The Art of Sports

Dedicated to the inner beauty of sports
James Harrison was suspended for one game today after his “vicious” hit on Colt McCoy, the Cleavland Browns quarterback. If you saw the hit, you most likely agree that the hit wasn’t very bad… it definitely wasn’t vicious. So why is Harrison suspended for the Steeler’s next game? He’s a repeat offender. This is the fifth time that Harrison has been fined for an illegal hit though only the first time he’s been suspended. Personally I feel this suspension was unwarranted. The hit was nothing less than what most players do day in and day out on opposing quarterbacks. I understand he has had much more brutal hits in the past, but if the NFL is going to suspend a player for the hit we all saw on Thursday night football, then I would suspect to see a few players suspened weekly. All in all, football is a dangerous sport. As a fan we expect and crave big hits on players. The players expect this too, they know what they are involved in, they are professionals in their field after all. I agree safety should be the number one priority for those on the field, but I also think the path we are headed down will lead to a far less exciting and hard hitting American tradition.

James Harrison was suspended for one game today after his “vicious” hit on Colt McCoy, the Cleavland Browns quarterback. If you saw the hit, you most likely agree that the hit wasn’t very bad… it definitely wasn’t vicious.

So why is Harrison suspended for the Steeler’s next game? He’s a repeat offender. This is the fifth time that Harrison has been fined for an illegal hit though only the first time he’s been suspended.

Personally I feel this suspension was unwarranted. The hit was nothing less than what most players do day in and day out on opposing quarterbacks. I understand he has had much more brutal hits in the past, but if the NFL is going to suspend a player for the hit we all saw on Thursday night football, then I would suspect to see a few players suspened weekly.

All in all, football is a dangerous sport. As a fan we expect and crave big hits on players. The players expect this too, they know what they are involved in, they are professionals in their field after all. I agree safety should be the number one priority for those on the field, but I also think the path we are headed down will lead to a far less exciting and hard hitting American tradition.

While the events in the Jerry Sandusky case have unraveled the once great football program of Penn State University, the case continues to play a role in not only the daily news but also on smaller college campuses. Juniata College, the college in which I have spent the last four years of my life attending, is the latest school to be “touched” by the Sandusky case. Yesterday news broke that Sandusky, who is being investigated for multiple claims of child sex abuse, applied for a coaching position at Juniata College in May of 2010. Juniata preformed a background check on Sandusky and found that he was being investigated by a former high school in which he was employed. As a student at Juniata College I view this situation in a few ways. Obviously, I think it’s our duty to be proud of this school for not allowing Jerry Sandusky to coach or be affiliated with the football program in any way. I also view this situation as the prime example of why background checks are important. If Juniata didn’t utlizie that background check, who knows if he would have been brought aboard the Juniata staff or not. Also, it’s kinda cool to be at a school… in the middle of nowhere, that no one knows one day, and then be all over Sports Center the next day. Pretty crazy stuff… but so is the world we live in.

While the events in the Jerry Sandusky case have unraveled the once great football program of Penn State University, the case continues to play a role in not only the daily news but also on smaller college campuses.

Juniata College, the college in which I have spent the last four years of my life attending, is the latest school to be “touched” by the Sandusky case. Yesterday news broke that Sandusky, who is being investigated for multiple claims of child sex abuse, applied for a coaching position at Juniata College in May of 2010.

Juniata preformed a background check on Sandusky and found that he was being investigated by a former high school in which he was employed.

As a student at Juniata College I view this situation in a few ways. Obviously, I think it’s our duty to be proud of this school for not allowing Jerry Sandusky to coach or be affiliated with the football program in any way. I also view this situation as the prime example of why background checks are important. If Juniata didn’t utlizie that background check, who knows if he would have been brought aboard the Juniata staff or not.

Also, it’s kinda cool to be at a school… in the middle of nowhere, that no one knows one day, and then be all over Sports Center the next day. Pretty crazy stuff… but so is the world we live in.

The End of an Era

I’ve spent the last twenty-one years of my life living in this modern day football society. Needless to say, Joe Paterno, has been the head coach of the Penn State Football Team since I was born.

I can see the argument from every party in this situation. I understand that Joe Pa should have done more and the events that took place are awful. I feel that we haven’t been told everything though. How much did Joe Pa really know? Did he see something or just hear a rumor. This story has the ability to unfold in two completely different ways and the light will either shine down on Paterno as being one of sports’ greatest legends… or it will spotlight the greatest fall in sports history.

(Joe Paterno - “We’re all trying to figure out what’s going on”)

It seems as the clouds begin to disperse from the initial explosive allegations more eruptions begin to take place within the Penn State campus. This story is far from over and I truly hope that Penn State made a quick and irrational decision in Joe Pa’s firing. I hope I can continue to view my favorite coach in the same glorified light.

Men’s Volleyball Determined to Dominate New Conference

Over the past few years at Juniata I’ve become very close to the men’s volleyball team. I’ll admit… before I came to Juniata, I had no interest in the sport and really had no idea how it was played. That all changed once I became roommates with some of the guys on the team.

Wanting to support my roommates, I began attending the home matches. After just a few games I quickly found a passion for how exciting watching the sport could be. It wasn’t long into the season before I found myself sitting in the front row covered in face paint and cheering & shouting.

The men’s volleyball team will be switching to a new division III conference in 2012. The conference is named the Continental Volleyball Conference and it is a nation-wide men’s volleyball-only conference.

This switch is taking place to continue highlighting Juniata’s emphasis on keeping both academic and athletic excellence present in student athletes.

Joining this new conference, Juniata will have a shot at playing and winning in their first NCAA Division III championship.

Knowing a lot of guys on the team makes this move important to me too. I’m as excited as the volleyball members to see this new conference unfold because it will likely make Juniata even more well known for their outstanding volleyball programs while also still highlighting the exceptional education offered to the colleges’ students.

Game Seven Is In The Books

The World Series is over and the St. Louis Cardinals have come out on top. The Cardinals celebrated a 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in front of the cardinal’s home fans to bring an end to one of the most exciting world series in recent memory.



Personally… I am a Chris Carpenter fan now. After the anger of watching him defeat my home team, I rooted against him. Now looking back, this guy is good.

I knew as a Phillies fan the Cardinals were the only team I didn’t want to face. This is why. Congrats to the cardinals and their fans across the nation.

Will It Happen This Year?

As of today… another two weeks of the regular NBA season have been canceled. It’s starting to look like what started as a slim possibility of no basketball season is actually a very probable reality.

It seems basketball isn’t a sport that is attracting much attention from fans anymore. In my opinion maybe one year without basketball is possibly the strongest thing the sport can do now. Maybe promote a grand reopening to the NBA after a year hiatus.

We should know the fate of the season within the next few weeks. I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes down to the wire in regards of time before a final decision is made.

The sport of rugby is a rough one. This picture tells us so much about this sport. I love the face the man in the black is making. His face speaks rugby. It speaks determination, motivation, strength and endurance. His face expels every ounce of courage being exhausted by his body in a final attempt to remain standing on his feet. I’d love to start watching this more. 

The sport of rugby is a rough one. This picture tells us so much about this sport. I love the face the man in the black is making. His face speaks rugby. It speaks determination, motivation, strength and endurance. His face expels every ounce of courage being exhausted by his body in a final attempt to remain standing on his feet.

I’d love to start watching this more. 

(Source: timmyp10)

I think the Saints can do it. They have been playing great football all year and I believe the Saints are back to their 2010 super bowl champion form. At this point the only team hotter than them are the Green Bay Packers. It should be an interesting second half to the football season.  I wouldn’t complain about seeing another victorious smile from drew brees as he marches off the field, a super bowl champion once more.

I think the Saints can do it.

They have been playing great football all year and I believe the Saints are back to their 2010 super bowl champion form. At this point the only team hotter than them are the Green Bay Packers. It should be an interesting second half to the football season. 

I wouldn’t complain about seeing another victorious smile from drew brees as he marches off the field, a super bowl champion once more.

(Source: neeeks23)

High Hopes Come Up Short

Like many Philadelphia Phillies fans… I was heartbroken on Friday night. The Philadelphia Phillies fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1-0 decisive victory. It is one thing that this historic team came up short… but the ways they found to lose the game is what really disgusts most fans.

Roy Halladay gave up one run in the first inning… but after a long first inning, he was able to keep the cardinals off base for the most part. However, the Phillies couldn’t score. The lack of offense has been this team’s demise for the past two seasons now. 

As the Cardinals celebrated on Philadelphia’s field after the final out fans looked angered and depressed, Ryan Howard was unable to walk off the field, and a great sense of anger was felt because it seemed someone had just stolen away what we Philadelphia fans thought they had already won… a world series victory.

I must be honest though… It was a remarkable game to watch. The way the two pitchers were able to throw so many pitches with such dominance was amazing. This will easily be looked at as one of the greatest pitching duels in baseball history.

LET’S DO IT FOR PENCE! For an athlete who went from the worst team in baseball to the best in the same season… Let’s make his first playoff trip a memorable one. Let’s win game 5 tonight Phils.

LET’S DO IT FOR PENCE!

For an athlete who went from the worst team in baseball to the best in the same season… Let’s make his first playoff trip a memorable one.

Let’s win game 5 tonight Phils.

(Source: phillysportsfanatic, via alittleindieandalotoflesbian)