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

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU DON'T DO!

This week Steve Weatherford, former punter for the New York Giants, stated very firmly that he would never even consider playing for division rival and city neighbor the Philadelphia Eagles.

When I talk with friends and readers about what teams I would root for if the NY Yankees, NY Giants or Notre Dame Fighting Irish were not playing, I have a hard time answering them or even taking them seriously.  I don't like any other teams, really.  And there are other teams I just simply hate or as Jim Carrey said as the Grinch, "Hate, hate, hate...hate, hate, hate, double hate- LOATHE entirely."  

So when guys come from the Boston Red Sox make the choice to join the Bronx Bombers, I wonder how they do it.  I could not just morph into a Red Sox fan if I moved to Boston.  I mean, I lived in Boston for a couple of years as a graduate student at Boston University and it was very clear that I was a Yankee fan.  How did Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Tony Pena (as a coach), Don Zimmer (as a coach) and more recently, Jacoby Ellsbury do it?  Did they sell their soul to the devil or maybe they had a come to Jesus moment and realized that they had been misplaced from the start?

There was a lot of banter about where would Tom Coughlin go after he resigned from the New York Giants earlier this month after holding the title of head coach for 12 years.  Weatherford's point was that Coughlin would never go to the Eagles.  They are like poison; they are like us and the Red Sox.

There are just certain things you don't do in life and in sports.  One of these things is go and play for a rival team.  As a reporter for Fox Sports said, "Many teams are hesitant to make trades with their division rivals, not wanting the player they gave up on to come back and haunt them for 19 games per season, or in the case of trading a young prospect, for years into the future. Shipping a player across the country, or even to the other league, minimizes the chances that your home town fans will be regularly reminded that not every trade works out in your favor."

So, your second favorite team, your alternate team, your second best team is really just a contingency plan that you really don't want to ever want to take on ever.  And that fierce competitor, antagonist, enemy, division rival; you never sell out for in sports and in life. There are just certain things you don't do; I guess unless your agent tells you that you have to and the money is greener on the dark side.

--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.