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(04/06/09 4:00am)
Every time I get my hair cut at the barbershop near my father's house, I see a picture of Comerica Park in early May 2006 where fans in left field are holding a sign reading "Ruth did it with beer and hotdogs." The ‘it' referred to is the homerun record that Ruth set in the 1920s and 1930s. The message's target is admitted steroid user and current all-time homerun leader Barry Bonds. It seems that with each passing day, more people come out of the cornfield and admit to using steroids. I find it really pathetic that everyone knows who Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire are, yet don't have a clue about Cal Ripken Jr., Sean Casey, Tony Gwinn or Craig Biggio, four of the nicest, most gentleman-like players. Enough is enough. I'm going to let the clouds part. I think 134 words are more than enough to talk about the lone bad thing in baseball. In fact, I might get fined that $100 for lollygagging my way around the issue. Frankly, I'm tired of all the unnecessary and ridiculously large amount of negativity surrounding the game. But then again, maybe that is my point. No matter what happens, has happened or is happening, it is still the best game ever. Period. Baseball is still considered to be America's favorite pastime, and like so many others, I discovered it at a young age by attending games with my father and playing tee ball at age six. What makes it such a great game is that no matter how well you play or how much you know, it all comes down to the fact that baseball is a simple game. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, and you catch the ball. Baseball has been something that I've always enjoyed. I watched after the player's strike, I watched during the steroid era, and I will watch as long as I posses the ability to see. I was playing baseball before I could correctly pronounce the names of some of the Latin ball players. I had more trouble pronouncing Francisco than Sal Martinella did pronouncing Rabenbouser...Rulfenberfer…I mean Rowengartner. In my final baseball game around age 14, the championship game no less, in the third inning, I successfully advanced a runner on a near bunt-hit. I mention this lackadaisical and everyday play because it led to a nine run inning and we nearly batted around twice. A team that bragged about us being the worst team in the league got run-ruled in the fifth inning when our star player hit a ball that seemed to fly for days before it hit the ground (we measured later, it went 313 feet). Another one of my favorite baseball memories is one that I mostly don't remember. My father and I would go out to dinner every Tuesday and Thursday, and afterwards we would usually play a round of catch. One night, just before we were going to quit on a count of darkness, the lights on the lot came on, and I lost the ball that was in midair. I moved to where I thought the ball was going to be, and when I got into position, I saw the ball one final time: six inches from my forehead. Needless to say, I don't remember the next few days, but I've been told that I spent nearly all night in the hospital getting my head checked out. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has stories like this to tell. There are thousands of memories that can be created during a 162-game regular season that spans nine months out of the year. Baseball, unlike many of the other professional sports, has a long season. Basketball and hockey play 82 games, football plays 16 (soon to be 17) and soccer plays 30. Could it be the 80+ more games a year that helps fans to fall in love with players? I'd like to think it doesn't hurt. In the end, as all my teammates leave me all alone in the dugout, one truth remains: baseball is a great game no matter if it's little league, high school, college, minor or major league. That is something that no single player, event, removal of headphones or recession can change. So I throw to everyone—go out and watch the Cards in action at Heidelberg on April 4 and beyond. t&c;
(04/02/09 4:00am)
Every time I get my hair cut at the barbershop near my father's house, I see a picture of Comerica Park in early May 2006 where fans in left field are holding a sign reading "Ruth did it with beer and hotdogs." The 'it' referred to is the homerun record that Ruth set in the 1920s and 1930s. The message's target is admitted steroid user and current all-time homerun leader Barry Bonds. It seems that with each passing day, more people come out of the cornfield and admit to using steroids. I find it really pathetic that everyone knows who Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire are, yet don't have a clue about Cal Ripken Jr., Sean Casey, Tony Gwinn or Craig Biggio, four of the nicest, most gentleman-like players. Enough is enough. I'm going to let the clouds part. I think 134 words are more than enough to talk about the lone bad thing in baseball. In fact, I might get fined that $100 for lollygagging my way around the issue. Frankly, I'm tired of all the unnecessary and ridiculously large amount of negativity surrounding the game. But then again, maybe that is my point. No matter what happens, has happened or is happening, it is still the best game ever. Period. Baseball is still considered to be America's favorite pastime, and like so many others, I discovered it at a young age by attending games with my father and playing tee ball at age six. What makes it such a great game is that no matter how well you play or how much you know, it all comes down to the fact that baseball is a simple game. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, and you catch the ball. Baseball has been something that I've always enjoyed. I watched after the player's strike, I watched during the steroid era, and I will watch as long as I posses the ability to see. I was playing baseball before I could correctly pronounce the names of some of the Latin ball players. I had more trouble pronouncing Francisco than Sal Martinella did pronouncing Rabenbouser...Rulfenberfer...I mean Rowengartner. In my final baseball game around age 14, the championship game no less, in the third inning, I successfully advanced a runner on a near bunt-hit. I mention this lackadaisical and everyday play because it led to a nine run inning and we nearly batted around twice. A team that bragged about us being the worst team in the league got run-ruled in the fifth inning when our star player hit a ball that seemed to fly for days before it hit the ground (we measured later, it went 313 feet). Another one of my favorite baseball memories is one that I mostly don't remember. My father and I would go out to dinner every Tuesday and Thursday, and afterwards we would usually play a round of catch. One night, just before we were going to quit on a count of darkness, the lights on the lot came on, and I lost the ball that was in midair. I moved to where I thought the ball was going to be, and when I got into position, I saw the ball one final time: six inches from my forehead. Needless to say, I don't remember the next few days, but I've been told that I spent nearly all night in the hospital getting my head checked out. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has stories like this to tell. There are thousands of memories that can be created during a 162-game regular season that spans nine months out of the year. Baseball, unlike many of the other professional sports, has a long season. Basketball and hockey play 82 games, football plays 16 (soon to be 17) and soccer plays 30. Could it be the 80+ more games a year that helps fans to fall in love with players? I'd like to think it doesn't hurt. In the end, as all my teammates leave me all alone in the dugout, one truth remains: baseball is a great game no matter if it's little league, high school, college, minor or major league. That is something that no single player, event, removal of headphones or recession can change. So I throw to everyone-go out and watch the Cards in action at Heidelberg on April 4 and beyond.t&c;
(03/12/09 4:00am)
Flashback: It's March 28, 1992. There are 2.1 seconds left in the East Regional final. Kentucky is leading Duke 103-102. Duke needs a miracle as they are inbounding the ball at the opposite end of the court from their basket. Yet one baseball pass by Grant Hill, one dribble and shot by Christian Laettner change the fate of the game and Duke wins 104-103. Present Day: It's March 2009. Selection Sunday is right around the corner, meaning it's almost time for the madness to begin. It is the time of year when relatively unknown college athletes embark on a journey where four wins in a row lands you a spot in the Championship and a fifth the spotlight of the nation. This is where sports heroes are made, much like Laettner, Keith Smart in 1983, Lorenzo Charles in 1987 and Bobby Hurley in 1993. This is the time and the place when dreams are shattered, like Michigan in 1993 and Georgetown in 1982. This is the time of year when one great play can define your season or one bad play can end it. It's the time of year when upsets are expected, if not demanded, by the fans across the country. It's the only time of year when one can study bracketology from those who have coached and played the game. This is the time of year when those fans travel hundreds of miles by boat, train, plane and automobile to watch their favorite teams in what they hope to be a multiple game viewing-when in reality, only about half the fans get their wish. It's the time for young men to give blood, sweat, tears and energy into the game they all love and for a coach they look up to. It's when Coach K, Roy Williams, Jim Boeheim and Rick Patino try to outsmart opposing coaches as teams fight to make it to the finals in Minneapolis. Just remember, The Memorial is two weeks away. These are all the reasons why I can't get enough of college basketball at tournament time. Memorable live games like Duke's victory in 2001, in which Shane Battier carries the team through the sweet sixteen and elite eight with the flu; or seeing my dad's old video cassette tapes of epic games 'The Shot' and 'The Timeout', or from seeing the Sportscenter archives and You Tube clips of the 1980 games like Jimmy V's celebration after Lorenzo Charles' neither dunk nor layup in the final second and Keith Smart's shot at the buzzer all add to the history of March Madness and somewhat define the term. In all these situations, it appears as if one team is surely going to win and just the opposite happens. There are 64 games total every year and I watch between 15 and 30, depending on how many of my favorite teams are still playing and how predictable the tournament has been. For me, the tournament has always been about the passion and heart the players show and rooting for the underdog. There isn't any greater shock or jubilation than when/if a 16 upsets a one seed. It's that 40 minutes of passion that professional sports is always missing, even though pro sports play longer. It's like Jimmy V. said, "Don't give up, don't ever give up." Once the games are over and the nets have been cut down, watch those credits. It's time for the important images of the tournament and it's also time for "One Shining Moment."But the lives of those players don't end there. Most of them go on to become doctors, lawyers, NCIS agents or even ranchers and never see a glimpse of the pros. The players who played during the tournament, who left it all there and gave everything they had to their coach and team, they wouldn't trade all of that for a career in a heartless and money driven league. t&c;
(03/05/09 5:00am)
Bill Walton, former UCLA Bruin and professional basketball player, once said, "Winning is about having the whole team on the same page." That's exactly how new Otterbein softball coach Christine Steines feels about her team and their chances of winning this year. "It's going to be exciting, being a new coach coming in here a month ago, seeing our returners stepping up and continue with that," Steines said. "Our success is going to be determined on how well each person accepts their role and how they will succeed in that role." Senior Kelsey Beers said, "Coach drives teamwork and confidence into our heads." The softball team begins their season March 12 against Denison before they travel to Tucson for the Tucson Invitational in Arizona. While at the Tucson Invitational, the Cardinals will play 10 games and maybe add a few doubleheaders. Tucson is 1,920 miles from Westerville and even though the team was 3-13 on the road last year, Steines has a new strategy to prevent a losing streak. "We have actually practiced not being on our field. We can handle any situation no matter where we are at or what we are going into," Steines said. "It doesn't matter about outside things. The game doesn't change no matter where we are." "Last year's struggles have strengthened the team," Beers said. "You see all of the losing, but then going on the field and playing brought us together as a team which makes us stronger as players. The fact that we are over our struggles and we are stronger players makes our team better." The team returns six seniors: Kelsey and Kendy Beers, Tressa Ragor, Lauren Tibjash, Kristina Hayes and Erica Walter. Although those seniors are returning, Coach Steines feels that each player has an equal share in the team's success. "I don't have one individual that I'm going pull out at this time and they know it. It could be the stat person," Steines said. "It could be the person that is the best hitter on the team. There are only 18 of us and every single person has a role." Coach Steines doesn't demand what you would expect from her players. She said, "All I ask is for improvement. I don't expect or demand perfection. Putting it together throughout the season and being consistent will make us successful. Just because one person might be off today doesn't mean that the whole team needs to be off. I think that comes with the team chemistry and the fundamentals," she added. With this being her first year and having only spent a month with the team, Steines has only one worry: are the players going to pick up on her coaching style and her personality? Steines said, "I think learning how to come back and how to accept when you do fail will help you move forward and be successful. If you fail in the first inning it's key to come back and perform in the later innings. We don't have any excuses in softball." The Cardinals can't afford to have any excuses this season. They finished with a 13-23 record last season and missed the OAC Tournament. The Cardinals are also behind the eight ball. Five other OAC schools have started their seasons already because those schools were on an early spring break. Capital has already played 10 games and has a 6-4 record. Last season against Capital, the Cardinals lost both games 4-1 and 2-1. t&c;
(02/26/09 5:00am)
In times of need, the best side of humanity tends to show its face. In her time of need, Otterbein senior Kelly Hanlin saw the faces of the Westerville North High School girls lacrosse team. Hanlin has a genetic disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and is confined to a wheelchair. Her ability to travel is completely dependent on a specialized van. Her current van constantly breaks down restricting the freedom she is used to. This is where the Westerville North High School girls lacrosse team comes into the picture. When new head coach Rich Case invited them to raise money for the community, the girls didn't have a particular group in mind. Monica Craigmile, one of the 10 seniors on the team, said, "We had a meeting about what we were going to raise money for and we thought about cancers but then I had the idea to pick Kelly." Craigmile's mother was Hanlin's physical therapist for several years and the two girls grew up together. The approximate cost of a new van and lift for Hanlin is $40,000. In a letter on the Westerville North girls lacrosse Web site, Hanlin said, "I enjoy something as simple as a drive listening to music and going on road trips. But unfortunately my van has been in and out of the shop on numerous occasions. The van is my only form of transportation and when it breaks down I am more or less stuck at home." Senior Casey Flynn said, "We decided to [choose] her because buying a van is an item that we can see. It's an actual goal instead of just raising money for a cancer fund where the need is endless. Kelly is an actual person that you can go and meet. It just seemed more rewarding." So far, more than $25,000 have been raised for Hanlin's new van, and she is appreciative of the efforts of everyone involved. In the letter Hanlin said, "What the Westerville North girls lacrosse team is doing for my family and I is amazing beyond words. I deeply appreciate their understanding of the need for a dependable vehicle and I am moved by their efforts, as well as those of the community members." As for the rest of the money, the girls have planned a dinner and auction for Saturday, Feb. 28. "It took a lot of people to help us. We didn't really ask for help, but people offered. One of the girls' dad is a member of the Medallion Club, and they offered us the room for free and the food at a reduced price. Monica's mom is friends with Cabot Rea's sister and that's how we got him to MC," Case said. "It's like people agreed to help with a bunch of things." According to Webmd.com, SMA is a motor neuron disorder. Motor neurons affect the voluntary muscles that are used to crawl, walk, control your neck, move your head and swallow. It's a disorder that affects approximately 1 in 6000 babies that are born and approximately 1 in 40 people carry this genetic disease. The most severely affected muscles are those around a person's center like the shoulders, hips and back. The weakness in the legs is usually more of an impact than in the arms. The disease renders the core muscles weak and has been known to cause respiratory problems. However, this disease does not take away one's ability to feel the pain. Regarding Hanlin, Caitlin McKenzie said, "She's extremely positive. It's almost surprising how optimistic she is. If I was in that situation I think it would be hard to do that." Tickets are $25 for the dinner and the silent auction will be held Feb. 28 at the Medallion Club. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. but there is a social hour before from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. The evening will feature Cabot Rea as MC, a message by Mark Stier, who was the former captain of the 1968 OSU National Championship football team and music by the artist Paydirt. t&c;SMA STATS1 in 6000 - Number of babies born with SMA. 1 in 40 - Number of people carrying the gene that causes SMA. The child of two carriers has a one in four chance of developing SMA. 7.5 million - Number of Americans who are carriers.? There are four types of SMA and each type has its own symptoms and challenges.? There is no cure for SMA but if caught early, it can be managed.? SMA does not affect awareness and brain activity - those with SMA are generally bright and sociable.
(09/18/08 4:00am)
Coming into Wednesday's game, the Otterbein Women's soccer team scored 70 percent of their goals off of set-pieces. That's soccer talk for corner kicks and free kicks. Three run-of-play goals later and the Cardinals (4-0-1) defeated Denison University, (4-2-1) 3-1. Goals for the Cardinals came from sophomore midfielder Rachel Degen, freshman forward Sarah Sharbaugh and sophomore forward Lindsey Rudibaugh. "We had a huge test today," Otterbein Head Coach Brandon Koons said, "We were frustrated and you need to take the fact that someone is frustrating you, and enjoy that. We need to learn about ourselves and we are going to be a better team if we can calm down and relax, don't get frustrated and turn it around." The frustrated Cardinals went into halftime 0-0. That's when great coaching took over. Coach Koons' halftime speech worked to perfection, sparking the Cardinals to better play. "Coach always settles us down and sends us out fresh like the first half. We started out a little shaky but we played well and came together as a team. Not just one person scored everybody got into the act." Koons continued to work his magic, helping Sharbaugh to her second goal of the year and the second golf of the game. "Coach pulled me aside and told me that 'hey you need to win these.' So when the ball came, I just put my body in front of the ball and won it," said Sharbaugh. The Cardinals have struggled with their flow offensively and have really worked hard in practice on finishing. But good coaching and team camaraderie were the real contributing factors for the team's win. "We all get along really well and we work well off of each other," said Sharbaugh. "We've been here four weeks before anyone else was here so in that time we bonded and got to know each other." With the win, the Cardinals avenged last year's 2-1 overtime loss to Denison. The Cardinals are in action Saturday at home, versus Allegheny College. The match is part one of a two part soccer fest at Clements Field. t&c;