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In Philadelphia, era of Vick has begun

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By Eric Brod

Senior Writer

If you have been following the NFL for the first two weeks of the 2010 season and blinked, you may have missed the Kevin Kolb era in Philadelphia. After Kolb suffered a concussion late in the second half in the Eagles’ season opener against the Packers, Michael Vick has led the team to 52 points in six quarters and replaced Kolb as the team’s starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. After Sunday’s 35-32 win, head coach Andy Reid announced Kolb would be his starting quarterback. Reid then reversed his decision early Tuesday night, starting a whirlwind of controversy in Philadelphia. Displaying the rocket arm and elusiveness that made him a three-time Pro Bowler with the Atlanta Falcons, Vick has the full support of his teammates and fans.

Vick’s numbers (three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 105.5 quarterback rating) do not nearly tell the whole story of his comeback to the role of starting quarterback in the NFL. After he completed an 18-month sentence in federal prison for operating a dog-fighting ring, Vick signed a two-year deal with the Eagles in late August. The move was met with much criticism from the fan base, and tempers were not put to rest when Vick’s performance was at best mediocre and after a fight broke out at his 30th birthday party this summer.

Vick dedicated himself to becoming an advocate against animal cruelty, rededicated himself to getting into prime playing shape and became a leader on a team with an average age of just over 25. For Vick, this is a chance at redemption, a chance to redeem himself after several severe lapses in judgment that tarnished his public image and cost him millions of dollars in endorsements. Although he will never escape the stigma of past crimes committed, he can reestablish himself as the most dynamic and electrifying quarterback in the league.

Reid’s decision to start Vick could be the riskiest of his career in Philadelphia. After signing Vick in August 2009, most saw him as a one-year project to serve on offense, but otherwise considered him backup behind Donovan McNabb and Kolb. When Reid traded McNabb to Washington, it appeared Vick would still serve as a backup and appear in Wildcat formations. Just one year later, Vick is the starting quarterback for a team suddenly in competitive mode, rather than the expected rebuilding mode. The decision will be a turning point for both Reid and Vick, for better or worse.

Fifth Down: LLWS

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By Greg Stevenson

Senior Writer

It’s where dreams of playing baseball on the grandest stage on television in front of the entire world begin. It’s where boys that haven’t even reached their teenage years come to play the national pastime. It’s where fans can enjoy the ideals that baseball is supposed to promote—like fair play and sportsmanship—but fail to get watching the pros. It’s why people congregate by the thousands to central Pennsylvania every August. It’s the Little League World Series.

Every year, right about the time University students return to school and start classes, 11- and 12-year-olds from eight regions in the United States and eight regions around the world travel to Williamsport, Pa. for the most notable championship in all of youth sports. Even ESPN and ABC bring camera crews to televise each of the games.

Teams this year came from the far reaches of the United States and the globe. The United States was represented by one team from each region—Fairfield, Conn. (New England); Toms River, N.J. (Mid-Atlantic); Columbus, Ga. (Southeast); Plymouth, Minn. (Midwest); Auburn, Wash. (Northwest); Waipahu, Hawaii (West); and Pearland, Texas (Southwest); Hamilton, Ohio (Great Lakes).

In the international bracket, the eight regions were represented by teams from Vancouver, Canada; Tokyo, Japan; Manati, Puerto Rico (Caribbean); Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific); Chitre, Panama (Latin America); Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (MEA); Nuevo Laredo, Mexico (Mexico); and Ramstein AB, Germany (Europe).

This World Series was the first to be played with a double-elimination format. In the past, the championship rounds were determined based on teams’ records in pool play, but the 2010 tournament was changed to more of a knockout-style.

The teams from Japan and Chinese Taipei emerged victorious in the opening rounds of the international bracket to set up what became an epic battle for the international championship last Saturday. Trailing 2-1 for most of the contest, the Japanese knocked home the tying run with one out in the bottom of the sixth and final inning of regulation. Japan capped off the come-from-behind win with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, earning a spot in the World Championship game.

Later on that day, for the U.S. Championship, Hawaii turned in an all-around offensive performance en route to a 10-0 victory that ended in the fifth inning due to the Little League’s 10-run mercy rule. This was Waipahu’s second World Championship appearance in three years, after their 12-3 victory over Mexico in the championship game in 2008.

This year’s championship was not as favorable for Waipahu. The Japanese scored first and did not let the lead go, winning 4-1. It was the seventh time a team from Japan won the Little League World Series, and the fourth time since 2001.

But, just like it has been since it began in 1947, there were no losers this past weekend. The experience of reaching and playing in Williamsport puts the sixteen teams in an elite fraternity of athletes. And for the families of the players and fans, there is nothing better than watching our national pastime in its purest form.

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