Sunday, May 30, 2010

How To Get To An (Usually) Unemotional Movie Aficionado

I love watching movies, but I usually never cry at the points where the majority of the population does. For example, last semester a bunch of my friends and I watched "Little Women" around Christmas time. When one of the sisters died, all the girls are cried and were really distraught, and I felt utterly heartless as I sat there and thought when is this going to be over? Granted there are some exceptions to this.
Obviously, the major exception is...sports films. Remember the Titans is one that reduces me to tears every time. I just love watching sports movies! I become completely engrossed, and I find myself energetically rooting for the good guy or the underdog to win and succeed (except for the movie "Rudy"- the slow clap at the end ruined it for me). I'm not saying I cry during every sports movie, but I have an immensely more emotional attachment to those movies than I do for those in other genres. Chariots of Fire, The Natural, Invincible, The Blind Side, We Are Marshall (I never noticed how many football movies I love, ha ha), and the list goes on and on! Not to mention the UK NCAA tourney and championship games I have on DVD :)
Sports get my emotions going almost more than anything else, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

CAUTION: Over Zealous Parents Now Live Vicariously Through Their Kids

Only in today's world would you hear about a mother getting kicked out of the ball park during a t-ball game because of yelling profusely at the ump. Or about a coach bribing refs for a youth church basketball league (I actually read about that one). Seriously, what is wrong with these people? Don't get me wrong, I am extremely competitive and I love sports-and winning-but I realize that it's just a game rather than a life or death situation.
It is quite disturbing how crazy sports teams have become for kids nowadays. It's become so political, and parents try and buddy up with the coaches to make their kid one of the favorites who receives a lot of playing time. What happened to simple rec leagues that allowed the kids to have fun and just be kids? Now you have to do club teams and private lessons and everything in between in order to be considered for playing. People, parents especially, need to realize that the chances of their kid being at a collegiate level are very slim. Not everyone has the talent to succeed in the sports arena. And you know what? That is totally OK. It's more than alright to play a sport principally for enjoyment and exercise.
Kids these days lack the quality of being well-rounded in their lives. It's come to the point where you have to choose only one or two sports at the most, or only music, or only academics. That's the frustration I had with participating in school sports. Thankfully I didn't have to deal with these complications until high school, but eventually I had to give up a sport I love because the coaches basically told me I'd have to give up my life and desires of playing or doing anything else in order to get playing time. Why can't we go back to the days where sports teams were for the fun of it? It'll be better for all of us to take a slice of humble pie and play for the sake of playing and getting back to the basics.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Sports Disappointment

There are few things worse than sports disappointment, and right now I'm going through the throes of the aforementioned affliction. Seriously, the Celtics should have swept the series against the Orlando Magic on Monday. I'm not even talking about how poorly they played the majority of the game, if not the entire match. I'm mostly frustrated by the fact that, at tie game, they had the ball with 14.6 seconds left...and didn't even get a shot off! How does that happen? I'll tell you a principle factor in that horrible display-his name is Paul Pierce. I like Pierce, but he really stunk up the court at the end. I mean, how do you not get a shot off at the end of regulation, AND miss two open threes at the end of OT in the same night?
Tonight, it hasn't been much better, but this time the refs suck, too. That technical on Perkins was utter crap! Along with the ten million other technical fouls called. They're getting ridiculous with their foul-calling, and it is not appreciated by this Celtics fan. I am incredibly incensed at all the foul trouble.
Basically, sports disappointment is a terrible thing to experience. You are completely helpless and yet you feel even you could do better at getting the job done. I plan my whole year around sports. Fall is for football, winter is basketball, spring and summer is a combination of tennis and golf, and it starts over again. Before this year when the Wildcats went back to the top, my years were a sports disaster-one step past sports disappointment. UK football always disappoints, though a few games here and there have cheered me up, UK basketball was basically division two at the end of the Tubby era and the two year train wreck that was Billy G, Nadal was injured, and Tiger was fading and having issues. I had nothing to excite me, because excitement brought hope, hope got destroyed, destruction of hope brought an onslaught of SD (sports disappointment).
Despite having SD in the past, each year brings a fresh start, and I never will stop watching sports even with the possibility of watching my teams lose. Sports is what I live for! My life would be almost empty without them.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Ode to the Yellow Line

Have you ever heard those Budweiser radio commercials entitled "Real American Heroes" and "Real Men of Genius"? They're pretty great, but I think they need to create one for the inventor of the Yellow Line in football. Seriously, how great is that line?! Without that aid we would be constantly looking and straining our necks to find the sideline ref who is holding the chains. Now all we have to do is look at the screen, and there it is! No guessing involved! Watching football without a yellow line is akin to the days when you had to live without electricity-you just couldn't see anything unless you lit ten million candles.
The only two problems related to this fantastic addition are the following. First, if they forget to put the yellow line up before the ball is snapped, panic mode sets in. How far do they have to go until they get a first down? I need that visual! But eventually it appears, and all uncertainties are tackled. But if you're at the game, sadly, you won't ever view that yellow line. Second, since you can clearly see the yellow line, and subsequently where the first down is, you begin to expect the players to see it too. How many times has a player been inches away from the line, only to run out of bounds or fall down? You exclaim in frustration, "Why didn't you get the first down! Didn't you see the yellow line?" Then you realize he didn't and couldn't have. Still-there's no excuse, ha ha.
I definitely take for granted this wonderfully and brightly colored clue, and shudder to think of watching football without it! So thank you, whoever came up with and implemented the yellow line. You made watching football that much better (which I didn't even think was possible!).

Sunday, May 23, 2010

The Not Top Ten

I was watching the Not Top Ten on Friday, as I always do, and there was one poor play that stuck out in my mind. Roger Federer, on match point, whiffed on his return! He lost to Nadal (the King of the clay) making Nadal undefeated so far this year on the slippery surface. Whiffed! On match point! I absolutely love watching the Not Top Ten because it always makes me feel better about myself and the many embarrassing sports screw ups in my life. Even the pros, who are at the top of their game, make rookie mistakes. It would be my worst nightmare to end up on the Friday morning ritual.

For example, I might not have lived down the pep rally disaster in seventh grade had it been documented and put on the Not Top Ten. Since no one really is going to see this, I'll share one of my biggest sports flops for entertainment. I love playing basketball. Now, you must understand that I am average in skill, a little sub par in my offensive ability, but I do have a pretty tenacious defensive streak. Anyway, I played ball in middle school, and I was always the little, white girl trying to earn her respect. In seventh grade, I was feeling a little more confident. No longer the lowest on the totem pole, and dressing out for the A-team, I felt that I was improving and receiving that respect. Then the pep rally happened. We did a basic lay-up drill and then moved on to a little three-on-three action. I brought the ball down, and to my excitement, I saw a major opening in the lane. I drove up the lane with purpose, and was extending my arm for the release of the ball, and out of nowhere-BAM-I got blocked by one of the tallest girls on the team. I mean, I didn't even see it coming! Almost immediately a chorus of "Ooohhhhh!"s came from the bleachers that were chock full of my fellow comrades. This was going to be bad. I definitely saw that going better in my head. As I walked to my locker at the end of the day, a random kid passed me in the hall, he turned and said "Ooo, you got stuffed!" Thankfully, no one really remembered after a day or so.

A really random side note: if lawn mowing were a sport-I'd be a champion. I slay lawns like no one else.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Celtics Crush Magic-Life is Good :)

So...the Celtics dominated tonight. The first two games of the series were quite eventful and exciting. Tonight, however, the Magic did not show up to play. To be honest, although I was more than thrilled that the Celtics won, I was kind of hoping for a better/more interesting game. To me, the perfect basketball game would be neck and neck all the way, and then a blowout run in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter (or the second half if we're talking college).

But, as usual, Rondo freakin' dominated! He is THE best point guard in the league, and he runs the offense with flair. Plus, his defense is off the charts-he's so scrappy. He brings the needed youth to a more veteran team, and adds to the team chemistry. Everyone loves Rondo, even all the commentators. I mean, how could you not love him and his little boy face?

To be honest, I never thought the Celtics would make it this far, so it's been a pleasant surprise. Now I'm starting to get greedy and am believing they could win the whole thing. They're all healthy, and they have the will to win. Hopefully they won't come up short.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Why So Blue, Panda Bear?

Well, today has been a l-o-n-g day, and I'm feeling a little down. What better way to remedy this situation than to make a list of my favorite/most memorably sports moments! (And, of course, watch UK's 1996 and 1998 NCAA Championship wins).

Note: in no particular order

1. UK football beating #1 LSU in 4 OTs (2007 I think). I was there, stormed the field, saved a tuft of grass, and participated in the craziness and delirium that all the fans felt. I mean, this never happens! UK is always last in the SEC. The victory was sweeter than a praline :)

2. 2010 SEC tournament in Nashville, the Cats are back! I witnessed one of the best cat and dog fights between Kentucky and Mississippi State in the championship game...from the sixth row, center court. No big deal. It was close the whole game, it went into overtime, I almost had a heart attack, and I had to catch a flight to Boston in a few hours. Even more than coming out the victor is the fact that Kentucky basketball is FINALLY getting back to where it should be.

3. Having John Wall for a year. Enough said.

4. This isn't a single event, but I just love getting ice cream with sprinkles in a little plastic Cincinnati Reds helmet at the baseball games! It's like the gift that keeps giving! You get to eat ice cream-yum!-and then keep the helmet, which you could go home and put ice cream in again! Brilliant!

5. Watching UK beat Duke in the 1998 NCAA tourney by overcoming a seventeen point deficit in the second half. Take that Coach K and the ACC-loving ex-announcer Billy Packer!

6. Witnessing, with utter joy, the Celtics defeating the Lakers to take the NBA championship back to Boston in 2008! Rajon Rondo blossomed into the dominating player that he is.

7. Patrick Sparks being fouled on a three point attempt as time ran out at the end of the UK vs. Louisville basketball game, and going on to make all three free throws for a one point margin of victory! I don't think he made consecutive free throws for the rest of the season, but he made them when it counted the most. Not to mention, making a difficult shot to send the game into overtime in that year's NCAA tourney against Michigan State. (We still lost, but that doesn't matter at this point).

8. Tiger Woods winning the U.S. Open in 2008, and all the other times he dominated. I know he's not perfect, but you have to admit that on the course, he is unstoppable. You see him come out on a Sunday afternoon wearing his I-will-destroy-you red shirt, and you settle down for a great round of golf. Coupled with these great memories, is watching Phil Mickelson crumble and fold faster than a crunchy fall leaf.

Well, I guess that's good for now. I've watched a lot of sports over my life thus far, and some of my greatest joys stem from them.

A True American Dream

There is a great article in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated about the Major League Baseball player Carlos Peña (the first baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays). His parents moved him and his brother, Pedro, from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts in order to provide a better opportunity for their sons. Carlos' dad and mom gave up their jobs as an engineer and a teacher, respectively, for a new life of labor: a custodian and a house maid. It was quite a sacrifice. As one can observe, Carlos has succeeded in his baseball endeavors as he flourishes in the league. Sadly, his brother's baseball career was terminated when he suffered a broken hand. Though, his story does not turn out tragically, as he went on the achieve a PhD in Biochemistry. Now that is impressive! I greatly admire the drive and determination of the Peña family, and especially the desire of the parents to seek a better life for their sons. I always love a great sports story where an athlete has not been handed success upon a silver plate, but has instead risen to the top as a result of hard work and natural skill. Along with the deserved respect towards Carlos, there should be included reverence towards Pedro, his brother. I'm sure it was a devastating realization that his career was over with that detrimental injury. But despite this setback, he continued forward and became successful in another field-sans grass.
I don't intend to get all political, but this wonderful story makes me think of the bill currently being debated in Arizona. And frankly, it is a nationwide issue. Look at this family and what they have given up. They moved here and worked hard to accomplish something great. Immigration does not yield a lazy sack of potatoes that is a drain on our country. Most immigrants in our country work very hard-harder than a lot of Americans. Everyone deserves a chance to make his or her mark on the world, and a shot at his or her dream. Batter's up, so give him your best pitch and see how far he can hit it.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Hit Me With Your Best Camera Angle.

One of my biggest sports pet peeves is a poor camera angle. Seriously, this is not an artsy documentary, it's a sporting event. Give us, the dear fans, the consistent and best angle. Have you ever been stuck looking at the floor view? Great, now we get a five minute steady stream of a player's expensive and over-endorsed shoes (are the apparel companies slowly taking over networks?). Now it's camera guy number two's turn to give us a view from...wait for it...behind the backboard. How am I going to tell if the free throw is good or not? Quit getting fancy and pan out to the full or half court view.
Unfortunately, this frustration isn't limited to basketball. It can be frequent in golf, too. All of a sudden, a crucial putt is about to be made, and all you can see is a sea of green in which the game is not Where's Woods? but rather Where's the Hole? Sometimes it's a fake out, and at the last possible moment, you get the view you've been wanting. I guess the cameraman got a little bored, set the camera down on the green, and went to take a leak or get a sandwich. He saw what a terrible feed he was getting in the clubhouse and realized "oh crap! That's my shoddy camera work!".
But there is hope and light at the end of the football tunnel! I have never been betrayed by the angles and camera shots in football. There is the occasional up close and cursory view of the line of scrimmage, but the cameraman never disappoints and gets to THE shot at least one "hike!" before the ball is snapped.
So if any of you sports cameramen out there are reading this-enough with the alternative angle business. Stick to the basics of what we want. You will not win an Oscar for your feed of the game winning shot by putting the camera a bit off-center and from behind for visual interest. To the football cameramen, I salute you and your faithful filming. Keep it up!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Flying by the Seat of my Basketball Shorts

So I'm sitting here watching the second game of the Celtics-Magic playoff series, and I decided to start a sports blog. I love talking about sports, and I greatly needed an outlet for my athletic-based rants. Plus, I'll have quite a bit of free time this summer. Perfect combination. I will be upfront that I have some biases, but I'll let you pick them out as I go along, they'll be pretty obvious. Anyway, I hope you like my blog. If not, I couldn't care less. Go Cats!