My Favorite 2010 Sports Moments

Since I created my blog in September, the majority of my posts have focused on the National Football League but it if you read my first post and About Me then you know my love of sports goes beyond the football field.   I dedicate this post to two of my favorite teams!

#1:  Knicks Sign Amare Stoudemire

The New York Knicks like most NBA teams were after Lebron James and made every effort to convince him to join the team.  Well, everyone knows he went to Miami.   The Knicks made their move and signed former Phoenix Suns Amare Stoudemire to a five year deal worth close to $100 million.  He has helped the Knicks become relevant with his MVP style play.  He has been named the Eastern Conference player of the month and set a new NY Knicks record with 8 straight games of scoring 30+ points.  By the way, the Knicks who haven't been in the playoffs since 2003-2004 are currently in 5th place and the Garden is rocking again with chants of "Defense."

#2 Jets Three Comeback Wins

The New York Jets were down 20-10 with 4:26 to play in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions.  There was a lot of curing and yelling going on.  Don't worry, I followed my own advice on how to watch a game with a sports fan.    My heart was racing, the butterflies in my stomach were going at warp speed, and the pacing began. Then the magic happened! The Jets score twice to tie the game, force overtime, and win it with a 30-yard Nick Folk field goal.  

"I want to apologize to all the Jets fans for affecting the heart a little bit," coach Rex Ryan said. 

The Jets do raise my blood pressure!  Coach Ryan was preparing us for the next comeback wins against the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans.   In case you missed it, Santonio Holmes caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez with 10 seconds left to win 30-27 over the Houston Texan. Oh yeah and he ran a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez with 16 seconds left against the Browns! 

P.S. What were your 2010 favorite sports moments?

Shaking My Head Moments of 2010

Whenever there is a scandal in the sports world, I always say the same thing, "What the hell was he or she thinking?" and then I shake my head a.k.a SMH in the texting world.  As I look back at the year in New York sports, I immediately thought of the following five "Shaking My Head" moments:

1. K-Rod Punches His Father-in-Law
   In August, New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez was arrested after punching his girlfriend's father in the teams clubhouse.  According to Fox Sports, the assault left, Mr. Carlos Pena with facial bruises and other injuries.  Why would a 28 year-old punch a 62 year-old man in the face?   I don't care what Pena said to K-Rod.  Besides why would K-Rod jeopardize his three-year, $37 million contract with the New York Mets.  Shaking My Head!
2. Favre Shows His Little Quarterback
   I dedicated an entire post to the Favre's scandal entitled, Here We Go Again and the league has still not decided on whether or not Favre is guilty of misconduct.  They have voicemails from him to Jennifer Sterger as well as photos of his "little quarterback."  What else does the National Football League (NFL) need in order to discipline Favre!  At this point, I am starting to believe that the league is waiting for him to retire, so then don't have to deal with this scandal.  Maybe I should add the NFL to the this list.  Shaking My Head!
   
   
3. Samuels Busted of Placing Bets Through Gambling Ring
   Charlie Samuels spent 27+ years with the New York Mets and he threw it all away for a gambling ring.  According the to the New York Daily News, Samuels was caught on tape placing bets that is allegedly run by the mob.  Rightfully so, the Mets suspended him without pay during the investigation and the only positive aspect of this story is that Samuels took accountability for his actions.  He admitted his involvement if the betting scandal but I am still Shaking My Head!
   
4. Oh, Edwards. No Bueno! (No Good)
   At the start of the NY Jets season, wide receiver, Braylon Edwards got pulled over and arrested for a DWI at 4:45 a.m.   Edwards, who was driving teammates D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Vernon Gholston after leaving fellow wide receiver, Jericho Cotchery's benefit in Manhattan.  What's frustrating about this is that it could have been avoided.  The Jets have a Player Protect” program, a 24-hour security and driving service they players can use any time and free of charge within the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.  Don't tell me that nobody had a cell to make the call.  Shaking My Head!

P.S.  What was your SMH moment in sports this year?

Oprah Would Love Boomer Esiason's Foundation

Boomer Esiason on the set of CBS Sports.

Oprah is all about helping people live their best lives and CBS National Football League color commentator, WFAN radio morning host, and former New York Jets quarterback (okay, he began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals), Boomer Esiason, is doing the same.   He is leveraging his celebrity status to help raise money to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, a disease of the respiratory and digestive systems.   Why?  In 1993 Boomer's son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with the disease.  Instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for his son, Boomer created The Boomer Esiason Foundation to help fund research to find a cure.    



Gunnar and his dad Boomer on the cover
of Sports Illustrated.



According to the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation, approximately 30,000 people in the United States have cystic fibrosis.  Additionally, 10 million more are carriers of the defective CF gene, but do not have the disease. In case you are wondering, that equates to about 1 in every 31 Americans.  The life expectancy for cystic fibrosis suffers was less than 20 years but there is significant progress.  Thanks to Boomer's foundation, that number almost doubled over the past 10 years.  To date, Boomer's foundation has raised over $80 million through a variety of charity events including golf tournaments to holiday shopping.  Most recently, the NYC marathon included Team Boomer, a group of 120 athletes who helped raised $500k for his foundation.  Go Team!!  During a CBS interview, I was impressed with one particular athlete, Hayli Hodson.  Hodson, who suffers from cyctic fibrosis, discussed her year long training and despite a few setbacks, managed to make it marathon day.  Yes, I cried and not because I felt sorry for her but because she was so mature and matter of fact about living with the disease.  The day I saw the interview, I was stressed over something (can't remember now) and watching this young woman speak to eloquently, made me feel stupid.  We tend to stress over superficial things when we all should be appreciating life!

Gunnar, now 19, is a freshman in Boston College and also inspiring!   In a joint interview with his dad, Gunnar discussed his life as a CF sufferer and his daily two hour treatment, which consists of clearing his lungs using a nebulizer and special vibrating vest that helps loosen excess chest mucus.



Father and Son



There are many athletes who use their celebrity status to help those in need instead of getting them into the latest hot spot and that, by far, is proving to be the ULTIMATE team player!  This story would get a big "Love That" stamp of approval from Oprah.

By the way, do you know of any other celebrity foundation?

5 Important Tips to Watching a Game with a Sports Fan

For years, my mom and mother-in-law have banned my husband and I from watching sports at their homes.  When I was in high school, my mother repeatedly told me that every time I yelled her blood pressure went sky high.   My mother-in-law, often talks about my husband's loud chant for more defense and that led to her buying him his own television.   In 2004, my husband, mother-in-law, and I were lucky to go to summer Olympics in Athens.   We bought tickets to several events and when she agreed to go the U.S Men's basketball game against Puerto Rico, I was shocked.  Did she forgot who she was about to see a game with?  Needless to say, after the game, she said she would never attend or watch another game with us again.  So, in an effort to help all the non-crazy sports fans, I decided to give them 5 important tips to make it through a game.

Number 1: Create a clear path away from the viewing area.

This tip can save a trip to the nearest Emergency Room.   Sports fans are very passionate and often jump, run, bang, and shadow box after great or awful plays.  Sure, yelling (tip 2) is the primary outlet but if you live in an apartment, the physical reaction to a play can land your sports fan in the hospital.  Gasp! They are missing the game because you forgot to keep the viewing area clutter free.  To avoid this scenario, it is critical to remove any coffee tables, chairs, magazine racks, plants, shoes, children's toys, food trays, and any other item that may cause a fall. 

Number 2: Ensure you have the right menu options.

After securing a safe viewing environment, the next essential tip is to have plenty of food, beverages (beer, water, and soda.   No wine and juice!  Please save that for another occasion.  If you got the goods, then you are almost prepared for the game.   The final menu option is throat lozenges.  Yes, I know that seems odd but after all the screaming throughout a game, the sports fan will thank you later.   If you don't have throat lozenges, honey is an acceptable substitution.
 

Number 3: Eliminate all non-essential commentaries and questions.

If you are a Chatty Kathy, this tip is especially critical for you to remember.  From the moment the game begins, you are allowed to yell, high five, clap, curse, eat, and drink but the one think you can't do is ask questions.  For example, if you are watching a game and the referee blows the whistle, don't immediately ask, "What happened?" because that will get you in trouble.   This will annoy the fan because they won't be able to hear the play by play announcer confirm the ruling on the field.  Don't worry about not initially knowing what's going on because once the fan knows, so will you.

Number 4: Avoid channel surfing.

Whatever you do, please don't make a move for the remote control.  Always keep in mind that a break in action or halftime is not an invitation to change to the channel. Sports fans can be as suspicious as athletes, so if their team is winning nothing must change and that includes the channel.  In the event that their team is losing, it is important to not that the same tip applies.  Actually, it is worse to make a play for the remote because they can miss a great comeback play.  Also, you don't want to give the fan a reason to take out their frustrations on you.  The best move here is no move at all.

Number 5: Wear the right team jersey.

This is the easiest of all tips.  As I mentioned in my first blog, Family, Sports, and Memories, wear a NY sports jersey.   For example, If you are going to watch the NY Jets, do not wear a New England Patriots or Miami Dolphins jersey.  If you don't have a Jets jersey, at least wear the team colors: green and white or throwback jersey colors: gold and navy blue.  If watching a Yankees game, do yourself a favor and do not wear a Boston Red Sox jersey.   If watching a Knicks game, well, frankly they don't have any rivalries like bad in the day with the Pacers and Heat but I am hoping for a return to playoff glory.

By the way,  What tips would you add to this list?

P.S.   Only tips 2, 3 and 5 apply when you are at an actual game.

Say Bye Bye to Shrink It and Pink It

It is about time the National Football League (NFL) kicked the “shrink it and pink it” philosophy to the curb and launched an apparel line for female sports fans.  I am sure we owe it all to a savvy marketing person who commissioned research study and discovered the extent of women's purchasing power.  I don't think the NFL needed the study because it is no secret that women shop a lot more than men and drive a lot of sales but every strategy needs numbers to back it up.  So, the plan was approved and the Fit for You apparel line was born.  Okay, time to retire the business talk and let's get down to the actual gear!

Alyssa Milano: Wearing cute laced up
NY Jets t-shirt.

Alyssa Milano: Sporting NY Giants
long sleeve shirt and jacket.

Did I mention how much I love the fact that my sports gear options are no longer between pink and baby blue?!  Serioulsy, I can remember going to the boys section at sporting goods stores trying to find the largest size that just might fit me and being so frustrated that I couldn't find my NY Yankees Andy Pettitte jersey.  Now, women have their own section!  If I was in the end zone, I would do a touchdown dance and just might wear high heel cleats.  What I love about this line is that it includes a wide range of price points from $4 - $150.  The line includes t-shirts, jerseys (and NOT just in pink!) pajamas, and other apparel with team logos and can be purchased on their website as well as retailers such as Kohl's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Walmart.  LOVE IT!    





Also, I was happy to see that the ad campaign featured some of the NFL wives as well as celebrities like Alyssa Milano (above) to promote the line.  Again, great marketing!   Of course, the bestdecision was to include  Michelle Ryan (wife of NY Jets coach, Rex Ryan) who represents our team so well.  Go Jets!  



Michelle Ryan proudly wearing my
5-1 Jets gear!



 By the way, what do you think of the NFL's Fit for You line? 


P.S.  I look forward to buying my Jim Leonard, Dustin Keller, and Mark Sanchez NY Jets Jerseys in MY size!   Oh wait, I forgot about Bart Scott!