JASON COLLINS: HE'S NO JACKIE ROBINSON

On Monday afternoon, Jason Collins, an NBA journeyman, announced that he is gay. Nearlyevery article that followed said Collins is the first active athlete in a major sport to come outof the closet. That could be debated because his season is over and the odds of an NBA team picking up a 34-year old veteran center who has averaged just over three points in his 11-year career, is very slim. So, I'm not sure the term "active" really fits in this case.That's...

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MANTI TE'O FINALLY GETS HIS HAPPY ENDING

 Thanks to the most bizarre scandal in the history of college football, Manti Te'o became themost scrutinized and vetted player in pre-NFL Draft history. Is he gay? Is he too slow? Is heoverrated? Is he just a strange guy who can run down ball carriers? All those questions followedthe former Notre Dame linebacker after it was revealed that the dead girlfriend he said he had,never really existed.The questions about his character, sexuality, and...

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I AM BOSTON

I am Boston. Last Monday was the worst day of my life. Terrorists set off two bombs tryingto wreck my beloved marathon. I lost three beautiful people in Martin Richard, Krsytle Campbell, and Lu Lingzi. Almost 200 more were injured, many of them badly. I was shaken to my core, but I am strong and still standing.I am Boston and I learned a lot about myself and others over the last week. I used to think courage was Tedy Bruschi coming back from...

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2014 BOSTON MARATHON: BIGGER THAN SUPER BOWL

Gerry Callahan, the talented columnist for Boston Herald, wrote shortly after the Boston Marathonbombing, the terrorists blew a hole into the great race and Patriots,Day saying that it would never be the same. He is right, the Boston Marathon won't be like it used to be. It will be better, stronger, and more important than ever before.On April 21, 2014, the 118th edition of the race will be run and it will be the biggest and most important event...

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BOSTON BOMBING: THE SOCIAL MEDIA HUNT IS OFF AND RUNNING

At close to 5:15pm on Thursday, the FBI lifted the black items that had been covering twolarge poster boards resting on an easel in a Boston hotel room. In a way, it felt like the old game show, "Let's Make A Deal", where contestants and viewers at home were directed by Monty Hall to see what was behind door number one, two, or three.The anticipation and tension was palpable, with everyone on the edge of their seats, especiallyafter...

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CARLOS ARREDONDO: THE MAN IN THE COWBOY HAT

The image and story of Carlos Arredondo and Jeff Bauman have been seared into my consciousness forever. Arredondo, the man in the cowboy hat, trying desperately to save aperson who, in an instant, became just like him: damaged, broken, and forever scarred by unthinkable tragedy.Bauman, just 27-years old, was waiting for his girlfriend to cross the finish line in the BostonMarathon. Turns out, he was in right place at the wrong time, as a bomb...

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BOSTON, MY BOSTON

Boston is like a powerful and addictive drug. It stimulates, energizes, and consumes you. It's electric every day and makes you feel alive as it enriches all five of the senses. The world-class city is rich in everything: history, tradition, politics, education, the arts, but most of all, sports. As I've written many times, Boston is the best sports city in the country, bar none. The Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots have won seven...

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TIGER WOODS LEARNS ALL ABOUT KARMA

When Tiger Woods hit the pin on the 15th hole and watched helplessly as the ball caromedinto the water, my first reaction was, man, how unlucky can you get? A near-perfect shot andthen, boom! The ball ends up in the water. Then I realized that wasn't being unlucky, that waskarma knocking on Tiger's door.I thought back to two weeks earlier when Tiger won the Bay Hill Invitational. He reclaimed the number one ranking in the world and appeared to be back...

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GUAN SLOW AND STRONG KID

The smallest, youngest, and most inexperienced golfer in the Masters got bullied on his way to making history. Tianlang Guan, who is 14-years old and all of 140 lbs, was making his way to the 17th green when he was confronted by a large man who had a beef with him. Think Biff making life miserable for McFly in "Back To The Future". On Friday, Biff wasplayed by John Paramor, a rules official with a strong background on the European Tour. He tagged...

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TIANLANG GUAN AND BEING 14-YEARS OLD

When I was 14-years old, I had one of the most frightening experiences in my life. I was afreshman at Lake Forest High, which is located about 30 miles north of Chicago. I was going toask Carrie Pinkerton to go out with me. Man, you talk about sweaty palms, dry mouth,  andthe fear of looking bad? I had it. If I was Forest Gump, Carrie was my Jen-naaaay. She was the prettiest thing I had ever laid I eyes. Even though she wore blue...

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