(This is a repost, but on the eve of the finalist's announcement,  I though it would be good to post one more time.) 

While trying to think of a sport that I could compare this with this contest, I realized it would be more difficult than I first imagined.  In basketball if you hit a shot at the buzzer the crowd will erupt, or go completely silent, and you know what you have done is great.  In football if you catch a game winning touchdown pass, your teammates will pile on top of you and you realize you have done something spectacular.  In baseball if you hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of ninth, and trot slowly around the bases, you know the glory that will be waiting for you when you touch home plate.  In a sports-writing contest, with little rules, you have know idea what will happen after clicking the "post to blog" icon.  You only have yourself, your mind and the confidence in yourself to continue to write blog after blog.  All for a hope that the NGS fairies will sprinkle the dust on your blog, and you will be selected as one of the sweet 16. 

That is when I realized NGS isn't a sport, it is practice.  It is shooting 500 jump shots in a row in the gym until the lights go off, and the shots go in, even when it is pitch black.  It is coming to practice early and staying late to watch game film or to fix a weakness.  It is running one extra lap around the track just because you feel like you have to.  It is giving everything you possibly can, because of a fear that your opponent could be going just a little bit harder. 

There is no coach, there is no one chearing you on, it is just you and hard work.  When you are alone in the gym, or in the film room, or in the locker room; you only have yourself, your mind and the confidence in yourself to continue to go hard even if you have doubts.

This contest requires a self-confidence that is rivaled by no sport.  You don't have teammates, you don't have coaches, you don't even have very much feedback.  All you have is hope.  Hope that all the practice pays off, and that when it comes time for the coach to annouce the team, that your name is called.

NGS II is writing one more blog before you go to sleep, just because you feel like you have to.

It's 3:43am, I'm still awake.....are you?    

Sports, like life, are gutwrenching and can go from the highest of high's to the lowest of low's in a matter of second's.  It's six in the morning, I haven't gone to sleep and I have been drinking all night. However, now is the time I have chosen to get online and discuss sports.   To most people, sports are just entertainment, but the truth is that nothing in this world resembles the difficulties of life quite like sports.   

About 12 hours ago I was tuned in to the Preakness, pulling for Barbaro to get the win and set up a Triple Crown possibility.  It is a feat which hasn't been accomplished since 1979, but this year it seemed to be a distinct possibility because of the dominance Barbaro had demonstrated at the Kentucky Derby.  Everything was going as planned until the horses entered the gates and Barbaro blasted through the high powered magnets prematurely.  Although it had no effect on the actual outcome, it was a bad omen, something no one liked to see happen to the Kentucky Derby champ.  After the race started Barbaro began as normal but soon had to be held up because of a hind leg injury. 

Injury...the only possible thing in the world that could have stopped that horse from winning the race.  The race continued on, but it just didn't seem the same, the horse everyone wanted to see was eliminated too soon.  Instead of winning the Preakness and creating images of a Triple Crown winner, Barbaro is now just fighting to stay alive.  From such a dramatic high comes a dramatic low.  Things never go the way they are supposed to in sports, just like in life. 

Love and the opposite sex are possibly the most difficult thing for a human to grasp.  Even when you believe you have found true love, things go wrong and shatter your hopes.  True love is giving up your everything and putting faith in something bigger than yourself.  For the most part, people get burned for giving up their heart to someone else.  A relationship you thought was meant to last forever ends in a terrible way, and your heart that you gave away is returned...shattered.   Things never go the way they are supposed to in love and life, just like in sports. 

But the same thing which makes life, love and sports so difficult, is what keeps us coming back for more.  The chance that maybe we will see a team finally win after years and years of losing.  Or finally seeing a horse win consecutive races that just seemed to difficult to do.  Or maybe we will even find that one person in our life who we were meant to be with, the person who makes life worth living. 

In the end all we can do is hope.  All we can do is pour our heart, guts, soul and just about everything we have into what we love.  The chance of our favorite team winning the Super Bowl or World Series or NBA championship may be slim, but we hope and have faith because that is all we can do.  The chance of finding that one person in the world who was meant to be with you may be slim, but it is why we are here, and we have to fight each day as hard as we can.

There is nothing better than love and there is nothing better than sports.  The ability to put faith in something we have no control over is what makes life truly worth living.  Giving everything you have, hoping that in the end it will pay off, is the only reason to do anything in this world.

 I have faith..........do you?

The first weekend of Interleague play kicks off later today, with some very intriguing match-ups to pay attention to.  Here is a look at all of the weekend's games:

Cincinnatti Reds (24-17) @ Detroit Tigers (27-13):  Two of the most suprising teams in the league this season face off this weekend in Detroit.  The Tigers have been hot lately and the Reds have struggled, but it should be a great series to watch all weekend.  Plenty of hitting and pitching in this matchup to find baseball's Cinderella. 

Chicago Cubs (17-23) @ Chicago White Sox (26-14):  Hopefully this weekend's battle between the squads from the Windy City will be better than it look's to be on paper.  The White Sox are playing at a very high level and the Cubs...are not.  Hopefully the excitement of the weekend will put some pep in the Cubbies step. 

NY Yankees (23-16) @ NY Mets (24-16): While both of these teams have solid records, each have very high expectations and this weekends series will go a long way in restoring winning ways to one of the teams from New York.  The Subway Series is the first of two important matchups between the four top teams in the East.

Boston Red Sox (23-15) @ Philadelphia Phillies (22-18): These two teams are in fierce battles for their division and are close in talent.  Just another one of the great match-ups brought to the fan's by the wonderful invention of Interleague play. 

Minnesota Twins (17-24) @ Milwaukee Brewers (22-19): At first glance this may not seem like one of the best series' to watch this weekend.  However, the debut of Francisco Liriano as a starter against the young and talented hitting of the BrewCrew will be some big time baseball and great to watch.

Baltimore Orioles (19-22) @ Washington Nationals (14-27): The battle of the Beltway is going to be the most entertaining to watch all weekend.  Steve McNair, Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis squaring off against Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Sean Taylor.  It doesn't get much better than that.  Wait wrong sport.  This stadium will be fans filled with NFL talk anyways. 

Toronto Blue Jays (22-17) @ Colorado Rockies (22-19): Two teams with big time bats should make this an exciting series.  However, Aaron Cook the rookie for Colorado has pitched very well, even at Coors field.  He will get the nod Friday, look for him to slow down the Toronto hitting more than most will expect. 

Florida Marlins (11-28) @ Tampa Bay Devil Rays (17-24): Alot of young talent here that many fantasy baseball lovers will pay attention to.  Other than that, not much going on betweeb these two teams in south Florida.

Texas Rangers (21-19) @ Houston Astros (22-19): Rumor is Roger Clemens will be in attendance and whichever team impresses the most, he will join on Monday morning.  OK, I made that up, but he probably will attend as he lives in Houston.  I think in the end he will end up a Stro. 

St. Louis Cardinals (26-15) @ Kansas City Royals (10-28): This series could be fun to watch just to see how many home runs Albert Pujols will hit.  I'm gonna go ahead and say three....per game.  He did have a day of rest on Thursday so maybe there will finally be some power in his bat.  There is nothing to say about the Royals other than...they are very bad. 

San Francisco Giants (21-20) @ Oakland Athletics (21-19): While all of the focus will be on the 72 year old trying to hit his 714 home run, it should be about more than that.  The Giants and A's are both playing well right now and will be in contention in their prospective divisions all season long. 

Pittsburgh Pirates (13-28) @ Cleveland Indians (20-21): The Indians were expected to challenge the White Sox this year, but instead it has been the Detroit Tigers.  For the Indians to have any shot they need to win these games against the Bucs.  Won't be as easy as it seems, however, with Zach Duke set to take the hill on Friday.

San Diego Padres (23-18) @ Seattle Mariners (17-25): The Padres are hot and the Mariners are not.  A half way interesting matchup to follow for fantasy baseballers, but for the most part...it's a yawner. 

LA Angels (17-23) @ LA Dodgers (21-20):  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim California Los Angeles take on their City or State rival in a matchup between two teams who should be playing better.  Kent and Vlad are the stars and need to shine for their teams to return to the hunt. 

Gonna be a fun weekend of baseball as Interleague play is always good times.  Whenever  the teams from New York, LA and Chicago get together you know there is going to be some great baseball. 

I shouldn't even be allowed to hit against the Royals.