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(02/08/12 11:27pm)
The Mercer baseball team took the field for its first official practice of the 2012 season last Friday afternoon at Claude Smith Field. “I like the way the guys came out with a lot of good energy on the field today, and hopefully things carry over throughout the weekend,” said head coach Craig Gibson to MercerBears.com. “It will be good for our guys to get out here and see some pitches, certainly our pitching is ahead of our hitting right now, but early on I am just looking for a lot of energy and for guys to be fundamentally sound,” he added.
The Bears look to improve from their 2011 campaign that saw them go 39-20 overall. The strong finish had them ranked number 56 in the nation according to the National Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).
This season, Coach Gibson’s squad has just 13 returning letter winners while featuring 18 newcomers. 14 of the 18 newcomers are freshman. The small portion of three seniors will have to pave the way for a team that has won a combined 77 games over the past two years. That impressive mark puts them into a tie with powerhouse schools such as Miami, LSU and Alabama for the 28th most victories in the nation over that span.
With a roster full of youngsters, the Bears will have their work cut out for them in the upcoming season if they hope to replicate their doings from a year ago. Losing bats and veteran presence such as John Moreland, Jacob Tanis, Thomas Carroll, Billy Burns and Joe Winker due to graduation, the Bears may find a few voids that need filling. “We would rather reload than rebuild, but the ball doesn’t know how old you are or what you have done in the past so we think we are very talented and we expect to compete for a championship again this season,” said Gibson.
Hoping to fulfill their needs on the diamond, the baseball coaching staff will look to both youngsters and crafty veterans in the 2012 spring. Returning for his sophomore year, outfielder Derrick Workman had one of the best freshman seasons in the country. “[Workman] had the best freshman campaign I have ever seen,” said Gibson. Workman posted up jaw-dropping stats that included a .332 average, 12 doubles, nine homeruns and 47 RBIs en route to being named to the A-Sun All-Freshman team and the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team.
Pacing right behind Workman in the order is fellow sophomore Austin Barrett. Barrett posted a mere.286 average, seven doubles, eight homeruns and 25 RBIs. The duo of Barrett and Workman will look to wreak havoc in the lineup game in and game out and force the issue against the opposing pitchers.
Speaking of pitching, senior Brandon Love and junior David Teasley were named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun team, while the Bears were picked to finish fifth in the league’s Preseason Coaches’ poll. Senior ace Brandon Love put together a dominating 2011 season going 8-1 overall with a miniscule 3.26 ERA. Right behind him was Teasley with a 6-5 record over 45.1 innings pitched. His 32 appearances tied him sixth in the A-Sun. His six victories landed him in the top 10 in wins as well.
In the same preseason poll that saw Mercer listed at number five, Stetson was slotted to take the conference while Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Belmont and Mercer rounded out the top five.
Mercer looks to kick off their spring season with a visit from Atlanta Braves All-Star Chipper Jones on Feb. 7 in the University Center followed by a four-game series at home against Morehead State on Feb. 17.
(02/08/12 11:10pm)
For most fans in America, the final game of the NFL season culminates in the passion, drive and talent that has been portrayed throughout the year by two teams in hopes of hoisting the ever-popular Lombardi Trophy. For EVERY American, fan or not, the Super Bowl is about the commercials. The game is exciting but silence takes over a room when the screen goes dark for that split second. Breaths are heard and anticipation pierces the air.
Super Bowl advertisements have been a staple in nearly every household for over 30 years. It is a time where companies can introduce their upcoming products, summer films can premiere their blockbuster hits and the usual car, Coke and beer companies can show off their talented group of marketing experts.
The all-important, nationally televised Bowl has set the stage for memorable comedic ads in the past such as the Bud-wei-ser frogs, the “Wasssuuuppp?!” phenomenon, and the birth of the E-Trade baby. With animals, cars, beer and violence almost always in the mix, the Super Bowl ads have a grave impact on the history of America. While most commercials gear towards laughter, ads such as the introduction of Xerox machines in 1977, the release of Macintosh computers in 1984 and the 9/11 Clydesdale Budweiser tributes in 2002/2011 have captured the hearts of Americans and will never be forgotten.
In other ways, the annual February game has also sparked a trend of repetition and copycats through the years. For example, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan starred in a memorable McDonald’s commercial in the early 90s that was recently followed up by Dwight Howard and LeBron James’ own rendition of the duel-for-food mentality.
In most recent years, Super Bowl has provided the world with many great ads such as the monkey-run business for Career Builder, the Jason Statham Audi car chase, the “slapping is in” Bud Light dudes, the FedEx cavemen, the magic fridge of Bud Light and many more.
With all that transpired on Super Bowl Night, I will preview what is to come and give out awards to the best the Super Bowl ads have offered us.
2011’s Best. The best of 2011 has to go to the Volkswagen Darth Vader. Appealing to every age group, clever and memorable, the adorable kid takes the crown.
2012 Disappointments. It is a close tie between David Beckham’s underwear and the awful attempt of Go Daddy. No one wants buy David Beckham’s underwear. While women may want to see that, the men they are with do not look like that. I have two words for the Go Daddy girls and ad agency: Stop trying. The main word is ‘trying’. They give an effort but it isn’t working. I’m tired of seeing your ads two or three times a day.
New series/movies. This year’s ads included many intros to many movies and shows. Movies included: Marvel’s The Avengers, Disney’s John Carter and the new G.I. Joe: Retaliation. I will give two word responses for each: Avengers = hell yeah, John Carter = probably not and G.I. Joe = please improve. Shows included: the new seasons of The Voice, America’s Got Talent, Celebrity Apprentice, Swamp People and the premiere of the much anticipated Smash. I don’t know if any will be good but I hope Smash is decent.
2012’s Most Creative. There are a few that can fall under this category. I would say it has to go be between the Fiat commercial where the guy imagines a girl instead of the car or the Phone Innovators Best Buy ad showing all of the inventors of smart phone features.
2012’s Must-Have. These ads absolutely needed to be in this year’s lineup: the football progression timeline, John Stamos getting head-butted out of his seat in Dannon Oikos Yogurt, the Naked M&M and of course the Coca-Cola Polar Bears. The timeline was incredibly well done, the Naked M&M was entertaining and timely, the Super Bowl needs the Polar Bears and who wouldn’t want to see John Stamos get his ass kicked?
Most Improved. This award ranges back to a couple years ago. It undoubtedly goes to Doritos. Between the dog running through the screen door, the dog putting an anti-bark collar on his owner and this year’s “You Didn’t See Nuthin” bribe in Have You Seen The Cat?, Doritos’ input of animals has made it a must-see staple of Super Bowl Sunday.
2012’s Most Memorable. I feel as if this year’s Super Bowl had a handful of memorable clips but the Prohibition Budweiser sticks out to me the most. Between the music, the setting and costumes, the ad keeps repeating through my brain. It was simple, happy and clever all at once. It tells Americans that if done responsibly, drinking can be fun and enjoyable in a social gathering.
2012’s Best. I have to give the best commercial award to the feel-good ad of the night. I call it “Fat Dog Chase”. The commercial begins with a heavyset dog unable to fit through a doggy door who disappointingly sees his reflection in a mirror. Through dieting and exercise, the dog eventually loses weight and is able to chase the new VW car. The ad personifies a dog and makes a fun-loving, feel-good moment for all viewers. Well-done VW. Volkswagen is slowly gaining traction on Doritos and Budweiser for the top spot in my eyes.
My favorite Super Bowl of all-time. It is nearly impossible to choose between the memorable, funny and heartwarming commercials from over the years but I would have to say Terry Tate: Office Linebacker is my personal favorite. Aired back in 2003, I think the ad’s combination of violence, humor and everyday activities is perfect for its viewers.
All in all, the Super Bowl’s game and commercials were great. Always memorable and uplifting to a certain extent, the night is a symbol of what America has to offer. We have some fun, make wave for innovations and deliver some tough blows once the game has started.
No matter what I have said positive or negative about any ad, I strongly encourage each and every person to watch the Chrysler ad narrated by Clint Eastwood. The halftime ad sent chills up and down by body and had a message that cannot be duplicated. It is titled: “It’s Halftime in America”.
What I find most interesting about what America just witnessed is the question we will answer over the course of the years to come: Will something great come from this year’s presentation?
To view all of this year’s ads, visit: http://www.youtube.com/adblitz.
(01/25/12 9:48pm)
Year after year, the Athletics Department at Mercer continues to exceed its expectations and outdoes the previous year with high-profile speakers and remarkable talents roaming the halls of the University Center.
In four years, Mercer has hosted the likes of college basketball legends such as the outspoken Dick Vitale, the former Duke Blue Devil Jay Bilas and the inspiring wisdom of CBS analyst Clark Kellogg. The talent level continues to rise for the baseball visits as Mercer continues to attract the eyes of former Braves such as outfielder Jeff Francoeur and the legendary John Smoltz. This year, the Bears family welcomes another Braves legend to its fourth annual First Pitch Classic. This time, Macon welcomes the current All-Star third baseman and future Hall of Famer, Larry Wayne “Chipper” Jones, Jr.
Sponsored by Macon Occupational Medicine and in-time to kick off the baseball and softball seasons at Mercer, the 39-year-old Chipper comes to the UC Arena on Feb. 7, 2012.
If anyone is qualified enough to speak to a crowd of young, aspiring athletes, this 17-year veteran fits the bill. Playing all of his seasons at the Atlanta Braves, Chipper’s name is synonymous with the Atlanta baseball franchise.
Undoubtedly one of the best switch hitters of all time, Jones has made his mark on the game of baseball since his inception in 1993. Hitting an impressive .304 in his career, Jones currently ranks second all-time among switch hitters in career RBIs (1,561) and is third in career home runs by a switch hitter (454).
The seven-time All-Star is a native of Deland, Fla. and was the first overall pick in the 1990 MLB Draft at the young age of 18. After making his debut in 1993, Jones quickly blossomed into a perennial All-Star as he worked his way to an eventual NL MVP award in 1999. Through the years, Jones continued to show signs of consistency as his average continued above .300 leading him to an NL Batting Title in 2008. That season, Jones hit a remarkable .364 and tied a MLB record for consecutive seasons with 20 or more home runs to start your career (14).
In his time with the Braves, Jones and then manager Bobby Cox would lead the club to 14-consecutive NL East Division titles including a World Series Championship in 1995.
All-in-all, Chipper Jones brings a definite sense of experience and knowledge to a small university whose athletic programs could always use a little pep talk before the beginning of a season. The community, staff and student body were thrilled to hear the news of this year’s speaker. “When you think of the Atlanta Braves organization and all the great players that have come through there over the years, Chipper Jones is one of the first players that comes to mind because of the way he handles himself both on and off the field,” said head baseball coach Craig Gibson. “For us to be able to have him come down to this event and help us open our 2012 season is a very special honor,” he added.
The night is sure to be filled with stories, introductions and hopes of a successful season to come for both the Bears and the Braves.
The event is open to athletes and those who wish to donate to Mercer’s baseball program. The autograph session begins at 6:00 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room and the dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. in the UC Arena.
For more information on the event or to make a reservation, contact Mercer Baseball Director of Operations Jason Farhadi, at (478) 301-5218 or by email at firstpitchclassic@mercer.edu.
(01/25/12 9:42pm)
After conference championship Sunday’s three-point margin of victories were completed and the Super Bowl XLVI (46) matchup was decided, the headlines of NFL.com read: “Déjà Blue”. I couldn’t agree more. Not only have the Patriots and Giants met in the Super Bowl in recent years, but the two teams just recently met in the regular season as well. The Patriots are once again the favorites and coming off of a dominant regular season that saw them garner the AFC’s top position. On the other end, the Giants have had to claw their way into the playoffs and have been second guessed the entire way. This is 2007 all over again. Just as it was then, the Giants may not have looked pretty early but they are clicking on all cylinders when it matters most.
In my eyes, the results will be much more of the same as it was in 2007 and earlier this season. In Week Nine, the Giants visited Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and grinded out a 24-20 victory. With my prediction of a little more offense, I see the results being close to the same.
With all of the early talks of the ‘Dream Team’ Eagles winning it all and the surprising Cowboys, the Giants were overlooked and down on their luck after they opened the season with a loss to the lowly Washington Redskins. Meanwhile, the Patriots kicked off the season bulldozing through all of the competition with their red-hot 5-1 start. The Patriots would go on to only lose two games in the remainder of the season- one of which came against these very Giants.
New York wasn’t looking too thrilled as they were sitting at 7-7 after their Week 15 loss. They also went on a stretch of four consecutive losses that saw them fall in a close battle with the defending champion Packers. They were going to need a lot of help from the Cowboys over the course of the next couple of weeks to even think of the postseason. With that said, the Patriots won their final eight regular season games following their loss to the Giants. They followed that up by two more in the playoffs. The Pats have not lost a game since that Nov. 6 matchup with the “Blue Crew.” The last team to beat Tom Brady in both the regular season and in a Super Bowl has been Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants. Brady is making his fifth appearance in a Super Bowl with his only loss coming by the hands of this squad. I’m sure a little bit of fear and anxiety entered the minds and hearts of all of the New England Patriot staff and players when Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes connected on the 31-yard overtime field goal to seal the deal against the 49ers.
While a Harbaugh-Harbaugh matchup would have been historical, no one could write the drama that is unfolding before our very eyes. Both brothers were eliminated in a four-hour span and a rematch of the 2007 Super Bowl is on the horizon. Both games on the night ended on a 31-yard field goal. The only difference was that the Giants’ Tynes was actual able to connect on his. Joe Flacco did all that he could to position his team before Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff “shanked” the chip shot attempt. My jaw, along with that of the rest of America, hit the floor and remained there as the Patriots celebrated their victory. The game was lined up for overtime before one of the worst misses in NFL history. To add to that mess, young wide receiver Lee Evans could not hold onto a pass from Joe Flacco on second down of the same drive that would have given Baltimore a 26-23 lead with under 30 seconds to go in the game. So what looked like a Baltimore victory or tie resulted in a Patriots victory in a matter of seconds.
Due to these recent occurrences, it is beginning to feel like it’s the Giants’ time again. Things are lining up all too perfectly for them. Tom Brady followed his six TD, zero turnover performance of the divisional round with a two interception, zero passing TD game. Meanwhile, Eli threw 2 TDs, beat the number one seed Packers in Lambeau, the number two seed 49ers at Candlestick and is possibly playing the best football of his career.
One thing is for sure: throw any defensive statistic out the door. The Patriots and Giants’ defenses are playing at a high level and they will continue to do so. On another note, Eli and Brady threw for a combined 94 passing attempts in Sunday’s conference games. Expect a lot of passing yards and for Brady to definitely tally a couple of TDs to his name. He has been here before and knows what it takes to perform well. With that said, neither team has a very strong running game working in their favor and have offensive weapons all over the field. With Brady’s options of Gronkowski, Hernandez and Welker and Eli’s pick of Manningham, Nicks and Cruz, look for points to be scored and for Victor Cruz to arise as this year’s David Tyree. Even against a stifling 49ers defense, Cruz tallied 10 catches for 142 yards. Look for him to be a big play factor.
On a final note, Brady seemed to lob a few passes in the game against Baltimore. Meanwhile, Eli made every throw necessary to lead his team to victory. I’m riding the hot hand over the experienced hand. I pick for Eli to surpass big brother Peyton with his second Super Bowl title in a 30-27 win over Brady’s Patriots.
(12/08/11 12:14am)
Going into Week 13, the Packers are still perfect… barely. Even with the 12-0 record, it hasn’t been the smoothest of routes for the Green Bay squad. The hot and cold season has seen their offense rise and their defense occasionally fall.
Although they lead the planet with interceptions, they have allowed 20-plus points against seven teams. In those games, three teams have scored 30 or more against them.
In their most recent clash, the Packers went back and forth with the struggling New York Giants that saw them barely escape with a 38-35 win in the final seconds of the game. With the odds completely against the down Giants, their offense followed the Packers’ pass for pass to keep the game within reach. Eli Manning did his part and a disappointing defensive unit gave up back-to-back big plays in the final 58 seconds to award Green Bay their 18th-straight overall victory. Meanwhile, the Giants dropped their fourth straight.
The game began with a huge opening drive by the Giants to open the eyes of the Green Bay sideline. This was going to be no picnic. Tight end Travis Beckum made the defense look silly as he caught a pass at the 35 and made a series of criss-cross moves on route to the endzone. The Packers would shortly answer and the game was tied for the first time at 7-7. The game would then go back and forth until halftime as the Packers led 21-17. The Packers would score a few minutes into the third to extend their lead to the first and only double-digit lead of the game for either team. Up 28-17, the Packers allowed the Giants to march down the field in just five plays to get back within reach. The game entered the fourth 28-24. In the fourth, the Giants were down by eight as they scored a TD in less than three minutes. They converted on a two-point attempt to lock the game up for the first time since 5:06 in the first. 58 seconds was enough time for the Packers as they would get into field goal range in just two plays. Field goal was good.
In the game, both QBs had over 40 attempts and 340 yards.When both QBs needed a big play, they made it. When receivers dropped passes, they went right back to them and put the ball in the endzone. Rodgers TDs were to three different receivers in a game that was filled with sideline catches and game-changing penalties. In a game that had six lead changes, the Giants-Packers matchup will be talked about for years to come.
This game said something about Rodgers’ ability to win games. After he threw a pick that led to a Giants’ score, he chuckled as he ran onto the field. It was almost as if he was thinking, “Go ahead and score. I’m going to score more than you.”
How has their up and down season gone exactly? Well, they have won by one score or less against five teams. Yet, they have won three games by 20 or more points. They have won six games against teams with winning records. They have four remaining games against teams with a combined record of 26-22. They play Oakland, Kansas City, Chicago and Detroit. They match up well against all of them and neither one of them can put up enough points to beat them. They will go 16-0 like the Patriots of 2007. With that, they will have the first round bye and be three games away from the all-time Dolphins record and a repeat championship.
Can anyone in the NFL beat them? I see only one defense strong enough to slow them down and that is the San Francisco 49ers. They have only given up 20 points or more twice this season. The problem is that they have the best RUSHING defense. The Packers don’t even need to run to put up 40 points in a game. Offensively, only the Saints can potentially score more points. Everyone in the world wants to see that rematch from opening game. The NFC Championship game may have more excitement than the Super Bowl this year. With that being said, if the Packers roll past the Saints, can anyone in the AFC beat them in the Super Bowl like the Giants of 2007? The answer is no. The Steelers do not force enough turnovers to keep the ball out of Rodgers’ hands. The Patriots are too inconsistent on defense as they allowed over 300 yards passing from the safety-prone third-stringer Orlovsky in Indianapolis. The Texans won’t do it. As well as they have done to get to 9-3, Andre Johnson is out and TJ Yates is not experienced enough to surpass Big Ben and/or Brady.
Basically what I’ve been trying to say in the last 900 words is unless the Saints play Super Bowl 44-like defense and put up 40 points in the NFC Championship against the Packers, the “cheese heads” might be celebrating their 19-0 perfection and second-consecutive Lombardi trophy come February. It would still be interesting to see Rodgers and company face off against the potential wildcard-winning Giants, the marching Saints and whatever unfortunate soul makes it out of the AFC (Ravens, Patriots or Steelers).
(12/07/11 11:36pm)
The box office opened their windows, the tickets dwindled and the cold winter breeze whistled through Mulberry Street as the sell-out crowd flooded in to reserve their seats.
The instruments were tuned, the lights gleamed bright and musicians grabbed hold of their composure. With all eyes on the stage, the lights dimmed down, the performers released their butterflies in a final exhale and the conductors took command of their batons on center stage.
The spotlight was on and Christmas came early at Macon’s Grand Opera House as the Townsend School of Music presented their second-annual A Grand Mercer Christmas.
Held on Nov. 29, the event’s timing couldn’t have been better as the evening was the first in months that truly resembled the setting of Christmas night. With the chill sticking to cheeks and late-December music satisfying the ears in attendance, the night was a prelude to Mercer’s 2012 recital to be televised on PBS for Christmas of 2013.
The night featured the University’s plethora of talented musical groups such as: the 35 ladies of the Mercer Women’s Chamber Choir, the 25 artists of the McDuffie Center String Orchestra, the five members of the Mercer Faculty Brass Quintet, the 46 members of the nationally and internationally traveled Mercer Singers and the Middle Georgia up-and-coming group of 40 youngsters that structure the Mercer University Children’s Choir.
McDuffie Center String Orchestra Director, Amy Schwartz Moretti, conductors Richard Kosowski and Stanley Roberts, along with an array of additional contributors compiled an impressive ensemble of 19 pieces for the event.
“This was all made possible through the vision and design of Carolyn, Tom and Julie McAfee,” said the Associate Dean of the Townsend School of Music, A.L. Rich professor and conductor Stanley Roberts. “The McAfee’s are very interested in what is taking place here. That’s where all of this started. The Townsend School of Music is named in honor of Carolyn’s parents,” added Roberts.
Also the conductor of both the Women’s Choir and the Mercer Singers, Roberts went on to mention that playing in front of a packed theatre is always an exciting feeling for performers. The 1,000-seat venue was put to the test as hordes of eager enthusiasts witnessed the sights and sounds brought to them by the talented pool of Mercerian artists. The environment was especially vibrant for those performing under the lights.
“I’ve always enjoyed performing at concerts, but Christmas concerts are by far my favorite. Between the repertoire performed and the enthusiastic audience in attendance, I feel proud of what we accomplished,” said Mercer Singers alto Emily Garrott.
With a night that began and concluded with the audience and singers in sync, the program led off with the tranquil “O Come All Ye Faithful” and came to a close with the engaging “Hark the Herald Angels.”
Sprinkling in a few common favorites such as “Gaudete”, “A la nanita nana”, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Go Where I Send Thee” to name a few, the show presented a wide variety for all ages and interests to get the community into the holiday spirit.
When speaking of the talented group of performers, Roberts said, “Anyone can walk in and enjoy what we do. It is truly first class. Some of the guests we have had are literally world travelers. Venues charge 75 dollars to watch them perform and we offer it for free to Mercer students.”
As far as 2012’s much-anticipated production is concerned, the show will consist of a similar format as the performers will be put through a five-day course to meet their eventual goal of being broadcasted on PBS in the winter of 2013.
The process will consist of a dress rehearsal, recorded musical run-throughs, and a day of television recordings with no audience and two nights of live performances in front of sell-out crowds at The Grand.
Roberts compared their practices to that of a science student or an athlete. “What these students do is no different than a chemistry major in a lab or a basketball player on the court. We practice day in and day out and show you what we can do. People go to basketball games to be entertained,” he said.
Along with the performers from A Grand Mercer Christmas, the Townsend School of Music also features a variety of other fields such as percussions, flutes, pianos, opera, jazz and many more.
As the semester nears a close, Robert’s group next takes the stage with the Mercer Singers performing “A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols” in Newton Chapel on Dec. 9-10.
Tickets are free with a valid Mercer ID. For more information about concerts, visit www.mercer.edu/music/calendar.
(11/16/11 11:17pm)
“In terms of ethics in sports, if you were hypothetically playing the President of the United States in a game of H.O.R.S.E., would you let him win?” This was a ruse women’s basketball head coach Susie Gardner stated at this year’s Tip-Off Banquet speaker, Clark Kellogg. Being the head sports announcer at CBS Sports and a major contributor to each year’s NCAA basketball tournament, Kellogg got that exact opportunity just a year ago. Gardner teased the former NBA star about the game because Kellogg lead “H.O.” to nothing and found himself losing on the final letter of the game to the outmatched and less talented President Obama.
The night began with some formal introductions and thanks to this upcoming season’s sponsors, a prayer and then quickly transitioned from Athletic Director Jim Cole to the night’s guest Clark Kellogg. Being the third speaker to be highlighted in these annual events, Kellogg began with a few jokes of the previous guests Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas. “I know ‘Dickie V’ and it does not surprise me one bit that he went over his allotted time of 40 minutes,” he mentioned of Vitale’s tendency to talk a great deal.
Kellogg continued his speech with mentions of his career and the path that has gotten him to the point he finds himself today. He said, “My wife asked me ‘What do you have to say of value at an event like this? How are you qualified for this? You have never had a real job a day in your life!’” The crowd chuckled in response before Kellogg agreed to her every word.
Throughout Kellogg’s speech, one could not avoid coming to the realization that the speaker of the night was passionate about the game of basketball and gave all of his thanks to God and others in his family. He spoke with vigor and confidence about the power of believing in your abilities and thanking God for everything that happens in your life. In fact, he emphasized taking life one step at a time and focusing at the tasks at hand. “It’s great to be wherever I am. I choose to be in these places. Nearly every place I am at, I choose to be there, except for the hazards on the golf course. Those are accidental and unfortunate,” he said.
When asked in the press conference before the speech what motto he lived his life by, Kellogg responded with, “Don’t major in minors.” He followed this up with the teachings and advice that he gave throughout his entire speech. He emphasizes to always strive to become better than what you are. “We tend to believe what we are doing is major when, in fact, most things we do in life are minors,” he preached.
Kellogg also mentioned expectations he has for the Bears and advice he could give to young athletes. He says he has gotten the opportunity to talk basketball with Coach Hoffman and is extremely impressed with his philosophy and attitude towards his team. “He believes in the direction they are going in,” he said. “It should be interesting to see where the Bears are in the future. I will have to check up on them,” he added.
The third year annual speaker, Kellogg, concluded his speech with the reading of the poem Winners are people like you. He emphasized his belief that effort, attitude and faith can be the driving force to lead any team to victory.
After the conclusion of Kellogg’s speech, it was the coaches’ opportunities to introduce their new squads and send a pitch to possible fundraisers and fans to come out and support Mercer basketball this season.
After Coach Susie Gardner’s witty remark to Kellogg, she spoke adamantly about the need to fill the seats of the UC Arena this upcoming season. “1,428 is the largest crowd of fans we have ever had at a women’s basketball game. We have about 3,500 seats in this place. We need to fill this place up when Notre Dame comes in town,” she added. With that being said, over 2,500 people were in attendance for the homecoming season opener versus Auburn on Nov. 11.
Once her squad was announced, Coach Gardner passed the floor over to Head Coach Bob Hoffman for the men’s turn. Hoffman came to the stage with fire and energy as if it were game day. “At 211 degrees, water is really hot. When water hits 212 degrees, it begins to steam. It steams to the point where it can start an engine. We need you to make that one degree of difference. Filling this place up will make that difference,” he said. Hoffman continued with lofty goals as he stated: “We can be cutting down the nets in March and have Clark talk about us on TV. We need to hang up a banner in here,” he concluded.
The men’s team was then introduced and talks of season tickets were at hand. Men’s basketball players collected raffles from the surrounding tables and a free giveaway was awarded to one of the members in attendance.
All in all, it was a night of passionate speeches, high hopes of success and expectations of filling the University Center Arena on a consistent basis. Kellogg left an image of success and calming confidence, while the coaches left emotions flowing and excitement swirling for the start of the new season.
(11/16/11 10:28pm)
After losing superstar pitchers Jenni Holtz and Kari Chambers, speedster Anna Johnson and starting second baseman Amanda Santa Maria to graduation, things weren’t looking very bright for the Lady Bears softball squad. It also didn’t help when they got word of the sudden departure of Head Coach Mike Raynor after the spring semester of 2011. The immediate future of Mercer softball was uncertain. Step one was to find a new head coach who was capable for the job at hand. They did just that in the form of former LSU associate head coach, James DeFeo.
With five incoming freshmen and a fall schedule of eight games in their path, the softball squad began down their new track with high hopes surrounding the dugout.
Being the lone new staff member, DeFeo came fresh off the plane and into game situations to see what his new club was made of. The transition was different for both the DeFeo Family and the squad awaiting their new system behind a new head coach. When asked what she thought of her new head coach, junior pitcher Kerri Nidiffer said, “He is actually ‘coaching’ us and doing whatever he can to make us better individually and as a whole.” The whole teams seems to be in agreement with the statement as emotions and feelings toward the new face have been nothing but positive.
The fall schedule began during the first week of September. The eight-game span gave DeFeo and the players an opportunity to see what they are made of. It gives them a good idea of what issues need to be addressed and what areas could use some retuning. “The fall games are a chance for everyone to play. We get to see what we have out there,” said DeFeo. “This is my first time seeing these girls perform as well,” he added.
The new head coach and the young squad performed well with all things considered as they capped their fall season with a 7-1 overall record. They ended in great fashion as they cranked six home runs and two grand slams in a 17-2 drubbing in their final game. The team even won “Varsity Sport of the Month” for October in the “Strength and Conditioning” category. “The offense really hit their stride toward the end of the fall schedule,” DeFeo said. “They are able to score in so many ways. We are not just one-dimensional. We will have speed, power and a lot of strength overall. We will definitely be attacking in each game,” he added.
With their lone loss coming at the hands of Emory, the softball squad is showing that they are more diverse and well-rounded than others give them credit for. “Things around here have definitely changed for the better. The atmosphere is just different. People are more excited to be here and attitudes are extremely better,” said Nidiffer.
Having played against mostly junior colleges and other in-state universities, Mercer will definitely need to continue their hard work of conditioning and positive attitudes in hopes for a successful season come February.
With minimal experience on their pitching staff, DeFeo says they are breaking each pitch down to build consistency and work on getting stronger.
The 2012 spring schedule is due to be released shortly as the season is expected to begin in the second week of February. Meanwhile, the team continues to improve with weight-lifting and individual practices three times a week.
“I am new and there are lots of things changing, but these girls are committing to the process,” said the first year head coach. “I want to invite everyone out to watch us. Our goal is to win the crowd. We are going to be exciting to watch. There is no doubt about that,” he added.
After going 32-24 in 2011 under Head Coach Mike Raynor, James DeFeo hopes to pull the right strings in his first season at Mercer. Being his first year as a true head coach of a collegiate squad, he looks to continue his impressive streak of never being a part of a losing season.
(11/16/11 10:26pm)
19 years of baseball, 19 years of proud traditions and 19 years of excellence are just a few ways the Marlins organization can be described. Once known as the Florida Marlins, the “Fightin’ Fish” have relocated to the former site of the beloved Orange Bowl in downtown Miami and shaved off the “Florida” from the title, uniform and logos alike. The Miami Marlins will make their debut in their brand new stadium, fresh uniforms, stylish colors, outspoken manager and new outlook in the 2012 season.
On Nov. 11, owner Jeffrey Loria unveiled the new colors and uniforms for the Miami-bound club. What was once a mediocre teal, black and white squad had now freshened up their look with the addition of red-orange and yellow to an “M” rather than the “F” of years past. The Marlin will remain, but with a fresh new look. The same could be said for the uniforms as well. They will display the word “MIAMI” on the front of both their home and away jerseys, which is a rarity among most professional teams in sports. What first appeared to me as idiotic colors have now grown on me as I find myself coming to like the display of the new “M.” It just takes time to adjust to the change of scenery and look.
The Marlins will also enjoy the luxury of having their own ballpark. For the first 19 years of their existence, the club has had to share their park with the Miami Dolphins and even Miami Hurricanes. Their concerns, ideas and interests always took a backseat to those of the other squads. Now, they can run things the way they would like and hopefully bring in some fan base to the busier and more convenient area of downtown Miami. The retractable roof park will be great for avoiding the long rain delays that haunted nearly every game of their season and be a great addition to the “beautiful Miami skyline” as Loria proclaimed. FINALLY!
Due to the relocation and changes surrounding the club, the park among other things will look to spark a lot more interest and therefore money into the club. If that is the case, the Marlins will look to be shoppers on the market for high name free agents such as Albert Pujols, Mark Buerhle and Jose Reyes. Also, what once was an empty crowd of 15,000 in the 70,000+ seating Sun Life Stadium, the Marlins hope to haul in over 30,000 a night in their 37,000+ vicinity.
Every sports fan should be happy for this club. No longer will they live in the shadows of the Dolphins and be second to any demands of fans and/or events. For a team that has prided themselves in building from the ground up and garnered two World Championships in their first 11 seasons of existence, they deserve to indulge in a few high name free agents of their own. In fact, they have been the lowest in payroll among the league in 15 of 19 seasons. Also, for a team that works their tail off night in and night out to finish over .500 nearly every season, they should have some fans in the seats and some national coverage on them as well. This is the time of the Miami Marlins. Like the Tampa Bay Rays from a few seasons ago, the Marlins have a chance to show off their new look in 2012, as well as the homecoming of sorts for newly acquired manager Ozzie Guillen.
Most critics will say that the Marlins cannot expect to turn things around overnight with all the hype surrounding their new this or new that. If you think closely, the Marlins have not treaded far from success in years past. They have finished either second or third in their division five times over their 19-year existence. That is saying a lot when they have played alongside the great pitchers of the Atlanta Braves and the recent domination of the Philadelphia Phillies. They seem to find themselves right at or above 80 wins nearly every year.
In order to solidify their lineup that already contains All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez, 22-year-old slugger Mike Stanton and youngsters Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison, the Marlins will need to add some speed to the top of their lineup and hopefully another on-base man. When looking at their starting rotation that has young slingers such as Anibal Sanchez and Josh Johnson, the club will need to add possibly a crafty lefty and/or an experienced right-hander to even think of contending with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in 2012.
With the recent rumors of the Marlins talking to Reyes, Buerhle and Pujols, it seems as if they are trying to fill those exact voids. Reyes would add a spark to the top of the lineup, get on base and steal, steal, steal. Mark Buerhle would add a crafty left-handed veteran that would fit great with the division and new manager Ozzie Guillen. Buerhle played in Chicago with Guillen and would be critical when the left-handed sluggers in the form of Utley and Howard come to town out of Philly. Finally, Pujols would add the MVP threat on the field and at the plate that any team would want. Imagine leading off with Reyes, having Hanley Ramirez, Albert Pujols and Mike Stanton hitting back-to-back in the middle of the lineup and the crafty lefty of Mark Buerhle on the mound for a young, improving defense and bullpen. That would be a scary team to face, no matter who you are.
While many say the pitching staff of the Marlins has yet to hit its stride in means of competing with the rest of the National League, I argue that one or two dominating pitchers in the rotation and a few solid guns in the bullpen could lead any team to World Series title. Look at the Cardinals of this year and the Giants of the year before. The Cardinals were without Adam Wainwright and the Giants depended highly on Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum to accompany their solid offenses in their quest for a world championship.
When others ask if the offense is ready for a big opportunity like this, I tell them this: Hanley Ramirez is not going to have another down season like a year ago. He is going to come out strong and be the All-Star we remember him to be. Also, Mike Stanton’s numbers continue to get better and better. He is soon to be hitting .280, 50 homers and over 120 RBIs. His walks will continue to increase as his numbers do as well. The league is scared of him. If you put a Jose Reyes and/or Albert Pujols in a lineup that does not have many weak spots when healthy, you have an offense close to, if not better, than that of the Cardinals or Rangers from this season.
Finally, with a bullpen extremely taxed from a year ago due the key injury to starter Josh Johnson and an array of other injuries, the Marlins hope to re-sign Javier Vasquez (if he does not choose to retire) and possibly add a few bullpen arms to help the workload on guys such as Leo Nuñez, Clay Hensley, Edward Mujica and Michael Dunn.
All in all, if the new-look Marlins find a few arms and a couple of bats with the raise in payroll this offseason, they could find themselves in contention with the rest of the NL East and league to follow up the line of firsts and inaugurations that will accompany the Miami Marlins in 2012.
(11/02/11 11:23pm)
Congratulations to Los Lobos for being this year’s dodgeball champions!
Also, congratulations to ATO 1 (Men) and Right-Knee Cripples (Women) for winning their respective leagues of Ultimate Frisbee!
To go along with the recent theme of Halloween, Mercer teamed up with Wesleyan and Macon State to run the first annual Monster Dash 5K & 1-mile Costume Fun Run on Oct. 27. The event was extremely successful and had a turnout of about 20 Mercer-affiliated members in the Macon State hosted affair.
“We’re excited about hosting the event next year and possibly working with Quadworks to pair up and possibly show a movie on Porter Patch following the race next year,” said Assistant Director of Intramurals Todd Thomas. “For the first year pairing up on the event with other area colleges we were fairly pleased with how things went,” he added.
Also, having dodgeball and other Intramural events united with the rest of Mercer Madness’ proceedings seemed to work out excitingly well this year. With a night full of games, basketball excitement, food and an enthralling dodgeball tournament, the event is sure to be an annual occurrence. “Having some excellent dodgeball played gave everyone something to watch and the carnival games and refreshments provided by Quadworks really brought the event to life,” said Thomas. “It was the first time since I’ve been here that we’ve tried to do something like a late night event in the UC but it’s something that I really hope catches on and continues,” he added.
Thomas and the rest of Intramurals anticipate a larger group of fans and members to participate and partake in the events in the future. In fact, Thomas did not close out the possibility of having a dodgeball tournament again in the spring.
With dodgeball and Frisbee coming to a close, football and tennis are now beginning to reach the meat of their seasons.
As of Oct. 30, most flag football teams have gotten at least two games under their belts. 27 of the 60 total teams still find themselves undefeated. That’s a lot of competition disbursed throughout the leagues.
Reminder:
-Sign up your teams for the upcoming volleyball league. The lines are now open and registration closes Nov. 8.
(11/02/11 11:12pm)
This year’s Fall Classic between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals may have been arguably the most unlikely and exciting World Series of all time. In its 107-year history, there could only be a handful that could even come close. What made it so enthralling? Could it be the clutch pinch-hit RBI singles, the one-run heartbreakers, the come-from-behind thrillers, the walk-off homer in Game Six, the three one-run games, the no-name heroes or the unlikely Game Seven? The list could go on forever.
The Texas Rangers flew past the surging Rays and silenced ace Justin Verlander and the Tigers to make it to their second-consecutive World Series. After losing both to the Giants a year ago and their ace in Cliff Lee in the offseason, the Rangers were an unlikely team to predict as AL Champions. On the other hand, the Cardinals were even less likely when they saw themselves 10 and a half games out of the Wildcard spot on Aug. 27. They fought their way back and found themselves lined up to face off against the favored Phillies in the first round.
With both of these teams facing the giants of the game, they found themselves battling with high-energy offenses and impressive bullpens. In fact, Chris Carpenter was the only starter out of the two squads to pitch deep into any ballgame going into the Fall Classic.
With both teams hitting their way past everyone else and silencing all the “nay-sayers” of the world, the World Series lined up to be quite the offensive thrill.
I will dissect the meaning behind each game and why they will be engraved in histories on paper and in highlight reels for the rest of time.
Game 1:
Rangers 2, Cardinals 3
Right off the bat Game One was a tight race to the finish that saw the Cardinals prevail with a game-winning pinch-hit RBI single by Allen Craig in the bottom of the sixth. Chris Carpenter pitched a dominant six innings. Cardinals protected home-field advantage and won Game One to take a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2:
Rangers 2, Cardinals 1
With the game deadlocked at 0-0 in the seventh, Busch Stadium and the Cardinals bench erupted when déjà vu settled in after Allen Craig once again delivered an RBI single off of reliever Alexi Ogando. With the Texas bats quiet and the 1-0 lead in the game and the series, the Cardinals looked to take control of the series in the top ninth with just three outs remaining. Ian Kinsler would single, steal a base and advance to third on Elvis Andrus’ single. Due to a missed catch by Albert Pujols on the relay throw from CF, Andrus advanced to second. With no outs on the inning, big boppers Josh Hamilton and Michael Young would both pick up sacrifice flies to take the lead for good. The Rangers tied the series 1-1 with their late ninth-inning rally.
Game 3:
Cardinals 16, Rangers 7
After solid pitching from all starters and bullpens in the first two games, all the bats came to life in Game Three. With both teams combining for six total homers, “The Machine” Albert Pujols made up for his crucial error from Game Two with three homeruns and six RBIs in the game. He tied Reggie Jackson and Babe Ruth as the only other people to ever accomplish that feat in World Series history. The Cardinals took a 2-1 series lead with two games remaining in Texas.
Game 4:
Cardinals 0, Rangers 4
Hoping for better pitching, the Rangers got just that as they shut out the Cardinals on a gem performance from young lefty Derek Holland. Holland pitched eight and a third innings of two-hit baseball. Josh Hamilton hit an RBI double in the first and Mike Napoli padded the lead with a three-run shot in the sixth. The Rangers tied the series 2-2 at home with one more game in Texas.
Game 5:
Cardinals 2, Rangers 4
The two teams returned to their nail-biting ways when they entered the bottom of the eighth deadlocked at 2-2. With right-hander Mike Napoli at the plate, Tony LaRussa stuck with left-hander Mark Rzepczynski. Napoli would fittingly smoke the eventual game-winner into the gap for a two-run double. With the victory, the Rangers were one win away from their first title in franchise history. They took a 3-2 series lead heading back to St. Louis.
Game 6:
Rangers 9, Cardinals 10 F/11
Game Six of the 2011 World Series will be remembered as possibly the greatest baseball game ever played. The game was tied 2-2 after two, 3-3 after three and 4-4 after six. The Rangers pulled away with three runs in the seventh. They entered the eighth with a 7-4 lead and needing just six outs to win their first title. The Cardinals could just muster one run in the eighth and were three outs from elimination. The excitement was just now getting started. With two outs and two strikes on the count, third baseman David Freese laced a game-tying triple over the head of right-fielder Nelson Cruz. Deadlocked at 7-7 in the 10th, former MVP Josh Hamilton drilled a two-run shot into the seats all-but-sealing the deal for the Rangers. Trailing 9-8 and once again down to their last out and strike, veteran Lance Berkman hit an RBI single to pull even for the fifth time in the game. Fittingly so, the hometown hero David Freese belted a full count, walk-off solo homerun in the bottom of the 11th to guarantee one more game. The Cardinals trailed by two or more runs in the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th innings. They scored six runs in the final four innings. They were down to their last strike and out twice. The win set up an all-decisive and rare Game Seven.
Game 7:
Rangers 2, Cardinals 6
Cardinals returned games One and Five starter Chris Carpenter on just three days rest to take the mound. Rangers sent out lefty Matt Harrison. With injuries to Matt Holliday, Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli, both teams limped their offense into Game Seven. Both teams scored right off the bat in the first inning as they were tied 2-2 after two. The Cardinals added one in the third off of Allen Craig’s third homerun of the series, two in the fifth and one in the seventh to take a commanding 6-2 lead. Carpenter pitched another six solid innings and the Cardinals won their 11th title in team history. David Freese had another two RBIs to add to his record 21 in the postseason. He won the World Series Most Valuable Player.
In all the World Series I have seen or have been told of, this one matches them all. I cannot pinpoint another that had the overall excitement and fireworks throughout. Sure there have been other walk-offs such as the Kirby Puckett’s homer (1991), Edgar Renteria’s single to center (1997) and Luis Gonzalez’s blooper (2001), but these two teams just had a different fight and feel to them. Those other moments will never be forgotten and sit near the top of the list as well, but this one is fresh and incredible nonetheless.
***BREAKING NEWS***
It should be noted that just a few days after hoisting up his third World Series trophy, manager Tony LaRussa has decided to retire on his own will. LaRussa is one of only two managers to win a World Series in both leagues. He coached for 33 years.
(10/19/11 9:57pm)
With the beginning of tennis and football upon us, ultimate Frisbee entering the playoffs and dodgeball’s regular season completed, it’s an exciting time for all those teams hoping for the coveted championship t-shirts.
In dodgeball, eight teams remain in a single elimination bracket that will be played out on Oct. 22 during Mercer Madness. It is win or go home for the six-man squads.
As far as flag football is concerned, it is one of the most exciting sports that Intramurals has to offer. It brings in one of the highest participations throughout the year. “We had 61 teams signed up to play and we’re looking forward to a great season,” said Assistant Director of Intramurals Todd Thomas.
Announcements:
-Captain’s quizzes are now available on IMleagues.com for all captains to complete. It is mandatory that these quizzes are taken and passed with a score of 100 percent. Captains will have to watch two short video clips before taking the 15-question quiz. It is up to the captains to relay the information from the videos to their teammates in order to smoothly carry out the football season.
-This year, games will be played at one of two separate locations. Due to the construction of the new football stadium, there is one field located behind the softball field that will be known as the “IM softball field”. The second location will be behind the soccer field and near the lacrosse practice field. This will be known as the “IM lacrosse field”.
-Also, it is very important that all participants of Intramurals DO NOT cross over the designated practice area between Bear Field and the IM lacrosse field. This includes when practice is not in progress.
-Finally, there will be a Halloween 5k ran at Macon State on Oct. 27. There will be food, music, tshirts, and prizes given to those who place in the event or run in the event with the best Halloween costume. The registration fee is only $5 for Mercer students and the registration form can be found on the front page of IMLeagues.com.
Congratulations to the following teams for winning their respective soccer leagues:
Men's Comp: Phi Delta Theta defeated Hatchcock's Heroes (1-0)
Men's Rec: Los Lobos defeated the White Coats (3-2)
Women's: Alpha Delta Pi defeated Chi Omega (5-3)
Co-rec: APO & Friends defeated Men & Cripples (5-1)
(10/19/11 9:40pm)
There is something in the Gatorade around the NFL this year. With the exception of the always-dominant Patriots and the defending-champion Packers, all the divisions find the usual dwellers riding high. Entering Week Six of the season, the Lions, Bills and 49ers had the same combined record as the Packers, Patriots and Saints (13-2).
With early surges from San Francisco (5-1), Detroit (5-1), Buffalo (4-2), Washington (3-2), Tennessee (3-2), Oakland (4-2) and Cincinnati (4-2), most coaches and fans around the NFL have found themselves scratching their heads in amazement. What is going on?
I’m going to break down the success of these recently woeful squads. In a new edition called “Wait, what?” I separate those who are riding high and have high hopes for the remainder of the season.
Wait, what?:
They are WINNING?
Detroit Lions. Standing at 2-10 a year ago and only a couple years removed from their 0-16 winless season of 2008, the Lions went on to win their final four games of the 2010 regular season (6-10). With that momentum, Head Coach Jim Schwartz led the lowly Lions to an impressive but unimportant 4-0 2011 preseason. With all of that said, the Lions entered Week One of the NFL season with lower than low expectations. Their first-round draft pick (Nick Fairley) was sidelined and not ready to play. The Lions would shock the world by going 5-0 to start the year. That is a nine-game winning streak (13-0 if you count preseason). This is the LIONS! With a defensive battle with the 49ers in Week Six, the five-point loss brought them to a 5-1 record in second place behind the defending-champion Packers in the NFC North. Their great start has surprised everyone. It helps when Matthew Stafford is healthy and throwing for 15 TDs and only four interceptions. Also, nine of those 14 have gone to the big 6-foot-5 Calvin Johnson. He established an NFL record with nine TD receptions in the first five weeks of the season.
San Francisco 49ers. Like the Lions, the 49ers stood at 6-10 at the close of last season. In a weak division that saw the 7-9 Seahawks make the playoffs, they are sitting pretty with their 5-1 record in the early parts of 2011. They lead the division by nearly three games and no one else seems to be showing signs of life. What has happened to them? New head coach Jim Harbaugh has his team playing fundamentally sound football on both sides of the ball. Tight end Vernon Davis and QB Alex Smith are starting to mesh as the two have connected for over 270 yards so far this season. It also helps when Frank Gore can rush for over 125 yards in three consecutive games.
Buffalo Bills. The Bills have not had a winning season since 2004 (9-7). In fact, they have ended at 7-9 in three of the seasons in that span. They seemed to be on a decline after a 6-10 finish in 2009 and a 4-12 finish in 2010. Just six games into the season this year, they have equaled their total of wins from a year ago (4-2). One of those wins included a Week Three upset of the Patriots (34-31) and a Week Five upset of the “Dream Team” Eagles (31-24). Their win over the Patriots is the lone loss for the division-leading Brady Bunch. For a team that has struggled to put points on the board in recent years, the Bills have scored 30-plus points in four of their six games. Also, they only trail the Patriots by one game in the division, as the Jets and Dolphins seem to be free-falling in the opposite direction.
Oakland Raiders. Year in and year out the Oakland Raiders are criticized for their decision-making on and mostly off the field. Whether it be their selection at head coach, QB or even on defense, they can never seem to get it right. With a 6-0 record against their own division a year ago, the Raiders began to look a little more promising. The only problem was that they couldn’t beat anyone outside of their own division as they ended the year 8-8. With some stability at the QB position with the offseason acquisition of Jason Campbell, a running game marked second in the league (160 yards/game) and some added motivation to win for the late, long-time owner Al Davis, the Raiders are a renewed threat in the AFC West.
Do these teams have a legitimate chance to win? Yes they do. In recent years, I would say a resounding “HELL NO,” but with the absence of Peyton Manning in Indianapolis (0-6), the underachieving Eagles in Philly (2-4) and the Falcons already equaling their total number of losses from 2010 (3), they have opened the doors wide open for other teams such as the Bucs, Titans and Redskins as well.
Other than just flat out winning, these teams are showing they have the right mentality and winning attitude week in and week out as well. For example, after a hard-fought, nitty-gritty battle in Detroit that saw their nine-game streak fall at the hands of the visiting 49ers, there was a scuffle between head coaches Jim Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh at mid-field. These teams are showing that every week is do or die in their minds. The 49ers stormed off the field as if they had earned the Lombardi Trophy. On the other hand, the Lions dragged their feet as if they had just been eliminated from playoff contention. Truthfully, the loss may have meant more to the Lions than the win did to the 49ers. The Lions need to win as many as they can to keep up with the division-leading Packers. They can prove their worth when the two meet twice in the final six weeks of the season. That includes a matchup on Thanksgiving and the final week of the season. So after years of questioning why the Lions and Packers traditionally played on Thanksgiving, no one will be complaining this upcoming Nov. 24. I will have one eye on my plate of turkey and company and the other on Calvin Johnson and Aaron Rodgers.
(10/19/11 9:33pm)
Mercer Basketball, the Mercer Athletic Foundation and the Macon community are proud to announce CBS Sports college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg as the keynote speaker for this year’s Tip-Off Banquet. Speaking at the third installment of the event on Nov. 1, the Cleveland native will help kick off a new basketball season and hopefully help promote and raise money for Mercer Basketball.
The former NBA player and college standout will help bring experience and words of wisdom to a large crowd of Mercer athletes, families and friends in the University Center Arena. Following speakers Jay Bilas (2010) and Dick Vitale (2009), Kellogg will more-than-satisfy Mercer’s high expectations for the annual occasion.
“We are very excited to once again have such an expert on college basketball like Clark Kellogg serve as our headline speaker for the Tip-Off Banquet,” said MAF President John Collier. “We always want to have our featured speaker not only be ‘high-profile’ in the sense of recognition, but also someone who can speak about basketball – especially on the college level – with authority and conviction. In Clark Kellogg, we once again have that person,” he added.
Born and raised in Cleveland, O.H., Kellogg attended St. Joseph’s High School, where he made his mark as one of the best young basketball stars Ohio has ever produced. Named “Mr. Ohio Basketball” in 1979, Kellogg highlighted his high school career with a 51-point, 24-rebound performance in that year’s state championship game. The 51-point mark still stands as the most points scored in a state finals game in Ohio’s history.
After high school, Kellogg moved on to play college basketball at Ohio State University (OSU). Picking up where he left off, the 6-foot-7 small forward made the All-Big Ten Conference Team and garnered MVP honors.
After completing his four years at OSU (’79-’82), Kellogg was selected eighth overall in the 1982 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. That was the same draft that included NBA legends James Worthy and Dominique Wilkins.
In his rookie season with the Pacers, Kellogg earned a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. He averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds that season. He still remains one of only 20 players to have done this in the history of the NBA. Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Duncan, Elton Brand, and Blake Griffin are the most recent players to have achieved that goal. In the last 11 years, it has only been achieved once.
Early in his career, Kellogg earned the nickname “Special K”. In fact, he was lined up to release his own brand of sneakers after signing a contract with Converse. Unfortunately, his days on the court came to a halt when he developed chronic knee problems and was forced into early retirement after just three full seasons (’82-’86).
In 1990, Kellogg signed on with ESPN as a basketball analyst. Working with the Big East Network and Prime Sports, Kellogg became a household name and spread his knowledge of the game to the world. Kellogg has also worked as a color commentator and analyst for his former team in Indiana over the years. In 1993, he joined CBS Sports and has been working alongside greats such as Greg Gumbel, Jim Nantz, and Verne Lundquist ever since. In fact, at the beginning of the 2008-2009 season, Kellogg was promoted to CBS Sports’ lead basketball announcer. In 2009, he called the NCAA Championship Game between North Carolina and Michigan State.
The 50-year-old Kellogg continues to work games of March Madness, Championship Week and the occasional Pacers’ game in the NBA. In fact, he was recently appointed as the Vice President of Player Relations for the Indiana-based organization.
To go along with all of his experience, Kellogg also received a degree in Marketing from OSU.
In addition, Kellogg has been featured as one of the commentators and voices in the NBA 2K sports editions of the NBA video games.
As a side note, in 2010, Clark Kellogg played a friendly game of P.O.T.U.S. (a rendition of H.O.R.S.E.) versus President Obama while discussing the NCAA tournament. Click here to watch the complete video.
Clark Kellogg, Coach Bob Hoffman and Coach Susie Gardner are just a few of the speakers listed for the Tip-Off event on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The new rosters and hopes of the upcoming season will be presented to the crowd of athletes and other Mercerians alike.
For ticketing information, please email MAF@mercer.edu or call (478) 301-4003.
(10/11/11 4:29am)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01_M3ZKbAeg
(10/11/11 4:20am)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4FMFKffTp8
(10/06/11 1:55am)
Congratulations to the Hemoglobin Trotters for their victory in this year’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament! As the number two overall seed, they went 3-0 in the playoff bracket to garner the title. They won with a buzzer-beater jump shot in overtime against 3 Ballers. The final score was 18-17. The Hemoglobin Trotters’ roster consists of: -Spencer Hutto -Bennett Brock -Clayton Turk -John John -Khaled Kashlan Important dates/info: -Dodgeball’s regular season will be played on Thursday, Oct. 6.- The quarterfinals through the championship will resume on Saturday, Oct. 22. during Mercer Madness.- Football registration closes Thursday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.-Soccer champions announcement coming soon.-Football begins with jamboree Oct. 10-11.
(10/06/11 1:10am)
Fresh off the plane from West Moreland, Jamaica, freshman midfielder Ashani Samuels is having an immediate impact on the Bears soccer squad. Scoring his first collegiate goal in the game versus VMI and following it up with another on the road against Nebraska Omaha, Samuels is a force to be reckoned with at such a young age.
The 6-foot-4, 167-pounder played three sports while attending Mannings School in Jamaica. They included soccer, volleyball and track and field.
Former member of the Jamaican U-20 National Team and the Sandals Whitehouse Club team, Samuels has already experienced success at a high level, seeing his team advance all the way to the semifinals of the Flow Champions Cup in his home country.
Samuels brings all of his experience to a vamped-up men’s soccer club as he sat down with The Cluster to speak about some of his interests and early experiences at Mercer.
Cluster: How did you hear about Mercer?
Ashani: After playing with the U-20 National Team, Brad Ruzzo (Mercer’s head soccer coach), was friends with the National coach and he recommended me. They already had a player profile on me. They gave him the profile and I received a call. He told me about the school, I checked it out online, I liked it, so I decided to come here.
C: How is soccer different in America than in Jamaica?
A: They are different in a lot of ways. In Jamaica, soccer is like touch football. The center midfielder dictates the game. The long ball is not Jamaican style football either. We like to have the ball at our feet and play a lot of touches and enjoy the game. It’s a bit different but somewhat similar. You still have to put the ball in the back of the net.
C: How has your transition been to America so far?
A: With cultural shock and everything, it is a bit difficult. My teammates and friends I have made here have made it a bit easier. I’m getting along.
C: What do you miss most about home?
A: Sometimes I miss the touch football game, honestly. I miss my mom and immediate family members. I miss my friends. Other than that, Mercer is like a home and I’m trying to make the best of it.
C: What has been your most memorable moment at Mercer?
A: The win against VMI. We were down 1-0 in the 76th minute of the game. I scored a header to equalize it, another player on the team scored, and I think Bryson came in with the third and final nail on the coffin and we won the game 3-1. In 14 minutes, we scored three goals. That’s quite impressive.
C: What have you enjoyed about your coaches and teammates?
A: They are always there to help you. They can always talk [to] and motivate you. They make sure you are always on the ball.
C: What type of music do you listen to before games?
A: I try to build up little vibes within myself when I go on the field so I go with something I feel more comfortable with, like Jamaican songs; songs that I am already accustomed to. I like a little R & B, I think. Reggae. Reggae.
C: Who’s your favorite athlete?
A: My favorite athlete is Steven Gerrard. He is a footballer who plays for Liverpool.
C: Why did you choose soccer over volleyball and track?
A: Honestly, I’ve never thought about that. I think I was just a little more talented in that. Things work out soccer-wise for me. Soccer is a sport you can excel more in. I find [it] a bit more fun. It’s a bigger space to play on and more players to play with. It’s not really one-person-dependent but a team.
C: How have position changes affected your play?
A: I like the experience of playing all over the place. I love it.
Samuels’ passion for the game shows through every game, as he has begun to put up some impressive numbers in the early weeks of the season. With their recent conference win over UNF in their conference play opener of 2011, Samuels and the Bears improved their record to 5-3-1 on the season. While his everyday life might be a little crazy and a bit of a “cultural shock” as of right now, Ashani Samuels feels right at home on the field with his fellow companions of the soccer squad.
Watch Samuels and the rest of the Bears team as they continue conference competition with three of their remaining seven conference matches taking place at home.
Click here to watch the full video!
(10/06/11 1:08am)
The final days of the 2011 MLB regular season brought more excitement to our living rooms than anyone could have anticipated. Whether it was the giant collapse by the Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox or the impressive surges from the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals, viewers were on the edge of their seats in shock over the happenings of the dwindling nights of regular season play.
Let’s begin with the downfall by the Braves in the NL. On Sept. 5, the Braves had an eight-and-a-half game lead in the Wild Card race over the declining Cardinals. Beginning and ending with a three-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies, the Braves went 7-16 from Sept. 5-28. They lost six of their last seven, including five in a row to narrowly miss the postseason.
With all that said, it took a 15-6 record over that span from the St. Louis Cardinals to push the Braves out the door and from the outside looking in at the playoffs. The RedBirds won seven consecutive series over the same span of Sept. 5-28, including a three-game sweep of the Braves and taking three of four from the Phillies in Philadelphia.
Going into the final series of the season, the Braves faced the NL-East winning Phillies as the Cards faced off with the worst team in the league in the Houston Astros. With only a one game separating the two clubs, the Braves needed just one win and a Cardinal loss to solidify their postseason spot. With the Cardinals losing to the Astros in game one of the series 5-4, the Braves had their chance slip through their fingers. The Braves dropped the game and the one that followed as the Cardinals took game two from Houston. All tied at 89-72 entering the final game of the season, the Cards went to their ace Chris Carpenter as the Braves looked for veteran Tim Hudson to answer the call. The Cardinals took care of business early as Carpenter pitched a complete-game gem, only allowing two hits and no runs in an 8-0 rout of the Astros. The Braves entered the ninth frame with a 3-2 lead and looked to be facing a one-game playoff before rookie closer Craig Kimbrel coughed up the lead and the game went into extras. The Phillies would take the lead in the top half of the 13th (4-3) and rookie Freddie Freeman fittingly grounded into a game-ending/season-ending double play.
Meanwhile, the AL race for the Wild Card was stirring up a not-so-exciting outcome at the time. The Rays and Red Sox were facing similar fates as they both entered the final game of the season deadlocked at 90-72. The Red Sox had a nine-game lead with 27 games left of the season. No problem, right? Wrong. The Boston team would lose 19 of 26 to put themselves in a position to fail in game 162. On the contrary, the Rays finished the season with a 17-10 September, which included sweeps to the Red Sox on Sept. 15-17 and the Yankees in the final series of the season.
The Rays didn’t look to be sitting in the right seat, as they were down 7-0 to the Yankees even after putting their ace David Price on the mound in the final game of the season. The Rays looked up at the scoreboard and saw the Red Sox leading the Orioles 3-2 in the seventh. As the rain came down in Baltimore for the Red Sox, the runs came out for the Rays. The Rays burst out with six runs and brought the game within one run in the eighth. Down to their last strike in the ninth, pinch-hitter Dan Johnson hit a two-strike solo shot off the foul pole in right to deadlock the game 7-7. Johnson didn’t even expect to get an at-bat. Fittingly so, the Red Sox game picked up right then and there and the Sox were also within a strike of closing off the O’s. The Orioles hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game 3-3 with two outs in the inning before Robert Andino laced a game-winning single to left. Meanwhile, the Rays found out between the top and bottom half of the 12th that the Sox had lost and Evan Longoria closed the book on the Red Sox’s season with a solo homerun in the bottom half of the 12th to win the AL Wild Card. His second homer of the game, the ball barely cleared the shortest and closest wall in the park.
Baseball plays some funny tricks on the players and fans. Even when clubs were down to their last strikes, as a fan, you could just see there was still a lot of baseball to be played. The Braves and Red Sox just didn’t have the killer instincts this time around.
The Braves “appeared” to be shutting down the Phillies in the ninth, Papelbon “appeared” as if he was going to close out the fighting Showalter’s in Baltimore and the Rays “appeared” to be getting clobbered by the Bronx Bombers in St. Pete. It “appeared” for a second that there would be, not one, but two one-game playoffs in this year’s Wild Card races. The lights were flashing, the rally caps were out and hope was still in the air. It took eight teams in the final seconds of their season to make sure that did not happen. The Cards and Rays capped off their comebacks just as the Red Sox and Braves solidified their collapse.
When it was all said and done, it’s a beautiful thing to see the two struggling teams miss their chance and the red-hot squads make the most of their opportunities. Honestly, if either the Red Sox or Braves would have squeaked past Game 162, they would have found an immediate departure in a first-round sweep against whomever they faced. With the talent in the pool of this year’s playoffs, there is no room for weak pitching staffs or cold bats. With starters such as CC, Verlander and Lee lined up, those squads wouldn’t have stood a chance.
(10/06/11 12:43am)
From the director of the award-winning Capote (2005), Bennett Miller’s Moneyball is a film suitable for sports fans. Based on the true story of Oakland Athletic’s General Manager Billy Beane, the film tells of the risk one man takes to bring his club back to respectability when he believes all odds are against him in the unfair business of the MLB.
When his team loses three of their star players and find themselves once again departing early out of the playoffs, Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt) takes extreme measures and looks to a young Yale graduate (played by Jonah Hill)to help find the winning formula for the A’s organization. In an unorthodox and widely scrutinized fashion, Billy Beane and Peter Brand try to use a computer-generated analysis of players to piece together a squad during the 2002 season.
Moneyball has a little bit of everything that anyone would want or expect from a sports movie. With great camera shots, witty baseball dialogue and tremendous use of sound (or lack thereof), the movie keeps its viewers intrigued and entertained throughout.
Through its subtle use of close-ups, slow and developing humor, and the behind-the-scenes looks of the ins and outs of the game of baseball, the film portrays the nitty-gritty and cut-throat lifestyles of owners and general managers in the sporting world.
In realistic fashion, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Academy Award-winning Philip Seymour Hoffman put all the pieces together to resemble the day-to-day operations of a struggling ballclub. With great acting from the trio of stars, Moneyball narrows in on the serious and overlooked aspects of sports like never seen before. Playing the dissatisfied manager Art Howe, Hoffman successfully plays one of the opposed characters to Beane’s new ideals. Unhappy with the situation at-hand, Rowe wishes to carry out the everyday operations as he sees fit.
The film effectively uses comedy and drama into the well-timed sequence of events that compiled the true-life story behind the California baseball club. While other films portray sports as entertainment, Moneyball throws the idea of “fun” of the game out the window. Talking more business than games, the film keeps focus narrowed on business operations.
Using the team as a metaphor and effectively displaying emotions, the movie presents its audience with an inside look of its protagonist. With multiple shots placing Brad Pitt’s character into complete solidarity, the film uses his daughter and a wide-range of other simple characters as the surrounding cast that molds Billy Beane’s life. With his daughter as inspiration to always move forward, the protagonist uses every ounce of his energy into what he sees as a life or death situation in a crossroads of his career. As an owner who believes he has taken the safe route all his life, he hires Peter Brand as his right-hand man to potentially change the game.
Also, the film uses a plethora of old video clips, real names and multiple subtle jabs throughout to put the audience in the locker room and offices of the real-life team.
With fine acting, accurate history of the game, impressive camera angles, simple comedy and unique story-telling throughout, Moneyball is one of the best sports film in the past decade.