This semester has flown by it seems. I was skeptical when I first started this blog back in August, but over the weeks I have learned to appreciate what people have to say in them. Dr. Spencer was right when she said we just don’t have enough time to talk about everything we’d like to in sports, and I feel that these blogs have offered an outlet to learn about topics outside the classroom.
I would like to think that I will keep up with my blog, even after the semester is over. Going into the media world, a blog wouldn’t be a bad place to start working on. I think these blogs let us express our own sport’s interests. It really was fascinating to learn about the history of some of the sports in class, but I feel that more of the modern day issues are what we feel more passionate about. Dr. Spenser, I would encourage you to continue to use the blogs in your classes. With the world slowly but surely revolving around computers, the blog assignment can only improve student’s use of working on the internet.
I really don’t know what else to say about the blogs or my conclusion. I had a blast in class, and this was by far my most favorite class this semester. I just want to wish everyone good luck in the next semester, and good luck in wherever their career will take them.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Who are the top ten greatest athletes of past century?
What defines greatness? Is success measured by the number of trophies? Is it based on the number of touchdowns scored, home runs hit, or MVP titles? To me, greatness cannot be defined by any single statistic. Within my top ten greatest athletes, each one of them exudes each of the following characteristics: Dominance (Statistics), Integrity (well-mannered, good role model), Lasting impression (their achievement are long-lasting), and finally their historical impact they had on their sport. The Athletes are ranked from #10 to #1.
#10: Tiger Woods.
At the ripe age of 33 Tiger Woods is the most dominant golfer on the planet. He boasts 71 career PGA tour wins, 14 major titles, and career earnings of over 1 billion dollars. Since Woods began playing on the PGA Tour in 1996, the game of golf has not been the same. His ability to drive the ball further than most other golfers, and sink clutch putts makes him easily the most feared golfer on the planet. Wood’s role of a role model has come into question in the past few weeks. But I feel that Woods will bounce back from the media attacks, and prevail to be a better person. As much as I don’t like to look at Woods in this light, I feel more pressure is placed on him because he is an African-American playing a predominately white sport. But as of now, his impact on the sport of golf is unmatched, putting him at #10.
#9: Wayne Gretzky
I remember hearing once, that Wayne Gretzky was Canada’s most valuable resource, I couldn't agree more. For a sport that defines a country, the face of a league as well as the sport Gretzky was a no-brainer for the #9 spot. His records as a player in the NHL include most regular season goals, assists, points per game, playoff points, playoff goals, playoff assists to name a few. Gretzky played 20 seasons in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers, Sacramento Kings, St. Louis Blue, and New York Rangers. In the 1,487 career NHL games, Gretzky scored an impressive 894 goals. After his player career, Gretzky became the coach for the Phoenix Coyotes since the 05 season. He was one of 10 players to skip the three year waiting period to enter the NHL Hall of Fame. His face and name are synonymous with the sport, and he usually works outside his coaching job to help promote the game to the youth, as well as around the world.
#8: Brett Favre
Maybe the most subjective person on this list, Favre entered the NFL in 1991 being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. In 1992 he signed with the Green Bay Packers, playing for them for 16 seasons. He took the packers to the super Bowl twice, winning Super Bowl XXXI. Favre also started every Green Bay Packers game from September 20, 1992, to January 20, 2008. After some turmoil with the organization, Favre played a season with the Jets, and since 2009 Favre has played with the Minnesota Vikings. I would argue that Brett Favre is the greatest quarterback to ever play professional football. He holds numerous records including Consecutive starts (281), regular-season victories by a starting quarterback (179), Career passing touchdowns (490), passing yards (68,276), AP NFL MVP awards (3) (1995, 1996, 1997) to name a few. Favre is the only quarterback to have led a team to victory over all thirty-two teams in the league, a feat he was able to complete by beating the packers with the Vikings in 2009. His consecutive starts record by far is the most impressive; he hasn’t missed a game since September 27, 1992. Aside from Cal Ripken Jr’s record for career consecutive starts, Favre is second to none. Brett Favre also has his own foundation that donates money to local families in his home-state of Mississippi. Even though he is 40 now, he plays with the attitude of a teenager, which makes him an excellent role model to kids. His ability to still play at the highest level despite his age is an inspiring feat that few athletes can show.
#7: Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay)
Born Cassius Clay, Ali is widely considered one of the greatest heavyweight championship boxers of all time. Competing in the “Golden age of Boxing” Ali went on to beat every top heavyweight opponent he faced. He ended his career with a record of 56-5 (37 KOs). Ali’s career was highlighted by his most major fights; the Rumble in the Jungle (vs. George Foreman) and the Thriller in Manila (vs. Chuck Wepner). Ali’s career did not go without controversy; Ali converted to Islam in 1964, and protested entering the army to fight in Vietnam because it violated his religious beliefs. He continually refused to not join the army in the draft. His rebellion was a symbol of a generation against war. He briefly lost his boxing license from the incident but regained it in 1970. Ali’s last bout was on December 11, 1981 in the Bahamas against Trevor Berbick. Ali lost in the 10th round by a unanimous decision. Ali is considered the greatest heavy-weight boxer in history. Ali’s struggle with Parkinson’s disease has helped bring the disease into the public light. Ali still makes appearances in many movies and charity events; his legacy is unrivaled in the world of Boxing.
#6: Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional women's tennis player most known for her victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973. At the time of the famous match, King was arguably the best women's tennis player in the world. She won 12 Grand Slam titles, and was ranked #1 in the world at six different times. Even though she earned less than 2 million dollars in career prize money, she has gone on to be synonymous with women's tennis. After she defeated the aged Bobby Riggs, she peaked in stardom, she had done what was thought to be the impossible; a woman beat a man in tennis. For once in sports, it wasn’t a racial line that was crossed but a gender line. Although the match may have seemed like a mismatch from the beginning, what followed in the world of tennis has not been seen in any other sport, a chance of equality. King would go on to have a successful career, even after her retirement, but the three sets she played against Riggs, and Billie Jean-King rewrote history for females in sports forever.
#5: Jim Thorpe
Of all the athletes on this list I think people know the least about Jim Thorpe. Thorpe was born in Oklahoma in 1888; he was of Native American and European descent. Unlike the other athletes on this list, Thorpe was one of those rare multi-sport athletes. Because he embraced the principle of an “athlete” I feel this is why he should be ranked 5th on this list. Thorpe played collegiate and professional football, professional baseball, and basketball. He also was an Olympian winning 2 gold medals in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm in the Pentathlon and Decathlon. Starting with the Olympics, after he won two gold medals in 1912, he was stripped of his medals because Thorpe played semi-professional baseball prior to the games, making him a non-amateur athlete. The IOC eventually reinstated Thorpe to receive his medals in 1982, nearly 30 years after his death. In football, Thorpe played under Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where Thorpe started his football career. Most notably in 1911, Thorpe single handily defeat the Harvard football team 18-15. Professionally, Thorpe won the 1919 league championship. In baseball Thorpe played outfield for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and the Boston Braves. His baseball career only lasted 6 years. Thorpe legacy is unmatched by any other athlete, for his skills during the time period he played in, Jim Thorpe is one of the greatest “athletes” of all time.
#4: Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth, Jr.)
“The Great Bambino”, “The Sultan of Swat,” Babe Ruth is without a doubt one of the greatest baseball players of all time. The pitcher/hitter, played for 21 seasons with the Boston red Sox, New York Yankees before ending his playing career with the Boston Braves. Even though his career ended in 1935, Ruth’s records for all-time slugging percentage and all-time OPS percentage are still number #1. His 714 home runs rank 3rd all time, and RBI’s and on-base percentage rank 2nd. Ruth began his baseball career as a pitcher surprisingly, amassing a 94-46 record over 163 games. He amassed 488 strikeouts and a career ERA of 2.28, 16th all-time. His legacy of being an unstoppable force in the ballpark gave him an unparalleled reputation. He was one of the original five members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and from playing in the golden age of baseball, Ruth was considered the King, nobody could, or will be considered bigger than Babe.
#3: Michael Jordan
Despite getting cut from his high school basketball team, things turned out pretty good for Michael Jordan. A standout at the University of North Carolina, Jordan was drafted into the NBA by the Chicago Bulls. After that, it was all history. He was voted rookie of the year in 1985, and played for 14 seasons in the NBA with the Bulls and later with the Washington Wizards. Jordan played in the shooting guard position, leading the NBA in scoring for 10 seasons. It truly hard to describe the domination of Michael Jordan in the NBA, but Magic Johnson said it best, “There's Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us.” Jordan accolades include holding the record for career points per game average (30.12), 2nd in career steals, 2nd all-time with 5 career MVP honors, and 3rd in total career points (32,292). Jordan was also the first player in NBA history to be Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year in same season. Jordan also won two Olympics Gold medals in Basketball during the 1984 and 1992 Olympics; in 1992 Jordan lead the “Dream Team” to the gold medal. After a few retirements and a brief stint playing minor league baseball, Jordan finally retired in April, 2003. He is currently a part-owner and Managing Member of Basketball Operations of the Charlotte Bobcats. When Jordan got inducted to the NBA Hall of Fame in 2009, Jordan’s career may be over, but his impression on basketball has no end in sight.
#2: Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was most notably known for being the first African-American to play professional baseball. Although there was evidence of other African-Americans playing baseball at the time, Robinson was the most publicly known African-American to play. As a college coach at Sam Houston College in Austin, Texas, Robinson received an offer to play in the Negro leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs. On October 23, 1945 Robinson was assigned to play for the Montreal Royals, a minor-league team for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Despite constant scrutiny from the fans and even some teammates, Robinson won the International League MVP in 1946. The following year, Robinson would go down in baseball history. Robinson is typically credited with being the black baseball player to break the color-barrier in Major League Baseball. On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his major league debut at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623. Some of Robinson’s own teammates hated him for his color, but away fans and teams were much worse. Disgruntled fans would yell racial slurs at Robinson any chance they could get. But Robinson kept his cool under pressure. Robinson finished his rookie season with 12 home runs, a league-leading 29 steals, a .297 batting average, a .427 slugging percentage, and 125 runs scored. His cumulative performance earned him the inaugural Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award. It was a rough 10 seasons for Jackie Robinson, but his hard work and perseverance paid off with a 1955 World Series title, and six consecutive all-star games (1949-1954). What Jackie Robinson did not only as an athlete but as a human being, is truly remarkable, and is considered one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game.
#1: Pelé (Edison Arantes do Nascimento)
Pelé began his professional soccer career at the age of 15 for Santos, a football club in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil. Pelé made his first start in 1956, scoring in his first game. Within 10 months of playing, he was called up to play for the Brazilian National team. He played for 17 seasons with Santos playing in 656 official games for the club scoring 643 goals. The entire country of Brazil considered Pelé to be a national treasure, and it wasn’t until 1975 that Pelé would play outside his home country. Well past his prime, Pelé joined the North American Soccer League (NASL) team, the New York Cosmos in 1975. For three seasons, Pelé played for the Cosmos, scoring 64 goals in 107 games. For his national side, Pelé was a reckoning force since his first start in 1957. Pelé would go on to play in 4 FIFA World Cups for Brazil (1958, 1962, 1966, and 1970). Pelé would lead his team to three World Cup titles (58, 62, and 70). When Pelé and teammate Garrincha played together, they never lost a game for Brazil. Pelé’s retirement from soccer was one of the most extravagant and unique for all sports. He ended his career with an exhibition game between the only two club teams he ever played for, Santos and the Cosmos. On October 1, 1977 Pelé played the first half with the Cosmos and the second half for Santos. In the first half Pelé would score his final career goal on a direct free-kick. During halftime of the game, the Cosmos retired Pelé’s number 10 jersey. The Cosmos would win the game 2-1, and after the game Pelé ran around the field with an American flag in one hand and a Brazilian flag in the other. He was eventually carried off the field by some Cosmos players. After football, Pelé has worked all across the world to promote peace through soccer. In 1992, Pelé was appointed by the United Nations as an ambassador for ecology and the environment. Pelé has helped to reduce corruption in Brazilian soccer, and has even been given an honorary British knighthood. On a side note, in 1967, the two factions involved in the Nigerian Civil War agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play an exhibition game in Lagos. He has appeared in multiple movies and television shows, and has written several books. His name is synonymous with soccer all over the world. I just believe that because soccer is such a global phenomenon, that Pelé is one of the most recognized athletes in modern sports history. His presence on and off the pitch for decades are what solidified his position as the greatest athlete of the past century.
#10: Tiger Woods.
At the ripe age of 33 Tiger Woods is the most dominant golfer on the planet. He boasts 71 career PGA tour wins, 14 major titles, and career earnings of over 1 billion dollars. Since Woods began playing on the PGA Tour in 1996, the game of golf has not been the same. His ability to drive the ball further than most other golfers, and sink clutch putts makes him easily the most feared golfer on the planet. Wood’s role of a role model has come into question in the past few weeks. But I feel that Woods will bounce back from the media attacks, and prevail to be a better person. As much as I don’t like to look at Woods in this light, I feel more pressure is placed on him because he is an African-American playing a predominately white sport. But as of now, his impact on the sport of golf is unmatched, putting him at #10.
#9: Wayne Gretzky
I remember hearing once, that Wayne Gretzky was Canada’s most valuable resource, I couldn't agree more. For a sport that defines a country, the face of a league as well as the sport Gretzky was a no-brainer for the #9 spot. His records as a player in the NHL include most regular season goals, assists, points per game, playoff points, playoff goals, playoff assists to name a few. Gretzky played 20 seasons in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers, Sacramento Kings, St. Louis Blue, and New York Rangers. In the 1,487 career NHL games, Gretzky scored an impressive 894 goals. After his player career, Gretzky became the coach for the Phoenix Coyotes since the 05 season. He was one of 10 players to skip the three year waiting period to enter the NHL Hall of Fame. His face and name are synonymous with the sport, and he usually works outside his coaching job to help promote the game to the youth, as well as around the world.
#8: Brett Favre
Maybe the most subjective person on this list, Favre entered the NFL in 1991 being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. In 1992 he signed with the Green Bay Packers, playing for them for 16 seasons. He took the packers to the super Bowl twice, winning Super Bowl XXXI. Favre also started every Green Bay Packers game from September 20, 1992, to January 20, 2008. After some turmoil with the organization, Favre played a season with the Jets, and since 2009 Favre has played with the Minnesota Vikings. I would argue that Brett Favre is the greatest quarterback to ever play professional football. He holds numerous records including Consecutive starts (281), regular-season victories by a starting quarterback (179), Career passing touchdowns (490), passing yards (68,276), AP NFL MVP awards (3) (1995, 1996, 1997) to name a few. Favre is the only quarterback to have led a team to victory over all thirty-two teams in the league, a feat he was able to complete by beating the packers with the Vikings in 2009. His consecutive starts record by far is the most impressive; he hasn’t missed a game since September 27, 1992. Aside from Cal Ripken Jr’s record for career consecutive starts, Favre is second to none. Brett Favre also has his own foundation that donates money to local families in his home-state of Mississippi. Even though he is 40 now, he plays with the attitude of a teenager, which makes him an excellent role model to kids. His ability to still play at the highest level despite his age is an inspiring feat that few athletes can show.
#7: Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay)
Born Cassius Clay, Ali is widely considered one of the greatest heavyweight championship boxers of all time. Competing in the “Golden age of Boxing” Ali went on to beat every top heavyweight opponent he faced. He ended his career with a record of 56-5 (37 KOs). Ali’s career was highlighted by his most major fights; the Rumble in the Jungle (vs. George Foreman) and the Thriller in Manila (vs. Chuck Wepner). Ali’s career did not go without controversy; Ali converted to Islam in 1964, and protested entering the army to fight in Vietnam because it violated his religious beliefs. He continually refused to not join the army in the draft. His rebellion was a symbol of a generation against war. He briefly lost his boxing license from the incident but regained it in 1970. Ali’s last bout was on December 11, 1981 in the Bahamas against Trevor Berbick. Ali lost in the 10th round by a unanimous decision. Ali is considered the greatest heavy-weight boxer in history. Ali’s struggle with Parkinson’s disease has helped bring the disease into the public light. Ali still makes appearances in many movies and charity events; his legacy is unrivaled in the world of Boxing.
#6: Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional women's tennis player most known for her victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973. At the time of the famous match, King was arguably the best women's tennis player in the world. She won 12 Grand Slam titles, and was ranked #1 in the world at six different times. Even though she earned less than 2 million dollars in career prize money, she has gone on to be synonymous with women's tennis. After she defeated the aged Bobby Riggs, she peaked in stardom, she had done what was thought to be the impossible; a woman beat a man in tennis. For once in sports, it wasn’t a racial line that was crossed but a gender line. Although the match may have seemed like a mismatch from the beginning, what followed in the world of tennis has not been seen in any other sport, a chance of equality. King would go on to have a successful career, even after her retirement, but the three sets she played against Riggs, and Billie Jean-King rewrote history for females in sports forever.
#5: Jim Thorpe
Of all the athletes on this list I think people know the least about Jim Thorpe. Thorpe was born in Oklahoma in 1888; he was of Native American and European descent. Unlike the other athletes on this list, Thorpe was one of those rare multi-sport athletes. Because he embraced the principle of an “athlete” I feel this is why he should be ranked 5th on this list. Thorpe played collegiate and professional football, professional baseball, and basketball. He also was an Olympian winning 2 gold medals in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm in the Pentathlon and Decathlon. Starting with the Olympics, after he won two gold medals in 1912, he was stripped of his medals because Thorpe played semi-professional baseball prior to the games, making him a non-amateur athlete. The IOC eventually reinstated Thorpe to receive his medals in 1982, nearly 30 years after his death. In football, Thorpe played under Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where Thorpe started his football career. Most notably in 1911, Thorpe single handily defeat the Harvard football team 18-15. Professionally, Thorpe won the 1919 league championship. In baseball Thorpe played outfield for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and the Boston Braves. His baseball career only lasted 6 years. Thorpe legacy is unmatched by any other athlete, for his skills during the time period he played in, Jim Thorpe is one of the greatest “athletes” of all time.
#4: Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth, Jr.)
“The Great Bambino”, “The Sultan of Swat,” Babe Ruth is without a doubt one of the greatest baseball players of all time. The pitcher/hitter, played for 21 seasons with the Boston red Sox, New York Yankees before ending his playing career with the Boston Braves. Even though his career ended in 1935, Ruth’s records for all-time slugging percentage and all-time OPS percentage are still number #1. His 714 home runs rank 3rd all time, and RBI’s and on-base percentage rank 2nd. Ruth began his baseball career as a pitcher surprisingly, amassing a 94-46 record over 163 games. He amassed 488 strikeouts and a career ERA of 2.28, 16th all-time. His legacy of being an unstoppable force in the ballpark gave him an unparalleled reputation. He was one of the original five members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and from playing in the golden age of baseball, Ruth was considered the King, nobody could, or will be considered bigger than Babe.
#3: Michael Jordan
Despite getting cut from his high school basketball team, things turned out pretty good for Michael Jordan. A standout at the University of North Carolina, Jordan was drafted into the NBA by the Chicago Bulls. After that, it was all history. He was voted rookie of the year in 1985, and played for 14 seasons in the NBA with the Bulls and later with the Washington Wizards. Jordan played in the shooting guard position, leading the NBA in scoring for 10 seasons. It truly hard to describe the domination of Michael Jordan in the NBA, but Magic Johnson said it best, “There's Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us.” Jordan accolades include holding the record for career points per game average (30.12), 2nd in career steals, 2nd all-time with 5 career MVP honors, and 3rd in total career points (32,292). Jordan was also the first player in NBA history to be Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year in same season. Jordan also won two Olympics Gold medals in Basketball during the 1984 and 1992 Olympics; in 1992 Jordan lead the “Dream Team” to the gold medal. After a few retirements and a brief stint playing minor league baseball, Jordan finally retired in April, 2003. He is currently a part-owner and Managing Member of Basketball Operations of the Charlotte Bobcats. When Jordan got inducted to the NBA Hall of Fame in 2009, Jordan’s career may be over, but his impression on basketball has no end in sight.
#2: Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was most notably known for being the first African-American to play professional baseball. Although there was evidence of other African-Americans playing baseball at the time, Robinson was the most publicly known African-American to play. As a college coach at Sam Houston College in Austin, Texas, Robinson received an offer to play in the Negro leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs. On October 23, 1945 Robinson was assigned to play for the Montreal Royals, a minor-league team for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Despite constant scrutiny from the fans and even some teammates, Robinson won the International League MVP in 1946. The following year, Robinson would go down in baseball history. Robinson is typically credited with being the black baseball player to break the color-barrier in Major League Baseball. On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his major league debut at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623. Some of Robinson’s own teammates hated him for his color, but away fans and teams were much worse. Disgruntled fans would yell racial slurs at Robinson any chance they could get. But Robinson kept his cool under pressure. Robinson finished his rookie season with 12 home runs, a league-leading 29 steals, a .297 batting average, a .427 slugging percentage, and 125 runs scored. His cumulative performance earned him the inaugural Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award. It was a rough 10 seasons for Jackie Robinson, but his hard work and perseverance paid off with a 1955 World Series title, and six consecutive all-star games (1949-1954). What Jackie Robinson did not only as an athlete but as a human being, is truly remarkable, and is considered one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game.
#1: Pelé (Edison Arantes do Nascimento)
Pelé began his professional soccer career at the age of 15 for Santos, a football club in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil. Pelé made his first start in 1956, scoring in his first game. Within 10 months of playing, he was called up to play for the Brazilian National team. He played for 17 seasons with Santos playing in 656 official games for the club scoring 643 goals. The entire country of Brazil considered Pelé to be a national treasure, and it wasn’t until 1975 that Pelé would play outside his home country. Well past his prime, Pelé joined the North American Soccer League (NASL) team, the New York Cosmos in 1975. For three seasons, Pelé played for the Cosmos, scoring 64 goals in 107 games. For his national side, Pelé was a reckoning force since his first start in 1957. Pelé would go on to play in 4 FIFA World Cups for Brazil (1958, 1962, 1966, and 1970). Pelé would lead his team to three World Cup titles (58, 62, and 70). When Pelé and teammate Garrincha played together, they never lost a game for Brazil. Pelé’s retirement from soccer was one of the most extravagant and unique for all sports. He ended his career with an exhibition game between the only two club teams he ever played for, Santos and the Cosmos. On October 1, 1977 Pelé played the first half with the Cosmos and the second half for Santos. In the first half Pelé would score his final career goal on a direct free-kick. During halftime of the game, the Cosmos retired Pelé’s number 10 jersey. The Cosmos would win the game 2-1, and after the game Pelé ran around the field with an American flag in one hand and a Brazilian flag in the other. He was eventually carried off the field by some Cosmos players. After football, Pelé has worked all across the world to promote peace through soccer. In 1992, Pelé was appointed by the United Nations as an ambassador for ecology and the environment. Pelé has helped to reduce corruption in Brazilian soccer, and has even been given an honorary British knighthood. On a side note, in 1967, the two factions involved in the Nigerian Civil War agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play an exhibition game in Lagos. He has appeared in multiple movies and television shows, and has written several books. His name is synonymous with soccer all over the world. I just believe that because soccer is such a global phenomenon, that Pelé is one of the most recognized athletes in modern sports history. His presence on and off the pitch for decades are what solidified his position as the greatest athlete of the past century.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Why I’ve lost faith in College Football
By this point in the college football season, all the bowl games are set, Alabama is Ranked #1, and Ingram won the Heisman. Sadly I have problems with all three of these points.
First I have a problem with the BCS. Since 1998, the Bowl Championship Series has been ruining college football. With their highly subjective and heavily computerized ranking system, the NCAA has lost control of possibly their most valuable sport. College Basketball offers at least every conference winner a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament, but in football only six conferences are included in the major BCS bowl Games. That leaves out every mid-major conference, including two of the top six teams in the BCS’s own rankings (Boise State and TCU). If the BCS doesn’t want to seem so biased and inclusive, then they should accept all D-1 conferences including the MAC, WAC, and Sun Belt to name a few. I am one of the many fans out there who would lobby for a playoff system. I mean, high schools play a playoff and professionals play playoffs, why shouldn’t colleges? If most of the players in college have the dream of going professional sooner or later, they should be excited to want to play in a college playoff, it can give them valuable experience in playing games that are winner take all. I do applaud that some conference already have a conference title playoff, but others do not. I really believe that because the Big Ten don’t have a playoff for their conference title, is why they have been hurting in the bowl games recently. And I hate hearing people arguing against a playoff because it means players are more frequent to injury. Well that’s the tough of it, players are going to get hurt and miss big games, it’s how it has been and always will be. I think the NCAA should drop the BCS system and work for a playoff system. Division II football uses a playoff system quite effectively, and with basketball, I believe they both honestly pick the right winner, not some overused computer program.
Next is the awards part. Like I stated in my intro, Mark Ingram won the 2009 Heisman Trophy. Firstly I think that awards are given out too early. I didn’t pay much attention to the awards this year except for the Heisman and the Biletnikoff award. The Heisman in 2008 was given to the wrong player and again this year, the Heisman was given to the wrong player. I just don’t understand how the award can be given to an athlete who had worse statistics than another player. If this award is given to the best individual athlete, then it should have gone to Toby Gerhart, not Mark Ingram. Gerhart carried the ball 62 more times than Ingram, and Gerhart also rushed for 194 more yards as well as 11 more touchdowns. It shouldn’t matter that Ingram’s team is changeling for the national title; I just think Gerhart got robbed. Even worse than the Heisman was the Biletnikoff award, given to the country’s top wide receiver. The three finalists for the award were Jordan Shipley of Texas, Freddie Barnes of BGSU, and Golden Tate of Notre Dame. Tate ended up winning the award even though he finished behind Barnes and or Shipley in the statistical category of receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions. Although I used this same argument for the Heisman, the team’s overall standing shouldn’t have any effect on the winner’s chance. Notre Dame has declined any bowl invitations with a 6-6 record. BGSU is 7-5 and will play in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, while Texas is obviously playing against Alabama for a national title. I just don’t understand how these awards cannot be given the player with the best statistics, regardless of where they went to school.
Bowl Games are my final point of argument. For years, bowl games have defined college football. I consider all of them except for the title game to be just consolation prizes for teams. Does it really matter if a team wins the Rose Bowl for the eighth time, or back to back Sugar Bowls? No, they really mean nothing in the long run, just another chance for some schools to earn money for their football programs. I mean there are so many bowls now-a-days that there are 34 bowl games, which means that 68 football teams get to play in the postseason. (A little obsessive if you ask me.) I think that this just gives more backing for a playoff system. Cut the teams down, and create a bracket like system similar to basketball. I have my ideas for a playoff, but I feel the NCAA should work one out for themselves.
So in the end, I think that certain players were given the wrong awards, the National title game might be biased, and the bowl games offer no clear way of what team is better. Unless some stuff changes, I don’t know how long I won’t have faith in college football.
First I have a problem with the BCS. Since 1998, the Bowl Championship Series has been ruining college football. With their highly subjective and heavily computerized ranking system, the NCAA has lost control of possibly their most valuable sport. College Basketball offers at least every conference winner a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament, but in football only six conferences are included in the major BCS bowl Games. That leaves out every mid-major conference, including two of the top six teams in the BCS’s own rankings (Boise State and TCU). If the BCS doesn’t want to seem so biased and inclusive, then they should accept all D-1 conferences including the MAC, WAC, and Sun Belt to name a few. I am one of the many fans out there who would lobby for a playoff system. I mean, high schools play a playoff and professionals play playoffs, why shouldn’t colleges? If most of the players in college have the dream of going professional sooner or later, they should be excited to want to play in a college playoff, it can give them valuable experience in playing games that are winner take all. I do applaud that some conference already have a conference title playoff, but others do not. I really believe that because the Big Ten don’t have a playoff for their conference title, is why they have been hurting in the bowl games recently. And I hate hearing people arguing against a playoff because it means players are more frequent to injury. Well that’s the tough of it, players are going to get hurt and miss big games, it’s how it has been and always will be. I think the NCAA should drop the BCS system and work for a playoff system. Division II football uses a playoff system quite effectively, and with basketball, I believe they both honestly pick the right winner, not some overused computer program.
Next is the awards part. Like I stated in my intro, Mark Ingram won the 2009 Heisman Trophy. Firstly I think that awards are given out too early. I didn’t pay much attention to the awards this year except for the Heisman and the Biletnikoff award. The Heisman in 2008 was given to the wrong player and again this year, the Heisman was given to the wrong player. I just don’t understand how the award can be given to an athlete who had worse statistics than another player. If this award is given to the best individual athlete, then it should have gone to Toby Gerhart, not Mark Ingram. Gerhart carried the ball 62 more times than Ingram, and Gerhart also rushed for 194 more yards as well as 11 more touchdowns. It shouldn’t matter that Ingram’s team is changeling for the national title; I just think Gerhart got robbed. Even worse than the Heisman was the Biletnikoff award, given to the country’s top wide receiver. The three finalists for the award were Jordan Shipley of Texas, Freddie Barnes of BGSU, and Golden Tate of Notre Dame. Tate ended up winning the award even though he finished behind Barnes and or Shipley in the statistical category of receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions. Although I used this same argument for the Heisman, the team’s overall standing shouldn’t have any effect on the winner’s chance. Notre Dame has declined any bowl invitations with a 6-6 record. BGSU is 7-5 and will play in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, while Texas is obviously playing against Alabama for a national title. I just don’t understand how these awards cannot be given the player with the best statistics, regardless of where they went to school.
Bowl Games are my final point of argument. For years, bowl games have defined college football. I consider all of them except for the title game to be just consolation prizes for teams. Does it really matter if a team wins the Rose Bowl for the eighth time, or back to back Sugar Bowls? No, they really mean nothing in the long run, just another chance for some schools to earn money for their football programs. I mean there are so many bowls now-a-days that there are 34 bowl games, which means that 68 football teams get to play in the postseason. (A little obsessive if you ask me.) I think that this just gives more backing for a playoff system. Cut the teams down, and create a bracket like system similar to basketball. I have my ideas for a playoff, but I feel the NCAA should work one out for themselves.
So in the end, I think that certain players were given the wrong awards, the National title game might be biased, and the bowl games offer no clear way of what team is better. Unless some stuff changes, I don’t know how long I won’t have faith in college football.
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