Gearing Up for London

With less than 100 days until the torch is lit in London for the start of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, London and the world are gearing up and preparing for the hype of it all.

In London, the city is preparing for an influx of tourist to the area during the two week stretch of the Olympics.  Currently the average price of a hotel room in the city is 208 pounds, which is roughly $338. The Olympic Organizing committee previously had a large portion of rooms reserved but is beginning to open up some of those rooms to the public which is bringing the average room price down in the city every day.

British airports are also preparing for high tourist traffic.  Concerns have already brought to attention at Heathrow airport, where lines at immigration desks have been unexpectedly long.  With a large amount of people due in for the Olympics at the end of July, the problem is being worked on.

”The vast majority of passengers pass through immigration control quickly. Queues are caused by a number of factors, including incorrect flight manifests or early or late planes which result in bunching,” said Brian Moore, head of the U.K. Border Force.

He continued saying the airport was, “”fully prepared to manage busy periods during the Olympics and will be implementing our well-rehearsed plans.”

Ticket sales for the Games continue in London, while many tickets have been distributed it is not impossible to grab some tickets for events. Buying last minute tickets doesn’t come without a price though, ticketing packages that include swimming finals and lodging can run as high as $4,700 according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  The paper also reports that sing event tickets are still available for sports such as basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball.

What about those of us who can’t commit to traveling across the pond for the Games?  The social media is coming alive for Olympic fans everywhere this year.  USA Today reported on a new fan experience for Olympic junkies available at hub.olympic.org.  The site will play off the Facebook and Twitter pages of over 1,000 Olympic athletes to bring all the updates to one central location.  The site will also feature interaction between athletes and fans by hosting “chat sessions” with athletes.  According to USA Today, “The Hub also will offer fans exclusive access to Olympic legends such as Mark Spitz, Nadia Comaneci and Edwin Moses.”  The Hub will be insider access to fans across everyone with hopes of getting in the action.

The Games will also get their normal following on all facets of NBC broadcasting.  The Today Show has added Ryan Seacrest as an Olympic correspondent this year, and has confirmed that Matt Lauer will also return to his Olympic commentating duties.

American athletes are strengthening up and getting ready to get back in the swing of Olympic competition as well.  26 year old Michael Phelps will enter the Olympic swimming pool for his fourth, and final time.  An end of an era of sorts for swimming, as Phelps has dominated the pool in his previous three Olympic appearances. While it has not yet been confirmed, the three-time Olympic gold-medalist and NBC swimming analyst, Rowdy Gaines predicts Phelps will enter the pool in seven events.

Other notable athletes returning to action include; 20 year old gymnast Shawn Johnson, sprinting star Usain Bolt of Jamaica, and New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. British soccer coaches are also making their way to the United States to access if 36 year-old David Beckham will make the cut for the British team.

Whether you are in the action in London, online at The Hub, or glued to NBC on your television, the Summer 2012 London Olympics are sure to give fans everywhere an experience like no other between July 27^th and August 12^th.

A Love of the Game: an Excerpt from my feature story

The world of Collegiate athletics is a tough one, especially when you are at the bottom of the totem pole in your position. If the love of the sport is strong enough though, players don’t mind waiting it out.

Jill Carneglia is a sophomore who currently finds herself as a third seen catcher on the Western New England softball team.  She laughed when asked if she could be interviewed saying, “Are you sure? I barely ever play.”

Finding herself in the dugout for the entirety of many games throughout the season has not broken Carneglia’s spirit though.  For two consecutive season’s she has watched as seniors dominate the role of catcher, but for her it is a learning experience.

” My coach did not give the girls playing time just because they were seniors, but rather that they worked hard and earned their position on the field. Watching them play and the way they demand control out on the field has served a great example of what I aspire to be.”

The process of reaching her dreams to become the starting catcher for WNE mean that Carneglia has to balance the life of full-time student and division 3 collegiate athlete, something she says is hard; but doable.

“Something about being a collegiate athlete that a lot of people don’t know is that your sport becomes a big part of your life. Playing a sport while in college is a balancing act with all of the other commitments students have.”

For Carneglia, softball gives her a support group on campus.  Her teamates are her family and she would sit the bench everyday if it meant she could still be around them.  While she looks towards playing more and raising her batting average, the memories are what keep her going.

“Although being a collegiate athlete is a big time commitment, it really brings out a love for the game. You are surrounded by it for most of the school year and it becomes part of your daily routine. Your best friends are usually your teammates and many memories are made on and off the field.”

New Park… Old Park

This year marks two milestones in baseball, the first birthday of Miami’s new ballpark, and the 100 anniversary of Fenway Park.

If free agents based their choice in team on ballpark, it would be like an episode of House Hunters.  Do you want the brand new 37,000 seat Marlins Park complete with aquarium backstops? Maybe you fancy the Picturesque view of Pittsburgh’s skyline at PNC Park, a middle-aged park built in 2001? Or do you want the historic charm of Fenway Park, which now finds itself on the National Register of Historic Places?

So what is better, brand new, or historic and iconic?  Each option seems to have its share of pros and cons.

The brand new Marlins Park in Miami is the new home of the Miami Marlins (formerly the Florida Marlins) and offers state-of-the-art features that would never been possible in the early days of baseball.

The most notable feature of the park is the retractable roof, which seems to be a staple of most new parks.  This allows for baseball to be played no matter what the weather in Miami is like.  There is also the oh so talked about aquarium backstops.  The backstops to the left and right of home plate contain 600 gallon salt water aquariums enforced with 1.5 inch clear-acrylic panels. A large piece of art, very influenced by the culture of Miami, sits in center field.  When a home run is hit by a Marlins player this piece of art will animate for 30 seconds to commemorate the feat.

Other notable aspects of this modern park include, LED lighting effects, a pool with swim-up bar, and other notable pieces of art in and around the park.

While these features are fun and will draw in fans to see the new spectacle that is Marlins Park, can new really beat the nostalgic feel of a historic park?

100 years ago, April 20^th, 1912.  The news was filled with the tragic sinking of the Titanic five days prior, but the 20^th gave way to a joyous moment; the first game ever played in Fenway Park.

When it was built it cost $650,000 (today that would be around $15 million) and it stands as the oldest active sports venue in the United States.  It has recently been added to the National Register of Historic Places which will preserve the park for generations to come.

Fenway Park celebrates its 100th birthday this year. (Photo: Hannah Berling)

So with no retractable roof, no animatronic home run celebration, and dozens of obstructed view seats, why would anyone prefer a 100 year old ballpark? It’s simple, Fenway Park is baseball.

The Marlins can’t say that Babe Ruth played in their ballpark, or that they have a seat marking Ted Williams’ monumental home run.  Marlins Park hasn’t seen any playoff games, no all-star celebrations, and it also isn’t located in one of the most historic cities in the United States.

So yes, you may have an obstructed view, your legs may be crammed into your seat, and parking may be near impossible but it will take roughly 100 years until Marlins Park can ever even come close to the thrill of Fenway.

A Girl in “Guy Territory”: My March Madness Experiences

Whoever put the word “madness” in March Madness, definitely got it right.  It isn’t just the teams on the court feeling the madness though, no, the madness is brought out in just about every person who fills out a bracket.

Bets get placed, trash talking starts up, everyone catches NCAA basketball fever, and I find myself smack dab in the middle of it all.

I do not consider myself a feminist in any meaning of the word, but when it comes to sports… I REALLY like to beat boys.

I enter the bracket competition the underdog, and I get that.  I am a girl that people only really know for being a baseball fan.  People know that my eyes are never locked on a basketball game, but people who know me well know that I pay attention.

Prior to March Madness I’m aware of what is being said on ESPN, I hear NCAA junkies talk about the goings on in college basketball, I come to know a lot more than may meet the eye.

I also play my bracket carefully.  I know that there will always be those incredible upsets (let’s not mention what Pitt’s loss last year did to my bracket) but I don’t bank on those.  I use the numbers when I fill out my bracket.  Sure, there were the times early on in my bracket career when I had the 14 seed Air Force Academy winning the whole thing just because it sounded fun.  Now though, you will not see a 14 seed topple a 1 seed in my bracket.

I also am not afraid to go against the grain when I feel it is appropriate.  In my bracket this year this occurred when I saw the match-up of 8 seed Iowa and 9 seed Uconn.  I listened to what those around me said leading up to Selection Sunday, Uconn has been losing.  Yet, when I discussed this match up with many people they still picked Uconn to win this game out of loyalty, being so close to the school.  Not me, I’m playing Moneyball on this one, and lately the statistics are in Iowa’s favor.

I can’t lie though, I do have one tool that helps me with my bracket every now and then, especially in tricky situations with close seeded teams… my brother.

I know what you are thinking, no, my brother does not fill out my bracket for me.  I do call him though, and I do say, “Nick, I need to beat boys and I don’t know who to choose between the 8 seed and the 7 seed match!”  He never tells me, “pick team x” he only talks about the two teams with me and then leaves me to make the decision on my own.

I probably won’t win the grand prize in the ESPN bracket competition, but I will have fun, and I will hold my own against the boys.  Last year was my first extremely good run at March Madness (would have been better no thanks to Pittsburgh) and I did manage to beat out all but one guy in my ESPN group.

So boys of Western New England University and beyond, while this may be stereotyped as a “guy thing” some of us girls make a run for our money when it comes to March Madness.

Great Sports Writing: Jason Varitek Retires

When writing sports stories, one must take into consideration what other people have already written.  If you can find the articles that make you want to read one, you can study them and produce your own stories of equal quality.

Recently I read a story that sparked my attention.  It is an Associated Press article by JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Baseball Writer, on the retirement of Jason Varitek.

What made me love this article was the emotion that was conveyed through the writing.  I watched Varitek’s press conference on TV and it was an extremely emotional event.  Krawczynski was able to translate that emotion into his writing and deliver it in this article.

The first two lines are attention grabbers and I enjoy the parrallel between them.  He first points out how as a player, Varitek held back his emotions, but how that crumbled when he stepped up to the podium to retire.

Other aspects of the article that I liked is that he had quotes from numerous people, not just Varitek, and he used language that was creative and interesting to read.

“If Dustin Pedroia is the heart of the Red Sox and David Ortiz is the soul, Varitek was the steel spine that held everything together.”

Where Have all the “Idiots” Gone?

I remember yelling at them to “Cowboy Up!” in 2003.  I referred to them as a group of “Idiots” in 2004.

Those were the Red Sox I loved.  I became an avid fan of the Red Sox towards the end of the 2002 season, and hit my obsession stage (which I still hold today) by Opening Day of 2003.

The 2004 Champion Red Sox were what Kevin Millar called, "A bunch of idiots." (Photo: Hannah Berling)

But where have all my beloved Red Sox gone?

In the last two weeks I have watched both Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek stand at a podium at the brand new Jet Blue Ballpark in Fort Myers, Fla. and declare to all of Red Sox Nation that they were retiring.

David Ortiz.  The only name on the 2012 Red Sox roster who was present for both the emotional end to the 2003 season, and the amazing moment that was the World Series victory of 2004.

Where have all the members of the “Cowboy Up” team and the “Idiots” gone?

In the years since those two memorable seasons players have gone in all sorts of directions.  Retirement has hit many of the notable names from those rosters such as Garciaparra, Cabrera, Wakefield, Varitek, Foulke, and Martinez.  But what about the lesser known players who made those years so exciting and memorable?

Millar, Mueller, Nixon, Walker, Mientkiewicz, Bellhorn, names that make me think back to those Red Sox.  But where are these players now? Some have retired and doing other things, other answers may surprise you.

Kevin Millar and Mark Bellhorn were both members of the 2004 team. (Photo: Hannah Berling)

Kevin Millar:

The man who coined both “Cowboy Up!” and “We’re just a bunch of idiots”, left the Red Sox in after the 2005 season and signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006.  From there he joined the Blue Jays in 2009 and the Cubs signed him in February of 2010, when he did not make the roster though Millar opted for retirement on April 21^st, 2010.

Today Millar is working with the MLB Network co-hosting the channel’s original show “International Talk”.  He is also a father to four children, all under the age of six.

Bill Mueller:

The man whose name no one could pronounce right (it is pronounced Miller), also left the Red Sox after the 2005 season.  Mueller joined the Dodgers in 2006.  Due to his need to undergo a third knee surgery he only played 32 games with the Dodgers.

Since then Mueller has held many positions within the Dodgers organization including special assistant to the GM and hitting coach.  After the 2007 season Mueller joined the Dodgers’ front office staff.

Trot Nixon:

The man whose hat never seemed to be clean, left the Red Sox after the 2006 season.  Nixon then joined the Indians in 2007 followed by the Diamondbacks in 2008 where he played for the AAA affiliate.  Nixon continued the 2008 season playing with the Mets.  After being released from the Brewers organization in 2009, Nixon officially retired from baseball.

Today Nixon now co-hosts a high school football highlight show on WWAY-TV in North Carolina.

Todd Walker:

One of my personal favorite 2003 Red Sox was Todd Walker, who left the organization to join the Cubs in 2004.  In July of 2006 Walker was traded to San Diego but was released by the team in March of 2007.  He was picked up by the A’s but was released two months later.

Todd Walker has not been involved in anything notable since his release from baseball.

Doug Mientkiewicz:

Everyone remembers Mientkiewicz for catching the ball for the final out that led to the Red Sox 2004 World Series victoy.  He left the Sox after that season and joined the New York Mets.  Mientkiewicz was also involved in a legal battle over the ball that made the final out of the World Series, in the end the ball landed in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He played for the Royals in 2006 and signed a one year deal with the Yankees in 2007.  Mientkiewicz has also made appearances with the Pirates, Dodgers, and Marlins until 2009.

In the 2010 season, he worked as an analyst for the MLB post-season on CBSSports.com.

Mark Bellhorn:

Mark Bellhorn was the player everyone loved to hate.  He left the team when they released him part way through the 2005 season and was picked up by the Yankees shortyl thereafter.  In 2006 he played with both the Yankees and the Padres.  After jumping between the majors and the minors with Cinncinatti in 2007 and moved on to minor league deals with the Dodgers and Rockies in 2008 and 2009.

There is no word on where Bellhorn is now; MLB.com has him listed as inactive since 2007.

Don’t get me wrong I love Pedroia and Ellsbury but nothing compares to those teams of 2003 and 2004.  There was so much personality in those teams and it all came out of players who did not end up being the powerhouse players of today.  It was pure drive, and a desire to win that helped propel these underdogs to where they got, and it provided them with times they will never forget, and neither will fans.

Brooms Aren’t Just for the Kitchen Anymore

Boots sliding across ice,  a semi-deflated soccer ball, and a common household item used as a hockey stick.

Every February in Charlestown, NH, a hockey tournament is played.  This isn’t your everyday game of ice hockey though.

This is broom hockey.

Broom Hockey is a time-honored tradition in Charlestown. (Photo: Simone Chuda)

Charlestown has played host to the annual Broom Hockey Winter Carnival for as long as members of the town can remember.  Teams form every year to take part in the time honored tradition.

The rules of the game are simple. Stay on your feet, don’t raise your broom above your waist, and try to get the soccer ball into the opposing goal.

Charlestown resident, Dani Ferland, 22, is a second generation broom hockey athlete.

“I play broom hockey because it’s kind of a family tradition. My dad and all his friends have been playing for years now and growing up seeing it every year made me love it! Just running around, well trying to run, and having fun with your friends is the best part. You don’t have to be an amazing hockey player to play, just throw a bunch of people together and you got yourself a team.”

Another resident, Danielle Perry, 20, grew up watching her brothers play the sport until she was old enough to grab her own broom.

“I instantly had to play because my brothers made me, and I thought it was an awful game because I suck at it, but then again everyone is an awful player because it is just so slippery! It’s a blast watching everyone make a fool out of themselves slipping everywhere, add a little competition to that and you got yourself a great weekend.”

The ice becomes to slippery for this participant. (Photo: Dani Ferland)

Slippery, an adjective that almost everyone you talk to will use to describe the sport.  Most of the time the top layer of ice has started to melt so once your boots hit that surface keeping your balance becomes an art form.  For most regular participants in the game though, sliding and falling is their favorite part.

“As we all get older we don’t have as many ways to be competitive and broom hockey is a way we can still do that. It’s cold you get hurt, it’s wonderful,” Cory Smith, 21, stated.

The event has become such a time honored tradition that people who have moved away come back just to participate in the tournament.  College students leave campus and return to play, people who have moved out of state return, and local businesses close so that they can sponsor a team.

“I love playing Broom Hockey not only because of my love for the game of Hockey itself, but for the camaraderie that is shared amongst fellow friends and total strangers. What is better than slipping on ice, smacking a semi-deflated soccer ball with a corn broom, and then going to heat up next to a nice bonfire in a beautiful New England town,” says Aaron Perkins, who returned home from college this year to participate.

Overall the day is used as a time to bond, reunite, and have fun.  When not on the ice people are huddled around a bonfire warming up, sipping hot chocolate, and enjoy each other’s company.

“It is certainly a unique ‘sport’ that has become popular to our town! I love the competitiveness along with the comedy in the game as people are sliding in their shoes struggling to get the soccer ball. Relaxing and warming up to the local food and fire is a treat too. It is crazy to think that teams travel from out of state to participate too. Broom Hockey is a great day of exercise tied with friends and laughter! I can proudly say I have been a Champion as well,” stated second generation participant Simone Chuda, 20, who plays alongside her siblings.

Broom Hockey is an action packed tradition. (Photo: Simone Chuda)

It is a small town tradition that brings people together.  The ambulance on site may make it look intimidating, but really it is just good old New Hampshire fun.

Too Early to Make Predictions?

This weekend pitchers and catcher will be making their way to either Florida or Arizona to begin kick-off Spring Training and mark the official start to the 2012 Major League Baseball season.

Red Sox gear is loaded into a truck to travel from Boston to Fort Myers. (Photo: Boston.com)

While the players settle back into their workouts, slide on their cleats, and prep their throwing arms; baseball fanatics all around the country are beginning to make their wagers on what teams have what it takes to go all the way this year.

Before predictions are made though, it is important for all baseball geeks out there to remember that the 2012 season marks the beginning of each league being granted two Wild Card spots.

Spring Training and a 165 game season stand between players arriving this weekend and the playoff, so is it too early to make predictions? Magazines and websites sure don’t seem to think so, as they are making early guesses left an right.

Walk into any bookstore and pick out a baseball 2012 preview magazine, within the first few pages you will find their playoff predictions.

Athlon Sports Baseball 2012 Preview is calling the World Series to be a victory for Texas as they defeat Philadelphia. According to their magazine the American leagues playoff spots will belong to New York, Detroit, Texas, and a wildcard victory for Tampa Bay and Los Angeles. They are predicting National League spots for Philidelphia, St. Louis, San Fransisco, and a wildcard spot for Cincinnati and Arizona.

BleacherReport.com may not make a World Series prediction just yet but they do agree with Athlon that both Los Angeles and San Fransisco will find their way into the playoff this year. The site also predicts that Atlanta will return to post season play in 2012.

Cinncinatti, a team that has not seen post season play since 1995 has been predicted to make it to October in multiple publications including; Athlon, Lindy’s, and USA Today’s 2012 Baseball Magazine.

So while the players break in their gloves and starts swinging the bats, make your picks for the season. Will you be jumping on the Cinncinatti bandwagon? Do you see a brighter future for the Red Sox than they saw in 2011?

As everyone knows, in the world of baseball only time will tell.

The Price of Being a Fan

While teams prepare their rosters in Florida and Arizona, baseball fans prepare their wallets for the upcoming MLB season.

How much are avid baseball fans willing to pay for tickets to see their favorite on home turf?  For fans of some teams, it is enough to break the bank.

Members of Red Sox Nation know the hardships of buying tickets.  Hours spent online in virtual waiting rooms, hoping that tickets (which you will pay over $50 for unless you want bleachers or standing room only) to your preferred date are still available when you make it through.

Say you are a family of four who wants to enjoy a Red Sox game in average right field box seats, at $52 per ticket your family will be spending $408 (and that’s if you are lucky enough to get four seats together).

This view at Fenway cost $110 when bought through StubHub, had these tickets been available online they would have been around $80. (Photo Hannah Berling)

You want tickets for the right field roof deck or Green Monster seats? Not only do you need a big wallet (tickets are $115 and $165 respectively) but you also have to make it through the raffle to win the chance to buy these tickets.  The same is true if you want Red Sox/Yankees tickets at Fenway.

Yankees fans in this area don’t fare much better when it come to the cost of tickets.  Any seats at Yankee Stadium that don’t cause nose bleeds or require the use of binoculars will cost you over $50.  Main level seats along either first or third base are available for $110 and certain field level seats can push $200.

Is that the price of a rooting for a winning team? Or is that the price of rooting for an east coast team?

Field level box seats along the first or third base line in Arizona (a team that entered the playoff in 2011) cost $44, similar tickets are $80 in Milwaukee, and if you are an Angels fan those types of tickets will run you between $50 and $100.

Clearly, being a baseball fan is not cheap, but there are deals to be found.

If you are in western Pennsylvania, consider seeing a game at PNC Park, home of the Pirates.  Situated right along the Allegheny River, it is one of the most beautiful parks in baseball.  You can purchase lower infield box seats the day of the game (that’s right you can still just walk right up to the box office in Pittsburgh) for only $40.  Even if you feel you only have $20 to your name you can enjoy a Pirates games, the cheapest tickets cost $12 the day of the game.

Ever wonder why Red Sox or Yankees fans flock to Camden Yards when their teams play Baltimore? It is not so much that tickets are cheaper, but they are more accessible. Field boxes cost $42 there, and their is no extensive wait in a virtual room to buy tickets.  And the fans that make the trek to Toronto?  They are spending roughly $52.

So, fans of those teams that want to charge and arm and a leg for field level seats, consider a road trip; while you may be paying for gas, you will be saving in an amazing view.

The Super Bowl, Just Another Awards Show?

The Super Bowl is an event that determines who is the cream of the crop in the world of football, an event that finds itself being played and aired smack dab in the Hollywood’s award season. So, how does this game fit into the red carpet glamor? It’s easier than one may think.
The two Sundays prior to the Super Bowl played host to the Golden Globes, the SAG Awards and the Sundays to come will bring on the Grammys and Oscars. Right in the middle was a showdown between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, an event not much different from the awards that surround it.
The stars may not have been wearing fancy gowns or waiting for grab bags full of Swarovski crystals, but they were still out in full force in Indianapolis. From Katy Perry to Steven Tyler and Neil Patrick Harris to Matthew Morrison the paparazzi had their eye out for celebrities at the big game, and pregame events, just as much as they do on any red carpet.
What is an award show if it weren’t people vying to be the best in what they do? That is exactly what the Super Bowl is; two teams looking to win the title of being the best in the NFL. It is an event that people gather to watch; much the same as pop culture junkies gathering for award shows. Not to mention, the halftime show is as revered as the performances at the Grammys.
The Super Bowl event plays host to an award show of its own. On Saturday night the NFL Honors event was held in which awards were given by the AP in categories such as Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and Offensive Player. The awards were hosted by Alec Baldwin and featured a musical performance by Lenny Kravitz. What was that about the Super Bowl not fitting into awards season?
Even though there was no E! Red Carpet Special, no episode of Fashion Police devoted to the game, the Super Bowl holds many traditions and brings out so many people that it falls right in with the awards happening the weeks before and after.
When your team wins you cheer, just as you would when your favorite show or actor takes home an award. When they lose, you yell or think of all the reasons why it should have been different (putting Patriots fans and Glee fans on equal ground).
So what’s the one major difference between the big game and the awards? The Giants walked away with the trophy, not Modern Family or The Artist.