Hit For The Cycle

ROMER BAUTISTA

ILLUSTRATION: ELYSSA STELMAN

Although the summer days are winding down, things are beginning to heat up in the world of professional sports. Pennant races, training camps, and cracked ribs are on deck, so let’s hit for the cycle and take a look at the biggest headlines from the past month in sports.

Single: The NFL pre-season begins

That buzz in the air is the sound of excitement and anticipation, as millions of football fans are gearing up for the start of another NFL season. With the beginning of the pre-season comes a renewed sense of hope that your favorite team will be playing in Superbowl XLI (except maybe for 49ers fans). The pre-season also brings plenty of unanswered questions, such as:

- Can Ben Roethlisberger recover from his near-fatal motorcycle accident, and would it be enough to help lead the Pittsburgh Steelers back to the title?

- Are the off-season moves that the Seattle Seahawks made (signing WR Nate Burleson, and LB Julian Peterson) enough to put the NFC champs over the hump?

- Will the show known as Terrell Owens behave enough to help the Dallas Cowboys take the very competitive NFC East?

- Will the ultra-fast, Heisman winner and second overall pick Reggie Bush be able to parlay his incredible college career into success at the NFL level, and help rebuild the morale in the city of New Orleans at the same time?

We’ll start getting the answers to these questions and more when the NFL kicks off its season on September 7.

Double: The race to the pennant

With the trade deadline for Major League Baseball behind us, the pennant chase has begun. A rough seven- game slide has all but dropped the Toronto Blue Jays from playoff contention in the AL, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any exciting races to watch. As usual, the Yankees and Red Sox will be battling tooth and nail for tops in the AL East. With the Tigers pulling away in the AL Central, the defending World Series- champion White Sox will have to beat out the Twins, and the loser of the East battle for the wild card spot.

The A’s are making their usual second-half surge, and are sitting in the pole position out in the AL West. Over in the NL, the Mets have become the class of the league and are running away with the East division. The NL Central appears to be a twohorse race between the Cardinals and the Reds, with the loser likely claiming the wild card. In the West, the Dodgers have suddenly become the hottest team in baseball, but will be battling the rest of the division until the end of the season.

Triple: It’s not cheating unless you get caught

Winning the Tour de France should have been the crown jewel in Floyd Landis’ cycling career. Instead, an unusually high testosterone test result has raised a cloud of doubt over Landis’ achievement. Despite vehemently denying all allegations of cheating, Landis’ two failed tests have begun an investigation into whether his title is deserved. Another athlete whose career achievements are up in the air is Olympic champion and co-holder of the title “the World’s Fastest Man,” Justin Gatlin. Gatlin could face a lifetime ban, after admitting that he has tested positive for a banned substance. As expected, Gatlin is denying that he ever knowingly used a prohibited substance.

Home run: A wild month for the Big Blue

An impressive come-from-behind victory over the Eskimos (I’m sure you’ve all seen “The Catch” by now), and a shutout on the road in Hamilton have proved that the Blue Bombers are among the elite teams in the CFL this year . . . when healthy. Unfortunately, the injury bug has bitten the Bombers, claiming quarterback Kevin Glenn and slotback Milt Stegall for at least two weeks. It will be up to Charles Roberts and the defense to keep the team afloat for now. But if the Bombers plan on making a serious push towards the Grey Cup, they will need both Glenn and Stegall healthy.

Strike out: The Cincinnati Bengals

For a team that went 11-5 last year, and a favorite to make it to the postseason, the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals are making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Since the off-season began, six members of the Bengals have been arrested for crimes ranging from boating under the influence to spousal abuse. It’s not quite the way that Coach Marvin Lewis planned on starting the push to the Superbowl.





Volume 94 Issue 3	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	August 23, 2006

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly Hit For The Cycle ROMER BAUTISTA ILLUSTRATION: ELYSSA STELMAN Although the summer days are winding down, things are beginning to heat up in the world of professional sports. Pennant races, training camps, and cracked ribs are on deck, so let’s hit for the cycle and take a look at the biggest headlines from the past month in sports. Single: The NFL pre-season begins That buzz in the air is the sound of excitement and anticipation, as millions of football fans are gearing up for the start of another NFL season. With the beginning of the pre-season comes a renewed sense of hope that your favorite team will be playing in Superbowl XLI (except maybe for 49ers fans). The pre-season also brings plenty of unanswered questions, such as: - Can Ben Roethlisberger recover from his near-fatal motorcycle accident, and would it be enough to help lead the Pittsburgh Steelers back to the title? - Are the off-season moves that the Seattle Seahawks made (signing WR Nate Burleson, and LB Julian Peterson) enough to put the NFC champs over the hump? - Will the show known as Terrell Owens behave enough to help the Dallas Cowboys take the very competitive NFC East? - Will the ultra-fast, Heisman winner and second overall pick Reggie Bush be able to parlay his incredible college career into success at the NFL level, and help rebuild the morale in the city of New Orleans at the same time? We’ll start getting the answers to these questions and more when the NFL kicks off its season on September 7. Double: The race to the pennant With the trade deadline for Major League Baseball behind us, the pennant chase has begun. A rough seven- game slide has all but dropped the Toronto Blue Jays from playoff contention in the AL, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any exciting races to watch. As usual, the Yankees and Red Sox will be battling tooth and nail for tops in the AL East. With the Tigers pulling away in the AL Central, the defending World Series- champion White Sox will have to beat out the Twins, and the loser of the East battle for the wild card spot. The A’s are making their usual second-half surge, and are sitting in the pole position out in the AL West. Over in the NL, the Mets have become the class of the league and are running away with the East division. The NL Central appears to be a twohorse race between the Cardinals and the Reds, with the loser likely claiming the wild card. In the West, the Dodgers have suddenly become the hottest team in baseball, but will be battling the rest of the division until the end of the season. Triple: It’s not cheating unless you get caught Winning the Tour de France should have been the crown jewel in Floyd Landis’ cycling career. Instead, an unusually high testosterone test result has raised a cloud of doubt over Landis’ achievement. Despite vehemently denying all allegations of cheating, Landis’ two failed tests have begun an investigation into whether his title is deserved. Another athlete whose career achievements are up in the air is Olympic champion and co-holder of the title “the World’s Fastest Man,” Justin Gatlin. Gatlin could face a lifetime ban, after admitting that he has tested positive for a banned substance. As expected, Gatlin is denying that he ever knowingly used a prohibited substance. Home run: A wild month for the Big Blue An impressive come-from-behind victory over the Eskimos (I’m sure you’ve all seen “The Catch” by now), and a shutout on the road in Hamilton have proved that the Blue Bombers are among the elite teams in the CFL this year . . . when healthy. Unfortunately, the injury bug has bitten the Bombers, claiming quarterback Kevin Glenn and slotback Milt Stegall for at least two weeks. It will be up to Charles Roberts and the defense to keep the team afloat for now. But if the Bombers plan on making a serious push towards the Grey Cup, they will need both Glenn and Stegall healthy. Strike out: The Cincinnati Bengals For a team that went 11-5 last year, and a favorite to make it to the postseason, the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals are making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Since the off-season began, six members of the Bengals have been arrested for crimes ranging from boating under the influence to spousal abuse. It’s not quite the way that Coach Marvin Lewis planned on starting the push to the Superbowl.


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