I wouldn’t go as far to say I’m short, but I’m really not tall either. Being 5’10”, I’ve never been shunned from doing something. I’ve never been told I can’t ride certain rides at the fair or that I have to eat at the kiddy table because the grown-ups need the big chairs. But if I were a trying to be an NFL quarterback, my height would matter. Actually, it would matter a lot. Ask former Wisconsin Badger now Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

Wilson, touted by many for his leadership intangibles, intelligence, and extremely hard work ethic, has been scrutinized more about his height than any other actual athletic attribute. Analysts like ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and a multitude of others say that yes, he does have great intangibles and a strong arm, but can he really see over NFL lineman? It’s a decent question considering how most offensive and defensive lineman are gargantuan in nature. But it begs the question of does Wilson’s height, or lack thereof, overshadow (bad pun, I know) the range of attractive attributes he has to offer. He’s got a strong arm, he picked up Wisconsin’s offense extremely quickly after transferring from North Carolina State, he was a former minor league baseball player, and he led Wisconsin to an 11 win season. Not to mention he threw 33 touchdowns to only four interceptions last year.

The point being that although Wilson is small – listed at 5’11” on nfldraftscout.com – should that doom him to a life of being no more than a back-up quarterback? I find it difficult to comprehend how Wilson is graded below other quarterback prospects that lack in other major categories, but overshadow Wilson because of their height. After all is said and done, I’m not saying Wilson is better than say Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, because clearly he is not. But I’d rather Wilson over guys like Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler, who were drafted far earlier – Tannehill drafted No. 8 overall, and Osweiler at No. 57 overall – based not on what they did, but on what they can become. And when it all comes down to it, Seattle didn’t use a first or second round pick to get their guy.

Texas Ranger’s outfielder Josh Hamilton is set up for a pretty big pay-day if he hits free-agency this summer. He’s probably not looking at getting Alex Rodriguez money ($275 million in 2007), but he’s going to get paid.

And this begs the question – should Hamilton even tempt himself to leave a situation he has thrived in, even if it is for more money? I don’t think he should, although I would love seeing him suit up for Seattle.

I know this is an aberration, and I fully expect Albert Pujols to hit out of this current funk, but look at what Pujols has done this year for the Angels. Pujols is currently hitting .198, has one homerun, and has only driven in 11 RBI’s through 32 games.

Pujols left a situation – St. Louis – that worked. He hit well, won two World Series titles, and consistently looked like one of the best professional baseball players of all time. Pujols left St. Louis for more money, although I doubt St. Louis’s offer was hardly bad.

Hamilton should take note of what CAN happen when you leave something that works for more money.

He is doing just fine in Texas now, hitting .406 with 14 homeruns and 36 RBI’s through 30 games with Texas this season.

Hamilton is someone who needs a strong support system given his history of substance-abuse. Texas is a good fit for him, and he has thrived.

Maybe athletes should look at why they played so well in specific situations. Maybe the player – in this case, Hamilton – is doing so well because of Texas and the team around him.

Not that he isn’t a great player, just saying the situation fits him really, really well, and I don’t think he should mess that up for money.

Western Washington University’s men’s lacrosse club saw its season come to an end in a semi-final loss to University of Portland on Saturday, May 5 at Curtis High School in Tacoma, Wash.

In overtime, Portland sank Western’s season 10-9, ending what was a record setting year for the Viking men. The lacrosse team finished the year with a record of 13 wins – which is a club record – and seven losses.

Freshman Jacob Goodman led the team with 40 goals, ranking him 23rd in goals scored for the season among other Division II players. Senior Colin Gaddy chipped in 38 goals of his own.

For Team President Chuck Goodman, losing to Portland wasn’t how he imagined sending out the seniors.

“The seniors are going to have to graduate with that bitter taste in their mouth,” Goodman said, “that is something I really regret, I really feel for the seniors to put four years of their heart and soul into this program and not wind up with a championship to show for it.” (4:20)

Goodman, although a senior, has one more year of eligibility and will have the opportunity to face Portland next season and avenge this bitter loss, he explained. (4:40)

Although the club still theoretically has a chance at an at-large bid – a birth into the national tournament without winning their conference tournament – Goodman doesn’t think it’s possible. (5:40)

“I don’t think we racked up enough out-of-conference wins to justify getting an at-large bid,” he said. “Is there a chance, maybe, but I think it is a very, very slim chance.” (5:50)

Nonetheless, the loss to Portland doesn’t take away from what was a record setting season, and with seven freshman, who are believed to all return, the future is bright for Western’s lacrosse club.

It’s probably not a surprise, but when the Seattle Seahawks drafted Bruce Irvin with the 15^th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, I was left scratching my head, and not because I had an itch.I thought to myself, “Damn, it’s another James Carpenter all over again.” I mean two years in a row the Seahawks drafted someone who had a second to third round grade, according to ESPN draft specialists Mel Kiper Jr. Not that I live and die by his draft knowledge, but saying he was shocked with this pick is certainly an understatement. So, trying to withhold my overly pessimistic reaction for just a moment, I did a little research on Irvin, and to my surprise, I didn’t just like what I saw, I loved what I saw.

Irvin looked like a freak. Although undersized, his athleticism jumped, and I mean 3-D like jumped, off my television. Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden called Irvin a, “one trick pony,” and he might be right, but what if Irvin does that one trick really, really well. Irvin, who was coming off the edge rushing the quarterback, looked like one of the most explosive athletes I had ever seen play in the defensive front seven. According to the aforementioned Kiper jr., Irvin used to play safety at junior college before he transferred to West Virginia University.  Add that to the fact that he ran a 4.4 second forty yard dash at the combine, and I like what I see.

Irvin may not be what the draft experts say is a “first rounder,” but the Seahawks clearly thought he wouldn’t last until the second round. Inevitably, though, if Pete Carroll and upper management picked him that high, it was for a reason, and we should trust that. And if you don’t, Irvin looks like one hell of an athlete with a high motor and a knack for hitting the quarterback, which from what I understand about football, is a good thing.

I have so much to thank you for. The experiences you have allowed me to have, the people I have come meet and the human beings I have learned to love are all because of you. I, like so many children in the United States, grew up and played baseball like you, except I did not have to fight the terrors of segregation and racism like you. I did not have to, because you did it for me. This may sound strange given I grew up as middle-class white male, but your actions, like you, crossed the color barrier.

I will not be someone who says “I do not see race,” because I do. I see race as a beautiful thing. I have come to understand so many of the beautiful characteristics that people of different races, ethnicities, and genders come to hold. It might be easy to say that your actions allowed African-Americans to play sports, but that is far too simplistic. Your presence is felt in so many more ways. Not just African-Americans, but everyone: Venezuelans, Dominicans, Cubans, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans even Italians; all of which have you to thank.

The vastness of professional athletics allows adults and children to idealize heroes’ who before you, may have never been. And with that, we as a society have become better. We are better because of what you did. We can now accept the beauty of difference and the beauty in other people.

Jackie, you have allowed me to grow up with the belief in people, and the belief that everyone has an intrinsic beauty. I will never know what you went through, the terrors you and your family fought, or how difficult it was to be the first, but I do know that my first t-ball coach was my mother.

My mother, who was a tremendous athlete in her own right, grew up in the age of Title IX and was allowed to participate in sports that without you, she may never have had the chance to do so. If she had not had the chance to play softball, I may never have of played baseball.

I look at sports today as a common ground; a place in which people of different ideals, beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences come together to celebrate one another. That is why I want so badly to become a sports journalist. I want to understand how a single sport – baseball or soccer or basketball – can unite people who come from such different walks of life.

Your actions, Jackie, united a whole generation and brought light to the better side of mankind. And with that, I owe you my eternal gratitude for allowing me to be a part of something better. For allowing me the opportunity to experience a life that instead of chastising people for their differences, we celebrate them.

Thank you for all you did Jackie.

Sincerely,

Alex Bigelow

Just another person you helped

Kentucky’s sensational freshman, Anthony Davis, failed to upstage what was the most dominating athletic performance throughout this year’s March Madness basketball tournament. That honor went to someone one ESPN collegiate basketball analysts compared to the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar –when he was still going by Lew Alcindor. I’m talking about Brittney Griner, the sensational junior center for the women’s national champion Baylor University.

Although women’s basketball fails to entertain me in the way men’s collegiate basketball does, Griner’s talent made her difficult to ignore. She was an absolute force. Whether it was blocking shots, rebounding, scoring – it didn’t matter. Her presence alone kept teams from driving and getting easy baskets. Just watching the opposing teams try to figure out how to get past her was almost more entertaining than watching Griner herself. It was like someone handed them a 64×64 arubix cube and told them to figure it out, and guess what, nobody did.

Griner and the Lady Bears went undefeated this season, posing a perfect 40-0 record. By winning 40 games, Griner and the Lady Bears had achieved a milestone that had never been achieved in either the men’s or women’s game, according to ESPN Stats & Statistics.  They were even able to achieve something that not even the famed and future top NFL draft pick, Robert Griffin III could do – bring a national championship to Baylor.

But then again, the spectacular season that was for Griner and Co. was largely dominated by headlines of the University of Kentucky and their respective Wooden Award winner, Anthony Davis. No disrespect to Davis, but Griner actually showed up in her national title game. Griner posted a line of 26 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks, while Davis contributed six points, 16 rebounds, and six blocks in each of their national title games. Also according to the same ESPN Stats & Statistics article cited earlier, throughout this year’s NCAA tournament, Griner altered 23 more shots than Davis, while also accounting for two more blocks.

Griner showed a dominance that I believe doesn’t exist in sports today. What I mean by that is: Griner is more dominating in her sport than any other single athlete is in their respective sport. Not Tom Brady, Lebron James, or even Kobe Bryant dominate their competition today like Griner did this season at Baylor, and she’s only 21 years old. This leads me to believe the most frightening aspect about Griner is at 6 foot 8 inches tall, she began to show at the end of their tournament run, a soft touch to go along with her explosive power. Her defensive game has always been above reproach. But, like most talented and dominating defensive powers in basketball’s history, her offensive game needed to mature. And from what I saw, it has.

Although I still believe that women’s basketball in large part is just a slower version of the men’s game, Griner and her play highlighted a profound flaw in the way I was viewing sports. I was seeing the forest instead the trees – and Griner is a big tree. I failed to respect what was true greatness because I didn’t have much of a taste for women’s basketball. I was being an ignorant fool, and Griner’s dominance was what it took to remind me how true greatness should be admired no matter the sport. Just because someone can enjoy watching sports doesn’t make it acceptable to ignore possibly one of the most dominant athletes in America today.

The NHL plays a best of seven game series. Once a team reaches four wins, they move on to the next round and the defeated team is eliminated. Game one started Thursday night for most teams, and Friday night wrapped up the first remaining. The higher seed games home ice advantage for the first game and game seven, should the series extend that far.

Western Conference

Kings (8) vs. Canuck (1)

Eighth seed Los Angeles Kings defeated the first seed Vancouver Canucks 4-2. Midway throughout the third period, Bryon Bitz received a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for boarding, thus getting ejected for the rest of the game. Willie Mitchell scored on the five-minute power play with a slap shot from the point, against his former team. The Canucks rebuttal three minutes later just before the period ended. The Kings were able to score two more in the third period, the last goal being an empty netter.

Highlights can be seen here

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hlg=20112012,3,151&lang=en

Sharks (7) vs. Blues (2)

Martin Havlat struck first for the Shark with a power play goal in the second period. The Blues counter with a goal 54 seconds into the third period. The game went into second over time, each period consisting of 20-minute periods, before a team was able to score. Havlat became the game hero for the Sharks with a slap shot three and a half minutes into the second over time period.

The highlights can be watched here

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hlg=20112012,3,161&lang=en

Blackhawks (6) vs. Coyotes (3)

Coyotes win in overtime with a score of 3-2. The Blackhawks had a total of 45 shots distributed over the four periods of play. The Coyotes’ more physical play helped them to push past the 2010 champions in the first game. Jonathan Toews score just 4 minutes into the first period after being out on injured reserve for a concussion. His last game before yesterdays was on Feb. 19.

Red Wings (5) vs. Predators (4)

Nashville Predators won in regulation, 3-2, with a goal scored in each period. The Detroit Red Wings couldn’t muster a come back, but did score their second goal late in the third. Seventeen minor penalties were served through the three periods of play. Nashville spent 20 minutes, equal to a full period, with a player in the penalty box.

Eastern Conference

Senators (8) vs. Rangers (1)

The Ottawa Senators couldn’t answer the New York Rangers four unanswered goals until half way through the third period. At that point, it was too late for the Senators. The game ended 4-2 in favor of the Rangers.

Capitals (7) vs. Bruins (2)

The Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins had a quite, close game one. Last year’s Stanley Cup champions didn’t score until a minute into overtime.

Devils (6) vs. Panthers (3)

New Jersey Devils struck early and often, with three goals in the first period. Florida Panthers scored two in the second but couldn’t swing the game their way. The Devils and Panthers played a physical game, logging 93 hits between both teams.

Flyers (5) vs. Penguins (4)

Sidney Crosby opened up the scoring for the fourth seed Pittsburgh Penguins. Penguins scored three times in the first period, only to have the Philadelphia Flyers rebuttal with four goals in the second and third period.

Living vicariously through my favorite professional athletes wasn’t exactly what I expected to be doing at the bright and lively age of 20, and yet this is what I find myself doing.

I play fantasy sports practically year round, and I like it. Actually, I love it. For someone who enjoys sports as much as I do, it’s another way for me to feel involved. Fantasy sports are however the guiltiest of my guilty pleasures.  I have always questioned whether or not participating in this medium of sports involvement was actually good for the sports themselves.

At first, I used to say that I would never participate in fantasy sports because at the time, I was pursuing – albeit naively – a career as a professional baseball player. The idea of picking and supporting professional athletes on the basis of them performing for my fantasy team was ludicrous. It seemed wrong in so many ways. I thought that if I participated in the debauchery that was fantasy sports, I would surrender my dignity and begin drifting further and further away from my dream of being a professional athlete. I wanted to remain a purist. I wanted to see the game the way it was supposed to be seen: the way Babe Ruth watched baseball or Wilt Chamberlin watched basketball. I used to root and support only the teams I loved like my hometown Mariners, or the loveable losers, the Texas Rangers.

Now, I have players on my fantasy baseball team that are from — and I hate saying this — the Yankees. I mean really? I hate everything the Yankees stands for, until I sold my soul and drafted Brett Gardner. Fantasy sports are forcing me to cast my ballot of support to just about every team in the MLB. I’m not a fan anymore, I’m a slut. I toss my fandom onto any team that has a player I have on my team. I should be branded with a scarlet A and cast away never to be heard from again, shouldn’t I? But then again, fantasy sports opened my eyes to a vast landscape of teams and athletes that existed beyond my realm of sports reality.

I have never been as intrigued and attentive to sports as I have been since I began participating in fantasy sports. I follow teams I never thought I might like the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors or the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs. I have learned more about sports than I had ever known before – the leagues, organizations, players, fans, all of it. I can even tell you every single starter from every single team in the NBA, and probably the first guy off the bench too. Fantasy sports helped me realize how parochial I was being when looking at sports and all that existed.

I always said that I held out doing fantasy sports because I feared it might steal from me the pureness of being a “true” sports fan. And now, I don’t believe I have ever been more a fan. Although I believe that such things as being upset at an athlete because he gets hurt and therefore is not producing is wrong on so many levels, I still believe the good outweighs the bad. Since fantasy sports have arrived, institutions such as the NFL and NBA have never seen greater support. I’m not explicitly saying that is only because fantasy sports, but it would be pig-headed to say it doesn’t factor in.

Looking at fantasy sports as a way for washed-up and non-talented sports fans to live vicariously through their favorite professional athletes is wrong. Even if some of this may be true, what’s so wrong with that? I enjoy feeling closer to the players and sports I love. I love having a reason to check box scores and read game recaps every night. I may never be a professional athlete, which is fine, because now I have a fantasy championship and eternal glory at stake.

When the sun begins to peep itself out behind the cloudy winter, a disposition begins to take shape in the form of optimism and joy. For me, it’ just the universe ringing it’s metaphorical alarm reminding me that the baseball season has begun and I have 162 games to look forward to, much to the chagrin of my girlfriend.

But being the fan that I am, I still hold a true home town bias and root for the Seattle Mariners whenever possible. As true as that may be, I’m still going to relish watching the Detroit Tigers lay waist while simultaneously hoping the Yankees suddenly collapse into a history reminiscent to that of the Chicago Cubs, Bartman’s and Billy goats included.  But a majority of my non-studying for mid-terms time, minus suffering through another Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss marathon, is going to be enjoying (sarcasm) the Seattle Mariners.

I say that hesitantly given how optimism always runs a bit rampant when teams have yet to play five full games and fans can still boast how their team is on pace to go 162-0. For the Mariners, while watching their REAL opening day, I saw some pretty neat things.

I see the young, albeit scruffy, face of Dustin Ackley followed closely by Kyle Seager, who doesn’t look a day over 12. Trotting out aside them is first baseman, Justin Smoak, and his mouth full chewing tobacco. Jason Vargas made towards the mound with Brendan Ryan, Chone Figgins, Ichiro, Miguel Olivo and Michael Saunders rounding out the players in the field, with Jesus Montero hitting DH.

This line-up, aside from Chone Figgins and Miguel Olive thing still going on, has me feeling a strange and foreign belief similar to that of optimism. I’m not crazy, I promise. I know we’re not going to contend for the World Series or to a lesser extent, our divisional crown or wild card position, but hell, I like these guys. They’re fun.

What’s not to love about Dustin Ackley, aside for the fact that I find a bit strange my mom has a huge crush on him. He has the body of an accountant – which is probably what she likes him so much, given that she too is an accountant – with the skill of a seasoned pro. His demeanor from day one has been the epitome of cool, calm, and collected.  Nobody could ever tell that he was a highly sought-after No. 2 overall pick because he looks more likely to get a beer with you than eat caviar and dine at the Ritz. He won’t WOW anyone with his speed and power, although both are deceptively good, but I think he will consistently contend for a league batting title as his career progresses. Justin Smoak, however, will go much further in deciding the Mariners future as an organization than Ackley will.

Look at any one team that has won a World Series in the past years. Each has had a guy in the middle that can drive people in and knock one when need be. Clearly, the Mariners have been missing that as they posted record lows in offensive output the last few seasons making Smoak ever more important. He has to be “that guy” for the Mariners if they ever want to do well. He has all the talent in the world – aside from his propensity to look mentally weak – to not only be a high RBI and home run guy, but he looks as though he can hit for average as well. He is a commodity in all forms: a switch hitting first baseman that stands with a stature most of us below 6-footers dream of and yet, he hasn’t been able to put it together. But he will… I hope. I have to hope, because I think much of the pressure falls squarely on his shoulders.

Smoak and Ackley are the offensive cornerstone of the Seattle Mariners franchise. If they don’t play well, Felix will continue to lose 2-0 games to the Oakland A’s and inevitably end up like most talented players on crappy teams end up – a Yankee. And nobody wants to see that, do we? Baseball is clearly a team sport, which I realize, but the Mariners need talent from within the organization to begin to play well, since I doubt any free-agents will ever, “Bring their talents to the Rainy Northwest,” if you dig what I’m pouring down.

But at this particular moment, I’m excited and happy to see these young tikes run out the field with the Mariners logo emblazoned on their chests. And hey, what’s the worst thing that could happen? We continue to lose and Chone Figgins gets released? There are worse things in life, ask any Saints fan, they’ll tell you.