MLB Labor Lessons in 'Ball Four'

In the current day of free agency, eye-popping contract terms and super agents like Scott Boras, it's hard -- and for some of us, not possible -- to recall a point in time where these things didn't exist. It's even harder to recall a time when the major league minimum salary was in the four figures and the reserve clause was still holding players hostage.

What do you think it was like to be a player back in those times?

Jim Bouton's Ball Four illustrates exactly what it was like. And so much more.

The Next Big Industry?

Fantasy sports is something many people play and enjoy. Some play for fun and some play for money. People always seem to say they lose interest in fantasy baseball because the season is too long so they forget they even have a team. The same can apply to fantasy basketball and hockey. The season long commitment is one of the negatives people always talk about in fantasy sports.

Sport for Thought: #23

When LeBron James left his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 for the Miami Heat, he decided  to exchange his #23 for #6. He said the number 23 should be retired throughout the NBA to give respect to arguably the greatest basketball player that has ever stepped foot onto a basketball court.

Full 90: Plans for new U.S. Soccer National Training Center revealed

U.S. Soccer has arrived. Here’s how I know:

Outside the Octagon: Bellator's Business Strategy

In my column, I usually write about the UFC, but this week I wanted to change it up and talk about one of the UFC’s rival organizations Bellator.  Bellator is a much smaller organization and doesn’t have the same star power as UFC.  A lot of times, when Bellator’s best fighters’ contracts are up the UFC will sign them.  Recently, Bellator has been signing a lot of former UFC athletes.  Personally, I do not believe this is the best business strategy.

Guard the Post: The real star of the night

 

 

On Wednesday July 16th, 2014, all of the biggest stars hit the red carpet in Los Angeles for the 2014 ESPY Awards. Kevin Durant, Floyd 'Money' Mayweather, the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs, Maria Sharapova, just to name a few. Some of these people are the biggest, most wealthy, and most talented human beings on the planet, but few were shining brighter than Stuart Scott.

Massive World Cup ratings and lessons for Fox

The 2014 World Cup featured brilliant play on the pitch, culminating in Germany's 1-0 extra time victory over Lionel Messi and Argentina in the final. The Germany-Argentina final also drew a massive viewing crowd on television, garnering 26.5 million viewers between ABC and Univision, the World Cup's Spanish-language broadcaster. For comparison, the Heat-Spurs NBA finals averaged 15.5 million viewers.

What do the ratings mean for the World Cup moving forward?

Hometown Delivery: LeBron James

Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven….only two. As most of you know LeBron James is going back home to start the next (and final?) chapter of his career. In his four years in Miami he reached the NBA Finals four years straight but only won two. Is this considered a failure? There are some who say it was but some who argue winning two titles is still a heck of an achievement. In his first year in Miami, the Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in five games. I still believe losing that series, made him take a hit on his reputation. They were the heavy favorites against Dallas and they lost in five games. What a disappointment to start the “Big Three” era off. The next two years is what was expected of the Miami Heat, winning two straight titles defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. This past year, the Miami Heat were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs in five games. The Spurs were the better team but the Heat had the best player. It is unfair to blame LeBron for this loss but being the best player on the planet, he will take a lot of the heat.

Sport for Thought: What exactly Tanaka's injury means...

Another day of baseball has past, and yet another MLB pitcher receives the news of an unfortunate and dreaded elbow injury. However, in the case of Masahiro Tanaka (the brand new $155 million Yankees acquisition and ace of the staff), is hoping to avoid the unavoidable...the now infamous Tommy John surgery. This season has been plagued with pitching injuries, but this instance has to be the most crucial. No team has more invested (money and on-field success) in a pitcher than the Yankees do with Japanese superstar Tanaka.

Full 90: America's Dream Deferred?

Has the soccer arrived in the United States? No. Has the World Cup arrived in the United States? Maybe. Has the United States Men’s National Team arrived in the United States? Yes.

Philadelphia Soul Cornhole Tournament: Sunday, July 20th

Below is information on an awesome event happening at the July 20th, Philadelphia Soul game! Contact our member, Travis Sheehan, at 609-707-5409 or email him at tsheehan@philadelphiasoul.com to purchase tickets!

Outside the Octagon: What's Next for Ronda Rousey?

Ronda Rousey defended her belt on Saturday in a dominating sixteen second victory over Alexis Davis.  She improved to 10-0 with all of her wins coming by either submission or KO.  Rousey is slowly becoming the new face of the UFC.  So what does the future hold for Rousey? 

On Deck: The Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein

Sports are cyclical, I'm sure you have heard from someone at some point.  Sometimes the cycle lasts over 100 years, sorry Cubs fans.  However, there are some teams that seem like they are never out of the hunt year in and year out.  The St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees might be the best examples of this, each with their own formula success that allows them to play October baseball more times than not.  Their cycle for winning is much smaller, plain and simple, their formula for success is successful.  Without a successful formula the cycle becomes much, much longer, and then it becomes a drought.  While the results aren't there playing on Wrigley Field 81 times a year yet, I'm here to tell you disgruntled, impatient Cubs fans that your cycle is almost over and there is a formula in place to point towards, be proud about and root for.

MLB Tradeline: Who is on the Move?

Leading up to the MLB All Star Break, all the general managers start saving their minutes, as their phones will be ringing nonstop until the July 31st trade deadline at 4 PM. Blockbuster trades are what some fans and analysts crave every time this date rolls around, and some players are just happy to move onto a contending team. Some greats that have been part of major trades are Sammy Sosa, Ricky Henderson, Miguel Cabrera, and of course. Babe Ruth. Here are some players that I believe will be packing their bags for somewhere new in 2014.

Year of the Freshman

Another year another NBA Draft.  This year was considered one of the strongest and deepest draft classes since 2003 when LeBron, Melo, Bosh, Wade, and company were selected and given mega-million dollar contracts.  Eleven years later, the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid will each get their time to shine in the spotlight.  Nobody will know for sure how good this draft class is until several years down the road when each gets professional playing experience in the NBA.  But how can we say that this class will make a major impact right away when each of the top ten picks are twenty years old or younger?  Seven of the top ten picks were freshman!  (Dante Exum is eighteen years old and the equivalent to a freshman.)

Guard the Post: State of a Questionably Named Franchise

I was reading ESPN.com a few days ago, a section I traditionally avoid called "NFL Nation", and a writer asked a very interesting question. Kevin Seifert asked, "Why would a capitalist such as Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder oppose changing his team's name when he could make a ton of money from merchandise sales adorned with the new brand?"

Fair question, Mr. Seifert.

State of the Student Union: Another Year in the Books

Well, we made it. Hopefully we got a little smarter, saw a little more of the world and pushed ourselves a little bit further in the past year. If not, well then that's OK too. There's always next year.

In the fast pace of Drexel University, there isn't always time to look back. Let's take a second to look back at the 2013-14 year, and maybe another second to look ahead to -- gulp -- 2014-15. Yea, so basically just give me two quick seconds.

Sixer Fans, Patience is a Virtue

With the third pick in the 2014 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select….Joel Embiid. Another injured player Sixer fans are thinking. Before Joel Embiid broke his foot, he was almost a lock to be the number one overall pick leaving the Sixers with either Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins. Sixer fans are no stranger to having to wait for a top ten pick to be healthy. Last year it was Nerlens Noel being the number six pick sitting out the whole year but they had Michael Carter-Williams as well. This year, they have a bunch of second round picks instead.  It is reported that Embiid will be out five to eight months but no one will be surprised if he sits out the entire season.