Olympian Sven Kramer Sheds Light On Sideline Reporters

How is it possible that a sports reporter could not recognize famous Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer?

On top of that, Kramer won a gold medal on the first day of the Vancouver Olympics. But a local NBC reporter interviewing the Olympian asked him to state his name, country and what event or medals he had won?

Kramer interjected the question by saying, “Are you stupid? Hell no I’m not going to do that,” according, to a Youtube video of the interview.

This is the interjection that should have taken place in thousands of newsrooms that continue to allow reporters with lack of sports knowledge to cover sports. Sideline reporters are supposed to know the craft of the sport as well as the athletes they are covering.

I don’t blame Mr. Kramer for asking the reporter “Are you stupid” because she along with a long list of other sideline reporters are oblivious to their stupidity.

Thanks to Mr. Kramer for calling the reporter’s bluff. He has shed a light on the growing epidemic of dummies in the field.

These reporters shouldn't be allowed to get away with their stupidity. They want the glitz and the glam of being around athletes, but don’t want to take time to study sports or the athletes that complete in the game.

A change is needed or more reporters are going to be asked, “Are you stupid?”

Until, news directors and producers start hiring reporters' with all-around sports knowledge-that’s when sideline reporting will change.

Vancouver Olympics Raise Questions on Luge Competition Safety

It was a scene nobody wanted to see at the dawn of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, but knew it was bound to happen on the super-fast luge track.

Georgian luger Nodar Kumantushvili, 21, was killed during a morning training run on the Whistler track. Kumantushvili was traveling nearly at the speed of 90 mph entering Curve 13 when he lost control on Curve16. The vast speed threw him off into a non-padded pole were he suffered injuries and later died.

The death of this young Georgian Olympian has left many athletes devastated and seeking questions of why this had to happen.

In deed, the luge competition has always been a dangerous and risky Olympic event, in which, may require more investigation of how to keep athletes safe. In this particular sport, athletes compete as an individual or with a partner, which is called a double.

This swift-track has dangerously taken the life of one Olympian and could possibly take more lives; if this track isn't reconstructed for better safety measures, training and controlling speed- drifts over 89mph.

Safety has always been a priority at Olympic Games; especially, when it comes to protecting athletes from external factors. What about protecting athletes from internal factors such as faulty equipment or adding more padded protection.

NBA Needs To Get Back To Basics

Friday's match up between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets served as a teachable moment for Oklahoma's forward Kevin Durant.

Durant who put 30 answered points on the board lost his shoe during the game after his team had possession; suddenly, found himself having to play shoeless traveling down court to get back on defense.

Durant was able to maneuver quickly into the low-post to block Denver's lay-up- shoeless. Oklahoma closed the gap to win it over Denver, 101-84, ending Denver's nine-game streak.

Clearly, Kevin Durant, 21, is the youngest player to lead the NBA in scoring behind Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James; however, he needs a lesson on how to tie his shoes!

Maybe Durant should have taken some tips from UCLA's basketball coaching legend John Wooden's school on tying your shoes and putting your socks on properly.

Tying shoes reflects a need for the NBA to get back to basic basketball fundamentals. Players perfecting their dribbling, shooting, reading of screens and pick-n-rolls. Most of all, how to tie your sneakers.

In the words of John Wooden when his players would do something wrong, "Goodness gracious snakes alive."

Baltimore Ravens Hire Zorn as New Quarterback Coach

Jim Zorn has officially joined the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff as a quarterback coach.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens management think this was the right move- wrong!

Zorn who was fired by the Redskins after a terrible 4-12 season, has found a new place to call home, but it shouldn't be in Baltimore.

Ravens' think this might be a good move, but it's a recipe for disaster?

Zorn clearly is no stranger when it comes to coaching quarterbacks as he did in the past coaching for the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks before he was hired by the Redskins.

But you have to consider his recent coaching downwinds with the Redskins. Remember the Jason Campbell connection? Of course not because the QB played terrible almost all season. But Zorn is going to help Joe Flacco's arm?

No way! What the Ravens' need to do is hire a veteran quarterback to work with their young QB's. Possibly, bring retired Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner to the job or how about Mr. Brett Favre as a coach?

Whatever the case, Baltimore needs to focus on making the team better and not worse.

This was clearly a bad move.

Commissioner Stern Gives A Stern Ruling On Arenas and Crittenton Gun Dispute

NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended Washington Wizards players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season.

The NBA known for its notorious brawls, recreational drug use and now firearms in the locker room- says enough, is enough!

This aggressive move will teach Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton a lesson; especially, Mr. Arenas that firearms aren't a joke and mocking the situation doesn't help.

Or maybe it teach Mr. Arenas that he's not a basketball god and if you play with fire you're going to get burnt!

Burnt like the crisp core of your pay check, immaturity and relentlessness to understand the illegality and stupidity of his Wild West locker room gun draw with teammate Crittenton that now serves as a defining moment in NBA suspension history.

Arenas could possibly be traded next season or not picked up by another team because of his foolishness.

Ethically, this was the right move by the Commissioner and hopefully other athletes will get the message to not bring your guns to work!

Saints Win First Bowl Berth; Colts Edge Jets

The AFC Championship game featuring the Colts vs. the Jets was as exciting as watching the last episode of Jersey Shore.

Okay, maybe not so exciting since viewers already know what is bound to happen on the MTV reality show- but you get the point!

Coming into this game you can point out a few factors: two first-year head coaches, Rex Ryan and Jim Caldwell, the Jets have a rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez and the colts have a veteran and three-time (now four) MVP, Payton Manning.

Jets came out leading the game first-half, 17-13, and shutting down Payton Manning’s go to guys, Reggie Wayne and cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Manning took command of the game in the third quarter to the put the Colts ahead.
The 4-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon put the Colts up, 20-17. From there Indianapolis was back in the game as the Jets struggled with key player injuries and just awesome play routs by Manning.
On the NFC side, it was like a soap opera that could have ended early but didn’t as the Saints and Vikings battled into overtime.

Suddenly, the ever so popular phrase ‘Who Dat?’ doesn’t belong to Minnesota but to New Orleans for defeating the Vikings, 31-28, in OT.

This phrase could have easily belonged to the Vikings just like their infamous singing of the “Pants on the ground” song a week ago; if the coaches in the fourth quarter with 19 seconds left in regulation had went for the field goal; instead of, trying to make play for a TD that was never bound to happen!

What did happen? Vikings QB Brett Favre throws an interception in Saints territory that ends the game regulation. Saints get the first play in overtime after winning the coin toss and the victory play of Garrett Harley, who kicked a 40-yard field goal to lift the Saints to its first Super bowl berth over the Vikings, 31-28.

At least one thing is for certain, New Orleans has officially removed its name from the no bowl list as the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Cleveland Brown awaits their turn to play in Miami.

And Minnesota might need to look for a new head coach and offensive coordinator.

Tejada Returns to Baltimore Orioles: It's Deja Vu All Over Again

In the recent wake of the MLB season underway, Miguel Tejada is once again a free agent and he's heading back to Baltimore.

The six-time All Star shortshop signed a one-year deal for $6 million with the Baltimore Orioles.

Of course, that's chump change compared to Tejada's first signing with the team as a free agent back in 2003, for a six-year $72 million deal.

The shortshop only managed to play for Baltimore four years before being traded to the Houston Astros in 2007.

While playing for the Astros Tejada put-up some decent numbers, but will the 35-year old shortshop have what the Orioles need to get the job done in Birdland?

Well, that question remains for half of the Orioles roster. Hopefully, by mid-season Mr. Tejada won't cry and plead for a trade again- since he already knows the situation of the team.