Mr. Heisman - Mark Ingram

The Heisman race this year was actually exciting, involving a real element of suspense. Colt McCoy seemed like a lock until the Nebraska game, where it was Ndamakung (sp?) Suh who really made a strong case for the award, truly dominating that game. A lot of people were talking Tebow until he put up a stinker against the Crimson Tide, where Mark Ingram instead came out with the Heisman-worthy performance. Then no one could write off Stanford's Toby Gerhart - a manchild who had multiple 200+ rushing yard games and brought his A game against Oregon, USC, and Notre Dame. But in the end, Ingram barely edged out Gerhart for 1st place. I was very impressed with his acceptance speech. You could tell that it really meant a lot for him and that he had put in countless hours to deserve it. He got emotional thanking God first and foremost - not something you hear many athletes do nowadays, so that was good to hear. He thanked his coaches, administrators, and family by name and didn't just reference them by title. He was also very humbled to be the school's first Heisman winner. Even though Colt didn't win (I'm biased, I know), I didn't feel so bad after Ingram so graciously accepted the award. What a classy young man, something the sporting world needs right now after the Tiger Woods train wreck. But something towards the end of the presentation left me with an uneasy feeling inside . . .

Did anyone else notice that when Ingram finished the speech, he only gave hugs to the black former Heisman winners and only gave the white dudes a handshake? Was that just a random coincidence? However, none of the white guys opened up their arms as if to give him a hug either. But would things have been different if the white guys were younger? These guys grew up in the era of segregation and the Civil Rights movement. What if Gerhart, McCoy, or Tebow would have won? Would they have got hugs from the white guys and handshakes from the black guys? Were the white guys sad deep down that the white finalists didn't win? Why couldn't the white guys give Ingram a hug, and be genuinely excited for him? But on the other hand, why couldn't Ingram perhaps make it easier by opening up his arms too?

I don't want to take away from Ingram or the ceremony, I just thought that very last scene was telling. It was sad to see on such a happy night. What do you guys and gals think?

Tiger on the Prowl

So Tiger Woods got busted this week for having an affair(s?) with at least a cocktail waitress from LA and possibly others. I'm just curious what everyone else think about the situation. Here's my 2 cents:

I've got mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, everyone is human and no one is perfect. I hesitate to throw stones at someone when I have mistakes of my own. On the other, adultery, in my mind at least, is one of the worst things a person could do, especially someone who is a role model to so many people across the globe. On the one hand, I credit him for coming out clean and apologizing for his "transgressions" and for trying to work things out with his wife and 2 kids, but on the other I wonder if he was just "sorry" for getting caught.

Some ask how this will affect his endorsements and public image etc. My guess is that it won't make a big difference. Maybe if this happened 40 or 50 years ago, but unfortunately, I think today's society is so desensitized to adultery, infidelity and immorality that a lot more people are going to give Tiger a free pass and make excuses for him like "well, he's just so competitive that he wanted to show to himself that he could compete for other women." (I heard that one the other day at school). My response to that would be that if you're not ready to settle down with one person, then don't!

Anyway, what does everyone else think?