Sports and their Effect on Society

(I wanted to digress a little bit today. I figure it's time to take a small break from all the chaos surrounding Clemens. I think we all owe the man a day off, along with that McNamee fella. Anyhow I had to write a speech for my web design class and as I was writing it I thought it would make a great entry. So I hope you enjoy it!)


It is easy to argue that sports DO NOT define an era, considering many people regard them as useless, overpaid athletes, playing kids games. However, that is not the entire truth. Let's recall some of sports' most recent defining moments, shall we?

Where were you when the 2004 Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years? Or when they won the World Series AGAIN last October?

Where were you when the New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl in franchise history back in 2001?

Where were you in 1986 when Boston Red Sox rookie sensation Roger Clemens struck-out 20 batters in one-game? Were you even born yet? I for one was not.

Where were you when the Mitchell Report came out and Clemens was accused of using steroids and human-growth hormone?

Where were you last summer when Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's all-time home run record?

You may not recall exactly WHERE you were in these instances (or any of sports greatest instances for that matter) but we all reacted in some way when we heard the news. Some people simply didn't care and felt there are more important issues to worry about. Others might state they did not find any of these great triumphs significant. But let's think about it, how do you think the people of Boston reacted after the Red Sox won that first World Series title in 86 years?

For the most part everyone was excited and gleaming with joy after the "Curse of the Babe" was reversed. (Except my Father and I of course) Many people even called out of work the next day, simply to celebrate the Red Sox amazing feat.

One way or another, we all find out about sports and their happenings. Whether it be Roger Clemens on Capitol Hill defending his innocence or Eli Manning's Super Bowl XLII upset of a powerhouse New England Patriots team, we always find out what is happening in the sports world, even if we don't really care about it.

When I signed online after Super Bowl XLII, I noticed EVERYONE was talking about how the Patriots blew the game, even GIRLS who I know for a fact DON'T CARE ABOUT SPORTS. Everyone was intrigued by the event in one way or another. Some were happy, some were mad, and of course a very select few didn't care.

However, we will always remember where we were when we heard the Patriots lost Super Bowl XLII, or where we were when we found out Roger Clemens was accused of using steroids throughout the latter portion of his career.

For most of us in the technological world we live in today, we were using our computers when we discovered the news, or reacted to it in some fashion. For instance, I remember after Super Bowl XLII I signed online and was immediately instant messaged by 50 of my friends asking, "HOW THE HELL DID THE PATRIOTS LOSE?!". Most of all however, I remember being instant messaged by a particular female friend of mine. She HATES sports and although she is a close friend, she REFUSES to read my blog. However, even she was caught up in the Patriots loss, wondering what the hell happened to the team that was supposed to go 19-0.

Even if you don't particularly care about sports and their happenings, you will eventually manage to find out what happened in last night's game, today's game and, of course, tomorrows game. Whether it be when you sign online or when you turn on your television there is no real way of avoiding sports. You could seclude yourself on a desert island and still you will manage to come across some "idiot fan" who knows what happened in last night's game.

Think back to the great wars of the past and how sports helped people get through the hard times. One example I can think of is how baseball helped people get through the harsh times following World War II. A number of United States citizens were at odds over the war wondering if they would ever feel safe again. Baseball produced some of its all-time greatest icons during this era including two of the greatest hitters of all-time, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams.

Joe DiMaggio as a baseball player was phenomenol (Joltin' Joe as he was called.) This paved the way into Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe's lover. DiMaggio became a cultural icon who defined what it was to be an American in the 1940s. Not only was DiMaggio from an immigrant family, but he too was a war hero who went on to live the "American Dream".

Sports are important to society because they are a means of escaping reality. I , for one, know that I watch baseball to escape the everyday happenings of the world. I can watch a baseball game and not have to worry about what time it is or who is starving in Africa. Although that may sound cold-hearted and heartless, I in no means intend it to come across that way.

In my opinion, sports provide a safe haven from the atrocities of modern culture, and therefore help define an era, in that, they help people escape the harshness of reality. They can forget about all the horrible things that occur on a daily basis around the world. Foremost, they help people realize that life isn't so bad here in the United States, and they produce role models and icons for our children to look up to.

Because of the evolving world of computer-mediated communication, we are always exposed to things that we don't want to be exposed to, like sports. Some people might hate politics, but still find themselves in coversations about politics or reading about them. Much like some people hate sports, but still find themselves reading the sports page everyday or involved in conversations about sports. The evolution of the internet has become a staple for allowing people to be exposed to such things. So for anyone to say that sports don't define an era, they are sorely mistaken.

Just think of how the lives of the people of Boston changed after that final out in the 2004 World Series, or the 2007 World Series for that matter. I know my life was changed, especially as a lifelong New York Yankees fan living in Massachusetts. Not only did I think that the Red Sox would never win a World Series in my lifetime, how could I have expected they would win two?! The Red Sox World Series victories helped define my era, as a Yankee fan,because I was alive to bear witness to an event that many though would never take place, let alone twice. Most of all, I was a member of the Yankee Empire when it fell that fateful October evening in 2004.

With all of the crazy things that have been going on in the sports world, from Spygate to Nanny-gate , I just can't wait for the baseball season to start. Maybe then it will help us forget about the steroid era and look towards the next era of sports...

Asterisks ...with a side of Perjury

According to a member of the Congressional House Oversight Committee that is investigating the use of steroids in baseball, Andy Pettitte provided members of Congress with a testimony that implicates seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens as a steroid user. On Monday, Pettitte, along with former teammate Chuck Knoblauch and former New York Mets trainer Kirk Radomski, was excused from the public hearing scheduled for this upcoming Wednesday.

It is unclear as to why the three were excused from the hearing. Speculation has led a number of experts to believe that the information the three provided at their individual private hearings last week, is harmful towards Clemens and his claim that he has never used steroids or any other form of performance-enhancing drugs.

At first, I was unsure what to think about the latest allegations by former trainer Brian McNamee about Clemens alleged steroid use. Last week when McNamee claimed to have physical evidence that could implicate Clemens, I found it VERY hard to believe. Considering the fact that Senator George Mitchell specifically asked McNamee if he had any physical proof that could implicate the persons’ he alleged used steroids (Clemens/Pettitte), McNamee claimed at the time he did not. After he miraculously turned over the evidence to Congress last week, I immediately thought that McNamee had manufactured the evidence.

Now I am unsure what to think. The greatest pitcher of my lifetime could REALLY be a steroid user. (Go ahead and argue with me, no one pitcher compares to “the Rocket” over the past 20 years, statistically) I have tried very hard over the last month to remain unbiased on my opinion of Clemens and his alleged steroid use. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, which most people denied him. I am a strong believer in innocent until proven guilty; however I am also a strong believer that friends don’t lie about their friends. Therefore, if Pettitte really did state Clemens used steroids, then I am going to have to believe Pettitte.

Pettitte and Clemens have spent the last 9 seasons working together on the same teams. Pitching every other day and working out on their off-days together helped them develop a strong friendship. If anyone knows the truth about Clemens, it’s Pettitte.

Pettitte has already admitted that Brian McNamee injected him with human-growth-hormones in the 2002 season. Furthermore, Pettitte immediately made his guilt known following the release of the Mitchell Report which McNamee implicated Pettitte and Clemens as steroid users.

Therefore, I find it hard to believe that Pettitte would lie to Congress about him and Clemens’ steroid use. Pettitte is devout to his Christian faith and beliefs (think of the retreat he went on in December 2007 after admitting his steroid use). Pettitte is a stand-up guy, a class-act and, above all, honest! IF PETTITTE SAYS CLEMENS TOOK STEROIDS, THEN CLEMENS TOOK STEROIDS.

I guess we will find the truth in the next coming days. Unless of course that is Clemens attempts to maintain his innocence before the Congressional Committee tomorrow morning. Which would then mean that Clemens or McNamee is committing perjury, which is a felony that is not taken lightly in the American Justice System.

So there goes Roger Clemens the “Greatest Pitcher of the Last 20 Years” ****…..I guess now we can start with the asterisks next to all those achievements….

Boy have I been busy!

Within the last few days, there have been a number of issues that I have yet to respond to. I apologize for the delay. For the record, I was not “mourning” the New England Patriots loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

It was indeed one of the biggest upsets since the 2004 American League Championship Series, which the New York Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox despite being up 3-0 in a best-of-seven series (the Yankees went on to lose the next four games). Furthermore, the Yankees lost a trip to the World Series. I guess payback sucks. Although I did not particularly enjoy the Giants victory, because all of MY predictions were WRONG, I have been very VERY busy with college and therefore have been unable to update. So here we go:

1- Obviously the number one topic on a lot of peoples minds around here is indeed that Super Bowl upset, so let’s make this as brief as possible. Flat out, the Patriots stunk! They came out flat from the get-go Tom Brady looked like a deer in headlights because the offensive line could not give him any protection and most importantly the Giants defensive line was simply too fast and too strong for the Patriot blockers.

One could easily blame the game on the coaching staff because of their failure to run the ball and control the clock, but let’s face it people the Patriots lineman did NOT do their job therefore the Patriots did NOT win the Super Bowl and finish the dream 19-0 season. Had the Patriots ran the ball more it wasn’t going to get them any further because the blocking was simply not there.

Let us not forget Giants QB Eli Manning, he DID have a good game, as a slight sickness brews inside my stomach (it hurts to even say that a Manning beat us). However, let’s face it New England the Patriots were simply out-played, out-hustled and out-coached. Congratulations to the New York Giants, Super Bowl XLII Champions.

2- What is going on with Brian McNamee? I am finding it hard to believe that the evidence he provided to the government is valid. Last year when asked by federal prosecutors if he had any physical evidence that could link Roger Clemens to steroid/human growth hormone usage he said “no”. Why is it over a year later he suddenly reveals that he does have such evidence?

McNamee turned over vials, syringes, color photographs of testosterone and needles to government officials today during his deposition hearing. What exactly McNamee discussed during his deposition hearing is classified as confidential. However, we can be sure that next week during the House Oversight Committee hearing with McNamee, Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch and Kirk Radomski, that one of the individuals will be lying and therefore committing perjury, a felony that is not taken lightly in our country’s court system. (Although Pettitte is at a lesser chance of committing perjury because he has already admitted to his usage of HGH and Radomski was sentenced Friday to 5 years probation and an undisclosed fine)

3-SHAQUILLE O’NEAL TO THE PHOENIX SUNS? LeBRON JAMES MUST BE GOING INSANE! Honestly, are the Cleveland Cavaliers trying to drive LeBron out of town when his contract expires?
LeBron has been putting up insane numbers over the past six games. He has scored over 30 points in five of the Cavaliers six games, most recently scoring 32 Thursday night in a loss to Houston. This season he is averaging 30 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game.

Meanwhile it looks as if the Phoenix Suns are going for it all with this trade. They traded power forward Shawn Marion and point-guard Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat in exchange for O’Neal, who is now 36 years old. His size and age will force the Suns to restructure their offense during the All-Star break.

The Suns will convert current center Amare Stoudamire back to his normal position as a power forward, while Shaq will assume the role as the teams’ new center. Meanwhile, Suns point guard Steve Nash will have a field day feeding the ball to Shaq and Stoudamire in the low-post area. As we all know Nash is probably the most talented and smartest point guards in the NBA. Sometimes it looks as if he plays on pure instinct while he makes the hardest things look so simple.

4-When I found out about Curt Schilling’s “bicipital injury”, (an injury that has NEVER happened before in MLB and doesn’t even exist in the dictionary), I believed it was a blessing in disguise for the Boston Red Sox. If Schilling does indeed come back from the shoulder/”bicipital” injury (boy what a stupid name for an injury the name makes the injury hard to believe), the Red Sox will be able to keep gifted phenom pitcher Clay Bucholz fresh towards the end of the season.

According to Schilling’s blog (38pitches.com) he believes he could be ready to return after the All-Star Break in July. If the Red Sox were smart they would try to impose an innings limit on Bucholz, in order to keep him from exhausting himself at an early age. The New York Yankees currently have innings limits set on their top-three pitching prospects: Philip Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy. However, the details of the constraints have not been disclosed to the public.


5-Speaking of which, the New York Yankees announced today that the new stadium being built across from the current “House That Ruth Built” on 167th Street in Bronx, NY, (a place all too familiar too me), will indeed keep its name Yankee Stadium, (or as I like to call it The Stadium). They have decided against making it a commercial ballpark with sponsors, such as Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay or Petco Field in San Diego.

All I can say about this is: would you expect anything less from the most renowned team in the Planet? The Yankees are the most traditional sports organization of all time. (In my opinion, the Boston Celtics are the second most traditional; although they do have commercial advertisements, the word “garden” is still present in their new stadium TD Banknorth Garden in Boston)

The Yankees could never change the name of Yankee Stadium, hell they could not even move it out of the Bronx, as owner George Steinbrenner once dreamed of doing. Instead, the Yankees spent a record $1.3 billion on the new confines, which may well be regarded as the most fan friendly ballpark in the major leagues once it opens and the entire construction project is complete. Keep in mind that the Yankees had to shelf out $600 million to the New York City Parks and Recreation Department and the New York City Transit Authority in order to build new playgrounds for children as well as new subway stops.


Well that’s it for this week folks, hopefully next week I won’t be so busy. Until then enjoy your week, and keep your heads up New England the Boston Celtics are 38-9.


P.S.: If anyone wants to read a pair of unbelievable baseball books check out David Halberstam's October 1964 and Summer of '49.