Free Mike Vick......Still

Remember when Mike Vick looked into a reporter's camera and said, "everywhere I go, people are going to love and support Mike Vick?" Remember when the electrifying quarterback was in and out of courtrooms facing dog fighting charges while all of his loyal fans sported "Free Mike Vick" t-shirts? I sure do. Yet still to this day, months after being released from Federal Prison after serving a 1-year sentence, Vick still faces the same speculation and ridicule as the day the breaking news aired on national television. However before I share my viewpoints and opinions on the issue, if you happen to be a PETA (people for ethical treatment of animals) member or one of those fearsome Mike Vick hater because you have an adorable puppy at home, this piece might not be for you.....click here however if it is

MLB '09 Predictions Update...Yikes. Or, Maybe Not?

With only about a quarter of the season left, and play-off pictures starting to form into a clearer picture, I would like to look back to some of my mid-April predictions. If you read my previous predictions column, one might think I blind-folded myself and played pin-the-tail on the division winner. Some picks seem reasonable, some I picked as sleepers, and others were just down right absurd. So lets get down to business.
To get the bad over with first, I picked to Cleveland Indians to win the AL Central. Seriously. Dont believe me? click here and read for yourself. To defend myself the slightest bit, the basis for my prediction was that Fausto Carmona and Travis Hafner would have strong, successful comebacks after an injury plagued '08 campaign. Well, Carmona has posted a 2-6 record along with a 7.34 ERA and a near 2.00 WHIP. Needless to say, despicable would be an understatment.(Those numbers are just from the majors by the way, as Carmona has been sent down to the minors several times throughout the season). Hafner on the other hand is the MLB's version of Shaquille Oneil, a big guy thats no good without a day off every other day. He hasn't even seen 200 at bats, and has posted 11 homers and 29 RBI's for the once promising slugger.
In the NL East I went with the Marlins. Not as senseless of a pick as the AL Central, but an obvious one that is pretty much out of the question. Phillies look better than last year, Braves are hanging around, and somehow the Mets, who seem like their going to all-ends of the earth to get Jerry Manuel fired and lose every game, are hanging around as well. Bottom line, the fish just aren't strong enough in either pitching or with the bats to make a run.
Thankfully, thats all for the rough stuff. In the NL Central, I picked the Cubs, which seems likely, and in the West I picked the Dodgers which was pretty much a no-brainer. I was weary at first of picking the Giants to win the wild-card but I'm glad they did. Even if they don't, I'll be happy because I expected them to lead the league in pitching, (which they do) and to have major problems with the bats(which they do as well).
The rest of the painful isn't to painful either. I picked Boston in the East, (which is by no means a given however as they Yankee's look as dominant as the Bronx bombers of the late 90's), and the Angels to win the west. Though I detest the Yankee's my pride wasnt strong enough to choose any other team for the wild-card, especially with a line-up that one would believe was a starting line-up in the all-star game 2 years ago.
So all in all, it's possible I could go 4-2 in terms of division titles. Not too bad eh? I picked the classic Cubs vs. Red Sox in the World Series, which well, you never know I guess. It very well could happen.
For individual awards, my CY Young award winners are Roy Halladay and Josh Johnson. Both have reached 10 wins and post ERA's of under 3, so that one's in the air too.
My MVP's are a different story though. In the AL, I picked Carlos Quentin who has been on the DL for 2 months of the season and numbers are in a different universe of the like of Mark Texeira and Carlos Pena. In the NL, I picked Hanley Ramirez. Solid numbers, but once again, not even close to the likes of Pujols and Prince Fielder.
It's been a fun and interesting season so far, but the best has yet to come. Nothing is better than baseball season, so enjoy it while it lasts. And hey, If things shape up, maybe we'll do it again at the end of September.

The Rotunda Sports Column: MLB '09 Predictions

Let's talk baseball. Anyone? Anyone? America's favorite pastime is undoubtedly the most entertaining sport to make predictions, which is exactly what I'm going to do. Every season it's fun to read stats and analysis from baseball's finest like Peter Gammons, Tim Kurkjian, and Buster Olney, whose lives revolve solely around covering the sport they know and love (which personally sounds like the best job ever). But this year, I'm going solo. After the first few weeks of the season, I'm making my own calculations and forethoughts, not semi-personalized predictions that stem from those of professionals due to of a lack of confidence in fear of being entirely wrong.

To view my editorial in this weeks' issue of The Rotunda, click here

Softball Splits Double-Header with Liberty, Sweeps Howard

Longwood Softball has been on a tear of late, winning five of their last seven games. This past weekend, while others celebrated Spring Weekend and all the festivities, the lady Lancers had a full slate of games as back-to-back double-headers highlighted their weekend. After splitting the pair with Liberty University on Saturday, the ladies rounded out their weekend with a two-game sweep of the Howard University Bison.

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Longwood men's baseball had a full slate of ball games last week, including two double-headers in two days. After splitting one game a piece at Norfolk State Wednesday, April 8th, they showed no signs of fatigue as they followed up with a sweep of the Eagles of North Carolina Central in a double-header Thursday afternoon at Lancer Stadium.

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Men & Women's Tennis Control the Courts on Senior Day

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Men and women's Head Tennis Coach Pat Breen will miss all of his graduating players after their '09 season, but says he couldn't be more satisfied with the way they'll go out. Saturday, April 11th, Longwood's men and women's tennis hosted Howard for senior day, as both teams dominated the Bison in their regular-season finales.

LU Plans to Take New Approach to Honor Earth Day, Participating in EarthFest

This year, Longwood University is honoring Earth Day in a week-long event, featuring various events, fairs, and honorable speakers.
To view my article on Earth Fest '09......click here