What is a sport?

I have had a few conversations lately regarding sports and leisure activities (athletic events). What exactly is a sport? What is an athletic event? Are the terms interchangeable, or do they describe seperate events? The following is the Selich definition of the two, and some examples of the two. Let me know what you think?

A sport is defined as a competition between a person (or group of people i.e. team) against a seperate person or team. The person or team will try to prevent the other person or team from scoring a definitive point while trying to score a point themselves.

I bolded the two words that I believe are the most important words in the definition. These two words seperate a sport from a an athletic event. I say atheltic event because some of these events take a tremendous amount of athletic ability. By nature they are all competitive. A sport is always an athletic event, but an athletic event is not always a sport.

Here is my breakdown:

Sport

• Baseball/Softball
• Football
• Basketball
• Hockey (Ice & Field)
• Rugby
• Polo
• Water Polo
• Lacrosse
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Cricket
• Fencing

Athletic (Leisure) Event

• Golf
• Bowling
• Gymnastics
• Figure Skating
• Swimming/Diving
• Wrestling ?
• Cross Crounty (Run & Ski)
• Track & Field
• Horse Shoes
• Boxing ?
• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Cycling
• Equestrian
• Darts
• Billiards
• Handball

I put a question mark by boxing and wrestling because if there is a knock out or pin those are definitely definitive, but other than that the points are subjective.

Hitler was a Cowboys Fan

This from youtube. It is very funny!!

Super Bowl Predictions

It's time to make your picks.
With just a week left to go until the greatest Sunday of the year, it's time now to make your Super Bowl picks.
Let's make it more interesting than just picking the winner - Let's pick a couple of different categories to pick from.
Let's say...first touchdown, first touchdown pass, etc.
Any other suggestions on categories before we get started?

Who will win?
Just to get it out of the way....New England 41, New York 17 in one of the most boring blowouts in Super Bowl history. The game will stink...the most fascinating aspect will be history in the making....the Patriots will be the first team in NFL history to 19-0 and, unless they do it again next year, might just be the last.
Tom Brady will throw for 350+ yards and for three TDs and immediately after the game concludes, his coronation as the games greatest QB to ever don a helmet will begin. It will be the fourth Super Bowl for Brady in his young career and I don't think he is even 30 years old yet. Just think of how many more he can win...

What are you eating?
Sometimes, the best part of the game is the cuisine at the parties. At the Sicotte bash this year, we will be dining on a culinary feast, the likes of which may have never been seen. We wil be dining on a fine selection of Tex-Mex courses, hopefully with hot spices and hot sauces that will all but encourage the diners to drink in excess the chosen spirit they brought to the party. In the past, we used to base our menu on the geographic location of the game. For instance, when the game was in Miami, we dined on a selection of seafood, when the game was in New Orleans, creole food and so forth and so fort. This year, with the game in Arizona, it's Tex-Mex time.

Define a Piece of Crap

I knew if I looked long enough on the world wide web, I would find the definition I was trying to find.

"crap1 /kræp/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[krap] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, crapped, crap·ping.
–noun
1.Vulgar.
a.excrement.
b.an act of defecation.
c.Jose Canseco
2.Slang: Sometimes Vulgar.
a.nonsense; drivel.
b.falsehood, exaggeration, propaganda, or the like.
3.refuse; rubbish; junk; litter: Will you clean up that crap!"

Does anyone take this guy seriously? Yes, I know his book "Juiced" and him were vindicated some what by all the needle poking athletes that call themselves professionals. Where does it stop with him? Reports out currently have Jose trying to extort money from Maggilo Ordonez for some kind of movie that Canseco wants to make. Jose apparently told Maggilo he would not mention him in Canseco's new book if Maggilo would give him money for the movie. What? I know Maggs does not want his name anywhere near the word steroid, but extortion is extortion. Here's hoping that Maggs takes him down. You piece of crap.

I have also heard that Jose is going to mention Andrew Selich in his next book. Andrew did hit 19 round-trippers in our softball league last summer. :)

Since I am ranting about a piece of crap, Kwame Kilpatrick, mayor of the City of Detroit, has been caught being untruthful while under oath. Read about it here. Granted this has not much to do about sports, but this just gives reporters a chance to talk about this on national shows when the NCAA comes to town for the regionals this year and Final Four next year. Thanks Kwame, you piece of crap.

Great Lakes Loons

Not sure how many people had a chance last summer to take in a game at Dow Diamond and watch the Loons play ball. I was a wonderful ballpark. My family and I were able to sit on a grassy hill on blankets. The atmosphere was wonderful and a great time was had by all. I took the following off the Loons website. I would recommend everyone take part in enjoying a professional baseball game at Dow Diamond.

The 2008 Midwest League All-Star Game, powered by Dow Corning, is coming to Dow Diamond on June 17, 2008. The event is being sponsored by Dow Corning.Dow Corning additionally has title sponsorship of three other key events associated with the game: The All-Star FanFest, powered by Dow Corning; The Hometown Hitter, powered by Dow Corning and The All-Star Home Run Derby, powered by Dow Corning.“Dow Corning has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to the community through a myriad of programs, including a strong commitment to the Loons,” said Paul Barbeau, Loons President and General Manager. “We are thrilled to have Dow Corning continue that commitment through their partnership of the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, Hometown Hitter, and Fan Fest.”“At Dow Corning, we want the places we live, work, and play to be enjoyable for all,” said Abbe Mulders, Dow Corning Chief Information Officer and board member of the Michigan Baseball Foundation. “It’s about investing in local opportunities to improve the quality of life in our communities, and our sponsorship of the All-Star festivities is a terrific way to do just that.”The Midwest League All-Star Game has a storied history. The game was first played in 1964 and has been played every year since 1966. Past participants of the game include Cy Young Award Winners Greg Maddux, Johan Santana and Jake Peavy; MVPs Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Justin Morneau; and current Tigers stars Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Carlos Guillen and Joel Zumaya.This year, the 44th annual Midwest League All-Star Game, powered by Dow Corning comes to Dow Diamond, Tuesday, June 17th.The game will be broadcast live on My-5 TV and produced by WNEM. The radio broadcast will also be carried live on WYLZ, 100.9 and online at Loons.com. Dow Corning will be the title sponsorship of all TV, radio and internet broadcasts.The event serves as an excellent opportunity to showcase the award-winning ballpark and the Mid-Michigan community while offering fans the chance to see the stars of tomorrow up close.

2008 ALL-STAR FANFEST, POWERED BY DOW CORNING - The 2008 All-Star FanFest, powered by Dow Corning, is a three day event, June 15-17. Admission will be free. During the All-Star FanFest, powered by Dow Corning, visitors can take part in a multitude of events such as live concerts, skills challenges, photo opportunities and exhibits about our national past time. The FanFest will take place at Dow Diamond’s front lawn beginning on Sunday June 15.

2008 ALL-STAR HOME RUN DERBY, POWERED BY DOW CORNING - The 2008 All-Star Home Run Derby, powered by Dow Corning, will take place at Dow Diamond on Monday, June 16. The competition will feature eight Midwest League All-Star sluggers. In addition, one local high school student-athlete will qualify in the weeks and months leading up to the Derby to compete against the pros. The event will also mark the first formal introduction of the All-Star teams to the fans. The Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on WYLZ, 100.9-FM.

2008 HOMETOWN HITTER, POWERED BY DOW CORNING - As part of the 2008 Midwest League All-Star Home Run Derby, a high school home run derby will be held leading up to the Midwest League event. Titled the Hometown Hitter, powered by Dow Corning, this unique event will enable high school athletes to vie for the opportunity to compete alongside the pros in the Midwest League Home Run Derby, powered by Dow Corning, June 16. Local high school varsity baseball coaches will facilitate the selection of one participant per high school to compete in the event. Qualifying events will take place at Dow Diamond in the weeks and months leading up to the Midwest League All-Star Home Run Derby. One high school hitter will emerge as the winner and will compete as the ninth contestant on June 16.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - With its title sponsorship package, Dow Corning will also receive print advertisements in the Loons Nest, Logo recognition on Loons.com and all marketing materials, and prominent signage throughout the stadium.The three-day event is expected to have significant regional economic impact. During the events, Dow Diamond, Midland, the Tri Cities and the Mid-Michigan Region will be in a national spotlight. Team representatives and employees, league officials, baseball executives, players’ families, scouts and fans nationwide will be visiting the area. Tickets to the all-star game and homerun derby are included in all 2008 Loons full-season and half-season ticket packages. Individual tickets to the all-star game and home run derby will go on sale to all mini-plan ticket holders in late February, and then go on sale to the general public on March 1.

Refs cry foul over pay

Refs cry foul over pay


Check out the above link to the story in the Detroit News concerning the high school officials complaining about not receiving enough pay.

I did some quick calculating about how many miles an official would have to travel to actually LOSE money when officiating a high school basketball game. According to www.michigangasprices.com the average price for a gallon of gas in the State of Michigan today is $3.13. Also, the current CAFE miles per gallon rating for vehicles is 25 miles per gallon. If an official is receiving $50 to officiate a game, that person would have to make a round trip of 399 miles to actually LOSE money. Okay, lets be a little more reasonable, assume their vehicle is only getting 15 miles per gallon. The official would still have to travel 239 miles to LOSE money.

I was an official for about 6 years after high school. I needed the extra money, and it was a great way to stay in shape during the winter months. The farthest I remember driving on one night was 100 miles. Gas prices have risen since then, but these guys/ladies are not losing money. They are just not making as much money as they once were. This is a ridiculous attempt at trying to extort extra money from already cash strapped schools. If they do have a single night walk-out or "strike" I would hope the MHSAA takes a stand and does not let the officials operate another high school game in the State of Michigan.

Goose Gossage

Just a quick broadcast from our newly inducted hall of famer Rich "Goose" Gossage. Oh how I wish for the class from last years inductees. WARNING GRAPHIC LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN IN THE FOLLOWING VIDEO.



This is a well deserved honor for Goose Gossage. He was ahead of his time. Closing many games out by getting 6-7 outs. My favorite Gossage moment is still Game 5 1984 World Series when Kirk Gibson took him deep. A little bit of baseball trivia for everyone: Who is the only person to hit a home run in his last two (2) World Series at bats? You guessed it: Michigan's own Kirk Gibson.

Speaking of Kirk Gibson, here is the 1984 World Series at bat versus The Goose:

Basketball or Football

Check out this link at MLive. Vassar played John Glenn in boys basketball last night. I actually thought I was looking at an old football box score before reading the roundup.

I don't believe what I just saw!

The words of Jack Buck describing the majestic home run of Kirk Gibson from Game 1 of the 1988 World Series could have been used Friday night in Sebewaing. The statement would not have been describing something beautiful. It would have described something very very ugly.

Cass City High School played Unionville-Sebewaing Area (USA) High School in a contest of boys varsity basketball. You can read a game story at The Tuscola Today or the Huron Daily Tribune website. I want to tell you about the ugly part of the game.

With one minute remaining in regulation, Cass City had possession after a stoppage in play. Only down by nine points, Cass City worked the ball around for about 12 seconds before missing a shot. USA rebounded the miss and was immediately fouled. USA went to the line to shoot their two free throws. At this point in the game things still looked up for Cass City, despite a poor shooting half. USA was only 4-13 from the line and promptly missed both free throws. USA jumped on the rebound and passed the ball to the top of the key. This is when the ugliness began.

With only 43 seconds remaining, Cass City only needed to foul to put USA back at the line. Cass City did not foul. In fact they backed away from the USA ball handler. Thinking this may a mistake by the players, I looked at the bench and realized this was coached. The Cass City coach was not screaming at his players to foul. He just sat on the bench doing nothing. I believe he instructed his players to not foul USA. In other words, he gave up. Only down 9 points (possible 3 shots) and 43 seconds remaining, he gave up. This is not only ugly but down right irresponsible. The coach should be asked to resign immediately. That will not happen because guess what he is the athletic director as well. What type of lesson is he coaching his players? The lesson taught last night: give up. Disgusting, ugly, reprehensible, use any adjective you want. Jack Buck's line fits.