Freddy Adu, 14-Year Old Professional Soccer Athlete

Interesting story about a drafted professional soccer athlete from the African republic of Ghana who has recently completed on November 18, 2009, his six year contract with United team in the Major League Soccer. Of noteworthiness is the fact that he is the youngest and most highest paid since the inception of the MLS. Adu’s basic salary is $500,000 with increasing earnings as he signs into agreement with sporting goods sponsors. Adu is reported saying that he intends to financially assist his single mother with his earnings. Despite the high level of stress this adolescent will experience in professional sport, he perceives this opportunity as "I know I'm not going to be at my best every day. I know there are going to be days when I'm going to be terrible. I chose this life as my career, so I have to deal with it."

Iman Leong KIN 332I

New NFL head concussion management procedures in effect

The NFL is a role model sports league that instigated new head concussion management. If an athlete were to exhibit symptoms of concussion, they are to be removed from either their practice session or game and restricted from reentry unless they are more thoroughly examined by the team physician and neurosurgeon. Since last week, there have been four players: Jamal Lewis (Cleveland Browns), Brodney Pool (Cleveland Browns), Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) that have been prevented from playing in scheduled games. These new procedures are the result of a one year medical investigation commissioned by the NFL to study former football players of the past who experienced multiple untreated concussions during their careers in the league, and now presently have dementia and motor control problems such as 1971’s Baltimore Colts John Mackey whose touchdown won his team the Super Bowl that year. Repeated concussions can result in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Currently the NFL provides one hundred former athletes $88,000 per year to support their long-term medical expenses.

Iman Leong KIN 332I

Cowboys in December

It is the month of December and as any Dallas Cowboy fan knows, this is when our team crumbles. Since 1996 in the month of December the Cowboys are 18-32. The media has claimed this as Dallas’s curse. They have already played their first game in the month of December and lost to the New York Giants 31-24. Usually the quarterback, Tony Romo, got the blame for losing the games down the stretch but that wasn't the case. He was 41-55 throwing for 392 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. If that didn’t help them to win against the Giants then I don’t know how they are going to win their next couple of games. Their next game is against the San Diego Chargers, who are 9-3, and then against the undefeated New Orleans Saints. Well, now that Jessica Simpson is out of the picture that might give us a better chance at winning.
Kevin M. KIN332i Sec.2

Parents Gone Wild

Recently I have gone to little league baseball games to watch my fiance umpire. At each game I have sat through, I have been tempted to bring a video camera to tape the parents in the stands. These parents are yelling at their kids while they are up to bat, arguing with the coaches to put in a new pitcher and screaming at the umpire to make better calls. I am not trying to say that excitement is not allowed at the field ever but these little 9 and 10 year old kids are put under so much pressure to perform like professionals. Parents are sitting beside the dug outs near the plate just waiting to give a quick few pointers to their kids on how to bat. At each pitch the parents are yelling at the child on how to adjust and what they should do better next swing. These types of comments are not the same as "Good Eye Johnny", they are remarks with an underlying tone for the kid to do better next time or else. Parents take out almost all of the fun for these kids by pressuring them to perform a certain way. If parents were video-taped and shown the way they behave, would they see that they are yelling at 9 and 10 year old kids to play as if they were 25 years old with 15 years of experience? Would they see the look in their kids eyes that explains how much pressure they are under or are do they really only have an agenda for themselves?

J. Zeeb
005032610
Kin 332 : T/Th 9:30-10:45

Barry Bonds Career is Dead

Barry Bonds has played 22 seasons in the major leagues and now his career is finally officially over at age 45. Bonds has been out of baseball for two years because of his ongoing steriod or "performance-enhancing drugs" scandal that still has the public and media talking today. I hope people can remember his 762 homers, 14 All-Star Games, seven NL MVP awards and many many more honors, and not just his illegal drug use.

M.Lisnock KIN 332I

The Pressure of being a champion

When ever a team or individual becomes a champion or champions of their sports there is added pressure to perform. Most athletes want to keep their title, belt or status. This is definately true for the light weight UFC champion BJ Penn. He is going for his third title defense against Diego Sanchez on Saturday. This fight is extremely hyped up and should be a good one. Diego has not lost a fight since 2007 and is ramped up and ready to go, but BJ has his own agenda and is the top ranked fighter at 155 in the world. I am rooting for BJ because he is a humble guy and is the best MMA fighter at Brazilian jujitsu. I wonder if the pressure of being the best in the world is taking a toll on his training and his drive to win. Either way I hope the best fighter wins and that the pressure does not get to BJ.

J. Cruickshank KIN 332I