Bigger than the Game

How long is it going to take for all 104 names on the positive list of steroid users in baseball to be released?
Considering there names were never to be released and it was suppose to be done totally anonymously. I honestly don't really care, if all the names are ever released. At the time of the testing, was it illegal in the sport of baseball, I don't think so, so I will never understand what the fuss is all about.
The image of sport enhancement users has always been slighted. A prime example would be the ESPN produced, television show that aired in 2003, but only for one season. "Playmakers" was the name of the show, it was a hit and many people enjoyed watching the storyline develop throughout the season. The NFL players and league considered it to be totally fiction, and none of the nonsense (steroids, illegal drug use, assault, etc) hasn't and wouldn't ever happen in the NFL. When a person is guilty, they tend to attempt to cover things up or completely eliminate the issue.
The NFL got lucky when ESPN decided not to create a second season due to criticism from the players association and the league.
If it is important for the United States government to prosecute; Barry Bonds, Miguel Tejada, Alex Rodriguez, and whoever in this world that has ever taken advantage of an opportunity to be the best, than I am not sure that the United States priorities are totally in order.
How about this national debt and economic problem that we currently live in, why don't we check with some of these athletes and see if they would fill some of the economic void? Being mean and throwing their names under the bus of accusations, isn't going to score any points with the specific athletes.
Another issue at hand, in America is the war/conflicts that the United States is still taking part in. If you really want to punish the athletes that are being publicly belittled, why not send them to fight for their country. Oh, wait a minute there was a multimillionaire athlete that fought for his country, Pat Tillman, and he unofficially, supposedly got killed by friendly fire.
I think there are bigger issues than athletes and their pill popping or medicial practices in America. Is there any sense of privacy anymore?
Prime example is the Michael Phelps picture of smoking illegal drugs. People are human and they make mistakes. In the past, there have been attempts to legalize marijuana, and we as a society continue to jump on his back for messing up near a camera. He won't even be able to swim, he will sink with everybody that is currently criticizing him for one simple mistake. But then with technology where it is, in this day and age, where can a person go that there isn't a camera?

Is Loyalty still important in sports?

The state of Nebraska continues to set the tone in loyalty to their sports teams especially the Husker Football and Volleyball teams.

Prime examples would be the continuous sellout streaks that both teams currently have. The Colesium has been sold out since 2001, covering 107 matches. The Nebraska Cornhuskers football team has been selling out since 1962. That is just short of 290 games of completely selling out memorial stadium. Anybody that was around in 1962, do you still have something that you have used weekly since that day? Think about some of the bricks of Memorial Stadium, if only bricks could talk, what stories would we find out?

There aren’t many fans/teams in this world that applause both teams at the end of the ball game win or lose. Can you think of any other location on the face of the planet that this occurs? 

Don’t get me wrong though, winning is still important for university teams, just ask Mr. Bill Callahan or Danny Nee.

The loyalty that fans and supporters show for University teams that come into the friendly confines of  Memorial Stadium and the Coliseum is second to none, but why can those same people not return to their hometown’s and exemplify the same demeanor?

The amount of negativity is overwhelming in many gyms and fields throughout the countryside and big city life of Nebraska. Its not like there is going to be a ton of money won or lost on the outcome of the contest, why not appreciate that the amateur athletes are being active and competing. It could be worse, the youngsters could be getting involved in law-breaking after school activities, or increasing the national obesity rate that is currently shooting off the charts. The negativity portrayed towards these competing individuals is mainly the reason that participation is declining. 

If that person is looking to compete at the next level and thinks that winning is key to them competing collegiately isn’t a very smart person and needs to re-evaluate why they are participating in activities. If you are good enough to compete at the next level, the right people will find you. 

Many athletes represent their schools as a student/athletes and also show great loyalty by continuing to support their alma mater after graduation. On any given day/night there will be former participants attending and supporting their former teammates, especially when they return from college breaks. Some of the alumnus might even return to the community that they grew up in and support the high school team through thick and thin. Isn't that almost unheard of anymore or so they say?

While observing present participants in winter activities, it is essential that all athletes are given recognition, not just the high scorers or champions.

 Lets think about how that person might have been given the great scoring opportunity, was it the rebounder, passer and/or even the person that just sacrificed their body by going to the floor to gain possession? The only reward that person would normally get is court burns. Everybody always wants to give recognition to the champions, but who are the individuals that were defeated on the way to the top of the mountain. There are champions that are developed in the practice room or courts. Loyalty in sports is huge, there is no way to go at it alone.  

Every team has players that will go above and beyond the call, to make sure the team has the chance to prosper. If you are on a team or around a team, give recognition to these players, give credit where credit is due. These individuals take loyalty to a whole new level.

Remember that every team is only as strong as there weakest link.

Cozad,Lexington, Gothenburg, Eustis/Farnam and Elwood unsung athletes, the individuals that earn the jumpballs, and are training partners of dominating grapplers, I salute you for your great amount of loyalty to your teams, teammates and communities. 

Everytime an athlete pulls a jersey over their head, they are representing their hometowns, teammates and coaches. You are constantly in the spotlight on and off the competition area. and need to practice the "Do right rule", if its right do it, if its not don't. How simple is that?

Questions of the week: 

What sport used the term "home run" before baseball?

What was the name of the first NHL team to play in Denver, Colorado? What town did they relocate from?