Digital Artwork (Semi-sports related)

So this will be a random posting, but I wanted to show off some random digital artwork that I've made.  It's somewhat of a side hobby that I enjoy doing.  Most of it is sports related, but a couple are random.  Almost all were requests.  Hope you enjoy. (Click on them if you want to use one as your computer background)

Kermit's Song.....Outside the Lines from ESPN

This is a story I had never heard about, but found it to be quite incredible.  It's a long read, but very well written and quite an amazing story.  Kermit's Song by Tom Friend is the story of Kermit Alexander.  The man who's tackle injured Gale Sayers ended up living the hardest life of all.  Until fate gave him one last chance at peace.

Riverside, California - The old pro could feel the earthquake 3,000 miles away. He watched the endless television reports, on two knees, wondering whether his future had suddenly become his past. He looked for familiar faces in the rubble, but ended up with a throbbing headache instead. He cringed at the thought of more funerals and woke up that first night in a sweat, flashing back to a cup of coffee that was never drunk, flashing forward to a house that never had kids. He decided there was nothing worse than an empty home. And at that moment, no home was more barren than the old pro's.
The one person who had mattered most in his life was already gone. And now it seemed as if the earth was swallowing his second family whole, five at once. He had no way of calming his mind, no way of getting real news, because the phone lines were severed. But it was his gut feeling he'd seen the last of them. Three boys and two girls -- history. He decided if they were buried alive, it would be the end of him, that he would be the first man to die twice. He figured his obituary would read: "Former NFL star, 69, dies of guilt." He figured he'd just lie down and his whole remarkable, tortured life would pass in front of his eyes. Like this ...

Read the rest of it here:  ESPN - OTL: Kermit's Song

Hey Kids....Cheaters win, not once, but twice!!!

The Associated Press announced the results of the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year re-vote today.  For those who didn't hear, they had to have a re-vote, because of the news that surfaced this past week about Brian Cushing, last year's winner.  Apparently Cushing tested positive for an illegal substance back in September of his rookie season, but because of his appeal and the process that was involved, Cushing was able to play his entire rookie season.  Cushing will now be suspended for the first four games of the coming season after losing his appeal. 

Cushing was found to have tested positive for HCG.  This is a new one to me, but apparently it is a drug one would take after taking anabolic steroids to stimulate the body's testosterone production.  See this article from ESPN for more info:  Cushing test flagged for HCG.

Based on this the AP decided that it was only fair to hold a re-vote for the award since Cushing conceivably received some sort of advantage from taking the HCG and possibly, by association, anabolic steroids.  A total of 50 members of the press have a vote in this (i.e. Chris Mortenson - ESPN and Peter King - Sports Illustrated).  Cushing received an overwhelming 39 of 50 votes on the original ballot with Jairus Byrd (6), Clay Matthews III (3), and Brian Orakpo (2) receiving the remaining votes.

Initially when I heard about this I commended the AP for holding a re-vote.  I thought it was a good opportunity to show accountability for one's mistakes to the youth of America.  I figured that with the way baseball players are vilified for taking steroids that the same would go for members of the NFL.  I was so wrong.

After the re-vote your new (and old) NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is......Brian Cushing.  Though the voting was closer, Cushing still won the award by receiving 18 votes.  Byrd finished in second (13), followed by Matthews (12), Orakpo (3), and James Laurinitis (1).  Two voters abstained and one was not available.  I commend the 21 voters who changed their minds, but am stunned by the 18 who voted for a guy who broke the rules.  Did he gain an advantage from taking the drugs?  Who knows, but the fact remains that we just told America's youth that even if you cheat AND get caught, you can win not just once, but TWICE!

Dear Lebron...

Congratulations on your 2nd (back to back) MVP award.  I have to admit that I was curious what you might do this year with all the talk about this being your last season in Cleveland.  I wondered how you would handle all of the talk about you leaving and how your teammates would handle it as well.  I'm not sure you could have had a more statistically dominating season as an individual or as a team player.  You lead your team to an astounding 61-21 record (technically you didn't play in the last 4 games, all losses, so 61-17) and the Eastern regular season crown.  On top of that you were second in the league in scoring, 33rd in rebounding, and 6th in assists (29.7, 7.3, and 8.6 respectively).  As deserving as you were of this award people continue to wonder if you can lead this Cleveland team to a title.  Is the supporting cast of Mo Williams, Shaq, Antawn Jamison, J.J. Hickson, Varejao, Z, etc, etc, etc enough to help you get that elusive NBA crown?  I have to say I'm not sure you could have done much more.  The question is: Can they?  After a season like this I hope you get the title you've played so hard for, but after the season is over you will be faced with a difficult task that has been the buzz all season.  Should you stay in Cleveland or go to New York, New Jersey, or perhaps a surprise location?  NBA fans across the land are anxiously awaiting the remainder of the NBA playoffs, but there are a few fans who can't help but look beyond this year in hopes of bringing your talents to their downtrodden squads.  Let's break down what we know real quick and maybe we can venture a guess as to where you'll end up...

Cleveland:  You've taken this team to an Eastern Conference Final and lost, but now have them back in the playoffs hoping you can achieve something more. Is an NBA Championship possible?  Yes.  Is this team capable of making that run more than once?  Maybe.  Mo Williams is a legit PG, J.J. Hickson is budding young star, and there is good helpers in Jamison and West.  The question is the big men.  Shaq is aging and Z is always a health risk.  Maybe the draft can provide help here, because I don't think Cleveland has the money to go after one of the better big men and pay you.

New York:  The Knicks are a joke, but they play in MSG, a basketball mecca.  Could you pass up the opportunity to play in the biggest market AND at the same time resurrecting one of the most famous arenas of all time?  New York offers budding young stars in Danilo Gallinari and David Lee (if they resign him).  Head coach Mike D'Antoni is also believed to be as well respected a coach as there is among his piers and players from Team USA (a team you played on).  New York also has big money.  Maybe even big enough for two max contracts.  So could your signing bring in D-Wade or Chris Bosh as help?  That's is quite possible.  Would that be enough to bring NY a title?  Do they need more depth?  Could they afford it with two max contracts?

New Jersey:  Some may look at this and laugh, but if you look closer it is possibly the best choice of all.  How?  Let's see.  NJ offers the possibility to play for a new billionaire owner that will want to make something special out of his $700 million investment.  Also one of your good friends, Jay-Z, is a minority owner of the club already.  With an interim coach you could probably help choose who you would want to play for.  Admittedly, you may have to play in NJ for a year or two while the new arena is built in Brooklyn.  That may not be glamorous, but once the new arena is built you would have the chance to turn it into the new "MSG".  Why play somewhere in the shadow of greatness, when you have a chance to create a legacy of your own.  As far as help on the floor, you have an All-Star PG in Devin Harris, a future star big man in Brook Lopez, solid young depth in C.D-R, Terrance Williams, Courtney Lee, and Yi Jianlian, AND NJ may have the #1 overall pick in the draft (J. Wall) AND may have the money for another max contract player or someone in the 2nd tier of FAs.

So Lebron, the choice is yours.  We will give you a chance to enjoy your MVP award and we will watch as you try for your first NBA title, but just know that in the back of our minds we'll be wondering, in some cases dieing to know, what jersey will you be wearing next year.  Time will only tell.