Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Running magazines are great for recommending one-type-fits-all diets for runners, but they are dead wrong and their O blood type readers who follow their advice will not benefit from their recommendations.
I used to swear by the advice of running magazines, and now I at swear at their diet advice, especially regarding diets for runners.
Editors of popular, nationally known running magazines simply do not understand or acknowledge the correlation between blood types and their food reactions; if they did, they would amend and expand their advice to runners of different blood types about what they should be eating.
I know, I tried and I failed. All I did was gain more weight as I ran more and more miles to lose weight. No wonder I was frustrated and unhappy with my excess weight gain.
I have sworn off all wheat products and simple sugars found in cane or beet sugar (sucrose), and I am dropping weight and feeling much better. Natural complex sugars found in honey and fruits (fructose) are OK.
Because I am a Type O I also learned that Type O stomachs are more acidic than alkaline. Type Os are the only blood type that have the acid to digest and break down lean beef products because of their lower pH factor, the other blood types are alkaline and consequently should not be eating beef.
Just because O blood types have the acidic stomach to break down meat and digest it better than other blood types does not mean you should feast on 16-ounce steaks every night. Eat no more than 6 ounces of beef at any meal.
When I learned that according to Dr. D'Adamo healthy Type Os are meant to reduce stress and relax by doing intense physical exercise, I knew he was on target. I relax by running 6 miles; my wife, who has Type A blood, reduces stress and relaxes by being still and calm, clearing her mind and doing nothing.
Few people realize that it is not the stress itself that bums us out, but our reaction to the stress in our environment that depletes our immune systems and leads to illness.
Unlike our ancestors who faced intermittent acute stresses such as the threat of predators or starvation, we live in a highly pressured, fast-paced world that imposes chronic, prolonged stress. Think of your one-way, one-hour commute in rush hour traffic or the pressures of constantly meeting business deadlines.
Stress-related disorders cause 50% to 80% of all illnesses in modern life, according to D'Adamo.
A regular, intense exercise program helps Os maintain weight control, emotional balance and a strong self-image.
Here is another scary fact: Type Os who do not express their physical natures with appropriate activity in response to stress are eventually overwhelmed during the exhaustion stage of the stress response.
This exhaustion stage is characterized by a variety of psychological manifestations caused by a slower rate of metabolism, such as depression, fatigue or insomnia.
I have gone through periods where I stropped a training program, and while I seldom if ever felt depressed or fatigued, I have not slept nearly as well as when I was younger. It was common for me to wake up 3 or 4 times a night without being able to sleep through as I did in my youth.
For Type Os who are not runners, you should know that to achieve maximum cardiovascular benefits from aerobic exercise, you must elevate your heartbeat to approximately 70% of your maximum heart rate.
One rule of thumb for determining your maximum heart rate is to subtract your age from 220, thus a normal 60 year old would have a maximum heart rate of 160. A runner in good condition could easily have a higher maximum heart rate.
Once that elevated heart rate is achieved during exercise, continue exercising to maintain that rate for 30 minutes. This regimen should be repeated at least three times a week.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 4 of a 5-Part Article.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Running: Gluten in Wheat and Other Grains Bind to the Lining of the Small Intestine and Turn to Fat - Part 3
Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Even creepier is this fact: Gluten, the most common lectin found in wheat and other grains, binds to the lining of the small intestine, causing substantial inflammation and painful irritation in some blood types—especially Type O.
Yikes! This is serious business for all O positive blood types and especially runners because what is binding to the small intestines eventually turns to fat.
Type O blood types thrive on intense physical exercise and animal protein. According to Dr. D'Adamo, the digestive tracts of all Type Os retain the memory of ancient times.
The profile of an O blood type person (know as The Hunter) is a meat eater with a hardy digestive tract who has an overactive immune system, is intolerant to dietary and environmental adaptations, responds best to stress with intense physical exercise, and requires an efficient metabolism to stay lean and energetic. This is a perfect description of me, an O positive blood type.
The high-protein hunter-gatherer diet and the enormous physical demands placed on the systems of early Type Os probably kept most primitive humans in a mild state of ketosis, says D'Adamo, a condition in which the body's metabolism is altered.
Ketosis is the result of a high-protein, high-fat diet that includes very few carbohydrates.
The body metabolizes the proteins and fats into ketones, which are used in place of sugars in an attempt to keep glucose levels steady. The combination of ketosis, calorie deprivation, and constant physical activity make for a lean, mean hunting machine.
The success of the Type O diet depends on the use of lean, chemical-free meats, poultry and fish. Thus, by restricting your consumption of grains, breads, legumes and beans, you will lose weight on the Type O diet.
Your O blood type diet will also restore your natural genetic rhythm, according to Dr. D'Adamo.
I had to learn the hard way that, contrary to what most magazine articles advocate and promote—and this advice is by nutrition experts who apparently know little about the effect of foods on different blood types—the leading factor in weight gain for Type Os is the gluten found in wheat germ and whole wheat products.
I was stunned to learn this scientific fact.
The reason this occurs in O blood types is that the gluten acts on Type O metabolisms to create the exact opposite of ketosis.
Instead of keeping you lean and in a high-energy state, the gluten lectins inhibit your insulin metabolism, interfering with the efficient use of calories for energy.
Dr. D'Adamo says that eating gluten is like putting the wrong kind of octane in your engine. Instead of fueling your engine, it clogs it up.
Ninety-five percent of the lectins we absorb are processed by our body, according to D'Adamo, but at least 5% of the lectins we eat are filtered into our bloodstream, where they react with and destroy red and white blood cells.
Type Os should avoid the most common lectins found in wheat and other grains because they can bind to the lining of the small intestine and turn to fat, causing substantial inflammation and painful irritation in O blood types. These lectins can be beneficial for other blood types but not Os.
Wheat products are a primary culprit in Type O weight gain. The glutens in wheat germ interfere with the Type O metabolic processes. This means all breads, bagels, English muffins, oat bran muffins, wheat bran muffins, sprouted wheat bread and whole wheat bread are all avoids for Type Os.
Other factors can also contribute to O positive blood type weight gain, such as corn (to a lesser degree) and thyroid regulation (Os have low levels of thyroid hormone, which can generate hypothyroidism resulting in weight gain, fluid retention, muscle loss and fatigue).
It is also important to note that food allergies are not digestive problems, but they are immune system reactions to certain foods, according to D'Adamo. Your immune system literally creates an antibody that fights the intrusion of the food into your system.
This research and observation of the effect of digesting certain foods in particular blood types is lost on popular nationally-circulated running magazines.
I have stopped reading these magazines because they always recommend eating carbohydrate rich foods immediately following an intense workout to replace the carbs you have burned. That advice may have been great for other blood types, but it could be the "kiss of death" for O blood types.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 3 of a 5-Part Article.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Even creepier is this fact: Gluten, the most common lectin found in wheat and other grains, binds to the lining of the small intestine, causing substantial inflammation and painful irritation in some blood types—especially Type O.
Yikes! This is serious business for all O positive blood types and especially runners because what is binding to the small intestines eventually turns to fat.
Type O blood types thrive on intense physical exercise and animal protein. According to Dr. D'Adamo, the digestive tracts of all Type Os retain the memory of ancient times.
The profile of an O blood type person (know as The Hunter) is a meat eater with a hardy digestive tract who has an overactive immune system, is intolerant to dietary and environmental adaptations, responds best to stress with intense physical exercise, and requires an efficient metabolism to stay lean and energetic. This is a perfect description of me, an O positive blood type.
The high-protein hunter-gatherer diet and the enormous physical demands placed on the systems of early Type Os probably kept most primitive humans in a mild state of ketosis, says D'Adamo, a condition in which the body's metabolism is altered.
Ketosis is the result of a high-protein, high-fat diet that includes very few carbohydrates.
The body metabolizes the proteins and fats into ketones, which are used in place of sugars in an attempt to keep glucose levels steady. The combination of ketosis, calorie deprivation, and constant physical activity make for a lean, mean hunting machine.
The success of the Type O diet depends on the use of lean, chemical-free meats, poultry and fish. Thus, by restricting your consumption of grains, breads, legumes and beans, you will lose weight on the Type O diet.
Your O blood type diet will also restore your natural genetic rhythm, according to Dr. D'Adamo.
I had to learn the hard way that, contrary to what most magazine articles advocate and promote—and this advice is by nutrition experts who apparently know little about the effect of foods on different blood types—the leading factor in weight gain for Type Os is the gluten found in wheat germ and whole wheat products.
I was stunned to learn this scientific fact.
The reason this occurs in O blood types is that the gluten acts on Type O metabolisms to create the exact opposite of ketosis.
Instead of keeping you lean and in a high-energy state, the gluten lectins inhibit your insulin metabolism, interfering with the efficient use of calories for energy.
Dr. D'Adamo says that eating gluten is like putting the wrong kind of octane in your engine. Instead of fueling your engine, it clogs it up.
Ninety-five percent of the lectins we absorb are processed by our body, according to D'Adamo, but at least 5% of the lectins we eat are filtered into our bloodstream, where they react with and destroy red and white blood cells.
Type Os should avoid the most common lectins found in wheat and other grains because they can bind to the lining of the small intestine and turn to fat, causing substantial inflammation and painful irritation in O blood types. These lectins can be beneficial for other blood types but not Os.
Wheat products are a primary culprit in Type O weight gain. The glutens in wheat germ interfere with the Type O metabolic processes. This means all breads, bagels, English muffins, oat bran muffins, wheat bran muffins, sprouted wheat bread and whole wheat bread are all avoids for Type Os.
Other factors can also contribute to O positive blood type weight gain, such as corn (to a lesser degree) and thyroid regulation (Os have low levels of thyroid hormone, which can generate hypothyroidism resulting in weight gain, fluid retention, muscle loss and fatigue).
It is also important to note that food allergies are not digestive problems, but they are immune system reactions to certain foods, according to D'Adamo. Your immune system literally creates an antibody that fights the intrusion of the food into your system.
This research and observation of the effect of digesting certain foods in particular blood types is lost on popular nationally-circulated running magazines.
I have stopped reading these magazines because they always recommend eating carbohydrate rich foods immediately following an intense workout to replace the carbs you have burned. That advice may have been great for other blood types, but it could be the "kiss of death" for O blood types.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 3 of a 5-Part Article.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Running: How Lectins (Proteins in Foods) Are Very Negative in O Positive Blood Types - Part 2
Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Unlike Dr. Robert Atkins and his low-carb diet plan, Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s clinical findings have not yet been validated and popularized on a national level, and this is why so few people are even aware of the connection between your blood type, your diet and your health.
Dr. Atkins’ research and diet plan were denounced nationally by the mainstream medical research community and physicians alike for years.
Only today do the same critics, some 30 years later, reluctantly admit that Dr. Atkins was right about his diet of eating more protein and fats and less carbohydrates.
Dr. D’Adamo’s findings are critical to understanding why Americans have become some of the most unhealthy and overweight people in the world. An inordinate amount of our children are walking about today as examples of obesity before they are even teenagers.
When you know that there are more O blood types than any other type, you can then better appreciate the extent of our problem.
This article cannot address all of the issues involved, but I will focus specifically on runners who are an O positive blood type and why is it so difficult for them to lose weight.
Despite the numerous diet fads available to us today, D'Adamo says we can no more choose the right diet for ourselves than we can choose our hair color or gender. It was already chosen for us many thousands of years ago.
We have been so busy looking at the characteristics of food that we have failed to examine the characteristics of people, says D'Adamo.
D'Adamo separates foods into 16 distinct groups and then divides them into three categories: highly beneficial (acts like a medicine for the specific blood type), neutral (acts like a food), and avoids (acts like a poison for the specific blood type).
In essence, highly beneficial foods increase your metabolism and avoid foods slow it down.
Because D'Adamo's Blood Type Diet is tailored to the cellular composition of your body, specific foods will cause weight gain or weight loss for you, even though they may have a different effect on a person of another blood type.
Here are the two important weight-loss factors involved:
As your body makes the dramatic shift of eliminating foods that are poorly digested or toxic, the first thing it does is try to flush out the toxins that are already there. Those toxins are deposited mainly in the fat tissue, so the process of eliminating toxins also means eliminating fat, therefore losing weight in the process.
The effect that specific foods have on the bodily systems that control weight.
The effect of lectins on O positive blood types is very negative, for example:
Lectins, which are abundant and diverse proteins found in foods, have agglutinating properties that can affect your blood.
Simply put, when you eat a food containing protein lectins that are incompatible with your blood type antigen, the lectins target an organ or bodily system (kidneys, liver, brain, stomach, intestines, etc.) and begin to agglutinate blood cells in that area.
This is especially true for O positive blood types.
The lectin activity of certain foods on O positive blood types may do the following:
Inflame the digestive tract lining, disrupt the digestive process, slow down the rate of food metabolism, compromise the production of insulin, and upset the hormonal balance.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 2 of a 5-Part Article.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Unlike Dr. Robert Atkins and his low-carb diet plan, Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s clinical findings have not yet been validated and popularized on a national level, and this is why so few people are even aware of the connection between your blood type, your diet and your health.
Dr. Atkins’ research and diet plan were denounced nationally by the mainstream medical research community and physicians alike for years.
Only today do the same critics, some 30 years later, reluctantly admit that Dr. Atkins was right about his diet of eating more protein and fats and less carbohydrates.
Dr. D’Adamo’s findings are critical to understanding why Americans have become some of the most unhealthy and overweight people in the world. An inordinate amount of our children are walking about today as examples of obesity before they are even teenagers.
When you know that there are more O blood types than any other type, you can then better appreciate the extent of our problem.
This article cannot address all of the issues involved, but I will focus specifically on runners who are an O positive blood type and why is it so difficult for them to lose weight.
Despite the numerous diet fads available to us today, D'Adamo says we can no more choose the right diet for ourselves than we can choose our hair color or gender. It was already chosen for us many thousands of years ago.
We have been so busy looking at the characteristics of food that we have failed to examine the characteristics of people, says D'Adamo.
D'Adamo separates foods into 16 distinct groups and then divides them into three categories: highly beneficial (acts like a medicine for the specific blood type), neutral (acts like a food), and avoids (acts like a poison for the specific blood type).
In essence, highly beneficial foods increase your metabolism and avoid foods slow it down.
Because D'Adamo's Blood Type Diet is tailored to the cellular composition of your body, specific foods will cause weight gain or weight loss for you, even though they may have a different effect on a person of another blood type.
Here are the two important weight-loss factors involved:
As your body makes the dramatic shift of eliminating foods that are poorly digested or toxic, the first thing it does is try to flush out the toxins that are already there. Those toxins are deposited mainly in the fat tissue, so the process of eliminating toxins also means eliminating fat, therefore losing weight in the process.
The effect that specific foods have on the bodily systems that control weight.
The effect of lectins on O positive blood types is very negative, for example:
Lectins, which are abundant and diverse proteins found in foods, have agglutinating properties that can affect your blood.
Simply put, when you eat a food containing protein lectins that are incompatible with your blood type antigen, the lectins target an organ or bodily system (kidneys, liver, brain, stomach, intestines, etc.) and begin to agglutinate blood cells in that area.
This is especially true for O positive blood types.
The lectin activity of certain foods on O positive blood types may do the following:
Inflame the digestive tract lining, disrupt the digestive process, slow down the rate of food metabolism, compromise the production of insulin, and upset the hormonal balance.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 2 of a 5-Part Article.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Running: How Wheat Products and Sugar Can Be the "Kiss of Death" When Trying to Lose Weight - Part 1
Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
As a high school, college, master’s and senior competitive runner, I used to often wonder why it was so difficult to lose extra weight as I grew older. Now I know why.
The scientific facts I am about to share with you are only intended for runners who are trying to shed extra pounds, and who are an O blood type. I know a lot about O positive blood types because I am one.
If your blood type is A, B or AB, then what I am sharing here may be the exact opposite for you, and therefore the knowledge I share should not be implemented by you unless you are an O positive or O negative blood type, and you have first consulted with your personal physician.
Believe it or not, your blood type is a more reliable measure of your identity than race, culture, or geography. It is a genetic blueprint for who you are, and a guide to how you can live most healthfully. Your blood type is older than your race and more fundamental than your ethnicity.
A single drop of blood, too small to see with the naked eye, contains the entire genetic code of a human being. The DNA blueprint is intact and replicated within us endlessly, through our blood. I was impressed to learn this fact.
More than 90% of all factors associated with your blood type are related to your primary type—O, A, B, or AB—and not whether you are positive or negative. Most of the distinctions between our blood types are found in our digestive and immune systems.
Like millions of Americans and especially those who pursue competitive running at any age, I have had trouble losing the "inner tube" around my waist.
Gaining excessive weight is a serious health risk, the details of which I do not need to mention here. Most overweight people know that the basic health risks are life threatening.
I am 5-foot-9 and my running weight in high school was 111 pounds and in college it was 118 pounds, the 7-pound weight gain was added muscle, not fat.
My weight a few months ago was 225 pounds with at least 65 pounds of that in my abdominal area, meaning a more reasonable weight for me at 63 years old would probably be 160 pounds.
That is where I am now headed since using science to develop a lifestyle plan that will shed my excess pounds in a prudent and healthy manner.
The reward for me personally is that not only will I become healthier and live longer, but I will become much more competitive as a middle distance runner in master’s and senior competitions at both the local and national level.
Any serious runner knows that you cannot compete effectively if you are carrying an extra 50 pounds. It is like strapping a 50-pound bag of dog food onto your back and trying to run a race.
Runners know what I am talking about. There is a direct correlation between your weight and your cardiovascular efficiency; the less weight the better the cardiovascular efficiency.
When you have been to the top of the mountain (become a record-setting champion) you never forget, you want to remain on top, and no one ever—and I mean ever—can take away your feeling of winning and being a winner in life.
Becoming a winner again in competition offers me a lot more of an incentive to do what it takes to lose weight than just losing weight for health reasons, even though the latter can shorten my life.
Most of the competitions I have been in as a senior runner (50 and older) have found me unable to drop weight quickly and effectively without injuring my physical condition and general health.
That is why I feel so blessed to have read Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo’s book Eat Right for Your Type which chronicles the four basic blood types, and why each thrives on a different diet, stress/exercise profile and personality type.
Dr. D’Adamo’s clinical and laboratory results are facts based on science, not theory or speculation.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 1 of a 5-Part Article.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Sports Blog Archive.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
As a high school, college, master’s and senior competitive runner, I used to often wonder why it was so difficult to lose extra weight as I grew older. Now I know why.
The scientific facts I am about to share with you are only intended for runners who are trying to shed extra pounds, and who are an O blood type. I know a lot about O positive blood types because I am one.
If your blood type is A, B or AB, then what I am sharing here may be the exact opposite for you, and therefore the knowledge I share should not be implemented by you unless you are an O positive or O negative blood type, and you have first consulted with your personal physician.
Believe it or not, your blood type is a more reliable measure of your identity than race, culture, or geography. It is a genetic blueprint for who you are, and a guide to how you can live most healthfully. Your blood type is older than your race and more fundamental than your ethnicity.
A single drop of blood, too small to see with the naked eye, contains the entire genetic code of a human being. The DNA blueprint is intact and replicated within us endlessly, through our blood. I was impressed to learn this fact.
More than 90% of all factors associated with your blood type are related to your primary type—O, A, B, or AB—and not whether you are positive or negative. Most of the distinctions between our blood types are found in our digestive and immune systems.
Like millions of Americans and especially those who pursue competitive running at any age, I have had trouble losing the "inner tube" around my waist.
Gaining excessive weight is a serious health risk, the details of which I do not need to mention here. Most overweight people know that the basic health risks are life threatening.
I am 5-foot-9 and my running weight in high school was 111 pounds and in college it was 118 pounds, the 7-pound weight gain was added muscle, not fat.
My weight a few months ago was 225 pounds with at least 65 pounds of that in my abdominal area, meaning a more reasonable weight for me at 63 years old would probably be 160 pounds.
That is where I am now headed since using science to develop a lifestyle plan that will shed my excess pounds in a prudent and healthy manner.
The reward for me personally is that not only will I become healthier and live longer, but I will become much more competitive as a middle distance runner in master’s and senior competitions at both the local and national level.
Any serious runner knows that you cannot compete effectively if you are carrying an extra 50 pounds. It is like strapping a 50-pound bag of dog food onto your back and trying to run a race.
Runners know what I am talking about. There is a direct correlation between your weight and your cardiovascular efficiency; the less weight the better the cardiovascular efficiency.
When you have been to the top of the mountain (become a record-setting champion) you never forget, you want to remain on top, and no one ever—and I mean ever—can take away your feeling of winning and being a winner in life.
Becoming a winner again in competition offers me a lot more of an incentive to do what it takes to lose weight than just losing weight for health reasons, even though the latter can shorten my life.
Most of the competitions I have been in as a senior runner (50 and older) have found me unable to drop weight quickly and effectively without injuring my physical condition and general health.
That is why I feel so blessed to have read Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo’s book Eat Right for Your Type which chronicles the four basic blood types, and why each thrives on a different diet, stress/exercise profile and personality type.
Dr. D’Adamo’s clinical and laboratory results are facts based on science, not theory or speculation.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 1 of a 5-Part Article.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Sports Blog Archive.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Baseball: Craig Biggio Punches His Ticket to the Hall of Fame with His 3,000th Hit - Part 3
Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Earlier this year Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros became the 27th player in major league history to get 3,000 career hits. Another 84 players have 2,500 career hits.
If it were easy to get 3,000 hits, many players would have done it, however, three factors stand in the way:
1) Injuries. Players like Ken Griffrey Jr. would have many more career homers than his current 590 were it not for his injuries.
After moving to the Cincinnati Reds from the Seattle Mariners, Griffey had four injury-prone seasons during which he hit 22, 8, 13 and 20 homers per season. Take away those 4 years from his 19-year career and Griffey averages 35 dingers a season. Without injuries he would have 665 career homers at this point.
2) Longevity. The majority of players have an 8 to 10-year major league career. Only a rare player could average 200 hits a season, and even at that, he would have to play 15 seasons to get 3,000 hits.
Biggio, who is playing his 20th season, has been with the Houston Astros his entire career. He started as a catcher, became a second baseman and has also played in the outfield.
Biggio is the only player in major league history to be chosen an All-Star both as a catcher and as a second baseman.
3) Consistency. Biggio became known as a reliable, consistent leadoff hitter with speed and unusual power for a second baseman. He has 289 career home runs, and needs only 11 more to join the 300-300 club (300 homers and 300 stolen bases), a feat only 6 players have ever accomplished.
Should he reach the 300-300 milestone he would be the only player in history to do it playing for the same team throughout his career. With his 3,000 hits he would join legendary Willie Mays as only the second player ever with 300 homers, 300 stolen bases and 3,000 hits.
Biggio, a 7-time All-Star, is the only player in history to reach at least 2,700 hits (now 3,000 and counting), 250 homers, 600 doubles, 400 stolen bases and 1,000 runs batted in during his career.
Biggio also holds the National League record for lead-off career home runs with 52, and has the modern-era, career hit-by-pitcher record (285 times). Despite getting hit by so many pitches, Biggio has never charged the mound or been injured by a pitch.
Reaching 3,000 hits is a huge accomplishment. Every eligible player who has reached the 3,000 hit club after 1962 has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Nineteen sixty-two was the first year players were inducted on the first ballot.
Craig Biggio plans to retire after this season.
Only two players in major league history have 4,000+ career hits. Pete Rose holds the record with 4,256 and the legendary Ty Cobb has 4,191.
Besides Pete Rose, players who have 3,000 career hits since 1958 include Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Carl Yastrzemski, Paul Molitor, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Jr., George Brett, Robin Yount, Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Rod Carew, Lou Brock, Rafael Palmerio, Wade Boggs, Al Kaline, Roberto Clemente and Craig Biggio.
In addition to Ty Cobb, the old-timers include Tris Speaker, Cap Anson, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie and Paul Warner.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 3 of a 3-Part Series.)
Note: Read my sports articles "On Cars, Baseball and the Halcyon Days of Summer" and 4 stories on the 2007 NCAA Basketball Tournament detailing Florida's National Championship. Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Earlier this year Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros became the 27th player in major league history to get 3,000 career hits. Another 84 players have 2,500 career hits.
If it were easy to get 3,000 hits, many players would have done it, however, three factors stand in the way:
1) Injuries. Players like Ken Griffrey Jr. would have many more career homers than his current 590 were it not for his injuries.
After moving to the Cincinnati Reds from the Seattle Mariners, Griffey had four injury-prone seasons during which he hit 22, 8, 13 and 20 homers per season. Take away those 4 years from his 19-year career and Griffey averages 35 dingers a season. Without injuries he would have 665 career homers at this point.
2) Longevity. The majority of players have an 8 to 10-year major league career. Only a rare player could average 200 hits a season, and even at that, he would have to play 15 seasons to get 3,000 hits.
Biggio, who is playing his 20th season, has been with the Houston Astros his entire career. He started as a catcher, became a second baseman and has also played in the outfield.
Biggio is the only player in major league history to be chosen an All-Star both as a catcher and as a second baseman.
3) Consistency. Biggio became known as a reliable, consistent leadoff hitter with speed and unusual power for a second baseman. He has 289 career home runs, and needs only 11 more to join the 300-300 club (300 homers and 300 stolen bases), a feat only 6 players have ever accomplished.
Should he reach the 300-300 milestone he would be the only player in history to do it playing for the same team throughout his career. With his 3,000 hits he would join legendary Willie Mays as only the second player ever with 300 homers, 300 stolen bases and 3,000 hits.
Biggio, a 7-time All-Star, is the only player in history to reach at least 2,700 hits (now 3,000 and counting), 250 homers, 600 doubles, 400 stolen bases and 1,000 runs batted in during his career.
Biggio also holds the National League record for lead-off career home runs with 52, and has the modern-era, career hit-by-pitcher record (285 times). Despite getting hit by so many pitches, Biggio has never charged the mound or been injured by a pitch.
Reaching 3,000 hits is a huge accomplishment. Every eligible player who has reached the 3,000 hit club after 1962 has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Nineteen sixty-two was the first year players were inducted on the first ballot.
Craig Biggio plans to retire after this season.
Only two players in major league history have 4,000+ career hits. Pete Rose holds the record with 4,256 and the legendary Ty Cobb has 4,191.
Besides Pete Rose, players who have 3,000 career hits since 1958 include Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Carl Yastrzemski, Paul Molitor, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Jr., George Brett, Robin Yount, Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Rod Carew, Lou Brock, Rafael Palmerio, Wade Boggs, Al Kaline, Roberto Clemente and Craig Biggio.
In addition to Ty Cobb, the old-timers include Tris Speaker, Cap Anson, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie and Paul Warner.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 3 of a 3-Part Series.)
Note: Read my sports articles "On Cars, Baseball and the Halcyon Days of Summer" and 4 stories on the 2007 NCAA Basketball Tournament detailing Florida's National Championship. Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Baseball: Barry Bonds Is a Whole Lot More Than Just a Home Run Hitter and Record Setter - Part 2
Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
A day prior to Tom Glavine's historic 300th career victory, Barry Bonds hit his 755th homer to tie Hank Aaron's career mark, and Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player in major league history to hit his 500th homer.
Bonds' record-tying Jimmy Jack (homer) was a 382-foot opposite field smash off San Diego Padre pitcher Clay Hensley in an away game.
When Bonds tied Hank Aaron with 755 homers, he had played in 343 less games than Aaron and had 2,596 less at bats.
Bonds would break Aaron's record on August 7, 2007 with a 435-foot home run into the right-center field bleachers off Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals. His homer came on a 3-2 count.
At the time he achieved his record, Bonds had hit homers off of 447 different pitchers.
In addition to the new home run record, Bonds also holds the major league career records for walks with 2,540 and intentional walks with 679.
He holds the all-time single season major league records for most home runs (73), on base percentage (.609), slugging percentage (.863), and walks (232).
Barry Bonds is a whole lot more than just a home run hitter and record-setter.
He has been a record 7-time National League Most Valuable Player (next closest player has 3 MVP Awards), 3-time Major League Player of the Year, 14-time All-Star, 8-time Golden Glove winner and 2-time National League batting champion.
In addition to power hitting and excellent fielding Bonds also has something else going for him—speed.
Bonds is the only member of the 500-500 club, meaning he has hit at least 500 home runs (758 and counting) and stolen 500 bases (514 and counting). He is also only 1 of 4 players all-time to be in the 40-40 club, meaning he has hit 40 home runs (42) and he has stolen 40 bases (40) in the same season.
Many baseball fans and pundits feel that Bonds' record is tainted because of possible steroid use, but the vast majority of San Francisco Giant fans love Barry Bonds.
Steroid use or not, he still had to hit the ball, field the ball and run the bases. Make no mistake about it, Barry Bonds is one incredible player; some would argue that he is the best baseball player ever.
At the top of this article I said that Glavine's accomplishment was better than Bonds' home run record. I said this because Alex Rodriguez at age 32 already has 500 home runs and, unless he has extraordinary injury problems like Ken Griffey Jr., will likely break Bonds' record.
Despite his injuries in recent years, Ken Griffey Jr. has hit 590 home runs and counting. Griffey is 37 but a strong finish to his career (now that he is healthy again) could mean that he could break the all-time home run record before A-Rod.
The projections say A-Rod could top 800 home runs before he retires. Frank Thomas (known as "The Big Hurt") smacked his 500th homer earlier this season and at 39 is much older than A-Rod.
A-Rod hit his 500th homer 8 days after his 32 birthday, surpassing Jimmy Foxx (32 years and 338 days) as the youngest player in history and 22nd player in history to reach 500.
After A-Rod jacked out No. 500, New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre said, "His prime years are ahead of him . . . this is a stop-off for him . . . not a destination."
A-Rod may not be the last word in baseball, but he will be heard. Consider this:
Since 1996 (his first full season) through 2006 (11 seasons) Alex Rodriguez leads the major leagues in home runs, runs scored, runs batted in, total bases and extra base hits.
Of all players in baseball history at age 30, he is 1st all-time in both home runs and runs scored, 2nd in total bases and extra base hits, 3rd in runs batted in, and 4th in hits. The former Seattle Mariner is on fire and smoking hot. And check this out:
In his first 11 years, A-Rod has more homers, ribbies, runs and base hits than all-time leaders Barry Bonds (homers), Hank Aaron (ribbies), Rickey Henderson (runs scored) and Pete Rose (hits) did prior to their 30th birthdays.
A-Rod is also known for signing the richest contract in sports history, a 10-year, $252 million deal.
It is true that soccer wonder David Beckham recently signed a 5-year, $250 million deal with the L.A. Galaxy team; however, only $27.5 million of Beckham's deal is salary, the rest comes from endorsements.
And Beckham cannot even win on the endorsement front as once-in-a-lifetime golfer Tiger Woods earns $112 million annually on endorsements alone.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 2 of a 3-Part Series.)
Note: Read my sports articles "On Cars, Baseball and the Halcyon Days of Summer" and 4 stories on the 2007 NCAA Basketball Tournament detailing Florida's National Championship. Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
A day prior to Tom Glavine's historic 300th career victory, Barry Bonds hit his 755th homer to tie Hank Aaron's career mark, and Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player in major league history to hit his 500th homer.
Bonds' record-tying Jimmy Jack (homer) was a 382-foot opposite field smash off San Diego Padre pitcher Clay Hensley in an away game.
When Bonds tied Hank Aaron with 755 homers, he had played in 343 less games than Aaron and had 2,596 less at bats.
Bonds would break Aaron's record on August 7, 2007 with a 435-foot home run into the right-center field bleachers off Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals. His homer came on a 3-2 count.
At the time he achieved his record, Bonds had hit homers off of 447 different pitchers.
In addition to the new home run record, Bonds also holds the major league career records for walks with 2,540 and intentional walks with 679.
He holds the all-time single season major league records for most home runs (73), on base percentage (.609), slugging percentage (.863), and walks (232).
Barry Bonds is a whole lot more than just a home run hitter and record-setter.
He has been a record 7-time National League Most Valuable Player (next closest player has 3 MVP Awards), 3-time Major League Player of the Year, 14-time All-Star, 8-time Golden Glove winner and 2-time National League batting champion.
In addition to power hitting and excellent fielding Bonds also has something else going for him—speed.
Bonds is the only member of the 500-500 club, meaning he has hit at least 500 home runs (758 and counting) and stolen 500 bases (514 and counting). He is also only 1 of 4 players all-time to be in the 40-40 club, meaning he has hit 40 home runs (42) and he has stolen 40 bases (40) in the same season.
Many baseball fans and pundits feel that Bonds' record is tainted because of possible steroid use, but the vast majority of San Francisco Giant fans love Barry Bonds.
Steroid use or not, he still had to hit the ball, field the ball and run the bases. Make no mistake about it, Barry Bonds is one incredible player; some would argue that he is the best baseball player ever.
At the top of this article I said that Glavine's accomplishment was better than Bonds' home run record. I said this because Alex Rodriguez at age 32 already has 500 home runs and, unless he has extraordinary injury problems like Ken Griffey Jr., will likely break Bonds' record.
Despite his injuries in recent years, Ken Griffey Jr. has hit 590 home runs and counting. Griffey is 37 but a strong finish to his career (now that he is healthy again) could mean that he could break the all-time home run record before A-Rod.
The projections say A-Rod could top 800 home runs before he retires. Frank Thomas (known as "The Big Hurt") smacked his 500th homer earlier this season and at 39 is much older than A-Rod.
A-Rod hit his 500th homer 8 days after his 32 birthday, surpassing Jimmy Foxx (32 years and 338 days) as the youngest player in history and 22nd player in history to reach 500.
After A-Rod jacked out No. 500, New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre said, "His prime years are ahead of him . . . this is a stop-off for him . . . not a destination."
A-Rod may not be the last word in baseball, but he will be heard. Consider this:
Since 1996 (his first full season) through 2006 (11 seasons) Alex Rodriguez leads the major leagues in home runs, runs scored, runs batted in, total bases and extra base hits.
Of all players in baseball history at age 30, he is 1st all-time in both home runs and runs scored, 2nd in total bases and extra base hits, 3rd in runs batted in, and 4th in hits. The former Seattle Mariner is on fire and smoking hot. And check this out:
In his first 11 years, A-Rod has more homers, ribbies, runs and base hits than all-time leaders Barry Bonds (homers), Hank Aaron (ribbies), Rickey Henderson (runs scored) and Pete Rose (hits) did prior to their 30th birthdays.
A-Rod is also known for signing the richest contract in sports history, a 10-year, $252 million deal.
It is true that soccer wonder David Beckham recently signed a 5-year, $250 million deal with the L.A. Galaxy team; however, only $27.5 million of Beckham's deal is salary, the rest comes from endorsements.
And Beckham cannot even win on the endorsement front as once-in-a-lifetime golfer Tiger Woods earns $112 million annually on endorsements alone.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 2 of a 3-Part Series.)
Note: Read my sports articles "On Cars, Baseball and the Halcyon Days of Summer" and 4 stories on the 2007 NCAA Basketball Tournament detailing Florida's National Championship. Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Baseball: Tom Glavine, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Craig Biggio All Reach Milestones - Part 1
Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
It has been a year of milestones for Major League Baseball.
From Tom Glavine to Barry Bonds to Alex Rodriguez to Craig Biggio the records have been piling up like poker chips in a major tournament.
Tom Glavine of the New York Mets has arguably the most prestigious record so far, notching his 300th career win on August 5, 2007 with an 8-3 victory over Lou Piniella's Chicago Cubs in an away game at Wrigley Field.
The historic win was Glavine's 10th this year against 6 losses.
Glavine won 242 of his victories pitching 16 seasons for the Atlanta Braves, and he has won the last 58 after coming to the New York Mets as a free agent in 2003. He is in his 21st season and is one of baseball's winningest pitchers in the National League.
Glavine is a five-time 20-game winner and a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and is one of only 23 pitchers in major league history to earn 300 career wins.
He is also only the 5th left hander among the 23 300-game winners. He joins a select group that includes Warren Spahn (363 wins), Steve Carlton (329), Eddie Plank (326) and Lefty Grove (300).
Glavine is a lock to become a Hall of Fame Player when he retires. He has also been long known as an excellent fielding and hitting pitcher. The 41-year-old left hander will pass Lefty Grove and Early Winn on the all-time list as they both had exactly 300 wins when they retired.
Besides Tom Glavine and Early Winn, pitchers who have 300 career wins since 1958 include Warren Spahn, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry and Tom Seaver.
In addition to Lefty Grove, the old-timers include Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Grover Alexander, Christy Mathewson, Pud Galvin, Kid Nichols, Tim Keefe, John Clarkson, Eddie Plank, Charles Radbourn and Mickey Welch.
No one will ever break Cy Young's record 511 career wins. Walter Johnson had 417, and every other pitcher has between 300 to 373.
More old-timers than modern day pitchers appear on the list because in the early days baseball teams used a two-man pitching rotation, giving old-timers many more starts and many more chances to notch 300 victories.
Modern day teams use a 4 or 5-man pitching rotation, and the arrival of specialists including set-up men (for the 7th and 8th innings) and closers (for the 9th inning) have meant that today's pitchers log far fewer innings.
Speculation now abounds about whether any other player (right-hander or left-hander) will be able to achieve 300 career victories.
The smart money is on 44-year-old Randy Johnson who has 284 victories and a back problem that will not go away. No one else is even remotely close.
Following Johnson in career wins is Mike Mussina (247), David Wells (235), Jamie Moyer (227) and Curt Schilling (213). Logging 300 career wins is a sure ticket to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
One reason Glavine notched 300 wins is longevity (21 seasons and still pitching), and another is that he amazingly has never been hurt and on the disabled list.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Series.)
Note: Read my sports articles "On Cars, Baseball and the Halcyon Days of Summer" and 4 stories on the 2007 NCAA Basketball Tournament detailing Florida's National Championship. Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
It has been a year of milestones for Major League Baseball.
From Tom Glavine to Barry Bonds to Alex Rodriguez to Craig Biggio the records have been piling up like poker chips in a major tournament.
Tom Glavine of the New York Mets has arguably the most prestigious record so far, notching his 300th career win on August 5, 2007 with an 8-3 victory over Lou Piniella's Chicago Cubs in an away game at Wrigley Field.
The historic win was Glavine's 10th this year against 6 losses.
Glavine won 242 of his victories pitching 16 seasons for the Atlanta Braves, and he has won the last 58 after coming to the New York Mets as a free agent in 2003. He is in his 21st season and is one of baseball's winningest pitchers in the National League.
Glavine is a five-time 20-game winner and a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and is one of only 23 pitchers in major league history to earn 300 career wins.
He is also only the 5th left hander among the 23 300-game winners. He joins a select group that includes Warren Spahn (363 wins), Steve Carlton (329), Eddie Plank (326) and Lefty Grove (300).
Glavine is a lock to become a Hall of Fame Player when he retires. He has also been long known as an excellent fielding and hitting pitcher. The 41-year-old left hander will pass Lefty Grove and Early Winn on the all-time list as they both had exactly 300 wins when they retired.
Besides Tom Glavine and Early Winn, pitchers who have 300 career wins since 1958 include Warren Spahn, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry and Tom Seaver.
In addition to Lefty Grove, the old-timers include Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Grover Alexander, Christy Mathewson, Pud Galvin, Kid Nichols, Tim Keefe, John Clarkson, Eddie Plank, Charles Radbourn and Mickey Welch.
No one will ever break Cy Young's record 511 career wins. Walter Johnson had 417, and every other pitcher has between 300 to 373.
More old-timers than modern day pitchers appear on the list because in the early days baseball teams used a two-man pitching rotation, giving old-timers many more starts and many more chances to notch 300 victories.
Modern day teams use a 4 or 5-man pitching rotation, and the arrival of specialists including set-up men (for the 7th and 8th innings) and closers (for the 9th inning) have meant that today's pitchers log far fewer innings.
Speculation now abounds about whether any other player (right-hander or left-hander) will be able to achieve 300 career victories.
The smart money is on 44-year-old Randy Johnson who has 284 victories and a back problem that will not go away. No one else is even remotely close.
Following Johnson in career wins is Mike Mussina (247), David Wells (235), Jamie Moyer (227) and Curt Schilling (213). Logging 300 career wins is a sure ticket to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
One reason Glavine notched 300 wins is longevity (21 seasons and still pitching), and another is that he amazingly has never been hurt and on the disabled list.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Series.)
Note: Read my sports articles "On Cars, Baseball and the Halcyon Days of Summer" and 4 stories on the 2007 NCAA Basketball Tournament detailing Florida's National Championship. Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Mead Mania: 2 Mead Runners Crack 9 Minutes at the State 3200 Meter Championship - Part 4
Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Another example of Mead High School's dominance came the following year in the 1994 state trackchampionship meet, when it won the title with 73 points to runner-up Clover Park's 36.
Four outstanding runners from the 1993 team returned to accomplish these results: In the 1600 meter Greg James won in 4:10.06, Rob Aubrey was runner-up in 4:11.19 and Micah Davis was 4th in 4:14.81. In the 3200 meter, Aubrey won in 9:07.85, Davis was runner-up in 9:07.90 and Skiy De Tray was 3rd in 9:11.56.
In the 1995 state track meet something even more incredible happened: two Mead runners broke 9 minutes in the 3200. Micah Davis won the event in 8:58.34 and Skiy DeTray was runner-up in 8:58.35. This was the greatest high school middle distance race I have ever witnessed.
In the 1600 meter title race that year, Skiy DeTray won in 4:08.51 and Micah Davis was runner-up in 4:09.15. Another awesome effort.
Do you get the idea that Mead's great runners pushed each other in practice to become even greater? If you think so, then you get it. Success breeds success. Excellence breeds excellence.
In Mead's Golden Era of high school middle distance running, a legacy was created that may never be equaled or surpassed.
As a high school, college, master's and senior competitor myself, I have come to appreciate and respect great champions wherever I find them.
Trust me when I say that Pat Tyson's Mead running program and Matt Davis, Micah Davis, Rob Aubrey, Skiy DeTray and Greg James are champions of the first order. I would put them up against anyone in their day at the high school level.
All of this greatness may or may not continue in future years as Pay Tyson has since been hired by the University of Kentucky as its Assistant Coach in charge of cross-country in the fall and the distance runners for track in the spring.
Pat Tyson has proven he is a great coach at the high school level with 14 state championships for two different schools.
I have a feeling that the University of Kentucky's running fortunes may be on the rise. Too bad they do not sell stock, I think I would buy some.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 4 of a 4-Part Series on Mead High School's running success.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Another example of Mead High School's dominance came the following year in the 1994 state trackchampionship meet, when it won the title with 73 points to runner-up Clover Park's 36.
Four outstanding runners from the 1993 team returned to accomplish these results: In the 1600 meter Greg James won in 4:10.06, Rob Aubrey was runner-up in 4:11.19 and Micah Davis was 4th in 4:14.81. In the 3200 meter, Aubrey won in 9:07.85, Davis was runner-up in 9:07.90 and Skiy De Tray was 3rd in 9:11.56.
In the 1995 state track meet something even more incredible happened: two Mead runners broke 9 minutes in the 3200. Micah Davis won the event in 8:58.34 and Skiy DeTray was runner-up in 8:58.35. This was the greatest high school middle distance race I have ever witnessed.
In the 1600 meter title race that year, Skiy DeTray won in 4:08.51 and Micah Davis was runner-up in 4:09.15. Another awesome effort.
Do you get the idea that Mead's great runners pushed each other in practice to become even greater? If you think so, then you get it. Success breeds success. Excellence breeds excellence.
In Mead's Golden Era of high school middle distance running, a legacy was created that may never be equaled or surpassed.
As a high school, college, master's and senior competitor myself, I have come to appreciate and respect great champions wherever I find them.
Trust me when I say that Pat Tyson's Mead running program and Matt Davis, Micah Davis, Rob Aubrey, Skiy DeTray and Greg James are champions of the first order. I would put them up against anyone in their day at the high school level.
All of this greatness may or may not continue in future years as Pay Tyson has since been hired by the University of Kentucky as its Assistant Coach in charge of cross-country in the fall and the distance runners for track in the spring.
Pat Tyson has proven he is a great coach at the high school level with 14 state championships for two different schools.
I have a feeling that the University of Kentucky's running fortunes may be on the rise. Too bad they do not sell stock, I think I would buy some.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 4 of a 4-Part Series on Mead High School's running success.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Mead Mania: How About a State X-Country Title Where the First 3 Finishers Are Your Runners - Part 3
Ed's Sports Corner:
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Key to Pat Tyson's practice routine as well as Steve Prefontaine's and the University of Oregon's was to train twice a day, a steady run the morning and a specific training workout in the afternoon.
The spillover effect of Tyson's personality, accessibility and passion for running positively influenced Mead runners and brought students into the program that may otherwise have never been involved in athletics.
Students who also might have played other sports only to ride the bench came into Tyson's program because they could compete rather than watch their teammates win.
Tyson's philosophy and system became infectious in the Greater Spokane League. A league that had done well spawned other teams that won state titles when Mead did not.
To show how dominate Mead was, I want to share with you what I saw at the 1993 state cross-country meet in Pasco (WA). It was the year that Mead won its 6th straight title under Pat Tyson's reign.
The distance was 5000 meters (3.1 miles) and the only question in my mind was would Matt Davis (Mead's top runner) break 14 minutes to win the title. He would not, winning in 14:09.3 (a 4:34 mile pace), but he set a course record in the process and won his third consecutive state cross-country title.
Standing near the finish line I saw the Mead Panthers with their blue and gold jerseys make a statement like nothing I had ever seen in state competition.
First across the line was Matt Davis, followed by his brother Micah Davis in 14:46, followed by Rob Aubrey in third at 14:48, then Greg James finished 8th in 15:13.9 and Skiy De Tray finished 28th in 15:43.
Mead runners in blue and gold streamed past in a 1-2-3-8-28 finish and won with 31 points. Mead's slowest scoring runner was 15:43! Kennewick finished as runner-up with 102 points.
In actual numbers, Mead scored 42 points but was awarded 31 in the final results as runners whose teams did not qualify ran together with runners whose teams did qualify, so those runners finishing ahead of qualifying team runners were taken out for scoring purposes.
I have no idea to this day what the actual finish was, but it had to have been 11 points less than the 1-2-3-8-28 finish Mead recorded.
Matt Davis was one of the best middle distance runners ever produced in Washington State. For the record, Davis won the state cross-country title as a sophomore in 14:48.7, as a junior in 14:39.5 and as a senior in 14:09.3.
In the state track championships as a senior, Matt Davis would successfully defend his state 3200 meter title in 9:04.37, a day after defending his state 1600 meter title in 4:10.77, giving him 4 state titles in track.
For the record, Matt Davis as a junior won the 3200 in 9:12.57 and the 1600 in 4:15.42.
In the 1993 state track meet, I clocked the splits for Matt Davis in the 3200. His 400-meter lap times were 64, 68, 70, 70, 71, 69, 67 and 65. His 800 splits were 2:12, 2:20, 2:20 and 2:12.
I could visibly see him picking up the pace after the 71 split. He punished his competitors with a strong, controlled 69, 67, 65 finish.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 3 of a 4-Part Series on Mead High School's running success.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
Key to Pat Tyson's practice routine as well as Steve Prefontaine's and the University of Oregon's was to train twice a day, a steady run the morning and a specific training workout in the afternoon.
The spillover effect of Tyson's personality, accessibility and passion for running positively influenced Mead runners and brought students into the program that may otherwise have never been involved in athletics.
Students who also might have played other sports only to ride the bench came into Tyson's program because they could compete rather than watch their teammates win.
Tyson's philosophy and system became infectious in the Greater Spokane League. A league that had done well spawned other teams that won state titles when Mead did not.
To show how dominate Mead was, I want to share with you what I saw at the 1993 state cross-country meet in Pasco (WA). It was the year that Mead won its 6th straight title under Pat Tyson's reign.
The distance was 5000 meters (3.1 miles) and the only question in my mind was would Matt Davis (Mead's top runner) break 14 minutes to win the title. He would not, winning in 14:09.3 (a 4:34 mile pace), but he set a course record in the process and won his third consecutive state cross-country title.
Standing near the finish line I saw the Mead Panthers with their blue and gold jerseys make a statement like nothing I had ever seen in state competition.
First across the line was Matt Davis, followed by his brother Micah Davis in 14:46, followed by Rob Aubrey in third at 14:48, then Greg James finished 8th in 15:13.9 and Skiy De Tray finished 28th in 15:43.
Mead runners in blue and gold streamed past in a 1-2-3-8-28 finish and won with 31 points. Mead's slowest scoring runner was 15:43! Kennewick finished as runner-up with 102 points.
In actual numbers, Mead scored 42 points but was awarded 31 in the final results as runners whose teams did not qualify ran together with runners whose teams did qualify, so those runners finishing ahead of qualifying team runners were taken out for scoring purposes.
I have no idea to this day what the actual finish was, but it had to have been 11 points less than the 1-2-3-8-28 finish Mead recorded.
Matt Davis was one of the best middle distance runners ever produced in Washington State. For the record, Davis won the state cross-country title as a sophomore in 14:48.7, as a junior in 14:39.5 and as a senior in 14:09.3.
In the state track championships as a senior, Matt Davis would successfully defend his state 3200 meter title in 9:04.37, a day after defending his state 1600 meter title in 4:10.77, giving him 4 state titles in track.
For the record, Matt Davis as a junior won the 3200 in 9:12.57 and the 1600 in 4:15.42.
In the 1993 state track meet, I clocked the splits for Matt Davis in the 3200. His 400-meter lap times were 64, 68, 70, 70, 71, 69, 67 and 65. His 800 splits were 2:12, 2:20, 2:20 and 2:12.
I could visibly see him picking up the pace after the 71 split. He punished his competitors with a strong, controlled 69, 67, 65 finish.
(Editor's Note: This is Part 3 of a 4-Part Series on Mead High School's running success.)
Note: Read my sports articles on "What Makes a Person Want to Run, and Why Few Will Ever Know the Joy of Running", "A St. Patrick's Day Toast to Irish Runners Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan" and "Millrose Games Celebrates 100th Birthday as Track's Most Prestigious Indoor Event". Find these reviews in my Blog Archive.
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