Posted on August 3rd, 2012
By DERON SNYDER
Truth be told, we weren’t that inspired by Olympians like Michael Jordan and Carl Lewis. While they dominated their sports like few have ever done, it’s commonplace to see African Americans conquer basketball and track and field. This is by no means a putdown, but seeing Jordan and Lewis excel in their chosen arenas was as stimulating as hearing Jay-Z master the rap game.
The same can’t be said of extraordinary teen gymnast Gabby Douglas, the first African American to win the individual all-around Olympic gold medal. Watching her fly through the air, twisting and flipping over the various apparatuses, triggers a flood of emotions that ballers and sprinters simply can’t unleash (through no fault of their own).
That’s why Gabby’s impact will extend far beyond sports. Jordan and Lewis served as role models for countless basketball players and track stars who followed, just as Jordan and Lewis had a number of predecessors to emulate. Gabby had Dominique Dawes, the three-time Olympian who in 1996 became the first female African-American gymnast to win an individual medal.
The number of young black girls who decided to try gymnastics undoubtedly surged thanks to Dawes’ emergence. And there’s likely to be a new wave of interest, now that Douglas has two gold medals and a chance to win more. But just as Dawes didn’t spawn an influx of black Olympic gymnasts, Gabby is unlikely to change the demographics dramatically.
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Posted on August 3rd, 2012
By DERON SNYDER
Now that Penn State’s shocking stream of sad news has slowed, the NCAA can turn its attention to less-depressing matters … good, old-fashioned recruiting violations! While Jerry Sandusky’s atrocities were unimaginable and led to unprecedented penalties, the NCAA can walk its well-worn path in handling the likes of, say, Central Florida.
UCF received sanctions Tuesday, added to the school’s self-imposed penalties, that include a one-year postseason ban in men’s basketball and football. The NCAA also slapped the school with a “lack of institutional control” charge and a $50,000 fine, all based on engaging with outside entities in luring prospective athletes.
Greg Sankey, an NCAA infractions committee member, told the Associated Press that UCF’s situation was troubling because there was “knowledge of the representatives or third parties being involved in the recruiting process and [school officials] facilitated that.”
If the NCAA is serious about changing the culture of big-time college sports — especially men’s basketball — it can begin with the runners, street agents and various intermediaries involved at the top level of recruiting. Sorting through the bad guys and good Samaritans won’t be easy, though.
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Posted on August 1st, 2012
By DERON SNYDER
We don’t know why O.J. Murdock took his life Monday. We don’t know the problems he faced and considered unmanageable. We don’t know the emotions he felt and considered unbearable.
But we do know that Murdock, 25, was an NFL player. And that alone is reason for concern, considering the recent string of suicides among former NFL players, combined with the slew of concussion-related lawsuits filed against the league.
Unlike former star linebacker Junior Seau, who committed suicide with a gunshot to his chest in May, and former star defensive back Dave Duerson, who took his life in similar fashion in February last year, Murdock didn’t appear interested in leaving his brain to science. He shot himself in the head.
He also didn’t have a long NFL career behind him, preparing for just his second year with the Tennessee Titans after missing his entire rookie season with an injury. That’s another factor that separates him from Seau, Duerson and Ray Easterling, a former defensive back who committed suicide at the age of 62 in April.
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Posted on August 1st, 2012
By DERON SNYDER
The Washington Nationals didn’t make any moves at Tuesday’s trading deadline, which means at least two things: General manager Mike Rizzo likes the makeup of his team, and Edwin Jackson is staying put for just the second time in seven years.
Not that Jackson — the starter in Wednesday night’s game against the Phillies — was worried about being shipped out. Growing up in a military family and pitching for seven teams in his 10-year career has made him extremely adaptable to new environments. Besides, he usually goes from sellers to buyers when traded, and the Nats clearly weren’t in sell mode.
Things worked out perfectly for Jackson last season, when the St. Louis Cardinals acquired him in an eight-player deal a few days before the trading deadline. Three months later, he was sipping champagne and being fitted for a ring.
“Everybody they got pretty much was something they needed,” Jackson said Tuesday, about 30 minutes before the deadline passed. “It wasn’t like they needed one or two pieces. They got multiple pieces, and everybody played a factor in us winning.”
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By DERON SNYDER
