Chicago. Spring training. Lax. Ow for Yao. Birthdays galore.

Hey sportsfans,

Howdy. Sid and I had a most excellent adventure this weekend to the Windy City. While Emmy was enjoying a long break on the Gulf Coast, STK and I hung out with the our buddies, the Kubow family. Casey and Grayson are big fun, especially when the Blue Man Group is around. Highs in the 30s did not stop Siddy G from riding a Segway along Lake Shore and checking out the sights of the Second City.








Fresh cut grass. No injuries, hopefully. Contracts are signed (except for King Albert). Pitchers and catchers. Fungos. BP. WHIP. ERA. HBPs and MVPs. Tis the season. Time to report. Loosening arms. Swinging bats. Chasing fly balls. Fastballs whizzing by and smacking the back of catcher mits. Retirees and younguns all watching within spittin distance of their diamond heroes. Cactus and Grapefruit League ball yards are filled with dreams and hopes of making the rosters, staying healthy, producing, contributing and winning championships. I cannot wait to see how the season unfolds.




Yesterday Emmy was able to FINALLY step onto the lacrosse field with her teammates. It seems that during this preseason she's been on more teams than Mike Morgan, Ron Villone and Matt Stairs, combined (each played for 12 MLB teams). Since Homewood did not have enough players in her age group, there was talk of combining them with Hoover, but that did not pan out. Now she's on the Mountain Brook team. (See, you don't have to live in the Tiny Kingdom to play on their teams.) The MB team is an established one with two experienced coaches. Both of the coaches played lax in high school and college. Em knows a few of the girls on the team. I'm sure it will not take too long for her to make friends. Games begin in a few weeks. Should be fun.

What a joke. Yao Ming was voted the Western Conference starting center for the 2011 All-Star Game for the eighth time in nine seasons. The thing is, Ming has been out with a dislocated ankle since December and will miss the remainder of the season. He has been hurt most each season, but still gets voted to the all star teams. I like the fellow and think he's a great talent. It's the all star voting process that is broken. With China backing Ming each year, their fans flood the voting ballots in his favor. At least the coach gets to substitute a healthy player in his place. Tim Duncan's not a bad choice. Postscipt: Great game with a furious comeback that just fell short. The West is still the best.

Having a good week: Wake Forest freshman outfielder Kevin Jordan needed a kidney transplant. None of his family members was a suitable match for a donation. So his coach, Tom Walter donated a kidney to Jordan on Monday. One of the surgeons in the procedures, Dr. Kenneth Newell, said the operations went well and that both men are expected to make full recoveries. How about the Vanderbilt men's hoops team. they defeated Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia during the past week or so. Sporting an excellent records, the Dores look to finish the regular season strong before post-season play. In a stunning 104-99 win Wednesday night over the two-time defending champion, LA Lakers, the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers - the league's worst team, avenged a 55-point embarrassment against Los Angeles last month.

Having a bad week: Actually, a bad many years. Maybe he was or maybe he was not beaten up by a skinhead in prison a few weeks ago. Who knows? Who cares? The National Enquirer is reporting that OJ Simpson was beaten up very badly. How about the idiot who supposedly poisoned the trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn? "Al from Dadeville" is claiming responsibility and of course he's a Bammer. This knucklehead went on the Paul Finebaum's national radio show to brag about it. What a doofus. Now he's being prosecuted. This will end badly for him. An Iowa high school wrestler who was one of the favorites to win his weight class defaulted on his first-round state tournament match rather than face one of the first girls to ever qualify for the event. Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who was 35-4 wrestling for Linn-Mar High this season, said in a statement that he doesn't feel it would be right for him to wrestle Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman. Another knucklehead.

Happy 94th and 92nd birthdays to Papa Max and Grandma Dottie. Kenahora! ("Without the evil eye.") Big party on the horizon.
Happy, gulp - 40th birthday to UR aka Uncle Robbie aka Rob aka Robert aka Bobert aka Huggy Bear aka Jim McMahon. Lakashanah! (According to UD, this words means anything you want it to mean.)
I'm resting up now because there will be no sleep during my upcoming favorite month. Bring on March Madness, spring training, spring break, lacrosse, etc., etc.
Enjoy the complimentary beer and nuts.
Go crazy!
The Sports Guy

Sport or not a sport?

What is a sport?

There are many activities than some consider to be sports. There are many sports that are considered more of an activity. I think it is an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules and undertaken competitively.

That seems simple enough doesn't it? So then does that mean that curling is really a sport? What about golf or darts or bull riding? In order to determine what really is a sport it is necessary to get at the heart of the definition, what does it really mean, in order for us to determine what types of activities can properly be called sports and which cannot.



To do this it is important to establish an objective set of criteria based upon the definition of the word "sport". By comparing an activity with the criteria established by the definition of the word sport, it becomes quite easy to determine what activities can rightfully be called sports and which activities are just wannabes, the non-sports of the world.

So here is how to determine what is a sport and what is not. The definition of a sport is broken down into four categories: 1) physical exertion, 2) skill, 3) rules, and 4) competition. By applying a simple scoring system to each of the four categories and then adding up the points you can easily determine what is a sport and what is not. Think about it. It could work.

According to wikipedia.com: A sport is an organized, competitive, entertaining, and skillful activity requiring commitment, strategy, and fair play, in which a winner can be defined by objective means. It is governed by a set of rules or customs. Activities such as card games and board games, are classified as "mind sports" and some are recognized as Olympic sports, requiring primarily mental skills and mental physical involvement. Non-competitive activities, for example as jogging or playing catch are usually classified as forms of recreation.





Physical events such as scoring goals or crossing a line first often define the result of a sport. However, the degree of skill and performance in some sports such as diving, dressage and figure skating are judged according to well-defined criteria. This is in contrast with other judged activities such as beauty pageants and body building, where skill does not have to be shown and the criteria are not as well defined.

With all that said, what's your take on synchronized swimming?

Enjoy your Wednesday.
The Sport Guy

Fastest game on two feet. Bama rolls over Ole Miss. Altamont stomps Vincent.

Hey sportsfans,

Hope this entry finds you all doing well and thawing out? What a crazy winter. Bring on springtime weather! Please. This past weekend we enjoyed some sunshine on a road trip to Tuscaloosa for a sports doubleheader.

With Emmy starting to play lacrosse this spring, we decided to watch some college players in action. We caught the Ole Miss vs. Georgia Tech Men's lacrosse game on the Alabama campus. Fast. Loud. Moving. Hitting. Athletic. Funny. Awesome. All words that describe the sport that is being called "the fastest game on two feet." Since this is a club sport, we were able to watch the game from the sidelines, up close and personal.





After watching the lax game, we walked over to Coleman Coliseum for some pregame hoops excitement. Prior to Alabama's men's hoops game against Ole Miss, our buddies Adam and Aaron were chosen to rebound for the Tide in their warm ups. What a thrill! The boys shot hoops for a long before the team came onto the court. Here they are after their workout on the court.



This SEC match up was a much anticipated game, as both teams have shown improvement, excellent defense and exhibited some exciting players. The Tide took it to Ole Miss early on offense and never looked back as they cruised to a 74-64 win. Cotton candy, nachos, frozen lemonades, pretzels, Dippin Dots - you name it, Mack, Sid, Em and Lilly had it!





Do you think our sports day was over after the Tide's win? No way! We then cruised back to town to catch the Altamont Lady Knights take the area 10 championship. They defeated Vincent Yellow Jackets by a score of 45-30. Led by their all-world junior, Yorisha Bryant's 27 points, the Lady Knights controlled the game throughout. Next up is the Regional tournament. Sporting an 18-4 record, the Lady Knights look to go deep in the 2A tourney.

When can we bestow Chipper Jones as the baseball version of Brett Favre? Consider the similarities: Prolonged retirement talks. #10 has been injured as much as #4. Both have controversies involving women who are not their wives. Substance abuse problems for both. Sure bet first ballot Hall of Famers. Both are from the deep south. Played with one team for all/most of their careers. Beloved by their respective fans and teammates. Both need a shave and drive beat up trucks.

Having a good week: Baseball fans. Pitchers and catchers report this week and every team looks like a contender. David Sills, the 14 year old QB who committed to USC last year might have been offered a scholarship to Auburn. Some are denying. Some are confirming.

Not having a good week: Football fans. Looming NFL strike and more than a month until college spring practices. The St. Louis Cardinals are on the clock. They had better sign Pujols ASAP.

Happy Valentines Day.
Have great week everyone.
Spring is here to stay. I hope.
The Sports Guy