Black History Month

   As we all know, February is Black History Month. In sports, there has been so much controversy when it came to allowing African Americans integrate in to the major sports, especially baseball. The most famous is case is with Jackie Robinson. What many people do not realize is some of the best athletes of all time are African American. If you want perseverance look at Jackie Robinson or Muhammad Ali, they became big in time were they were given so much trouble. Today, people are not under the same scrutiny they went through over 50 years ago.

    Before 1947, African American baseball players strictly played in the "Negro League." Then Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, comes along and signs Jackie Robinson to a contract. On April 15th, 1947, he became the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. He had went through hell that entire season. At least he was not alone, over in the American League Larry Doby became the first African American to play in the league. It showed strength, courage, and intensity to overcome what they went through. I like to think that they helped pave the way for Hank Aaron, who would become the all time Home Run leader.

    Baseball was not the only sport which African American athletes had problems. Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson set standards for the boxing world in the 1930's and 40's. If it were not for them, the likes of Muhhamed Ali, Joe Fraizer, and Sugar Ray Leonard would not have made it. Sugar Ray Robinson never succumbed to the mob, it paid off immensely as he received many title matches. The "Rumble in the Jungle" took in place in Zaire. It was the first All African-American boxing match to be fought in the African continent. Muhammad Ali was a heavy underdog, but came back and won the match.

   The same way musicians fight certain fights through their music, athletes have the same concept. Jackie Robinson always did his work on the field. When he retired, people respected him more than when we first started playing. Muhhamed Ali showed it differently. Not only did he build up a great reputation in the ring, he stood up for what he believed in. When he dodged the draft, people saw that he was making a statement. If it was not for Jackie Robinson, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Muhhamed Ali, then we do not how African American athletes would fair today in their respective sports. Let's just take a few minutes to understand how people paved the way for future generations.

Super Mismatch? 49

   

   When Super Bowl comes to mind, what do you think? Halftime show? The commercials? Especially if my team(the Giants) are in it, I want an excellent and close game. Honestly, when people asked me who I was routing for in Super Bowl 49, I told them I can care less. I disliked the Seahawks and hated the Patriots. By default, I was going for the Seahawks. After watching the game with my son(his first Super Bowl), a few things came to my mind.

   Let's rewind! Many people are saying that Pete Carroll made the worst call in Super Bowl history. To be quite honest with you, it wasn't the greatest call, but the Patriots also had pretty good coverage on the play as well. Everyone should be giving credit to Bill Belichick for having great coverage. Belichick even came to Carroll's defense saying that this criticism of Carroll is undeserved. Yes, I agree that they should have given it to Lynch to run it in, but that does not mean Carroll was wrong to make it a passing play.

   If it was not for a miracle catch by Jermaine Kearse, then the Seahawks never would have been in position to win the game. People are so focused how Carroll blew it, what if they won? Would they have blamed the Patriots for bad coverage on the Kearse play? After watching that play, I was thinking David Tyree all over again. Anyone not paying close attention to Tom Brady's expression, it was priceless. Kearse made a "Willie Mays" type of catch.

   As the Patriots marched down the field twice to take the lead, I thought that this Seattle defense is not the defense of Super Bowl 48. Maybe they actually got lucky against Green Bay. Granted they were suffering from health issues, it was supported to be deep enough not to worry about. As good as Tom Brady has been, the Seattle defense is supposed to be much better. An unreal defense should shut down a great offense, like last years team or the 2000 Ravens.

   In all, this years Super Bowl was exciting and fun to watch. It was the two best teams in the league. In my opinion, it was really a mismatch. As good of a game as SB 49 turned out to be, it wasn't an eye for eye game when it came to its players vs. player matchups. If you wanted that, it should have been Green Bay vs. Baltimore in the Super Bowl. That would have been a unreal game. Let's see what happens with the Golden Super Bowl next year.