My Michael Bradley

Finally, a major sports outlet highlights my favorite player on the US National Soccer Team, Michael Bradley. It highlights the shadows Bradley has by being the coach's son and becoming his own person and player on the field while maintaining his inner menace. I find it fascinating how aggressive Bradley is off the field as well in terms of his attitude towards life. When asked why he rarely smiles, he simply replies "I smile when we win, after the game." Sounds like a very intense guy with some daddy issues. Kudos to the folks over at ESPN for showcasing a small part of the future of American Soccer and making me that much more excited for the start of upcoming World Cup in a couple of months!

My Baseball Nonsense

Someone please tell Buck Showalter he's insane. 'Baseball Tonight' completely indulged in his pet project of campaigning to realign major league baseball is rather ridiculous. Are the programming looking for material to put on air? Because there's plenty of material going on during this summer season.

Abandon the century old tradition of American and National leagues? Contracting BOTH Florida teams simply because they have spring training there? Putting the Yanks, Mets, Phillies, Rays and Red Sox in the same division? Are we really going back to the argument of rather of a DH should be used? I guess Buck just has a lot of time on his hands.

My 1958 Buffalo Bulls

Yes, I said the Bulls. 

ESPN's Outside The Lines usually showcases uplifting stories from sports history as a retrospective for the current generation of sports fanatics. While I use to think their niche is tiresome, I'll admit I've come around to adoring the '60 Minutes' of sports programming. In their latest installment, they tell the story of the 1958 Bulls from the University of Buffalo. 

I'll leave the elegant storytelling up to the experts, but the school declined their only invitation to a bowl game in 102 years because at the time the Orlando High School Athletic Association prohibited black players to be on the same field as white players. Since then, the University of Buffalo has not been invited to any bowl game because they haven't been eligible to play in one to the lack of wins needed to qualify.

Check out the rest of the top notch reporting over here. 

My Titletown

Another year, another pointless ESPN segment special. Two years ago, when the "50 States in 50 Days" project fell flat after week 2 (They showcased street basketball for the entire state of New York...), I wonder how long it would take before the creatives over at the uber-sports network decide to bring in another breezy summer special. And oh boy, if I thought the results for the "50 Days" were bad, their search for "Titletown, USA" ended even worse. Of all the cities and towns across this country, they've announced Valdosta, GA as their choice for the crown. Second place is not better with Parkersburg, WV. You'd have to scroll to #5 before seeing a city with more than one professional sports team.

Valdosta, GA!?! Really!?! I've been there.... nothing about that place screamed sports, and definitely not this so-called "titletown". Many said choices like Los Angeles, Boston and New York were too obvious... because obvious is apparently bad. ESPN dropped another ball here, I wonder what special they'll come up with next for small towns to feel better about themselves. (ESPN)