John Heisman on Football

Craig Ferguson on Thanksgiving

Darren Flutie on CFL Football

The 2013 Grey Cup Canadian Football League Championships pitted the Hamilton (Ontario) Wild Cats against the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in Regina, Saskatchewan.  

It is interesting to note that the Grey Cup's 101st year is the second oldest professional sports trophy in North America behind the 120 year history of the Stanley Cup, (which NHL hockey teams have been awarded since 1926).

Yet this storied history did not seem to impress Darren Flutie or diminish the ambition to play in the NFL.

Dwight D. Eisenhower on Atheism

Mark Martin on Stock Car Racing Fans

Paul Dietzel on Character

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Mike Krzyzewski on Winning

Coach K knows about winning basketball games, as he has lead the Blue Devils to four NCAA National Championships, 11 Final Four appearances, 12 ACC Regular Season Titles and 13 ACC Tournament Championships. 

His philosophy is teamwork and working hard.  But based on his surname, I am not sure if teams would be naturals for the National Spelling Bee.

Lt. Col. William Kilgore on Surfing

Reconsidering Apocalypse Now (1979) as a surfing film.

Honoring the Unsung Sports Hero--The Walk On

Marquette Golden Eagle no. 34 Dylan Flood scoring 1st college basket 11/12/13

Marquette University’s basketball team was drubbing the Grambling State Tigers by nearly forty points well into the second half.  Marquette had three freshmen on the court which somewhat subsided the alluvia of scoring.  But with thirty seconds left, Marquette Head Coach Buzz Williams ordered an intentional foul to allow for one last substitution.

Marquette's Dylan Flood

In the last half minute of play, Dylan Flood, a 6'4" 200 pound Junior Forward from Lisle, Illinois took to the court.  This move brought a lively cheer from hometown crowd which remained at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.   The broadcast crew commented that Flood was a fan favorite as he was a walk on player who rarely got any game time.  When Marquette moved the ball up court, the players passed the ball around the horn and set Flood up to take a shot.  He smartly dribbled into traffic and scored his first points in a college game.

This incident would be a minor moment which could easily pass without notice.  Yet while watching the replay of Flood’s  shot, one could not help but notice the exuberant reaction from players on the Marquette bench to Flood’s hoop.   The final result of 114 to 71 was not in doubt. But the whole hearted applause from the bench to Flood’s  first NCAA points was like fanfare for the unsung hero: the bench player.

Both college and pro sports programs often have hoopla when introducing starting players at games.  Sometimes the sixth man in basketball gains renown as being the dependable first substitution.  But there are fourteen men on the team and the NCAA only allows thirteen scholarship players.  So the walk on player works hard in practice, often simulating what opponents  will do offensively and defensively, without accruing much actual game time.

Aside from their contributions in practice, these walk on players serve as an inspiration for their teammates.  They work hard without glory or scholarship recompense.  So the cheers from the bench for a walk-on’s basket show a respect for the team member not in the spotlight.

Watching  Dylan Flood’s practice reel shows that he has some skills on the practice court. Now that the first point barrier has been broken, perhaps that will open the Flood gates.




 Congratulations on making into the MUBB record-book.  May his hard work make the team ready for the Big Dance in March.

Sports Salute to Service

Over this Veterans Day weekend, the NCAA and the NFL made major efforts to have a Salute to Service for those men and women who serve to defend our freedom. 

This year the NCAA held the Armed Forces Classic basketball game in at Camp Humphreys Army base in  Pyeogtaek, South Korea where the 19th ranked Oregon Ducks beat the Georgetown Hoyas 82-75 before a crowd of hundreds of soldiers.  


Both teams wore special camouflage uniforms.  In lieu of having their names emblazoned on the back of their jerseys, the Oregon Duck players IDs  read "USA"  and the backs of the Georgetown Hoya jerseys had mottoes like "Courage", "Integrity" and "Respect.    The coaches of both teams wore combat boots and military styled cargo pants.

Oregon (light camo) playing against Georgtown (dark camo) at Camp Humphrey Army Base in Pyeogtaek, South Korea

Many NCAA football teams made efforts to give a Salute to Service.   There is controversy attached to the Northwestern University Wildcat football special uniforms. The Wildcats intend to honor the Wounded Warrior Project during their November 16th game against the Michigan Wolverines by abandoning their regular purple and white garb and donning uniforms flag inspired uniforms. 

 Under Armor tried to further stylize this equipment by having red accents on the patriotic design to give it a rough, worn out look.  After the game, these uniforms will be auctioned for charity. But some are seeing red as the Wounded Warrior Wildcat uniforms have red splotches on the helmet, sock and cleats so these design elements can be interpreted as blood. That is an ugly connotation for something that is intended to honor and support the Wounded Warrior Project. 

The NFL has nearly a half century of working with the USO to support our military men and women in uniform.  During the 2013 season,  the NFL has designed 32 games throughout November as Salute to Service games where the NFL will donate $100 per point scored to each of its three military related charities, the Pat Tillman Foundation, the USO, and the Wounded Warrior Project.  In 2012, the NFL donated nearly $800,000 as a result of the Salute to Service campaign. 

During these games, players use special footballs, gloves, patches, hats, sweatshirts and camouflage towels.  All of these Salute to Service game worn merchandise will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the aforementioned non-profits.

There are many different Salutes to Service at NFL stadia.  During the Salute to Service games, all of the Field Goal posts had camouflage padding. In Green Bay, Lambeau Field fans used cards to thank those who served with a card stunt during the National Anthem. 

The Packer half time featured all veteran parachute teams landing in the middle of Lambeau Field. Similar sorts of celebrations will occur for the Monday Night Football game in Tampa Bay, which is in the shadows of MacDill Air Force Base and United States Central Command. 

Pat Tillman as Army Ranger

Kevin Blackistone

This sort of patriotic appeal and honoring must drive outspoken ESPN sports commentator Kevin Blackistone crazy, as he has repeatedly chastised sports teams for playing the National Anthem and honoring Pat Tillman (an NFL player who left pro ball to serve as an Army Ranger and died in a friendly fire incident).  While it is unclear how much money will be raised by these fundraising auctions, it is laudable to try to honor and serve those servicemen who sacrifice for us.  However the photo from the Pittsburgh Steeler's Salute to Service shows the poignancy of such tributes. 

A recent book entitled "The War on Football"  points out that many of the traits which are esteemed in football are the same characteristics inculcated in military training. Moreover, sports are an important connection with home for military members and their families.




 So in a society obsessed with celebrity, it is good to see organized efforts to offer a Salute to Service, and honor the virtues of service, teamwork, selflessness and courage.

Some of Book Review on The War on Football by Daniel J. Flynn

Daniel J. Flynn

So many of those who write about sports come from a liberal persuasion.  So it was refreshing to read Daniel J. Flynn’s book "The War on Football: Saving America’s Game” (Regnery Publishing, 2013 216 pages) as he iconoclastically uses science, history and social relations to defend a beleaguered sport.  Perhaps Flynn’s tenure as the former Executive Director of Accuracy in Academia inspired the author to include over 50 pages of footnotes to score his points, lest anyone doubt him. Flynn surveys the sport on the Pop Warner level, collegiate football programs even womens’ football leagues as well as the pros to try to discern the truth about football.

...

The battle against football is not simply for safety but it mirrors a “wussification” of society as well as reflecting the lessons which we want to teach our children. So instead of giving football a proverbial pat on the back for instilling discipline, teamwork and the virtues of hard work, football is given a kick below the belt by pointing to questionable science to win their game.

There is no doubt that football is a physically demanding sport, which requires conditioning and practice.  However, the mainstream media weltanschauung is colored by a perception that football is an American version of a gladiator sport.  While there were periods in history, such as 1905 and 1968, where many mortal injuries on the playing field occurred, Flynn contends that rule changes and better equipment mitigate those serious casualties.  So today anti-football fanatics concentrate on concussions. 
...

 Flynn’s "The War on Football" book debunks these simple conclusions as they are not bourne out by the facts.    Cheerleaders are more at risk for concussions than football players, but which athlete embodies the fearsome warrior traits so disfavored by Cocktail Party elites?  

Scientists can not find a causal effect between football and CTE.  However hucksters selling safety are able to profit hawking equipment with dubious extra protection. 

...

The pro-football settlement regarding concussions may have a ripple effect which could well diminish the lower levels of the sport.  Some anti-football crusaders want to ban the sport to minors.  This nanny state protection for the children, which would effectively kill football as the physicality of the sport make football a young person’s sport.  In addition, the skills required for teamwork, precision and strategy takes time to develop to attain the athletic achievements that American football fans admire.  

...

 Flynn’s iconoclastic arguments against the junk science concerning concussions and football were compelling and often ignored by a sensationalist, liberal leaning mainstream media. 

The tone of the book was fair but decidedly not objective.  I appreciated the cynical asides peppered throughout the book questioning junk science or the tongue in cheek critique on litigators: “They don’t teach physics in law school.”    Flynn had so won me over that I was rooting for a blowout at the end instead of the more restrained conclusion that: “Football is good for you.  Play. Watch. Cheer.”

SEE MORE at DCBarroco.com 

Murray Warmath on Defeat

Dan Frisby on Basketball

President Obama on Championships

President Obama welcomes 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Black Hawks, 11/04/2013

"To the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, White Sox — I am term-limited, so you guys have got to get moving. I need to see you here soon. Championships belong in Chicago."  

                                  ~President Barack Obama

It should be noted that the Chicago Black Hawks have been the only professional sports team from Chicago who have won championships during Mr. Obama's time in the White House. 

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/11/04/4439695/obama-salutes-hockeys-blackhawks.html#.Ung5wPtO_7d#storylink=cpy

Mia Hamm on Motivation

Knute Rockne on Prayers