Nielson Wows the World- Beer Mile WR

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in joy, and grew louder and louder. I expect something incredible has happened.

It's hard to pick favorites in sports, especially ones that have not yet reached a very wide range of spectators. Who should you root for in the races?

Two days ago, James Nielsen immediately became a fan favorite runner for thousands around the world. Not only did the online running community erupt when they heard the news, but countless sports and entertainment blogs sung praises of the 2-time NCAA DIII Champion turned Beer Mile World Record Holder.

Not only does Nielson hold a new (unofficial) world record time, he's the first to break the 5:00 Beer Mile mark, previously thought to be impossible to run. Nielson's feat is incredibly impressive- the beer mile involves drinking 4 beers over 4 laps on a standard 400 meter track. He states exactly what he's going to do in the video below and actually does it. The video in question has already accumulated a quarter of a million views over two days. For full rules and other drinking/running records, check out www.beermile.com.

How Strong is Boston Strong?

A year after the Boston bombings, much is being done to commemorate the resiliency of the public in the sports media and beyond.

Sports Illustrated 1 year ago

Recently, 3000 citizens of Boston posed for the current cover of Sports Illustrated. The issue served as a commemoration of the tragic events that happened last year.

One issue with this year's event is safety. A lot of people are afraid because of the terrorist attacks last year, but that is exactly the point of terrorism. A lot of precautions have been taken this year to keep the entire 26.2 mile course safe. No backpacks will be allowed at the race next week for participants, and spectators are strongly being recommended to leaving such objects at home. Unregistered runners and bikers are also being strongly discouraged from entering the course at all. The number of police at this year's event is being doubled from last years.

As Tsarnaev awaits his trial, the marathon and related events will be costing the city $175.8 million to put on, a greater amount than it has in any preceding years.

Have the terrorists won? They've certainly succeeded in scaring the citizens and government. Regardless, I think the outpouring of support and the actions of the Boston community show how strong they actually are. It may be a bit of a media spectacle, which I slightly disagree with, but overall the positive message is good for morale and the city. Putting on the marathon is a must, and this year's looks to be extremely memorable and especially important in the city's history.

Can Doping be Dope?

Should performance enhancing drugs be allowed in professional sports? An immediate response to this question may be a resounding "no!" in most social circles, however, doping can bring a lucrative new level of competition to the business.

Thousands of athletes are doing it, are going to do it, or have done it in the past. Some are exposed, others aren't. Some of the "all-time greats" have taken drugs as a mean to step up their game, such as Barry Bonds. Sometimes it seems like there isn't a star in the game of baseball who at least haven't been under scrutiny and allegations, from Arod to Big Papi.

Current MLB rules forbid performance enhancers in pretty much every form. But is this business tossing a sure cash cow? Steroids equate to more homers, more extra base hits, faster runners, more powerful throws, all things fans want to see. It seems like fans are only okay when the curtains have been pulled back, however- Bond's statistical standings were a huge point of controversy for years, asterisk (*) signs seen everywhere he played.

Steroid use is rampant and apparent in the entertainment industry, in everything from Hollywood to the WWE. Essentially what is happening there is you're being sold an image, an idealized version of real life. In ways, such as the 2004 Red Sox post season, sports can seem like a Hollywood fantasy instead of a competition. Drugs could be compared to advanced in technology that help athletes get lower times and generate more exciting plays.

While performance enhancers can create more exciting games abd maybe even the playing field of everyone is using them, they're still dangerous to use and have many side effects. They detract from the original purpose of sports, and fans would be irate if their use was formally incorporated. For these reasons, it's likely you'll never see all your favorite players shooting up, regardless of what it could bring to the game. Tradition dictates another way, and this way it'll stay.