Sports Talk

Thanks Phil and Amy

2009-06-22T13:16:00.001-07:00

Imagine the love of your life, the one, the mother of your children being stricken with a life threatening disease...To be strong for yourself is an unenviable task, but its her, its FOR her you need your strenghth. But she tells you no, go do what you do best and nothing would look better in my hospital room than that silver trophy...Hollywood would struggle to write such an amazing story. The U.S. Open officially concluded today, and Phil Mickelsons' amazing run came up a little short, but what he was playing for, and how the crowd at BethPage Black responded for not only him but for his sick wife Amy, well...Its nothing short of amazing. We have seen crowds join together at sporting events: 1980's U.S. Mens Olympic Hockey Team. 1991 when we initially invaded Iraq. Days following 9/11 at every sporting event around the country. Funny how war has that affect on people, and once again, its a war that did this time as well, a war we all have been affected by, the war against cancer.
Everyone, EVERYONE has a story about how cancer has affected their life. Whether it be someone you lost, someone that you knew that has lost, or seeing someone fighting against this god-awful disease, those images will never leave you. And if you haven't...if your religious, go home and pray and say thank you, and if your not religious, go home, close your eyes as tight as they have ever been and say thank you...thank you for not subjecting me to this. Earlier this year, our radio stations work with the non-profit St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital. An orginiazation that is fighting to help children stricken with this disease. I met some amazing people during my time at this radiothon, but moreso, i got it...You've heard me on the show referring to people that "get it" in sports. And this is what I "got" from my time there: I want you to do me a favor, and I ask for favors about as often as I ask to be clubbed across the head with an aluminum baseball bat...So humor me if you would. My favor isn't for you to remember how you felt after finding out someone you love got this disease. My favor isn't for you to remember how the person you loved dealt with the news that they were going to die from this disease. My favor is this, imagine a child is told that they are sick with a disease named cancer, and that they are probably going to die...This pure, innocent child will look at you and ask two questions: What is cancer? And why do i have it? And this same child will then look at you and make a statement: "But I don't want to die?" Were not going to find a cure today, but we will tomorrow, and days like today bring us together and help us with the two most important words to me these days: Patience and perspective...Be patient because it won't be today, or tomorrow, but when we do find a cure, you know, for yourself, that you were a part of it. And perspective about how "bad you have it", how "awful my life is", because would any of you want to be where Amy Mickelson is? Would any of you want to be where Phil Mickelson is? And would any of you want to tell your child that they are going to die? Thanks Phil and Amy, today, you brought a country that is struggling together...Man sports can be a beautiful thing sometimes...

LET THEM IN!!!

2009-06-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

This is the easiest way possible to fix the "users" or anyone affiliated with steroids or P.E.D's (performance enhancing drugs) that are elligable, or will be elligable for the Hall of Fame: Let them in! Reason being is this, go look at Kirby Pucketts mantle in the Hall, it has a few of his career highlights, but at the end of it "his career was then mired in controversy" or something along those lines. So, for example, Mark McGwire: "He is a 500 plus home run hitter, he also saved the sport when he and Sammy Sosa battled for Roger Maris' single season home run record. Unfortunately his career will forever be tainted due to his...." ON ALL OF THEIR PLAQUES, LET THAT BE KNOWN!!!! Then, when they are told, "yes Mr. McGwire, you've been voted into the hall, and your plaque will read..." Lets see if he goes and speaks at the induction...Thats what they get, they get in, but they will have THAT cloud over them, and their memory for generations to come, will be etched in bronze...

Manny is not a murderer

2009-06-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in Los Angeles, Manny Ramirez addressed the media, ownership and his team for the first time since his suspension. In a discussion with the media, he made a statement such as: "i'm not a murderer, i'm not a rapist". NO YOUR NOT MANNY AND GOOD FOR YOU!!! On the show, Dave and I have both mentioned that a ball player like Mickey Mantle would have it hard these days. Mickey was a playboy, he loved to drink and he loved the ladies, and we loved the way he played ball. Thats what it should be, but it won't be. We build these people, we love them, we adore them, we treat them greater than man, we treat them like gods, and we love to see them fall...Now, unfortunately i must admit, i am apart of this, since i have a radio sports show. There is a theory, its called the cathartic theory. Simply put, we watch to see anothers displeasure to make us feel better about ourselves. My quick answer to that: Watch Jerry Springer, watch a movie, watch Oprah, watch a wide variety of programming as opposed to watching sports. Sports is something we watch to be entertained by physically gifted indivduals doing something so many of us wish we could. Watching Tiger Woods hit a golf ball the way he does is magical, watching Michael Jordan fly thru the air with the greatest of ease and grace is mesmerizing, watching a Albert Pujols hit a baseball 450feet almost effortlessly is jaw dropping...Don't be critical when you find out that they are human, and that they have made mistakes. Accept, move on, they aren't perfect, and they know that, thats why they have use something to give them an edge, because we expect perfection, and they know they aren't...

NBA Championship, Games that absolutely nobody CAN watch

2009-06-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

Entertainment is pretty much the main reason a lot of us watch sports. And if one of our favorite teams isn't playing, well, we watch just to be simply that of entertained with no vested interest. Tonight is Game 3 of the NBA Championships between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic (some of you don't even know that and i don't hold it against you). And for some awful reason, this game, like the others, will not begin until 9 o'clock tonight!!! Explain this to me like I'm a ten year old with a severe learning disability: Why are the powers that deteremine what time a sporting event, A CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTING EVENT, placing it at a time where the major media markets (New York, Boston, Florida) are not going to be able to stay up and watch? Especially, especially since not only is one of those markets teams represented, but basketball is a distant 3rd in the power struggle of Major sports favorability? And not to mention, they have to compete tonight with not only the NHL Stanley Cup, but also, the Yankees and RedSox battle for first and the Mets and the Phillies do the same!!! And for all of you screaming "well, Los Angeles is a major media market". Yeah it is, for movies and pornography!

Love always
Hightower

Sports Talk June 9, 2009

2009-06-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

Well folks, a little congratulations is in order if I do say so myself. For you see, welcome to the first, of hopefully many, blogs to come. I will be using this to give some more insight on topics of the day, also, this gives you, the listener a platform to comment during the week and/or on the show. The show by the way is every Saturday morning on either 1380am or streaming live on wysb1380am.com. This is a trial run, so hopefully this posts. Thanks to all of you for listening, and trust me when i say this, i want this to belong to you as much as it belongs to me, so any topic you want to discuss is completely greeted with open arms...Enjoy
Keith "Hightower" Hannigan