LadyDSports

America's Pasttime

2009-07-17T10:07:00.001-05:00

If you know me at all, you know that I am favor football over all other sports. LadyDSports.com really gets going during football season and lulls a bit during the offseason (which is when basketball and baseball are in full force).

Baseball is said to be "America's Pasttime", but I have always thought of this statement as being a bit out-dated. Maybe being southerner (smackdab in the middle of the SEC) has something to do with it, but I see football ignite Americans each fall much more than baseball could dream about. Baseball makes for a good fantasy game to play with your friend and makes for a great naptime on a Sunday afternoon. They play a million games (with half of them being during the normal person's working hours) so it's hard to get that passionate about a game or a play, until the playoffs at least. For the average American, the notion seems to be yeah this is fun, nice thing to have on tv while cooking dinner or playing on the computer, but wake me up when the playoffs get here.

BUT, I must take a few of those words back. I went to a Braves game last night and realized what baseball is all about. I loved the laidback, friendly atmosphere. There is something special about being there, forming a comradery with those around you and pulling for the home team. You can't get much more American than that, from the national anthem, little kids running around with face paintings and oversized hats, flags waving, fireworks booming, and "get your peanuts, hotdogs, cold beer". Then the local boy who grew up loving the local team hits a ball that drops right in front of the left fielder, he gets to first base, the runner goes home, an the crowd errupts. Chills. So yes, I'll gladly agree that baseball is Americas Pasttime, with a gently added "you had to be there". But ask me again in November and I'll most likely come up with a whole new perspective on things... But as of right now I'm humming Take Me Out To The Ballgame.

Come on, Let OchoCinco Tweet

2009-07-09T12:02:00.006-05:00

You just gotta love Chad OchoCinco. The guy is a character who keeps finding ways to get his name mentioned at least every 30 minutues on ESPN. As a sports fan, I'd love to have Chad on my team. Sure sometimes he can be a troublemaker and act like a spoiled brat, but that's just how it is sometimes with star wide receivers. They like the spotlight. Chad Ochocinco is funny off the field and a legitimate touchdown threat on the field, and I like that.

Chad's latest antics... He said in a televised interview that he plans to twitter during games on the sideline. How fun would that be as a Bengal fan to get to hear the thoughts of one of your star players during games?? I'd love that. Some people argue that he's selfish, just wanting to promote himself, needs to be more of a team player and watch the defense while he's on the sidelines. I say, who cares it's Chad Johnson, I mean, Ochocinco. The boring Bengals could use some attention. They owe some excitement to their fans, and until they start winning more consistently, Ochocinco may be all they get...

It's too bad though. There's already a rule against having cell phones or such devices on the side lines during games. Bubble busted for Chad! Even though he's known for breaking some rules. What's not clear about the rules is whether the use of such devices is allowed during the locker rooms at half time. So there's still some hope for Bengals fans. (Even though it's not just Bengals fans who would be closely following in-game tweets by Chad. I know I'd be interested...)

That being said, it would get obnoxious if all the players started tweeting during games. Hopefully it won't come to that. Plus, let's face it, a lot of those meathead players (that we all love to watch) aren't as fun to listen to as Ochocinco.

Isn't it funny how twitter is taking over the world... that's another topic though!

Be Aggressive Now, not Now

2009-06-16T08:16:00.019-05:00

Football players live a catch 22. (Define catch 22: A difficult situation from which there is no escape because it involves mutually conflicting or dependent conditions) Some players learn to deal with this conflicting delema but some live their lives in turmoil trying.

I'm talking about aggression. We want our football players to be aggressive. We like on-field smack talk, hard tackles, and fights breaking out when someone has a late hit on the quarterback (I think it's sweet when offensive linemen defend their QB - no one does that when they go down...). But off the field, we want our football players to be nice family men, who work with charities and willingly sign autographs while out to lunch. Football players are expected to turn on the aggression for an hour during the game, then turn it off in order to fit into the rules of society.

Some guys get it, and some don't.

Hines Ward (Pitt Steelers) gets it. On the field, he lays some pretty hard hits, even as a wide receiver. Just ask Keith Rivers, whose season he ended last year with a hit that broke his jaw. After the game (even between plays) you won't see anything but a smile on Hines Ward's face. He's a happy guy, just doing his job.
Cortland Finnegan (Tenn Titans) gets it. He's a fiesty defensive back, who is usually running his mouth and picking fights on the field. But off the field, you couldn't find a nicer guy. I met him (see picture with me and my daughter), and he was so polite and considerate of everyone around him. Word on the street is that he's always like that.

Then, there's the guys that just don't get it.

James Harrison fits the bill for his arrest for domestic violence in March of 2008. James is a star linebacker for the Steelers, who love his aggressive behavior on the field, but apparently his girlfriend didn't like it in their home when she called 911 on him.
Steve Smith, wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, plays tough and physical on the field, and it's gotten him to the ProBowl several times. But he's also punched 2 of his teammates (at different times)during practice settings.

Don't let these trouble-makers give you the wrong impression. The majority of the men in the NFL get it. They've learned to use their aggression on the field for their team's benefit and control it off the field for their own benefit. So thanks, Cortland Finnegan, for being so kind to me and my daughter (and all Titans fans), and thanks for being so nasty to the wide receivers on the opposing team!

By the way, I got the idea for this post from a poll on CBSsportsline.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messages/chrono/15274214/0/1

Join his Fantasy World

2009-05-17T16:33:00.015-05:00

Fantasy Football

If I was allowed to completely make up some stats about fantasy football,
I'd say:

* 97% of fantasy football players are male
* These men spend 70% of their Sundays thinking about their fantasy football teams

* And 80% of football fan conversations mention fantasy football at least once

So what does this mean to you, as a woman who wants to join in the conversation or share the love of football with her man? Play fantasy football! Even if your man won't let you join his sacred fantasy league full of macho self-proclaimed football experts, ask him to join a league with you. Better yet, get a couple league going. I joined a league of all men, and each year more and more wives/girlfriends are wanting to be a part of it. Don't be forced to sit in silence when everyone else is discussing their awesome draft and quality sleepers.

Playing fantasy football is the absolute best way to learn about the players, and you can learn. Don't think that you shouldn't play because you are starting off clueless. Lots of people start off clueless. Lady D has written articles offering advice to novice players. So go ahead and sign up! Thanks to fantasy, you'll find yourself a lot more in tune to reality, at least on Sundays and Monday nights.

LadyDSports REVAMPED

2009-03-08T11:48:00.003-05:00

Lady D is preparing to make a complete turnaround. If you have been a fan of Lady D, you know that she has tried to keep articles fairly opinion-free and educational. Well, we are taking a different spin on things. It turns out, Lady D does have some opinions, and lucky for you, she's ready to share them. Lady D will still offer some educational info for those girls out there looking to learn the basics of sports, but Lady D will also be personally commenting on current news and happenings within the world of sports. So LadyDSports is still the place to come for sports info from a female perspective! Stay in the conversation with sports fans around you by reading Lady D's articles. Impress the guys without having to watch ESPN. And if you do watch ESPN, join in the conversation by leaving comments for Lady D and her followers.

ESPN Shows

2008-11-18T13:33:00.004-06:00

Do you find your tv set to ESPN a lot (perhaps by someone other than yourself)? At first, I barely noticed a difference between the shows on ESPN. I just thought it was one long show covering sports from all different angles. But then one day I realized that the shows are separated into time blocks. Then as I paid more attention, I noticedthat each time block had a different show name with different men speaking their opinions on a different studio set. Now, as I have watched countless hours of this monopoly channel at our house (except maybe the NFL network), I can see a difference in the intentions, personalities, and styles of the shows on ESPN. To save you some time and thought, I have attempted to breakdown the most popular ESPN shows:

Pardon the Interruption (30 mins, weekdays at 5:30 pm ET)
This is a fast moving show where the men (Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon) debate a stream of topics. They have 2 minutes per topic, and yes the time actually ticks down. They get into lively arguments often, and it can get exciting. The good thing is that each topic only lasts 2 minutes. So if you are sick of hearing about Brett Favre, don't worry because in 2 minutes they will be on to something else.

College Football Live (30 mins, weekday afternoons, usually around 6:00 ET)
This show is dedicated to the happenings of college football. Rece Davis is the primary host, but it also features ESPN college football analysts Kirk Herbstreit (who most women like to look at), Lee Corso (funny older guy), Lou Holtz, Mark May, Bob Griese and others. College Football Live aims to be the most fan-interactive show on ESPN, which is why they often feature email questions and video segments sent in by college football fans.

NFL Live (30 mins, weekdays at 4:00 pm ET and other times randomly it seems)
This show analyzes everything that is happening in the NFL: the hot players and teams, injuries, standings, and everything else you might be curious about. It’s a nice quick update to make sure you aren’t missing anything in the NFL.

SportsCenter (1 hour, it's on pretty much all the time it seems, the listed times are: 6:00 pm, 11:00 pm, 1:00 am, 6:00 am, and 9:00 am ET)
This is the show that ESPN is known for. This show is essential for sports fans. It's like the evening news except about sports of all times. It’s a clever show that looks awesome in HD, gets their facts right, breaks news before anyone else, and throws some humor in every now and then. SportsCenter is entertaining and informing. Most sports fans agree this one is a must-watch! (It's easy to watch too since it's practically always on...)

Outside the Lines (30 mins, weekdays at 3:00 pm ET and Sundays at 9:30 am ET)
This is an interesting show (Emmy-winning too) that looks at sports related issues that go on off the field. They have covered some controversial and inspiring stories throughout the years. It's often a chance to get to know some of the storylines of the players and the sports that go beyond the game play.

Baseball Tonight (30 mins, only airs during baseball season at 9:00 pm ET)
This is a highlight show devoted to Major League Baseball. They go through the games of the day, showing the big plays, standings, and scores. (Baseball Tonight has won an Emmy too.) It’s a must-watch for baseball fans, but it dies quickly during football season. Sorry, America's pastime.

College Game Day (2 hours, Saturday mornings at 10:00 am ET during football season)
This show may be one of the only things that your husband/boyfriend (or maybe even you) wake up for early on Saturday mornings. It's a great way to jump start a day of watching college football. This show is broadcast live at the home field location of one of the big games of the day. (The University of Florida and Ohio State have hosted College Game Day the most.) The hosts (Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit) are usually set up in front of a crowd of screaming college fans holding signs and doing whatever it takes to get some camera attention. The hosts discuss the upcoming games of the day and pick who they think will win. This show really gets you pumped up for the games of the day! (There is also a College Game Day basketball edition during the basketball season.)

You gotta love SEC football!

2008-09-18T13:26:00.002-05:00

You'll probably have trouble finding common ground between an Ole Miss fan and a Mississippi State fan, and there are not many things that a Florida Gator and a Tennessee Volunteer can agree on. But there is one thing that we all have in common down here in the south - we love SEC football.

Here are just a few reasons that we love SEC football:

Family Ties - SEC football fans like to keep it in the family. Joe is an Auburn fan because his dad is an Auburn fan , and his dad was an Auburn fan because his brother went to Auburn. Of course there’s the occasional house divided, in which case the family must figure out the details of the compromise before the blessed nuptials take place.

The Booze - We all know the smell of a good SEC tailgate. Afterall, tents in the Grove are practically powered by Jim Beam.

Vanderbilt - SEC fans can lose a game and feel completely bad about themselves, but there’s still something in the back of their heads saying “At least we’re not Vanderbilt”. (Which makes it even more horrible when your team loses to Vandy, just ask Tennessee and Ole Miss.)

Coaching Soap Operas - There's a certain prestige that comes with coaching in the SEC so it’s no wonder that once you coach in the SEC you want to keep coaching in the SEC. You have to love the drama created when a coach moves from one school to another within the same conference. Nick Saban coached LSU to a national championship title, and he now rolls the tide at Alabama. Steve Spurrier was synonymous with the University of Florida, and he’s now throwing his clip board around at the University of South Carolina. Houston Nutt used to coach the Hogs at Arkansas, and he’s now giving his Rebel yell to the Ole Miss boys. Tommy Tuberville coached at Ole Miss, but he sneakily ended up coaching at Auburn. All of this coach shuffling creates some fun rivalries come game day.

The Dress Code - Where else can you find frat boys in blazers and sorority girls walking through the grass in stilettos on a steamy hot day in September? I guess if you care that much about something, it's worth dressing up for. You might as well look your best right. Plus, it's a good excuse to buy a new outfit, right?

The Mannings - The Mannings are the Kennedy's of SEC football. You may not be an Ole Miss fan or a UT fan, but you can still appreciate what Peyton, Eli, and Archie to appreciate what they mean to the SEC. These are some classy guys who know how to win and represent the SEC well.

Southern Hospitality - Sure, there's always a terd in the bunch, but the stereotype is mostly true: come to an SEC football game and you'll be treated to some Southern hospitality. Show up for a pregame tailgate wearing the colors of whichever tent you happen to be in and you'll enjoy some free food and drink, so long as your manners are good and you are cheering for the right team.

The Team Songs and Chants - An LSU fan will tear up during a well-timed LSU fight song. An Ole Miss fan will lose his voice by the end of the night screaming Hotty Toddy. A Tennessee fan will go to bed humming Rocky Top. A Mississippi State fan will develop tennis elbow from ringing that cowbell. A Florida fan will set his phone ring tone to the Jaws theme song.

Everyone Loves to be a Winner – What can we say, the SEC dominates other conferences. There are 6 teams ranked in the top 25 as this season begins, and there's always an SEC team being discussed for the national championship. It's nice to be part of the best! (Plus when your team has a bad season you can always blame it on the tough competition of the SEC.)

Interview of 2 rookie female fantasy football playas

2008-07-20T13:17:00.006-05:00

I asked a couple of questions at the end of these 2 ladies' rookie fantasy football seasons. Here's what they had to say...

First up: Margaret Passalaqua
Fantasy Football Team Name: Team Fat Cats

Did you enjoy your first season of fantasy football?
Yes, i thought is was fun but harder than I thought and more time consuming

How did it change you as a football fan?
I learned lots more about the players. I thought I knew a lot about football before the league, but I quickly realized I didn't know very many players at all; I just knew about the teams not players.

How did you do in comparison to the more experienced boys?

Well, I beat Sal and Caleb (which surprised me but don't tell them)

Was it easier or harder than you expected?
HARDER and more research required than I thought

Do you plan to play again this year?
Yes, I am playing again and I will win so watch out!

Up Next: Erin Fontana
Fantasy Football Team Name: M & Ms

Did you enjoy your first season of fantasy football?
Yes I did. I either got really lucky or just have a knack for picking a good team. Tom Brady and Adrian Peterson gave me 2nd place in the league.

How did it change you as a football fan?
The league truly sucks you into specifics of the game and opens your eyes to the players that are consistently great. I was just a "Louisiana Football fan" before i started the Fantasy football. Keeping up with my team really got me interested in other teams, like the Pats, I was always pulling for them, more than the saints you could say. But that was last year and having an allegiance to the saints, I'm REALLY excited about the NFL season not just college games. I'm planning to watch New Orleans' first preseason game tonight. Hooray, where's my beer?

How did you do in comparison to the more experienced boys?
I did not expect to do very well after the draft was over. I think it was because i felt like my players weren't the best or well known at their position. And i picked my players by myself without help from my husband. I got 2nd place due to Brady's awesome year and very good up- keep of injured players and folks who weren't performing their best. I used drop/add many times. So i guess i did okay.

Was it easier or harder than you expected?
I think it was as I expected. I knew how much my husband spent on the computer just fooling around with his players the year before. I didn't know why it took so much time until this year. If you want to win you have to take the time. And I wanted to win because I liked it and wanted to impress my man with all my fantasy knowledge and glory. Hehehe

Do you plan to play again this year?
Yes, I was a little hesitant at first because we have a bun in the oven...but I really don't think it will effect me from keeping up with my team. I think I’m doing 2 leagues; I don't know. I know for sure I'll be in the 2nd year of a keeper league that I sat out on last year. Can't wait for the Draft in a week...it will be interesting.

The Madden Curse

2008-05-18T13:03:00.004-05:00

NFL players are chosen to be on the cover of Madden after exceptional performance years. Every players who has appeared on the cover in subsequent years has generally failed to reproduce their success of the previous years, for a variety of reasons.

Here is a list of the players who have been Madden cover boys, all whom fell prey to the Madden Curse:

Garrison Hearst (1999) - He was the first player to be featured on the Madden cover. He was a running back for the 49ers who led his team to the playoffs. But on the first play of the divisional game, he suffered a bad ankle break and his team would go on to lose the game.

Dorsey Levens (2000) - After rushing for 1,034 yards in 1999 for the Green Bay Packers, he gained only 224 yards from scrimmage in 2000.

Eddie George (2001) - The former Titans running back, Eddie George's curse started in 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game when he fumbled the ball and lost the game for Tennessee. He also fumbled a career high of 7 times during the regular season. In the 2001 season following his appearance on the cover, he averaged only 3 yards per carry and rushed for career lows of 939 yards and 5 touchdowns due to an irritating toe injury that plagued him the rest of the season. For the remainder of his career, he never averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry.

Daunte Culpepper (2002) - The former Vikings QB went from throwing almost 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns while rushing for 470 yards and 7 more scores in the 2000 season to struggling with turnovers. During his 2001 season, he threw 13 interceptions and only 14 touchdown passes before a back injury ended his season in the 11th game.

Marshall Faulk (2003) - The former running back of the St. Louis Rams, who was on the Madden NFL 2003 box, suffered an ankle injury, missing five games, which brought his rushing stats considerable down.

Michael Vick (2004) - Five days after Madden was released featuring Atlanta Falcons quarterback on the cover, Vick fractured his right fibula during a preseason game. Vick played in only the last 5 regular season games, accumulating only 585 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.

Ray Lewis (2005) - The Baltimore Raven linebacker was the first defensive player to be featured on the Madden cover, after which he broke his wrist, an injury that kept him out of the last game of the regular season. It was also Lewis's first season without a single interception, after posting a career-high 6 the previous year, and he had a career low of 77 tackles after two consecutive 200+ seasons.

Donovan McNabb (2006) - McNabb lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004, but in 2005 the QB suffered a sports hernia in the first game of the season that nagged him all year. In the 10th game of the season, McNabb had a groin injury and also decided to have season-ending surgery for his sports hernia. In the 10th game of the following year, he suddenly tore his ACL and was out for the rest of that season too.

Shaun Alexander (2007) - The season before Shaun Alexander, the Seattle running back, was featured on Madden, he broke the rushing touchdown record with 28 TDs. The next year, Alexander broke his foot, missed 6 games, and failed to rush for 1000 yards for the first time since 2000.

Vince Young (2008) - The year before Vince Young was on the cover of madden, he was awarded with Rookie of the Year and became the first rookie quarterback to play in the probowl. The year he was the Madden cover boy he tore his right quad during the Titans 5th game and was unable to play against the Houston Texans the next week. Being from Houston, playing football in Texas his whole life, this was a big game for him to miss. Not playing in that game marked the first time in his career (including middle school, high school, college, and the NFL) that an injury kept him from playing. Poor Vince. He was bothered by that quad the whole season.

Next victim?? Brett Favre will be on this year’s Madden cover. I had thought this might mean the end of the Madden Curse since they picked a retired player. Now, I’m not so sure. Things aren’t going so well for Brett right now. If you’ve turned on your tv in the past month you’ve probably heard the Brett Favre saga. Brett decided to retire, and a big deal was made of one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL career coming to an end. Then Brett decided he wants to play. Well, the Green Bay Packers have said they have moved on and plan to give the young (and patient) Aaron Rodgers a chance at tossing the ball. So who knows what’s going to happen with ole Brett, but it’s not out of the question to say that he might already be feeling a little bit of the Curse.

Major League Baseball playoffs made easy

2007-10-01T13:14:00.003-05:00

October is a very exciting month for baseball fans. After a lot of games in the hot summer sun (each team has played 162 games) the baseball season has finally ended and the playoffs are beginning. Things are starting to get interesting, but Lady D figured you might need to freshen up on how the Major League Baseball playoffs work.

So here goes...
First, you have to know that MLB (30 teams total) is broken down into the American League and the National League (14 teams in American League, 16 teams in National League). Ok, then this is broken down further into 3 divisions from each league, the Central, East, and West.

Now, 8 total teams go to the MLB playoffs, 4 from the American League and 4 from the National League. The top team from each division (East, West, Central) from each league (American League and National League) automatically are in the playoffs, along with 2 "wild card" teams (1 from American League and 1 from National League) with the best overall record behind the division winners. If there is a tie for any of the divisions or the wild card, there is a one-game playoff the day after the season to determine the team that advances. This year there was a tie between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres tied for a wild card position. They played one game to break the tie, and the Rockies won and will be moving on to the playoffs.

The playoffs are broken down into 3 rounds.

1. Division Series - 8 teams, 4 series. This is when teams are matched against teams in their league (American or National). They play the best out of 5 games wins the series. Typically the wild-card team (thought of as 4th best in the league) plays the team with the best overall record (thought of as 1st in the league), and the other 2 teams play each other. The top 2 teams get home field advantage during games 1, 2, and 5.

2. League Championship Series - 4 teams, 2 series. The 4 teams that won the in the first round of the playoffs move on to this round. The 2 teams from the American League and the 2 teams from the National League play each other. Best out of 7 games wins the series.

3. World Series - 2 teams, 1 series. The 2 teams left (1 from each the American League and National League) face each other in a 7 game series. This is the big one, and the winner becomes the MLB World Champion team.

2007-08-18T12:57:00.004-05:00

Sports and trash talking go hand-in-hand. When you feel strongly about a team, you feel the universal need to let everyone know that their team sucks compared to yours.

It seems that trash talking comes naturally to some people, even though there's really no right or wrong way to do it. Given the right facts and a driving passion for their opinion, women can trash talk just as well as men.

The only problem for some women, me included, is being on the receiving end of the trash talk. It's very easy to get your feelings hurt and turn the statements into personal attacks. The key is to separate yourself from the topic. Men seem to do this very easily. They can go back and forth slamming each other's favorite quarterback and dogging the defensive stats of their best friend's team, and then move on to the next subject like nothing happened. This is where women differ I tend to remember all of the trash talking that was said about my team and my opinions. I let the comments fester in my mind as I look for the perfect opportunity to throw them back into the face of my attacker. Sometimes the opportunity does not come, at which time I am forced to come up with a stinging comment in an attempt to deflate my opponent's big head.

This is the perfect time of year for trash talking. The season hasn't even begun, so everyone is even. You can speculate all you want about the upcoming season. Right now your team is the best team out there and they will probably go undefeated, if your star player stays healthy, of course. All those other teams are so over-rated and undeserving of the hype, and you should let their fans know ASAP before it's too late!