It was way back in 1992 when the young Brett Favre took his first snap as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Almost twenty years later, just about the whole country is fed up with him and is anxiously dying for the day he finally retires, not just when he says he will. Still, it can’t be denied that he has become 1 of the most respected players ever to play in the National Football League, and the sport definitely has benefited from Favre’s many successes.

There is still another man in sports with the same story. A guy who, at the ripe old age of 76, is not that much older than Favre himself. I’m, of course, referring to no other than Bud Selig, the long-time commissioner of Major League. Selig, who began his career-defining job way back in 1992 like Favre — has contributed hugely to the world of baseball. As acting commissioner from 1992 to 1998, Selig saw baseball through the strike-shortened 1994 season and instituted the “Wild Card” expansion to the playoffs, which enables four teams from each league to have the opportunity of playing baseball in October.

In 1997, Selig also launched Interleague Play into the regular season, which noted the 1st time when teams from the NL (National League) battled with teams from the AL (American League) on the same field outside of the All-Star Game and World Series. Since its inception, Interleague Play has become a yearly fan-favorite tradition and permits fanatics from, say, New York or Chicago watch as the Mets take on the Yankees or the Cubs play the White Sox.

Selig also should be honored for killing the prospect of another work stoppage in 2002. Furthermore, he oversaw 2 expansion teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays, both of whom have seen some achievements during their short histories. In addition, he is mainly the responsible person for the international competition known as the World Baseball Classic.

Regardless of all the progress Commissioner Selig can account for, he has, like Favre, done his lasting mark, and it’s time to hang up the towel. In the past few years, Favre has made some questionable calls, to say the least, and the same can be said for Selig. After announcing the MLB All-Star game a draw in 2002 for the 1st time in the history, Selig confessed to being “terribly saddened” by the game’s turn out. Selig made a decision to take what was already the best all-star game in all of sports and change it.

Throughout every midsummer classic after 2002, the team who won was awarded home field advantage in the World Series. The All-Star game is expected to come at a time when the players get a couple of days off during the demanding season; they don’t need something so decisive at stake during their “vacation.” They want to take in the monster home runs during the annual Home Run Derby and have a good time playing with the best in the league. Selig hoped this more “meaningful” All-Star game would catch more viewers’ attention, but ratings have shown that the changes have done nothing of the sort — and in fact ratings have dropped during the years immediately following the trasformation.

What got me thinking about the MLB commissioner’s need to retire during these past few weeks was his insane idea to expand the playoffs by putting more wild card teams, again. There are several reasons why the present eight-team system should remain in place. The players and managers already participate in 162 games during the regular season, and the World Series has consistently been extended into November. Any more playoff games and the season might become so demanding for the players. Numerous players and managers have expressed their with Selig on this issue.

Think of the exciting race this year that stemmed from the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants? The one that did not conclude until game 162? Well, in an expanded playoff system the September push would have been worthless, as would many of the other excellent regular season pennant races we’ve seen. Selig’s thinking for desiring to expand the playoffs is because other sports have more. Everyone knows the NBA and NHL playoffs are detting diluted by letting .500 teams, and sometimes teams with losing records — into the playoffs. If the top 8 teams from each league made the playoffs, the 1980-1982 Florida Marlins would have snagged the last seed in the NL. The New YorkMets would have been 1 game short of tying for the 8th seed, which is absurd if you know something about their terrible season. Widening the playoffs would only make what many sports fans call the best post season among the big 4 sports change even worse.

Many of us also know of the evil that has haunted the MLB for the last twenty years. Several of our beloved players are now known-steroid users and have eroded the integrity of America’s pastime. I know Selig cannot take the blame for the poor ambiance of the 1980s and 1990s and he did a fine job exposing the evil, but he will permanently be linked to the controversy. With his retirement, baseball can finally put the issue totally to rest. Although the occasional user gets discovered now and then, I think it’s safe to say there is no longer such a serious problem with performance-enhancing suppliments in the MLB. Once Selig is gone, that chapter in baseball history can finally come to conclusion.

Keeping with the Brett Favre comparison, before his contract expiring in 2009, Commissioner Selig stated his decision to retire. When the time came, however, his contract was extended through the 2012 season. Selig since has said he plans on retiring when his current contract is up. Maybe after that, he will play for the Minnesota Vikings, as they will probably be looking for a new quarterback.

Alston was just a boy when he discovered he was a pitcher and the nickname Smokey was what he earned for all his fastballs. He grew up very fond of basketball and baseball all throughout his educational years from gradeschool to college.

It was in 1954 when Smokey was promoted to become manager of the Dodgers. The Dodgers under Smokey’s management won the International League twice and finished in second place for the following year. From then on, success made up Alston’s trademark. He was voted manager of the year in years 1955, 1959 and 1963.

He died in Oxford, Ohio on October 1, 1984.

Photo via Britannica.com

Sportsmanship seems to have gotten lost along the way. Winning, succeeding or advancing have become the curse of sport. The lesson parents seem to be teaching today is that winning, not fun, is the goal. But how can we instill the values of sportsmanship? Here are a few tips:

- Show by your actions and words every day, that you value sportsmanship. Set a good example. Actions speak louder than words.
- Expect and demand that everyone involved follows all the rules, including fans and parents. If they don’t they should not be allowed to participate. Leagues and teams should communicate the importance of sportsmanship to all participants on a regular basis, not just the beginning of the season.
- Have team discussions about sportsmanship throughout the season. Use this as a time to relate sportsmanship.
- Never tolerate violent behavior in practice or in competition.
- There should be clear and immediate penalties for unsportsmanlike actions, no matter what the surrounding circumstances are or how important a game is to a season. This applies to both athletes and parents.

Many are concerned about stress placed on youth sport participants. Is there really stress in youth sports? Of course there is! Not only do the athletes experience stress, but so do the coaches, the parents, the officials, and the administrators. But before we conclude that this is negative, ask first: What is stress? Stress is produced when someone feels that their physical and/or psychological well-being is threatened. They perceive that they may be harmed in some way.

Is stress negative? What do you think? According to study, not necessarily. This type of stress is positive and is referred to as Eustress. Many of you may now be thinking, how can there be pleasant or pleasurable stress. Competitive sports activities are a source of both eustress and distress, as are any types of competitive activity. We might argue, for example, that the video game industry exists to provide a source of eustress! The enjoyment of competition is reported by young athletes as one of the top three reasons for which they participate in youth sports.