Alex’s Blog

So, here I am, not even finished with my first semester at college, and I am already bouncing between the ideas of different majors. Originally, I was dead-set on journalism. I have wanted to be a journalist since I was a freshmen in high school, and I just assumed that would never change. However, as I have come to know, college is a place of growth and change, and I am realizing that now more than ever.

Sports journalism was my passion– yes, I am confident enough to use the past tense, and I thought it was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I figured that if I love writing and I love sports, I sure as hell would be able to put them together to create some ideal super-career. Not the case. I recently took part in a journalism seminar here  at UMass. This seminar is designed to either reinforce your beliefs or to create new ones. At first, I was sure that this was where I was supposed to be. The first red flag went up on our mini field trip to the Collegian office.

This is where I want to be, I thought, the newsroom. I love reading the sports section of newspapers, and some of my favorite writers in sports columnists in Boston area newspapers. Not only that, but I am a person that likes to work under pressure. What better of an environment than a newsroom, always scraping to reach a deadline. That appealed to me more than anything. The class sits around on sofas and chairs, and the Collegian editors begin their schpiel. One of the things that struck my memory first was one of the editors saying, “It is a lot of hard work.” Hard work? No problem. I can deal with hard work. Otherwise, I don’t think I would have signed up for this major in the first place. Next thing he said was, “It becomes your life… you may spend up to two days straight in here.” HOLD IT. Two days straight? Now, that is not what I thought “hard work” included. To me, there is a difference between passion and obsession, and these guys crossed it. I have no problems being passionate about what I want to do for a living. Otherwise, it would not be worth it and I would be miserable. I want my work to be a part of my life, but not to be my life. It was not that moment that I realized but shortly after that maybe, just maybe, my high school dream of being a sports journalist was now beginning to diminish.

My attention began to switch gears the seminar after our little field trip to the newsroom. The talk of internships and their vast importance made me realize just how many opportunities there really are out there for me. A job in the front office of a sports team, or maybe another public relations position, would better suit me. Maybe I would want to work at a radio station? Who knows. I plan on looking into some internships that will help make this transition between majors a little bit easier. Luckily, I am at a school with a wide variety of majors and programs so that when I do figure out exactly what it is I want to pursue, I have  the resources that will provide me with the right opportunities.

So, I think I have figured out my course of action. First, survive freshmen year. That is, do well in my gen. ed. classes and maintain my ever blossoming social life. Next on the agenda, obtain a decent summer internship so that I may figure out if a major switch is necessary. From there, I don’t know yet what will happen. I suppose it all rides on what I get done next summer. As far as my future in sports writing, I think that will just remain a passion or hobby of mine, as it began.

NOTE: Dustin Pedroia is the AL MVP? Hell yes.

As most of the country is aware (unless you abhor baseball), the Boston Red Sox lost the ALCS in seven games. Although the team made an epic comeback in game five, a World Series appearance was just not in the cards. As a fan and lover of everything Red Sox, I have to admit, I saw it from the beginning. Sure, I got just as excited when the Sox scored eight unanswered runs to push the series to game six, but I did not think it was possible. Call it that Boston pessimism, but I knew they were not going to make it to the World Series, especially with having to dominate the Tampa Bay Rays in order to do so.

Now, the success of an entire team does not depend on the pitching staff. However, a team does not have a chance if their pitching staff cannot keep their opponent from scoring. The pitching staff for the 2008 Red Sox definitely had the big names, but lacked in big performances. The Ace of the year, Daisuke Matsuzaka, lowered his ERA from a 4.40 in 2007 to a 2.90 this season. For many fans, he was finally worth the multi-million dollar deal. Daisuke remained injury free for the season, which is more than one can say for the rest of the crucial parts of this Red Sox pitching staff.

The host of players bit by the injury bug this season range from one-timers to repeat offenders. During the final stretch of the season, pitcher Josh Beckett was placed on the fifteen day disabled list for the second time during the season. Other pitchers that had a hard time keeping healthy include Clay Buchholz, Tim Wakefield, and especially Bartolo Colon and Mike Timlin. Bartolo Colon, for example, was brought to the Red Sox this season in hopes of filling in the gap in the fifth spot of the pitching rotation. However, with his numerous trips to the DL, Colon hardly saw any field except McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket. In a bullpen that held its ground this season through shortened starts and lack of starters, for that matter, Mike Timlin had trouble finding his groove. With a drop in appearances and an ERA turned for the worst, the 2008 Mike Timlin is hardly the version we are accustomed to seeing. In 2005, Timlin sported an ERA of 2.24 while this season was a staggering 5.66. As a veteran player, Timlin is part of the backbone of this team and to see him struggle is an unfortunate indication of how the team fairs.

 Compounded with pitching woes, there was still a great emergence of young players. Most notably, Dustin Pedroia had an especially successful offensive and defensive season. With his slugging at .493 and an overall season average of .326, Pedroia made a run for the batting title in the 2008 season. Following his Rookie of the Year Season, he kept his offensive production at a consistent level, if not better. Another impressive young bat for the Sox this season was second baseman Jed Lowrie. With a .400 slugging percentage, Lowrie earned his keep in the Big Leagues. Not to mention, Lowrie flashed the leather with several incredible plays in the infield. These young guns have a lot to learn, but if they keep up the fantastic playing, next season may end a little less prematurely.

As a citizen of the United States, I have the right to vote. I have just become eligible to exercise such a right about ten months ago. The first election that I voted in was a local election in my hometown, Billerica, MA. To be completely honest, I do not remember who I voted for, and for what office. However, as the second election I will vote in during my young life, I anticipate that it will be one that I will never forget.

On November 4th, I will be voting in the 2008 Presidential Election, and I am thrilled. I have never had a responsibility of this magnitude, and it excites me. If I think about it in terms of the individual, it is quite amazing how awesome of a power I have. I get to participate in an activity, excuse me, my civil duty, that counts towards choosing the leader for the country. Now, I am not going to be naive. I know that in the grand scheme of things, my vote really does not make a huge difference. Massachusetts will vote Barack Obama no matter what, and I have come to peace with that. However, that does not stop me from wanting to vote. Unfortunately, a good portion of the population does not have the seemingly positive attitude that I have.

Ironically enough, it is not the younger generation that has the discouragement that I mentioned. Statistically speaking, the last presidential election had one of the lowest turn-outs for voters in the age 18-25 bracket. Now, I am not one to study statistics, but I think that the turn-out for the same bracket will improve tremendously with this election. Just living on a college campus gives me a good idea of how important politics are to college students. I am in American Politics 101, and the enthusiasm and interest that go into the discussions in that class are incredible.

Whether my notions are right or wrong, I certainly hope more young people vote. It is time to shed the label of the “dumb generation.”

Well, hello to everyone who is reading this. This is my first post, and I intend to update this as often as I possibly can, or as often as I deem something post-worthy. This blog will have a variety of topics, but will probably stick mostly to Boston sports, as I am a huge sports fan. Whoever reads this, totally give me feedback, I would love to hear it!