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Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
Angelique Kerber Denies Serena Williams of Making History; Wins her Third Grand Slam
After many shocks, surprises, and upsets, the final was set between Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams—the second time they would play in the Wimbledon final in three years. Williams was chasing history: to tie Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam title record. The American, who many call the greatest to ever play the sport, already has the record for most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era, surpassing Steffi Graf’s 22 title record at 2016 Wimbledon.
By Aidan Mahoney8 years ago in Unbalanced
43 Years at the Center of Somers Slow Pitch Softball
Almost 40 years ago this summer, a Harlem Globetrotter-like six-man all-star team of windmill softball players arrived to entertain a packed park of Somers Residents. The idea was also to drub whoever the town could put up as players. Little did the California Cuties—in their comedic get up as girls—know they would run up against a 53-year-old founding member of the Somers Softball League. So while the Shenorock resident didn’t get the win, he did earn the last laugh and represents one of many moments as a player, administrator, and manager over 43 years.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
Juice Sport
One of my all time favourite fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) has to be Brazilian Royce Gracie. The original 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' happened in 1993 but I was about 23 years old when I first saw it, which was back in 2009. The sport of MMA had came from fringe sport to mainstream attraction by then, but it didn't take away from the magnitude of Royce Gracie's achievements that night in 1993. On the same evening, Gracie had defeated a pro boxer, a shoot fighter, and a kickboxer. Still to this day I am amazed by the fighting prowess of the man, who originally had a submission based style, he only real struck his opponent when he was on the ground. You can probably imagine then how disappointed I was when my hero tested positive for Nandrolone (May 8, 2007) after an Elite XC bout with rival Kazushi Sakuraba.
By Roy Jones8 years ago in Unbalanced
Ten Best Baseball Podcasts
Many of the of the country's most knowledgeable baseball experts have joined the trend of the past few years and created a podcast in hopes of a more personal touch than traditional articles or TV segments have granted them in the past. The hope for this freedom has created an abundance of high-quality podcasts coming in many different shapes and sizes. With all this great material being put out, it is hard as a listener to know where to begin. To point you in the right direction, below, in no particular order, are ten of the best baseball podcasts available today.
By Robby Bernstein8 years ago in Unbalanced
Wimbledon and Women
As the World Cup comes to a close, all eyes turn to the ongoing Wimbledon event, which started July 2 and ends on July 15. Wimbledon is a huge tournament with over one thousand players competing in the events, including men and women singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles and wheelchair players.
By Chloe Francis8 years ago in Unbalanced
How to Survive (And Thrive) in the Challenging World of College Sports. Top Story - July 2018.
If you're like the millions of young athletes with dreams of competing at the collegiate level, you've probably wondered if you really have what it takes to be successful in that world. It's a very valid question; it is well-known that being a college athlete is no small undertaking. As a former 4-year starter for a very successful college program, I have several key takeaways from my time as a college athlete that can help you thrive in a challenging world that only 7 percent of high school athletes reach.
By Mikayla8 years ago in Unbalanced
Somers Remembers Stephenie Crispinelli
On Sunday afternoon, Somers once again gathered for the Stephenie Crispinelli Softball Tournament and Fundraiser. Set in motion for the ninth year and remembering the passing of Stephenie in the Haiti Earthquake, the spirit was definitely in the air, according to close family friend Joe Mirabile.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
NBA Players Who Would Be Great in the NFL
Michael Jordan's brief foray into the world of professional baseball might not have been a smashing success, but he certainly proved himself a skilled athlete across multiple sports. Which brings up an interesting point: while some professional athletes are probably one-trick ponies, many of them likely possess the athleticism, work ethic, and skill to succeed outside of their area of expertise.
By Nicola P. Young8 years ago in Unbalanced
Boogie to the Bay
After a short wait, we now know where Lebron will play the tail end of his career, a decision that those who have been paying attention ultimately expected. Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers sealed the deal Saturday night, reports indicate. This is a major shift in the NBA landscape. Lebron leaving the East all but lays out the red carpet for the Celtics to walk through next season with the Sixers presenting their only real threat (unless you consider Toronto but, eh). A graphic displayed on ESPN illustrated that only one first team All-NBA performer now resides in the Eastern Conference. Underwhelmingly, that one player is Joakim Noah. This was a seismic shift, as Woj put it. With Paul George’s return to Oklahoma City coupled with Lebron’s arrival, the West is more loaded than ever before.
By Kyle Jordan Ferguson8 years ago in Unbalanced
Toxic Masculinity in Sports
The sports world has always been dominated by men. As far back as the 11th century, and likely before, sports like jousting were used as tools for men to show off their strength, courage, and overall masculinity for women. This ancient idea has continued to influence the sporting world and it's getting a little old. Toxic masculinity is the adherence to traditional male gender roles, which can put men in a box, limiting the acceptance of them expressing themselves in ways that are seen as opposite to the alpha male ideal. The difference between toxic masculinity and masculinity is that with toxic masculinity, men are shamed for behaviors seen as feminine or for not meeting the masculine ideal. In a society where we are starting to call out racism and sexism on the daily, it's time to address the elephant in the locker room that is toxic masculinity.
By Lizz Darcy8 years ago in Unbalanced
