Posted on 26 August 2010
As a “beach baby” newly enthralled with the sport of golf, I sought to combine my two favorite diversions via a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Renowned the world over as a Mecca of premier golf courses, the area boasts no less than eighty courses! With such a dizzying array of choices, I, of [...]
Tags: golf, Myrtle Beach golf courses, Myrtle Beach golf packages
Posted on 14 June 2010
As baseball has evolved over its long, rich history, statistics have assumed increasing relevance, becoming nearly as hallowed as sacred relics in the hearts and minds of fans. As a young boy, for instance, I was acutely aware that Cy Young had achieved 511 wins, that Joe DiMaggio had a 56-game hitting streak, and that [...]
Tags: Baseball Info Solutions, baseball statistical analysis, baseball statistics, BIS, John Dewan, STATS Inc.
Posted on 08 June 2010
Born Teddy Samuel Williams in San Diego on August 30, 1918, the eldest son of May (nee Venzor) and Samuel Stuart Williams came into the world with a diverse ancestry. His father’s heritage was Welsh and Irish, while his mother’s family hailed from Mexico. Teddy came by his name in honor of former U.S. President [...]
Tags: Ted Williams, The Splendid Splinter
Posted on 05 November 2009
Last night, the New York Yankees won the World Series for the 27th time in their storied history, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies who had won it the previous season for just the second time in the team’s 126 years of existence. The Series was a study in contrasts. The Yankees were making their 40th World [...]
Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, C.C. Sabathia, Chase Utley, Derek Jeter, Fred Shero, Hideki Matsui, Jimmy Rollins, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees, Pat Burrell, Phil Hughes, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Howard, Tug McGraw
Posted on 23 September 2009
Life is replete with obstacles, some physical, but many more psychological. These barriers restrain us geographically, economically, socially, spiritually, and in others ways that, perhaps, we do not even perceive. Some obstacles are societal or cultural in nature – the result of a general consensus of thought; others are imposed by individuals and impact only [...]
Tags: breaking barriers, Dick Fosbury, Fosbury flop, Gold Medal, John Walker, Olympic Games, Roger Bannister, role models, Steve Scott, track and field
Posted on 26 August 2009
Wandering through my local library on a recent visit, I stumbled upon “The Yankee Years” by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci. A lifelong Phillies’ fan with an anti-New York sports team bias, I am probably among the least likely candidates to read a book like this one. Yet, as an enthusiastic baseball fan (it is [...]
Tags: A-Fraud, A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, baseball, Billy Beane, David Wells, Derek Jeter, human growth hormone, Joe Torre, Major League Baseball, New York Yankees, Oakland A's, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies, Rick Helling, Society of Actuaries, steroids, Tom Verducci, Yankees
Posted on 11 August 2009
The Simon and Garfunkel song “Mrs. Robinson,” popularized in the satirical, coming-of-age comedy The Graduate, depicts the experiences of a woman undergoing rehabilitation for alcohol dependency at some type of institution. In 1967, the year of the film’s release, that institution was probably some type of psychiatric facility, likely one run by a religious order [...]
Tags: Joe DiMaggio, role models, sports heroes
Posted on 01 August 2009
The top story in the sports world on July 31, 2009 was that Red Sox slugger David Ortiz tested positive for the use of performance enhancing drugs … in 2003! Such a disclosure begs the question: what was the second most significant sports “news” story of the day?
Following similar revelations regarding baseball superstars Jose Canseco, [...]
Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettit, Barry Bonds, baseball, David Ortiz, human growth hormone, Jose Canseco, Manny Ramirez, Mark McGwire, PED's, performance enhancing drugs, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, steroids
Posted on 29 May 2009
I began officiating youth, high school, and competitive adult sporting events about five years ago. And, I love it! I love the interaction with the participants and the realization that the role that I play helps to maintain the integrity of the games and assures both sides that they are being treated fairly. I’m not [...]
Tags: baseball, basketball, football, referee, softball, sports, sports official, umpire
Posted on 23 May 2009
I love poker, and that’s an understatement. As a game that is constantly changing, poker simply fascinates me.
Not fully acquainted with the rules of the game, the first time that I played it, I couldn’t follow every move. However, I gained an immediate appreciation for this game of nerves and strategy. If you yourself [...]
Tags: poker, Texas hold 'em