Everyone gets excited to see new faces in the world of sports. Sadly, however, many end up failing — and the media plays a large role in this. Going into the professional sporting world makes their lives completely different when athletes go from having a normal life to living the high-stakes life of a celebrity. […]
Category: On the Bench
On The Bench: Smelling salts are the new steroids
Smelling salts, or ammonia carbonate capsules, are mainly used in first-aid situations to revive a victim from fainting spells or concussions. The pungent odor sends a sudden shock to your brain to wake you up with a burst of adrenaline. However, this medical tool has now developed into a pre-game or mid-game “pick-me-up” for some […]
On the Bench: When will Messi and Ronaldo leave room for the others?
It has been almost a decade since the world of soccer has been represented primarily by two players: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or five times, while Ronaldo has won it four times. Additionally, Cristiano Ronaldo was also awarded with two “The Best FIFA Men’s Player” in 2016 and […]
On the Bench: Cam Newton needs a game plan for media and a lesson in politeness
On Oct. 25, at a postgame news conference following a loss against the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton abruptly left the podium and exited the room after rolling his eyes and declining to answer a reporter’s question. While his behaviour doesn’t come as a shock — especially given he had a similar reaction […]
On the bench: Dear politicians, stay out of sports
Since Trump declared war on NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, the sports world is becoming more and more political in every way. Owners, leagues, players and sports media all seem to be involved in some political controversy. From the most controversial news involving Colin Kaepernick’s actions and the president’s criticism toward Jemele […]
‘Esports’ do not have a place in the Olympic games
Last month, Olympic bid committee co-president Tony Estanguet told the Associated Press that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was planning to speak with representatives from the esports community about possible inclusion in the 2024 Olympic games scheduled to take place in Paris. Later, IOC president Thomas Bach announced parameters for inclusion of the “esports,” stating […]
Donald Trump should stick to playing 18 holes and commit to keeping one shut
In addition to picking a fight with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, President Donald Trump decided to add his unsolicited two cents to the conversation surrounding the recent kneeling protests within the sports world. On Sept. 22, while addressing an Alabama audience, instead of talks of relief efforts for Puerto Rico following the devastation of […]
On the Bench: Jemele Hill shared her views, and that shouldn’t be a big deal
It’s not uncommon for people to have opinions, and it’s not uncommon for journalists to have opinions that they share on social media. Considering that Jemele Hill is a sports journalist entitled to her own opinions and views, I’m struggling to see how sharing those views was considered inappropriate. In case you don’t know what […]
Marshawn Lynch, are you “‘bout dat action” or not?
During the customary rendition of the national anthem before the Oakland Raider’s exhibition opener against the Arizona Cardinals, running back Marshawn Lynch leisurely sat on a cooler. He proceeded to play with his team until their 20 – 10 loss, and quietly left the stadium immediately afterward without so much as a word. Now, I’m […]
On the Bench: Requesting a trade is selfish, but a luxury athletes have a right to
Last month, when it was announced that Kyrie Irving had requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, fans were outraged. To be fair, the petition was a little baffling given that the team had won its first championship just 13 months prior and things seemed to be progressing pretty well. Many sports fans took to […]