Have we become so obsessed with celebrity and publicity as a society that someone would use the story of a dead girlfriend to catapult himself into the national spotlight? We’ve gone the “based on a true story” route and taken dramatic license because no one cares if you’re good at something but don’t have an epic backstory.
Some people are upset that USC has to play weekday games in 2013, especially a home Thursday game. Guess what? It was inevitably going to happen, thanks to the new reality of college football television scheduling (which isn’t really new anyway … it’s been going on for years!).
The NCAA moved swiftly to punish Penn State for its misdeeds in the Jerry Sandusky case, but in not administering the ultimate punishment — the death penalty — it proved it didn’t have the balls to truly take a stand against a mighty football program.
In a perfect world, the news that U.S. women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe is gay would be met with indifferent shrugs. We’d just focus on the fact she’s an awesome soccer player, not just a gay athlete. But it’s not a perfect world, so her revelation being a big deal absolutely matters.
The Los Angeles Kings took 45 years to win their first championship. One Kings fan wished and hoped for this day to come for 25 years. That’s one huge sigh of relief for one Edward de la Fuente.
Good reads last week: Porn at the L.A. Coliseum, a day with the Stanley Cup, Johan Santana, the inner workings of the NBA Draft Lottery, Dustin Penner, the wizardry of Doc Emrick, awesome hockey video and the greatest voicemail known to humanity.
Every diehard fan base appreciates new fans, but if you’re going to be an obnoxious fair-weather jerk, you’re welcome to fall off the bandwagon. Now. Don’t displace the diehards.
Celebrating good reads this past week: A beautiful tribute to baseball, hockey vs. sexism, the ultimate infographic, Susie Wheldon, the intensity of John Tortorella and beer pong.
I met Buddy Hurlock in 2001, fresh out of college. He gave me a road map to Delaware high school sports, which I dutifully followed. Without him, I would have been completely lost at my first job as a reporter. This is an appreciation for the man whose wit, good-natured persona and love of hot dogs will be deeply missed.
This is what the You Can Play movement means to me: It’s helping gay people realize the simple desire to be treated like a human being, to be shown the same respect as their straight brethren.
