Wage Gap in Soccer: USMNT vs USWNT

Recently a new collective bargaining agreement was struck between U.S. Soccer and the women's national team. Fiscal benefits were increase across the board for the lady futbol players as they saw their salaries, bonuses and benefits all go up by significant numbers. Even though great strides were made in the wage gap between the men and women national players, the fact is that men still make more and have opportunity to make more money than women?

So what does this say about the new CBA? Is it truly a stride in the right direction? Is it a moral victory that was bound to happen eventually? Is the women's national team finally getting recognized for the way they have been competing and representing the country?

The big question becomes should there be an equal pay initiative for U.S. Soccer? Or should it be revenue based? Or should it be based on performance? Let's face it the ladies of U.S. Soccer have been treated poorly, for lack a better term. The conversation has to be centered on what is fair? If we look at success of the two teams the women blow the men out of the water. World Cup titles and Olympic Gold Medals are things that the ladies laud over the head of the men. In fact the men's team often times has struggled to even be competitive.

My opinion U.S. Soccer should be paid more. They earned it! Give the ladies their money. Take the cash from the men's team and tell them they can get paid when they figure out how to win.

EA Sports, is it in the game?

Apparently the gamers are taking the term "pwning noobs" to the next level. Certain universities have begun to hand out athletic scholarships to participants in esports. Think about it, it's the definition of "revenge of the nerds." The kid who was bullied because his paladin or elf character was the highest rated RPG on campus are now snagging up the money promised to the varsity quarterback. The question becomes, should esports fall in to the definition of sport and should these folks be given athletic scholarships?

Let's tackle the question of the validity that esports are indeed sports. Since the dawn of human existence man has longed for a way to escape their realities and be something else. That's where sports were born. So in the definition of an event that allows you to compete against others, sometimes sweat and reign victorious over your inferior peers than yes indeed it should be considered a sport. It's a little, non-traditional, but nonetheless it should fit the basic definition.

As far as scholarships go. I'm a big no. I am biased, I'll fully admit that. I can't see how you can give an athletic scholarship to a cheeto downing, energy drink chugging master of "I'm cooler online." Call me traditional, but I think scholarships belong to athletes. So yes, I'm saying esporters aren't athletes. 

Podcast Topics

MLB Opening Day:

• Pace of Play
• Pitch Timers
• Removal of the "stall" mound visit (coaches/catchers)
• Shorter time between innings
• No more 4 pitch walks
• Replay-Does it hurt or help the game?
• MLB Service Requirements (Kris Bryant)
• World Baseball Classic
• Is it worth it?
• When to play it?
• How to get all the big names there?
• USA, USA!
• Jackie Robinson Day
• Predictions
• Awards
• MVP
• CY Young
• ROY
• Manager
• Comeback Player
• Division Winners
• Playoffs and World Series
• Fact or Fiction
• Trades
• Stats
• Funny things (will Bartolo get more hits, or have his helmet fall of his head more)
• Same face, new place
• Which players will make the biggest impact for their teams
• Which players will be duds
• Madison Bumgartner and "chicks dig the long ball"
• State of Baseball
• How does it match up with other mainstream sports?
• Is the game still "America's pastime"

Monticello Baseball Lives On

Fluid. Graceful. Perfect. As Austin Maloy scooped up the ball and tossed a perfect ball over to first, all of those adjectives could describe that play. The senior shortstop from Monticello High School was born to play the game. He could run, field and hit. He flipped the leather and trotted around the diamond like no other Buckaroo before him. Probably the best player to ever play for Monticello.

Maloy never thought he was the best though and every time someone brought the idea up he shook his head and smiled.

"I'm no Randon," said Maloy, "in fact without him I wouldn't have been anyone.

Maturity and understanding have always been a strength for Maloy. He could see things as they were, and he completely understood how important watching Randon Keyes suffer through his season meant.

"Without that season baseball would've been cancelled," Said Maloy, "I owe my high school baseball career to him."

It was quite the career. Maloy hit over .400 during his time as a Buckaroo and helped the team to three winning seasons. Most importantly Maloy carried on the example set by those who went before him. He played with heart and honor and always made sure he was never bigger than the game.

Maloy became a role model of his own in the rural community. His work ethic, dedication and kindness made him a fan favorite in the little place he called home.

"The kid just gets it," said Maloy's baseball coach Brian Bowring, "he plays like baseball is everything, but knows it isn't."

That sense of how to play the game right was something that Maloy credits to examples like Keyes.

"I saw him play like that. It made me want to play the right way and build something," said Maloy.

He built something alright. Monticello might now be the powerhouse of 2A Utah baseball, but they compete. They've come a long way since Keyes' winless senior season. Because of Keyes' legacy, which was continued by Maloy, the Buckaroos are a competitive program that projects to hang around for a long time.