To have people from all walks of life weigh in on the Trayvon Martin case is certainly an eyebrow-raiser. When it comes to sports, few athletes these days delve into community issues with a public opinion. That is not the case with Miami Heat players Dewayne Wade and Lebron James who made their own statement about the concerns they have about young black men in America and the target they have on their back. Not since the days of Jim Brown, Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul Jabar do you see athletes point out an injustice that takes place in their community. There have been some who have put their money where their mouth is like Magic Johnson, but normally when the going gets tough they get going … the other way.
There are countless reasons why, from lack of knowledge of a specific situation, to advisors suggesting they not “rock the boat” to just plain stupidity in thinking such atrocities could never happen to them or their family members. In all it’s unfortunate, as they have those saying they only want the players to play the game they are paid for; they want them to shut up, play and get paid. But they have a voice too, and it should be heard if they have what it takes to speak.
Snuffed by El Salvador
While I am seldom questioned on soccer, I have been worn down to the nub on how great soccer is in the U.S. and what a great soccer town St. Louis is with the historic tradition at Saint Louis University. I should remind you that SLU has not won a championship since the mid-‘70s, but some people sill think the Bills’ program is all that.
It was determined early this week that the United States will not participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London this summer because they did not qualify. Yes, they could not beat El Salvador in a qualifying round. So how did this happen?
The pundits of soccer here will not tell you that the politics on the amateur level has led to one of the great circuses on the national level. U.S. Soccer is now a laughingstock. Spare me the excuses, they could not beat El Salvador.
Ring the bell for Bert Sugar
The sports world lost a great one this week in the passing of noted writer Herbert Randolph Sugar. While Sugar was considered the foremost boxing historian of our time, he penned over 80 books on a variety of subjects. From his first love of boxing to baseball to noted illusionist Harry Houdini, Sugar was as witty as they come and his signature fedora and cigar traveled with him at all times. Sugar was kind, thoughtful, funny and dedicated to his craft of writing. The Boxing Hall of Famer will be missed.
Summit and Griner
While I have grown rather tired of the hypocrisy that exists with men’s college basketball, despite what you have read recently it’s not all that. It has become a disappointment with respect to how the game is played as well as all the money that is being raked in, and some athletic officials can still stand up and say you cannot spare any money for the players. When you now have coaches doing commercials that are seen nationwide during the tournament, you have to ask yourself the question, “How have they been that good of a coach all these years?” It’s a simple answer. They have recruited and in some cases bought good players.
The real story about college basketball this year is the women’s tournament. It is a more fundamentally sound game than the men’s game these days, and you can actually see plays unfold.
While Baylor is attempting to go undefeated, they feature the country’s best player in 6’8” Brittany Griner, who so far has had two dunks in the tournament. Throw in the double-doubles she adds each night, and now you know why they are that good and should win the whole thing.
The other real story is the end of era took place earlier this week in a quarterfinal game that featured Baylor and Tennessee. Coach Pat Summit perhaps coached her last game as she is dealing with early stages of dementia and it has been somewhat challenging for her this season. Baylor defeated the Vols earlier this week thus ending the run of Tennessee. Coach
Summit has won more basketball games than any coach ever as her total is nearly 1,200. She was part of eight national championships at Tennessee as well as an Olympic Gold Medal coach. Her impact on the game will be long-lasting.
