https://www.thesportsjudge.com/ Opinion stories from The Sports Judge. en-us Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:30:00 GMT https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/happy-1st-birthday-tsj/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/happy-1st-birthday-tsj/ Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:30:00 GMT Mathew Orzechowski Opinion HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! J uly 15, 2010. TheSportsJury.com is born. A culmination of a 10 year relationship between two of our founding members led to the birth of this site. We are truly proud to have a site run by the fans, for the fans. On behalf of the Ownership Group, I want to thank you all for you… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/novak-djokovic-the-new-king-of-the-court/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/novak-djokovic-the-new-king-of-the-court/ Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:54:00 GMT Jim Biringer Opinion F inally Novak Djokovic has made claim to be the best tennis player in the world. Novak Djokovic has finally entered the exclusive club with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Novak Djokovic won Wimbledon this past Sunday. In the process of beating Rafael Nadal for the fifth time this year in a fina… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/djokovic-defeats-nadal-earns-his-first-wimbledon-title/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/djokovic-defeats-nadal-earns-his-first-wimbledon-title/ Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:50:00 GMT Itsgoodtobetheking Opinion T he nation of Serbia has a somber history as far as political, religious, and economic turmoil, and all the hardships associated with decades of war. But for one native Serbian and his homeland on Sunday, there was cause for celebration to some degree, and as America celebrated its independence… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/frozen-over-why-the-nba-and-nfl-lockout-will-make-the-nhl-americas-winter-sport-in-2012/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/frozen-over-why-the-nba-and-nfl-lockout-will-make-the-nhl-americas-winter-sport-in-2012/ Mon, 04 Jul 2011 18:00:00 GMT Daryl Velez Opinion E arlier this month it was made clear that the NBA would lock out its players for the second time in twenty years. This news, along with the pained negotiations between NFL players and ownership in pro football, make the winter of 2012 a bleak one for many sports fans. No football. No basketball.… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/hendrick-the-ultimate-nascar-team/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/hendrick-the-ultimate-nascar-team/ Sun, 03 Jul 2011 19:54:00 GMT Mark Smith Opinion H endrick Motorsports is the top dog in NASCAR. Even the casual NASCAR fan understands that Rick Hendrick’s teams are equipped as well as anyone in the sport, probably better. With some of the highest-profile drivers, most-recognized sponsors, and highest-quality racecars. The drivers are a perfe… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/gator-lefty-shuts-door-on-vanderbilt/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/gator-lefty-shuts-door-on-vanderbilt/ Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:57:00 GMT Bashir Masani Opinion F lorida’s sophomore left-hander, Steven Rodriguez, set down three batters Monday night before a storm suspended the game in the bottom of the sixth. The storm caused the tornado sirens to go off but no tornado warning was issued. On Tuesday, Rodriguez continued pitching the game and struck out s… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/casualty-report-fantasy-football/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/casualty-report-fantasy-football/ Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:07:00 GMT Robert Jamieson Opinion L et’s say that the NFL lockout does not get resolved. Let’s say there is no football on Sundays, Monday nights, and some Thursdays. Will life go on? Of course. Will it be weird not to watch the Jets or anyone else? Yes. Will that be the worst part of the NFL lockout? No. Absolutely not. I love f… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/spoiler-alert-life-is-good-as-a-boston-sports-fan/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/spoiler-alert-life-is-good-as-a-boston-sports-fan/ Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:24:00 GMT Daryl Velez Opinion I am a spoiled sports fan. I have had a charmed rooting experience in my lifetime. In 23 years on this earth, I have witnessed the New England Patriots win the Superbowl three times, the Boston Red Sox win the World Series twice, the Celtics hoist their 17th NBA Championship banner and, most rece… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/canadians-behaving-badly/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/canadians-behaving-badly/ Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:55:00 GMT Shawn Minnix Opinion A fter the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals were over, the real story was what happened afterward, with some of the young punks of Vancouver rioting after their team’s 4-0 defeat in game 7. First, the mood started off real quiet and somber, before getting violent, as people began to overturn cars and set… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/rick-dial-happy-fathers-day-to-the-next-entrant-into-the-sports-dad-hall-of-fame/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/rick-dial-happy-fathers-day-to-the-next-entrant-into-the-sports-dad-hall-of-fame/ Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:11:00 GMT Ben Dial Opinion I n the history of great sports Dads, I had just about the best one a kid could ask for in Rick Dial. In fact, even in adulthood, I knew that I could count on Dad to be there when I needed or wanted him. With his passing less than a month ago, combined with Father’s Day this coming weekend, refle… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/cleveland-rocks-without-lebron/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/cleveland-rocks-without-lebron/ Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMT Judd Cohen Opinion O n July 8th, 2010, the City of Cleveland died. The "King" abandoned his reign atop the throne of the desolate city for the warm breeze of Miami, spewing promises of hordes of titles. In the blink of an eye, seven years of loyal devotion were forgotten. Riots erupted in the streets. Dreams were c… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/lebron-james-summer-schedule/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/lebron-james-summer-schedule/ Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:12:00 GMT Bryan Sprader Opinion F resh off of a game six loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals, nearly 11 months after leaving his hometown of Akron, Ohio and one of the NBA’s worst teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers, you would think Lebron James could admit one of his faults. He could possibly admit that publicly joining… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/mission-nba-overexposure-accepted/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/mission-nba-overexposure-accepted/ Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:38:00 GMT Bryan Sprader Opinion F or the past few weeks, the NBA playoffs have been choking the life from some of the most loyal sports fans. The NBA's product is causing many to turn to other outlets with the massive amounts of news and media focused on its 'less than stellar' playoffs. Like trying to avoid the OJ Simpson murd… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/lady-sun-devils-torch-everyone-in-their-way-at-womens-college-world-series/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/lady-sun-devils-torch-everyone-in-their-way-at-womens-college-world-series/ Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMT Chapin George Opinion Tuesday, June 7 — T he 1972 Miami Dolphins, the Michael Jordan led Bulls, and the 2009 New York Yankees are arguably some of the most dominant sports teams in history. Well the women of Arizona State’s softball team took a shot at adding their name to that list as they closed out the 2011 women’s… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/rafael-nadal-is-still-the-king-of-clay/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/rafael-nadal-is-still-the-king-of-clay/ Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:39:00 GMT Jim Biringer Opinion I t was an unexpected surprise to see Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet again in another French Open Final. It may have been a surprise to have this matchup in the final, but there was no surprise in the final result. Nadal beat Federer in four sets to win his sixth French Open crown. With his… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/dallas-becoming-americas-sports-city/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/dallas-becoming-americas-sports-city/ Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:43:00 GMT Kyle Flippin Opinion T he Dallas Cowboys have long been known as "America's Team". The moniker was unveiled in the 1970's when "Captain America" Roger Staubach led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl championships. The meaning of the term had a resurgence in the 1990's when Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin domi… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/part-2-dallas-becoming-americas-sports-city/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/part-2-dallas-becoming-americas-sports-city/ Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMT Kyle Flippin Opinion T his month, we're seeing a Dallas sports team adopt the "good guy" role again and America support Big D once more, as the Mavericks are currently knotted at a game apiece in the NBA Finals with LeBron James and the Miami Heat. While the support for the Mavs is more so a rebuff of the hated Heat… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/rookie-hits-wall-wheldon-wins-indy-500/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/rookie-hits-wall-wheldon-wins-indy-500/ Sun, 29 May 2011 20:14:00 GMT Mark Smith Opinion J R Hildebrand could taste the traditional victory milk as he entered Turn 4 of Lap 200. Coming out of 4, the view from the rookie’s windshield changed drastically from the checkered flag to the outside wall. The freshman driver was so close. The final homestretch never looked so long. ESPNThe Na… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/crime-and-punishment/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/crime-and-punishment/ Thu, 26 May 2011 19:19:00 GMT Cody Steger Opinion T his is a story about two men who took a sport and made it into their own at a very young age. With fame came more fame and admiration throughout society. They lived a life where nothing would be able to go wrong and get in their way. But tragically, tribulation took over to haunt these men that… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/vault-10-greatest-nba-players-of-all-time/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/vault-10-greatest-nba-players-of-all-time/ Thu, 26 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT William Horschak Opinion I originally posted my top 10 greatest NBA players of all time back in August 2010. Not a whole lot has changed since I submitted this ballot, other than Kobe Bryant adding another 1st ALL NBA / 1st ALL D selection and both Kobe and Duncan getting another All Star selection. I suppose with all th… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/obama-turns-pokerstars-into-falling-stars/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/obama-turns-pokerstars-into-falling-stars/ Fri, 06 May 2011 01:40:00 GMT Ben Dial Opinion P resident Obama doesn't like online poker too much. I understand that presidents from George Washington up to the present have all done things that make the citizenry wonder, but the Department of Justice's attack against online poker sites — and thus their patrons — makes me wonder what is goin… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/lsu-baseball-just-qplaneq-bad/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/lsu-baseball-just-qplaneq-bad/ Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:07:00 GMT Ben Dial Opinion L SU Athletic Director, Joe Alleva, just pulled a Rachel Phelps on his own baseball team. You remember Rachel Phelps. She was the long-legged, much hated vixen and owner of the Cleveland Indians in the 1989 sports film classic, Major League. In the movie, Phelps refused to fix the whirlpools, tur… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/is-novak-djokovic-ready-to-dominate-on-the-dirt/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/is-novak-djokovic-ready-to-dominate-on-the-dirt/ Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:32:00 GMT Jim Biringer Opinion R ight now the man they call Nole, is playing like he is the number one ranked tennis player in the world. Novak Djokovic has completed the Indian Wells and Miami double as he pushed his match winning streak to 24-0. Djokovic captured the last two ATP Masters 1000 events by defeating Rafael Nadal… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/whats-in-a-color/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/whats-in-a-color/ Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:50:00 GMT Morgan Cohen Opinion E veryone has a favorite color. It’s one of those inane questions that you get asked, but invariably have an answer to. You gravitate towards that color in all of its variations: clothing, household items, makeup and bags. It becomes a part of your identity in a way; I always get gifts in shades… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/messers-daily-dime/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/messers-daily-dime/ Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:31:00 GMT Edward Messer Opinion E verybody I’m back with my daily dime and there are plenty of things to sound off on so here we go. What a weekend in sports, the dunk contest was awesome except for Serge Ibaka getting robbed with his free throw dunk. I mean come on he jumped farther than Jordan and Dr. J and he is 7 foot tall.… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/turn-back-the-clock-time-to-restore-arkansas-basketball/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/turn-back-the-clock-time-to-restore-arkansas-basketball/ Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:24:00 GMT Ben Dial Opinion T he Razorback basketball program needs a shot in the arm. In fact, I would argue that it is time to bring back a blast from the past. Arkansas could stand to remember their greatness with the roundball and the hardware they once brought home because of it. Honoring Nolan Richardson Nolan Richard… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/for-ny-teamspunishment-at-the-hands-of-philly-continues/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/for-ny-teamspunishment-at-the-hands-of-philly-continues/ Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:49:00 GMT Kyle Flippin Opinion F riday night's Knicks-76ers game at the Wells Fargo Center epitomized what the relationship between New York and Philadelphia sports has become in the modern day. Doug Collins' Sixers built a 14-point lead at the end of the first quarter, displaying a keener sense of urgency and cohesiveness wit… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/give-me-ring-bama-says-qnoq/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/give-me-ring-bama-says-qnoq/ Sun, 30 Jan 2011 05:36:00 GMT Ben Dial Opinion C heerleading is not a sport. That’s right. I said it, and I’ll say it again. Cheerleading is not a sport. If you don’t believe me, ask the NCAA or the University of Alabama. They will tell you exactly the same thing. In fact, both already have. Earlier in the month, the Crimson Tide cheerleading… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/champions-stunned-federer-and-nadal-ousted-from-australian-open/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/champions-stunned-federer-and-nadal-ousted-from-australian-open/ Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:56:00 GMT Jim Biringer Opinion T he past 24 hours in Melbourne have been stunning to say the least. One day after Rafael Nadal (pictured below) lost in the quarterfinals, Novak Djokovic (pictured left) defeated defending Australian Open champion Roger Federer in straight sets 7-6(3) 7-5 6-4. This year will be the first time si… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/lance-armstrong-the-embattled-hero-is-challenged-again/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/lance-armstrong-the-embattled-hero-is-challenged-again/ Sun, 23 Jan 2011 02:31:00 GMT Edward Messer Opinion T he witch hunt continues to discredit one of the last great American sports role models. The world has two different perceptions of Lance Armstrong, to one side of the world he is the greatest cyclist ever and to the other side of the world battling the unstoppable force of cancer. He is hope, m… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/aggies-espn-and-longhorn-greed-saviors-of-the-big-xii/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/aggies-espn-and-longhorn-greed-saviors-of-the-big-xii/ Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:37:00 GMT Ben Dial Opinion E SPN and the University of Texas announced a blockbuster of a deal. The 20-year agreement will allow ESPN to launch with the university, along with their media partner, IMG College, a 24-hour network devoted to the University of Texas. Oh, and the deal is worth more than $300 million to UT over… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/charles-barkley-advises-brett-favre-on-proper-sexting/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/charles-barkley-advises-brett-favre-on-proper-sexting/ Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:25:00 GMT Mark Ferland Opinion O nly Charles Barkley could get away with delivering crude advice to Brett Favre and come away unscathed. Barkley apparently had choice words for Favre during an appearance on Birmingham's WJOX regarding the Favre - Jenn Sterger harassment case and it sure had nothing to do with legal advice. If… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/my-top-5-things-that-ruin-pro-sports/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/my-top-5-things-that-ruin-pro-sports/ Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:34:24 GMT Kim Moberg Opinion T here are just certain things that all sports fans hate, but it’s an inevitable part of the game. Pro sports have come a long way in the last 50-100 years; some of these issues have been around since day one, while others are a relatively new development in the industry. I’ll admit some on this… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/for-the-game-or-for-the-fame/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/for-the-game-or-for-the-fame/ Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:33:00 GMT Kim Moberg Opinion B eing from Boston, I’m partial to thinking Tom Brady is the man. Aside from his sheer talent and record breaking accomplishments over the past decade, I think he stands out for another reason- his pure love of the game. In a world full of million dollar endorsements, magazine covers, and name br… https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/boston-fans-heart-a-soul/ https://www.thesportsjudge.com/opinion/boston-fans-heart-a-soul/ Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:50:00 GMT Kim Moberg Opinion T hose of you who grew up in New England and have resided here every glorious day of your life, probably have such a die-hard love for your local sports, that you assume it’s the norm. That every youngster across America has sports posters adorning their bedroom, school photos which could double…