The Fordham baseball player, Brian Kownacki, is shown in a video leaping to avoid the Iona catcher’s tag and has gone viral, which is really no surprise. The most exciting part of baseball is when there is a close play at home, and this moment came at a very important time in the Fordham-Iona game. Easily scoring one man, the go ahead hit in the bottom of the eighth inning had just been given by Kownacki’s teammate, Chris Walker. Thanks to a mid-air somersault that has to be seen to be believed, Kownacki was able to score a run right behind. The Fordham baseball player literally vaulted the Iona catcher and caught the plate with his hand. Kownacki was completely upside down! This amazing play highlighted a nine-run rally that was instant money for the Fordham Rams. They won with a 12-9 over the Iona College Gaels.

Is it this exciting ever day for this Fordham baseball player?

Brian Kownacki is a key part of the Fordham defense. The shortstop teamed with second baseman Nick Martinez to turn the double play like nobody’s business when they were freshmen in 2009. The duo led, that same season, Fordham into the Atlantic 10 tournament. However, 2010 has been somewhat less successful to date, which makes Fordham baseball player Brian Kownacki’s play at the plate all the more exciting. It stands out when the Fordham pitching staff has been rocked for a collective 5.83 earned run average (versus a 4.29 ERA for opposing pitchers). Kownacki’s offensive stats – .265 batting average, 10 doubles, three triples, eight walks, 37 strikeouts and 20 RBI in 132 at-bats (through April 21) – seem to indicate that his contribution is mostly on defense. To date in 2010 the Fordham Rams are 13-22.

Was history made by Fordham’s Brian Kownacki?

Considering just how amazing the vault and score was, yes would be a reasonable answer. However, he’ll have to pick it up quite a bit if he’s going to rank with the two greatest players in St. John’s College/Fordham University history. Both ended up being in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

”Big Ed” Walsh was a pitcher for St. John’s College, which is Fordham’s original name, at the turn of the 20th century. Walsh was the greatest spitballer, and one of the greatest pitchers overall, in Major League history. He has a 195-126 record with an all-time low 1.82 ERA for the Chicago White Stockings and Boston Braves from 1904 to 1917.

After St. John’s College became known as Fordham University, the greatest player in their history was “The Fordham Flash,” Frankie Frisch. The second baseman was one of the most aggressive players ever to take on the field, and he used his bat, his legs, his glove and his mind to defeat opponents. Frisch hit .316 with 2,880 hits for the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals from 1919-1937. If he happened to ever be a spokesman for payday loans, he might have been the most no guff spokesman the industry every saw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2tUCExoiL8

Resources

Greatest players in St. John’s College/Fordham University history

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/fordham_university_baseball_players.shtml

Qaulifying Rounds are beng played!

The qualifying rounds are going on right now for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which is being held this year in South Africa, 10 years after they held a World Cup (albeit in a different sport). For the low and uninitiated, FIFA is soccer. Some of the more vicious and nasty pundits are saying that the only World Cup worth watching will be in 2011 hosted by New Zealand, but no one wants to hear it. No need to waste any payday loans on more TV channels just to get the latest scores, I’ll help you out on this one. Today, November 18th, is the last day of qualification – so whoever wins today goes.

South Africa automatically qualifies

For the African nations, South Africa is automatically qualified as the host nation – which won’t exactly guarantee them much.  They’re currently ranked 84th in the world.Though soccer is their most popular sport, their cricket team and rugby team, the Springboks, are usually the strongest representative teams.The Springboks are one of the best sides in the world, having won two World Cups, in 1995 and 2007, and only Australia has won two besides South Africa.(Granted, the Sprinboks were recently beaten twice by English club sides, so they aren’t doing themselves any favors.)

Egypt vs. Algeria

The last available spot for Africa was up for grabs, and it came down to Egypt and Algeria playing to break a tie, as they were even up.The venue, Al Merrikh Stadium in Omdurman, Sudan, was chosen November 11th via draw, and the two faced off in front of 50,000.  Algeria’s Antar Yahia scored five minutes before half time, and neither side was able score again, leaving Algeria the victors, 1-0.

Republic of Ireland against. France

Ireland vs. France looked to be a heck of a test match, and seeing the Irish take on the French at Croke Park would be something else.Sadly, it wasn’t to be for the Irish, as the French out pointed them on aggregate 2-1, though there was great controversy over a hand ball. On the same day, Portugal defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia defeated Russia by virtue of the away goals rule.(Meaning that the goals scored by the away team will count double in aggregate points).) European teams usually get far more coverage in the news at times, but then again…they kind of came up with the sport there.In other news, Bahrain faced off against New Zealand, wherein the Land of the Long White Cloud triumphed, and Costa Rica lost to Uruguay. (Here is a list of those qualified to go to the 2010 World Cup.)

This ought to be good

The wait is going to stink, but that being said, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is going to kick off in June of 2010.  It would be worth some payday loans to go there to watch.