Jason Collins - Modern-Day Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson, Jim Abbott, Magic Johnson, Nancy Lieberman, Janet Guthrie, Oscar Pistorius.

These men and women broke barriers in professional sports with regards to race, gender, and physical disability. They remain as icons to those who came after them. 

African-Americans look up to Jackie Robinson for breaking the color barrier in baseball and allowing them to one day play in the majors. Those born with physical disabilities see Jim Abbott pitching in the majors with one hand or Oscar Pistorius running in the Olympics with prosthetics and know that they too could make it to the top. Young women see Janet Guthrie compete in a male-driven sport of auto-racing or Nancy Lieberman getting double-teamed in a men’s professional basketball league.

These men and women are an inspiration to the rest of the sporting world. These are just a few of the many out there who have made an impact on countless young, aspiring athletes worldwide.

Yesterday, the world got another barrier-breaker and inspiration in Jason Collins.

2013 NFL Draft - Mock Draft

Why look at a mock draft when you can get FIVE at once? That's what 360 Sports Network brings you! Five different mock drafts combine together to make one consensus mock. In our latest podcast, the experts explain their picks and give insight of what you can expect on draft night! Who will your team pick?

Meet the Experts: Greg Beshero (3SN), Alex Dellaverson (3SN), James Dotson (3SN), Matt Henderson, Dan Massaro (The CalfMuscle).

2013 NFL Free Agency Recap

Greg and James break down some of the big signings and non-signings from the 2013 NFL off-season. Before the NFL Draft, teams must start to fill their rosters. Players with new homes include Nnamdi Asomaugha, Wes Welker, Greg Jennings, and Steven Jackson. What teams won, what teams lost, and what signings just don't make sense?

What's Wrong With Sports: Snowy Baseball

Baseball season has begun! That means 162 games over the next six months. And that doesn’t even include the extra month for playoffs in October (and into November).

When you think of baseball, what do you think of? Eating a hotdog in left field while soaking in the summer sun? Or bundled up avoiding snowflakes in 30 degree weather?

I think it’s quite obvious which scenario is more synonymous with the great American pastime. Then why is it that the season begins with snow still on the ground? Why is it that the most important games of the year, those playoff and World Series games, are played in 30-40 degree weather more often than not? The legitimacy of a World Series champion is compromised in my mind due to weather.

Why not fix this? There are a couple of very simple options that could make a baseball season that doesn’t last until the near winter months.

 

In the Headlines for All the Wrong Reasons

The Final Four begins today!

Now let me guess, upon reading that the Final Four is nearly here, your first thought was something along the lines of “oh ya, that’s right!” instead of “I know, I’m excited!”  Am I right?

College basketball has been in the news ALL WEEK, yet there has been no preview of the Final Four matchups. There has been no talk of the “Don’t call us Cinderella” Wichita State Shockers taking on #1 overall Louisville. There has been no talk of John Beilein never defeating Jim Boeheim.

Absolutely nothing.  Yet college hoops is in the news not only on sports channels but on national news as well. When that happens, you know that there is something wrong with sports right now.