Government

         The United States Government definitely acted appropriately in this case. People can say they want terrorism to stop; they’re clearly trying to stop it by obtaining the phone calls. It is not overstepping the bounds; if anything they are protecting the people of America. If people don’t want their phone calls taken then they shouldn’t be saying anything suspicious enough for the government to be taken them. They don’t want any terrorism affecting the United States anymore. It has been too much in the last 15 years. 9/11 and now more recently the Boston Marathon bombings, the government is answering the signs on the corner of the streets saying “when will it stop.” Fact is they do not want it to happen as well, they are trying to keep this country safe and free.

People who do track will defend the fact they think they are track “athletes”, respectfully so. However I would defend the fact that they are not athletes, and that track a sport. As a baseball player I do one of the hardest things for a human to do, that is hit a baseball from 60 feet away. I do not think you need a ball to have it be a sport, because wrestlers are top notch athletes. I also do not think that just because track is in the Olympics that it automatically makes it a sport, because wrestling is not in the Olympics.

            You put some baseball players and most basketball players onto a track and they will do alright, they probably would not win, but they would do alright. Now you put that track “athlete” onto a basketball court and they would do mediocre at best. Put them into a batter’s box and they will fail. Even if you pinch ran them and told them to steal second base, they would fail.

            Sports Science proves what the hardest things to do for a human are. They determined that the hardest thing was to be a goalie and stop a penalty kick in soccer. They are 12 yards away and the ball is going about 75 mph. with movement. However they also proved that the second hardest thing to do is hit a baseball. That ball is 90 mph from 60 feet away; the ball is no bigger than your fist. Some people throw harder than 90 mph, in fact most people can throw 90 mph. So those people that you think are “out of shape” is doing the second hardest thing that anybody can do.

            Yes, track people are probably more in shape than some baseball players. All I am saying is this: running from point A. to point B. does not make it a sport, nor does it make them athletes. My dog can run so is he an athlete? How about my mom she can run is she an athlete? My mom has to run to the kitchen to get the roast out of the oven before it gets destroyed, BAM! I just invented a sport, our very own Usain Bolt lady and gentlemen. Now that I think about it that is probably how they got to track. Then added a gunshot and fit men. Running is not a sport, it is a hobby. Anybody can “do” track but nobody can not just dribble a ball while sprinting 90 feet then dunking it or shooting a 20 foot shot, or just hit a baseball. Bring the nasty comments and e-mails because track is not a sport. 

Boston Marathon

             April 15^th 2012 will be a day to remember for a lot of people. Considering 9/11 was just too early for people a year or two older than me and younger than me, so this is the first taste of terrorism for us. Multiple bombs went off during the Boston Marathon killing 3, including an eight year old, injuring more than 260, 25 in which are in serious condition. An important statistic though is that it affected millions. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev were the two people held responsible for this; Tamerlan died after his brother ran him over with a car while he was surrendering. Dzhokhar is now in a hospital healing after a gunshot wound to the throat.

             Personally, I think once he heals and out of the hospital they should send him to the worst prison in Massachusetts. Giving him the death sentence would be too easy. The people who get hurt the most in prisons are child killers and child molesters, and I believe he killed eight year old Martin Richard. Plus sending him to a prison in Massachusetts would defiantly ensure his punishment.

            Why would be so good about the death penalty? If you gave him the death penalty then the families of the killed and wounded would be able to witness to see justice being served. Knowing that this person couldn’t make friends in prison, couldn’t contact his friends and family and he can experience what happened to their family member. So no matter what they decide to do with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, it will be good.

Spring Sports Prediction

            High School sports are a very popular thing in high school. There are many memories that go into those games, hours of practices and for the fans you get to see the aftermath of those long practices. The playoff games are the most attended, the most hyped up and the most decorated games of the year. Those are always special, but not as much to the fans to the athletes. There is always those adrenaline rushes and those nerves that make them realize where they are. Everybody loves high school sports.

            During the fall the weather has some nice days and a lot of cold days, and possibly snow, during the winter its freezing and most likely snow here in New England, and as for the spring it might start of a little cold for the athletes, but overall it is very good weather. Spring athletes may not be the most recognized athletes, but they have the privilege to have the weather on their side. There are boys and girls track, boy’s baseball, and girl’s softball.

            The Norton Lancers boy’s baseball team is one of the best teams in the school. In 2010 they won the state championship, in 2011 they lost to an extremely impressive Medfield 2-1 in a walk off hit in the bottom of the 7^th inning, but in 2012 something unusual happened. Norton Lancer’s baseball had an “off year”, ending their season at 10-11. Not very impressive overall but you may have to break it down. Not including the pitcher half of their starters was a junior, but every one of those starters had started at least 1 game the previous season. They started the season off with a record of 2-9, that’s two losses away from their season crashing down and not making playoffs, but then they got their electricity in the bats and gloves, going a very impressive 8-1 at the end and barley making playoffs thanks largely to the help of the team MVP Colin feeny. Now those good juniors from last year now turn into very good seniors, which there will be five (not including pitcher). They are looking for a bounce back year, and a predicted record of 12-8 will be sure to do that.

            Then there is the softball team, and like most girl sports at Norton High School they aren’t very good. However they did put up a State Championship banner in 2006. Then again the players on the 2006 roster are long gone now. Now in 2013 they do however have potential, with their captains being on the team since 2011 and they have good young talent for this year and years down the road. A good prediction for the 2013 roster this year would be 8-12; they are missing their best pitcher and top hitter.

            Most people have to laugh at the track player, people even say that they are not athletic, but when it comes down to Norton High School sports the Spring Track team is the most underrated team. Norton Spring track went a very impressive 9-0 last year including knocking off a powerhouse Hopkinton team. Going anything worse than 8-1 would be a disappointing season for the boy’s and girl’s track team. The chances of them doing any worse than that is very slim.

Steroids

Steroids have changed baseball forever, more home-runs, and more great plays because of enhanced ability, players getting more money since they are performing great and more money for the owners too. Once you break the record for most stolen bases or single season hits then it’s broken. The record book can’t be changed. Maybe some owners want players to take steroids because everybody loves to see a long home-run so they watch the game on ESPN or pay $200 to see that happen. Some people who love baseball don’t want steroids. They know its fake and an unfair game. Some don’t like it because it’s illegal so they are cheating to and the great record holders like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth didn’t use steroids, they had pure and god given ability and somebody like Barry Bonds cheated to break a record.

                When you play like Barry Bonds and you have stats like a created player in a video game, then you’re going to be suspected of something. If you get caught then everybody starts talking about the record book, but it doesn’t matter if you did it when you were clean like Babe Ruth, or used steroids like Barry Bonds. Regardless, the record book cannot be changed. What if the owners wanted their players to use steroids? People would watch a game to see somebody hit his fifth home-run of the game, but the more views and runs then the more money they get. Steroids should be legalized, but if you test positive for it then you shouldn’t be in the Hall Of Fame. These are grown men, they should be able to do whatever you want, if he is the 17 year old prodigy Bryce Harper, or the 47 year old Tim Wakefield, if you want to take steroids then take it, but you shouldn’t be in the Hall Of Fame.

                Everybody has an argument for and against steroids. A lot of people that I’ve heard said that steroids are fake and anybody who uses it is fake. It’s true, if you’re a real athlete than why do you need to make yourself bigger and stronger. It’s also illegal, they give random drug tests to teams every 30 day, but do teams cover up there star players? Somebody like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens both hold multiple records, but they did it by using a drug that makes them better. People like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Pedro Martinez held records without steroids, but they were broken by people who used steroids. It tarnishes the reputation of baseball.

                Steroids have changed baseball forever, more home-runs and more great plays because of enhanced ability. Players are getting more money since they are performing at a higher level and there is more money for the owners too. Some owners might want their players to take steroids. Fans want to see people make exciting plays. People want to see Jose Bautista hit 50 home-runs in a season. Its okay if you take steroids because of the excitement, but you shouldn’t be in the hall of fame because you put up those statistics with a drug.