Role Models With Rap Sheets?

           College athletes are some of the highest praised students on college campuses. For most, this is a title that is well deserved. However, some of the athletes should really not be put on pedestals. Why? Because many of these athletes have had legal problems off the field and even before recruitment from high school. Granted, many of these legal problems are minor offenses or one time instances and these should be allowed to continue in collegiate sports . But, some bring to the college a long and more serious list of criminal activities. Should these serious criminal offenders be allowed to participate in college sports? I think the answer is no.
   
           According to the article from Reuters, “College Football players' Criminal Backgrounds Probed” 7 percent or 1 in every 14 college athletes in a study of over 2,000 athletes had some sort of criminal background, either while in college or before they entered their perspective university. It was estimated that nearly 40 percent of these were serious crimes including 56 violent crimes from top 25 ranked college football teams alone. These statistics are overwhelming to the writers from Reuters. But, it was also mentioned that only 2 of the top 25 ranked teams actually conducted background checks on athletes. Just imagine how high the numbers would be if all of the top teams actually followed the lead of conducting criminal background checks on their athletes. The study showed that Pittsburgh University, alone, had over 20 athletes with some sort of criminal record. That number is definitely too high.
    
           The CBS television station also produced the article,” Pitt, PSU Top Criminal Records Athlete List” on the high rate of athletes at the University who had criminal records. The article from the affiliate in Pittsburgh stated that Pitt had the highest number of arrested athletes of all universities in Division I college football. The article stated as well that Penn State was third highest. So, two universities in one state that rank high in this category. What is that teaching future players who may choose to attend a university in the state of Pennsylvania? Apparently it shows them that what they do off the field or during high school will not affect their ability to receive a scholarship to a state sponsored university. This is absurd! There are many athletes who could play football or other sports for these two universities who have maintained a clean record. These athletes are being cheated out of a scholarship for people who can not stay out of legal trouble.

 

          To show just how big the problem is and how little emphasis is placed on background checks for student athletes, a special report by fox 59 “Criminal Records in College Football” found that only TCU, from the top 25 ranked college football teams, actually had no players on scholarship with a criminal record. The article also stresses that the number of athletes with criminal backgrounds would be higher if all schools actually conducted criminal background checks and if those who do also conducted juvenile arrest checks. According to this special report, the main cause of the failure to conduct checks was lack of funds. Most colleges do not have funds available in budgets to run checks on prospective recruits or those already on scholarship. This is a shame because again, this cheats those who stay out of trouble from getting the opportunity to compete in college sports.

           After a review of studies and articles concerning athletes with criminal backgrounds, it is clear that this is a major problem. While most of the data was obtained from college football programs, this is a true problem in all college sports. So, what can be done to keep those who can not obey the law from gaining scholarships over those who do the right thing? More money needs to be spent to conduct background checks on athletes and recruits. That is the starting point of ending this unfair situation. Granted those with minor offenses should be evaluated differently than those who have serious offenses on their records. These minor offenders need to be given the opportunity to prove they are not repeat or serious offenders. But, those with serious crimes on their records should not be allowed to compete in college sports. What kind of message is this sending to young, potential college athletes? Schools and the NCAA should hold these athletes to a higher standard. Without that, many law-abiding players are being left out and that is just not fair.

photo credit: Connor Tarter via photopin cc

Cam Newton Sophmore Plummet

Cam Jerrel newton was born May 11, 1989. He was once played for and junior college team called Blinn College. When he played for Blinn they won the national junior college championship. After a while Cam transferred to Florida (Gators) where he became the backup for the best double threat white quarterback, Tim Tebow. Newton didn't get as much play time as he wanted when he played for florida, so he transferred to Auburn University where he made history. He was the third in College football history to both rush and pass for twenty TD’s in a season.

When Cam attended Auburn year of 2010 where he did amazingly well, he broke outstanding records and pulled incredible wins over big team such as the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, South Carolina Gamecocks, and LSU. Newton led his team to a BCS National Championship where they beat Oregon 22-19, he was the leading scorer. Cam had amazing stats at his quarterback position while playing with Auburn.Cam Newton by far is the best quarterback I have ever seen in college history. According to Bryan Strickland, Newton won a junior college national championship three years ago, won the BCS national championship and the Heisman Trophy two years ago, and won NFL Rookie of the Year as well as four of his final six games during a rebuilding season a year ago. From my understand Newton was doing his thing on the field and he showed out while doing it. Newton, the all american quarterback got drafted first round by the North Carolina Panthers .

When Newton got in the NFL he broke many records some of the records he broke were set by the well known quarterback Peyton Manning. According to Dan Loumena, The rookie from Auburn eclipsed Peyton Manning's mark of 3,379 yards passing when he completed a seven-yard strike to Brandon LaFell. Newton passed for 171 yards Saturday and has 3,893 yards passing this season for the Panthers (6-9). Cam came in the league shining like a light. The media always interviewed Cam, asking him what was he expected to do his sophomore year in the league. Cam never knew his sophomore year was gone be this different. It isn’t the same to him as it use to be when he first go into the NFL. Cam isn’t getting the shine he was getting his rookie year.

A Giant Moment

The city of San Francisco has plenty to cheer about in the world of sports.  The famous Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise Giants have recently punched their ticket to the 2012 World Series.  The Giants are now playing to clinch a World Series Championship for the second time in three years.  The final series stretch of seven games features the Detroit Tigers’ all star pitching and the Giants’ potent fast hitting.  Although, San Francisco is in the final series, the journey leading up to the championship was not as easy as one might think.

The journey for the San Francisco Giants began with the pre-season predictions.  Experts had picked the Giants to finish second just behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West standings.  Analysis polls forecasted the Diamondbacks capturing a division title for the second year in a row.  No one thought the Giants would maintain the top spot since Arizona is backed by one of the best solid pitching staffs in the league.  It is solely up to San Francisco to write their own history and make 2012 a dream season or just another concluded bust.

As the season began for the Giants it was taking shape to be one of the best in recent memory.  The first game of the season was against the Diamondbacks. In that game they lost nine to six.  Though the Giants never faltered the loss never set the tone for what was to come the rest of the season.  The Giants managed to finish the regular season with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses.  A batting average percentage of .269 with is fifth overall out of all the teams in baseball and as well as an on base percentage of .327 which is eight overall. The Giants knew that the games in September and October would mean the greatest importance if they wanted to make a run at a Championship.

The postseason play from the Giants was nothing short of entertaining.  A series of seven games to name the National League Champion, in which would go on to face the American League Champion Detroit Tigers in the World Series finale.  However, the St. Louis Cardinals were not beginning to give up nor go down easy. The seven games the Giants were going to play against the Cardinals came off a little stressful to most of the guys. They all wanted to win so bad that they could taste it! Starting at the beginning of the seven games the Giants came out looking for wins and with that attitude won the first two games! After that though they seemed to become a little big headed thinking that they automatically had these games in the bag.  The series was split three wins apiece and came down to the final seventh game.  San Francisco took care of business with a monumental 9-0 victory over the Cardinals.

For San Francisco the journey has been long and arduous.  From the pre-season hype, to the long, yet successful season, to the triumphant postseason the Giants are at last in the Championship series with the Tigers.  The Giants have so much to play for and so much pride instilled in them to give up.  These last seven games should prove to be unforgettable in determining the 2012 World Series Champion simply because it is baseball after all and a champion can be crowned with just a swing of a bat.




photo credit: artolog via photopin cc

College Football Adds Playoff: Help or Hurt?

College Football Adds Playoff: Help or Hurt?

    The college football world has been waiting for a system that would fix issues and bring fairness to the sport. Well, hopefully the NCAA has granted their wish. Beginning in the year 2014, Division I college football will begin the playoff system. For many years, fans have become disgusted with the BCS system and have wanted to see a change for a while now. The fans of this sport have felt that the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) left out or  picked the wrong two teams to play for the big game. As a lot of people know, no matter what system is in order, there will always be flaws. So will the college playoff system help the chaos or only make it worse?

    The playoff system will bring a unique feel to the sport of college football unlike anything we have ever seen. Yes, fans will love it and it will intensify the games even more, but the only thing that will come into play is that people will want to add 8-16 teams. In majority of all sports, there is some kind of a playoff system. It will be hard for some of the smaller schools to sneak up into the playoff picture. Patrick Rishe stated is his article, “College Football Playoff System a Blessing, But 4-Team Structure Appears Flawed,” “First, this limits the odds of a Cinderella story cracking into the top 4.” Smaller schools will not be left out. That’s the whole reason for the playoff system so if we have teams like Boise State, that go undefeated then they should not be left out. Everyone will be given the opportunity to play their best and play their way into the playoffs. If the playoffs are expanded to 8-16 teams then that will help everyone. The NCAA wants to bring more excitement to the game and this will surely help.

       We all know that the NCAA is making this move because of revenue. The bigger universities are going to enjoy this more because they will have the better teams. The better teams will have a greater chance to make it because of college football’s “five power conferences.” The big conferences produce very talented teams every year and it will be hard for at least two teams to not make it in the playoffs. Ralph D. Russon, of the Associated Press, says “Conservative estimates put the playoff figure at $300 million, but it could be more like $400 million or $500 million.” That is a lot of money and there will be plenty to make, seeming that the bigger schools will probably represent more than the smaller conferences. Hopefully, once they make all of that money then they can make improvements to their universities. It can be with facilities and creating better weight rooms or making donations to help make safer and better equipment for the players.

Teams, players, and fans will experience a new excitement that they have never seen or felt. I know people can not wait to get this started and let the controversy begin. It will be great in the beginning but there will be a need to expand the playoffs. Players will have to work harder to go undefeated and to keep their top spot. The NCAA should not add too many teams into the equation but should make it competitive. A good 8-team playoff schedule should make things interesting enough and still have that college football feel. This will be easier to schedule and it shouldn’t be too many games for the players. By the time the playoffs begin in 2014, players and fans should still be out of school. So, having the college football playoff getting in between their school time should not be affected. This should uplift the sport even more than the sport already is and add more fans. The fan base of all college football can not wait for this new experience to begin.

 Photo credit: photo credit: Corey.C via photopin cc

Player Safety

If the NFL is truly concerned with player safety, if it really wants players to think twice about injuring an opponent intentionally, if it really wants to make those messages resonate, then it should pause on the next stage of the Saints bounty story. Football is a physical sport which may lead to injury however, the league is trying to make the sport a more safe game to play.Their way of making the sport safe is shown through their new rule that passed consisting helmets falling off.If the players helmet falls off during the play, he is to get off the field for one play so he can be checked and put out for the next play.I believe that rule is a good rule to have because it is used to prevent concussions and other head injuries. Last but not least it could possibly save a players career.

The two men who head the league’s football operations department, Ray Anderson and Merton Hanks, should be studying a play in the Houston-Miami game from opening weekend. And once they see Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito purposefully wrench Texans defensive lineman Antonio Smith’s ankle, the resulting discipline should serve as a loud example that a smaller play that intentionally injured someone, presumably with no bounty involved. According to Smith, "After the ball was recovered, I felt him kicking me. I was trying to protect myself. Kind of like a turtle in a shell. At no time was I turning his ankle. My intent was to keep him from getting to the ball.

Smith tried to lunge for a second quarter fumble that was lost by running back Daniel Thomas and recovered by Houston safety Daniel Manning held Smith back from getting near the ball, but did more than that. He latched onto and twisted Smith’s ankle. It lasted long enough and was serious enough that Smith needed to kick Incognito in the head to get free. According to Roger Godell were paid bonuses for, among other things, hard hits and deliberately injuring opposing players.The game of football is not the same anymore it is being controlled by money. Most players just play for show, and money that is something that really messes up the NFL. I suggest that the coach should stress it more to the players about adapting to the changes as opposed to their original style of play

The safety of NFL players have been a major issue for Rodger Godell since coming into the league in 2007. He has and still is finding ways to better protect the players, especially the quarterbacks. Disciplinary actions such as fines and even suspensions have been effected with players who fail to apply by the new rules. Some players also do not agree with these changes because they are having to adjust to from a somewhat less physical transition, which most were taught at a young age. Basically to some this is like telling them to not go so hard every down. Football is a man sport and you don’t get into the NFL going half speed so why start in the NFL? With all the positive, as well as negative changes regarding player safety, we must understand that football is a violent sport and a player must realize that anytime they are on the field, they can get hurt at anytime regardless the situation, bounty scandal, injuries, etc. No matter how many rules you change to protect the players, it will always be a violent sport.

The Beast (Ray Lewis)

Ray Anthony Lewis was born May 15, 1975. Ray lewis is an American football linebacker for the baltimore ravens of the national football league (NFL), Ray Lewis played at university of miami, he was drafted by the ravens in 1996, he played his entire career for the team, and is the last player remaining from the ravens inaugural season. Ray was known as an aggressive and motivated player. Although Ray was considered undersized at 6’1, he is considered one of the greatest linebackers of all times.He is a two time defensive player of the year winner and lead the ravens to their first Super Bowl victory during the 200 season, a game in which he was named super bowl mvp. That super bowl year, the Ravens had historically the best defense ever which was led by the future hall of fame middle linebacker ray lewis.

When you hear, or think of the Ravens you can't honestly say that Ray Lewis does not come to mine. Ray brings to the game, most people do not. Not only does he establish leadership on and off the field, his words of wisdom and determination will get you ready to play any day of the week. He is the perfect example of a role model and what athletes everywhere should reflect upon. Ray is a playmaker of all types ;he can cover, tackle and rush the quarterback and plug up holes, he pretty much does it all. Although Ray is getting older and a bit slower in my eyes he is still a good linebacker.He brings fear to the offensive players which basically makes it easier for the defense to operate because it makes less space for the offense that he is going against to create a play.

I think if it wasn't for Ray the Ravens just wouldn't be the ravens. Ray Lewis is a very important part of the baltimore ravens. Ray brings so much to the team through his hard work and the energy that he brings to the game of football.He is the only player in history with at least 40 sacks and 40 interceptions and his interception total is more than some defensive backs in the league.  The 37 year old linebacker unfortunately tore his tricep muscle in the game versus the Dallas Cowboys. According to Garrett Downing,’When the Ravens first learned of the torn triceps diagnosis for Lewis, the thought was that he would definitely miss the rest of the season.  But after talking with him and further evaluating the recovery time, the Ravens decided to leave open possibility for him to return by placing him on injured reserve – designated to return.Prior to the injury teammates were convinced he had lost a step and was not the same ray lewis anymore.’ I believe Ray is the same he just has a couple of minor setbacks which people just happen to always catch, people don't ever look at the positive things he does. According to John Degroote, “ While Canfora's point are valid, Lewis is too much of a competitor to let an injury be the reason he retires”.Ray Lewis will never give up on the game he loves, he will always keep pushing to strive to be the best no matter what.

Players Safety

Are NFL players putting their lives in danger?

We all know that football is a violent sport but, are the players actually harming their bodies for life after football?
The nfl and the player association are establishing ways to better protect the players.
If certain acts are to aggressive according to the commissioner , players will be disciplined financially.
Team doctors also put players through many tests after injuries prior to clearing them to play
My sources guys are ESPN. com as well as NFL. com

I feel the most important thing about sports especially ones with a lot of contact, is player safety.
We could also discuss how serious head injuries our in particular.
A lot of players that played football and had a plethora of concussions were greatly affected by their head injures, leading to memeory loss, etc.

My honest opinion i feel as though they are because if you really pay attitentiont
to what goes on during the game they are.
For example you take a slot wide receiver they run across the middle of the field knowing its nun but 260 pound linebackers waiting to hit them just to catch a pass.
Then you take some quarterback who scrimble who will stay on their feet to the very last minute just to get an extra and take a hit that could cause them their career or maybe injury them for life.
All and all i think this is a good topic that maybe we should talk about in class one day.
Also don't forget to include the source in the google doc!