Get your own Free Home PageSports . . . providing us with real-life drama every day, whether it's Reggie Miller living the dream in the NBA playoffs; Greg Norman losing a major in a playoff; Dan Jansen falling, crying, and then skating to Olympic gold; Greg Norman losing a major in a playoff; the Yanks and Mariners slugging it out in the 1995 postseason; Scott Norwood and a few feet to the right; Greg Norman losing the Masters after leading by 6 with one round to play; Cal Ripken breaking an unbreakable record; Princeton pulling off an improbable upset of defending champs UCLA in the first round of the 1996 NCAA tourney in Pete Carrill's final year; a bunch of college kids who hang tough and win Olympic gold in 1980 on ice; Kirk Gibson limping to the plate and hitting a game-winning homerun with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and a 3-2 count against baseball's top reliever in the World Series; Kerri Strug sparking the U. S. gymnastics team to the gold medal at the Atlanta Games over the previously unbeaten Russian team with an injured foot. All of it, the good and the bad, captures what it means to be human.
To hear me ramble on about different sports. . .
America's pastime. Peanuts and Cracker Jacks and $5 hot dogs. And my favorite spectator sport. A lot of people today think baseball is boring, but I have always loved it. I'm a big fan of the New York Yankees who finally won a championship in 1996, for the first time since I've been following them. This year's 1997 team looks at least as good, if not better and should also make a good run. If Gooden and Irabu can contribute in the stretch they may be able to give the Orioles and Braves a run for their money. Some of my favorite Yankees since I've been following them are Dave Winfield (probably my all-time favorite baseball player), Don Mattingly, Willie Randolph, Dave Righetti (Rags), and Mike Pagliarulo (Pags). Some of the young players today are pretty awesome too, like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. I grew up with the designated hitter so I don't really object to it, but the wildcard and interleague play make me sick. Don't even mention realignment.
In football, I belong to that devoted group of misguided fools known as fans of the Buffalo Bills. This year looks like a dreaded "rebuilding" year for the Bills, but I refuse to abandon them. The defense should be very good, with Bruce Smith, Bryce Paup, Chris Spielman, and some solid corners and safetys. The special teams should be great also, with Steve Tasker, the most versatile player on the team and maybe the league, and guys like Eric Moulds and Tim Tindale. Offense is the big question mark, but I think the Bills have an outside shot at a wildcard spot. When I'm not watching the Bills, I sometimes watch collge football, though I must admit that I never felt motivated enough to watch my own team the entire fours years I was trapped at MIT. But the college game in general offers more excitement, with bigger mismatches and more trick plays than the ultra-conservative NFL, where play-action is about as tricky as it gets.
I used to watch a lot of basketball, but since the recent collapse of the Boston Celtics it hasn't been as much fun. I don't know if Pitino can turn this team around, but I was a big fan of his in Kentucy and with the Knicks and I still have a little hope. He's already made some pretty good moves, finessing the draft and the salary cap. Just imagine where they might be without the Len Bias and Reggie Lewis tragedies. Pro atheletes have been disappointing me as of late, guys like Shaq (take away 3 inches and this guy is a bench warmer) and Webber (talk about unfulfilled potential). Then there are the Barkleys and the Rodmans (Rodmen?) who make playing the media their first job and playing basketball their second. I was also disappointed to see His Airness, Michael Jordan, return after a brief retirement. Maybe he and Magic Johnson both need a dictionary to learn the meaning of this word. There's no doubt in my mind that there has never been a person who was so perfectly built for the game of basketball than Michael Jordan, but am I the only guy who's a little sick of seeing his face everywhere? Some of my favorite players are Larry Bird (good luck in Indiana!), Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale of the old Celtics, and also Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, Grant Hill, and Kevin Johnson. I was also pleasantly surprised by Reggie Miller's commentary on Lifetime for the WNBA. This guys knows his stuff and is pretty funny and well-spoken (unlike some of his contemporaries). I don't know why he has the reputation he does because he sounds like a really nice guy.
I've been watching more and more of college basketball ever since I won my high school pool by picking Duke to beat UNLV to win it all. This game seemed less tainted by the greed and selfishness of the NBA game. But lately, the men's college game has gotten more like its uglier big brother and I don't get as excited by it. Fortunately, there is still a place where the game is competetive and relatively pure and that is women's NCAA division I basketball. I started really watching in early 1996 and instantly got hooked. My favorite team? The Stanford Cardinal. Favorite player? Jamila Wideman. Check out her numbers for minutes per game and rebounds and then check out her height. No one I've seen in any sport at any level fights harder to win. I'm also enjoying the new ABL and WNBA leagues and yes, I am a WNBA groupie.
I am a relatively recent convert to this sport and I love the pace and the action. The fighting is fun to watch too. My team here is the Buffalo Sabres, who have been struggling but are always dangerous with their depth at goaltending. Dominik Hasek is the best goalie in the league, bar none, and Trefilov, Shields, and Biron aren't too shabby either. I like the old blue and gold over the new logo and uniforms, but I guess black is in. I was disappointed with thhe way Ted Nolan was treated, but I'm still optimistic about the upcoming season and I think they may make the playoffs (along with every other team in the NHL). I started playing intramural hockey while at MIT and I love playing as well. I evolved into a goaltender for my teams and I am working on improving my puck stopping skills. The MIT hockey program, both men's and women's, is surprisingly competetive and a lot of fun to watch.
I just recently bought a used set of clubs and started playing this maddeningly frustrating sport. I also watch a lot of golf. That's right, I watch it. On TV. I've even taped it. Now, I know what you're thinking. but it really is an interesting spectator sport. During the summer of 1995 I travelled to England and I madea brief foray into Scotland and caught a bit of the final day at The Open. I walked the Old Course and saw some of golf's greatest, including my favorite tour player, Greg Norman. I also like Corey Pavin, Paul Azinger, Payne Stewart, and Justin Leonard and you can add my name to the list of people on the Eldrick "Tiger" Woods bandwagon as he has the tools to be dominant for years. I also watch the LPGA. Honestly. Annika Sorenstam is pure joy to watch. Her swing is so relaxed and effortless and so straight and true and she's pretty cute too. Watching her at the 1996 U. S. Open was incredible; every drive was right down the center of the fairway. I also like Kris Tschetter on the LPGA tour. I do however draw the line at the Senior PGA (for now at least).
I don't really watch very much racing, but I generally watch the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500 every year. Driving around in circles for a few hours may not sound very exciting, but what's amazing to me is that these guys can drive around for a few hours but the final margin of victory is sometimes on the order of less than a second. That just blows me away. And I have been known to drive too fast on a few California highways myself.
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