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Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
The NCAA Problem
If the news out of Arizona regarding basketball coach Sean Miller surprised you this weekend, you haven’t been paying attention. College athletics are magnificent in their awesome camaraderie and regarded as a cornerstone of the American College experience. They are also magnificent in their malignant corruption and a model of antiquity in a modern world. While you’d like to believe that the heart of the NCAA has good intentions, after 2018, it may be hard to continue convincing people of that.
By Patrick O'Neill8 years ago in Unbalanced
Why Your Sports Team's Loss Is Bad for You
This might be considered a character flaw, but I'll admit it. My mood depends mightily on the successes (or failures) of the University of North Carolina's sports teams. During the fall, I'm elated when the Tar Heel football team wins on Saturdays. In the winter, I'm crushed when Carolina's basketball team drops a game that ought to have been a victory (especially when the Heels lose to the despised Duke Blue Devils). Finally, as temperatures rise and college baseball season progresses, my hopes of another trip to Omaha's College World Series are aroused. Perhaps I shouldn't allow 19-year-olds to determine my emotional well-being, but that's not likely to change any time soon.
By Mike Ferry8 years ago in Unbalanced
Prep to Pro
Mike Krzyzewski made headlines in early November of 2017 when talking about the current one and done rule and how it impacts student athletes. “I would totally be for kids being able [to go to the NBA], and have always been in favor of kids being able to go right to the pros. And not putting any restrictions on them as to how long they have to stay. I think that’s not right.” Strong words from a man that has built his program as of late off one and done talent. Coach K is a one and done coach now and the institution of the rule has forced the blue bloods around college basketball to play ball. Whether or not the rule is good for college basketball is irrelevant. The issue is and should always be the kids first.
By Kyle Jordan Ferguson8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Mixed Emotions Following the Eagles Super Bowl Victory
The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII (that's 52, for those of us who stopped using Roman numerals long ago). For a city that sports some of the most diehard fans (and we really do our best to diehard, for our teams), it's a dream almost six decades in the making. The Philadelphia football team hasn't won a championship since before the Super Bowl was a thing and, believe me, fans in this town know how to suffer, though we never do it in silence.
By Samantha Shoop-Volz8 years ago in Unbalanced
Professional Sports; Honest Competition or Lucrative Entertainment?
Professional sport. A dominator of media outlets. A magnet attracting thousands of fans who flock to mass events on any given weekend. A creator of bonds between like-minded fans; a cultivator of rivalries against the opposition. A generator of those longing feelings of involvement, validation and belonging. The athletes who grace the sporting arenas are often put on pedestals, and subsequently praised and revered for their athletic capabilities – and in most cases, rightly so. Some of the best athletes in history have captured the imagination of many with their ability, skill, winning mentality and desire to compete successfully in their respective fields. Fueled by passion and professional pride, athletes use the stage they are on to exhibit their talents and realise years of hard work. But the world of sport in recent years has taken a sharp turn away from the integrity and passion of honest sporting competition, towards the economically-driven world of corporate commercialism. Ownership of large sports franchises, eye-watering sums of money generated from television rights and merchandising, corporate sponsorship and athlete management have all contributed to the monster that is the commercial side of sport - more money than ever is changing hands across all forms of professional sporting competition. This level of corporate and commercial influence has changed sport forever, and it begs the question; is professional sport now purely an entertainment industry? Or does it remain a realm where the main focus is on the integrity and professionalism of athletic competition on the biggest stage?
By Jeffrey Boadi8 years ago in Unbalanced
Goat Talk...
Kobe’s number 8 and 24 jerseys were retired earlier this year and straight from Magic’s mouth the words “Greatest Laker” were uttered. The greatest player in a franchise that saw Cap, Magic, Baylor, West, and many others, Bryant stands atop them. A legendary career ended a few years ago with a closeout game fit for a storybook 20 years in the making, in the form of a 60-ball from Bryant. Kobe gave us memories that will never be forgotten. From 81 points in a game to the lob to Shaq in game seven of the Western Conference Finals against the Trailblazers, he has given the fans something to remember. More than that he gave us a storyline to go with it. The great ones have something to cling to. Jordan had his maniacal competitive spirit, and Magic was the most likable man in sports with an infectious smile and personality.
By Kyle Jordan Ferguson8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Time Is Now for Mark Messier to Coach the NY Rangers
Anyone who has watched the fall of the NY Rangers over the past couple of seasons always come back to the same question: "Where is the heart of this club?" Watching week's 2-1 loss to Dallas, I was struck by a memory of last year in Dallas when Henrik Lundqvist was run over by a member of the same Dallas Stars, Cody Eakin. Rather than the Rangers defending their franchise, future Hall of Fame goaltender, the response was....well, it was....Well, it wasn't. There was no response.
By Steve Komito8 years ago in Unbalanced
The NY Rangers Encapsulated....
If last week's 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators doesn't tell you all you need to know about the NY Rangers organization (and today's NHL) from top to bottom, then maybe someone can educate me. Maybe, I'm missing the boat. Perhaps, I still think "old school" going back to when players defended and police'd each other on the ice and didn't wait for incompetent and ill-suited referees to do their jobs for them. Or a bloated NHL "rooms" bureaucracy or an endless line of suits who have done little but confuse everyone both on the ice and off and restrict the players from actually doing their job - part of which is to protect each other. A lot of this is a result of Gary Bettman catering to the whims and the desires of corporate America rather than respecting what the game of hockey had always been about. And sometimes aside from it being a beautifully and artistically played game, it is a violent and aggressive game. Today, it resembles more the McDonald's franchise model, where everyone plays the same, looks the same and there is barely a personality to be had. There are more rules than ever before and not surprisingly, these rules are as inconsistent in practice as they are in theory.
By Steve Komito8 years ago in Unbalanced
Can You Find the Hidden Meanings in These Sports Logos?
Have you ever really taken a good look at your favorite sports team’s logo? Or, maybe you’ve spent far too much time glaring angrily at your least favorite sports team’s logo as you jab at its effigy with voodoo pins. Either way, it should come as no surprise that many of the sports teams out there have some form of hidden message or symbolism that represents part of the heritage of either the city, the owner, or any other piece of its history.
By Natalie Santana8 years ago in Unbalanced
Foles Gold!
Here's a little bit of perspective on how unlikely and remarkable this Eagles championship is. In week 14, when superstar quarterback Carson Wentz went down with a torn ACL in Los Angeles against the Rams, a large collective groan was heard from the Philadelphia region. In spite of a sparkling 11-2 record, many believed it was game over. Take this guy, for example.
By The Big Apple Sports Guy8 years ago in Unbalanced
