The Feel Sick Story
It has officially been proven that in Major League Baseball, money can buy happiness. When the season started Mark Texiera, A.J. Burnett, C.C. Sabathia, and Nick Swisher were all in evil pinstripes, it just wasn't clicking yet, and it seemed as though it would be just another year of wasted money for baseball's bad guys. Then the All-Star break rolled around and the Yankees started to live up to the name the Bronx Bombers once again, and the Evil Empire is officially back and better than they have been for years. Steibrenner one, sanity zero.
The Feel Pity Story
From one New York City burrow to the next, the story is sadder in Queens. The Mets have been god awful. As of September 1st they are in 4th place in the NL East, and 18.5 games behind the first place Phillies, but wait, that's not too shabby if you look at their lineup. The Mets injury list includes Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Johan Santana, J.J. Putz, John Maine, and Oliver Perez. And David Wright has just returned to full health. Omar Minaya, that is the money you could be saving with Geico, or in this case could have saved if you could see into the futre. The Mets in one summer have gone from one of baseball's biggest spenders, to one of baseball's biggest jokes.
The Feel Relieved Story
When altercations with Derrick Rose's high school SAT scores became national news the NCAA decided to take action by completely terminating Memphis's 2007-08 record setting 38-2 campaign. Now when I heard this my first thought was, thank god Mario Chalmers hit that shot to force the Finals of the NCAA Tournament into overtime, that would later lead to a Kansas win over Memphis. If that shot would have rimmed out, we would not only be taking away a season from Memphis and its fans, but we would be taking away a title. If not for Chalmers, there would be a void in the 07-08 line for NCAA Champions, a void that would only be filled by the memory of the raising of their banner, and the memory of it being taken down.
The Feel Slightly Excited Story
I'm not really a soccer guy to any extent, but I was for some reason religously tuning in to the Confederations Cup earlier this summer. U.S.A. made it through group play then took it to National power house Spain in the semi-finals, handing them their first International tournament loss in thirty some games. They moved on to lose a heart breaker to Brazil in the finals, but the U.S.A. squad showed what I'm pretty sure was some promise. With the 2010 World Cup right around the corner in South Africa next summer, I can only maybe look forward to maybe cheering for the Americans, where I thought I never would.
The Feel Bad Story
When Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg with a gun that he was not legally allowed to carry last year in a New York night club, he was later arrested for illegal gun possession. A charge which never really had offenders treated harshly, was figured to be no different for the New York Giants wide receiver. However, Plaxico's celebrity status seemed to hurt him in the case, when he got two years in prison, more than anyone ever has for that crime in the state of New York. When Burress shot himself last year, he did not only lose blood to the floor of the night club, but also the first year and a half of his soon to be newborn baby's life, and possibly his football career as well.
The Feel Disappointed...Again Story
The list of Major League Baseball players who have cheated with illegal substances grew this summer. Manny Ramirez recently used, and served a 50 game suspension. David Ortiz his wing man for many years was a member of the "anonymous" 2003 survey. This only means that the number of clean sluggers in Major League Baseball is shrinking by the second, and that possibly the 2004 Red Sox, the team that lead the fight to represent everything good that baseball stands for, is now just another fluke.
The Feel Undecided StoryMichael Vick served his time in prison, and is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Does he deserve the National spotlight after being so cruel to man's best friend? Well whether you think he does or not, ESPN is making sure he has it. The Worldwide Leader in Sports won't go more than five minutes on a segment of SportsCenter without mentioning his name, when the Eagles are playing next, and the time in which Vick is scheduled to get. Justice has been served, and whether you like it or not, Vick is a super star once again.
The Feel Confused Story
Is anybody else wondering why Michael Crabtree still hasn't signed with the 49er's? Somebody, his agent, his college coach, maybe himself, should know that the way he plays or in this case acts in his rookie season really defines his market value in the future. While all Crabtree is trying to do is give his market value some justice and get the money he thinks he deserves, he is just making it worse. If he sits out this year, like he has threatened to do countless times this 0ff-season, look for his new book on Oprah's book club list; "How to Ruin Your Career For Dummies", he is really building the life experience.
The Feel...Awkward? Story
After Alberto Contador won the Tour de France it was already known that Lance Armstrong would not be riding with Alberto or the team Astana in next year's Tour. Contador continued to sit down and give a much insulting interview regarding Armstrong. He said things along the lines of, I do not repsect Lance, and I am not impressed with Lance's story. I only felt uncomfortable debating to myself whether Contador was just being another egotistical athlete, or if he knew some dark secrets about the "True American Hero" we all think we know.
The Feel Humored Story
Never failling short of expectations, Shaquille O'neal has done it again. This time off the court, O'neal has created one of the most clever reality shows of all time; "Shaq Vs." It is a show where he challenges world class athletes to their sports, and then continues to train at that sport all the way up to the challenge. So far he has played volley-ball with Misty May-Treanor, competed in a Home Run Derby against Albert Pujols, and played in a game of football against Pittsburgh Steeler Ben Reothlisberger. While Shaq can be amusing on the basketball court to begin with, you can't help but laugh out loud watching the big guy go at it and smack talk with the world's best.
The Feel Annoyed Because Brett Favre Won't Retire Story
I tried like hell to stay away from this one, but it is always the top story of every summer. Favre is now a Viking, but this time I was actually surprised that he made his way back into the league. After his average peformance as a member of the New York Jets, I actually thought he would call it quits, but he couldn't. The question is now raised when will he actually retire? How much longer are we going to see Favre lift receivers on his shoulder after a touchdown pass, or as of late get fined thousands of dollars for illegal chop blocks; Brett thought the fifteen yards was enough, what a kid. But now a new question is raised for me, what would this game that so wants him gone, be without him? The man brings life to a football field, the man who has a full gray beard and is older than the Eagles new defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, is one of the few players left in the NFL who brings youth to the game. As I carelessly agree with everyone in saying that Brett should just retire already, and claim that I lose respect from him each time he fakes a retirement, a small part of me deep down inside wants to see number 4 out there again, for one more year, but just one more.
There you have it, the Stories of Summer 2009 has come to a close and will not be back until we have seen one more memorable summer of sports a year later. As a final shout out, I wish Adam "Pacman" Jones much luck in the Canadien Football League, I know he will do just fine.
JD
weird to be rooting for the mets at this point in the season huh?
ReplyDeleteand i am on contador's side. Armstrong is a douchebag. and on top of that he probably roided up.