I’ve written more words in this issue of The Clock than I ever have before. I am not really too sure as to why I am kicking off this column saying that, but it was an easy way to start this week’s edition of Real Sports Talk with E$. The reason behind all of the words is not only to get you, the reader, interested in the sports around Plymouth, but to also show the coaches and players alike that I am extremely passionate about something they are also passionate about (or at least they should be).
Within this issue, there are also more sports feature stories than usual, and I think that it added a completely new element to what has been brought to the sports section since I’ve been here. I take a hell of a lot of pride (more than I probably should) in having all of the sports articles in the paper about Plymouth State sports, because that’s what people are going to read The Clock for, but also it is nice getting to know the people who dedicate so much time of their collegiate careers to something that means so much to them. Some people realize this, and they come up to me and say, “Hey, thanks for supporting us. We really appreciate it.”
Since I said that, I gotta give specific examples of people that consistently do that. Those people include, but aren’t limited to: Kristin Tracy, Ashley Kilstein, Tieg Alward, and Nick Allard. Having all of these people come up to me after taking pictures, or creating previews, or even just showing up to games/practices means a lot to me. I am not going to doing this stuff takes anywhere near as much time as their coaching/practicing/etc., but getting that “Thanks E-Money!” means so much to me. Anyway, I just felt like I needed/wanted to get that out there, and I feel a hell of a lot better (for whatever that is worth).
I’m still getting crap from people for my New Orleans Saints/Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl prediction, and it looked pretty bleak at the beginning of the season. Despite getting criticism from everyone and their grandmother, I still stand by those picks. The Saints appear to have turned a corner upon beating the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago, while the Colts have gone toe-to-toe with some of the best teams within the NFL. Regardless, it is still relatively early in the season to see how these predictions will end up playing out. One thing is for sure, and that is that the AFC is drastically better than that of the NFC. Within the AFC, the Colts, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and all four teams in the AFC North have shown over the past few weeks that they are playoff teams. Only six of them will end up making it into the playoffs, and there should be some great games to be played as the regular season draws to an close.
In other Irrelevant (though I find interesting) sports news:
-Like the AFC in the NFL, the Western Conference in the NBA is STACKED. Arguments could be made for six or seven teams in that they could make the NBA Finals, while the East can only make claim to two or three teams. One day, hopefully the NBA will allow the subpar teams from the East to be kicked out of the playoffs to teams that are much better out West.
-The World Series being over means that Joe Buck is going back to commentating games in the NFL. Buck and Troy Aikman might be the worse duo to commentate games within the NFL. I will never understand why they are looked at as the #1 commentating team for FOX.
-My prediction of the Colorado Avalanche making the Stanley Cup Finals is looking absolutely brilliant (they are 13th of 14 teams in the West at the moment).
-The NCAA thought they were giving everyone what they wanted by creating a four-team playoff. Instead, think about how many team you could probably put in the 3rd and 4th spots. If the whole four-team playoff didn’t exist, and this was still the BCS format, Florida State and Mississippi State would be in the driver seat to the championship game.
-How tough is it to be a New York Jets fan, especially with Mark Sanchez doing well in Philadelphia?
Non-Sports Info of the Week
-Rest in Peace Paul DiIorio. You were one of the best pure athletes Sachem East has ever had, and an even better person.
Rant of the Week- When will people on this campus ever learn to stop vandalizing the school and the surrounding area? Some kicked in the window of an Inter-Lakes apartment, and of course ran. Have some respect for your school and surroundings, you bunch of idiots. If anyone ever did that to something I lived in/owned, I would literally kick their ass on the spot.
-I want it to be known that I created the ad for Inter-Lakes Properties, so the fact that it was put into the newspaper is 100% on me, and not through the decision of them.
-Whenever I end up writing these articles, I feel like I am always listening to country music, and today is no different.
-Have you ever just sat in a chair, and watch people/the world go by? Where are those people going? Where will they be in 10, 20, 50 years? Watching students/faculty walk past The Clock office outside always allows me to ponder this.
-Only one more Clock issue until Thanksgiving. That blows my mind.
-Glad to see that Orgsync works fantastically for me with trying to pick a mountain for PSU this season. Who decided that Orgsync is a good thing anyway?
-Pretty happy Election Day is now behind, so that I don’t get bombarded to vote/see campaign ads anymore.
-Colder weather means that ski season is at least right around the corner!!
-One day, my roommates will understand that they need to shut off the lights behind them/clean up after themselves. Hopefully writing this helps that cause.
-I wonder if Conor Davis and myself will ever actually watch a Sunday of football together. Hopefully, he actually shaves in November (sorry, man).
-Starting to think that putting another advertisement in the paper to go on a date might be a good idea.
-If you get nothing else out of this column, I just hope that I put a smile on your face from something I said within this.
-12:47 A.M. and I am listening to “Toes” by Zac Brown Band.
Real Talk with Eric- If you want something, go out and get it, because there isn’t much in life that is handed to you. I thought that I would have people help me out to get an internship, but relying on those people got me nowhere. Taking the bull by the horns to get what you want will get you where you want.
‘Til two weeks from now, I’m outta here………