This year’s World Cup in South Africa has a buzz to it. This is the first time that an African nation has hosted this prestigious event. It’s given the world a remarkable look into often troubled continent. We’ve been introduced to the culture, the sights and sounds. If you’ve watched a game, you’ve probably heard the buzzing background noise.

No, it isn’t 100,000 mosquitoes flying around the football stadium. The buzzing noise comes from the Vuvuzelas. It’s otherwise known as a stadium horn. It is a 65 cm plastic blowing horn that sounds like an elephant up close, but resonates as a swarm of mosquitoes when blown by the masses. It’s origins can be traced back to ancient history. Back then, African villagers would be summoned to meetings by the sound of the Kudu Horn (made from the horns of the Hudu). This is just one possible origin of the Vuvuzela. I have also heard that similar horns were used by hunters to lure in animals to kill. No matter the origin, these plastic horns have garnered a fair amount of interest.

Personally, I love these things, but understand why there is so much controversy over them. Supporters say that it is amps up the excitement level, but critics find it extremely annoying. Apparently the vuvuzelas have affected the disappointing France National Team. Their captain, Patrick Evra gave us an insight “We can’t sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas. People start playing them from 6 a.m. We can’t hear one another out on the pitch because of them.” This might be the reason why France has choked so badly in this years’ World Cup.

Whether you support it or against it, you must admit that the vuvuzela brings an African flair to an exciting World Cup.

PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
PART 4

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The first time I ever heard of Manute Bol, he was a contestant on Celebrity Boxing. He boxed against the NFL veteran, William “the Refridgerator” Perry. His prize that night wasn’t the glory of victory or money. It was showcasing the plight of his native Sudan. There was so much more to this man than his 7 ft 7 in frame. He was more than just a professional athlete. He was a man of character and activism was his life’s work. In the 47 years of his existence he managed to acquire over $3 million dollars in earnings. He gave over $3.5 million to his Ring True Foundation, to support the Sudanese refugees. It’s a sad day, but hopefully his death will provide news and publicity for his cause. R.I.P. Manute Bol, you did well.

This dedication was most apparent in our sports programs. I never really had a chance to thank them properly for what they gave to me but this post is a start. FYI, my elementary no longer has team sports other than Track and Field.

The lack of team sports in elementary schools is a troubling fact. Being a part of a team teaches kids so many things that they can not learn from their parents, the class room or television. You learn how to compete against others during tryouts, but in most cases everyone is rewarded for their hard work. In elementary school, everyone gets equal playing time. Whether you are the “star” or the weakest member, you all have the equal opportunity to contribute. Being a part of a team, helps you realize that a group of people can achieve something far greater than just one individual. It pushes the virtues of fair play, honesty and sportsmanship.

My little cousin goes to my old elementary school. He enjoys sports much like I did, but there is one fundamental difference between us. By the time I was his age I had a chance to play team sports. I had a chance to learn the virtues of life through it. Sometimes I worry that he will never understand how important sportsmanship is. In a few short years he will be going to my old high school. Plastered on the walls behind the stands are the words “Proud in Victory. Gracious in Defeat.” Being proud in victory is easy, as that tends to come naturally to us humans. Without team sports, I am afraid that he will never learn to be gracious in defeat. The importance of winning is so strongly emphasized by parents and the media that some people never learn to handle defeat.

A winner in my books celebrates their own victory but also congratulates others when they are beaten. If you cheat in order to win, then the joy of actually winning is diminished when you do. It’s okay to lose, just don’t let it beat you down. Find ways to come back bigger, stronger and faster (without steroids).

*To the athletes that use performance enhancing drugs, thanks for nothing. Your contribution to society is a negative one. Know that your poor decisions ultimately affect the kids that idolize you. When they grow up poorly adjusted, because they only now how to win but not lose remember that you’re a part of that.

*This post is dedicated to all of the my coaches throughout the years. Thanks for all of the countless hours that you have given me. Thanks for the values that you have instilled in me. Thanks for shaping my future in such a positive way.

The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in game 7 of the NBA finals, taking home their 16th NBA title in team history. The victory was an important one, because it was against their longest rivals. If Kobe had lost game 7, he would join Jerry West as a great Laker  that could not beat the Celtics. That would have been an awkward comparison.

A reporter asked Kobe what the fifth title meant to him. Kobe replied “it means that I have more titles than Shaq.” It appears that Shaq is still on Kobe’s mind. The once dynamic duo won 3 straight titles together before the drama unfolded and Shaq went away. Kobe’s win has propelled him into the upper echelon of Lakers greats. Where he ranks is up to debate. What do you think?

1. Rachel Uchitel: She’s the one that started it all. Their affair triggered the car accident, that led to the television coverage that uncovered this whole thing. She’s just a 34 year old 9-11 widower that sleeps around with married celebrities.

2. Jaimee Grubbs: Mistress #2 is a cocktail waitress. She cashed in on her trashiness by releasing voicemails and text messages that Woods sent her. It was disturbing to find out that the former child prodigy was such a dirt bag.

3. Kalika Moquin: She’s number three with impressive twos. Besides sleeping with married men, she also works as a marketing manager for Bank nightclub in Las Vegas. I guess there’s no better to attract big name clientèle than to sleep with them.

4. Jamie Jungers: She’s a double threat; model and whore.

5. Mindy Lawton: I’m not sure what Tiger was thinking but he definitely wasn’t on his game. Unless his game is picking up beat chicks.

6. Cori Rist: She’s friends with Jamie Jungers. Tiger must have cashed in a 2 for 1 coupon

7. Holly Sampson: She’s a porn star so it makes sense.

What we have learned from this whole fiasco:

• Professional athletes as role models is a flawed concept
• Tiger got game
• The media will love you one minute and instantly turn on you like a bad friend.
• he might have had a love child with porn star Devon James
• Sleeping with celebrities pays off. Uchitel has been offered $5 million in hush money.

Is this scandal bigger than the Bill Clinton/ Monica Lewinsky affair?