By Pierre Narcisse
Pressure comes in many different forms. Everyone will have to deal with it at some point in his or her lives. The way that one deals with pressure is a strong indication of whom that person really is. There’s pressure that is important. Every day our leaders make decisions that effect millions of people, not to mention the impact it may have on future generations. Pressure in sports is generally not important. Ironically, the pressure in sports can be the most intense. That intensity can make anyone nervous, and consequently not do well or not participate at all in sports.
Many children do not want to try to play competitive sports because they feel the pressure. Overbearing parents, family and coaches can have a negative influence. They then have to deal with their little buddies that don’t let them forget if they did not play well. Kids want to have fun and think that playing is not important. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. It comes to the point that only those that have natural talent try to play organized sports. This is bad because with practice and guidance, the kids with lesser ability can do just as well. Coaches can encourage or demand the proper exercise that will help them keep fit, perform better and prevent injury. This is crucial because good habits can take form at an early age. This is something that kids can remember and utilize for the rest of their lives.
Many adults do not play in their local sport leagues because of pressure as well. Many prefer to just play pick-up games. Pick-up games can be very good exercise. However, people can just play them whenever they feel like it. It does no good to go to the park and play a few games and then don’t play for a few weeks after. In an organized setting there is the premise that you are good enough to compete and take somewhat seriously. The fear of looking bad in front of family and friends and makes some people not want to play. This is likely the worst reason not to play your sport of choice. It is supposed to be fun first and foremost. It’s harder as an adult to compete in sports because most have to work or they have responsibilities that take them away from the game. It’s very easy to get complacent and gain a few pounds and lose interest in the sport altogether. A few pounds can turn into obesity. Approximately 60 percent of all Americans are considered overweight or obese. Any type of organized sport is great because it gives structure, even the local recreational league. I’m referring to real sports where dexterity and exercise is required. Chess is not a sport. Neither is bowling, golf or auto racing. The real sports give you a goal to attain and you have to work hard for it like anything else. I see so many guys that had promise and was so active get so fat that it is ridiculous. The combination of getting older and less activity is not a good one. This is a trend that the U.S needs to address and reverse.
Most professional athletes have to deal with pressure. They are under the microscope in front of millions of people watching on television and thousands in the stands. Alex Rodriguez is the best baseball player I have ever seen play. He has played horribly bad in the last two post seasons for the N.Y Yankees. The pressure to do well is clearly getting to him. He has the most ability out of everyone in baseball and it still affects him. It shows that pressure can affect anyone at anytime. There are ways that you can erase or at least alleviate some of the pressure when competing in sports. 1.Breathe Deeply. Inhale slowly through your nose, drawing air deep into your lungs. 2. Muscle Relaxation. Contract a group of muscles tightly. Keep them tensed, for about five seconds and then release. 3. Visualization. Visualize success before it actually happens. Imagine you are hitting a perfect shot, hitting a homerun or catching a touchdown pass. Then on game day, you can recall your stored images to help calm nerves. Positive thoughts can go a long way. 4. Mindfulness. Try not to let negative thoughts creep into your consciousness. This is when the sport stops being fun and feels like a chore that you have to do. It is important to remember your love for the game. Don’t let anything take that away from you. Play ball and have fun!
Work Cited
www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/sports_pressure.html
Friday, August 3, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Good Old Days
By Pierre Narcisse
It’s a great time to be old in America. The San Antonio Spurs are the oldest team in the NBA and was overlooked for most of the season. They managed to avoid their nemesis, and heavy favorite Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks were shocked in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. The ancient Spurs were able to outlast a dynamic Denver Nuggets team led by superstars Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson in the first round of the playoffs. Then the Spurs really showed their poise and leadership against the Phoenix Suns in the second round. This series turned when Robert Horry of the Spurs collided with Steve Nash of the Suns. No one got up from the Spurs’ bench area and got suspended. The same could not be said for the Phoenix Suns. They lost Boris Diaw as well as their best big man Amare Stoudemire. As a result the Spurs went on to win the series and faced the upstart Utah Jazz, whom the Spurs would easily dismantle. They are now on the cusp of winning their fourth championship in nine seasons.
Old is also the way to go in baseball. Roger Clemens is being paid a record pro-rated salary of 28M this year to be the Yankees’ savior. He did not have to go to spring training. He missed two months of the regular season. Clemens does not have to go on road trips when he’s not pitching and can also go home to Houston when he wants to. Basically, Clemens is calling the shots at age 45. This is an age where most pitchers are long retired, but for Clemens it’s a record contract and a sweetheart deal.
It’s also a special year for Barry Bonds. He is on pace to be the all time homerun king this year. Bonds is a sullen, defiant 42 years old. Barry Bonds foray into baseball immortality is shrouded with the whole steroids mess. A once in a lifetime achievement is now a running joke. In fact, the very classy Henry Aaron who will soon be the ex homerun champ will not be there to “pass the torch” for when Bonds breaks his record. The homerun chase is now secondary. There’s an obsession for signs of cheating. The press, commentators and fans compare his physique from fifteen years ago to now. They look to see if his head is bigger than normal. Some even speculate about his testicles being smaller as a result of steroids. Some in the media will try to dig out this information, which is definitely crossing the line.
Don Imus makes his millions by crossing the line. I would listen to his show and think that he will someday get in trouble. Imus called the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy headed ho’s.” There is a tendency to make stupid remarks when one does not know what they are talking about. Imus does not know anything about sports despite working for an all sports station. I suspect he knows even less about African American women. His commenting on a women’s basketball game was a disaster waiting to happen. Imus tried to show contrition by appearing on the reverend Al Sharpton’s program. How does someone show remorse when one does not understand what they did in the first place? Let’s just say that the appearance on the show did not go smoothly. The thing that surprises me the most is that Imus is 65 years old and rich beyond belief. If anything his shows has become edgier as he grows older. It’s one thing if it’s some punk jock trying to get on the map. How does “nappy headed ho’s” become a part of a 65 year old man’s vocabulary? There were repercussions over the comments. Imus got fired from his simulated telecasts and has cost himself quite a bit of money. He has become the poster boy for racist, stupid, insensitive comments. It’s ok to try to be young and hip but certain things carry consequences whether you are young or old. It just looks more ridiculous when the person is old. The old saying happens to be true, “There is no fool quite like and old fool.”
Joey Crawford is an old fool. He is known for being one of the best referees in the NBA. He got suspended for the playoffs for challenging the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan to a fight after he saw Duncan laughing at him on the bench. Make no mistake, Duncan was clearly laughing at Crawford and showing him up. This is certainly not a classy thing that Duncan did. But challenge to a fight? Whatever happened to looking the other way and being a professional? Joey Crawford is 55 years old and should know better. Crawford obviously thought that the playoffs would be cancelled without him. It was great that basketball commissioner David Stern threw the book at him, and kicked him out of the playoffs. Referees should be held to the same if not higher standard than the players. In fact Crawford still has to meet with Stern to return to his post next year.
The sports world mirrors the issues of society. Everyone wants to be new, young and hold onto the past for as long as they can. Plastic surgery, viagra, cosmetics, performance drugs are just a few things that help older people feel and look younger. However there is a critical role to be played by the older generation. They must help out the younger generation with their wisdom and experience. This is not possible if they are obsessed with being younger. The old and especially the elderly are to be respected and revered by everyone. Old age should be something to look forward to not something to avoid at all costs.
It’s a great time to be old in America. The San Antonio Spurs are the oldest team in the NBA and was overlooked for most of the season. They managed to avoid their nemesis, and heavy favorite Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks were shocked in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. The ancient Spurs were able to outlast a dynamic Denver Nuggets team led by superstars Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson in the first round of the playoffs. Then the Spurs really showed their poise and leadership against the Phoenix Suns in the second round. This series turned when Robert Horry of the Spurs collided with Steve Nash of the Suns. No one got up from the Spurs’ bench area and got suspended. The same could not be said for the Phoenix Suns. They lost Boris Diaw as well as their best big man Amare Stoudemire. As a result the Spurs went on to win the series and faced the upstart Utah Jazz, whom the Spurs would easily dismantle. They are now on the cusp of winning their fourth championship in nine seasons.
Old is also the way to go in baseball. Roger Clemens is being paid a record pro-rated salary of 28M this year to be the Yankees’ savior. He did not have to go to spring training. He missed two months of the regular season. Clemens does not have to go on road trips when he’s not pitching and can also go home to Houston when he wants to. Basically, Clemens is calling the shots at age 45. This is an age where most pitchers are long retired, but for Clemens it’s a record contract and a sweetheart deal.
It’s also a special year for Barry Bonds. He is on pace to be the all time homerun king this year. Bonds is a sullen, defiant 42 years old. Barry Bonds foray into baseball immortality is shrouded with the whole steroids mess. A once in a lifetime achievement is now a running joke. In fact, the very classy Henry Aaron who will soon be the ex homerun champ will not be there to “pass the torch” for when Bonds breaks his record. The homerun chase is now secondary. There’s an obsession for signs of cheating. The press, commentators and fans compare his physique from fifteen years ago to now. They look to see if his head is bigger than normal. Some even speculate about his testicles being smaller as a result of steroids. Some in the media will try to dig out this information, which is definitely crossing the line.
Don Imus makes his millions by crossing the line. I would listen to his show and think that he will someday get in trouble. Imus called the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy headed ho’s.” There is a tendency to make stupid remarks when one does not know what they are talking about. Imus does not know anything about sports despite working for an all sports station. I suspect he knows even less about African American women. His commenting on a women’s basketball game was a disaster waiting to happen. Imus tried to show contrition by appearing on the reverend Al Sharpton’s program. How does someone show remorse when one does not understand what they did in the first place? Let’s just say that the appearance on the show did not go smoothly. The thing that surprises me the most is that Imus is 65 years old and rich beyond belief. If anything his shows has become edgier as he grows older. It’s one thing if it’s some punk jock trying to get on the map. How does “nappy headed ho’s” become a part of a 65 year old man’s vocabulary? There were repercussions over the comments. Imus got fired from his simulated telecasts and has cost himself quite a bit of money. He has become the poster boy for racist, stupid, insensitive comments. It’s ok to try to be young and hip but certain things carry consequences whether you are young or old. It just looks more ridiculous when the person is old. The old saying happens to be true, “There is no fool quite like and old fool.”
Joey Crawford is an old fool. He is known for being one of the best referees in the NBA. He got suspended for the playoffs for challenging the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan to a fight after he saw Duncan laughing at him on the bench. Make no mistake, Duncan was clearly laughing at Crawford and showing him up. This is certainly not a classy thing that Duncan did. But challenge to a fight? Whatever happened to looking the other way and being a professional? Joey Crawford is 55 years old and should know better. Crawford obviously thought that the playoffs would be cancelled without him. It was great that basketball commissioner David Stern threw the book at him, and kicked him out of the playoffs. Referees should be held to the same if not higher standard than the players. In fact Crawford still has to meet with Stern to return to his post next year.
The sports world mirrors the issues of society. Everyone wants to be new, young and hold onto the past for as long as they can. Plastic surgery, viagra, cosmetics, performance drugs are just a few things that help older people feel and look younger. However there is a critical role to be played by the older generation. They must help out the younger generation with their wisdom and experience. This is not possible if they are obsessed with being younger. The old and especially the elderly are to be respected and revered by everyone. Old age should be something to look forward to not something to avoid at all costs.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Law and Order of baseball
By Scott Moran
Major League Baseball has a lot of controversy around performance enhancing drugs these days. The actions that are performed off the field are issues that the league needs to address. On the other hand, it is the league umpires that enforce the rules of baseball on the field.
The umpires in MLB come in all shapes and sizes. Their attire changes with the weather. In the cold weather they wear jackets, and they wear light blue colored T-shirts in the warm weather. Some of them are very familiar since they been around the league a long time. Others are relatively fresh after working their way up through the minor leagues.
The journey to Major League Baseball is not easy for umpires. They typically start out at one of the Major League Umpire clinics in Florida or Arizona. If they are lucky they will receive an invitation to single A minor league baseball. Although they get paid in the minor leagues, the money is nothing close to breaking the bank. They make around six hundred dollars a week and are expected to pick up most of their own travel costs. A lot of them “gamble” a significant portion of their career to make it to the big leagues. Major League Baseball umpire observers could attend any of their games to monitor their performance.
Unlike other sports, such as football, where the game officials tend to be in shape and well qualified to keep up with the demands of a modern day professional athlete; most major league baseball umpires are difficult to mistake for athletes. . It is not uncommon for a professional umpire to tip the scales at over 300 lbs. With this appearance the managers, commentators and fans all question the credentials of these umpires.
In defense of umpires, the following statement should be made clear: umpiring is a much harder job than it looks. If you still do not believe this, then volunteer to work the plate at a local Little League baseball field in your area. If you could make it until the end of the game, you probably will have a greater respect for umpires at all levels. Calling a good game requires quick and accurate decision making and the ability to deal with pressure.
One of the most crucial and accurate calls perhaps in baseball history occurred in 1992. The game was between the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Atlanta Braves in game seven of the 1992 National League pennant. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Pirates were leading the Braves 3-2. The bases were loaded with Terry Pendleton on third and the rather slow Sid Bream on second. The Braves’ Francisco Cabrera was at the plate. He hit a single into the outfield that easily scored Pendleton to tie the game. A young Barry Bonds fields the ball while Bream was sent home for the winning run. Home plate umpire Randy Marsh stepped to the left to get the best possible position for a play at the plate. Bond’s throw home is off the mark by about 7 feet towards first base. Pirates’ catcher Mike LaValliere fields the ball and what happens next could be the closest call of the century. Bream hits the dirt and LaValliere dives back to home plate to tag Bream. Plate umpire Randy Marsh calls Bream safe by a few millimeters.
Examples like this represent the beauty of baseball umpires. We could hypothetically replay this event one hundred times. In each case, a neutral spectator can stand near home plate to make this call. With this call being so close, my guess would be that around 50 spectators would call him safe while the other 50 calls him out. All of the network video analysts confirm that Bream was safe. Perhaps Randy Marsh saw the entire play and correctly called Bream safe, or maybe the play was just too close for the naked eye and Marsh simply “guessed” safe. Either way the safe call was made correctly with the aid of video analysis.
Let’s assume that Major League Baseball had a replay system similar to the NFL. Bream would be called safe, and then out would come a challenge flag from the Pirates’ manager. The world would have to wait five to ten minutes before the correct call is confirmed. Although there would be some value in getting the call correct, it would take away the fun and the spirit of the game of baseball.
It would be a sad day if MLB baseball had some type of replay system. Although watching replays of Bream hit home plate before LaValliere’s tag is enjoyable, it never fully reproduces the emotions of watching the game live over television. I couldn’t even imagine how enjoyable it would have been to see that play live at Fulton County stadium in Atlanta.
Whether you fully detest professional umpires or you recognize them as a necessary evil, one undeniable truth is that umpires are and will always be a part of the game. It has often been said that a good umpire will blend into the game and go unnoticed by spectators and players. In my opinion, an outstanding umpire will be noticed and appreciated for calling an excellent game.
For more from this talented writer, click here.
Major League Baseball has a lot of controversy around performance enhancing drugs these days. The actions that are performed off the field are issues that the league needs to address. On the other hand, it is the league umpires that enforce the rules of baseball on the field.
The umpires in MLB come in all shapes and sizes. Their attire changes with the weather. In the cold weather they wear jackets, and they wear light blue colored T-shirts in the warm weather. Some of them are very familiar since they been around the league a long time. Others are relatively fresh after working their way up through the minor leagues.
The journey to Major League Baseball is not easy for umpires. They typically start out at one of the Major League Umpire clinics in Florida or Arizona. If they are lucky they will receive an invitation to single A minor league baseball. Although they get paid in the minor leagues, the money is nothing close to breaking the bank. They make around six hundred dollars a week and are expected to pick up most of their own travel costs. A lot of them “gamble” a significant portion of their career to make it to the big leagues. Major League Baseball umpire observers could attend any of their games to monitor their performance.
Unlike other sports, such as football, where the game officials tend to be in shape and well qualified to keep up with the demands of a modern day professional athlete; most major league baseball umpires are difficult to mistake for athletes. . It is not uncommon for a professional umpire to tip the scales at over 300 lbs. With this appearance the managers, commentators and fans all question the credentials of these umpires.
In defense of umpires, the following statement should be made clear: umpiring is a much harder job than it looks. If you still do not believe this, then volunteer to work the plate at a local Little League baseball field in your area. If you could make it until the end of the game, you probably will have a greater respect for umpires at all levels. Calling a good game requires quick and accurate decision making and the ability to deal with pressure.
One of the most crucial and accurate calls perhaps in baseball history occurred in 1992. The game was between the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Atlanta Braves in game seven of the 1992 National League pennant. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Pirates were leading the Braves 3-2. The bases were loaded with Terry Pendleton on third and the rather slow Sid Bream on second. The Braves’ Francisco Cabrera was at the plate. He hit a single into the outfield that easily scored Pendleton to tie the game. A young Barry Bonds fields the ball while Bream was sent home for the winning run. Home plate umpire Randy Marsh stepped to the left to get the best possible position for a play at the plate. Bond’s throw home is off the mark by about 7 feet towards first base. Pirates’ catcher Mike LaValliere fields the ball and what happens next could be the closest call of the century. Bream hits the dirt and LaValliere dives back to home plate to tag Bream. Plate umpire Randy Marsh calls Bream safe by a few millimeters.
Examples like this represent the beauty of baseball umpires. We could hypothetically replay this event one hundred times. In each case, a neutral spectator can stand near home plate to make this call. With this call being so close, my guess would be that around 50 spectators would call him safe while the other 50 calls him out. All of the network video analysts confirm that Bream was safe. Perhaps Randy Marsh saw the entire play and correctly called Bream safe, or maybe the play was just too close for the naked eye and Marsh simply “guessed” safe. Either way the safe call was made correctly with the aid of video analysis.
Let’s assume that Major League Baseball had a replay system similar to the NFL. Bream would be called safe, and then out would come a challenge flag from the Pirates’ manager. The world would have to wait five to ten minutes before the correct call is confirmed. Although there would be some value in getting the call correct, it would take away the fun and the spirit of the game of baseball.
It would be a sad day if MLB baseball had some type of replay system. Although watching replays of Bream hit home plate before LaValliere’s tag is enjoyable, it never fully reproduces the emotions of watching the game live over television. I couldn’t even imagine how enjoyable it would have been to see that play live at Fulton County stadium in Atlanta.
Whether you fully detest professional umpires or you recognize them as a necessary evil, one undeniable truth is that umpires are and will always be a part of the game. It has often been said that a good umpire will blend into the game and go unnoticed by spectators and players. In my opinion, an outstanding umpire will be noticed and appreciated for calling an excellent game.
For more from this talented writer, click here.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
The Sport of Kings
By Scott Moran
Now that it’s spring in the US, you may notice a few headlines about thoroughbred horseracing’s Triple Crown. To capture the Triple Crown, a three-year-old colt or filly must win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. For the mainstream sports fan, horseracing fans may seem like their minds are trapped in time from a few centuries ago. Although the “sport of kings” may bewilder millions of people in civilized society, horseracing’s Triple Crown has become a time-honored tradition over the last century.
Let’s take a few steps back in time (aren’t the horsemen already there?), to delve into the sport of horseracing. Long before the time of trains, planes, and automobiles; horses were the primary means of transportation for Europe and later on the United States. They pulled carriages for transportation in the cities; medieval knights stormed into battle with them and they were used for various agricultural purposes. The more horses owned equated to a higher status in society.
With owners having a lot of horsepower around and a sporting spirit, an owner would challenge another owner’s horse to a race for some cash. These “match races”(races with exactly two running horses) were the only races around in this time period. There were no racing stewards to monitor the contest for fairness and no formal way to claim foul. All disputes had to be settled between the two owners.
In the United States, the formation of the American Jockey Club in 1894 put some regulation into this emerging sport. The American Jockey Club, which followed the similar model established in England two hundred years earlier kept a registration of thoroughbreds so that records could be maintained. This spurred more interest in regulating the sport, and the creation of racetracks and racing organizations followed.
Fast forward to the year 2007, there is still a strong horseracing business in the United States. Although there are not as many tracks compared to thirty years ago, the expansion of full card simulcasting has filled this void. Betting handle (the total dollar amount of legal wagers) is at an all time high. That statistic does not track the amount of illegal wagering that takes place offshore.
Today, there is not a need to use horses for transportation or farming. Who actually owns the modern thoroughbreds at racetracks today? Although there still is a good amount of international royalty owing the extremely high-end horses, the “well off” individuals do not own all the horses stabled at racetracks today. Quite the opposite is growing in popularity. The formation of racing syndicates allows several everyday citizens to own a fraction of the thoroughbred. A group of individuals organize and pull money together to buy one or more horses. The horse is owned by a stable name that describes the owners’ identities.
One of the most famous racing partnerships is the Sackatoga stable. This stable started with a handful of high school buddies who pooled resources together and bought thoroughbreds. After going through several different types of horses, the stable hit the jackpot when they bought a yearling of Distorted Humor (sire) and Bella’s Good Cide (dam). A yearling named Funny Cide won over $3,000,000 throughout his career. The cost of the purchase was only $75,000.
If only every racing partnership had that much success. The cost of owning a thoroughbred in training is around $75 a day at the track. And that cost does not include vet bills and trips to the blacksmith for shoes or chiropractor. The average thoroughbred will earn around $24,000 in purse winnings. It clearly does not pay well to be average.
Why would anyone own a racehorse if the financials are stacked against you? Although every owner may have their own reasons, a lot of them will say it is the challenge involved in selecting a winning racehorse. Several owners consider this similar to owning a sports franchise, but on a much smaller scale. The owner has to hire a trainer (head coach), jockey (athlete), and racehorse (equine athlete). The owner has all of the power to hire and fire the jockey or trainer. The horses are subjective to trades at any moment. There is no trading deadline; a racehorse could change ownership via private purchase with a prospective buyer at any time.
Another unique aspect of horseracing is that you cannot buy the Kentucky Derby. It has been tried several times. A tremendous amount of money could be spent buying the best stock at the two year sales and still be left with a horse that cannot win at the cheapest track. Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, and Barboro all came from modest breeding, just to mention a few.
Capturing horseracing’s Triple Crown is a true test of a champion. It has only been done eleven times in the past. The last successful Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. The races are extremely competitive. Not only are the horses running for purses of over 1 million, just winning one of the three races could demand millions more in breeding value as a stallion. In the last ten years Silver Charm, Real Quite, Charismatic, War Emblem, Funny Cide, and Smarty Jones yesteryear today were able to win in the Derby and the Preakness, but failed in the Belmont.
In 2007, here is my list of the top five prospects to win the Kentucky Derby.
• Street Sense: Captured the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in a very impressive fashion. He certainly is a “horse for the course”.
• Ravel: This colt from the Fusaichi Pegasus breeding. This colt has a lot of upside to him. He should be the favorite for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
• No Biz like Shobiz: Everything was going perfect with him until the disappointing third place finish in the Fountain of Youth race in Florida. However, many consider him to be the early favorite in the Derby.
• Great Hunter: The one-and-a-half length victory in the Robert Lewis put him on the map. He’s expected to race in the Kentucky Blue Grass stakes.
• Any Given Saturday: From the same sire as Funny Cide, he is one of the several highlights for Todd Pletcher’s barn.
After spending more hours than I should at the racetrack, there is one fundamental of the game that applies to all levels of horseracing. That is uncertainty. Longshots will win a fair share of races and unfortunately, favorites will not always cross the line the first.
For more from this talented writer, click here.
Now that it’s spring in the US, you may notice a few headlines about thoroughbred horseracing’s Triple Crown. To capture the Triple Crown, a three-year-old colt or filly must win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. For the mainstream sports fan, horseracing fans may seem like their minds are trapped in time from a few centuries ago. Although the “sport of kings” may bewilder millions of people in civilized society, horseracing’s Triple Crown has become a time-honored tradition over the last century.
Let’s take a few steps back in time (aren’t the horsemen already there?), to delve into the sport of horseracing. Long before the time of trains, planes, and automobiles; horses were the primary means of transportation for Europe and later on the United States. They pulled carriages for transportation in the cities; medieval knights stormed into battle with them and they were used for various agricultural purposes. The more horses owned equated to a higher status in society.
With owners having a lot of horsepower around and a sporting spirit, an owner would challenge another owner’s horse to a race for some cash. These “match races”(races with exactly two running horses) were the only races around in this time period. There were no racing stewards to monitor the contest for fairness and no formal way to claim foul. All disputes had to be settled between the two owners.
In the United States, the formation of the American Jockey Club in 1894 put some regulation into this emerging sport. The American Jockey Club, which followed the similar model established in England two hundred years earlier kept a registration of thoroughbreds so that records could be maintained. This spurred more interest in regulating the sport, and the creation of racetracks and racing organizations followed.
Fast forward to the year 2007, there is still a strong horseracing business in the United States. Although there are not as many tracks compared to thirty years ago, the expansion of full card simulcasting has filled this void. Betting handle (the total dollar amount of legal wagers) is at an all time high. That statistic does not track the amount of illegal wagering that takes place offshore.
Today, there is not a need to use horses for transportation or farming. Who actually owns the modern thoroughbreds at racetracks today? Although there still is a good amount of international royalty owing the extremely high-end horses, the “well off” individuals do not own all the horses stabled at racetracks today. Quite the opposite is growing in popularity. The formation of racing syndicates allows several everyday citizens to own a fraction of the thoroughbred. A group of individuals organize and pull money together to buy one or more horses. The horse is owned by a stable name that describes the owners’ identities.
One of the most famous racing partnerships is the Sackatoga stable. This stable started with a handful of high school buddies who pooled resources together and bought thoroughbreds. After going through several different types of horses, the stable hit the jackpot when they bought a yearling of Distorted Humor (sire) and Bella’s Good Cide (dam). A yearling named Funny Cide won over $3,000,000 throughout his career. The cost of the purchase was only $75,000.
If only every racing partnership had that much success. The cost of owning a thoroughbred in training is around $75 a day at the track. And that cost does not include vet bills and trips to the blacksmith for shoes or chiropractor. The average thoroughbred will earn around $24,000 in purse winnings. It clearly does not pay well to be average.
Why would anyone own a racehorse if the financials are stacked against you? Although every owner may have their own reasons, a lot of them will say it is the challenge involved in selecting a winning racehorse. Several owners consider this similar to owning a sports franchise, but on a much smaller scale. The owner has to hire a trainer (head coach), jockey (athlete), and racehorse (equine athlete). The owner has all of the power to hire and fire the jockey or trainer. The horses are subjective to trades at any moment. There is no trading deadline; a racehorse could change ownership via private purchase with a prospective buyer at any time.
Another unique aspect of horseracing is that you cannot buy the Kentucky Derby. It has been tried several times. A tremendous amount of money could be spent buying the best stock at the two year sales and still be left with a horse that cannot win at the cheapest track. Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, and Barboro all came from modest breeding, just to mention a few.
Capturing horseracing’s Triple Crown is a true test of a champion. It has only been done eleven times in the past. The last successful Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. The races are extremely competitive. Not only are the horses running for purses of over 1 million, just winning one of the three races could demand millions more in breeding value as a stallion. In the last ten years Silver Charm, Real Quite, Charismatic, War Emblem, Funny Cide, and Smarty Jones yesteryear today were able to win in the Derby and the Preakness, but failed in the Belmont.
In 2007, here is my list of the top five prospects to win the Kentucky Derby.
• Street Sense: Captured the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in a very impressive fashion. He certainly is a “horse for the course”.
• Ravel: This colt from the Fusaichi Pegasus breeding. This colt has a lot of upside to him. He should be the favorite for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
• No Biz like Shobiz: Everything was going perfect with him until the disappointing third place finish in the Fountain of Youth race in Florida. However, many consider him to be the early favorite in the Derby.
• Great Hunter: The one-and-a-half length victory in the Robert Lewis put him on the map. He’s expected to race in the Kentucky Blue Grass stakes.
• Any Given Saturday: From the same sire as Funny Cide, he is one of the several highlights for Todd Pletcher’s barn.
After spending more hours than I should at the racetrack, there is one fundamental of the game that applies to all levels of horseracing. That is uncertainty. Longshots will win a fair share of races and unfortunately, favorites will not always cross the line the first.
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Thursday, March 22, 2007
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In the world of sports it seems as though there is an endless supply of things to talk about, and we hope that you find a moment to comment on some of the things you read here.
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Monday, March 5, 2007
Bring Back the Game
by Pierre Narcisse
Spring Training is underway. Another promising baseball season is on the horizon. It’s supposed to be a special season because of Barry Bonds’ quest at immortality. Bonds is only 21 homers shy of breaking Henry Aaron’s homerun record of 755. Baseball lives for these type of moments. Baseball was at a standstill when Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s hit record in 1986. Also when Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s iron man record of 2,130 consecutive games played in 1995. Those records are forever etched in my mind. Unfortunately Bonds’ feat is being overshadowed by the Balco scandal. All we hear about is the steroids. It must really stink to be a kid in today’s time. When I was a kid there was the occasional corked bat, spitter or scuffed baseball. Those things were bad enough but it never over shadowed the game itself. The things that are happening now are bigger than the game and it is scary. When I watch sports I only want to think about the game. I want to know about strategy, statistics and other factors concerning the game itself. There are too many distractions in today’s sports world.
To read the rest of this article in Hot Psychology Magazine, click here.
For more from this talented writer, click here.
Spring Training is underway. Another promising baseball season is on the horizon. It’s supposed to be a special season because of Barry Bonds’ quest at immortality. Bonds is only 21 homers shy of breaking Henry Aaron’s homerun record of 755. Baseball lives for these type of moments. Baseball was at a standstill when Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s hit record in 1986. Also when Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s iron man record of 2,130 consecutive games played in 1995. Those records are forever etched in my mind. Unfortunately Bonds’ feat is being overshadowed by the Balco scandal. All we hear about is the steroids. It must really stink to be a kid in today’s time. When I was a kid there was the occasional corked bat, spitter or scuffed baseball. Those things were bad enough but it never over shadowed the game itself. The things that are happening now are bigger than the game and it is scary. When I watch sports I only want to think about the game. I want to know about strategy, statistics and other factors concerning the game itself. There are too many distractions in today’s sports world.
To read the rest of this article in Hot Psychology Magazine, click here.
For more from this talented writer, click here.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Black History Month
By Pierre Narcisse
February is black history month. It is a time to reflect on all the contributions African American athletes have made in sports in the last century. There are too many greats to name them all. Some of the few that have truly revolutionized their sport include Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, Jesse Owens, Pele and Jackie Robinson.
For more from this talented writer, click here.
February is black history month. It is a time to reflect on all the contributions African American athletes have made in sports in the last century. There are too many greats to name them all. Some of the few that have truly revolutionized their sport include Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, Jesse Owens, Pele and Jackie Robinson.
These stellar athletes paved the way for some of the great things happening today. Serena Williams just won the Australian Open. Tiger Woods is still dominating the golf world. He recently won his seventh consecutive title on the PGA tour. Hockey just had the unprecedented event of having black goalkeepers opposing one another in a game. This happened when the NY Rangers’ Kevin Weekes opposed Ottawa Senators’ Ray Emery on 1/11/2007 at Madison Square Garden. Baseball is well represented with Ryan Howard, Derek Jeter and Vladimir Guerrero just to name a few. Lennox Lewis retired from boxing when he ran out of worthy opponents. Basketball have very note worthy stars such as Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Tim Duncan. Ladainian Tomlinson, Marvin Harrison and Steve Smith are electrifying the NFL. The encouraging thing is that none of these great athletes are jerks. They seem to be outstanding people. There is sometimes a lack of positive role models in the African American community. Particularly, for the kids that come from low-income families. The athletes that they watch on TV may be the only role models they have to look up to. It is important that these athletes conduct themselves with class and dignity, to ensure future generations do the same. It’s great that it appears that players such as Rasheed Wallace, Allen Iverson and Ron Artest are losing popularity.
For more from this talented writer, click here.
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