Seems like everybody these days is making reckless predictions that are never correct … I’m looking at you Harold Camping aka “Mr. The World is Ending on May 21st”.  I don’t want to feel left out, so I’m going to make a rather ballsy prediction: The Green Bay Packers will repeat as World Champions by winning the Super Bowl.  Not too bold you say?  Well they are going to win the Super Bowl after an undefeated season.

That’s right; the Green Bay Packers will go undefeated for the whole year and cap the season off by winning the Super Bowl.

The funny thing about this prediction is that I actually believe it might happen (unlike many others’ predictions).  Now I understand that it is a long season and anything can happen, but the Packers remind me of the recent 16-0 Patriots.

Just like the Patriots of 2008, the Packers have an unstoppable passing game led by a quarterback playing nearly flawless football.  The importance of quarterback play in this era is unprecedented which bodes well for Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback.  It’s not simply Aaron Rodgers though, he seems to have a never-ending supply of weapons at his disposal; Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb,  Ryan Grant, and James Starks to name a few.

If you take a peek at the Packers’ schedule then you’ll see that it’s really not too tough.   The Packers will be favored in all of their remaining games, so if they handle their business then a perfect season is not preposterous.  I understand that teams have “off weeks”, but an off week for the Packers would not necessarily result in a loss.

Unlike the undefeated Patriots, the Packers have a legitimate running game and a top-tier defense to fall back on.  The Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl without a real running game or a great defense.  This bodes well for the Packers because they will be able to control the ball and grind out victories when they are struggling.

Maybe the most important factor for the Packers is that they are actually healthy this year.  Last year they were without stars Jermichael Finley, Ryan Grant, and Charles Woodson in the Super Bowl; not to mention about thirteen other players on injured reserve.

Now I know that a prediction of this magnitude is a recipe for disaster, especially this early in the season, but I got faith in the “cheese”.  Who knows, maybe my head is made of cheese?  If it means anything, Charles Woodson agrees with me.

NBA superstar Kris Humphries has been divorced by Kim Kardashian.  Just kidding… Kris Humphries is definitely not an NBA superstar, but he is still being divorced …maybe because Kim found out that Humphries is an average player at best.

This shocking story is not actually very shocking, but it is oh so juicy.  Apparently it only takes 72 days to have “irreconcilable differences” with the love of your life.  If I had to take a guess of why their marriage failed I would guess that it had to do with their Halloween costumes.

Kris probably wanted to dress up as his favorite football player, Reggie Bush, which prompted Kim to want to dress up as David Stern in order to keep the NBA lockout going.  How could a couple get through a fight of this colossal magnitude?

All kidding aside, any time a marriage fails it is a sad occurrence, no matter how you feel about the people involved.  Kim and Kris are prime examples of how the pressures of limelight can make stars lose a grip on reality.  As BonesBallers we know that the wrong mindset is a recipe for disaster in sports and in life.

Dennis Rodman comes to mind when thinking about the Kris-Kim split because of his frequent episodes under the spotlight of the media.  Plus Rodman seemed to always to be celebrating Halloween with his crazy hairdos and clothing styles.  Rodman seemed to always be performing to his audiences which got him into some precarious situations.  Rodman also had a very public marriage to Carmen Electra, which also came to a crashing halt in less than a year.

Moral of the story is that not everyone can handle the pressure.  Last year the New York Jets got caught up in living in the media instead of handling their business.  Winning a Super Bowl is tough enough and the extra external pressure does not help; same goes with marriage.  I’m not saying that the media exposure was the only reason for the divorce, but televising the wedding might not have been such a great idea in hindsight.

Happy Halloween Kim, Kris, and BonesBallers!

Writer: Hollen O’Kelley

Image Source: http://media.photobucket.com/image/broken%20pumpkin/sekziichick/PB230601.jpg?o=1

I can only imagine what it would feel like to be the best player in the world in any sport at any given point in time. I can only dream. But for an athlete like Roger Federer to dominate Men’s tennis the way he did is absolutely incredible. Unfortunately, an athlete of his caliber who has accomplished so much will eventually face the harsh fact that he can’t always be the best and dominate the sport of tennis forever.

Federer, a professional Swiss tennis player, has dominated Men’s tennis for years and has forged his own legacy. Many thought that he would be the next Pete Sampras, one of the best tennis players to ever play the game, but perhaps he may be even better. He currently holds 67 career singles titles and the record for most career Grand Slam titles with 16 (he beat Pete Sampras’s 64 career singles titles and 14 career Grand Slam titles). In his prime, Federer held a streak as Men’s Singles World No. 1 for an incredible 285 weeks. Although this is one week shy of tying Pete Sampras’s record of 286 weeks, Federer’s dominance in all aspects of the game, no matter what type of tennis court he played on, is unparalleled.

But how can a champion like Federer deal with losing to players like Novak Djokovic (currently ATP-ranked World No. 1) that he has constantly dominated in his prime? Although Federer is currently ATP ranked No. 3, he is getting older and weaker, and is on the downturn of his career while he competes against players that are younger, stronger, and in their prime performance stage.
I’m sure Federer, as well as any other athlete, would want to be known as the best player in the world as long as possible, but at some point he will have to realize that a new generation of professional athletes will take his place just like he took the place of others. Federer isn’t performing or dominating the way he did in his prime and his body isn’t doing him any favors. The physical nature and extensive athletics involved in tennis take a big toll on his body and along with his age, prevent him from defending his titles.

It must be psychologically and mentally painful for Federer to swallow his pride and accept the fact that he will eventually have to retire from the sport. This brings me to ask this question:
If you dominated for years as the best player in the world in any sport that you fancy, how would you deal with leaving the sport? Would you leave on top as the champion, or drag your career on, suffering from dealing with the pain of losing?

Written by Brandon Lim
Edited by Sarah Gross

Image Source: independent.co.uk

Coco Crisp

What is in a name? That which we call awesome. We tend to remember names that are bizarre to us, known as the bizarre effect (knowledge is power). So when you’re watching a basketball game and you hear the announcer say, “…and entering the game for the Sacramento Kings, Pooh Jeter…”, one might crack up.

Some of the best names out there are downright funny (i.e. Dick Butkus), while other names are just awesome (i.e. Prince Fielder). Other names just role off the tongue perfectly and are a joy to formulate.

Categorizing “the best” anything is not an easy task, so we’ll break up the categories into 3 groups:
1. Simply Awesome
2. Coolest Sounding
3. Funniest

So without further adieu, here we go…

The Most Simply Awesome Names
5. D’Brickashaw Ferguson (“Da Brick” is a great way to start a football players name)
4. Milton Bradley (playin’ baseball games and makin’ board games)
3. Coco Crisp (simply delicious)
2. Prince Fielder (fits the stereotype)
1. Nana Papa Yaw Dwene “Pops” Mensah-Bonsu (could easily make the “Funnest to Say” category, but when your name means king while also eluding that the family kills whales then you got an awesome name)

Honorable Mentions: Cuttino Mobley, Chad Ochocinco, Babe Ruth, Metta World Piece, Hakeem Olajuwon, Manny Pacquiao (he packs-the-“OW”)

The Funnest Names to Say

5. Manu Ginóbili (you see how much fun Charles Barkley has yelling “Ginóbili”)

4. Tshimanga “Tim” Biakabutuka (“BEE-AWK-CA-BAA-TOOKA” sounds like bazooka)
3. Eugenio Vélez (“EHH-YOU-HAY-NIO”)
2. Brandon Manumaleuna (simply roles off the tongue “MAN-EWW-MAL-EE-UNA”)
1. Arvydas Sabonis (a sexy name and a sexy man)
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=arvydas+sabonis&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&biw=1440&bih=775&tbm=isch&tbnid=7-2A3Yj_03I1vM:&imgrefurl=http://fromtheperimeter.sportsblognet.com/2011/08/10/sabonis/&docid=U-iU9mnMpBoLyM&w=270&h=240&ei=5Wt0Trlh8taIAvfS7bMC&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=291&vpy=150&dur=2195&hovh=192&hovw=216&tx=106&ty=89&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=158&start=0&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0 (picture)

Honorable Mentions: Legedu Naanee, Ben Obomanu, Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Mookie Blaylock, Dikembe Mutombo, Fabricio Oberto

The Funniest Names

5. Fat Lever
4. Boof Bonser (BOOF)
3. Smush Parker (a few years ago his name was not funny, but Jersey Shore has definitely changed this)
2. Moran Norris (you better “get” this one…)
1. Dick Butkus (just has to be #1)

Honorable Mentions: Pooh Jeter, Doug Flutie, Pokey Reese, Bonzie Wells, Wang ZhiZhi

Written by Hollen O’Kelley

Image Source: mlive.com

If I had to sum up the experience of being “in the zone” in one word, I would go with “numbness.” The sensation and rare experience of being “in the zone” is truly unique. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience the feeling, so if you have then you are truly fortunate.

Trying to express this phenomenal experience is not an easy task, but I can try: time seems to slow way down and everything around seems to be barely moving, similar to those slow motion scenes in movies. Feeling this way is like being on another level of consciousness.

When you’re “in the zone” during a game, you do not consciously make decisions and playing the game becomes truly instinctive. You are aware of your surroundings, but you feel that nothing around you matters.

There is a feeling you get that nothing can go wrong, which feels rather good. We all have heard the phrase “failure is not an option” … well this seems extra true when your in the zone. You are so concentrated on the game that it feels like you are not even concentrating; sounds weird right?

For those that are saying to yourself, “Have I ever been in the zone?” Nope. You haven’t, simple as that. The experience feels “out of body”, and you would know if you’ve felt it.

An adrenaline rush is not the same thing either. Adrenaline definitely plays a part in the experience, but there is no “fight or flight” when you’re in the zone; only “flight.” Unlike a fight or flight adrenaline rush, there is no fear or stress.

If you are struggling getting a grasp on this concept, maybe some videos will help. Here, watch Tracy McGrady single-handedly beat the San Antonio Spurs and Reggie Miller defeat the Knicks. Both are good examples of a player’s being “in the zone.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jbtt6OGLms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtPaMgyz4ec

Watching these videos will not allow you to fully understand the sensation, but at least you can get an idea. This phenomenal feeling is one of the beauties of sports. You can’t get this feeling by sitting at your desk or playing video games.

If you have been in the zone before and you think I left anything thing out then let’s hear it in the Smack Talk forum.

Written by Hollen O’Kelley
Edited by Andrea Herman

Image Source: otrsportsonline.com

We tend to think about sports as solely a form of entertainment, whether it be playing them or watching them. This perspective, however, fails to account for another role sports can fulfill for us: the role of an emotional outlet.

Stress, fear, anxiety, and anger tend to be regular parts of our lives, but sports can help manage and deal with these emotions. The irony of the topic of sports and emotion is that sports can induce all of these intense emotions during game-play, but also have the ability to reduce these same emotions from our day to day lives.

Nowadays, our culture has driven us to express our private matters to the public. We see our friends posting messages on Facebook about how stressed out they are or how they are so ticked off. Expressing your emotions publicly is fine but, for more intense circumstances, posting is not the way to go.

I think there is a much better way to blow off some steam. I know that when I turn on my computer or call a friend to vent, it ends up taking about an hour. I might feel better after venting, but oftentimes I just feel worse. We often are stressed because of a deadline, and wasting time online talking about stress usually does not help resolve the problem.

When used correctly, sports can be a soothing experience. When stress takes over, I go and find a basketball hoop. All of the stresses and worries of the world seem to be put on the backburner during the session. Even spending ten minutes doing this relaxes me and allows me to deal with my daily challenges.

We often overlook how useful and important these therapeutic breaks can be to our mental health. Turning ten minutes of stress into ten minutes of distressing can change a person’s outlook and mood for the rest of the day. Sounds like a great way to spend some time.

So the next time you are complaining about stress or are overwhelmed emotionally don’t go wasting your time dwelling on it. Go play the game you love and let it work wonders.

Written by Hollen O’Kelley
Edited by Sarah Gross

Image Sources: 2flashgames.com

Imagine that it is the biggest game of the year –everyone is going to be there and this is a chance for you to make a name for not only yourself, but also your team. It is the earlier part of game day and you need to get your mind right. Time to play your “game day” playlist, filled with songs that will hopefully pump up your energy while still keeping you focused on the task at hand –playing your best.

Music is a huge part of my pregame ritual. Certain songs help me tune out everyone and all other distractions. On game day, my choice of songs tend to be more upbeat, energetic and filled with lyrics that help me build the confidence and intensity I need to see any opponent as only an equal, nothing more. I assume that most athletes listen to a similar type of up-tempo music, but this is not the case. One of my teammates will not listen to music at all on game day. It is a superstition of hers; listening to music is bad luck if listened to before a game. For her, the absence of music helps her focus her attention on the game ahead. My other teammates do not really care about the type of music, just as long as there is some type of beat flowing to their ears before the game. Others listen to music just because everyone else is listening to it and the room would otherwise be completely silent.

I always wonder what types of music different athletes listen to. Gymnastics, crew, even golf; what type of music gets them charged up and focused? It would be interesting to ask professional athletes what music they listen to before their games. Kobe Bryant’s playlist may have the same songs that you have on your “game day” playlist. I know I would feel a special bond if I shared the same pump-up songs with such a well-known athlete!

Athletics encompasses a whole lot more than just the games. From exhausting practices to personal disappointment, music always comes in handy. There can be days where everything seems to be going wrong, nothing I do on the court is as I want it and the coaches are on me from the start to make sure my every move is perfect. For these times, I could go home and listen to music so loud I cannot hear my own thoughts, or listen to quiet, soft music that will calm my nerves and allow the frustration to seep out of my pores.

Frustration happens all the time, especially for everyday living. Not every day is smooth sailing and music can be a great coping mechanism. Music has its own way of channeling emotion, making it easier for different people to deal with different situations. During my sophomore year, I listened to Kid Cudi every day. His music helped me handle the not-so-sunny days. Music helps people relate to others. With all the many types of genres and artists, all types of personalities are able to express themselves and get in on an artists’ feelings to help them cope with their own. Music has quite an influence. Music makes the world go ‘round.

Written by Lauren Juric
Edited by Andrea Herman

Image Source: coolspotters.com