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beneaththebleachers · 3 years ago

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Hawks take loss at Boston

Starting off strong the Hawks allowed their 14 point lead in the second half to disappear.

By Eric David Perez - BTB Sportswriter

March 2, 2022

Last night’s game was all about momentum. The Celtics started off strong against the Hawks in the first quarter until Jaylen Brown suffered an injury at the 9 minute mark. Rolling his right ankle, Brown would unfortunately sit out the rest of the game.

Losing Brown, the Hawks took that opportunity to score and build their own momentum. With 31 seconds left in the first quarter, the Hawks would lose Trae Young as well due to a left ankle sprain caused by a flagrant foul from Marcus Smart.

As a show of good sportsmanship, Smart approached Young to make sure he was okay and the two hugged. Young sank his two free throws and exited the game to go to the locker room.

Gaining a 16 point lead in the second quarter the Hawks kept the Celtics at bay. Able to muscle through it, Trae Young came back out; ready to play. Trae finished the game with 31 points and six assists, only for the Celtics to take the win.

Protecting their home court advantage and pride, the Celtics finished with 107 and the Hawks finished with 98. "Defense!" Boston fans screamed as the Celtics understood the assignment in the third quarter, they took away Hawks lead opening the quarter with a 14-0 run.

The first half of the game was controlled by the Hawks, but the third and fourth quarter showed just how resilient the Celtics are. Jayson Tatum put in work, getting 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Grant Williams and Derrick White each contributed 18 points, while Marcus Smart finished up with 16 points and four assists.

Hawks head coach Nate McMillan commented:

"With their defense you have to attack. We did a good job in that first half being aggressive, attacking the basket, attacking the paint, getting to the free throw line, putting the pressure on their defense. The second half I thought we settled on the long-ball," Chapel, March 2, 2022).

Tomorrow both Teams will be defending their home turf on, hopefully giving each home court advantage. Hawks will be facing the Bulls and the Celtics will be facing the Grizzlies.

Celtics will need to come at the Grizzlies with the same aggression they showed the Hawks, being the Grizzlies are third place in the Western Conference. The Hawks will definitely want to build momentum and make sure to keep that lead if they plan to defeat the Bulls, the number 2 team in the Eastern Conference.

References:

Chapple, G. (2022, March 2). Hawks surrender another strong lead in Boston in loss to Celtics. Peachtree Hoops. Retrieved March 2, 2022, from https://www.peachtreehoops.com/platform/amp/2022/3/2/22957934/atlanta-hawks-boston-celtics-analysis-offense-defense-stats-video-trae-young-jayson-tatum-nba-scores

ESPN Internet Ventures. (n.d.). Hawks vs. celtics - box score - March 1, 2022. ESPN. Retrieved March 2, 2022, from https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360746

NBA Team Standings & Stats. NBA Team Standings & Stats | NBA.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2022, from https://www.nba.com/standings

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beneaththebleachers · 3 years ago

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Rooney Rule, an illusion of fairness in the NFL

By Eric David Perez - BTB Sportswriter

February 28th, 2022

On February 2, Brian Flores, former head coach of the Miami Dolphins had issued a lawsuit with the NFL regarding a violation of the Rooney Rule among other allegations.

“Adopted in 2003, the Rooney Rule is an NFL policy requiring every team with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least one or more diverse candidates.” (Blunt, 2022).

In response to criticism that although the majority of NFL players are African American there are only a handful of black coaches, the Rooney Rule was put into effect.

Brian Flores was fired from the Miami Dolphins, yet he had an interview lined up for a head coach position with the New York Giants. Unfortunately, he would find out a day before his interview that the job was taken. In a text message intended for another person named Brian, Brian Daboll, he received a congratulatory text regarding the head coach position with the Giants. Immediately Brian Flores realized what had happened.

Devised with good intention, it is now 2022 and it is time to get back to the drawing board. When it first was implemented the results seem to prove successful however, not taking human behavior into account has a created a rule which does not work.

“Doug Williams, the first African American quarterback to win a Super Bowl, tells NPR that he would give the Rooney Rule a D” (Neuman, 2022).

Brian Flores decided to take legal action being that he felt he was setup for an interview for a job they never intended to give him. In fact, they only setup the interview in order to make sure they fill the quota of allowing minorities to interview for high level coaching positions in order to follow the Rooney Rule.

“John Feinstein, author of Raise a Fist, Take a Knee: Race and the Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports, tells NPR that in an interview for the book, Bieniemy told him’some of those guys were legitimately looking at me as a possible head coach. Other guys were just, you know, carrying out their Rooney Rule ... obligations, and you can tell, when you walk into the room, which is which’ " (Neuman, 2022)

Of course, the New York Giants are denying these allegations and even with the best lawyers, it is going to be challenging for Brian Flores to prove that the hiring was racially motivated. Even if he loses his lawsuit, all eyes are on the NFL and the conversation has started on whether or not the Rooney Rule works. In 2003, there were only 3 African American head coaches and now in 2022, that number has remained. Numbers don’t lie.

“‘But it's not the rule that's not working, it's the people,’ says Williams, who is now senior adviser to the Washington Commanders. "‘It's not just football, it's America as a whole.’"(Neuman, 2022)

The Rooney Rule is flawed and has too many loopholes. It relies on humans to be honest and fair when conducting interviews. As long as NFL teams maintain the illusion of interviewing people of color authentically, that does not mean they necessarily need to give them the job.

“Sportswriters and pundits often credit the Rooney Rule with boosting the number of minority coaches in the National Football League. But a study by Indiana University economist Todd Walker and two other researchers determined that the rule, adopted in 2003, has in fact had little impact on hiring” (IU Newsroom, 2022).

I feel the rule must either be pulled or revisited.

References:

NBC Sports Staff. (2022, February 2). Brian Flores speaks after filing suit against NFL over racist hiring. RSN. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/we-knew-it-was-setup-brian-flores-speaks-after-filing-suit-against-nfl-over-racist

Blunt, T. (n.d.). NFL expands Rooney Rule requirements to strengthen diversity // . NFL Communications. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/NFL-EXPANDS-ROONEY-RULE-REQUIREMENTS-TO-STRENGTHEN-DIVERSITY.aspx

IU News Room. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/17626.html

Neuman, S. (2022, February 3). Why a 20-year effort by the NFL hasn't led to more minorities in top coaching jobs. NPR. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.npr.org/2022/02/03/1075520411/rooney-rule-nfl

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beneaththebleachers · 3 years ago

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Will our next Olympics include Esports? International Olympics Committee says 2028, most likely!

By Eric David Perez - BTB Sportswriter

February 28th, 2022

I’m sure if you told skateboarders years ago, that they could complete in the Olympics you’d get many odd stares in disbelief. Well this year, skateboarding along with Sport climbing, Surfing, Baseball, Softball and Karate were all added to the docket for sports to be observed in the Olympics. Opening the doors for new opportunities, there has been talks about Esports possibly joining the Olympics in the future.

“’As a kid that was mostly lambasted for my interest in skateboarding, I never imagined it would be part of the Olympic Games,’ Hawk wrote below an Instagram video he posted shredding the new bowl at the Tokyo Olympic venue.” (The Japan Times, 2021).

Pretty soon Professional gamers will be saying the same thing. A comment you would have heard in the past is “Keep wasting your time with video games, it’s not like you can get paid…” however that comment has been proven wrong overtime.

Esports is already a billion-dollar industry with professional leagues, tournaments, and live streamers alike. Any game with the capability of connecting online for competition against players from all over the world is quick to build a following.

“Amazon purchased Twitch for $1 billion in 2014 and has continued to help the platform grow as esports have” (AmericanEsports.net).

Twitch is a live streaming program which mainly is used for live streaming of video games among other things. Myself being a gamer, but not as devout as others, even I have caught myself watching clips online of people playing video games. I remember being a little kid, less skilled as my brother, I would often times watch my brother play video games once my character ran out of lives to play. I guess you can say it is like sports, you do not have to be good at sports to enjoy watching sports.

Although it may sound far fetched to some, if you look at the history of gaming and the growth of esports, it is only a matter of time before they become more televised. The first ever videogames Olympics was in Stanford University, the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics! Only five competitors, and no large audience, the winner of 1972 contest won a year’s subscription to Rolling Stone Magazine. In 1980, 10,000 plus participants attempted to set a record score for Space Invaders in the first large-scale game competition of it’s time. From 1983-1984, the TV show “Starcade,” paved the way for mainstream audiences watching arcade game competitions.

“Globally, the awareness of esports has also grown substantially. In 2020, 1.955 billion people were aware of esports, compare to 1.1 billion in 2016. The esports audience will reach 495 million worldwide in 2020, with 223 million defined as frequent viewers/enthusiasts and 272 million occasional viewers” (Adgate, 2020).

In fact, due to the pandemic we have seen a huge increase in viewers. Television networks like Fox Sports and ESPN started turning to Esports. When sports networks had no games to air, the logical solution was Esports.

“ESPN created a branded ESPN Esports Day which included 12 hours of programming on April 5” (Adgate, 2020).

In April the Nevada Gaming Control permitted gambling on multiple esports events, following the trend of gambling being legalized in 17 states. Colleges and Universities like Post University are following the latest trends and offering Bachelor's degree programs in Gaming and Esports Management for those wishing to get involved on the business side of things. Gaming has always been a big money industry, however Gaming and Esports has helped bring gaming into a new and forever growing market.

“From game development to exhibition events and conferences to competitive gaming tournaments, the global gaming and esports industry crossed the $1 billion threshold in 2019. And it just keeps growing” (Post University).

It is clear to see that both the Olympics and Esports industry are thriving independently from each other however, the idea of Esports being added to the Olympics is right around the corner. As a matter of fact, the International Olympic Committee has made it clear that Esports are clearly being considered to be added into the future of the Olympics.

“The IOC said 2024 is ‘premature’ to include esports, but the door is open for 2028, when the games will be hosted in Los Angeles” (Esptein, 2021).

In 2021, the IOC launched the Olympic Virtual Series featuring Baseball, Cycling, Sailing, Rowing, and Motorsport. To many, it is a step in the right direction on how to integrate Esports. Supporters for Esports urge that the Olympics need Esports in order to obtain younger audiences.

“The International Olympic Committee certainly understands its predicament. The Olympics’ audience is aging and the battle for younger eyeballs is fierce with more entertainment options than ever. The event’s grip is slipping” (Castillo, 2021).

It Is probably going to be a while for certain popularly streamed games to be implemented. There are many challenges. For one, first-person shooter games like Call of Duty which are widely popular goes against the Olympic’s ideals and values.

In 2018, IOC President Thomas Bach had commented,

“Of course, every combat sport has its origins in a real fight among people,” he said. “But sport is the civilized expression about this. If you have egames where it’s about killing somebody, this cannot be brought into line with our Olympic values”(Wade, 2018).

One thing's for sure, the Olympics and the Esports industry will continue to grow with or without each other.

“The Olympics we know today are drastically different from the first series of games in 1896 in Athens. At that time, they were a one-day series of Greek sports before being extended to a three-day series featuring running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration and equestrian events” (Chatman, 2021).

Personally, I feel adding Esports is the next logical thing for the Olympics to do. Esports is ready to take the leap and has come a long way in just over a decade. Long time fans of the Olympics might be a little resistant to this change, however the benefit of getting a younger audience will prove to be beneficial to the Olympics continued success.

References:

Adgate, B. (2020, April 21). Esports is filling the programming void. Forbes. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2020/04/21/esports-is-filling-the-programming-void/?sh=fdd6b2d533b6

Bachelor of science in gaming and esports management. Post University. (2021, August 4). Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://post.edu/academics/undergraduate-degrees-certificates/bachelor-of-science-in-gaming-and-esports-management/

Castillo, J. (2021, August 8). Next new olympic sport might be one played in the virtual world. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2021-08-08/esports-olympic-games-future-new-sports

Chatman, A. (n.d.). 'The olympics needs esports': Why that's a tough landing to stick. CNET. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.cnet.com/news/the-olympics-needs-esports-why-thats-a-tough-landing-to-stick/

Epstein, A. (n.d.). When will esports join the Olympics? Quartz. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://qz.com/2036452/when-will-esports-join-the-olympics/

History of esports: The University of New Haven Online. University of New Haven. (2021, November 19). Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://onlinedegrees.newhaven.edu/resources/infographic/history-of-esports/

Los Angeles Times. (2021, August 8). Next new olympic sport might be one played in the virtual world. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2021-08-08/esports-olympic-games-future-new-sports

Palar, S. (2021, June 22). The Olympic Virtual Series. Olympics.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/olympic-virtual-series-everything-you-need-to-know

Publisher, A. E. (2020, January 24). The history of Esports. American Esports. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://americanesports.net/blog/the-history-of-esports/

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk shreds new olympic venue, calling it 'surreal'. The Japan Times. (2021, July 24). Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/07/24/olympics/summer-olympics/skateboarding/skateboarding-legend-tony-hawk-shreds-new-olympic-venue-calling-surreal/

Wade, S. (2018, September 1). Bach: No olympic future for esports until 'violence' removed. AP NEWS. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-winter-olympics-violence-games-2020-tokyo-olympics-3615bd17ebb8478ab534691080a9a32a

#beneaththebleachers btb btbsportsblog esports olympics

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beneaththebleachers · 3 years ago

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"Coach to teach, not to win,"

Pfalzgraf, J. (2022, February 13).

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beneaththebleachers · 3 years ago

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From Toddlers to Globetrotters: “Coach to teach, not to win,” says coach Pfalzgraf

By Eric David Perez - BTB Sportswriter

February 13, 2022

When it comes to playing competitive sports, some may say winning is everything. Well a certain little league basketball coach is not only winning games but winning the hearts of players and parents in Cheshire’s Parks and Rec Basketball League for ages 5 and 6. It may be Jason’s first year coaching his son’s team, but coach Pfalzgraf comes with a lot of experience.

Jason graduated from Sacred Heart University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. Jason has grown up in a family that has always loved and actively participated in sports. In Middle School he played baseball, High School he played Foot Ball and Track & Field, and in college he played Football and Rugby. As you can see, Jason, is a lover of many sports.

Outside the uniform, Jason has volunteered coaching for sports camps and has helped before with coaching for his son’s team. This time it’s him calling the shots and running all the drills.

“10 minute warm up/stretch. 10 minutes of offensive drills.10 minutes of defensive drills. 30-minute scrimmage. I’ve always had a passion to help others and am a strong believer in mastering the basics. I want to share my knowledge to help the future generations grow even further.” says Pfalzgraf.

At ages 5 and 6, the players have their future ahead of them.

“I strive to keep things light and have fun and have had a blast this year!” says Pfalzgraf.

This approach to coaching has helped his team this year. Pfalzgraf has won the support of his players and their parents. It is no surprise that one of his biggest supports is his son Owen.

Owen is Jason’s six year-old all-star who recently celebrated his birthday on February 8th. I asked Jason what it was like to coach his son and how this role compares to being a father.

“I enjoy it because he gets to see me as a leader and mentor to other kids his age. Sometimes lessons taught in a group setting can sink in better than if I taught him one on one at home. I do feel more pressure to not show favoritism but overall I’ve kept a good balance throughout the year and feel good about how it’s been going,” says Pfalzgraf.

Owen could not respond to requests for comment due to it being past his bed time.

Owen and his team have only 2 games left. Win or lose, Owen and his teammates are already winners getting to learn life lessons from sports. Jason is not only teaching them how to play the game but instilling in them core values such as: “Teamwork, Integrity, Respect & Sportsmanship.” Jason makes sure each player gets equal playing time by rotating player every few minutes.

Jason made it very clear that he will be reprising his role as coach next year.

“It’s been fun to coach the 5-6 age group. They are all so kind and compassionate to one another. Even if some cannot shoot high enough to hit the basket they still have fun and end the practice/game with a smile,” – Pfalzgraf.

I asked him what advice he might have for first time coaches.

“For this age group you are teaching fundamental principles and rules, so it’s important to teach them correctly and ensure the kids can put them into practice in both sports and in life. Keep it simple and don’t rush progress. Each team and player will learn at their own pace. Lock into what engages each player and invest your time into them. Coach to teach, not to win.”- Pfalzgraf

References:

Jason Pfalzgraf - linkedin.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2022, from https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-pfalzgraf-7b812623

Pfalzgraf, J. (2022, February 13). Personal Communication (Interview)

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