No-Shave Mo-vember for a Great Cause! (No relation with Boston Beards)

October 31^st, a date many of us consider to be Halloween, where dressing up, knocking on stranger’s doors to tell them jokes and eating tons of chocolate is perfectly acceptable. But, for many men this date resembles a time more important than carving pumpkins; it marks the eve of No-Shave November.

This underground tradition goes back long before the caveman era, back when Jesus made wearing a beard not only appropriate, but stylish.  Facial hair marked the sign of a manly man.  A man, that wrestled wolves with his bare hands, fought off bears for fish in the streams and carried a pocket knife in his pocket at all times for no apparent reason.  Yes, a beard tells the world; “No longer do I have peach fuzz, this is real man hair. Hear me roar!”

As a child, that first patch of fuzz that started showing on your upper lip was exciting.  Receiving a free razor and shaving cream in the mail from Gillette was another epic point in our lives, eager to start shaving like a man.  Some of us couldn’t wait to start growing the beard, in which case I’ll never forget my Grandpa Mallette giving me the manly advice of, “Why don’t you put some cream on there and like the cat lick that peach fuzz off.” That saying stuck with me.  No longer would peach fuzz be accepted for a man’s beard.

This concept of growing a “man’s beard,” becomes an opportunity for guys in college to “test their wings” if you will.  Thus, the No-Shave November aka Mo-vember was created; a month to give the old razor a rest, and grow out the beard as far as you can.  Throughout my years at Westminster College (a small, private, liberal-arts school) I found this tradition to be very trendy.  An institution rich in history because of fellow gentleman, Winston Churchill’s famous “Iron Curtain” speech, the campus is buzzing with anticipation for this Mo-vember.  The men of Kappa Alpha Order, a fraternity on campus decided to capitalize on this masculine tradition with the thought, why not grow for a cause?

And No-Shave for MDA was created!  MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) has been Kappa Alpha Order’s philanthropy and the men decided would be a great charity to donate towards.  This November 1^st, we will be collecting $5 donations on campus from faculty, staff and students interested in growing their facial hair.  Pictures will be taken of the donor November 1^st and November 30^th to see who grew the Grizzliest Beard, The Sweetest ‘Stache and the Most Creative facial hair and prizes will be given away to the winners.  Even the ladies on campus can get involved!  No, they won’t be growing out their own hair, but sponsoring their man in the fight to grow for a cause.  Philanthropy has never been so easy, not to mention fun!  “You mean I can help a charity by donating $5 and NOT have to shave for a month?”  That’s right, use that $5 that you normally use to buy razors, shaving cream, trimmers and aftershave and put it toward a good cause!

Be that manly man with the beard or mustache, keep that face or upper lip warm as the winter months approach us, and see how thick you can grow your facial hair. #KAnoshave is trending at Westminster College (@WestminsterMO) and we hope to raise as much money as we can for MDA.  I'm sure if he could, Churchill would've grown a beard.  So, if you see a guy on campus attempting to grow the best possible beard he can, though it looks like a patch of fuzz, understand he’s doing it for a great cause!  And remember, whether you grow a beard or mustache in No-Shave November, it always grooms itself nicely as a cool Christmas ‘stache!

Being Confident, Not Cocky

Around this time last year, I wrote a very overly-excited blog about the St. Louis Cardinals making a run in the playoffs.  And after I posted it, the Cards went into a downward spiral. Like many, supersticious athletes, I felt somewhat responible in jynxing the "October Red" Birds.

So, with that being said....

No predictions, no overachieving comments, no cockiness...
LET'S GO CARDINALS!

Made in America Festival Review

This past weekend wrapped up the summer-long tour of Budweiser’s Made in America Music Festival in Philadelphia, PA.  The city summer tour was formed last summer by the ingenious mind of Sean “Jay-Z” Carter and the good people at Budweiser, promoting patriotism and American culture through music, art and of course, Budweiser.  Naturally, the tour ends in the historic streets of Philadelphia with a full blown bash of big named artists and their amazing music.  Similar to last year, Jay-Z did what he does best in promotion and was able to put together a stellar line-up giving the young music fanatics all they could handle. 

Kicking the weekend off on the right foot Saturday morning by proposing to my special lady friend, I was sure to have an amazing Made In America festival.  With big names like Calvin Harris, Beyonce, Imagine Dragons and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (just to name a few), how could this festival not be entertaining?

The diversity of the performers drove the diversity of the crowd.  What was amazing was seeing the wide range of ethnic backgrounds, assorted beliefs and all of shapes and sizes let go and just enjoy the entertainment. Politically-active Macklemore continued to preach his message of peace and equality in between his high-intense performances; and the crowd LOVED it!  Watching Caucasians, African-Americans, Asian-Americans etc. rap right alongside each other to Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, and 2Chainz was awesome!  Circling up and starting dance-offs for Calvin Harris, Beyonce, and even Nine Inch Nails (yeah, that’s right, NIN) between gays and straights, male and female was so much fun!  It’s like everyone left their stereotypes/

baggage at the check-in, rocked their red, white & blue outfits and let go of their egos to just have fun; that’s what these festivals are all about!

EDM (Electronic Dance Music) was in full effect this weekend with DJ’s like Deadmau5, Calvin Harris, Nero, The Gaslight Anthem, Robert DeLong and many others.  This was my first time experiencing the live dub step shows and they did not disappoint.  Worried that I would get the same feeling/headache I get when I’d walk into an Abercrombie and Fitch, I decided to keep an open mind going into these concerts.  It was great to hear and see what this new wave of music was bringing to a live show as the visual effects were unlike anything I had seen.  This was certainly a pleasant surprise!

Rap and Hip Hop was represented well with major artists like ASAP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, 2Chainz, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore, and even Public Enemy among others.  It’s been perceived that live performances in rap have been downward spiraling to nothing short of shouting every other word with a large entourage on yelling on microphones.  This was definitely not the case for these performances as the crowd was singing right along to their favorite songs. 

Rock and roll had its moments this weekend as well with bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Phoenix, Nine Inch Nails, Empire of the Sun and others. In fact, Nine Inch Nails was the headliner for Sunday night!  Now, if you’re like me and thought Nine Inch Nails was a heavy metal, screaming, in-your-face rock band, you’re only half right.  Throw in a DJ and some funky underlying beats and you've got a very unique and entertaining show!

Between the three stages, performances went almost back-to-back as one artist would end, the next stage lit right up, keeping the energy and momentum upbeat for the fans.  It was well executed and definitely a major hit.  The festival was a blast and a success Mr. Carter.  Having your wife, Beyonce, shut it down on the first night singing “Single Ladies” really put the cherry on the top for our special day!  

“If I get one more update about A-Rod…”

Sitting in a conference meeting and I get a buzz from my phone in my pocket.  What could it be? A text? An email? I scramble to reach into my pocket.  You’ve all done it before, you’re sitting in class and you don’t want the teacher to see you sneaking a phone check or she’ll snatch your phone?  Having the opportunity to take a glance, I look down and think ‘this better be worth the phone check.’ It’s a “ESPN Scorecenter” update; “MLB-Yankees Alex Rodriguez struck out in his second at-bat for the Triple A Scranton Humingbirds.”

You’re kidding me right? I needed an update for that?! A-Rod, you continue to amaze me. If you’re a sports fan and you aren’t from the New York area, you’ve got to be sick of hearing this ongoing Soap Opera.  Check that, even if you are from New York and you’re a sports fan you’re sick of this story.  Let me use some baseball terminology for you on this:

Strike One- In December of 2007, the Yankee’s agree on a contract giving A-Rod a 10-year $275 million dollars gift. About three years past his prime, the Yankee’s do the thing they do best and throw HUGE money at old Hall of Fame players out of their prime.  A-Rod is now the richest man ever to play the game of baseball.  Though they had some nice players, the Yankee’s put all their eggs in one basket and pray that he takes them to the World Series.  Baseball is NOT a one-man sport. You can’t have one stud and surround him with some jokers and expect to win games.  Derek Jeter and the crew are no slouches, but I think you catch my drift.  If you need more examples, just look at our boy Albert Pujols.  The Yankees put themselves in a tough predicament right off the bat.  If A-Rod doesn’t continue to perform up to these standards, they’ve lost $275 million. Oh, and he’s got to do it for 10 years! Obviously that didn’t pan out.

Strike Two- After many performance-enhancing allegations made toward A-Rod, in 2009 he decides to come clean about being dirty on 60 Minutes to Ms. Katie Couric. Remember that?  The sports world was focused solely on what A-Rod was taking, who he was hanging out with, A-Rod’s cousin who was supplying him with the juice, etc.  Okay, we get it ESPN! He took steroids, he admitted it, move on and see how he plays now.  It’s like ESPN hired TMZ to hide in bushes and see what A-Rod was eating for breakfast.  Of course his game suffers, muscles shrink, and injuries are bound to set in.  Once deemed the next Mr. October, A-Rod strikes out and blows his post-season reputation.

Strike Three- The Biogenesis Report comes out and on August 5, 2013 the MLB suspends A-Rod for 211 games (the rest of the season and next year), mainly for lying about his of performance enhancing usage.  A-Rod at the time was recovering from surgery and working on his rehab.  Look, I’m no baseball expert and I’m certainly not in the Yankee’s front office, but it sounds like some high school, “he-said-she-said” cattiness going on with the Yankee’s management and A-Rod. Some say, A-Rod wasn’t ready to play when he got hurt last year, but the Yankee’s made him play. Now they don’t want him to play at the beginning of this year, but they owe him tons of money, so they hope the MLB bans him for life.  It’s so stupidly confusing that I’m tired of keeping up with the story.  He’s apparently snitching on other players in the league for using?  No wonder Ryan Dempster threw three inside pitches after finally pegging him in the shoulder on national TV, I would too!

What we need to recognize as fans is that this story is getting old.  A-Rod is a pre-Madonna, he wants to be treated as such and he and his overpaid people (agents, PR specialists, dope-dealing cousins) need to get out of the media spotlight.  I don’t care what he did in the minor leagues in his rehab stint; I don’t care what he’s doing legally (or illegally), what is he doing on the field? Trying to keep his pinstripes clean, because he’s certainly not producing the 10-year $275 mill status.  He’s not a great baseball player anymore, and when he was, he was allegedly cheating.  Is it just me, or should we really just not care anymore?

TFQ-Total Frat Quarterback

At this time last year, no one knew who Johnny Manziel was and frankly no one cared. Matter of fact, no one in SEC football even gave the newly addition Texas A&M Aggie football squad a second glance. Not until Texas A&M beat powerhouse Alabama, did the term Johnny Football blew up overnight, driving Manziel to win the Heisman Trophy as the best college football player in the 2012 season.  Now, in the off-season, Johnny Football has been all over the news in a negative light for living his life as a typical college (unofficial) frat boy would.

It’s amazing what social media is capable of doing in the world today; it’s a gift and a curse.  Ask Johnny Football.  Just like every other college-aged student Johnny has his own Instagram, Facebook page, Twitter handle, and Vine and he uses it just like we all do; snapping pictures of amazing food and drinks, taking videos of wild parties on Spring Break, tweeting out to famous rappers/celebrities. The only difference between us and Johnny Football is that he’s famous now so those rappers/celebrities are responding, those parties are ten times bigger and wilder and that food and drink is probably already being paid for (I understand that’s NCAA illegal, it happens, get over it).

(picture provided by Johnny Manziel's Instagram)

He was at the same location as a fight that busted out and when the cops came, he ran just like everyone else did.  But because he’s Johnny Football, he gets in trouble for it.  He tweeted out a very broad statement about the college town, “BS like tonight is the reason why I can't wait to leave College Station... Whenever it may be”.  Hasn't every college student felt that way about their college town at one point?  He was a camp counselor at Peyton Manning’s Football Camp, and it is believed that he was late to a morning session because he was hung-over from the night before.  Well, no defense there, other than he’s a college kid and that sometimes happens to college kids.  He posts crazy pictures that any “Frat Star” college kid would only dream of.  But, because he’s Johnny Football, the media is reflecting him as if he is Lindsey Lohan in a downward spiral.

Let’s cut him a break here folks! He’s not a professional football player; no one is paying him millions of dollars to behave as a professional.  He decided to stay in college this year to play college football and to live the life of a college athlete.  I guarantee you that Peyton Manning thoroughly enjoyed his college career at Tennessee, that Tom Brady was partying it up at Michigan and that Eli Manning would get all dressed up for southern formals and got down at Ole Miss. Unfortunately, they didn't have social media outlets to post their adventures on.  When asked about missing the morning sessions at Manning Camp, Peyton Manning responded, “I can remember a 20-year-old Eli missing a meeting and catching some flak. We always have counselors who leave early. Johnny was great with the campers for the time he was here. He had to leave early. I wish him the best and I want him to come back as a counselor next year.” 

The maturity and growth in professionalism is learned in the college experience, and that’s no exception for Johnny Football.  Like ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said, “With a name like Johnny Football, I’d be worried if he didn't have a beer in his hand in the off season.”  The young college-aged population is attracted to Johnny Football because they can see themselves in him.  He’s not your typical, machine-like Heisman winner. Johnny Football is taking full advantage of his college years, and fans like to see that. Let’s just hope he can back it up on the field next year and on the professional level.

You Are Now a Witness; Whether You Like It or Not

Once upon a time, my father told me, "Son, I never watch the NBA and I never will!"  Well, wouldn't ya know, yesterday I get an email from him "Who ya got tonight, Heat or Spurs? I would love to see the Spurs take it in Miami." And that's when I knew, this NBA Finals was a series for the ages. 

It may have started off a little rocky through the first few games. There were more blowouts than a season of Jersey Shore.  It seemed like the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs were trading off 20+ blow out games. But when Game 5 was over and LeBron was left there with egg on his face, many had a feeling he was coming back for Game 6 looking for blood. 

The old school Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker with a strong supporting cast were fundamentally strong in these games. Led by Coach Pops, watching this team you could tell they had played with each other for years! They're a blue collar, hard working classy team that isn't concerned about their Twitter followers (do these guys even have a Twitter?) or worried about the money they're being paid.  All they fought for was to regain the NBA Championship.  Rumors buzzed that Parker begged Duncan and Pops to stick around for one more year last year to put everything they had left in for the Championship. Well, they left everything they had on that floor last night. They looked drained but they powered through and gave LeBron and the Heat a run for their money.  Danny Green, Kwahi Leonard and Gary Neal gave everything they could but it just wasn't enough. You've got to feel for Duncan. He is one of, if not the best, post-up forwards ever to play the game. Stats and numbers don't lie my friends. But, it came down to Duncan's fundamental baby hook shot to tie the game and it rimmed out. He's a great role model for kids and has class unlike any other player in the NBA. My hat off to you Tim, you sir, are a legend. 

The Heat had their issues and at various points throughout the series and it even looked as though they had given up on games. It goes without saying the Heat needed a big man holding down the paint though Chris "Birdman" Anderson gave it all he could to guard Timmy D. Chris Bosh was trapped inside a shooting guards body and was barely a factor throughout the series. Dwayne Wade was basically hurting the team until Game 6 and 7 when he rose out of nowhere as if he was preserving his body for the games that mattered. The Heat didn't win the series in the fashion that people thought, it went to a Game 7, but at the end of the day they won and that's all that really matters.  

Here's what I don't want to address; All this conspiracy junk, 'the NBA is rigged' and that nonsense. The NBA wanted a Game 7 series so. They fixed the games?! Well, there's only been 3 Game 7 series in the NBA Finals ever, so go figure that.  Also, anybody that calls someone else "bandwagon fans" is just an uptight, over jealous name-caller. Calling someone a "bandwagoner" is too easy. What they don't understand is that the NBA was able to get non-NBA fans to turn on the games and witness history.  Scrolling through Twitter last night, I was reading die hard hockey fans commenting on the NBA!!  Why can't a normal sports fan turn on the game and cheer for a hard fought, gritty game?! They got to cheer for someone right? Let's not be so quick to overuse the term "Bandwagon" huh? 

From the HUGE LeBron block on Splitter, to the game-tying last second shot from legendary Ray "Jesus Shuttlesworth" Allen this series had all the thrills and the pieces to make a historic NBA Finals. It was a pleasure to watch the old school play the new school. 

MVP LeBron James got the job done. No matter if you like him, hate him or don't care, you have to respect his game. Constantly getting triple-doubles, averaging over 28 points a game AND he gets his teammates open shots and gets rebounds?! What other 6'8", 275-lbs freak do you see running the floor like he does, passing the ball like he does, jumping like he does?Carmelo? Durant? Kobe? Ha!  Riddle me that? If you disagree with me and say he's not a basketball player because he can't shoot...well, then you must not have watched last night. LeBron has finally earned "The King" title, whether he's wearing a headband or not. 

It was great to be a "Witness" and to watch a great Finals. This doesn't happen every year so appreciate what just happened. 

NBA Playoffs

Dear NBA players fortunate enough to be playing in the playoffs,

I'll make this short and sweet:

Stop flopping and stop complaining about fouls.
It will get rough, remember you are in the playoffs.
Leave the whining and crying to the fans.

Good luck,
"Up and Adam"

LeBron and his Genius Marketing Strategy

If you didn't know, (and most of you don’t), the NBA Playoffs are now in the second round and the Miami Heat look as if they are head and shoulders above the other teams remaining.  After sweeping through the Bucks first round, LeBron was deemed Most Valuable Player of the NBA for the second year in a row and for his fourth time, joining a very select few of major NBA legends.  Magic Johnson, a legend himself and an anchor on the NBA on TNT show, had something to say later that night on the broadcast:

I'm in disbelief. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have more commercials than LeBron James. I can't believe that. In all my 35 years, I've never seen an MVP, back-to-back winner...not have any endorsement deals, not have any commercials on TV? Every time I look at the TV, I never see any LeBron James commercials.

Until Magic said that, it had never occurred to me, that as of right now, there are zero LeBron commercials in television rotation. ESPN Businessman, Darren Rovell, immediately took to Twitter explaining what was going on with LeBron’s marketing campaign.  

Deals with Nike, State Farm, McDonald’s and Samsung and none of them are appearing during the NBA Playoffs?  It’s reported that LeBron was the one that introduced Chris (and Cliff) Paul to the State Farm ad.  The McDonald’s ad was apparently not very successful.  And the $200 million dollar Samsung commercial that was aired in a Super Bowl was a major hit, but had run its 6-month course. Another point that Rovell raised was that advertisements are becoming more successful online through social media and other outlets, in which LeBron is being used heavily.

You may recall, years ago, when LeBron was signing his rookie NBA deal, Nike inked LeBron with a $90 million dollar endorsement deal. But where are all his commercials?  Rovell reports that LeBron’s marketing team decided collectively not to pursue a Nike television commercial campaign this year. GREAT MOVE if you ask me! Nike has come out with a line of shoes for LeBron this year that come in 20 very exclusive colors ranging anywhere from $150 a pop and up. Nike has also reported that LeBron’s shoe sales are reaching numbers that only Jordan shoes have ever seen!  Coincidence? I don’t think so.  Ask any sneak-head, we don’t want to be over-saturated with corny TV ads, we want the exclusive shoe that flies under the radar and that only the select few can afford to show off.  Look at Michael Jordan line of exclusive shoes for example; on Saturday mornings Jordan has been known to re-release his legendary shoes and sneaker heads will line up throughout malls all over America to buy the same pair he sold 20 years ago!!  So believe me when I say, Nike is making their money that they invested in LeBron!

LeBron is figuring it out.  I don’t want to see LeBron on every advertisement; I don’t want to get sick and tired of seeing him.  He doesn’t need to be in every single commercial to sell products.  He needs to win games, win championships, win awards and that will be his greatest advertisement of all time.  He is concentrating on becoming the best player ever, and not about making more money for himself by selling out.  He’s already rich, and he knows he’ll continue to get richer. The mission for him in the prime of his career is to be the best; not to make the most money he can while he’s in his prime.

As viewers we need to enjoy and respect what he is doing.  This type of player does not come around to a major league sport very often.  Selling out and making money off every single commercial doesn’t win games or championships. LeBron has learned to let the game speak for itself. Worry about the commercials when you retire. 

A Reason to Root FOR Dwayne Wade?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgHMh0uHpxs

For those of you who missed it, ESPN's E:60 had a great story last night on Dwayne Wade and Fatherhood.  Between all the falling down on the court, win-at-all-costs tactics and showmanship that Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat exude, this story really pulls on the down to Earth, inspiring attitude that we should all be rooting for.  Showing a different side to the ball player, there's one thing you can definitely say about Wade; he's a father first.

A Fine Line Between a Tough Coach and a Dodge Ball Player

Rutgers University men’s basketball coach, Mike Rice was fired this morning. After video evidence was revealed to the world yesterday on Outside the Lines of Coach Rice heaving basketballs at players when the messed up in practice, calling his players derogatory names and cursing them out nose-to-nose and even physically abusing them, the sports world exploded. Even LeBron James had to put in his two cents tweeting, “If my son played for Rutgers or a coach like that he would have some real explaining to do and I'm still gone whoop on him afterwards! C'mon”

Now, I've had my fair share of tough, intimidating coaches.  I've been yelled at, broken down and benched in basketball.  But, those same coaches were able to build me back up, cool down and later explain to me what I did wrong and how to correct it.  I was used to the yelling coach that everyone thought was scary and tough, but I knew he was a little excited and was just trying to get me to do the right thing.  Sure, I would struggle with that type of coaching at some points, but one of the most helpful advice I ever received was, “Listen to what the coaches say and not how they say it.” Which was true.  There’s a difference between a coach who uses tactics like purple-faced, veins popping-out, yelling to motivate players and a coach to buries you emotionally and physically.  I was motivated to play harder, get tougher, and I knew those coaches were getting every drop of talent and effort I had for the best.  The next day, I knew I could go and talk with those same coaches about any of my problems in life and they would support me.  They had my back and they truly cared about me.  This type of coaching translated over into the real world, thickening my skin, staying competitive and working my hardest at whatever I do and I thank them for that.

That is a completely different story in this Rutgers and Mike Rice situation.  That man put his hands on players, hitting them, grabbing the player’s jerseys and throwing them around, demoralizing them and even chucking basketballs at their shins and heads. Rice is delusional, plain and simple, to think that would be acceptable.  As an 18-22 year-old college player it would be very hard for me not to react to that insanity.

I saw the Rutgers Athletic Director interviewed last night on SportsCenter and I was shocked.  Upon reviewing the footage he originally granted Mike Rice a 3-game suspension, a small fine, and ordered him to anger management.  Really? If this were off the court, he could be charged with assault.  But, now that the video footage was released to the world for all to see, the Athletic Director went back on his original punishment and fired Rice. Does this seem sketchy to anyone else?

Mike Rice tried giving his sob story this morning to cameras about how he embarrassed himself, his school, and his family. Not once did I hear him talk about how he embarrassed his players that he abused. I hope that man never receives another coaching job, for the sake of the game.

Oh the Madness of this Month

As I write this from a plane, 22,000 feet above the ground, with all the time in the world to fill out my NCAA basketball bracket I have to keep in mind that no matter how many times I look at the match ups, I will be wrong. No matter how many scenarios I play out in my head or how much I listen to Doug Gottlieb and Seth Greenberg's break downs, my bracket is going to end up being shattered by some 12 or 13 seed. 

So, naturally I decided to select more upsets in the first and second round. No matter how many times I fill out a bracket I find myself with 1 and 2 seeds in the Final Four. My heart just won't let anyone but the "big boy" teams end up in the Final Four. So, after saying that here's my two cents on what this amazing month is going to bring us in the NCAA tournament:

1 seeds: Indiana and Louisville have proved themselves over and again as the most complete basketball teams in the NCAA. They have both solid post men and great guard play. They both have a strong bench and play in-your-face defense.  Sure, they've both suffered losses but they've learned from those losses and become better teams because of it. Many believe that Gonzaga did not deserve the 1 seed because of their weak conference and  who they played. Though they have a great record, and have a solid team, not being tested in the regular season by a tough team will come back to bite them. The last 1 seed, Kansas, was the hardest for me to figure out. Though they have a good team, I believe their lack of strong guard-play will hurt them. Having to possibly  face the guard-heavy Tar Heels, the athletic VCU Rams (who keep in mind are out for Jayhawks revenge) and then possibly face Otto Porter and Hoyas is just too much for the immature Rock Chalkers to handle. 

This Year's Theme-Parody: if you've been following the analysts of the NCAA tournament you'll hear a lot of talk of the "parity teams."  As I've mentioned in previous posts, there is no clear-cut dominant team in this tournament. There are 12-14 teams I can look at in this field that could end up winning this thing. I mean, ESPN's Colin Cowherd has SLU losing to Miami in the Championship! Upsets will be in full effect this month. My upsets would be 11-seed Minnesota, 11-seed Belmont and 12-Cal to hurt some feelings. I wouldn't be surprised if 2-seed Michigan and 1-seed Gonzaga make some early exits. 

My hometown teams: Nobody is more thrilled as I am about SLU's storybook season. After the passing of legendary coach, Rick Mejerus, the Billikins have been playing their hearts out. With a chip on their shoulder they aren't satisfied with just winning the Atlantic 10 Championship, making the NCAA tournament and receiving a 4-seed. They are out to prove how good of a team they really are and make a deep run in the tournament. I hope the Tigers take note of their thirst for victories. As the Tigers receive a 8-seed this year, and a brand new team from last year (including new Coach), you would hope they would take note of the early first round exit they took on the chin as a 2-seed last year. The sense of urgency seems to be lacking in the Mizzou Tigers this year. They lost a lot of close games by terrible guard play throughout the season.  They have all the pieces they need, they just haven't clicked as a team yet.  I rooting hard for both the Billikins and Tigers and would love to see them make a run. It won't be an easy road for either, but I truly believe that both have the skills and potential to do some damage and represent the state of Missouri well. 

This tournament will be one of the crazier NCAA basketball tournaments that I can remember. I can't recall the last time the playing field has been so even across the board. Will we see a 16-seed finally upset a 1-seed? Will a 1-seed end up winning the whole shebang (12 outta the last 14 winners have been 1-seeds)? I guess will have to wait and find out, one thing we know for sure is that the Madness in the month of March will certainly live up to it's name.  

It Ain’t Easy Being #1

Listening to ESPN Radio and watching the experts dissect men’s college basketball this season many have put the idea into the average sports fan’s mind that collegiate basketball is having a “down year”.  That because there is no dominant team that has been ranked number one throughout the season, then college basketball is suffering. I, along with true basketball fans, refuse to believe that.  In fact, we would argue quite the opposite; college basketball is stronger than ever because there is no dominant team.

Rankings have never looked so scattered before.  Indiana, Louisville, Duke and Michigan have all rotated the number one spot.  It seems as though once one school emerges to the top they are quickly beaten back down that same week.  Don’t forget about Kansas, Ohio State, Florida and Michigan State as they have been hovering the top spot.  To many people, this means that the college basketball is weakened and that there are no stand-out teams in the country.  To me, it means one thing…March Madness will be as mad as ever, and fun to watch.

I was watching the Joe Lunardi and Andy Katz breakdown on the “Who’s In and Who’s Out” and just like many analysts they had Miami and Gonzaga to get 1-seeds in the tournament. How crazy is it not having UConn, UNC, Duke and Kentucky dominating the polls and running through the tournament. No, not this year (they might be lucky to even make the NCAA tourney)! This year teams like SLU and Minnesota are going to be taking out the big time teams. Maybe this year we see a 16-seed upset a 1-seed? If I were a betting man, I’d be putting my lunch money on that bet. Statistically, it’s bound to happen within the next five years. There’s one thing I do know for sure; I cannot wait for March Madness.

Super Bowl Recap

Last night was everything I wanted in a Super Bowl.  Between the game, the story between the Harbaugh brothers and Beyonce, I’d have to say I was pleased with what I witnessed last night.

Leading into the Super Bowl, the scene was already set for an epic storyline. John and Jim Harbaugh, blood brothers, were leading their teams into the NFL Championship.  It’s strange enough to have two brothers coach in the NFL, but to have those brothers face each other in the Super Bowl?  I mean, that’s something you only see in Disney movies! And speaking of movies, The Blind Side’s Michael Oher went from sleeping in laundry mats to winning Super Bowl rings, (seemed like people forgot about him)! The new, New Orleans, LA was hosting the Super Bowl this year and it did not disappoint…right? Up until the entire Superdome blacked out leaving everyone in the Dome thinking, “Oh, no here we go again!” And everyone at home wondering, “Is Bane coming out of that tunnel soon?”

As far as the entertainment side of the Super Bowl, I was very pleased. Bringing out the Sandy Hook choir to sing with skinny Jennifer Hudson and then Alicia Keyes setting the tone with the National Anthem was a classy move.  It even brought those big, ol’ football players to tears! But, the highly anticipated halftime show did not disappoint. Beyonce may have caught some criticism for lip syncing at the Inauguration, but she was saving her vocals for something far more important; last night.  Post-Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction, the last few halftime shows have been pretty boring, and appealed to the 50-70 year old viewers.  Last night, Beyonce went hard in the paint, giving every booty-shakin’, hair-whip move she had 100%.  Oh, and her vocals were stellar!  Name someone else who can move like that, sound like an angel and still not sound out of breath?  Go ahead, I’ll wait…

I must say, if I was let down with anything last night it was the commercials.  Too many commercials now-a-days are trying to have the “Old Spice, what?!” factor.  They try too hard to be weird, strange and have absolutely nothing to do with the product.  They seem to go for the “Wow” factor and shock the audience.  I feel as though we should expect better than that. Out of all the commercials last night, I’d have to say the Budweiser Clydesdale and the Amy Poehler Best Buy commercial win the best commercials.

As for the game itself; it was everything I wanted.  All I asked for was a close, hard-fought game.  I think we can all agree that it was.  At first, it looked like the Ravens were going to run away with it, but the 49ers did what they normally do and found their way out of a hole. I think the 3^rd quarter was one of the craziest quarters in Super Bowl history.  I mean, record-tying 108 yard kickoff return, a 34-minute blackout, and a 17-point unanswered comeback was pretty awesome to watch.  In the end, the young quarterback threw an awkward, incomplete pass to a young receiver and lost the game.  Was it a holding penalty, that’s up for debate, but the refs (not replacement refs, thank goodness) did not call it and the 49ers lost possession.  The mean machine, turned reverend, Ray Lewis won the Super Bowl in his last game ever, which was cool to see. And the Harbaugh brothers met at the 50-yard line and embraced each other as competitive brothers do. What a great night for sports and entertainment! Now, back to work…

Dirty Little Secrets

As a little kid growing up playing sports, constantly watching re-runs of ESPN and modeling my life after the athletes I saw on the T.V., professional athletes were the end all be all. In the eyes of a kid who was as passionate about sports like I was, these pros could do no wrong.  Boy, was I wrong.  With the recent developments in the Lance Armstrong case, I find myself looking back and remembering the famous “I am not a role model” quote from Sir Charles Barkley.

Yesterday, Lance Armstrong threw in the towel and finally confessed on Oprah Winfrey’s “pillow talk” show that he had used illegal PED’s while his miraculous, record-setting Tour de France winning streak. Before, you jump down my throat and say, “Who cares?” or “Everyone else was doing it!” hear me out.  Lance Armstrong raised millions of dollars for cancer research.  He used his popularity for good and started the famous LIVESTRONG brand to help raise money stop cancer.  Being the face of an organization like that is something to be extremely proud of.  One could only hope that they could make that big of an impact in the world in a positive light, given his situation.  He beat cancer and kids looked up to him and started wearing the LIVESTRONG bracelets, (I’m still wearing mine).  But, Lance had a dirty, little secret that he strongly denied and would brutally curse you down if you ever accused him.  He was a liar, a cheater, and a strongly manipulative person, (according to multiple sources).  He is not the role model we all thought he was.

Tiger Woods was in Lance’s same shoes a few years ago.  He was on top of the world in his sport; He raised money for foundations and kids all over the world looked up to Tiger.  Then, that one cold Thanksgiving night, Tiger’s dirty, little secret became national headlines and our perception of him drastically changed.  This seems to happen more and more as the list goes on; Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Brett Favre, Kobe Bryant, etc. they all had dirty, little secrets.  But, I guess what we have to realize is, they’re humans too, and they’re going to make mistakes.

I have mixed feelings about these athletes.  How can I judge them?  I’m not in their shoes.  Being a multi-millionaire athlete in the limelight with all that pressure, who knows how I would handle their situations.  I can only pray I would handle it the right way.  When I heard Charles Barkley say that quote when I was younger it made no sense.  But the older I get, the more I see his point, “I am not a role model.  Just because I can dunk a basketball, doesn't mean I should raise your kids.”

I hope Lance Armstrong apologizes.  Not because he was caught, because it’s the right thing to do.  And once he does, let’s forgive him and move on!  There are more important things in life than cheating on a bike race, such as stopping cancer.  Lance Armstrong is LIVESTRONG.  So, I hope Lance can now concentrate his efforts on finding a cure for cancer, and less about cheating on a long bike race.

Winners and Losers at the BCS National Championship

The BCS National Championship football game took place this past Monday night and it was so boring. I’m just as big of a football fan as the next guy, but c’mon, Alabama could have put their second team in and coasted to a win over Notre Dame. I give props to Notre Dame turning their program around and returning to the Championship, but Alabama made the Irish look like a high school program, and showed the world what SEC football was about.  Instead of breaking down the game, I've decided to break down who the real winners and losers of the night.

Winner: The Alabama offensive line- These brutes tossed around Notre Dame’s front line like rag dolls  It was like watching heavyweight sumo wrestlers throw a lightweight into the crowd.  These guys showed everyone on national television that they deserve to block in the NFL.  I wouldn't cross them in a cafeteria.

Loser: Manti Te’o – This All-American linebacker once Heisman hopeful was exposed in the game in front of millions.  Missed tackles, getting trucked by Bama running backs and zero red zone defensive stops really dropped Te’o’s NFL draft stock.  He’ll have to earn it like the other guys now and compete in the NFL combines. Just goes to show, how much bigger, faster and stronger those Alabama players really were.

Winner: A.J. McCarron- Not because he won the BCS Bowl so much, but more because he might have one of the hottest girlfriends in football.  Even Brent Musburger couldn't hold back his comments on how smoking Miss Alabama was.  A.J. may or may not play in the NFL, if he does he will probably be on the sidelines wearing a headset, but it doesn't matter, this man is definitely out kicking his coverage as far as girlfriends.  Good for you A.J. you better hold on tight!

Loser: College Football Fans- This game just went to prove that college football needs a playoff system.  No more blow outs in championship games.  I would love to even see an 8-game playoff just to spice it up.  Playoffs are WAY better than bowl games.  I’ve never really understood why and how these bowl games get picked but they really aren’t holding anyone’s interest.  Install a playoff system or else…

Biggest Winner of the Night: Katherine Webb- Amidst a terribly boring game, the brilliant cameraman for ESPN must have gotten bored and spotted out Katherine Webb, or as we should call her Miss Alabama.  After that one shot of her and A.J. McCarron’s mom, Miss Alabama would never be the same.  With Brent Musburger’s awkward compliments Miss Alabama’s world turned upside down as social media soon had her trending!  Her Twitter account went from about 2,300 followers to 242,000 followers.  Donald Trump, LeBron James and others began following her and tweeting about the beauty. I wouldn't be surprised if they gave her a reality show or something. Once a small time model, I’m sure we’ll find a way to keep Miss Alabama a celebrity some way or another!