Category: Sports (Page 3 of 4)

One win to Omaha! Bulldogs vs. Tigers

06/09/2007 / Blake

Mississippi State Baseball has been an odd bird lately. Last year they started out undefeated deep into the season. Climbed all the way to #1 in the nation. Then dove. Like they ran out of gas and the propeller broke and they got filled with lead. They took a nose dive that kept them from even making the SEC Baseball Tournament.

Then they started the 2007 season without many people giving them much credit. Although there were expectations within their own clubhouse, the media picked them to finish LAST in the SEC West. But after a decent non-conference schedule/record the Bulldogs had climbed into the polls and had some good weekend showings against SEC competition. But even with finishing 2nd in the SEC West…it seemed that things were just not clicking. The last few weekend and the two-and-done showing in the SEC Tourney left a lot to question.

Everyone knew they wouldn’t host a regional. Would they even win a game in one? Ouch…they get to go to Florida State. A team with the best home field record in the country. Most figured State would beat Stetson and get beat by FSU. Thankfully none of the players thought so. State went 3-0 winning the regional. And some luck happened when the Dogs were able to host the Super Regional instead of having to travel to Clemson.

Again, most people outside of Mississippi thought that Clemson would have a victory first game w/ one of the top pitchers in the nation (he was just drafted #4 in the first round of the MLB Draft). But after some shaky first innings and a cramping pitcher, Miss State put it together and brought the Clemson Tigers to their knees with a 8-6 win.

Nothing is a given. There is still at least one and maybe two games to be played. But this group of Bulldogs has followed their own dreams despite what a lot of people outside of their dugout thought about their chances. Their ONE GAME AWAY from making it to the Mecca of college baseball….Omaha.

I wonder if Tony and Perry are keeping up?

[tags]Mississippi State, Clemson, CWS, Omaha, college baseball[/tags]

Time for a new camera…

05/26/2007 / Blake

When I was really young, my dad went to work in South Dakota for a year. So he bought a camera while he was away to take pictures of all the pretty landscapes up there (ha ha!) But when he came back I wore that big Canon SLR around my neck as if it were my favorite necklace. I took lots of photos. And wasn’t it great that you had to buy film and pay to have it developed back then?

Later on in middle school he got me a little Canon point and shoot. I used it a lot. Wore it out. But when I was in high school I decided I wanted to step up w/ the big boys. So the summer after my sophomore year in high school I mowed yards and pulled weeds for a lawn care service. I saved most all of my money and bought myself a camera just as school started. Had to use my grandmother’s credit card for it and everything!

I started taking pictures for the school yearbook and the local newspaper. I did almost all of my schools sporting events. And I loved doing it. Even got to learn darkroom techniques. I became known as the “Picture Man.” I’d take photos on Friday nights at football games, then develop them first part of the week. And then I’d bring them to school and watch people ohh and ahh over them. Made me feel good. I knew that was my creation from start to finish.

But life moved on. I used it a little more while working in Amory. But everything w/ newspapers was moving Digital and I didn’t have that. But now I want back in the game!

We just bought Continue reading

Firefly Brickstreet Run

04/28/2007 / Blake

Wow, I’d not run in a while, but then I get caught up in the “everyone else is going to run it too” so I jump in there. I have to admit that I figured I would have done better than I actually did. Last year I did it around 27 and a half minutes. This year I was a bout five minutes slower.

But I’m glad I did it. There is always that inspiration to do it more and more and get quicker and drop a few lbs too. But that motivation always seems to ebb and flow. I was thinking about this as I was getting dressed today. I always have these “Now is the time to get __________ done.” Whether it’s to work out more, or run more, or eat better, or get this project done, or read this stack of books or whatever. But then my motivation…well, I don’t know if it drops for that, or just gets reallocated towards something else. And sometimes something else is sitting on the couch or eating a bag of cookies or whatever.

But I’ll say here and now, that I’m going to be healthier. Whether it’s a change in diet or activity habits…it will come!

Last soccer game

04/19/2007 / Blake

Tonight is the last soccer game of the season for Addie. This spring season was close to the same as the fall season: Addie started a touch timid and reserved, but then gathered steam and confidence at the same time.

It’s nice to see her really enjoy something. Is she good? She’s okay, maybe a little better than average. But not a superstar. But she gets pumped about it all day long. But I’m not sure if she’s as excited about the actual game tonight, or the end of the year party afterwards.

Final Four…Mississippi State Style

03/27/2007 / Blake

I guess Mississippi State style means NIT style this year. I will take it. I would have liked more than the NIT, but realistically….preseason hopes was for a good NIT showing. So far so good, right?

But in 20 minutes the game comes on ESPN2. For some reason the Women’s NCAA Tourney gets to play on ESPN. Will more people really watch that over the men’s NIT Final Four? Either way, I’m glad that we’re still playing and still getting some publicity. The incoming freshmen for next year are already wrapped up. So I don’t know that this would help us tremendously recruiting wise unless we’re talking about current Juniors.

I’ll be watching to night’s game w/ my girls. The Wife is going to be at a Bible study. But here’s to hoping that we win tonight and get to play Thursday night.

Yup yup

03/23/2007 / Blake

I took one of those breaks. Jeremy reminded me of it.

The last post was about making the NIT and the excitement and anti-hype that surrounds it. But since then MSU has one three straight home games to march into New York City and MSG. Again, there’s always that question as to whether you’d like to go deep in the NIT or be ousted first round of the NCAA Tournament. But I think our team, at this point, might be better for the deep run in the NIT. Plus, I really think we have a legitimate shot at winning it.

But there’s no guaranteed benefit of winning the NIT. Just ask South Carolina (sorry, Rick). They won the whole thing the last two years. So after winning the NIT championship in 05, they don’t make the Big Dance in 06 so they win the NIT again. And then in 07 they not only fail to make the Big Dance…but the Little Dance either.

I was actually able to go to the last game in the Hump against Florida State. It was the first game I’d been to there in a really long time. It brought back great memories. And that place feels so good to be in. My only regret is that I didn’t buy a hotdog there. Next time for sure!

But our team is young. And learning. And developing. And (most likely) all coming back. Good times should be both here AND ahead.

Tourney Time :: Aiming for #65

03/12/2007 / Blake

Yes, after talking big about our win on Friday I guess I should have come back and posted about our loss to Arkansas. We were just worn out from the day before it seemed. No excuses, really.

But the loss kept us from advancing in the SEC Tourney and essentially kept us out of the NCAA tourney. But we are the #1 seed in the North Division of the NIT. Yeah…Woo Hoo! The NIT is never your goal. But not many Bulldog fans had huge expectations of us making the NCAA tourney for sure. We all wanted it, yes. But as a huge expectation? No.

So now we have home court advantage in the NIT. And if we hold serve then we make it all the way to Madison Square Garden. And if we win we can shout, “We’re #65 in the nation, BABY!”

[tags]nit, mississippi state, basketball, tournament, bracket[/tags]

Dogs are SEC West Champs!

03/04/2007 / Blake

We were picked 4th in the West before the season. And we started the SEC season behind the Eight Ball. But we didn’t quit. And our senior who had to sit the first half of the only got to play starting in January. But we scrapped. We fought. We lost when it was inconvenient to lose….but so did everyone else.

But today, w/ Bama on our home court we spanked them. Spanked them HARD! And now we are the champs. Sure, we have to “share” it with UMiss…but we win the tie breaker and are the #1 seed in the SEC Tourney.

All this means that next Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday….I’m worthless in the afternoons/evenings

Sorry Colts…

02/04/2007 / Blake

I am still planning on rooting for the Colts this evening. But as evening approaches, I’ll be making them mad it seems.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6436876?MSNHPHMA
http://nfl.aolsportsblog.com/2007/02/03/church-defies-nfl-will-host-super-bowl-party/
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/LOCAL/702020470

Tell me, what does the NFL have to gain by suing churches for getting people together and watching the game?

Croomed

01/13/2007 / Blake

Sad, but funny. But the term “Croomed” has made it’s way into the vault of information that is Wikipedia.

Here’s an excerpt:

“To be croomed is defined as the act of being fired as head football coach of a Division 1-A football program after losing to Mississippi State University. Mississippi State is currently coached by third-year coach Sylvester Croom.”