6Magazine Chop Ups Vol. 1

Wacky World of Recruiting

As national signing day for college football approaches the world of recruiting again proves to be a fickle mistress that is as easy to predict as Texas weather. Several recruits who remain open in their commitments seem to flirt with any and every school who will listen. Still others, who have already committed, seem to change their minds concerning the school they wish to play for about as often as Brittany Spears changes her image. Eric Ward (5-10, 190lb WR; Wichita Falls, Tx) was committed to Oklahoma since his junior season but has just recently switched his commitment to Texas Tech and to top it off enrolled for classes a week ago so he could go through spring practice with the Red Raiders. Darius Jones (6-0, 185lb ATH; Marshall, Tx), another defection for the Sooners, recently changed his commitment from OU to Baylor. Electing to play a little closer to home and was also enticed by a chance for early playing time.

I have to admit, making a potentially life altering decision when you are 17 or 18 isn’t something that many are equipped to do. In this world of text messaging, email, Wi-Fi, and DVR (by the way the best invention of all time) we want results now and don’t want to wait for opportunities down the road. I can’t say that I blame an athlete for wanting to go to a school where he would have the opportunity to succeed right away. I also see the point in going to a program that is a national power and contends for a national title year in and year out. Recruiting is a strange beast and it is always hard to know what will swing a young person’s opinion from one moment to the next.

Don’t feel too bad for the Sooners; however, they did get commitments from four very highly touted prospects just last week. They are some names that maybe most are familiar with: Trent Williams, Jermaine Gresham, Gerald McCoy, and oh yeah some guy named Sam Bradford. That’s right, recruiting isn’t always about the next blue chip high school recruit, sometimes it’s as much about keeping great players from jumping for millions of dollars in the NFL. What can I say? It’s a very nice problem to have for the top 10-12 teams in the country. They have their pick of the litter from top high school seniors and they have really good talent that coaches have to somehow talk into staying around to win another title……the rich get richer.

The Reynolds Rap

More Weak Hearts Pushed To The Brink of Quitting

Too add to my friend and business partner's previous article, I too have almost given up on sports several times. A few examples of my sports related trauma incidents are:

Colorado losing to Notre Dame in 1989
Chris Webber and the Time Out
Alabama Beating Miami in the Sugar Bowl
Arkansas losing to UCLA for the National Championship...damn O'Bannon's(basketball)
OU losing to LSU, USC, and Florida all for National Titles (pathetic)
Miami losing to Ohio State in 2002
Memphis losing to Kansas on my birthday for the National Championship
Losing the 4A Oklahoma State Football Championship twice in high school
KSU losing to Texas A&M in the 1998 BIG 12 title game
Any OU loss to Texas
Any Colorado Loss to Nebraska

I have grieved alone for many days and pondered the real meaning of life after every excruciating loss I have endured on my 26 years on this earth. I feel my man, Rich'ard Bod'wah, as we feel the same pain we got through the constant "what ifs" for weeks and weeks after the loss that you were hanging your hat on.

The loss that you needed to be a win, losing is more than a score . It's the amount of shit you talk to "haters" who think that your team could possibly lose, and being the die-hard fan, the idea that "your team" could lose does not cross your mind. Conversely, after fighting tooth and fucking nail as an armchair quarterback for four quarters, you realize that defeat is imminent, you turn off your phone first, then your tv, and begrudgingly admit defeat.

As a real fan you cant hide from the pain mentally, and physically your drained. Skip Bayless continues to rub salt in the wound the next day as ESPN continually makes you relive the agony of yet another crucial loss with countless episodes of the same highlights from last night that they claim to be a "live" show. Text messages that let you know you're a loser and not a winner continually make their mark on a phone you wish didn't exist. Facebook statuses are updated, to further the mental agony that is the risk of being a real fan.

How do I live? How do I breathe after a loss that has taken everything from me? Who knows? Time heals all wounds I was told, so I keep fighting and make amends with the sports skeletons in my closet. There will be another season, there will be bigger games, life will move on. "I can't stop wont stop" in the words of Diddy. I have lost many battles, but I will never lose the War! Boadu my friend, hang in there your win will come and your gratification will make itself known. Every sports fan has a manifest destiny. My time will come and so will yours Mr. Ricky Writer, keep the faith dear friend as will I.

The Emotional One,


CLAUDE JR.

I'm Done With Football

The sun has set on my football fanhood. I just cannot do it anymore. You can only touch a hot stove once before you know it's hot and will burn you. To continue to touch that stove is plain stupid. Well, I am very stupid then. I continue you to root for teams that lose when I NEED them to win. No, I don't have money riding on these games. It is for pure emotional fanhood that I cheer, stress, agonize over games in hopes that the team I am rooting for wins.

Case in point, I watched in agony as the Sooners lost to the Gators a few weeks back. I don't want to go into detail about the pain that was in my heart.

Last weekend, I watched the Cardinals and Eagles go down to the wire. I wanted the Cards to win because I want Edgerrin James to get a ring. No, not every African-American wanted Donovan McNabb to get his first Super Bowl ring this past Sunday. The game was going great for my nerves until the second half. Then Arizona decided to play like shit on a stick. I found myself extremely nervous and agitated with every single play. I wasn't relaxed until the game was actually over. I was enraged when Darnell Dockett recovered the Eagles lateral attempt and tried to take it back to the house. Thankfully no miracles took place and the Cards won.

Onto the next game, the Ravens were the clear underdog and had very little chance of winning this game. But little chance is still better than no chance. The play that changed the game was not Troy Polamalu's interception return for a touchdown. It was Ravens backup CB Frank Walker's lack of a interception that allowed Pittsburgh to keep the ball on 4th down and kick a field goal to go up 9 points. The ball hit Walker between the 4 and the 1 on his jersey and he dropped it. No, Limas Sweed didn't break it up. It was a ball that a man who earned 1.9 million dollars this year with a 1.25 million dollar signing bonus should have caught! If he intercepts that pass, and the Ravens still score on the next drive as they did in the game, the score is 14-13 Ravens up. (Don't let me get started on Asante Samuel's dropped interception in the Super Bowl last year. He picks it off, Pats win, I'm a happy guy. Instead he drops it, bolts for the Eagles, and I'm not so happy guy. I'm still bitter about Asante dippin' to the Eagles also. I understand you have to get that money, but it was a happy team. I'm an Asante fan by the way, die-hard too, but damn he didn't have to jump ship, did he?)

Anyways, Pittsburgh is a good team, but they only rushed for 52 yards in the entire game, and QB Ben Roethlisberger had a 48% completion percentage. I have a funny feeling that if Walker picks off that pass, the Ravens win the game. Rex Ryan, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs vs. Ben Roethlisberger's 48% completion percentage with 3:43 left in the 3rd Quarter and without his goto guy Hines Ward who was injured in the 2nd Qtr. I'll take the Ravens all day long.

I was crushed that the Ravens lost, and driven to near death by the Sooners defeat. I will admit I am pulling for Edgerrin James and the Cardinals to win this Super Bowl. If they don't? I don't know if my heart can take it. I am seriously considering giving up sports. The loses are not good on my young heart. I can only imagine how Bob Stoops or Marv Levy must feel. These loses have made me understand what it is like to be a coach and the toll it takes. I think I'll steer my kids away from sports or else I'll be a crazy father much like Jeff Xavier's brother Jonathan.



I know good and well I'll go off the deep end at least once in my lifetime when I have children and they are playing sports. Nevertheless, I do not celebrate Lent, but my church always commits to a fast for 40 days. Maybe I'll give up sports all together.

Peace out,

Ricky Writer