A win and a loss

The last few days have been intense for Northeast Ohio as the Kent State Golden Flashes baseball team took on Oregon in the Super Regional for a berth to the College World Series. The Flashes were up 2-0 for most of the game until the Ducks came back to tie it in eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, senior and Kent State's all-time hits leader Jimmy Rider nailed one to left field, allowing sophomore Derek Toadvine to score the game-winning run. The 3-2 victory sent the Flashes to their first trip to the College World Series. Not since 1970 has a team from Ohio made it to the CWS and not since 1976 has a team from the MAC moved on (the last teams to experience such success were Ohio University and Eastern Michigan, respectively).  This is the first time since 1970 a team from Ohio will be represented in the CWS and also the first time the MAC will be represented since 1976.

Golden Flashes pile up (photo via Kent State)

Usually when Kent State is on national news it's because of uncontrolled block parties and bizarre crimes so it's nice to see positive press. As a recent M.A. recipient from the school, this is especially pleasing. If you missed the moment or want to relive it, you can do so here.

And now for more somber news. Many of you might have seen me talk about Sandusky, Ohio on Twitter. Normally, I'm poking fun at the rockin' roller coast (it's all in good nature, I swear), but today I have to give my extreme condolensces to the community as they continue to mourn the loss of a beloved coach and friend. I did not know Chris Smith, but I do know a few of his relatives and many of the people who had the pleasure of knowing him as a person. Judging by the Facebook and Twitter statuses, this man had an impact on many lives throughout the Sandusky area. While it's unfortunate it takes something so tragic to remind us how precious and short life is, it is important to take this time to be thankful for the life we're given. No matter what you're doing or where you are, always remember to tell the people in your life how much they mean to you. No one is every too busy to hear those words.

Woops

As I said in my last post (in July...sorry about that) I am a terrible blogger. I have the potential to be good, but I don't have the time. New Years is only a month and a half away, but one of my resolutions is to get back to blogging and to be consistent about it. This, however, will not happen until I graduate in May. I'm sorry if you've been waiting for new posts, but I just don't have the time right now. I do have tons of ideas for things to write about. We'll just have to wait until spring time for them to be revealed.

Keeping up with Real Time

I'm a terrible blogger.

I'm sorry I haven't written about the Tribe still hanging in there, LeBron still being a d-bag, Ohio State still taking bullets to the head, or the bureaucracy involved with it all. I'm sorry I promised to be more consistent, but instead violated this all-important rule of blogging.  I could make a thousand excuses for my non-existent presence, but I'll limit the number to two. Neither of these have to do with my job taking over my life (because it doesn't, even if I am working more than 40 hours a week).

The first is that it's summer. In my 23 years of life, summer has been the time where my mind gets to rest. I've never taken summer classes, the only other "summer" internship I had was more of a shadowing opportunity and I've worked food service/retail jobs since I was 14. This is the first summer I've had a real job where I'm required to be just as, if not more, creative as I was during the school year. You would think I'd be adjusting with difficulty, but in fact, I love this pace. And every single weekend thus far has been phenomenal. This state of bliss is possible because I'm not waiting on ignorant men who think giving out their phone numbers will suffice as an adequate tip, or tourists who spend so much money on water gun games that their food budget had to be sacrificed. So, rather than staying at my apartment or sitting behind a computer 16 hours a day, I've been enjoying summer, as all of us should be.

Some friends and I waiting outside Grimaldi's in Brooklyn back in May. This was taken a few days after my first Yankees game. Go Tribe!

                                                                                       

The second reason is that I got rid of cable and won't allow it to return to my life until mid-August. For sports people, not having cable is sort of sacrilegious. I got rid of it because my roommates moved out and I barely watch TV in the summer anyway. As far as the sports stuff is concerned, I get everything I need to know from blogs, Twitter and sports websites. Personally, you should all be jealous of me because I have the privilege of NOT watching ESPN. However, the bad part of not actually watching sports and sports news is that I find it much more difficult to get a 360 platform of inspiration. Hearing other people talk about stuff is fine for knowledge, but not when you want to get in the conversation surrounding a live event.

Speaking of the conversation, who's heard of this little thing called Google+? I hope the answer to that is yes, but hey, it's summer. I don't blame you for living under a rock. Basically, Google's been paying attention to the way people communicate, connect and create content, and has developed an interface to give everyone a unique place to do what they've already been doing. It seems most of the people I've added to circles share like they would on Twitter, but it looks like it would on Facebook, if Facebook wasn't so busy.

I'm not saying Google+ is going to wipe out either of these networks. Facebook connected people in a way MySpace couldn't and Twitter made real-time the norm. But as someone who has established myself in a sports circle in the Twitterverse, I can honestly say this platform can give us a whole new way to talk about live sports- if we have a way to watch them, of course.

Think about it. Every Saturday from September to November and in the three weeks of bowl season, those of us who are not at a college game, at a bar watching a college game, at a party watching a college game, or doing anything involving a college game that keeps us away from our computers, were most likely live blogging or live tweeting with others about that game. With Google+, we can take our live discussions to the next level and "hangout" with each other, "spark" content with each other and follow our "circles," all in one place. Now, for those of us who don't get to leave the house, we can technically watch and absorb the game with other people in the same boat. Brilliant.

I personally would much rather be out and about on football Saturdays, but if I learned anything last year it's that grad school doesn't always allow a full day for fun. Sometimes I have to stay sober and the only way to do so is to pretend I'm doing homework while watching the game(s). It's a wonderful mind trick I seem to have perfected. In either scenario, it's much better enjoying football with others.

I'm still learning Google+ and all the fun that might come with it. I'm not quitting Twitter because I like it too much. I'm not quitting Facebook, because that's where my friends are, though I suspect my activity will decrease even more than it already has. I guess if I removed some of the clutter, aka people I don't care about, I could make Facebook a little more like Google+. But nobody likes the feeling of being "unfriended," and I don't like hurting people's feelings. I actually like that these social networks are different, serve different purposes and keep up the conversation in different ways.

For me, and hopefully for others, the unique purpose of Google+ can be another way to make our communities more open. But if this summer taught me anything, it's that no interface, social platform or real time conversation can ever replace real life experiences. I can look at people's beach vacation pictures all day, but nothing compares to actually going to the beach. I can read about stuff going on in Cleveland, Columbus or NYC but it doesn't do much for me unless I'm really there. I can drink a Summer Shandy while writing this post, but it doesn't taste as good as when I'm sitting around a patio table, having a toast with my friends.

RED, WHITE AND WINDIANS, LOOK WHO'S BACK ON TOP AGAIN

It's Friday. Tomorrow is the Columbus Crawl for Cancer. Leave my cheesy title alone.

For most of you, the first official holiday of summer begins this evening, and, if you live in Ohio, the first 10-day forecast boasting an overwhelming majority of sunny days is finally here. Despite all the roller coaster weather, I think all of us can already smell the barbeques from every corner of our neighborhoods. For some, this weekend is a 72-hour vacation. For me, I've been on vacation for weeks. Since school ended May 5, I've traveled to Columbus, New York City and that state up north all within a 12 day span, and I'm now taking a "relaxing" two weeks to prepare for my summer internship.

But enough about where I've been and where I'm going. The most important thing about this weekend is that the Cleveland Indians will enter the weekend series against the Rays 30-17. The CLEVELAND Indians. The same team that was ranked dead last in the MLB's preseason rankings is now your number one and the team everyone wants to see fail simply because they are consistently #WINNING. Nobody, and I mean nobody, that I have come across, anyway, predicted how electric these first two months would be. Sure, the Red Sox did to them what they've been doing to everybody during Wednesday's home matinee, but that's the beauty of baseball: you're allowed a bad game without too many people reading too much into it. No other sport has that luxury, especially before the all-star break.

Untouchable. For now.

Is this really the same team that took until June 30 to reach 30 wins last season? Not exactly. While a decent number of players from the 40-man 2010 roster returned in 2011 (26 to be exact), notable additions, such as Jack Hannahan and Orlando Cabrera, have everyone saying "Grady who?"

A few weeks ago, Wall Street Journal writer Darren Everson completed a forensic journalistic analysis of every trade and how it's impacted the Tribe's unexpected success. While it's fun to hate on Larry Dolan's frugal attempt at running a business, reading this article probably made you kind of like the old man and think he's not so senile after all. Besides the roster, notable changes made to the organization in the last few years include:

Brad Paisley wants to see YOU at Progressive Field. 

• The Indians Social Suite: Located where the old left field bleachers once stood, social media geeks like myself can apply to have experience the power of social media and sports, away from their TV sets. Not too shabby for a team owned by an 80-year old, though I doubt it was his idea.
• @tribetalk: The official Twitter page for Cleveland Indians social media. If you follow @tribetalk, you will get a follow-back, the opportunity for discounted tickets and a place in the Twitterverse to vent or praise about anything Tribe-related.
• The brand campaign of "Creating memories. Connecting Generations. Celebrating Families." or, as I like to call, six words that reinvent the meaning of America's favorite past-time.
• The Cleveland Indians Music Festival: Sure, it's all country, and if you know me, that's not exactly my favorite genre, but country concerts are probably some of the best concerts. While it might have nothing to do with baseball, it's going to get people to Progressive Field, where they will drink lots of beer and spend lots of money. How is that not a win for everyone?

With all the renovations to the Wahoo brand, we have to wonder: did the front office and team management/coaches know the Tribe would be this good? Or did these changes just fall into place at the right time? Whatever the case, the Tribe is back, though, its drought really doesn't compare to anything we ever dealt with from the Cavs and Browns combined. The team dominated the American League in the nineties to the point where Burger King thought the team was worthy for its own collectible baseball set, and didn't exactly "suck" up until game five of the AL Championship in 2007.

What happened last July with "The Decision" proved that in sports, if a team fails to bring home hardware, it will never be the best and will simply fade into our distant memories. As Cleveland fans, or any fans (I'm talking to you with my sincerest sympathy here, Chicago), our teams can be amazing all season, but if they choke in the playoffs and crumble in the coming year, what was once our source of happiness is now the reason for a daily eye roll. We cannot keep assuming that a near flawless record equals a championship. What we can do is remain faithful and proud, go to games (or at least give them the ratings) no matter what the record, and refrain from fair-weather syndrome.

We can hate our owners all we want, but sometimes it takes a series of bad decisions to make the right ones. Sometimes it takes more than a good team to bring people to the stadium, though that is an enormous part of it. Everything in life has its villain, especially sports. But not every athlete, team or organization is ignorant to fan loyalty (or, the consumer of the product, if you want to look at it that way).

It's almost June. The Browns might never see the field. The Cavs are rebuilding. Mike Brown no longer works at Winking Lizard (okay, maybe he never did, but he has a doppleganger named Tom). Ohio State football is a perpetual mess. That's all irrelevant because it's Tribe time now. No one knows if they'll roll through October, but at least we can enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Taking a Break..Well, not really

I know I don’t have the biggest fanbase in the world, but I know people read this. I have a few thousand views, including 19 (and counting) from someone or multiple someones in Malaysia. I don't know who you are, but thanks for boosting my numbers and hopefully enjoying what I have to say. That being said, I think it’s only fair I let you know a little about what’s going on in my life.

As some of you may know, I’m a Master’s student at Kent State University. This semester, I am taking an PR online tactics class, which is all about Web PR and social media. One of the class requirements is that I post a weekly blog. Unfortunately, it would be cheating the system if I used this blog, so for a couple months, I will be taking my talents to WordPress and writing a blog called Sports PRspective. I’ll still be writing about sports, but this is from a PR and image management angle, rather than a fan/general sports angle. I would love if all if you would read it and comment on it so I get some good traffic (I’ll post links each week here). I would love to keep doing my bi-weekly postings on here, but between that, my other classes, my assistantship, and my duties for Our Honor Defend, trying to manage three blogs is a bit much for me. I will be back sometime in April or May. Once I return, I’m going to try to post weekly instead of bi-weekly, since I know you can’t get enough of me. Thanks again for reading and boosting my self-esteem :)

Odds and ends of 2010

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?

Freshman Forgiveness

The word "excited", a term most people resort to when expressing their joy for something, could never correctly describe my feeling for this year's college basketball season.

Anxious.

Elated.

Fired up.

Those adjectives, courtesy of thesaurus.com, do my happiness for this time of year much more justice. But it's not because Ohio State is supposed to be the best they've been since I was a freshman or because Kent State students actually care about what happens on a court rather than a field. It's because of a fifth-year senior that reminds me of my glory days every single time he makes a shot.

David Lighty and I entered OSU as part of the freshman class of 2006. Though he never personally knew me, we have a connection that is one of those "small-world" scenarios. He played three-on-three with Daequan Cook and Mike Conley Jr., against some of my good friends outside Stradley Hall. He used to stop by Morrill Tower to visit Shavelle Little and Lesslee Mason, two freshmen on the women's team, and also my suitemates. And there was one weekend when I was convinced his teammate, Greg Oden, was stalking me. Every single party or bar I snuck into, Oden was sure to be close by. Also, when I worked at Victoria's Secret, Oden came shopping with one of his lady-friends and was responsible for the first-and last- line of teenage boys outside the lingerie store.

So you see, Lighty and I are only separated by one degree. But the separation is not the only reason I have a soft-spot for him.

As a first-year graduate student, I constantly feel stuck in limbo between that undergraduate youthfulness and that graduate responsibility to self. I want to party five nights in a row and function normally each morning but the sad reality is that I can't.

Let me clarify: I worked my butt off in journalism school and managed to graduate Cum Laude, leading me to a full ride at Kent State. The only time I really went out five nights a week was spring quarter senior year when I set my schedule up in a way that was conducive to my "Go hard or go home" mentality of that final ten weeks. I was determined to go out with a bang. If I ever tried to do that again I would surely die. But anyone who was/is a social drinker in college will tell you it's not so much the actual substance they are obsessed with but the ridiculous, "man, if my mother found out about this" stories they have with friends the next day.

For me, I was one of the lucky ones who made friends that I could create memories with sober, and work together with to elicit a collective memory following a night of heavy debauchery. I would never be able to list these stories in a blog; that piece of work will be saved for a novel. But whenever I watch David Lighty play I am reminded of the last four years of my life and how meaningful they were to my journey.

I would love to re-do some of my experiences, either to correct the mistakes or make the fantastic fabulous. There are also some that I never got the chance to enjoy, so I wouldn't mind giving them a shot. But I am in grad school now, 2 hours from Columbus. My visits only happen on weekends and my freshman forgiveness has long expired. 

Now, in his final year of eligibility, Lighty is determined to accomplish feats that he missed in the last four years. If I had chosen to pick up another major and take a fifth year, I would have undoubtedly done the same.

Already, he's had the chance to re-live one of the most scarring moments of his career, besides his season-ending injury. In 2007, OSU and Florida faced-off for the NCAA National Championship. Instead of the Buckeyes making up on the court what the football team couldn't do on the field, they were also outplayed by the SEC powerhouse. This marked the second of two blemishes that tarnished my otherwise flawless first-year experience.

Tuesday night, OSU played in the rematch it had been anticipating for more than three and a half years. The Buckeyes knew the stakes were high. The SEC has historically owned OSU, and the Buckeyes hadn't won a non-conference, top-10, regular season road game since 1961. Florida held a slight edge the first half, and, going into half-time, I was slightly prepared for the usual disappointment my teams throw at me. But, with 26 points, and a smile after every single one of them, Lighty and his teammates owned Florida in the second-half. Those little blue pom-poms and smurf people were not enough to scare away the Bucks from Gator territory. Once it became a 15-point game, Lighty finally received freshman forgiveness from the sports gods.

Luckily, for athletes, anytime they have a bad game, they get to hear "it's okay, there's always next year". Sometimes there is no "next year" for certain match-ups, but generally, they get a second shot at something. In academia, freshman year is your one shot to get it right.

Though most of his first-year teammates have long since moved on to other endeavors, either the NBA, ESPN or the infinite injury report (poor Greg Oden), Lighty remains the oldest member on the Buckeye roster. He is the only person in Scarlet and Gray who fully knows what the Gator pain feels like. I always say everything happens for a reason. Had Lighty not been injured his junior year, he never would have been able to give that pain right back.

That second chance was a defining moment in Lighty's career, and the rest of OSU's season. With three and a half months until March Madness, I am excited to see what's going to unfold. College sports are everything but predictable, and if it weren't for those little second chances, the sweetness of it all wouldn't taste this good.