BLOG: THE FRESH LIFE

• May 29, 2017 Bryce Harper Charges Mound and Throws Haymakers (and his helmet).

  You can't teach this reactive competitive savagery, nor can you tame it. Athletes like Bryce Harper, Serena Williams, Sidney Crosby to name a few, are wired from birth to focus on winning at all costs and take no prisoners.  If they make some friends on their journey to winning the universe, great, but that's not what they're here for.

  Its not all fun and games with these athletes, and if you poke the bear, someone will get hurt.

  Tip of the cap to both of these guys. Savages!

  

• September 26, 2016 Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.

  In life, there exist all kinds of family.  Richard Bach wrote:

  “the bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”

  

  This passed Sunday, the sports world woke to the news of the heartbreaking passing of phenom Jose Fernandez in a tragic boating accident. JoFer was a special talent and an even better man who had his entire life and baseball career ahead of him. Jose Fernandez leaves behind a grieving mother, girlfriend, forthcoming child, and devastated group of Marlins’ teammates.  He was admired throughout the league for not only his talent; but moreover, his larger-than-life personality.

  After cancelling Sunday’s ballgame, the Marlins took the field Monday for the first time since the passing of their beloved friend and brother.  In tonight's game, Jose’s dear friend (left-hand hitting) Dee Gordon paid tribute to Jose by wearing his old helmet and taking the first pitch from the right side of the plate.

  Then, sports happened.

  Dee hit a leadoff bomb (his first of the season) to right field. He was overcome with emotion as he ran the bases in honor of his late friend, teammate, and brother.  As he touched home plate and made his way to the dugout, his entire team embraced him in overwhelming support.

  Gone, but never forgotten, Fernandez’s joy, youthful exuberance, and fiery competitiveness with live on in the hearts of his teammates and sports fan’s alike.

  

  ... Family.

  RIP, Jose.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• July 16, 2016 The Day the Sports Went Out.

  Once again, the Darkness fell upon us. No, I am not talking about your best friend bailing on post-work beers to hunt Pokémon in the neighbourhood park. Nor am I addressing the fact that a band called Magic with a F#@*ing exclamation point in their name are singing about Funday Sunday and we continue to positively reinforce them enough to continue making music (I use the term music loosely). Rather, I speak about the sullen days after the MLB all-star game where the sports world sits relatively idle. Most of the pieces have fallen in NHL free agency; the 145 th playing of the Open at Royal Troon is on the horizon; and the Mid-summer break in the Bigs will resume on the weekend. It does; however, allow one to reflect on the first half of the season and ponder the outcome of the second half ahead.
  
  This year’s All-Star festivities served as a friendly reminder to MLB pitchers as to why it is important to exercise extreme caution when hurling a ball towards home plate occupied by the slugger formerly known as Mike Stanton (Giancarlo). He flat out wounded balls to the tune of 61 deep flies in this year’s Home Run Derby. His accumulative distance on those blasts dwarf the output reading of my daily pedometer. My only accomplishment while in the San Diego area was successfully consuming 61 carne asada tacos from LaPlaya (Spanish for ‘the player?’) Interestingly enough, discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means ‘a whale’s vagina.’ Thankfully, only one national anthem was disgraced and the American league will again have home park advantage come the World Series.
  
  Al East
  
  What does the Toronto Blue Jays’ offense in the summer and me 15 minutes after an all-you-can- eat Indian buffet have in common? You guessed it…runs; all of the runs. The Jays offense has exploded (I had to) with the emergence of Edwing and sit only 2 games back of the Orioles. Things should further improve upon Bautflip returning from his foot injury / POUTTBD (Post Odor Uppercut to the Brain Disorder). Their pitching has
  
  been affective and I envision them joining the Sox in the playoffs. These 2 teams meet in the final season series at the Rogers center in what I will label a ‘must view spectacle.’
  
  Here’s hoping that the ageless wonder, Big Papi David Ortiz, can continue his first half tear and take the stockings back to the Promised Land.
  
  Al Central
  
  My eyes and ears are fixated on local legend Dustin Molleken who made his major-league pitching debut with the Detroit Tigers earlier this month. The former Toledo Mud Hen is the 9th Saskatchewan born player to make it to the majors. Early results indicate that he indeed belongs. In his last outing, @Providerofshelter (my proposed twitter handle for Molleken) went 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief while striking out the reigning MVP; Josh Donaldson (@Bringerofrain). One can’t help but feel jubilation for an athlete who gutted out a 13-year journey to finally achieve his ultimate goal. Finding Nemo was storming the theaters and Avril Lavigne was filling the airwaves when he first embarked on his journey…well done sir. The Tigers will have their hands full catching the Cleveland Indians who recently went on a league-leading 14 game winning streak. Their staff of Kluber, Carrasco, Salazar, Bauer, and Tomlin is as solid as any in the league.
  
  

  

  
  Meanwhile in Chicago, fellow Canadian and assumed lover of Monster energy drinks, Brett Lawrie, maintains his reputation of having ‘the most interesting? look in pro sports.’
  
  Al West
  
  It pains me to live in a world where Mike Trout is rostered on the worst team in the division. Through 741 career games:
  
  Yankees Micky Mantle - 306/.408/.550 152 HR & 37 SB
  
  Angels Mike Trout - .306/.400/.560 157 HR & 128 SB
  
  Unfortunately, the Angels have yet to capitalize on the prime years of a generational talent. While the Rangers have a current stranglehold on the division lead, the youthful Astros and powerful Mariners will ensure this race goes down to the wire. I still envision the Astros finding their way back to the post season.
  
  NL East
  
  The Montreal Expos of Washington are the national league team I expect to play deepest into the postseason. A 1-2 punch of Scherzer and Strasburg may prove to be too much for opponents to handle. I see them making a play at one of the Yankees bullpen closers and sending current close, Papelbum out to pasture. If the prodigy, Bryce Harper regains his early season form…look out. Jose Fernandez may be shut done early and thus hurt the Marlins’ chance of a playoff birth. The recent barrage of arm woes on the Mets youthful pitching staff has me concerned for their longevity. The NL East is the Nats to lose.
  
  NL Central
  
  Earlier this year, Illinoisans stocked up on canned goods and hoarded flats of bottled water upon hearing that their beloved Cubs were favored to win the World Series.
  
  Surely, this prediction is a sign of the apocalypse. The Cubbies are primed to end their 107-year drought with their elite combination of strong pitching, sturdy defense, and juggernaut of an offense. Their entire infield was selected to start the All-star game for the National league. While I do think that both the pirates and Cardinals will linger in contention, I am all hands on deck for a late October Cubs run.
  
  NL West
  
  Lately, an even year signifies another banner being raised at AT&T Park in San Francisco. 2012, 2014, 2016? A retooled pitching staff including Cueto and Samardzija (aka alphabet soup) has the Giants again atop the NL West. Madbum and the boys looked primed to fend off the Dodger for another trip to the fall classic.
  
  I am going to stick with my pre-season prediction of the Red Sox over the Nationals. I’d love to hear your predictions or take on first half stories of interest.  Play ball!
  
  Get Fresh or die trying;
  
  Riley Agopsowicz

• June 08, 2016 Impossible is Nothing.

  Impossible is Nothing.

  This Friday, the world bids their final farewell to greatest athlete of all time.  How do I know that Ali was THEE greatest…because Wayne Gretzky said so.

  

  As a young boy growing up in rural Saskatchewan, hockey was life.  After a long day of shinny on the backyard rink, our family would tune into Hockey Night in Canada to watch 99 electrify with his gift.  We’re talking about a man who boasts a career point total of 2,857.  For perspective, let’s entertain that Mcdavid musters up 20 straight seasons of 140 points…that would still be shy of the Great one’s impressive mark.  I could get on a Wangent, (Wayne tangent) but ain’t nobody got time for that.  So, by the transitive property, when the Great One calls Ali the greatest: Game, Set, Match.  While you are bound to find a more comprehensive read on his life and legacy elsewhere, I’d like to share a few snippets that resonated as the sports world reflected on his life.

  Ali is widely regarded as the man who revolutionized the sport of boxing with his awe-inspiring combination of speed and power.  How do I know such facts?  Am I omnipresent?  Do I even know what omnipresent means?  The 3-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist was the youngest boxer to upset an incumbent champ when he defeated Liston in 1964.  It is difficult not to ponder the further extent of his boxing accolades had he not been imprisoned and suspended during the height of his career.  He claimed that he “ain’t got no quarrel with the VietCong.”  The champ was not afraid to fight, rather he saw no sense in participating in a seemingly senseless war.  They stripped him of his title and sentenced him to 5 year prison term.  Watching old footage of him this past weekend, it is hard not to smile and delight in his wit, showmanship, confidence, and trash talk.  While most people my age can recall his classic line “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” some other competition-fueled quotes that clung to me include:

  “If you even dream of beating me, you better wake up and apologize”

  “I’ll beat him so bad he’ll need a shoehorn to put his hat on”

  “My only fault is that I don’t realize how great I really am”

  “It’s not bragging if you can back it up”

  “Champions aren’t made in the gyms.  Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.”

  With his unparalleled conviction and accompanying arming of expertise, it amazes me that anyone willingly decided to go 12 rounds with Muhammad.  Even in his later years he claimed that he was to “eat more raw meat and chop more trees” in preparation for what would be his final bout.

  I am also utterly fascinated with the contributions he made in the field of music.  In 1963, Ali released a spoken word album called ‘I am the Greatest’ which included a cover of ‘Stand by Me’ that reached #61 on the charts.  He later received a Grammy nomination for the children’s pro dental hygiene novelty record entitled ‘The Adventures of Ali and his Gang vs. Tooth Decay.’  I $#!~ you not, imagine the legend dropping a dizzying audio assault about the dangers of gingivitis.  Historians maintain that if you were to play track 2 of the record backwards, you can actually hear what many claim to be the sound of Satan receiving a root canal.  Had I not ‘opted’ out of my Columbia House subscription after receiving the initial set of complimentary albums, I would have totally snagged this collection of hygiene hits. 

  Akin to Jackie Robinson shattering baseball’s racial barrier in 1947, Ali is heralded as a transcendent American sports icon.  He was a vocal campaigner for civil rights and inspired countless with his commitment to human rights.  Having been the subject of 10 films, Ali is the only star on the wall and not on the sidewalk on Hollywood’s famous walk of fame.  I encourage you to further explore his glory as I leave you with a few other quotes that illuminate his greatness:

  “If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.”

  “The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”

  “When it comes to love, compassion, and other feelings of the heart, I am rich.”

  “If Ali says a mosquito can pull a plow, don’t ask how.  Hitch him up.”

  

  Yours in Freshness,

  Riley Agopsowicz