Some things to consider

- What if Notre Dame hires Urban Meyer or Bob Stoops and they don’t win.  Then what Notre Dame fans?  It won’t be the Coach for the fourth time!  Perhaps the instution.

- What if Drew Brees was still a San Diego Charger?  Even better, what if Miami had signed him instead of Daunte Culpepper?  How scarier might the wildcat look?

-The only school that has defeated the UConn women the past two years has been Delaware.  What if Delle Donne was still a Husky?

- What if Hasheem Thabeet could consistently put up 20 points?

- What if the Oakland Raiders were actually owned by a smart person?  It’s kind of ironic that Michael Crabtree has done more in four games than Darius Heyward-Bey has done all season.

-What if the World Series was like every other sports championship format of home, home, away, away, home, away, home?

-What would Roy Williams reaction be if Harrison Barnes actually tricked him when he announced his college decision via Skype.  What if Barnes was like, “Hey Coach, (and Williams was smiling) nah just playing, I’m really going to Duke. Gotcha!”

-What if I told you the Yankees would have three less wins (two total) in November than the Giants, Jets, Nets and Knicks combined?  Well, that’s the truth!

-What do the Jets, Nets, and Mets have in common?  Three things: 1.) They’re all from the tri-state area, 2.) They’re nicknames all rhyme, and 3.) They all stink!

-What if Phil Kessel was still a Bruin?  Perhaps I might watch them again.

-What if Stanley Robinson actually did jump out of the gym?

-What if Gordon Bombay actually scored on that penalty shot?

-What if Geno and Calhoun actually liked each other?

-What if Pat summit came out and admitted that she is jealous of Geno and really wants to be his husband….errrr wife?

-What if Brandon Jennings played a year in college?  Would Arizona have been able to beat Louisville and then Michigan State?  What if UConn played Arizona in the Final Four?

-What if the Yankees win a World Series with a payroll under $125 million? Now that’s a BIG IF!

-What if Hanley Ramirez was still a Red Sox? No Beckett, no problem?

-What if Chad Ochocinco didn’t have Twitter?  The Ravens armpits might still stink and the Steelers might not have had ketchup.

-What if Manny Ramirez actually made sense?

-What if the National Anthem wasn’t played before a sporting event?  Perhaps people would actually notice.  On a side note, I feel like the National Anthem before a sporting event is a waste.  People talk during it, forget to remove their hats, look around, etc.  – that if you actually didn’t play it, people might start to respect it and their country more when they hear it once every special occasion.

-What if Okafor and Gordon stayed for their senior years?

-What if Jim Calhoun was no longer the coach of the Huskies?

-What if the Hartford Whalers came back?

-What if Vince Wilfork weighed less then 275 pounds?

-What if Yale football actually converted a 4th-and-22 on a fake punt? Apparently the whole Ivy League education thing doesn’t apply to the coaches.

-What if the Stony Brook soccer player missed the penalty kick against the back-flipping Hartford goalie?

-What if the Orlando Breakers were really an NFL team, really coached by Coach Hayden Fox?

-What if the UConn women actually lost a basketball game?

-What if the Super Bowl was played in cold weather?

-What if Peyton Manning didn’t play all his home games in a dome?

-What if Tom Brady had Randy Moss and Wes Welker his entire career?

-What if Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel return to the Patriots?

-What if ESPN didn’t have the Yankees or Red Sox?

-What if UConn beat Duke in a game in which Dick Vitale was announcing?  Heck, what if Dick Vitale said he isn’t a Duke fan?

-What if another school, other than UConn or Tennessee ,won a women’s basketball championship?  Would anybody notice?

-What if Pacman Jones were straight-edge?

-What if the Browns had more than 100 yards passing in the first three quarters?

-What if Brett Farve went into the Hall of Fame as a Viking?

-What if Mike Tyson were a linebacker?

-What if an office worker tackled Terry Tate?

-What if Jim Calhoun gave a dime back?

-What if the Bears, “We’re not who we thought they were?”

-What if Herm Edwards actually played to win the game?

-What if Bill Belichick stayed coach of the Jets?

-What if David Eckstein did steroids?

-What if “Big Game Bob” actually won a Big Game?

-What if Mark Mangino and Ralph Friegjen sat on the same stage?

-What if Bobby Petrino was still the coach of Louisville?

-What if the XFL was still around?

-What if the Patriots drafted Deangelo Williams instead of Laurence Maroney?

-What if T.O. actually had a quarterback he liked?

-What if the NFL didn’t fine for touchdown celebrations?

-What if Dennis Dixon didn’t tear his ACL?

-What if Matt Millen was the boss of the Lions for another 10 years?

-What if the Galloping Gobbler was a prestigious award?

-What if people actually liked Joe Buck and Tim McCarver?

-What if Michael Vick could throw the ball?

-What if it really was a sweet, Italian sausage Mark Sanchez was caught eating and not a hot dog?

-What if Fairfield Prep or Hamden High could actually be on the same level as Notre Dame-West Haven?

-What if the Nets go 0-82?

-What if Lebron James and Maya Moore had a kid?

-What if Notre Dame came to Rentschler Field?

-What if AC Slater played in the NFL?

-What if UConn football went into Notre Dame Stadium and beat them in front of 80,000 people?  Oh wait…

-What if I actually updated my blog on a consistent basis?  Perhaps people would actually be reading this post!

Till next time, whenever that may be,

-Matt-

Chudoba Family Golf Tournament

To Whom It May Concern:

The Dunbar Hill School staff is in the process of putting together a golf tournament fundraiser for a Hamden family.  Leslie Chudoba, a long time teacher at Bear Path School and her son, Jeff Chudoba, presently a teacher at Dunbar Hill School, are in need of help.  Jeff Chudoba was diagnosed with cancer within the past year.  Before Jeff’s diagnosis, his father was undergoing a battle of his own with cancer, to which he recently succumbed.  Jeff has been battling bravely since January.  He is facing multiple surgeries and an intensive treatment plan.  Presently, he is being treated through the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.  As you know, medical insurance does not cover everything involved.  On top of the emotional toll these circumstances have had on the family, the financial burden has also been overwhelming.

The Dunbar Hill School staff is organizing a golf tournament and dinner to be held on August 17^th in an effort to give back to this family who has touched so many lives in our community.  Additionally, we are looking for sponsors for this benefit and plan on holding a raffle to maximize the profit that can be provided directly to the family.  All proceeds will be donated directly to Jeff Chudoba.

We are hoping that you will consider one of the several ways in which you can contribute to this worthy cause.  Please join us in the endeavor by playing in the golf tournament, becoming a sponsor for the event, donating to the raffle or attending the dinner.  A registration form for participation is attached for your convenience.  If you have any questions, I can be reached at 407-2025 or by e-mail at sbergin@hamden.org or you can speak with my secretary, Kathy Hilton, at the same phone number or reach her by e-mail at khilton@hamden.org.

On behalf of our community and the Chudoba family, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude.  I know that with your help, this event will go a long way to providing support to the Chudoba family in their time of need.

Sincerely,

Chudoba Golf Tournament Registration Flyer

Stephen F. Bergin

Principal

Some love for John Zeidner

In my online journalism class, we talk about social media all the time and how social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are taking over mainstream news outlets.  There are people out their who can’t stomach this thought and can’t stomach the different renovations Facebook has gone through since it first came out in 2004.

I’m hear to tell you to stop knocking Facebook, and here’s why.  Back when my father was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2008, I became a fan of the  “LIVESTRONG” page on Facebook.  I wrote my dad’s story on the group wall and within in a day I got a reply from a man who lives in North Carolina but has become a friend.  His name is John Zeidner.

John sent me a message on Facebook and told me how his mom was battling lung cancer as well.  He then told me he was an advocate for LiveStrong in Carolina, and if there was anything he could do for me to let him know.

John's mom, Vivian.

Over the course of his mom and my dad’s cancer battles, we were able to stay in touch with one another through Facebook messages.  I found out John’s dad had also died from cancer when John was 14.

After having cancer affect his family again with his mother, John wasn’t just going to sit there and ask, “Why did this happen to my family again?”  Instead, he became an advocate for cancer research and fundraising, so that no other family would have to go through what John’s family did twice.

“I think fundraising for cancer fighting organizations like The Lance Armstrong Foundation is extremely important because cancer effects just about everyone we know. Whether it’s ourselves or our loved ones or friends or neighbors, at any given time it seems we all know someone battling cancer. An American dies of cancer every single minute of every single day. That’s about 1,500 Americans every day. Not only does fundraising help generate much needed money for people currently fighting cancer, others that are living after their cancer treatments, and for vital medical research to find cures, it also raises awareness of the disease in our communities, schools, churches and workplace and the need for all of us to do our part to make a difference.” – John Zeidner

Before I get to the story of the latest way John raised money for cancer, John’s mother, Vivian, passed away this past January surronded by family and friends.  John and his sister kept a blog of Vivian’s life throughout her battle with cancer.  I advise you to check it out because it really will teach you how to enjoy life.

On April 20, 2009, in Boston, Mass., it was Patriots Day.  Not only does Patriots Day include an 11:05 Red Sox start, but it also includes the 26.2 mile Boston Marathon.  Thanks to John, my dad was there running the race.

John Zeidner

You see, I’m about to tell you a story that didn’t get picked up by any type of media except in John’s local hometown.  You’re about to hear a story of a man who just made so many families proud around the world, yet it went unnoticed.

When my father passed away during the earlier morning hours of April 12th, I got a call from John later that afternoon.  He told me that he would be running in the Boston Marathon.  He said any family that donated money to the fundraiser he set up for LiveStrong, he would write the name of the cancer victim on his shirt so that the cancer victims could run the race as well.

John wearing the shirt he wore for the Boston Marathon

“There were about 70 names on my Team LiveStrong yellow jersey,” John said. “The names represented cancer warriors around the world…those who have fought cancer and won, those who have fallen and many who are fighting for their lives right now.”

During my phone call with John that afternoon, he told me he wanted my father’s name on his shirt.  John never asked for money from me.  He knew what I was going through and just wanted to help.  He wanted to do something special for my family.  Throughout my father’s battle with cancer, we never, ever thought my father would be able to run the Boston Marathon, but thanks to John, he made that possible.

The shirt with all the cancer victim's names.

For my family, who four days before my father died, we witnessed a man who couldn’t even stand up out of a chair without help.  A week later, he was running the Boston Marathon. It’s overwhelming to lose a family member to cancer, but what my father had deteriorated to the last few weeks of his life wasn’t fair.  Thanks to the caring nature of John (who never has met my family or myself in person), my father was not forgotten.

Obviously, a 26.2 mile race is not easy to finish, especially for a guy who has run just four marathon’s his entire life, has a job and family to support.  He doesn’t have the training mechanisms that other people have when training for marathons, but he has determination and I’m so happy to say that John finished the race.

“Each and every name came carried me through the race last Monday,” John said. “Knowing that their loved ones “ran the Boston Marathon” with me made them very happy and gave me a very special honor and inspiration.”

Look at the view my dad had when running the race (John's left shoulder)!

What makes what John did so special is that he didn’t even run the race for himself.  He ran it for his mom, his dad, my dad, and so many other people around the world.  And, he finished the race in four hours, 19 minutes, and five seconds!  The fact that he finished the race is incredible, after all this isn’t a guy who runs races for a living and is 43 years old, but to do it in the time he did it was truly amazing.

“I proudly finished the Boston Marathon in 4:19:05,” John said, “about a 9:50 mile per minute pace and came in about 18,000th place out of about 27,000 runners.  It was a privilege to be able to participate in the event and a lifetime memory for me.”

John’s fundraising efforts raised about $6,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  In total, there were 40 runners running for LiveStrong in the Boston Marathon, who raised $150,000.

I’m hoping by writing this blog that you will share John’s story with other people.  Please, John deserves some recognition for what he has done.  He is doing everything in his power to help find ways to cure cancer.  The more people that hear about his story, the easier that will be.  He’ll continue to run the marathons if need be.

If you were inspired by what John did and would like to donate to LiveStrong so that you’re family doesn’t have to go through what John’s and mine did, John is still fundraising for the next 20 days.  Please email me at matt.chudoba@gmail and I will tell you how to go about donating.  If you can not donate, then please just pass this story along.

Till next time, LiveStrong,

-Matt-

Ooh, aah, au revior les Glorieux!

This year, I’ve really started to get into the Boston Bruins.  I’ve always liked them in past years, but never this much.  It isn’t because they were the best team in the Eastern Conference this year; it’s because of the playoff game I saw them play against the Canadiens last year.  That game really got me engulfed in Bruins fever and you no what, after they beat the Montreal Canadiens last night, it felt like the Sox had just won a World Series game.

What makes the Bruins sweep of the Canadiens even sweeter isn’t because it is their first series win since 1999 and it came against their arch nemesis; it’s because of the enjoyment of watching the classless Canadiens fans be disappointed.

This isn’t the first time the booing happened at the Bell Centre in Montreal, but when the “Star Spangled Banner” was played before game three this year, Canadiens fans actually had the audacity to boo.

Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was asked about the booing and here’s what he had to say:

“The same thing happened last year and it happened just about every time I’ve played here,” he said. “I was prepared for it. I knew what was going to happen and I just ignored it.”

Look, I understand Canadiens fans hate us Bruins fans, but the feeling is mutual.  There may be one or two jerks who boo the Canadian National Anthem at the TD Banknorth Garden, but not thousands of people.

Canadiens fans weren't cheering for the Star Spangled Banner on Monday.

There is a limit one should go on how far one should go to heckle the other team, but disrespecting a country’s National Anthem is crossing the line.  I understand Canadian hatred is deep towards the Bruins, but the National Anthem has nothing to do with them!  If Canadiens fans hatred towards the Bruins makes them hate American as well, that is childish and booing the Anthem is blatant disrespect.

I’m not sure if William McCarthy is a writer for The Gazette in Montreal or just a fan, but he makes a a really, really good point.

“I’ve said it 100 times to my kids: As a Bostonian I hate the Yankees, I hate the Dolphins, I hate the Jets, and, I hate the &^8#*^ Canadiens. But I never would loudly cheer and boo during their national anthem.

“Regardless of politics, regardless of faith, regardless of team colours, you should always respect your opponent.”

Montreal coach and GM Bob Gainey acknowledged the booing before game four and asked Canadiens fans to stop the booing.

“I feel like there’s confusion there with our fans,” Gainey said Tuesday. “They feel like booing the anthem is supporting our team, in that the anthem represents the Boston team.

“And I think if they could separate those two things, then we could respect the anthem of the United States of America and they could still participate loudly in what- ever way they want to disrupt the Bruins.”

Canadiens coach and GM Bob Gainey.

I respect Gainey for what he did and even Thomas said it was a “classy thing to do”, but when did a hockey game began like grammar school?  Remember back in sixth or seventh grade when you did something “deviant”, but kept doing it until the teacher caught you?  Well it’s the same way with Canadiens fans who need the coach of their beloved franchise to tell them it’s wrong before they stop.  Give me a break.

As I mentioned earlier, this isn’t the first year booing has happened either.  In order to counter act that booing, the Candiens had a taped message of former Montreal great center Jean Beliveau asking fans not to boo.

When news like this comes out about what the Montreal franchise is trying to do to get Canadiens fans to stop booing, it makes Montreal fans seem so immature.  I picture them as a bunch of little kids who feed off each other and the fact that there is no supervision.  That’s fine for little kids, but not people in their twenties, thirties, and fourties.  It isn’t until the principle, or in the case of Montreal the coach, tells the kids to quiet down that they do.

I’ll tell you one thing, you’ll never hear Will Ferrell tell Montreal to stay classy.  It’s kind of hard for me to look at Montreal with any type of class after the booing incidents.  I feel bad for all the fans who didn’t boo either, but the jerks that did it make you look bad too.

Till next time, you stay classy world,

-Matt-

A Royal pain in the…

First off, I want to thank everyone who has been so kind and caring during the difficult ordeal I just went through with the passing of my father.  I was not in any mood to write last week and it’s been hard to get back into it.  After all, this will be the first blog I write without my dad.  Nevertheless…

    

 

 

Kansas City Royal baseball is becoming a big deal again.

I’m not sure if any of you have looked at the AL Central standings yet, but it’s not how you’re used to seeing them.  The Kansas City Royals are no longer cellar-dwellers; they are currently in a three-way tie for first place with a record of 7-6.  I know it’s early and it won’t last, but get used to it – the Royals are on the rise.

It’s been 24 years since the Royals last sniffed the playoffs in 1985, and the feeling around Kansas City is that drought is going to end in the near future. It’s kind of ironic now that as the Chiefs are going through a rebuilding phase, the Royals are emerging as the face of Kansas City sports.

“Numerous sellouts occurred Arrowhead – and although there were some playoff disappointments – Kansas City remains a strong football city.

That could change soon.

Meanwhile, Zack Greinke (25 years old) is off to a 3-0 start and Joakim Soria (24 years old) is close to becoming the best closer in baseball. Plus, if Alex Gordon and Billy Butler (25 and 23 respectively) are able to put it together like they are capable of, the Royals would have four stars under the age of 26 entering the 2010 season.”

The Royals turnaround starts with there pitching staff.  They have two solid starters in Gil Meche and Kyle Davies, as well as a budding star in Zack Greinke. With Greinke off to a terrific 3-0, there are many journalists around the country considering him emerging as the best pitcher in the AL this year.  The Cy Young talk has already started.

Zack Greinke delivers a pitch.

What Greinke has done this year is even more remarkable considering two years ago he almost walked away from the game.  As recent as two years ago, Greinke walked out of the Royals camp in spring training because he had been battling sever depression and social anxiety throughout his entire life and it finally caught up to him.

“It was always, once I got away from baseball, I was fine”, Greinke said, “so I didn’t think about it as (an emotional disorder). I just thought that, at the baseball field, I was unhappy.

“Usually with me,” he said, “a month or even two months before the season is over, I’d be counting days. More than counting days. I’d be begging for it to be over. As soon as the last game was over, I’d be showered and gone.”

If Greinke comes out of the game in the eighth inning with a one-run lead, he doesn’t have to worry about getting a no decision with 24-year-old closer Joakim Soria on the mound in the ninth.  

Joakim Soria celebrates after saving a game.

Over the past two years, Soria has come from a relatively unheard of guy to All Star closer.  That’s not too bad for a guy who was pitching in the Mexican league a few years ago and was a Rule 5 pick.

“For some reason, nothing gets to him,” Royals catcher John Buck says. “I don’t know how you explain it exactly. But I always know that if he gets beat or if he gets into trouble, he will not get away from his plan. He will be exactly the same.

“That’s just an incredible thing that you don’t see. I don’t know this for sure, but I assume that’s what you see with Mariano (Rivera). I can only know what I see, but it seems like nothing ever shakes Mariano, and that’s how Joakim is, too.”

Anoher reason the Royals are starting to turn it around is because of General Manager Dayton Moore.  Before coming to Kansas, Moore worked for 12 years under the tutelage of one of the games all-time best GM’s in John Schuerholz. While with the Braves, Moore was a key part in Atlanta’s success which saw them win 14-straight division titles.

“Under the leadership of Braves General Manager and former Royals GM John Schuerholz, the Braves earned the prestigious Organization of the Year Award from Baseball America several times, including 2005, when 18 rookies contributed to a team that posted 90 wins. The Braves won at least 100 games five times between 1997-2003 and had not won fewer than 88 games in any non-strike shortened season since 1990 prior to the 2006 season.”

With all due respect to former Royals GM Allan Baird, Moore is the right guy for the job.  He has drafted two very good players in his short tenure as Royals GM in Mitch Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, proving to Royals fans he is serious about winning.  Moore has also went out and signed some veterans like Jose Guillen and Gil Meche, as well as trading for Coco Crisp to help the young core of Royals.

The Kansas City Royals as cellar-dwellers?  Those days are over.  They are becoming a royal pain in the you not what to opposing teams.

Till next time, grab your umbrella – it’s going to be a wet one today!

-Matt-

Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart killed in car crash

It’s a tragic day when I have to report that Los Angels Angels top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart was killed last night in a car accident that wasn’t his fault.  He was 22.

According to reports, a red minivan ran a red-light and hit the car Adenhart was driving.  The crash sent his car into a pole, killing him and three other people.

I can’t begin to describe how I reacted when I heard the news.  I really thought it was a misprint.  He just pitched six scoreless innings against the A’s last night and a few hours later he’s dead?  This can’t be happening.

This guy was my age and had his whole career to look forward too, but that was all taken from him.  A father and mother are left without their 22-year-old son.

How does the team react is what I want to know?  Mike Scioscia probably told him he was proud of him for pitching a great game and he probably was excited that Adenhart was going to be around for a long time.

For a game that ended with hugs and congratulations for Adenhart, the night ended with hugs of support and tears for Adenhart’s family and teammates.

O say can you see?

The O's are coming at cha!

As a Red Sox fan I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can’t wait for the day the Baltimore Orioles are good again.  I don’t know why, but there’s something about an Orioles team being relevant again that excites me.  It may be because I remember watching the Orioles in the playoffs in the mid-90’s and the electricity in Camden Yards was amazing.  Or, it might because the Oriole is my favorite bird….Yeah, I think I’ll go with the former.

There’s good news out there for Orioles fans everywhere – you’re team is building something special.  Ever since owner Peter Angelos decided to swallow his pride and realize he’s not a very good baseball man, the Orioles have realized the importance of winning.  Hiring Andy MacPhail, who helped turn the Cubs around, has been such a smart move.  What MacPhail has done in his time as Orioles president  is better than anything former GM’s Mike Flanagan (outside of drafting Matt Wieters), Jim Beattie and Jim Duquette did.

The Orioles misfortune started the minute Jeffrey Maier robbed Tony Tarasco of catching a fly ball back in 1996.  They have made the playoffs exactly one time after that, in 1997, losing in the ALCS to the Cleveland Indians.  Since then, the most exciting thing the Orioles had to look forward to was when the Red Sox and Yankees came to town.

Jeffrey Maier robs Jeffrey Hammonds of a sure catch.

Back in 2003, the Orioles firmly believed they had the potential to bring a winning team back to the city of Baltimore.  They went out and signed one of the biggest stars in the game in Miguel Tejada to a $72 million six-year deal.  Along with David Sequi, Rafael Palmeiro and Brian Roberts, the O’s had a pretty good top half of the lineup.

However, in 2004, the O’s went 78-84.  In 2005, they went 74-88.  That off-season, Tejada asked for a trade, citing, “He didn’t like the direction the team was going.”  For a guy who was supposed to be the poster child of the organization and lead them back to the playoffs, it just didn’t work out.

After firing Duquette, MacPhail was brought in 2007 and began to overhaul the roster.  He traded guys who he didn’t see as long-term fits in the organization and started to develop the farm system.

Brian Matusz: Coming to a ballpark near Baltimore soon!

In December 2007, Tejada was traded to the Houston Astros for reserve outfielder Luke Scott and three minor leaguers.  Then, he traded ace Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners for highly-touted prospects Adam Jones and Chris Tillman, George Sherrill, and two other minor leaguers. Next, he drafted Brian Matusz in the 2008 draft and this past January locked-up home-grown talent and future All-Star outfielder Nick Markakis to a six-year extension.

The Orioles are on the verge on something special.  Next year, their one through five hitters can look like this: 1.) Jones, 2.) Brian Roberts, 3.) Wieters, 4.) Markakis, 5.) Aubrey Huff.

Their pitching staff can be led by Tillman, Matusz, and another guy with a live arm in Jake Arrieta.

Here’s what Baseball America had to say about the O’s:

“At least with team president Andy MacPhail now at the helm of the baseball operations, there’s a feeling the franchise has a direction and someone with the patience to execute a plan. Spending $10.6 million to get Wieters, Arrieta and Matusz in the last two drafts should pay big dividends, and the trade Seattle gave the rebuilding effort a huge boost. And owner Peter Angelos has been out of the headlines.

MacPhail recognizes the Orioles don’t have the depth of talent to compete in the East, but he has assembled several pieces that could help them take a step forward.”

I can’t wait to get back to Camden Yards and see that place packed with O’s fans again.  One of the cool things about Camden Yards is that when the National Anthem plays, when the singer gets to the part, “Oh say can you see,” all the O’s fans go, “Oooooooo”.  Perhaps, that phrase is a sign of things to come for the O’s and their fans.  Yes I can see – I can see something special developing in Baltimore.

Till next time, “Oh no!,” I won’t be back till Monday,

-Matt-

Where you’re from is who you are

Alright, so on Saturday when I was watching the Michigan State-Connecticut basketball game, there was something about the game that really infuriated me.  I was watching the game with some people who really don’t follow sports, but since UConn is their school and since it’s Tournament time, of course they decided to watch the game.  These newbies, however, didn’t know who Connecticut was playing, and I can’t blame them for it.

During a time when you represent a city, school, or state, such as a sports contest, there is no business why you can’t have the location of where you’re from on your uniform.  This is something I have been battling with as a Connecticut fan.  I hate the fact that our home jersey says “UConn” and not “Connecticut”.  UConn is an institution so you can’t say that you represent a whole state or city if it doesn’t say that on what people see during a game – the uniform.  Therefore, I remember when Connecticut won the title in 2004 and Jim Calhoun said something to the effect of, “This is for the entire state of Connecticut,” well if the title is for the whole state of Connecticut, then the jersey’s should show it.  Bottom line is by displaying “UConn” on the front and not “Connecticut”, you’re showing that all the success the program has if for the university only and not the state.

Apparently having UConn on the front of your jersey represents the state of Connecticut.

A few years ago on my trip to Houston to visit a friend, we went to a party and I met some people from Houston.  They asked me what college I went to and I replied, “UConn”.  I got puzzled reactions like, “Where, like Alaska?”  I was seething with anger at that point that these people didn’t know my school. Did you ever hear, you know, of one of the top basketball programs in the nation?  Stupid people from the South always thinking the South is where it’s at and no where else in the country matters.  Yet, the more I thought about it, the more I softened my stance.  People don’t know about UConn because it’s a Connecticut created thing and somehow that crept onto our uniforms. (It’s kind of like when someone says pop for soda in the North, we’re like huh?) However, they know about Connecticut because it’s a state.

Connecticut Football, not UConn.

I had a conversation with my boss a few years back on why the Connecticut football team doesn’t use the Husky logo like the rest of the sports teams here, and instead uses the “C”.  He told me when Coach Edsall took over the football team, he wanted the people of Connecticut to know that the success he was going to build for the football program was going to be for the whole state and not just UConn.  That showed even people who didn’t go or know anyone who went to UConn can revel in the success of the program as well.  Personally, I don’t like Coach Edsall, but he garnered a lot of respect in my book when I heard that.

As mad as it gets me that UConn doesn’t put “Connecticut” on their jersey’s, Michigan State takes it to a whole new level.  They just have the word “State” on their jersey’s.  What does that even mean?  All I hear about is how great of a job Tom Izzo is doing, and how much the success of Michigan State’s season is beneficial to a state that has fallen on hard times during this economic mess, yet the citizens of Michigan are fine that their jersey just says “State”?  As common sense as I thought it was for everyone I watched the game with to know who Connecticut was playing, it really hit home that if you don’t know the game, you’re not going to know who “State” is.  If I lived in Michigan and Michigan State was representing the state I lived in, then is it so damn hard to put “Michigan” before “State”?

He's from "State".

I got news for all you people from Michigan – Michigan State is not representing the state of Michigan.  They’re representing “State”.  As proud as you are for the Spartans to bring much needed light to a state in distress, most people watching Monday night who don’t follow basketball are not going to know who you are and where you’re from without commentary and the scoreboard.  It’s disrespectful to the state of Michigan that apparently their team is embarrassed they’re from Michigan and fail to show that when they’re in the spotlight.

This may seem like a pointless article to all of you, but think about it – how many of you went on spring break or went on trips where you meet people who asked where you’re from?  I know it’s not just me, but there’s a sense of pride that goes into your answer.  I want people to be able to say, “Oh wow, he’s from Connecticut,” and not, “What’s UConn?”

The Baltimore Orioles went back to having "Baltimore" on their road jersey's.

The Baltimore Orioles changed their road uniforms this year to say “Baltimore” and not “Orioles” because the franchise was criticized for losing touch with their citizens and because that’s what the uniform said in the past.  When you’re on the road, you’re representing Baltimore and not the Orioles.  Props to them for realizing this.

It has always been a hot button issue with fans, who use the Orioles’ failure to make the change as proof that the club has lost touch with its most ardent and local supporters.

“I don’t think some of us would mind a uniform change,” said second baseman Brian Roberts, the second-longest-tenured member of the current club. “Whether it says ‘Baltimore’ or ‘the Orioles,’ I think some of the guys may not know the difference. But for what it means to the fans and the city because it may go so far back, I think the change can be good. It’s not going to matter that much to us, but it helps the fan base, and that’s what they want to do. Let’s go for it.”

I’m fine with using nicknames on the home uniforms, but not a slang nickname.  If you want your uniform to say “Orioles” at home, that’s perfectly all right, but when you travel it should say where you’re from.  I draw the line with nicknames such as “UConn” because if you’re not going to say “Huskies” and are going to say “UConn”, why not just put “Connecticut” on the front like the road uniforms?  After all, isn’t it the front of the jersey that matters more than the name on the back?  If you’re just going to have “UConn” on your uniform, than you can’t say that uniform represents Connecticut because it doesn’t; it represents a school in Storrs.

Hopefully “State” and “UConn” can remember the past as well and go back to putting the whole names on their jersey’s.

Till next time, I’m cheering for the State of North Carolina,

-Matt-

Predictions, Awards, and what not

Now that the NCAA basketball season is officially over for me (thanks UCONN), it’s time to move on and look forward to the baseball season.  While baseball is my favorite sport, UConn had my hopes up so high, so forgive me if I keep referencing them throughout this piece.

Before I start, I’m going to ramble a little.  I don’t know if I stepped in something that smells unpleasant, but I don’t think I could even buy a sports title nowadays!  Back in 2004, I was on top of the world.  I saw the Sox, Pats, and both the UConn men and women all win championships.  Fast-forward to 2009, and I have seen the Pats lose in the Superbowl to the Giants, the Sox lose to the (gulp) Rays, the UConn men lose in the Final Four for the first time (4-0 prior to last night), and the UConn women lose in the Final Four last year to Stanford.  I must say, losing never gets any easier.  If the UConn women lose tonight you might not see a new update on the Splitter for a long time.

Anyhow, now that my tangent is done, baseball season starts tonight.  Without further ado, let’s get right to it.

My Projected Final Standings

AL EAST
1.)Yankees – big additions in C.C. and Tex and a new $1.5 BILLION ballpark.

Mark Teixeira

2.)Rays – loaded with pitching and Price begins the season in Durham.
3.)Red Sox – have the pitching, but too many questions about their offense.
4.)Orioles – it’s only a matter of time O’s fans: Markakis, Jones, Wieters.
5.)Blue Jays – currently holding additions for their fifth rotation spot.

AL CENTRAL
1.)Indians – look for Pronk and Victor Martinez to bounce back. Outside of Cliff Lee, who I think is a big question mark, I don’t think this team has the pitching, but neither does anyone else in their division.
2.)Tigers – Jim Leyland’s job is on the line this year.
3.)Twins – boy I bet they wish they can redo the Matt Garza trade.  A new outdoor ballpark in Minnesota though!!

John Danks

4.)Royals – along with the Orioles, I think the Royals are only a few years away from looking down on their opponents. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were serious players for the division this year.
5.)White Sox – a big John Danks fan, but when Bartolo Colon is your fifth starter? Five years ago that would have been amazing.

AL WEST
1.)Rangers – Kinsler’s coming back from injury. Pitching wise, they lack depth or quality arms, but I think this team is trying to prove something. The only thing is that they might want to clinch the division title on the road so that they can say there was fans in the ballpark to witness it.
2.)Angels – lineup took a big when Tex left. Vlad is getting older, Abreu’s getting older, and when will Howie Kendrick finally show up?  This team isn’t a lock to win the division again.
3.)Athletics – Billy Beane is at it again building something special. They have the right mix of youngins and vets to get into the playoffs this year.
4.)Mariners – the NFL preseason is only five months away!

NL EAST
1.)Mets - new ballpark means the curse of holding a division lead in Shea Stadium is gone!
2.)Phillies – no repeat for them. Cole Hamels elbow is ehhh.

Jeff Francoeur

3.)Marlins – trying to have more fans than number of wins this year.
4.)Braves – look for a bounce back year by Francoeur.
5.)Nationals – they’ll get there when Milledge and Dukes finally become stars. Unfortunately, their rotation is you, me and the guy next door, and there is no help in the minors either.

NL CENTRAL
1.)Cubs – the won’t win it all because they’re the Cubs, but I think they’re the most balanced team in baseball. If they weren’t the Cubs, I’d pick them to win it all.
2.)Cardinals – isn’t it weird that the Stanford Cardinal and Louisville Cardinals are both in St. Louis for the Final Four this week and the St. Louis Cardinals open their season this week? A whole lot of Red in St. Louie. Good news is that Chris Carpenter feels healthy, but who’s the closer?
3.)Reds – good pitching, a quality closer and nice young nucleus means the Big Red Machine might be back.
4.)Brewers – losing your number one and number two starters hurts a lot. Ryan Braun is probably my favorite player, but unfortunately he can’t pitch.
5.)Astros – I absolutely love Minute Maid Park and love watching playoff games there, but that won’t happen this year. Tejada is somewhere between 35-45, Lee is somewhere between 300-400 pounds that is, and Berkman said his shoulder injury is worse than anticipated.
6.)Pirates -let’s quote a favorite singer of mine Jimmy Buffet, from “Redemption Song”: Yes, I am a pirate, 200 years to late.” Yeah, the same can be said about the baseball team. Good news is fan support looks like it’s rising.

NL WEST

Stephen Drew

1.)Dodgers – they have Manny Ramirez and you don’t, yet someone doesn’t think he’ll be as good as he was last year.
2.)Giants – potential to be the best rotation in the division with Lincecum, Cain, and Johnson.
3.)D’backs – look for a breakout year from Chris Young and Stephen Drew. Still have Haren and Webb. Can easily win the division.
4.)Rockies – I love Colorado and Denver is a great baseball city. Unfortunately, Holliday is gone and the Rockies are second fiddle to the Broncos again.
5.)Padres- worst team in baseball bar none. Peavy and Gonzalez are the only two players this team has. Divorces can be so cruel.

AL CY YOUNG
1.) C.C Sabathia – he better after signing a $151 million contract this year.
2.) Josh Beckett – my favorite pitcher, look for him to bounce back in a big way!
3.) Roy Halladay – the consumate professional, almost an automatic win for the Jays every fifth day.

NL CY YOUNG
1.) Brandon Webb – best pitcher in the NL.
2.) Johan Santana – second best pitcher in the NL.
3.) Tim Lincecum – last year’s Cy Young winner, but a violent delivery makes me question how long he can last. To think that the Giants almost traded him for Alex Rios!

Matt Wieters

AL ROOKIE
1.)Matt Wieters -hands down he’s going to win it. The best prospect in all of baseball.
2.)David Price – best pitching prospect in baseball.

NL ROOKIE
1.) Colby Rasmus – made the Cards roster and he’s a star waiting to be born.

Colby Rasmus

2.) Jason Heyward – wow an Atlanta Brave on this list? So cliche.

AL MVP
1.) Evan Longoria – the kid is a freak. Following Dustin Pedoria’s lead of winning rookie of the year and MVP the next.
2.) Matt Holliday – it’s weird seeing him in the AL, but this is his contract year and a chance to prove to fans he’s not just a product of Coors Field.
3.) Mark Teixeira – like Sabathia, he’s paid like an MVP so he should be.

NL MVP
1.) David Wright – the guy gets better and better every year.
2.) Ryan Braun – along with Wright, the two will be the faces of the “Guys who did it clean era”.
3.) Manny Ramirez – I guess if he wants to he can win it, but he may forget he has a game on Wednesday.

WORLD SERIES
The Yankees will knock out the Rangers in the ALDS and Rays in the ALCS.
The Mets will knock out the Cubs in the NLDS and Dodgers in the NLCS.
What a new way to welcome two new ballparks to the game?Unfortunately, I see the Yankees winning their 27th title in the famous words of Benny Agbyani, “We’ll win it in five.”

And just like that my sports struggles will continue and my good friend Dave Knapp will have bragging rights again. It’s bad enough he’s a UNC fan. Oh well, nothing beats drinking a beer and watching a game from the stands in the middle of the summer.

Till next time, please pray for my Dad,
-Matt-

From G to Gent?

Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes has a checked past.

In my sociology class yesterday, we were talking about Wilson’s theory of Truly Disadvantaged, in which the theory talks about how the image of ghettos developed into the image of ghettos we see today. Basically, after the Civil Rights Movement, people living in ghettos were given opportunities to succeed. However, the ones who didn’t have the means to succeed ended up staying behind and since all the successful people left, the ones without the necessary means had to fend for themselves. Most of them turned to a life of crime because they had no other means.

My teacher then asked us if this is true, how can we change it? I responded that most people have a sense of pride where they come from and even if they are successful, it isn’t always easy to let go of your past. That brings me to the story of Elijah Dukes.

Dukes was one of the top prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays organization just a few years ago. Dukes had a really hard childhood growing up in the Tampa area.

• In 1992, a hurricane destroyed his family’s home and forced them to live in a shelter.
• In 1995, his father was convicted for murdering a man who sold his wife fake cocaine.
• He saw his mom come home with her teeth in her hand after she was punched in the face by a friend of the man her husband murdered.
• His mother lost her job and went on welfare.
• His witnessed his brother get shot in the leg during a drive-by shooting.

If you think that’s bad enough, that isn’t all of it. When Dukes was 13, he was arrested for the first time for battery. He bounced in-and-out of jail the next few years of his life for unpaid tickets and more battery charges all because he let his temper get the best of him.

“Elijah has made some mistakes, but I’m the same guy who witnesses him break down every time something goes wrong with one of his friends, ” Tyrone Evans, Duke’s little brother said. “If anything happened, he would be there for them. And I’m the same person who, at his graduation party, witnessed him crying. He has a big heart and he’s very emotional.”

Those emotions and temper came out during a game with the Durham Bulls in April 2006.  Dukes was upset at a Bulls pitcher for blowing the lead of the game and not sitting on the bench after he was pulled to witness the outcome.  Dukes confronted the pitcher after the game, only to be berated by his coaches in front of the whole team. 

Dukes responded the way he did his entire life, through physical altercation.  He felt threatened and was defending himself in the way he always did back on the streets.  He was being challenged and if you back down from a challenge on the streets, your lose your credibility.  Dukes didn’t back down from this challenge either and reached for the pitching coach.  The whole ordeal made him distraught afterward.

“It upset me big-time,” pitcher James Shields says. “You could tell he wasn’t trying to piss off the pitcher. He was just trying to be a good team player. I think he cried more for the team than for himself.”

When he finally made it to the big leagues in 2007, Dukes was making headlines in the Tampa area papers and it wasn’t for what he was doing on the diamond. In April of that same year, Dukes’ wife asked for a restraining order against him because he barged into her middle school classroom after he was forbidden to be on the grounds.

After she missed a court date and her restraining order plea was dropped, she asked for more protection against Dukes after he left her a threatening voice mail and sent a picture of a gun to her cell phone on May 2.

“Hey, dawg. It’s on, dawg. You dead, dawg. I ain’t even bulls——-. Your kids too, dawg. It don’t even matter to me who is in the car with you. N—–, all I know is, n—–, when I see your m—–f——- a– riding, dawg, it’s on. As a matter of fact, I’m coming to your m—–f—— house.”

As you can see, Dukes hasn’t always made the right decisions. While he was wrong, I can’t necessarily blame him. Most people think that since he is a major-league baseball player, he’s supposed to be a role model, yet they don’t realize he was a 22-year-old kid when he was called up to the Rays, who never had a role model himself.  He was using the game of baseball as his role model.

When you see a kid like Dukes, it’s easy to give up on him, just like the Rays did when they finally had enough of his behavior problems and traded him to Washington. However, giving up on him is doing what his father, his wife, and many other people in Dukes’ life growing up did.  How can we expect someone like that to change if  he’s constantly being given up on?

As a sociology major, I know you can’t change over night, especially a kid like Dukes. Through my education I have learned that when you live in a ghetto, you’re forced to be on guard all the time even if you don’t want to be. When you live in a ghetto your entire life, you’re used to reacting to a situation with violence because you’re forced to. People call Dukes a thug, but he really isn’t.

Contrary to public opinion, his heart isn’t made of stone. He wants to change and is really trying hard. At 24-years-old, he finally has people around him that are teaching him right from wrong.   The trade to Washington actually seems to be a blessing for Dukes. It got him away from his childhood and has allowed him to focus on what he does best, and it isn’t get arrested – it’s baseball.

“Being young and being at home is just not a good thing for someone who probably is not mature enough to handle those situations. . . . I was just a real hard-headed guy. I needed to be able to admit that I do things wrong, and it’s okay to do things wrong, but just make good after that.”

Here’s what Nats hitting coach Rick Eckstein and teammate Lastings Milledge had to say about Dukes.

“Wow,” Eckstein said. “The potential is just off the charts. He is so strong, so quick, so powerful that he can do things with pitches that most can’t.”

Said Milledge: “I think [Dukes] can be the best right fielder in the game if he stays healthy. This year, I think he’s a 30-30 guy.”

This is a challenge to all baseball fans – out of fairness, you should try to change your view on Dukes if it’s the “thug” image. Since he is working hard to change his life, we should be fair and give him a chance. We have to remember that the things we learn at five, six, or seven, Dukes is learning at 22, 23, and 24.

“I’ve been working on myself a long time,” said Dukes. “I finally found that breakthrough, and from now on everybody gets a chance to see the real Elijah Dukes.”

Till next time, duking it out is not the answer to your problems,

-Matt-