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SPORTS LAW PAPERS
The practice of law has been very good to BurtsVille over the years. So has BurtsVille's experience teaching classes at Quinnipiac University. Both Chris and Ned have combined for almost thirty years of teaching legal classes at Quinnipiac University in the Para-Legal Studies Program.
Two years ago I was asked to teach a Sports Law Class every other year in the spring. The spring of 2009 is the second year of this class. It is a fun topic, something I love, and the students take a real liking to it (but perhaps not to me!) I have asked each class to prepare Decade Papers and other papers on sports related topics. I am going to publish some in BurtsVille. I hope you find them interesting and informative.
While I have the utmost respect for my students, BurtsVille takes no responsibility for what is in these papers. BurtsVille takes no responsibilities for any inaccuracies of any kind, any statements made in same and does not vouch for the accuracy or varacity of the information contained therein. And those last two sentences is what my parents paid all that money for way back when for my law school education.
A Final Diving Play Death of a Baseball Great BIG ED DELAHANTY HAS HIS FINAL AT BAT Jeremiah Baba-Pagano 1-29-09 The life, career and tragic death of Edward James Delahanty will be remembered for many centuries. As an early 20th century Major League Baseball player he lived the dream life of so many young men. Nicknamed Big Ed, Delahanty lived the life of a bachelor with a rouge spirit and a talent that has rarely been seen in over a century since his death. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. Delahanty finished 16 seasons with a career batting average of .346, 101 Home Runs, 1,464 RBIs, and 2,596 hits. According to records he was a spirited young man that seemed full of life, and excited to be alive. Although he had fame, talent, and a bachelor lifestyle that may seem as bright as a pearl, as with any tragic story Big Ed Delahanty had a much macabre private life then the public knew. As a maverick, Ed was the man he wanted to be and he never let any thing inhibit his life. Those closest to Ed state that he was a heavy drinker, the sinful indulgence he craved the most ultimately led to his death…or murder? On the night of July 2, 1903 Ed Delahanty was on the Michigan Central train from
Delahanty had an open razor and was terrifying others in the sleeper. “When the train stopped at Bridgeburg Cole did not deliver Delahanty up to a constable, as the Canadian police say he should have done. He simply put him off the train,” Ed Delahanty’s Obituary as appeared in The New York Times on July 10, 1903. This where the story gets interesting, after Delahanty was off of the train he started to walk across the International Bridge, a night watchmen attempted to stop the obviously inebriated man but was pushed aside and Ed continued on his way. Presumably soon after that Delahanty either stumbled or jumped off the bridged, although there are no eyewitnesses to confirm what truly happened. We do not know what the actual events were, but one thing is certain Ed’s body did wash ashore the next morning at the lower falls. This story may seem straight forward as a tragic accident but there are certain facts that hint at foul play. The most peculiar feature is that Ed’s body did not wash up alone. Found just a few yards from Delahanty was a, still, female unidentified body. Along with this strange “coincidence” there are reports on file that state a mysterious man following Delahanty across the bridge. Also the razor that Delahanty was brandishing on the train was never found. Whether this was or was not a murder the legal and justice system back then was much different than today’s. Although there were facts that this may not have been a suicide nor an accident, but cold-blooded murder, no full-scale investigation was launched. In today’s era we, as a society, place a premium on our entertainers. If any hint of foul play is presented, it will be on every front page of every major syndicated newspaper in the country and a D.A. will be looking to make a name and an icon for his career. Although a large investigation would be erected and many investigators and media attention would help solve the case, would the rest of the murder and crime cases suffer? So I leave you, the reader, with one question does one man’s life deserve more attention, just because he has a natural athletic talent?
Patriots Mouthguard Gerald Maher developed a mouth guard to help prevent concussions to NFL players and even high school and collegiate level players. Mahercor Labaroties is the company that is responsible for the product and now has sparked a lot of controversy and inters in this project. Player’s brains have been damaged and forced them to retire and even to be having terminal damage done to their brains. An article was written by Pauline Duffy on the NFL and the concussion prevention, “If a simple mouthguard can prevent concussions, Why isn’t the NFL all over it?”. The article talks about how the NFL doesn’t want to make connections regarding on field injuries and problems to health in players futures or even current health status. They clearly don’t want to be held liable to their possible involvement in these injuries. It doesn’t make sense why they wouldn’t do something extra to prevent it considering its cost and the procedure is simple. Individual players in the NFL who are aware of Maher’s product are allowed to use it at their own discretion but the league overall has shown little to no interest in the product. The article discusses one large point and all sports players in all sports should know: “I wonder when the players in the NFL will learn that waiting for the league to put its stamp of approval on something could jeopardize their health”. Its interesting that the company that invented this pushed for years to get the NFL to bite this product, and finally the commissioner decided to set up a meeting in “‘This stuff is so simple,’’ he said. ‘‘It makes so much sense. When I explain this to another dentist, they’ll say, ‘It’s just logical.’ I know. I’m not this great scientist that has invented nuclear physics here. It’s pure biomechanics.’’
Several steps have been taking by the NFL to prevent players from obtaining concussions during play. For example, the use of a chin strap on helmets has become mandatory as it “directly contributes to concussions because of the positioning of the jaw and the likelihood that the bone will strike the temporal lobe of the brain” and the concussion policy which prevents athletes from returning to the field if their health may be in danger (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-duffy/if-a-simple-mouthguard-ca_b_137053.html). However, mouth guards are becoming more prevalent in preventing this possibly fatal injury. The newest development in preventing concussion injuries is a mouthguard developed Mahercor Laboratories, LLC with the help of the New England Patriots' team dentist Gerald Maher (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-duffy/if-a-simple-mouthguard-ca_b_137053.html). This mouth guard is designed to prevent hits taking to the chin which may bring direct force to the brain. John Hannah, a player on the Patriots, gives his testimonial regarding the product directly on the Mahercor website. Hannah states, “I use the Maher mouth guard during games and training. It reduces my stress, increases my endurance, and creates a sense of relaxation during my performance. I don’t have to waste energy flexing my jaw and trying to keep the mouthpiece in while I’m playing” (http://www.mahercorlabs.com). The development of this product, according to Mahercor, has significantly reduced the amount of concussions as no player has ever contracted a concussion after receiving a hit to their jaw while wearing the Maher mouthpiece. The development of this product has allowed the “New England Patriots to have the lowest number of recorded concussions in the NFL” (http://www.mahercorlabs.com/pdf/aaop.pdf).
“Marvelous” Marvin, The Could this be the end of sports related concussions?
Concussions might seem like a minor injury in full contact sports such as football, boxing, or hockey, but suffering several concussions can cause severe brain trauma and even death. A concussion occurs when the head accelerates rapidly and is stopped or spun suddenly; however the brain, which is floating in cerebrospinal fluid, continues to move or is shaken[1]. Some symptoms include headaches, dizziness, loss of balance, vomiting, and loss of consciousness, but such symptoms are not always present when someone suffers a concussion. So in 1980, the famous boxer Marvin “Marvelous” Hagler consulted his When Dr. Maher was consulted by Hagler about his problem, the dental specialist had a simple answer for the professional pugilist. The alignment of the human jaw made some people more susceptible to concussions more than others. All that was needed was a specially fitted mouth guard that kept the jaw in the correct spot, which prevented an athlete from being knocked out more easily. Maher's mouth guards are designed to keep an athletes jawbone and temporal mandibular joint properly aligned to absorb the force of a blow which would otherwise rattle the brain and cause a concussion[3]. Despite the remarkable moldings of Dr. Maher's mouth guards, every professional and amateur sport has yet to make the piece of equipment mandatory. At the turn of the century, about five percent of college athletes suffered concussions a season, and as the playing field has become more fierce and the diagnose of concussions has become more accurate, about fifty percent of collegiate athletes in 2005 have had a history of concussions. Even more alarming, the 2005 study by the Comprehensive Neuropsychological Specialists had concluded that one in every ten high school students that played contact sports sustained a concussion each year[4]. As of 2006, the National Football League acknowledged that Dr. Maher's specially fitted mouth guards may help prevent concussions, but feel that more testing is necessary before making the piece of equipment mandatory. Statistics have shown that concussions and brain trauma are more severe for NFL players in high-impact positions, such as receivers, special teams, and linebacker personnel. Fortunately, this has not stopped some teams from employing the service of Dr. Maher and his revolutionary device. The New England Patriots are one of the NFL's most historic and successful franchises in the game of football, and have been accredited with introducing new aspects to the game whether it be play calling or innovating equipment. When the organization learned of Dr. Maher's findings, they did not hesitate in seeking the services of the dentist, and was officially hired as the team dentist in 1979. In today's contemporary game of football, the velocity and force behind the hits has resulted in more and more concussions. Famed New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet was forced to retire after suffering his ninth severe concussion of his career. As of 2006, two-thirds of the New England Patriot players had been specially fitted with the device, and no concussions were reported by the team in the first year of the equipments use while the league recorded a little over one hundred that year[5]. In fact, every athlete that Dr. Maher had fitted for the special device had yet to sustain a concussion as of 2006. Concussion awareness and the works of Dr. Maher has even reached the realm of new age sports like the World Wrestling Entertainment. The Since Dr. Maher introduced his innovative mouth guards to the New England Patriots and other professional athletes, a heightened awareness about the seriousness of concussions and head trauma has risen in all levels of athletics. The result of numerous concussions or severe head trauma can lead to future brain damage, loss of motor skills, and even the risk of death. Through the work and design of Dr. Maher, all of the athletes that have been fitted with his specially formed equipment have yet to sustain a concussion, but no professional sport has yet to make the device mandatory. Will contact sports see a decline in concussions, or will the revolutionary device remain sidelined? [1]Definition of concussion of the brain. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13166. [2]Reed, Keith. With mouthpiece, dentist tackles concussions: NFL says more evidence is needed. [3]Ibid. read@globe.com. [4]Sports Concussion. CSN. http://www.cns-neuropsychology.com/sports-concussion.shtm.%20Jan.%2025, 2009. [5]Reed, Keith. With mouthpiece, dentist tackles concussions: NFL says more evidence is needed. [6]Csonka, Larry.
Agents are often responsible for their players’ well-being, contract negotiations, and many aspects of their daily life. However, sometimes an agent fails to comply with the demands of the athlete and end up being sued by their former players. One of these agents is Lance Luchnick, sued by Charles Barkley. Barkley lost all of his money due to a series of bad investments made by Luchnick. “Luchnick presented him with a number of grand money-making schemes, including investing in a cattle ranch.” (http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2005/06/26/nothing_but_debt/). All of Luchnick’s investments failed and Barkley was sued because he was still making money as a NBA player. Barkley chose to sue Luchnick and won a $5 million judgment. However, Luchnick had previously filed for bankruptcy leaving Barkley with nothing. Another agent that was sued by a former player is David K. Parker and his agency Links Sports Management Group. Parker was sued by golfer, David Toms. Toms was “looking to terminate his contract and seeking money Toms says he was never paid for sponsorships.” (http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/yeartodate/news05/toms2.html). The lawsuit claims “breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty -- not looking out for Toms' best interest -- and seeks the termination of the contract and compensatory damages with interest.” The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court. The final example of agents being sued by a former player are Mark Gandler and Todd Diamond, sports agents for the New Jersey Patrik Elias. The agents are being sued “claiming fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary responsibility and agent malpractice.”(http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/111937) Elias is asking $2 million in damages after allegedly being convinced to invest in two restaurants. The money did not go to the restaurants but instead to “two limited liability corporations organized by Gandler and Diamond.” Gandler and Diamond deny all charges and plan to fight to get the charges dropped.
Major League Baseball – The Mightiest Sports Monopoly
Doug Stamp As a sports fan, especially baseball, have you ever wondered why the New York Yankees can spend more money on their team then the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Tampa Bay Rays spend on their ball clubs combined? Unlike its mainstream counter parts, such as hockey, basketball, and football, Major League Baseball is the only professional sport that remains exempt from the Sherman Antitrust Act, which means that teams and owners do not have to meet the standards of a salary cap, and can spend as much or as little money on their players and coaches. The main reason for this exemption is rooted during the era which the game became popularized at the beginning of the twentieth century when labor laws in the The Sherman Antitrust Act was designed at the beginning of the twentieth century as the government’s way of combating the wealthy monopolies that exploited workers and the American public. Rich barons like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller took the idea of American capitalism to a different level when they cornered their respective markets and strong armed all of their competition into submission. The Federal League began in 1913 and openly challenged the two major baseball leagues, the American and National Leagues, by luring many of their top players into the newly formed organization. In 1914, the Federal League filed an antitrust lawsuit against the existing leagues and the Major Leagues responded with a series of lawsuits against the newly created league with the hopes of driving up their expenses and bankrupting the organization. The Federal League filed their case in a Northern District of Illinois court where Judge Kennesaw Landis, who was well known for strong antitrust rulings, presided over the trial. Landis was known at the time for his tough stance against the Standard Oil Trust in 1907, but unfortunately for the Federal League, Landis was also a very big baseball fan. The judge knew that he delayed the case long enough, that both sides would eventually come to a settlement, which happened shortly after the end of the 1915. The major league owners and the Federal League owners were able to reach a settlement except for one Federal team, the Baltimore Terrapins, who would hold out and eventually take the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court in 1922, where the court ruled that major league baseball was exempt from the provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The court ruled that baseball did not constitute interstate trade, thus it did not have to comply with the federal antitrust act. The major league owners were so impressed with the way Landis handled the matter that he later became the leagues first commissioner. Any true baseball fan or analyst will agree that if Landis had ruled against the major leagues, than the game of baseball would be completely different today in terms of the economics and revenues generated by baseball clubs. These aspects of the game would have been greatly affected if clubs had to abide by a salary cap, but whether or not the game would have been negatively or positively impacted is a question that will never be answered. The legal precedent established by Landis and upheld by future judges that exempt the sport from the Sherman Antitrust Act created one of the mightiest monopolies in the history of sports. Acknowledgements: All of the material pertaining to the Federal Baseball League, its lawsuit, and Judge Kenesaw Landis came from notes and lectures by Professors Mark and Larry Levine – History of Baseball: Quinnipiac University Spring 2008.
MacKenzie Liptak February 12, 2009 According to Forbes, athletes are not only rich because of their talent; they bring in the dollars through large endorsement contracts too. Forbes athletes earned a collective $702.4 million in just one year. When it came to endorsement deals, 12 out of 25 athletes on Forbes list have a deal with the Beaverton, Ore. –based company. The article on Forbes then goes on to boast about the Nike Corporation as a profound sports marketing consulting firm. “Nike is perhaps the most ubiquitous and sophisticated marketer in the sports world today,” said Dean Bonham, chief executive of the Bonham Group. Bonham continues by saying that, Nike has not only been able to attach themselves with athletes who have become celebrities, but that they have also been able to create athletic celebrities. Nike’s line up of celebrity athletes ranges from Tiger Woods, Maria Sharapova, LeBron James, Derek Jeter and Ronaldo, just to list a few. The company will not admit what they pay to endorse names like this, but it obviously cannot be cheap. Tiger Woods has become the world’s highest paid athlete, with large thanks to Nike, earns $87 million in just twelve months. Forbes believes Woods has what it takes to be marketable. He is articulate, attractive, clean-cut and most importantly scandal free! According to David Carter, professor of sports business at the University of Southern California, “It boils down to whether an athlete has charisma, believability and the ability to communicate,” and Professor Carter says Tiger Woods has it all. However, not all athletes make millions through Nike. After ten years with the corporation, tennis star Andre Agassi signed a multi-year endorsement deal with rival Adidas in July 2005. And the best paid non-Nike athlete is Formula One driver Michael Schumacher. This racing legend earned $60 million, due to his talent and his sizable check from sponsor Ferrari. It is obvious that talent alone does not pay the bills. Whether athletes sign endorsement contracts with Nike, Adidas or Ferrari, their checks see a considerable increase due to their pricey deals with their sponsors.
NAP LAJOIE AND THE RESERVE CLAUSE COLLIDE Jeffrey CouttsFebruary 3, 2009In 1901 baseball player Napolean “Naps” Lajoie was experiencing a great deal of success and popularity. Lajoie batted a .426 in 1901 for his team the Philadelphia Phillies. Lajoie “was ‘arguably the first superstar of the twentieth century’” (Rapp). However, Lajoie felt that his modest salary of 2,400 dollars plus the untaxed 200 dollars he was paid was not an adequate amount. To rectify this dilemma Lajoie would request a salary increase. Lajoie’s request for a salary increase was denied. Lajoie upon having been rejected of his increase decided he would play for the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League who presented Lajoie with a deal that was estimated to be for 4 years and between 16,000 and 24,000 dollars. The American League at the time was an up and coming league that was currently battling with the National League for supremacy in America. The American League did not recognize the reserve clause in contracts unlike the National League. The reserve clause in a contract allowed for a team to sign a player and the player was part of that team until the team decided to part ways with him. The Philadelphia Phillies in response sued Lajoie. The Phillies sought an injunction against Lajoie to stop him from playing for the rival Philadelphia team of, the Philadelphia Athletics. This conflict went to court. The issue was debated at a state court. The state court ruled against the Philadelphia Phillies request for an injunction against Napoleon Lajoie. The Philadelphia Phillies decided to appeal this decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. On January 16th 1902, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided against the state court. The higher court reversed the decision of the lower court, ruling that a negative injunction would be best to settle this dispute. The court ruled in this manner as they described how the “services of the defendant [Lajoie] are of such a unique character, and display such a special knowledge, skill and ability as renders them of peculiar value to the plaintiff [the Phillies]” (Docheritage.com). The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania therefore claimed that the action of Lajoie in breaching his contract was an action that required “an aid of equity… Substantial justice between the parties requires that the court should restrain the defendant from playing for any other Club during the term of his contract with the plaintiff” (Docheritage.com). This decision was made on April 12th 1902. This decision was considered important for the time as it allowed for injunctions to be an action against players who breached their contracts with a particular team. Also the court ruled in favor of the aforementioned reserve clause in Lajoie’s contract. Following this decision the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, Connie Mack, played Lajoie for the season opener against Baltimore. However, upon receiving notification of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania via a telegram, Mack took Lajoie out of the game. Lajoie would later go on to appeal the decision of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Napoleon would not play baseball for another few months, as lawyers were uncertain of what the injunction actually meant. Eventually it was decided that the injunction must apply only to the Philadelphia area. In response to this realization the National League convinced the Philadelphia Athletics to supplant Lajoie to the National League’s Cleveland franchise. Cleveland courts did not recognize the injunction against Lajoie. While Lajoie was a member of Cleveland he did not travel with the team to the games played in Philadelphia for fear of legal repercussions. Lajoie would play until 1916 until retiring. He would eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Works Cited “The National Pastime” Docheritage.com Rapp, Geoffrey. Affirmative Injunctions in Athletic Employment Contracts: Rethinking the Place of the Lumley Rule in American Sports Law. 2006, <http://www.ssrn.com/abstract=800765 > Conrad, Mark. Sportslaw History: The Greatest Baseball Player To be Sued For Breach of Contract. 1999.
In 1912 in Stockholm Sweden 17 athletic federations collaborated together to form the International Association of Athletics Federation also known as IAAF. The organization is the governing body for the sport of athletics and is now located in Monaco and has over 200 members. The IAAF has different federations including AAA, CAA, CONSUDATLE, EAA, NACACAA and the OAA. Since its origin in 1912 it has had 5 presidents including the current president Lamine Diack from Senegal. The IAAF is included in the organization, sand timekeeping of the world records. There are also major competitions held all over the world every 2 or 4 years and the IAAF is in charge of organizing them. In 1936 the IAAF took over regulating the international track and field competition and has goals In 1982 the IAAF passed amendments to its rules allowing athletes to receive compensation for participating in competitions in international competition. The IAAF is there to watch over and regulate, but also establish friendly cooperation among members and eliminate problems involving race, religion and political problems between athletes and governments. Sports federations serve as non-governmental governing bodies of sport and create rules along with promoting the sport to fans and spectators. There is a IAAF council, which administers all IAAF affairs including disciplining actions. All policies are administered by an Executive Committee and an 11-member council whose decisions are implemented by a secretariat located in Monaco. The IAAF also holds educational courses, seminars, and conferences to promote better knowledge of sport of athletics. The 213 federations which consist of 21 members of the United Nations, is one of the most important governing bodies in the field of athletics. Track and field is the sport most impacted by the IAAF. The 11 competitions that the IAAF governs and is in charge of all are championships just like the Olympics. These worldwide events could not happen without the council and other full time year round staff members of the IAAF.
JACK JOHNSON BELTS JIM CROW Lindsay Marturano February 7, 2009 Arthur John Johnson, also known as Jack Johnson, was an American boxer and a heavyweight champion. He became the first African American heavyweight champion of the world. Born and raised in Boxing was still a relatively new sport and was outlawed in many states. “African-Americans were permitted to compete for most titles, but not for the title that whites considered their exclusive domain: Heavyweight Champion of the World. African-Americans were considered unworthy to compete for the title — not for lack of talent, but simply by virtue of not being white.” (www.pbs.org/unforgivableblackness/about) Johnson, however did not care about this law and insisted on challenging James J. Jefferies, the current heavyweight champion, to take his title. Jefferies, refused to fight an African American boxer, and retired undefeated. Soon after, Johnson took matches with other boxers and defeated them all, causing Jefferies to come out of retirement to defend his title against Johnson. The fight was held in After beating Jefferies, Johnson began living a lavish lifestyle. It is said that “he had his own jazz band, owned a Johnson did not experience this lifestyle for very long. “In 1910, Congress passed the Mann Act, which outlawed the transportation of women in interstate or foreign commerce "for the purpose of prostitution, debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose." While the law was intended to be used against commercialized vice, the Works Cited "ESPN.com: Johnson boxed, lived on own terms." ESPN: The Worldwide Leader In Sports. 07 Feb. 2009 "Unforgivable Blackness . About the Film |." PBS. 07 Feb. 2009 The History of Horse Betting MacKenzie Liptak February 3, 2009 The history of competitive horse racing originated in Central Asia around 4500BC. The competitive racing of horses flourished the world as the sport of kings and nobility. Horse racing first became popular in the United States when British settlers brought horses and horse racing to the “New World” in the 1600s. The sport of horse racing quickly became a popular pastime, but the development of organized racing did not arrive until after the Civil War. In modern times, horse racing primarily exists as a major venue for legalized gambling. In the decades following the Civil War, gambling on thoroughbreds, or racehorses as they became known, grew tremendously. By 1890, tracks were open and operating across the country. Without any central governing authority over the new sport, many tracks became dominated by criminal elements. Sequentially, the nation’s most prominent track and stable owners decided to meet in New York to form an American Jockey Club, modeled off the British, to lay down rules and regulations in order to eliminate the sport’s corruption. The 1900s were a very important time for horseracing because the United States government had almost abolished the sport completely due to their antigambling attitude, which led almost all states to ban bookmaking entirely. As horse betting became denied, the number of tracks in the country plummeted to just 25 during 1908. When the future of horse racing seemed gloomy, the introduction of pari-mutuel betting for the Kentucky Derby gave the sport new life. Many state legislatures agreed to legalize pari-mutuel betting, which allowed more tracks to open back up, in exchange for the money wagered. Thoroughbred tracks now existed in about half of the states in the country. America’s interest in horseracing focused primarily on the major races, such as the American Triple Crown and the Breeder’s Cup. Winners were offered purses of up to about $1,000,000 at these major thoroughbred races, in the early 1900s. However, state racing commissions had sole authority to license participants and grant racing dates, while sharing rules and supervision with the Jockey Club. However, the Jockey Club had sole authority over the breeding of all thoroughbreds. By the end of World War I, the sport of horse racing brought great prosperity to the country. Now that betting was legalized, great horses like “Man O’ War” brought many spectators to the racetracks. Betting on the outcome of horse racing has long been an integral part of the appeal of this sport since the beginning of its development. The introduction of pari-mutuel betting gave the sport a chance, and is the chief reason why horse racing has survived as a major professional sport today. The Green Bay Packers Dan Bellington 2/12/09 The Green Bay Packers were founded on August 11, 1919 by former high school football rivals Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun. Lambeau was in In 1922 Lambeau gained other backers and bought the franchise back for $250, including $50 of his own money. Troubles continued during that season. One game was rained out and the insurance company wouldn't pay off because the official amount of rain was one one-hundredth of an inch short of that required in the policy. However, another storm late in the season, when the Packers were scheduled to play the Duluth Kelley’s, threatened to throw Lambeau further into debt. But A.B. Turnbull, Green Bay Press-Gazette general manager, advanced Lambeau the The Packers are now the only publicly owned company with a board of directors in American professional sports. Typically, a team is owned by one person, partnership, or corporate entity. It has been speculated that this is one of the reasons the Green Bay Packers have never been moved from the city of Shares of stock include voting rights, but the redemption price is minimal, no dividends are ever paid, the stock cannot appreciate in value and brings no season ticket privileges. No shareholder may own over 200,000 shares, a safeguard to ensure that no individual can assume control of the club. To run the corporation, a board of directors is elected by the stockholders. The board of directors in turn elect a seven-member Executive Committee of the corporation, consisting of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and three members at large. The team's elected president represents the Packers in NFL owners meetings unless someone else is designated. During his time as coach, Vince Lombardi generally represented the team at league meetings in his role as general manager. A Look Back at Women in Sports Kierstin Barnett February 3, 2009
When you think about women in sports today, many names should come to mind, but has it always been like that? If you were to think back to the period of time that your grandmother or even mother in some cases went to school and you were to ask them if they played a sport, not only will they say no but they will also tell you that sports may not have even been available to them. Why was this? If you trace back women in sports to the early years from about 1900 and up, you will see that many people frowned upon women becoming involved in sports because it took away from their femininity and gave them no separation from men. Many woman were involved in such things are cheerleading and much more “girly” type of activities. It wasn’t until the 1900’s when the first three woman’s sports were admitted into the Olympics. These sports were golf archery and tennis. You can still see that even though Woman were submerged into the world of sports which was primarily dominated by men, they sill were not presented with the same opportunities because the sports that they were offered were not as wide as they were for men. Even though today many sports that men compete in women do participate as well, can you think of sports that men and woman actually compete and compare their scores in the same sport? Today the only sports that exist like that are figure skating and gymnastics where men and woman’s scored or compared against each other. Although the thought that men and women will always be competing for whose role is more valuable, you can see that it does date back to such early years and unfortunately not much has changed. Yes, many woman have opportunities available to them that were never available to them in the 1900’s but are they still facing that same barrier, that is will they ever be equal to men when it comes to sports? The thought that brings us back again to the fact that many people in the early years viewed woman as spectacles that were suppose to be looked at, they were always suppose to look proper and be portrayed in a certain way. People kept woman from participating in sports because the world of sports took away the femininity of a woman. Today there are all the stereo types about woman athletes being “butch” or “lesbian”. Does this yet again bring us back to the thought that woman in sports is just not appropriate? And will the world of woman in sports even be the same as men?
The Negro Leagues Dan Bellington 2/5/09
The concept of professional Negro League baseball began in the 1870’s but really hit its stride in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. In 1888 Frank Leland developed a professional Negro league team in The Cubans were the best team in Negro league professional baseball in 1903 led by pitcher Andrew Foster. After Foster left the Cubans in 1904 he lead the Philadelphia Giants to championships from 1904 to 1907. Foster then left As early as 1910, Foster started talking about reviving the concept of an all-black league. The one thing he was insistent on that black teams should be owned by black men. This put him in direct competition with Strong. After the 1912 season, Foster renamed his team the Chicago American Giants to appeal to a larger fan base. During the same year, J. L. Wilkinson started the All Nations traveling team. The All Nations team would eventually become one of the best-known and popular teams of the Negro leagues, the Kansas City Monarchs. On April 6, 1917, the Helping Us Evaluate True Heroes in Sports Nik Powell
10 February 2009 The 1910's were a crazy era for sports. The NHL was just beginning; the Chicago "Black Sox" scandal rocked both the baseball and sport world. But as I am sure that 3/4 of the class is writing about that scandal, I will venture off into a different area. As sports fan, we are crushed when our team loses; we fall into depression and sometimes drink away our sorrows. However, we always seem to forget the bigger picture. In the grand scheme, sports are simply a luxury. It was in the 1910's that World War I was going on throughout Europe.
Lou Gehrig Kelly Cox
February 18, 2009
Lou Gehrig’s parents were German immigrants who did not have much money. His father was very ill, and it was extremely important to his mother that he receive a good education. So, in 1921, he went off to college and started his journey to becoming a baseball legend. However, when Lou Gehrig began his collegiate career, it was not in the sport of baseball. He went to Columbia University on a football scholarship, and he intended to pursue engineering. Before his first semester started John McGraw, then manager of the New York Giants, recommended that he play summer professional baseball. He played under the name Henry Lewis for the minor league team in Hartford, and the money he earned allowed him to help his parents and also helped him pay for his education at Columbia. When officials in the same league as Columbia learned that Gehrig had played on this minor league baseball team, they were forced to ban him from intercollegiate sports during his first year. At this time, it was illegal to accept money to play professional sports while attending college. He returned to the scene in his second year as a fullback for Columbia’s football team in 1922 and a pitcher and first baseman for the baseball team in 1923. His performance was stellar during the baseball season, and scout Paul Krichell signed Gehrig to the Yankees with a $1,500 signing bonus. Gehrig left Columbia and went back to playing for the Hartford team, but it wasn’t long until he was brought up to the majors. That September he hit .423 in 26 at-bats, and he became a Yankee for good in the 1925 season. Gehrig dominated the sport. He played through all kinds of injuries, and played exceptionally well even through these injuries. Broken toes, thumbs, and back spasms were not enough to keep Gehrig on the bench. His admirable strength and perseverance earned him the nickname “The Iron Horse”, and overshadowed Gehrig’s astonishing fight with deadly disease later in life. Gehrig had 13 consecutive seasons with both 100 runs scored and 100 RBI’s. He set an American League mark with 184 RBIs in 1931, hit a record 23 grand slams, and won the 1934 Triple Crown. His .361 batting average in seven World Series led the Yankees to six titles. He also held the record for consecutive game streak with 2, 130 until Cal Ripken, Jr. surpassed the number in 1995. His life was tragically ended in 1941, after he lost his battle with ALS which is known today as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”. He is remembered as one of the most talented and astonishing players to ever play the game. He died an American hero, and is forever recognized in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in New York.
The Black Sox Scandal
Kelly Cox
The 1919 World Series resulted in one of the most infamous scandals in Major League Baseball history. The series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox was fixed before
the first pitch was even thrown. Eight players from Chicago, later coined “The Black Sox” after the scandal surfaced, were charged with conspiring to fix the outcome of the series. The players included
pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude (lefty) Williams, outfielders Joe Jackson and Happy Felsch, first baseman Chick Gandil, shortstop Swede Risberg, third baseman Buck Weaver and reserve infielder
Fred Mc Mullin. The first indication that the games were rigged was when the betting odds changed shortly before game 1 began. Originally, the White Sox were the heavy favorites to win and it was quickly swapped to the Reds. The fans and press still believed that the games were legitimate even though rumors started to escalate about the games integrity. The first 2 games went to the Reds before Chicago pitcher Dickey Kerr, who was apparently not in the know about the plan to throw the series, pitched a great game and got a win for the Sox. The Reds came back to win games 4 and 5, which normally would be enough to take the title, but in the post-war period, the commissioner of baseball decided to extend the series to best of 9 because of intense interest. The following 2 games were won by the Sox, whose eight “cheaters” apparently did not want to increase suspicions about their actions. The Reds won game 8 and with that, won their first Championship in their first appearance in the series. A little less than a year later, the scandal was confirmed and the players admitted their guilt. There was a long investigation and although the players were acquitted, they were banned from baseball because of their link to gamblers. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis issued this statement after the scandal was uncovered and resolved: "Regardless of the verdict of juries, no player that throws a ball game, no player that entertains proposals or promises to throw a game, no player that sits in a conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing games are discussed, and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball."
The Champ Did It! Hugo Sanchez
February 26, 2009 Author James Matthew Barrie said: “The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another.“ Barrie is best known for creating Peter Pan, the boy who refuses to grow up. On August 25, 1930, young, up and coming boxers Max Baer and Frankie Campbell met at San Francisco’s Recreation Park to decide the unofficial Pacific Coast champion. The winner of the bout would go on to acquire national fame, fights in the East Coast, and a chance at the heavyweight title. In the 2nd round of the fight, Campbell clipped Baer, which caused Baer to slip to the canvas. Campbell, thinking he had knocked down Baer, turned his back and went to his corner. To give you a sense of how improbable the so-called “knockdown” was, the first official knockdown in Baer’s career happened five years later against Joe Louis, arguably the greatest boxer of all time, and Baer was only knocked down to one knee. Meanwhile, Baer got up, knew he wasn’t knocked down, and was furious. He lunged at Campbell. He hit Campbell at mid turn on the chin, and Campbell dropped. It was reported that after the round Campbell said to his trainer, “something feels like it snapped in my head.” He continued the bout and won the 3rd and 4th round. When the infamous 5th round began, Tillie “Kid” Herman, Baer’s friend and former trainer, who the night before switched camps for Campbell’s side, taunted Baer. The young fighter was in a rage and turned his aggression on his opponent. Baer had Campbell on the ropes and hammered down punch after punch. Referee Toby Irwin stopped the fight as Campbell fell to the canvas. The ropes were the only thing holding Campbell up. Campbell was out cold. Maximilian Adelbert Baer, a.k.a. Madcap Maxie, a.k.a. Max Baer, was one of the most charismatic and charming personalities in the world of boxing. His energy was incomparable, his laugh was infectious, and his antics entertained the masses. After the Campbell fight, he was never quite the same. He still clowned around as much as he could, but it was only to hide the pain inside. Baer was a broken man. After the fight, even Baer’s corner tried to revive and help Campbell. Baer stayed near Campbell until the ambulance arrived. Baer went to the hospital while doctors worked on Campbell. Baer comforted Campbell’s wife. The next day, Campbell was pronounced dead. Upon hearing the announcement, Baer was struck with grief and began to sob. The brain specialist reported that Campbell’s brain had been "knocked completely loose from his skull” as a result from blows to the jaw. The cause of death was a “succession of blows on the jaw and not by any struck on the rear of the head.” The following day, sportswriter Bob Shand wrote: "Nobody feels sorrier over the tragic ending of the bout than Baer. The big kid is heartbroken and ready to quit the racket" and that "in one of his earlier bouts, Baer was reprimanded for not stepping in and finishing his man. He never forgot that advice." Baer was 21, in the prime of his early career one minute, and retired the next. Campbell’s wife, Ellie, and his mother refused to any press charges against Baer. The District Attorney, however, charged Baer with manslaughter, the killing of a person less culpable than murder. In court the judge commented to Baer, “You are in a difficult position.” Baer replied, “It’s not so bad for me your Honor, but it sure is tough for Mrs. Campbell.” In previous fights, Campbell had the distinct style of feigning injury, or “playing possum,” in order to produce sloppy attacks from opponents and lure them into knockout punches. In court, Referee Irwin claimed to know Campbell’s style and paused in stopping the fight believing that Campbell was “playing possum” or that the stoppage would result in fan outrage thinking the fight was fixed. The charges were dropped for Baer, but he had to serve a one year boxing suspension in California. The California State Boxing Commission suspended Referee Irwin for his failure to stop the fight, J. Hamilton Lorimer (Baer's manager), Carol E. Working and Tom Maloney (Campbell's managers), and trainers Tillie "Kid" Herman (Baer’s friend and former trainer, who switched for Campbell), Ray Carlin, Frankie Burns, and Larry Morrison. Baer slipped into depression. He smoked and drank extensively, and ate very little. He wouldn’t leave his home. He said that he was unable to sleep for more than one hour a night, picturing the 5th round. He felt guilty, but did everything he could to help. When he returned to boxing, he had a purpose. Baer began giving the purses he won from matches to the Campbell family. Baer later held an exhibition fight and raised over $10,000 for Campbell’s wife, Ellie Campbell. After the fight, Ellie was asked whether she forgave Baer and replied, "I have no resentment toward Mr. Baer. There's only room in my heart for sorrow." Boxing did not fade for Baer. In 1934, he defeated Primo Carnera, the 6’5 ½” tall, 284 lbs. (275 lbs. when he fought Baer) Italian giant, the biggest boxing champion of that time and the Heavyweight Champion of the World. Baer would eventually lose the title 364 days later to the Cinderella Man, James Braddock.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manslaughter http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Max_Baer.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Campbell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Baer_(boxer)
The NFL Draft
Christina Mannon February 25, 2009 Prior to 1936, college athletes were free to sign with any professional team they wished, which tended to only make the strongest teams better for the following year. This wasn’t working, and therefore had to undergo a change. On May 19, 1935 the NFL league owners legally adopted a plan for a college player draft. Bert Bell, the Eagles owner and future NFL commissioner, proposed this plan, which called for teams to select players in inverse order of their finish the previous season. The first NFL draft was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in The first draft had nine rounds and was increased to ten in 1937. It was again expanded in 1939 to twenty rounds. Adding a twist to the procedure in 1938 and 1939, only the five teams that finished lowest in the previous season were permitted to make selections in the second and fourth rounds. The first ever Heisman Trophy winner, Jay Berwanger from the Since 1936, there has been a college draft held every year resulting in a competitively balanced league. This balanced competition has resulted in a very popular sport in which many people enjoy viewing still today in 2009.
Battle of the Century Tina-Marie DeGasero February 17, 2009 Throughout the “Golden Age” they were many firsts, inventions, and hero’s that will forever be remembered. During this age school teams were formed for students for the first time and several sports, such as gold, became open to the middle-class society. Numerous athletes made new records, including Babe Ruth who broke his home run record in 1927—making him have hit 60 home runs in a single season. Ralph Samuelson invented the sport waterskiing in 1922, after having trying for many years. Throughout the 1920s women were up and coming and sports were becoming more popular among many more people within a society. Jack Dempsey versus Georges Carpentier was a battle that will remain in history as the largest audience. On average 300,000 were involved whether if they were tuning in on the radio or came to see it in person. Jack Dempsey was American while his opponent Georges Carpentier was French. Dempsey was the world champ at the time and Carpentier was noted as the European boxing champion. This event eventually became known as the “ The battle took place on a farm in DeGasero 2 every single call of the fight on the radio. Hundreds of thousands of people were listening just in the northeast Before the fight began many people were anticipating Carpentier to win it all, as a result many people were stunned to the outcome of the match. Dempsey has won leaving Carpentier with a broken hand and a few scratches. As soon as Dempsey won he had wrote his mother a telegram stating the end result of the boxing match and describing that he would be home soon. This battle will forever be remained known as the “Million-Dollar Gate;
The Nazi Olympics
In August of 1936, the world came to play for the 11th time in the Olympic games. The games were held in Berlin, Germany, which at the time was under the control of Nazi-Dictator Adolf Hitler. His plan was to use the games as a way to further prove the superiority of the Aryan race and present Germany as a tolerant and inclusive country. However, that was not the case. Before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, the government removed all anti-Semitic signs and proof that they were a racist group. Many countries, including the United States, had a hard time deciding whether or not they should compete in the Berlin Olympics. They felt that in competing, they may be sending a message to the world that they accept Hitler’s ideals and the Nazi mindset. Eventually, they agreed to go to the games and they joined 48 other countries in the Olympics. In order to promote their ideology, Nazi Germany had built grand stadiums, swimming pools, and an Olympic village for the male athletes. They were all covered in Nazi banners. It was at this Olympics that torch relay began. For the first time in the history of the games, the torch was ignited with a flame directly from Olympia. Siegfried Eifrig carried the torch that lit the flame at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. To the Nazi regime, he personified the Aryan race – tall, blond, blue-eyed and athletic. After all of the Nazi’s attempts to prove that the Aryan race is superior, Jesse Owens completely wiped out any hope for this to occur. The African- American track star from the United States team dominated the 1936 Olympics. He brought home 4 gold medals: the 100-meter dash, the long jump, in which he also set the Olympic record along with breaking 10 other records, the 200m and the 4x 100m relay. Owens also defeated German athlete Lutz Lang in a very close long jump final. Hitler, defeated, refused to place the medal around his neck. Balder von Sirach claimed that Hitler said this after Owens won the 100 meter dash : “The American’s should be ashamed of themselves, letting Negroes win their medals for them. I will not shake hands with this Negro… do you really think that I will allow myself to be photographed shaking hands with a Negro?”
Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National League of Baseball Clubs Jeffrey Coutts February 17, 2009 In 1922 the Supreme Court ruled on the pivotal case, Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National League of Baseball Clubs. The Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that a professional baseball league was not a monopoly. Monopolies have been banned in The complexion of professional baseball in the 1900s was distinctly different from how it is today. In 1913 one of the prominent leagues included the Federal League of Professional Baseball Clubs. This league composed of 8 baseball clubs in the cities of These two leagues were rivals and competed until 1915. In 1915 the two leagues signed a “Peace Agreement”. Following this “Peace Agreement”, the Federal League went bankrupt. The Baltimore Club filed a lawsuit against the National League claiming that the “Peace Agreement” created a restriction on its ability to field a team of competent baseball players, thereby causing significant monetary damages” (Black). The Federal League aimed to prove that the National League and American League were unfairly controlling players and games being played across states. This lawsuit was brought to a trial court which ruled in agreement with the Following this decision the National League appealed and brought this decision to the D.C. Court of Appeals. This court disagreed with the previous court. The D.C. Court of Appeals decided that Following this decision the Works Cited Black, Ryan. "Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, 259 Nathanson, Mitchell. "The Irrelevance of Major League Baseball." (2005) 15 Feb 2009 http://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=mitchell_nathanson. Jeffrey Coutts
February 26, 2009 In the 1930s sports broadcasting rights were challenged. During this time Broadcasters would commentate on the games without first notifying or obtaining permission from the owners of these particular clubs. Beginning in 1934, complaints from sports owners were filed with the FCC, or Federal Communications Commission. Upon approaching the FCC, the sports owners requested that the FCC reject the renewal of licenses for the stations that continued to transmit the game with no permission from the teams. However, the FCC found that these actions were not against the Communications Act. This lack of success in stopping unauthorized broadcasts of the games led to the laws led to the owners of these sports clubs to take this dispute to court. This led to the pivotal case of Pittsburgh Athletic Company v. KQV Broadcasting Company in 1938. The KQV Broadcasting Company transmitted play-by-play accounts of Pittsburgh Pirates games. These games were called by KQV employees who would be stationed in areas outside of the stadium that allowed them to see the games and commentate on them. The ticket buying public was held to the promise that they would not transmit the game while it was occurring. KQV Broadcasting Company did not find it wrong for them to transmit play-by-play accounts of these games because they were not paying customers and they were not trespassing on the property. After KQV became aware of news of the lawsuit that was being brought against them KQV did not believe that they were doing anything illegal and were going to continue broadcasting in the manner that they were broadcasting, as it was their right. The Pittsburgh Athletic Company was the company that owned the Pittsburgh Pirates. This company had previously allowed General Mills Incorporated to broadcast their games exclusively. General Mills then sought a deal from the National Broadcasting Company who agreed to give General Mills the right to broadcast Pittsburgh Pirates games. Another company, Socony- Vacuum also played a role in this broadcasting deal. The broadcasting of these games by KQV was taking away monetary gains that could have been made by these four companies. The Pittsburgh Athletic Company demanded a preliminary injunction against KQV to stop the broadcasting of these games. The district court of Work Cited Quirk, Charles. "Sports and the Law: Major Legal Cases." books.google.com (1996) 215-217. 24 Feb 2009
Believe it or not, people were eager to follow the
Doug Stamp
Decades before the television was filled with sports stations such as MSG or NESN, which were designed to broadcast the games of a specific team, team owners often sold the broadcasting rights to large corporations as a form of revenue. This idea became prevalent in the late 1920’s in the realm of baseball, and has evolved to encompass every sports team in modern day athletics at the professional and colligate levels. In 1938, a federal district court heard a case that would establish a precedent where as sports teams have the right to exclusively sell broadcasting rights, and those rights will be upheld or enforced in the case of interference. During the mid 1930’s, the radio station KDKA had exclusive rights to broadcast the home and away games of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately, a rival station, KQV, thought it could bypass KDKA’s broadcasting exclusivity by broadcasting descriptions of Pirate games based on the information of paid observers stationed outside of the field[1]. The Pittsburgh Athletic Company, which owned the Pirates at the time, sued KQV and the issue at hand was whether KDKA’s right to broadcast was a legitimate proprietary right or whether it prevented others from covering a legitimate news event. A federal district court ruled that KDKA’s rights were violated as unfair competition and rejected KQV’s claim that the game was a bona fide news event. The court stated: “The defendant’s unauthorized broadcasts of information concerning games played by the The case of Pittsburgh Athletic Company v. KQV established a precedent that was later upheld sixty years later in modern day sports. The case in 1998 involved a dispute over unauthorized broadcasts of basketball scores on electronic pagers from observers in every NBA city[3]. The 1938 ruling helped pave the way for new generations of marketing, promotions, sponsorships, and revenue creating faucets besides the sale of tickets, which is the norm in today’s sporting world. [1] Conrad, Mark. [2] Ibid. [3]Conrad, Mark.
“A talented basketball player in high school, Didrikson was recruited during her senior year in 1930 to do office work at Employers Casualty Company of In 1932, the Olympics were held in She then returned home to Works Cited "Handbook of TSHA Online - "NWHM Biographies." National Women's
Jennifer Kostas February 23, 2009 The idea of a park is one that has evolved over the last two centuries in the The original ideal of a park is not one that we think of today. There were no playgrounds, volleyball courts, croquet lawns, baseball diamonds, and the other assorted facilities that make up our modern view of what a park encompasses. The initial plan to the design of a park was to promote personal reflection, contemplation and a place of tranquility through thoughtful and intricate landscaping, while still allowing the inherent natural beauty come through. The inception of parks around the country was a testament to this belief but strength in the belief began to wane with the growth of professional athletes becoming large public figures and the ability of the middle and working class to view them as morally uplifting heroes. No controversy evidenced this more than the 1930’s Central Park’s The original designers of Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, along with the upper class, elite organizations that sided with them, had strong fundamental beliefs that parks should not be used for active sports and, in turn, there should be no dedicated spaces for such activities. On the other side of the issue, were the working class, with their associated organizations, who believed that there was no better use for an open space, as the one in controversy, than to use it as a baseball field. The major division of this issue was socioeconomic status. In May of 1933, the first baseball diamond opened for play in
Prohibition and Stock Car Racing 1920’s Jennifer Kostas February 16, 2009 Prohibition officially began in 1920 with the enactment of the 18th Amendment, which banned the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol for personal consumption. Prohibition lasted for thirteen years and was repealed with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment. The movement began and was fostered by many religious groups that believed and spread the word that the act of consuming alcohol was politically corrupt and a personal sin. Naturally, people immediately found a, not so legal, way around this. Once moonshiners (makers of illegal alcohol, normally produced in hiding by the shine of the moon) became efficient in their alcohol production they needed a way to transport it without being conspicuous but in a timely manner. Law enforcement officials tried to enforce the law but moon runners (those who transported the illegally made alcohol) were always one step ahead. Many moon runners would drive with no lights at night to try to avoid detection. They also soon discovered that they needed regular looking cars to avoid attention but they also needed cars that would have enough power to outrun the police. Soon, moon runners were improving the speed of their cars and outrunning the police. The moon runners were very proud of the modifications they had done to their vehicles and often bragged to each other. Soon they were competing against one another for bragging rights. By the time prohibition ended in 1933, stock car racing had become quite popular and continued to grow in popularity. In 1949 NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) was established to organize the racing and since its inception the sport of stock car racing has grown into what it is today; one of the country’s favorite sports.
Ivy League Showdown February 23, 2009 Jennifer and Christopher Kostas February 25, 2009 Our visit to the TD Banknorth Sports Center on Monday was very informative and interesting. Christopher especially liked the portion where we got to speak with the coaches. He is planning on becoming a collegiate athlete so he found the first hand information very motivating. Also, particularly enjoyed by Chris was the “laid back” atmosphere of the evening and the energy on the court. Another particular highlight of Christopher’s night was the popcorn, stuffed animals, the antics of Professor Burt, and meeting the mascot. I found the recruitment discussion particularly insightful as well as the court dynamics. As we were sitting there looking around I was thinking of all the possible liabilities. For instance, the stairs as you are walking to your seat, change size. Not a lot but enough to throw one off a bit. Everything is a potential liability on the university’s part. From the shuttle, to the doors, food, athlete transportation, and the list is infinite, let alone the possibility of injury on the court. When one takes a step back and really looks into the minute legalities of running a facility like the TD Bankorth Sports Center it is truly baffling that these facilities exist, especially in the litigious society we live in today.
“Where amazing happens” John Federico 3/3/09 The formation of the NBA is one of the largest events in sports history. The NBA was founded in 1946 in New York City. The original name of the NBA was the "BBA" which stood for the Basketball Association of America. The NBA which now consists of 30 teams included teams was merged with the NBL in 1949 when it was then named the National Basketball Association. The new NBA had then been a mix of seventeen franchises. In 1950 the league went down to eleven teams until 1954, which then consolidated, into 8 franchises, which are still in the league today. The Knicks, Celtics, Warriors, Lakers, Royals/Kings, Pistons , Hawks and and 76ers. The ending of World War II had sparked much interest in the United States in sports. College basketball was extremely popular which eventually led to the popularity of the NBA. The best players were the ones that played in the NBL. Ned Irish, who was a basketball promoter and president of the N.Y. Knicks, knew that for a professional league to succeed he had to have the best players playing all together. The commissioner of the BAA was carried over to be the commissioner the NBA. During the next few seasons the NBA had some of their most historical players and moments throughout their whole association history. The NBA is such a large organization now, they have come up with their own clothing lines, NBA Entertainment and NBA television. NBA Entertainment creates films including championship video, blooper and entertainment reels and is associated with Warner Brothers. NBA TV which is becoming more and more popular, has been around since 1999. The NBA runs this television channel, and is a specific channel dedicated for certain games and special programming regarding certain teams.
Joe Louis
MacKenzie Liptak February 24, 2009 Joseph Louis Barrow is legendary in boxing history. Once nicknamed the “Brown Bomber,” Joe Louis was a heavyweight boxing champion who set many records throughout his career. He was not only a winner, but also an American hero. During World War II Louis was considered the defender of the Allies, inspiring Americans across the country. As an amateur, Louis won the Michigan Golden Gloves, the National AAU and the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in 1934. Only a few short months later, he turned professional making his debut fight against Jack Kracken on the fourth of July. The fight lasted only one round, when Louis knocked out Kracken at Bacon’s Arena in Chicago, Illinois. In just his first professional year, Louis won all 12 professional fights and ten by way of knockout. During the year 1935, Louis fought 13 times, taking out former heavyweight champions Primo Carnera in six rounds, and the iron-chinned champ Max Baer in four. His next fight was against world heavyweight champion Max Schmeling from Germany. Prior to the match, Schmeling thoroughly studied Louis’s style and believed he found a weakness. He exploited Louis’s habit of dropping his left low after jab and handed Louis his first loss by knocking him out in round 12 at Yankee stadium. Despite his first of three losses, Louis had climbed back up the ranks by knocking out former champ Jack Sharkey. Max Schmeling and the Nazi German government were furious over the fight, insisting that Joe Louis’s win over highly ranked Sharkey did not reverse his defeat by Schmeling. This matter was settled in court and later in Madison Square Garden, resulting in a loss for Schmeling. Joe Louis was awarded a title shot by champion James J. Braddock. Braddock was looking to retire on a large payoff. Into the bargain, he was also promised a more lucrative fight with Louis after Louis’s win over Sharkey. The fight took place in Chicago and Braddock’s heavyweight championship was up for grabs. Braddock knocked down Louis in the first round. However, the “Cinderella Man” was knocked out in round 8 by the “Brown Bomber,” making Louis the heavyweight champion of the world. One of the most famous boxing matches of all time was the rematch between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling. It has been remembered as one of the major sporting events of the 20th century. Schmeling was now a national hero in Germany, after defeating Louis in 1936. His victory over an African American man encouraged Nazi officials to flaunt their doctrine of “Aryan superiority.” A few weeks before the match, President Franklin D. Roosevelt invited Joe Louis to the White House. It was documented that Roosevelt said, “Joe, we need muscles like yours to beat Germany.” Louis later wrote in his autobiography, “I knew I had to get Schmeling good. I had my own personal reasons and whole damned country was depending on me." A comedian Dick Gregoryjokingly replied that it was "probably the only time in history that a black man could end up being a white hope." When Schmeling arrived in New York on 1938, he was accompanied by a Nazi party publicist who issued statements like a black man could not defeat Schmeling and when Schmeling won, his prize money would be used to build tanks in Germany. In return, Schmeling's hotel was picketed by anti-Nazi protesters in the days prior to the fight. The fight took place on the night of June 22, 1938, in Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 70,043. It was broadcasted by radio to millions of listeners throughout the world, in the languages English, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. The fight lasted merely two minutes and four seconds. Shockingly, Louis battered Schmeling with a series of swift attacks, forcing him to the ropes and giving him a paralyzing body blow. Schmeling was knocked down three times and only threw a total of two punches. Schmeling’s trainer threw in the towel on the third knockdown and referee Arthur Donovan ended the fight. Joe Louis’s victory was seen as a world success for America. In the United States, his triumph was considered as a major rejection of German claims of racial superiority. Louis had changed America forever and set records that still stand today. According to Ring Magazine’s list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, Louis ranked number one. He held the heavyweight title for over 106 months, longer than anyone else, with 25 successful defenses of his title. In 2005, International Boxing Research Organization named Louis the greatest heavyweight of all time. The “Brown Bomber” will forever be an American legend. Works Cited "Joe Louis -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 24 Feb. 2009 "Sports in the 1930's." SportPlanet - News, Screenshots, Previews, Reviews, Guides. 24 Feb. 2009
John Federico Little League Baseball, which we all took part it at one point in our lives is the largest sports organization in the world. Carl Stotz in Williamsport Pennsylvania founded the little league in 1939. This non-profit organization organizes baseball and softball for children ages 5-18. The formation of a league that has expanded into what it is today is such a great accomplishment and truly a benchmark in sports history. The Little League World Series is one of the most watched sports games today, which included Shelton Connecticut last year. The formation of a league like this involved many people along with the formation of rules and regulations, which are still carried on today. The official rules of the little league are not made to the public but are provided to each team. Little League Baseball is an organization which is federally chartered in congress which is run by a board of directors and officers underneath them. There are a lot of legal aspects of this cooperation that have been involved since the start of it. Some details of some legal issues that the Little League has is the : “The corporation has the exclusive right to use and to allow others to use the names “Little League” and “Little Leaguer” and the official Little League emblem or any colorable simulation of that emblem. This section does not affect any vested rights.” Its amazing to think how much goes into an organization such as this one. The headquarters, which is in South Williamsport across from the
Sued Sports Agents
Breana Burton February 3, 2009 In professional sports, law suits are a common occurrence. In 2006, NFL player Chad Morton sued his agents over loans. He had sued his former sports agent, Leigh Steinberg for a series of loans that accumulated to about $336,000. Morton’s agent and his representative, David Kim, repeatedly promised to repay his loans for over three years and he still had yet to see a dime. Allegedly, Steinberg, who is also a partner in SLL Enterprises, was not aware that Morton had loaned money to SLL. In June of 2003 Morton said he had loaned Kim and Steinberg $300,000 and when the money was not paid back, Kim and Steinberg offered Morton a 5% stake in a business venture. Morton then received a check; however, it bounced on the matter of insufficient funds. However, Chad Morton was “not required to arbitrate a dispute with, Leigh Steinberg, because the subject of the dispute was not within the scope of the representation agreement containing the arbitration provision.” Lawsuits occur in all leagues—even in the NCAA. In the NBA, sports agent Bill Duffy is accused of misleading Houston Rockets center, Yao Ming. The lawsuit is based on the agent being accused of intruding in on a deal that may have permitted a sports management company to represent Yao Ming for promotion purposes. Allegedly, Bill Duffy, Yao Ming’s agent, mislead him about Evergreen Sports Inc. in 1999 to sign a player. They are suing based on lost damages and loosing revenue from Evergreen Sports Inc. The contract Yao Ming signed in 1998 gave Evergreen rights to represent
March 20, 2009
BURTSVILLE BELIEVES!!! Memories That Last a Lifetime
What started on the Vineyard four short months ago, Circling ‘round Cannon Ball Park, And now you’re in the Show. You’ve done it with hard work, Passion, heart, skill and more, You’ve done it with your talent, You’ve opened many a door. From the lighthouse at Edgartown, You’ve graced me with your mugs, Now go out there on Saturday, And bring home the Championship Jug. To Avits, I tip my hat, Pierne my Captain be, To Wheels and Cousy and Castaldi, I bow on bended knee. You guys have been the leaders, With help from Mike and Scott, You’ve all handled the mantle well, Each and every one of the lot.
You’ve taken the kids Brandon, Sully, Patch and Paulie A., To a point on the team, Where each one has a say. Fracasso, Morgan and Findley, Have played a role in all of it, And let’s face the facts, The season has been a hit. So, with J Mac a scoring, And Ryan A. ready to go, Let’s go out and finish, What has been a wonderful show. Teuls has been stupendous, And Tino breaks boards with his hard slap shot, It’s been a joy to watch you all, You’ve grown to adults from wonderful tots. To CJ, PJ, RJ and AJ, You need new initials all, I think to make it easy, Next year we’ll all call you Paul. Ryan A. has been steadfast, From the first to the last, And Allie Aloi needs the present, Not talking about the past. Coach Jerolman has been a peach, To each and every one, He’s made the kids work hard, He’s let them have their fun. And to Todd Hall who is a gem, To the kids and Hamden High, I only want to hear you say, Hello and never Good Bye. Fixing shoulders, knees and thighs, We won’t need no fixing, For any victory cries. To Coach Billy V. who runs the team, You’ve waited far too long, Let’s tip our cap to you, To you we’ll sing a song. And from a father to a son, Jimmy, I'm as proud as I can be, Have a ball tomorrow, Oh, you will shortly see. To the Thanks for a wonderful ride, And thanks to all the supporters and parents, And thanks to Johnny Sides. Enjoy each moment on that Championship Ice, Skate Hard and Have loads of fun, Lock In each special moment, You’ve all been wonderful sons. BurtsVille has had the honor, To write about and to each and everyone of you, You’ve made it easy kids, I’m proud to have been there too. So, take that ice with confidence, Skate each and every shift hard, Leave everything you have, Inside the hallowed Ignalls’ Yard. Memories That Last a Lifetime, Are what you have in store, Go out and do it boys, And add your name to Good Luck my young Green Dragons, You’ve got everyone supporting you, We all look forward to you playing, Have fun—you deserve that too.
(19-4-1 Record and Maine Exhibition Shoot Out Victory)
Mike Pierne 14G (1G*) 17A 31 Pts.
Scott Walsh 14G (1G*) 10A 24 Pts.
CJ Carignan 5G (3G*) 6A 11 Pts.
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Jim Burt Scores Birthday Goal on Team's First Shot of Season |
Adam Devine tickles the Net with Goal |
PJ Vakos finishes on Breakaway Beauty |
Senior Adam Devine, showing no rust from two years on the golf course and off the ice scored Hamden's final goal of the opening session of the scrimmage. He was assisted by RJ Ugolik and Brandon Dadio. Devine, a scoring marvel in his last year of Bantam's amassing over 100 goals should help make up for the loss of Mike Pierne and Scott Walsh two of last year's scoring leaders.
"How nice was this hotel?", asked Bob Ugolik? "The rooms are outstanding, they treat the kids like gold, and the food and atmosphere was fantastic. Thank you Michelle, Miguel, Marnique, Alexandra and Diane for a great time. And Thank You Don and Cheryl for the drink!"
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Anniversary Couple--- Don & Cheryl |
Marnique the Magnificient |
Alexandra & Diane---Beautiful Young Women |
CHRISTMAS IN EDGARTOWN NEVER LOOKED BETTER
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Harbor View Hotel Lobby |
Jesse and Doc--It doesn't get any better does it Doc? |
Harbor View Hotel |
Hamden comes into the season with a big hole in net. Connecticut MVP, Anthony Avitable, is doing a PG year at Hebron Prep in Maine after playing the majority of the last four years for Coach Bill Verneris' squad. After the performance of senior goaltender Ryan Amarone this weekend, Green Dragon fans can consider this hole filled! Amarone was outstanding in net both days and has given a huge boost to Hamden's desire to repeat as State Champs.
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Captain and his mates--plus one--Vineyard Team |
Captain and Her Crew--Wilmington, Mass. Girl's Team |
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Laura and her #1 Goal Tender Ryan |
Birthday Kids: Jim 17 and Cathy T. 19 |
Pat Lynch scored Hamden's next goal assisted by Devine. Vakos added another assisted by Burt and CJ Carignan. Hockey Night in Boston, while picking Hamden as Number 2 in its Pre-Season Rankings, has labeled this line as perhaps the Best Line in the State. They did nothing to disprove that belief this weekend.
Chris Davies Excites Vineyard Crowd and Team with Goal
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AJ Gemmel added a goal as did Nick Amarone, Paul Amarone and Connor Walsh. Assists went to Walsh, Devine and Justin MacGregor. The Vineyard got on the board on a beautiful back hand shot by star Chris Davies. The Vineyard boys played hard and outstanding forward #27 and solid defenseman #14 had particularly strong scrimmages against the Hamden squad.
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Future Vineyard Star |
Present Vineyard Star Chris Davies Scores Goal |
Future Vineyard Star |
Next up for Hamden was the strong Needham Team. Needham's goalie, AJ McDonald, had an outstanding scrimmage. He stoned Burt, Vakos, Amarone, and Devine on Needham's way to a 4-1 victory. Burt scored Hamden's lone goal assisted by Teulings.
Hamden is back in action this week with exhibition games against Defending Division II Champs Cheshire and against the Glastonbury squad that Hamden beat in the State Championship Game last spring.
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Dippin Donuts Beautiful Mom |
Vineyard Hockey--Proud and True |
Bob Ugolik Treks to Edgartown Ligthouse |
"The best thing to come out of this weekend was the play of the kid in the net," analyzed Johnny Sides, Cape Cod Scout and frequent visitor to the Vineyard. " I got one thing to say to that Amarone kid--Way to go Pilgrim," said the affable Sides. Paul Avitable, the father of last year's MVP stated, "The team looks good. They have solid defense and a great offense. If Ryan (Amarone) plays like he did this weekend, this team has to be a favortie to repeat."
Speaking of Pilgrims, let's hear it for Asst. Head Coach George Jerolman who came roaring out to the Vineyard for Friday's game only to leave the Island at 5:30 A.M. Saturday to get back to his daughter Maddie's game Saturday morning. Thanks Coach!
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Johnny Sides shows his back! |
House Penalty Box Club Bought Coach V for Winning Title last year |
Paul, PattiAnn & Andy on porch of Harbor View |
As with all teams, the tryouts are tough. Good kids and fine athletes don't make the varsity or team for a variety of reasons. BurtsVille tips its cap to all those who tried out and wishes them the best of luck in whatever they choose to do. Just keep your heads up and keep on plugging away. Life is a journey. Don't just look at today. Gather it all in and move on to bigger and better things.
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#16 Scores for Needham High School |
Ryan Amarone sparkles in net for Hamden High School |
AJ McDonald shines in net for Needham High School
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BurtsVille sees great things for this year's team. BurtsVille believes we can do it again. Just work hard and be confident in your own ability and that of your teammates and great things can and will be accomplished.
Jim Burt Fires and Scores v. Needham
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Good Luck to the Green Dragons and all the other teams playing this season. We wish all a safe and successful season. And to all you seniors and their parents, enjoy each and every moment. It goes by way too fast.
And a final note, a big congratulations to all the teams that just won their respective Football Titles with a special CONGRATULATIONS to what is now and forever will be to BurtsVille our Sister City of New Canaan, Connecticut. And congratulations to the Hyde and ND of WD Teams and their coaches and families on their fine wins and championships. A special nod to Coach Tom Marcucci--what a welcome back to the coaching ranks with the Number One Team in the State!
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Jim Dadio's Cannon Ball Park Express |
Ned, Michelle, Miguel, & Bob |
Take a Right--It's Cannon Ball Park! |
March 30, 2009
HAMDEN HAS THREE KIDS MAKE ALL SCC TEAMS
BURTSVILLE'S TOP TEN GAMES OF THE YEAR
BurtsVille would like to congratulate those individuals who have been selected to the All Area SCC First and Second Teams. BurtsVille would like to especially congratulate Anthony Avitable and Michael Pierne for being selected to the First Team and John Teulings who was selected for the Second Team.
BurtsVille would also like to congratulate Michael Pierne (9th), Jim Burt (19th), PJ Vakos (19th) and Scott Walsh (20th) that all ended up in the Top Twenty Scorers in Area Scoring Leaders. Here is a break down of the Top Thirty Scorers and The Two All Area Teams:
Name Team Points
Anthony Verderame*
Chris Messina Lyman Hall 41 (22G 19A)
Zak Gilhuly
Peter
Lloyd Jacques Lyman Hall 34 (23G 11A)
Anthony Luzzi Branford 33 (15G 18A)
Frank Butler
Michael Pierne*
Darric White * F. Prep 31 (16G 15A)
Tim Brooks
Mike Devine
Jon Knobloch** ND WH 29 (12G 17A)
Matt Kuhn Branford 27 (18G 9A)
Andrew Luzzi Branford 27 (16G 11A)
Chris
Troy Rauccia
Nick Malz Xavier 25 (10G 15A)
Jim Burt
PJ Vakos
Dan Walsh Xavier 24 (12G 12A)
Scott Walsh
Jeremy Proto Amity 24 (11G 13A)
Ryan Bruneau
Steve
Mike Diglio
Joe Barnes**
Andrew Miller ND of Ffld 22 (8G 14A)
Ryan
Alex Zeiss ** F. Prep 22 (9G 13A)
*First Team All SCC **Second Team All SCC
BurtsVille’s Top Ten Games of the Season
This game was by far and away the most thrilling game of the year. If
It doesn’t get much better than winning the Championship Game. It had been twenty years since
The team had just suffered its first two losses of the year—in one day. The second lost was a ugly as it comes. They were heading into Sunday’s go away game against the strongest team in the Tournament. Everyone was down. And BurtsVille means as low as it could seemingly get. So what do they do the next day? They bond as a team and fight a powerful Prep School Team to a 2-2 regulation tie on what was a great team effort. They win this exhibition in a shoot out and drive home to
4. Tie
The team solidifies its belief in itself with a hard fought victory on home ice against an arch rival. The win further boosted the team confidence and the kids gained a little swagger as they knew there was something special going on in their locker room and on the ice. Both teams share a special moment as Garrett Mendez bravely and miraculously skates onto the ice to drop the ceremonial puck to a Standing Room Ovation before the start of the second game. Years from now and a lifetime of experiences away from the ice arena all the boys who participated in this special evening will hopefully understand what a special evening it really was.
5.
This overtime thriller on Prep’s home ice in front of a hostile crowd after getting down 2-0 early spoke volumes about the team. It was after this game that this Hamden Team knew they were good enough to beat anyone anywhere no matter what the situation.
6.
A stinker was about to occur until the players took over the locker room and went out and did what they had to do with two late goals to win this road trip game.
If “Miracle on Ice” could have a sequel this is what it would look like. Another center ice last second goal from a defense man and
8 & 9.
This rivalry goes back a long way. The games are always hotly contested no matter what the team records may be in any particular year. Both of these games were hard fought and showed the mettle of the Green Dragons who persevered in both.
10.
The semi final game was played on the big sheet of ice at Ignalls’ Rink. Ignalls’ had not been kind to
MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME
Division I State Hockey Champions 2008-2009
Ode to the Green and Gold
State Champions
Memories to Last a Lifetime.
Is what you had in store,
Memoires to last a Lifetime,
You're now a part of
You faced the ice at Ignalls,
and played it straight and true.
Now you are the Champions,
Each and every one of you.
It is a special place to be,
don’t ever forget it's so,
you took it to new heights,
fought through all of your lows and foes.
The game was something special,
to those who played it true,
the game was in the hearts and minds of Champions,
Yes, in each and every one of you.
From buzzer to buzzer you played it fast and hard,
you made us all feel so happy,
at
Many have come before you,
at times it didn't seem right,
but you came and conquered everything,
it was a special night.
So, to each and every one of you,
a special tip of the hat and more,
this is something you all now share,
being part of the famed Hamden Hockey Lore.
You've capped a wonderful season,
in the Championship Game you shined;
you've made a special Memory,
That will last you all a Lifetime.
Don't ever think you can't,
when we all know you can,
you just kept on skating boys,
and brought us all a huge Hockey Championship Win.
So, to the Captains,
Anthony and Michael,
You go out on top for sure,
You both played great all year,
Your games were magnificent and pure.
Wheels, you are a special kid,
a teammate in its purest state,
And those who got to play with you,
would be proud to wear your skates.
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Dave Findley |
Steve Sorrentino |
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Scott Walsh |
Matt Morgan |
Nick, to make the team the way you did,
should make you proud as one can be,
and now look at you,
you're a Champion,
oh yes indeed.
Cousy, you did it every way,
and as you always had,
you performed great in all key moments,
you’re now a Champion,
and that ain’t bad.
Breezy what a season,
you just kept working hard all year long,
and now your year has ended,
with a Championship Victory Song.
The smiles tell it all,
a story ended right,
I hope you Locked It In,
on each and every night.
Team Photo December 2008 Edgartown Light House
The season started on an
and ended in a whale,
you never stopped a working,
and you brought your lunch with your work pail.
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Nick Castaldi |
Dan Wheeler |
AJ Gemmel |
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Justin MacGregor |
John Teulings |
RJ Ugolik |
So now you are the Champions,
Broad and True as it can be,
And Hamden’s Hockey Lore,
Is back oh Yesiree.
Finn Man you are a treat,
a man who never quits,
you use your brawn and muscles,
and yes, you use your wits.
And to my man Matt Morgan,
Your hair has grown back just fine,
you had your special moment,
and boy did you make it shine.
And to a man who had a season,
that makes reality seem a dream,
Scotty Walsh you were a marvel,
that made your entire teammates beam.
Goals came a flying,
from each and every way,
and then in the Championship Game,
You had a special day.
for those blest to see that game,
it was a special moment;
to have a loser was a shame.
But how special was it for us,
to toast to that fabled team,
who pushed us to the limit,
in the greatest game Astorino Rink has ever seen.
It is a day me boys,
that will be with you for all your years,
It was a day me boys,
that brought nothing but Victory Tears.
You did it on home ice,
with dignity and class and more,
and now you’ve made it special,
you’re a part of
The Town is a buzzing,
sharing in your Championship delight,
We Thank each and every one of you,
for such a special night.
Memories to Last a Lifetime,
is what you made that day,
Memories to Last a Lifetime,
See it, Hear It, and Say:
We are the Champions,
Oh yes you are my boys,
We are the Champions,
Smile and feel the joy.
From AJ, Patch and Mark,
who worked their butts off,
each and every day.
To Doc, Jeanne and Joey D.,
who were with us all the way.
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Asst.Vice Principal Doc Messiah and AD Jeanne Cooper |
Principal Gary Highsmith and Pal |
Asst. Vice Principal Joey D. with Nick on Martha's Vineyard |
To the fans of
Gary, Fran and more,
you’ve done something special boys;
you’ve joined
sitting in his special spot,
And God Bless Allie Aloi,
he always helps out a lot.
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Mark Fracasso |
Patrick Lynch |
Mike Berezecky |
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Michael Pierne |
Paul Amarone |
Anthony Avitable |
J Mac and Paulie A.
certainly had a special year,
that makes us all stand up,
and give them a Victory Cheer.
Sully, Tino and Dadio,
sure added much to it,
and let's not forget our Ryan,
who as a teammate is a great fit.
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Eric Sullivan |
Ryan Amarone |
Brandon Dadio |
Ugi and Teuls are destined to get more,
and certainly played a huge role,
in this quest to join
To Jim, CJ and PJ,
what a fine season you had,
and on a night to shine a special,
you boys all made us feel so proud and glad.
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PJ Vakos |
Jim Burt |
CJ Carignan |
Memories to Last a Lifetime,
is what you gave to us,
and you also gave a Championship,
to the Guys That Follow the Bus.
To Todd and George,
a Big Thank You for all you did this year,
you guys have been great,
you deserve a Victory Cheer.
And to Billy V.,
You did it,
you’ve won the title and it’s true,
we are very happy, for us;
and especially for you.
Jersey always on the spot
Memories to Last a Lifetime,
is what you gave to all,
you are the Champions young men,
and each of you should stand proud and stand tall.
I hope you Lock It All In,
this special group of men,
and remember where you came from,
and remember where you've been.
Hard work and skill did it for you,
Each and Every one,
as parents we couldn't be prouder of,
or happier for,
all of our Champion Sons.
So, with Pride and Smiles around you,
take a moment to let it shine,
and know that you've made for all of us,
Memories to Last a Lifetime.
Allie Aloi, George Jerolman, Bill Veneris, & Todd Hall
March 25, 2009
HAMDEN CLAIMS 16TH STATE CROWN
VENERIS GETS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP AS COACH
VAKOS NETS TWO, WALSH,BEREZECKY SCORE
Coaches and Allie Alloi back with Trophy
Team Hug after winning State Title Team Huddle before Game began Team Picture at HHS as State Champions after game
The HHS legacy of being the best high school hockey school in the state is alive and well. Twenty Teammates proved that at the Yale University Ingalls' Rink on Saturday, March 21, 2009. The team beat a game Brandon Dadio & Others help Avits Nick Castaldi's Last High School Shift is a Winner RJ Ugolik keeps puck in zone Eric Sullivan--Freshman State Champ Dave Findley, J. Mac, Paulie A. pour on the pressure Dan Cusano draws a penalty Bryan Caplan & Crew Cheer on Green Dragons Mayor Craig Henrici and Winners Avits saves some ice from HHS after winning States Avits gets hug as Christine & Rachel Burt approve Champion Principal Highsmith and friend Chris Burt and Mary Jane Burt cheer on Hamden High
The story line between the
You don't get to the Championship Game without talent, but as
Do you know how tough it is to beat a Lou Pane Team at the DiLungo Rink in
It was the single greatest athletic event BurtsVille has ever witnessed. Both teams fought bravely for almost five full periods before the Walsh goal ended it in dramatic fashion. It is a game that went beyond the ice surface and those in attendance can attest to what transpired afterwards. A bond was formed that evening between teams, fans and towns that goes far beyond the hockey arena and is what sportsmanship and class is all about.
So, with that exhausting and exhilarating game behind them, Billy Verneris' squad marched into Northford Ice Pavillion to face the young and talented Scott Gainey Xavier Team. It was a hard fought 3-1
So, here we go. The stage was set and the Hamden Team seemed poised and ready to take home a crown for Coach Billy Veneris' first state title. It just so happened that nobody told Glastonbury that they weren’t suppose to spoil the fun.
The Tomahawks first line was as good as advertised. The speed and skill of the Zlatkus brothers and Dickau was evident from the drop of the first puck. And goalie Mike Ford ranks right up there with the other many fine goalies in the State of
Mike Pierne stops on dime and turns to pass Mike Pierne falls to ice and still makes pass Scott Walsh somehow gets shot over goalie Scott Walsh puck is Air Borne Scott Walsh watches puck float into net Scott Walsh Scores Again
In fact, the State of
Scotty--You deserve to see this one again!!!
It is the great debate in sports. Who is better? Which era produced the best players? Can you compare one era to another? One player to another? It's what makes fans fans. And when you have two kids touted to be the best. And when you have two lines touted to be the best. What better way to determine it than in the Championship Game head to head.
The Tomahawks started the game fast and had
Brandon Dadio made a nice play on defense and Jim Burt got off a good shot five minutes into the contest. Avitable then made a beauty of a save just before Justin MacGregor got stopped by Ford on a fine shot. Pierne and Dan Wheeler did a great job as they have all year long on the Penalty Kill for
“I fully expected PJ Vakos can even fly!!!! CJ takes a Face-Off Doc Messiah and Jeanne Cooper Number One
The second period started with a great back check by Dadio preventing a shot near the
At the 13:02 mark of the Championship Game Jim Burt was about to take a face off deep in the Tomahawk zone. Burt, Vakos and Carignan had started to do what they did in that Prep game. They literally were taking the game over. Yet, the score was still 0-0. Burt and Vakos decided to have a Pow-Wow before the face off. The conversation went something like this.
"What the #@&* do we need to do to score"? Burt offered Vakos. "Just draw it to the middle and go to the net. I'm gonna shoot it once I get it," responded junior PJ Vakos. Sophomore Burt did as he was told and drew the puck to Vakos. Burt headed to the net for a rebound. He needn't have bothered. Vakos let go with a snap shot that ended up in the back of the net to put
Encore.
But no goal this year was touched by all five players on the ice. If ever there was a time to give an assist to every player on the ice, it was now. Forty Seven Seconds after Vakos had put
“That’s one of the prettiest goals we’ve scored all year long,” Coach Veneris said. “That was finesse. That’s not really been our style.”
CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIP GROWS TO HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Patch Lynch admires Championship Medal
Pat Lynch, Jim Burt, & Paul Amarone Pals Since Birth
Jim Burt Smile Says It All after Hand Shake
Hamden
Hamden
Everyone was able to hit the ice for Hamden except back up net minder Ryan Amarone who will see his action next year as the Hamden
Adam Zlatkus scored late for Glastonbury
The best? Well, the game speaks for itself. Both teams have fine players and the hype surrounding which goalie was the best in the state and which line was the best in the state was answered on the ice. Avitable gave up only one late goal when the game was over and Carignan, Vakos and Burt amassed two goals and two assists on the day with Vakos scoring two goals.
BURTSVILLE'S BEST
BEST LINE: CJ CARIGNAN, PJ VAKOS, & JIM BURT
BEST TEAM: HAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL 2008-2009
BEST GOALIE: ANTHONY AVITABLE
“Their goalie Mike Ford is terrific,” said Veneris. “But I still think Anthony is the best in the state. He played four superb games (allowing only four goals in four games) in the tournament. To do that, under this kind of pressure? How can you beat that?”
“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids,” said a joyful Bill Veneris after the game. “This is a special group of kids,” said Asst. Coach Todd Hall. “They made a decision very early in the year that they were going to stick together, on and off the ice. There was never one individual that stood out. They’re very blue collar. I had a coach once who said, ‘hard work beats skill when skill doesn’t work hard’. We won our share of games that way this year.”
Hamden finished with a 19-4-1 record and Glastonbury
SENIORS ENJOY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
Patch Lynch admires Championship Medal
Pat Lynch, Jim Burt, & Paul Amarone Pals Since Birth
Jim Burt Smile Says It All after Hand Shake
BURTSVILLE'S BEST
BEST LINE: CJ CARIGNAN, PJ VAKOS, & JIM BURT
BEST TEAM: HAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL 2008-2009
BEST GOALIE: ANTHONY AVITABLE
March 22, 2009
STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!
STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!
STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!
STATE CHAMPIONS 2009 HAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL
Congratulations to the Hamden High School Boys' Hockey Team. The 2009 Division I State Champions. BurtsVille could not be happier for you or prouder of you. BurtsVille would also like to congratulate the fine and talented Glastonbury team who gave it everything they had in yesterday's 4-1 Championship Game. And congratulations to Cheshire who won a tight Championship Game in Division Two agaisnt Enfield who should also be justly proud of their season and performance in the Championship Game. And for those of you who didn't see it or listen to it on the radio, congratulations to both Division Three Teams--St. Joseph's and Staples who simply put over 100 shots on net during St. Joe's thrilling double overtime Championship win.
MAYOR CRAIG HENRICI WITH CHAMPS MATT MORGAN & CREW--CHAMPIONS SOPHOMORES BACK ON HAMDEN ICE AS CHAMPS
BurtsVille and all of Hamden are happily tired today. There will be no long article today. It will come along with more pictures before our Team Banquet. All the pictures from the game will be uploaded over the next two weeks and anyone can download or print them for free from our ftp site which can be obtained on our Photo Gallery Page.
LOCK IT IN BOYS!!!! MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME!!! BURTSVILLE BELIEVES!! OH BURTSVILLE BELIEVES!!!
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ALLI HUGS DAN WHEELER AS TEAM CELEBRATES CHAMPIONSHIP |
COACHES AND ALLI AT LOU ASTORINO ICE ARENA--STATE CHAMPIONS |
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DAVE FINDLEY & TEAM END SEASON ON HIGH NOTE--STATE CHAMPIONS |
STATE CHAMPIONS LOCKER ROOM |
March 12, 2009
WALSH GOAL ENDS DOUBLE OVERTIME THRILLER
HAMDEN/NEW CANAAN SHOW HEARTS OF CHAMPIONS
HAMDEN ADVANCES WITH 1-0 WIN
AVITABLE/MCINTYRE GOALIES SUPREME!
You learn a lot about a person in sports. You learn who has talent. You learn who works hard. You learn who is a good teammate. And, you learn who has heart.
Kids—You have heart. And BurtsVille is referring to the New Canaan High School Hockey Team and the Hamden High School Hockey Team which both put on a tremendous display of all of the above last evening in
Mere words cannot describe the game played between
All McIntyre did was stop shot after shot of the Number One Ranked Team in their own backyard. Avitable? They don't call him the best in the State for nothing. The kid once again put on a show for his teammates and fans. McIntyre stopped 32 shots while Avitable stopped 30. Both of these outstanding net minders stoned so many players in overtime and double overtime that not even BurtsVille’s St. Rita’s education can come up with words to describe them.
New Canaan won the right to play
They take the 
Scott Walsh watches Game Winner go into the net
New Canaan's team from top to bottom showed up to deny
Avitable and McIntyre were like two heavyweight boxers who wouldn't go down. It was Ali-Frazier all over again. All three fights rolled into one as these incredible athletes discarded shot after shot. It was amazing watching them as the game which started at 6:00 P.M. Wednesday night was fast approaching Thursday morning--or so it seemed. A whistle would blow in the overtime periods and McIntrye would take a knee while Avitable would bend over so far it looked as if he was going to fall.
McIntrye denies Carignan Avitable makes another Game Saving Save in OT McIntyre denies Burt Game Winner with 10:46 to Play in Dbl. OT Fifth Period? You've Got to be Kidding Me!!!
All doctors, nurses and EMT’s in attendance were put “on call” as the enthusiastic crowd’s hearts pumped through their shirts. Pacing, eyes to the ceiling, looks of wonder and anticipation were greeted with the same from the borders of
Trish & Doc Frank Granito & Friends Jake, Kelsey & Taylor Joe D. with Hamden Honeys McIntyre denies Berezecky & Pierne in OT Officers Linda G. & Scotty J.
The
"It was a game that really no one should have lost," said Joe Santilli after the game. "I know that gets said many times in games like this, but truly there was no loser in this game. Come on? You have the 17th ranked team come in here and play like that and you are going to tell me they lost? No way. Each and every one of those kids that got on that bus back to
BurtsVille could not agree more. The game had the best of life in it. Sportsmanship. Comfort. Joy. Disappointment. Triumph. And Love. You could not have asked for more.
COMFORT LOVE JOY TRIUMPH
And yet, in sports as in life as we have come to know it, there is a winner and a loser on the score board. And if one player in
It is thrilling to win a game like this. It is also terrible to lose. How each is handled tells a lot about a person and a team. BurtsVille stayed after the game to shake the hands of each and every one of the
Class. It is hard to define but you know it when you see it. And we saw it last evening. Big Time. Two groups of teenagers from different parts of the state showed us all what it is all about. 
Sportsmanship and Class
It doesn't matter where you are ranked. It matters how well you play on a given day. It has always been that way and always will be that way. It was simply an outstanding game played by two teams with enormous heart, talent, and yes, Class.
BurtsVille congratulates both teams on a game well played. It was a hard hitting, clean game. Each team had their chances and each team gave no quarter. Congratulations gentlemen on a game well played.
Wrestling Buff Alli Aloi: "You Can't See Me".
January 15, 2009
BurtsVille would like to congratulate Colleen Murphy of the Girl's Ice Hockey Team for being selected as one of the Stars of the Week by the New Haven Register.
BurtsVille congratulates Anthony Avitable on being chosen Goalie of the Week and Jim Burt for being chosen as one of the Stars of the Week by the New Haven Register on January 
14, 2009. Anthony Avitable
Jim Burt
January 15, 2009
PIERNE LEADS HAMDEN OVER XAVIER 3-2
McGovern and Vakos Score Goals as Co-Captain Pierne has goal and two assists
The Hamden High School Boys Hockey Team won their seventh game of the year against a determined Xavier team last night. It was a great win in what is best termed a good game for the Green Dragon Squad. The team was coming off two highly charged games against East Haven and Notre Dame of Fairfield and had just enough in their tank to defeat the home team Xavier. The game was held at Wesleyan Rink in Middletown with a packed house cheering on both squads.
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Pat McGovern Goal |
Mike Pierne Goal |
Hamden jumped out on top when Pat McGovern let go with an innocent looking wrist shot from above the face off circle. Somehow it managed to squeeze through the five hole of the Xavier goalie. It put Hamden up 1-0 at the 2:37 mark of the first period. It was back and forth action then by both teams with Hamden dominating territorial early in the second period.
Xavier was then awarded a Power Play and not six seconds into it Mike Pierne intercepted a pass and drove hard to the net scoring a beautiful unassisted, short handed goal to put the visitors up 2-0 early in the second period. Hamden then stormed
the Xavier team before a time out was called to settle the home team down. It worked.
Xavier had fallen behind 3-0 when Pierne hit PJ Vakos just getting on the ice from a line shift. Vakos tapped the pass home to put Hamden in command. It came at the 8:13 mark of the second period. Matt Morgan then set up a teammate on a fine rush but a defender just knocked the puck away. After the time out, the Xavier squad leveled the ice and Anthony Avitable proved his mettle once again making nice save after nice save. 
Jenny, Laura and Patty Morgan enjoy the game
Xavier scored at the 9:41 mark of the second and then again at the 6:13 mark of the third period to make it interesting. 
Avitable made all the saves he needed to make in the final minutes to preserve Hamden's victory.
JANUARY 10, 2009
A storm was a brewing outside the fabled Lou Astorino Ice Arena Saturday as the Marty Rood led Notre Dame of Fairfield Team rode into town determined to get Coach Roos his 500th career victory. Despite the frosty weather and snow and sleet falling all around, an overflow crowd filled the seats and the aisles. 
the State playoffs three times in the past several years.
PJ Vakos drives to the net
Hamden came out strong in the first period as the line of Scott Walsh, Mike Pierne and Pat McGovern picked up where they left off Thursday night against East Haven . Their intensity was matched by the Fairfield
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Anothy Avitable continues his fine play in net for the Green Dragons
Meanwhile, back in the
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Dan Wheeler on Defense Dan Cusano casts shadow on wall Steve Sorrentino & RJ Ugolik Defend
Both team defenses were making it hard to get clean shots on goal. And when the hard charging offense managed to get off shots, Avitable and D'Auria were up to the challenge. Five minutes into this pre-hyped game and those in attendance knew they were seeing high school hockey at its' best. Two teams, ranked 3rd and 4th respectively, in the most recent high school statewide poll, each performing at a high level in a regular season match-up of historic proportions.
"Game On!" enthused spectators during a break as the teams raced up and down the ice, skating, hitting, passing, shooting and making saves. Finally, at the 6:32 mark another hard working shift by the BCV Line produced a goal as PJ Vakos jammed in a rebound off a Jim Burt blast that put
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RJ Ugolik makes open ice hit John Teulings figures two goalies are better than one Patrick Lynch hits the Varisty Ice for first time
Carignan was engaged in another style of dance on the other side of the ice as the hard nosed center man was hittng everything in sight and jarring the puck loose for his linemates. Finally, burt got free with the puck and let go with his trademark, low wrist shot that D’Auria stopped but Vakos was singing "Whose That Knocking at Your Door" camped at the top of the crease and the crafty junior jammed the puck into the net for a 1-0 lead. Burt and Carignan had assists on the goal.
The hometown crowd roared with delight. MacGregor and Co. came storming out after the score and before you knew it Berezecky had fought off two defenders for the puck, got it back to Wheeler at the point who let go with a laser beam that Amarone somehow deflected. His deflection rang off the post--this lines third post in two games--at the 7:40 mark of the period.
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Mike Berezecky on the move Michael Pierne rips another shot Pat McGovern chases the puck
Avitable may not have known the snow was falling like rain outside but he was about to find out what it felt like to get rained on as the Notre Dame team came storming back. Pierne made a tremendous open ice hit on a forward to jar one rush but the kids from down State just kept on coming. There were only four minutes left in the period and it was time for the Anthony Avitable Show to be turned on to your local station. Mr. Reject made a series of five saves in a two minute span that defy description. He was like an octopus with eight arms thrusting away black rubber as if a safety inspector at a Firestone Tire Plant. His late period heroics had
The period started with RJ Ugolik making a fine outlet pass to Pierne. Pierne used his speed to fly into center ice and hit the streaking Scott Walsh as he crossed the blue line. Walsh then fired a shot that D'Auria once again stopped for Notre Dame. Avitable came up with a honey of a save at the 4:38 mark as both teams picked up where they left off in the first period.
CJ Carignan then came in low to gather the puck in the defensive zone when a clean, hard hit forced him into the boards with body and head. It was a crushing hit and the sophomore sensation hit the ice and didn't move. It was clear that he was hurt and the team trainer, "
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Paul Amarone Goal Disallowed Trainer Jersey takes care of CJ Carignan Co-Capt.(07-08)Ron Esposito & Rita Sullivan
The teams kept up their high tempo of play. Wheeler and Cusano were making smart pinches, Ugolik and Sorrentino were playing tough defense along with Gemmel and Dadio, and Teulings was using his skating skills to fly around the ice.
Avitable again made a fine left leg kick save at the 9:38 mark and then again four seconds later. Dan Cusano leveled an offensive player on defense to stop a rush and mark Fracasso was filling in well for the injured Carignan. Fracasso a fleet skating junior has made the most of his limited ice time to date and was rewarded for his doggedness. He came up big for the team as Burt moved to center his line with Berezecy and Fracasso skating with Amarone and MacGregor.
"This team has character," said Findley. "We've got a young team, have had some injuries, yet everyone just keeps working hard and playing together. I love these guys."
The Green Dragons got jump started early on a spin-a-roma goal that was dizzying in its majesty. Scott Walsh, one of the hardest workers on the team, corralled the puck off a Pierne pass with his back to the puck. The spry winger somehow saw the puck out of the side of his eye, stopped it with the blade of his skate out to the right of the goalie just inside the circle, spun around to his left with a defender towering over him and velcrowed to his back, and shot the puck into the net. Home team up 3-1 at the 3:01 mark. Pierne and Vakos had assists on the goal. Rumor has it Walsh has left the team to perform on “Dancing with the Stars” after his magnificent move.
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Vakos Scores Walsh Scores Burt Scores
A one goal game with just under ten minutes to play with a packed house. How much better can it get? Findley's uncle, the passionate and loveable, Carl Redmond was getting worked up. A die hard
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Senior Citizens Enjoy Game Six Beauties & One on Dad's Lap enjoy the game Kevin, Tony, Bill and Pete enjoy the game
The teams exchanged more of the same high intensity hockey when Jim Burt intercepted a pass at the blue line. Burt skated past the defender he stole the puck from, kept another to his right and fired a low, wrist shot that D'Auria somehow fended off with his blocker. The puck shot out to the right and the hustling winger followed up his own rebound burying the bisket in the twine for a 4-2 Green Dragon lead.
The Double Feature presentation of Anthony Avitable was about to begin. Avitable made every save conceivable over the final nine minutes of the game surrendering a goal to Ryan Doughnan with a little under four minutes to play. Mike Cantarotta got an assist on the goal to make it 4-3. Coach Roos pulled his goalie with over two minutes to play and the
The senior co-captain kept his cool and the
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Fans in Lobby after the game Irish Beauties enjoy the game Skate Sharpening Trainees