This has become an issue this year. The IOC, International Olympic Committee, has decided to kick softball and baseball out of the 2012 Olympics. I researched this topic earlier this year for a presentation I had to give in my Current Issues Business of Sports class. I found different reasons for softball's elimination compared to baseball's elimination. However, softball's elimination basically was determined by the competition between teams. The IOC thinks that the USA women's team is too good to play in the Olympics. Baseball's elimination is based on poor resources. There are many countries who can't afford to buy the things that are essential to play the game. This is the first year since 1936 when a sport was eliminated from the Olympic games.
These two sports are could possibly be replaced with rugby, golf, karate, squash, and roller skate sports. The 2016 Olympics are still up in the air about reinstating baseball and softball. Baseball is America's past-time sport and there are too many fans that will be disappointed if this sport is permanently eliminated.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sports Management Major
Softball and sports in general has a major influence on why I picked this major. I've been playing sports my whole life everything from soccer to gymnastics to dance and ballet. Sports has always been a HUGE part of my life. My parents were both into sports and they have passed their athletic ability down to me and my brothers. I love talking about sports all the time, so this is the perfect major. I'm interning at Tekulve Acceleration in the summer and I'm really looking forward to it. I have to put in 400 hours so I can only hope that I get something out of it in return. I hope that this economy doesn't prohibit me from getting a job when I graduate. I hope that I don't waste all the money my dad and I have spent on my education. I'm sure that I'm not the only one with these thoughts!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
My best friend!
I have known my best friend for 14 years. She was one of the first people that I met when I moved in third grade. She lived behind me, which made it very convenient for us to hang out. Her family treated me like I was one of the family. Her mom won tickets to Celine Dion when I was in fourth grade. Amanda and her mom asked me to go with them. I was really excited considering I'd never been to a concert before (Celine Dion sounds lame, but it was the year the Titanic came out, so it was pretty good).
We went to grade school together from third to sixth grade. She moved at the end of sixth grade and I didn't get to see her as much. We went to different middle schools and high schools too. I used to go to her house and stay for two or three days at a time. There were always things that we did together. Most of the time we went to the movies or to dinner.
When I turned 16 years old, my mom threw me a surprise party. I had no idea this was happening. Amanda and her family "kidnapped" me for a day so my mom and dad could get everything ready for the party. I walked in the door and was totally surprised. All my friends and family were there. Amanda knew about it the whole time and never told me! But all in all, it was a good party. I got a car, a ring, and money. I was pretty content with it lol.
After I got my car, I would visit her more often. We still did the same things, with the exception that I would drive us around. I felt more like an adult rather than having our parents drop us off and pick us up.
Towards the end of my junior year, she told me that her dad got offered a job in Columbus, Ohio and that she might have to move away. I was hurt and didn't know what to think about my best friend leaving me. I knew that her parents had to make the best decision for their family, but at the same time I was losing a part of me. Her dad decided to take the job in Columbus and Amanda moved that summer in between junior and senior year. We told each other that we would keep in touch through phone, email and Instant Messenger.
After she moved I didn't see her much my senior year. She came down for a couple weekends throughout the year but nothing like it used to be. I graduated in May 2005, and little did I know, her and her family were at my graduation. I was totally surprised and very happy to see her. We went out to lunch with her family and just caught up on a few things.
A few months later I drove up to see her in Columbus, and we went to a concert that her dad got tickets from his company. We were in a box seats and everything paid for, it was awesome! I wish I would've spent more time with her but I had to get back to Cincinnati because I was about to start my first semester at The College of Mount St. Joseph as a freshman. I had to go out and get everything that I needed for my transition from high school into a college student.
When college started for us, we were both too busy to see each other. She ran track for Dennison University and I played softball for The Mount. We both had a lot things on our plates and didn't have time to have social lives. We didn't see each other for a year a half. We couldn't schedule a time where both of us were free to hang out.
She came down a week early for my 21st birthday last year. We went out to dinner with my roommates, she met my boyfriend, and went to get my birthday presents. It was the first time I had seen her in almost a year.
I got to see her last May when I was up in Columbus for a wedding with my boyfriend. He let me borrow his car and I drove 45 minutes to see her while he went out with his friends that night. We went and ate dinner, and went and hung out at her apartment. It was the first time that we had a chance to catch up in 9 months. She was turning 21 the next day but I had to go to the wedding. I gave her a car and money and I had to go. I wish I would've stayed longer.
Since then, we haven't talked very much. She's still at school at Dennison busy with track and classes. I'm finishing up my senior year here in Cincinnati at The Mount. Hopefully she will be able to come to my graduation party in the summer. I miss her =]
We went to grade school together from third to sixth grade. She moved at the end of sixth grade and I didn't get to see her as much. We went to different middle schools and high schools too. I used to go to her house and stay for two or three days at a time. There were always things that we did together. Most of the time we went to the movies or to dinner.
When I turned 16 years old, my mom threw me a surprise party. I had no idea this was happening. Amanda and her family "kidnapped" me for a day so my mom and dad could get everything ready for the party. I walked in the door and was totally surprised. All my friends and family were there. Amanda knew about it the whole time and never told me! But all in all, it was a good party. I got a car, a ring, and money. I was pretty content with it lol.
After I got my car, I would visit her more often. We still did the same things, with the exception that I would drive us around. I felt more like an adult rather than having our parents drop us off and pick us up.
Towards the end of my junior year, she told me that her dad got offered a job in Columbus, Ohio and that she might have to move away. I was hurt and didn't know what to think about my best friend leaving me. I knew that her parents had to make the best decision for their family, but at the same time I was losing a part of me. Her dad decided to take the job in Columbus and Amanda moved that summer in between junior and senior year. We told each other that we would keep in touch through phone, email and Instant Messenger.
After she moved I didn't see her much my senior year. She came down for a couple weekends throughout the year but nothing like it used to be. I graduated in May 2005, and little did I know, her and her family were at my graduation. I was totally surprised and very happy to see her. We went out to lunch with her family and just caught up on a few things.
A few months later I drove up to see her in Columbus, and we went to a concert that her dad got tickets from his company. We were in a box seats and everything paid for, it was awesome! I wish I would've spent more time with her but I had to get back to Cincinnati because I was about to start my first semester at The College of Mount St. Joseph as a freshman. I had to go out and get everything that I needed for my transition from high school into a college student.
When college started for us, we were both too busy to see each other. She ran track for Dennison University and I played softball for The Mount. We both had a lot things on our plates and didn't have time to have social lives. We didn't see each other for a year a half. We couldn't schedule a time where both of us were free to hang out.
She came down a week early for my 21st birthday last year. We went out to dinner with my roommates, she met my boyfriend, and went to get my birthday presents. It was the first time I had seen her in almost a year.
I got to see her last May when I was up in Columbus for a wedding with my boyfriend. He let me borrow his car and I drove 45 minutes to see her while he went out with his friends that night. We went and ate dinner, and went and hung out at her apartment. It was the first time that we had a chance to catch up in 9 months. She was turning 21 the next day but I had to go to the wedding. I gave her a car and money and I had to go. I wish I would've stayed longer.
Since then, we haven't talked very much. She's still at school at Dennison busy with track and classes. I'm finishing up my senior year here in Cincinnati at The Mount. Hopefully she will be able to come to my graduation party in the summer. I miss her =]
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Why am I this passionate about softball?
In general, sports has always been a part of my life. I started with soccer, like almost everyone else, and then played other sports also. This sport, in particular, has been in my life for a number of years. I started playing when I was 8 years old and I have loved it ever since. I played slow-pitch for three years before moving onto fast-pitch in sixth grade. When I started playing fast-pitch is when I realized how much the game meant to me. I've always been a competitive person and this type of competition really caught my eye. There were a lot of tournament games that I played in, most of them within the tri-state area.
I attended Anderson High School all four years. When you get to high school, there are two options, you either make the junior varsity or the varsity team. I was fortunate enough to make the varsity team as a freshman and I actually got to pitch in games as well. The most memorable game that I remember from that year is when I was given the opportunity to pitch against our arch rivals Turpin High School. I remember being really nervous, knowing that this is one of the games that everyone would remember forever. It was league game, I was put on the spot to lead my team to a victory, and play well against our biggest rival. Long story short, I pitched one of the best games of my freshman year that day. My mom always kept count of my pitches, balls to strikes, and how many per inning. She told me after the game that I only threw 68 pitches for the entire seven innings of the game. If you sit down and think about it, thats roughly 9 pitches per inning. I'm not trying to brag at all, I'm just saying this something that I am proud of.
After my sophomore season, our head coach hired a new assistant coach. She played college softball for four years at the College of Mount St Joseph. She was a great coach. She knew more about the game than anyone. She even knew more than the head coach knew, which wasn't saying much, considering she never played the game in her life. That's besides the point but everyone on the team liked her as a coach. She was the type of coach who would stay after and hit extra ground balls, work on different pitches, throwing drills, etc. She should have been the head coach from the beginning.
After high school, I was recruited by the assistant softball coach to play softball at the College of Mount St. Joseph. I played first base my freshman year and pitched a little bit too. During my sophomore year, myself and another girl split time at first base too. My junior year, I decided not to play because of financial reasons. I was at the point where it wasn't any fun anymore and I just didn't want to be there anymore. So I made one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. I realized that paying bills is more important than playing intercollegiate softball for a division III school. I don't regret my decision but I do miss it. Now, I just play slow-pitch softball for fun.
I attended Anderson High School all four years. When you get to high school, there are two options, you either make the junior varsity or the varsity team. I was fortunate enough to make the varsity team as a freshman and I actually got to pitch in games as well. The most memorable game that I remember from that year is when I was given the opportunity to pitch against our arch rivals Turpin High School. I remember being really nervous, knowing that this is one of the games that everyone would remember forever. It was league game, I was put on the spot to lead my team to a victory, and play well against our biggest rival. Long story short, I pitched one of the best games of my freshman year that day. My mom always kept count of my pitches, balls to strikes, and how many per inning. She told me after the game that I only threw 68 pitches for the entire seven innings of the game. If you sit down and think about it, thats roughly 9 pitches per inning. I'm not trying to brag at all, I'm just saying this something that I am proud of.
After my sophomore season, our head coach hired a new assistant coach. She played college softball for four years at the College of Mount St Joseph. She was a great coach. She knew more about the game than anyone. She even knew more than the head coach knew, which wasn't saying much, considering she never played the game in her life. That's besides the point but everyone on the team liked her as a coach. She was the type of coach who would stay after and hit extra ground balls, work on different pitches, throwing drills, etc. She should have been the head coach from the beginning.
After high school, I was recruited by the assistant softball coach to play softball at the College of Mount St. Joseph. I played first base my freshman year and pitched a little bit too. During my sophomore year, myself and another girl split time at first base too. My junior year, I decided not to play because of financial reasons. I was at the point where it wasn't any fun anymore and I just didn't want to be there anymore. So I made one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. I realized that paying bills is more important than playing intercollegiate softball for a division III school. I don't regret my decision but I do miss it. Now, I just play slow-pitch softball for fun.
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