UnDefeated- a mindset, not just stats

Hey Y'all It's your favorite SportsGal89 Innnnnnnnnnnn the Buildin'. I am bringing you today a different style in my posts then I have normally.
  Today I am posting still about sports, but it's the sides we don't always talk about or it's the beginning of the journey for the players that we constantly cheer for but don't always know what drives them when they play.
  I watched a well celebrated documentary about a 2009 Tennessee Football Team called "Undefeated." It is one of the BEST documentaries that I have seen and still very much a reminder of what I feel is a true responsibility of fans of the game to remember what these athletes are putting themselves through or what adversity they are overcoming to "entertain" us for a lack of a better word. Yes, they make careers out of the game that they love and something that they are passionate about, but it's bigger than that.

Undefeated- Simply means NOT DEFEATED! What a brilliant title. When you think football (or any sport for that matter) and you think the word undefeated you assume that what it means is that the team had one heck of a season. That they had however many wins and no losses.

But as the story continues I realized that undefeated was never about football, it was about life. Coach Courtney, the coach of the team opens with this great quote, "Young men of character end up winning in life and winning in football." His investment in these inner city kids, who are up against life was so amazing. Undefeated for these young men was about being undefeated in life.

Coach Courtney told the young men after they had their first loss of the season that "The character of a man is not measured in how he handles his wins, but how he handles his failures." When life gets a hold of us in general we are all measured by how we handle our failures. Do we allow it to cripple us or do we get back up, head high and keep pressing forward?

One of the players, O.C. Brown was slated to be the most recruited out of the players on the team. But he had a huge obstacle, one that I see constantly in athletes and one of those areas that I will continue to be passionate about. O.C.'s hindrance was his grades. He was skilled on the field, but in the classroom he struggled. This is something we see in athletes all the time. Especially when it comes to College Ball, you can't play if you don't have the grades- It's called STUDENT athlete, not athlete student. But there is a lot at risk when you come from a community like these boys do. If they are not prepared adequately to be able to do both then how do they succeed. The other part of it is, the preparation sets them up to be able to handle the new environment in college. I am always fascinated to know what happened to the people in documentaries after we see a glimpse of their success. So I Googled it- I won't share that here, because I want you to see the film before you know the outcome of his story.

But 4 years changes people, and if you are an urban male youth who is not exposed to certain things, a change as drastic as going to college with the mindset that you are an athlete student, will lead to a lot of struggles.

I loved this documentary for giving me a chance to see the back story of the next great College Star or NFL player.

I think as fans of the game we need to remember their story, we need to share it and celebrate it.

I need you to  get on your Netflix account and check out this film. I promise you it will be worth it. You will walk away from the screen, whether it be tv or computer, and you will be satisfied. You will be encouraged and moved. I am so glad I got to watch this film, and there is still probably a lot that I can ponder on about the documentary, but I think I am going to leave that for my other blog- Be the Change.  

That's all she wrote focus, please watch this documentary!

"You don't quit because you are frustrated you just keep going"- Coach Courtney #Undefeated

It's Playoffs Baby

Hey Y'all Its your favorite SportsGal89! Innnnnnnnnnnnnn the building! Happy New Year and welcome to my first post of the new year. Today is officially January, 1, 2014!!! We made it y'all.

 I hope you all had a wonderful celebration ringing in the new year and I hope that like me you are excited for what is to come ahead.

Now let's get down to business...
    It's Playoffs!! It's bittersweet, because it means that with playoffs starting it also means that the season is coming close to an end.. AH! But let's not go there just yet.
  So it's Playoffs, and the Steelers are not in, I wrote a post  about my feelings about that after the game. But I am not bitter, regardless of the news and commentary about the Refs not throwing the flag during Succop's failed kick and then Tomlin saying he is looking forward to being a part of the process that improves the Refs calling ability, etc. At the end of the day, the Steelers shouldn't have rested on a flag to be called properly for their shot in the playoffs. This is a year of development for them, their team has been struggling this season with injuries and losing some key people, and what they should be proud of is getting it together when they did. But I digress because we are supposed to be talking about the teams that actually made the playoffs.

So here is the upcoming playoff picture- Aka "Wildcard Weekend":

Game                                                                    SportsGal89's picks                                      
Kansas City @ Indianapolis                                  Indy (as much as I like what's                      
                                                                             been happening in KC I want to see
                                                                             what Luck can do--ha ha you like that?!)

New Orleans @ Philly                                         Philly- Riding high on the momentum of          
                                                                            their  last few games, they are at home after
                                                                            beating Dallas and Chip Kelly is proving to be
                                                                            a great NFL head coach..


San Diego @ Cincy                                           Cincy- I have a rule, you should root for the        
                                                                          the team that beat your team out, and in this
                                                                          case that should be the Chargers since they beat
                                                                           us out for the Wildcard spot, but I like what
                                                                           Cincy is doing out there.. And I want to see
                                                                            them go for it

San Francisco @ Green Bay                             Advantage Green Bay- it's going to be freezing
                                                                          that football is going to be an iceball. Green Bay
                                                                          open air, it will be a fight for SF.  But if they do
                                                                          I put them being HUGE and if having to go
                                                                          through Seattle to do it, they will be able to do
                                                                          it and see another SuperBowl


  But what do I know, I am just a #SportsGeek and this is just a guess.. We'll see how it all turns out on Sunday!

That's all she wrote folks, come back on Monday to see how I did.

 

It would take the moon, the stars, the sun, all the planets and galaxies and 4 TEAMS winning....

.... For the Steelers to make it to the playoffs....

Hey Y'all it's your FAVORITE SportsGal89 Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn the Buildin! I am here bringing you one exciting "Any Given Sunday!" Today, December 29, 2013, the last Sunday of the year and the last Sunday or gameday that many NFL teams got to play today. Today was the day for the WildCard chase and despite a shotty start to this season and a rocky comeback, the Steelers still had a glimmer of hope when they woke up this Sunday morning.

That glimmer rested on 4 teams, one of which was themselves.

So let me recap... In order for the Steelers to have a shot at the 6th Seed in the AFC, the Bengals, the Jets, the Steelers and the Chiefs NEEDED a win.

So let's talk about today.... 

   1:00pm Game Schedule

      Bengals in Cincy against Baltimore

      Jets in Miami 

      Steelers at home against the Browns

      KC in San Diego (with no real need to win or lose)

So let's talk- I am starting with the games that ended early and set me up to having one of the most interesting of Sundays.

  Jets remarkably take a win in Miami with whack Geno Smith at the helm (1 down)

  Steelers do their part (had they lost, we would have been out anyway- 2 down)

  Miraculously, Bengals pull out the upset against Baltimore (3 down- to be honest, this would have made my day. I wouldn't have cared one bit about the playoffs or anything else)

  ** But once it came down that we were only ONE GAME away from actually seeing a playoff spot, something inside me changed. It wasn't just a longshot, we actually HAD a shot at being a 6th seed and if anyone remembers the last time we were a 6th seed 

  (This guy got the BEST Homegoing and a ring!!!!)

But let me not get ahead of myself.

So it's now 4:25 EST KC and the Chargers are up to play... 

The Landscape: All of the starters (or for the most part, a majority of them are benched) Not mad at Reid at all for making that decision. His team regardless of having a #5 seed are in the playoffs. There is no need to cause injury to any of his players, when there is honestly nothing to lose. 

So the Chargers- they are also in the hunt for the 6th seed- it comes down to those 4 elements above for the Steelers, but it comes down to a tie or a win for the Chargers to secure their spot--- many less moons, stars and others to align. 

  Chargers playing their first string giving it all they have to stay in it. 

The game: Being in NY was horrible because the game I actually cared about was not on TV- New England dominated on this coast (yuck!) but thanks to some great streaming skills I have, I was able to watch the game that mattered to me. I am sure like the Steelers themselves and the many fans around the country and world, we were all tuned in and for 2hours we were all part of #ChiefsNation

The game was a battle. Chiefs taking the lead and holding the Chargers 24-14 into the third quarter. Then the Chargers got some steam eventually tying the game 24-24.. Watching the time wind down literally gave me heart problems... Here I am watching this game and getting more anxious then if my team had actually been playing ( as a SportsGeek I probably say this a lot, but this was a little different feeling). So alright, it was okay that the Chargers Tied, there was still some time left for the Chiefs to make a nice drive. 

 It all came down to kicker Succop and he muffs the kick.. HE MISSED! I have NEVER screamed as much as I did following that kick (and I am saying this was louder than the scream and shock I was in when Tebow aired that ball last season ripping away our playoff chances then too!). This placement was perfect for Succop to kick a nice little 41 yarder between the poles, and he muffs the kick.

Overtime comes and I am praying we still have a shot, and it looked as if we might have with a defense that ripped the ball out of one of the Chargers hands- but a Ref calling forward movement and the first down ruins any excitement I had. Chargers kick a field goal and the Chiefs are unable to answer.

With that the Steelers season comes to a close and while today was one of those exciting moments, of we can do it.. I will say this- The Steelers, and any team for that matter, can only rely on themselves when it comes to this sport. You can't put wishful thinking and hope on others to do what you should have done from day one. I love my team wins or losses. This one isn't bitter sweet, but if the Chargers blow their gift, the "what could have been" woes will definitely creep.

That's all she wrote folks... Come back for my playoff predictions later this week! 

And an Early Happy New Year to you all! 

What if women liked football more then men....

Ha! Hey Y'all It's your FAVORITE SportsGal89 Innnnnnnnn the Buildin'! I come to you with a little gem that a friend passed along to me. While it is hilarious, I am also thinking about what the "flip" side of this video means. Are you actually saying that most women act like the guys do in this video? I mean I get it that yes, there are definitely women out there who don't get the wonderful world of sports. I appreciate meeting some of those women, because I think there is something that I could obviously learn from them considering that I am a little rough around the edges.
   However, while watching this short film, I wanted to laugh, but I also was frustrated that the reality is just because you flip it and say that men don't like football, the fan side is very much gendered and that's written all over this video regardless of the fact that who the "typical" fan is there are definitely undertones of what the opposite will do and what they will be more invested in.

For now I am done with the rant because the baseline of this film is to poke a little fun so don't take my word for it watch it for yourselves:
http://guylyf.com/women-liked-football-men/ You can excuse the blurb above the video.

That's all she wrote.....

Sometimes there is more to the game... Rivalry Part 2

Hey Y'all it's SportsGal89 INNNN the buildin'... This week in sports, I enter into what I am calling #RivalryWeek. Thanksgiving night was the matchup between the Steelers and the Ravens and this upcoming Saturday will be the matchup between THE Ohio State University and Michigan (YUCK!!)

After a solid win by the Steelers in their last matchup against the Ravens, I was definitely excited to watch them play. Not only would they be playing on Turkey Day, but their game was the Thursday Night Football experience. Yes they, were playing the Ravens at home, but the odds are not so much stacked against them.

Both teams were going into the game 5-6 battling for a coveted wild card spot. And while I am not concerned at all with the Steelers having a playoff chance, I am very much concerned with their ability to beat the Ravens, because when it comes to bragging rights, as much as Superbowl Championships mean something ( I mean we still lead the league with the most-- SIXBURGH STAND UP) the reality is, when it comes to Rivalries the bragging rights last for years and through families etc.
  So here it is Thursday night football and I am more than excited. Celebrating Thanksgiving with a massive feast and getting to sit down to watch football, and not just any time, but my team. The game, from the Steelers side started off slow. And by slow I mean NO points through the first half. Despite having several long drives, the Steelers couldn't deliver. The first non-delivery came at not being able to convert in a 3rd drive. The second non-delivery came at the feet of kicker Suisham who has not had horrible games, but for some reason was just off tonight. He had a failed kick and when I say failed, he missed it. He went too fast for the ball and missed the snap and the handler holding the ball. The second failed attempt was the whack onside kick he tried to get. He just kicked it all kinds of sloppy and good thing there was a call for offsides, otherwise that could have ruined us.

Then shortly after the half, the Steelers found their rhythm in Le'veon Bell,  Emmanual Saunders, Jericho Cotchery,  Antonio Brown, Heath Miller. The Rookie Bell  has been a beauty to watch when he finds his gaps and can run like the wind. He's been dominating as a rusher and it's been beautiful to watch him bounce find a cut and run!

Saunders is nothing new to the Steelers, he and Ben when they are on are on. Saunders tends to be a little inconsistent this season, but as mentioned when he is on, you don't want to miss out on him- and to be honest in Fantasy points he did great this game.

Jericho Cotchery, had a really slow start with the Steelers in his first year. He was injured and is coming back to healthy now. When Ben needs something done, he goes to Cotchery and number 89 has not disappointed.

When you are needing that long drive- Downtown Antonio Brown is all you need!
What can be said about Heath Miller, he is a classy guy and one of the best tight ends. When Heath is healthy you know that he and Ben can make magic happen!

So when the 2nd half began the formula was there for the Steelers to have a comeback and comeback they did.. gaining 14 points and closing the gap on the Ravens lead. The Ravens hadn't really scored by a TD since their first drive in the 1st and all points after came at the foot of Kicker Justin Tucker (Thank you for my fantasy points!)

Late in the 4th with maybe 2 minutes to play, the Steelers drive for the endzone. Heath makes an attempt and is stopped short due to his knee being down. Going for it again, Le'Veon Bell drives to the endzone. He lands right on the endzone, but not before his helmet flies off in one of the most BRUTAL hits that I have EVER seen.

Let me take a moment, the heart of why I wanted to write this blog and the reason for the title- He [Bell] and Jimmy Smith of the Ravens collided as Smith attempted to make the stop. Bell's helmet falls off and in the fast speed of the game, what first looked like it could be a fumble, turns into the hardest two minutes to watch. Bell falls hard to the ground, his head snaps back and forth after it hits the ground and still holding on to the ball, Bell falls back down to the ground. seconds later the ball falls out of his hands and there Bell lays for 2 minutes not moving.

Next to him is Jimmy Smith equally shaken by the hit. Players on both sides crowd into a huddle praying for their fallen teammates, the stadium which was loud as Ravens fans always are, goes silent. 2 minutes later Bell stands up, still shaken, unable to walk straight and clearly going to be out due to a concussion.

Steelers eventually connect for the touchdown with Ben tossing to a wide open Cotchery. But after watching that hit, the steam and energy of the game was over for me. Which is interesting considering it is a rivalry match. But here is the reality, a comment I have made a few times before, what is a sport if you have no players to cheer for?

I don't know if Smith could have done anything differently and it will be interesting to see what the NFL decides later, if Smith will get fined etc. But I know as a fan there is nothing more scary than watching a great player cut short. So I can only imagine if those 2 minutes were tough for me, how tough were those 2 minutes for their families. So waking up this morning after a loss, brief recap- Steelers finally made the touch down they needed with Ben connecting to Cotchery- this brought the game up 20-22. The Steelers made an attempt for a 2pt conversion which resulted in an incomplete pass and a failed attempt as mentioned earlier, by Suisham for a onside kick.

So in this battle, the Ravens took the W- 20-22. Most mornings after a loss to the Ravens, I am probably a little sour, but today after this loss, I am actually at peace. A hit like the one Bell and Smith had reminds you that if the players are not there to play then what and who will we cheer for.

And that's all she wrote folks!

RIVALRY: Where you put it all on the line

HEY Y'all It's your favorite SportsGal89 Innnnn tha Buildin'! Hope you are doing as well as I am!
 I am coming to you with a gem. In the sports world, Rivalries matter. It's where the fans get to go all out and support their team knowing that even though EVERY game means something, in the grand scheme of honor, RIVALRIES last a lifetime and are the epitome of a sports match up. Rivalries are things that have been instilled within the culture and overall fabric of the sport. Children are born knowing and understanding these great battles in the sports world. Rivalries like the Yankees vs. Red Sox; Celtics vs. Lakers; Ohio State vs. Michigan and THE STEELERS vs. RAVENS.
   I have grown into a sports fan that knows as much as I love purple, I can NEVER get down with the Ravens and seeing purple in the jerseys on a Sunday hurts my heart, my head and my stomach.
  Now while this Rivalry is fairly new- remember the Ravens are still a younger team in terms of the Steelers history- and maybe that's another reason why I can't stand the Ravens (When Cleveland lost it's football team, I was still living in Ohio); but regardless, I have grown up knowing that the Ravens is the team that no matter what happens for the rest of the season the Steelers need to come out with a win.
   I can best equate this to last year's Ohio State Buckeye's season- while we went 12-0 last year, we couldn't enter any championship games. It didn't matter so much as long as we #BEATMichigan. Right?!
  So, no matter how crappy my team is playing the game that matters the most is against the Ravens.. We were home and we played MARVELOUSLY!!
  Now the game wasn't this huge beating, but what that scoreboard said at the end, was that the Steelers won it all! 19-16 and another win against the Ravens was all that mattered!

ONE: the only game that matters (Steelers finally get a W)

Hey Y'all it's your FAVORITE SportsGal89 INNNNN the Buildin'. I am coming to you as one happy camper. This past week I got the chance to go home to NY for a much needed family visit. But not only did I get to go home, I also went to my first Steelers game of the season and the ONE that mattered! Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I was there when the Steelers won their first bringing their record to 1-4! FINALLY a win!
   It was a great day in the Meadowlands if you were a Steelers fan, and this Steelers fan was excited to be there and watch her team finally dig themselves out of the rut they had been in..

  I will say this the one rule I had was, I can't pay the good money I paid for a crappy show by my team. With seats in the Endzone 14 rows up, it was definitely a day I didn't want wasted. And thankfully the boys did not disappoint!

I can't remember or speak on every play so instead I am going to share photos from Game day!