Twitter Is All Twitterpated

Yes... I've been on hiatus.... Kind of.

I had a birthday and let's face it boys, you men get to age gracefully and well the women in the world get to wonder when is old enough to start using that wrinkle cream your mother swore by. So I took some me time, did I enjoy things going on in the sports world? Of course; what good Sports Junkie wouldn't?

So I've made no bones about the fact that I haven't kept up with hockey this year and as far as the NBA is concerned... just don't get me started. However, I am saying this its mid June and we are still in playoff mode for both sports. I should be watching baseball without the interference of hockey playoffs or the NBA finals. Yet, here we are.

So I'm sure you are thinking that this blog will be about the baseball season and the fact that I'm not watching as many baseball games as I should be... Well, you might be disappointed.

This is actually going to be a blog about my first sports passion that I don't personally play... college football.

I know, it is no where near college football season, but when you start reading about college athletes that are suffering the drama of social media... well, you know that I have to have an opinion about it.

Let me create a scene for you. I work with men who are sports buffs, men that like to think they are sports buffs... Then there is that one guy who is what he is. This guy that I work with is a sports buff in every sense of the word. He keeps up with his sports, he detests hockey, but I will over look this one fatal flaw, given this guys impressive resume. He's a triathlete, and a former big stud pitcher... Like drafted for the Yankees type of stud.

I know the Yankees, but how many of you can say that you were drafted and then threw your arm out? I'm just saying that there aren't many of you who can actually say that you have similar credentials.

So this friend of mine sends me a text yesterday that said this, "Your boyfriend Johhny Manziel is a bigger duesch than I thought."... Uhm... okay?

At first I laughed, for multiple reasons that I can't get into. But mainly because I love how this former Texas Tech Red Raider still has such a disdain for a team that is no longer a rival or a worry in our conference. Then me being the sports junkie I am I get ribbed for watching Manziel closely last season, with good reason.

So after receiving that text I wonder what was going on and twitter has exploded yet again.

I'm really starting to despise twitter over all of the drama that this social media tool creates on a daily basis. Apparently Manziel posted a tweet that got deleted shortly after. I have two twitter accounts, my personal account and my personality account. Nothing goes on the personality account unless it has been carefully scrutinized... my personal account however anything is game, but I've got that account locked down and I only allow followers that I know... Like actually know, have seen and talked too.

So Manziel suffered some fall out all because he was probably having a rough day.

Here is my thing, seriously put yourself in this kids... Yes I said KID... shoes. He made a name for himself out of the starting gate last season. I was watching him, before A&M beat the Crimson Tide. There was a reason that Manziel was awarded the Heisman. I'm just saying.

So he accomplished something that has never been done before the Heisman is actually his as a freshman. But there is one thing that people forget this kid is 19- 20 tops. He is a kid. I'm sure the pressure is unbearable for him and hard for people to understand.

I watched on many occasions QB's suffer at the hands of other students... Thank you Texas Tech for a valuable lesson in college football social dynamics... It wears on them, heck it wore on me, so I couldn't imagine being the actual subject of critique.

Here is my thought on all of this... Back off the kid, let him do his thing and more importantly let him have a bad day. We ALL have bad days, I know we do. Instead of reading into every social media post that is made, take it with its grain of salt and move on. Super stars in any capacity have the same ups and downs that you and I do. We just don't get to have our downs in the middle of a national spot light.

So chill out...

Besides its not football season yet.

And that's this sports junkie's opinion.

But I Liked The Old One

I know that I haven't written anything in awhile, given the things that have happened in the sports world. I had to take a brief sabbatical. I had some issues with my team...

It happens.

I was convinced that I need to watch the Rangers before the All Star game, it would be worth it... LIES!

I watched and then I watched a game where we intentionally walked two, loaded the bases and then proceeded to deliver up a home run. UGH!

Frustrating.

So I stopped watching sports for a little while. Like I said; it happens.

But given new developments in my life and career I think that staying focused in the sports arena for awhile is probably the best idea right now.

So this morning I get on FB and there is a big announcement from my beloved Stars.

Yes... I didn't pay attention, because of the hockey lock out. As a fan I get frustrated. Just play already. Shortened seasons because you can't figure out your tamper tantrums is ridiculous. And I'll leave it at that.

I'm not sure what to make of the Stars announcement of the new logo and image overhaul of the branding through out the franchise.

I can't say that I dislike it... But I can't really say that I like it either.

And I'm not really sure to make of the green jersey...

Odd I know. You would think that this would all be up a woman's alley, oddly enough I think that I might have more of an opinion about them acquiring a new goalie to add to the line up, which strangely I am both proud and some what humored by.

I guess the real questions you have to ask is this. are you still going to watch? Yes.
Would you purchase the merch? If I can wear the green sure (oh, look a girl-ish answer).

I'm thinking that the new logo seems a bit redundant to me... almost like I've seen it somewhere else...hmmm.

When I first looked at the logo it seemed very reminiscent of the Anaheim revamp that they did with their logo.

But It could just be me and my analytical nature.

And that is this sports junkies opinion.

Marathons and Football

So this weekend Tech embraced a tradition that has been around since I think the dawn of the sport. The spring scrimmage. This was huge for Red Raiders this year, they had a record setting turn out and there were a couple of things that impressed me this year.

The week leading up to the spring game was madness in the world. This craziness even crossed over into the world of sports. The event that started the crazy week was a bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. A huge marathon that is world renowned, was shaken by two bombs that went off at the finish line.

Heck the sports world was shaken...

All that bad news, terrorism, bombs, loss of life, ect... was being used in conjunction with a great sporting event.

This sports junkie was not happy.

I don't talk hard news for a reason its depressing.

So my favorite news world and my least favorite world collided, but despite all that I was reminded yet again why the world of sports amazes me on a daily basis.

The New York Yankees put aside their rivalry with Boston and played the one song that is played at every Boston home game. Yes the New York Yankees played Sweet Caroline to honor Boston. As did the rest of the MLB. All week long I heard reports of Sweet Caroline being played at ball parks around the country.

Then there was the disaster in West, Texas that seemingly took a back seat to the things that happened in Boston. Which I'm sure that the community of West was grateful for not having the media in the mix, but very grateful they were in the great state of Texas.

So after the bombing, the death of one bomber, the capture of another bomber, and the events that unfolded at West. The sports world paused to reflect.

At the spring scrimmage at Texas Tech, the band was going, the fans in the stands were cheering and then for one minute, everything in the stadium stopped. There wasn't a child crying, or a person talking. Things were totally silent and the only noise you could hear was the west Texas wind. It was so quiet that I got chills.

There was a level of love, honor and respect there for people that no one knew, but we all stopped for a moment to think of.

Just a little proof that no matter how far away something happens there is always a common thread that will tie Americans together.

And that is just this Sports Junkie's opinion.

I promise next go around it will actually be a fun post.

Eyes On Boston

Of course I was going to have to say something about the tragic events in Boston. It was at a sports related event wasn't it?

So every year around this time, there is the Mecca of marathon races going on. 2,700 marathoners who have run marathons over the last year to get qualifying times, paid exorbitant dues, traveled, trained, and prepared for the 26.2 mile foot race known as the Boston Marathon.

I'm a runner, but by no means am I a marathoner. I kind of wish I was, but I'm just not built for it. I'm working towards it, but we shall see.

Let me just say that I have a respect for marathoners, especially those who run the Boston Marathon, for no other reason than you have to qualify to run in Boston. This is the elite of the elite. I was even proud to say that I knew a marathoner.

Then yesterday happened, this is something that every sports reporter, or sports person hates to see happen.

Locally there are a couple of morning show guys that I had bumped into off air and I asked them, during the whole stink with Penn State and Joe Pa, how they were "enjoying" covering that (very tongue and cheek of course). One of the men that I was talking too said that he hated it, because its sports, "were like the toy section in the news world."

I agree because things like what happened in Boston yesterday... never happen. Well, until it did.

As soon as I heard the news I was hunting for information on the runner that I knew would be running. I knew the pace that he was wanting to keep and that would have put him close to the area, if my calculations were correct. And I was. I found out last night that this runner was crossing the finish line when the bombs went off. He was hit in the shoulder by flying debris, but was okay.

Now as thankful as I am that the runner I knew was okay I had to stop and reflect on the events that had unfolded.

I came to a couple of conclusions. Let's start with the reason this was so horrific wasn't because it was on our soil. We've had way worse go on, and carried on. Now I'm not trying to lessen the tragic events that unfolded at the Boston Marathon by any means, but it made me wonder why this was such a over tragic even that justified hour long specials the same night.

Here's what I've come up with, sports in any fashion is a level playing field and allows people to come together in celebration who might not have come together other wise. What more perfect example than the Olympics? Every country comes together on one stage to compete for the gold and prove they are the best in the world. Nations are brought together on one stage in a peaceful competition. Nothing can upset a joining of nations or a joining of people like a bomb.

And was I the only person to notice that where the bombs went off initially was behind an area of the race where lots of flags from other countries were placed? That alone made a statement to me.

Then I was reminded that it was Tax Day yesterday, so it could have been any whackadoodle with an agenda.

The fact of the matter still remains this, people were shaken and that was the point, but remember that this is Boston. A city that has roots steeped deep in patriotism and the we can get back up mentality.

The Red Sox went on to win their game last night. Which I was glad to see, Boston needed a win in more way than one.

So this week runners, athletes, walkers, or anything in between, when you lace up your shoes, do it for the three lives that were lost in Boston and all those that were injured, both physically and mentally. And remember that there might be people who can no longer do what you can. Not because they made a bad decision, but because they did what they loved to do.

That's just this sports junkies opinion.  

The Excitement in the Most Boring Sport

This was a weekend for the record books...

Okay that might be a stretch, but I was definitely on the edge of my seat most of the weekend.

The Red Sox's were staring down the barrel of a no-hitter, which didn't happen. The Rangers had a tie in their series (eesh), and the Masters was on everyone's lips.

Yes, I said the Master's.

The most boring sport to watch known to man (in my opinion at least), was the sport that everyone was talking about for more than one reason.

Tiger Woods decided to kick things off with an illegal drop. Now when I first heard about this I went, it happens. Then when I realized that the drop gone awry was 5 to 6 feet from the original spot the ball was at. I at first was shocked, I mean come on Tiger you're a professional. Then I stopped and thought, maybe this isn't such a big surprise. Let's really stop and think about this, Tiger in the last year or so has decided to revamp his image to be the bad boy of the PGA world. So much so that when there was all that media attention on what Tiger supposedly did, didn't do, etc... The Masters asked themselves if they want to be associated with such a person. Now, I'm sure they are wondering what they had done. I guess it's a slippery slope once you start beating your wife and acting like a crazy person.

So the Masters decided to give Tiger a 2 stroke penalty. Which lots of people thought that he should be tossed from the tournament.

Let me insert here that I play golf and I played tournaments in high school. I was pretty good. One thing that I know about a 2 stroke penalty is this it can be the hardest thing to come back from. a 2 shot penalty is the difference between a birdie and a bogie.

Now at the amazing level that the athletes on the PGA circuit compete at a 2 stroke penalty can take you from the leader board to 10th in the blink of an eye. With that said, Tiger finished 4 strokes over and the leaders that had to play a sudden death match finished at 8 under. Which Tiger was a total of 10 strokes away from the lead. There was no way that he could catch up.

Now after that big to do, the two leaders that finished with the same 8 under went into a sudden death match. Now if you have seen the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance you know that this could turn into a very interesting death match and could go on for awhile. It was two holes in total I believe, but at the end of it all, the guy that they thought was going to win didn't. It was someone that they were keeping tabs on, but didn't expect to win.

The part I liked the best was the sudden death, it is absolutely on the edge of your seat excitement. Golf is a tough sport, then add in the pressure of every swing you make will either push you one step closer to the win or end everything right there.

This all goes to show that anything can happen in the world of sports and I don't want to miss a second of it!

See ya somewhere in the great big wide world of sports!

Friday Night Lights

"Gentlemen, the hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders. You may never matter again in your life as much as you do right now." -Friday Night Lights

The odd part about the quote above is it is actually a pretty true thought across the board for any "good" football town... well, in Texas anyway.

If there is one thing that is purely Texan it is our obsession with football. It is something that runs deep in this part of the country and I was reminded of it on the field last night.

Last night Texas Tech held an open practice for the public. Usually the only time fans get a peek at the Red Raiders and the possibilities that will be opened up to the Red Raider fans for the up coming season is in the form of the Red and Black game or the spring game as its better known in other parts of the country. I was elated to get to see this practice, just because it's easier to see how well we have the basics down.

Before I get into the technical and the things I'm looking forward to seeing on the field, let's discuss the off the field.

I have made no bones about the fact that I stood behind Tommy Tuberville while he was at Tech. I stood behind him, because I was behind the team as a whole, not just the coach. When he left that didn't change my feelings for the team. I was still a Red Raider and I was still going to support my team. That won't change.

Here's the way things are looking off the field for the Red Raiders. The fan base is united yet again. Fans are happy that one of their own has come home to roost. They even showed up with this amazing eagerness and energy that was in the air last night. The energy from 6,000 people was amazing. I can't wait to be photoging on the sidelines while its packed out this season.

The teams energy was great, everything last night was looking amazing. So there is an optimism there for a bright season for Tech.

Not only that Kingsbury's presence at Tech has brought a new light to the female interest in the sport.So much so that I wonder if the tortilla toss will be replaced with a panty pitch.

Let me just say ladies I get it. I have met the man, the myth, the legend, and I get it. I however, didn't feel this compulsive need to throw myself at the coach, I mean its pointless. He is a man just like everyone else and at the end of the day, he wants to be treated like he is a normal human being. All super studs prefer that. Besides that he is a man and they all fall into the same category when it is all said and done. So cool your jets.

That has been an interesting turn of events in the fan base to say the very least.

Now with that said...

Here is my real opinion.

Brewer looked good and the team looked good. The receivers were looking solid and things were clicking nicely. I however am approaching this season with cautious optimism for multiple reasons.

Let's start off with its one open practice, and any athlete knows that practice is nothing like playing a game. When you work with the same kids you learn how to read their weaknesses, for that interception. Plus practices are about running and working plays so well that they are second nature. This all kind of goes back to why I love sports, anything can happen that will change the entire course of a game, and there are just somethings that you can't prepare for. No matter how much you try.

I'll even go ahead and throw out that our team is small, but that isn't anything new. The Tech football program has always had a thing for small. I"m taller than wide receiver Jakeen Grant, I'm also heavier, but you give that kid some open space and he's gone.

Now despite what I saw last night at the practice under the Friday night lights last night I still remain cautiously optimistic, for two main reasons.

First, I don't care that Kingsbury played here before. I don't care that he "knows" the program, the fact of the matter is this- he is a new coach, at his first head coaching gig, there will always be a period of adjustment. There always is in the beginning. Kids have to get use to the coach and vice versa. The big question will be, will Raider Nation allow for the grace period, or turn on someone? Given the love that has been shown for Kingsbury from Raider Nation, I feel bad for Brewer, because now there will be a new level of added stress.

Random side note, one thing that I think I enjoyed about Tuberville being at Tech was this the fans laid off the kids and stood behind the kids. When the kids dropped passes, had bad throws and missed tackles it was all Tuberville's fault. Where as in the Leach era, Leach was never at fault and people were hateful to the players, especially the QB's. I was on campus during the Taylor Potts years and it was shameful the way the kid got treated by everyone after a loss.

Maybe I will live to see the day where Red Raider Nation says, "Hey we lost. We didn't play well, it happens and its okay. We will be back next week and we will win." Instead of fans trying to find somewhere to lay the blame. I'm expecting a cold day in hell before this actually happens.

My second reason for being cautiously optimistic is the fact that we are in the Big 12 and everyone is looking to prove something every year, and you can't tell me that the coach who coached the youngest Heisman trophy recipient in history doesn't have a target on his back. Every time we take the field against a conference team, they will have more to prove than usual...and given Tech's track record for being unable to stay healthy... I'm fully expecting to get beat up early and often.

But that is just this sports junkies opinion.

We're Just Two Series In

Well, the Rangers have started the season with a bit of a bang. And its not on the field.

Well, not exactly.

This season so far we have lost two games total, but we have won both series that we have played; which means that we are looking at a four game win, which gives us some great stats. However, some of our swiftest wins have been delivered on the arm of Yu Darvish.

That makes this girl very happy. I love to watch Darvish pitch! He makes it look so effortless, signs of a great athlete. Darvish's win record alone last season is reason enough for Ranger fans to continue to be hopeful.

However, this season has already been crazy in the world of commentary off the field.

There was the ending of Darvish's perfect game that had some tasteless commentary brought on by the Astro's commentators, that I still think was blown completely out of proportion, given the context of the situation.

You can read those thoughts here.

The thing that got me this series was the things that were going on with former Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton.

Anyone who watched last season knew that there was no love lost between the Rnager's fan base and Josh Hamilton. Towards the end of the season when it really should have mattered, he didn't play like it did. Lots of fans place the blame of losing out the way the Rangers did on Hamilton's shoulders, which is understandable.

Now I will be the first on record to say it’s not just one player...typically, it takes a team effort to lose.

With that said...

Hamilton finished the season with some great stats, that he had acquired in the the early part of the season, then it hit the fan and instead of trying to put out an effort, Hamilton played like he gave up and the fans in return gave up on him.

By the end of the season the fans hated Hamilton and the feeling was mutual. So following in C.J. Wilson's footsteps, Hamilton headed out to the Angels... which makes me laugh, to no end.

So upon Hamilton's exit he said in an interview that he was glad to be leaving for a city that was a baseball town... uh-hmm hello?

You are leaving to go to the Angels. There is a reason that the movies that show Angel games show empty stands.

That's neither here nor there.

So needless to say Hamilton just told the Metroplex that they weren't a baseball town, because they lacked the heritage and the 30 years of sold out stands that would qualify them as a baseball town.

Here's a tip Josh, don't piss the Texans off, were kind of a hot blooded bunch. While we hang on to our rivalries and such I guarantee you anytime something out of the state of Texas makes a big impact the full force of the state is standing behind you.

In a random act of nature let’s say the Astros make it to the World Series. I guarntee you that even as a Rangers fan I would watch and cheer on the Astros, just because they are a Texas team. That is something that people who weren't born in this state don't understand the pride that runs deep for our state.

For those of you who don't know, Hamilton is from North Carolina, and by southern standards a yankee.

Now let me throw some stats at you, because isn't that what baseball is? A game of stats.

So the Metroplex isn't a baseball town, and you traded to the Angels. Hmmm.

Sounds to me like you are looking for a little heritage Josh. Heritage teams are great, I love them, good for you!

Well, you traded to the wrong team, if you’re looking for heritage. There is a little team that was founded in 1883 called the Dodgers, and has been based in LA since 1958. The Angels you traded to however, they were founded in 1961 and have been based in Anaheim since 1966... Hmmmmmm.

The Rangers were founded the same year as the Angels and have been a part of Arlington since 1972.

So if you are looking for heritage which judging by your comments Hamilton, I assume you are... I hate to break it to you, but you went to the wrong team in California.

If that is what you are looking for?… I mean I'm confused, you want to leave for a team with some heritage and some grit behind it right? Then why wouldn't you trade to an older more established team? I might be blonde, but the logical thought just isn't there. If your poorly worded comment, just meant that you were looking to move to a team with some heritage.

But if you were making your comments to take a cut at the fans, which given your apparent maturity level I'm sure that was really the goal at hand...

Well, we let you know what we think of you. And my team let you know what they think of you too.

You were booed every time you walked up to the plate, and I love that we were willing to walk the batter in front of you just to make sure you were the final out of the game. To clench the Rangers series win.

Now, I will say this. When you got traded off Hamilton, no one cared you were really of no consequence. However, because you have the maturity of a 13 year old girl and decided to take a swipe at the fans you will suffer the repercussions of your actions. If you had just shown a hint of maturity, this would have been no big deal.

But what did the fans really expect of a low caliber individual? I mean really.

So with that said...

Hamilton, I'm glad to see you go. I wish you the best and hope that you enjoy battling it out for king of the basement with your heritage team and your "baseball town."

As for me I'll stick with the Rangers and keep my Texas pride, heritage team or not. 

And that is just this sports junkies opinion.