February 16, Week in Sports
February 16, Week in Sports
:: A-ROD ADMITS TO USING STEROIDS (Pro. Baseball)
:: MATT KENSETH WINS DAYTONA 500 (NASCAR)
:: WEST WINS NBA ALL-STAR GAME (Pro. Basketball)
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A-ROD’S MEA CULPA
Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez, the star third baseman for the New York Yankees who was accused of using steroids in a Sports Illustrated article last week, admitted that he used illegal substances from 2001 to 2003. While many other great players have been accused of using steroids, Rodriguez is probably the greatest player to ever come out and openly admit it.
During his confessional interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Rodriguez stated that the culture in baseball at the time had a large part to do with his decision to use performance-enhancing drugs. He also claimed that he completely stopped using illegal substances in 2003, which seems to be true on the surface, since he has never been linked to a positive test since then. Coincidentally, Rodriguez’s “decision” to stop using steroids occurred right about the time that the league implemented a rigorous drug testing program.
A-Rod is already dealing with the fallout from the scandal, with people saying that he should be suspended or barred from entering the Hall of Fame someday. However, many people are also furious that while A-Rod is under fire for being on a list of 104 athletes who used performance-enhancing drugs, the other 103 individuals are getting off scot-free.
Quote of the Week: “He’s a young man and he has a special chance to do a lot of special things numbers-wise. But now they’re going to be tainted. People don’t forget.” — Joe Torre, L.A. Dodgers Manager
Further Reading: “Rodriguez Admits to Use of Performance Enhancers ” — Tyler Kepner, New York Times
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KENSETH A RAINY DAY WINNER
On Sunday afternoon, Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500, which was shortened due to rainy weather conditions. The Daytona 500 is the first major event of the NASCAR season, and it is also the biggest race of the year, considered to be the “Super Bowl” of the sport.
There were two major events that factored into the outcome of Sunday’s race–the bad weather and a major crash in the middle of the race. On Lap 124, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brian Vickers initiated a massive pileup that knocked some of the best drivers out of contention. Since the 200-lap race was shortened by 48 laps because of the rain, the crash was a truly decisive moment.
This was an important win for Matt Kenseth, who has never before won the Daytona 500. Moreover, Kenseth went all of last season without notching a single win.
Quote of the Week: ”It’s going to be really wet out here, because I’m crying like a baby.” — Matt Kenseth, after winning the race
Further Reading: ”Crazy finish favors Kenseth ” — Associated Press, via ESPN
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THE WILD WEST
The Western Conference beat the Eastern Conference by a score of 146 to 119 on Sunday night during the NBA All-Star Game. The All-Star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in the NBA. Former teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were named co-MVPs of the game.
The NBA All-Star Game, like all All-Star Games except the one played in baseball, does not count for anything–it is simply a fun game where the biggest stars in the sport come together. More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that the All-Star Game represents the halfway point of the NBA season. With the season half over, the standings look pretty much how everyone expected. The Boston Celtics, who won the championship last year, have the best record in the NBA with 44 wins. Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers, who competed against the Celtics in last year’s Finals, have the best record in the Western Conference, with 42 wins. Many analysts believe that those two great teams will meet again in this year’s Finals series.
There are a number of fun events associated with the NBA All-Star game, including the three-point competition, the skills competition, and a game of HORSE. The most exciting event is the slam dunk contest, which was won this year by Nate Robinson.
Quote of the Week: “The Big Legendaries” — Shaq’s nickname for Kobe and himself
Further Reading: “VIDEO: Nate Robinson, Slam Dunk Contest ” — YouTube
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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK
:: BASKETBALL: The NBA trading deadline is February 19th. Expect some big trades this week, including the move of Amare Stoudemire, who will almost certainly be traded.
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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE
ACTIVE SEASON
:: BASKETBALL
NBA (Pro. Basketball): The 2008-09 season is currently underway. It runs from late October to April of 2009, when the playoffs commence. [Official NBA Website]
NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): The college basketball season is currently underway and runs through “the Tournament,” which takes place in March. [CBS Sports]
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:: FOOTBALL
NFL (Pro. Football): Now that the Super Bowl is over, the next major NFL event is the draft, which takes place in late April. [Official NFL Website]
NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now over, with Florida defeating Oklahoma in the national championship game. [NCAA Football, ESPN]
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:: GOLF
MEN’S GOLF: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Major Championships: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open (The British Open), and the PGA Championship. The Masters is scheduled for the first week of April. [Official PGA Website]
NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson
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:: HOCKEY
NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season is currently underway and runs through April of 2009. [Official NHL Website]
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:: TENNIS
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The next event is the French Open, which takes place in May. [USTA Website]
NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic
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OFFSEASON
:: BASEBALL
MLB (Pro. Baseball): The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in this year’s World Series. During the off-season, baseball news will focus on major trades and player signings. [Official MLB Website]