Poker, specifically No Limit Texas Hold 'Em, is a craze that is currently sweeping the nation. With the constant television coverage of the World Series of Poker and its rise in popularity, everyone and their mother has suddenly become a poker player. Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson are becoming household names. Poker rooms continue to pop up in casinos, dog tracks and jai alai frontons around Florida and local poker games are becoming easier and easier to find.

But hosting a poker night is not as easy as it sounds. Establishing a well thought out poker night, requires dedication, commitment, the proper equipment, a good core of friends and a variety of other intangibles. Any one can have people over to play some cards, but in order to set up a steady batch of players, it is crucial to do it right if you want it to become a regular gig.

Continue reading "How To Host a Successful Poker Night"

The Sunshine State has long been a hotbed for college football. With an abundance of high school talent leaving for college every year, Florida schools have their pick of the litter of some of the nation’s best athletes. For as long as anyone can remember, at least one of the big three (Florida, Florida State and Miami) has been a factor in the national championship picture. In the past ten years, all three of these schools have won national titles: Florida State in 1999, Miami in 2001 and Florida in 2006.

During that same time period, however, these three schools have traversed dramatically different paths to arrive at their current circumstance. Furthermore, in a state where most believed that no other schools could compete in either recruiting or ranking, the Universities of Central and South Florida have both become presences in their own right.

Continue reading "College Football In Florida: A Ten Year Retrospective"

This weekend, I was invited to a mini-high school reunion/get-together in south Florida. One of my best buddies and future subject of tennis elbow surgery, Mario A, invited me down a day early for a Florida Marlins game. (Mario and I once played tennis alongside the Swedish national team featuring Mats Wilander and a young Stefan Edberg, bombarding them with newly released, over-sized tennis ballsa�� but that's a story for another time). As it's unlike me to refuse a free ticket to a sporting event of any kind, I cordially accepted his invitation and off we went to Dolphin Stadium to see Florida take on the NL West leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

Starting for the Marlins was (7-4) Ricky Nolasco. Despite the fact that the Marlins were recently swept by the best team in Florida, the Rays, they seemed likely to bounce back against D-backs' starter Micah Owings, who must be allergic to hitting 90 mph on the radar gun.

Continue reading "The Lost Art of the Complete Game or How I Spent My Weekend in Miami"

Hello, my name is Christopher and I'm a Red Sox fan. Which makes what I'm about to say so difficult.

I could not have written this five years ago. In October 2003, we Sox faithful had once again suffered another devastating defeat to our arch-rival and overall evil-doers, the New York Yankees. This time, the blow came from the bat of Aaron Boone in the American League Championship Series. Game Seven, extra innings, another loss to the Yankees, could things get any worse? Numbness ensued. Another crushing loss meant yet another year of ribbing from Yankee fans everywhere who were, and had always been, our daddies. However, five years, two World Series titles and one Ruthian exorcism later, Red Sox fans can put all that behind them and openly talk about the past, for it is now the Yankees who haven't won in ages.

Continue reading "A Tribute to the Evil Emperor"

Back in the day, when I used to reside in the City of the Rat, I had a friend that ran a local radio station.  Let’s call him Brotha E.  Now as a result of his high-standing in the community, and the fact that his radio station aired Orlando Magic games, Brotha E would often score free tickets into the pre-Dwight Howard O-Rena.  These were the T-Mac days, always entertaining since you never knew when Kid Auburndale was going to go off for 40.  Plus it was always enjoyable to see if Grant Hill’s ankle boot and crutches matched his $3,000 Armani suit.

As we were generally granted media passes along with our tickets, Brotha E, the Don Calvino and I would strut in through the back hallways of the arena and walk around like we owned the place, sneaking from bar to bar to ensure we were properly liquid-aided throughout the evening’s festivities.  The Magic were competitive back then, but as we now know since T-Mac has still never led his team out of the first round of the playoffs, how competitive could they be.

Continue reading "Brushes with Sports Greatness, Volume One: Doc Rivers"

Invariably, if you attend any Buccaneers home game, you’ll encounter pewter-clad fans donning jerseys of their favorite, hometown heroes, just as you would in any NFL stadium on any given Sunday around the county.  In Tampa, without question, the most common jersey you’ll run into is that of Mike Alstott, who for some reason appears to have become a sort of cult hero in the Bay Area.  In fact, at a game I attended earlier this season, the Bucs had the ball first-and-goal, about to score, and an ornery fan behind me shouted out “PUT IN ALSTOTT!!!”  Never mind that Alstott sat out the entire 2007 season with a neck injury.  Maybe he hadn’t gotten that memo.  The “Put In Alstott” line at Raymond James has become akin to someone requesting that a band play “Free Bird” at your local dive bar.

Continue reading "The Fascination with Mike Alstott"

I’m a man who likes options.  Variety is the spice of life, I say.  Sometimes I like steak for dinner, sometimes I prefer fish.  Often I’m in the mood for a comedy, other times it’s a drama or action film.

The same can be said for my sports interests.  Sometimes I like a fast-paced, up-tempo game.  At other times, I can really sink my teeth into a good, defensive struggle.

That is why keeping the designated hitter in the American League is the right thing to do.  Sports is (supposed to be) about the fans and the DH gives fans an option.  Those who prefer more high-powered offense can tune in to watch the Red Sox, Yankees, Angels or Detroit.  Those who prefer the old school, senior circuit way of manufacturing runs can opt for the National League.

Continue reading "A Case for the Designated Hitter"

The sunshine state has long been a hotbed for college football.  With an abundance of high school talent leaving for college every year, Florida schools have their pick of the litter of some of the nation’s best athletes.  For as long as anyone can remember, at least one of the big three (Florida, Florida State and Miami) has been a factor in the national championship picture.  In the past ten years, all three of these schools have won national titles: Florida State in 1999, Miami in 2001 and Florida in 2006.  During that same time period, however, these three schools have traversed dramatically different paths to arrive at their current circumstance.  Furthermore, in a state where most believed that no other schools could compete in either recruiting or ranking, the Universities of Central and South Florida have both become presences in their own right.

Continue reading "College Football in Florida: A Ten Year Retrospective"

Last year, history was made in college football.  And Gainesville, Florida couldn’t be happier for it.

As the highly anticipated 2008 campaign approaches, much ado continues to surround Florida Gator sensation Tim Tebow. In 2007, Tebow became the only sophomore in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy.  If his record-setting numbers on the field weren’t enough to secure him the award, his off-the-field character made him the overwhelming favorite.  Florida’s golden boy has at least one, and likely two more years running Urban Meyer’s high-powered offense.  And if Tebow’s performance to date isn’t enough to make NFL general managers salivate, another season similar to his last could conceivably have teams out of contention throwing games for a chance to select him with their top pick.  Sports talk shows in Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami consistently discuss the possibility of drafting Tebow.  Easy, fellas, he’s only a junior.

Continue reading "Tim Tebow's Pro Prospects and Potential Draft Status"

Poker, specifically No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em, is a craze that is currently sweeping the nation.  With the constant television coverage of the World Series of Poker and its rise in popularity, everyone and their mother has suddenly become a poker player.  Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson are becoming household names.  Poker rooms continue to pop up in casinos, dog tracks and jai alai frontons around Florida and local poker games are becoming easier and easier to find.

But hosting a poker night is not as easy as it sounds.  Establishing a well thought out poker night, requires dedication, commitment, the proper equipment, a good core of friends and a variety of other intangibles.  Any one can have people over to play some cards, but in order to set up a steady batch of players, it is crucial to do it right if you want it to become a regular gig.

Continue reading "How to Host a Successful Poker Night"

It was late Friday evening when Chicago Bull and former Florida Gator superstar, Joakim Noah was (pa)trolling the streets of Gainesville where he once reigned supreme.  At about 1:50 am, a local police officer spotted Noah (hard to miss a seven-footer with a long, flowing mane) carrying a cup which he suspected contained an alcoholic beverage.  For those of you unfamiliar with Gainesville, Florida, walking around with an open container is at best discouraged and at the very worst illegal.

After being spotted, Noah ditched the cup, but was later questioned by the police.  After finding that the cup did contain alcohol, they took a cooperative Noah to the local annex and found a marijuana cigarette in his possession.

Continue reading "Joakim Noah Busted for Marijuana Possesion: A Case of Bad Judgement"

Bobby Knight’s coaching legacy is undeniable.  Last year, he became the winningest coach in college basketball history.  He has led three University of Indiana teams to national titles.  In 1975-76, he coached the last team to go undefeated for an entire season, an effort that seems more and more unattainable with time.  Dating back to his first years coaching at Army in the 1960s, Knight has won an astonishing 71% of the games he has coached.  In his over forty years of coaching at the highly competitive college level, the man known as ‘The General’ has won nearly 900 contests and his graduation rate is as high as anyone’s in the NCAA.  He is a three-time national coach of the year and at a six-time Big Ten coach of the year.  Needless to say, his resume speaks for itself.

Continue reading "Would You Allow Your Kid to Play for Bobby Knight"

"The banishment for life of Pete Rose from baseball is the sad end of a sorry episode. One of the game's greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts. By choosing not to come to a hearing before me, and by choosing not to proffer any testimony or evidence contrary to the evidence and information contained in the report of the Special Counsel to the Commissioner, Mr. Rose has accepted baseball's ultimate sanction, lifetime ineligibility." 

Statement by then Commissioner
of Baseball, A. Bartlett Giamatti,
August 24, 1989

It’s been nearly twenty years since late baseball Commissioner Giamatti uttered those fateful words.  And during that period, few sports stories have drawn as much media attention or polarized a fan base as the Pete Rose gambling scandal.  Hardcore Cincinnati Reds or Pete Rose fans will have you believe that Rose, because of his performance on the field as a player, should be allowed admittance into the Hall of Fame.  Rose was undoubtedly one of the greatest hitters of his generation.  He holds countless major league records.  His on-field legacy is undeniable and no one can take that away from him.  Those opposing his induction argue that Rose, as a major league manager, wagered on the outcome of baseball games, including those he was involved in, and thus violated the most basic and ethical rules of the sport.  As it stands right now, Rose is still banished from the sport and there are no indications he will be invited back any time soon.

Continue reading "A Rose By Any Other Name Should Smell As Sweet"

Let’s face it.  When was the last time you talked about the WNBA, or even bothered to read a post about it?  David Stern’s decade-long project, known as the Women’s National Basketball Association, has provided hundreds of female athletes with a means to professionally pursue their basketball careers.  It has generated immeasurable interest among young females.  However, it has also been subsidized by the NBA since its existence.  While not entirely devoid of talent (the WNBA has seen the likes of Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi and Lisa Leslie), most sports fans would rather watch paint dry than attend a WNBA game.

Rarely will highlights from the WNBA lead a sportscast, never mind be reported.  That was until this week.  In Tuesday night’s Los Angeles Sparks – Detroit Shock game (yes, I had to look up the names of those two franchises), a brawl broke out involving both players

Continue reading "When Violence Is Good"

The 2008 Beijing Olympics is upon us and decorated swimmer Michael Phelps is not the only recognizable American hoping to return home with gold.  There are twelve other American athletes, the men who comprise Team USA Basketball, who this time travel to China with a chip on their shoulders, for they are no longer considered the best in their sport.  On August 10th, Team USA Basketball officially begins their quest for Olympic gold, a shot at redemption and the right to once again proclaim that America’s brand of basketball is the best on the planet. 

Over the past eight years, Americans have been flat out embarrassed in international competition.  Team USA finished sixth in the 2002 World Championship.  They finished 3rd in both the 2004 Olympics and the 2006  World Championships.  Despite underachieving recently, Team USA is once again considered the favorite to win the gold medal.  By all accounts, they should live up to those expectations.  This team and coaching staff, under the guidance of Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, was assembled differently than in years past, embracing a team concept over emphasis on the individual superstar.  While this current ‘Dream Team’ still features Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, only one player on this roster, Jason Kidd, owns a gold medal, hopefully leaving eleven more with the desire to join him in that honor.

Continue reading "LeBronze No More: The American Quest To Regain Olympic Gold"