20 hours per week means 20 hours per week or does it?

The NCAA has limited the number of hours a college football staff can have their players in required mandatory activities. The 20 hour a week rule establishes that coaches cannot keep their players all hours of the day and night in order to attempt to gain a competitive advantage. Having witness both sides of this argument as a player and now as a coach. I have to agree with this rule whole heartedly. I believe coaches would keep players for many more hours than what the NCAA mandates. Coaches are paid and maintain job security by winning and if keeping a player more than 20 hours per week would increase the odds of winning and being successful on the field coaches would keep players for endless amounts of time.

Michigan University the most successful program in college football history in terms of wins was found to have violated this rule and was put on probation by the NCAA. Did keeping players more than 20 hours per week help Michigan and their football staff? I would have to say no as Rich Rodriguez was fired following the 2010 season. I am not saying he and his staff were fired for keeping players more than 20 hours per week, I am just saying no competitive advantage was gained. However, there is always a shade of gray in collegiate athletics. Coaches can only make 20 hours per week mandatory. Though can suggest players come watch extra film on their own, get an extra lift on their own, etc.

So should there be a 20 hour rule? Yes, without question there should be a limit on the amount of time a staff can be with players though I think it could be increased to 25-27 hours per week. Doing so would less the stress on both players and coaches would always feel rushed as 20 hours does not provide a great deal of time to prepare for a practices and a game each week. Though remember who you are asking a guy who aspires to be a college head coach.

Tokyo and it's Olympic Size Decision

Tokyo has been the epicenter for one of the worst if not the worst natural disaster in history. The earthquakes and tsunami that have crushed this nation has left a mark that will not easily be forgotten. Sport is often thought to be a comforting stable for a nation. This was evident here in the United States when baseball returned following the events of September 11, 2001. Furthermore, in New Orleans after the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina the return of New Orleans Saints brought a city back together. In these cases, sport provided comfort and resolution to destroyed and ravaged areas. However, in the case of Tokyo and after witnessing the video footage and utter destruction I cannot say I disagree with their decision not to make a bid for the 2020 Olympics. I understand this may not make sense given my previous statements though the difference to me is that the opportunity to host the Olympics requires so much more than a singular event as was the World Series and Super Bowl.  Further, the gravity of the damage in Tokyo seemed to appear much greater than Katrina.

September 11, 2001 shocked the country and shattered many friends and families. The return of baseball did not bring back normalcy as much as it allowed a nation to temporarily forget the awful situation. Would hosting the Olympics allow Tokyo to forget the overflowing water and or huge earthquakes? I do not think so. Rather, I think the country needs to focus on rebuilding and providing as normal of a life for its residents as possible. As mentioned in the article attached below the Olympic Bid can happen again in the future and will be on a better foot than the rest of the country as the rest of the country.

"Fortunately enough the Metropolitan Government of Tokyo including the JOC headquarter-building and the venues of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games remains without any damage,"

Disagree or agree one thing is for certain I wish Tokyo a quick and full recovery!

http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/olympic_bids/1216135620.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUiWf9vrms0&feature=related

Can Coaches Be Friends?

After watching the Butler verse Florida NCAA tournament basketball game last night I was amazed by the embrace that Florida head coach Billy Donovan and Butler coach Brad Stevens gave one another after such a close contest. I wondered if it is possible to truly be that friendly with your competition, especially given the close nature of the game. I then began to search the Internet for stories linking the two and found one in the San Jose Mercury Newspaper. The Mercury provided a real story which occurred earlier this season; Brad Stevens who managed to take his small time team to the NCAA final a season ago was in the midst of a three game losing streak and looking for guidance. Who did Stevens turn to? Billy Donovan head coach of the Florida Gators.  Donovan must have provided some good insight as both teams had wonderful seasons and met in last night’s “Elite Eight” game.

It is weird to think that months before the game these two men spoke to one another regarding their greatest passion, basketball. I wonder if Donovan heading into last night’s game regretting or wish he had not passed certain knowledge to his opponent. Donovan is a great coach at a major power. Stevens who could have taken almost any job last season after his team’s marvelous run seems to be quite content with his home at Butler. I think it is great that although the chance of one day playing each other, Donovan passed along his insight to another coach as Donovan is quoted as saying, “I've always felt like my responsibility as a coach is to share. If I have experiences that I've gone through, been through, and in some way can help somebody else, I think that's my responsibility."

In a sports environment that has grown so crazy and competitive it is great to see sportsmanship still exists.

Link for Story Attached Below:

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_17703937

Yao..Yao..Yao

The NBA all star game has come and gone and although it was entertaining there was one large figure absent from the gala. Yao Ming, center for the Houston Rockets was the leading vote getter for three consecutive years as a result of getting millions of votes from his homeland. Yao Ming was and is a good player who brought a game to a new nation. The NBA owes Yao for what he has done for the game. Though over the past several years has endured serious foot injuries that plagued players such as BIG Z who plays for the Miami Heat.

Yao was able to connect two nations through a simple game. His presence cannot be overstated and represents a growing trend of foreigners taking over the NBA. This movement is a positive one in my opinion as it in part is forcing U.S. college players to stay in school longer as foreign players who are older and have professional experience. Though one American Brandon Jennings realized this and after graduating from high school headed immediately overseas to begin his professional career.

In large what I am saying is that the NBA owes Yao Ming a great deal of thanks for his ability to bring a new audience to their league. Further, his impact although not as great as expected on the court, will be felt for a great deal of time off of it.

Homosexuality in Sport

Having participated in what many consider the manliest of sports (football) I began to reflect on my playing career and wondered if anyone I had played with or against was a homosexual. I did not wonder this out of fear or nervousness but rather out of recognition of the struggle that this young man may have encountered. Though, what I did not know was this question would be answered for me. One of my best teammates in high school who went on to play in college recently revealed his sexual orientation.

Rather than thinking back to the butt taps, jokes, and showers shared among teammates all I remembered was the friend I had gained. It did not matter to me that he was a homosexual what mattered to me was that for 20 years he had to keep it a secret out of fear of what others may have thought. Recently, some professional athletes have been more open about their sexual orientation. Though for the most part have done so after their career was over. Will an athlete ever be able to open about his or her sexual orientation during his or her playing career?

I have gained a new appreciation for the experiences that my friend had to go through by working with young student athletes who often throw terms around that would be deemed less than satisfactory. Though like my very own teammates these young men simply do not know better. I can only hope that no one has to go through what my former teammate did.

Until next time...