For those who don't go to watch the players

I am a huge sports fan and when I go to ballpark I go to watch the game/players, this especially true when I go to Pirate games. In case you haven't realized it yet, but I am a HUGE Pirate fan.  Ask any of my friends when I go to a baseball game you can't distract me from what is taking place on the field, especially when Garrett Jones is up at bat.  

For others like my roommate Samantha Church, the players/what is happening on the field is the least of her concern. Sure she enjoys baseball and the players, but this doesn't compare to how she feels about the famous Parrot. Below is a non-tradicional PNC Park visitors take on the events of a Pirate ballgame.

First off, I want to explain that I am attending Slippery Rock University to become and elementary teacher. This may very well attribute to my love of the Pittsburgh Pirate Parrot. Sure, I enjoy going and watching the men play their game of baseball...I mean I myself played softball for 17 years so I do enjoy the game. I just find a greater interest in the mascot. I have always loved mascots. My first love was C-Wolf. He is the mascot for the Erie Seawolves. I used to beg my parents to take me to a game so I could watch him. I have since moved on to bigger and better mascots. To help you understand my fondness for the parrot I will share a short story with you. On Monday when the parrot came to visits at Boozel dining hall, I became so ecstatic. The only problem was that I have a class at 5 (when the parrot was supposed to show). I really wanted to see him and get my picture taken so I emailed my professor explaining my dilemma. She was very nice and told me I could come to class at 5:30. My friends and I went to dinner in hopes that he would arrive early. 5 rolled around and no parrot. So I went over to ask a guy who was sitting at a table selling pirate tickets and asked him when the parrot was showing. I quickly added that I would get extra credit....I didn't want to look goofy. As Steph and I waited the clock kept ticking closer to 5:30. I was just about to give up and leave when I saw him walking up over the hill and my face lit up. I was so excited. After I got my picture with him I declared that this day was the happiest day of my life! One of the goals on my bucket list is to get a picture with as many professional mascots as I can. So far I am not doing to well but once I am able to travel I will hope to accomplish my goal. So the big question we want to ask you is whether or not you go to the baseball game for the players or the mascot. Who knows maybe there is another reason you go. LET US KNOW!

MLB Surprises

The start to the MLB season has been very interesting. First of all for me a Pirate fan, I had hope that this year would be different but then they started playing like the always do.  Through the first couple weeks of the season there has been a few surprises across the league. Below are my top three MLB surprise teams.

• Boston Red Sox- Who would've guessed a team with a payroll of $163 million would start the season off 3-10 and at the bottom of the AL East?
• Cleveland Indians/Kansas City Royals- The teams who are usually basement dwellers in the AL Central are off to an impressive start. Both teams are 10-4 and enjoying the early season success. Only time will tell if these teams can compete constantly throughout a long season. 
• Colorado Rockies- To me the Rockies are the most impressive/surprising team thus far in the season. They are now 11-3 and sitting high atop the NL West. Troy Tulowitzki is one of the main reasons they are where they are. Their All-Star Shortstop is batting .365 with seven home runs.

It is only a matter of time before we see if these early season results will set the tone for these teams for the rest of the season.  Will Boston be able to rebound? Will Cleveland, Kansas City, and Colorado prove that the small market teams can compete with the likes of the Yankees and Mets? What do you think? What has surprised you most about the 2011 season so far? 

Cutting the budget doesn't mean cutting sports or the arts, or does it?

Hanging out with my band director, who was more than
a teacher but a mentor and friend!

I was talking to my mom this week and she was telling me all the proposed cuts our supernatant is pushing for and it is ridicules.  First of all she wants to cut our Athletic Director's job. My question is how are you going to run high school sports (note...our high school is a junior/senior high school) without an AD? Mr. Clapp, our AD, did everything and was at every game both junior and senior high. He had no help it was just him. And he is only being paid $8000 a year. It is completely crazy. Secondly she is cutting our band directors hours in half so he won't even being working full time. This made me extremely upset-because I was in band/musical my from seventh grade year until I graduated and Mr. Pearce is one of the reasons I am who I am today. Now we might not have a marching band or be able to put on a musical. See our school is decent in sports but we are most widely recognized for our music program which constantly places at every parade we participate in.

School actives like band and sports give students a
to learn skills and develop friendship that wouldn't
be found in a typical classroom.

Personally, I feel really bad for all the kids in high school right now. What has education come to, that they are cutting the arts and sports? I don't know about you but I learned a lot more in band then I did in the classroom and I know for most people they learned things about themselves in sports they wouldn't have had the opportunity to discover in the classroom. I mean in both sports and musicals/band you learn confidence and how to step out of your comfort zone. And if kids are given this chance to build self confidence, dedication, and discipline in these activities where are they going to learn them?

I can honestly say I don't know where I would be if wasn't for marching band and musical. I know I wouldn't have the confidence that I do today. I just hope that people realize this and find other ways to cut the budget. 

Tell me what you think! Where would you be without sports or the arts? 

The Pride of Pittsburgh: PNC Park

I went to the Pirate game last night and even though they lost it was still a blast! PNC Park is one of the most beautiful ball-park in Major League Baseball. You can see anywhere in the park. We sat in the cheap seats and you could see just as well as other more expensive seats.  I love the view of the Pittsburgh skyline. It so scenic and Pittsburgh looks wonderful right as the sun goes down.

It is too bad the Pirates aren't a winning team because PNC Park would look so good on an ESPN Sunday night baseball coverage. Out off all the sporting venues in Pittsburgh PNC Park is the nicest with the best view, but because of the product on the field many people miss out on the chance to visit and explore this beautiful facility. Also, because of the Pirates poor record there is no national coverage of the team so the rest of the baseball world misses the chance to see the wonderful PNC Park. 

Do you agree with me? Is PNC Park the best sporting facility in Pittsburgh? Tell me what you think!

A successful first series for the Buccos!!!

The 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates have started the season out on a very good note, winning the opening series 2-1 against the Chicago Cubs. Sure there are 159 games left and countless more road trips ahead, but there is nothing stopping us from savoring the first road series win of the season. For the Pirates, this is something noteworthy. Last year it seemed they couldn't win a road series to save their lives. 

This opening series win is noteworthy for a few other reasons too. 

Reason 1: The Pirates had a come from behind victory in the series finally. Reason 2: They were able to rebound from sloppy defensive plays and secure the victory in Game 1 and Game 2. 

 Reason 3: The young guys stepped it up and made some extraordinary plays in crunch situations-Neal Walker's grand slam for example

Take what you want from the opening series, there was a ton of good to build on and there was alway a few of those Pirate moments we have come to expect. Even though there is a lot of baseball left I am hoping the Pirates can build upon the good and maybe just maybe put together that all elusive winning season. 

Spring is Officially Here!!

It is baseball season-which means that spring has officially arrived (no matter what the weather outside tries to tell us). With the arrival of baseball season, comes the arrival of talks on salaries in Major League Baseball.  This year there are 12 teams with a payroll of over $100 million. They include:

Chicago Cubs
Detroit Tigers
Los Angeles Angels
New York Mets
Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Yankees
St. Louis Cardinals
Boston Red Sox
Minnesota Twins
Philadelphia Phillies
San Francisco GiantsI can honestly say that I am not surprised with most of these teams on the list. I could've predicted most of them.  I am surprised with two of the teams on the list, the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants.  I really thought they were two of the middle market teams, but I guess I was wrong. The average salary on both of these teams is around $4.5 million, but that number is on the higher end because of the high salaries of the top players on the team. Joe Mauer for instance makes up 20% of the team's payroll with a salary of $23 million.  Also the Giants have a majority of their payroll invested in star pictures Barry Zito ($18,500,000) and Tim Lincecum ($14,000,000). 

So tell me what you think about the list. Were you surprised by a team on the list?

The Last Cowboy Standing is sure to be a huge success!

The PBR is offering fans and riders a new event that is sure to be extremely exciting. The Last Cowboy Standing will take place on April 16th and will be available on PPV.  The motto for the event is "Ride 8 Seconds. Move On. Come up Short. Go Home". This motto pretty much sums it up.  It will start out with the top 40 riders will be competing against the top 40 bulls. The rules are simple if the rider bucks off he goes homes, there is no round two or short-go to make amends for the buck-off just one chance. The rounds will continue until there is just one cowboy standing.

This is sure to be one of the PBR's best events.  I am really excited to watch these riders go head-to-head with the rankest bulls.  This will give the rider a chance to showoff their skills, since they won't be competing for points-just money. I can't wait to watch it. If you have never watched bull riding before I highly suggest you check out the video clip and http://www.pbrnow.com. The PBR is highly addicting and once you start following it it is pretty hard to stop! 

"Through My {Tim Tebow's} Eyes"

I am so excited Tim Tebow has finally wrote an autobiography, though it will not be published until the end of May!! Tebow's book is entitled "Through My Eyes".  I am so excited to finally have the chance to hear him tell his own story.  He has such an amazing testimony and I can't wait to hear it in his own words.

In a press release announcing the publication of the book Tim Tebow, said he is most excited to tell the story of his faith.  Personally that is what I am most excited to hear. I have read other books that document Tebow's faith, but now readers finally have a chance to read about his  spiritual journey through his own eyes.

I really think this book will be worth reading. Over Christmas I read a book entitled "Playing with a Purpose" which told the testimonies of Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy and it was amazing.  Tebow's story was especially touching, from his birth to missionary parents, to his mission work in the prisons, to winning the Heisman.  I can honestly say that I expect this book to be nothing less than amazing. 

Tell me what you think. Are you going to buy this booking when it comes out?  {It is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com--I already ordered by copy.}

Is hunting a sport?

Last week during spring break, my family and I went for a hike and my dad was complaining about the weather.  I interrupted him, telling him this weather reminded me of hunting season. And so it began our reminising of all the past hunting seasons, and what we was to be expected this for this upcoming season. We were talking about how we needed to continue spotting for deer and tracking thier while there was still snow on the ground. I know a lot can change between now and November--but like everything else it is never to early to get ahead. 

My  question to you is, do you think hunting should be considered a sport? 
I honestly believe that it is just as much of sport as football, baseball, or any other sport. For many reasons...Just like any other sport hunting takes a lot of preseason preparation. You have to scout the hunting areas, know where the deer travel the most, and prepare your hunting spot.  Just like any other sport you have to have the right equipement. You need to have the right gun and ammunition for the right game and you also need to have your scope set on the right power depending on whether you are woods hunting or field hunting. And just like baseball or football you have to have spent time studying and preparing to outsmart you opponent. For those of you who don't  think that deer know when it is hunting season, I completely disagree. The deer know when it is hunting season. They stay low, don't travel their regular routes, and are extreamly jumpy.  Therefor you have to ready to counteract their new behavior with carefully coordinated pushes that if completed successfully will chase the deer into the sites of the patient hunter.

Tell me if you agree with me of if you disagree let me know why. 

Where is Pittsburgh's Bryce Harper?

The Pirates haven't had a winning season in over 18 years and have had countless number of first round draft picks, yet how many superstars have they drafted.  You would've thought by now they would've hit gold, but at least in recent memory they haven't.  Either they don't draft well or they can't develop a player or maybe it is a combination of the two.  The main question is why haven't they drafted somebody like Bryce Harper??? This young player has been on every scout's watch list since his freshman year in high school. Ever since he took his first junior college at-bat he has been the subject of so many analytical baseball breakdowns. Harper's first spring training hit even made baseball headlines....I can only imagine what it will be like when he makes the majors. I can't wait until he makes the majors and I finally have the chance to watch one of his games. I just wish the Pirates would draft someone who would evoke all this hype and excitement. 

2014 Mosow Olympic Logos Revealed

The mascots for the 2014 Moscow Olympcis have been released and not without some contraversy-of course.  The Olympic masocts will be a snowboarding snowleapord, a figure skating rabbit, and a polar bear.  The mascots were chosen based on public votes, but many suspect it was fixed considering Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's favorite received the most votes.  Also many consider the the snowboarding leopard to represent him, but no one is certain.

Overall, I like the mascots.  I think they are cute and will sell easily- they would make really good stuffed animals :) Though they kind-of look like they should be Disney characters, I still enjoy them. I think they represent Russia and its people well.  It think they did a wonderful job of picking mascots.

       

Wainwright will be missed

It was a sad day this week, when I heard that St. Louis Cardinal's pitcher Adam Wainwright hurt his throwing arm and it was an even sadder day when it was reported he will miss the entire season. Wainwright will have season ending Tommy John's surgery. I am not even a Cardinal's fan and even though he has beaten the Pirates WAY to many times I still will miss watching him pitch.  He is an amazing pitcher and a really good guy.  He has an amazing testimony and had done a lot of really good charity work. Major League Baseball will not only be miss an amazing pitcher this season but they will be missing a great ambassador. 

Click here to read about Wainwright's story!! (By the way it is really good so I suggest you check it out).

The PBR who???

I don't understand at all why the PBR doesn't receive the media attention it deserves. [For those of you who don't know the PBR stands for Professional Bull Riders, and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country.] It is full of drama, captivating story lines, and full of the hard hitting violence American's seem to crave from their sports. The PBR represents a part of our American history, the old west. It pins cowboy against bull.  What many people who don't follow the sport don't realize is that the bulls are just as popular and have just as much at stake every ride as the the cowboys do---often times the bulls are worth over $100,000. I just don't know why ESPN has picked it up yet.  I believe that it would provide them with some awesome footage and story lines. And if you have never watched it before I encourage you to check it out at www.pbrnow.com and start following "The toughest sport on dirt"!! I know I have been addicted since the first time I watched it--I even had the opportunity to see the World Finals in Las Vegas and meet some of the top cowboys in the world!!!

My sister and I with top ranked PBR Cowboy Colt McCoy at the PBR meet and greet in Las Vegas!

My sister with JB Mauney, a two time World Champion runner up at a Challenger Tour Event. 

College Baseball Time

It is finally the start of Division I college baseball and the journey to Omaha has begun.  UCLA and TCU come into the season ranked number one and number two in the USA today poll, with reigning National Champion South Carolina ranked number eight.  It should be an interesting season full of exciting story lines. On opening day, Florida International shortstop Garrett Witteles had the chance to come one game closer to breaking Robin Ventura's 58-game hit streak, but failed to get a hit.  Also, this will be the first time in over fifty years the season won't end in historic Rosenblatt Stadium.  Instead the College World Series, will be played TD America Trade Park, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Continue to check back on my blog as I continue to follow the 2011 College Baseball Season. 

No Deal for Pujols

The St. Louis star first-baseman Albert Pujols was unable to reach a deal with the team for his new contract. Pujols's contract runs out after this season and he and the team were hoping to sign a deal before the start of spring training, but that didn't happen.  And there won't be any talks until the end of the season. 

Honestly I was really hoping that Pujols would've signed with the Cardinals. After all that he has done for the team he deserves to be one of the highest paid players in the league.  In my opinion, he deserves as much as A-Rod, especially considering Pujols is a good-guy and has never gotten in trouble.  I am not looking forward to hearing about all baseball season. I am really hoping that the announcers don't drag the story out, especially since he isn't going to sign a deal until the season is over, but you know how analysts and announcers are.  In the end I hope he stays with the Cardinals, I really enjoy watching him when they play the Pirates (even if he does kill them every time).

Was that a hockey game or boxing match?

Last night the Penguins fell to the NY Islanders 9-3, in a fight filled physical hockey game that featured WAY to many fights and penalties. I am a huge hockey fan and enjoy a good hockey fight every once and a while but last night's game was a little out of hand.  There is no reason they should've been fighting so much.  To me the players to put much on the line (including their health) when they become physical. I would much rather see a well played game of hockey with little penalties then a game full of fights.

Tell what you think: would you rather see a close hockey game with little penalties or one full of fights?

Looks likes the Americans better step it up

When you think of who competes in  PBR (Professional Bull Riders) or rodeo who do you think of? I used to think of boys from out west Texas, Oklahoma those states...that was until I really started following the PBR and I soon discovered that some of the top riders in the world were actually not Americans, but Canadians, Australians and Brazilians. Though it really wasn't until past two seasons that the Brazilians have taken center stage. This past weekend 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi won the Portland event, becoming the fifth straight Brazilian to win a Built Ford Tough Event. Though the Brazilians have been winning the events the Americans/Canadians still control seven of the top ten spots, but the Brazilians have control of the top two spots.  Do you think that Americans will be able to keep up the Brazilians as they head into the second month of the PBR season?

To check out more from the PBR check out www.pbrnow.com

A story you probably wouldn't have heard at media day

The above video is the story of Daniel Spepulveda's (the Pittsburgh Steelers punter who is currently on injury reserve) path to the NFL.  It is a really good heart warming story. I recently discovered the website www.iamsecond.com and instantly fell in love with it.  You should really check it out. It contains the stories of many professional athletes like Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Landry Jones, Tony Dungy and many many others. Then while looking the list of stories I came across Daniel's...this was the first time I had ever heard his path to the NFL and it really touched my heart how he never gave up no matter the curveballs life threw at him.  I highly encourage you watch this video and check the website out, they both are pretty amazing.  Even though he won't be playing in the Super Bowl (he is out with a torn ACL) I still think you should check it out in honor of the Steelers making the Super Bowl.  Tell me what you think about the video...I hope you enjoy it as much I did!!!

New Technologies: Flickr

Today in class we had to research new technologies and social media sites and I during my research I found a really cool social media site called Flickr. It is a picture sharing website that allows users to share their photography with the rest of the world. Flickr also allows users to browse and search other user's photos.  To me this is a really cool website because allows you to explore other's pictures, which can give you inspiration for your own photography.  There is this cool feature that allows you to browse pictures based on categories-including animals, foliage and many popular cities around the world.  If you are at all interested in photography or just looking at pictures you should really check this website out at www.flickr.com

About Me

This is my second semester at Slippery Rock University as Sport Management major.  I am a huge sports fan and I follow a lot of different sports.  I most enjoy watching college football and college baseball.  My favorite college teams to follow are the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma.  Since I enjoy a wide variety of sports my blog will cover a wide variety of sports, including the PBR(Professional Bull Riding), MLB, NHL, and college baseball. I hope you enjoy my blog and gain a look into the some sports and stories not covered as extensively on ESPN.