Will crime increase if there is no NFL?

The Baltimore Ravens' Ray Lewis seems to think so. In an interview with ESPN he powerfully stated:

"Do this research if we don't have a season - watch how much evil, which we call crime, watch how much crime picks up, if you take away our game."

Lewis then goes on to explain: 

"There's too many people who live through us, people live through us," he said. "Yeah walk in the streets, the way I walk the streets, and I'm not talking about the people you see all the time."

Lewis does have a couple valid points. There are people who live vicariously through the football players and teams and if you cut off the source it will force them to do something else. Does this mean without football people will commit more crimes? If they wanted to prove that you'd have to show an increase in crimes during the off-season and it was because of the lack of football. This would be next to impossible to do. In fact, with the lack of football, people could be doing more productive things like spending time with family or picking up a new hobby. Most people will replace it with something else. The die-hard fans will watch sports networks like ESPN for the latest news on the lockout. For the first part of when the NFL season is supposed to occur people will probably watch the end of the baseball season to get their sports fix. After baseball is over they'll watch basketball or hockey. People will also focus more on college football to get their football fix.

Crime could pick up because there will be football players with too much time on their hands that could get in trouble with the law. This will be similar to a normal off-season where players get in trouble because they have too much free time. During the season they generally don't get in trouble because the team has a structured environment so they are usually busy practicing, team events, travelling, or actually playing the games. 
Here is the interview with Lewis.

Super hockey fan Zach Bennett

Zach Bennet watching the Charlotte Checkers play.

Last night on the television program E:60, on ESPN, they featured a story about a young hockey fan Zach Bennett. Bennett, 11, was born with a disease called Neurofibromatosis, which causes soft-tissue tumors to grow throughout the body. Because of the disease he has over twenty surgeries including both legs getting amputated. He grew up in Albany, NY and was a huge fan of the local team the Albany River Rats, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. There was no specialist on the disease Zach had in the area, so the family would have to travel up to seven hours each way for treatment. The River Rats brought great joy to him. Around when he had his second leg amputated, his mother contacted the River Rats organization to try and get someone from the team to visit. The River Rats mascot visited and later on so did the players. Over time, Zach and the players became very close. The River Rats got a new owner and decided that the team would move to Charlotte to become the Charlotte Checkers. This news was heartbreaking to Zach. He became depressed with the team gone but watched every game online. Zach had gotten prosthetic legs but quit practicing because he sorely missed the team. The club heard that he wasn't practicing walking, so Checkers forward Brad Herauf made a deal with him that if the team won, Zach would have to practice until the team's next game. The deal worked and Zach even practiced when the club would lose sometimes. The family had an idea to move to Charlotte. This way Zach could be with the team. In Charlotte they have experts in Neurofibromatosis so the family wouldn't have to spend so much time traveling. The organization invited Zach and his family to Charlotte to see the team play for three games. During those games a portion of the ticket sales, a raffle and a jersey auction would help the family move. During the trip Zach got a hockey sled from NASCAR driver Joey Logano, who has a program that makes sleds for the U.S.Paralympic hockey team. The family was having trouble selling their home in Albany. The Checkers organization decided to help the family out even more by, with the help of some donors, giving the Bennett family a fully furnished home. Currently the Checkers have an auction going on for game-worn jerseys to raise money for the Children's Tumor Foundation and Zach. 

Zach Bennett and Checkers goalie Mike Murphy

Here is the very well done E:60 Story.
The Charlotte Checkers documented Zach's visit when he got his sled. Here is Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, all on Youtube.
This is awesome. I thought that I was a big hockey fan. It's nice to see that there are still good people out there. Kudos to the Charlotte Checkers organization for helping Zach be reunited with his team. For the most part throughout the whole thing Zach had high spirits. Zach is an inspiration to everyone. He still had high spirits even though he had an awful disease that caused him to lose his legs. His enthusiasm for the Checkers is infectious. It's awesome how a fan and a team have been able to be so close for so long, over three years. You can tell through the videos that the players truly care about him. This is just amazing that a team and a fan can be this close. The Checkers are currently in the Eastern Conference finals against the Binghamton Senators. If they win this round and the next they'll capture the Calder Cup, the championship. If they do win it we know that Zach cheered them on all the way.

Go Bolts Security v. Home owners association

Steven Paul, a Tampa Bay Lightning season ticket holder, wanted to display his support for the local team by putting a sign he received from the Lightning of "Go Bolts." His home owners association gave him a violation notice saying that the only signs that can be displayed are security signs. Well Paul wasn't going to let some silly rule get in the way of him supporting the Lightning during the playoffs. Paul then proceeded to write on his sign and make it say this: "Protected by: Go Bolts security." So far he hasn't gotten a notice and was told it would be discussed at the next meeting. He then proceed to display his large, blue Tampa Bay Lightning flag on the house. He checked to see if there was any rules about hanging flags on homes and there was nothing about it. As of right now, Paul hasn't gotten anything from the home owners association. This started before the beginning of the playoffs.

As a passionate hockey fan, good for Steven Paul. He wasn't able to show his support for his team and came up with some creative ways to thwart the absurd rules of the home owners association. Changing it to as if it is a security company is genius. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, the teams the Bolts eliminated from the playoffs, could of used some security from the Bolts. There are many home owners associations that have bizarre rules. They probably feel that others will want to display signs of other things that could be more offensive. Or that it will depreciate the value of the home and/or neighborhood. But this is just a sign supporting the local hockey club. It is also not offending anyone, unless they are a disgruntled Pens or Caps fan that can't get over the loss. Apparently the person who reported on his sign must have nothing better to do.

"If this was the Rays or if this was the Bucs, would this even be an issue?" said Paul in his story with the Reddit Community.
Odds are it would still be an issue. People who would complain over a little yard sign supporting the Lightning would complain if it promoted the Bucs, Rays or anything else. They just like telling others what they should do.
If the Lightning win the Stanley Cup, Paul will have to find even more creative ways to display his support for the Bolts.

How Sweep It Is

Wednesday night the Tampa Bay Lightning moved into the Eastern Conference Finals with a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals and won the series four games to none. Before the game Capitals' star Alex Ovechkin guaranteed a win for the Caps. Apparently the Lightning had other plans. This is the first time a number one seed, the Capitals, has been swept in the first or second round of the playoffs since conference play started in 1994. Ryan Malone scored the first goal of the game to give the Bolts a 1-0 lead. Sean Bergenheim lead the way for the Bolts in scoring by putting two goals on the board for the Lightning. Martin St. Louis sealed the deal for the Bolts putting them ahead 5-2 with 3:08 left in the third. John Carlson scored for the Caps but it was too little, too late for the Capitals. The Lightning picked up the win and awaits the winner of the Flyers-Bruins series. Currently the Bruins are leading three games to none.

The Lightning's Sean Bergenheim after scoring the first of his two goals.

It has been a storybook season for the Bolts. They have had many doubters since the beginning of the year with rookie GM Steve Yzerman and rookie coach Guy Boucher. Many questioned how well Boucher's 1-3-1 defensive system would work. It has worked well as the Lightning took the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning then faced the fourth seeded Pittsburgh Penguins. At one point the Bolts were down three games to one. They then fought hard and won three straight, including two in Pittsburgh. The Lightning then had to face the number one seeded Caps. Few hockey "experts" picked the Bolts to win the series, let alone sweep the Capitals. Personally, I felt that they could beat the Caps, although I didn't actually think it'd be a sweep, because they had been playing well and the Capitals are a better team in the regular season than the playoffs. The Lightning's Dwayne Roloson played well throughout the series and made key saves when needed. The real hero for the Bolts has been Sean Bergenheim. Bergenheim is tied for the league lead in playoff goals with seven. Also their stars have been playing like stars. Hart trophy, MVP award, nominee Martin St. Louis has been a force for the Lightning. Vinny Lecavalier has return to form by scoring five goals, including the winner in overtime in game two against the Caps, and has 12 points. The Bolts' next game will be sometime after the Flyers-Bruins series is figured out and when the Western Conference gets out its' two finalists. If the Lightning win the next series they will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals and play for the Stanley Cup.

Longoria returns but Upton wins it for the Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman made his return to the lineup Monday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. Things have certainly changed since Evan Longoria was last in the lineup. Longoria has been out since the second game of the season against the Orioles when he left after straining his oblique. The Rays then proceeded to go 1-7 in the first eight games. In most of the games the Rays struggled to put runs on the board. Things are much better now for the Rays as their hitting has improved, Sam Fuld has become a force and the Rays pitching has been good. In his return, Longoira made a great throw in the second inning to get out J.P. Arencibia. But the real story of the game was B.J.  Upton's walk-off two-run homer to give the Rays a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays. Three out of four walk-off hits by Upton has been against the Blue Jays. In a post game interview Upton was greeted with a chocolate pudding pie in the face by teammate Longoria. I'm sure the pudding to the face is more enjoyable than the traditional shaving cream pie to the face. At least it tastes better.

Upton after the pie in the face.

The win gets the Rays back on track and improves their record to 16-13 and only 2 games back from the division leading New York Yankees. They are currently tied with the Kansas City Royals for the wild card spot. Longoria coming back is good news for the Rays because he is a force to be reckoned with at the plate and is stellar defensively at the hot corner. Right now the Rays are playing good baseball. if they keep this up and don't go through too many bad slumps they have a good shot at winning the division or at least the wild card. It also currently seems a lot like 2008 for the Rays. They are getting the breaks needed to win games and potentially championships. In sports you have to be lucky to be good but you also have to be good to get the breaks needed. The Rays are getting the breaks necessary now like the Tampa Bay Lightning are in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Strangely enough Tropicana Field showed the final score of the Lightning game (Lightning 4, Capitals 3) in the bottom of the ninth before Upton sent the fans home happy.

Other MLB News:

Minnesota Twins Francisco Liriano gave the MLB season it's first no-hitter. Liriano no-hit the Chicago White Sox in a 1-0 win. Oddly enough previously Liriano had never pitched a complete game in his six year MLB career and his ERA before the game was a 9.13. Liriano had two strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 6.61.

Who are these WInnipeg Jets?

Hockey fans who know the history of the sport know that the NHL team the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix, Arizona to become the Phoenix Coyotes. Over the past few years the Coyotes have had attendance, ownership and stadium problems. The Coyotes want a new barn and there have been many rumors about what will happen to the franchise. The ad above was run in the Winnipeg Free Press. It seems a little arrogant that the Coyotes will move back to Winnipeg. The main rumor is that the Coyotes will return to Winnipeg. The company did say that "we will welcome you back" as in if they come back, they'll be happy. It still seems a bit like counting your chickens before they hatch. Relocation is never fun and is always sad when a team packs up and leaves. The league grants cities teams, not necessarily owners. As always it's about the dollar at the end of the day. If they can go somewhere else and make more, they will. I remember when there was talk about the Pittsburgh Penguins moving elsewhere because they couldn't get a new arena. Luckily in March 2007, owner Mario Lemieux announced that they had a new arena deal. The Coyotes were 29th in the league in attendance, averaging 12,208 fans a game. Even though not everyone in the city of Phoenix will be heartbroken, the die-hard fans will be. It is like getting your heart ripped out from you. It would be kind of ironic for the Coyotes to return to Winnipeg. Now for the fans in Phoenix, if they move, to see NHL hockey live, the closest place to travel would probably be to Anaheim to see the Ducks. Or it could be in LA to see the Kings. I hope for the die-hard Coyotes fans sake that they don't move. Especially after they got swept out of the first round by the Detroit Red Wings. The Coyotes have been playing good hockey the last couple years, it would be sad if they move. Though the rumors make it seem as if it's inevitable. But the key word is rumor. It is all speculation at this point. None of it is true at this point. The media just wants to say they were the first to announce it.

Stay strong Coyotes fans. If they do move, odds are the NHL will put another team there because they like visiting warm weather sites.

Rays return to .500, the legend of Sam Fuld

The 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox last night improved the Tampa Bay Ray's record to 9-9, good enough for second place in the American League East. Being .500 is a major improvement compared to the 1-8 start the Rays had. The biggest difference has been their improved hitting and the legend of Sam Fuld began. 

Sam Fuld makes a catch

Fuld was acquired in a deal that sent the Ray's ace Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs. Fuld has been great for the Rays. His average is .344 and have been stellar in left field. Fuld has been so good that he is making Rays fans forget about their former all-star left fielder Carl Crawford. Crawford left the Rays to go for a better payday with division rivals the Boston Red Sox. Crawford has not been an all-star with the Sox. He has a .149 average which is not the value the Red Sox expected for seven years, $142 million. The Sam Fuld legacy began April 9th against the White Sox. Fuld made an amazing catch to rob Juan Pierre of an extra base hit. Fuld then had an amazing performance against the Red Sox. Fuld went 5 for 10 in the series. In mid-April Fuld became a starter in left field. St. Petersburg Times writer Marc Topkin has compiled a list of Fuld jokes, from Twitter, ala Chuck Norris style. Here are a few of the best:
USF is changing it's name to Univ. of Sam Fuld.
He gets Chick-Fil-A on Sundays.
They will rename the movie to Fuld of Dreams.
Some other funny ones were:
Sam Fuld was once intentionally walked while in the on deck circle.
The Red Sox check under their bed for Sam Fuld.
Fuld was also asked once by reporters why he couldn't stop the rain.
"It's just me washing my planet," he joked.
With Manny Ramirez retiring and the Rays already planned a Ramirez bobblehead give away, the Rays needed to find something else to give to their loyal fans. What better than a Super Sam cape to all kids 14 and under on May 29th.
The legend of Sam Fuld will continue to grow as long as he keeps playing relatively well. If he does then that should mean success for the Rays and more Fuld "facts" to the list.