Sue Enquist: The Core of a Champion

By Jordan Niespodziany

(Originally posted on TigerRag)

Photo courtesy of sueenquist.com

Sue Enquist was not always a champion.  She was not the biggest, smartest, or strongest person in the room.  Reflecting back on her youth she remembers struggling academically and having to read from the “special books.”  Although she had a rough start, her determination and ability to learn allowed her to achieve success later in life.  On Wednesday night Enquist took the stage in Kresge Auditorium and shared her powerful message with DePauw athletes and coaches.

Basketball Diplomacy

By Jordan Niespodziany

(Originally posted on TigerRag)

Former NBA star, Dennis Rodman, recently visited North Korean supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, as part of a weeklong trip to film a TV documentary. While the Obama administration chose to distance itself from the visit claiming it was simply sports, a report from the U.S. State Department has been critical of the visit. The report said that the North Korean government should allocate their funds to their starving nation and not towards celebrity visitors. During his visit, Rodman attended a basketball game with Kim and enjoyed a night filled with fine dining and plenty of drinks.

LeBron James, Undeniably Great

What LeBron James has been able to do the last 7 games is undeniably incredible. Scoring 30+ points and shooting 69% (80-116) from the floor during the stretch. He is having one of the best single season performances I have ever seen. One of the most amazing things about his current stretch is that he has managed to score 30+ points while Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh are also scoring 20 or more points. James is making the most of his opportunities and is the leading candidate for MVP.

With great success comes great comparison and in this case, James has big shoes to fill; Air Jordan’s to be exact. We call him King James, The Akron Hammer and The L-Train. Why do sports fans feel the need to call him the next MJ? Better yet, why even try?

Lance Will Always Livestrong

Cheater.  Liar.  Doper.  Hero?

Lance Armstrong will go down as one of the greatest athletes to ever be knocked off the mountain.  His ride from deathbed to "champion" was marked and marred by yellow jackets, court cases and drug tests.  Armstrong became a household name in no time at all.  His 7 consecutive Tour de France titles ranked among the top individual achievements in the sporting world.

Recent decisions made by USADA and the UCI have cemented Armstrong's place in cycling infamy.  With the removal of his 7 tour victories and his lifetime ban, he now ranks #1 on a new list.  Armstrong is now the most famous name to grace the doping circus that is professional cycling.  He cheated and won in a sport full of cheaters.  Granted this may speak to just how sophisticated of an operation he was running, but when it comes down to it the facts are simple.  Lance Armstrong cheated better than his competitors and his continued successes both on and off the bike created animosity between his fellow riders.  Jealousy was the motivating factor leading to Armstrong's downfall.  Almost every individual who testified against him had been caught doing the exact same thing.

The Meltdown at Medinah

Let me give you a scenario.

You are the American Ryder Cup captain.  It is Saturday night, end of day 2.  You lead the European team 10-6 and Tiger Woods and his playing partner Steve Stricker have gone 0-3.  Most of you would probably think I'm crazy and say it's impossible.

For Davis Love III this was a reality.

Entering Sunday leading by 4 the majority of American sports fans and analysts, myself included, thought the US had all but won the Ryder Cup.  Only one time in the history of the Ryder Cup has a side came back from a 4-point deficit.

The Most Relevant, Irrelevance

January 2, 1989
Sunkist Fiesta Bowl, National Championship Game
Notre Dame 34  West Virginia 21

It was so long ago that most people who attend the University of Notre Dame weren't even born the last time the Irish stood atop the college football world.  Since Dr. Lou, 6 different coaches (Yea I counted George O'Leary and Kent Baer) have called South Bend home.  There has been an onslaught of criticism about the relevance of Notre Dame when it comes to college football powerhouses.  I'll be the first person to admit that going to the Hawaii Bowl sounds more like a vacation than a postseason honor.

There have been blowouts, letdowns, "Bush Pushes" and Clausen punches, but through all the disappointments and controversies relevance has never left.  How many schools have a national television station knocking on their door every home game?  How many schools can control their own destiny and remain football independent through the current conference realignment?

Top 10 Moments of London 2012

London 2012 provided the world an opportunity to step away from the toils of everyday life and enjoy a little bit of international competition.  We waved goodbye to Michael Phelps, Misty May and Kerri Walsh; and welcomed Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky to the scene.  Regardless of the fact that we got caught up in the scandalous play of traditional powerhouse, China, badminton became relevant in America.  Oscar Pistorius embodied what it means to be an Olympian.  Although he did not make the medal stand, his strong will and determination had a greater impact on the games than gold, silver or bronze.

That being said, here are my top 10 moments from the 30th Olympiad.

10. Bryan Brothers Strike Gold 
An epic final point gave the Bryan Bros. the perfect ending to their 2012 Olympics.  By adding a gold medal to their collection, the Bros. have completed the career Golden Slam.  To make things even sweeter they defeated Frenchies Jo-Wilfried and Michael Llodra to take the gold.