Shop Online
Archive for June, 2009
The MLB Civil Rights Petition
This last Saturday marked the first Major League helped Civil Rights Game, between the Cincinnati Reds and the White Sox and centered around baseball’s role in the civil rights movement.
“We’re very proud of this event,” Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig said. “It’s come a long, long way in a short period of time. I’m delighted to be here, particularly with people who deserve the praise and recognition. This has been really a wonderful day. It has really been an honor and a pleasure to be here.”
NFL Team Lottery Hypocrisy
In a follow up to the NFL’s hypocritical stand on pro football gambling, NFL owners voted 32 to 0 in favor of allowing teams to sell the licensing rights for their logos to state lotteries.
Reportedly the Patriots and Redskins, followed by the Ravens and Texans whom have already reached such agreements with state lotteries on lottery tickets that feature the team’s logos, with others set to follow suit.
With state lotteries designed to benefit the interest of state funding, NFL teams look to cash in on the opportunity to increase revenues. It is also a benefit to state lottery as they expect to piggyback the NFLs fan base in order to improve the decreased state funding as a result of current global economic downturn.
Director of the Maryland Lottery, Buddy Roogow, said, “I’m thrilled about this unprecedented partnership linking two Maryland icons. This is an excellent affiliation for the Maryland Lottery, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with one of the most beloved teams in the NFL.”
Troubled Players – Darryl Strawberry
A prodigy and one of the most feared sluggers in the game of baseball with 335 home runs and 1,000 RBIs in a 17-year career with the Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Yankees.
Yet during his career alone his undeniable drug problem kept the potential of this star studded player from reaching his full potential. All together injuries, drinking and cocaine addiction sabotaged his career with 3 suspensions from the MLB due to substance abuse.
“The drinking and drugging, that was a way of punishing myself and the fans, too,” Darryl Strawberry said of his early years playing with the expectations and stress of his career with the New York Yankees. “I figured, ‘If you want to get negative on me, you won’t get the best out of me.’”
One of the games brightest stars, unfortunetly his personal life was that of a literal mess. From spousal abuse and divorce to federal tax evasion and battling cancer and his drug additions.
Troubled Players – Mark Ingram
Giants 1991 Super Bowl superstar failed to appear for the third time in federal court for sentencing associated with money laundering and bank fraud charges. After which he was expected to surrender and receive 7 1/2 to 9 1/2 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors in Florida and New York said Ingram was caught in a sting for cashing $300,000 in phony checks, and laundering another $200,000. He had pleaded guilty back in 2005 stemming from a narcotics deal that turned out to be undercover agents passing along marked proceeds.
“I’ve done a lot of things wrong,” Ingram said at his sentencing. “I’m an imperfect man.”
A slight understatement considering the NFL players rap sheet that goes back 23 years and includes seven previous convictions. Apparently he wasn’t going down until he was later caught in Michigan after a month long run from authorities. The arrest came just before the start of his son’s biggest game, the Sugar Bowl matchup between Utah in which his son’s team, Alabama had lost 31-17.
Chairman Carl Peterson
Former Kansas City Chiefs executive Carl Peterson smells the newly obtained position of USA football’s chairman, an independent nonprofit – national governing body of youth football, replacing the late Jack Kemp.
The organization hosts more then 100 football events, geared towards instructing coaches, players, game officials and providing resources for youth football. Overall the league is designed to build and shape potential future NFL players consisting of coaches, officials and commissioners throughout every state in the country.
With over 20 years of NFL experience under his belt, he collectively saw the Chiefs whom only saw one playoff appearance in 18 years, building them into the most winningest team in the 1990′s, including six playoff appearances.
Now joining the likes of USA Football board members such as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and players’ association chief DeMaurice Smith
Money Talks for receiver Donte’ Stallworth
Drive a Bently, Drive Drunk, Have deep pockets and NFL fame to boot, you may just get the boot…set aside.
Family members of Mario Reyes will spend the rest of their lives without a husband and father. 59 year old crane operator Reyes was simply heading across the street to catch the bus home from work around 7:15 am.
It is however more then just a simple 30 days – it is 30 days that is merely an inconvenience, possibly two years of house arrest following eight years probation for freakin manslaugher. With that being said, he does get to continue breathing. Stupid decisions happen including accidents involving people’s lives and their love ones, but how bitter sweat is the conclusion when you have the money to make a deal.
The jaywalking technicality has a huge factor in the deal but it goes to show that the court system can be outbid by the acceptance of greed. Surely a hard decision for any family, after all the loved one is gone and the struggles could be gone but the undisclosed amount of money paid in order for the family to refrain from filing a civil suit sheds light on humanities end result.
Another Interleague Plus
Laynce and Jayson Nix reunion through MLB scheduling’s good ole interleague play may not event make a scratch in the heated debate but it is just one more reason that some freshness to the season should be considered.
“We eat, sleep and go to the ballpark. There’s not a lot of extra time for things. We may get together a couple of times before he leaves.”
Also marking the occasion of their reunion it was the first time the brothers had homered on the same night as major leaguers. Jayson Nix whom was 0 for 7 earleir in the week on Chicago’s road trip came through with his first multi-home run game against the Angels just this Wednesday.
The NFL’s Gambling Stance
In the name of opposition to sports betting the NFL’s stance on sports betting is quite clear.
“If sports betting becomes more prevalent through state-promoted schemes, it will inevitably lead those gambling fans to question whether an erroneous officiating call or a dropped pass late in the game resulted from an honest mistake or an intentional act by a corrupt player or referee,” NFL spokesman Joe Browne told the Wall Street Journal.
Yet recently the NFL has been allowing teams to sign licensing deals with state lotteries. The NFL is apparently worried about perception and this supposed regulated format of football betting would be better then the likely illegal opposition. It is however more likely that the NFL is looking at the $8 billion in revenue the league will earn by allowing the teams to sell their logos to state lotteries.
Onward with the MLB Steroid Saga
It is time for the Steroid scandal to be put in the past. With players Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa having been released as having tested positive for steroids 6 seasons ago it may make sense to once and for all call to light the remaining confidentially held names and move forward for the sake of the Major League Baseball.
In the best interest of baseball the MLB commissioner’s office may have to release the dirty little secret once and for all. But a contractual promise such as the confidential list retained from the 2003 season may cause a domino effect across the sport. It is a simple fact that steroids has branded the sport of baseball because of the way it has been handled.
Still fighting allegations that he had taken performance enhancing drugs, Sammy Sosa, awaits the congressional committee and its investigation into the matter of perjury.
An Easy Solution to MLB Interleague Delema
Simply put, replace the randomized interleague scheduling.
With an understandable stance on interleague play lacking some relevance to rivalries but it still seems that there is enough of an added dimension to interleague play. With interdivision rivalries already at a disproportionate number it would seem like capturing fan interest and mixing things up in the world of baseball would be a welcomed addition. Nevertheless, this does not seem to be the case for many critics of the current MLB scheduling.
It is arguable that changing the setup of interleague play would potentially unbalance current scheduling. Interleague play has always been intended to allow fans to see teams they otherwise wouldn’t normally see during the year. How much can this seemingly inequivocal factor have on the game of baseball?
Perhaps parts of the setup can be pointed out such as the arbitrary scheduling or standard rotation of divisions that play on a given year. After all some might point out a given situation in which a team may be battling for a divisional title and have to do so against otherwise unnecessarily harder opponents compared to a division rival while on the road to securing the title.
Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS).
The views, opinions and information are unofficial, independent and are not otherwise affiliated or represent the views or opinions of Custom Authentic Jerseys not any team, league or organization.
Recent Comments