When a defending state champion wrestler hits the mat, usually his first thought is of winning. Yet when Burlington (Mass.) High School senior Steven Giampapa recently took the mat, he knew the outcome before it even started…and he was OK with losing. His opponent was Danny Gill of nearby Wakefield High School. Danny is a… [Continue Reading...]
San Fran’s Smith “brothers” pave the defensive way
February 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
They share the same last name – the most common surname in the United States. And they both played defense at the University of Missouri. But the similarities between Justin Smith and Aldon Smith pretty well end there. Justin is a 12-year veteran; Aldon is playing his second year. Justin is listed as a bulky… [Continue Reading...]
NFL stars unite against bullying
January 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment
What on earth does Justin Tuck know about bullying, you ask? After all, the Giants All-Pro defensive end stands 6-foot-5 and weighs nearly 270 pounds; holds several defensive records at Notre Dame; picked up two sacks of Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLII; and has nearly 50 NFL sacks to his name. Well, it turns… [Continue Reading...]
Cards’ Jay consistent - on and off field
January 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
You want consistency? Check this out. Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay, in three seasons, has batted .300, .297, and .305. For you advanced-metric statheads (among whom I proudly count myself), Jay has compiled OPS+ numbers of 113, 112, 113. And the past two years he’s tallied exactly 135 hits. And he’s also consistent with giving back.… [Continue Reading...]
Wolfpack’s Leslie lends a helping hand - x 2
January 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
C.J. Leslie had just finished one of his most impressive performances in perhaps the biggest game of his career. The N.C. State forward just threw down 25 points and added five assists against No.1 Duke and helped his team to an 84-76 win. But he didn’t look for his parents, or kiss the closest cheerleader,… [Continue Reading...]
Playing catch, one glove at a time
January 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Vance Albitz might never make the major leagues. But if he doesn’t make it to the show, he can always rest easy knowing he made a bigger impact on certain peoples’ lives than if he did crack a major-league roster. How’s that, you ask? Well, Albitz – all 5-foot-7 of him – has taken on… [Continue Reading...]
James and Wade #meetjoey
January 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
LeBron James, as with most successful athletes, teams, or programs, could be considered a polarizing figure – people love him or love to hate him. But that view is pretty narrow in that it’s basically a response to what he does on the court, where his transcendent game has a way of making believers out… [Continue Reading...]
Notre Dame vs. Alabama: Fasten your seatbelts
January 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By now you’ve read all the hyperbole, you’ve had your fill of tradition vs. history, and you’ve considered the ramifications of a hypothetical cage match between Touchdown Jesus and the Houndstooth of the Baskervilles. So we here at The Good In Sports are going to break it down nice and easy for you, and give… [Continue Reading...]
Houston’s J.J. Watt maintains perspective
December 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Most people don’t relish the thought of lining up against Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt. In fact, most people would probably swim in a pool full of alligators before facing down the presumptive NFL defensive most valuable player. But then again, students from Newtown, CT., have seen much worse than a burly dude… [Continue Reading...]
