As he tearfully spoke to reporters on the podium about how much the silver medal he had won in freestyle skiing aerials meant to him, you could sense that he was hurting. Ever so strongly. Vancouver 2010, this was it. After two unsucessful attempts at medaling in the Winter Olympics amidst controversy and the infamous drunken antics in Torino back in 2006 which resulted in him being sent home, Speedy Peterson finally won a medal. He had overcame obstacles hurled in his way, a real warrior. "I crossed out 'can', and I wrote 'will'..."

I had the sudden urge to write about Speedy. He might not be a household name to many, especially in where I live, not many people follow winter sports. I am one of the few who follows alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboard cross, halfpipe, moguls etc. Sometime on Monday evening, at sunset in the picturesque surroundings in a canyon not far off from Salt Lake City in Utah, Speedy took his own life, with a gunshot inflicted wound to his head. At a young age of 29. I certainly never saw it coming.

Speedy was the daredevil who invented the hurricane. Five twists and three flips-somersaults while being 50 feet up in the air. He performed that trick with finesse and perfection and thrilled the millions of people watching on tv or in the stands in Whistler. Speedy took extreme sports to a new level. His fighting spirit took him to greater heights, turning setbacks into comebacks countless times. He fought demons, battled the mountains of cannot and will not and doubt. Winning the hearts of many, especially children whom he had become a role model to, on the day when he was presented with keys to the city in Boise, after the Winter Olympics.

He's gone through more than I would ever do so in my life, from sexual abuse to seeing his sister get run over by a drunk driver, his room mate commiting suicide right infront of him, and many more other things that the newspapers have wrote about... suicide and alcoholism. He tried to kill himself but chickened out and lived on. I've felt this way many times before, but the fear of having my heart stop pumping scares me real good. For this I can relate to, based on the abuse I've gone through in life, suicidal tendencies too. Speedy had accomplished a lot at the time of his death. However for me, the question is, how much have I achieved? Nothing. I'm still a college student, with 19 credits shy from graduation. He won an olympic medal and won the hearts of many and had hundreds of people come out to welcome him home. What would people remember me for if I died, say today? Nothing either. Speedy had a huge heart and great charisma. I've got a long way to go on that.

So many obstacles he overcame, but that one mountain he could not overcome, as what the mayor of Idaho said....that led him to that fateful drive to the parking lot in the canyon where he shot himself.

Life is precious. When the going is rough and it feels to you that the world has caved in around you, you gotta hold on. I've felt this way too many times. Still hanging in there. There's so much more to live for.

Though I never met you, could have if I took a chance while in Utah last Christmas, your presence on tv and throughout the web will be missed. Speedy Peterson. I hope you're getting big air up in paradise, and tearing it up the ramps, free from suffering and pain. Signed, a fan.

Can you tell me where to go its killing me and no one knows,
Inside with all this mind, you waste the sunlight waiting for the night
They don't wanna break me down; they don't wanna break away from you
Everything's wrong now, everyone's gone now,
I can't keep lying to myself...
...........
Maybe another dream won't die
They can't be the first and be the last to break away

(Cavo-Disappear)

Link to the post-competition interview, Whistler 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvX7OZIm4FU

A few hours after I made the previous post, what I didn't want to hear had came to reality.

The Yankees lost to the Mets in 10 innings, 2-3. 7 game winning streak snapped.

The all star game rosters were unveiled.

Russell Martin had lost his starting spot as catcher to Alex Avila of the Detroit Tigers. After leading in his position for the whole time since balloting started. Seems like the Tigers marketing/publicity team did a fantastic job promoting and reaching out to get the fanbase and ticket holders to vote. It paid off. Anyway, Martin made the squad as a reserve.

Miguel Cabrera got selected over Mark Teixeira as the first baseman backup/reserve? Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?! He's a Detroit Tiger too. That makes two positions that the Yankees have had the Tigers beat them.

I'm pretty mad. Mark Charles Teixeira clearly deserved to be starting as first baseman, but a hated member of the Red Sox, Adrian Gonzalez beat him out in fan voting after the second returns. For every all star game, the Red Sox apparently challenge the Yankees with the number of players they send to the midsummer classic. It could have easily been an all Red Sox-Yankees starting lineup on the field.

This year, the Red Sox have Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, David "can't run the bases" Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez representing them. The Yankees have Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Mariano Rivera and Russell Martin. The first four names mentioned denote starters. We beat them in this category, again.

Last year, the Red Sox had an epic meltdown and missed the playoffs. It will still be a three-team fight for the AL divsion winner and the wildcard. I highly doubt that the AL Central or AL West would have a second team who is good enough to clinch the wildcard, based on the current standings, strengths of the team with their pitching and lineup.

Here's something I do not get. What is the point of having every major league team send at least one player to the All Star game, when clearly, some teams do not deserve to send a single member of their squad? Take for example, the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Oakland A's, Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates. Players from other teams who are deserving of a spot on the all star team end up not getting selected, and deprived of a chance to play. It may have something to do with equality, balance, maybe diversity. Oh no. I just took a class in diversity and gender studies and have forgotten the terms and theories I learned over the past six weeks.


Since its already the Fourth of July here, I'd like to wish every American a Happy Independence Day! And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air... Drink up, watch baseball at the stadium or on tv with steak and hamburgers on grill and enjoy!
I'm outta here, like a groundball hit into the dirt, in between second and third base, thrown to the first baseman and.............out!

Baseball blabberings again.

I don't care if its a popularity contest or not, but Mark Charles Teixeira should be the starting first baseman at the all star game. Not Adrian Gonzalez from the Red Sox. The man is on fire, he just hit his 300th career homerun and has contributed to the Yankees success. Come on, voters what on earth were you thinking?!

Anyway there would be at least 5 Yankees starting in the All Star game in Phoenix come 2 weeks time. Robinson Cano at second base, Derek Jeter for shortstop, Alex Rodriguez on third base, Curtis Granderson in the outfield and Russell Martin catching behind home plate. Hopefully CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera make it too, for pitchers and of course, Jorge Posada as a backup DH, Nick Swisher, and Brett Gardner. Wishful thinking I have to say, but it could happen.

Yankees are on a season high 7 game winning streak. Whoohoooooo. I would love to see them sweep the Mets in a few hours time, to make it 8.

As of July 2, 2011, the Oakland A's have hit 43 longballs as a team combined, followed by the San Diego Padres have hit a total of 45 homeruns since the season started. Houston has hit only 47. These 3 teams are the lowest in the Majors for homeruns blasted.

When you combine Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson's homeruns, they have sent 47 into the stands. That equals the Houston Astros and is more than what Oakland and San Diego have hit. Holy smokes! Granderson was on fire and has cooled down, Teixeira has matched his career high before the all star break, and could go for 50 if he keeps his mean streak on throughout the season.

They ain't called the Bronx Bombers for nothing!