Luck or Fate?

Millions of people pay money to play the lottery. There is not one person in the world who wouldn’t like to win a few million dollars. What if by some crazy chance you happened to win? Would you justify it by saying you were lucky or was it fate?

Being lucky or unlucky is something you are not born with. It is something that just happens. Sometimes there is no reasoning for things that happen.

People like to use the word fate because it justifies something that happened. It gives a definitive meaning to the question, why?

Many people tend to think that fate is going to lead them on their path of life. Some think that they were born with some sort of purpose or contribution that they are going to make one day. Many people who are religious believe in fate and destiny as well. I am pretty religious myself, and I think that you can have faith, but it’s to hard believe in fate.

Faith is easy to have. Fate, well not so much

Finding a heads up penny on the street is considered good luck, but why? I really don’t understand who came up with this idea. Did some lucky guy find a heads up penny on the ground and this lead to his luck? Maybe, it was lucky for him, but why the heck would it be lucky for me!

The sun will rise tomorrow and life will go on if you have luck, fate, neither or both.

Roll the Credits on 12-21-12

Hey world!

It has been fun while it lasted. Since we are all going to explode or something [who really knows]. I would like to say thank you world, thank you for the years you have given me. It kind of sucks, there are so many questions that will be left unanswered when it’s all over. Here are a few in particular that have the balance of mankind on edge.

1. Will the New York Jets ever get rid of Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum?

2. What happens to Justin Bieber? Does the little dude go down with the world? Or is he that popular and important in which he finds a way to survive?

3. The next Grand Theft Auto game GTA V, will it be as good as everyone says it is?

4.The new Monsters Inc: University movie, what are the chances it is better than the original? [I can even answer: not a chance]

5. Will the economy and gas prices finally get back to normal if no one is here to spend useless money?

I know, I know, these five questions are on the front of everyone’s mind. Well for me, especially the first one. Don’t worry, this is why I posted a few questions out there in case you were afraid to yourself. No need to say thank you! :P

So let me get this straight. The world ending theory was made hundreds of years ago.

To think we are all afraid of a bunch of dudes who lived in caves and used rocks as writing utensils is laughable. C’mon people, the world loves to watch others in fear. It gives them a sense of satisfaction to see millions running around with uncertainty.

The sad thing is, the only harm that will be done on 12-21-12 will be between each other, due to fear.

Want to know what I say about 12-21-12? I say bring it on, bro. When the sun rises on 12-22-12 want to know what I am going to do?

I am going to 7-11 and getting a giant Slurpee in celebration [Not too sure on which flavor yet, still have to decide].

Bring it on “end of the world” >:D

Look at that squirrel dude. Do you think he cares about “the end of the world”?

And if I happen to be wrong about the world exploding, no one will be here to say I was wrong! I’m just kidding, it won’t happen, trust me!

What If Steriods Were Now Legal?

This is how the conversation would go, “Coach I’m sorry, I know I would’ve tried to hit my fifth Home run of the game, but I had to bunt and advance the runner.” I think it would go something like that.

Let’s say starting tomorrow, it was not illegal to use performance enhancing drugs.

It would actually be encouraged and it would not hurt your reputation because it is now legal. Would it be good for sports, or would it be a bad thing? I think that it would be good for sports as a whole. There would be increases in sales, revenue and overall ratings for every sport. It would actually be pretty cool, it would be something new. That being said, I would never condone the use of any performance enhancing drugs, unless it was medically cleared to use. I am against all kinds of drugs, but that being said. Let’s just dive into it though, just for fun!

I think baseball would benefit the most with the legalization of steroids compared to any other sport. There were so many players who played in the so-called “steroid era” and their overall numbers were inflated due to the use of steroids. When Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa were hitting 50 home runs a year it was must watch television. It was awesome to see these guys hitting the ball out of the park, steroid-ed or not, it was fun to watch. Of course, now looking back at it, it was not fair that these guys had an unfair advantage, but fans go to the ball park to watch someone hit a home run. The chicks dig the long ball, c’mon its obvious.

Imagine handing the ball off to someone this size of The Hulk and watching him knock down defenders on his way to scoring his seventh touchdown of the game. It would be pretty crazy. Football is already a game of big hits and excitement. Just imagine what would go on if these players were all three of four times the size that they are now. Kickers could kick 100 yard field goals and punters could probably kick the ball out of the stadium, it would be pretty freaking epic.

For some sports, it might be pretty difficult. Especially sports that include that finesse factor like golf. Sure they would be able to drive the ball down the green and get in putting range in one stroke. But, what about trying to actually putt the ball. It would be a scene straight out of the popular golf movie Happy Gilmore. I could just picture a huge 250 lb golfer getting mad because he can’t sink an easy three-foot putt, but could drive the ball over 500 yards down the course. Also, what about a sport like bowling? Huge guys throwing a bowling ball down a lane at over 100 mph is much-watch television. I would not want to be a pin in the way of a bowling ball coming that fast straight at me.

Will this crazy idea ever happen? Probably and hopefully not. If sports ratings drop down to all time lows, you never know though. I’m just kidding, but hey it would something if it actually ever happened!

One Life, One Chance

“Do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a life time.” Those were the words spoken by Eminem in one of his most popular songs, Lose Yourself. In my opinion, these words he spoke sum up what life is all about.

One life and one opportunity to be whatever you want to be. Each person is born with a blank page and the ability to write whatever they want on this page.

For some, they could take the page and write an award-winning novel. While others could take that same page and turn it into a paper airplane.

You can do whatever you want to do with your own individual page. Life is whatever you want it to be and you are the author of the story that you want to write.

What is the meaning of life. Sure life is defined in a dictionary with a definite meaning, but life is something that really can’t be defined. Life is the most cherished thing that you have and is something that many people take for granted everyday. Life might not always be beautiful, but it is up to you to define your own meaning of what life really is. Some people sit back and wait for things to go their way. They have dreams, but don’t have the will power or the motivation to go out and accomplish things that they want to do. Instead of sitting back and waiting, go out and make strides to reach those dreams. Sitting back and waiting is only going to delay you from reaching your dreams.

Take a chance, reach for the stars. Who cares if you take a chance and it doesn’t work out. Would you rather live with the regrets of not taking a chance or live knowing you tried, but it just didn’t work out. Succeed or fail, the sun is still going to rise the next day. Pick your self up, dust your self off and move on.

Be lucky for the things you have and don’t live a life with any regrets. Take your shot and if you miss just take another. Just remember that you miss 100% of the shots that you never take. Don’t take life for granted and don’t dwell on the negative things that you go through. Just try to live life the way you want and don’t be influenced by anyone else.

The Voice Behind the Game

The next time you watch a sporting event on television put the television on mute. Now try watching the game without the voice of the announcers, while only listening to the sounds of the game. Now tell me, would it be the same? What if there was no announcer  for each team? All you would here was the crack of the bat or the squeaks on the basketball court. Would watching or listening to a game be the same without the announcers?

Many people take announcers for granted. They tell a story, they are like the narrator in a movie.  Announcers keep the action in a game going along, while giving you play by-play updates at the same time. What if there was an amazing upset and the underdog just scored the game winning goal or touchdown? Sure, you would hear the crowd cheer and the players jump up and down, but it’s just not the same. A classic-line like, “Do you believe in Miracles?” was said by Marv Albert when the United States hockey team defeated Russia in the Olympics. This one line alone summed up a game and a story all in one sentence. Classic lines like this are what make a game memorable.

Take away the announcer and all you have is a game with no emotion. Sure, you have the fans, but for someone sitting at home they can’t feel what it is like sitting in a stadium. Even when you go to a game live it really doesn’t have the same feel as watching it at home. Sure, it is cool to go watch your players live and actually be there when your team wins or loses, but it just feels like there is something missing. That is why there are announcers to set up the stage and make you feel like you are in the game. They put the emotion in a game, for someone not in the stadium. They hit you with those classic one-liners that they are known for and share their excitement with the fans watching at home.

Announcers usually come in pairs. Vin Sculley is one announcer who calls the game by himself.

The clock is ticking down, this shot will send the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals, a place where they have not been in over ten years. The ball goes out to Carmelo Anthony, he looks right, dribbles down the lane and puts it up! The ball bounces on the rim and it goes in and the New York Knicks are going to the Finals! Just try to compare that to the sounds effects of a ball going through the net, just to hear a crowds reaction . It is also said that most fans who go to live games are not even die-hard fans. They are the fans who have enough money to go to the games on a daily basis.

Without the Vin Scully’s of the world sports would be not even close to the same as it is now. Announcers are a small part of sports that go unnoticed. There are still some annoying announcers out there who get overly excited when nothing dramatic really happened and  end up trying too hard to come up with some exciting commentary, but you can’t blame them because they are just trying to put some emotion in the game.

The next time you watch your favorite team play, take some time to listen to the announcer. Try and turn off the television and turn on the radio and listen to the game, like how it was listened to back in the day. If you would listen to sports on the radio without the live picture you will really appreciate how these announcers can really paint a picture with words. Without their voice the game wouldn’t be the same.

Die a Hero or Live a Villain?

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Harvey Dent spoke these words in the final scene of the movie, Batman: The Dark Knight. It is a quote that leaves you thinking and gives you the ultimatum of either dying a hero or living as a villain.

Obviously, this is probably a decision that can’t be made over night. This is a decision that you have to sit down, grab a cup of coffee and weigh both of the options.

Being a hero is a prestigious honor. A hero is someone who is looked up to, someone who is there for others to help them decide between good and evil. At the same time, being a hero is a dangerous task. It means standing up for something that you believe in and defending it to the death. There are all different kinds of heroes. These heroes can range from sports athletes on the field to any army solider on the battlefield. Being a hero is not an easy job, it a lifestyle that you have to live by. Would you risk it all? Are you willing to take a bullet just to die with this prestigious title?

Hero or Villain? What side do you choose?

A villain is pretty much the anti-hero. This is the person who does not have a drop of kindness or remorse for anyone. They are there just to satisfy them-self and to make sure that the hero doesn’t achieve their goal. Some people act like villains in our everyday lives. I am sure that you know someone who is always jealous of another. The same person who just hates to see others succeed and that no one else can achieve happiness unless it includes them-self.

Some people are able to embrace the villain role though. There are even people who feel bad for villains and think that they can be cured to one day become a good person. Many flourish when faced with evil. They enjoy the hate and love being the bad guy. They love being the rebel and standing for everything that is wrong. Is it worth it? Would you want to live with the title of being a villain and having the world turned against you?

In the famous quote by Harvey Dent, he said that if you have the chance to die a hero and don’t take it, then you will eventually turn into a villain.

Taking the chance to die, means you are indeed a hero. Standing for something and risking death, are traits only heroes have.

After seeing both sides of the quote and thinking it over, I think I would much rather die a hero. There are people who believe in something, but aren’t willing sacrifice in order to show their true belief. I believe if you are willing to sacrifice your own life for something  you believe in, it shows the kind of person you are. It shows that you are indeed a hero no matter what anyone says and you willing to pay the ultimate price to show it.

No Love for the Sidekick

Why is it that whenever there is a heroic accomplishment by a group of people one gets remembered and the other doesn’t? It has happened multiple times over hundreds of years and no one has said anything. I am going to take a stand and announce that the sidekick never gets enough credit. Yup I said it, someone had to do it. The little guy never gets any of the fame or the respect compared to the main protagonist of any book, movie, game or anything!

Take someone like Michael Jordan, everyone knows who he is. People who don’t even watch the sport of basketball know who the best basketball player of all time is and that is Michael Jordan. What about his right hand men Scottie Pippin and Dennis Rodman? If you say those names to the average person they would say, who the heck is that? Sure, Jordan was the arguably the greatest of all time, but if he didn’t have Pippin and Rodman, he would have not been the same legendary player without them.

Jordan just has to be in the middle! Why can’t Pippin or Rodman be in the middle?

How about Luigi from Mario, he is always there for Mario every step of the way, but all he gets is a pat on the back while Mario gets the princess and all of the attention. How about Batman and Robin? Batman gets his own movies and stardom while Robin just sits back being the nice guy who gets none of that spotlight. The list can go on and on, I am talking lists and lists of duos where one always outshines the other.

Every music band has a main singer, drummer and a guitarist. Guess who gets all of the credit, fame and attention from all of the fans? You named it, the lead singer of course. What fan would brag about that them getting an autograph from the drummer or the back up guitarist, not many. The drummer and the guitarist are the ones who work the hardest and are probably the most talented. Yet the main singer gets all of the credit because they in the front and center of the stage.

Ever hear of the famous phrase it takes two to tango? I am sure you have, it pretty much means that without one there would not be the other. Say a pitcher throws a perfect game in baseball, that means that he doesn’t allow a single hit or walk the whole entire game. The only person who ever gets credit for the perfect game is the pitcher, but what about the eight other players on the field? The catcher is the one who calls what pitch the pitcher throws and there are also seven fielders who have to make sure they do their part and field any ball put into play, so that the pitcher could achieve a perfect game.

It is time that Robin, Luigi, Scottie Pippin, Dennis Rodman, all the other sidekicks and back ups take a stand. They need to stand up and say, hey you know that Michael Jordan guy? He was good and all, but without me he wouldn’t be the star he is today. Luigi needs to stop helping Mario all of the time and Robin needs to get his own movie, Robin the Green Knight. Let’s make it happen!

Fantasy Draft Turned Reality

Imagine it’s the fourth quarter and Tom Brady drops back for the pass. He looks to the right, but Percy Harvin is covered, then looks left and hits Greg Jennings in the back of the end zone for the game winning catch and the New York Jets win the 2015 Super Bowl.

Just imagine this crazy scenario taking place. My proposal is that the NFL or any sport of that matter, should take the popular online game fantasy football game and turn it into a reality. It can be done just like it’s done online, every team will go into a lottery system where the first team would get the first pick and so on. It would spark a brand new interest into the game of football.

All of those fans who have had years of bad luck can get a brand new jump start with the addition of someone like Drew Brees on their team. There would be a new line of revenue from all of the new players switching teams and the jersey sales would be through the roof.

Things would be a lot different if LeBron ended up somewhere else. New York anyone? Well one could only dream.

Each team would have a hard salary cap to all of them on the same playing grounds when it came to money. There could be rules implemented such as teams using a franchise tag on only one player they want to keep, before the rest go into the fantasy draft. The options are endless to the fun and excitement of making fantasy football a reality. Coaches could even be thrown into the mix as well, maybe even team announcers, they can make it as entertaining and as crazy as they want.

I know when I watch football sometimes it seems boring watching the same players on the same team year after year. When your team plays Aaron Rodgers they know he is going to dominate and take over the game like always, but what if he was on a team with a bad supporting cast, it would really show if he has the actual ability to still be a superstar quarterback. Just imagine LeBron James not having Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh by his side or the big bad New York Yankees not be the same prestigious team that they are now.

The world is always changing and people are looking for something new and exciting. I think this would really shake up the world of sports. Even other sports could attempt a similar fantasy draft like the one that I proposed here. Now that would be something.

Just think the years of pain and anguish of being a Cleveland Browns fan may be over. Think about the cocky and stuck up Los Angeles Lakers fans, they can finally be humbled by having someone other than Kobe Bryant hitting game winning shot after shot for them.

Playing Sports with the Boys

Behind every great man there is a woman. In the United States, it says that there is fair and equal opportunity for all. The land of the free and the home of the brave. I believe if a woman has the ability to hold a “man’s job” of being president then women should also be able to play sports against men. Women and men should be able to do whatever the other one can do. It is only fair that both are given an equal chance.

Men and women have their own sport leagues, separate for each gender. There is the NBA for men and the WNBA or women. I think that there should be no barrier between these leagues. If a girl wanted to play with the boys, I think that she should be able to. There are some girls who are better at their sports than men. Brittney Griner of Baylor University can dunk a basketball. That is an amazing accomplishment as a girl. She has the attributes and the talent to hang with the boys on the court. She is 6’8 and dominated in college. I think that she could stand head to head with some NBA players. I’m not talking about someone like Kobe Bryant. But I think she could put up a fight against some players who sit on NBA benches and are just there collect their paychecks. We will never know though!

Danica Patrick is a woman who is defying all of the odds against the men. She holds the finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 race, coming in 3rd place. You can not take away from any of her accomplishments because she is breaking boundaries for women and showing that they can hang with the men.

My problem with Danica Patrick is what she does away from the track.  She is a model and a spokesperson for Go Daddy. By becoming a model and appearing in risqué Go Daddy commercials it takes away from her accomplishments on the track taken seriously. As much she is setting an example for why women should be able to play men’s sports, she is also hurting it the same time. She is becoming the stereotype of just another pretty face. Something that women have been fighting  against for hundreds of years. Patrick is using her looks to cash in rather than setting the standard of  what women should strive for.

Stop trying to be a model. Start trying to be a role model.

The same can be said for Hope Solo.

She was an outstanding goalie for the U.S girls soccer team. She has the same talent, if not more than some guys. But once again, instead of setting an example for female sport figures, she cashes in on her looks just like Danica Patrick. Posing half-naked in magazines trying to become popular and gain attention off the field.

Many female athletes aren’t like Patrick and Solo, that is the problem. These two athletes happen to be two of the most popular and they are the two who are abusing their popularity and setting a bad reputation for other female athletes. It is a shame too because many female athletes carry themselves off the field as role models, but there are still a few who continue to set a bad name.

There was a girls football league called the lingerie league and now there is a new bikini hockey league that was recently announced.  This is pretty much just an insult to girls who play professional sports. It’s just a bunch of half-naked girls running around playing sports. It is an easy cash in and a way to degrade women athletics and bring in easy money. It is so hard to break stereotypes when there is women who go out and play in this. If they really wanted to make a change, they would not participate, but I guess it’s easy money for them as well.

I understand that there are athletes who like to play against their same gender because it is an equal level of competition. I also think if there is a women who has the ability to play against the men, then let her play. We broke the barriers of race in sports over a hundred of years ago and I think it is time to break the barrier of gender as well.

The Hardest Sport to Play

Sitting at home and yelling at athletes on television is a hobby for some. Fans get outraged at these over paid athletes. They think that they should perform at their highest level every time they go out and play a sport. They yell and curse at the television, whenever an athlete strikes out, or misses a big shot in a game. Going out and actually performing in front of millions of fans, in the stands and on national television, is not as easy as it looks.

An athlete is someone who posses a skill or a talent that makes them capable of playing a sport. Every athlete is different, some are good at being strong and others are good at being smart. Each sport requires a different skill set in order for an athlete to succeed at that particular sport.

Some sports, people are just born to play. If you were born 7’3, can catch a ball and put it into a hoop, then you are destined to play basketball. If you were born 5’1, 110 lbs you could make the perfect jockey. Some attributes such as height and size, people are born with. Many who are born with these attributes are pretty lucky.

There is one sport though that doesn’t require any height or weight requirement. This sport takes both strength and smarts. It is one of the most watched sports today, but doesn’t get the credibility of a sport such as football, baseball or soccer.

I am talking about the most difficult sport to play, thatrequires the greatest skill set. That sport is golf.

Take your golf club, take your tiny little golf ball and hit it into a hole that is 4.25 inches. Did I mention that you only have a certain number of tries to do this and that the location of the hole is anywhere between 100 and 600 feet away?

I think that golf is the hardest sport to play. With sports such as football and basketball you can practice and build up muscle and strength in order to become better. Golf is a sport that requires a unique skill set.

People of all ages can play golf, unlike any other sport. There have been golfers the age of forty who have won the Masters. In sports like baseball and basketball you can define the odds of age and play, but you are at a greater disadvantage. Golf is similar to wine, as you get older you get better. Golfers become smarter and learn how to angle their shots and judge what golf clubs to use on different shots. It is not easy judging a shot with gusty winds trying to alter the direction of your shot.

Each sport requires a certain talent in order to succeed. I am not trying to say that tennis or soccer is easy to play. Sports like boxing and football really take a lot out of you. Those are sports of determination and heart. Who can outlast the other opponent to the end.

There are individual positions that are extremely difficult to play. Such as a pitcher or a quarterback. Each of these positions require smarts and skill. It is not easy trying to read a defense and throw a perfect pass or throw a baseball in an exact location on the edge of the plate.

The difference between golf and those difficult positions are that you can overcome being a quarterback or pitcher with other talents. What I mean by that is, if you can’t throw a perfect pass, you can succeed in other ways. Running for a first down by yourself or throwing quick passes to your star receiver, can take the pressure off of you. A pitcher who can throw 100 mph can intimidate a batter and make him swing at pitches he would usually not swing at.

As a golfer, you are out there on your own. You get help from your caddy, but it is you against the wind and the course. There is no alternative way out  you can use to help get out of a bunker or a forest. Reading the wind and choosing the best club is your only way out.

Playing any sport is difficult and requires a ton of skill. I’m just saying the next time you turn on the television, just think about how hard it is to actually play the game of golf. Think about the unique skill set it requires to hit a golf ball into a hole that is 4.25 inches big and over 500 feet away.