I realize how late this is

They say that a win is a win is a win. I couldn’t agree more with this notion. In the days of victories that are deemed ‘ugly’ or ‘easy,’ I believe that sports fans as a whole have devalued many contests for one reason or another.
Likewise, I believe that a championship is a championship is a championship. As far too many overlooked what the Pittsburgh Penguins did in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals to win the NHL crown.
I’ll be the first to admit it; hockey is losing interest in the United States. Even I was a bit surprised when I found myself tuned into the deciding championship game of a sport that had locked out its players just a few years ago. But then I realized why I was so enthralled in the match-up that I honestly knew nothing about, because it was the big game of what is still a major sport. No, it wasn’t game seven of the NBA Finals or the World Series, and it certainly wasn’t the Super Bowl, but it was still a sport, one that should be appreciated and respected.
Not only should true sports fans have tuned into the last hockey game of the season if only just for the sake of watching a new champion crowned, but the game itself was amazing. The Penguins led 2-0 in the third period, even without star player Sydney Crosby for a short time in the second. But the Red Wings were determined to come back, scoring a goal of their own with just enough time to make it interesting.
And make it interesting they did.
In the final three minutes of play, there were more than several shots that could have tied the game. I thought for sure that Detroit’s surge at the end would be enough to force a thrilling overtime. However Pittsburgh’s goalie held strong, and finished out a wonderful 23 out of 24 save performance, although with some help from the bar on the back of the net. The drama continued until the final seconds, as a face off right in front of the Penguin’s goal and two ensuing shots on goal kept my breath held until the final buzzer sounded.
Then came the celebration; that’s what unifies all major sports. No matter if it’s football, baseball, basketball, or hockey, the pure joy displayed when it’s all said and done says it all. The Pittsburgh Penguins worked hard for the honor of being the recipients of the Stanley Cup, the franchise changed coaches midway through the regular season. For a team to do that and still go on to win the championship is rare in any sport.
As Crosby and the entire Penguin team hoisted their coveted prize, I could only think of one thing. The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania seems to be dominating sports championships as of late with the Steelers in the NFL, and the Penguins in the NHL. Now, if only they could get the Pirates on board.
-Jeremy Sharp
6/15/09

Indiana Wesleyan University Summer Scholars Program

Okay, so even though it's only been two days since I arrived on campus, this group of 17 and our two wonderful RA's have already gotten so tight and we are all having so much fun. This is our group pic.

Update

Even though I'm not even sure that anyone cares, or even reads this blog, I thought it would be good to publish a post after a couple-month hiadous. My mentor said it was good to keep on writing a blog, even if it was only for my own eyes to read...which, at this point, is what it looks like.
Currently, I am preparing for a three-week stay at the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), where I will be taking an intensive class on World Civilizations.
I continue working at The Brown County Press, tonight's assingment is a cheerleading camp at Georgetown High School. I'm still trying to figure out how to take pictures of this without looking creepy...find out if I accomplish this goal by checking out www.browncountypress.com.
After I get back from IWU, I hope to take advantage of a job-shadowing opportunity at WXIX Fox 19, where I will hopefully get a feel for what sports anchor Brain Giesenschlag does on a daily basis.
As per the inscruction of a counsler at IWU, I'm enjoying summer before I leave in nine days. Hanging out with friends should give me something nice to remember while I go to class five days a week...hmmmm, that sounds firmiliar. Finally, I'm reading Victor Hugo's classic: Les Miserables.

NBA Champions

Well, here we are again, celebrating the bi-annual holiday that is known as 'The Lakers Won The NBA Finals Day.' The 2009 version of the west side Lakers is probably one of the best teams of this decades, and it was great to see one of the greatest coaches in sports history win his 10th title.
I wanted to write an article that would congratulate the Lakers, give props to the Magic, but not spark a Kobe Bryant-Michael Jordan debate....but I think the only way to do that is to say nothing at all.

Goodbye

Going into this year, I had barely even been in a public school building. I had been homeschooled for my entire life. I guess I was a smart enough kid, but I still thought that succeeding academically would be my toughest challenge. Boy, was I wrong. I just found out yesterday what the absolute hardest thing about public school is.
Saying goodbye.
On Friday, the seniors at Southern Hills Career and Technical Center, as well as Western Brown High School, spent their last day at school. As I bid farewell to one of my favorite people in the world, Echo, at the end of the day, the thought of never people like her again became too much. I am not ashamed to say that I broke down into tears right there on the schoolbus.
I just want to thank the class of 2009 for making this year so great. My favorite seniors Echo and Cotton Candy are amazing, I love you guys, and I will never forget you.