Shut Your Mouth A-Rod

Hey kid what have you done...nothing! That was the words of Alex Rodriguez just two days ago. That was two days before Dallas Braden threw the first perfect game in the majors this year. Dallas Braden sat down the first 27 batters he faced allowing no runs, no hits and no walks while striking out six batters. The perfect game is the rarest of any baseball annomolies, next to the unassisted triple play. With this perfection, A-Rod has finally shut up for good.

This whole splat started 2 weeks back when Braden was pitching against the Yankee's and Alex Rodriguez was forced out at 3rd on a play. Instead of running down the baseline, he jaunted across the diamond an ran over the pitching mound. That is one rule apparently players shouldn't cross unless your the pitcher.

For these past two weeks before today, the two players have been jaunting words back and forth none of which have been very nice. Rodriguez kept stating what has he done to make him so big and mighty...He hasn't done anything until now. Braden responded by dishing A-Rod about his selfishness playing style. Rodriguez plays for the name on his back, not the name on the front.

Well now that the chapter in this dispute is closed maybe ESPN can start covering something more than this little disrupture. All I know is Braden won the battle as of now, but who will when the war when the two meet up again?

NFL Draft

With the first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select Sam Bradford, quarterback from Oklahoma. For the first time ever the NFL decided to go prime time on Thursday night with the first round only broadcast with the second and third rounds on Friday in primetime and Saturday featuring the other 4 rounds starting in the morning. The gamble seemed to have paved off with the draft increasing its audience by 30%.

Within the first 5 picks there were no surprises as Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Trent Williams and Eric Berry went flying off the board. The biggest surprise in the first round was the Denver Broncos selecting Tim Tebow with the 25^th pick in the first round. This was by far what some call the biggest reach in the first round. Tebow a quarterback out of Florida was not even projected for some as a quarter back in the NFL. He will be a project for head coach Josh McDaniel to work on for a few years before he sees the field.

Another surprise in the draft was the actual excellent drafts by the two teams that usually draft the poorest. The Oakland Raiders and the Detroit Lions have both received an A for a draft grade from ESPN NFL analyst for their picks. The Lions took Suh with their first pick and traded back into the first with the Vikings to take Jahvid Best a running back out of California, with what they believe is the next Barry Sanders. The Raiders drafted for best player available and that was Rolando McClain a linebacker from Alabama. Then traded a future draft pick for former Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell. Oakland will now have a chance to actually participate in the AFC West instead of being a tackling dummy.

The one thing that scared me about this draft is how scary fast the Baltimore Ravens defense is going to be next year. They took Sergio Kindle, a projected mid first rounder with their second round pick. They have also improved overall after taking 2 tight ends as well, Dennis Pita from BYU and Ed Dickson from Oregon. Oh they also got the 2 biggest players in this year’s draft as well. Terrance “Mt” Cody and Ramon Harewood, those two together and their present DT Haloti Ngata should not be allowed in the same buffet hall. They will be my super bowl team for next year.

This year’s draft will be known as the year of the Tight End. The TE position is starting to evolve in the league and everyone is looking for the next Tony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark.

GO SIOUX!!!

The news is out and students, faculty, athletes and fans do not like the decision. The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux will be no more. On Thursday the past week the Board of Higher Education for North Dakota decided to nix the Sioux logo for good. The board had voted in a May 2009 meeting in Dickinson, N.D., to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo starting Oct. 1, a deadline later extended to Nov. 30, unless the university could win approval and a 30-year commitment from the two namesake tribes. Spirit Lake voters had OK’d continued use of the symbols in April 2009, but Standing Rock tribal officials have thus far refused to hold a referendum.

However in good news about this ordeal, the Sioux will be allowed to use the nickname for 1 year to come. In Saturday’s edition of The Forum, readers were asked to send in their ideas for possibly future nicknames. Some possible ideas thrown out there was, the Roughriders, Flickertails, Eagles and Oilers. However one idea was chimed in multiple times, this being the University of North Dakota Aviators. One reader even took the idea a step farther stating this, “I’ve been saying that the UND Aviators should be the name for years,” one reader wrote. “Picture it: the whole student body wearing mirrored aviator sunglasses to games, a guy in an old-time bomber suit as the mascot, the logo could be a WWII fighter plane ... it would be amazing.”

Current and former Sioux athletes also gave the words on this idea. Former Sioux standout basketball player and now Lakers coach Phil Jackson is happy to see the decision has finally come. Jackson is actually one of the few who were in support of nickname change. Current standout Sioux hockey player Chay Genoway was in disbelief and couldn’t believe it came down like this.

However there is one problem that looms larger than the nickname change and that is what happens to the Ralph. There is over 2,200 Sioux logos in the arena which was built in 2006, and are located in everything from seats, tile images to flags throughout the arena. What are they suppose to do now since the logo and name will be changing? There is a myth around that many believe that the Ralph will be torn down since the name and logo is changing. If that is the case it looks like the state of North Dakota just threw 104 million dollars out the door. Just remember that the Sioux name is just a name, but the fighting spirit of the Sioux will live on. GO SIOUX!!!

Are You Ready for Some.......BASEBALL!!!!!

Play ball! People spring is in the air and it is now time for some baseball. College baseball started their season a little less than 2 weeks ago. And spring training started 2 weeks ago as well with the first spring training games starting earlier this past week on Wednesday. There were many stories heading into the beginning of America’s past time. Will the Minnesota Twins be able to sign reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer to a long term contract? Will Mark McGwire come clean about his steroid usage when he was a player for the Oakland Athletics and Saint Louis Cardinals? Will Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman start the league as the fifth starter for the Cincinnati Reds or start the year in Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats?

Some of the most recent news on the contract status of Joe Mauer seems to be on the positive. He is entering the year of his contract that he signed back in 2007 that was 4 years and worth $33 million dollars. Current talks as of now have numbers around the $80 million range with 6 years. If there is one thing for sure, Mauer is worth every penny he gets. This past season, Mauer hit .368, along with 28 home runs and 96 RBIs, to win the AL batting title for the third time in four years last season. He also has two Gold Gloves to go along with last year's MVP for his hometown Twins.

Everyone remember Mark McGwire for his home run record that himself and Sammy Sosa both broke the same year. That record was the longest standing record (which was held by Fargo native Roger Maris) to be broken besides Joe “Jolten” DiMaggio 56 game hit streak. Many believed that McGwire had used steroids during that season, but yet nothing was done since steroids weren’t a banned substance quite yet in the league. This offseason he returned to the league with the St. Louis Cardinals as the hitting coach. The league however took action on the move and made him confess to congress that he took steroids during his career before allowing him to return to the league. Many believe and I do to that there should be an asterisk by his home run total just as Barry Bond’s should as well.

Aroldis Chapman defected from Cuba during an international baseball tournament that took place in the Netherlands. When he defected, he took up residency in Andorra. He signed a 6 year deal worth $30.25 million with a bonus of $16.25 million. He was one of the most coveted international players since Ichiro. He has a nasty pitch arsenal and has been clocked at 102 mph. The Red’s were originally not even in the picture to sign this lefty, as the Mets, Marlins and Red Sox were the original teams favored. What made him sign with the Red’s was the strong Hispanic heritage that was on the team before during the “Big Red Machine” days and the current roster has at least 11 of the 25 man active roster including the pitching coach Dick Pole and manager Dusty Baker. His first MLB action comes Monday, when the Reds face the Royals in Cactus League games.

USA Dominating Medals So Far

USA, USA, USA many have heard those chants across Vancouver the past week. At the latest medal count USA is in the lead with 24 total, 8 more than Germany. Of those 24 medals to date, 7 of our medals are in the gold form. Olympians Bode Miller, Evan Lysacek, Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Shani Davis, Seth Wescott, and Hannah Kearney have all won events this year. Many of these athletes have also won multiple medals so far these Olympics. Other athletes in the headlines at the Olympics is Apolo Anton Ohno who is the most decorated winter Olympian ever for the US with 7 medals total after winning the bronze in Men's 1000 meter short track.

With a lighter note to the Olympics, J.R.Celski an American Short Track Speed Skater returns from a gruesome cut to his inner thigh that almost took his life if 2 cm deeper. With this being his first Olympics, he took home the bronze medal in the 1500 meter race. This being his first medal in his Olympic career and his first race since his injury.

With 3 total medals these Olympics, it's hard to believe Bode Miller was on the verge of retiring from his sport to pursue a career in tennis. On Sunday, Miller took home his first gold medal in the Super-Combo which combines Downhill and Slalom by nearly half a second. Miller has also won a silver in the Super-G and a bronze in Downhill. With the 3 medals during these Olympics, he is tied for 2nd all-time for medals won during a single Olympic games tailing Eric Heiden who won 5 gold medals during the 1980 Olympics.

Another surprise winner this year is Evan Lysacek, who defeated Evgeni Plushenko in Men's Finals. Even though Lysacek was the defending World Champion, the World Champion has not won the gold medal since Scott Hamilton an another American at the 1980 Olympics. Plushenko who thought he was robbed because he hit a quad, while Lysacek only hit a triple. The difference between the two's free skate was the dance and transition pieces Lysacek put together.

With another 7 days of events, many are sure to surprise many. Maybe the US Hockey team can surprise Canada and defeat them like the Miracle on Ice team did. Let's also not forget the fastest growing sport in the US as well. Curling, who doesn't love curling? I catch myself watching every chance I can.

Grammy's Were a Hit

This past week on TV, CBS hosted the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. The night was full of wild, fun entertainment from the opening performance from Lady Gaga with Elton John to finishing it up with the surprise Album of the Year Winner, Taylor Swift. Many people including Kanye West believed that Beyonce Knowels album I Am... Sasha Fierce was going to take it away after her hit single "Single Ladies" won S.O.Y. After his absolute poor decision to steal the mic from Taylor Swift, Kanye was not invited to the Grammy's.

The night was not only about the stars, but also one of remembrance and hope. Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli gave a heart warming performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" with all proceeds going to Haiti. Michael Jackson was also remembered at this years Grammy with receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. which was accepted by his children.

Aside from the winners, the nights over big events where the numerous performance. Pink stole the show with her performance of "Glitter in the Air", which was absolutely stunning and breath taking. The heart pumping performance of the night went to two different performances from two different artists. The first being the Black Eyed Peas. Their collaboration of "Imma Be/I Gotta Feeling", had hearts pumping and people getting the feeling. The other performance the people loved was "If I Was a Boy" by Beyonce. In this performance she is just simply amazing. First thing first, she shows some love to MJ with a little bit a crotch grab at the very beginning of performance, to her unique different vocal styles during the performance. You can find the video's for purchase at http://www.iTunes.com/Target .

Now the Grammy's I know are not just about the performances , but the awards as well. The major awards where kicked of by the Record of the Year and that went to the Kings of Leon for "Use Somebody". Next was the Best New Artist, which was won by the Zach Brown Band. Following that up was the Song of the Year which as I already stated earlier went to Beyonce for "Single Ladies". To end the night with shocker the Album of the Year went to Taylor Swift for "Fearless".

What is Late Night America going to do?

It's finally official, Conan O'Brien is walking out the door and taking $33 million with him. You may ask what was the hold up in the whole divorce from NBC? Conan, being the caring boss he is made sure that all 200 crew members were being taking care of as well. An additional $12 million, will be dispersed about the crew for severance pay. Ratings for the "Tonight Show" have been diving ever sense Jay Leno left the show for his own prime time trial. The nightly ratings which hit a high of 4.2 million with Leno hosting dropped to a low 2.5 million while O'Brien has been hosting. The original plan from NBC was to move O'Brien back 12:05 hr followed by "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon", while Leno would have bumped back to his original time slot at 11:35. O'Brien said that shifting "Tonight" would "seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting,"and he declared his disappointment that NBC had given him less than a year to establish himself as a host at 11:35 PM slot. O'Brien is free to join another network as soon as September, but in the mean time he has setup a poll on the "Tonight Shows" website asking what he should do until then. Various idea's include starring in a porno titled "Conan the Bangbarian", taking his act to Jewish Life TV, starring as an IRA terrorist on the show "Sons of Anarchy",appear on "Dancing with the Star's next season, and being a DJ on Y-94 out of Fargo, North Dakota. Current poll readings have the Y-94 job as number 1 followed by Conan the Bangbarian.
An interesting note to point out, Will Ferrell will be the final guest on the O'Brien hosted "Tonight Show". Ferrell was also the first guest for the "Tonight Show" when O'Brien started hosting. Tom Hanks is also scheduled to appear on the finale O'Brien "Tonight Show". It is yet unsure if "The Jay Leno Show" will be moved over to the time slot or the "Tonight Show" staying. NBC will begin airing the Jay Leno hosted show starting March 1, 2010. Re runs of Conan O'Brien "Tonight Show" will run starting Monday, January 25th until Thursday February 11th. The Winter Olympics, which are being hosted by Vancouver this year is slated to take most air time for NBC from Feb. 12th through the 28th.