Sports Blog

I would like to start out by saying that the Boston Red Sox are absolutely amazing. Before the World Series started I predicted that Rockies would be the eventual champs. I just didn’t think any team could overcome the sizzling streak that Rockies were riding into the World Series. Boy, was I wrong. The Red Sox showed the world that they have the type of team that is virtually unstoppable when it is playing to its full potential. So, kudos to the Red Sox players and coaches for a wonderful post-season.

That being said, I think that the real credit should go to Theo Epstein and the Red Sox management team. Why, you may ask? Well, take a look at the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox rosters and you will see what I am talking about. The starters in 2004 were Jason Varitek at catcher, Kevin Millar at first base, Mark Bellhorn at second base, Orlando Cabrera at shortstop, Bill Muellar at third base, Trot Nixon in right field, Johnny Damon in center field, Manny Ramirez in left field and David Ortiz as the DH. This roster was jam-packed with talent and experience. The youngest player was David Ortiz, who had already been in the league for 7 years. Also, aside from there being seasoned veterans, the 2004 Red Sox were pretty well prepared for the rigors of post-season baseball, having been their countless times before.

Compare that team to the 2007 Red Sox and you will find a striking difference. The 2007 starting lineup was as follows: Catching - Jason Varitek, First Base - Kevin Youkilis, Second Base - Dustin Pedroia, Shortstop - Julio Lugo, Third Base - Mike Lowell, Right Field - JD Drew, Center Field - Jacoby Ellsbury, Left Field - Manny Ramirez and the DH - David Ortiz. There are only 3 starters left from the 2004 season. When most teams change the entire outlook of their starting lineup, it is called a rebuilding period. So, seeing as how the Red Sox won a championship during their “rebuilding period,” you have to give credit where it is due - to the management. The way Theo Epstein and co. were able to keep their stars (Manny and Ortiz) happy while at the same time find and cultivate new talent is a credit to their management team.

So, as previously stated, the Red Sox had a great overall season, dominating the competition during both the regular season and post-season. But, the bigger accolades deserve to be given to the Red Sox front office for putting together a team worthy and skilled enough to be crowned world champions.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online resource for Gym Bags, Punching Bags and Basketball Uniforms.

A couple of nights ago, my roommate and I were doing a little bit of late-night channel surfing….the real world? no….after-hours music videos? no….the cooking channel? definitely not….NHL hockey? Yeah, sure. Why not? But as I was thinking a little hockey was in order before bedtime, my roommate gave a resounding ‘not a chance.’ So, we watched something else, probably something on ESPN. But that got me to thinking - why does hockey get such a bad rap? How has hockey become a virtual non-existent in the minds of sports fans in this country? Remember the days during the hockey strike? No? Neither do most other Americans. But why? What is it about hockey that turns us off?

Americans are generally impatient people. We want what we want and we want it now!! That is the basic mentality here in the USA, is it not? So, one could argue that hockey may not be exciting enough for us; that it doesn’t fulfill our incessant need for instant gratification. But, if you look at the typical scoring line for hockey games, you’ll see that there is plenty of action. Most games have anywhere between 5 and 10 goals, sometimes more. And seeing as how the game is only 60 minutes long, goals are being scored every few minutes. Furthermore, if a game ends in a tie, they have a sudden death shootout to decide the winner. How much more action could you possibly want?

Or, could it be that we don’t think hockey players are athletic enough to pull of the spectacular plays to which we have become accustomed watching basketball and football. Maybe. But if you watch hockey closely, you’ll see that hockey is without a doubt one of the most action packed displays around. With 10 players flying around the rink in excess of 35-40 mph, the stick work and passing is exhilirating, while the hits are utterly bone shattering and sometimes near fatal. As a result, a fair assessment is that spectators definitely get their money’s worth.

So, what is the deal? Why can’t a sport that has the high-paced action of basketball and the hard hitting of football seem to gain a wide enough audience base? I really can’t put my finger on it. I for one am a huge fan of hockey. Yes, most other fans sport outdated mullets, are missing some of their teeth and say things like ‘hoser’ and ‘eh’ all day long. But, the sport is exciting just the same. Maybe we Americans don’t prefer hockey because of its foreign origins and the lack of a basic understanding of the rules. Whatever it may be, I think that hockey deserves more respect and credit than the sports gives it.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online resource for Gym Bags, Punching Bags and Basketball Uniforms. 

Last night I watched the Colorado Rockies clinch their first World Series berth ever with a 6-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. And boy did the crowd go wild!!Traditionally, Denver is a city that brings home championships. From John Elway and the Denver Broncos to Patrick Roy and the Avalanche, fans in Denver have become quite used to throwing end-of-the-season victory parades. But the Rockies? They usually are on the disappoiting side. So, that they have finally made it to the World Series is definitely cause for raucous celebration. 

However, during the wee hours of the night, after the roaring crowd finally died out, I began wondering whether or not the Rockies have a legitimate chance at winning the World Series. History is definitely on their side. Case in point, the 1976 Cincinnati Reds. Led by Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Ken Griffey Sr., the Reds dominated the opposition in the division and league series. After going 7-0 leading up to the World Series, the Reds swept New York on their way to the championship. The Rockies, too, are undefeated so far and are becoming less likely to lose each game.

Also, over the course of the first six years in the 21st century, half of the teams who eventually went on to win the World Series were Wild Cards teams. To me, it seems as if the playoffs favor the Wild Card teams somewhat. At the end of each season, there is a dog fight to get into the playoffs. The team who gets the Wild Card is usually very hot at the time, having just fended off other would-be playoff teams. On the other hand, teams that win their division can sometimes be worn out by the long, grueling season, going wire to wire as the division leader. So, we can see that the best team does not always win the championship. Rather, the team who is riding a winning streak into the playoffs wins. Just ask the Angels, Marlins and Red Sox who were all Wild Card World Series champs during the years of 2002-2004.

Furthermore, the Rockies have team that has come up through the ranks together. Most of their current line-up is filled with young talent who, at one time or another, played with his teammates on the Rockies minor league team.

So, to answer the million-dollar question, can the Rockies pull it off? Yes, they have won 21 of their last 22 games. No other team in baseball is as hot as them right now. And the kicker is they have youthful talent and chemistry that is so vital in the postseason.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales at Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online resource for Basketball Uniforms, Punching Bags and the Seiko S149 Stopwatch.

The legitimacy of mixed martial arts, known by most as UFC fighting, has constantly been questioned and scrutinized since its inception in 1993. Many have said that the brutal tactics used in mixed martial arts are barbaric and abhorrent. So much controversy has surrounded this new-age fighting style that even Senator John McCain entered the fray. The Senator made it his personal mission to get the UFC and mixed martial arts fighting banned in America. However, since his inability to do so, MMA has been on the rise ever since.

As a result of so much hoopla, one question arises - Is MMA really that dangerous? Is this sport as primitive and disgusting as so many people claim? I mean, there is fighting involved, but is it bad enough to warrant a nation wide ban? I personally don’t think so. And here’s why.

Mixed martial arts is just that - mixed. It is a conglomerate of many other types of fighting. The UFC features fighters from wrestling, boxing, muay thai, jui jitsu and tae kwon do backgrounds. Almost all of which are Olympic sports. So, ask yourself. If these sports are good enough to attract the best athletes from around the world to compete in an event that honors them as such, why shouldn’t a sport that encompasses each of these styles be good enough? The answer is it should be good enough and is.

Also, many people say that MMA and the UFC is dangerous because it teaches children that fighting is alright and even revered. But that argument holds absolutely no water at all. If you were to ban anything and everything violent, then you would have to ban professional wrestling, video games and yes, our other beloved Olympic sports mentioned above. But seeing as how society is not willing to give these things up, there is no reason to single MMA and the UFC out as the ugling duckling.

And last, but certainly not least, how is danger measured? I mean, poeple say that MMA is too dangerous, but what are they using to guage that danger?

Could it be injuries?

No, that’s absurd. MMA fighters, rarely, if ever, sustain injuries. And when they do, the hospital stay is no longer than a day. On the other hand, injuries in sports as “harmless” as football and hockey occur every day, leaving their athletes laid up in a hospital beds for months and sometimes years.

Could the danger be measured in terms of the number of yearly death caused by the sport?

No, because as long as the UFC has been around, there have been no deaths. However, on the other side of the token, deaths frequently occur in other major sports every year. For example, in boxing, the ”beautiful” and “artistic” version of MMA, there have been approximately 900 deaths since 1920. That’s an average of just under 13 people a year. People say that those numbers have dropped significantly as the sport has been made more safe. Well, the same can be said about the UFC. Each fight is governed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the same organization that governs boxing bouts. Also, the sport has definitely evolved since its inception. Now, unlike in the early days when it was pretty much no holds barred, the UFC has a long list of can’s and cannot’s - a list that has prevented major injury or death in every single fight to date.

So, to say that MMA and the UFC are barbaric and overly dangerous is simply not true. The numbers speak for themselves. The fact that you may not like the up-in-your-face, new-age style of fighting that the UFC promotes is your problem. People didn’t like boxing at first either. Football, too, was considered dangerous because of the lack of padding and the leather helmets used in competition. But, like football, MMA has evolved into a safe and exciting sport.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, a national provider of athletic apparel and equipment, including high quality Punching Bags and Custom Cycling Jerseys.   

Here at Robbins Sports, we offer a wide variety of basketball apparel and equipment. So much so that potential customers are often confused about what to buy and what will ultimately fit their needs. The majority of the confusion pertains to basketball standards, hoops and goals and what each entails. Well, here’s the skinny on each.

Basketball Standard: Basketball standards are the most expensive of the bunch. They can be either portable or stationary. When you think basketball standard you should think of the type of basketball system that is used in the NBA or out on the playground. Simply put, a basketball standard is the entire package - rim, backboard, net and pole.

Basketball Hoop: When little Johnny writes to Santa Claus telling him he wants a basketball hoop for Christmas, he means that he wants the entire package. However, a basketball hoop is not quite the entire package. A basketball hoop is the combination of a rim, net and backboard, but no pole. Think of your high school gym. Yes, you probably had a basketball standard in there somewhere which the basketball team most likely used for real games. But you also had basketball hoops on the surrounding walls. That is what a basketball hoop is - a rim, net and backboard that can be fastened to an already exisiting structure.

Basketball Goal: The name of this particular piece of equipment get its name from its intended purpose. The word goal is something you strive towards. In sports, the goal is usually the place where you score points. Well, the same is true in basketball. The goal is just another name for the rim.

When purchasing sporting equipment, it is good to know the difference between the various technical terms associated with each individual sport. If you don’t, you may unintentionally buy something which you did not want.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales at Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online resource for top of the line Basketball Hoops, the Seiko S149 Stopwatch and the Ultrak L10 Lane Timer.  

Chest swelling, smile beaming and tears flowing. You may be thinking that this appearance resembles that of a mother or father of a newborn baby, proud of the addition to their family. But, believe it or not, this is a pretty accurate description of my own appearance as I watched the Cleveland Indians clinch a trip to the ALCS by beating the New York Yankees. I was just so happy to see the Bronx Bombers go down. Being from the Bay Area, my hatred towards the Yankees reached its pinnacle when the they lured Jason Giambi away with a new, ginormous contract. Then, when they signed A-rod, it was official - George Steinbrener thinks that he can buy a championship. So, last night, when I saw the the long faces of Derek Jeter and company, a little pep was put back into my step. Their loss proves that sports are still pure and that no amount of money can guarantee victory.

Ever since free agency was implemented, greedy owners with fat pocket books have been envisioning new age dynasties in which money, not coaching or managing, brings championship after championship. However, to the chagrin of many wealthy owners, this dream has rarely come to fruition. For instance, take a look at the highest paid teams in the four major US sports: NBA - New York Knicks, MLB - New York Yankees, NFL - Atlanta Falcons, MLS - LA Galaxy. When was the last time any of these teams won a championship? Well, the LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup a few years ago. But that came in the pre-Beckham era in which the Galaxy hadn’t really started opening its purse strings. But apart from the Galaxy, how many championships have the other won in recent years. The answer is none. To find the last championship team among the bunch, you would have to go back 7 years to the 2000 New York Yankees when Paul O’Neal and Bernie Williams were stil playing.

What does all this mean? It means one simple thing - the players win titles, not the owners with large mounds of money a la Scrooge McDuck. I don’t care how much money you spend, your players still have to get down in the trenches and fight for the honor to be called World Champions. So, to all the George Steinbrenners out there. Stop trying to buy titles by paying out large sums of money to perennial all-stars! Rather, pay for a good, talented group of players that can come together and play hard when it matters most. Just look at the Indians. They did.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, a premier resource for the Seiko S149 Stopwatch and the Ultrak L10 Lane Timer.

We often have inquiries from our customers regarding whether a particular stopwatch will perform a certain function.  User manuals help you determine whether a stopwatch (or any other technical product) will perform the function you need.  Often customers don’t even think about the user manual until after they buy something.  However, especially in cases where you need something to perform a funcation that’s not all that common, it’s best to have a look at the user’s manual.  If you can identify from the user’s manual the specific button or series of steps you need to take to accomplish your task, then you can be confident that you’re buying the product you need.

At RobbinsSports.com, we can provide PDF files and other documentation that give specific instructions on everything from installing a basketball goal to using a stopwatch or timer to do lap functions.  Just ask us for it, and we’ll be glad to provide you with a digital copy of the user’s manuals for our products - before you even decide to make a purchase.

To all you college football fans out there - if you are not salivating at the prospect of watching this week’s games, you are not a true fan. LSU vs. Florida? Oklahoma vs. Texas? What is this? Christmas morning come early?

I usually do not wear my emotions so blatantly on my sleeve, but honestly, the last time I was this excited over a football game was Texas-USC National Championship game. And how did that game turn out? Oh yeah, it was completely and utterly amazing. Hopefully, this week’s games will also live up to the hype. With two games, featuring four college football juggernauts, how could they not? I am almost too excited to give my picks. Actually, no I am not. Here’s what is going to happen.

LSU vs. Florida - LSU has recently been promoted to the #1 team in the nation. They have something to prove. Will they show that leap-frogging USC was a momentary lapse in the poll’s judgement? I don’t think so. I predict an LSU victory. While the Florida Gators are a very good team with an explosive offense led by Tim Tebow, I just don’t think they can beat the Tigers. For one, they just came off a surprising loss to the Auburn Tigers. Also, LSU not only has an offense that can match Florida’s stride for stride, the Tigers also have arguably the most dominant defense in all of the land. I think this game is going to be close, but LSU will win - 27-17.

Oklahoma vs. Texas - This game is more of a toss up. It really depends on which Oklahoma team is going to show up. Will they be the run and gun Sooners that absolutely demolished the competition in the first four weeks of the season or will the lethargic, unimpressive sooners be there on Saturday. If Bob Stoops’ squad treats the Longhorns like they did Colorado, they will be in for a long day. But, if Oklahoma plays up to its ability, I don’t think Texas can weather the storm. Oklahoma is just too talented this year. Prediction - Sooners - 21 - 10

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales at Robbins Sports and Athletics, a premier supplier of track and field stopwatches and timers. Go to www.robbinssports.com to find the Seiko S149 Stopwatch and the Seiko L10 Lane Timer.   

Over the past few weeks in college football, the rankings have shifted around like a game of musical chairs. 11 of the preseason’s top 25 teams no longer hold the honor of being in the highest echelon of college football. They have since been replaced by some up and coming teams; namely South Florida, Kentucky, BC, South Carolina, Oregon, Missouri, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Purdue, Kansas State and Clemson. But, as a die hard fan, I keep asking myself who from that list has what it takes to stay in the top 25. Are they here to stay or are they simply riding a surprising and brief run of luck? The following is an analysis of who among these teams are true contenders and who are pretenders.

1. Oregon - This team is definitely a contender. Coming from a very talented conference that boasts 4 teams in the top 25 and a very good UCLA Bruins team, the Ducks have shown that they can flat out play. Had it not been for a bit of bad luck against Cal, they very well could be undefeated and in the top 5 in the nation.

2. Clemson - This is a bit of a toss up. The Tigers are 4-1 right now, only losing to a very good Georgia Bulldogs squad. Yes, they did beat Florida State who is usually a football powerhouse. However, the rest of their wins have come against sub-par opponents. The Tigers can stake a claim to their contender status by beating Virgina Tech this week.

3. South Carolina - Like Oregon, the Gamecocks are here to stay. They are currently 4-1. But, they lost to LSU who is virtually unstoppable at the moment. Also, they handed the Bulldogs their only defeat of the season, in Georgia no less. That’s impressive. SC has a tough road ahead with 3 top 25 teams in the near future, but I think they are good enough to weather the storm.

4. South Florida - The Bulls are seeing red at the moment. Fresh off of their win against West Virginia, USF looks very good. However, they are a pretender. The Bulls have been very opportunistic this season, beating the mountaineers and Auburn, but their schedule is going to prove too difficult for this Cinderella.

5. Boston College - The Eagles have definitely had a flying start to their season. At 5-0 they are playing some impressive football. But wasn’t that expected. Aside from Georgia Tech (who has been a little disappointing themselves), the Eagles haven’t really played anyone worth mentioning. Don’t get me wrong, BC is a good football team. But with Miami, Florida State, Clemson and Virginia Tech looming in the distance, they may not end up with a good enough record to make a bowl game.

6. Kentucky - The Wildcats have literally come from left field in 2007. Were they even on the radar in preseason? UK is having a dream season at the moment, beating two very good football teams in Louisville and Arkansas. But, look at who they have left to play - LSU, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Again, like BC, the Wildcats are a good team. But it is unlikely that they will stay in the top 25 for long.

7. Arizona State - Yes, the Sun Devils are 5-0. Yes, the Sun Devils beat a good Colorado team. But are they a top 25 team? NO!!! The facts are pretty straight forward. They play Cal, UCLA, Oregon, Washington and USC during the second half of the season. There are few teams, if any, who could withstand that kind week in and week out battering.

8. Kansas State - Contender. While Kansas State has only proven their mettle in one game this season (41-21 win vs Texas), they don’t have that tough of a schedule in the upcoming weeks. If they can past Colorado, it will be smooth sailing until they meet Nebraska and Missouri. The Cornhuskers and Tigers are both tough teams, but I have a feeling that Kansas State will prove to be tough themselves.

9. Missouri - Let’s face it. The Tigers are a good team. But are they top 25 material? In the past maybe, but not this year. They will not be good enough to get past Nebraska or Oklahoma. Then, to have any kind of noteworthy record, the Tigers would have to get past Texas A&M, Kansas State and Colorade - all good teams. In my opinion, it is just not going to happen.

10. Cincinnati - Major Pretender. This is an easy one. While the Bearcats have been averaging over 46 points per game, they’ve done it against teams my high school could probably beat. They are not going to get past WVU, USF, Louisville or Rutgers. They may not even make a bowl game.

11. Purdue - This once great football team has been rather shabby in recent years. This year is no different. Like most other Top 25 Cinderellas, the Boilermakers have had an easy road thus far. But, can they keep it up against the Buckeyes? Not likely. Are they going to beat a Michigan team that is playing with a chip on its shoulder. Probably not. It is going to be a long season for Purdue, unless they come up with some huge performances.

When all is said and done, you have to give it to these teams for performing as well as they have this year. But, let’s face it. Nature is going to run its course. It is going to be survival of the fittest and like always, the bigger, better teams are going to ruin the fairy tale. Prediction: Oregon and South Carolina will stay in the top 25 and Kansas State has a chance as well. But the rest of the lot will be no where to be seen at the end of the season.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online resource for the Seiko S149 Stopwatch and Portable Scoreboards.

To all you sports fan out there, here is the question of the day - Should the MLB use instant replay like the NBA and NFL?

For my opinion on the subject, just ask the San Diego Padres. Last night, the Padres and the Colorado Rockies faced off for the National League Wild Card. The game was an absolute nail biter, coming down to the bottom of the 13th. The Padres took a 2-run lead into the bottom part of the inning, bringing in closing legend Trevor Hoffman to seal the deal. But, like they have done all season, the Rockies fought back and eventually won the game on a close play at the plate - a really close play. So much so that the umpire literally had to guess whether or not the runner was safe. Unfortunately, he guessed wrong. Replays clearly show that Barrett, the Padres’ catcher blocked off the plate so that even Matt Holiday’s head-first slide couldn’t get him there.

So, now the Padres’ have to go home for the off-season and relive that moment. If the umpire had made the correct call, who knows? Maybe the Padres would have won the game, thereby making the playoffs and keeping their World Series dreams alive. But alas, it was not so.

That is why it is absolutely imperative for the MLB commish to consider implementing instant replay. The NFL and NBA have both turned to instant replay with much success. So, why shouldn’t baseball follow suit. It is the only way to know what really happens.

There are those who say that using cameras and instant replays to make calls is unnatural and ruins the beauty of the game. But, without it America’s pasttime will continue to be riddled with controversial and downright incorrect calls.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online resource for
Seiko S149 Stopwatches and Portable Scoreboards.