GameStory 3- The Debate: Philadelphia vs. Extreme Sports

By Emily Molnar
You would never know but within Philadelphia and its subculture there is a huge debate, although, it is not your typical city vs. city kids debate. The debate is about freedom of space, and it is between the extreme sports participants, (skateboarders, BMXers), and the Philadelphia legislature. Throughout Philadelphia there are many buildings, and other forms of architecture, (ledges, embankments, hand
rails), that are great for BMX and skateboarding. This is one of the neat things about Philadelphia that draws these athletes here. Philadelphia accommodates so many great extreme sports. People come from far and wide, even other countries hearing about the greatness of Love Park and other places in Philadelphia. Yet, if you come to ride one of these many great spots, you will probably not ride it for very long. Soon after getting there security or the police would show up and you would be kicked off the property. At other spots such as City Hall or Love Park you can have your bike or board confiscated and up to three hundred dollars in fines.

To ban skateboarding the city and Mayor John Street put several plans into effect to stop the sport from occurring on city property. In 2000, Philadelphia introduced the official ordinance of the skateboarding ban. It states where you can and cannot skateboard, and a large list of penalties you can receive if you choose to skateboard in one of the many spots where skating is not allowed. The official ban was put into place right after the city spent a lot of money to renovate Love Park. Other plans have been implemented to keep extreme sports away. There are metal skate blocks on most of center city’s ledges to stop skateboards and bikes from riding them, along with a heavily increased police presence at Love Park to make sure that nothing at all went on. Now, while there is no specific ban against BMX (bicycle moto-cross), it is still not allowed in all of the spots where skateboarding is banned. Anywhere where there is a posted sign against skateboarding, bikes are usually right underneath. They cannot make a ban against bikes, because bikes are allowed to be ridden down the sidewalk and down public path ways. “They banned it because of the destruction of property and so you don’t get hurt because there is stuff everywhere to ride,” says Steve Scheifer, a local Philadelphia skateboarder.

Are all of these preventive measures necessary? Again, no: Love Park is one of many public spaces where skateboarding and BMX have been banned for no reason. The city is keeping children away from a positive activity. AAcross the nation there is a major trend in architecture and urban design called Amixed use. This means that spaces are utilized for multiple functions to create a lively and diverse urban setting. Urban experts and city officials across the country have identified Love Park as one of the nation’s most successful mixed-use spaces. It combines people from many walks of life in a world-famous icon that other cities have spent millions trying to duplicate (ushistory.org p2). Also, by banning skateboarding at LOVE, the city has taken away the freedoms of a public space. AAccess for all individuals is the minimum condition of a truly public space (Nemeth p19). While banning extreme sports from center city is because the city wants to project a clean image, Philadelphia has taken away a Mecca for these extreme sports. The X-Games, which is one of extreme sport’s biggest competitions of talent, were held in Philly for two years because of Love Park and its skateability

However, skateboarders did not want to put up with the ban. As a result of all this the skaters in particular, fought back, at least to the best of their ability. In 1995, when the city first started to fight against skateboarding, it was much easier to get away with skating and biking. There was no officer sitting at Love Park, and skaters knew when the cops came to check if people were skating and left before they could put a stop to it. Therefore, skaters could avoid the cops. Since the ordinance has been passed a police officer now continuously sits at Love Park, so it is near impossible to ride. If you look on the web you will find hundreds of petitions with thousands of signatures voting to have they city be skateable again without getting in trouble for doing so. Along with these petitions there are also several organizations trying to legalize skateboarding in and around Philly, especially Love Park. These organizations are: Free Love Park, Emerica’s AWild in the Streets, and Franklin Paine skate park fund. The latest is a group that will be helping to get the funding of the four million more needed to build to the skate park promised over near the Art Museum. This project is one of the other few things the city is trying to do for the benefit of extreme sports. The Schuylkill River Skate Park Fund, is its exact name. John Street gave permission for a skate park to be built down by the art museum. Today, that riverside site south of the Art Museum is as grassy as it ever was. But buoyed by the mayor’s promise - and a $100,000 city grant – Philadelphia’s skateboard community has managed to complete two designs for Love Park''s long awaited replacement, both by the non-skateboarding Philadelphia architect Anthony Bracali. The skateboarders, under the mantle of Franklin’s Paine Skate Park Fund, intend to present a final version to the Fairmount Park Commission in June. After that all they have to do is raise the $4 million necessary to build it, twice Street’s original estimate (Saffron p1). Street’s promise was made during his reelection campaign hoping to win back votes that he had lost in the process of banning skateboarding and BMX in Philadelphia.

Mayor John Street has the final say on the matter, although it does not look like he will be changing his mind any time soon. He feels letting kids come back to skating and riding at Love Park would undo the $800,000 dollars worth or work the city put into renovating the park. “Personally I think it sucks and I hate how you have to bail on the skate spot every three minutes,” said Scheifer, “Who wants to pay anyways [to go to the skatepark] when you can just skate the street.” So while both sides have valid points, they have come to a stand still. The spot laid out for the new park contains a few piles of dirt and has been this way for over a year. Skateblocks are continuously being put on a new architecture as well as on some of the older ledges and rails. FDR has some new sections just recently built, and police presence had been decreased at Love Park and recently increased again. There has been no further development in the debate.

May 31 Riversharks Game - Directions

Greetings:

Hope you're enjoying your holiday weekend - we're on cruise control today, but I thought I'd send along a couple of reminders:

First, your mini-projects are still just trickling in - make sure you get them to me ASAP.

Second, remember that on Thursday, we've been invited by the Camden Riversharks to attend that night's 7 p.m. game in a luxury suite at Campbell's Field. I plan on getting there between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: The River Link ferry between Philadelphia's Penn's Landing and Camden's Waterfront is no longer an option! The last ferry back to Philadelphia from Camden leaves at 5:30, which does us no good, since the game starts at 7 p.m.

You can, if you wish, take the PATCO High-Speed Line to the game. The nearest stop to Drexel is located at 16th and Locust Streets. You would get off in Camden at the City Hall stop (the train actually stops at the Walter Rand Center) and then walk to the stadium. A one-way fare to the City Hall stop from center city is $1.15. Once you arrive at the City Hall stop, head west on Federal Street. You'll then turn right on to Delaware Avenue, which will take you down to the ballpark.

Here are the directions to the park if you choose to drive:

From Philadelphia - Ben Franklin Bridge - Cross the Ben Franklin Bridge. Stay to the right. Immediately past the toll booths, turn right onto the first city street, which is 6th Street (if you miss the first, turn right onto the second street, Broadway). Either way, make the second right onto Cooper Street. Follow Cooper Street to Campbell's Field.

From the Walt Whitman Bridge - Stay to the right and take 676 Camden Waterfront Exit. Follow that to Exit 5B. At the stop light turn left and go the short block to the next stop light and take another left. At the very next light (Cooper Street) take a right and follow that down to the Waterfront and Campbell's Field parking lots.

From 676 - Take Exit 5B (the last exit before the Ben Franklin Bridge). Take a left off the exit ramp (one way street) and follow it until you reach the big intersection, which is Haddon Ave. (7th street). Take a left onto Haddon Ave. and then take a right onto Cooper Street (you may be directed down Market Street). Either way, follow Cooper Street or Market Street to Campbell's Field.

No matter which way you choose, please be careful, travel in groups, and stay in well-lit areas!

See you in class.

Pinstriped Perspective

Gina Carrano

5/22/07

Mini-project #4

All my life, I’ve been surrounded by sports fans of all ages, but I never considered whether there was a discernible difference between the attitudes or behaviors of younger and older fans. However, after talking with two New York Yankees fans from two different generations, I saw that they each brought their own unique perspective to the table. Although both are lifelong Yankee fans, there are differences in everything from their thoughts on the team to how they root for them.

For the older fan’s perspective, I talked to my mom, Madeline. She grew up in the Bronx and currently lives in North Jersey, and has been rooting for the team since she was a little girl in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. For the younger fan’s point of view I talked to my friend Brian, who is 26 and was born and raised in North Jersey. He, too, has been a fan his whole life.

When I asked my mom who her all-time favorite Yankee was, she replied without hesitation that it was Mickey Mantle. Brian was just as quick to name his favorite: Don Mattingly. I couldn’t help but notice that both of them chose a player they’d grown up watching. When I asked them to elaborate on why they loved their favorite player, they both talked about great experiences they’d had as kids going to the Stadium and cheering on Mantle and Mattingly, respectively. I have always believed that there is little as valuable to a sports fan as treasured childhood memories of watching their favorite players, and their responses proved that theory true.

Their difference in perspective was further highlighted when I asked each one which Yankee team, in all their years of being a fan, was their favorite. Considering the storied history of the Yankees, neither one had trouble coming up with a response, but again, their answers were very indicative of how many generations of Yankees baseball each had lived through. Each picked a powerhouse World Champion Yankee team that had enjoyed great success, but their chosen teams were nearly 40 years removed from one another.

My mom’s favorite team was the 1961 World Champion Yankees, which featured such legends as Mantle, Roger Maris, Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra. Not only were the ’61 Yankees seemingly unstoppable, she said, but 1961 was the year in which Mantle and Maris competed to break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record. The home run chase remains one of my mom’s favorite baseball memories. She can still remember like it was yesterday the excitement she felt whenever either player would come up to the plate and their at-bat culminated in a ball being slammed out of the park. Maris eventually broke the record with 61 homers, and although at the time many people felt he wasn’t a “True Yankee” and didn’t want him to break the record, my mom was thrilled when he did. “[Mantle and Maris] were bigger than life,” she said.

Jumping into another generation, Brian’s all-time favorite team was the 1998 Yankees. The ’98 team also enjoyed immense success, winning a record-breaking 114 regular-season games behind key players like Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, Derek Jeter, David Cone, Orlando Hernandez and Andy Pettitte. “It seemed like they couldn’t lose,” he said when asked why this team was his favorite, and he also liked the fact that there were no “stars,” instead the team worked as an equal unit to excel, with a different player stepping up each time a game was at stake. Throughout the entire 1998 season he felt like he was witnessing history, a Yankee team whose greatness was unparalleled, and when the season culminated in a World Series victory, it couldn’t possibly have been any sweeter.

Although my two interviewees differed on their all-time favorite teams and players, they had more in common when it came to the present-day 2007 Yankees. Both said their current favorite player was Derek Jeter, and they each cited his all-around great play and the leadership he brings to the team as reasons they feel that way. They’re also both pretty pleased with the general direction the team is heading in for the future; namely, the crop of promising young pitchers that are being developed within the organization, particularly Phil Hughes, who they both feel is a future ace. Each one expressed happiness that in the past offseason, the Yankees traded away what my mom called the “aging malcontents” Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson.

Their reasons for feeling this way are different, though. My mom believes these players care more about personal accolades than team success and did not take the pride they should in wearing the classic Yankee pinstripes, whereas Brian simply feels that they are too old to stay healthy and effective. Each of them is also very happy about Andy Pettitte’s return and Roger Clemens’ impending return to the team this season. They both agree that the presence of these two seasoned veterans and big-game pitchers will be a terrific influence on the young arms in the rotation. “It’s the passing of the torch,” my mom said.

However, this is where their similarities end. When asked how they felt about the early-season struggles of this season’s team, each one responded very differently. While neither one believes this season is over for the Yankees and both think the team will turn things around, my mom was much more confident about their ability to come back and win their division. When asked the reason for her optimism, she said she remembered all too well the season when the Yankees came back from a 14-game deficit in July 1978, only becoming eligible for a playoff spot on the last day of the season, and then going on to win the World Series. They’ve done it before and she sees no reason why they can’t do it again. Although 1978 was before Brian’s time, he is well aware of the comeback the team staged that year, but is quick to point out that times are different now and while he still thinks the 2007 Yanks can come back to make the playoffs, it will be a huge uphill battle.

Another big difference between them is how critical they each are of the team’s flaws. Both my mom and Brian are proud to be true-blue fans in both good times and bad. But Brian is much quicker than my mom to find fault in the team, particularly the way it is being managed. He takes issue with many of the in-game moves made by manager Joe Torre, particularly his liberal use of several pitchers in the bullpen. He even goes so far as to say Torre should be fired if the team continues to struggle this season. My mom, on the other hand, may question some of the pitching decisions Torre makes, but overall she is very supportive of him and thinks that after over a decade of success in New York, he should stay on as manager until his contract ends. She also points out that the Yankees have largely struggled this year because of injuries, which are beyond Torre’s control.

Their reactions to my questions prove that two fans loving the same team doesn’t necessarily ensure total agreement on every topic relating to the team. In the cases of my interviewees, their views are colored by having grown up in different generations. In Brian’s life, he has basically only seen the Yankees play really badly, as they did in the 80s and first part of the 90s, or really well, as they did in the past decade. My mom, however, has seen various eras where the Yankees transitioned from struggles to success and back. Also, Brian grew up in a much more technological time than did my mom, and this affects the way they each root for their team. Since he was in his teens, Brian has been able to go online and have countless information about the team at his fingertips, from statistics to expert commentary, while my mom basically only knows what she hears from the broadcasters during the games and reads in the newspaper—and this is enough information on which to evaluate the team, she says. They are definitely fans from different generations, but that’s the great thing about baseball—the love fans have for the sport and their team can bring anyone together, no matter how different their perspectives are.

Challenges of Sportswriting

Gina Carrano

Mini-project #3

Challenges In Sportswriting

With the vast array of technological medium in today’s world, sports journalism can sometimes seem omnipresent. In print journalism, between newspaper, magazine and online publications, fans can access current, up-to-the-minute game coverage and commentary 24 hours a day. Dan Schlossberg, a freelance baseball journalist who has written 33 books and thousands of articles about the sport, deems competition the most difficult aspect of sportswriting. As a freelancer, Schlossberg competes with countless other writers for assignments from magazine articles to book deals. Also, the high volume of sports media outfits that exist today means there are more journalists jockeying to cover every game and story, and clubhouses can get crowded, making it harder to obtain press credentials and get access to players. Schlossberg overcomes this hurdle by setting his work apart from that of his peers in the eyes of editors, publishers and public relations officials. He sometimes shows them clips of his past work, but more importantly, he always tells them why he is the right man for the job, often pointing out to editors that his energies are 100% focused on baseball, 100% of the time. In fact, baseball is not only the sole sport that he covers; it is the only one he follows. “I know baseball better than anyone else because my concentration on the game, even during the offseason, is never diluted,” Schlossberg said. “I have never even seen a Super Bowl, Stanley Cup playoff, Indy 500 or NCAA Final Four basketball game.”

Throughout his 37-year journalism career, Schlossberg’s knowledge of and dedication to the game of baseball have opened many a door for him. Once his foot is in the proverbial door, however, he keeps himself in favor with editors and publishers by providing interesting, multi-faceted coverage of baseball players and teams, and taking new and fresh angles to every story he approaches. For every article or book he writes, he conducts both exhaustive research on the topic at hand and in-depth interviews of players and coaches. However, the interviews present another obstacle that Schlossberg calls a big challenge in sports journalism; gaining access to star Major League Baseball players.

“Ballplayers are increasingly reluctant to talk to media members. These guys make millions of dollars and have multiyear contracts, so there's really no need for them to be polite and take the time to talk to a reporter -- especially one they don't know,” Schlossberg said. However, he does have a few tried-and-true methods of getting players to speak to him, such as arranging an interview through the team’s PR department. This served Schlossberg well a few years ago when the Arizona Diamondbacks cleared time in the schedule of Shawn Green, then the team’s right fielder, to speak to him about a story he was writing for Elegant Accents, a Long Island (N.Y.)-based Jewish magazine. Again, getting his foot in the door was half the battle, and once that was accomplished, all that was left was for Schlossberg to get Green to open up and answer his questions, which he did by conducting himself in a manner that was “soft-spoken and respectful”—very similar to the demeanor Green himself exhibited during the interview. “For the most part, ballplayers, like people, will treat you the way you treat them,” Schlossberg said. “If you’re nice to them, they will probably be nice to you.”

To this end, another thing that works very well as far as getting ballplayers to talk to you is good old-fashioned politeness, Schlossberg said. Like anyone else, they want to be treated with respect, so Schlossberg advises to always ask a player if it is a good time to talk rather than jumping in and firing questions at them. If they are busy, he says, politely ask them when would be a better time. That’s what he did during 2007 Spring Training when looking to interview players for a travel radio show about spring training, and New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine agreed to come out of the clubhouse before a game and give him what turned out to be a great interview on spring training as a travel destination.

Even after clearing time to speak to a player, a sports journalist’s work doesn’t end. Getting ballplayers to open up rather than giving “canned” answers to interview questions can be challenging, Schlossberg said, especially because players often hear the same questions over and over from numerous reporters and quickly tire of answering them. Two methods Schlossberg uses to combat against this potential problem are taking a fresh angle to the story and getting his interviewee alone, separate from the distractions of other media members and players. To illustrate this, he recounts a very successful interview he conducted with the Baltimore Orioles’ Cal Ripken, Jr.

The interview took place while Ripken, Jr. was striving to break baseball’s record for consecutive games played. Schlossberg wanted to interview him for a piece he was writing about ballparks around the country, however, and was able to arrange a private interview on the grounds that he would not mention the streak to the star shortstop at all; instead, his questions would be strictly about ballparks. Grateful for the short respite from the constant bombardment of questions about his streak, Ripken Jr. was relaxed and talkative, and the resulting interview was one of Schlossberg’s best. “Cal and I sat alone in the clubhouse and he really opened up, giving me some great material,” Schlossberg said.

Getting the player alone also worked well for Schlossberg when he interviewed New York Yankees legend Reggie Jackson. The two had a terrific conversation, and Schlossberg believes it was largely due to the fact that he found an opportunity to talk to Jackson alone as the Hall of Fame outfielder prepared to give a press conference at Rusty Staub’s restaurant in New York. Although Jackson is “a notoriously moody guy who can be very articulate or very obnoxious,” Schlossberg said, “I got him alone and we spoke privately. He couldn’t have been nicer.”

Schlossberg remembers his discussion with Jackson as one of the best interviews he has ever done, but in the end, he says, his all-time favorite interview has to be the one he conducted with Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey. Not only did Garvey give great answers to his questions, Schlossberg said, but at the end of the interview Garvey thanked him. When Schlossberg responded, “Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you for your time,” Garvey said, “You did your homework. Most writers don’t.” The challenges of sportswriting are numerous, but at the end of the day the rewards for Schlossberg’s hard work come in moments like that one.

Heading the Ball

Gina Carrano

Mini-project #3

Heading the Ball

My father, Silvio Carrano, has been playing, coaching and refereeing soccer since he was a kid growing up in a small town in Southern Italy. He basically lives and breathes the sport, so it is only natural that he hoped his only child would take an interest in it as well. Unfortunately, my greatest athletic aptitude has always been throwing and catching—this makes me the ideal catcher in a neighborhood game of baseball, but not a born soccer player. However, my father has always worked with me on mastering the finer points of soccer anyway. Though I don’t possess a natural talent for the sport, I have always enjoyed playing it just for fun. One of my favorite things to work on is the “head bump”—or heading the ball, as it is called in soccer. My head-eye coordination is not as good as my hand-eye coordination, so I have never mastered heading the ball in all my years of trying, but with my dad as a willing teacher, it has certainly been fun to practice.

There are four different types of headers in soccer—the standard header, the diving header, the glancing header and the flick header. Each one is useful in different types of situations. My dad and I have mostly practiced the first three, so for the purposes of this paper I will discuss those.

The standard header is probably the most oft-used by both offensive and defensive players, and comes in handy whenever there is a high ball. To correctly execute a standard header, my dad says, “The most important thing is to meet the flight of the ball. You need to make a moving motion to meet the ball, you can’t stand still and let it come to you.” To do this, as you move in to meet the ball, jerk your head backwards and follow through forward. Right when your head begins to swing forward, it should be making contact with the ball in the center of your forehead. A common mistake in executing a standard header is incorrect timing. When I practice standard headers, I am often too late in arching my head back; instead of moving it backwards as I am rushing in to meet the ball, I sometimes wait until the ball is only an inch or two from me before I begin my head movement. As a result, my forehead doesn’t meet the ball in time and the ball flops harmlessly off the back of my head. Making this mistake in an actual game could prove very costly, but that is what practice is for.

Another header my father and I have often worked at is the glancing header, which is best utilized immediately after a corner kick. If done properly, in a game situation a glancing header can prevent the other team from getting the ball before it hits the ground. Although timing is a crucial element in glancing headers also, the most important thing is to get a good jump on the ball, because the opposing team will also be trying to head the ball, and you need to get to it before them. “You have to be in good shape and move quickly; you need enough spring in your step to out jump your opponent,” my dad said. Good coordination is also very important, because the key to a successful glancing header is to move your head in the direction you want the ball to go. If you want the ball to go to the right, your head must be tilted to the right at the exact moment it makes contact with the ball.

Last but not least is the diving header, which is probably the most difficult of all four headers. Diving headers are utilized exclusively on low balls, and they can be tough because it is crucial that your whole body, not just your head, is positioned correctly to execute one safely and properly. The diving header is aptly named, because you must essentially make your body horizontal and dive out behind the ball, making sure the center of your forehead makes contact with it before it hits the ground. I have found that the biggest roadblock to executing a diving header is often mental. On a field with other running players, it can be very intimidating to essentially place your head in the direct path of their feet. But if you take even a second to think about the injury factor before attempting a diving header, you will not get to the ball on time. Instead you must go full-force at the ball with your forehead, and protect your body in the process by extending your arms out in front of your head as you go for the ball. This helps you protect the sides of your head as you are diving, and also goes a long way toward ensuring you will land safely. Several times I have felt like I’ve had the wind knocked out of me after doing a diving header, because I did not get my arms out in time and instead landed squarely on my chest.

According to my dad, the most important thing to remember about headers is that learning to do them is a work-in-progress. In particular, timing a header correctly is a very delicate balance, and even experienced players sometimes do not get their timing right. “Never be afraid to fail,” said my dad. “And if you do, just make sure to learn from your mistakes for next time.”

Tired Bullpen Perseveres in Yankee Win

(This is a repost of my game recap which I originally posted on 4/15/07; I forgot to put my name on it then, sorry!)

Gina Carrano
Mini-Project #2

When the Oakland Athletics jumped out to a 3-0 lead against the Yankees in Saturday's game, New York manager Joe Torre looked on from the dugout with a pained expression on his face, likely fearing it would be another long game.

He had no idea.

After a 13-inning game in which a combined total of 13 pitchers were used, the Yankees prevailed over Oakland 4-3. Jason Giambi's 13th-inning home run--his second of the season--proved to be the game-winner, and reliever Brian Bruney pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first win.

Bruney was clearly exhausted when he took the mound, after having labored over 36 pitches the night before in a 12-inning losing effort. Although his velocity was lower than what it normally is, he gutted it out, running on sheer adrenaline to help his team pick up a morale-boosting win. He even exacted a bit of revenge in the process with his game-ending strikeout of Travis Buck, who had scored the winning run off Bruney in extra innings the previous night.

Yankees pitching came up strong all night. After Oakland scored 3 unearned runs in the first inning, starter Darrell Rasner settled down to pitch effectively into the 6th inning. After he departed, six Yankee relievers combined to keep the game scoreless before handing the ball over to Bruney in the 12th.

Not all of these scoreless innings were without their tense moments, however. Lefty reliever Sean Henn got into a slight jam when he gave up a hit to Buck immediately after a throwing error by Derek Jeter, but the ever-dependable righthander Scott Proctor stepped in at that time and carried the game into the eighth inning.

After lefty specialist Mike Myers recorded the final out of the eighth, the Yankees turned the game over to Luis Vizcaino, Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera. Farnsworth's outing was surprisingly successful after a slew of early-season struggles; he'd surrendered game-tying hits in each of his two previous appearances. The key to Farnsworth's effectiveness seems to be getting ahead in the count early, which, for the most part, he was able to do on Saturday.

Oakland starter Joe Blanton got the A's off to a good start, allowing no Yankee runs for the first six innings. But eventually the Yankees broke through, and it all started with Alex Rodriguez, who has been a driving force behind much of the Yankees' offense all season.

Rodriguez clubbed a solo home run off Blanton to open the 5th. The blast was his seventh of the season, a Major League-leading mark. Robinson Cano scored later in the frame on a Melky Cabrera RBI, as the Yankees cut their early deficit to one run.

They tied the game in the 7th inning on Jorge Posada's 2-out RBI. Posada, who had just come off the bench to pinch-hit for Wil Nieves, smoked a double that scored Cano and chased Blanton from the game.

Losing pitcher Lenny DiNardo allowed 3 hits in 3 innings, including the fateful home run to Giambi, which inevitably sent the sellout crowd at McAfee Coliseum home disappointed. Giambi, a former member of the A's who is lustily booed whenever he returns to Oakland, was pleased to have a chance to contribute with the bat, as he had been mired in an early-season slump.

The third and final game of the series, and the last one of a six-game road trip for the Yankees, will take place at 4:05 p.m. EST on Sunday. Left-handed Andy Pettitte will oppose Oakland righthander Rich Harden.

Mini Project #8

Bizarre Rituals for Soccer Star

By: Amy Breckin

Lori Hudrick, 13, of Laurel Springs, New Jersey, is one of the best players on the Timber Birch Athletic Association’s (TBAA) Hurricanes Soccer Team. Lori has 16 goals on the season along with 21 assists. So how does she explain her success this season? Is it athletic ability? No. The exceptional cooperation from her teammates? No. Maybe just luck? No. Apparently, Lori attributes her success to her shampoo and Tastykakes.

Before every game, home or away, Lori wakes up at 7a.m. and takes a shower. She washes her hair with Suave’s citrus blend shampoo and claims that this is one of the secrets of her success. “Every morning before a game, I have to use my special shampoo,” says Lori, “I don’t know what it is, but the first two times that I followed this ritual, I scored three goals in each game, so I became superstitious.” Lori has followed this ritual all season and has always scored at least one goal in every game.

After the 7 a.m. shower, Lori drinks a glass of Pepsi and enjoys two chocolate cupcakes by Tastykake. “I love Tastykakes anyway, but for some reason I think that they bring me luck,” says Lori, “Every time I eat my two cupcakes, I get a lot of energy from them, and I think that they add to my flare on the field.” Cupcakes and shampoo add to the success for Lori on the field.

Cupcakes and shampoo are Lori’s pre-game ritual, but there are several rituals that her team partakes in as well. Before every game, the TBAA Hurricanes run two laps around the field and sing “Hey Ya” by the Black Eyed Peas. Apparently, this song was popular when the team began one of their previous seasons, and since they were champions that season, they decided to stick with the tradition.

The Hurricanes have been champs every year that they have performed this song on their two-lap pre-game run. The girls genuinely believe that this performance is the reason for their championship status. “Every time we perform this song,” says Lori, “the other team looks at us like we are crazy, but it has worked for quite a few seasons now, and it really gets us ready to play. It’s a team thing.”

There is one last ritual that the ladies of the Hurricanes perform. After a teammate scores a goal, the goal-scorer poses as her teammates pretend to be the paparazzi and use their hands as cameras to take her picture. Sounds a bit crazy, but the Hurricanes believe in their rituals. “We like to do things as team, and the picture thing is something that we saw in a movie,” says Lori, “so we did kind of steal that, but it helps us bond. We believe that these little quirky things help us win.”

Whether it is cupcakes, shampoo, a brush with the paparazzi, or a popular tune, the TBAA Hurricanes and one of their stars, Lori, believes that rituals are a part of the winning process. Every team has their own formula for success, and the Hurricanes clearly have a winning strategy and a few winning rituals.

Pulling the String

The game of baseball is all about making adjustments.

As a pitcher, you must be able to keep hitters guessing. Having a repertoire of pitches to compliment your fastball is an important skill to possess.

A curve ball is an off speed pitch that can be used to "fool" hitters and get them out. Throwing the deuce is not a simple feat, it takes practice but if thrown effectively it can form a deadly combination with your fastball.

Pitchers like Barry Zito and David Wells have made a living off of throwing their curve ball along with their average fastball.

To throw a curve ball it is all about the grip. Using the seams of the baseball to torque the ball and make it spin.

First, when you pick up the ball hold it with your first and second fingers together along the seam. On the ball the seams form "horse shoe" shapes, hold the ball on top of one of the "horse shoes". If you throw a four seam fastball (where you grip the ball across the "horse shoe"), hold the ball on top of the seam and use more pressure on your second finger to make the ball spin.

When you go into your throwing motion, throw the ball using the grip mentioned above and turn your wrist so your pinky finger is lined up straight down your arm to your elbow. When you throw a fastball the bottom of your wrist is facing toward your target, with a curve ball your pinky is lined up with your wrist and elbow and they are pointed toward your target.

As you throw the ball turn your wrist and torque the ball so your second finger applies pressure to the seam. This action will cause the ball to spin and the spinning action is what causes the break.

Depending on how hard you throw the ball will determine how much the ball bites. A hard curve ball is more like a slider in that it goes side to side as opposed to up to down.

Make sure that after you throw the ball you are in a good fielding position and you are balanced, not falling off to the side. Use your legs to push off the rubber and drive the ball.

It is important to make your curveball appear to be the same as your fastball meaning that your arm speed should be similar and not slower for the curve ball and faster when you throw your fastball.

This takes a lot of practice and repititon to learn the motion but once you master it you will be unhittable.

Mini Project #7

No Girls Allowed

By: Amy Breckin

Every Thanksgiving the Breckin clan hosts a football game on the front lawn of their home on North Fork Road. The game used to be uncles vs. nephews, but now that the uncles are suffering from years of injuries, they have been given bench-warmer status. There’s Uncle Tommy with the bad back, Uncle Timmy with the bad shoulder, and Uncle Paul with the bad knee. In order to continue the tradition, the nephews had to finally allow the nieces to play.

It was always the first rule about Thanksgiving football, the girls could watch, but they were never allowed to play. After all, the boys would say that football is too rough for girls. Did that discourage the girls? Yes. Did that make them dislike the game of football? Of course not. Just as cousin Brittany used to say, “We’ll get our chance.” Along with playing football every Thanksgiving, the Breckin clan also bleeds Philadelphia Eagles green, so football is cherished by all. The one thing that the boys never thought about is when the girls finally grew up and were needed to keep the game tradition going.

The game that was always uncles vs. nephews, now became nephews vs. nieces, or boy cousins vs. girl cousins. The tradition changed. It had to; otherwise there would be no more football game on Thanksgiving Day. The true test came on the first Thanksgiving in 2004 when the girls were first allowed to play. Everyone thought that the boys would crush the girls literally and figuratively. When the girls rushed out of the house in their pink custom-made sweatshirts labeled “Pink Ladies” and black paint under their eyes, the boys knew that they meant business.

Every year that the girls were not allowed to play, they watched and studied the boys. They learned that Christopher goes to his left, that Russell will trip over his own two feet, and that Jerry will run out of gas after the first three plays. The girls capitalized on this, and of course age always works to a person’s advantage. The boys are all in the thirties now, and the girls are in their twenties and teens.

The past three Thanksgiving Day games, the girls have crushed the boys with their speed, accuracy in passing, and smooth moves. Ever wonder if that saying about what goes around comes around? The boys never let the girls play, they eventually had to let them play, and now they are losing every year to a bunch of make-up and pink sweatshirt wearing girls. Some might suggest that karma did play a role in this turn of events.

It is all in good fun however. The rest of the year is emails sent back and forth about who will win the game this year, not to mention the gag gifts at the family Christmas party, and the trash-talking. If anything is to be learned from this experience it should be to never underestimate a girl, and do what mom always said, “Let everyone play, and play nice.”

Gina Carrano Project #2 - Game Story

Gina Carrano
5/18/07
Game story

Thunder Drop 6th Straight Game

Trenton, N.J—On Friday, May 11th, hope sprung eternal at Waterfront Park as the New York Yankees’ Class AA affiliate Trenton Thunder prepared to take on the Minnesota Twins’ affiliate New Britain Rock Cats at 7:05 p.m. Despite having started the season with a 20-4 record, the Thunder were mired in a five-game losing streak, and judging from the exuberant cheers emanating from the crowd of 6,380, the fans were ready for a win.

However, their hopes were not to be realized that night, as the Rock Cats beat the Thunder 3-1, improving their record to 16-12 while the Thunder dropped to 21-10.

The key to the Rock Cats’ success was a dominant outing from right-handed pitcher Nick Blackburn, whose record on the season improved to 3-1 with the win. Blackburn tossed 7.1 strong innings of three-hit ball, walking two batters and striking out six in the process. The outing was his longest and most successful of the season.

“Everything was good, I had a pretty good live fastball and I kept them off-balance. I was able to locate better,” Blackburn told reporters from milb.com, the official web site of Minor League Baseball.

The only run surrendered by Blackburn was unearned, and it came in the 8th inning, after Thunder center fielder Matt Carson reached base on a fielding error by Rock Cats third baseman David Winfree. After Carson advanced to second base on a grounder to first off the bat of second baseman Gabe Lopez, right fielder Jamal Strong hit a line-drive single to center field, scoring Carson and chasing Blackburn from the game in favor of righty reliever Tim Lahey.

Lahey closed out the game without incident, striking out the first two batters he faced to escape from the 8th inning, and tossing a scoreless 9th to earn his second save of the season.

Right-handed Trenton starter Brett Smith also turned in a solid outing, but it wasn’t enough to overcome timely hitting by the Rock Cats. Smith, who went into the night’s game undefeated (3-0) and leading the Eastern League in ERA (0.92), allowed three runs (two earned) in seven innings, allowing five hits and recording seven strikeouts in the process.

Both earned runs surrendered by Smith came in the top of the 5th. Right fielder Matt Allegra led off the inning with his sixth double of the season, and then advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Gil Velasquez. Immediately thereafter, catcher Kyle Geiger, hit an RBI triple to center field, easily scoring Allegra. Geiger then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of center fielder Brandon Roberts. Smith retired the next batter, second baseman Felix Molina, on a groundout to escape the inning, but the damage had already been done.

Also contributing to the Thunder’s sixth straight loss were key defensive miscues, as Strong made two fielding errors during the game. His first gaffe, which came in the first when a fly ball bounced off his glove, allowing Rock Cats left fielder Garrett Guzman to reach second base, didn’t yield any runs.

However, Strong’s second error, which came in the 7th, proved costly for the Thunder. Smith allowed a line-drive hit to Winfree to open the frame, but what would have been a single was stretched into a double on Strong’s fielding error. Another single by Allegra allowed Winfree to advance to third, and he scored one batter later on a sac fly by Velazquez.

After Smith’s seven innings, the Thunder turned the game over to right-handed reliever Kevin Whelan, who was acquired by the Yankees in a November 2006 trade that sent big-league right fielder Gary Sheffield to the Detroit Tigers. Baseball America ranked Whelan as the ninth-best prospect in the Yankees’ organization, and he lived up to his reputation, efficiently pitching two innings of scoreless, hitless ball, and striking out two batters in the process.

Promising arms like Whelan’s constitute a large part of the reason the Thunder were able to open the season with a scorching 20-4 record. In fact, Trenton leads the Eastern League in most important pitching categories: team ERA (2.29), strikeouts (354 in comparison to the second-best Bowie Baysox’s 304), and WHIP (1.05).

Their offense, however, is nowhere near as proficient. Of the twelve teams in the Eastern League, Trenton ranks ninth in team batting (.244), 11th in home runs (13) and dead last in slugging percentage (.335).

For the first month of the season, the offense was able to contribute often enough for the team to win most of their games. But the bats collectively suffered a huge blow when two of the team’s most promising hitters—speedy center fielder Brett Gardner (broken bone in right hand) and heavy-hitting first baseman Cody Ehlers (sprained elbow)—were recently placed on the disabled list.

Although Gardner and Ehlers are sorely missed by the Thunder on the base paths and at the plate, respectively, veteran outfielder Shawn Garrett is filling in quite ably for Ehlers in his absence. Garrett has been red-hot as of late, batting .306 with a home run and 5 RBI in his last 10 games. These impressive numbers have helped catapult him to ninth in the Eastern League in batting, with a .321 average, 3 homers and 12 RBI on the season, and he is hitting over .400 since being moved to the lineup’s cleanup spot in early May.

“Everything in Trenton…has been first-class. I’m really enjoying myself, [and] I’m glad I’ve been able to contribute,” Garrett told trentonthunder.com reporter Jed Weisberger when asked about his recent success.

Once Ehlers and Gardner are activated from the DL and Garrett returns to his regular spot in the outfield, Trenton’s offense projects to become much stronger. Gardner, who was interviewed by the Trenton Thunder radio affiliate before the game, hopes to return by early June.

“It’s a hairline fracture,” Gardner told reporters prior to Thursday’s game against the Rock Cats. “I hope it’s only three or four weeks,” he said, adding that he hoped to remain in Trenton with the team while rehabbing his injury, rather than being sent on assignment.

In the meantime, despite the six-game losing streak and offensive woes that currently plague them, the first-place Thunder remain optimistic about their chances of excelling throughout the season.

“We knew we couldn’t keep up the pace we started with, but nobody’s hanging their heads and we haven’t had any meetings,” Garrett told Weisberger. “We know what we have to do to win games and we will.”

The Thunder will have another opportunity to do just that tomorrow in the third of this four-game series with New Britain, as Trenton right-hander Alan Horne faces off against righty Jesse Floyd at 7:05 p.m.

'Philadelphia So' Drop Fifth Straight

By: Joel Brennan

The Philadelphia Soul was looking to end a four game losing streak against a struggling Kansas City Brigade (5-4) team that was also in the midst of their own losing streak. However, fate was against them in their efforts as they once again came up short, 53-41, disappointing the sellout crowd of 17, 493.

Brigade quarterback Raymond Philyaw sealed the game with his sixth touchdown pass that left just 52 seconds on the clock. Philyaw finished the night completing 36 of 41 passes for 364 yards. The passing efficiency exposed an obvious weakness in the Soul secondary. Injuries to key players forced rookies into the starting line-up, giving the veteran Philyaw the opportunity to shine.

The injury plagued Soul (4-5) cut the Brigade lead to five with just over five minutes to go in the game. Unfortunately, their defense could not get a much needed stop as the KC offense continued to work on the clock, eventually notching the final score. On the Soul’s next possession, quarterback Juston Wood fumbled the ball while attempting to scramble.

Wood is just one of several players filling in for veterans who are sidelined with injuries, none more notable than Tony Graziani. Graziani suffered a separated shoulder against division rival Dallas three weeks ago and the Soul have been shuffling quarterbacks until he can return, with Wood getting two of the starts. Wood, a second year player in the AFL, went 19-28 with five touchdowns and four turnovers. Wood also led all players with 20 rushing yards, including a touchdown.

Disappointed with his team’s play, Soul owner Jon Bon Jovi visited with the players after the game, a first for him this season. However, Bon Jovi remains confident in his team saying, “We’re the best team in this league. We just got to get healthy.” He’s referring to the significant losses of star quarterback Graziani, receivers Sean Scott and Larry Brackins, and defensive back Mike Brown. “These teams, in the last five weeks, have been playing against the Philadelphia So, not the Philadelphia Soul.”

Despite a porous secondary, the Soul managed to keep the game close throughout the game, though never holding onto a lead at any point. Philyaw picked on rookie defensive backs Brian Mance and Aric Williams. Brigade receivers Jerel Myers and Charles combined for 20 catches, 217 yards, and three touchdowns.

Mance struggled from the on-set, looking confused and out of place. On the first defensive series, Mance had the ball thrown his way four out of six times. He allowed each of those passes to be completed, including the opening touchdown. His night would not get much better as he would give up three more touchdowns and get called for three crucial penalties that extended KC drives. Williams would surrender one and defensive specialist Eddie Moten fell to account for the sixth touchdown.

Head coach Bret Munsey felt that the Brigade accomplished their goals, saying, “They beat us in all three phases tonight.” Specifically, he felt that the defense let the team down. “Defensively, we didn’t play as well as should. We didn’t stop them enough, is the bottom line.”

The defensive did manage to recover two fumbles, that each lead to touchdowns, but Munsey was referring to two fourth down conversions that went for touchdowns as well as two defensive penalties that extended eventual scoring drives. The heartbreaker came late in the fourth quarter when Mance was beaten on fourth down to allow Boo Williams his third touchdown of the night.

Still, the Soul was not out of the game despite the defense inability to get off of the field. When the offense has the ball, they looked for the quick strike which resulted in two interceptions and Wood’s two fumbles. “When we get man coverage, we want to throw the ball down the field,” said Wood. He would explain that miscommunication lead to the first interception, which was the second play of the game. “The one right there at the end of the [first] half was just a bad throw on my part. I didn’t put enough air under it.”

Looking to get an early score, and allow the defense to play with a lead, the Soul looked to get a big play immediately. However, an interception by Kenny McEntyre prevented the quick score. Philyaw went 4-4 on his first drive including a seven yard pass to Williams to open the scoring. On the ensuing kick-off, Williams would be flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Two plays later, Wood would scramble for ten yards, scoring the only rushing touchdown for the Soul. Kicker Todd France missed the extra point, the only one he would miss.

An illegal defense extended the Brigade following drive, which ended in a Frederick 1-yard run. The Soul would fail to score on a fourth down goal line run, closing out the first quarter trailing by eight.

Looking to make a stop and prevent a further score, the Soul defense would recover a Williams’ fumble at the 10-yard line. On the following play, Soul receiver Charles Pauley was the recipient of a 40 yard touchdown pass that cut the lead to a point. Pauley’s second score would tie the game at 20, with six minutes left in the half.

Philyaw would connect with Myers on a four yard pass to reclaim the lead for KC. Once again, Wood looked for the big play, as the half was nearing an end, and was intercepted by Nick Ward. Another Fredericks touchdown and a missed extra point by Clay Rush, his second of the game, closed the half with the Brigade leading 33-20. This was the fourth time in five games that the Soul was trailing at halftime.

The third quarter opened with a missed field goal attempt by Kansas City. The teams then exchanged fumbles on consecutive possessions. The Brigade’s Dawan Moss lost control as he approached the goal line, which was recovered by the Soul’s Idris Price. The only score of the quarter came when J.J. McKelvey caught a six yard pass from Wood, broke a tackle, and ran alongside the boards for a 24 yard score.

The fourth quarter saw more points scored, starting the first play: a Fredericks one yard run. Wood and Philyaw would exchange TD passes, eventually leading to the Brigade five point lead with 5:13 left to go in the game. The Soul’s inability to force a turnover, allowed Philyaw to continue his precision passing attack and ending the game.

Next up for the Soul is divisional opponent New York Dragons (2-7). In their previous match-up, the Soul defeated the Dragons 65-60, their last win of the season. The team expects to have the services of Mike Brown and Larry Brackins when they host the Dragons. In two weeks, Tony Graziani is expected to make his return against the New Orleans Voodoo (4-5).

Shippin' Up to Boston

Shippin' Up to Boston

By: Ryan Barbieri

Since 1975, Jeff Budin of Maple Glen, PA has been an avid Boston Red Sox fan. His fondest memory wasn't the fact that the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years in 2004. It was that they beat the Yankees, after being down three games in the ALCS (American League Championship Series).

"The World Series win over the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004 was pretty great, but nothing can top off beating the Yankees in the ALCS. I don't think I will ever forget that," said Budin, as he reflected on his fondest Red Sox memories.

Budin went to Fenway Park for the first time in 1991; however he has never been inside for a game. He's seen them play plenty of times in Philadelphia, New York, and Baltimore, but has never had a chance to get his hands on tickets, which are very difficult to get.

He went on to explain what influenced him to become a Red Sox fan, even though he grew up in the Philadelphia area. Fred Lynn and Jim Rice were his favorite players growing up, and he took a liking to them right from the start of their careers.

"In the beginning, it wasn't really the Red Sox team, it was my liking for Fred Lynn and Jim Rice, whom I watched since their rookie seasons," said Budin.

Red Sox fans aren't like most baseball fans, whether it has to do with winning or overall passion of the game.

"To a Red Sox fan, winning the World Series is the most important thing. Well, maybe beating the Yankees is most important thing, but winning the World Series is second. Once, we defeated the Yankees in 2004 and won the World Series, it was like icing on a cake," he said.

Budin's best Red Sox memory was the Red Sox/Yankees ALCS; however his worst memory came in the 1975 World Series versus Cincinnati.

"The famous Buckner play is right up there, but I'd have to say the 1976 World Series versus the Reds was the worst. The '76 series versus the Reds was by far the most exciting World Series I have ever seen. Each game was down to the wire, as two powerhouse teams were going at it left and right," said Budin.

We completed our discussion as Budin talked about his favorite player on the Red Sox; Manny Ramirez, one who has an attitude that every coach dreams about from a player.

"As a player, I've always enjoyed his overall attitude. I happen to know a few people who work in the clubhouse at Fenway Park, and they have told me, Manny is the first one in the clubhouse and last one to leave, every game. In between innings of games, he goes to the batting cages and practices his swing. I really respect that," said Budin

I had a similar discussion with Adrian Danemayer, a 21 year old fan from Somerville, MA. Similar to Budin, Danemayer felt that beating the Yankees in Game 7 of the ALCS in 2004, was his best Red Sox memory. His worst memory came the year before when the Yankees defeated the Red Sox in the 2003 ALCS.

"When Aaron Boone made contact with the ball, I knew that the game was over," said Danemayer, referring to a 10th inning home-run hit by Aaron Boone, which ended the series in the Yankees' favor.

Danemayer has been to Fenway Park four times. He saw his first game with his parents when he was 3 years old, but his most vivid memory of a game came in 2002 when the Red Sox took on the Baltimore Orioles. The Sox ended up losing in the 13th inning, and it was freezing cold outside, but we stayed there no matter what.

"Only a true fan would stay for the entire game. Do you really think players are motivated to win when they see fans leaving the stands?" said Danemayer as he began to give me insight on life as a Red Sox fan.

Budin told me that unlike the Philadelphia Phillies' fans, we don't get down on our players for every little thing they do wrong, because baseball is a way of life for every Red Sox fan. Danemayer agreed with that view, and added that it has a lot to do with respect.

"It's out of respect to the players. Who wants to play for a team, where their fans boo their own players? Sox fans even cheer for their players when they get traded to other teams, except for the Yankees," said Danemayer.

Danemayer has watched games on television when the Red Sox are playing in Oakland, and there are more Red Sox fans in attendance than Athletics fans.

"What's great about Red Sox fans is that they are everywhere. That's what Red Sox Nation is. There are all the people who jump on the bandwagon, but people who move away from Boston, stay loyal to the Red Sox forever," said Danemayer.

He went on to describe the atmosphere at Fenway Park and around the city of Boston during game days. To Danemayer, it's similar to a carnival.

"Whenever there is a game in Boston, everyone is amped up whether they are in or around the ballpark. The city goes crazy. It's like a carnival for everyone. During the middle innings, fans will go out to Yawkey Way, and join the rest of the Boston fans," said Danemayer, referring to a closed off street outside of Fenway Park's Green Monster where fans make food and cheer on their team.

Danemayer ended our talk as he talked about his favorite player and this year's team, which he feels is his most favorite Red Sox team.

"We have a lot of good players, making it a good atmosphere to play games. We've made improvements at every position, and so far we are one of the best teams in baseball," said Danemayer.

The Red Sox certainly are off to a good start as they are sitting on top of the AL East Division, with the Yankees looking upwards.

"It all has to do with the leadership of team captain Jason Varitek, who is my favorite player. He's been on the team forever. He's a great catcher and hits the ball better than any power hitter. The players and fans love him, he's a good voice for the team, and an overall likable guy," said Danemayer with a smile on his face as he pointed to his #33 Varitek jersey hanging on the wall of his living room.

Miniproject Update!

Hey there:

In the rush to complete the game stories, it seems as though the miniprojects have been forgotten.

Here's what I propose: the due date for miniprojects 1-5 will now be Tuesday, May 22. Miniprojects 6-10 will be due during our last class meeting on June 7.

Even though they're only worth a couple of points a piece, they can mean the difference between an A or an A-, a B or a B+.

Let me know if you have any questions. To paraphrase Rick Steves, the PBS travel guru, keep on posting!

Censored Journalism

The Real Sports segment on athletes and depression due to retirement was compelling. The “real” factor of the news cast was amazingly on target and hit an emotional touch down with many viewers.

Important to the success of the story and how it was received by views was its presentation. By using one main athlete to navigate through the story, it was a great way to approach the issues of depression from a player’s point of view. It made it seem as though reporters were in support of the athletes suffering from depression rather than simply trying to get a story with disregard for the athlete’s well-being.

When the video addressed how the league offers resume writing classes to athletes in preparation for retirement, they showed a close shot of an athlete utilizing the course’s services. When the camera panned out it revealed a surprising three athletes present at the seminar. This shot revealed the sad truth that not many athletes take advantage of the opportunity. So many athletes are in denial about their inevitable future.

The segment also showed a video clip of an extreme case where an athlete suffering from depression committed suicide. The clip had the potential to be inappropriate due to the severity of the incident, but the clip was showed for a short period of time and shot from a far distance.
Many journalists are afraid to address many serious and non-game related sports issues. I feel that much of this is due to improper execution of the story. If other sports publications could discuss these issues and present them in the same tasteful manner as Real Sports, I think there would be more journalists willing to cover such stories.

For example, an article was found online [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld] that addressed the same issues of retirement related to different athletes. Execution of the article was not as compelling as it was when shown on Real Sports. This may be partially due to the fact that the visuals are not present like they are in television broadcasts. Truth is, most sports stories come from editorials and they need to be just as vivid and have as much impact as broadcasts.

The LA Times article discussed how Chinese athletes who do not become star athletes often become jobless and even crippled. The issue is such a sensitive subject. I particularly like when the journalist stated, “A promise by [the athlete’s] coach…helped her endure a brutal training regime in which she…had no contact with the outside world and no one to protect her from the coach, who beat them with a whip or baton, or knocked them off their feet with the bumper of his car if he thought they were slacking off.” The Chinese athlete retired at the age of 26 with an elementary school education and a body crippled by sports injuries.

The article ended by discussing success stories of Chinese athletes that were able to reinvent themselves after retirement. The article ended so abruptly, I was still focused on the severity of the previous statements and left not wanting to read such depressing stories in the future. A better discussion of the issue would have help soften the harshness of the subject. More people will be enjoy reading these types of articles if they were executed more properly.

By: Darrielle Williams

Game Story

Mother’s Day Game Leaves Moms Unhappy

By: Amy Breckin

The stage was set for a perfect day at Citizen’s Bank Park on Sunday. The weather was incredible, sunny skies, a slight breeze, and temperatures in the 70s. It was truly a great day for baseball. It was also Mother’s Day and the crowd was lively with 45,129 in attendance. Many of the Phillies players used pink bats in honor of Mothers Day, and the moms in attendance received a complementary Chase Utley blanket. It was the perfect day for the Phillies to get closer to .500 and also to sweep the Chicago Cubs. How could a perfect day end without a victory for the Phillies?

The Phillies lost to the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, and never seemed to get into a groove the entire game. Cubs left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and had many in the crowd calling to mind the no-hitter performed by Jim Bunning on Father’s Day in 1964. The potential no-no had sucked the life out of the crowd and had many Phillies fans biting their nails in worry. Abraham Nunez hit a single in the fifth with two outs, so it was no no-no for Lilly.

Lilly pitched a good game, but it was far from amazing. Although he allowed just three hits in eight innings, he threw right down the middle of the plate, but the Phillies just could not hit. “He didn’t overpower anybody. We were just fouling off balls and popping them up,” said Abraham Nunez.

Jimmy Rollins had a different feeling about Ted Lilly’s pitching, he said, “He had a pitch that we couldn’t hit today – it was a fastball down the middle. Sometimes a guy doesn’t do anything special but you just can’t find a way.” Manager Charlie Manuel also blamed Lilly’s pitching for the Phillies poor performance, “Lilly had a hell of a game,” said Manuel. “He changed speeds good. He got his ball over the plate. He had a little cutter working on righties and we had trouble with him.”

They also made a few errors which led to their demise and made a rally for a win nearly impossible. For once, the blame for the loss could not be placed on the pitching or the bullpen. Phillies right-hander Jon Lieber is 1-2 with an ERA of 2.83 this season. He struck out five, allowed nine hits, and two runs (one earned). This just was not enough. The offense could not hit, and the defense let Lieber down.

The errors made in this game were easily utilized by the Cubs. In the fourth inning, with the Cubs leading 2-0, Aramis Ramirez bounced a ball deep into the hole at third base; Nunez grabbed the ball, but bounced the ball to Wes Helms and picked up an error on the play. “That’s a play I have to make,” said Nunez. “That was a key play in that inning. I am sure that Jon (Lieber) is disappointed in the way that we played. I am not happy with my play today.” Lieber simply explained that errors are a part of the game, “everybody is out there busting their butts,” said Lieber. “We can’t worry about the errors, we need to move onto the next game.”


Another problem in the game came from Chase Utley. Utley had trouble getting the ball out of his glove and could not make a double play happen in the top of the ninth, eventually, leading the score to 4-1. In the bottom of the ninth, Utley tried to stretch a single into a double and was out at second, thus bringing an end to the game. Utley admits that he made a mistake calling the choice to stretch it out, “a bad decision.”

The fact still remains that if the Phillies cannot score a pile of runs, their chance of winning is slim to none. Phillies fans can blame the pitching or blame the lack of runs, but these two go hand in hand, and a team needs to work together to win. Some fans have even blamed Charlie Manuel and his choices when it comes to the bullpen. In this game, Manuel went with Antonio Alfonseca in the ninth. Alfonseca allowed singles from Iztruis and Floyd, putting runners on the corners. He then walked Ryan Theriot to load the bases. Fans have been adamant about not supporting Charlie Manuel’s decisions regarding the bullpen. Alfonseca allowed the game to get that much more out of reach for the Phillies.

Although the Phillies did win the series against the Cubs, there should have been a sweep of the series. After the amazing comeback by the Phillies on Saturday, with 11 runs and 16 hits it is astounding for fans to understand that less than 24 hours later, the Phillies could not even muster a hit. This also ties into Manuel’s decisions. Manuel sat Greg Dobbs who went 4 for 4 in Saturday’s game. He also sat Shane Victorino and played Wes Helms instead. Dobbs and Victorino were key in the dramatic win on Saturday only to see no playing time on Sunday.

It is quite possible that Manuel’s computer program that he relies on is just not working to its potential anymore. And so, another game has gone by, and the Phillies are still not playing .500 baseball. Ryan Howard, the National League’s Most Valuable Player, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left quadriceps strain. The Braves are in first place, and the Mets are winning. Is there an upside to this team or even to this season?

One upside might be the fact that the fans are certainly supporting this team. This Phillies had a sold-out weekend, which was the fifth sellout of the season and the fourth largest crowd in the Bank’s four year history. Also, before this game, the Phillies were on a three-game winning streak, which brings hope to the team. Ryan Howard is on the disabled list, so maybe his problems this season can be attributed to injury and not some type of slump. The Phillies are 17-20 so they are close to .500 baseball, so maybe things will get better. There is always that silver lining somewhere.

Also, the Milwaukee Brewers are in town to play the Phillies tonight at 7:05pm at the Bank. The Phillies are now 5-10 in games started by lefthanded pitchers. The Brewers, who have a right-handed majority pitching staff, are coming into the Bank at the right time for the Phillies. Hopefully, they will be able to turn a corner and find their niche against the Brewers. So, Sunday’s game must be left in the past, and the players, coaches and fans should now look towards the Brewers.

Mother’s Day at Citzen’s Bank Park did not go as well as anyone would have wanted. Maybe the pink bats did not bring luck, or maybe too much emphasis was placed on the complementary Chase Utley blanket, but the fact still remains that many unhappy moms left the Bank on Sunday. The stage was set for an amazing day. The sun was shining, the ballpark was filled to capacity, it was Mother’s Day, and there was a free gift! Apparently, perfection does not equate results and does not secure a win. Fans certainly came crashing down from the high of Saturday’s game. Well, hopefully this team can turn it around by Father’s Day.

Mini Project #6 Real Sports Segment

Real Sports Covers Touching Story
By: Amy Breckin

On one of the latest episodes of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, there is a segment that highlights the struggle of retired relief pitcher Jeff Reardon. Reardon, who retired from baseball in 1994 had great success with teams such as, the Montreal Expos, the Minnesota Twins, and the Boston Red Sox. Reardon was nicknamed “The Terminator” and once held the record for the most saves. After Reardon retired, he faced what many retired athletes encounter, the depression that comes with retirement and the feeling of not being needed.

Reardon also began having problems with his son, Shane, who fell deep into the world of drugs and alcohol. Shane was sent to a boarding school and excelled, but after graduating school and entering college, Shane fell back into the drug scene and eventually died of a drug overdose. The fact that his son was dead sent Reardon into a deep depression and he was soon in a state of psychosis.

On one particular day, Reardon attempted suicide by stepping in front of a tractor tailor, but the driver swerved and missed him. The day before Christmas in 2005, Reardon robbed a jewelry store for $170 even though he had $600 in his wallet and millions of dollars in the bank. Reardon was charged with robbery, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Doctors tried medications and also shock therapy to help Reardon’s psychological status. Today, he is doing much better, but the shock treatment has caused him to lose large portions of his memory.

Through this segment, Real Sports gave a real account of a tragic situation. Jeff Reardon lost his son, and simply reached his breaking point. He is not the type of person that robs jewelry stores, but he fell into a dark place and he could not be reached. Bryant Gumbel did an excellent interview and really exposed the human side of what happens when we face tragedy. Jeff Reardon was a great athlete, but he is also a person that has suffered a tremendous loss.

This was not your typical fall from grace approach to covering a news story. It was also interesting that Bryant Gumbel expressed that Reardon’s comfort was found in baseball, and he did not have that in his life to focus on and to use as a means of distraction or amusement. Reardon was simply left everyday with his thoughts and the memory of his son. It was also touching to show that everyone has a breaking point, and anyone can have a mental breakdown when faced with so much heartache and tragedy.

My only criticism was that I would have liked to know if any of Reardon’s former teammates tried to intervene in his life, or even any previous managers. I wondered if they maybe could have also interviewed other athletes who lost children or loved ones and how it affected them. I know it is a difficult aspect to share, but I am sure that there are other athletes who would have shared their stories in order to help others. These would be my only criticisms. Overall, it was an excellent news story.

More thoughts on commodification

So where were we?

What we're talking about here is COMMODIFICATION, or reducing the value of an act or object to only its monetary value.

Historical, artistic values are ignored here.

There also develops a fetishistic quality - commodities sometimes take on a surreal level of importance. Like, say, logos and memorabilia.

The merchandising, the marketing comes BEFORE the act - its alters, shapes the act, or in our case, the sport.

Throw into this the SATURATION of sports through the technology of communication - they are extensions of our senses. We create them, they create us. What the heck do I mean by that?

Sports become a display of our ability to capture, refine, tweak, replay, and edit images. They become PASTICHE - combining in one work disparate styles and content from different eras. Distinctions between high art and the popular go away, the theory goes, all that's left is the MEDIATED content.

Do you agree?

How can sports maintain their integrity when they are endlessly manipulated by the media -

When we can change the camera angles?
When we argues about the glowing Fox puck?
When we can't imagine a telecast without the ball, strike, and score appearing in the upper part of our TV screens?
When we can't imagine life without the endless parade of statistics and scores DURING a game?

Food for thought - see you Tuesday. Remember to get caught up on your miniprojects!!!

Jennifer Klotz
CMN 605
Dr. Ron Bishop
Paper #3

Missed Opportunity Story

With all the space in newspapers, magazines and on sports channels dedicated to professional sports athletes it is a disappointment and missed opportunity that stories about those professional athletes during their off season and after they have retired aren’t present. As it is with everyone, there is more to know than what meets the eye. Many professional athletes lead very interesting and intriguing lives outside their world of sport and fans would want to know about these things as well as how they performed the other day, if only sports journalists would write about it.

Just as publications like US Weekly and channels like E! Entertainment television have formed stories around famous celebrities and their everyday activities, people would react well to stories about what professional athletes do in their “off” time or after their careers. The benefits would extend to the athletes themselves as well. Instead of falling off the radar into obscurity, they would be able to retain their following and live more fulfilling lives after they have retired by being able to retain some familiarity to their old lives through the media. In the case of following athletes during their off season, this is already done to a certain extent with ‘Spring Training’ camp coverage or ‘Draft Day’ shows and highlights, but a large part of that market still remains untapped as well.

I recently learned that a personal trainer at the health club I go to used to play professional football for seven years. Although, other than his stature and physique, you would never know it by the way he treated every person around him. He lacks any sort of pretentious attitude and is more than happy to help out around him, always doing it quickly and cheerfully. He also took the time to start a fitness club geared toward children and a charity that raises money for children with diabetes, especially type 2, which is brought on by lack of proper nutrition and exercise. Carlos Bradley has worked hard in his seasons away from the football field working to make the world a little better of a place than it was when he got here. That is a story worth spreading and looking into further.

I also happened to recently learn that there is an Ed Block Courage Award that is presented to a NFL player every year. This year’s recipient happened to be none other than the Chicago Bears very own Rex Grossman. The Bears quarterback won the award, which is given to one player on all 32 NFL teams, for demonstrating a commitment to sportsmanship and courage and serving as an inspiration in the locker room. His teammates selected Grossman as the winner of the award primarily for two reasons. He was able to overcome two serious leg injuries early in his career while also excelling despite being subjected to excessive criticism from media and fans.

“He did a lot of great things,” said linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, who attended the luncheon with fullback Jason McKie and safety Chris Harris. “I’ve never seen a guy go to the Super Bowl in his first full year as a starter and get as much flak as he did. “I’m happy to see him get a little recognition. He obviously deserves it and it’s a great honor.”
Asked if he considers himself courageous, Grossman said: “There are a lot of times throughout your life in general that things aren’t going well and you’ve still got to keep your head up and get through it and persevere, and I think if you’re persistent and you’re determined to get something accomplished, I think that shows a lot of courage.”

Not only does this story tie into one of the biggest events of the sporting world, the Super Bowl, but it also carries a great message and shows a side of the athletes that don’t always get given a fair chance in the media coverage during their normal season. Grossman was definitely the more quiet of the two quarterbacks during the Super Bowl and showed great strength and character leading up to and after the Super Bowl in the way he focused his attention on the football game instead of talking smack about the other team or making a million bad commercials to run during the Super Bowl, or even making a snotty comment to the media about the harsh coverage they poured on all season long. Instead, he answered questions at press conferences and kept the rest to himself, which really, at times may have been harder to do than winning the games to get to the Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears in the first place.

Whether it’s professional athletes during their off season or professional athletes after they have stepped off the field for the last time, professional athletes need to remain in the public mind with stories like the ones above. It is important to highlight the athletes that take the high road and donate to society, whether it is through their checkbook or their actions. For sports and all its professional players to once again capture some of that magic and awe that it had back when sports was fresh on the scene, a more complete picture of today’s athletes needs to painted by sports journalists through the publication of stories like the two above. Complaining and whining only breed more complaining and whining. In order to find and create those society hero’s that professional athletes used to be, sports journalists need to explore the humble humanity that exists in all professional athletes capable of leaving the world a better place than it was when they arrived. The rest may leave richer, but last time I checked, inflation and history don’t work all that well together.

Jennifer Klotz
CMN 605
Dr. Ron Bishop
Paper #1


The Impact of Sports on the Community

The Chicago Bears have always been a long standing Chicago sports team favorite. Ask any generation of Chicago resident about Da’ Bears and they will recount their personal favorite Bears story for you. Unfortunately, until this past season, Da’ Bears had been going through a period of rebuilding and reconfiguring the team, trying to get all the right players on the team at the right points in their career to relive that magical season back in 1983 when Da’ Bears won the Super Bowl and then proceeded to invent the most beautiful dance known to mankind, fondly referred to as the Super Bowl Shuffle!

However, the Chicago Bears 2006 season brought that magic back to Chicago and reignited the passion that fans young and old had all but given up on. It figures that the first year I move away from Chicago in my life ever, is the very same year the city unites as one massive Bears fan buzzing with excitement and energy! Next thing I know, the Cubs will win the World Series this summer as well. But moving back to the Bears, I have never seen anything like this before at all. The buzz was there during Christmas break when I went home to visit my family during the holidays. Quite honestly, it is hard to capture a feeling that spread throughout the city and enveloped it, kind of like a fresh sparkly new dusting of snow on a clear night with a bright moon. That feeling that you get watching the new snowfall and dance as it reflects the light from the moon. That something special and magical is about to happen because you can just feel it down to your core. Honestly, the Bears might not have won the Super Bowl, and half of the city might have been upset with Rex Grossman that very night directly following the Super Bowl, but they moved on.

What remained, however, was the euphoric feeling of something bigger than themselves that was created by every single player and coach on the Bears team that season, including Rex Grossman. What is even better is that this team is its own unique and interesting unit. Fans of the 1983 Bears finally were able to embrace the qualities of the new team with open arms and realize that you can never be champion copying someone else’s style. You can learn from that style, but to be a true champion, you must have a style all your own, and this Chicago Bears team had and has exactly that.

Personally, I have never been one to stop everything else that I am doing to watch sports on TV, but that all changed during the NFL playoffs. Each Sunday I scheduled my day around watching the Bears game with my boyfriend, Erick, and cell phone close by. Even all the way over here in Philadelphia, we could feel the excitement building in Chicago with each game that the Bears won. After every amazing play or horrible call, we yelled and screamed and high-fived and then answered our respective cell phones. Family and friends were bound and determined to keep both of us connected to Chicago and the Bears just as if we had been there ourselves, by texting or calling us every time something, anything, happened to share their opinion or to make sure we saw it! For both of us, those Sundays were something that neither of us will forget anytime soon.

The Chicago Bears connected people all over the city and brought them together for a common cause, and in our case, it extended all the way to Philadelphia. Not only were those afternoons spent talking about the game, but we also got to talk and catch up with most of out friends and family. We felt closer to home just seeing Soldier Field and shots of the lakefront path were we spent so many hours running and biking last year. The Bears and their quest for the Super Bowl title was truly one of those rare times in history where a whole city really gathers together and cheers as one.

When the White Sox won the World Series, half the city could have cared less. It really wasn’t even half as big of a deal as just one of those playoff game victories was for the Bears. And even though the Bears did not go on to win the Super Bowl, it will remain, at least I my mind, one of the greatest, most magical moments in Chicago, if not national, sports history. Considering, of course, my bias to Chicago, I wouldn’t hesitate to say that many people feel the same way.
The glow and buzz from the season is still running throughout Chicago and its many residents. The Chicago Bears ignited a fire that won’t soon be put out, and in true Chicago style, the fire has spread throughout the whole city and won’t easily be put out until history is made once again, on the football field of course!

Sports Don't Change...People Do

There are notable differences between younger and older sports fans. My father, Darryl, has been a NY Jets fan since the winter of 1976. Though they won the Super Bowl in 1969, it was not until seven years later that he watched his first Super Bowl game. Super Bowl X was the Steelers vs. the Cowboys with the Steelers winning 21-17. My dad remembers the game as if he watched it yesterday. Unsure of how to articulate how he became a fan and why that date stuck out in his mind so much, he simply said, “I just liked the way that they played.” His statement was such an innocent account of a child’s first love of a team.

Coming up in the game, my father’s favorite basketball player was John Starks. When determining the similarities and differences between younger and older sports fans, it was interesting to access the loyalty the fan had to the player. My dad, age 54, has more loyalty to the team than the player. Greg, another interviewee, recently turned 21 and is one of my closest friends. He, on the other hand, was the opposite. It appears that younger fans have more of a dedication to the athlete because they tend to idolize them and view them as heroes. Even if traded to a new team Greg would still be a fan of Derek Jeter.

Though the results may have been different if my dad was a father to boys, he does not attend games as often as he did when he was younger. In the past year he has attended three non-professional baseball games and one professional basketball game. My younger test subject, Greg, could barely remember how many games he attended in the past year and gave a rough estimate of twenty. His game attendances ranged from a variety of sports, about five of which were professional and the rest college. Where as Greg’s reason for not attending as many professional games as he would like was due to not being able to afford good seats, my father was more concerned with traveling time to get to the game. He said, “I’m a Yankee fan but games are too far away. It takes two to three hours to get there. Plus with the crazy young fans today, I’m much more comfortable at home in front of the TV.”

Younger athletic fans collect more sports paraphernalia in the form of posters, trading cards, equipment, games, and trinkets, where as older fans enjoying wearing sports paraphernalia more. My dad attempted to explain this theory by stating that when he was younger he was more interested in wearing whatever was the hottest trend. Now, team jackets, sweatshirts, and t-shirts are some of his favorite birthday and Father’s Day gifts. Greg affirmed this by stating that other than his hats, he would much rather wear the latest designer clothes than sports paraphernalia.

My father is a subscriber of two sports publications, Sports Illustrated and Golf World, and finds himself reading them only as often as they are delivered. Greg has not subscribed to any publications but reads sports articles or watches sports news on a daily basis. It’s easier to be a die hard fan when you are younger because your priorities change as your responsibilities increase. Both my father and friend Greg agreed that age would bring about less dedication to sports.

As an entertaining question they were both asked to tell a story of their most interesting attempt to watch a game that they thought they may miss. Greg stated that a few years ago, when he found out that he was going to miss a highly anticipated basketball Allstar game, he decided to tape the game. Unfortunately, with the results all over the news and in the news papers, Greg vowed not to watch television or read the paper until he was able to review the tape. “I was going crazy the day before trying to figure out how I could convince my parents I was sick so that I could stay home and neglect my obligations. It would have ruined it for me if I saw the results of the game on TV before I got a chance to watch it. With all my friends calling me to talk about the game, I had to ignore their calls so they didn’t blurt out anything.”

My father, of course, didn’t have any recent stories, but did manage to pull one from his memory. “It’s nothing spectacular,” he said, “but I remember driving home one night and listening to a baseball game on the radio. The game so good, I pulled into a bar to watch rest of game”. It was out of my father’s character to do so since he is not the typical person to go to a random bar off the side of the road. He does not recall any recent incidents where he went out of his way to watch a game that he thought he might miss. “Now if I miss a game, it’s like…oh well. I can get the recap on TV or read the stats of the game later. I still love the game but I’ve learned not to be as disappointed when I miss one.”

It was very interesting to note their differences in dedication to sports due to their differences in age. I am sure that if a 10 year old was asked the same questions, they too would be different from my 21 year old friend Greg. I chose to ask someone in their twenties as opposed to a young child because I thought it would give me a better scope of their dedication. Where as a young child is at the mercy of their parents, an older youth has a job and can purchase tickets or drive to a game, etc. Over time, it seems that sports don’t change…people do.

By: Darrielle Williams