IN THE HUDDLE-Sports Talk with Elle and Kunks

You may be wondering why there's a sports page on this site. Well, let's just say that sports have always been a part of the design of my life. I'm sure the same can be said about many of you. Team work, integrity, strength and determination are used off the field as well. And don't even get me going on the glory of a bowl of chili, an exciting game and a comfy chair I can coach/cheer from! A home needs to hang memories as well as art work and sports memories are a grand slam in the World Series of life. I hope you enjoy this page! Now let me introduce you to IN THE HUDDLE with Elle and Kunks. They're two athletes who love all kinds of sports. They also happen to be a couple who've scored a touchdown in the end zone of love. She's a Patriots fan. And he's a Broncos fan. Their play-by-play of sports related news and happenings (and favorite tailgate recipes) are sure to be something Vince Lombardi would smile at. 

Let the games begin.

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PHOTO REPLAY :: GREAT MOMENTS IN SPORTS

  WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? 

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Quarterback Sneak Brownie Cups

One box of brownie mix
 Unwrapped bite size Reese's Cups

Make brownies according to package. Line cupcake tins with paper liners. Fill each tin 1/2 way and bake at suggested temperature until test proves done(a toothpick comes out clean from the middle). Once baked, take tins out and place on cooling rack. Wait five minutes and then push an unwrapped Reese's Cup into center of brownie til it's most of the way in. Remove brownies from tin(using a table knife to help lift the brownie cups up and out helps) and let cool. These are FANtastic and so easy! Perfect for tailgating or armchair action.

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"One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something."

Nolan Ryan

ForFFor all you sports fans out there:

   A list of Links to the Hall of Fames

Pro Football--  http://www.profootballhof.com/default.aspx

Baseball--  http://baseballhall.org/ 

Soccer--  http://soccer.convio.net/site/PageServer

Basketball--  http://www.hoophall.com/ 

Hockey--  http://www.hhof.com/

Horse Racing--http://www.racingmuseum.org/ 

Car racing--  http://www.nascarhall.com/

Golf--  http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/

There are many other Hall of Fames---this link will help you find one that may interest you!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_halls_and_walks_of_fame

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September 29, 2010

This article in today's Boston Herald is a great reminder

that an athlete can achieve success in a professional career AND in his/her life away from the game. Everybody wins in stories like this.

PATS SPECIALIST GIVES CANCER A KICK

By: Karen Guregian

Nicole Hayes of Whitman, a Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient being treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, was hooked up to an IV, having her final chemotherapy treatment of a long six-month process.

This wasn’t the 29-year-old’s best day, but everything changed when Zoltan Mesko walked into her unit.

“I’m glad you came,” Hayes said to Mesko. “You made me smile today. You made me very happy. I was having a bad day.” Mesko’s visit yesterday, along with kicker Stephen Gostkowski’s trip to the pediatric floor at Massachusetts General Hospital, was all part of the New England Patriots [team stats] Charitable Foundation’s “Kick Cancer” initiative. “Any time I go to a hospital, it’s very humbling because you see people that are worse off than you, and you try to make their day better any way you can,” Mesko said. “Sometimes we as athletes don’t realize the impact we have on people, so when you see their faces light up, it’s like ‘Wow, this is the Patriots brand.’ “I mean, they’re not going to know a punter. Who knows me? No one wants to see me out on the field, anyway. But, by me carrying the Patriots brand, and being affiliated with the Kraft charitable foundation, and how much they do, you know it makes a difference.”

Gostkowski was happy to spend part of his day off putting a smile on the faces of many kids who are struggling with illness. “Just to ask how they’re doing, and hopefully give them a little motivation,” said Gostkowski, “it’s very rewarding to be able to do that and use your status as a pro athlete in a positive way instead of some of the negative ways people tend to use them.” Both Mesko and Gostkowski have been touched by cancer. Mesko’s mother waged a successful battle, while Gostkowski’s grandmother died of lung cancer and his aunt succumbed to breast cancer. “I think everybody has had a story. It’s something that hopefully one day will get fixed,” Gostkowski said. “It’s very sad when kids don’t have a chance. They didn’t choose to get sick. But they’re very strong-willed and very courageous. The stuff their parents go through and how hospitals like (Mass. General) make it comfortable for them to be here . . . it’s just sad to see kids who have their whole lives in front of them go through things like this.“That’s why they’re working for a cure one day, and hopefully it’ll happen.”

kguregian@bostonherald.com

reprinted with permission from the author

No More Moss? Move On. (10/10/10)

       I am a New England Patriots fan to the core. And, like most other Pats fans would agree, there was nothing sweeter to see than Tom Brady throwing a long ball and connecting with Randy Moss. There is no doubt that Moss is a tremendous wide receiver with great speed and an ability to catch passes that a lot of other receivers in the NFL wouldn’t be able to catch.  However, I believe that Moss’s trade to the Vikings was a good thing ultimately.

        People seem to think that Belichick and the Patriots franchise made a huge mistake by trading Moss.  They think the season has been jeopardized and that the Patriots have left a huge hole in their offense by trading away Moss.  Have we forgotten that Belichick and his Patriots teams have won three Super Bowls?  Have we forgotten that the New England Patriots organization is one of the greatest in the NFL and has produced incredible seasons over the past decade? The bottom line is that the Pats franchise knows what they are doing!  If trading away Randy Moss was going to be a big loss and the cause of a detrimental season, do you think that they would have done it?  Of course not!  A true Pats fan would have some faith in their team and the organization, and believe that the trade is for the best.  Sure, we will all miss Moss and his great plays, and we all have to wonder in the back of our minds just how the Pats can adjust to not having a star wide receiver, but we have to be positive and keep believing. 

       Moss is 32 years old.  He won’t be playing football for much longer, and as he gets older, his game will weaken.  He has already hit his peak.  We have strong tight ends who can catch and run the ball such as Gronkowski and Hernandez.  And of course, we can always rely on Welker to step up his game even more and make some plays for the offense.  What I’m getting at is that we still have a solid offense, and one which perhaps Belichik is looking to adjust for 
the future of the organization. 

       Also, Randy Moss didn’t exactly want to stay in New England.  He had been asking to get traded for weeks, so why should we care if he is gone?  He got what he wanted, and so I say: Thanks for the good memories because you've given us quite a few. Best of luck in Minnesota. See ya on the 31^st. 

For the love of the game,

Elle

Randy Moss to the Vikings for a third round draft pick.  On the surface this sounds like a horrible move.  The Patriots have a young, inconsistent defense that relies on their high-flying, high-scoring offensive counterparts to win ball games.  So, why would you trade away your biggest, most dangerous offensive weapon not named Tom Brady?

This is not your Dynasty Patriots with a dominant scheming defense.  Those teams could get away with having a cast of mediocre wide receivers, relying on Tom Brady to spread the wealth and running backs like Antowain Smith and Corey Dillon to eat-up clock, rushing for over 1,000 yards per season.  Those teams won Super Bowls.  Those teams built a Dynasty.

The 2007 Patriots changed everything.  They set record after record on offense, flying to an undefeated regular season.  They aired the ball out and won with scores like 56 – 10 and 52 – 7.  Even though they ultimately lost in the Super Bowl, on a miracle play late in the game, they were the most dominant team of the decade.  They helped lead the league into this “Passing Era” of the NFL.  Bill Belichick was one step ahead of everyone else in a copy-cat league.

Some might question his move to trade away a top 10 wide receiver in the middle of the “Passing Era.”  Others think he will use these stock-piled draft picks to trade for another big time wide receiver.  These are valid options and would probably work out quite well, increasing the Patriots’ current Super Bowl odds.  However, as good as Steve Smith or Vincent Jackson may sound to fans, I don’t think that is the direction in which Coach Belichick is heading.

I think Coach Belichick is once again, keeping the Patriots one step ahead.  Look at this deal, strictly from a business stand point:  In 2007 the Patriots traded a 4^th round draft pick to the Oakland Raiders for Randy Moss.  They ended up getting 300 points, 259 catches, 3,904 yards, 40 regular season victories, an AFC Championship and now a 3^rd round pick, all for that 4^th round pick in 2007.  That is one hell of a business deal.  Buy low, sell high.

Now, the Patriots have 2 picks in each of the first four rounds of next year’s draft.  In a league were draft picks are gold, Gillette Stadium has become Fort Knox.  Fans want to win this season; they want to beat the Ravens this Sunday.  That’s understandable.  But, Coach Belichick is paid to keep one eye on the future.  Coach Belichick will spend his numerous draft picks on defensive players that can run his schemes like Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Lawyer Milloy and Rodney Harrison could.  He will rely on a cast of versatile receivers who don’t care about stats and he will make sure they have a reliable running game.  He is building a team that, he thinks, can build him a dynasty.

Not only does this deal increase their Super Bowl odds for years to come, but, by no means does it put them out of contention for the playoffs this year.  In a league where 23 of 32 teams are 3 – 2 or worse, after 5 weeks, almost everyone has a chance.  It will be the teams with the best Coaches and quarterbacks who will be left standing in January, separating themselves just enough in a parody filled league.  So, for this year and the years to come, I think it’s safe to trust Coach Belichick’s blue-print for success.  With 3 Super Bowl rings and 1 Dynasty constructed already on his resume, I think it’s safe to say he knows what he’s doing.     

~Kunks~ (10/10/10)

Tiger Woods Is a Golfer-He Isn’t God

Let me start by giving you all a statistic.  On average, about “22 percent of married men have strayed at least once during their married lives.”[1]  That is about 1/5 of married men who cheat on their wives- that is a fairly high amount of adulterous men.  Do we hear about all of those tragic happenings?  No, we don’t, because it’s none of our business unless we are directly affected by the infidelity.  So, why is it that when a famous figure such as Tiger Woods cheats on his wife, the whole world knows immediately and everyone reacts as though Tiger cheated on them?

            When this terrible news broke, it was only a matter of hours before two distinct “sides” were forming: men seemed to, on the average, feel that Tiger shouldn’t be judged for his actions off the golf course-women, on the other hand, mostly reacted with immense anger, calling Tiger a good-for-nothing adulterer, a slime ball, and a bastard.  As a woman myself, I can’t deny that I was disgusted for a few weeks by what Tiger Woods did, as most women were out of pity for what Elin must have been going through.  However, now looking back on it, I am almost disgusted with myself for thinking that I had the right to judge Tiger and condemn him for the choices and mistakes he made in his personal life. 

            I started playing golf about a year ago, and always loved watching Tiger tear it up on the links.  He was the best golfer in the world and he had my upmost respect for that.  I also really admired the way in which he seemed to live his life; he kept his personal business private, he carried himself well, he was quiet and focused, and there never seemed to be anything negative about him in the media.  When his cheating scandal surfaced, however, all of what I had thought about him off the golf course was proven to be wrong.  As with other athletes whom I admire (Peyton Manning, to name my favorite), I believe that who they are off the playing field is just as important as how they play their game.  I still believe this.  However, I am also a true believer and advocate for second chances, and that all people (even famous ones) make mistakes and deserve a second chance to redeem themselves.   And that is exactly what I believe Tiger Woods has done and will continue to do.  Just as I am disappointed when Tiger doesn’t place in the top 3 in a tournament, I was disappointed to hear that he cheated on his wife.  Yet, that fact doesn’t change the respect I have for him as a golfer or the admiration I hold for how he plays the game of golf.

            Don’t get me wrong-what Tiger (and any person who cheats on their spouse) did was terrible and heart breaking, and for anyone reading this who has been a victim of cheating or has cheated and wants to be forgiven for their actions, my heart goes out to you completely.   I think we can all agree that adultery is an awful thing.  Tiger Woods cheated on his wife…he made a mistake…he is human.  Just because he is Tiger Woods and the most famous athlete in the world, that doesn’t mean that he is perfect, and it also means that the average person who doesn’t know him personally has NO RIGHT to judge him, condemn him, or smear his name in the mud as they are standing in the garden outside of their glass houses.  He has flaws, AS DO WE ALL.  Don’t people have enough to worry about in their own lives without being so concerned with the life of a famous athlete?

            I understand that Tiger was and still is a role model to many young athletes and children in general, and his cheating actions haven’t been good ones to look up to.  But, can’t we all see the positive lesson that he is indeed teaching those same children?  He has come back…he didn’t give up and hide away in a hole, ashamed.  He worked hard and got his golf game back on track.  He apologized repeatedly to us as the general public, even though he didn’t have to.  (The only thing he should have to apologize to his fans for is if he does something shameful or negative on the golf course)  After all, isn’t that the reason people should look up to Tiger, because he is the world’s greatest golfer? 

            I think that he will have to continue to work very hard to get back to the level of golf that he was at before his personal life was paraded around in the media like a traveling circus freak show, and I hope with all my heart and soul that he does just that.  Those who judged him need to see that he is an incredible golfer, and that they should admire him for that and not concern themselves with his personal life choices.   

I cannot wait for the day that Tiger wins his next major, wearing his victory red.  I will be cheering him on and watching in amazement as he birdies a par 5 that no other golfer seems to be able to do quite as beautifully.

           

            For The Love of the Game,

                                   

             Elle

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[1] (http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/infidelitystats.html) 

Tiger Woods-It’s In The Game

Tiger Woods.  On November 26^th, 2009 those words would have brought about thoughts of legendary excellence and prestige.  We’ve never seen a golfer like Tiger Woods.  Ever.  No one has ever hit a golf ball that far, displayed that kind of touch and knocked down clutch putts with the unimaginable constancy that Tiger Woods has over the last 15 years.  He has 14 Major victories at the age of 34.  He’s only 4 behind the Golden Bear’s all-time record and still on pace to shatter that legendary mark.  That is why the name Tiger Woods was synonymous with greatness.

Tiger Woods.  Those words sound so different now.  Embarrassment.  Infidelity.  Betrayal.  How did this happen?  From greatness to a punch-line.  Tiger’s well-documented fall from grace was swift.  He tumbled quickly, with the same fury and intensity that propelled his climb to the top of golf’s elite.  The question is:  How did he manage this monumental fall without ever stepping foot on a golf course? 

In no way do I condone the decisions Tiger made.  He alienated those closest to him with a multitude of extremely self-centered and immature decisions.  His actions will have a lasting impact on his family and especially on his young children who will grow up living with the consequences of their father’s selfishness.  This is obvious and tragic.  But, why do we act as if his infidelity had a direct impact on us?  Very few people can say they know Tiger Woods, personally, and even fewer can claim to actually be hurt by his actions.  How can you take shots at someone you don’t know for being a ‘bad person’?  Similarly, how can you like someone you don’t know for being a ‘good person’?  You don’t know them.

Are we really qualified to make judgments on things we don’t know about?  Has Tiger made selfish decisions that hurt those closest to him?  Yes, he’s admitted to that.  Does that give us enough information to decide whether he’s a ‘good person’?  If the public was to judge you, based solely on the worst decision you’ve ever made, would they have the correct perception of you as a whole?  The fact is, we don’t have any idea what kind of person any athlete, celebrity or politician truly is.  We have to judge them by what we do know: their athletic abilities, their talent, or their political agenda. 

Why did we start watching Tiger Woods?  We watched because when he was charging down the back nine in the final round of the Masters, as a 21 year old, unfathomably pulling away from the field, we couldn’t look away.  We watched because as he chased down his 25 foot birdie putt in a playoff at the PGA Championship in Valhalla, we all fist-pumped with him as the ball disappeared in the center of the cup.  We watched because when he sunk the putt, injured knee and all, on the 18^th hole in the final round of the 2008 U.S. Open to force a playoff (which he eventually won) we all felt like children, cheering on a golfing legend.  We watched because he defied logic with a golf club in his hands.

So why is it so different now?  When he regains his dominance after implementing his most recent swing change (and I assure you, he will regain his dominance) will we still watch?  Absolutely.  We will watch for all the same reasons we started watching and rooting for Tiger Woods:  Legendary excellence and prestige on the golf course.

 Kunks

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