ACL Injuries

In every sport today, an injury of some sort is bound to happen. It is nearly inevitable, but some are much worse than others. An injury can go from a jammed finger, to a sprained ankle, to a torn ACL. With the way sports are played today, and with the tremendous stress put on athletes’ bodies, something is almost guaranteed to happen. For Derrick Rose, it happens too much. After recovering from 2 major knee surgeries in the past two seasons, the injury bug struck the former NBA MVP once again. 

But fortunately, this time, it is not as devastating. Rose has been bothered by lower body and leg injuries all season, but now he is thinking about more than this season. In a recent statement, he came out and told the media about his mentality. He admitted that he is worried, at times. He thinks about his life after basketball, and how his injuries will affect him. When he sits out, it is because he wants to rest his body to make sure he can help himself later in life. However, the moral of the story is not about Derrick Rose, it is about major knee injuries, such as an ACL, on athletes. It affects them in many, many ways. For example, it changes their mentality. They may become timid, or begin to play in fear of re-injuring themselves. Also, it shows that severe injuries can linger forever, and affect an athlete their entire life.

An injury like this can only make athletes wonder. They wonder if it is all worth it. Career ending injuries happen at every level, not just professional. For a youth athlete, is a torn knee worth it? Players push themselves to extreme limits, but does it even pay off? At times and athlete may put tremendous stress on their body in an attempt to gain a great physical advantage on their opponent. However, it will hurt them in the long run. A vast majority of athletes that train a great deal experience a lot of injuries, pain, and weakness at early ages after sports. For some, it is not worth it. 

This story has a much deeper meaning than Derrick Rose being hurt again. It conveys the tragedy of a major injury on an athlete, and it shows how it affects them in ways we usually do not think about. It is important because any athlete can suffer an injury like this. It is an epidemic in the sports world, and we need to learn how to stop and control it. This story is important to society because kids from all societies play sports. The amount of stress that athletes, even at a young age, put on their body is unbearable at times. They need to learn how to balance it properly to avoid injuries like these that will affect them forever. Personally, it is scary to me. Every athlete fears something like this. A friend just recently tore his ACL for the second time, and you instinctively wonder how it happened or what could have been done to prevent it.

De-rek Je-ter

No matter how you look at it, Derek Jeter will go down as one of, if not the best shortstops to ever play the game. Without a doubt, he is one of the most respected players to ever step foot on a major league field. It has been said countless times throughout his final season in the MLB that he is a perfect embodiment of what it looks like to be a professional on and off the field. It does not matter who you ask, almost everyone would say he is a true gentleman, and one of the best to play the game. He plays the game the right way, day in and day out. He's always the first one on the field, and the last one off, and it's been that way for 20 years. 

Every superstar is in the media almost every day, and something bad is bound to be said about them at some point, right? Wrong. When it comes to Jeter, he has never made headlines for a negative reason. Across the MLB, every player says he is someone they admire; his own competitors try to emulate his game and the way he goes about his business. You should not have to tell others how great you, because they'll tell you themselves, and that certainly happened with Jeter. Countless players, fans, coaches, and teammates gave their regards to Jeter throughout his final season. At every stop at every stadium, crowds welcomed him with warm ovations and teams with various gifts. That alone, says it all. 

 His accomplishments speak for themselves. He has five World Series rings to go along with 3,000 hits, 14 All-Star appearances, and the Yankee leader in several other categories. The man is a legend and will deservedly hold his place in Cooperstown amongst the best of the best.  Throughout his career, Jeter touched the lives of countless people, whether they are a regular person or an aspiring athlete. It is not necessarily his play itself that inspires people, it is the way he goes about his job. Young ball players from all over the world aspire to be like him. They look up to the way he plays the game, and try to model their game after him. After the 9/11 attacks, he not only rejuvenated the city of New York, but the entire country, just by playing his game and being himself. 

The Sox vs. Yankees will always be the greatest rivalry in sports, and even Red Sox fans hate to see the guy go. It's not until you are at Fenway Park during his last career at bat listening to the crowd (which was seemingly a vast majority Yankees fans) chant "De-rek Je-ter, De-rek Je-ter" that you realize his career is over. While he has sprinted out to take his position at shortstop at Yankee stadium for the last time, his legacy is certainly one that will have an everlasting affect on baseball forever.                 

In-Famous Jameis Winston

"Famous" Jameis Winston used to be known for his undeniable talent on the field. The freshman standout quarterback thrust himself into national headlines a year ago when he won the coveted Heisman Trophy. He had everything a 20 year old kid could want- fame, a Heisman Trophy, and a National Championship. It appeared as though he was super human, and could not do anything wrong. However, since the end of his unforgettable season, everything has changed tremendously for Winston. The positive attention has turned to negativity, and “Famous” Jameis has turned into “Infamous” Jameis. 

It seems as if he has not made headlines for anything favorable since Florida State capped off their undefeated season with a National Championship last January. Unfortunately for Winston, all he has done is hurt himself. As an athlete of his caliber, he has to know that whatever he does is being watched and scrutinized in every way possible. Recently, a plethora of off the field issues have surfaced once again after his newest issue. Last week, Winston was suspended for the Seminole’s game against the Clemson Tigers. He was seen foolishly yelling derogatory statements about women on the school campus, and was inevitably suspended. The act was a very selfish one by Jameis nonetheless, as it nearly cost his team a win over the Tigers and ultimately their National Championship hopes. However, the team narrowly pulled out the overtime victory. 

That is not the point, however. With his most recent issue, Winston is now seen as a player like Johnny Manziel; someone who only brings negative attention to his team. Likewise to Manziel, Winston is a role model to many people, and it is his duty to carry himself in such a way. Unfortunately, he has failed to do so in many circumstances. Although the college season just started, you would think that he has to have one eye turned towards the NFL Draft. Clearly, however, it is evident that he does not. Several NFL teams have come out and said that they have completely wiped Winston off of their draft board and will not take him, regardless of his talent. Of course young men in college make questionable decisions, but not like Winston. It is plain ignorance on his part to repeatedly do moronic things like he has done. Obviously he is well aware of the fact that he has NFL potential, so why would he screw that up? Personally, it is beyond me. He has all the potential in the world, and all he has done is ruin it. Lately, he has not done anything to better himself. Surely he will enter the NFL Draft soon, and he has given teams all the reasons in the world to pass on him. If I had the potential to be an NFL quarterback, surely I would do the opposite of what Jameis has been doing. 

 

The Baltimore Oriole's- 2014 World Series Champions?

For the first time since 1997 the Baltimore Orioles have clinched first place in the AL East. Yes, the Baltimore Orioles have indeed won the American League East, the most dominant division in baseball in the last five years. The Orioles are 42-23 in a division with the reigning World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and the power house New York Yankees. This is an unfamiliar sight for many, as it is only the second AL East championship for the O's since 1983, the last time the club won the World Series. It has not been since the likes of Cal Ripken and Roberto Alomar dawned the Oriole orange and black that they have won the division. Now, the likes of Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz hope to lead them back to the promise land.

While the lack of recent success may be ominous, the Oriole's are legitimate contenders for the crown. Even without Matt Wieters and Manny Machado, they are 6th in the MLB in runs, 8th in batting average, and 3rd in slugging percentage. In addition, while their pitching lacks stars, they are 7th in ERA and 10th in opponent batting average. The club is 14-5 in extra inning games and have won 30 one-run games. In addition, they are 32-13 since August 1st, and getting hot for the playoffs is crucial. They have been in first place for 103 days, and that number will only increase.

The Oriole's celebrate their AL East championship.

Now, could there finally be a handing of the torch in the powerful AL East? It is shaping up to be the first time in the Wild Card era that both the Red Sox AND the Yankees missed the playoffs. Two teams that are usually locks as World Series favorites will get no shot at the title, but the Baltimore Orioles will? The Yankees have only one 1 ring in the last 13 years, and the Red Sox find themselves rebuilding once again. With that being said, how could anybody not like the Oriole's? It is hard to count out them out. They are a group of guys who play the game the right way, day in and day out. There is never any negative attention in the media for the Oriole's (or hardly any attention at all, for that matter). They truly do not have a star or a lineup full of mutli-time all stars. A team so notorious for being the laughing stock of the American League now finds themselves in legitimate contention for a World Series championship. The Oriole's have stock piled their assets and are set for a deep October run, no matter what the critics say.