Oh what a decade

If you had asked me something about sports at the beginning of the decade, I would have probably given you a blank stare. Orioles? Those are birds. Nets? Those things you fish through water with. NBA? A business degree. World Series? What the….. That was of course in 2000, when the extent of my sports knowledge was the Subway Series and when I thought football (the NFL) could be played any day of the week.

A lot has happened in the sports world this decade, and I’m sure you will be reading about everything good and bad. This decade, with the technology, was like none other. For those of us that have spent more of their life in this decade than any other (18 and under), then we take for granted all that has happened not just in the sports world, but society. We think we are so old because we knew a time when cell phones were huge. Well how about a time when cell phones didn’t exist? We go on the internet like we’re getting payed to do it. Everyone of all ages does. But if you go back to 2000, do you remember what computers looked like? Do you remember when they called it the world wide web? We’ve come a long way. I could go on and on about all of the changes this decade, included wars, 9/11, technology and more. But I would rather discuss the decade in sports from my perspective. Hang on, because you can’t get this on ESPN.

With that being said, I will be conducting a 10 part series for the rest of the year in which I look back at each year in sports from this decade. Poor 2009, they have to share the spotlight with 2000, 2001, 2002, etc. That’s what you get for being the caboose. Anyway, stay tuned for part 1: 2000- The new millennium.

Awesome new feature by SI

Sports Illustrated has this awesome new feature out (I think it’s new) where you can view every page of every issue dating from the first issue ever (1954) to the last one of 1999. It is in the SI Vault area. I think they are doing this in anticipation of their new “tablet,” a touch screen i-podesque tablet that will allow someone to go in depth into each magazine electronically. That is supposed to come out sometime soon. Anyway, in this feature that I discovered, you can literally see every page of every SI except for this decade’s, though I hope they will add the recent ones soon.You can see the ads, layout, the articles and more. It is really cool to see how much everything has changed throughout the years. Even if this doesn’t excite you, it is worth checking out. You can see how they used to have a page about what will be on tv that week. And in 1999 they had a little “web” section. In an issue I saw, they talked about the launching of Nascar.com, which was monumental at a time when the term “World Wide Web” didn’t sound geeky like it does today. And in an issue from 1989, they talked about what ESPN has on tv. They would never do that now, with ESPN a major competitor for their magazine. For the record, I enjoy both.

To view these issues in full online,go to sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/. Search whatever issue you want, and click on the cover. When you see the cover, there will be 3 options: read articles, view issue, or email cover. Click ‘view issue.’ Here is the page linking you to the first ever issue of SI: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/7370/index.htm. And here is the most recent issue they have up and running, the last one of 1999. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9722/index.htm.

This new creation isn’t just about sports. It is a real history lesson. We can dig deep into the past, which I find amazing. I mean, I’m currently looking at a Spaulding, Goodyear, Lincoln, Wilson, and Chrysler ads from 1954. All of those brands still exist today.

Many features have changed throughout the years. They used to say what was going to be in the next week’s issue. Ads have changed too. 1991 had an ad for a typewriter that was trying too hard to be a computer.

There have been many constants too. There are always car, beer and cigarette ads. And their writers stay forever, which is a good thing. Many of their sections have remained the same as well.

Just check it out. It’s cool. I promise.

THANK YOU!

It has been roughly a year since I started this blog, and there are over 5,000 hits! Thank you!

Also, please check out my article in The Daily Orange: Charity Spots Auction sees record turnout – News

Won’t be seventeen forever. Unless you’re Edward Cullen.

Sweet 17

I will only be seventeen for three and a half more weeks. Seventeen is a very underrated age. It is not as adult-like as 18 or as flashy as 21. It is not as sweet as 16 and does not come in a pair of five like 15 and 20. But it is important. You are only seventeen once. Most likely, it is while you are a senior in high school. For some, they were 17 their junior year. And for some, they were 17 their freshman year of college. All important years in life. And society realizes that. The song after all, by Metro Station, is called “Seventeen Forever.” And the movies are called “Seventeen Again” and “17 Again.” So original. And isn’t Edward Cullen 17? Even though he looks 20-something. And the vamp in the Vampire Diaries too? And don’t forget Seventeen magazine. I know there’s a lot of 17 stuff, right? And you can also buy an R rated movie ticket. So exciting. ABBA also goes “young and sweet, only 17.” Many many other artists mention 17 in their songs too. And Plaxico wore it! So it may seem like an odd age (pun intended) but it really should be more appreciated. I will miss being 17. Sort of.

We did it! (What 1-18 looks like)

See ya!

What 0-18 looks like

Please read the below post first.

We suck

Where amazing doesn't happen.

When did the Nets get this bad? How did they go from average to 18 straight losses? Don’t look at me for the answer. Maybe we should have kept Vince Carter. Actually, I take that back. We should have kept Richard Jefferson. And Jason Kidd. And Kenyon Martin. It all started with the trade of K-Mart. That destroyed the mini Nets dynasty that stood roughly from the end of 2001 to the beginning of 2004. Every year since then the Nets have progressively gotten worse. But not this bad. The Nets have retreated to pre- Jason Kidd times. And it doesn’t help that the 18th was courtesy of Kidd and the Mavs. The Nets just need one win, but even that may be asking too much out of this team. They are careless, take bad shots, and apparently can’t play defense now. Basically, they’re a disaster, if the 0-18 record didn’t already show that. Is it too early to start watching Kentucky games and John Wall, the projected number one pick of next year’s draft? Go right ahead.

Firings, Tiger[s] and AI, oh my!

‘Tis the season to be fired if you’re a coach. After yesterday’s dismissal of Lawrence Frank courtesy of the Nets, two more firings happened today. Charlie Weis and Al Groh, of Notre Dame and UVA, respectively, got the axe. Canned. Booted. Got the pink slip. Ousted. Thanks, thesaurus. Bottom line: coaches, watch your back. The firing has begun.

Meanwhile, the story on Tiger Woods has made interesting developments not unlike those of the cases we watch on tv. I’m not going to elaborate on Tiger because there are about 500 million articles, videos and more documenting this incident in the life of one of the most well known athletes.

AI may be going back to the 76ers. That would be interesting if he did. But he wouldn’t be the same player he previously was for the 76ers. Remember when Antoine Walker returned to Boston in 2006? (I think it was then). Yeah, you probably don’t. Because it didn’t work out so well. However, Ben Wallace has regained the spark in his game since rejoining the Pistons this year following a few years away from the team. But Iverson is just talking with the Sixers, so we’ll have to see what happens.

13-0

Do you know who else has started that good? No one. No one except Lawrence Frank (who started 13-0 midway through the 2004 season), who was fired by the Nets today following their 0-16 start. When you start a season like that, you can’t expect to hang around much longer. But Lawrence Frank is a good coach. It just wasn’t working out in Jersey this year. The Nets keep losing and losing. After tonight’s loss to the Lakers, the Nets will attempt to lose the most in a row to start a season ever. Ever. But this Nets team is better than 0-fer. They just need some time. Hopefully not too much more.

Oh, and two coaches have been fired to far this season. The other besides Frank? Byron Scott of the Hornets. Scott was also fired by the Nets in 2004. You know who took over for him then? Frank.

Here comes the sun

Did you know that Syracuse has 63 days of sun per year? That’s about twice a month. I think I need to live in the sunniest place, Yuma, Arizona, where they have 200-something sunny days a year. It is supposed to snow Friday and Saturday in Syracuse too. I’ve never been so happy to see 50 degrees in my life, which now becomes the equivalent of 75 degrees, pure warmth!