Category Archives: sports

01

Mar. ’10

Why is it Big News if Jordan buys the Bobcats?

 

It’s big news that Michael Jordan is expected to get approval to buy the Charlotte Bobcats NBA team. Big, big news. But why? Are we so accustomed to talking about the post-NBA player life of this guy that we’ve got to obsess about this, too? Or… is there more to this for us?

Face it: Michael Jordan has been going through a mid-life crisis since the FIRST time he retired from the NBA.  He has tried different sports, divorced his wife, dated a bunch of women, tried his hand at management, and is already part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. So, why do we care so much if he becomes the majority owner of this team?

Maybe we just want to talk about something other than all of the crises the world is facing right now. Well, no…that wouldn’t be right. Okay, so maybe the media is looking for a less complicated story to report. No…I’m watching a Bobcats game right now, and the sportscaster just said, “Of course, the big news of the weekend is that Michael Jordan has bought the Charlotte Bobcats.” Oh, I know…we are wondering if this is another plea for attention from Michael Jordan, who has had the weirdest retirement of anyone I can think of, especially someone who many say is the greatest player EVER. Tell me this:

Does Michael Jordan himself know why he wants to own this team? What immediately comes to mind is the ranting Hall of Fame Induction speech that Jordan made last year, in which he reminded owners and the front office guys that it’s the players who win championships.  I seem to remember him saying something similar when he was about to leave the Bulls ball club.

Is he going to be good for the team? I can’t help but wonder, because we all know that he did some really questionable things with the Wizards, and got fired. Well, if he owns the team, he can’t get fired, but he can certainly do other types of damage. As a North Carolinian by birth, I feel slightly sick at the thought of Jordan taking this blossoming team and screwing it up. Don’t get upset…I know who Jordan is to basketball…on the court. This is not the same thing.

Can MJ keep up the endorsements as an owner? You tell me. Has this ever been done? I suppose that, if the answer is no, Jordan could become the first and best known (and most well-paid) endorsement mogul to ever own a team…

Here’s what I think: Michael Jordan has lived his whole life by being challenged. It all goes back to what he said in that crazy speech at the Induction ceremony. Anytime someone challenged him, they were throwing logs on his raging fire inside. Well, Bob Johnson has been pretty unsuccessful as owner of the Bobcats, and he was the first African American majority owner of a professional sports team. Don’t you see? Jordan now has a chance to become the first successful majority owner, and once again make history. If that is what keeps him alive, then so be it. I’m not much of a Jordan fan, but if he can pull this off, I think everyone should leave him and his crazy alone.

 

I’m just sayin… 

www.sportsfanlunatic.com

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01

Jan. ’10

Get To Know Yourself Better … Inside Out

blood pressure measurement

Image via Wikipedia

 Sometimes, doctors cannot remember their patients‘ names. Funny thing is, if someone in the doctor‘s office changed your name from “Samuel” to “the right-sided abdominal pain guy,” your doctor would, most likely, instantly  know EXACTLY who the patient is. It isn’t because he/she doesn’t care … quite the opposite, in fact. When it comes to practicing medicine, doctors learn how to see patients from the “inside out.” Athletes see themselves this way, too, and so do their trainers and coaches.

This is where health and healing begins, and ends. This is also the reason that you usually cannot look at a person and know whether he or she is healthy or unhealthy. Heart disease, for example, can be congenital. So, if there is a genetic defect that was passed to you by one or both parents, then you could be a person who is a normal weight, athletic, who eats right, and still suffer from this illness. It is a mistake to think that only the obviously unhealthy are at risk for, or dealing with certain ailments. Having said that, it is my opinion that we should get to know ourselves from the inside out. See your primary care physician at least once per year. When you do this, have a comprehensive set of blood tests done. Ask for a urinalysis (pee test.) Depending upon your age, you might want to include an annual chest x-ray and an EKG (electrocardiogram…heart rhythm test). Your blood pressure and weight will also be recorded.

Don’t stop there … KNOW the results of these tests. Ask for printed test results, and keep them in a safe place. If you notice any asterisks (*) beside any of the test results, there is a chance that the results are either higher or lower than the “normal” range, and you should discuss this with your doctor. Many times, very simple changes like adding a supplement to your multivitamin can get those results back within the proper range. Being outside the range can also indicate that there is something else wrong with you that needs a closer look. If that is the case, your lab tests can often give you a heads up, and maybe you can begin life-saving treatment earlier than you would have if you didn’t see these results.

Here’s something else to consider: As you age, things change. This is the natural order of things. Our bodies are made to last for a certain amount of time under normal use, or “wear and tear.” That is why there is the term called ”life expectancy.” The organs, tissues and cells in our bodies are made to withstand only so much damage before they begin to deteriorate. When we smoke, drink too much alcohol, fail to exercise on a regular basis and don’t sleep enough, we are not just doing things that cause us not to feel our best here and now, we are actually doing damage to our bodies that we cannot necessarily see or feel right away. We are speeding up the aging process!

Remember that old song that said, “the hip bone’s connected to the thigh bone…” and so forth? Well, it’s ALL connected. From the point of taking a breath, eating something, or even going to the bathroom to release waste, it is all connected. If you lose your ability to breathe, oxygen cannot flow through your blood and keep your organs, cells and tissues healthy. Your brain begins to die within moments of not having oxygen. Eventually, your heart stops beating, and the result is death. It is not just YOU as an entity who dies…it is every distinct piece of you.

With this in mind, take better care of you. Take better care of every teeny tiny bit of you. If you smoke, consider the fact that you’re breathing in poisons that are going into your lungs, and your bloodstream. Since your blood is recycled throughout your body, you are sucking in poison to your whole body. If you are a person who has poor eating habits, think about what your failure to properly provide nutrition to your body’s many components is doing to you.

We can all make changes that will make us feel better and help our bodies last longer. Since this is a new year, why not start 2010 by making changes that will improve your quality of life for the long haul? That is what I am going to do, by getting to know myself better … inside out. Join me!

© 2010 SportsFanLunatic.com
By posting our content, you agree to credit this author and/ or provide a link to this website.


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10

Dec. ’09

Play, and Prevent Chronic Disease?

Despite the fact that a third of all adults are trying to lose weight at any given time, Americans continue to get fatter. Although we spend 30 billion dollars each year on weight loss products and promotions, as a nation we are gaining weight at an unprecedented rate. The solution is so simple that we are collectively ignoring it and looking past the obvious. We need to PLAY.

Think about it: our predecessors were much more active than we are today. Since there were fewer convenient ways to get our day-to-day chores done, we expended many more calories in almost every task. Even something like washing dishes, doing laundry and other general household chores took more time, and involved more physical activity.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m a HUGE fan of anything that makes my life easier. I can’t help but wonder, however, what price will be paid for all this “easier.”

I think we fool ourselves by looking at an increase in the life expectancy numbers as an indication that we’re doing things right. Yes, we are living longer… much longer. But what is our quality of life like? Are we living longer just so we can pay enormous health care bills, and take several medications and still not feel well? Are we living longer at home, or in skilled nursing facilities? Are our researchers focused enough on prevention, or on prolonging our miserable disease-ridden lives?

Sports and exercise could help with the reduction and subsequent eradication of preventable chronic problems like obesity. Obesity seems to be a major cause of  most of what the population currently suffers from. If we would reverse our attitude about exercise and look at it as a life-saving, fun activity instead of a bothersome chore, we would keep our life expectancy numbers up, enjoy our modern conveniences, and still have the quality of life that we all want.

How do we change our attitude? I’m not really sure. For some of us, it might be too late. Or we could take a lesson from children. I saw a commercial about a program that the National Football League has put together. The suggestion is that children play (actively)  for at least 60 minutes a day, every day.  This is what I’m talking about … structure without bondage. I know so many people who decide to join the new, large gym with all the latest equipment, and then spend the next year making excuses why they can’t get there. Our lives are too  full of business (or busy-ness)  to take care of that we are neglecting the fact that we can’t get anything done well if we are not well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a list of diseases that are considered to be related to being overweight and inactive.

You can see the entire article on their website at: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/health.html. So, we have the data, we know how to play…what keeps us from doing it? It’s time for some soul-searching. What are your reasons for not taking the best care of YOU that you can? What do you think your health will be like in 10 years if you don’t exercise now? If you do exercise now, do you think you will continue?

The facts and statistics do not lie. PLAY, and help prevent chronic disease.

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02

Dec. ’09

Football 101: A Cheat Sheet for the Women Who ♥ the Men Who ♥ the Game

(and anyone else who wants to know basic stuff about this awesome sport)

Lots of women like football, some of us LOVE it, and I think that it would appeal to more women if what’s happening during a football game was more obvious. This sport requires superior skill, strict training and athleticism, especially if a man expects to succeed in the NFL (National Football League), and this is a HUGE business.  Those are the reasons that I love football, but…

…even if you’re trying to learn about football to impress someone, or you want to spend more quality time with your husband or significant other who loves football, READ THIS and maybe print it for future reference. I promise not to overwhelm you with random terms; instead I have basically thought about the game itself, the structure of football teams, terms that are commonly used during games, common penalties and the scoring structure. You might be surprised to find that you end up with a genuine interest in this AWESOME sport.

Team Structure: Football teams are basically made up of three groups: an offense, defense, and what is called special teams. The offensive group has the Quarterback, and is responsible for trying to score points by getting the football down the field and into the opposing team’s end zone. The defense is the group that is responsible for keeping that from happening. The special teams group primarily is responsible for kicking field goals and punting the football (at the beginning of each team’s possession.) The guy who holds the ball while the other guy kicks it is, fittingly, called the holder. Each group even has their own Coach, and the person who is responsible for every group is called the Head Coach.

Scoring:The most common ways to score points are the touchdown, field goal, conversion (1 and 2 pts), and safety. When a team scores by running or catching the football in the other team’s end zone, they score 6 points or a touchdown. After the touchdown, the team has the chance to score a conversion, by either kicking a field goal for 1 point (called the extra point, and is most common) or trying to run or throw the football into the end zone for 2 points (called “going for 2”, and mostly done when the second point would win the game or cause the game to go into overtime). A safety occurs when one team tackles the other team in the other team’s own end zone, and results in 2 points.

Some Common Terms Are:

Line of Scrimmage: An imaginary line stretching the width of the field that separates the two teams’ offense and defense prior to the snap of the ball.  

Snap:  The handoff of the ball that puts the ball into play.

Downs:  Each possession for each team is measured in “downs.” The initial possession after the ball is put into play by a “punt” or “kick” is called “first down.” The object of the game is for the offense to try to run or throw the football 10 yards or more before being tackled or run out of bounds, per possession. If the offense fails to go at least 10 yards, the down advances to 2nd down, and the additional number of yards that the first down did not gain are added to the next down. After three attempts (or 3rd down) and no successful new first down, the offense must make a decision to either punt the ball to the opposing team to begin the next possession , try to kick a field goal (if they are close enough to the other team’s goal) or try one more time on a 4th down. The latter is  very risky and doesn’t happen as often, because if a first down or touchdown is not scored at a fourth down try, the opposing team gains possession wherever the 4th down ends. That could place the opposing team in a more favorable position on the field to try to get their own score. (Fascinating, right? I KNOW!!)

Red Zone: The area between the 20 yard line and the goal of the defensive team.

Fumble: When a player loses control of the ball while it is in play, and can result in the opposing team taking possession of the ball.

Flag on the play: Football referees use colored flags that are weighted to throw out onto the field to stop the game and assess a penalty. Some of the more common penalties are:

  • Offside – players are not lined up correctly right before or as the ball is being put into play; 5 yard penalty.
  • False start – any player moving after they have gotten in their set position before the snap in a way that seems like the start of the play (kinda like a false start in track and field) 5 yard penalty
  • Delay of game – results in not putting the ball into play before the play clock runs out; 5 yard penalty.
  • Holding – illegal use of the hands or arms while blocking; 10 yard penalty.
  • Pass Interference (offense) – just like it sounds; 10 yard penalty.
  • Pass Interference (defense) – worse than offense because the penalty moves the ball to where it would have been caught.
  • Unnecessary Roughness/ Unsportsmanlike Conduct – just like they sound, and both carry a 15 yard penalty.

See what I mean? This is a wonderful sport full of talented players, some of whom have played the game of football since they were able to run. When you blend this knowledge with a team that you feel loyal to (and not because they have cute uniforms), you can have a great time! Add to that some awesome snacks, companionship, tailgating, or better yet…50 yard line tickets…

Okay, I have to end this before I start to hyperventilate!

© 2009 SportsFanLunatic.com
By posting our content, you agree to credit this author and/ or provide a link to this website.

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23

Nov. ’09

Professional Athletes are NOT Overpaid!

Sports icon for Portals

Image via Wikipedia

What value would you attach to talent? What price would you be willing to pay someone for their dedication? How about for their intensity and even plain old ability? Seriously … take a moment and think about this. If you had spent all or most of your childhood, adolescence and young adulthood training and preparing to do what you love to do (on a professional level) what things would you want someone to consider when they negotiate your salary? Think like a professional athlete for a moment. I think my perspective would have to be explained by showing you what these men and women hear on a pretty regular basis from:

Team Owners:

“Remember now, if you get hurt on the job, there is no workman’s compensation. You are expected to, within reason, get up, shake it off, and keep it moving. Maybe you didn’t sleep well the night before. Who cares? GO TO WORK! Even if a close family member or friend dies, if you are scheduled to work, you will go to work.”

It isn’t just your boss who expects this – he or she is mostly concerned about the thousands of screaming fans in attendance, and possibly millions more watching at home or from various sports bars and other venues. Your team’s owner knows who is going to watch you, critique your performance, take pictures of you at your very worst moment, and plaster these images all over the internet, television and newspapers. He also knows how this will affect the franchise…the brand. You are, after all, a PRODUCT.

Vendors:

“You see, we depend upon you. We are able to make OUR living because of what YOU do. Our clients turn to you for entertainment. We plan major events around what you are doing. We need to sell hot dogs and beer…you can’t let us down now! What will happen to us?”

Endorsers:

“Listen…I need to sell my (insert anything and everything you can possibly think of) and if I put your face on the (insert packaging description), I am sure that my profits will increase! Yes, I will give you a very small percentage of my earnings, but I will complain about it, because you are already making all that money for, I mean … that team is already paying you a hefty salary. I do not care how many expenses you have, I just want to get paid!”

Fans:

“GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME! I can’t believe you dropped that ball! We’re not going to make it to the playoffs this year because of YOU. No home field advantage? What the… What do you mean you have a torn rotator cuff? Suck it UP! All my life I dreamed of playing professional sports…now that I can live through you (since it didn’t work out for me) PLAY THE GAME THE WAY I WOULD HAVE PLAYED IT! What kind of role model ARE you? I want my kids to be able to look up to you! I can’t be a good example as a parent, so I’ve chosen YOU, sports figure, to put on a pedestal and if you do ANYTHING wrong, I will make sure you never play in this league again!”

Granted, if things are going very well for you and your sport, this makes everyone happy and your salary is justified. (Umm…how often does THAT happen?)

Still think professional athletes are overpaid? Tell me what you REALLY think. I’m just sayin…

© 2009 SportsFanLunatic.com
By posting our content, you agree to credit this author and/ or provide a link to this website.

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18

Nov. ’09

Kobe versus Jordan: NO COMPARISON!

 

I have often wondered why those of us who love sports are so intent on comparing some players’ athletic prowess with that of their predecessors … is it just so difficult for us to believe that more than one athlete has amazing talent and statistics?

I do not think anyone should EVER compare Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan. Why? It’s obvious.

Because there IS no comparison between the totally awesome Kobe Bryant (my fav) and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan (Kobe’s fav).

We all know that Michael Jordan has pure, raw talent. His motivation, as he told the world during his speech at the Hall of Fame Induction this year, was to be “the best” in order to spite all of the people that he believes tried to hold him back, or who failed to give him his “props.” In order to accomplish this, Jordan knew that he needed to win championships. For Jordan, it was just that simple. He is, after all, pretty easy to understand since he is so simple.

Kobe Bryant wants to be the best at the game of basketball because he loves and respects the game. Kobe knows the rules, inside and out, and his head is always in the game. He is an intelligent player who acts as the primary connection between head coach Phil Jackson and the rest of the players on his team. Yes, Kobe is motivated by winning championships. He desires, like many great men and women, to leave his mark on the game, but not because someone in his past said that he wasn’t good enough.

These two players did not enter the NBA under the same circumstances. Michael Jordan played college basketball for the great Dean Smith of the UNC Tar (gasp) Heels, and had three years of the best preparation available for his esteemed NBA career. Everyone knows how many NBA’ers sat under the tutelage of Coach Smith. On the other hand, Kobe Bryant was so totally awesome that he was drafted into the NBA at the tender age of 17, right out of high school. He has told reporters that he was not even old enough to legally sign his own NBA contract…because he was not yet 18. Wow, he must have impressed someone.

Jordan and Bryant’s mentors and/ or idols of the game are not the same. Jordan had a completely different set of players to look up to, and emulate. Kobe? Well, he emulated Jordan. Why, then, would anyone compare the two? And why would anyone decide that it is a negative thing that Kobe would want to be like someone who played the game of basketball the way Michael Jordan did? Hmmm … this just makes no sense.

Throughout time, people have sought to leave a legacy for those who would come behind them. Michael Jordan is not the deep-thinking type of person who says that he hopes to influence younger players, but most of the greats of the game say just that. They’ve paved the way for younger players to play smarter, negotiate better salaries and endorsement deals, and they have helped influence greater team diversity, etc. Kobe attempts to nurture the players on his team. Jordan was never accused of such a thing.

I admire both of these players, and I appreciate their personal and professional attributes. I am, however, Kobe’s biggest fan. That might be the number one, and final, reason why THERE IS NO COMPARISON between KOBE BRYANT and Michael Jordan. Period.

I’m just sayin…

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10

Nov. ’09

My “Extreme” Sport

Example variable speed limit sign in the Unite...
Image via Wikipedia

Yes, I consider myself to be an athlete. If I had my choice, I would play professional basketball, but that was decided for me years ago when I realized that I just can’t dribble and run at the same time, no matter how hard I’ve tried. I have a heck of a jump shot, and can shoot free throws like nobody’s business, but, as you know, that doesn’t cut it.

When I decided to leave city life behind me and move to a small town 20 miles from my office, I (unknowingly) signed up for my Extreme Sport. It’s not power raking, either, although there are 25 trees in my front and back yards, combined. Nope…it’s “Morning Commute on the Interstate,” and I am THE BEST athlete out there. You might say I’m the KOBE of the ROAD, baby.

Here’s how it works:
I often see the same players because we probably are all going into the city and have to be there by 8 a.m. The usual players are white beamer, puke green minivan, and brown hoopty with the diamond in the back.

Brown Hoopty insists on blasting music. Dummy. It’s distracting, and that’s why you didn’t see that trooper coming at you the other day and you got pulled over. White Beamer thinks he owns the road, and what, besides a candy apple red color, is more obvious than a white beamer on the highway? Puke green minivan is a mom who makes peanut butter sandwiches on the dashboard while her kids play musical chairs as she chats on the phone. She doesn’t get pulled over, though, because she’s too busy going 5 miles UNDER the speed limit and messing up my groove.

Oh, yeah…then there’s me, dark grey Taurus. Here’s what makes me successful at this sport: I’m inconspicuous. Dark grey (slate) colored sedans don’t get pulled over. I’d have to do something really insanely obviously unlawful (and I don’t mean speeding) for the troopers to even look at me. Besides that, I rarely drive in the far left (fast) lane. I prefer the two middle lanes, and yes, there are times when I can’t get around the minivan lady unless I pass in the slow lane. (I know, I know…) BUT: I don’t weave in and out…in an obvious way. I always use my signals when I change lanes, and I always move over and speed up when someone merges onto the highway. (This gives me a chance to speed up to even 20 miles over…just for a second) Basically, I follow the rules. I also follow the fastest drivers, or try to get between or in front of them. That’s my heaven; when I’m on top of my game. When I look in front of me and see the traffic flowing, and my speedometer says I’m doing right around 80, I feel that euphoria… (Remember KOBE in the playoffs earlier this year? The scowling face… OH yeah!)

Then I look at the clock, and that’s where I get my biggest rush: I’m on time. Now it’s time to exit the highway and do a swift, but short navigation through the city traffic. Remember to move over before I get to the BP station because cars always bunch up there…you could lose 3 minutes while you wait for them to get their heads in the game!

My Extreme Sport is a thing of beauty. Maybe I’ll mount a camera on the dash and let you all see it one of these days. Oh, and what do I get when I reach the finish line? I get to my office and the CEO’s not there yet, that’s what. And did I mention that I’ve been a licensed driver since age 17, and I have NOT EVER had a speeding ticket or any other type of moving violation or points on my license? I didn’t say I haven’t been STOPPED; I just have never been given a ticket. I AM SO AWESOME, just like my KOBE.

© 2011 SportsFanLunatic.com
By posting our content, you agree to credit this author and/ or provide a link to this website.

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