Bleacher Report - Articles by Emily Diekelmann

Confessions of a First Year Hockey Fan

Emily Diekelmann — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:25:34 -0400

You know the old saying what a difference a year makes?

Well, for this sports fan, this year has been one of learning a new sport that I had hated up until now—hockey.

If someone would have asked me six months ago what a minor in hockey was, I probably would have said something along the lines of "it is someone under the age of 18 that plays hockey." Oh, how naive I was back then.

Growing up I never had a very large interest in hockey. My family never really watched it and girls rarely played it so ultimately it wasn't on my top three list of sports to watch. I am still kicking myself for that mistake.

The only two teams I knew very well were the hometown boys, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, because of the three movies. Ah, the good ol' days...but I digress.

A little less than six months ago, a good friend of mine decided that hockey needed to be introduced into my life—and it wasn't just any ordinary team. Oh no, he brought me into the realm of the Pittsburgh Penguins. A team with Sid the Kid, Geno, and the Flower for a goaltender.

Needless to say I was hooked, because—well, have you seen Sidney Crosby? It took some time to understand the rules completely, such as the difference between offsides in football and hockey (took me over a month to finally get it right), power play length, and different penalties.

For me, hockey almost seems like a ballet in how the players go from one side of the rink to the other. Of course in this ballet, the men are wearing heavy pads and beating each other to a pulp—but you get the idea.

Whether chasing down the puck to score the winning goal or stopping the other team from getting a breakaway, they glide seamlessly back and forth, making it look so easy and beautiful.

Now before everyone starts yelling at me for being a bandwagon fan, I must say first that I do watch the Blackhawks, and have paid some very minor attention to them over the years, so I don't want to hear all that bandwagon crap. Second, I was brought into the Penguins fan base by association and loyalty of a friend—so there.

By the All-Star game I knew two things for certain: I can't stand Alexander Ovechkin and a hockey puck is really hard to see when the cameramen suck. The Pens at this point weren't doing very well so of course I thought I was the reason, the jinx....I love being wrong.

The Pens, like their cardiac kids nickname implies, gained new life under a new head coach and had me believing that there is a reason that the hockey season lasts so long; so the good can get better and the bad fall by the wayside.

I said earlier that I liked the Penguins because of the very handsome Sidney Crosby but oh how my hockey tastes have changed. I see players like Malkin, Fluery, Kane, Toews, (dare I say it) Ovechkin, Datsyuk, and Eric Staal that are so skilled, yet so humble it leaves me in awe that these guys play a professional sport. Well, maybe not Ovechkin—but the guy can play.

One of the major things I've noticed in my six months as a hockey fan is how soft-spoken these players are. There aren't any Kobes, LeBrons or T.O.s in sight to run their mouths but only players that are willing to prove themselves on the ice instead of in the post game press-conferences.

As I am writing this the Pens are up 1-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers are playing the Magic in the same conference finals for the NBA. I couldn't care less and i love it!

I am hoping for a Penguins-Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final because that means either way I would be happy for the winner—but the Blackhawks need to get their A-game back.

Only a few more weeks until Lord Stanley's Cup will be awarded and for the first time in my life, I can say I am excited to see who wins!!

Testimony of a True Female Sports Fan

Emily Diekelmann — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:44:35 -0400

To anyone who actually takes the time to read this:

As I sit here, a slew of sports shows are discussing topics from March Madness to T.O. and his move to the Bills and still the whole A-Rod steroids issue. I am not here to talk about any of those things—I am here to squash a myth that a guy friend of mine presented to me...girls can't know anything about sports.

Without sitting there screaming my lungs out, I calmly explained to him that there are many women out there who know a lot about sports, including myself, and have to defend themselves to idiotic inside the box thinkers such as my friend. In his defense, he is an only child, and God love him, I could have killed him when he said this.

I am a Chicago girl...I was born there and raised on the Bears, Bulls, White Sox, and even the Blackhawks...I loathe the Cubs with every fiber of my being and have in the last decade become a Cardinals fan, which helps to fuel my hatred.

I watched Michael Jordan bring the Bulls championship after championship...I watched the White Sox break their 88-year long drought...I saw the Cubs screw up their chances again...TWICE...and now I watch the Blackhawks reclaim their fame. Sadly, I wasn't born yet to see the '85 Bears raise some hell, but they sure came close in '06.

I just read an article about the "glass ceiling" that has been holding women back in the workplace, especially in the field of sports journalism. While I know everyone can name the beauties who stand on the sidelines or sit behind the desk, does anyone ever think they really know what they are talking about? Not saying they don't, but does anyone think they are more then just a pretty face?

That is where my friend's logic came from...enough said.

With that being said, I would like to tell all of those sitting out there thinking that just because we are women and are well, let's face it, amazing, doesn't mean we don't know sports.

I have a feeling that if someone reads this, they will say I am just complaining and should get over it, but as a matter of fact I am getting ready to graduate soon with a bachelor's in sports journalism hoping to one day either work for ESPN or run the PR department for a professional sports team.

I am not afraid of challenging anyone to a test of sports knowledge and am proud to say I AM A WOMAN and A SPORTS FAN!!!

Baseball: The Glue That Held a Nation Together After September 11

Emily Diekelmann — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:33:40 -0400

It's hard to believe it has been seven years ago today that our country was rocked with one of the worst disasters in history.

Many look back and think what could our government, or we as a country, have done to prevent the terrorist attacks that day from happening, and what can we do to make sure nothing like them occurs again.

While the country paused to recollect itself after September 11, many looked to the world of sports to remind themselves of what is good in this world. One of the sports that had the most impact was baseball.

Whether it was the sight of Mets players wearing New York City police and fire department hats during their first game since the attacks, or Mike Piazza's home run to beat the Braves, America used sports to return to the normalcy that it so badly craved.

Now, seven years later, the sting is still there and, while it might not be as painful, baseball will remind everyone that "We Shall Not Forget," and that those who were tragically lost that day will always be remembered.

Baseball stadiums across the country will have what has become the post-9/11 slogan "We Shall Not Forget" printed on the field, as well as commemorative lineup cards and bases.

Pregame ceremonies will include veterans, members of local law enforcement, and men and women from the armed forces.

Eight years ago, Sept. 11 was just another day on the calendar, but from now on it will be seen as a time when a country was burnt, but rose out of the ashes to be a strong, united nation...that's why we are the United States of America.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

*9/11/01—To all those who lost family members, my thoughts and prayers are with you*

Open Mic: Retirement Only Temporary?

Emily Diekelmann — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:49:43 -0400

Why, Brett, why? After a phenomenal season this past year, you come back only to create a media circus around yourself that makes you look like a starving player craving the game one last time.

We have seen it before—a player retires only to return a year or a few months later, having decided that it wasn’t his time to leave the field. Michael Jordan did it twice, Roger Clemens did it three times. But why?

I am biased in my belief that Jordan’s first comeback was beneficial for all parties involved since I grew up on the South Side of Chicago during the amazing Bulls of the '90s. With that said, I was sad to see him come out of retirement and make what was a wonderful send off look desperate.

When it comes to Favre it's easy for me to say that coming back is the wrong decision. I grew up with the Favre who would scare Bears fans, including me, to their core. But I also watched him slowly fade into obscurity until this past year when my faith was restored and I once again saw the Favre I grew up loving.

So I come back to my original question: Why? I’ve never fully understood why players, so soon after retiring, feel the need to come back. Is it because they felt it wasn’t truly their time, were they bored at home, or did they lose some money in Vegas? What could change their minds so quickly?

Roger Clemens is a good example. He has “unretired” three times in the past eight years when, in my eyes, he should have left in 2003 after receiving all that fanfare from the Yankees and fans around the country.

It's hard to sit here and explain why players should not return when I have never played a professional sport in my life, but from a fan’s point of view some guys just need to realize when it's time for the next generation to move up.

Good luck, Favre, with whatever life has in store for you next...even if that means becoming a Chicago Bear.

Josh Hamilton: From Sinner to Baseball Saint

Emily Diekelmann — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:58:56 -0400

His story is one that every person dreams of; being at your absolute worst and rising out of the ashes back to the top of your game. For Josh Hamilton, the Texas Rangers' outfielder, he is now living the dream.

Hamilton grew up with baseball. Thriving in high school, twice named Gatorade’s High School Player of the Year, he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999. From there he played on the Rays minor league team until 2000. Prior to the 2001 season, his decent into drugs began and his baseball future began to slip away.

From 2001-2004, Hamilton played in only a few games and was suspended by Major League Baseball for violating their drug policy. At that moment, it seemed as if Hamilton’s baseball life was over.

He went to rehab and began to train again in 2006 under heavy watch of MLB. He was drafted in the Rule 5 draft by the Chicago Cubs. The Rule 5 draft is to prevent teams from obtaining too many young players for minor league teams when other teams would play them in the pros.

After the Cubs obtained him, he was quickly sent to the Cincinnati Reds where he played 90 games and had a batting average of. 292. In a trade with the Texas Rangers, Hamilton finally acquired the success he had always longed for.

In 2008, the Rangers traded Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera for Hamilton. This move proved to be his claim to fame. With 21 home runs and 95 RBI, he is setting the pace for the rest of the baseball world. As if his year couldn't get any better, he was elected to his first All-Star game with the most votes among outfielders.

He went on to participate in the Home Run Derby and would shatter the record for home runs in one round by hitting 28. Although he didn’t end up winning, Hamilton still knew the impact of what happened.

When asked how he felt after the Home Run Derby he simply replied, “I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

This year Hamilton has not only shown humility but also proved to people that no matter who they are, they can overcome the troubles in their life and come out standing on top.