SPORTS: RED SOX v. YANKEES; WHAT BURNS MOST?

Ohio State and Michigan, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, USA and the World. We all know these are some of the biggest rivalries there are in sports. But in post-all star game baseball there is only one series that can be put in this category and that is Red Sox-Yankees baseball. Nothing can compare to this series. Every year there are playoff implications and never is there a dull moment. So in the history of this great series what moment burns the most?



Depending on which team you rep the answer to this question most likely rest on completely different sides of the spectrum. Lets start at the beginning. Here's a familiar name. Babe Ruth. Signed by the Red Sox in 1911 he leads the Bo Soxs to 4 World Series titles in 7 years and then what does the team do in return. They ship him to the Yankees of course and with that the biggest burn begins.... The curse. 86 years of futility, nothing is worse than that many years of failure. And what makes it all the worse is the ways in which it occurs. Free agents stolen from the Red Sox. Ready? The list is long. Babe Ruth, Wade Boggs, Jose Contreras, Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Texiera, C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett several who were Red Sox players at one time adding insult to injury. Then theres the heartbreaking loses. The collapse of 1978 which peaked with a one game playoff loss to the Yankees. Or maybe it was watching Aaron Boone destroy any World Series hopes with one swing of his bat. Then enter 2004, you knew it was going to be the Yankees turn for heartbreak evetually. Up 3 games in the ALCS and another dominating performance against the Red Sox was in sight. Then Papi stepped to the plate in the 12th inning of game 5. One swing of the bat and all moment swung. They walked away with game and 3 games later finished one of the greatest comebacks ever in Yankee fashion by dominating game seven and eventually winning their first World Series in 86 years. They would win another two years later repositioning themselves back into the baseball hierarchy. Without a doubt more negativity has plagued the Red Sox then Yankees but at the same time recent burns have all been felt by the Yankees. So what burned the most? The biggest burn in this rivalry has been felt by the Red Sox (though I hate to say it being a Red Sox fan) and it would be the 86 year drought that we had to suffer through. Have the Yankees go through a period like that including all of the heart breaking loses and we'll see how the evil empire feels.



Oh and if it burns everyone wants to talk about it.

SPORTS: The First Burn

So were in the middle of the MLB season and the NFL is right around the corner. Can't forget about college football either. And as always I have an opinion, well actually more than one. But where to start? How about Papi?

It seems like everytime we turn around another name is dropped that is alledgedly connected to steroids or some other illegal supplement. These names included the likes of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons, Rafael Palmero, Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez all of whom dealt with the issue with as much grace as a gorilla in high heels. Then came David Ortiz. The big guy, the player you just can't hate even if you are a Yankees fan. Suddenly the accusations went to another level and really hit home. Only this time the answer we received from the accused wasn't just endless no comments. He vowed to get answers and dealt with the problem head on and instead of looking like just another player who would do anything to get ahead he kept his Papi persona. The fans love him, the players love him and the media loves to talk about him. And as a result look how this turned out. Instead of his name going down as just another dirty player he stood out and questions were raised not just about his baseball past but also about the tests themselves. He swore he took only supplements and it was found that many of the positive tests were found to be caused by supplements that at the time were not band by the MLB. Not only that but the test was revealed to have a different number of positive test in the Unions version and in the governments version. Now for one I'm sick of hearing about the steroid era which has captivated sports news for the last year. It's news that is getting old real fast. Second, if the tests themselves have discrepencies then how can they even be viewed and used as evidence of cheating? If the supplements were legal at the time they were used than there is no legal leg to stand on. Let it go....

Now as for the NFL and MLB drafts it makes me sick when i see a kid straight out of college being payed as much as these kids are. Matthew Stafford gets 72 million over six years from the lions (47.1 of which is automatically guaranteed) and he hasn't touched a pig skin in the pros yet? Michael Crabtree isn't getting paid but thats because he's complaining about how much he's getting paid to PLAY A GAME for a living. Are you kidding me? You don't deserve to get paid until you do something to prove to everyone that you actually deserve the money that you get. There's no way you could talk me into giving an unproven rookie 41.7 million dollars when he could end up being a bust (especially in Detroit). And as for Crabtree, when you grow up and realize that your privaledged to play a game to make a living then you can get your money. Oh as if the double digit million dollar contract San Francisco offered you wasnt good enough. What is wrong with you? Sign the stupid contract and play, thats why they drafted you and if you do the right things and produce I promise a larger contract will follow. Look at Peyton Manning.

Finally I have a problem with college football and I will always have a problem with college football until a playoff system is created. It's not fun watching the same teams in the National Championship every year. Florida, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma... it gets old. Half the time theres a better team that gets screwed out of the Championship game. Like last year for instance. Texas and Texas Tech were both good enough to play in the National Championship along with Georgia, Alabama and Penn State. Not only that but what about the little guy? Schools such as Boise State never get the recognition they deserve. Undefeated is undefeated and therefore a playoff must be created to get the two teams that are truly the best. Without one the college football season just isnt the same.

These are the parts of the sports world that have me fuming. Remember if it burns everyone wants to talk about it

MUSIC: 2009 Breakout Band Carolina Liar

Welcome break-out band of 2009 Carolina Liar. This band came out of no where as most break-out band do and swept its listeners off their feet. Not since the glory days of Elton John and Billy Joel have melody and vocals been combined to create such a great musical element. Carolina Liar is truly a great group and are a pleasure to listen to so check them out.

Dirty Money

Everyone has heard the phrase "dirty money" but in reality it really is. A recent presentation of research showed that 90 percent of the paper money circulating in the US has traces of cocaine. The cocaine was introduced to the bills in a number of ways including drug deals and the snorting of the drug itself. Not every bill was in direct contact with the drug however. The spread of the cocaine has been attributed to the touching of bills in ATMs and registers at grocery and other stores. This constant exchange of cocaine between bills leaves very little on each one eliminating the chance of health risks. Even knowing that nothing can happen from handling the money I still think this is a ridiculous fact. When an entire countires currency has traces of an illegal drug a problem in present. There is no way this should be the case. Our country has gotten out of control in terms of drug use and this is just one example of that fact. Major changes need to be made to remedy this drug problem.