Author: kassienette

The Jonathan Martin Wake-Up Call

On By kassienetteIn Controversy, Football, NFL, SportsLeave a comment

I am going to keep this real short and simple.

Jonathan Martin of the Miami Dolphins has EVERY RIGHT to feel the way he does about the way he has been treated. I know football is a violent sport. I know football is a lot of times more of a metal game than it is physical. I know to play football you have to be “tough.” However, just because a person plays football does not mean that person has to tolerate to a culture of vulgarity, lewdness and racism . If all the allegations that are coming out of the Dolphins camp is true then someone has some explaining to do. No one, absolutely not one, should have to work in an environment that is hostile, hateful and demeaning. Football or not. If that is what you are cool with, so be it. I will definitely be looking at you strange. If that is NOT what you are cool with, then you have every right to whistleblow.

From what I know of Martin’s background, he was raised in a two parent household, both of whom graduated from Harvard. Martin had the opportunity to go to Harvard but passed on the chance so he could play football at Stanford. He was the guy who protected Indianapolis Colts’ QB, Andrew Luck’s blindside. My mother made a very thought provoking statement last night as we discussed this matter. She eloquently stated that “how are we suppose to teach kids that bullying is not ok when there are grown people out here who feel it is ok?” Great question Ma. You do not want to call it bullying? What would you call it then? And do not give me that “He is a grown man. He is too old to be bullied,” mess. We are all different. What may bother me may not bother the next person and vice versa.

This just reeks of “grown men” who are so insecure of themselves that they have to belittle someone in order have a sense of power. I believe Martin was right in walking away from the team. His state of mind, well being and sanity obviously were not high on the Dolphins priority list. I refuse to believe the front office did not know what was going on. It is not a cowardly act. It is an act of someone who understands their worth and would rather hold on to their dignity rather than lower their standards to please others. It takes a STRONG man to go up against an NFL team. Well done Jonathan Martin.

Until next time….TOODELLS.

Destiny Fulfilled. Boston Strong.

On By kassienetteIn Baseball, Heroes, MLB, SportsLeave a comment
{Source: Google Images}
{Source: Google Images}

 

95 years ago, thousand and thousands of Boston’s loudest, boisterous and proudest fans packed in to famed Fenway Park to cheer their beloved Boston Red Sox on to a World Series victory. 95 years later, the faces have changed but thousand and thousands of fans that are packed into Fenway are just as loud, boisterous and proud as their ancestors.

The road to the World Series title was about as smooth as a Nestle Crunch.  In August of last year, the Red Sox unloaded their roster and sent Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  When the season ended, the Red Sox were in last place. Expectations coming into this season were high but not many were putting their chips on the Sox being the ones standing at the end.

{Source: The Boston Globe}
{Source: The Boston Globe}

 

And then it happened. April 15. The City of Boston was rocked to its core by two bombs at an event that is the crem de la crem of distance running, the Boston Marathon. The world watched, grief stricken, as chaos ensued. The world watched as people ran away from the point of attack with tears streaming down their faces. The world watched not fully knowing what had just happened and who was responsible.

 

 

Five days later, while the world was still sorting through details, the Red Sox made a statement and it was a big, bold statement that came in the form of David “Big Papi” Ortiz. During a pregame celebration, Ortiz declared that “This is our ******* city. And nobody is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.” And from the infield that day rose a moniker that has been synonymous with all things good in Boston this year, BostonStrong. The Boston Bruins rode the momentum into the Stanley Cup final. The New England Patriots have rode the momentum to a 6-2 record, despite many of their starters being on the bench with season ending injuries. And of course, the Red Sox rode the momentum all the way to a World Series clinching victory. At home. At Fenway Park.

The Red Sox did it together. They did it as a family. They did it for Boston. And as the celebration began last night, dozens of fans raced up Boylston Street in Boston to celebrate at the placed that was robbed of its celebration in April, the Boston Marathon finish line. Last night in Boston and for weeks, months and years to come, it will be about more than just a World Series. It is about more than a ring. It is about more than 95 years. It is about a city that rose from the ashes in the midst of adversity. A city that refused to be defeated. A city that refused to be weakened by the cowardly act of others. It is about Destiny Fulfilled. The BostonStrong way.

 

Until next time…TOODELLS.

 

{Source: The Boston Globe}
{Source: The Boston Globe}

 

{Source: The Boston Globe}
{Source: The Boston Globe}

 

SoxCelebration2

The Mecca of Sports…Boston??

On By kassienetteIn Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, MLB, NBA, NFL, SportsLeave a comment

So on the real, I think we have all been sleeping on the greatness of Boston sports in the past decade. This region has been dominating all over the professional map. Did you realize that since 2004, the New England Patriots have won the Superbowl, the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup(2011), the Boston Celtics have won the NBA Championship(2008) and the Boston Red Sox have won the Word Series twice(2004 & 2007) and can clinch their third in 10 years tonight??!! Crazyyyyyyyyy. Boston is one of those cities that seems to be real laid back. That is just me judging from afar since I have never been. It does not get the shine that cities like LA, New York, Atlanta and Miami do. It is not a flashy town but I do love, love, loooooove the city for giving me New Edition and New Kids on the Block. Oh and Mark Wahlberg. I cannot forget about Marky Mark. Let the Sox get this ring, you can betcha by golly wow that I will be getting me a Boston Strong shirt.

 

Until next time…TOODELLS.

What’s happenin??

On By kassienetteIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Hey kiddos!! Didja miss me?? Alright, lets catch up on the happenings. Gonna stray away from my normal NFL ReKap.

I know I have been slipping on my coverage of the World Series but please tell me ya’ll have been watching. Thanks to another monster pitching performance by Jon Lester, the Boston Red Sox are now just one win away from clinching their third World Series championship in 10 years. If that does not interest you, then you should at least watch to see the dominance that is David Ortiz better known as Big Papi. This guy has been UNREAL in this series. If I recall correctly, he is 11 for 15 is batting over .750. Every time he steps to the plate, Kodak moment. Game 6 is Wednesday night in Boston. The Sox have a chance to clinch their eighth title in legendary Fenway Park for the first time since 1918. I guess you can tell who I am pulling for. #BostonStrong

Sooooo Dez Bryant snapped huh? I probably would have snapped too if I played for Dallas. They stay melting down. Ok. Ok. Let me focus. For real, I did not have a major problem with Bryant’s temper tantrum. Football is a heated sport and most players are very passionate about the game. Sideline tantrums are nothing new. Now Bryant probably does not have the clout yet to be outbursting…too much, too soon?? That slamming down of the Gatorade cups and pounding his fists on the table…definitely too much. Is this the beginning of their yearly episode of self destruction?? We shall see.

Man. Ya’ll just refuse to give the Kansas City Chiefs any props. Only undefeated team left and they are constantly left out of the top three in power rankings. They gets no respect. Probably because they are the Kansas City Chiefs. Carry on.

Forgot to tell ya’ll hockey is back! Happy. Happy. Joy. Joy. Go Canes!!!

The NBA season starts tonight. Oh joy.

Oregon took over the #2 spot in the BCS. Dropping FSU down to #3. Alabama remains #1. If all three remain undefeated, this is going to be one year the powers that be wishes they had the playoff system in place. Ah. Next year.

You know I do not comment often on the NFL and all the changes it has endured the past few years. However, while watching the Seattle/St. Louis game I got a little annoyed. Seattle’s Russell Wilson laid a nice dime in the hands of Golden Tate, while he had a DB draped all over him. Tate made a phenomenal play and in the process blew by the safety help as he trotted into the endzone. On his way to the endzone, Tate waved bye to the defense which resulted in unsportmanslike penalty.  Ugh. Really? For waving? That is the one thing I really wish the NFL would ease up on. Let guys celebrate. It is a competitive sport. If your thing is scoring and handing the ball to the ref then great. If your thing is scoring and cabbage patching after you do then great. Neither should be frowned upon. No one is getting hurt. Geez Louise. They better be glad I do not play. I would do the worm all the way to the endzone :-}.

Until next time…TOODELLS.

Irsay what???

On By kassienetteIn Controversy, NFL, SportsLeave a comment

Without a doubt, the most anticipated football matchup this week is the Denver Broncos vs. the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning vs. his old team. Peyton Manning vs. his “replacement” Andrew Luck.

As if this matchup was not already hyped up enough, Colts owner Jim Irsay decided to add fuel & kerosene to an already smoking fire this week by making one of the most ridiculous statements I have heard in a while…..”(Tom) Brady never had consistent numbers, but he has three of these (championship rings,” Irsay told USA Today. “Pittsburgh had two, the Giants had two, Baltimore had two and we had one. That leaves you frustrated. You make the playoffs 11 times, and you’re out in the first round seven out of 11 times. You love to have the Star Wars numbers from Peyton and Marvin (Harrison) and Reggie (Wayne). Mostly, you love this (referring to his Super Bowl ring).

Hol lup, did he REALLY just say that? Now most of you already know how I am when it comes to #18. Rarely do I have to defend him because no one ever has anything really bad to say about him. The only knock on him has been that in the postseason he has “choked” many times. That, in my opinion, is just that, an opinion. Yes, there were times where something #18 did cost them a chance to score. There were times when he did not put up the numbers that we were used to seeing. There were times where he just simply had bad games. Hey, it happens. He is human. Remind me again how many rings Dan Marino won?

We all know this one fact: no one has done more for the Indianapolis Colts franchise than Peyton Manning. And he deserves more respect than what he is getting right now from his former boss. To me, Irsay sounds bitter. Sounds like he is not confident in his decision to release #18. I honestly do not blame him for not being confident. Unless you have been up under a rock, you know that #18 is having his best season ever. That says a lot because we are talking about a four time MVP here.  The fact that a lot of times when the Colts are brought into the conversation it is because of what #18 is doing in Denver has got to be eating Irsay up.

Of course Irsay will claim he is not bitter. If that is the case then there was no need to make this ridiculous statement two years after the fact. If you felt that way then you should have said something back then. Or how about just keeping your mouth shut. Everything that is thought does not need to be said. And when Tony Dungy starts inserting himself into the mix, to essentially defend #18, then you have a real issue on your hands because Dungy NEVER shares details of private conversations. Just when I thought things could not get even more interesting…

To say I am ready for Sunday’s showdown, Pony vs. Pony, would be an understatement. I hope #18 torches the Colts. I am talking record number torch. It would be the best thank you gift he could provide Irsay with.

The Minnesota Wake-Up Call: Pray for AP

On By kassienetteIn Controversy, Football, NFL, Sports2 Comments

Now ya’ll know I do not normally blog on Saturdays but ya’ll are working my nerves with this Adrian Peterson story. So here goes my two cents…

Right now, I could care less if AP just found out about this child two months ago or two weeks ago, A CHILD IS DEAD!!! Right now, I could care less if AP was cheating on his fiance whom he has been in a relationship with since college, A CHILD IS DEAD! Right now, I could care less if AP decides to play tomorrow against the Panthers, A CHILD IS DEAD! A CHILD IS DEAD PEOPLE! Instead of focusing on this fact, all I have seen people do is argue and bicker about who is responsible for the child’s death. Are ya’ll serious right now? Ultimately, the blame is with Joseph Patterson, the man accused of beating the young child. I have seen people blaming the mother because supposedly she knew about his past which included prior abuse of children. If that is true, then yes the mother is to blame as well for endangering her child, knowingly. I have seen people blaming AP for not being a present father in the child’s life. When I first heard the news, one of the first stories I read stated that the son was one that AP just recently found out about that lived in South Dakota. I do not know how everyone else missed this because I was stunned to see so many memes and pictures of AP with his son, Adrian Jr, whom I am almost positive is more than two years old and lives with him. Ya’ll know how people are though. Folks heard the story and ran with it…ran all over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with pictures of the son that is alive and well. SMH.

It would be great if we could live in a world where people did not jump to conclusions. Yes, it seems as if AP had a child that no one or very few people knew about. Again, it has been reported that AP only found out about the child recently. To assume that AP is a “deadbeat or absentee father” because he met the child on his deathbed is ridiculous. None of us knows why he just met the child. At two years of age, children are very much coming into their own identity and to insert a “stranger” into the mix that will be around for the rest of the child’s life is a tedious process. 

I have seen people accuse AP of not grieving because he has said he will play in the game versus the Panthers. How do you know he is not grieving? How do you know football is not an outlet for him? How do you know that he is not experiencing a wide range of emotions so instead of getting caught up in them, he has decided to partake in the one thing that is familiar to him? The funny thing is that if he was openly weeping and mourning, people would be accusing him of being fake and phony because he just met the child. He can not win.

Honestly, I do not care to know the details of the situation. AP made that bed and has to sleep in it. Regardless, it does not change the fact that A CHILD IS DEAD! An innocent little baby boy.  Instead of pointing fingers, I will continue to do what I have done since I heard the news yesterday: pray for AP, his family, all those involved and children everywhere. It is the least I can do.

 

REST IN HEAVENLY PEACE LITTLE BABY BOY. You are now in the place where you can never be harmed again.

 

 

Congratulations are in order….

On By kassienetteIn Controversy, Sports, Women's Sports2 Comments

While we were all going on about our lives last week, a star was being born in Belgium. Meet Simone Biles, the first black gymnast to ever be crowned World Champion. Say what now? How did I miss this? Oh I know. No one was talking about it. Shaking my head. We thrive off controversy which is exactly how I found out about this milestone. However, I refuse to entertain that foolishness. Instead, I am going to celebrate the accomplishment of the 16 year old from Spring, Texas. Biles went home with two gold medals, a silver and a bronze. YOU GO GIRL!!! By the way, ignore those naysayers. Let your work speak for itself!! GOLDEN CHILD. 

{Source: AP Photo/Yves Logghe}
{Source: AP Photo/Yves Logghe}