As usual per this time of year, everyone takes a little time to reflect upon the last 12 months and hypothesize what might happen in the next 12. For me, I came into 2010 a Buckeye and will leave it a Golden Flash. I have a Bachelor's degree from the best university in the world (debate me if you want, I'm not going to back down) and am working on a Master's from one of the best kept secrets in the J-School world. In January, I was taking care of a roommate's dog, but in December I have my own. I've watched friends get engaged (about 7 in the last week actually) while I've remained content in a relationship with myself. I lost somewhere between 10-15 pounds and 2 jean sizes thanks to P90X and my drinking has slowed down significantly thanks to grad school.
Writers often use this time to put this reflection into prose through Top (insert number here) lists, ranking the best and worst news stories, scandals, sports moments, mysteries, movies, music, political shenanigans, etc. You name it, there is probably a list for it somewhere on the Internet. As a sports writer, I have had numerous opinions about my favorite athletes, teams and events, and I think it is my duty to narrow it down to ten for the five of you who really care what I have to say. These are in no specific order because I don't have the credibility to be ranking things.
1. Tiger
Ok, the incident technically happened in 2009, but the aftermath has 2010 written all over it. Tiger lost his wife, his credibility with his female fan base, his endorsements with brands like Gatorade and Gillette, his number one ranking, and, most importantly, his ability to come out a winner in any major golf tournament since he got back on the green in April. The only thing consistent in his life is constant media scrutiny, the backing by the ever-so morally conscious Nike and money from video game sales.
When Tiger's drama unfolded, I, like most women, was disgusted that a man could stoop so low. I never really cared about golf so I didn't feel like one of my favorite athletes had betrayed my trust. But, neither did the guys I worked with at Quaker Steak and Lube, who worshiped Tiger. The only thing they cared about was that he was back playing golf. This reminded me that golfing was Tiger's profession. Cheating was his personal life. I don't condone cheating, but I could probably guess that chronic cheaters exist in all walks of life. The only difference between them and Tiger is that Tiger is a celebrity. Would we be more or less disgusted if we found out a close friend had cheated on their spouse with a dozen or so people? For me, probably more, but I wouldn't be writing about it, and would try to be there for them, even if I didn't think they were in the right.
The real lesson from the Tiger incident is for anyone who thinks they want to make it big, and for those of us who are obsessed with celebrity culture. If you want to be a celebrity, you have to know that your actions, no matter how bad, good, or unimportant, are subject to public scrutiny. But what we, as followers of athletes and celebrities need to realize is that these people are still people. They are not gods. We should not be idolizing them as such. Is there anything wrong with going back to worrying about our own lives instead of putting so much energy into caring about celebrities' stupidity? I'm going to go with no.
2. OSU tatgate
In the most recent installment of "How does the NCAA REALLY work?" Buckeye fans were thrown into a whirlwind of disappointment and ambiguity known in the Twitterverse as #tatgate. What started as a rumor that OSU players were getting free tattoos in exchange for autographs turned into a memorabilia-selling meltdown that led to the five-game suspension (not counting the Sugar Bowl) for a group of OSU's best of next season's senior class. Most of my holiday parties consisted of discussions of "What do you think about those football players, Margaret?" "Are you ashamed to be a Buckeye right now?" "Do you think they were set up?"
When I was a freshman, I decided I would make it a goal to save all of my ticket stubs from every sporting event or concert I attended, from there on out, especially the OSU games. I also made a promise to myself that I would never, under any circumstances, miss a home OSU game while I was a student. From 2006-2009, I made it to every single one, even the 2008 Penn State game when I was black-out drunk off cherry bombs and my friends were making $200 per ticket. That game had a sad ending, but one that didn't was The Game of the Century between No. 1 OSU and No. 2 Michigan in 2006. It was one of the best moments of my life, however, my ticket stub from that epic game is the only one I am missing. I would give anything to have that ticket back.
Tradition is something that is bred into every single OSU student way before they start taking classes or participating in extracurriculars. The intercollegiate athletes are the ultimate representation of that tradition. Maybe they didn't fully understand what it means to be a Buckeye. Maybe they really did need to help their families. Maybe the rules concerning athletic scholarships are too stringent. Whatever the reason, Pryor, Posey, Herron, Adams and Thomas, all freshmen at the time of the sales, figured there would be no harm in making some quick cash off memorabilia they knew they would get duplicates of later in their careers. Out of the entire team, Pryor was the only one that saw significant playing time that season, so the stuff they were selling probably wasn't very important since they didn't really earn it. The problem is that that stuff is important. It's important to the fans, it's important to the culture, and it's important to the tradition of OSU athletics. No matter what the circumstance, it is a disgrace to Buckeye nation when the leaders of the current legacy betray it.
As in the Tiger mess, we have to remember that these players are only human. They were 18/19 years old at the time and most likely from families who probably thought the athletic scholarship was also going to pay for living expenses so they wouldn't have to. While this is understandable, we must take into account that there are thousands of students attending OSU who come from poor families, struggling to pay for their Buckeyes to have a better life. The difference is that these students are able to work non-university jobs, take gifts from other family members, and sell whatever they want to make a living, even if it means sacrificing tradition. Is it going to get to the point where an athlete can't take Christmas money as a gift without facing NCAA violations? Also, what would have happened if the players said their parents sold the memorabilia without their knowledge? Cam Newton did it, and ended up winning the Heisman. If the NCAA really cared about the incident and not the monetary value these young men bring to the organization, Pryor and Co. would have been suspended for the bowl game, instead of the first five snoozer games of the 2011 season, and Kellen Moore would be the newest addition to the Heisman fraternity. Luckily for OSU, Jim Tressel still carries his Northeast Ohio roots, and supposedly worked out a deal ensuring these players would not leave for the NFL. As fans, we are forced to wait and see how this will fuel the fire for Tuesday's Sugar Bowl and whether or not these players will betray us again.
3. B1G Ten: Legends + Leaders = Doubl3 Los3rs
I still am having trouble taking this seriously, so this is going to be brief. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EAST AND WEST? WHEN DID IT BECOME STANDARD FOR CONFERENCE NAMES TO LOOK LIKE GRE ALGEBRA EQUATIONS? WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO MAKE THE CONFERENCE THE BIGGEST JOKE IN ALL OF COLLEGE SPORTS? I don't know either, but it is for this ridiculous move that I am convinced sports PR is low on intelligent life forms, yearning for people like me to bring its credibility and sexiness back.
4. LeBronaclypse
I have voiced my opinion on this enough, so if you've been reading my stuff you know how I feel about this person. But what has been forgotten in the aftermath of Jan. 8 and Dec. 2 is the current Cavaliers. In the beginning of the season, the Cavs beat the Celtics, went .500 and looked like they were going to be okay. Now, they are proving all their critics right. The biggest lesson to be learned with the Cavaliers is that if you want to be great, you cannot build your team around one superstar, because there's no guarantee he will always be on your side. The Lakers and the Celtics have always been great teams because for every superstar that leaves, there is always another waiting in the wings to take his place. Or because the NBA is rigged and God hates Cleveland.
5. OSU Men's Basketball
My freshman year could have been the best year for OSU athletics in my college career if football and basketball hadn't choked to the same school in the end. I still think the 2006 football team was one of the greatest to ever play in the Shoe, but for basketball, the 2010 team blows the 2006 team out of the water. David Lighty, the only surviving member from the 2007 Florida aftermath, got his rematch against the Gators and did it with a smile. That game was the stepping stone to propel these men to greatness. Now in his best start as an OSU coach (13-0), Thad Matta is giddy as ever. Though the December games were a series of snoozfests, we got to see how deep the Buckeye lineup really is. Jared Sullinger owns the Big Ten freshman of the Week award, Jon Diebler could shoot threes behind blindfolded, and Dallas Lauderdale blocks like he used to play volleyball. This team is going to be dynamic in 2011, as long as they survive any potential upsets in March and April.
6. The Browns
Another season is about to end as the season that almost happened for my beloved Browns. It seems like the pieces are slowly coming together, finally. Colt McCoy isn't a superstar yet, but he is better than Delhomme and as long as he stays healthy, will do great things next season. The same goes for Joe Haden, even if he is from Florida. Peyton Hillis, aka the great white rhino, is one of the best things to happen to the Browns, since, ever. We got him and the Broncos got Brady Quinn, who uses his time wisely to warm up the bench for the holy Tim Tebow. Talk about lopsided. The best thing about the 5-10 (soon to be 6-10) season is that the Browns get another high draft year, and if they make smart decisions like last year, could finally have a playoff calibur lineup.
As far as Mangini is concerned, I'm not really sure if getting rid of him is the best measure. It might be a bigger gamble getting rid of him than keeping him, especially when the players are finally starting to resemble a professional football team. The only person I could trust doing a better job, at this point, is Sandusky native, Jon Gruden. Although this is probably because his cousin dates my best friend's brother, and his coaching tenure could lead to some non-nosebleed tickets for myself.
7. The Yankees were not world champs
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Even though the Indians sucked and Larry Dolan sucked even more with his "Why would we ever pay good players with the outrageously high salary cap in MLB but not lower our ticket prices" mentality, fans can breathe easy knowing the Yankees don't have a 28th title to add to their stadium decorative scheme. Thanks Texas, even if you did blow it in the end.
8. UCONN
Women's basketball
Last night, UCONN's streak ended at 90, thanks to a loss at Stanford. What is more astonishing than their record-breaking streak and ESPN's obsession with it, is how many people (I'm talking to you men out there) who think they don't deserve to be compared with UCLA because they are women. I do agree that men's and women's sports are different, and the comparison was a little off-balance, but if you are a man, who spends your life watching sports rather than playing them, do not say you could put together a pick-up basketball team that could beat the UCONN women any day because you can't. I hate to go all femi-nazi, but nothing irritates me more than when people crticize sports because they aren't football, baseball, or men's basketball. What those women did was truly remarkable. They have played some of the best teams in women's ball and beat them to the core. If you were to ask the average person which team has the most national championships in OSU history, I doubt they would come up with the correct answer: synchronized swimming. It may not be the most exciting sport to people, but it means something to those involved with it. Who is anyone to discount either one of these remarkable feats as meaningless because they aren't part of the big three?
Football
Another example of why the BCS needs to disappear. UCONN is horrible. The Big East is horrible. Just because your conference used to be good doesn't mean it still is. At the very least, it should not be based on conference but on top ten ranking as to who goes to each of the BCS bowls. The problem is that the BCS and the NCAA doesn't really care what we think because they know we will watch. Why do you think there are so many pointless December bowl games? I bet most of the people I avidly converse with on Twitter have been watching football all day yesterday and are continuing today. We love the sport. We can hate on the BCS all we want. We're still curious to see what happens. The same goes for ESPN. We all make fun of ESPN's worship of the SEC, UCONN women, Brett Favre and the Miami Heat, but we watch that channel every day. I even fall asleep with it on in the background. Both organizations know they will make money off of us no matter what post-season path they choose, which is why we are left out of the process.
9. Favre
Brett Favre is a joke. He used to be great, hall of fame material. Friends of mine in elementary school loved wearing their Brett Favre jerseys, even the ones who were raised Browns fans. Now, with his retirement indecision, Wrangler commercials, and dismal 6-9 season, one has to wonder why he didn't just quit while he was ahead? Was it worth it to face all these injuries leading to a concussion that will most likely end his season before Week 16 is even over? Did he not take the collapsing Metrodome roof as a hint that he needs to end this before it gets out of hand? Apparently not. This is why ESPN loves him so much.
10. KSU football
My final sports opinion is not so much a reflection but a premonition for the future. After coming from a school that realllllyyyy cares about their football team, I was in culture shock at Kent State when I found out that people could care less what happens to the Golden Flashes on the field. I know that some schools are just not football schools, and education should be the main focus of an institusion. I mean, KSU is number 194 in US News and World Report's top 200 Colleges and Universities, why should they care about football? The point is, if you are going to put so much money into a sport you better make sure you aren't going into debt because of it. Kent State was, in fact, in jeopardy of losing its Division 1 standing if it didn't sell 90,000 home season tickets, including the free student tickets. I'm not sure if they ever reached this goal, but I do know that local businesses had a plan in place to buy up what was left if they didn't. Very celebrity AIDS awareness Twitter-death-esque.
Following another losing season, Coach Doug Martin stepped down, and former OSU assistant coach, Darrell Hazell stepped up. At the Kent vs. Youngstown State basketball game, Coach Hazell received a warm welcome from the crowd, especially after he stripped down into a "Beat Akron" tee. In case you aren't familiar with the MAC, the Akron/Kent rivalry is Northeast Ohio's OSU/Michigan. Those games actually sell out, although that probably has to do more with geographic proximity than fandom. Either way, I think Coach Hazell will turn things around and make the program worthy of recognition within the KSU community. Having learned a thing or two about rivalry and recruitment at OSU, I am certain Hazell will lead the team to a winning record, though this might not happen over night. He will also contribute to the PR and marketing schemes that will make people excited about Golden Flash football. If there is anything I learned after a semester in a public relations graduate program, it is one part good team five-parts atmosphere that get people fired up about a sport. If it wasn't, why on earth would we be so invested in it that we devote our writing skills to it?
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