zimmerman, Dick Schaap
Faithful - Stewart O'Nan, Stephen King
Screwball - Tug McGraw, Joseph Durso
Pure Baseball - Keith Hernandez, Mike Bryan
Sports Illustrated: 50 Years of Great Writing *purchased
Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards - Josh Wilker
Football
The Blind Side - Michael Lewis
Invincible: My Journey from Fan to NFL Team Captain - Vince Papale and Chad Millman
More Than a Game: The Glorious Present-and Uncertain Future- of the NFL - Brian Billick, Michael MacCambridge
Bloody Sundays: Inside the Rough-and-Tumble World of the NFL - Mike Freeman
The Legends: Cincinnati Bengals : The Men, The Deeds, The Consequences - Chick Ludwig
Paul Brown: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Football's Most Innovative Coach - Andrew O'Toole
Hockey
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Philadelphia Flyers: Heart-pounding, Jaw-dropping, and Gut-wrenching Moments from Philadelphia Flyers History - Adam Kimelman and Keith Primeau
Walking Together Forever: The Broad Street Bullies, Then and Now - Jim Jackson
The Broad Street Bullies: The Incredible Story of the Philadelphia Flyers - Jack Chevalier
Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders - Alan Hahn *purchased
Fish Sticks: The Fall and Rise of the New York Islanders - Peter Botte, Alan Hahn
Deceptions and Doublecross: How the NHL Conquered Hockey - Morey Holzman, Joseph Nieforth
The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team - Wayne R. Coffey, Jim Craig *purchased
The Game - Ken Dryden
The Official Illustrated NHL History: The Story of the Coolest Game - Arthur Pincus, David Rosner, Len Hockberg, Chris Malcolm
General
The Games Do Count: America's Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports - Brian Kilmeade *purchased
Bearcats Rising - Josh Katzowitz *purchased
I've had a piece of paper with a list of books on it for the longest time, all books of different sports. Biographies, rule books, inspirational stories, and compilations of short stories. Some have been bought, some I have yet to purchase. The list that follows is awfully long, but I'm determined to complete it sooner rather than later.
If you have a review on any of these books, any input you think I should know, or a book you think needs to be added to the list, feel free to send it my way!
Baseball
The Last Days of Shea - Dana Brand
The Complete Game - Ron Darling
Koufax - Edward Gruver
Game Six - Mark Frost *purchased
Joe Dimaggio: The Hero's Life - Richard Ben Cramer
The Boys of Summer - Roger Kahn
Watching Baseball Smarter - Zack Hample *currently reading
Faith and Fear in Flushing - Greg W. Prince, Jason C. Fry *currently reading
100 Things Mets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die - Matthew Silverman
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero - David Maraniss
Summer of '49 - David Halberstam
Hustle: The Myth, Life, and Lies of Pete Rose - Michael Sokolove
Sports Illustrated: Great Baseball Writing
Wait Till Next Year - Doris Kearns Goodwin *purchased
Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend - James S. Hirsch *purchased
The Long Ball: The Summer of '75 - Tom Adelman *purchased
Throwing Heat - Nolan Ryan, Harvey Frommer
Summer in the City: New York Baseball 1947-1957 - Vic Ziegel
Joe: Rounding Third and Heading for Home - Greg Hoard *purchased
The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball - Tom M. Tango, Mitchel G. Lichtman, Andrew E. Dolphin
Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game - Daniel Okrent
Unwritten Rules of Baseball - Paul Dickson
Forever Blue - Michael D'Antonio
Moneyball - Michael Lewis *purchased
The Machine - Joe Posnanski *purchased
Tales from the Dugout - Mike Shannon
Amazing: The Miracle of the Mets - Joseph Durso
Ball Four - Jim Bouton
The Year the Mets Lost Last Place - Paul D. Zimmerman, Dick Schaap
Faithful - Stewart O'Nan, Stephen King
Screwball - Tug McGraw, Joseph Durso
Pure Baseball - Keith Hernandez, Mike Bryan
Sports Illustrated: 50 Years of Great Writing *purchased
Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards - Josh Wilker
Football
The Blind Side - Michael Lewis
Invincible: My Journey from Fan to NFL Team Captain - Vince Papale and Chad Millman
More Than a Game: The Glorious Present-and Uncertain Future- of the NFL - Brian Billick, Michael MacCambridge
Bloody Sundays: Inside the Rough-and-Tumble World of the NFL - Mike Freeman
The Legends: Cincinnati Bengals : The Men, The Deeds, The Consequences - Chick Ludwig
Paul Brown: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Football's Most Innovative Coach - Andrew O'Toole
Hockey
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Philadelphia Flyers: Heart-pounding, Jaw-dropping, and Gut-wrenching Moments from Philadelphia Flyers History - Adam Kimelman and Keith Primeau
Walking Together Forever: The Broad Street Bullies, Then and Now - Jim Jackson
The Broad Street Bullies: The Incredible Story of the Philadelphia Flyers - Jack Chevalier
Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders - Alan Hahn *purchased
Fish Sticks: The Fall and Rise of the New York Islanders - Peter Botte, Alan Hahn
Deceptions and Doublecross: How the NHL Conquered Hockey - Morey Holzman, Joseph Nieforth
The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team - Wayne R. Coffey, Jim Craig *purchased
The Game - Ken Dryden
The Official Illustrated NHL History: The Story of the Coolest Game - Arthur Pincus, David Rosner, Len Hockberg, Chris Malcolm
General
The Games Do Count: America's Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports - Brian Kilmeade *purchased
Bearcats Rising - Josh Katzowitz *purchased
Monday, August 23, 2010
Brandon Phillips Profile
Brandon Phillips is an integral piece of the Cincinnati Reds ballclub. On the field, off the field, in the dugout, in the community, he has more than enough character to go around. He’s a dependable performer and always dependable for a good laugh. He’s not the ballplayer you see on the field and can expect composure from at all times. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, and it’s just him being true to himself. What you see is what you get, and in Cincinnati, we love what we are getting from Brandon Phillips.
Born in 1981, the Raleigh, North Carolina native Phillips attended Redan High School in Georgia, and was drafted by the former Montreal Expos in 1999. Just as many of the best in the game, he grew up idolizing famed Reds shortstop Barry Larkin. After being considered one of the top prospects in the Expos farm system, Phillips was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2002. He spent much of his time with the Indians in the high Minor Leagues, and after the team found his progress not speedy enough, he was traded to the Reds in April 2006. He made an immediate impact with the Reds and became the starter at second base. Phillips earned NL Player of the Week the same month he was acquired by the Reds, during which time he also hit his first career grand slam.
Since joining the Reds, Brandon Phillips has become a well-known and idolized second baseman. In 2007, he became the first ever second baseman to earn 30-30 honors for the Reds, meaning he hit at least 30 or more home runs and stole at least 30 bases in one season. He also became just the second second baseman in history to receive the honor behind Alfonso Soriano. He makes the split-second catches, makes a few appearances on highlight reels, and is sure to entertain.
His character and emotion isn’t something you’ll only see expressed on the field. Brandon Phillips is the player you’ll find who makes time for the fans, for the children, the people who love him the most. Brandon Phillips is an example of a player who is one of the most active in the community, and one of the best performers the team has to offer. It’s no surprise you can find him during batting practice in Great American Ball Park signing for fans down the baselines or behind the cage.
In 2008, Brandon Phillips received the Roberto Clemente Award for community service. That same year, he paired up with the Reds Community Fund to begin work on what would be called “Brandon Phillips Field.” The location of the site was at Clark Montessori High School on Winton Road. It housed the high school’s varsity and junior varsity teams, as well as the Reds Community Fund’s RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program. Phillips donated the $7,500 he received from being nominated for the Roberto Clemente award, as well as $25,000 of his own to the construction of the new field. The field was dedicated on May 23, 2009.
If there’s a Reds event out in the community, you can almost count on Brandon Phillips to make an appearance, and making the best out of it. He’s taken part in many of the Reds Caravan tour stops; he’s made appearances at the famed Rubber Duck Regatta Auction, and in 2008 he befriended a 16-year-old cancer patient and housed her and her family at the ballpark for a game.
Brandon Phillips is the face of a team, and the face of a true athlete through and through. His generosity and kindheartedness off the field is a perfect match for his intensity on the field. He is a great ambassador for sportsmanship and athleticism alike.
Born in 1981, the Raleigh, North Carolina native Phillips attended Redan High School in Georgia, and was drafted by the former Montreal Expos in 1999. Just as many of the best in the game, he grew up idolizing famed Reds shortstop Barry Larkin. After being considered one of the top prospects in the Expos farm system, Phillips was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2002. He spent much of his time with the Indians in the high Minor Leagues, and after the team found his progress not speedy enough, he was traded to the Reds in April 2006. He made an immediate impact with the Reds and became the starter at second base. Phillips earned NL Player of the Week the same month he was acquired by the Reds, during which time he also hit his first career grand slam.
Since joining the Reds, Brandon Phillips has become a well-known and idolized second baseman. In 2007, he became the first ever second baseman to earn 30-30 honors for the Reds, meaning he hit at least 30 or more home runs and stole at least 30 bases in one season. He also became just the second second baseman in history to receive the honor behind Alfonso Soriano. He makes the split-second catches, makes a few appearances on highlight reels, and is sure to entertain.
His character and emotion isn’t something you’ll only see expressed on the field. Brandon Phillips is the player you’ll find who makes time for the fans, for the children, the people who love him the most. Brandon Phillips is an example of a player who is one of the most active in the community, and one of the best performers the team has to offer. It’s no surprise you can find him during batting practice in Great American Ball Park signing for fans down the baselines or behind the cage.
In 2008, Brandon Phillips received the Roberto Clemente Award for community service. That same year, he paired up with the Reds Community Fund to begin work on what would be called “Brandon Phillips Field.” The location of the site was at Clark Montessori High School on Winton Road. It housed the high school’s varsity and junior varsity teams, as well as the Reds Community Fund’s RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program. Phillips donated the $7,500 he received from being nominated for the Roberto Clemente award, as well as $25,000 of his own to the construction of the new field. The field was dedicated on May 23, 2009.
If there’s a Reds event out in the community, you can almost count on Brandon Phillips to make an appearance, and making the best out of it. He’s taken part in many of the Reds Caravan tour stops; he’s made appearances at the famed Rubber Duck Regatta Auction, and in 2008 he befriended a 16-year-old cancer patient and housed her and her family at the ballpark for a game.
Brandon Phillips is the face of a team, and the face of a true athlete through and through. His generosity and kindheartedness off the field is a perfect match for his intensity on the field. He is a great ambassador for sportsmanship and athleticism alike.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Rounding Third and Heading Back Home
It’s 2007. I’m working my first job at Lids, being a reckless college freshman, making some of the worst decisions I have ever had the misfortune of making. I am a bad judge of character, and trying to figure out what to do with my life. Fast forward. I’m preparing to begin my senior year and finish my degree at the University of Cincinnati, I work at one of the best restaurants in the city, I’m a Cincinnati Reds intern, I have a great sense of self, and I’m with the one guy I have no idea how I ever lived without.
Talk about a 180 spin on your life. I didn’t even notice all of these things happened. All I know is I look back now, and have no idea who I was back then and I owe a lot of that to the experiences I’ve had in the last year. From getting compliments from professionals, to getting my first gig as a photographer for GoBearcats.com, to working alongside the professionals with a Major League Baseball team. The last year has been a whirlwind, and one of the busiest and most stressful years of my life, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
In the late winter, early spring of 2010, I received a direct message from Michael Anderson, an employee in the public relations department at the Cincinnati Reds. We had followed each other on Twitter for a few months, and he told me that they had an internship for an editorial intern open for 2010, and that I should check it out. There was no way I was going to let the offer pass by. I immediately updated my resume, popped out a cover letter, and emailed it over to both Michael Anderson and to John Hale, the head of the human resources department. I waited anxiously for a phone call for a number of weeks, nervous and praying that this opportunity would come my way. All the time that I endured between sending in the resume and the phone call I was hoping for, my boyfriend, Dylan, and one of my best friends, Marty Siry, kept my spirits up and reassured me that I’d be perfect for this and that there’s no way I don’t deserve it.
The phone finally rang.
“Hi Elise, this is John Hale with the Cincinnati Reds. I wanted to let you know that I received your resume, and I wanted to know when you may be available for an interview.”
My dad was the only person home at the time, and I was jumping around my living room like I had won the lottery. He stared at me like I was absolutely insane, but he knew who was on the other end of the phone.
I accepted, and a week later I showed up for the interview. I felt confident in my abilities, and I’ve never been a nervous interviewee. (This was my first real interview, in relation to a job. I wouldn’t say my interview at Lids actually counted.)
About a week later, I received another call from Mr. John Hale, this time to offer me the position. I was relieved, I was elated, and I had no idea what to do with myself. I went out that night with some of my closest friends to celebrate and have a few drinks. I was on cloud nine.
I remember the first day I came to work at the Reds front office. I was so nervous and I had no idea what to expect. My supervisor, and managing editor, Jarrod Rollins, took me under his wing and made me feel comfortable. I was given my own cubicle, and I got down to work. Before I go on, I’ll tell you this; the image you have engrained in your head as to what an intern does, was nothing like my experience. I wasn’t getting anyone’s coffee, I wasn’t running errands, and I wasn’t treated as an “intern.” I immediately became a member of the Creative Services department. Within a week, I was working to complete my first feature story for Reds Magazine on Nick Masset and Arthur Rhodes. The great thing about writing these pieces was that I had free creative reign over everything I did. There was no, “This is the piece. This is who I want you to do it on. This is how I want you to do it.” They put their trust in me and had enough confidence in my writing abilities, that they could give me a player and a slight direction, and I could whip something up worthy of publishing for thousands of people to read.
Before I knew it, I was writing promotional pieces, calling players’ agents, and taking photographs at the open batting practice before Opening Day. I was really doing it. I was exactly where I had always wanted to be, doing exactly what I had dreamt of doing, and my hard work got me there.
Over time, I was assigned to photograph events in the Fan Zone, player meet and greets in the Reds Hall of Fame and on the field, I took the photos for the group brochures, first pitches, on-field ceremonies, the works. This experience definitely put my photographic skills to the test. I had never done event photography before, and I am very proud at how all of it turned out.
I was fully prepared to begin writing for the second edition of Reds Magazine and they assigned me my favorite piece of the entire 2010 season; a profile on the very talented, Mike Leake. Not only was I to write a story about him, I was to interview him. (Yes, I still have the audio from the interview on my recorder and my laptop.) I had the pleasure of not only figuring out what he’s about during this interview, but this opened the doors for the rest of the season for me to truly get to know who he is. This was the most easy-going interview I have ever done. We’re two months into the season, he’s the new kid on the block, I’m fairly new to interviewing professional athletes, and I was completely at ease. (Interviewing someone the same age as me, born and raised on the west coast makes for a good atmosphere.)
Needless to say, I was very happy with the story that came out, and with the second piece I wrote for that issue, an opposing player spotlight on Lance Berkman. I began writing more pieces for the Reds after that. I wrote player profiles for the Cincinnati Herald, our African-American newspaper. I wrote event pieces and e-newsletters.
For the third installment of Reds Magazine, I was assigned the cover feature, a piece on Brandon Phillips and how he plays the game his way. I think everyone knows this has a bit more meaning now than it did then, but this was after the events of the series in D.C., with his chest pounding “controversy.” I was beyond excited to have the cover story, and to write my first piece that had more of a personal touch to it, rather than just a profile. I was always giddy when they’d place a new edition on my desk. To see it finished, in print, with photos and my name underneath was more than I could have ever imagined. I made sure to always send my grandmother in North Carolina a copy, which she would then take around the town to show everyone what her granddaughter did, bless her heart.
I have just finished my final piece for the last issue of Reds Magazine, which focuses on the strength of the club’s young pitching, and an opposing player spotlight on Corey Hart. The issue will be out soon, so keep on the lookout for my feature titled “Armed and Dangerous.”
This experience has exceeded my expectations. I never in a million years imagined I would be sitting at my own cubicle in the Cincinnati Reds front office. I never thought any of this would happen for me, and it has. I’ve met some of the best people and made some great contacts: my supervisor Jarrod Rollins, Michael Anderson, Jamie Ramsey, the current players, various employees of local news stations, and some of the greatest Reds to have ever played the game.
I’ve endured mocking and teasing by Brandon Phillips and Tom Browning, I’ve personally been given Eric Davis’ email address so I could send the photos I’ve taken of him, I’ve photographed a kid’s dream coming true as he met Jay Bruce and played toss with him on the field, I’ve had Billy Hatcher teach me how to stay cool in 95 degree heat (it’s all in your head,) and I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing and getting to know Mike Leake multiple times. I’ve had a Cincinnati Enquirer photographer talk to me about job experiences and opportunities, and even use his camera for a bit. I’ve seen my name published by a Major League organization, spent time in the dugout with the New York Mets and various other teams and interacted with their players, and I have spent my summer working with the Reds during one of the best seasons the club has had in a decade.
This was much more than a resume builder for me. This was an experience of a lifetime. I can say, if I never get to do this again, that for a period of my life I was doing everything I had ever dreamt of doing. I was taking photos of and writing pieces on America’s pastime and the best game to have ever been played. Where do I go from here? I told myself to dream big, I did, and this is where it has gotten me. I guess it’s time to dream bigger.
Talk about a 180 spin on your life. I didn’t even notice all of these things happened. All I know is I look back now, and have no idea who I was back then and I owe a lot of that to the experiences I’ve had in the last year. From getting compliments from professionals, to getting my first gig as a photographer for GoBearcats.com, to working alongside the professionals with a Major League Baseball team. The last year has been a whirlwind, and one of the busiest and most stressful years of my life, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
In the late winter, early spring of 2010, I received a direct message from Michael Anderson, an employee in the public relations department at the Cincinnati Reds. We had followed each other on Twitter for a few months, and he told me that they had an internship for an editorial intern open for 2010, and that I should check it out. There was no way I was going to let the offer pass by. I immediately updated my resume, popped out a cover letter, and emailed it over to both Michael Anderson and to John Hale, the head of the human resources department. I waited anxiously for a phone call for a number of weeks, nervous and praying that this opportunity would come my way. All the time that I endured between sending in the resume and the phone call I was hoping for, my boyfriend, Dylan, and one of my best friends, Marty Siry, kept my spirits up and reassured me that I’d be perfect for this and that there’s no way I don’t deserve it.
The phone finally rang.
“Hi Elise, this is John Hale with the Cincinnati Reds. I wanted to let you know that I received your resume, and I wanted to know when you may be available for an interview.”
My dad was the only person home at the time, and I was jumping around my living room like I had won the lottery. He stared at me like I was absolutely insane, but he knew who was on the other end of the phone.
I accepted, and a week later I showed up for the interview. I felt confident in my abilities, and I’ve never been a nervous interviewee. (This was my first real interview, in relation to a job. I wouldn’t say my interview at Lids actually counted.)
About a week later, I received another call from Mr. John Hale, this time to offer me the position. I was relieved, I was elated, and I had no idea what to do with myself. I went out that night with some of my closest friends to celebrate and have a few drinks. I was on cloud nine.
I remember the first day I came to work at the Reds front office. I was so nervous and I had no idea what to expect. My supervisor, and managing editor, Jarrod Rollins, took me under his wing and made me feel comfortable. I was given my own cubicle, and I got down to work. Before I go on, I’ll tell you this; the image you have engrained in your head as to what an intern does, was nothing like my experience. I wasn’t getting anyone’s coffee, I wasn’t running errands, and I wasn’t treated as an “intern.” I immediately became a member of the Creative Services department. Within a week, I was working to complete my first feature story for Reds Magazine on Nick Masset and Arthur Rhodes. The great thing about writing these pieces was that I had free creative reign over everything I did. There was no, “This is the piece. This is who I want you to do it on. This is how I want you to do it.” They put their trust in me and had enough confidence in my writing abilities, that they could give me a player and a slight direction, and I could whip something up worthy of publishing for thousands of people to read.
Before I knew it, I was writing promotional pieces, calling players’ agents, and taking photographs at the open batting practice before Opening Day. I was really doing it. I was exactly where I had always wanted to be, doing exactly what I had dreamt of doing, and my hard work got me there.
Over time, I was assigned to photograph events in the Fan Zone, player meet and greets in the Reds Hall of Fame and on the field, I took the photos for the group brochures, first pitches, on-field ceremonies, the works. This experience definitely put my photographic skills to the test. I had never done event photography before, and I am very proud at how all of it turned out.
I was fully prepared to begin writing for the second edition of Reds Magazine and they assigned me my favorite piece of the entire 2010 season; a profile on the very talented, Mike Leake. Not only was I to write a story about him, I was to interview him. (Yes, I still have the audio from the interview on my recorder and my laptop.) I had the pleasure of not only figuring out what he’s about during this interview, but this opened the doors for the rest of the season for me to truly get to know who he is. This was the most easy-going interview I have ever done. We’re two months into the season, he’s the new kid on the block, I’m fairly new to interviewing professional athletes, and I was completely at ease. (Interviewing someone the same age as me, born and raised on the west coast makes for a good atmosphere.)
Needless to say, I was very happy with the story that came out, and with the second piece I wrote for that issue, an opposing player spotlight on Lance Berkman. I began writing more pieces for the Reds after that. I wrote player profiles for the Cincinnati Herald, our African-American newspaper. I wrote event pieces and e-newsletters.
For the third installment of Reds Magazine, I was assigned the cover feature, a piece on Brandon Phillips and how he plays the game his way. I think everyone knows this has a bit more meaning now than it did then, but this was after the events of the series in D.C., with his chest pounding “controversy.” I was beyond excited to have the cover story, and to write my first piece that had more of a personal touch to it, rather than just a profile. I was always giddy when they’d place a new edition on my desk. To see it finished, in print, with photos and my name underneath was more than I could have ever imagined. I made sure to always send my grandmother in North Carolina a copy, which she would then take around the town to show everyone what her granddaughter did, bless her heart.
I have just finished my final piece for the last issue of Reds Magazine, which focuses on the strength of the club’s young pitching, and an opposing player spotlight on Corey Hart. The issue will be out soon, so keep on the lookout for my feature titled “Armed and Dangerous.”
This experience has exceeded my expectations. I never in a million years imagined I would be sitting at my own cubicle in the Cincinnati Reds front office. I never thought any of this would happen for me, and it has. I’ve met some of the best people and made some great contacts: my supervisor Jarrod Rollins, Michael Anderson, Jamie Ramsey, the current players, various employees of local news stations, and some of the greatest Reds to have ever played the game.
I’ve endured mocking and teasing by Brandon Phillips and Tom Browning, I’ve personally been given Eric Davis’ email address so I could send the photos I’ve taken of him, I’ve photographed a kid’s dream coming true as he met Jay Bruce and played toss with him on the field, I’ve had Billy Hatcher teach me how to stay cool in 95 degree heat (it’s all in your head,) and I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing and getting to know Mike Leake multiple times. I’ve had a Cincinnati Enquirer photographer talk to me about job experiences and opportunities, and even use his camera for a bit. I’ve seen my name published by a Major League organization, spent time in the dugout with the New York Mets and various other teams and interacted with their players, and I have spent my summer working with the Reds during one of the best seasons the club has had in a decade.
This was much more than a resume builder for me. This was an experience of a lifetime. I can say, if I never get to do this again, that for a period of my life I was doing everything I had ever dreamt of doing. I was taking photos of and writing pieces on America’s pastime and the best game to have ever been played. Where do I go from here? I told myself to dream big, I did, and this is where it has gotten me. I guess it’s time to dream bigger.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Go, My Favorite Sports Team, Go! 1st Edition
I’ve gotten a multitude of inquiries over the past 3 years as to why I have such a broad range of teams that I support. With every new Twitter follower I get, the question comes again, “How did you become a Mets fan? How do you follow so many different sports? Who’s your favorite? What do you do when these teams play each other?” My dear Twitter friend, @citycynic, told me one day that it would be interesting to write a blog about how I keep up with all of my teams. What better way to put the information out there? I took his suggestion, and here entails the story of my life as a sports fan.
Baseball.
The top of my list, the cream of the crop, my true favorite sport. As a child, football was always my cup of tea. It was easy for me to understand, and I could run around the house at two years old, throwing my arms up in the air yelling, “TOUCHDOWN!” I also believed Boomer Esiason was my boyfriend for quite a few years, but that’s a story for another time. Baseball holds a special place in my heart. Don’t get me wrong; I love football. But there’s something about the game, something about the history of baseball that touches me in ways that football cannot. The sounds, the smells, the stories; it envelopes me. Now here’s the fun part.
The Cincinnati Reds. Where professional baseball all began. How could I not have an appreciation for the team that helped to influence the start of what would become an integral part of my life, and hopefully career? I was born and raised in Cincinnati, which is also where I currently reside. I will always, and I mean always, root for my home team. I go to countless games a year and I travel to see them on the road (nine times this season.) There is nothing that could ever come between me and the Reds. I eat, sleep, and breathe Cincinnati baseball. I bleed Reds. If it’s the Big Red Machine, 4,192, Crosley Field, or Barry Larkin, I know it, and I love it.
The New York Mets. Here’s where people start to get confused.
“Aren’t you supposed to have one National League team and one American League team?”
In my world? Never.
The New York Mets are a second love, and very near and dear to my heart. How did I fall in love with such a team, you ask? It’s all in the history. I learned, heard, and read enough about the Mets to wish I lived in the 1960s. I also wish I lived in New York. I feel at home in the big city. I’m a true sucker for an underdog story. The 1960s Mets are a relatable team. They were human; they made mistakes, and in the end they rose above. During a time when New York baseball was immortal, when the players were untouchable, a team arose out of nowhere that people could stand behind and say, “Hey, they’re like me.”
My love for them comes along with my love for one of my favorites to ever play the game; Nolan Ryan. He started his career in New York and made his one and only appearance in the World Series as a Met. If you’re reading this, I’m assuming I shouldn’t have to explain Nolan Ryan; I’m going to assume you already know.
Historically, I know and love plenty about Nolan Ryan, and about the Mets. But why do I love the Mets today? Mike Piazza. I firmly believe that I am not the only person who fell in love with the Mets due in large part to Mike Piazza. I can define my love for the Mets getting stronger through time and section it by labeling the eras as before, during, and after Piazza, although he has never truly left in the hearts of diehards. He is an admirable guy, one hell of a ball player, and a Mets legend.
“What do you do when the teams play each other?”
I root for the Reds, plain and simple. I hate to watch either team lose, and I hate to have to watch them play each other. I love to have both of my teams in the same place at the same time, but ultimately, someone gets the number in the loss column. I will never turn my back on the Reds. I can also never deck myself out in Mets gear and walk into Great American Ball Park. I would feel I have done wrong to the team who sparked my love for the sport, and to my hometown. I know I don’t get to see them very often, but it’s no excuse for me to don Mets garb and root against the Reds. I can also never boo the Mets, and not at least clap for a home run. It gets complicated, but I love and support them both the best ways I know how.
The Texas Rangers. This is a newly acquired team for me. By newly, I mean in the last four years or so. The Rangers have one of those teams that have the dynamic guys I’m drawn to. The kicker is that they have so many players I like, I cannot not support them. I have always been a big Ian Kinsler fan, and when he made his debut in 2006, I couldn’t help but follow along. I’ve followed Saltalamacchia around for a while as well (yes, I know he was a Brave) but he had a very short stint there in the Majors, and I was delighted to see him traded to the Rangers. The “kids” coming up in the farm system right now I am continually amazed by, and you best believe I will see them through to the Bigs.
Another reason, and no one should be surprised by this one; Nolan Ryan. Notice a pattern?
Last, but absolutely and definitely not least, Josh Hamilton. I am without a doubt an unabashed and unashamed Josh Hamilton fan. If you know me, you know that I have his bobblehead, two player tees, and three jerseys. I have two hats with his number on it, a Josh Hamilton “Faith Day” wristband from 2007, and the Hamilton Home Run Derby Spectacular recorded; I have read his book and suggest it to everyone, and I have traveled to see him play every year since he left Cincinnati. I can proudly say I knew who he was before the Home Run Derby. Hell, I can say I knew who he was before he came to Cincinnati. I remember walking into U.S. Cellular Field in my Hamilton tee and have someone ask me who he was and where he came from because until the Derby, he was unknown to them. I wish I had a photo of the look on my face when I sat down on my couch and saw he was being traded to Texas. From that moment on, my Rangers fandom went from a side fling with an AL team to an obligation; a willing one. I will follow Josh Hamilton wherever he goes. (God forbid he ever becomes a Cub, a Philly, or a Yankee. Knocking on wood now.) Side note; I will still follow the Rangers after he is gone.
The Boston Red Sox. My first love in the American League, and it’s all in the history. The curse, the struggle, and the city itself. I love it all. I had followed lightly up until the 2004 season; and then I was hooked. This is one team allegiance that I don’t talk about a lot; that I don’t throw out a lot of input. It’s like my undercover affair. I talk about it from time to time, but I don’t call out after every win. I also love Kevin Youkilis, a product of my soon-to-be Alma Mater, and a Cincinnati native. I am in love with the Red Sox culture and the fans, and I downright dislike the Yankees. I recently saw the Red Sox play for only the second time in my life; the first being a GABP, and now at Camden Yards. It was near to being a home game for Boston, and it was incredible to be surrounded by people who live Red Sox baseball, and are completely into the game. The Red Sox game wasn’t just a thing to do, it was what they do.
Miscellaneous. I’m a baseball fan in general, not just a fan of one team, and that’s all I care pay attention to. Since I follow along, and keep up with most everything that’s happening, it’s natural that I have affinities for teams all over the place, and in particular, one in each division. Some I can explain, some I can’t.
NL West – The San Francisco Giants. I love Brian Wilson, I love Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez, and Barry Zito, and now I’m hooked on Buster Posey. I’ve never even been to the stadium (but believe me I’ll get there,) and man I love that too.
AL Central – The Minnesota Twins. Mauer, Morneau, and mixture of a bunch of scratching my head as to why I always root for them to win.
AL East – If it’s not the Red Sox, which it nearly always is, it’s the Tampa Bay Rays. The originator of Josh Hamilton in Major League Baseball, and a small-market team like my beloved Reds that’s getting it done.
There you have it, baseball nuts. I pledge allegiance, to my teams, from the Bay Area to the Statue of Liberty, and everywhere in between. I can summarize, and condense this in a nutshell, but after the endless questions, I decided to put it out there to the world. My life as a baseball fanatic.
Baseball.
The top of my list, the cream of the crop, my true favorite sport. As a child, football was always my cup of tea. It was easy for me to understand, and I could run around the house at two years old, throwing my arms up in the air yelling, “TOUCHDOWN!” I also believed Boomer Esiason was my boyfriend for quite a few years, but that’s a story for another time. Baseball holds a special place in my heart. Don’t get me wrong; I love football. But there’s something about the game, something about the history of baseball that touches me in ways that football cannot. The sounds, the smells, the stories; it envelopes me. Now here’s the fun part.
The Cincinnati Reds. Where professional baseball all began. How could I not have an appreciation for the team that helped to influence the start of what would become an integral part of my life, and hopefully career? I was born and raised in Cincinnati, which is also where I currently reside. I will always, and I mean always, root for my home team. I go to countless games a year and I travel to see them on the road (nine times this season.) There is nothing that could ever come between me and the Reds. I eat, sleep, and breathe Cincinnati baseball. I bleed Reds. If it’s the Big Red Machine, 4,192, Crosley Field, or Barry Larkin, I know it, and I love it.
The New York Mets. Here’s where people start to get confused.
“Aren’t you supposed to have one National League team and one American League team?”
In my world? Never.
The New York Mets are a second love, and very near and dear to my heart. How did I fall in love with such a team, you ask? It’s all in the history. I learned, heard, and read enough about the Mets to wish I lived in the 1960s. I also wish I lived in New York. I feel at home in the big city. I’m a true sucker for an underdog story. The 1960s Mets are a relatable team. They were human; they made mistakes, and in the end they rose above. During a time when New York baseball was immortal, when the players were untouchable, a team arose out of nowhere that people could stand behind and say, “Hey, they’re like me.”
My love for them comes along with my love for one of my favorites to ever play the game; Nolan Ryan. He started his career in New York and made his one and only appearance in the World Series as a Met. If you’re reading this, I’m assuming I shouldn’t have to explain Nolan Ryan; I’m going to assume you already know.
Historically, I know and love plenty about Nolan Ryan, and about the Mets. But why do I love the Mets today? Mike Piazza. I firmly believe that I am not the only person who fell in love with the Mets due in large part to Mike Piazza. I can define my love for the Mets getting stronger through time and section it by labeling the eras as before, during, and after Piazza, although he has never truly left in the hearts of diehards. He is an admirable guy, one hell of a ball player, and a Mets legend.
“What do you do when the teams play each other?”
I root for the Reds, plain and simple. I hate to watch either team lose, and I hate to have to watch them play each other. I love to have both of my teams in the same place at the same time, but ultimately, someone gets the number in the loss column. I will never turn my back on the Reds. I can also never deck myself out in Mets gear and walk into Great American Ball Park. I would feel I have done wrong to the team who sparked my love for the sport, and to my hometown. I know I don’t get to see them very often, but it’s no excuse for me to don Mets garb and root against the Reds. I can also never boo the Mets, and not at least clap for a home run. It gets complicated, but I love and support them both the best ways I know how.
The Texas Rangers. This is a newly acquired team for me. By newly, I mean in the last four years or so. The Rangers have one of those teams that have the dynamic guys I’m drawn to. The kicker is that they have so many players I like, I cannot not support them. I have always been a big Ian Kinsler fan, and when he made his debut in 2006, I couldn’t help but follow along. I’ve followed Saltalamacchia around for a while as well (yes, I know he was a Brave) but he had a very short stint there in the Majors, and I was delighted to see him traded to the Rangers. The “kids” coming up in the farm system right now I am continually amazed by, and you best believe I will see them through to the Bigs.
Another reason, and no one should be surprised by this one; Nolan Ryan. Notice a pattern?
Last, but absolutely and definitely not least, Josh Hamilton. I am without a doubt an unabashed and unashamed Josh Hamilton fan. If you know me, you know that I have his bobblehead, two player tees, and three jerseys. I have two hats with his number on it, a Josh Hamilton “Faith Day” wristband from 2007, and the Hamilton Home Run Derby Spectacular recorded; I have read his book and suggest it to everyone, and I have traveled to see him play every year since he left Cincinnati. I can proudly say I knew who he was before the Home Run Derby. Hell, I can say I knew who he was before he came to Cincinnati. I remember walking into U.S. Cellular Field in my Hamilton tee and have someone ask me who he was and where he came from because until the Derby, he was unknown to them. I wish I had a photo of the look on my face when I sat down on my couch and saw he was being traded to Texas. From that moment on, my Rangers fandom went from a side fling with an AL team to an obligation; a willing one. I will follow Josh Hamilton wherever he goes. (God forbid he ever becomes a Cub, a Philly, or a Yankee. Knocking on wood now.) Side note; I will still follow the Rangers after he is gone.
The Boston Red Sox. My first love in the American League, and it’s all in the history. The curse, the struggle, and the city itself. I love it all. I had followed lightly up until the 2004 season; and then I was hooked. This is one team allegiance that I don’t talk about a lot; that I don’t throw out a lot of input. It’s like my undercover affair. I talk about it from time to time, but I don’t call out after every win. I also love Kevin Youkilis, a product of my soon-to-be Alma Mater, and a Cincinnati native. I am in love with the Red Sox culture and the fans, and I downright dislike the Yankees. I recently saw the Red Sox play for only the second time in my life; the first being a GABP, and now at Camden Yards. It was near to being a home game for Boston, and it was incredible to be surrounded by people who live Red Sox baseball, and are completely into the game. The Red Sox game wasn’t just a thing to do, it was what they do.
Miscellaneous. I’m a baseball fan in general, not just a fan of one team, and that’s all I care pay attention to. Since I follow along, and keep up with most everything that’s happening, it’s natural that I have affinities for teams all over the place, and in particular, one in each division. Some I can explain, some I can’t.
NL West – The San Francisco Giants. I love Brian Wilson, I love Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez, and Barry Zito, and now I’m hooked on Buster Posey. I’ve never even been to the stadium (but believe me I’ll get there,) and man I love that too.
AL Central – The Minnesota Twins. Mauer, Morneau, and mixture of a bunch of scratching my head as to why I always root for them to win.
AL East – If it’s not the Red Sox, which it nearly always is, it’s the Tampa Bay Rays. The originator of Josh Hamilton in Major League Baseball, and a small-market team like my beloved Reds that’s getting it done.
There you have it, baseball nuts. I pledge allegiance, to my teams, from the Bay Area to the Statue of Liberty, and everywhere in between. I can summarize, and condense this in a nutshell, but after the endless questions, I decided to put it out there to the world. My life as a baseball fanatic.
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Big Puma
You may know him as “The Big Puma,” “Fat Elvis,” or just plain old Lance Berkman. No matter the moniker there is no doubt that Berkman has become not only one of the most recognizable faces but one of the best performers in the National League over the last decade.
Lance Berkman’s record-breaking success didn’t just start in the majors. After graduating from Canyon High School in New Braunfels, he attended Rice University in Houston and led the Owls baseball team to their first appearance in the College World Series. His college career batting average stands at .385 with 67 home runs and 272 RBIs. Of those home runs, 41 were hit in 1997 alone, ranking third-most in NCAA history.
Berkman has played his entire career as an Astro, and after being drafted in the first round of the 1997 amateur draft, he began his major league career on the Astros’ Class A Advanced Florida State League team in Kissimmee. His potential was easily recognizable and his talent translated from college to professional baseball without a hitch. He began his second minor league season at Dounle-A Jackson where he excelled, hitting .306 with 24 HR and 89 RBI in just 122 games. He quickly received a mid-season promotion to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs where he spent his last full season in the minor leagues. He was called up to the Astros in 1999, and although he spent his entire baseball career playing first base, the position was already held down by Jeff Bagwell, Berkman was placed in the outfield. He roved from left to right field, and eventually in 2002 agreed to hold down a spot at center field.
Over the following few seasons, Berkman’s numbers wavered, and hit one of the lowest points in his career. His batting average slowly dipped, while his on-base percentage still remained high. He lost a bit of the power in his swing, but he made his comeback at the plate in 2004, when his average bolted to .316 with 30 HR and 109 RBI. He made his career high of 160 game appearances, was voted to the All-Star team for the third time, and with 21 homers earned the title of runner-up in the Home Run Derby to Miguel Tejada.
In 2005, the much of the Astros’ success in the NL Divison Series against the Atlanta Braves could be owed up to Lance Berkman. He played a major role in Game 4, which also went on to be the longest game in Major League Baseball playoff history, lasting 18 innings. Berkman brought the game within reach to make the score 6-5in favor of the Braves in the 8th inning with a grand slam. They eventually won the game, and the series, on a Chris Burke home run. Although they were swept in the 2005 World Series by the Chicago White Sox, he contributed with a .385 batting average and 6 RBI.
Lance Berkman easily had the best season of his career in 2006, with 45 home runs and 136 RBI, breaking Jeff Bagwell’s single-season record. His batting average dominated at .315, while also holding an on-base percentage of .420. He finished third in the MVP voting that year behind Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.
The switch-hitting Texan has accomplished more than many major leaguers can say throughout their entire career. He’s a five-time All-Star, and also holds a place in the top 15 among active players in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and he is the current record holder for the most single season RBIs (136) as a switch hitter. Berkman has broken countless records and hit many milestones in his career, but most recently, he hit is 300th home run off of former Arizona Diamondback Jon Garland on June 13, 2009. To many Reds fans, these numbers come as no surprise, as he also holds the record for most home runs at Great American Ball Park by an opposing player, with 20 crushed over the ballpark walls.
Berkman has played 143 games against Cincinnati, in which he holds a .327 batting average with 48 homeruns and 133 RBIs. The only player to hold more home runs against the Reds than Lance Berkman is his Astros predecessor at first base, Jeff Bagwell, with 29. Standing just one home run behind the all-time leader, it’s more than likely that Berkman will overtake the title. You could owe it up to the Reds’ overabundance of right-handed picthing over the years, or just to the fact that statistics show some players do extremely well against specific teams. Although Great American Ball Park has proved to be a great hitter’s park, Berkman has held nearly the same batting average in his career at both GABP and Riverfront Stadium, which both currently stand at .345 and .395 respectively. Whether it be confidence Lance Berkman shows when he takes on the Reds or a lack thereof on Cincinnati’s part, or even just a statistical happening, Berkman is one player who can claim his is dominant against Reds baseball.
Lance Berkman is adored by fans, and so much so that Astros diehards took it upon themselves to create a fan club stemming from his loving nickname, “Big Puma.” If you’ve watched an Astros game on television, or visited Minute Maid Park, you’ve seen “The Little Pumas.” These Berkman fanatics have purchased puma suits and appear in standing room sections of every game. They have grown from a few members to nearly 20. What will happen to those puma suits when Berkman decides to hang up his hat, no one knows. But the Big Puma seems to have a plan for himself after retirement.
In May 2009, Lance Berkman anounced that after his retirement, he would love to coach baseball at the University of Texas at Austin. He spent most of his childhood in Austin and wasn’t a fan of either of the Major League teams in Texas, but loved watching the Longhorns play. He has said that he doesn’t expect the current coach Augie Garrido to retire for a few more years, but when the time comes, he may be ready to retire himself and would love consideration for the position.
Lance Berkman’s record-breaking success didn’t just start in the majors. After graduating from Canyon High School in New Braunfels, he attended Rice University in Houston and led the Owls baseball team to their first appearance in the College World Series. His college career batting average stands at .385 with 67 home runs and 272 RBIs. Of those home runs, 41 were hit in 1997 alone, ranking third-most in NCAA history.
Berkman has played his entire career as an Astro, and after being drafted in the first round of the 1997 amateur draft, he began his major league career on the Astros’ Class A Advanced Florida State League team in Kissimmee. His potential was easily recognizable and his talent translated from college to professional baseball without a hitch. He began his second minor league season at Dounle-A Jackson where he excelled, hitting .306 with 24 HR and 89 RBI in just 122 games. He quickly received a mid-season promotion to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs where he spent his last full season in the minor leagues. He was called up to the Astros in 1999, and although he spent his entire baseball career playing first base, the position was already held down by Jeff Bagwell, Berkman was placed in the outfield. He roved from left to right field, and eventually in 2002 agreed to hold down a spot at center field.
Over the following few seasons, Berkman’s numbers wavered, and hit one of the lowest points in his career. His batting average slowly dipped, while his on-base percentage still remained high. He lost a bit of the power in his swing, but he made his comeback at the plate in 2004, when his average bolted to .316 with 30 HR and 109 RBI. He made his career high of 160 game appearances, was voted to the All-Star team for the third time, and with 21 homers earned the title of runner-up in the Home Run Derby to Miguel Tejada.
In 2005, the much of the Astros’ success in the NL Divison Series against the Atlanta Braves could be owed up to Lance Berkman. He played a major role in Game 4, which also went on to be the longest game in Major League Baseball playoff history, lasting 18 innings. Berkman brought the game within reach to make the score 6-5in favor of the Braves in the 8th inning with a grand slam. They eventually won the game, and the series, on a Chris Burke home run. Although they were swept in the 2005 World Series by the Chicago White Sox, he contributed with a .385 batting average and 6 RBI.
Lance Berkman easily had the best season of his career in 2006, with 45 home runs and 136 RBI, breaking Jeff Bagwell’s single-season record. His batting average dominated at .315, while also holding an on-base percentage of .420. He finished third in the MVP voting that year behind Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.
The switch-hitting Texan has accomplished more than many major leaguers can say throughout their entire career. He’s a five-time All-Star, and also holds a place in the top 15 among active players in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and he is the current record holder for the most single season RBIs (136) as a switch hitter. Berkman has broken countless records and hit many milestones in his career, but most recently, he hit is 300th home run off of former Arizona Diamondback Jon Garland on June 13, 2009. To many Reds fans, these numbers come as no surprise, as he also holds the record for most home runs at Great American Ball Park by an opposing player, with 20 crushed over the ballpark walls.
Berkman has played 143 games against Cincinnati, in which he holds a .327 batting average with 48 homeruns and 133 RBIs. The only player to hold more home runs against the Reds than Lance Berkman is his Astros predecessor at first base, Jeff Bagwell, with 29. Standing just one home run behind the all-time leader, it’s more than likely that Berkman will overtake the title. You could owe it up to the Reds’ overabundance of right-handed picthing over the years, or just to the fact that statistics show some players do extremely well against specific teams. Although Great American Ball Park has proved to be a great hitter’s park, Berkman has held nearly the same batting average in his career at both GABP and Riverfront Stadium, which both currently stand at .345 and .395 respectively. Whether it be confidence Lance Berkman shows when he takes on the Reds or a lack thereof on Cincinnati’s part, or even just a statistical happening, Berkman is one player who can claim his is dominant against Reds baseball.
Lance Berkman is adored by fans, and so much so that Astros diehards took it upon themselves to create a fan club stemming from his loving nickname, “Big Puma.” If you’ve watched an Astros game on television, or visited Minute Maid Park, you’ve seen “The Little Pumas.” These Berkman fanatics have purchased puma suits and appear in standing room sections of every game. They have grown from a few members to nearly 20. What will happen to those puma suits when Berkman decides to hang up his hat, no one knows. But the Big Puma seems to have a plan for himself after retirement.
In May 2009, Lance Berkman anounced that after his retirement, he would love to coach baseball at the University of Texas at Austin. He spent most of his childhood in Austin and wasn’t a fan of either of the Major League teams in Texas, but loved watching the Longhorns play. He has said that he doesn’t expect the current coach Augie Garrido to retire for a few more years, but when the time comes, he may be ready to retire himself and would love consideration for the position.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Food for Thought: All Star Game Voting 2010
We all know I will stand on a soapbox and preach to the masses about how Joey Votto deserves to at least be in the top five vote receivers for National League first basemen. Instead, here's your top five. Interpret these numbers as you will.
Albert Pujols, St.Louis Cardinals - 165 AB, 25 R, 50 H, 8 HR, 29 RBI, .303 AVg
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies - 177 AB, 28 R, 53 H, 8 HR, 32 RBI, .299 AVG
Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers - 166 AB, 28 R, 45 H, 7 HR, 19 RBI, .271 AVG
James Loney - L.A. Dodgers - 173 AB, 28 R, 51 H, 4 HR, 28 RBI, .295 AVG
Lance Berkman, Houston Astros - 103 AB, 10 R, 24 H, 5 HR, 14 RBI, .233 AVG
There you go. Let Votto's numbers speak for themselves.
Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds - 166 AB, 29 R, 51 H, 10 HR, 33 RBI, .307 AVG
Albert Pujols, St.Louis Cardinals - 165 AB, 25 R, 50 H, 8 HR, 29 RBI, .303 AVg
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies - 177 AB, 28 R, 53 H, 8 HR, 32 RBI, .299 AVG
Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers - 166 AB, 28 R, 45 H, 7 HR, 19 RBI, .271 AVG
James Loney - L.A. Dodgers - 173 AB, 28 R, 51 H, 4 HR, 28 RBI, .295 AVG
Lance Berkman, Houston Astros - 103 AB, 10 R, 24 H, 5 HR, 14 RBI, .233 AVG
There you go. Let Votto's numbers speak for themselves.
Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds - 166 AB, 29 R, 51 H, 10 HR, 33 RBI, .307 AVG
There's a New Ace in Town
What are the odds that a pitcher drafted straight out of college would join a Major League Baseball starting rotation and never set foot on a minor league field? That’s a high bar set for an incoming player just barely out of their teens. Although any baseball fan knows you would have to beat innumerable odds, the Cincinnati Reds first round draft pick and right-handed pitcher Mike Leake has done just that. After making his argument with a stellar performance in Goodyear this spring, Leake earned the opportunity to stand on the mound with the Reds aces.
The 22-year-old San Diego native attended Fallbrook High School, and held the title of captain of his baseball team his junior and senior seasons before graduating in 2006. Leake was drafted out of high school in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft in the 17th round by the Oakland Athletics, but chose not sign and attended Arizona State University.
He began his college baseball career as a closer and by the end of his freshman year he became the Friday night starter. In 2007, he had one of the most impressive seasons by a freshman pitcher in the history of ASU. He was named a First Team All-Pac 10 selection and a Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Rivals.com. He tied his teammate Josh Satow with 13 wins to lead the Pac-10 and also tie for the third-most victories in school history by a freshman. He pitched in 25 games in 2007, making 13 starts, finishing 13-2 with a 3.69 ERA, a save, and two complete games. He set a new Arizona State freshman record, pitching 127 innings and 94 strikeouts.
After making a name for himself and getting off to a stellar start his freshman year, his sophomore and junior season continued to be just as dominant. In 2008, Leake was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year, and finished the season 11-3 with a 3.49 ERA. He pitched in 19 games of which he started 16, led the Pac-10 with 121.1 innings pitched, and struck out 104 while walking just 20 batters. Mid-way through the 2008 season, he played the field and batted .340 with two homers and 11 RBI in 47 plate appearances.
In his final season at Arizona State University, Mike Leake finished with one of the greatest individual seasons in school history. He was named the National Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association, and also won the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season, making him the first back-to back winner. He finished the 2009 season as the national win leader at 16-1, with a 1.71 ERA, 142 innings pitched and 162 strikeouts. The impressive accomplishments just keep on coming. He completed seven games, including two straight shutouts, and had a string of 26 consecutive scoreless innings. He totaled 40 career wins at ASU, tying for the third most ever in school history, and also tying for the most ever wins by a three-year pitcher. He became the second Sun Devil to win 10 or more games in three straight seasons, and one of two Sun Devils to win three straight Pac-10 Conference titles. By the looks of his laundry list of statistics and accomplishments, Mike Leake was fit and ready for Major League Baseball. He was drafted as the 8th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, the highest draft pick from Arizona State since 1998.
Mike Leake entered Reds spring training in Arizona as a non-roster invitee, and competed in a congested race for the fifth spot on the rotation with veterans Justin Lehr, Mike Lincoln, Micah Owings, and the young pitching phenoms Aroldis Chapman and Travis Wood.
Throughout spring training, comparisons of Leake and the first overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg surfaced. Leake may have been overlooked because of the stature and velocity that Strasburg possesses. Although Strasburg held a better ERA in the Mountain West Conference in college, his competition was none of what Leake faced in the Pac-10, where he also holds an advantage as having pitched in the College World Series. His spring training 1.37 ERA surpassed that of the Nationals right-handed pitcher. Although Strasburg could draw sellout crowds in the minor leagues, Mike Leake was able to do what the Washington Nationals could not pull off; sending their first-round draft pick straight to the majors.
With all eyes set on the Cuban flamethrower Aroldis Chapman and where he may end up in the Reds ballclub, Leake slipped under the radar during spring training. After Chapman was hampered by back spasms late into training, the spot for the fifth starter in the Reds rotation came down to Travis Wood, a second round pick in 2005, and Mike Leake. Leake was announced as the fifth starter, and was set to make his Major League debut less than a year after he had been drafted, the 21st player in history to do so.
Just how uncommon is it for a player to enter Major League Baseball and make their debut without playing an inning in the minor leagues? The last player to come straight from the draft and into the majors was Xavier Nady in 2000. More specifically, the last American-born pitcher to start without touching the Minors was Darren Dreifort in 1994, when made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If you’re really into details, no starting pitcher has made the leap since Jim Abbott with the Angels in 1989.
The comparisons between Leake and Abbott are in abundance as well. Had Chapman not had his injury, he may have well earned the fifth spot in the rotation. But due to the circumstances, Leake’s potentional shined and he was rewarded with the opportunity to start. The situation is similar to that of Abbott, who may not have earned his starting position without the injury of another pitcher in the rotation.
Almost every player that make it to Major League Baseball begins somewhere in the minors. It helps to hone and sharpen skills, and to all-around prepare you for what you face in the majors. Many pitchers spend years in the minors honing their craft, or “paying their dues,” so that they become the best pitchers they can be before they face the best batters in the game. An amount of hostility from some players could build, but Mike Leake takes it with a grain of salt.
“You’re going to have some jealous guys, and also have guys that are congratulatory, but I just have to take it,” said Leake.
That grain of salt also comes along with the customary teasing of being a rookie.
“I enjoy it,” said Leake. “You can only be a rookie once.”
After being drafted and heading straight to spring training thereafter, a player’s mind has to be racing with hundreds of thoughts. How about being told that you’re not only going to be with the team, you’re heading straight to the mound as a starter?
“I couldn’t really think for a second,” said Leake. “At first I was like, ‘Oh man, is this really true?’ So it kind of broke the ice in a funny way.”
All players face the challenge throughout their career of adjusting to new competition, new venues, teammates, and strategies. From high school to college, to minor leagues and majors, every level brings a new sense of competitiveness and difficulty. You can imagine skipping over institutions built to prepare you for the “bigs” could cause a little hiccup in adjustment, but not for Mike Leake.
“I don’t think it’s been that tough. Don’t get me wrong, it’s tough to play in this environment, I just think ASU prepared me pretty well,” said Leake.
Reds fans will agree that Mike Leake entered the team well-prepared as he made a phenomenal MLB debut April 11 against the Chicago Cubs. He pitched into the seventh inning, holding the Cubs to just one run and four hits. Leake showed poise and a changeup wise beyond his years. He helped himself as well, hitting 2-for-2; the first Reds pitcher to get two hits in his Major League debut since Benny Frey in 1929. He finished the game with a 1.35 ERA and struck out five after throwing 105 pitches. Leake was sometimes erratic, as he walked seven batters and was forced to work his way out of a bases-loaded, no out situation in the first inning. He says he was thinking too much before the game, until he pitched himself into a bind.
“I thought nothing really until I got the bases loaded,” Leake jokes. “I was like, ‘Well, this is good start!’ Luckily I found a way to get out of the jam. From there it was smoothing sailing a little bit.”
Even after getting off to a rough start, one thing Leake maintained was his calmness. You never saw him struggle, and he seemed completely unshaken, even with bases loaded and no men out.
Leake left the game after 6 2/3 innings after issuing walks to Derrick Lee and Aramis Ramirez with the Reds trailing 1-0. The Reds rallied to tie the game in the bottom of seventh, eventually going on to beat the Cubs 3-1. After the incredible start for the rookie in front of family members and tens of thousands of fans, his hat was requested by the Reds Hall of Fame.
His third start came against the Los Angeles Dodgers where the Reds not only picked up the first win on the season for a pitcher; Mike Leake earned his first win in Major League Baseball. He lasted seven innings allowing five earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five. He received an extra boost from a Scott Rolen two-run double, and the Reds went on to win 8-5.
After three starts, his record is 1-0, with a 3.92 ERA.
Mike Leake is looking like the perfect complement to the current Reds rotation, and will most likely be a major component in the rotation for seasons to come. He has been the Reds’ most consistent starter, and Reds fans are looking to him as a jumpstart to a great season. Mike Leake has his own inspirations in Cincinnati, other than getting Major League wins under his belt, of course.
“I just want to try and bring more fans. Get this back to when it was the Big Red Machine,” said Leake. “There’s nothing better than great fan support. If we can get them going, it uplifts us a little bit.”
He has already made an impact on fans, as he was seen before the Reds took on the Padres April 25 signing for nearly every fan that asked near the dugout.
With the consistency he already shows, it is easy to imagine Reds fans taking a quick liking to Mike Leake, and with his performance and personality it’s not a stretch to say he has the ability to bring more fans to the ballpark, just as he wishes. He’s a great complement to a Reds starting rotation with both the youth and the seasoned veterans. He may be new, and he may be young, but he’s definitely one you don’t want to miss.
The 22-year-old San Diego native attended Fallbrook High School, and held the title of captain of his baseball team his junior and senior seasons before graduating in 2006. Leake was drafted out of high school in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft in the 17th round by the Oakland Athletics, but chose not sign and attended Arizona State University.
He began his college baseball career as a closer and by the end of his freshman year he became the Friday night starter. In 2007, he had one of the most impressive seasons by a freshman pitcher in the history of ASU. He was named a First Team All-Pac 10 selection and a Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Rivals.com. He tied his teammate Josh Satow with 13 wins to lead the Pac-10 and also tie for the third-most victories in school history by a freshman. He pitched in 25 games in 2007, making 13 starts, finishing 13-2 with a 3.69 ERA, a save, and two complete games. He set a new Arizona State freshman record, pitching 127 innings and 94 strikeouts.
After making a name for himself and getting off to a stellar start his freshman year, his sophomore and junior season continued to be just as dominant. In 2008, Leake was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year, and finished the season 11-3 with a 3.49 ERA. He pitched in 19 games of which he started 16, led the Pac-10 with 121.1 innings pitched, and struck out 104 while walking just 20 batters. Mid-way through the 2008 season, he played the field and batted .340 with two homers and 11 RBI in 47 plate appearances.
In his final season at Arizona State University, Mike Leake finished with one of the greatest individual seasons in school history. He was named the National Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association, and also won the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season, making him the first back-to back winner. He finished the 2009 season as the national win leader at 16-1, with a 1.71 ERA, 142 innings pitched and 162 strikeouts. The impressive accomplishments just keep on coming. He completed seven games, including two straight shutouts, and had a string of 26 consecutive scoreless innings. He totaled 40 career wins at ASU, tying for the third most ever in school history, and also tying for the most ever wins by a three-year pitcher. He became the second Sun Devil to win 10 or more games in three straight seasons, and one of two Sun Devils to win three straight Pac-10 Conference titles. By the looks of his laundry list of statistics and accomplishments, Mike Leake was fit and ready for Major League Baseball. He was drafted as the 8th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, the highest draft pick from Arizona State since 1998.
Mike Leake entered Reds spring training in Arizona as a non-roster invitee, and competed in a congested race for the fifth spot on the rotation with veterans Justin Lehr, Mike Lincoln, Micah Owings, and the young pitching phenoms Aroldis Chapman and Travis Wood.
Throughout spring training, comparisons of Leake and the first overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg surfaced. Leake may have been overlooked because of the stature and velocity that Strasburg possesses. Although Strasburg held a better ERA in the Mountain West Conference in college, his competition was none of what Leake faced in the Pac-10, where he also holds an advantage as having pitched in the College World Series. His spring training 1.37 ERA surpassed that of the Nationals right-handed pitcher. Although Strasburg could draw sellout crowds in the minor leagues, Mike Leake was able to do what the Washington Nationals could not pull off; sending their first-round draft pick straight to the majors.
With all eyes set on the Cuban flamethrower Aroldis Chapman and where he may end up in the Reds ballclub, Leake slipped under the radar during spring training. After Chapman was hampered by back spasms late into training, the spot for the fifth starter in the Reds rotation came down to Travis Wood, a second round pick in 2005, and Mike Leake. Leake was announced as the fifth starter, and was set to make his Major League debut less than a year after he had been drafted, the 21st player in history to do so.
Just how uncommon is it for a player to enter Major League Baseball and make their debut without playing an inning in the minor leagues? The last player to come straight from the draft and into the majors was Xavier Nady in 2000. More specifically, the last American-born pitcher to start without touching the Minors was Darren Dreifort in 1994, when made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If you’re really into details, no starting pitcher has made the leap since Jim Abbott with the Angels in 1989.
The comparisons between Leake and Abbott are in abundance as well. Had Chapman not had his injury, he may have well earned the fifth spot in the rotation. But due to the circumstances, Leake’s potentional shined and he was rewarded with the opportunity to start. The situation is similar to that of Abbott, who may not have earned his starting position without the injury of another pitcher in the rotation.
Almost every player that make it to Major League Baseball begins somewhere in the minors. It helps to hone and sharpen skills, and to all-around prepare you for what you face in the majors. Many pitchers spend years in the minors honing their craft, or “paying their dues,” so that they become the best pitchers they can be before they face the best batters in the game. An amount of hostility from some players could build, but Mike Leake takes it with a grain of salt.
“You’re going to have some jealous guys, and also have guys that are congratulatory, but I just have to take it,” said Leake.
That grain of salt also comes along with the customary teasing of being a rookie.
“I enjoy it,” said Leake. “You can only be a rookie once.”
After being drafted and heading straight to spring training thereafter, a player’s mind has to be racing with hundreds of thoughts. How about being told that you’re not only going to be with the team, you’re heading straight to the mound as a starter?
“I couldn’t really think for a second,” said Leake. “At first I was like, ‘Oh man, is this really true?’ So it kind of broke the ice in a funny way.”
All players face the challenge throughout their career of adjusting to new competition, new venues, teammates, and strategies. From high school to college, to minor leagues and majors, every level brings a new sense of competitiveness and difficulty. You can imagine skipping over institutions built to prepare you for the “bigs” could cause a little hiccup in adjustment, but not for Mike Leake.
“I don’t think it’s been that tough. Don’t get me wrong, it’s tough to play in this environment, I just think ASU prepared me pretty well,” said Leake.
Reds fans will agree that Mike Leake entered the team well-prepared as he made a phenomenal MLB debut April 11 against the Chicago Cubs. He pitched into the seventh inning, holding the Cubs to just one run and four hits. Leake showed poise and a changeup wise beyond his years. He helped himself as well, hitting 2-for-2; the first Reds pitcher to get two hits in his Major League debut since Benny Frey in 1929. He finished the game with a 1.35 ERA and struck out five after throwing 105 pitches. Leake was sometimes erratic, as he walked seven batters and was forced to work his way out of a bases-loaded, no out situation in the first inning. He says he was thinking too much before the game, until he pitched himself into a bind.
“I thought nothing really until I got the bases loaded,” Leake jokes. “I was like, ‘Well, this is good start!’ Luckily I found a way to get out of the jam. From there it was smoothing sailing a little bit.”
Even after getting off to a rough start, one thing Leake maintained was his calmness. You never saw him struggle, and he seemed completely unshaken, even with bases loaded and no men out.
Leake left the game after 6 2/3 innings after issuing walks to Derrick Lee and Aramis Ramirez with the Reds trailing 1-0. The Reds rallied to tie the game in the bottom of seventh, eventually going on to beat the Cubs 3-1. After the incredible start for the rookie in front of family members and tens of thousands of fans, his hat was requested by the Reds Hall of Fame.
His third start came against the Los Angeles Dodgers where the Reds not only picked up the first win on the season for a pitcher; Mike Leake earned his first win in Major League Baseball. He lasted seven innings allowing five earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five. He received an extra boost from a Scott Rolen two-run double, and the Reds went on to win 8-5.
After three starts, his record is 1-0, with a 3.92 ERA.
Mike Leake is looking like the perfect complement to the current Reds rotation, and will most likely be a major component in the rotation for seasons to come. He has been the Reds’ most consistent starter, and Reds fans are looking to him as a jumpstart to a great season. Mike Leake has his own inspirations in Cincinnati, other than getting Major League wins under his belt, of course.
“I just want to try and bring more fans. Get this back to when it was the Big Red Machine,” said Leake. “There’s nothing better than great fan support. If we can get them going, it uplifts us a little bit.”
He has already made an impact on fans, as he was seen before the Reds took on the Padres April 25 signing for nearly every fan that asked near the dugout.
With the consistency he already shows, it is easy to imagine Reds fans taking a quick liking to Mike Leake, and with his performance and personality it’s not a stretch to say he has the ability to bring more fans to the ballpark, just as he wishes. He’s a great complement to a Reds starting rotation with both the youth and the seasoned veterans. He may be new, and he may be young, but he’s definitely one you don’t want to miss.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Conservative = Racism
It’s no surprise that specific races are typically intertwined with political party affiliations. Exit polls and surveys have shown that blacks, Hispanics and those of other ethnic decent are more likely to vote liberal and whites commonly vote conservative. It could be historical reasons, preferences as a race, but whatever the cause, it’s the truth. There is no reason to assume anything by these facts, other than particular races seem to value many of the same principles and ideas. There are black conservatives, white liberals, and Hispanics all across the board. As much as I wish this idea was kept in the minds of every American, I take it with a grain of salt and remember that in anything done in society today, race is always a deciding factor.
The race card will be pertinent in some situations, and incorrectly used in others. Politics in my opinion is no place to cry foul or to cause the issue to begin with. Politics are about laws and rules for this country to abide by so that we all have an equal opportunity. I don’t see how involving race in any decision that would affect the entire nation could be beneficial to a people.
The elephant in the room these days is that we do in fact have a black president. He might be mixed, he might have another religion, whatever. The point is, Obama is black. This fact alone has put the entire country on its head and has driven a wedge into relationships, the government, and the way we interact on a day-to-day basis. My assumption as to how this man was elected president sounds racist, and it may be. It also may be a proven fact but that would take extensive research to truly figure out. I have to admit that I believe Obama was elected because a large number of blacks and ethnic groups came out to the polls to vote for him solely because of his ethnicity. The many times I saw women walking around the grocery store with shirts reading “The First Black President,” only convinced me more. It wasn’t “The President to Change This Nation,” or, “The 44th President of The United States.” The thing these shirts aimed to let everyone know was that there was a man in office and he was black.
On Election Day, a young black man stood in front of me in line. He had mentioned that this was his first time voting and they sent him off to a polling station. I walked into mine, began marking slots as usual, when the same young man poked his head out of his station to ask, and I say this verbatim, “Do we gotta vote for anything but the president if we ain’t know what it is?” If this man had not taken the time to inform himself on the issues on the ballot, I’m going to go ahead and assume that he didn’t do any research on Obama’s platforms either. This situation makes it very easy to establish his reasoning for coming to the polls if he both did not know anything on the ballot and did not care, and that his only interest in coming was to vote for the president, who is in fact of the same ethnicity.
I’m not here to patronize a culture for having pride, by all means there’s quite a bit of a lack of that in this country. But cultural pride and racism are of completely different natures. Since Obama was first announced as the democratic candidate for president, I have opposed. I always have and I can assure you I always will. I do not care if he is Muslim, if he is black, or if his middle name is Hussein. What I care about is his stance on political, economical, and social issues, with which none of them I agree. Yet since the day I voiced my opinion, I have been chastised, attacked, and labeled as a racist. I missed the part where my disagreeing with a political candidate caused an automatic hate for anyone other than my fellow Caucasians. I live in a mostly black community and I attended a mostly black high school. I’ve been surrounded by it. Why someone can’t accept my views for what they are baffles me.
What baffles me further is that I am a racist for not supporting the black candidate, yet those who only supported Obama because he was black, and yes there are some, are not considered the same. Denying a man of any other race a chance because you want to vote for someone of an ethnic background, is in my book profiling and racist. I didn’t write the rules. I won’t attempt to change them. If my solely voting against him because I’m white makes me a racist, then solely voting for him because he is black is racist all the same. I don’t get why negativity toward an ethnicity is prejudiced and racist, yet positivity solely for one ethnicity is not. I’m talking about giving people a fair chance. I’m asking that they’re considered, that they’re recognized, and that this country can focus on what’s more important than the blacks, the whites, the Asians, the Hispanics, the Native Americans and so on. What matters here is the nation, the whole, that is supposed to be under God, and indivisible, not confirmed or denied as racist by your party affiliation.
The race card will be pertinent in some situations, and incorrectly used in others. Politics in my opinion is no place to cry foul or to cause the issue to begin with. Politics are about laws and rules for this country to abide by so that we all have an equal opportunity. I don’t see how involving race in any decision that would affect the entire nation could be beneficial to a people.
The elephant in the room these days is that we do in fact have a black president. He might be mixed, he might have another religion, whatever. The point is, Obama is black. This fact alone has put the entire country on its head and has driven a wedge into relationships, the government, and the way we interact on a day-to-day basis. My assumption as to how this man was elected president sounds racist, and it may be. It also may be a proven fact but that would take extensive research to truly figure out. I have to admit that I believe Obama was elected because a large number of blacks and ethnic groups came out to the polls to vote for him solely because of his ethnicity. The many times I saw women walking around the grocery store with shirts reading “The First Black President,” only convinced me more. It wasn’t “The President to Change This Nation,” or, “The 44th President of The United States.” The thing these shirts aimed to let everyone know was that there was a man in office and he was black.
On Election Day, a young black man stood in front of me in line. He had mentioned that this was his first time voting and they sent him off to a polling station. I walked into mine, began marking slots as usual, when the same young man poked his head out of his station to ask, and I say this verbatim, “Do we gotta vote for anything but the president if we ain’t know what it is?” If this man had not taken the time to inform himself on the issues on the ballot, I’m going to go ahead and assume that he didn’t do any research on Obama’s platforms either. This situation makes it very easy to establish his reasoning for coming to the polls if he both did not know anything on the ballot and did not care, and that his only interest in coming was to vote for the president, who is in fact of the same ethnicity.
I’m not here to patronize a culture for having pride, by all means there’s quite a bit of a lack of that in this country. But cultural pride and racism are of completely different natures. Since Obama was first announced as the democratic candidate for president, I have opposed. I always have and I can assure you I always will. I do not care if he is Muslim, if he is black, or if his middle name is Hussein. What I care about is his stance on political, economical, and social issues, with which none of them I agree. Yet since the day I voiced my opinion, I have been chastised, attacked, and labeled as a racist. I missed the part where my disagreeing with a political candidate caused an automatic hate for anyone other than my fellow Caucasians. I live in a mostly black community and I attended a mostly black high school. I’ve been surrounded by it. Why someone can’t accept my views for what they are baffles me.
What baffles me further is that I am a racist for not supporting the black candidate, yet those who only supported Obama because he was black, and yes there are some, are not considered the same. Denying a man of any other race a chance because you want to vote for someone of an ethnic background, is in my book profiling and racist. I didn’t write the rules. I won’t attempt to change them. If my solely voting against him because I’m white makes me a racist, then solely voting for him because he is black is racist all the same. I don’t get why negativity toward an ethnicity is prejudiced and racist, yet positivity solely for one ethnicity is not. I’m talking about giving people a fair chance. I’m asking that they’re considered, that they’re recognized, and that this country can focus on what’s more important than the blacks, the whites, the Asians, the Hispanics, the Native Americans and so on. What matters here is the nation, the whole, that is supposed to be under God, and indivisible, not confirmed or denied as racist by your party affiliation.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Everyday Celebrity
Can anyone truly define “celebrity” today? A dictionary definition would explain it as “the state of being celebrated” or “a famous or celebrated person.” How about fame? Fame is “public estimation” or “popular acclaim.” The words fame and celebrity 50 years ago were associated with untouchable people. Movies stars, broadcasters, political figures that no one of lesser status could ever associate themselves with. Fame and celebrity today roll off the tongue like a dirty word, almost as if being associated with either is a bad thing. Whether we like to admit it or not, it’s a result of our own doing. These days, social status is everything but social status itself is losing its own worth.
It wouldn’t surprise me if you looked up those same words again and things like YouTube, MySpace, and reality television were listed. There is no trick, no recipe, and even no talent needed to call yourself famous. This decline in the worth of fame could be attributed to the internet, to the music industry, or maybe even to the human need to be entertained 24 hours of the day, seven days a week.
“Celebrity status” is no longer determined by your work ethic, your profession, or the talent you possess. It has become solely a popularity contest based on your ability to put your face anywhere in the public eye. We all see it happening, we all see people on red carpets, at Hollywood premiers and wonder how on God’s green Earth these people got here. It’s no surprise because the most ironic part about it is that we’re the people who put them there. No one will admit it, but we perpetuate the cycle. We make what we hate, and what we hate to see.
You can relate it to something we refer to as a “guilty pleasure.” You love to watch it, hear it, be entertained by it, but you’re too embarrassed to admit it. Those television shows that are too cliché to watch, the songs so manufactured and catchy you only sing in the shower; those are the kinds of things we don’t discuss. The attention given to all these forms of media is what propels these guilty pleasures into stardom.
There is always someone in Hollywood we love to hate. I don’t know that anyone can explain it, but it’s true. Usually that person earns a ridiculous sum of money from something so simple, anyone could do it. But the attention they get from us, from the public, and from the media is what causes them to be a household name. One of the biggest and most widely-known examples of this is Perez Hilton. The guy runs a celebrity gossip blog site, which in itself is the beginning of this problem. Why do we care so much who Is dating who and who went out to the club last night? We don’t know, but we care. Anyone can sit at home and blog about the “buzz” and the latest scoop, but Perez Hilton is now a superstar. He’s at premiers, he’s on the red carpet, and he’s judging beauty pageants for crying out loud. The guy’s flamboyancy and attitude beg for attention, and we give it all to him. The majority of people I have met can’t stand him, but I know they’ve all visited his page. He earns a celebrity status by doing what? Gossiping about celebrities. Now that’s ironic.
What about all the music superstars we have today? The pop queens, the R&B crooners, the latest dance crazes in the clubs started by the rappers and the manufactured beats; do any of these have real talent, something to last beyond the stages of a “trend?” Some do, and some do not. I think you all know what music I’m talking about. Artists Ke$ha and Soulja Boy. Ke$ha can’t hit a high C on a bar staff, and Soulja Boy comes up with the most moronic “dance” moves while talking his way through some beats a producer fed him. But we all love it! You can’t wait for their songs to come on the radio or hit the dance floor when the DJ turns them on. Then you turn around and wonder, how does someone like Soulja Boy make millions upon millions of dollars? What does he do? He doesn’t create music with lasting power for one thing, and the other is that the seizure-ridden dances based on sexual innuendos he creates are eaten up by the public. He makes money and blows up in the record industry with less talent than those of the people with pipes that are rejected time after time by the industry. We envy his money and fame for what he does, yet we are the ones who put him there.
Things like blogs, and YouTube, and any other medium that allows us to express ourselves has propelled the average Joe into “the next big thing.” People in home videos are used in music videos, millions of views on YouTube causes the next social uproar, and a few kids hitting the Jersey Shore for the summer cause an obsession with New York-Italian “guido” culture. They burst onto the scene, and make more money in a year than we can gross in a lifetime. We love it all; the reality television and the catchy music, while we sit back and scoff at their fame. There’s no one to blame but ourselves.
It wouldn’t surprise me if you looked up those same words again and things like YouTube, MySpace, and reality television were listed. There is no trick, no recipe, and even no talent needed to call yourself famous. This decline in the worth of fame could be attributed to the internet, to the music industry, or maybe even to the human need to be entertained 24 hours of the day, seven days a week.
“Celebrity status” is no longer determined by your work ethic, your profession, or the talent you possess. It has become solely a popularity contest based on your ability to put your face anywhere in the public eye. We all see it happening, we all see people on red carpets, at Hollywood premiers and wonder how on God’s green Earth these people got here. It’s no surprise because the most ironic part about it is that we’re the people who put them there. No one will admit it, but we perpetuate the cycle. We make what we hate, and what we hate to see.
You can relate it to something we refer to as a “guilty pleasure.” You love to watch it, hear it, be entertained by it, but you’re too embarrassed to admit it. Those television shows that are too cliché to watch, the songs so manufactured and catchy you only sing in the shower; those are the kinds of things we don’t discuss. The attention given to all these forms of media is what propels these guilty pleasures into stardom.
There is always someone in Hollywood we love to hate. I don’t know that anyone can explain it, but it’s true. Usually that person earns a ridiculous sum of money from something so simple, anyone could do it. But the attention they get from us, from the public, and from the media is what causes them to be a household name. One of the biggest and most widely-known examples of this is Perez Hilton. The guy runs a celebrity gossip blog site, which in itself is the beginning of this problem. Why do we care so much who Is dating who and who went out to the club last night? We don’t know, but we care. Anyone can sit at home and blog about the “buzz” and the latest scoop, but Perez Hilton is now a superstar. He’s at premiers, he’s on the red carpet, and he’s judging beauty pageants for crying out loud. The guy’s flamboyancy and attitude beg for attention, and we give it all to him. The majority of people I have met can’t stand him, but I know they’ve all visited his page. He earns a celebrity status by doing what? Gossiping about celebrities. Now that’s ironic.
What about all the music superstars we have today? The pop queens, the R&B crooners, the latest dance crazes in the clubs started by the rappers and the manufactured beats; do any of these have real talent, something to last beyond the stages of a “trend?” Some do, and some do not. I think you all know what music I’m talking about. Artists Ke$ha and Soulja Boy. Ke$ha can’t hit a high C on a bar staff, and Soulja Boy comes up with the most moronic “dance” moves while talking his way through some beats a producer fed him. But we all love it! You can’t wait for their songs to come on the radio or hit the dance floor when the DJ turns them on. Then you turn around and wonder, how does someone like Soulja Boy make millions upon millions of dollars? What does he do? He doesn’t create music with lasting power for one thing, and the other is that the seizure-ridden dances based on sexual innuendos he creates are eaten up by the public. He makes money and blows up in the record industry with less talent than those of the people with pipes that are rejected time after time by the industry. We envy his money and fame for what he does, yet we are the ones who put him there.
Things like blogs, and YouTube, and any other medium that allows us to express ourselves has propelled the average Joe into “the next big thing.” People in home videos are used in music videos, millions of views on YouTube causes the next social uproar, and a few kids hitting the Jersey Shore for the summer cause an obsession with New York-Italian “guido” culture. They burst onto the scene, and make more money in a year than we can gross in a lifetime. We love it all; the reality television and the catchy music, while we sit back and scoff at their fame. There’s no one to blame but ourselves.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wake Up Grammys! Talent is Knocking
I grew up sitting on my living room floor watching The Grammys every year in awe. I loved watching the uber-famous stars in dresses and spiffy outfits, performances I’d remember for years to come, and hoping for the most talented of artists to be rewarded for their accomplishments. It was a night of prestige. I sat in front of the television Sunday night in awe once again, but not for said reasons.
I was more or less shocked that I was even watching The Grammys. I picked up the remote checked the channel a few times, and attempted to restrain my need to throw it at the T.V. What I was looking at was more of a mixture of The Razzies and a Betsy Johnson fashion show. Where do I even begin?
I know we’re not talking about The Oscars here. It’s not all ball gowns and stuffy penguin suits. But is there any originality other than looking like you stepped out of an institution? Lady Gaga looked like a planet. No, seriously – a glittery planet in a yellow wig. Rihanna looked like a feather cushion after a pillow fight.
“But it’s runway! But it’s couture,” but it belongs in the trash.
Imogen Heap was dressed in a see-through petticoat with a studded, well, dog collar. Ciara rocked the feathers followed by a floor length dress of black mesh. Beyonce sat in the audience in a dress made of gold and silver chain link. That’s not trendy, just tacky. It’s not like we don’t expect off-the-wall fashion from some of these celebrities but how far can you go and have it still called fashion? It is an award show. Keep it classy, ladies.
Moving on now to what makes The Grammys prestigious. Of course I’m talking about the music, or so I thought. Many performances anymore are all about scandal, shock value, and the sex factor. This is where The Grammys held my attention and lost me all together. Since when did live acts become medleys? Half of these were carried by musical pioneers that came ages before them. There is a list of Grammys acts that made no sense to me. Beyonce sang an Alanis Morrisette song? The woman doesn’t have enough angst to carry a tune like that. Who can forget Taylor Swift’s act? She sang alongside Stevie Nicks, and the woman made Swift look like the amateur that she is.
There were three of the best combinations I’ve seen in quite a while. Elton John and Lady Gaga blew the roof off of the Staples Center. This is an exception to my dislike of medleys. Two terribly gifted pianists and vocalists, both advocates of equality in sexuality rights, and yet they are of staggeringly different generations. They melded together, while remaining in their own natural state to create an unforgettable act. Put Lady Gaga in front of a piano and the amazing talent she has is showcased. A true artist, with musical and lyrical skills, and shines the most live. I’d say that’s a lost art today.
Next in that list was the stirring duet from Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige. An unlikely and seemingly incompatible pair, that is until they open their mouths. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is a classic itself, and Bocelli is a musical wonder, but for Blige to hold her own against a famed opera singer shows some serious pipes and gumption. The duet was of course all for a good cause, in the interest of raising funds for Haiti, but I believe it will have a more lasting effect even after Haiti recovers.
Above all, done just as properly as it should have, was the tribute to the late, great Michael Jackson. Simple. Not smoke and mirrors, no rope tricks, no sex appeal, just pure voices in honor of one of the greatest artists there will ever be. Creatively enough, the effect of Jackson’s music was personified by the people chosen to sing in his honor. Bringing together generations, people of different genres and races underneath his music. This was more than fitting for the King of Pop.
The nominations and the awards are what baffled me the most about this year’s Grammys. I have no idea when the raw talent in the nominees was replaced with mixers, soundboards, and synthetic instruments. Today’s Grammy’s seem to honor more manufactured music than ability. Album of the Year sadly goes to Taylor Swift. The girl can write her own music and strum a guitar, but she can’t sing outside of a studio. I would like to think anyone thought highly enough of to win such a prestigious award can sing anywhere. The girl is “relatable” but I don’t think that justifies a Grammy. She now stands alongside legendary greats like U2, Frank Sinatra, Eric Clapton, and The Beatles. If that doesn’t blow your mind, I would have to assume you are musically inept.
Cheers to the 2010 Grammys having passed, and my television still being in one piece after the fact. Here’s to hoping The Grammys will wise up in the coming years and get back in touch with the roots of music and what it takes to be recognized worldwide as an outstanding artist.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Privacy Threatened for Female Sports Journos
Opportunities for women in the sports world are a dime a dozen. Proving athletic knowledge, a love for the game, and the ability to be the best in your career is a tough and daunting task for any applicant, while females have the added pressure of being a minority and looking good in the process. Recently, females have had to pay a pretty penny for a career in sports journalism, where jobs are already few and far between.
Erin Andrews, a reporter for ESPN, was secretly filmed through a peephole in a hotel, and the video posted across the internet for public viewing. Andrews pressed criminal charges on the man who videotaped her and anyone who dares to publish the material. As a highly popular, and well-known, attractive female reporter, she has quite a following which are particularly male viewers. Being a face on ESPN, most of her fan base has its roots in men.
I worked in a sports store throughout my first two years of college, and even then I was subject to male discrimination. Someone would ask, “Can you grab me a Boston hat?” followed by, “You do know what team that is, right?” I know what it feels like to be subject to male discrimination because I put myself in a world where I am a minority. Every woman is aware of that fact coming into the field, but what can you do besides proving yourself? There is constant doubt in the sports world that a female could possibly know a fraction of what males do, and even then it’s only for a job and not because they’re doing what they love. I don’t know that the stereotype could ever be overcome, and still a female is taken advantage of in a situation like Erin Andrews. These women work as hard as anyone to earn on job on a network like ESPN, and after overcoming that feat they are brought back down at the hands of a man looking to get his 15 minutes at the mercy of an unknowing and defenseless woman.
Andrews was a victim of wrongdoing and given the history of women in videos and sex tapes, it was no surprise there was speculation that she had staged the incident as a publicity stunt. From a position of having your privacy invaded and dealing with naked videos of yourself on the internet as well as fighting off accusations that you had done this intentionally, the girl can’t catch a break. As a journalist, your credibility is everything. This incident could and may have already damaged both her reputation and her credibility to those whom believe she was purposely filmed.
Pursuing a career in this field has made me question what is worth it, and what I really want to do with the ambition to be a sports journalist or photographer. For many people in the field, traveling is necessary and hotel rooms become your home. As a female, it makes me feel unsafe to know that it’s as easy as finding my potential hotel room and a peephole with a video camera to tarnish my career. If it’s that simple to find me, what else could happen? There are some crazed people out there and if you can find me, who else knows what you may want to and have the ability to do. Being as you are already accessible, the general public has the ability to know exactly where you are and when you are going to be there. You work in sports. Games are designated for months ahead, at a specific time and place. Hit up ESPN.com and you can figure out a schedule of Erin Andrew’s travels. Become a beat writer, and you’ll be in whatever city the team takes you. It’s a scary thought to be subject to an industry that broadcasts where you’ll be the majority of the time. As a female, and with these kind of occurrances , it makes the industry that much tougher and frightening.
I have a determination to one day be a member of the sports media, and I know what to expect coming in. I can work as hard as any male in the business and compete along with the best because I have enough drive. But when someone can so easily videotape you and bring down everything you have worked for, there is nothing you can do. The scandal with Andrews may have only been one time, but how many times does this have the potential to occur? For me, it’s not even a matter of fighting off discrimination as a female, but feeling safe in my career. Is that really too much to ask?
Erin Andrews, a reporter for ESPN, was secretly filmed through a peephole in a hotel, and the video posted across the internet for public viewing. Andrews pressed criminal charges on the man who videotaped her and anyone who dares to publish the material. As a highly popular, and well-known, attractive female reporter, she has quite a following which are particularly male viewers. Being a face on ESPN, most of her fan base has its roots in men.
I worked in a sports store throughout my first two years of college, and even then I was subject to male discrimination. Someone would ask, “Can you grab me a Boston hat?” followed by, “You do know what team that is, right?” I know what it feels like to be subject to male discrimination because I put myself in a world where I am a minority. Every woman is aware of that fact coming into the field, but what can you do besides proving yourself? There is constant doubt in the sports world that a female could possibly know a fraction of what males do, and even then it’s only for a job and not because they’re doing what they love. I don’t know that the stereotype could ever be overcome, and still a female is taken advantage of in a situation like Erin Andrews. These women work as hard as anyone to earn on job on a network like ESPN, and after overcoming that feat they are brought back down at the hands of a man looking to get his 15 minutes at the mercy of an unknowing and defenseless woman.
Andrews was a victim of wrongdoing and given the history of women in videos and sex tapes, it was no surprise there was speculation that she had staged the incident as a publicity stunt. From a position of having your privacy invaded and dealing with naked videos of yourself on the internet as well as fighting off accusations that you had done this intentionally, the girl can’t catch a break. As a journalist, your credibility is everything. This incident could and may have already damaged both her reputation and her credibility to those whom believe she was purposely filmed.
Pursuing a career in this field has made me question what is worth it, and what I really want to do with the ambition to be a sports journalist or photographer. For many people in the field, traveling is necessary and hotel rooms become your home. As a female, it makes me feel unsafe to know that it’s as easy as finding my potential hotel room and a peephole with a video camera to tarnish my career. If it’s that simple to find me, what else could happen? There are some crazed people out there and if you can find me, who else knows what you may want to and have the ability to do. Being as you are already accessible, the general public has the ability to know exactly where you are and when you are going to be there. You work in sports. Games are designated for months ahead, at a specific time and place. Hit up ESPN.com and you can figure out a schedule of Erin Andrew’s travels. Become a beat writer, and you’ll be in whatever city the team takes you. It’s a scary thought to be subject to an industry that broadcasts where you’ll be the majority of the time. As a female, and with these kind of occurrances , it makes the industry that much tougher and frightening.
I have a determination to one day be a member of the sports media, and I know what to expect coming in. I can work as hard as any male in the business and compete along with the best because I have enough drive. But when someone can so easily videotape you and bring down everything you have worked for, there is nothing you can do. The scandal with Andrews may have only been one time, but how many times does this have the potential to occur? For me, it’s not even a matter of fighting off discrimination as a female, but feeling safe in my career. Is that really too much to ask?
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