Tragedy in Russia

I read the news story the other day about the bomb at a Russian airport that killed more than thirty people. I must admit, my first thought was - a lot of female basketball players are over there. I hope none of them were at the airport.
Since then, WNBA player Swin Cash tweeted that she checked and her friends, including Sue Bird, are okay. They weren't at that airport and all of Cash's UConn and WNBA friends are just fine. She ended the tweet with "God is good."
Althought I had the same thoughts as Cash, I didn't realize how selfish those thoughts were until I read them on paper.
Cash made no mention of the innocent people who lost their lives and all of their families and loved ones. How selfish of her. And me.
It's a tragedy when anyone is murdered in such a senseless manner.
This is another example of our "me, me, me" society. If it doesn't affect me, it doesn't matter. Someone was murdered? If I don't know them, who cares?
I can't speak for anyone else. But, I'm going to make an effort to see the bigger picture in the future. It's not just how something affects me, it's how it affects the world and those around me.
I'm thankful I didn't know any of the victims in Russia. But, I'm horrified to know so many innocent people lost their lives. It was a tragedy. And, I care.

No moral victory for Hogs

No!
No! No! No!
Arkansas fans cannot be satisfied with a 31-26 loss to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. I don't care that the Razorbacks showed some heart in their second half rally. I don't care.
The Razorbacks' loss was disappointing. That game was there for the taking. The Buckeyes shut it down in the second half and Arkansas should've put this game away. This should've been a great victory. Because the Hogs fell short, it's a devastating loss.
No! No moral victory tonight. If Arkansas wants to consider itself an elite program, these are games it has to win.
Instead, real SEC schools will continue to turn their noses up at the Hogs for failing to represent. Ohio State finally got a win over an SEC team. Yeah right, not a real SEC team.
Okay, Ohio State is a very good team. It's no disgrace to lose to the Buckeyes. But, you don't get that many opportunities on the national stage to take your program to a higher level. It was there tonight for the Hogs on a silver platter.
Six drops?
Arkansas' receivers dropped six balls and never stopped talking smack. How about focusing on the football instead of trying to think of something wise-ass to say? How about that? The Hogs' recievers just embarrassed themselves on national TV and don't even know it because they haven't stopped jawing long enough to realize it.
Ryan Mallett wasn't perfect. The last pick was a great play by the Buckeyes, I thought. He was betrayed by his receivers and a porous offensive line. Did they block Ironhead Heyward's kid once?
But, I thought Mallett competed. They all competed. Give the Hogs' defensive coordinator credit for the second half adjustments, although I swear Ohio State didn't even try to score after halftime.
Star of the game was the punter - Dylan Breeding and the Zach Hocker kid. Arkansas' special teams were special. Too bad they didn't pick up that blocked punt and run with it. Then again, you give the ball to your offense in that position, it's on Mallett and the boys to get it in the end zone.
False starts and dropped passes - you can't mount a game-winning drive with those mistakes.
Damn! It was there for the taking, too. Like Terrelle Pryor's fumble in the first half that two Hogs lost fighting for it that went for a Buckeye touchdown.
Damn!
I'm not saying anybody should be fired or anything. Like I said, a lot of folks lose to Ohio State. But, coming up short is nothing to be proud of, either. Elite teams win that game. Second-tier teams fall short in the final seconds.

UConn vs. men?

In case you haven't heard, UConn's winning streak was snapped last week at Stanford. It was an amazing streak but personally, I'm glad it's finally over. To be honest, as good as the Huskies were, the rest of women's basketball should be ashamed to let one team be so dominant over so many others for so long.
But, that's another story for another day.
As I sifted through the anti-women's basketball comments on the ESPN message board the other day, I came across a column. It asked the question, could UConn's women beat Centenary, which is supposedly the worst men's team in the country?
At first I thought this was just another good ole boy sports writer slamming women's sports. But, the author claimed to be a fan of women's basketball.
Yeah, right.
It was a stupid question.
As little children we learn that boys are not supposed to hit girls. You know why? Because males have a physical advantage over females. Males are bigger, stronger, faster, quicker, etc. I can't believe this is news to people.
So, why do people insist on comparing women athletes to their male counterparts? What's the point? If men and women were built the same with the same strength and speed, they'd compete against each other.
They don't. That's why there's a men's division for basketball and a women's division. That's why there are Olympic events for women and different events for men.
I get it. I don't have a problem understanding it.
Yet, knuckle bleeders will tell you, "I don't watch women's sports because they're not as good as the men."
If you say that, you're an idiot.
I watched TCU and Oklahoma play a women's game the other night and enjoyed it. Not once did I say to myself, "wow, none of those women are as athletic as Blake Griffin." That thought never crossed my mind.
When Stanford beat UConn, I didn't look at the TV and wonder how the Cardinal would do against the men's team from Wisconsin-Lacrosse. Why would I?
A true sports fan watches games for one reason - competition. You want to see two evenly matched competitors battle it out. You want to see if the underdog can spring the upset. That's why I hated UConn's win streak so much. It wasn't that they won. The games weren't even competitive.
Again, I don't blame UConn.
But, it's supposed to be about the competition. I don't understand why some people can't appreciate the competition.
Why would anyone want to see women compete against men? Men have physical advantages over women. That's why it's frowned upon when a man strikes a woman. That's considered a bad thing. You know why? Because men are bigger and stronger than women.
Men and women are not created equal - physically. They're different - physically.
That doesn't mean women aren't as competitive as men. That doesn't mean their competition isn't as exciting as the men.
In the Olympics, I watch the men's 100 and the women's 100. I watch both. Sure, the men are about a second faster but so what. It's the competition that gets me excited.
You know what, if you tell me you don't like women's basketball because the pace is too slow. If the game is not athletic enough for you. If you prefer your action above the rim. I can buy that. I understand that.
But, if you say you don't watch women's basketball because they're not as good as the men, you should be beaten with a crooked stick.
First of all, that's just a stupid excuse for sexist jerks.
Guys who say that will sit and watch Little League Baseball all weekend. Hey, those 12-year-old boys aren't as good as Major Leaguers. Those same guys will watch high school and college football. Hey, those high school and college teams aren't as good as the teams in the NFL.
You watch the Little League World Series because the games are competitive and played with passion. It's the same reason you enjoy college football on Saturday and high school football on Friday.
But, for some reason, you can't take women's sports and enjoy them for the competition. With women, you automatically have to compare them to the men. You don't make fun of a Little Leaguer because he couldn't get a hit against Cliff Lee. But, you talk trash about Maya Moore because she can't play in the NBA.
I just don't get it. I don't understand it.
You know what? I'm glad I don't get it. I don't want to understand it. All these "sports fans" and their preconceived ideas about female athletes are just missing out on some great competition. I'm looking forward to watching a Final Four with Baylor, Stanford, UConn and Tennessee. That's going to be great.
And, for the guy at ESPN, I don't give a damn which men's team you think could beat them.