USA Hockey In Defeat

The United States Olympic hockey team started out strong in the games at Sochi, Russia, however that was all changed by a disappointing performance against Canada. With their hopes of gold lost, the hockey team did still have a shot at a medal in the bronze medal game. Unfortunately, Finland wanted it more, and thrashed the United States 5 - 0. According to an article on USA Today,the game changer was when, "Teemu Selanne and Jussi Jokinen scored 11 seconds apart in the second period to give the always-defensive-minded Finns all of the scoring they needed. Both goals occurred with USA's top defensive pair of Ryan Suter and Ryan McDonagh on the ice." These events built up a lot of frustration for the Americans, and seemed to put the game away in Finland's favor. The game was obviously very disappointing for the Americans, and left them without a medal in the games. Perhaps this would count as revenge for Finland, as they lost 6 - 1 to the United States during the semi-finals of the 2010 winter Olympics. Without a medal for men's hockey, the United States finished at Sochi with 28 total medals, 9 of them gold.

Aaron Hernandez was a kid from Bristol, who excelled at athletics, but also crime. Hernandez' father, Dennis, also had been known for a life of crime, and violence during his upbringing in the seventies, and eighties. After Aaron was born however, he made sure to keep him on a straight path. He had steady work, and no more drugs, or problems with the law. That all changed in Aaron's sophomore year of high school, as his father had died. This meant that the father figure keeping his son from a life of crime, was no longer there, and Aaron turned to recreational drugs, and kept to himself. Before long, he had new "gangster" friends, and even worse, his mother had remarried to an abusive drug dealer. Aaron was deeply hurt by the fact that his mother was being abused by her new husband. Despite all of the trouble he had endured, Hernandez still had a scholarship to the University of Connecticut, however he was persuaded to instead attend Florida, and join the likes of Tim Tebow, en route to a national championship. Tebow would become the teams leading catcher, and became one of the best tight ends in the game. However, his childhood problems had also followed him all the way from Bristol. He had been getting into drugs, and violence, as he took part in a bar altercation in which he shattered a waiters eardrum (he was under-age at the time). Ernest Wallace, a gangster friend,  had also followed him to Florida, as he became Hernandez' muscle. Instances such as these, as well as considerable suspensions, had raised red flags, and caused his first round draft stock to plummet. However these issues were greatly outweighed by his overwhelming amount of talent, ad were not enough to stop the great Bill Bellichick from drafting him. You could blame his collage coaches for not doing enough to stop his life of crime, but the real blame should lie with his childhood friends, who as it seems, have turned Hernandez into a full fledged gangster. He should have received bigger suspensions, and possibly arrests to show him that just because he was a talented athlete, he is not above the law.

Super Bowl XLVIII Predictions

On February 2nd, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Denver Broncos will play for the Lombardi Trophy at MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Seahawks, with the number 1 defense, are playing the number 1 offense of Denver. Led by Peyton Manning, the Broncos will have a total of three touchdowns, and a field goal. I think that Welker will have 1 touchdown, and Eric Decker will have two. Demaryius Thomas will have a mediocre night, as he goes up against Seattle's Richard Sherman. Denver's running backs will probably have over 150 yards because Seattle will be more focused on all the weapons at receiver than the running game.

Seattle will have a total of three touchdowns. I think that Golden Tate will have their only receiving touchdown, and Marshawn Lynch will have 183 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. Two of their touchdowns will be caused by turnovers forced by the defense, including a pick from Richard Sherman, and a fumble recovery by Michael Bennett. Russell Wilson will have 40 rushing yards, and one passing touchdown. Percy Harvin will continue to be uninfluential after he gets injured by Denvers defense. Wes Welker will have a decent night, but on Denver's final drive, he will drop an easy pass on third down, and force Denver to punt. this will be enough for Russell Wilson, and Seattles offense to get to field goal range, allowing Steven Hauschka to get his second field goal of the night, winning the game with 10 seconds left. The final score will be 24-27 Seattle

Illiterate Athletes In The NCAA?

     According to an article by CNN, many student-athletes at universities such as North Carolina, Clemson, and Ohio State, have a reading and writing level equal to that of an elementary student. NCAA sports programs make millions of dollars, so it is understandable that a students athletic ability can earn them a scholarship. However, if someone cannot read or write, than they should not be going to some of the most academically challenging schools in the nation. It will not do the athlete any good for their future, if they go to a college, and their poor level of literacy bars them from actually doing work. To pass their classes, these students more than likely have to resort to cheating on their work, and exams. While it is unfortunate, it is not fair to students who actually deserve to be there.