If I asked you to play one baseball game and then handed you $200,000, you would make almost as much as Alex Rodriguez does every game. Athletes’ exorbitant wages are shocking but certainly not unusual. Some may envy athletes’ salaries, but that’s no surprise when the median household income in the United States is about […]
Category: On the Bench
On the Bench: The meaning of sportmanship
Anyone who has ever picked up a basketball, football or even a whiffle ball knows the frustration of poor playing. However, that does not give anyone the right to take his or her frustration out on an opponent. But there is a huge difference between kids playing a game and professionals competing for a title […]
On the Bench: Professional sports sponsorships
Over the years, professional sports have evolved from simple entertainment to a major marketing outlet. No matter what sport you watch, product endorsements and sponsorships are everywhere. The NFL recently fined 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick $10,000 for wearing Beats by Dr. Dre headphones during a postgame press conference. The NFL has an exclusive contract with […]
On the Bench: Baseball’s new rule
The 2014 MLB season came with many changes, including instant replay, but perhaps none more controversial than the new rule regarding home plate. According to rule 7.13, a runner may not “deviate from his direct pathway to the plate” and a catcher may not “block the pathway of the runner if he is attempting to […]
On the Bench: The Heat
Is the Heat going to miss Lebron James? Are you crazy? Any team would miss the greatest player on the planet. But that does not mean the Heat are going to roll over and play dead. Let me remind you, Heat Nation, that the Miami Heat is a franchise that is all about winning. Throughout […]
On the Bench: Discrimination
Years ago, sports had little to do with politics and it should’ve remained that way. Today, it seems like sports and politics go hand in hand. Why are people so prejudiced about where sporting events, like the Olympics and World cup, are hosted? For example, just because a country doesn’t support gay rights or doesn’t […]
On the Bench: Sports’ concussion problem
We’ve all done it. Bumped our heads against desks and car doors and even windows. We mutter and rub our heads in pain, and later we might get a bump or maybe a bruise and forget the whole thing later. But for athletes who regularly crush into each other and the ground during practice and […]
On the Bench: Striking domestic violence at the root
Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested and charged with assault after breaking his wife’s nose and throwing a shoe at their 18-month-old child. Carolina Panther Greg Hardy was recently found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend and threatening to kill her. And the streak of bad news continues in the NFL, as Vikings […]
On the Bench: A tribute to Derek Jeter
The journey has ended and the time has come for America’s beloved captain to end his voyage. The New York Yankees said farewell to their MVP shortstop and model of greatness, Derek Jeter. During his celebrated 20-year career, Jeter has always poured his heart onto the field, prepared meticulously and worked relentlessly. His famous jersey […]
On the Bench: Blood doping
Perhaps it’s human nature to strive to be better in everything. I suppose that’s why athletes come up with elaborate ways to cheat in sports. One of these ways is blood doping. Blood doping is the illicit practice of improving athletic performance by boosting the blood’s ability to carry more oxygen to the muscles. It […]