Powerlifting... now there's a sport

Unlike most weightlifters in the gym who worry about the beach body look or getting in shape, powerlifting is about strength. It's about low reps at high weight. Its lifts consists of military press, dead lift, clean and jerk, squats, snatch and bench press.

Powerlifting is used to prepare for competitions such as World's Strongest Man Competition, the Olympics, local Strongman Competitions, Strongest Man Alive . For each individual lift, there are different competitions

Most of the competitors don't have the beach-body/muscle look. They are thick, mostly uncut, bulky people. Some have associated steroid use with this sport, which only the Olympics regulates. The Bulgarians and East Germans have been known to cheat in the Olympics by using steroids.

2002, 2003, 2005 World's Strongest Man Marius Pudzianowski is not only the World's Strongest Man, but third in the World's Strongest Bench Press. He can bench press over 600 pounds, which is comparable to a small car (like the Geo Metro). He's 6'1" and 291 pounds and is from Poland, where he is considered a superstar.

Such competitions involve intense training and discipline. For example, dieting is very rigorous. Mass amounts of calories must be taken in each day to have enough energy to power his muscles for such strenuous lifts. A protein shake is usually added to supplement high protein and complex carbohydrate intake.

There are many other supplements a powerlifter can choose from, especially those considered “unnatural” but are still allowed in most competitions. One is creatine.
Creatine helps muscle-water retention. Oxygen is used to help build the muscle after it is worked out. Having mass amounts of water storage assists in the process. However, this can add water-weight to the athlete.

Many people confuse powerlifting and body building. Body Building is not about strength, but rather continuous repetition and body shape. Body builders are more concerned with a cut, sculpted look and watch their body fat. Again, powerlifters are concerned with strength.

Look for Mariusz Pudzianowski in the 2006 World's Strongest Man Competition.

Lacrosse

In the past 10 years the sport of lacrosse has grown in popularity. More famous on the east coast, lacrosse has spread to the midwest and across the country like a plague. Many young athletes are choosing lacrosse over traditional or major spring sports including baseball, tennis and track.

It is similar to hockey and to soccer, but it has it's own unique characteristics, including off-sides. There are 10 people on the field, 3 offensive, 3 midfield, 3 defense and a goalie. The field is divided into 3 parts. When team A is in scoring position (at Team B's goal) they cannot have more than 6 people in that third of the field. Likewise, Team B cannot have more than 6 people (no including the goalie) to defend those 6 offenders. If an extra person crosses the midfield line, they are considered offsides.

Similar to hockey, there are penalties by the minute and a penalty box. In addition, players can go behind the goal.

The University of Colorado has it's own lacrosse team; at the club level. The team faced off against Missouri Saturday winning 10-3. CU started off early with 2 goals by #5 Jon Atwood, who had two more by the end of the game, making 15 goals in 5 games.

CU managed to hold the eleventh leading scorer, Chris Wolf, to one goal against freshman goalie Kevin Moriarty, who entered in the last five minutes of the game. The team is now 5-0 and will trael to California over spring break. You can get any and all lacrosse info online at www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/coloradomenslacrosse.

A nice crowd gathered to support the team before the snow. The game was also broadcast via CUTV on Channel 63.

A Dream Come True

By Jennifer Reinbrecht
revised by Alysen Hargrove

Taylor Hargrove, is doing what every little kid dreams... playing pro baseball.

Hargrove started his baseball career in the Southeast Denver Baseball League, but was able to shine in the state at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colorado. He lettered 4 years in soccer and baseball at TJ. “We went to the state championship in 1997 my sophomore year for baseball. And I kicked for the football team in 1999 for two playoff games. We lost in the final four to Pomona."

But baseball was his first love. “Losing the state championship got my attention” Hargrove said. “Up until then, baseball was my god, my main priority. After that loss, I wanted to just give it up. But my Pastor coached me through it. He said ‘God gave you a gift. You should stick with it. What other ways can you use it?’ So I decided I could serve God through sports.”

At 5 feet, 7 inches and 180 pounds, Taylor is smaller than most of today’s prototypical athletes. He was scouted by Division 2 schools, including Nyack College, along the upper Hudson River in New York. Taylor chose Nyack first because of its strong ministerial program, second for its baseball program and a “sweet” scholarship. New York it was, and a degree in pastoral ministry.

“My Senior year in college, 2003, I was hoping to be a late round draft pick by the Phillies. The summer before I ran a 6.54 60-yard dash and played so well I was getting some attention. Plus, I was having an amazing senior year leading the Conference CACC in 11 out of 13 offensive categories. My college coach ran into the same regional Phillies scout and talked about how well I was doing. Excitement built for me as the taste of the dream was getting sweeter.

But Jesus had something else in store for me. I partially tore the MCL in my knee in the last two months of the season. It hurt deeply but there was something special about only having Christ to rely on. Despite only playing half of the season I was still named Conference Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All American.”

The following year, in April, 2004, Hargrove found favor with Triple A Manager of the New York Mets, John Stearns. He was in extended spring training with the Mets for 12 days. “I had a great tryout and got the opportunity of a lifetime. It was an awesome experience,” Hargrove says, the “awe” still in his voice. “Everything after that has been icing on the cake.”

After being released from the Mets he signed with the Quebec City Capitals. “My journey was one of pro ball, or being a baseball missionary, or both.” Hargrove would like to be both pastor and player to his team. “Being on the team takes the pastor off the pedestal,” he says. “If I’m on the team I’m playing with them. They’re my friends, my brothers...I know the temptations, the joys, the sorrows, the pain. If I’m their chaplain, then I only see them at home games, plus I’m not living with them every day. It’s not the same.”

“I was with Quebec for a month, then traded to the Richmond Roosters in the Frontier League. I was playing play a lot, but then got released out of no where. Over 30 guys got released during the time I was there. At that point, I was out of money and I was tired. So after 5 months of traveling, tryouts and trades I went home to recoup and get out of debt. I had covered over 25 states, 7000 miles of driving and two countries.”

In 2005, Hargrove was given the chance to play for the Sioux City Explorers in Sioux City, Iowa. He played with them the whole season and his family was able to come and watch him play, something they could not do while he was in school in New York and playing in Canada.

This will be Hargrove’s third year playing pro ball. This season he’s headed to Rockford, IL and the Frontier League’s Rockford River Hawks.

Hargrove is a second baseman and shortstop but he’s learned to be a utility player. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get on the field,” he says.

He’ll report May 8th for tryouts, and if his team makes it to the playoffs, the season goes into September. And there's always the possibility of being picked up by “the Show”...if that's meant to be.

What does a minor league player pull down? “I get about $850 a month, plus a host family to live with, and they might feed me. Or not” he adds. “We get $18/day on the road for meals. Sometimes we’re sponsored, or sometimes a ‘clubby’ will provide peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or .99 soup. Hey, it’s not bad to be able to do something you love!”

Now 24 years old, during the off-season Hargrove is an Assistant Coach at Thomas Jefferson for the varsity baseball team. He also teaches private hitting lessons at Mark Johnson’s Triple Crown, and is a substitute teacher. He is working towards his ordination and also preaches from time to time.

“It has been an amazing story that God has written and I thought I would share it. There is a Psalm that says 'delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.' I learned that and am still learning that, as the journey with God and baseball continues. I would label it living the dream.”

You can catch Taylor Hargrove and the Rockford River Hawks at rockfordriverhawks.com . Their season kicks off in May.

Intramural Sports: A way of life

Fifteen thousand students are doing it each year... are you? Intramurals is the largest program, with the most participants at the University of Colorado.

And no wonder students participate. Intramurals offers every sport imaginable. You can pick from traditional sports such as soccer and basketball or more exotic sports like dodgeball, innertube waterpolo or broomball.

Annie Mulvany, Assistant Intramural Director says, "People should participate because it’s fun. It’s a good way to be with your friends. It’s a good way to relieve some stress and it’s a good way to burn some calories and be active in your life."

That's more than enough reasons for seven-time intramural champion, Steve O'Neill, who enjoys participating in several sports year-round, including basketball and flag football.

"Intramural sports just gives me a way to kind of relax, as weird as that sounds. It kind of gives me a chance to just break away from sitting in the classroom and doing homework and all that kind of stuff, to get out there and still have that competitive spirit that I have."

Steve's basketball team, The Skittles, took the A+ Championship Thursday night, for his second basketball win. With Steve putting up 15 points and helping on the boards, they came back from a 12 point deficit to win by 5.

Even if you don't have the chance to play all the time, you can still take Steve and Annie's advice and relieve some stress. All it takes is a little effort to get the paperwork in, then it's up to you to earn your t-shirt as an intramural champion.

You can check out Steve's dodgeball team, Thursdays at 8pm in Carlson Gym as they look to give Steve his eighth career championship.

Tribute to Kirby

2,304 hits. 207 homeruns. Six Gold Gloves. 10 consecutive All-Star teams (1986-1995). Minnesota Twins baseball hero is gone. At age 46, Kirby Puckett passed away yesterday after suffering a stroke Sunday morning.

It is rare a professional athlete stays with one organization, but Puckett was with the Twins for 12 seasons. The centerfielder and big hitter led the Twins to 1987 and 1991 World Series Titles before he was forced to retire early, in 1995, due to glaucoma.

With a career batting average of .318, Kirby had attained the highest batting average for a right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio. Kirby was elected to The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2001 with 82% of the votes.(423/515).

Kirby was an All-Star 10 times and was the third youngest player to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He was also nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

He is remembered for many things, but two exact plays come to mind in the 1991 World Series. The leaping catch against the wall that would've given Ron Gant at least a double and put the Braves on top in the series. And in the bottom of the 11th, Kirby hit a walk off homerun that led the Twins to a World Series Championship in the next game.

With all his successes, Kirby will be remembered as a great ball player and Minnesota Twin hero. He will be missed.

I'm talkin' 'bout Baseball...

Most teams are in 'sunnier' parts of the US, most in Florida, many in Arizona. Spring Training is underway and teams are able to figure out the pros and cons to their roster as well as the strengths and weaknesses (especially to the players they recently aquired).

Remember how the White Sox won the World Series last year? Well, the Rockies beat them 8-1 today and 6-1 yesterday. It may be one of the only times we can say they are undefeated and be serious!! Does that mean the Rockies will at least be in the play-offs this year... not necessarily. In all honesty, don't get your hopes up.

But, it doesn't mean the Rockies won't show up this year. It also doesn't mean the White Sox will suck. There is this little thing called the World Baseball Classic that's taking players elsewhere to train.

With Major League Baseball having such a high number of international players, it may be confusing for the public as to which team their favorite player is representing... so here are a few names that might help you out.

Player Name	MLB Team	World Baseball Team
Derek Jeter	NYY	USA
Javy Lopez	Orioles	Puerto Rico
Ivan Rodriguez	Tigers	Puerto Rico
Jeff Francis	Rockies	Canada
Brian Fuentes	Rockies	USA
Juan Uribe	White Sox	Dominican Republic
Johnny Damon	NYY	USA

But a lot of players opted not to play in the World Baseball Classic... such as Pedro Martinez, who just backed out of the Dominican Republic's line-up and Yankee's star Hideki Matsui opted not to play.

Some things to look forward to this season... Red Sox traitor Johnny Damon became a Yankee (the mortal sin of a Red Sox loyal) and 42-year old Barry Bonds (708) looks to pass Babe Ruth (714) as the second most homeruns in history.

In any case... baseball is in the air. Whether it be in Florida or Arizona or around the world, it's time for baseball.

The Art of Softball

People not in the sport don't know about softball. Most think it’s a lazier version of baseball. Although similar in terms of rules and design, it’s a completely different sport. There are two types of softball, slow-pitch and fast-pitch. Yes, slow-pitch is much more laid back and less athletic, but fast-pitch requires extreme skill and athleticism, just like baseball.

Fast-pitch softball is played on a softball field, fence distances between 200 and 230 feet to right field and leftfield. Bases are 60 feet from home (90feet for second base) and the pitching rubber is 43 feet from home (40 feet in high school). There is no pitching mound like in baseball, but a rubber to push off from and an 8 foot chalk circle around the rubber.

The circle serves as a "rule" for base runners. In softball you cannot lead off or leave the base before the ball is released from the pitcher's hand. When the pitcher is in the circle with the ball, the base runners must decide if they will stay at their current base-or try to advance. This is a way to distinguish each play and require runners to not lead off. Runners cannot take a lead until the ball is released from the pitcher's hand.

Pitching is one of the most important aspects about softball and distinguishes it from other sports. It is thrown underhand and is the only position at which that occurs. Most types of pitches are fastball, drop, rise, off-speed, curve, change and knuckle-change-each one using the seams of the ball to create movement and spins to throw off the batter. A strong pitcher has several pitches and is also very good at ball placement (putting the ball to the exact location in reference to the plate that the catcher is looking for).

Another distinction between softball and baseball is slap-hitting. This is where fast runners learn to make contact with the ball from the left side (as a left-handed hitter) to use their speed to get to first base. There are various forms of slap defense including pulling the second baseman next to the pitcher and putting the first baseman a few feet from first base to make the out.

In comparison to baseball, the rules are generally the same- three outs per inning, infield fly rule, same positions, umpires, coaches, batting, etc. A softball is 12inches in diameter, so it is much larger, but in no way is it softer. It is more difficult to hit a softball over the fence and homeruns are rare, but it dose not mean softball players are not as good of hitters as baseball players; it is just a different type of game.

CU Softball Pitcher Ariel Quigley