Bigger, Stronger, Faster

I had a chance to see a documentary film -- "Bigger, Stronger, Faster -- the Side Effects of Being American" earlier this week; and, I urge you to see it if for no other reason it makes you think.

The Houston Chronicle's Jerome Solomon wrote a commentary about the documentary; and, Solomon discusses a few points in his commentary which are interesting:

Why does the Air Force openly give amphetamines to fighter pilots to help them stay alert, while Major League Baseball suspends players for use of same?

How can Tiger Woods have Lasik surgery to give him better than perfect vision and be celebrated, while the NFL suspends Patriots safety Rodney Harrison for taking human growth hormone to aid his recovery from career-threatening surgery?

Why is disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis labeled a cheater for having unusually high testosterone levels, yet his sleeping in an altitude chamber to produce a high count of red blood cells is not considered cheating?

The movie begins in a unique way; and, honestly, at the time, I had no idea which direction the movie was heading to discuss steroids.

In the movie, director Chris Bell, shows how steroids impact his two brothers; their wives and kids; as well as their parents. Bell shows how American society uses different types of medications; supplements; vitamins; etc. to make them feel better; perform better on tests; however, those same people will vilify anyone for using steroids for similar reasons.

Before I saw "Bigger, Stronger, Faster", I was one of the people who thought steroids were bad because they are termed "illegal performance enhancements"; however, a basic question the movie made me ask is "what makes one thing legal and okay to use and another thing illegal to use"?

See "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" and form your own conclusions.

The 2008 ESPYs

Nominees for The 2008 ESPYs hosted by Justin Timberlake were announced today … and voting has begun.

Voting runs through 10:59 p.m. CDT on July 12, and The 2008 ESPYs will be televised Sunday, July 20 at 8 p.m. CDT on ESPN and ESPN HD.

For the fifth consecutive year, fans will determine the winners in 37 categories (excluding special awards) by voting online at www.espys.tv and, for the first time, via mobile phone at www.espn.mobi. Last year, more than 12.5 million votes were tabulated.

The ESPYs gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances.

The ESPYs are committed to the advancement of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, established by ESPN with the late Jim Valvano and announced at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993.

For the first time in several years, a limited amount of $100 ESPYs tickets are available for public purchase through www.ticketmaster.com.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award will be given to 1968 U.S. Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

Two special ESPYs will also be presented this year: the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, honoring Kevin Everett, the former Buffalo Bills tight end who is again able to walk after suffering what was deemed a paralyzing spinal cord injury during an NFL game; and Best Comeback, being given to Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers who, after several years battling addiction issues, has posted Triple Crown-contending numbers this season.

My Evening with Hilton…

Tonight we decided to eat in the “Championship Club”. It is named for the four championships the Comets won. Pictures of the four championships are featured outside the two doors. Inside the Championship Club are two areas. The area on the right is reserved for the bar. Reliant Arena Officials and Hilton plan to have this bar area open for the floor and clubhouse seated fans to meet before, during, and after the game. Hilton would like to have drinks and some “low end” food served there. Currently only drinks are being served through a fully stocked bar. You enter the bar area through the right side door.

On the left side of the Championship Club is an area with cloth cover tables and a 5 station buffet. This is the restaurant area of the Reliant Arena. If any of you have had the opportunity to eat in the Red & White Bistro at the Toyota Center, this is Reliant Arena’s version of the R&W Bistro…and the food is excellent. It is prepared by Aramark, the same company as the Toyota Center. It is a little different from the R&W in that when you go to the station, the food is prepared for you with the ingredients you choose. There are salad, pasta, meat, dessert, and coffee stations. At the pasta station, we chose between penne pasta and cheese stuffed ravioli…then we selected additions of meat and vegetables…then the sauce of our choosing. It was put in a pan and cooked briefly and then placed on our plates. It is the same for the other stations...mixed and served to your choosing. Tonight the meat station had prime beef…very tender and good. Mr. Sorf had the dessert station prepare berry shortcake with the fixings of his choosing; whereas I selected the brownie. The buffet is $25.00 per person…all you can eat…beverages other than water and tea are extra. To enter the buffet area of the Championship Club use the left door behind the guest check-in stand.

Tonight Hilton was in the Championship Club meeting with the Reliant Arena officials. They were discussing how to set up this club. I overheard some of the conversation. Hilton would like the clubhouse to accommodate fans wanting to eat the buffet and fans that want an area to meet and spend time together. He asked Reliant Arena officials if low end food could be added to the bar area. He also would like the windows remove so the fans in the Championship Club could hear the game as well as watch it. Reliant Arena is going to try to include all of his suggestions. He did express his appreciation of the newly installed televisions in the Championship Club.

After the meeting with the Reliant Arena officials, Hilton “worked” the clubhouse. After a few minutes he visited the buffet and sat his plate on the table next to ours. He then turned around and talked to us. He asked us to bear with him as he tries to set the arena up. He said Reliant Arena was working hard to make the arena an arena that we (the fans) would like. He said they are going to paint the floors around the outside of the arena. (They need it) He said they agreed to remove the windows in the club so the fans could hear the game. He wants the fans to have the total fan experience while in the Championship Club. He said Reliant Arena will increase the bar area for fans to mill around. I suggested they include some seating in the bar area because some handicap people can’t stand long periods of time…he said that was a good idea and called the RA official over and asked if they could add seating in the bar area…and it was done. I also suggested that the Championship Club be publicized because most people sitting on the floor and the clubhouses don’t know about it. He said Reliant Officials would be making announcements during the game about the Championship Club. And at tonight’s game it was announce before the game and at halftime. I still think it would be wiser to send out an e-mail to STHs. I promised him to spread the word about it,

I also suggested that fans that do not sit on the floor or in the clubhouse sections should be allowed to dine at the Championship Club by making a reservation prior to the game, as it is done at the Red & White Bistro at the Toyota Center…he thought that was a good idea too.

As he sat down to his dinner, we continued our conversation. He told us about the plan to present Tina Thompson her Team USA jersey prior to the game. I told him that Phoenix did the same thing and Diana Taursi threw hers to a fan, and Anne Myers had to retrieve it and explain to the fan that it was the original. He laughed and said he hadn’t heard about that, but it definitely sounded like something she would do. He said DT is very friendly and assessable to her fans. It was quite evident that he has met her. He said if there was anything we needed to let him know. To which MR. SORF said, “how about a win?” He giggled and said, “don’t even get me started…I was screaming at the radio during the last game. I feel sorry for the SASS team tonight because I’m expecting the Comets to come out mad and win this game”.

And the Comets did!

Is T-Mac a Superstar?

The question or debate of is Tracy McGrady is a superstar was kicked around this evening on KCOH 1430 AM (www.kcohradio.com) on Ralph Cooper's Sports Rap.

Houston's own Astro Mike (a sports radio legend) has his own "Superstar Theory".

Take a look:

Add up the career averages of points per game; rebounds per game; assists per game; steals per game and blocks per game. Then, subtract (from that total) the turnovers per game.

A score of 35 or better is a Superstar -- according to Astro Mike.

Here are McGrady's career numbers:

22.4 ppg
6.2 rpg
4.7 apg
1.3 spg
0.9 bpg

The sum of those numbers is 35.5.

Next, subtract McGrady's 2.35 turnovers per game.

The answer is 33.15.

Therefore, McGrady is not quite a superstar.

What do you think?

Did you need that theory to tell you McGrady wasn't a superstar? Or, is T-Mac a superstar regardless of any theory?

IKEA Teacher Appreciation Contest

I'm helping a friend by mentioning this contest:

IKEA Houston is supporting the local school community by having local students nominate their favorite teacher to win a $1500 IKEA classroom makeover and a $250 IKEA gift card

Let IKEA Houston know why your teacher is the very best and should win an IKEA classroom makeover. Students, ages 4 to 11 years old in Kindergarten through fifth grade, can submit a one-page letter telling why their teacher deserves this special recognition. Nominations can be submitted online at http://www.ikeahouston.com/ or at the entry box at the IKEA Houston store, 7810 Katy Freeway at Antoine. The winning teacher will get a $1500 IKEA classroom makeover and a $250 IKEA gift certificate.

Letters must be submitted by March 31, 2008 at the IKEA Houston website or at the store. The letter must include the children’s (entrant) name, teacher's name, school name, school address, phone number, email address, child’s age, and explain why his/her teacher deserves to win a classroom makeover. One entry per person. For additional information and complete contest rules, please visit the IKEA web site at www.IKEAHouston.com.

The Xrossover

I've seen the DVD and I've seen it in action; and, I must admit, I'm impressed with The Xrossover.

In case you haven't heard of The Xrossover, here's some info from their press release:

DKEdgar, Inc., a producer of next level sports equipment, opens the door to the future of basketball skills training with the introduction of the Xrossover TM. This revolutionary training vest teaches ambidexterity with an arm sleeve and strength training with the use of resistance bands.

“The Xrossover basketball training vest is just what coaches and athletes need”, said Danario Edgar, CEO for DKEdgar, Inc. The product will allow coaches to utilize their time spent on training players more efficiently while simultaneously allowing players to have a more productive workout when that coach is not present. As an innovator in athletic equipment, DKEdgar, Inc. aims to produce products that are going to get the most out of our young athletes as well as create an enthusiasm for physical activities.”

The Xrossover will launch on March 29, 2008 at the Stafford Youth Basketball Association’s end of season ceremony, just in time for summer camps.

About DKEdgar, Inc.:

DKEdgar, Inc. is a family owned and operated business that designs, markets, and distributes next level sporting equipment under its organizational umbrella. The company’s first product, The Xrossover, is a patented multi-faceted basketball-training vest. The arm sleeve functions as a sling that restricts the athletes’ stronger arm while forcing the use of the weaker one. The two resistance bands are attached to position the players’ arms in the proper place for distributing and receiving the basketball while creating muscle memory and strength training. The Xrossover provides the wearer with style as well as proper training and is unlike any other conventional workout equipment in the market today.

Check out the website: www.Xrossover.net.

Black Magic

While Houston Rockets everywhere are euphoric over the Rockets' historic winning streak (21 and counting) and the NCAA Men's and Women's Championships are almost here, I urge basketball fans to watch "Black Magic" on ESPN Sunday, March 16 (8pm CDT), and Monday, March 17 (8pm CDT).

"Black Magic" is a documentary by Mr. Dan Klores which is "about basketball at all-black colleges in the days before major universities began their recruiting frenzy over the talent that would come to dominate the game".

Here are two articles with more info:

"Black Magic Scores as a Hoop Dream"

"There was 'Black Magic' before Kobe"

Consequently, get your popcorn ready and watch 'Black Magic' while you prepare your tournament brackets.

You're never too old to learn.