Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

New baseball book available at Amazon.com

New baseball book available at Amazon.com


THE PERFECT GAME is a novel for middle grade readers. It is about a twelve year old boy’s roller coaster experience while playing one season of organized baseball.
It is available in Kindle at Amazon for 99 cents, as well as at Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.

Click here for details: http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Game-Christopher-J-ebook/dp/B007R8G6AG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1416258192&sr=1-1&keywords=the+perfect+game+christopher+j

Joey Coltasanti, nicknamed “the professor” by his father, is ambivalent about playing his last year in summer league. A shortstop, he loves baseball and longs to realize his dream of making the town’s all-star team, and then winning enough games to advance to the state’s world series. However to reach this goal he must overcome his own anxiety that blocks his talent from shining through on the field.

Internal concerns are not the only obstacles in Joey’s path. He also has to deal with Mr. K, the coach of his team for the past two years. Mr. K uses sarcasm and intimidation with his players, as well as favoring his own son over Joey and his teammates. Added to the mix is Joey’s new neighbor and friend, twelve year old Mindi. A saxophone-playing member of Mensa, she is also a pitcher in the summer league who mows down opposing hitters with a blazing fastball and pinpoint control.

Joey decides to play, with events during early season contests testing his will to continue. Eventually a tumultuous game involving adults who can’t seem to grow up leads to changes in the league. A benevolent new coach arrives in town, and things begin to turn around for Joey and his underdog teammates. Eventually joining forces with Mindi on the all-star team, Joey moves closer to fulfilling his dream.

Advancing to the state’s world series means finding innovative ways to win pressure packed games, which leads to Joey confronting his fears on the field. Ultimately he learns more about winning, losing, and the exciting game that is baseball.
 

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Why doesn't the NFL let teams try to block extra points?

The NFL reportedly is considering doing away with the extra point attempt after a team scores a touchdown. While it is true that it has become almost automatic for kickers to make the extra point, it is also true that players on the defending side make zero effort to try and block the kick.

Why not let defenses line up all eleven guys and put some effort into making a block? Guys in the middle could jump high, guys next to them try to break through, guys on the end try to use speed to come around the edge, make a dive and block the kick.

Right now no one is allowed to line up across from the center, which is silly. One guy in the middle might put up his arm, but the other ten defenders just stand around and watch. That's dumb.

Also a blocked extra point could be made returnable - make it so that the defending team can pick it up and run it back for a touchdown, just like a field goal.

Back in the 1970's the Minnesota Vikings made blocking kicks an art form.  The powers that be in the NFL need to learn their history. Blocking kicks can become an important part of the game. One point can sometimes mean the difference winning and losing.