Tag Archives: sports

Why I Compete in the CrossFit Games Open

Nick Momrik, , , , , , ,

2013-crossfit-gamesThe 2013 CrossFit Games season kicked off on Wednesday night with the live announcement of Workout 13.1 and a throwdown between two of the top athletes in our sport.

I’ve been chatting with friends back home in MI, a cousin in Texas, and friends at the box here in Phoenix all week. We’re sharing strategies, giving pep talks, and excited for one another.

As of Wednesday, over 120,000 athletes from around the world had registered for the Open, with many more to register before the close of the first workout on Sunday. Registrations should easily double the total of 69,560 in 2012. CrossFitters everywhere are excited for each other. There is no other community like this.

Most of us have no chance at qualifying for Regionals or the Games. However, we will accomplish things we didn’t know we could. We’ll set PRs. We’ll push harder than we have in any other workout. We’ll sweat, cry, yell, and gasp for air; maybe all in the same workout. We’ll have a lot of fun and make new friends.

Many of us loved to play sports in high school. We miss the competition, the adrenaline rushes, and being compared to our peers. The CrossFit Games Open gives us all that and more.

I get to compare myself to CrossFit athletes around the world. I’m not the best athlete in the world or even at my box, but after 5 weeks, I’ll know exactly where I rank in the world and that’s pretty fucking cool. Since I competed last year, I also get to measure my improvement. The registration fee might be the best $20 I spend all year.

Do CrossFit. Prove your fitness. Tomorrow afternoon I’ll try to prove mine in 13.1.

Thumbs Up

Nick Momrik, ,

Utley won’t blame the game. He relished the violence, so he lives with the consequences. To blame football is to deny Utley control of his own life, and every success he’s had — from the moment he first stepped on the Silverdome field to the moment he uses his arms to vault himself into a Ford truck each morning — is a direct result of Utley’s belief that he controls his destiny. There is room to debate the morality of football, and there’s a time to consider our role in promoting barbarism as a form of entertainment. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe the thumbs-up isn’t about us at all. “That moment,” Utley said, “that was me making a promise to myself and to everyone else. That’s me saying I will not quit. I will not give up. I will be back.”

via Mike Utley and the origins of the thumbs-up for injured athletes

I was 11 years old, sitting in the upper deck of the Silverdome when Mike Utley was hurt. It was a chilling event to witness. Twenty years later I’m glad to come across a story about Utley, his attitude, and his drive to got back on his feet.

Football or Soccer or Football? Who Cares!

Nick Momrik, ,

As an American I’m sick of seeing this stupid image passed around every few months.

Here’s an image (source) of a player with his hands on the ball in soccer.

Throwing a soccer ball

Here’s an image (source) of a football being kicked.

Kicking a football

Soccer fans from around of the world, it’s time to get over it. In the United States, we call your version of football by the name soccer and it’s not going to change. Enjoy your sport, call it what you want, and move on.

Barry Sanders: The Most Exciting Player in NFL History

Nick Momrik, , ,

While watching the Lions win their first road game since October of 2007, I though back to Barry Sanders. There has never been a more exciting player in the NFL and I’m not sure there ever will be. He was such a class act too. You never saw Barry show off or do an end zone dance. When he scored (often), he always dropped the ball or walked it over to the referee and headed straight for the sideline.

I’m glad he played for the Lions because I was able to see several of his games in person, but I can’t help but wonder how good he would have been playing behind the offensive lines of the Dallas Cowboys Emmitt Smith ran behind. How many more records would Barry have set? How many more years would we have been able to enjoy his talent if he hadn’t played for Detroit and retired early? We’ll never know.

Enjoy some Barry highlights…

Duke vs. North Carolina today. #2 vs. #3. Definitely one of my sports holidays.

2007 Tigers

Nick Momrik, , , ,

I’ve been watching quite a few of the Detroit Tigers games this year and they’re a fun team to watch. With Kenny Rogers coming off the disabled list and starting a game on Friday, he’s already giving the Tiger pitching a much needed boost. Detroit has taken over first place in the division and has been on a roll, winning their last 7 games. Nobody on the planet has a better offense, so once their pitching is back to last years dominance they’ll be a very hard team to beat. I really need to go down to a game or two.