The Browns Lied for Johnny Football

Even before he graduated from Texas A&M, Johnny Manziel has clearly had issues off the football field. He had issues off the field with both violence and alcohol abuse and even then, his skills on the field got him drafted to the Cleveland Browns. However even after joining the professional football league as one of the most promising draft picks in years, Manziel has continued to fail expectations both on and off the field. Instead of being know as a playmaker and outstanding quarterback, which he certainly has the potential to be, he is known for his struggles off the field and with the management of his team. It has gotten to the point where it seems as though the Cleveland Browns won’t even be taking him back when the next season begins.

Now, a recent report has shed light pointing to Manziel’s off-field problems being much more serious than previously anticipated and that they have been actively hampering his ability to perform on the field and do his job. If you follow NFL news, you’ve probably read that Manziel had been dealing with a concussion and hadn’t been unable to play or practice because of it. However it seems as though the truth of the matter is far different and, in some ways, much more sinister. The report claims that the real reasons for benching Manziel is that he had been showing up drunk to practice and that the Browns lied to cover it and, in some ways, enable his behavior.

While Browns then-head coach Mike Pettine said that he would talk to Manziel about his off-field behavior, the damage to the Browns is already done (plus Pettine is no longer head coach). There is a very real possibility that the Browns will face NFL discipline regarding their covering up Manziel’s issues and refusing to get him help. Manziel has more issues than the Browns though. Along with the probability of getting dropped and his obvious alcohol abuse issues, he has gotten into trouble for fighting with his ex-girlfriend and hitting her, as well as having his own father publically wonder if he would live to see 25.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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Messi Wins Another Ballon d’Or

Known as the Golden Ball in French, the Ballon d’Or is the considered to be the Oscar or Grammy of the professional soccer world. The award is voted on by the FIFA community and is awarded to the player that deserves it most according to his peers, whether due to teamwork, sportsmanship, or skill. This year, like other years previous, the award went to one of the greatest soccer players the world has ever known, Lionel Messi. Since he began playing soccer, Messi has shown himself to be amongst the best and this is just another example of that skill and drive.

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The voting for the Ballon d’Or is done in a relatively democratic fashion. The democratic vote is done by every national team’s head coach, the captain for each national team, and one accredited journalist from each country participating in FIFA’s international events. While this has sometimes led to confusion, there was none this year — Messi came away with 41% of the total votes, a clear win for the player. There is also no denying that Messi deserves the award, even though the competition was fierce and deserving as well.

As the years have gone, Messi has become more and more of a superstar in the soccer world, both on and off the field. While he is known for his scoring and controlling his team with an iron fist (it’s Messi’s way or the highway, apparently), no one should think that he isn’t a team player. He has made an effort to raise both himself and those playing with him to the next level, providing leadership and experience where it’s needed. The winning of the Ballon d’Or isn’t just a testament to Messi’s skills as a player, but also as a testament to the importance he has had to his teammates and the sport as a whole.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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Tiger Woods Has No Timetable for Return to Golf

For 683 weeks, Tiger Woods was the strongest, most captivating, and most talented golf player in the world. His time as the global number 1 hasn’t been matched or beaten and honestly, it might never. However when you look at Tiger now, he is a shadow of his former glory and though he doesn’t plan to keep it that way, that doesn’t mean that he’ll be able to. Woods is turning 40 on December 30th and and in the past three months since his last start, he has had back surgery twice. Obviously having so many intense surgeries in such a short amount of time is putting incredible strain on Tiger’s body, meaning he is going to need to take time off.

How much time is he taking off to heal and rehabilitate? This is where the issues becomes unfortunate, or at least more so than it already was — Woods has announced that he doesn’t know when he’s coming back. Since his two surgeries, he hasn’t even been able to begin the rehabilitation process and until that happens, he won’t be able to accurately judge how long it’ll take him to rejoin his peers and start climbing his way back up to the top of his field. While some are taking this to mean that his career is effectively over, world number 3, Rory Mcllroy, has been providing inspirational words of encouragement for his peer and idol to rejoin the sport.

Currently ranked number 400 in the world, Tiger will have a long hill to climb until he’s both back in shape for the game as well as at a place comparable to his previous highs. Since the issue has to do with nerves in his back, recovery is going to take significantly longer and depends entirely on how long it takes the nerve to heal itself and settle. Until then, Woods is playing video games and eagerly anticipating a time when he can get back on the course and work towards showing the world that he still deserves to be their number 1.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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Tiger Woods is Still the Most Valuable Sports Brand

What comes to one’s mind when asked to think of Tiger Woods? I asked a few friends and got a range of answers stretching to his wife chasing him with a golf club to going down in history as one of the greatest golf players until his spectacular flameout. What I didn’t get, and which came as a surprise to me when I read about it, was an answer pointing to Tiger Woods being the most valuable brand in sports. That’s right. To this day, the former number 1 and currently ranked number 334th golfer in the world is still the most valuable brand in the all sports. With a brand value of $30 million, Woods is still doing fine.

While this may have made sense when he was at the top of his game, Tiger Woods is currently nowhere near where he once was and the number is still staggering. It points to just how untarnished his image and brand were by both his multiple sex scandals as well as his fall from the upper echelon of the golf world. Another thing to realize is that this number of $30 million is the total that he made in 2015, it’s how much more he made than the average of the top 10 golfers. The number is looked at through these lenses so that it’s easier to find out the actual worth of a player’s brand.

While Tiger Woods may currently be number one in terms of brand value, he has been losing ground every year since his scandal broke. Coming up close in second place is Phil Mickelson with $28 million and both Roger Federer and Lebron James are tied for 3rd with a brand value of $27 million. It seems as though even Tiger continues to lose rank and brand value over the course of the next few years (unless he can turn his game around in a massive way, this seems likely), he will be very comfortable with the amount of money being made. Remember that the $30 million is just how much more he makes, he’s making far far more money than that in total.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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Fantasy Sports Betting is Causing Concern in Some Circles

Sports have always had a certain tie with gambling. Athletics of all types have always captured and held the interest of those who made money off of learning statistics and making educated guesses using algorithms as a basis for their knowledge. They have also captured the interest of fans, people who feel as though they know a lot about a sport or a team simply because they’ve been watching for a long time and are passionate about their alliance. When groups like these meet over a common subject, there is always going to be gambling of some sort. The fans trust their judgement and instinct and the professionals trust the math. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, there has been a recent explosion in online fantasy-based sports gambling. the ads are showing up everywhere and they’re relentless in trying to convince you to sign up and spend your hard-earned money on fantasy sports gambling. This sudden, and very public, push for what is clearly a form of gambling is now drawing both questions and ire from governmental and nongovernmental organizations that have been traditionally opposed to gambling which is still, in most states, illegal. Now, as fantasy gambling is clearly becoming more popular and making a push for more customers, these groups and organizations are wrestling with how to approach this new form of sports entertainment.

One of the main issues is that there is a huge potential for profit, something that is making sports teams more than happy to sign up with these companies. Both FanDuel and DraftKings have signed lucrative deals with multiple NFL teams (DraftKings with 12 teams and FanDuel with 16) even though the league itself is opposed to any sort of gambling. The NFL is so against gambling that they’ve even distanced themselves from the more casual form of fantasy sports-based gambling that these new services offer. While these companies are making potential enemies out of the leagues themselves, they’ve already won over at least two of the wealthiest and most powerful team owners within the NFL — both Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and Robert K. Craft of the New England Patriots have stakes in DraftKings.

So why are these companies drawing the ire of such powerful institutions? The main reason is how they have monetized what was once a casual affair. Fantasy sports gambling is legal in all states except for 5 because of just how casual an affair they are. Until the creation of these sorts of companies, most fantasy gambling was done amongst friends and in situations like the office pool. Both DraftKings and FanDuel have taken this casual format and turned it into a huge cash cow not only for their winners, but also for those who invest in their company. Fans need to pay an entry fee that can range anywhere from 25 cents to $1,000 and there are potential payouts every day that can reach up to $2 million. FanDuel itself says that it pays out about $75 million every week and $2 billion in a year.

With such large payouts, people are taking notice and calling out the NFL for what this really is, gambling. This past Monday, Representative Frank Pallone Jr., a Democrat of New Jersey, asked the government to investigate these companies to see if they had broken any laws when it comes to restricting and monitoring online gambling. This comes on the heel of a recent ruling last month that said that any casinos or horse tracks in New Jersey that allowed people to bet on sports events are breaking the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a law passed in 1992. Even though neither FanDuel nor DraftKings have made a profit yet, they are setting themselves up to be the leaders in sports gambling if it ever becomes fully legalized and integrated online. Until then, these companies will continue to need to toe the line and make sure that they have quality lawyers on retainer.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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The Patriots Probably Deflated Those Balls That One Time

Remember Deflategate? That rumor that the New England Patriots had deflated their footballs before the AFC Championship games against the Indianapolis Colts? Remember how they did so that they could win easily and go to the Super Bowl? Well despite what all the naysayers have been crying, it turns out that it all happened and Tom Brady probably knew about it too. Ever since the rumors started, the NFL has been taking them seriously due to a desperate need to reclaim its moral high ground after the multiple controversies it face over this past season. Now, the report has come out and it is, without a doubt, damning.

The NFL’s investigation is a solid 243 pages long, testament to the effort put into it. While the report clears key Patriot officials like head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft, it specifically names start quarterback Tom Brady and says that it is more likely than not that he both knew what was going on and somewhat implicit in trying to cover it up. While the Patriots’ most recent Super Bowl isn’t going to be taken away, the new revelations about Brady are definitely going to tarnish the reputation of one of the best quarterbacks in recent history. Not only that, the fact that he was implicitly mentioned in the report as probably knowing means that he very well might face a fine or suspension in the next season.

The report specifically called out two low-level Patriot employees as doing the actual deflating, a part-time locker room attendant named Jim McNally and an equipment assistant named John Jastremski. While Brady said that he had no knowledge of the deflating and that no one did it for him, the NFL’s report says that his claim isn’t plausible and is actually contradicted by evidence found during the investigation. While owner Robert Kraft has disagreed with the findings of the report, he has already said that he won’t fight any sort of decision in terms of punishment to be meted out. It remain to be seen what will be the outcome of the report but one this has already been accomplished; no one will be able to look at Tom Brady the same way without questioning if he really is as good as we’ve always thought.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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Sports Might Help Overturn Homophobic Indiana Law

Indiana and its governor, Mike Pence, have been having a really bad week so far. The governor recently signed a law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) that many people believe will allow businesses to stop serving customers due to their sexual orientation. While the governor and his supporters are claiming that the act is similar to the one that President Clinton signed into law, the wording is significantly different enough that it would allow discrimination on many fronts against many groups, though the fear is only for homosexuals. While there are many forces putting pressure on Governor Pence to change the law so no discrimination could happen, the strongest and most effective lobbying might end up coming from sports teams and organizations.

A number of governors have officially forbid their state employees from traveling to Indiana for unimportant business on the taxpayers dime. What does this have to do with sports? It means that the coaches supporting staff for the UConn basketball team can’t travel to Indiana for the Final Four, which UConn is part of. This is only the beginning of sports organizations exerting pressure on the government to change and afford equal rights and protection to everyone. Already the NCAA and the Big Ten conference have stated that they are going to reconsider their relationship with the state after the law was passed. Mark Emmert, the president of the NCAA, has stated that the organization is going to re examine if it would continue to hold events in its headquarters which are located in the state. Along with the NCAA, the Big Ten Conference has also stated that it is concerned with the ruling. While it hasn’t been as explicit as the NCAA, it still has Indiana officials worried about the pulling of the Big Ten’s football championship and basketball tournament out of the state.

These college sports organizations aren’t the only ones that are reacting negatively to the law. NASCAR has already released a statement speaking against the ruling, surprising basically everyone. GenCon, the largest gaming convention in the world, has also pulled out of hosting any events in Indianapolis even though the event to be held there is literally called GenCon Indy due to its massive success and growing popularity every year. With so much money on the line (the Final Four usually brings in around $71 million a year by itself), these sports organizations are adding a lot of weight to the already significant weight coming from activists and companies around the country. Only time will tell what happens, but this might be the final push in reversing this terrible law.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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Sports Are Good For Developmentally Disabled Kids

Children with developmental disabilities have so much to overcome that it can actually be difficult to fathom. Aside from the obvious issues that will arise with school, homework, and education, children with developmental disabilities also have to deal with bullying and ostracization from their classmates and peers; the people who they want to be friends with. However just because some children might have developmental disabilities doesn’t mean that they’re still not children with the desire to run around and be active with their friends. Many children with these developmental disabilities are still physically capable and able to run around and the fact that no one wants to join them can be the most harmful thing of all.

Enter Sports Plus, a Montgomery County, Maryland-based organization that recognizes the importance of exercise and friendship to all children, regardless of how developed they are. Sports Plus is one of a few programs around the country that works to give children with developmental disabilities access to team sports where they can make friends and run around like the children that they are. Sports allows children to shine and reach their personal bests. For those who are uncomfortable making friends in social situations (maybe due to something like autism), sports allows them to bond with classmates and show their worth to their peers. A child who is takes part in sports has a much larger chance of being popular and accepted by their classmates than one who doesn’t, even if they’re not all that good.

Programs like Sports Plus work to introduce children to teams where they don’t stand out due to their disabilities. Sports increases social skills and allows children to have fun without the pressure of looking different. More and more doctors are realizing that sports and exercise can take the place of drugs when it comes to treating things like ADD and ADHD and groups like Sports Plus are the perfect place for kids to run around and burn off all that energy. While kids should be included in mainstream activities whenever possible, the fact is that many children won’t do well because of their disabilities. Special organized sports leagues are a great way to not only make them feel included, but to also allow them to be unfettered children without worrying what other people think.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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Lance Armstrong Would Dope Again

When Lance Armstrong finally admitted in an interview on Oprah Winfrey’s show that he was guilty of doping throughout his career as one of the greatest cyclists the world has ever known, the world reeled in collective horror as the flawless veneer of one of the most inspirational athletes to have ever existed was stripped right before our eyes. While the public fallout was surely painful to Lance and his supporters, the cherry on the proverbial pain sunday was when he was stripped of every Tour de France victory (seven in total) as punishment for his steroid abuse and subsequent lying about it. While you would think this would be enough, the revelations also cost Lance most, if not all, of his sponsorship deals as well as his position within the Livestrong Foundation.

In a follow up interview with the BBC about his new documentary, Lance Armstrong: The Road Ahead, the question about doping and whether he would do it again was posed and the answer that Lance gave surely shocked most if not all of the viewers and especially his supporters. Lance said that if he could go back in time to 1995 then he would absolutely dope again but that if he were in the same position now as he was back then, he wouldn’t. While this might have shocked people, his follow-up actually makes a lot of sense and his decisions, while wrong, could at least be seen as reasonable. Apparently the 90′s were the heydey of doping in the cycling world and everyone was doing it. Not only were all major competitors doing it, the culture of the sport also led to pushing steroids on bikers and coercing those who were unwilling into steroid abuse.

The only way to stand a chance and stand out from the pack was by injecting steroids and breaking the rules and so Lance would do it again because that was the norm and he wouldn’t have found any success if he hadn’t. While this is worrisome, it also speaks to the culture in many professional athletic competitions and how those who are new and inexperienced are frequently led down the wrong path by mentors and older competitors who had no respect for the game. If anything, this interview should led to less of a focus on Lance Armstrong and more on the culture of these sports that promote and reward cheating and flaunting the rules.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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Oregon Ducks to be Disciplined for Rose Bowl Chant

The Rose Bowl is one of the most prestigious college football tournaments of the year and is the longest one that is still happening. Played on New Years day in California, the bowl usually takes two of the strongest collegiate from around the country and various conferences and pits them together in front of the largest college football audience in the nation. With so much pressure on the teams and anticipation in the air, it’s no surprise that there are frequent outbursts from all sides that could end up getting people in trouble. This year was no exception as the University of Oregon Ducks took on the mighty Florida State University Seminoles for a championship game that ended with the Ducks eviscerating Florida’s finest.

The end score of the game was enough for FSU fans to be upset about; the ducks walked away with an easy 59-20 win. However it was what came after that is the reason for so much internet chatter about the Oregon Ducks, sexual assault, and the infamous Jameis Winston. It turns out that once the Ducks had won, a chant was started off-field that was picked up by a number of players who were filmed chanting it. The chant, “No means no”, is a direct reference to the rape allegations against Jameis Winston and the non-investigation that cleared him of any wrong-doing. While the chant was clearly meant to twist the knife and gloat, people all over the internet are upset about it and the players who were caught are facing an internal punishment.

While FSU fans are upset, their reaction was to be expected. What is surprising is how many people with no interest in the sport have leaped on this chant. Many are saying that it is another example of men trivializing sexual assault and using it to gloat and display dominance over a defeated opponent. Others are lauding it for reminding people about Winton’s allegations and how there was no real investigation. These people are also saying that the chant was also meant to support victims coming forward to tell their story. No matter the meaning and interpretations behind the chant, the players are facing punishment and that’s all the University of Oregon has to say about it.

If you’d like to read more, the link is here.

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