OMG! Derek Mason, the Baltimore Raven’s #1 wide receiver, has retired…

I couldn’t believe the headlines and the stories, but it is true. The thing is, it is so late in the season for such a dramatic change. This retirement will no doubt impact the Ravens like crazy. The truth is he was headed towards the end of his career, but I can’t believe he made this decision right before training camp.

The first thing I thought, including other analysts, was that he made this decision based on the recent loss of his close friend, recently retired Steve McNair. Mason spoke at McNair’s memorial and took the entire situation very hard and very personally.

Even with all of this, the really messed up part to this is the hole that is being left on the team. Mason was the best the Ravens had and now what?… The free agents and trade season has passed and whats left is probably slim pickings… I guess I can’t be too surprised by the decision. I mean, how many times do we make decisions that impact those other than ourselves? And although this might be on a bigger scale, it is still all so relative and therefore, the impact is the same.

I know this site is about professional athletes and the stories surrounding their lives, but I have a personal story that I want to share…

We had to put my long-haired Persian, Camry, down. For me, it was unexpected and happened so suddenly. I can’t believe the pain that I’m feeling. Camry was 13… Yeah, I know she was really old. But, I just thought she’d be around for much, much longer. This past weekend we’d just had a cookout and she seemed fine… She was hanging around all the guests and wanted to be part of the party. Then, for the next couple of days she was really lethargic and anti-social (more than normal). She didn’t want to be held and she wasn’t eating or drinking. When we got to the vet, they told us she was experiencing liver failure and that it had progressed so far that her other organs were beginning to fell. Her eyes were cloudy and she wasn’t responsive at all… She would, however, move her tail a bit when I called her name. Of course, seeing that just broke my heart.

What happened?… That’s all I could think. The doctor then said that we could spend the money on x-rays and blood work, but that she was so advanced that recovery wasn’t unlikely and that the only other alternative was to put her down. I immediately fell apart (This evening Hubby said I was at Level 10. He was trying to make me smile.). The thought that consenting to kill her was more than I could bear and leaving her in this place all alone just took me over. We were both glad that my mom was there with us… She encouraged me to let her go. She said that she was in pain and that it was cruel to allow her to go on the way she was. I knew in my head, but my heart just couldn’t conceive losing her. I asked Mother later why she didn’t cry… she said that she was, but she couldn’t let us see it because someone had to be strong for us. I’m thankful for her strength. Obviously, we went ahead with the procedure, but it took some time and lots of tears. Mother and Hubby were so strong for me throughout the entire process and I’m so thankful to them.

You know, it might seem weird that all of these feelings are being experienced over a cat, but I tell you, you never know until you go through it. She was part of the family and we loved her so much. She’s been there for many stages of my life and there are so many memories that have over taken me. Right now it’s really hard and I am just too exhausted to put much energy into other areas, but I know this will soon pass.

I just wanted to share…

When I heard the former NFL quarterback, Steve McNair, was killed over the weekend in Nashville I was shocked. But, then when I heard he was found near his dead girlfriend’s body, shocked didn’t even encompass it any longer.

Why… That’s all I could ask myself. It is such a waste. McNair was married with four boys. But then he was named on a Cadillac truck along with his girlfriend. Why?… (You see why I ask this, huh?)…

There are many details and so much to still be exposed, but my focus is on the children. They will be forever associated with the scandal of their father. How can this situation be explained to the children and who will be the brave person to explain it to them? The other sad part to this is that McNair’s on-the-field excellence is going to pale once compared to this turn of events.

Children never get a choice in these matters. They’re just collateral damage. My thoughts are definitely with the family and I hope any emotional scars the children incur will be healed and their lives restored.

Well, I guess I could’ve said Power to the People, but it seems to take me in a whole other direction…

The power I’m referring to is actually being given to the fans. Before you even know what I mean you’re probably thinking its about time, right? I think that feeling is why this new movement of sorts is coming into action.

One of the most famous agents to the athletes, Drew Rosenhaus, has apparently done it again with his particular way of manipulating (That maybe way too strong of a word, but you get it…) the media attention towards himself. But, this one, I even think is quite interesting. Rosenhaus has decided that if you (or me, of course), the fan, would like an agent to back you regarding the sometimes strict rules of sports’ arenas and their franchises, then he’s your guy…

What (This needed a paragraph of its own.)?

Yep… for all those who are tired of not being able to bring your own cooler (not the drink! LOL!) to the game or maybe you’re feeling like you’ve had enough of the high prices for food and tickets, you can call up your agent to speak on your behalf.

Now, I’m thinking (along with other sports’ analyst… Yes, I consider myself a sports’ analyst. LOL!) there may not be too much to this… but, ohhhh, the media frenzy and hyped up fans… and, money for the agent. And, just so you know, the NHL (hockey) appeared to have been the starting point for Rosenhaus with fans sporting games and not getting their monies worth. Good times…

Yay! Venus Williams (Get ‘em girl!) and Andy Roddick are representing at Wimbledon, winning Round 1 against fierce opposition.

It was a big day for the American players, with five Americans making it through. Venus received mad kudos for being the “queen of the court”. She’s a 5-time winner, so this circle isn’t new to her, but it is always great to see the Williams sisters compete. Roddick is the best for the men’s match ups. His powerful forehand has gotten him to victory more than once in his lucrative career.

For me, the game is sooo exciting. I love the strategy and the overall competition. I can’t wait for Day 2, to see Venus’ sister, Serena (She’s a beast!… Uh, that’s a compliment). These girls are so passionate about the sport… What’s funny is that they’re practically at the end of their career, in their mid and late twenties (Isn’t that crazy?).

With so many sports that have Americans not showing and being competitors, I’m glad to see that Wimbledon has a good number of representatives.

Well, some call it futbol (football), but either name will do…

The international soccer games are going on now and the U.S. are, well, not fairing too well. Outside of the fact that U.S. viewership is low, a familiar reality for this sport, the actual team isn’t competing. They played against Brazil this week and the team was quoted as saying (okay, I’m paraphrasing here) that they are ready to play again because they didn’t have to break a sweat with the U.S. team. Wow, right?

My whole thing is if you’re gonna (yes, gonna!) do something, do it… Don’t half do it. With anything, if you’re half doing something, no one benefits. I just wish the team would at least compete and be a viable competitor against the other exceptional teams that they meet up with.

Come on, U.S… Do something!

GO LAKERS!

Sorry I’ve been M.I.A… I was under the weather. But, on to more interesting stuff….

During the LA Lakers/Orlando Magic series there are many stories that are worth noting, but one stands out for me. This father and son were watching Orlando on television (pretty normal, huh?) and all of a sudden the boy spoke…

Here’s the story… The boy, up until this point, hadn’t spoken and the family was as resolved as a family could possibly be that he wouldn’t talk. Now with the surprise of his reaction to the team on television, the father thought that maybe there was something to do. And, it was…

This story found its way to the Magic offices and they responded by giving the boy and his father season tickets.

The glorious part of this story is in the fact that the boy has talked ever since. During each game the father says it’s hard to even shut him up. What a great inspiration to embracing the thought of never giving up…

So, there’s a feeling amongst a good number of baseball fans that this steroid era isn’t really a big deal to them at all.   The point that some of the biggest stars in professional baseball have allegedly been connected to steroids pretty much muddies the water for the entire game.

I’m not sure how to feel about it… The school of thought on this is that if everyone’s doing it how can we single one person out or demolish the game all together? It’s a big, fat case of spilled milk, huh? I just think there has to be another answer, but I’m not even sure what that is.

What example is it setting?…  Will this trickle into all sports in general? Man, this world is funny at times…