Thomas Cogliano

Thomas Cogliano

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About

Baseball is my passion. My grandfather was Albert "Rube" Walker, who remained involved in the game of Major League Baseball for nearly 50 years as a player, pitching coach, and scout. Rube Walker was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers before leaving the game as a player the season after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958. Unfortunately, Rube Walker was the catcher behind the plate when Bobby Thomson slammed his famous "Shot Heard Round the World" on October 3, 1951 giving the Giants the National League pennant over the Dodgers in a three-game playoff.

As for myself, I completed my undergraduate work at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I graduated from UMW with a BS degree and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. I was a double major concentrating in mathematics and history. In May 2008, I graduated from George Mason University with an MA in United States history, specifically on Antebellum and Civil War American history.

American history is my concentration right now; however, baseball shall always be my passion!!!

Short List

  • Favorite Athletes

    Ryan Zimmerman, Alexander Ovechkin, Hines Ward

  • Favorite Sports Teams

    Washington Nationals, Washington Redskins, Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Steelers

  • All-Time Sports Moment

    The greatest sports moment I ever watched on TV live was Cal Ripken's 2,131st consecutive game played on September 6, 1995 surpassing Lou Gerig's record. In that game, to seal the moment, Ripken homered...UNBELIEVABLE!!!

  • Most Unbreakable Sports Record

    Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak will be a record that is likely to never be broken. The closest anyone has gotten was Pete Rose and he fell 12 games short at 44 consecutive games!!!

  • Ruth or Mays?

    Babe Ruth was the better athlete by far!!! Babe Ruth revolutionized the game of baseball by introducing power for a game that was emerging from the Dead Ball Era where leading homerun hitters struggled to crack 20 homeruns in a single season. Ruth surpassed the 50 homerun mark at least three times in his career!!!

  • Unitas or Montana?

    Too close to call...but leaning towards Joe Montana because of the 4 Superbowl rings.

  • Jordan or Russell?

    Michael Jordan

  • Gretzky or Orr?

    Wayne Gretzky!!! Seriously, who would argue the other way on this?

  • Federer or Sampras?

    Federer is by far the better tennis player than Pete Sampras. Sampras could never even reach the finals of the French Open. Federer has been a finalist there for three consecutive seasons.

  • ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 or SEC?

    It depends on the actual sport. Currently, the best conference for college football is the...SEC. Currently, the best conference for men's college basketball is the...Big East.

Bulletin Board

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  • Avi Wolfman-Arent posted 303 days ago

    Avi Wolfman-Arent

    Hey Thomas,

    Thanks for the kind words.

    Your piece on the 1936 Berlin Olympic was fascinating and well-written. There isn't much I would add or take away from your writing.

    Big picture, I must admit that this type of article generally doesn't generate tons of interest on B/R. The site is driven by opinion, most of it relating to current events. A recitation of historical facts--enlightening as this one was--isn't going to push the meter much.

    If you want to blend history and sports (two of my greatest loves), I'd suggest probing first for a well-anchored hook (more substantial than just "the Olympics are happening") and then trying to craft that around some sort of opinion/analysis.

    An example, from one of my favorite B/R writers, Ty Schalter:
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1170420-junior-seaus-all-around-dominance-will-never-be-seen-from-an-nfl-lb-again

    Ty wades deep into the history of NFL defenses, but does so under the auspices of evaluating Junior Seau's legacy (Seau, of course, being front page news at the time of his death). It works both as a tribute to Seau and as a commentary on the changing landscape of football.

    Hope all that makes sense.

    Keep up the awesome work.

    -Avi

  • Dylan Mednick posted 984 days ago

    Dylan Mednick

    My cousin considers your grandfather, Rube Walker, a hero. Would there be any way I could get a small piece of memorabilia from your family that you may have to give him for his birthday.

    Thank You,
    Dylan Mednick

  • J.C. Ayvazi posted 1024 days ago

    J.C. Ayvazi

    Had to crawl out of my cave to weigh in on the Dodgers trade deadline deals - hope you find it worthy of your time.

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/428933-jcs-la-view-desperate-dodger-deals-dare-disaster

  • J.C. Ayvazi posted 1137 days ago

    J.C. Ayvazi

    One week into the baseball season and our Boys in Blue drag it back home black & blue - here's some visual evidence:
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/376964-jcs-dodger-view-pirates-marlins-ruin-las-opening-week

  • J.C. Ayvazi posted 1184 days ago

    J.C. Ayvazi

    The media tries to create a Manny-versy, JC points out the reality of this situation:

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/350393-jcs-dodger-line-drives-feb-22-manny-wont-be-in-la-come-2011

  • J.C. Ayvazi posted 1191 days ago

    J.C. Ayvazi

    JC gives his opinion on Eric Gagne's desire to return to the Dodgers

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/347032-jcs-dodger-line-drives-feb-16-eric-gagne-hopes-for-a-return-to-la

  • J.C. Ayvazi posted 1199 days ago

    J.C. Ayvazi

    Greetings!

    Have a new article just out of the oven looking at the Dodger starting pitching. Get it while it's hot!

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/342240-jcs-dodger-line-drives-feb-8-previewing-las-starters-for-2010

  • Ash Marshall posted 1207 days ago

    Ash Marshall

    Hey Thomas,

    I recently had the chance to speak with first-time Olympian John Daly. I hope you get a chance to check it out.

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/336669-interviewing-an-olympian-team-usas-john-daly-talks-about-vancouver-2010

    Thanks,

    Ash

  • J.C. Ayvazi posted 1268 days ago

    J.C. Ayvazi

    Off the bench with this pinch hitting appearance and hoping all is well your way I present:

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/300623-jcs-dodger-line-drives-dec-1-las-vin-scully-to-return-for-2010

  • Steve Smith posted 1289 days ago

    Steve Smith

    Thomas,

    I really thought you’d find this piece something you’d want to read on this Veteran’s Day.

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/288145-sports-veterans-day-reflect-understand-and-soften-your-heart

    Thanks,

    Daniel Barber aka Hotnuke

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