By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
PASADENA, TEXAS (February 27, 2010) Tonight, while sitting in the comfortable confines of my home outside Houston, TX, I was fortunate to observe the gold medal performance of the USA 4-man bobsled team, aptly named "Night Train."
NBC broadcast the medal ceremony for the four-man bobsled and showed the four athletes, pilot Steven Holcomb, and pushers Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curt Tomasevicz, receiving their medals.
They were all dressed alike, in their multi-colored USA team jackets, and when the national anthem was announced, they promptly placed their hands over their hearts and showed the proper respect for their country, their performance, their sport, and the Olympic ideal.
It was a proud moment for everyone. The United States had not won a gold medal in the four-man bobsled since the 1948 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
As the national anthem was played, the camera focused on Holcomb. He stood tall and proud, showing how humbled he was of their achievement. Viewers could see his lip quivering, fighting to hold back the tears of joy that he and teammates were feeling.
When the camera pulled back, everyone could see the pride and power of this simple yet moving scene; four men who had done something that had not occurred in 62 years.
They had won the Olympic gold medal in the four-man bobsled for the United States. They were proud and emotional and did not care who knew it. The showed the valves, respect and positive demeanors that their fellow citizens want to see in their athletes.
Many of our Olympic athletes should observe and that heed their example. This is the type of behavior and pride we expect to see from our Olympic athletes.
We do not want to see our medal winners waving to the fans during the national anthem.
We do not want to see our medal winners playing air guitars during the national anthem.
We do not want to see medal winners bringing disrespect to our country.
We do not want our athletes wearing their medals like a belt; allowing girls to kiss it.
We want; NO, WE DEMAND; they act like the four men from USA 1; proud, humble, and not afraid to show the emotions which brings a positive light to themselves, their sport and our country.
Kudos ho out to the four athletes of "Night Train." Your performance and your demeanor at the award ceremony make us very proud of you. We, as I know you are, are proud to be Americans.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Barry Bonds 2nd Wife Files For Divorce
By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
It has been reported by the Associated Press that Liz Watson, the estranged wife of former MLB player Barry Bonds has filed for divorce.
Court records indicate that paper were filed in Los Angeles this past Thursday (Feb, 17).
Watson cited irreconcilable differences as the reason to end the 12 year marriage.
Documents indicate the couple may have already reached a settlement, however specifics were not reveled in the filing.
The couple has an 11-year old daughter, Aisha Lynn. Watson is seeking joint custody.
Watson and Bonds were married in 1998, four years after Bonds’ divorce from his first wife, Susann Branco.
Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
It has been reported by the Associated Press that Liz Watson, the estranged wife of former MLB player Barry Bonds has filed for divorce.
Court records indicate that paper were filed in Los Angeles this past Thursday (Feb, 17).
Watson cited irreconcilable differences as the reason to end the 12 year marriage.
Documents indicate the couple may have already reached a settlement, however specifics were not reveled in the filing.
The couple has an 11-year old daughter, Aisha Lynn. Watson is seeking joint custody.
Watson and Bonds were married in 1998, four years after Bonds’ divorce from his first wife, Susann Branco.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Continental Baseball League Announces 2010 Season Schedule
DALLAS, TEXAS(February 25, 2010) The Continental Baseball League, which offers the most affordably priced tickets among any of the eight professional independent leagues in the United States, announced its 2010 schedule today, one that will see the return of the Big Bend Cowboys of Alpine, TX, the addition of the Las Cruces Vaqueros and a two-team alliance with the New York State League that will allow the CBL to bring pro baseball to areas previously absent from the professional ranks.
The joint announcement was made by CBL commissioner Ron Baron and CBL director of baseball operations Bob Ibach. The 60-game regular season schedule will also begin two weeks earlier this season, with the opening weekend of games set from May 6-9. Big Bend will host the annual league All-Star Game in mid-July and the CBL Ferguson Jenkins Championship playoffs will be held beginning August 19.
Big Bend played in that title series just last season and lost to the Alexandria Aces, which recently left the CBL to begin a new venture in a wooden bat league. Two other franchises, Texarkana, and the Bay Area Toros, the league champs two years ago, will not return to the CBL in 2010 due to economic reasons.
The two teams from the New York State League will be the Desert Mountain Lions and the West Texas Roadhoggs.
“The NYS has been very supportive of the CBL since our inception in 2007 and have sent several players to the CBL over the past three seasons,” noted Baron. “The NYS is a premier pro baseball development organization that has sent more than 100 players to all levels of independent league baseball over the last four seasons, including the Atlantic League, CanAm League, the American Association and others. We can’t thank Jay Acton enough for his past support of the CBL and for his continued guidance as we go through some challenging economic times that has been felt at all levels of professional sports the past two years.
“We are very confident of bringing on board a new franchise in Colorado in 2011, which had planned to play in 2010 but needed some additional time to get prepared. And we have two or three other locations that have expressed an interest in the CBL for the 2011 season, including cities in Texas and Arizona. We’ve had a good track record in the past three seasons in getting players in our league opportunities with affiliated teams, as 19 of our players have been signed by MLB organizations during that period. And a couple of those youngsters have a real shot to make a big league team in the very near future. So it’s a very exciting time for us.”
--MORE--
The Tarrant County Blue Thunder won the inaugural CBL title in 2007, followed by the Bay Area Toros and the Aces. “We had four of our teams jockeying for first place up until the final games of the regular season last summer and the balance in our league over the three seasons has been very good,” noted Ibach, a former Chicago Cubs executive under general manager Dallas Green in the 1980s, who hired present day Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti as his assistant during that time. “Once again I like the balance of talent in our league, and I think we’ll have another season of exciting pro baseball for our fans, and a race that won’t be decided until the final week or so of the season.”
The first two series of the season finds Big Bend hosting Las Cruces and West Texas hosting Desert Valley. The CBL plays four games per week, Thursday through Sunday, to keep operating costs at a minimum and deliver baseball at times most convenient for families. Tickets to CBL games run anywhere from $2 to $7, and most concession items are priced under $4. Parking is free. A family of four can easily attend a CBL game for less than $45, including tickets and food.
“That was the platform for our league, something Ron and I insisted upon from the beginning,” noted Ibach, who like Baron was raised in New York City and watched games at Yankee Stadium as a youngster in the 1950s for .50 cents in the bleachers. “It’s a tough stretch these days to try and bring a family to a major league game, where sometimes it will easily cost you $400 for a family of four. We want to bring affordable, family-friendly baseball to our communities, and we want our players to become hometown heroes to our fans in those markets.”
The CBL championship trophy is named after Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins. Details surrounding the playoffs and the format will be announced shortly. Other former major league players have been involved in the league, including Jay Johnstone, who is the CBL director of player relations. Curtis Wilkerson, Steve Trout and Tom Goodwin, all former big leaguers, have managed in the CBL in recent seasons.
For more information on the Continental Baseball League, visit the league’s website at www.CBLproball.com
The joint announcement was made by CBL commissioner Ron Baron and CBL director of baseball operations Bob Ibach. The 60-game regular season schedule will also begin two weeks earlier this season, with the opening weekend of games set from May 6-9. Big Bend will host the annual league All-Star Game in mid-July and the CBL Ferguson Jenkins Championship playoffs will be held beginning August 19.
Big Bend played in that title series just last season and lost to the Alexandria Aces, which recently left the CBL to begin a new venture in a wooden bat league. Two other franchises, Texarkana, and the Bay Area Toros, the league champs two years ago, will not return to the CBL in 2010 due to economic reasons.
The two teams from the New York State League will be the Desert Mountain Lions and the West Texas Roadhoggs.
“The NYS has been very supportive of the CBL since our inception in 2007 and have sent several players to the CBL over the past three seasons,” noted Baron. “The NYS is a premier pro baseball development organization that has sent more than 100 players to all levels of independent league baseball over the last four seasons, including the Atlantic League, CanAm League, the American Association and others. We can’t thank Jay Acton enough for his past support of the CBL and for his continued guidance as we go through some challenging economic times that has been felt at all levels of professional sports the past two years.
“We are very confident of bringing on board a new franchise in Colorado in 2011, which had planned to play in 2010 but needed some additional time to get prepared. And we have two or three other locations that have expressed an interest in the CBL for the 2011 season, including cities in Texas and Arizona. We’ve had a good track record in the past three seasons in getting players in our league opportunities with affiliated teams, as 19 of our players have been signed by MLB organizations during that period. And a couple of those youngsters have a real shot to make a big league team in the very near future. So it’s a very exciting time for us.”
--MORE--
The Tarrant County Blue Thunder won the inaugural CBL title in 2007, followed by the Bay Area Toros and the Aces. “We had four of our teams jockeying for first place up until the final games of the regular season last summer and the balance in our league over the three seasons has been very good,” noted Ibach, a former Chicago Cubs executive under general manager Dallas Green in the 1980s, who hired present day Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti as his assistant during that time. “Once again I like the balance of talent in our league, and I think we’ll have another season of exciting pro baseball for our fans, and a race that won’t be decided until the final week or so of the season.”
The first two series of the season finds Big Bend hosting Las Cruces and West Texas hosting Desert Valley. The CBL plays four games per week, Thursday through Sunday, to keep operating costs at a minimum and deliver baseball at times most convenient for families. Tickets to CBL games run anywhere from $2 to $7, and most concession items are priced under $4. Parking is free. A family of four can easily attend a CBL game for less than $45, including tickets and food.
“That was the platform for our league, something Ron and I insisted upon from the beginning,” noted Ibach, who like Baron was raised in New York City and watched games at Yankee Stadium as a youngster in the 1950s for .50 cents in the bleachers. “It’s a tough stretch these days to try and bring a family to a major league game, where sometimes it will easily cost you $400 for a family of four. We want to bring affordable, family-friendly baseball to our communities, and we want our players to become hometown heroes to our fans in those markets.”
The CBL championship trophy is named after Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins. Details surrounding the playoffs and the format will be announced shortly. Other former major league players have been involved in the league, including Jay Johnstone, who is the CBL director of player relations. Curtis Wilkerson, Steve Trout and Tom Goodwin, all former big leaguers, have managed in the CBL in recent seasons.
For more information on the Continental Baseball League, visit the league’s website at www.CBLproball.com
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
C-USA Championships On Tap For Houston Swimming & Diving
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 23, 2010) The University of Houston swimming and diving team, for the seventh consecutive season, will host the Conference USA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships and Men’s Invitational on Feb. 24-27 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.
The Cougars are coming off a year where they finished 3-10 in dual action and just one season ago UH was the runner-up at the 2009 Championships. The second place finish was the program’s highest finish in C-USA. Head coach Mark Taylor was named the C-USA Swimming Coach of the Year, while head coach Jane Figueriedo was named the Diving Coach of the Year.
The Championships will begin on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with the preliminary round of the 1-meter men’s diving event and then continue at 6 p.m. with the final of the diving events and two relay competitions. Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s events will begin at 10 a.m. each morning with the night session is to begin at 6 p.m.
In addition to the women’s meet, selected schools will also compete in a Men’s Invitational.
Fans can follow all of the meet’s action by going to the Championship Central page at http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/championships/10-w-swim-championship.html.
All session tickets will be available at $35 for adults and $20 for youth. Single session tickets will also be on sale at $15 and $9.
The Cougars are coming off a year where they finished 3-10 in dual action and just one season ago UH was the runner-up at the 2009 Championships. The second place finish was the program’s highest finish in C-USA. Head coach Mark Taylor was named the C-USA Swimming Coach of the Year, while head coach Jane Figueriedo was named the Diving Coach of the Year.
The Championships will begin on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with the preliminary round of the 1-meter men’s diving event and then continue at 6 p.m. with the final of the diving events and two relay competitions. Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s events will begin at 10 a.m. each morning with the night session is to begin at 6 p.m.
In addition to the women’s meet, selected schools will also compete in a Men’s Invitational.
Fans can follow all of the meet’s action by going to the Championship Central page at http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/championships/10-w-swim-championship.html.
All session tickets will be available at $35 for adults and $20 for youth. Single session tickets will also be on sale at $15 and $9.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Moving Van Spotted Outside Mike Leach's Lubbock Home
By Robert H. KellyCopyright 2010 TexSport Publications
LUBBOCK, TEXAS (February 21, 2010) Reports out of Lubbock, Texas indicate that Texas Tech former head football coach Mike Leach is moving.
A moving van was spotted outside Leech’s home late last week and moving men were observed loading boxes and household goods.
Leach has also enrolled his children into schools in the Key West, Florida area.
In 1996, Leech applied for a coaching position in the area and is close friends with current Key West coach Jerry Hughes.
Leach and his attorney are currently in mediation with Texas Tech over his dismissal arising from allegations that he mistreated player Adam James. Leach has denied any mistreatment.
2010 Winter Olympics: Amy Williams Wins Gold; Shows Proper Respect
By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
PASADENA, TEXAS (February 20, 2010) When an athlete achieves the pinnacle of sporting achievement, an Olympic gold medal, they are awarded their medal on the victory platform, followed by the playing of their country’s nation anthem.
On Saturday, British athlete Amy Williams won the women’s skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Center outside Vancouver, Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Williams stunned the crowd, winning the gold medal over the heavily favored Germans, with a four-run total of 3 minutes, 35.64 seconds.
When the medal ceremony was televised, Williams received her medal and stood at attention while “God Save The Queen” was played. She sang along with the anthem and showed the proper and formal decorum that such a ceremony demands.
It was refreshing to see an athlete show the proper demeanor while she and her country were being recognized and honored.
A quick review of other gold medalists at the Games was in stark contrast to Williams’ decorum.
Take Shaun White’s behavior during the playing of the national anthem of the United States for his victory in the halfpipe. While standing on the podium, White’s hand and arm were holding a bouquet of flowers in front of his body, which I could consider an attempt to place his and over his heart.
Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
PASADENA, TEXAS (February 20, 2010) When an athlete achieves the pinnacle of sporting achievement, an Olympic gold medal, they are awarded their medal on the victory platform, followed by the playing of their country’s nation anthem.
On Saturday, British athlete Amy Williams won the women’s skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Center outside Vancouver, Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Williams stunned the crowd, winning the gold medal over the heavily favored Germans, with a four-run total of 3 minutes, 35.64 seconds.
When the medal ceremony was televised, Williams received her medal and stood at attention while “God Save The Queen” was played. She sang along with the anthem and showed the proper and formal decorum that such a ceremony demands.
It was refreshing to see an athlete show the proper demeanor while she and her country were being recognized and honored.
A quick review of other gold medalists at the Games was in stark contrast to Williams’ decorum.
Take Shaun White’s behavior during the playing of the national anthem of the United States for his victory in the halfpipe. While standing on the podium, White’s hand and arm were holding a bouquet of flowers in front of his body, which I could consider an attempt to place his and over his heart.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Scotty Lago Leaves Vancouver Over Racy Photos
VANCOUVER, CANADA (February 20, 2010) USA snowboarder and Olympic bronze medalist Scotty Lago has left the Winter Olympics after a racy photo surfaced of him inviting girls to kiss his bronze medal while it hung around his waist.
Lago left Vancouver voluntarily after publication of a photo of him wearing his Olympic medal around his waist and the hardware hung over his groin area on a public street.
A second shot showed a woman biting the medal, but this time Lago held it up by the logo on his Team USA T-shirt.
Reports say his "voluntary" departure was prompted by an ultimatum from the U.S. Olympic Committee: say you're sorry and go or we kick you out.
In response,, Lago apologized to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSSA) and packed his bags for home.
USSSA President and CEO Bill Marolt was quoted in saying:
"Scotty Lago is a great athlete, but with that talent comes a responsibility of proper conduct, and his involvement in this situation is not acceptable. With that said, Scotty realizes that his conduct was inappropriate. He has formally apologized and also made a decision to leave Vancouver today."
The culture of snowboarding may accept Lago’s behavior as acceptable, but many, including myself, do not.
Athletes sign a Code of Conduct when they are selected to the Olympic Team. It document is very clear and concise about what behavior is expected and how the athletes are to act at all times.
If they have a problem with what is expected of them, then they should give up their spot on the team to another athlete who is willing to act with decorum and respect while representing the United States.
After all, competing in the Olympics and possibly winning a medal should be enough of an incentive to act appropriately.
Some of our Olympians may have forgotten than fact.
Lago left Vancouver voluntarily after publication of a photo of him wearing his Olympic medal around his waist and the hardware hung over his groin area on a public street.
A second shot showed a woman biting the medal, but this time Lago held it up by the logo on his Team USA T-shirt.
Reports say his "voluntary" departure was prompted by an ultimatum from the U.S. Olympic Committee: say you're sorry and go or we kick you out.
In response,, Lago apologized to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSSA) and packed his bags for home.
USSSA President and CEO Bill Marolt was quoted in saying:
"Scotty Lago is a great athlete, but with that talent comes a responsibility of proper conduct, and his involvement in this situation is not acceptable. With that said, Scotty realizes that his conduct was inappropriate. He has formally apologized and also made a decision to leave Vancouver today."
The culture of snowboarding may accept Lago’s behavior as acceptable, but many, including myself, do not.
Athletes sign a Code of Conduct when they are selected to the Olympic Team. It document is very clear and concise about what behavior is expected and how the athletes are to act at all times.
If they have a problem with what is expected of them, then they should give up their spot on the team to another athlete who is willing to act with decorum and respect while representing the United States.
After all, competing in the Olympics and possibly winning a medal should be enough of an incentive to act appropriately.
Some of our Olympians may have forgotten than fact.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Rice's Brown Named C-USA Golfer of the Week
IRVING, TEXAS (February 17, 2010) Rice senior golfer Christopher Brown was named Conference USA's Golfer of the Week the league office announced on Wednesday.
Brown fired an even-par 216 (74-73-69) en route to capturing medalist honors and propelling Rice to its second team victory of the season at the 10th Annual Rice Intercollegiate presented by Srixon. Brown shot a 69 during Tuesday's final round to win the tournament by four strokes.
The Garland native began the final 18 holes in a three-way tie for first before carding one of only four sub-par rounds during the 54-hole tournament to pull away and win his first intercollegiate tournament.
The C-USA recognition was the second time in his career Brown has been named the league's Golfer of the Week.
In addition to Brown, UCF's Carolin Pinegger was also named C-USA's Golfer of the Week after leading the Knights to the Hurricane Invitational championship.
Rice has little time to reflect on its success as the Owls return to tournament play next week when they travel to the J.L. Lewis Intercollegiate hosted by Texas State. The tournament will be played at The Bandit golf course in New Braunfels next Monday and Tuesday.
Brown fired an even-par 216 (74-73-69) en route to capturing medalist honors and propelling Rice to its second team victory of the season at the 10th Annual Rice Intercollegiate presented by Srixon. Brown shot a 69 during Tuesday's final round to win the tournament by four strokes.
The Garland native began the final 18 holes in a three-way tie for first before carding one of only four sub-par rounds during the 54-hole tournament to pull away and win his first intercollegiate tournament.
The C-USA recognition was the second time in his career Brown has been named the league's Golfer of the Week.
In addition to Brown, UCF's Carolin Pinegger was also named C-USA's Golfer of the Week after leading the Knights to the Hurricane Invitational championship.
Rice has little time to reflect on its success as the Owls return to tournament play next week when they travel to the J.L. Lewis Intercollegiate hosted by Texas State. The tournament will be played at The Bandit golf course in New Braunfels next Monday and Tuesday.
Prairie View A&M to Kickoff 1st Spring Soccer Schedule
By Robert H. KellyCopyright 2010 TexSport Publications
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 17, 2010) The Prairie View A&M women’s soccer team will make history beginning in March as they’ll play their first-ever spring soccer schedule.
Under the direction of second-year head coach Abe Garcia, Prairie View A&M’s soccer program made history in 2009 as they advanced to the finals of the SWAC Soccer Tournament for the first time ever.
Garcia said the spring schedule will help tremendously for the upcoming season.
“I’m excited about getting out there and charting the progress my players have made since the conclusion of the regular season,” said Garcia. “We have a competitive slate ahead of us this spring which will definitely help us prepare for the fall.”
The spring schedule includes a Saturday March 6 game at home against the Puerto Rico National Team, followed on Saturday, March 27 with a match against Sam Houston State University in Huntsville The game against Puerto Rico will begin at 11:00am while the Sam Houston game’s start time will be announced at a later date.
The Panthers finish out the month against Hill College on Wednesday, March 31, with a 6:00pm start time at home.
They close out their spring schedule at the McNeese State Tournament in Lake Charles on Saturday, April 10.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Lindsay Jacobellis Blows It...AGAIN!!!
By Robert H. KellyCopyright 2010 TexSport Publications
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (February 16, 2010) Four years ago in this forum, I posted a story on how Lindsay Jacobellis "Hot Dogged" her way out of a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
You can read the "post from the past" by clicking here.
Well it seems Ms. Jacobellis could not get the job done....again.
And once again, she has no one to blame but herself.
Looking to redeem herself after giving away a victory four years ago, Jacobellis' return trip to the Olympics was even worse.
Early in her semifinal race on the snowboard cross course Tuesday, she lost her balance on a jump, wobbled and skittered to try to regain her balance, but clipped the outside of a gate.
The result: DISQUALIFIED!!!
I stated this fact four years ago and I still hold it to be true today.
"If you have not noticed in the past 10 years or so, the IOC has been adding new sports and some of them, IMHO, are attempts to gain new viewers and money to the Olympic movement.Well, this humble writer will get off the stage and stop the commentary AFTER THIS ONE LAST THOUGHT
Snowboarding was one of these sports. Does the Olympic movement need the influx of this type of sport when “HOT-DOGGING” is the norm? That is a question that some are asking.
What happened to the days went it was an honor to represent your country in the Olympics. If I had been that young ladies coach, I would have certainly said something to her about her performance and attitude in that race.
Give me the days when the USA and the USSR battled in the Olympics. Could you see any Olympian today refusing their medal like the 1972 USA basketball team did? Very few, I think...Most are only concerned with their own performance and what the Olympic Games CAN DO FOR THEM!!!!!"
Jacobellis blew it. AGAIN! She could not get the job done. Give me the good old days of the traditional sports in the Winter Olympics and leave these HOT DOG sports to the X-Games.