Here are some "classic" Artificial Turf sports essays. Classic...a nice word for old or outdated.

THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPS!.....By Bill Rogan (4-5-06)
In boxing, there are so many agenda-driven sanctioning bodies that the best fighter is not always the champ. The sometimes corrupt and political world of boxing can create “paper” champeens. Fight fans know, however, whom the real champ is. In the early 1980’s, Michael Dokes and Gerrie Coetzee held the heavyweight crown for a while. They were paper champs. The people’s champ was of course Larry Holmes. I don’t know of anyone who thought otherwise.
Which brings me to Barry Bonds. There was a time I was worried and upset that this despicable steroid-enhanced human being would pass Babe Ruth and Henry Aaron on the all-time home run list. Now, I don’t really care. Because no matter what happens with Bonds and his chase of the record, “The People’s Champ” will still be Hammerin’ Hank with 755 circuit clouts with The Bambino in second at 714. Bonds could hit 1,000 home runs and I would still consider Aaron the all-time home run king.
The same goes for Roger Maris. He’s still The People’s Champ in the most home runs in a single season category with 61. As for Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, I completely dismiss those cheaters and the seasons in which they totaled more homers in a season than Maris.
So let Bonds have the paper title of 73 homers in a season. Let the record book show that McGwire and Sosa also had seasons of better than 61 round-trippers. We all know who The People’s Champ truly is.
It used to be the record book had the final say. Many arguments and wagers were settled by going to the record book. Thanks to the steroid era in baseball, the record book has become an imperfect document. With clouds of suspicion hovering over the numbers accumulated the past 15-20 years, the fans can determine for themselves who the real record holders are. Some may think Bonds, if he passes Aaron, will hold the all-time record. But most fans, myself included, will think otherwise. Because until a player whom people have confidence is clean hits 756 in a career or 62 in a season, then it is easy to determine the record holders. The People’s Champs will continue to be Hank Aaron and Roger Maris.

OPINIONIZATIONS…….By Bill Rogan (3-29-06)
The week before Opening Day is the longest week of all for baseball fans. Like the players, fans are sick of spring training. Let’s get the show started…….
Auto racing is stupid. It is an invitation to the great beyond. That said, this past Sunday’s death of Indy driver Paul Dana in a wreck before the Toyota 300 in Florida was heartbreaking. What is also quite sad is that the race was run just four hours after Dana expired. Would it have hurt to postpone the event? Even racing the next day would have been more tasteful than treating Dana’s death as a distraction…….
I’m not a big golf guy. But I do enjoy The Masters. I mean, I’d rather watch just about any other sport besides golf, but I can take The Masters. By the way, if golf were a black sport, would it be called, “Da Masterz”? Anyway, the scenery alone is worth watching. I’m guessing the Augusta National groundskeeper gets paid handsomely.…..
Speaking of golf, what ever happened to Ty Tryon? Wasn’t he supposed to be the next Tiger Woods? Maybe he should have played in college before turning pro at 17…….
I’m ready for the NHL playoffs. Are you? For the first time this century the Rangers will actually be taking part, which has me excited. However, I will not say they will win the Stanley Cup because every time I say, “I think the Rangers can win the Cup this year”, they lose. Except for 1994. I kept my trap shut that year.….
Yes, I am fully aware that opinionizations is not a word. I just invented it and I hope Webster’s gives me credit for it one day…..
For a guy who was a genius, Albert Einstein looked kind of dumb. Do you think people were surprised when he started in on that quantum physics stuff instead of discussing life behind the convenience store counter? No offense to convenience store clerks of course…..
Whenever you hear someone say, “No offense...but,” get ready to be offended. Same with, “Don’t take this the wrong way.” You’ll be taking it the wrong way for sure…..
Is it just me or are Nuggets a very un-likeable team? Even though I am not what you would call a fan of the teams here in Colorado, I don’t mind at all when they do well. But I just can’t embrace the Nuggets. Maybe its because I can’t embrace the entire NBA. It’s not a good product anymore….
I like the NFL draft. But I wouldn’t consider myself a draftnik. If you are one of those “draftnik” folks, at the conclusion of reading this, please seek immediate help…..
George Mason? As John McEnroe would say, “YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS.”..…
I really, really, really hate that Applebee's commercial with those two knuckleheads singing a takeoff on the Gilligans Island theme.....
I truly believe the Rangers will win the Stanley Cup this year. Oooops!….
People who don’t like baseball are either un-American, have attention deficit disorder or just don’t understand the greatest game of all. Perhaps it’s a combination of all three…..
Enjoy the baseball season everybody and may your team win the World Series. Especially if that team is the New York Yankees!  

K-STATE SELLS ITS SOUL......(By Bill Rogan 3-23-06)
In a sports essay last summer, I predicted, with much confidence, that fired University of Cincinnati Head Basketball Coach Bob Huggins, would get hired by some school desperate to win basketball games. Despite the repulsive behavior of many of his Bearcat players, despite his own transgressions, I knew some school would hire him. Kansas State University was that deperate school.
K-State President Dr. Jon Wefald talked about how wonderful a coach Bob Huggins is and added that Huggins will bring in student-athletes that are going to go to class and that are going to graduate. Is he serious or does he just think people are stupid? Maybe he thought he was introducing a different Bob Huggins because the Bob Huggins I'm familiar with brought thugs and hoodlums to Cincinnati. The only way his players were going to get a diploma is if they stole one at gunpoint.
If you read the glowing press release on the Kansas State athletic website, you won't see a single word about all the problems under Huggins at Cincinnati. You won't read about his embarrassing arrest for drunk driving. The woeful graduation rates of his players and their arrest statistics were also conveniently left out of the text.
Be forewarned people of Manhattan, Kansas. Huggins reign of terror is about to begin. Huggy will put the Wild in Wildcats. He'll bring in bad actors. He'll try to win at all costs. Be careful when driving in case Coach Hug decides to drive home after having a few pops.
Mark my words. Eventually, the marriage of this wonderful coach and Kansas State University will end in ugly fashion. But it will be worth it. He'll win a bunch of basketball games along the way.
(Read the 8-25-05 essay on Huggins dismissal from Cincinnati)

HEAVYWEIGHT DISGUST.....(By Bill Rogan 3-20-06)
Quick, who is the heavyweight champeen of the world? Tough one isn't it?
In years gone by, people alway knew who the holder of the once most prestigious crown in sports was. Without exception they knew.
Even non-boxing fans were aware of when Jack Dempsey held the crown. They knew when the champ was Joe Louis, or Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes or Mike Tyson.
Now there are just a bunch of stiffs masquerading as champs or contenders. The heavyweight division is dead. It is said that the heavyweight class sets the tone for the rest of the divisions. Sadly, boxing is dying a painful death due to the dearth of quality heavyweights. The heavyweight division is rancid, more so than ever.
The recent Hasim Rahman-James Toney sham is a perfect example of the heavyweight garbage hoisted upon an increasingly dissatisfied public. Rahman retained the title he was given when Vitaly Klitschko retired by stumbling to an insipid draw against the fat, bloated, out of shape 37-year old Toney. That Toney had the nerve and gall to step into the ring to fight for the heavyweight champeenship with his flabby belly hanging over his waistband was a disgrace. Even more of a disgrace was Rahman who couldn't put away this tub of blubber. We have to credit Toney however. He didn't, as far as we know, fail a steroid test as he did a year ago when he beat another chump, John Ruiz.
Before you think that Rahman is the sole champ of the division, think again. Those laying claim to the title include Chris Byrd, Lamon Brewster and some pug named Nicolay Valuev. Byrd is 35 years old, Brewster and Valuev are both 32 while Rahman is 33. Where are the young, up and coming heavyweights? Are they even out there?
The heavyweight division is a flat out joke. It will be a long time before I waste another minute watching a bout featuring the current crop of heavyweight bums.

THE PLIGHT OF DWIGHT.....(By Bill Rogan 3-16-06)
The first real pitch ever thrown in Rockies history was a fastball delivered from the golden right arm of  Dwight Gooden, for the Mets, to Eric Young on April 5^th 1993. The 28-year old Gooden went on to throw a complete game 4-hitter against Colorado that day at sunny but chilly Shea Stadium.  The Rockies got their first game out of the way and Gooden picked up his 143^rd career win.
Gooden and the words “future Hall of Famer” were linked quite a bit in his early days in baseball.
As a 19-year old speedballer, Doctor K as he was called, or Doc, won 17 games with 276 strikeouts. The following year he won 24 games, struck out 268 batters and earned a World Series ring. He would never approach 24 wins in a season again or those strikeout totals again. He was a good pitcher for a few more seasons, including throwing a no-hitter with the Yankees in 1996, but nothing like his spectacular entrance into the Major Leagues.
Doc was out of baseball after the 2000 season in which he bounced around with the Yankees, Astros and Devil Rays. He finished with 192 wins, just 112 losses and close to 23-hundred strikeouts. Nice numbers certainly but it could have been so much more.
Drug abuse, alcoholism, drunk driving, domestic abuse and fighting highlight the transgressions of the once heralded phenom.
Last August, he sped away from police during a DUI stop. This week, he admitted to his probation officer that he had used cocaine. His positive test broke the terms of his probation and now Gooden is facing five years in prison.  At 41, Gooden’s glorious summers of 1985 and 86 are now more than half a lifetime away. As time marches on, people remember Gooden more for his misdeeds than his once brilliant pitching.
The downward fortunes of Gooden may seem sad to some.  I have gotten past feeling sorry for the former baseball prodigy. He had numerous chances to succeed, to get his life in order and to become a respected and productive member of society. Time and time again he has thrown his life in the garbage can the way he used to fire fastballs past outclassed batsmen. Sad?  Not anymore. Pathetic? No, worse than that.

PETER THE INVISIBLE.....(By Bill Rogan 3-9-06)
Barry Bonds is taking more heat than he's ever taken before and that's saying something. The book, "Game of Shadows", will soon be hitting the shelves detailing the suspected massive steroid use by the Giants truculent slugger.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is also in the cross-hairs. Always an easy target, Selig looks lame when he talks about Bonds.
The leader of the players union, Sourpuss Donald Fehr has also been the recipient of deserved criticism for looking the other way when he knew steroid use was rampant amongst his constituants.
The person that should be answering questions, the guy who seems to be bulletproof in this sordid affair is the man who signs Bonds' hefty paychecks. That would be San Francisco Giants owner Peter Magowan.
Anyone, with the slightest bit of intellect has to know, or at the very least suspect, that Bonds is a steroid cheat. Magowan must have known the home runs and accomplishments of Bonds were tainted. Did he truly believe the assertions of the defiant Giant that he didn't use steroids? Did he actually buy the flaxseed oil defense?
Like Selig and Fehr, Magowan did nothing except blindly sign the checks and wonder how baseball was going to salute bulky Barry when he eventually surpassed Henry Aaron as the all-time home run king. Face it, Bonds hitting roundtrippers put money in the pocket of Peter Magowan. Period. He knew the truth. He chose to look the other way.
However, Magowan can come out looking like the good guy in all of this. Instead of continuing to allow Bonds to fraudulently assault the record book, he can make sure that Hammerin' Hank remains the home run leader. Magowan, to save his own reputation and the honor of his team, should immediately terminate Bonds. Now. Not tomorrow, not after he passes Babe Ruth's home run total, not after the season, NOW! Give Bonds a pink slip, his money and tell him to get lost.
Magowan should admit that Bonds is an embarrassment to the game, a disgrace to the San Francisco uniform and under no circumstances will he tarnish baseball any more as a member of the Giants. Furthermore, every other owner should stand up and applaud this move and refuse to employ Bonds.
Barry Bonds won't go away on his own. Peter Magowan should do the proper thing and send him on his way. Now.

A HALL OF FAME HUMAN......(By Bill Rogan 3-1-06)
Effa Manley is going into the baseball Hall of Fame. Buck O'Neil isn't. Manley, who passed away in 1981, co-owned the Newark Eagles of the old Negro Leagues with her husband Abe Manley. I don't mean to disparage Mrs. Manley but what exactly makes her Hall of Fame worthy? How does she get in yet O'Neil doesn't? It makes zero sense to me.
The other 16 people going into the Hall of Fame, off the recommendation and vote of a special research committee, include five Negro League players, five pre-Negro Leaguers, four Negro League executives and one pre-Negro League executive. Most of those elected have unrecognizable names. Have you ever heard of Alex Pompez? Cristobol Torriente? Louis Santop? I am not going to get into a discussion on the merits of the new Hall of Famers but none of them, NONE, have made the contributions to the game that Buck O'Neil has.
O'Neil, still kicking and as sharp as a Satchel Paige curveball at the age of 94, began his Negro League playing career in the 1930's and accumulated a .288 lifetime batting average. However, his impact ranges far beyond a decent batting average and a slick glove at first base.
Following his playing career, in which he earned a reputation as a clutch hitter, O'Neil managed the legendary Kansas City Monarchs for nine seasons, guiding them to five pennants and two Black World Series titles. In 1962, he became the first black coach in Major League baseball history with the Chicago Cubs. He was a long-time scout who signed Lou Brock and Joe Carter. His insight and recollections on the Ken Burns baseball documentary were invaluble and gave a voice to the old Negro Leagues. He was, and continues to be, an ambassador to the game which he clearly loves. Again, no offense to the people who were just elected, but it rings hollow without O'Neil. Sadly, all of the newly elected Hall of Famers are deceased. I hope that Buck O'Neil is still alive if, and when, he rightfully goes into the Hall of Fame. The fact he is still waiting is a travesty of the highest degree.
On a personal note, I have had the pleasure of meeting Buck O'Neil on two occasions. The first time was in 1995 at a minor league ballpark in New York. The team I was broadcasting for held a Negro League appreciation day. One of the honored guests was Buck O'Neil. I interviewed O'Neil for the pre-game show and he was terrific. He also told me about old Negro League standout Bullet Joe Rogan and what a splendid player he was. Since I share the same surname as Bullet Joe (no relation) I was intrigued by what O'Neil had to say. He told me Bullet Joe Rogan should be in the Hall of Fame and sure enough, three years later, he was posthumously inducted.
Following the interview we chatted for another 10-15 minutes and I walked away thrilled that I had the opportunity to speak to such a man as Buck O'Neil.
Now fast-forward to Erie, Pennsylvania, 1998. The Erie minor league club was holding a Negro League day. During batting practice, I was standing near the batting cage when who should approach me with some pep in his step but the one and only Buck O'Neil. As he reached for my hand he enthusiastically said, "Hey, you're that Rogan fella. How you doin?" To say that moment made my head spin is an understatement. He made me feel like the most important guy in the ballpark.  I invited him on my pre-game show and, once again, it was one of my favorite interviews ever. When the interview was over, he grabbed a baseball that was on the dugout bench where we sitting and signed it for me without request. 
Just before the game began, Buck O'Neil was announced to the crowd and he received a wonderful and well deserved ovation. He was set to throw out the first pitch. Now in his late 80's, he jogged to the mound. He toed the rubber and sent his arm forward...but he didn't release the baseball. Instead, he ran a few steps forward and went into his windup again...only to hold on to the ball once more. He moved a few steps closer as the spectators burst out laughing. Once more he faked a throw home and scooted closer to the plate. Finally, about 15-feet from home plate he lobbed the first pitch to the delighted Erie catcher as the crowd went nuts. Quite a show to start a baseball game on a hot sunny afternoon.
Buck O'Neil is a Hall of Famer in my book and in the minds of many others. There is absolutely no doubt about that.
(Note: Buck O'Neil passed away on October 6th, 2006 in Kansas City. He will be missed by all. RIP Buck.)

DETESTABLE......(By Bill Rogan 2-24-06)
It blows my mind that Nuggets General Mismanager Kiki Vandeweghe has traded for Ruben Patterson. And people wonder what is wrong with the Nuggets.
Ruben Patterson is a bum. Putting him in the same locker room with Kenyon Martin is like handing a hand-grenade to a 3-year old. Nothing good will come of it.
Patterson has never become the player many thought he would become when he entered the NBA out of Bob Huggins' thug program at the University of Cincinnati (read the 8-25-05 Turf essay). But it doesn't matter what kind of player Patterson is. He is a bad person, the kind you don't win championships with.
Once Patterson settles in Denver, he'll have to register as a sex offender. He pleaded no contest to third degree rape of a nanny who was caring for his young children five years ago.
In college, he alledgedly broke into a woman's room with a teammate and beat her up and stole property. He wasn't charged because she didn't press charges. Perhaps because he was a Cincinnati hoopster it would have been difficult for her to go through the entire process.
Patterson beat up a man outside a Cleveland night club in 2001 because the man scratched his car. He was convicted of assualt in that one.
A year later, Patterson was arrested for felony domestic abuse but his wife, with whom he has since divorced, didn't press charges.
On the court, he was suspended this season for verbally abusing his coach Nate McMillan and refusing to enter a game with the Blazers. The well known malcontent demanded a trade and the Nuggets were there with open arms.
Denver Head Coach George Karl called Patterson, "An attack dog". Did Karl mean on or off the court?
If I were a Nuggets fan I would be embarrassed to have a miscreant like Patterson on my team. It's bad enough to have Kenyon Martin. Together I'm sure they will be a positive influence on the young player they are building the franchise around, Carmelo Anthony. I wonder if Kiki can lure Shawn Kemp out of retirement or bring back Isiah Rider?
I will give Vandeweghe credit though. He got rid of the miserable Voshon Lenard.
Prior to getting Patterson, the Nuggets, in my estimation, were longshots to get to the NBA Finals. Now they have no shot. None. Nada. Zippo. Nil. They'll be lucky to reach the playoffs. If the Nuggets go to the NBA Finals, I'll personally clean the Pepsi Center after they play their first game there.

I HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU HAVE ANSWERS......(By Bill Rogan 2-23-06)
We all admire athletes, especially the ones who do what we know we can't do or do even remotely well.
That said, if you knew you couldn't do it, or do it with any degree of aptitude, would you still try it?
Would you step into the batters box and try to hit Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens?
Would you try to dunk on Shaq if you could launch yourself off a trampoline?
Would you put on the goalie equipment and try to stop a Jaromir Jagr slapshot or a Joe Sakic breakaway?
Would you step into the ring with a professional boxer?
Would you have the courage to take a ride in a bobsled or fly down the icy track on the luge?
Would you be willing to put on the helmet and pads and return a kickoff in the NFL? How about college? High school?
Would you challenge a professional wrestler, even if it is fake?
Would you be able to return any of Roger Federer's serves? Would you give it a shot? Out of 100-serves, how many could you return cleanly?
Would you be willing to take on Tiger Woods in a round of golf? How many shots would you need? What if you played for money?
You have a 10-foot putt to win The Masters. Do you sink it or spew up your last meal?
Would you get on a horse and ride it in the Kentucky Derby? Could you even stay on the horse once the gate opened?
Down two points in an NBA playoff game with one second left on the clock, would you be able to hit three free throws? Two?
Would you take a stab at ski jumping?
Would you try to officiate a college basketball game with Bobby Knight and Mike Krzyzewski patrolling the sidelines?
Men, how many points would you score if you played in an entire WNBA game?
Ladies, would you be willing to get into the cheerleading outfit of your favorite NFL team and parade in front of a TV camera....right now?
The most risky thing of all, would you be willing to write a sports essay for Artificial Turf?
(see Guest Essay's page for more info!)

MODERN DAY PITCHING.....(By Bill Rogan 2-15-06)
How many times, over the past decade or so, have you heard someone say, "Pitching today is terrible."? Probably hundreds of times.
I'm here to state that pitching today is better now than it has ever been in the history of baseball. You may be in complete disagreement with that statement. If you are, don't feel bad, you are in the majority. Now, if you give me a few moments of your time, I will explain my rationale.
Hitting is the best it has ever been and one reason is that hitters have all the advantages. Many more advantages than pitchers.
A hitter can work on his craft 365-days a year. A pitcher cannot work on his skill every day for the simple reason his arm would fall off. A pitcher's arm needs proper rest or he will risk injury. Throwing a baseball with a sore arm leads to poor mechanics and all sorts of problems, some of which a pitcher may never recover.
HItters utilize indoor batting cages, hitting tees, video tape, advanced strength training and all kinds of supplements, some legal and some not. They also benefit from playing in smaller ballparks. Unlike years gone by, a baseball player doesn't have to work at a real job in the off-season to make ends meet. He can work out all day and that includes hitting for hours and hours.
So while hitters continue to get better, pitching is also at an all-time best although the stats and era's continue to take a beating.
Athletes in all sports are clearly better now than in previous generations. In track and field and in swimming, we can see how world record times of today dwarf the records of 50 or 100-years ago. The times don't lie. In football and basketball, the players are clearly much bigger, stronger and faster. Does anybody with even half a brain think that the 1960's Packers could compete with teams of today? Could any championship NBA team of the 50's contend with the worst NBA teams of today? Of course not. Then why do people feel that baseball is different and that teams like the 1927 Yankees could compete today?
If the Colorado Rockies of last season, a 67-95 ballclub, were transported in a time machine back to 1927, they would be unbeatable. They might lose 10-games all season. Maybe. The great players in the 20's, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Al Simmons, Hack Wilson and the lot of them, would be overmatched. They wouldn't even be able to touch modern day pitching.
Those old-timers never faced a staff of pitchers who threw 90+ miles per hour. They didn't face guys who threw unreal sliders and breaking pitches. Roger Clemens has never thrown a no-hitter. If he was toiling back in the 10's or 20's he would have thrown 20 or so no-nos.
Not one current pitcher has thrown 300-innings in a season. Back in the early days of baseball it was common for a hurler to rack up 300-inning seasons. How hard could they have been throwing? Managers today employ their bullpens in vastly different fashions. A starter in 1927 was expected to toss complete games. Guys in the bullpen were washed up starters. There were no set-up men, one batter specialists or closers coming in to blow it out for one inning.  Pitchers today throw as hard as they can for as long as they can before giving way to a fresh arm.
Cy Young had 11-seasons of 300+ innings and 5-years of 400+ innings. He had to pace himself. Do you think he was firing the ball 90-miles per hour? Cy Young would have trouble getting good high school hitters out today.
The entire Rockies 2005 pitching staff, as good or as bad as you might judge them, would be absolutely dominant and unhittable in the 1920's. Jason Jennings would be a Hall-Of-Famer and Todd Helton would hit .500 with 100 home runs and 250 rbi's. It would be batting practice for him and the rest of the modern day hitters if they played back then.
Some people argue that expansion has created watered down pitching. Prior to 1961 there were just 16 major league teams. Now there are 30. They fail to take into account that the United States population was roughly 178-million people. The estimated population in the U-S last year was 296-million. Add to that all the foreign countries producing baseball players, particularly in Latin America, and the talent pool is much higher than ever.
So while pitching may look bad today statistically because of the advances made in hitting, it is better now than it has ever been. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong.