As this is the last day of 2014, I thought it fitting that I
finally make another blog post. I
had promised I would review 10 sports films this year (films that are not
necessarily mainstream or that did not open to wide public consumption). Obviously, after three, that project
did not come to fruition. I will
aim to finish that up in 2015, 2016 at the latest!
As we put this year in the bank, let me part with six
thoughts from this year:
1) Madison Bumgardner deserved to be Sports Illustrated’s
Sportsman of the Year. He was AMAZING
in the World Series. I’d like to
see that kind of effort from more Major League pitchers.
But Joe Buck still overdid the Mad love!
2) Tim Howard
is a GENIUS!! I got into soccer because my son is into soccer, so I don’t know
a lot of the names or teams. But
even I can recognize brilliance on a soccer field when I see it. The U.S. defense was like a sieve vs. Belgium,
and yet he stood tall. Forget his
skill in that match – and throughout the World Cup – his resilience, grit, and
humility should be an example for all young athletes.
3) On the flip
side, Jameis Winston and Florida State’s handling of his myriad issues
represent all that is wrong with college athletics. If ever there was a poster child for the student-athlete who
gets a free pass from his university because he is a skilled athlete, he is
it. Forget that he was cleared by
the university of violating the FSU code of conduct in his sexual assault
hearing (several reports claim the university interfered in the investigation). What about his shoplifting
charges? Or his antics in yelling
obscenities from atop a table in the university union? Yet he is still allowed to line up
every Saturday. Sad.
4) I like the
new playoff system in FBS. I’d
like to see six teams, with the top two receiving byes, but I can live with
this. Were there complaints from
teams that didn’t make it? Of
course there were! Heck, college
basketball takes 64 to its tournament and teams complain that they didn’t make
it. That’s just how it is;
somebody is always going to believe they got ripped. Let’s give this system a chance and adapt as necessary.
5) Kim Anderson will right the ship at Mizzou. Give him a chance, Mr. Alden! He came into a pretty bare cupboard and
a program that was shaken. Once he
gets his guys in the program – guys who buy into his philosophy, who are
willing to make the necessary sacrifices, and who can accept his discipline – the
old glory of University of Missouri basketball will be back.
6) The Kansas City Royals made me believe that a small
market team CAN make it. I said
last year if the young Royas would play like the veteran Boston Red Sox, they
could make some noise. I’m not
talking about Boston’s skill; I’m talking about their effort. The Red Sox seem to run out every
ground ball, track down every grounder and fly ball they can, dial it up for
every pitch, and scrape for every hit.
That’s exactly how the Royals played in 2014. I loved it. I
used them as an example with my son’s baseball team every day. And that’s how the small market teams
without the big names and big pay rolls are going to have to play to make
it. Now let’s see if KC can do it
again!
Here’s to another exciting year in sports in 2015!! See you then!
