Guest Blogger Isha Cole's Fav Sports Moment of 2009

What is the deal Sista Sports readers, its Isha “Ice” Cole here!

So this year jumped off with a bang when we elected the first Black president of the United States of America Barack Obama. We were all elated to not only have a black president, but also a youthful and cool president who brushed his shoulders off during a campaign speech and had Jay-Z perform during one of his inaugural balls. To make matters even BETTER our president is a true sports fan! #WHERETHEYDOTHATAT ? Here in the U.S.!

President Obama let it be known that if he became the head brotha in charge, he would bring a basketball court to the White House and that he did. A $5,000 basketball court was built atop the South Lawn's tennis court.

During the course of this year, President “O” showed how much he enjoys sports by selecting the winners of various big games from college basketball to professional football. The president selected the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the NFL championship and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA championship. Yes, he was right with both picks.

My favorite sports moment of 2009 was watching the president fill out his NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket! All of us college basketball fanatics know that filling out the March Madness bracket is NO JOKE and our president clearly felt the same. President Obama filled out his bracket on camera with ESPN‘s Andy Katz, but of course the President couldn’t have a regular bracket like the rest of us. He had an oversized bracket, which was created on a whiteboard with the presidential seal, sitting on top of an easel! Yup, top flight!

As he made each of selections, he explained his reasoning sounding just like a pro! In the end [Ahem], the president selected MY North Carolina Tarheels to win the NCAA Championship. The president stated that he liked the Tarheels because they had experience and balance. Once again, with this selection our commander in chief was right!

Dear Mr. President I salute you! Not only are you the most powerful man in the world, but you’re on point with your sports sh*t!

Doggone Good Year

12Kyle's Favorite sports moment from 2009?

Was it seeing my Yankees win the championship? No...but it was a close second

Was it seeing the Flakers win the NBA Title? Um...NOT!

My favorite moment happened over an entire football season. It was a season that started in the brutal heat of the summer of 2009. While I sat at my desk under the cool air conditioning, this team sweat and pushed their bodies to the limit during "unsupervised team workouts. " While I sat on the couch and watched ESPN, this team pushed themselves through their summer school classes.

I got a chance to see them play their first game. The game was played in the Citrus Bowl before a nationally televised audience on ESPN. It was 95 degrees that day in Orlando. I know...because I was there! I had to see for myself if this team was as good as people said they were. And they were.

The team that I came to see was the South Carolina State University Bulldogs.

My alma mater.

Not only did I go to school there, I played football there from 1991-1995. In 1994, we won our conference title (10-2; undefeated in conference play)...the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and were crowned the Black College National Champions. This year's team was trying to do something that teams that I played on could do...repeat as conference champions. SC State had won the MEAC title last season and was picked to win it again. People said that we had the talent to do it. I had to see the team for myself. Could they achieve greatness???

The season began on that hot day in Florida on Sept 5. We were facing the Grambling Tigers. Grambling had won the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) the previous year. Both teams were squaring off in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Both teams were ranked nationally and were #1 (SC State) and #2 (Grambling) in the black college polls.

SC State beat Grambling that day in a close game 38-35. It was the beginning of a record breaking season for SC State. The Bulldogs went on to win the MEAC conference title again by going undefeated. SC State has a record 19 consecutive victories versus conference opponents. SC State's only regular season loss came at the hands of the University of South Carolina in a hard fought loss.

If you went to an HBCU (historically black college and university), you know about the PRIDE that we have in our schools. The pride runs very deep. To say that I am proud of my alma mater would be an understatement. I love South Carolina State University. I'm a Bulldog for life. I will always be a Bulldog. So, my allegiance to my school is deeper than pride.

SC State finished the season by advancing to the FCS Championship Playoffs (formerly Division I-AA) for the second straight year. And for the second straight year we played Appalachian State. And for the second straight year, we lost to them. This year we lost a heartbreaker 20-13.

Nevertheless, I am happy as well as proud of my alma mater. They have done things that many people didn't believe that they could do. We are slowly becoming a dynasty.

If you don't think we'll be champions again next year...bet against us!


Kyle Dowling

12kyle@gmail.com
http://the12planet.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/@12kyle
12kyle@sistasports.com

Smarty's Most Memorable Sports Moment '09

Under normal circumstances, I am not a fan of country club sports. In golf and tennis, there's no contact. There won't be any bodies crashing into each other pursuit of the ball or points. There's just the athlete and the sport. It's a mind game, really, like watching somebody play Chess on TV.
But this year has proven to be exciting for two country club sport athletes in particular. Of course Tiger Woods is fresh on our minds because it just happened. But I want to go back a few months for this moment.
On Day 13 of the 15-day long US Open for tennis, Serena Williams went ape shit on a line judge for calling a foot fault. Let's watch:

Guest Blogger Dre Baldwin's Most Memorable Sports Moment of 2009

The sports story of the year decade wasn't even a goddamn sports story.
We all know what happened: Tiger Woods crashed his SUV. His wife "saved" him from the truck before the cops arrived, with a conveniently handy golf club.
Then the tabloids took control.
Tiger f*cked this chick. She denied it but no one really cared about her.
Hey, Tiger f*cked this one, too!
OK, Tiger definitely f*cked this broad -- he even left her a voice mail with his name on it!! And on & on it went (goes?).

My intention when the story first hit America over its collective head was to not even write or comment about it -- essentially this is a private, family situation (not that I wouldn't write about one that so moved me, but this one didn't -- and doesn't). No laws broken, no court dates, no criminal activity. And I think a large percentage of folks wouldn't give a damn about it either had it not involved the highest net-worth athlete in the history of history.

What surprised me, but at the same time didn't surprise me, was how so many people, both on TV and common folk (Tweeters and Facebookers, I'm looking at you), were so quick to jump on their high horses and talk down on Tiger Woods -- just how disgusting and terrible a man he had been exposed to being.

• The grass-must-be-green-over-there group:  'If I had a Swedish model for a wife and a billion dollars, I'd be good and happy for life! What a fool!'

• The appalled women group: 'Why even get married if you're gonna cheat??? Tiger is despicable. I hate him!'

• The I'd-never-be-that-dumb male group: 'This fool left his name on the voice mail. He ain't have no hush money for these hoes?
  

• And the most incredulous of them all -- The self-righteous males who just couldn't understand how Tiger could do such a thing: 'Tiger needs to step away from golf and get his life together... He has disgraced his wife, kids parents and family!... The PGA should suspend him!... Why did Tiger's friends not tell him not to do that???... Tiger has absolutely no respect for the holy sacrament of marriage!'

It is never smart, in my opinion, to get to spewing opinions on another person/ couple's private situations, no matter how public they become. Even if it's your job to do so -- it is completely within your rights as a sports TV person (and you'll keep your job) to say, "This is obviously a big story, but it's really none of our business. Let the Enquirers and US Weeklys dig in. Let Tiger deal with his family, and we will jump right on it when he starts swinging golf clubs again." There were a few talking heads who did take this route in their own way, notably Jason Whitlock  of the KC Star.
All that aside, dammit, this was easily the sports story of the year -- albeit with no points scored, no whistles blown, and no Gatorade bath at the final buzzer. Just trending topics, after-the-fact analysis, and a long off-season for a guy who rarely loses.
--
Mr. Dre Baldwin
www.DreAllDay.com
Twitter.com/DreAllDay
Facebook.com/DreBaldwin

Usher does promo for NBA All-Star 2010

I love this promo... every part of it. Check it out!

Guest Blogger Terita Murphy's Fav Sports Moment of 2009

And there it was, late on a cold November night, my beloved Yankees were charging the mound to celebrate their 27th World Series.

That was for me, the greatest sports moment of 2009. After watching them get shellacked opening weekend, have more downs than ups and finally right the ship at the right time, beating the Phillies (in six-just as I had predicted) was the sweetest feeling I've had in years.

Of course I was super happy for the "core four" who were picking up that one for the thumb, but it was really great to see the reactions of the "first timers" and the "just happened to be here" guys.

In spite of my beefs with Joe Girardi's erratic pitching changes and random (read: wtf are you thinking?!?!) moves, it all worked out in the end, and seeing it all end around Mo? Perfect.

Name: Terita Murphy
Blogs: sportnista.blogspot.com
I also cover the Jets for chicksinthehuddle.com and gridirongals.com
I also write sports for parlourmagazine.com

And my twitter is @IAMLADYBUG
Sunshine. Moonlight. Good times. Boogie.