Hello my friends, I’M back with my end of the year thoughts and a look ahead to 2009.
2008 was the best year in sports in a very long time. We had the best Super Bowl and biggest upset in the game’s history. We had the greatest Olympics of my lifetime. To highlight a few events, the spectacular opening ceremony, Michael Phelps and his eight gold medals, Usain Bolt’s 100 meter dash, and the women’s gymnastics, this was truly the greatest Olympics that I have ever seen. We also had the Boston Celtics returning to the top of the NBA and win title number 17 in an old school finals against the L.A. Lakers. We can’t forget Tiger Woods winning the U.S. Open on virtually one good leg. We had the longest and best Wimbledon Men’s final of all time. I don’t think you can get any better than 2008. Oh my, what a year.
2009 will be a transitional year in sports because it will be a non-Olympic year. There will be a World Track and Field Championship and I’M looking forward to what Usain Bolt will do for an encore. I’M also looking forward to the World Swimming Championship to see what kind of magic Michael Phelps has in store for us. Not to mention the Confederations Cup in Soccer, not only is the U.S.A. playing in the event, but it will be a warm up to the 2010 World Cup with South Africa as the host of both events. South Africa’s sports history is something I’M very interested in.
Domestically I’M looking forward to the return of Tiger Woods at the Masters. Hopefully some of the young guys like Anthony Kim and Sergio Garcia can step up and challenge Tiger. On the tennis front I’M looking forward to more of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal renewing their rivalry. I’M of course looking forward to the NCAA Basketball tournament; both UCONN men and women have a great change to go far in the tournament. The Celtics and Bruins are doing very well; can they win their respected championships? We will see.
Personally and professional this year I have a few goals. One is I would like to lose weight and get back on the wagon, I was losing weight in the first part of 2008 and I what to get back there. Professionally I would like to get a job, either as a sports reporter or as a self-advocate for people with disabilities. As a sports reporter the three events I would like to cover are the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. Like I said before South Africa’s sports history is something I’M very interested in and I would like to cover it. I would like to cover the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in London. London is a very historic city and I have always wanted to cover an Olympic Games like my idol Jim McKay. The third places I would like to go and cover sports is Australia. Ever since I was a young boy I have been fascinated by Australian sports, in one word I would call then crazy.
I hope every one has a HAPPY NEW YEAR. See you in 2009.
Jamie Lazaroff
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The week that was and the week to come
Well, I told you I would cry at NBC’s presentation of the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii and I did. The Ironman is the toughest event in all of sports, not only do you have to swim 2.4 miles in the ocean, then bike 112 miles, and finish with a marathon, but you have to do this with the heat of Kona and the trade winds that blow across the island. The other thing that makes the Ironman great is that anything can happen to ruin a good day. The defending champion Chris McCormack was in the lead on the bike but the brake cord broke and his day was done. As the announcer, Al Trautwig said, “ You can train for anything, than something like that ruins your day.” The last great thing about the Ironman is that people from every walk of life come to the Kona Coast to cross that line and become an Ironman. One day I hope to go to Hawaii and cover this great event. When the sun goes down the finish line becomes a magical place, because you have to finish the race before midnight when the course is closed and the race is official over.
I don’t know who writes what Al Trautwig says on the coverage of this event, but it is the most well written edited sports event of the year, and Al delivers his lines that definitely befit the drama of the event. No wonder it wins the sports Emmy for edited sports special each year. Great job and for you that did not catch it this weekend, I think NBC replays it in the springtime, I will let you know when it’s on again.
I have not forgot about the Boston Celtics, this past week they set the record for the best start in franchise history at 21 wins and only 2 losses. To think a franchise with the history of the Boston Celtics: 17 World Championships and 31 Hall of Famers, some of the greatest players and teams in the history of the NBA, is off to the best start ever. It’s not how you start but how you finish! Hopeful they can keep this hot start going and win title number 18.
What to watch
This is another slow week, but there are a few good events to follow this weekend. Number 2 in the polls UCONN has its first real test in Number 7 Gonzaga in Seattle. This is also only their second road game of the season. Should be a good indication as they begin Big East play at the end of the month. The game is 4 P.M. on CBS.
This week is the inaugural season of the Winter Dew Tour, with a shop in Breckenridge, Colorado. Events will be snowboarding and free-skiing in splopestyle and superpipe, should be fun. The tour is on NBC, Saturday 2:30 to 4 P.M. and Sunday 4 to 6 P.M.
This is week 16 in the NFL. The Patriots are at home versus the Arizona Cardinals. The Pats need to win to keep their playoff hope alive. Arizona has already clinched the NFC West title. Game is at 1 P.M. on FOX.
I have decided to do a blog on the events and games I’m looking forward to in 2009, and not a awards column. This will be my last week of the year post. Look for it than.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Jamie Lazaroff
I don’t know who writes what Al Trautwig says on the coverage of this event, but it is the most well written edited sports event of the year, and Al delivers his lines that definitely befit the drama of the event. No wonder it wins the sports Emmy for edited sports special each year. Great job and for you that did not catch it this weekend, I think NBC replays it in the springtime, I will let you know when it’s on again.
I have not forgot about the Boston Celtics, this past week they set the record for the best start in franchise history at 21 wins and only 2 losses. To think a franchise with the history of the Boston Celtics: 17 World Championships and 31 Hall of Famers, some of the greatest players and teams in the history of the NBA, is off to the best start ever. It’s not how you start but how you finish! Hopeful they can keep this hot start going and win title number 18.
What to watch
This is another slow week, but there are a few good events to follow this weekend. Number 2 in the polls UCONN has its first real test in Number 7 Gonzaga in Seattle. This is also only their second road game of the season. Should be a good indication as they begin Big East play at the end of the month. The game is 4 P.M. on CBS.
This week is the inaugural season of the Winter Dew Tour, with a shop in Breckenridge, Colorado. Events will be snowboarding and free-skiing in splopestyle and superpipe, should be fun. The tour is on NBC, Saturday 2:30 to 4 P.M. and Sunday 4 to 6 P.M.
This is week 16 in the NFL. The Patriots are at home versus the Arizona Cardinals. The Pats need to win to keep their playoff hope alive. Arizona has already clinched the NFC West title. Game is at 1 P.M. on FOX.
I have decided to do a blog on the events and games I’m looking forward to in 2009, and not a awards column. This will be my last week of the year post. Look for it than.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Jamie Lazaroff
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The week in sports and what's to come
Hello everyone
I’M writing this with a head cold and I don’t know how I got it.
This past weekend was the end of the regular season in college football. Florida beat Alabama in the SEC title game to get in the championship game. As one sports writer said “ Tim Tebow willed Florida over Alabama”. Alabama was the better team but when Florida needs him most Tim Tebow stepped up and won the game. The defense also stepped up big. Oklahoma just beat up on Missouri 62 to 21 to set up the meeting with Florida in the national championship game, January 8th in Miami. Texas should be in the championship game because it beat Oklahoma earlier this season; I guess if you score 62 plus points in your last five games of the season, your in. It is not whom you loose to but how much you score that matters. I’M also looking forward to the Fiesta Bowl that has Ohio St. versus Texas on January 5. As I said Texas should be in the title game but I think they are in for a test in Ohio St. I think Ohio St. is underrated. Should be very interesting.
Saturday was the re-airing of the Paralympic Games Special that premiered a few weeks ago. The special sowed the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat but in the end the athlete’s spotlighted are just that athletes. I hope TV networks and cable stations get the point because athletes are athletes and should be covered just like any other sport.
What to watch this week
Saturday is a little light this weekend but I would suggest the Ironman Triathlon World Championships from Hawaii at 2:30 P.M. on NBC. It is a perennial Emmy award winner. Al Trautwig is underrated. He is another announcer who paints pictures with words. This show makes me cry each year, watch the last 15 minutes, your see what I mean!
Saturday night at 9 P.M. on Spike is the live season finale of the UFC Ultimate Fighter realty show for Las Vegas. The winner of the lightweight and light heavyweight final will get a six-figure contract to fight in the UFC. Should be fun, some of the fights in the past have been classics.
Saturday night 10 P.M. on ESPN 2 is the final round of the 2008 National Finals Rodeo from Las Vegas. This is when the World Champions for the year will be crowned.
Sunday is week 15 in the NFL. The Patriots are at the 3-10 Oakland Raiders; kickoff is 4:15 P.M. on CBS. The Pats need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Should be fun.
Like I said a little light, Saturday you may go Christmas shopping, but please record the Ironman and watch it Saturday night.
I’II be back next week for a full report. Look for my end of year awards in a few weeks.
Jamie Lazaroff
I’M writing this with a head cold and I don’t know how I got it.
This past weekend was the end of the regular season in college football. Florida beat Alabama in the SEC title game to get in the championship game. As one sports writer said “ Tim Tebow willed Florida over Alabama”. Alabama was the better team but when Florida needs him most Tim Tebow stepped up and won the game. The defense also stepped up big. Oklahoma just beat up on Missouri 62 to 21 to set up the meeting with Florida in the national championship game, January 8th in Miami. Texas should be in the championship game because it beat Oklahoma earlier this season; I guess if you score 62 plus points in your last five games of the season, your in. It is not whom you loose to but how much you score that matters. I’M also looking forward to the Fiesta Bowl that has Ohio St. versus Texas on January 5. As I said Texas should be in the title game but I think they are in for a test in Ohio St. I think Ohio St. is underrated. Should be very interesting.
Saturday was the re-airing of the Paralympic Games Special that premiered a few weeks ago. The special sowed the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat but in the end the athlete’s spotlighted are just that athletes. I hope TV networks and cable stations get the point because athletes are athletes and should be covered just like any other sport.
What to watch this week
Saturday is a little light this weekend but I would suggest the Ironman Triathlon World Championships from Hawaii at 2:30 P.M. on NBC. It is a perennial Emmy award winner. Al Trautwig is underrated. He is another announcer who paints pictures with words. This show makes me cry each year, watch the last 15 minutes, your see what I mean!
Saturday night at 9 P.M. on Spike is the live season finale of the UFC Ultimate Fighter realty show for Las Vegas. The winner of the lightweight and light heavyweight final will get a six-figure contract to fight in the UFC. Should be fun, some of the fights in the past have been classics.
Saturday night 10 P.M. on ESPN 2 is the final round of the 2008 National Finals Rodeo from Las Vegas. This is when the World Champions for the year will be crowned.
Sunday is week 15 in the NFL. The Patriots are at the 3-10 Oakland Raiders; kickoff is 4:15 P.M. on CBS. The Pats need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Should be fun.
Like I said a little light, Saturday you may go Christmas shopping, but please record the Ironman and watch it Saturday night.
I’II be back next week for a full report. Look for my end of year awards in a few weeks.
Jamie Lazaroff
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Weekend viewing guide
What I’M watching this weekend
Saturday December 6, 2008
Noon, Eastern Time, college football, Army Vs. Navy on CBS.
This is America’s game with a lot of history and tradition.
4 P.M. is the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship game between #1 Alabama and #4 Florida on CBS. If Alabama wins the game they are a lock for the National Championship game in January, but if Florida wins they may get in.
At 8 P.M. on ABC is the Big 12 Conference Championship game between
#2 Oklahoma and #20 Missouri. If Oklahoma wins they are a lock for the National Championship game in January, but if Missouri wins Florida or Texas or even USC may get in. Should be a fun Saturday watching all of this? We will know the two teams in the National Championship Game on Sunday after the NFL on FOX at around 7:30 P.M.
Also on Saturday at 4:30 P.M. on NBC is the re-airing of the Paralympic Games Special that premiered a few weeks ago. I strongly urge everyone to watch this special, if you have to tape it or record it in some way (DVR) I strongly in courage you to view it because like I said before it is the best thing I see on TV this year. It was very well done and is getting a lot of positive reviews from media people not in the disability world.
Sunday is week 14 of the NFL season with the Patriots at Seattle; kickoff is at 4:05 on CBS.
Also on Sunday at 3:30 P.M. on ESPN is the 4th round out of 10 of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. This is the best of the best in Pro Rodeo riding and roping for over 5 Million dollars in prize money. According to ESPN the Magazine, only tennis’ U.S. Open, the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500, and golf’s Players Championship offer more money than the NFR.
Enjoy your sports weekend because it gets slow after this.
Jamie Lazaroff
Saturday December 6, 2008
Noon, Eastern Time, college football, Army Vs. Navy on CBS.
This is America’s game with a lot of history and tradition.
4 P.M. is the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship game between #1 Alabama and #4 Florida on CBS. If Alabama wins the game they are a lock for the National Championship game in January, but if Florida wins they may get in.
At 8 P.M. on ABC is the Big 12 Conference Championship game between
#2 Oklahoma and #20 Missouri. If Oklahoma wins they are a lock for the National Championship game in January, but if Missouri wins Florida or Texas or even USC may get in. Should be a fun Saturday watching all of this? We will know the two teams in the National Championship Game on Sunday after the NFL on FOX at around 7:30 P.M.
Also on Saturday at 4:30 P.M. on NBC is the re-airing of the Paralympic Games Special that premiered a few weeks ago. I strongly urge everyone to watch this special, if you have to tape it or record it in some way (DVR) I strongly in courage you to view it because like I said before it is the best thing I see on TV this year. It was very well done and is getting a lot of positive reviews from media people not in the disability world.
Sunday is week 14 of the NFL season with the Patriots at Seattle; kickoff is at 4:05 on CBS.
Also on Sunday at 3:30 P.M. on ESPN is the 4th round out of 10 of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. This is the best of the best in Pro Rodeo riding and roping for over 5 Million dollars in prize money. According to ESPN the Magazine, only tennis’ U.S. Open, the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500, and golf’s Players Championship offer more money than the NFR.
Enjoy your sports weekend because it gets slow after this.
Jamie Lazaroff
Jimmy V
Hi All
This week is ESPN's tribute to Jim Valvano and his foundation. Below do many others and I consider Jimmy V’s speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards the best speech ever given? This is the speech were I get my mantra don’t give up, don’t ever give up.
Enjoy
This week is ESPN's tribute to Jim Valvano and his foundation. Below do many others and I consider Jimmy V’s speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards the best speech ever given? This is the speech were I get my mantra don’t give up, don’t ever give up.
Enjoy
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
My Take
Hi Forks, I’M back and better than every.
The UCONN Women lived up to their #1 ranking by beating #4 in the Nation, Oklahoma 106 to 78, Sunday night. UCONN was on fire, shooting 54.5% (42-of-77) from the floor while Oklahoma shot just 38.8% (33-of-88). UCONN also made 12 3-pointers in the game shooting 52.2% (12-of-23). These percentages were the keys to the game, also keeping Oklahoma’s 3-time All-American Center, Courtney Paris, scoreless in the1st half for only the 2nd time in her career was a factor in the win. The only thing that they should work on is free throws. They were 10-of-14 (71.4%), not good free throw numbers in a close game, and there will have them. Next up for the Huskies before they break for final exams, when the Holy Cross Crusaders come to Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM and the game will be televised locally on CPTV.
One of the wackiest stories this weekend is New York Giant Wide Receiver Piaxico Burress accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh at a New York City nightclub. There is a concealed-weapon permit law in New York City. According to ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack Burress could face up to seven years in prison if convicted on a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. My question is: where was Piaxico’s personal security? How come he didn’t know the law in New York?
College Football is coming to a close and controversy rains. The big controversy this week is that the Big 12 Conference used the BCS standings to break a 3-way tie between Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech for the Big 12 South division title. The highest raked team in this week’s BCS standings won the division and will play Missouri (who won the Big 12 North title) in the Big 12 Championship Game. The controversy is that Oklahoma is raked #2 over Texas who is #3. Texas beat Oklahoma earlier this season, how is this possible? This is why we need a playoff in college football. This weekend’s conference championship games will determine the national championship game and all the other bowls. Should be fun.
I hope to get back to a more regular calendar this month. See you next week if not before.
Jamie Lazaroff
The UCONN Women lived up to their #1 ranking by beating #4 in the Nation, Oklahoma 106 to 78, Sunday night. UCONN was on fire, shooting 54.5% (42-of-77) from the floor while Oklahoma shot just 38.8% (33-of-88). UCONN also made 12 3-pointers in the game shooting 52.2% (12-of-23). These percentages were the keys to the game, also keeping Oklahoma’s 3-time All-American Center, Courtney Paris, scoreless in the1st half for only the 2nd time in her career was a factor in the win. The only thing that they should work on is free throws. They were 10-of-14 (71.4%), not good free throw numbers in a close game, and there will have them. Next up for the Huskies before they break for final exams, when the Holy Cross Crusaders come to Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM and the game will be televised locally on CPTV.
One of the wackiest stories this weekend is New York Giant Wide Receiver Piaxico Burress accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh at a New York City nightclub. There is a concealed-weapon permit law in New York City. According to ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack Burress could face up to seven years in prison if convicted on a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. My question is: where was Piaxico’s personal security? How come he didn’t know the law in New York?
College Football is coming to a close and controversy rains. The big controversy this week is that the Big 12 Conference used the BCS standings to break a 3-way tie between Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech for the Big 12 South division title. The highest raked team in this week’s BCS standings won the division and will play Missouri (who won the Big 12 North title) in the Big 12 Championship Game. The controversy is that Oklahoma is raked #2 over Texas who is #3. Texas beat Oklahoma earlier this season, how is this possible? This is why we need a playoff in college football. This weekend’s conference championship games will determine the national championship game and all the other bowls. Should be fun.
I hope to get back to a more regular calendar this month. See you next week if not before.
Jamie Lazaroff
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