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Closer Look Sports - by Steve Gann

One of my favorite traditions in baseball is that us fans get to vote for the starters of the All-Star game. The fact that it has been a popularity contest rather than which players were having the better year didn't matter when the game was merely an expedition. Now with the winning team earning home field advantage for the World Series is it time to rethink the practice of fan voting?

I would say no but I think that it is time to do away with the rule that every team has to have one representative. Before you could watch every game on MLBTV, it was nice to be able to see players who played on teams that didn't have a television contract. Now fans have that option and those extra positions could be awarded to players who were having a career year.

If the games are going to count then the best players need to be available to play for their league.

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Andy vs Andy

July 3rd 2009 05:23

: Andy vs Andy

One thing is for certain there will be an Andy in the Wimbledon final. Will it be the American Roddick, who is one match away from his goal of winning his second Grand Slam after his lone title at the 2003 U.S Open? Roddick has dedicated himself by slimming down, hiring a new coach, and working on his serve and backhand.

The other Andy has the hope and prayers of an entire nation behind him. Andy Murray, born in Glasgow, is trying to become the first British player since 1935 to win at Wimbledon. Murray, who survived the Dunblane massacre in which 17 of his fellow students were killed, would very much like to have his childhome home known for something other than a tragedy.

You almost would like to pull for both of these good guys, but alas this is real life sports where it is not always good vs evil like in the movie scripts.

My loyalties generally lie with my American brethren, but I know I will definitely be cheering on the winner come Sunday morning.

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Whoa, Was That An Albatross?

June 30th 2009 04:52

: Whoa, Was That An Albatross?

Rafa Echenique of Argentina recorded the rarest feat in golf this weekend. He recorded a three under par albatross during the BMA International Open European PGA tour.

The term albatross refers to a score of three under par on any one hole. So it would be a score of 2 on a par 5 or a hole-in-one on a par 4.

It is said that the chances are at least one in a million with some experts going as high as 6 million to 1.

Compare that to a hole in one which is said to have odds of 13,000 to 1.

The difference is that a hole in one is possible on a par 3, generally the easiest holes on golf courses.

The practice of using birds as a scoring system began in the 1800s when the term "bird" meant anything excellent in popular American slang. So the term birdie became known as one under par.

From there eagle, or two under par, was incorporated into the game, as a bigger rarer bird or accomplishment.

So of course the natural evolution would then take us to albatross, one of the largest and rarest of birds to complete the scoring. Although some have taken to use the term double-eagle as three under par, the correct scoring is still considered albatross.

By the way Echenique's albatross was not enough to win the title as he would finish second to Nick Dougherty for the Open title.

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Brazil vs United States: Confederation Cup Final

June 28th 2009 14:27

: Brazil vs United States: Confederation Cup Final

We are less than five hours before the long awaited first cup final for a US team. Their opponent Brazil, is a five time time World Cup champion. The teams met three weeks ago with Brazil dominating in a 3-0 rout. So do the Americans have a chance? Yes definitely, they are gaining momentum and confidence and have the attention of the country to cheer them on to their first international cup championship. Landon Donovan is playing tremendously and captain Carlos Bocanegra returns to the lineup after missing three games.

My prediction? Brazil 3 United States 1

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US Stuns Number 1 Spain In Soccer

June 24th 2009 22:51

: US Stuns Number One Spain In Soccer

The 14th ranked US soccer team upset the Spanish team 2-0 to advance to the finals of the Confederation Cup. Spain had a 35 match winning streak heading into the semifinals. The US team lost its first two games and had to beat Egypt by three goals just to qualify for the semis. They will now face either Brazil or South Africa for the championship. It is the first final of any kind for a men's US soccer team.

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103 Year Old Navarro Hurls First Pitch At Padres Game

June 22nd 2009 04:43

Emilio Navarro, who batted leadoff and played shortstop for the Cuban Stars in 1928, is thought to be the oldest living Pro baseball player. He was honored last year during a mock draft of ex Negro League by being drafted by the New York Yankees.

He was honored again this past weekend by throwing out the first pitch at a game between the San Diego Padres and Oakland A's

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NCAA To Strip Bobby Bowden's Chance To Catch Joe Paterno

June 19th 2009 03:26

The NCAA has announced their intended sanctions against Florida State's athletic program. Sixty-One student athletes were giving answers to a music history exam by academic staffers. One of the sanctions will be that the football team will have to forfeit fourteen games. That would mean that Coach Bowden, who trail Penn State's Joe Paterno by one win, will have little chance of becoming college football's all time winningest coach. Its a shame that a dumb mistake made by a third party could possibly cost a man who has given so much to the game.

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Pudge Sets Milestone For Catchers

June 18th 2009 03:54

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez was nineteen when the baby faced catcher was called up by the Texas Rangers halfway into the 1991 season.

Fast forward through 19 seasons, 10 All-Star appearances, 13 Gold Glove selections, an AL-MVP, and 2,227 games caught and you have the new record holder for career games behind the plate

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LIke Father, Like Son

June 14th 2009 22:05

With Father's Day just around the corner, I was curious to see just how many father and son combinations have either played or managed in Major League Baseball.

So lets take a look at how many father and son games of catch were successful enough to develop into a second generation player

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You're All Out

June 13th 2009 20:00

A West Burlington, Iowa umpire fulfilled every other umpires dreams this weekend when he tossed every person attending a high school baseball game. He claimed that the crowd was getting too unruly.

The superintendent of the host high school thinks that the umpire may have overreacted

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July 2009

2 Posts

June 2009

13 Posts

May 2009

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