Category: Sports

My Secret, Part 1…

On By kassienetteIn Health & Fitness, SportsLeave a comment

I eat. A LOT. Often times when people first meet me and they find out how old I am, they are amazed by how small I am. The majority of the time their first assumption is that I do not eat a lot. As I have already stated that could not be farther from the truth. Ask my mama, my best friends, anyone who knows me very well, I am always hungry. It is not rare for me, who is 60 inches tall and weighs in typically between 115-120 pounds, to consume a salad, an 11 ounce steak, broccoli and a baked sweet potato. Oh and I can not forget about the bread that comes along with it. Yes, I consume that all in one sitting. I can put away some food.

I am often asked what is my secret to remaining petite. Well I am not sure I have this magic formula but I will let you in on a few things that do work for me. I can not promise you that this will work for you but you can try it out if you would like.

1. I am very active. I always have been. Ever since I was a child I liked to run, whether it was running around the yard, up and down the street or from one room to the next I love being outside, playing. I was even trampolining the other day with my nephew and nieces. I believe the fact that I have always been very active aids in my being able to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

2. As a result of my active lifestyle, I have been blessed with high metabolism. Metabolism is the chemical process in which the human body converts food into energy. I convert food at a higher rate than most which aids in my non-weight gain.

3. Water is my beverage of choice. Nothing else quenches my thirst like water. Plus I find water to be very soothing and refreshing. I can not go a day without it and I can rarely go an hour without a drink of water. I do drink juice, mainly orange and Cran-Apple, milk and when I am at Cookout, I always order sweet tea. The water is essential. The milk is  essential because I need my calcium. The juice is essential so I can can get my vitamins C & D.

4. I do not drink sodas or alcohol. I think we all know consuming too much of either is not good for the body. I made the decision almost 10 years ago to stop consuming both. It works for me.

5. I do not eat a lot of fried foods. Now do not think that means I never eat fried foods. Some weeks I consume a lot of fried foods depending on my schedule but for the most part I stay away from it. For me, it just does not sit well with me. It sits very heavy in my system. Hopefully, you understand what I mean.

6. I eat a lot of fresh fruit and I mean straight out the field/off the tree fresh :-}.

7. You may or may not agree with this statement but I wholeheartedly believe God is the source of my good health and I thank Him for that.

Let me know what you think. I will share more secrets next week.

Have a great weekend!!! Until next time….TOODELLS!!!

The NBA has a new poster!

On By kassienetteIn Basketball, NBA, SportsLeave a comment

Twitter was all abuzz last night when the Los Angeles Clippers DeAndre Jordan made the Detroit Pistons Brandon Knight the newest trend.

In case you missed why, here you go…

Of course with any good posterization, you have to start looking at others. So I have provided links to some of my all time favorites. I am pretty sure nothing will ever replace Vince Carter’s dunk over 7’2 Frederic Weis in the 2000 Olympics. I mean really? Dude never stood a chance. And the leg shake after the dunk…classic. I am also pretty sure that up until this point there has never been a more disrespectful posterization than Scottie Pippen over Patrick Ewing. The dunk was nasty. The stare down he gave Ewing was nasty. And the fact that he made a beeline to Spike Lee’s courtside seat to let him know just how nasty his dunk was and how he felt about the Knicks was the cherry on top. Enjoy!!!

Enough already!!

On By kassienetteIn Basketball, Controversy, NBA, SportsLeave a comment

If I have to hear the analysts on ESPN discuss LeBron James entering the NBA dunk contest on mo’ time, I am going to scream!!! I might as well get prepared because I know it is coming.

Before the All-Star game, there were complaints from analysts and fans about the lack of “star” power in the dunk contest. During the contest there were complaints, which were warranted, about the lack of “star” power and creative dunks. After the contest, the same thing. However, this has gotten out of hand. Last week, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, created a big stir when he offered James one million dollars to enter the contest. Yep, one million dollars. To dunk. Since then the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant has sweetened the pot by adding $1000, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon has offered up another thousand and ESPN First Take’s great debater Skip Bayless is willing to put in $2,000. Seriously?? The dunk contest is 11 months away!!!! I do not want to hear about this until next February.

Furthermore, why all this pressure to get James to dunk? If he does not want to dunk, that is his prerogative. People are acting like he owes it to us to dunk. He does not. People act like they are surprised the “stars” do not want to participate in the contest. To me the lack of “star” power in the contest is reflective of the NBA itself, watered down. Between the flopping, lack of defense, me-first attitudes and Twitter beefs, the NBA, in my opinion has been on a downhill slope for years. So it does not surprise me when the stars use All-Star weekend to socialize, rest and Instagram pictures. The league is reflective of the generation that is represented in it.

Up until a few weeks ago, I have never been real impressed with James’ creative dunking ability. He is strong and that is reflective of the force in which he throws down his dunks. However, James has been putting on a show in the pre-game warmups with his own personal dunk contest. I have seen a few dunks that are contest worthy and probably would have won the contest for him this year. Wait, I am getting like the analysts. Let me stop. Catch me next February. We can revisit this topic over hot chocolate. For all of you who are craving a great dunk contest, just do what I did, watch the 2000 dunk contest. Best one ever. Two words. Vince Carter.

Enjoy!!! Until next time….TOODELLS!!

Just got paid, Friday niiiight…

On By kassienetteIn Football, NFL, Sports, UncategorizedLeave a comment

A quarterback got paaaaaaaid Friday. A quarterback landed the a deal that gave him the second highest amount of guaranteed money, ever. A quarterback, not surprisingly, became the highest paid player in NFL history. What is surprising is that this quarterback’s last name is NOT Manning, Brady, Brees or Rodgers. His last name is Flacco. first name Joe. Some of ya’ll are probably saying, who?

When news broke on Friday that the Baltimore Ravens were preparing to make Flacco the highest paid player in NFL history, I was stunned. Six years, $120.6 million. $52 million guaranteed. We all knew a deal was coming but I do not think there were many who expected such a historic deal. Lets face it, even now Flacco does not routinely make it into analysts conversations about “elite” quarterbacks. He has the same amount of rings as Peyton Manning, Rodgers and Brees. Has appeared in more championship games than them the past five years. And he is still in his 20s.

Flacco is a baller. He is very boring. Even his dad admitted that. However, the numbers he has put up the past five years especially in the playoffs can stand up against any of the ‘elite” qb’s. I am still not convinced he is worth $120.6 million but hey, I ain’t mad at him. Get that money Joe!!!

Until next time…TOODELLS!

The San Francisco Shuffle…

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, Football, NFL, SportsLeave a comment

When my beloved 9ers drafted Alex Smith in 2005, I was not happy. I felt we needed a wide receiver and I wanted us to draft Braylon Edwards. Ok, you can stop laughing now. For six years, I was right about not wanting Smith as our QB. The team was a mess. No consistency. No winning seasons. No playoffs. Then 2011 happened. We went 13-3, won the NFC West, played in the NFC Championship game and Smith had the best year of his career. Who knew he had it in him??

Then 2012 happened. Smith was having an even better year when he got a concussion. Insert back up QB, Colin Kaepermick. Talk about seizing the moment. On one of the biggest stages, Monday Night Football, Kaepernick played like a starting QB. The shuffle was on. The speculation began about whether or not Smith would regain his starting spot. That answer was no and yesterday the 9ers made the decision to trade Smith to the Chiefs, for draft picks, ending an era.

As a member of the Faithful, I want to thank Smith for all he has meant to the 9ers organization. I wish you nothing but the best in Kansas City!!!

By the way, did you hear the rumblings about Darrelle Revis coming to the bay?? I know it is early but maaaaaaaaaaaaaan….

Until next time…TOODELLS.

Follow me on Twitter @KassieNette

 

Serving notice…

On By kassienetteIn Controversy, NASCAR, SportsLeave a comment

In the famous words of Darrell Waltrip, “Boogity, boogity, boogity!! Let’s go racing!!!” NASCAR season is upon us. Whooop whoooop!!!

We all know the  big story leading up to the start of the season was Danica Patrick winning the pole at the Daytona 500. And we all heard the talk from some about how big of a deal that was. And we all heard talk from some about how it was not a big deal given her record. And we all heard about how if she did not win the race, she needed to finish in the top 10 in order to be considered “victorious.” Well, BAM ladies and gentlemen, she was “victorious!” With one lap to go, Patrick was running third only to get passed after a wreck occurred behind her.  Unfortunately, she did not win but she did finish in 8th place and became the first woman to finish in the top 10 at the Daytona 500. Earlier in the race, she became the first woman to lead a lap at the Daytona 500. And to top it off, she is one of only 13 drivers to have ever lead a lap at the Daytona 500 AND the Indianapolis 500. POW!!

Even though the rules say she did not win, Patrick was a winner in my book. She accomplished so many things on that track. Things that had never been done. Things that people said would never be done. Things that no one expected her to do. With her accomplishing so much, people will now expect a lot more from her. This season will be considered a failure for her if she does not finish top three in a race. Some will even consider it a failure if she does not win a race. You will not hear that from me. I think what she accomplished on the track yesterday spoke loud and clear. If you are not convinced, just ask the 35 men who finished BEHIND her.

Until next time…TOODELLS.

Follow me on Twitter @KassieNette

Round of applause…

On By kassienetteIn Controversy, NASCAR, SportsLeave a comment

I have been debating all morning about which topic I want to write about, Oscar Pistorious or Danica Patrick. I woke up this morning and saw that Oscar was trending on Twitter so I was leaning towards that until I watched ESPN First Take. One of the topics of debate was Danica. There has been a lot of chatter about Danica not deserving the “hype” surrounding her.

I agree that Danica has gotten a lot of publicity and “hype” that is typically reserved for those who have proven over a period of time that they are winners. I agree that a lot of the “hype” stems from the fact that she is a pretty woman and in our society women are typically judged on how they look, first, before they are even recognized for their abilities. However, that is not her fault and I do not think she should be ridiculed for it. Has she capitalized on it? Absolutely. Who wouldn’t? Happens all the time. Just ask the dude who sings “Gangnam Style.”

The media hypes up the “next” such and such on a daily basis. It happens all the time in football, ie Ryan Leaf, JaMarcus Russell, Reggie Bush. It happens all the time in basketball, ie Kwame Brown, Adam Morrison, Michael Olowokandi. Do I need to continue? What has happened to Danica is no different than what has been happening for years. The difference is she wears makeup and everyone I listed does not.

No one knows what type of career Danica will ultimately have but I find it deplorable that members of the media, especially women, have taken it upon themselves to call her out for what she has not done opposed to what she has done. Yes, I know she has participated in almost 200 races and has only been declared the victor in one. By society’s standards she has failed. In my opinion, she has succeeded. She is participating in a male dominated sport, one where there is not a separate league for women. Her peers do not look like her. Just because she has not won a lot does not mean she does not have an impact. I think her not winning speaks louder than winning does. It shows us that even when the odds are against her she is willing to get in the ring and fight even if she knows she has little chance of winning. That is what life is all about, right? Getting knocked down and continuing to get back up to continue the fight.

Even if Danica never wins another race, she has already helped pave the way for female drivers that will follow in her footsteps. The truth of the matter is not everyone will make it to the mountaintop. Some of are here to make the path easier for others to follow. That could be Danica’s purpose. Judging by her actions, I think she is ok with that. And for that, she deserves a round of applause.

Until next time…TOODELLS.

Follow me on Twittter @KassieNette