GAME FACE IN RIO REFLECTIVE OF A TRUE CHAMPION!

We've all seen it by now.  The Michael Phelps game face like I've never seen before, except maybe in football or when Derek Jeter stepped into Fenway Park for each series he played against his nemesis the Red Sox.  The eye of tiger, the resting bitch face, the stare down, the glare, the clear the mechanism face that shows you are focused on one thing...winning.

But not just winning, crushing the opponent with one bold look.  You know the look.  If looks could kill, that South African swimmer would be in the grave.  Since Phelps started it, let's take a look at game faces across sports.

Here's Jeter giving that look to the Red Sox team as he passed Carl Yastzemski on the all time hit list with his 3,420th.  That stared down says, yes, don't mess with me, I'm a champion.

Game faced champion Peyton Manning stretching before the Super Bowl.  Known more for his smiles than jeers, Manning shows focus and intention with his look to kill.

Not to be out done, former NFL and NY Giants kicker, Steve Weatherford, is always up for a challenge whether it is in the gym or on the field.  His look says he is ready to kill it, whether it is the ball or the punching bag.

"Twenty-five years ago, one of the most famous commercials of all time debuted: Gatorade's "Be Like Mike." It debuted on August 8, 1991 and it featured iconic NBA star Michael Jordan who always had that look.  He exemplifies champion like no other, even being present to support the retirement of the great Derek Jeter at Yankee Stadium.

Not to be out done, LeBron James got it done with this look followed by an unbelievable performance to bring home the NBA Championship to his home state of Ohio.  That determined look earned James 82 points in Games four and five and 27 points in the final against Golden State.

Sharing his motivation with youth across the world with his Rock Clock App,  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, stares down his opponents like they are meaningless.  He defeats them mentally with a look that could turn a challenger to stone.  

Champions like USA gymnast Gabby Douglas are focused and they stay focused despite the fame, despite the nerves and despite distractions that surround them in their field of competition.  No matter the outcome, champions thrive, they comeback and they win.  

Perhaps the Phelps' look will go down as the all time best game face.  His gritty determination is paramount to his successful comeback as a premier athlete who craves gold.  His motivation bleeds into the hearts of young people across the world and on his USA Olympic Team.  This is an important look for our Yankee youth to learn as they focus their competitive spirit on winning ball games now in our farm system as they prepare for baseball's infamous stage in 2017.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

Actions speak louder than words. Visuals tell a story. Emotions need no translation. These are all statements we have heard or said throughout the years. But what do they really mean? Researchers who study nonverbal communication state that self-image and social identity are shaped to a large degree by one's appearance.  After this past week in sports, we can certainly see how one's public appearance presents a very telling story.

Exhibit A- Eli Manning. The other evening Peyton Manning appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The topic of the Super Bowl soon shifted to his brother, New York Giants' quarterback Eli Manning and his now famous "stone face." Peyton and Eli supporters know "that" face all too well. It's an Eli face. It means that Eli is thinking. It's his game face. But for the rest of the nation, Eli appeared to be snubbing his brother with his blank facial expression following his big brother's second Super Bowl win. Perception is 90% of the law.  However, as a Giant fan, I know that his face, despite the jokes, didn't express what he was thinking.  But at the end of the day, that doesn't matter.

Exhibit B- Cam Newton. We have all had our opportunity to read and watch Carolina Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton's Post-Super Bowl press conference. Heck we wrote about it and referred to it a few times last week. One of the nonverbal attributes that Newton exhibited is what every young male and some females have demonstrated when they feel defeated; that hood up, slouch in the seat behavior. For some, it wasn't that Newton walked out of the press conference but rather how he walked into it. His ego-bruised body all packed into a grey hoodie walked into the press conference defeated. It's every middle school teacher's pet-peeve and he demonstrated it beautifully in front of billions of viewers across the globe.

Exhibit C- Jenrry Mejia's cover photo on New Daily News.  He looks like a user in the picture chosen for the front page of the Daily News.  We know that images sell papers, stories and products.  The Daily News chose an image much like the New York Post did.  It told a story and made Mejia look like a thug.  My closest friends who saw the paper and watched the stories didn't need to turn up the sound as they moved along on the treadmill with the television in the background- they just used the images of Mejia to crucify him.

Exhibit D- The New York Yankees infamous dress code. People sneer at the Yankees' dress code which includes or rather excludes excessive facial hair and long hair, but it's there for a reason. It's called professionalism and it's a nonverbal trait that is earned with careful preparation and continuity.  The way you dress and the way you carry yourself says a lot about who you are, regardless if it is true or not.  It is what they (the public) perceive.

So, what you see is what you get or is it?  Is there another story to tell?  Perhaps, but athletes need to think before they look...literally.  People will believe what they see and it is important for them and frankly all of us to take a closer look in the mirror before we look out at our audience.  We might not like what we see staring back at us when we take a closer look.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer

BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof








Thank you for your loyalty to Bleeding Yankee Blue.
Please shop at the BYB store!
On Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu
On Facebook, LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue!
Don't forget to check out the BYB Hub.

CAM NEWTON'S REACTION WAS EMOTIONAL & UNDERSTANDABLE

Let me start by saying that I do not want to justify Cam Newton's actions. Walking out on a post game press conference probably wasn't the best option. What I am saying is that I do not buy into all the negativity that surrounded his actions, and I do not agree with the character assassination that he has been a target of as a result.

There's so much that people don't want to consider. First being that post game interviews are incredibly redundant. If you watch enough sports, and enough post game interviews, you can probably guess which series of questions would be asked on any given day. For the losing team, it adds to the stress and negative emotions.

Then consider the post game interview setting. ESPN posted a video of the interview with Cam. He is seated at the table, giving short yet direct responses to the questions asked to him. You can clearly hear Chris Harris of the Broncos discussing what the game plan had been. It was set up so that both teams shared a single space for the post game interview, and the only divider was a black curtain. Personally, I find the setting incredibly unprofessional. There is no reason why the opposing team should be heard while you conduct a post game interview. It's disrespectful to the person you are interviewing. Regardless of the win or loss, it's just a less than ideal setting.

Even before this incident people have called Cam arrogant and cocky. Over a dance? Because suddenly he is the only player in the history of the NFL to celebrate his wins? Let's focus on the fact that he walked out on the post game interview, and completely ignore the fact that he congratulated Peyton Manning with a huge smile. "I've been on that side of it," Manning said of Cam. "It's tough, and it's not an easy pill to swallow. But he was very nice to me and I appreciated that." But that's arrogance, right?

It's so much easier to vilify him than to attempt to understand the thought process. I'm sorry, was Manning vilified in 2010 when he walked off the field without so much as acknowledging the New Orleans Saints players after the Colts lost to them 37 - 17? No... that was passion. He was upset, and he allowed his emotions to make the call. Completely different from what Cam did... except it's the exact same thing! Funny that the same passion one player is praised and respected for, is what makes another cocky.

Oh but his responses were short, and he had an attitude. I'm sorry, how many post-game interviews have you watched? Which athlete, when interviewed after a loss, is verbose and boisterous? I'll wait... Oh, what was that? None? Yea... that's what I thought you'd say. Even Mariano Rivera, who is arguably the most humble athlete I have ever watched, was curt with his responses after a loss. And let's face it, Derek Jeter was no picnic to interview after a loss either. That's not exclusive to Cam.

He's incredibly talented, proof of which came in the form of being named NFL MVP, and going into the Super Bowl having helped his team to a 19 - 1 season. No one can deny that he is a phenomenal player. He also pretty much wears his emotions on his sleeve. When he is happy, he celebrates. He sings and dances and enjoys himself. Why then did you expect his disappointment to be quiet and reserved? He busted his ass this season. He did so much more than what was expected from him. And then he lost on the big stage. Hell yes, that's disappointing. If he hadn't shown any emotions, I would question his passion for the game.

Again, him walking out of the interview probably wasn't a great call. But it is completely understandable. You can attempt to demonize his character for it and call him names, but who hasn't been so disappointed by a loss that they haven't needed to walk away? Emotions were running high. He was upset, angry, maybe even a little sad. He reacted. Knee jerk move, yes. But it does not make him the monster people want to paint him out to be.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804



 
Thank you for your loyalty to Bleeding Yankee Blue. 
Please shop at the BYB store!  
On Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu 
On Facebook, LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue!
Don't forget to check out the BYB Hub.  

...AND NOW BASEBALL BEGINS

I wanted Peyton Manning to win.  I wanted him to win for him, but more than that, I wanted Cam Newton to lose.  I don't care for the show players put on when they think they're just too good. Cam did  that all season long. He needed to be humbled.  He needed to feel the sting of a big loss.  And you know what?

He's young, he'll have years to win.  Tonight, the Super Bowl needed to go to a good ol' boy and his Bronco crew.  That's just how I felt about the game.  No, I don't care about football like... at all. I honestly don't.  But I DO like it when the unexpected happens in the Super Bowl.  Manning won.  Good for him!  Cam, nice try, but there is no question you are talented.  I have no doubt there's a Super Bowl ring or 2 in your future.

The game was good, not great, but good.  And all the while I was thinking about Spring Training. Because when the big game ends, baseball begins.  I was thinking about what CC Sabathia is going to offer this year.  I can't wait to see Ardolis Chapman in pinstripes...same with Starlin Castro.  I hope to see Mark Teixeira healthy even though he probably won't be. Look,  I just want the Yanks to do well this season.  I want them to do great... kind of like the way the Half time show went tonight... great!

I was surprised at the social media blasting the half time show. Ridiculous.

@BleednYankeeBlu Thank you! Why are people killing this halftime

— Joanie Giammarino (@Joangyankee) February 8, 2016

"It was horrible", they said.  "Worst one ever" I read.  What the hell were you expecting?  They picked 3 top recording artists in the industry to sing for 12 minutes in front of 100 million people.  Who did you want? Springsteen?  Bocelli? Can't folks just relax and enjoy some entertainment? Bruno Mars is a top notch performer.  Chris Martin, is damn talented.

People hate Coldplay... I guess because it's Coldplay, but why is that a bad thing?  Beyonce? IT'S FREAKING BEYONCE! I guess you wanted alittle acoustic from Pete Yorn and Paul Simon?  You want boring? That's boring. Honestly, I have no idea why everyone was complaining.

The best part tonight? The end.  Baseball is now here ladies and gentlemen.  There is going to be another season of baseball, not only in Yankeeland, but for me personally with my kids.  It's a great season.  I get the teach as a coach.  I get to watch, as a Yankee fan.  And the weather's nice, so I'll catch a few games at the stadium, but before that, I'll catch a few innings here and there as the Yankees nail down their roster in Tampa in just a few weeks.  And you know what? That's where I'm at my best.  That's where I'm at peace the most.

Football is a great sport, but it's just not MY sport... and that's OK.   Baseball... that's where it's at for me.  And you know what?  It's finally here.  When the Big game ends... baseball begins.  It seemed like forever to get here... but it's here.

Thank the good Lord for that.

Congrats to Peyton and the Broncos.  A job well done.

Thank you for your loyalty to Bleeding Yankee Blue. Please shop at the BYB store! On Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu On Facebook, LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue! Don't forget to check out the BYB Hub.

ROOTING FOR PEYTON IS LIKE ROOTING FOR JETER

There are not many iconic athletes out there that have all three of these very important ingredients for longevity in their professional sports career: integrity, grit and fan appreciation.  Peyton Manning is certainly one athlete whom I appreciate for his commitment to his team and his fans.

Much like our very own Derek Jeter, Manning has been able to reinvent himself, stay focused and keep the fans engaged around the essential purpose of the sport.

Peyton Manning has the chance of a life time: to finish a stellar career on top.  He could retire from the game after completing and possibly winning Super Bowl 50.  It does not get any better than that, quite frankly.  "I know that’s a possibility,’’ Eli (Manning) said. “When you are going into your 19th season, it’s a possibility that it could be your last season. To win on top and kind of sail off into the sunset sounds pretty good. I don’t know if it will be, but I’ll be rooting for him hard either way," the Giants quarterback stated as reported by the NY Post this week.

When you look at Peyton Manning's career next to Derek Jeter's, you see some real similarities.  You see things like team leadership, mentoring, personal integrity, more than 15 seasons of professional work (19 for Peyton, 20 for Derek), championships including the big prize of winning the Super Bowl and World Series, key game statistics that set the respective athletes up for Hall of Fame status, charity work, fan support and overall legacy to their sport.  I feel like by rooting for Peyton, I am rooting for Derek, who went out with a walk off win in his final game at the Stadium and a hit in the final game of his career at Fenway Park.

As we head into Super Bowl 50 just over a week away from pitchers and catchers, I could not help but compare two very iconic athletes who have the changed their sport for good.  Yeah, I guess I get sentimental like that, but I can't help it.  When I think of the good work of Peyton Manning, I automatically think of what Jeter has left us.  So, I am rooting for Peyton to win Super Bowl 50.  And I am rooting for a great 2016 MLB season with the hopes of Jeter's presence at spring training.  Yes, I am rooting for that too.
 

 --Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof





Thank you for your loyalty to Bleeding Yankee Blue.
Please shop at the BYB store!
On Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu
On Facebook, LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue!
Don't forget to check out the BYB Hub.

THE 5 BEST MLB MASCOTS EVER!

In my younger days, I used to get paid to wear silly costumes. I can tell you straight up, it’s not always fun. A lot depends on the costume. If you are a caped superhero, you’re golden. But if it’s a certain purple dinosaur, you are consigned to a torment I would wish only upon hardened and unrepentant killer/rapists.

Should you ever meet me in person, ask about the time I got stuck in a costume north of Yankee Stadium amongst hundreds of children with no place to change, teenagers with water balloons, and a giant boa constrictor. I could not make up a story like this.

My point is, mascots are hard workers. It’s not easy to act like a jerk wearing a giant head. It’s exhausting too. But yeah, it’s fun.

Anyway, here are the five best:

5. Mr Met

He started off as a cartoon on program covers, but Mr Met was given life in 1964 when the team moved to Shea Stadium. He is widely believed to be the first mascot represented by a costumed person. In short order, he was given a family. Mrs Met, and three Met children, one a baby, which would have creeped me right out as a kid.

Apparently, others felt the same. The Mets stopped using the mascot in the mid-seventies. Then of course, mascots got really popular. In a move typical of the instincts of that organization, the Mets did not bring their mascot back until the early 90’s, due to the urging of fans. Shocking everyone, the Mets listened to their fans. They have since vowed never to do that again.

Unsurprisingly, Mr Met was the first bobble-head giveaway doll in MLB history. As he already looks like one, that was easy math for somebody, to be sure. Anyway, he’s only on this list because he was the first MLB costumed mascot. Other than that, he’s a dorky looking putz with a giant zit for a face.

 4. Bernie Brewer

The great thing about Milwaukee is that everybody’s drunk all the time. The city is like Venice, but instead of canals of water, they have streets of beer. Happy Days was set in Milwaukee, remember? Everybody on that show was completely wasted all the time. Aaaaaaaay, indeed.

So anyway, Milwaukee landed an MLB franchise which they naturally called The Brewers. Everyone in the city celebrated by building giant slides on their roofs and zipping down them into the copious rivers of beer flowing through the city. A whole bunch of folks died in drunken drowning incidents.

 For whatever reason, this dude named Bernie was the one everybody remembered. If you have ever gone into any bar more than once, there is always a guy there like Bernie. The happy local drunk that everybody loves, although nobody knows how he holds down a job. There’s just more of these guys in Milwaukee.

 Everybody felt bad that Bernie drowned celebrating the new baseball team so Mayor Fonzarelli decreed the team mascot would be named for him. This is also why they had Bernie Brewer slide down a chute into a pool of beer during games when the Brewers hit a home run.

That’s how I heard it.

 3. Youppi

Designed by Bonnie Erickson of Jim Henson’s Muppets, Youppi is one of three mascots elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The other two are ahead of him on this list. Granted, these are not considered “official” inductions, but still, this is pretty cool for a mascot.

Youppi had quite an eventful career. He is the only mascot to have been ejected from a game. In 1989, he began jumping noisily on the visitor’s dugout in the 11th inning of a 22 frame marathon against the Dodgers. Tommy Lasorda lost his mind and got Youppi thrown out. Let’s say that again. Tommy Lasorda thought Youppi was loud and annoying.

 When the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals, Youppi jumped to a different league altogether. He is the first Major League mascot ever to do that. Now Youppi wears the colors of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, and even skates with the team. He has never forgotten his roots. Youppi touchingly memorialized Gary Carter at a Canadiens game in 2012. The baseball team is gone, but the Expos live on in Youppi.

 2. The Famous Chicken of San Diego

No other costumed character has done more to get mascots so visible as The Chicken. It was this character that started the mascot craze in the mid-seventies. Even though he isn’t number one on this list, this guy is probably the most well known.

 He has starred on an Emmy-winning children’s show with Johnny Bench, The Baseball Bunch; appeared in national commercials for McDonald’s and Sony (getting restrained by Peyton Manning so as not to beat up someone who says they don’t like sports); won a lawsuit against the creators of Barney after he had a slap fight with another performer dressed as a purple dinosaur; showed up at not one but two different Wrestlemanias, turning out to be Pete Rose in one of them, getting promptly pile-driven by the wrestler Kane; and was named to the “100 Most Powerful People in Sports” by The Sporting News.

The Chicken was made famous by performer Ted Giannoulas. The character first manifested as part of an Easter promotion at the San Diego zoo. The Chicken then began showing up at concerts, community events, and Padres games. He has been seen at all types of other games as well, including regular appearances for the NFL’s Chargers.

The only reason The Chicken is not number one is that he is not an official MLB mascot at all. Even though he has an spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Chicken isn’t actually associated with the Padres or MLB.

 1. Phillie Phanatic

If you had access to a vehicle with a hot dog cannon, how much of a jerk would you be? Honey, if you are reading this, I want an ATV with a hot dog cannon for my birthday. That is the definition of pure awesomeness.

"With great power comes great responsibility" goes the saying, and the Phanatic happily ignores this. He carries the singular distinction of being the most sued mascot in history. To these people suing the Phanatic, I remind them; you are in freakin’ Philadelphia, where fans boo freakin’ Santa Claus. So the Phanatic plays rough, but could be a lot rougher. As in "average citizen of Philadelphia" rough. Remember. Hot dog cannon at his disposal.

Ain’t no other mascot like the Phanatic. This guy has done it all. David Letterman appearances. Lampooned in the Simpsons as The Capital City Goofball only to show up in the series as himself years later. Enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

He’s only been around since 1978, but the Phanatic is king of the MLB mascots. He was also designed by Bonnie Erickson, and his singular look cannot be mistaken for anything else. Oh, he’s apparently from the Galápagos Islands. Sure, okay.

This is a Yankee site, and the absolute non-arguable factor why the Phanatic is the greatest mascot ever is this commercial:


There are your top five MLB mascots of all time. In Yankee Stadium, we have no need of mascots. We have Bleacher Creatures. And some of us carry puppets.

Now pardon me while I try to build a hot dog cannon.

 
Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Features Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants


The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.