Champions

What is it about sports that draws so many? Particularly, what is it about championships that gets even the casual observor involved? In the past few months some major events have held many of us breathless as we pondered the outcomes that were played out before us. Each of these championships were unique in their story lines and how they evolved. Each gave us a glimpse into the beauty of sport.

The NHL Stanley Cup: For the first time in many seasons, two marquee teams with big national followings played for the most prestigious trophy in all of sports. In a league begging for television viewers, the NHL produced the legendary Detroit Red Wings against the young exciting Pittsburgh Penguins led by the real "Next Wayne Gretzky", Sidney Crosby. Despite Crosby and the rest of his teammates enthusiasm and skating speed, it was the veteran presence of the Red Wings with their defensive prowess that wore out the Penguins. Most fans went into this series looking for Crosby to take the expected step in what will be one of the most storied careers in the history of hockey. Instead, hockey followers went away with a feeling of awe as they watched a team, the Red Wings, truly meld together to become champions.

The Triple Crown: Big Brown went into this series undefeated and easily won the first two legs of Horse Racing's spring festival, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. The large beautiful horse, endowed with fresh cash from corporate sponsor, UPS (the real "Brown") looked to be a lock to become the first horse in some thirty years to win the Triple Crown. Here we were watching for greatness to unfold. Unfortunately, no one told Big Brown exactly what history he was trying to accomplish. Perhaps hindered by a hoof injury (or, hush, lacking his biweekly shot of steroids), Brown had to be pulled up two thirds of the way into the demanding Belmont Stakes. Brown was the star who enticed us to watch. So even now, just weeks after the race, someone could win a trivia contest if they could name the actual winner - Da'Tara.

The U.S. Open: If Big Brown could not overcome his physical problems, perhaps Tiger Woods could. Playing the first tournament since having knee surgery, Woods would go on and have one of the most memorable victories ever. Literally having trouble just walking the 18 hole Torrey Pines course, Woods had to play not only the required four days of golf but an extra round on Monday against journeyman Rocco Mediate. And even then, the two had to go to one extra hole to determine the winner of this most important tournament. Here was the unheralded Mediate playing his heart out and there was the almost one legged superstar giving it his all in a match for the ages.

The NBA Finals: The "Next Michael Jordan", Kobe Bryant, was surrounded on a team with solid if not spectacular players. Up against Bryant's Lakers were a trio of true superstars, the Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. If ever there was a championship that was pretty much preordained, this was the one. Holding home court advantage, the Celtics easily won the first two games. Needing only one win in Los Angeles, Boston put on a comeback that will be talked about for a long time as they overcame a deficit of twenty-four points to win the pivotal fourth game. There really was no reason for the teams to travel all the way across the country to finish this out but travel they did. And in Boston and in a new Garden, the Celtics blew out the Lakers to win the franchise's seventeenth banner. These two historic teams have combined for half of all NBA championships so watching this series was a walk down memory lane.

Reasons to watch sports: How will the young stud do? (NHL) Will a champion for the ages be crowned? (Horse Racing) Can a physical impairment stop the superstar? (U.S. Open) Are three greater than The One? (NBA) Whether your team or favorite won or lost, let us be thankful for all these incredible athletic feats that we were able to feast our eyes upon and read and think about over these past days. Not often does such drama come our way.

What Can "Big" Brown Do For You?

We truly are living in depressing times. Gas prices are rising daily if not hourly. Foreclosures are not just hitting those who barely could afford that suburban home; but now some of the so called rich and famous. The stock market is going wild, people are retrenching on vacations, and soon unemployment will dramatically rise.

When things were going awful in the midst of the real "Great Depression" of the 1930's, at least there was someone or something to look towards as a source of inspiration. Legendary heroes such as Babe Ruth, Joe Dimaggio, Jesse Owens, "Cinderella Man" James Braddock, and Joe Louis were just some of the great sportsmen who allowed the millions who were suffering just enough time to lift their spirits and take a few moments off of their own problems.

Perhaps the greatest of these sports heroes was the great horse, Seabiscuit. Seabiscuit was emblematic of the times in that he, his owner, his trainer, and his main jockey were all once down and outers who came together to overcome their own shortcomings and produce victory and ultimate redemption in their lives. A champion who overcomes tough odds is always an object of wonderment and amazement to those who are having a tough time.

So here we are in 2008. Perhaps we are not in a "Great Depression" but things have sure gone south and in a quick way. We seem to have a president who is totally out of touch with what is going on. We have friends, neighbors, and loved ones stuck thousands of miles away in a war without end. And as mentioned above, economic hard times are upon many. With this as a backdrop, people once again are looking for that special someone who can give their spirits a bit of a boost.

We began looking for that person a few years back when we marvelled at baseball sluggers Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. But possible steroid use has soured our view of these former players (as well as future Hall of Famers Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens). Many saw greatness in the New England Patriots and their cover boy quarterback, Tom Brady. But this team of destiny lost their perfect season in the midst of cheating allegations and Brady's preoccupation with things not football related.

So today, on a warm New York June Saturday, all eyes were looking once again towards a magnificent four legged creature to bring hope to a world that has begun to look quite hopeless. His name is Big Brown and after easily winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown, Brown was poised to capture our imagination in a depleted field of nine horses in the long one and a half mile Belmont Stakes.

Everything seemed to be in place. A bit of drama crept into the story as a cracked hoof plagued the big horse over the last few weeks. Brown went off as the odds on favorite and there he was around the far turn in a perfect outside third place ready for his signature gallop home. But things did not go as planned as Brown ran out of energy and shockingly was pulled up to finish dead last.

Our prayers go out that the horse will be healthy and will be able to run in the future. But until then a bit of a dagger has been put into us as we saw defeat and despair overcome joy and winning. Big Brown was our ticket out of this spiraling mess that our country is in and he could not deliver. Oh that we hope that someone or something out there will be our new champion. As for today, there is no joy for the mighty Big Brown has struck out!