The Resurgence of Duke Football.

The year was 1930. Famed University of Alabama coach Wallace Wade leaves Tuscaloosa and becomes the new head football coach at Duke University.  Wade's success in Durham culminated with a final AP (Associcated Press) ranking of #2 for the 1941 season, and a football stadium on Duke's campus that bares his name.  Duke University actually enjoyed great football success during the first half of the 19th century.  Duke captured 10 Southen Conference titles and 6 ACC titles; with the final coming in 1962 under head coach Bill Murray.  After head coach Bill Murray's tenure, let's just say Duke Football went from Sugar to S#%t.  The next 27 years was an exercise in futility for Duke football.  Four different coaches: Tom Harp, Mike McGee, Shirley Wilson, and Steve Sloan, complied a total record of 88-133-6.

Futile indeed; then along came Steve Spurrier. Suddenly, Duke was winning  football games again. 1989's ACC Championship season was Duke's first in over 25 years.  Head Coach Steve Spurrier road that success to his Alma Mata (University of Florida) and again Duke Football fell off the map.  

Fast foward 23 years. Duke compiled one winning season (1994) and went through 4 more head coaches:  Barry Wilson, Fred Goldsmith, Carl Franks and  Ted Roof.  Duke was a University with so much success in all other sports, but had quite possibly the worst football program in the country.  It would take a special coach to bring this program back from the dead; insert David Cutcliff.  Cutcliff had spent many successful years as an assistant at The University of Tennesee and as Head Coach at Ole Miss.  Prior to Cutcliff's arrival in 2007; Duke had not only stopped winning game, but they weren't even competitive while loosing.  Coach Cut set out to change that.  Duke still had losing records under Cutcliff in his first four seasons; but he had succeeded in changing the culture of non-competitive football.  2012 was somewhat of a breakout year for Cutcliff and the Blue Devils.  Duke started the season 6-2; with the 6th win coming against arch rival UNC, making the Blue Devils bowl eligible for the first time since 1994.  Unfortunately; Duke proceeded to lose their next 6 games, including a crushing defeat in the Belk Bowl to Cincinnati.  Nevertheless, progress was being made on the gridiron in Durham.  Cutcliff was building a competitive program that actually participated during college football's bowl season.  

The 2013 football season begin with Duke being picked to finish dead last in the ACC's coastal divison.  Duke was replacing senior QB Sean Renfree and WR Conner Vernon from a 6-7 team.  After a 2-2 start; with two of the losses being conference games, something happened.  Duke started to win, and they haven't stopped.  The 2013 Blue Devils have done what many pundits thought the impossible. Cut's boys have rattled off an incredible 8 straight victories.  Four home wins and an improbable four road wins.  The four road wins were all comeback victories, which makes this run all the more impressive.  8 teams that now realize that Duke Football is for real: Troy, Navy, UVA, VATech, NC State, University of Miami, Wake Forest, and lastly those Tarheels in Chapel Hill.  Duke's Victory Bell win this past Saturday in Chapel Hill catapulted them to ACC Coastal Division Champions; and a spot in The ACC Championship game Dec. 7th.  Duke will play heavily favored Florida State, and not many will give the Blue Devils a chance to win.  Win, loose, or draw; Duke Football has had a resurgent season. Congrats to Coach Cut and the Boys for making the impossible, possible.  

Raleigh North Carolina, Home of the Hurricanes.

One would think that Raleigh North Carolina would be the least likely destination for a professional Hockey team. This is Tobacco Road. College basketball is king in this part of the country.  The UNC Tarheels, Duke Blue Devils, and NC State Wolfpack all call the triangle home. These three schools have won a combined (11) national titles in men's basketball.  My question to you is this.  How can a Hockey team flourish and become champions in a place were the roundball outweighs the hockey puck?  Before I give you that answer, I'll give you a short history lesson on The Carolina Hurricanes. 

The Carolina Hurricanes where born The New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association in 1971. The Whalers joined the National Hockey League as part of the WHA-NHL merger in 1979.  The Whalers played in Hartford Connecticut, which was the smallest american market in the NHL.  Peter Karmonos Jr. purchased The Whalers in 1994 and a franchise move seemed eminent. So where would the Whalers call their new home?  Surely a Midwestern city and state
where hockey is traditionally played would be the ideal destination for Karmonos' new team.  Not quite. Karmonas moved his team to Raleigh North Carolina and renamed them The Carolina Hurricanes.

With the new arena in Raleigh ( EA Sports Arena) not yet finished, the Hurricanes played their first two seasons at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro NC.  Only a small legion of "Caniacs" would make the 90 minute drive from Raleigh to support the team, so attendance an issue  When The EA Sports Arena finally opened in for the 1999-2000 season; The Hurricanes were fresh off of a playoff appearance, so expectations were high. Although the Hurricanes missed the playoffs that year, fan support in Raleigh was tremendous.  The next two seasons would see additional playoff runs and a NHL Finals appearence in the 01-02 season.  Finally, "Canes" had arrived. Raleigh North Carolina had embraced NHL hockey; culminating with a Stanley Cup Championship in the 05-06 season.  

I've been to my fair share of Carolina Hurricane hockey games.  The atmosphere is electric and the action is non stop.  I've watched players like: Ron Francis, Rod Brind'amour, Jeff O'Neil, Eric Cole, and Eric Staal grace the ice in Raleigh. The name on the building has changed from: The EA Sports Arena, The RBC Center, and now PNC Arena. Through it all the Hurricane fanbase has been exceptional and loyal.  Raleigh North Carolina; home of NHL Hockey, and home of The Hurricanes.  Wow!  Who would have ever thought that "country folk" would love hockey?

Man, why are ya'll still hatin on Bron?

The start of another NBA season is upon us, and the two time defending champions Miami Heat are still the most hated team in the League.  Led by the big three of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh; the Heat have a strangle hold on the National Basketball Association.  America loves a winner, or so I thought.  No current team creates feelings on opposite sides of the spectrum like the Miami Heat. Either you love Miami or you loath them.  Lebron James is unquestionably the best basketball player on the planet. James was once a beloved homegrown hero; (Akron Ohio) drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 1st pick in 2003 NBA draft.  James has become a polarizing figure in the NBA.  His star has rocketed, starting with him earning rookie of the year honors for the 2004 season.  Seven seasons later Lebron had become: a league MVP, multiple times an allstar, and all NBA player.  The awards piled up but one accomplishment eluded James, a NBA championship. James felt like a change of scenery and two allstar players, (Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh) could help him become a champion.  James became a free agent in the summer of 2010 and chose to sign with the Miami Heat. This announcement was aired on live television; in what was dubbed, The Decision.  This was the start of the "Bron Hate." In an instant;  Lebron went from beloved superstar, to hated traitor.  Never mind that James' free agency allowed him to decide his prefered destination.  Nevermind that The Decision helped to raise over 6 million dollars for the Boys and Girls Clubs across America.  Despite the national backlash over leaving Cleveland, Lebron and the Miami Heat roared into the 2010-11 NBA playoffs. The Heat made NBA finals but lost to Dallas in 6 games after having a 2-1 series lead.  

James had a finals series that he'd love to forget and the hate continued. Critics and fans alike said that James had no heart; that he shrunk in the big moments.  The pressure was on James to perform and he has: leading Miami to back to back NBA championships the last two seasons, earning finals MVP both seasons, and also winning the league MVP in back to back seasons.  Lebron James is now a two time NBA champion who is in the prime of his career.  Instead on hate, we should appreciate his artistry.  I know a few "Bron" haters.  No matter what he does or how many championships he may win, he'll never be MJ. This is true; but with a face like this I ask, Man why y'all still hatin on Bron?

Ladies, let your man watch the game in peace...

Okay my good people, I'm back in this female dog.  Football season is in full bloom, like a precious flower waiting to be cultivated.  Across this great nation of ours: men gather in front of their big screen tv's, beer in hand, and chicken         wings sizzling in a deep fryer.  Our favorite teams take the field with a singular goal, to WIN.  We cheer, yell, and even scream at the tv during a close game.  Let me paint a Picaso for you.  Its's the 4th quater and your favorite team is down by 6.  A touchdown and extra point will win the game.  It's 4th and goal at the 5 yard line and your team is out of timeouts.  You're glued to the tv, when all of a sudden your woman comes in the living asking you arbitrary questions about last nights episode of Scandel.  This my friends is what we call a football vibe killer.  Luckily for me, my wife loves football, and will watch a game without killing my football vibe.  For some of my male brethren, this is not the case.  When will women learn that the particular game that their man is watching at that particular moment is the most important thing EVER???  Ok I'm being a bit facetious but seriously, 4th and goal is not the time to tell me what your best friend said about your other best friend on the phone.  Ladies, we men folk don't bother you while you're watching Project Runway.  We men let you ladies enjoy Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum in peace.  All we ask is the same courtesy in return. I garauntee you ladies a long and happy relationship if you let your man watch his sports without interruption. I had a girlfriend who let me watch the game uninterrupted.  That girlfriend just became my Wife. Hashtag, don't hate!!!!

How do you spell greatness? Venus and Serena.

JWebster's Dictionary defined greatness as: greatness

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 exceptionally high quality <a poet whose work is of enduring greatness>

Venus and Serena Williams personify the word greatness.  The two sisters from Compton California have redefined the game of women's tennis; while winning hundreds of titles and earning millions of dollars along the way.  Both Williams sisters turned professional at the tender age of 14; Venus in 1994 and Serena in 1995.  Venus has won 7 Grand Slam titles' (2 US Open, 5 Wimbledon). Serena has eclipsed her older sister's 7 Grand Slam titles' with and astounding 17 of her own (5 US Open, 5 Wimbledon, 5 Austrailian, 2 French.)  Both women have enjoyed long stretches of being the world's top ranked player. Serena is currently ranked #1 in the world and is fresh off a 2013 US Open Championship.  The Williams sisters have sustained excellence, while many of their contemporaries have long since fallen by the wayside.  I can clearly remember a time when either Venus or Serena were alternating winning every tournament.  Their dominance of womens tennis can hardly be rivaled in the annals of sports history.  Throughout their years as pro's, there have been challengers to said dominance.  Martina Hingis, Kim Clisters, Lindsay Davenport, and Justine Henin: all were rivals and contenders to the Williams sisters.  Those aforementioned women did have huge success; with Henin winning the same amount of majors (7) as Venus Williams.  Venus and Serena made women elevate their games to heights previously never seen.  Women's tennis players either had to get better or get ran over by the Williams sisters.  The Williams sisters faught hard for equal purse earnings for the WTA, (Women's Tennis Association) as the men's side.  Because of the Williams sisters greatness; female tennis athletes are just as, if not more popular, and wealthy as their male counterparts. The Williams sisters are still going strong into their 30's, but one must believe that it can't last forever.  The next time you're channel surfing; and you flick past a women's tennis match involving Venus or Serena, stop. For you have stumbled upon GREATNESS..

The New "American Pastime"

Ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of the year.  FOOTBALL is back!!!! High School, College, and Pro football games(that count) will begin this week.  America's Obsession with the NFL is at a an all time high.  Fantasy football leagues are popping up on computer screens more than zits on a 13 year olds face.  There are billion dollar football stadiums rising from the earth in Dallas (Cowboy Stadium), and San Francisco (Levi's Stadium).  The profits for NFL merchandising are astronomical. According to The Licensing Letter, a New York based trade publication, The NFL exceeded 3 billion dollars is merchandise sales last year.  That figure will most certainly grow in 2013.  NFL games air; Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, on 4 different networks throughout the season.  ESPN devotes more of their resources towards the NFL than any other sport. The NFL fans viewing experience is enhanced by the NFL Network and NFL Redzone.  The spectacle that is the Superbowl leads to epic parties, filled with more wings and dip that can possibly be consumed by mere mortals.  But I digress.  How and when did the NFL become "America's new Pastime?"  Some may point the the ugly Major League Baseball strike of 1994; which allowed the NFL to be the the center of the sports world.  Was it the diminishing interest in the original gladiator sport, Pro Boxing? I dint think you can't pinpoint the moment when the NFL became "America's new Pastime."  I liken it to falling in love with a beautiful woman.  You can't pinpoint the moment when you fell in love, you just know.  America is way past the lust phase when it comes to the NFL.  America didn't just get the NFL pregnant, we married it too.  So;

as we draw closer to opening weekend in the NFL, I just would like to say.  Go 9ers!!!!!

The cash cow; better known as college football

Collegiate athletics consist of two types of sports;  Revenue and non-revenue.  The Revenue Sports are football and Men's basketball. These two sports generally fund the entire athletic departments at major universities. College basketball while popular, doesn't produce monetarily like college football does.  The Cash Cow; known as College Football,  rules the land.  College football is religion in certain parts of America.  In Alabama where there are no professional sports teams, college football is king.  Between The University of Alabama and Auburn University; the state of Alabama has the last 3 national championships in football.  The University of Nebraska has a rich tradition in college football as well. The Cornhuskers have national championship pedigree and rich tradition on the gridiron. These are just two examples of places in America where college football is king.  Excessive demand and rabid fan bases of major universities; have allowed The 5 major conferences to cash in with extremely lucrative TV deals. The 5 major conferences are: The SEC,(South Eastern Conference) The ACC, (Atlantic Coast Conference) The PAC 12, (Pacific 12) The Big 12, and the Big 10.  These five conferences have signed TV rights deals in excess of 15 Billion dollars.  The insane popularity of college football is the catalyst for these huge tv contracts.  Olympic sports such as swimming/diving, and soccer are funded by universities with the revenue from the cash cow; college football.  Lucrative TV contract allow conferences to evenly distribute wealth among their member schools.  The cash cow; college football keeps athletic departments afloat.  Revenue from college football makes it possible for universities to have bowling teams, and to my surprise bass fishing teams.   College football is the de facto minor league of the Most popular professional Sport; The NFL.  The NFL is a cash WHALE, but being a cash cow is such a bad thing either.  

Performance Enhancing Drugs in Baseball. Does anyone still care?

The latest performance enhancing drug scandal to hit Major League Baseball has me wondering, does anyone still care?  Baseball is a game of numbers and statistics.  Batting average, home runs, RBI's, steals. These are all stats that baseball purest hold near and dear to their hearts. The names: Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Hammering Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, and Willie Mays.  All mythical in baseball lore.  Those names are just a few of the all time greats to ever play baseball.  All of these players compiled hall of fame numbers; presumably free of any performance enhancing substances.

Baseball purist would argue; the players of today could never be of the same stature as the players of baseball's golden years. Purest would argue; PED's have tarnished the record books of "America's Pastime." Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were two of the greatest players of their generation. Neither player ever failed a drug test, but everyone presumes that they "juiced." Both players have hall of fame statistics, but the cloud of PED's hover over their career's.  Clemens has 354 career wins as a pitcher.  Bonds has a major league record 762 career home runs.  That record was previously held by the aforementioned Hank Aaron.  These numbers are etched into baseball's record books.  Both Clemensand Bonds statistics were most likely obtained with the aid of PED's. My question is; does anyone really care?  MLB refuses to change any statistic held by any alleged; or proven PED user.  Baseball fans are knumb to the issue of PED's at this point.  I've been a Baltimore Oriole fan my entire life. Two of my favorite Orioles players growing up were Brady Anderson and Rapheal Palmeiro. Both players "juiced" in their primes.  Ask me if I care.  Not in the least!  All I remember are the home runs they (Anderson & Palmeiro) hit to deep center in Camden Yards.  I'm not a purist.  I wasn't heartbroken to find out Alex Rodriguez used PED's for most if his career. A-Rod's has over 600 career home runs.  Who knows how many of those homers were aided by his PED use.  News flash MLB.  Most Americans are to busy thinking about fantasy football to even pay attention to this latest PED revelation.  Baseball is #3 in the hearts and minds of Americans.  In the famous words of Ricky Bobby.  "If you ain't first, then you're last." So again I ask; PED's and baseball, does anyone still care?

How sports changed the world, yet it remains the same.

The world we live in can, and has been divisive since the beginning of time.  Race, class, sex, religion, etc.  All these things separate us.  We all belong to one race, the human race.  The human race can be cold and callus, yet loving and caring.  Hateful and hopeless, yet strong and resilient.  This is the conundrum of life.  The things I listed previously that should bring us together, often times tear us apart.  So, what does bring people together in a way that race or religion can't?  SPORTS!  Some artifacts and structure suggest that the Chinese engaged in sporting events as early as 2000 BC.  From the Ancient Olympic Games to our modern games, different people have come together to participate on SPORTS.  Sports has always been ahead of main stream society in terms of integration and exclusiveness.  Jack Johnson was heavyweight boxing champion of the world, during a post civil war America.  Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball while blacks in America were lynched and segregated against.  Former female tennis star Martina Navratilova came out publicly as as a lesbian in 1981 during the height of anti-gay sentiment.   All of these amazing athletes were pioneers of change not only in sports, but the world.  Society can be slow to make change.  I've always thought that sports and those who play them understood the need for change and progression.  We've  come a long way as a society because sports has shown us how to live and play TOGETHER.  As I type this, I'm looking at a YouTube video of the first Black President of the United States(Barack Obama).  50 years ago no one could even image a black president of our good ole USA.  Don't get me wrong, inequalities still remain.  So much of the world has chaged since the times of Earl Lloyd, the first black NBA player for the Washington Capitals in 1950.  So much has changed, yet so much remains the same.  

Daimeon S. Banks