Sunday, April 22, 2012

The Benedict Arnold of the Twenty-first Century

Although its a name I can barely get my lips to mouth, a sore subject that I rarely like to bring up, I think it's time to talk about LeBron. Now nearing the end of the NBA season, there are a few things that no Cavaliers fan likes to bring up. With a term well-known to most Cleveland sports fans, this was a"rebuilding year" for our hometown Cavaliers.

So instead of succumbing to the disappointment of a weak season without LeBron, many Cavaliers fans have switched their focus to watching the Heat. As avid as we all once were in cheering for LeBron's victory, we now are just as avidly cheering against him, if not more so. LeBron has made himself, at least in the eyes of many Cleveland-ers, the Benedict Arnold of the Twenty-first Century.

I'm sure you reading this have heard of the many LeBron jersey campfires that ensued "The Decision" broadcasted by ESPN. In the video below, another fan finds a small hometown victory in the Mavericks victory over the Heat. In what little ways we can keep ourselves sane as Cavaliers fans, we find the glass half-full when LeBron is defeated after his betrayal of Cleveland.

Crazy Fan Reaction

Saturday, April 7, 2012

The Silence of the National Anthem

I think my favorite part of a soccer game would be the National Anthem played at the beginning. Although it's mostly considered the one part of a two hour activity that could be cut in order to get us home before 10 on a school night, I would like to disagree.

No, I don't think that a girls highschool soccer game in Northeast Ohio is played in order to honor one's country. And I don't pretend to take it that seriously. However, I think the National Anthem serves a purpose each time its played as the men take their caps off. For me, it pumps me up. Standing there with my team, staring at the flag and humming under my breath, I silently prepare for my game. It gives me those 90 seconds to think for myself, without the constant stream of voices from my coaches, teammates, and parents. Its the time I take to breathe. In 90 seconds, I look ahead at the next 80 minutes of soccer I have to play, and think, I can do this.

So clearly, to me the National Anthem is not about the quality of song. Whether its a tape recording or the entire Cleveland Orchestra strumming along, I think regardless. And so, when a singer tries to make the National Anthem about them, I get annoyed. At the championship March Madness game between Kansas and Kentucky, The Fray sang the National Anthem for two college basketball teams, their coaches and staff, and a completely sold out arena. When I watched this video (linked below), I was floored by their confidence to think that they could rewrite the National Anthem, a song sung since 1889, and somehow think they could make it better. Although I am a huge fan of The Fray, I was definitely disappointed by their over-complication of a song beautiful for its simplicity. At best, I would call this a mosquito-like distraction to an otherwise exciting game.

Monday, April 2, 2012

It's Been A While.

Hi everyone! Like the title implies, it's definitely been a while since the last time I posted. Now that we're half way through the spring, there's a lot that I need to catch you up on! This winter, as you might have assumed, was incredibly dull and sport-free. There were no lamentable snow storms, no noteworthy UFO sightings, and the Cavaliers never upset the Heat. With all this free time I had, you might've guessed that I spent most of my time of YouTube: to-date the greatest cure for boredom. After hours of clicking on related videos, I stumbled upon a video that I thought you all might like to see...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKMllY6jHp0

When I showed my friends this video, half of them thought it was film-edited, while the other half found it believable. Being one to hope for semi-miracles, I chose to argue for its authenticity. Evan Longoria must have heard the ball coming, and reached out his hand quick enough to catch it! But the debate continues... email or comment your opinions!!

And as for catching you up on whats been going on these past few months, I guess you'll just have to wait for my next blog post. Which, fingers crossed, should be ready for reading by next weekend. Happy Spring,

Goo