Sporting Up Blog

Being a part of team is a special thing.  While most of us cannot relate to being a part of Division I collegiate basketball team, we can relate to being a part of something greater than ourselves.  From the outside looking in, it seems to me that teams in college are hard to figure out.  The most talented players do not always make up the best team.  Coaches who get the most out of individual players do not always have the best team.  Sure, these are important factors to having a great team, but there’s more to it. The best...

Much has been written about the missing Tom Brady jersey, but most all stories thus far have been lacking in one thing – accountability.  It has now come out that this apparently wasn’t the first time the star QB’s jersey went missing after a dramatic Super Bowl victory. I was aghast to learn that this apparently happened two years ago in Super Bowl XLIX after the game.    Brett Favre has come forward as victim of jersey theft after Green Bay won Super Bowl XXXI in 1997 against…drumroll… the New England Patriots.  Not to say that there’s a connection here,...

                As a company situated in the heartland, we are familiar with America Needs Farmers (ANF) branded products. Although most fans have seen the logo and recognize the acronym, there are still many who don’t know the meaning behind the words.                 By way a brief history, the idea for America Needs Farmers originated with the Iowa Hawkeyes coach, Hayden Fry.  By the mid 1980’s the farmers were really hurting – even more so than the average American worker.  Coach Fry wanted to do something to help and bring recognition to their plight.  As many of the players and Hawkeye...

Well, the Golden State Warriors overcame the odds to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals after trailing 3-1 in the series. The impressive display of perseverance means the Warriors have a chance to win the title for a second consecutive season. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who held off Toronto in the Eastern Conference finals, will try to avenge last season’s loss to Golden State. Following a 73-win regular season and a historic comeback, the Warriors now have the opportunity to be considered the best team ever. Meanwhile, the Ohio-born James will try to deliver...

For those who think the NBA is rigged, it’s difficult to believe that even the most creative writers would get this far off script. It was supposed to be the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs butting heads in the Western Conference finals. Many expected that matchup to decide the NBA championship. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder screwed up the plot by eliminating the Spurs in the second round and throwing Tim Duncan an earlier than expected retirement party. Now, it looks like the Thunder are about to throw NBA fans another plot twist. Oklahoma City takes a...