Team Players or Team Haters?

     We've been hearing the name Lolo Jones since to summer of 08' as the up and coming future of USA hurdling. When she made it to the finals she was pulling away from the pack, seemingly taking her last strides towards gold, when tragedy struck. She clipped the 9th hurdle (of 10), losing her stamina and ultimately finishing in 7th place. She later stated that the problem was caused by and injury to her spine, leaving her unable to feel her toes and therefore unable the feel the hurdle. She had surgery to repair the problem and had her sight set on London.

     By the time 2012 came along Jones had defended her indoor world title in 2010 but missed the majority of her 2011 season due to injury and illness. She qualified third at the Olympic Trials sending her to London with a promising chance. She made it to the finals coming short in 4th place. By the time this Olympics had come there was already controversy over the 31 year old Jones saying that she has become famous for failing. She has had teammates openly criticize her and a New York Times article stating her fame comes "not on achievement, but on her exotic beauty." Throughout the scandals Jones remained positive as she chose a new path for her life: bobsledding. 
     Introduced by friend Elena Meyers, Lolo decided to try it after the 2008 Olympics for fun. Though it is common for track athletes to also compete in bobsled, as seen from Jones' track and field teammate Lauryn Williams, a switch of sports carried with it the controversy. Jones was added to the Women's National Team in 2012 and was told she was not worthy of her spot, but proved herself by winning silver at the 2012 World Cup. She continued pushing through, setting her sights on Sochi 2014. She and teammate Jazmine Fenlator were added to the US Olympic roster after achieving gold at the 2013 World Championship in St. Moritz. Making the team brought deeper hate being throw at Jones, having teammates on the National Team saying that she was not qualified. 
     She trained her hardest and when February came around she was ready, or at least thought she was. On her first, and only, race in the Olympics she placed 11th coming in 3.36 seconds behind the leader, Canada. Although the other two US bobsled teams made it to the finals, she received a lot of hate from people close to the sport. Vancouver US Bobsled athlete Chuck Berkely tweeted "Absolutely no doubt that @KatieEberling would have done better for USA3. Hope the marketing dollars were worth it. #merit." Jones has been quiet about the hate received from bobsled but supported her other teammates in the final, watching them win silver and bronze. 
     She plans on taking a little time off and then returning for the upcoming track and field season. When asked about her future in bobsled, Jones simply answered "I don't know." 

Sam Michael-NFL

We are living in a world that is becoming less judgmental by the day, but in a separate world, the world of alpha sports, it’s going to take some time. We have already heard stories about bullying in the NFL and walking into the locker room will no doubt be difficult for upcoming NFL star Michael Sam. It takes courage to play in such a competitive league and even more to come in as the known underdog.

Fallen Patriot

Behind the beautiful dimples and heart warming smile of young football star Aaron Hernandez was a dark past starting from before the time he was born. His father Dennis was a known "bad boy" but managed to turn his life around for his two sons. He did everything possible to keep his sons away from the life he knew so well, but only so much could be done. Aaron's mother was a source of trouble, being arrested in 2001 for placing bets on sports. She was known for cheating on her husband until his death in 2006. The death of their father shook both of the Hernandez boys, but young Aaron didn't quite know how to handle it. His mother marrying a violent drug dealer and loosing his biggest rock was too much for him to deal with.
Hernandez found himself off in college being associated with crimes left and right. His coach tried as hard as he could to get him on the right path but kept loosing him to the bad influences. Through all of his falls, his coach kept playing him. This is a prime example of how through everything, coaches kept giving him chance ever chance, never showing him any real punishment which is a very real reason why everything escalated so quickly. He was even given the opportunity to play with one of the top NFL teams even after his daft ranking was dropped so low.
The story of Aaron Hernandez is a prime example of athletes getting everything handed to them. Once you show any amount of promise you are basically carried through and any controversy or trouble, you have someone there to clean up your mess. Athletes need to realized that they cannot let their lives get out of control and placed in other peoples hands. 

Super Bummer

Well I guess I was wrong. I thought it was going to be a good match up and our boy Peyton just plum forgot. I knew Seattle was going to bring it on defense but did not expect Russel Wilson to do so well in his first Super Bowl and only his second season in the NFL. I has my bets placed on Denver but had a feeling in my heart that was secretly rooting for the underdog. I'm not happy I was wrong but I am happy that the team that deserved it the most was rewarded. 

I hate Bruno Mars. Let me just start with that. I honestly just watched it to see him flop but left the room after he started dancing. For me, the game was closer than his performance could ever be to Beyonce's. 

Looking back on the game having had time to set in, I think the Seahawks were ready for battle. They knew it was going to be a hard game and did not take it easy. The Bronco's on the other hand seemed to think this game would have been easier than it was. Peyton knew he couldn't throw deep balls because of Sherman in the corner but his runs weren't smooth enough for this to equal out. 12 seconds into the game when Peyton and his line had the miscommunication resulting in the 2 point safety was a foreshadowing of the game to come. The Seahawks offence shut it down when coming back from the half they scored and in the third answering to the Bronco's only touchdown. The team was on point and the best men are going to Disney World. (Just don't let Sherman near the children.)

As for Commercials I mean, who didn't love that Budweiser puppy?!

SuperBowl Prediction

It's about to be SuperBowl time and I'm feeling strong about the Bronco's taking it home. This game is going to be the best defense vs the best offense in league; there couldn't be a better match. Although they're not my pick, I would like to see the Seahawks take it and give the 12th man (and Richard Sherman) something to be proud of. So overall I am expecting the Bronco's, but rooting for both teams to make this a great game.