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(04/29/11 1:19am)
In the Around the Dorm Championship, the “Ref,” Caroline Russomanno, challenges Sports Editor Brandon Gould, Senior Editor Bobby Olivier and Sports Assistant Alex Wolfe to answer questions about which side of the NFL labor talks they are on, whether or not the Penguins can win the Stanley Cup and, after all the drama, if LeBron James made the right “Decision” this summer.
1. Some NFL players, like Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Brian Schaefering, are making alternate career plans in case the lockout sticks. Which side are you on in the lockout — players or owners?
BG: I back the players 110 percent. The owners have enough money to keep the limo drivers, the maids, the gardeners and the pool boys happy for life. However, some of these players may not even make it out of the summer with their heads above water. Sure, the Peyton Mannings and Tom Bradys of the league will be just fine until football starts again, but the Brian Schaeferings and all the other players who make the league minimum need that paycheck to stay afloat. Football is becoming America’s game because we feel like we can relate to some of these players, and for the owners to take away from that because they want to be super rich instead of just rich is just plain ridiculous.
BO: Although it is beyond any doubt that professional athletes get paid infinitely too much money, it is difficult not to side with the players. They are being asked to agree to a share of league revenue reduced by $1 billion in players’ salaries — an 18 percent cut in pay. They are also being asked to play two extra games … for 18 percent less pay. Owners have already signed television deals that would still pay them a nearly equal amount of money if the lockout sticks. In other words, the owners are doing just fine. The players are the ones not getting paid, because they are fighting to be guaranteed what they were promised before this upcoming season. All that players want is an even split of revenue share; 50-50. They were content with the system before, but it is the owners’ greed that has caused all of this drama. Go players!
AW: The NFL lockout has had me torn to agree with a side. The owners want to eliminate things like ridiculous rookie salaries (couldn’t agree more), add extra regular-season games (couldn’t agree less), and to cut back the overall stake that player salaries have in the overall budget (understandable). The players want the franchise tag removed so they’re not forced to stay in situations they don’t want to be in (wholeheartedly agree), and not to have their contracts scaled back (also completely understandable). Overall, I think I agree most with the players, mostly because almost all of their proposals make sense. The league has claimed to be concerned for players’ safety, but adding two more high-intensity games to the NFL schedule would not help the players’ health. I don’t think the players’ demands are that crazy, whereas some of the owners’ proposed changes are not overly realistic or fair to the players.
CR: Brandon gets the 3 because he addressed the mention of Brian Schaefering and all of the other little guys who will be hurt most by the lockout. Alex gets 2 for pointing out that both sides have good points, but that the players’ demands are far more reasonable than the owners’. Bobby gets 1 for pointing out that the players only want an even slice of the pie.
2. With Evgeni Malkin out for the season and Sidney Crosby out indefinitely with a concussion, can the Pittsburgh Penguins find a way to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals?
BG: I don’t think the Penguins have a shot without Malkin and Crosby. They played decently down the stretch without their two superstars, but in the postseason you need a guy to go to, and they just don’t have that guy. Two years ago, when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, Malkin and Crobsy each scored over 100 points in the regular season followed by 30-plus-point performances in the postseason. Filling in for one of them would have been tough enough, but both? No way. If they’re lucky enough to get past the Tampa Bay Lightning, they’ll be stopped dead in their tracks by Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
BO: After trying to make myself believe that the Pens can make their way back to the finals without Crosby and Malkin, I just don’t see it happening. Right now it appears that they would play the winner of the Flyers-Sabres series (knotted at two games each), and if they play the Flyers, their defense is going to collapse. The Flyers led the East in scoring and the Penguins were in the bottom five in goals against. The Flyers also led the season series 4-2. Let’s say they luck out and get the Sabres. They take on the No. 4 scorers in the East who ranked in the top three in power-play percentage, and Buffalo will have the all-important hungry underdog advantage. Maybe next year when they are healthy.
AW: The Penguins have proven so far this postseason that they are able to handle themselves without Malkin and Crosby. They’re playing some really stout defense, and Marc-Andre Fleury is arguably the best postseason goalie in the East. However, as much as good goalie play has proven to be a major factor in who gets to the Stanley Cup Finals, I don’t think the Pens will make it. I think they will take out the Lightning, but beyond that they’re most likely going to have to face the Capitals or Flyers in the next round after the reseeding, and I don’t think they can beat either of those teams. The problem with the Pens is that they don’t have much goal-scoring prowess. They rely almost exclusively on defense and timely scoring.
CR: Bobby gets the 3 for the most well-supported answer. Brandon gets 2 for pointing out that every team needs a player (or two) who step it up in the playoffs. Alex gets 1 for bringing up the Pens’ goalie.
3. Though the playoffs aren’t over, and the results could change your answer drastically, assess LeBron James’ season so far — was “The Decision” worth it?
BG: The Heat has had its share of problems and tears this season, but I think James made the right choice. He was spectacular as usual, averaging 27.3 points, seven assists and 7.5 rebounds per game, while he watched his old team struggle all season long. The Cleveland Cavaliers finished with the second-worst record in the league as the Heat ended the season with the third-best record overall — I wonder what made the difference there. Now, the Heat weren’t the powerhouse, 73-game winning team that some thought they would be, but for a bunch of guys who were in their first year playing together, they’re a pretty good squad. I didn’t like the way James made his decision — let’s face it, he was a complete asshole — but I do believe, in the end, that he is exactly where he should be.
BO: It’s hard to determine, since the primary reason for “The Decision” was to win a championship, but so far, I would say that it has been worth it. You must remember that “The Decision” was not only LeBron James moving to Miami, but Chris Bosh following him. They have given Dwyane Wade enough support to land the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, and they are having little problem with the 76ers right now, so they should be moving forward toward the team’s ultimate goal. During the season, the two combined for 45.4 points per game — nearly 45 percent of the offense. The Heat finished second in the East in scoring and the additions of LeBron and Bosh have brought veterans Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mike Bibby to the team in search of rings as well. The Heat are on the right track.So far, so good.
AW: I am a Knicks fan that was scorned by LeBron’s decision to play for the Heat, and still to this day I don’t think that he went about it the right way. He went on national TV and made it seem like he actually was making a decision, even though it has become clear in the time after “The Decision” that he and Wade and Bosh had planned to team up since at least the 2008 Olympics. However, as much as I really despise what those three did (especially LeBron), deep down I can’t find any reason to call their season anything but a success to this point. They went through growing pains, dealt with criticism and took a bunch of old guys around them and made them into the No. 2 seed in the East. And from a LeBron standpoint, he carried the team multiple times when Wade and Bosh were injured. So, I will never respect LeBron as a person, and I will never consider “The Decision” a success in any way, but LeBron and the Heat have justified their actions, and if LeBron gets his ring, nobody will be questioning his decision.
CR: Alex, couldn’t have said it better myself. You get 3 points. Brandon, I liked the mention of the Cavs’ record — 2 points. Bobby, he did bring veterans in search of rings — 1 point.
Brandon wins the AtD Championship, 7 - 6 - 5.
(04/21/11 8:23pm)
I remember my first encounter with The Signal. I attended an interest session as a doe-eyed freshman. I was impressed by the overall appearance of the editorial staff. They had confidence and inside jokes in spades. One of them wore a leather jacket. It was still welcome week, and I didn’t have any of those things yet. I hadn’t written a single article but my friend Jeff and I had already decided that by our senior year we were going to make a run for Editor-in-Chief — a friendly competition. We never reached the finish line but I ended up working alongside Jeff for a semester as Features Assistant until he moved on to news and I took over the position of Features Editor my senior year.
Although slightly less ambitious, I think I was probably better off. I wasn’t cut out for the weekly news cycle or a position of management but I was a perfect candidate for soft news and free pizza. I never made it to the top, but I really enjoyed making the things I made on the way — whether they be gratuitous Signal ads or new friends.
—Todd Petty
former Features Editor
Coming down to The Signal on Mondays and working on the paper all day was always a pain in the butt. It was the hardest when I knew the sun was shining outside or I had lots of work to catch up on. There were times I wished the Editor-in-Chief would cancel the week’s edition. Unfortunately, they never did. I complained, I pouted, and I also had the most fun when I was down there. The Signal is the ultimate love/hate relationship, and I wouldn’t change my experience with my editors (my friends) for anything in the world.
—Jeffrey Roman
former News Editor
Part of me never thought this day would come. Not so much because I have not come to terms with the fact that I am graduating and leaving The Signal forever, but because I literally thought being in a basement for three years would claim my life and I would die from some sort of ventilation problem.
I assumed my body would just be kicked aside on production night and blanketed with proofed pages until garbage day came. Morbidity aside, that is the reality of the newspaper — it outlasts us all. I have spent six semesters at the best college newspaper in New Jersey and after a quick calculation, a conservative estimate equates my time in the dungeon to about 1,064 hours or 44 entire days. I have spent time as Sports Assistant, Sports Editor, Managing Editor, Senior Editor and two semesters as Editor-in-Chief. I have about 125 entries on the paper’s website. Now I’m leaving and in three years, no one will know who I am. Looking back on all of this, I must be fucking crazy, but I always loved it. I’ve learned more at The Signal than in any class, and as I write this, it is 11:11 a.m. Make a wish. I wish I don’t get mesothelioma. Damn … now it won’t come true.
—Bobby Olivier
former Editor-in-Chief
(04/21/11 7:52pm)
Gov. Chris Christie met with seven public school teachers from across the state in Loser Hall on Thursday, April 14, to discuss education reform, according to the governor’s press secretary, Michael Drewniak. He said the meeting, which covered topics including tenure reform and school budgets, was the fifth of its kind and the first at the College, which was chosen for its “central” location.
“A lot is filtered through the media,” Drewniak said. “The message is often lost and the meaning of it is sometimes lost and the tone is often lost, so these small group meetings just give a really good chance for teachers and the governor to be frank and open and not at all intimidated by or influenced by media.”
(04/20/11 8:56pm)
In Week 3 of the Around the Dorm playoffs, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe challenges News Editor Hilarey Wojtowicz, Senior Editor Bobby Olivier and Editor-in-Chief Caroline Russomanno to answer questions about which NBA team is primed for a first-round upset, whether fans should be more concerned about Derek Jeter or Albert Pujols and if Randy Moss signing with the New York Jets is realistic.
1. It’s my favorite time of the year for sports — the NBA playoffs. There’s a lot of really intriguing first-round match-ups this year, with a lot of low seeds playing very well. Tell me your most likely first-round upset (either conference) and why.
HW: I think Portland has a good shot at upsetting Dallas first round. The Mavericks’ Rodrigue Beaubois has a sprained foot and is out right now. Instead, they’ll be using DeShawn Stevenson who hasn’t seen playoff action since he was with Washington three years ago. Plus, Tyson Chandler almost fouled out last game. His defense is needed for the Mavs to go anywhere in the playoffs, but if he gets one too many fouls on him, he’s done, and Dallas might suffer because of that. So, I say the Trail Blazers have a good shot at an upset early on.
BO: Not to be a homer, but I have reason to believe that the New York Knicks can upset the Boston Celtics in the first round. I know that they just lost to Boston by 10 on Friday, but other than that, the team has been hot over the last two weeks, winning seven of its last eight. The Celtics are beginning to realize how much they needed Kendrick Perkins’ presence under the basket, as they are only 15-12 since they dealt him to Oklahoma City. I am throwing the season series out the window, since we have seen that momentum is everything in the NBA playoffs, and with Amar’e Stoudemire giving Boston fits near the rim, Carmelo Anthony’s ability to cut through the lane and the Chauncey Billups’ flare for the dramatic, I think Madison Square Garden might actually have something to cheer about over the next few weeks. Plus, the Knicks are hungry. The Celtics are overstuffed with the “we should be here” attitude.
CR: In the Western Conference, I think the biggest upset will be pulled off by the Denver Nuggets over the Oklahoma City Thunder. While the Thunder have an average defense, the Nuggets were the highest-scoring team in the NBA. Kevin Durant is the Thunder’s big man, and their best scorer, but Kenyon Martin and Al Harrington will play a physical game and keep him from reaching his usual heights. When it comes down to it, the Thunder’s lack of defense will win the first round for the Nuggets.
AW: This is going to seem like favoritism, but Bobby gets 3 for making a very good case for the Knicks, especially mentioning Amar’e’s great matchup against the C’s. Hilarey gets 2 because Portland does have fit-giving matchups. Carrie gets 1 because Kendrick Perkins makes the Thunder D a lot better.
2. Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols are both struggling to start the season. Which player should hit the panic button, and which of their teams should be more worried?
HW: Jeter should hit that panic button as soon as possible. With five hits in his last three games, all have been grounders, and his skills in general are slipping away as he gets older. He’s been hitting singles and, even with an average of .255, he’s just not getting on those bases enough. Jeter’s in need of a tune-up, or this will be the last time he signs a contract.
BO: It is too early for either player to hit the panic button. I have watched Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia all get off to miserable starts in past years, and being professional players, they always manage to turn it around. Jeter and Albert Pujols have been two of the most consistent hitters over the past decade, and I doubt either is ready to burn his jersey and head for home. The season is less than 15 games in. Everyone calm down. That being said, the Cardinals should be more worried as their offense and victories revolve around Pujols. He gives Matt Holliday protection, and if he doesn’t hit, Holliday suffers (he struck out four times on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks … maybe a sign?). The Cards can’t rely on Lance Berkman to be their big bat — it just won’t last. Jeter has plenty around him to pick up the slack.
CR: The Cards have a lot more to worry about with Pujols not playing up to his usual standards. Pitching woes aside, the Yankees have had a good start this year (leading the AL East by two), and with players like Mark Teixeira (who’s had his first good start in his career) and the newly-acquired Russell Martin stepping up, the Yankees can wait while their captain gets used to his new swing. The Cards, on the other hand, rely on Pujols’ bat and without it, they’ve struggled so far this season. Guys like Colby Rasmus and David Freese can keep them going for only so long. But with the Yankees, once Tex and Martin slump, A-Rod, Swisher and Posada will come on strong. They have one of the deepest line-ups in the majors.
AW: Bobby gets the 3 because he addressed both parts of the question and the Cards do have a lot more to worry about. Carrie gets 2 for pointing out the Yanks’ depth. Hilarey, your Boston is showing — 1 for you.
3. I read recently that apparently the Jets might be interested in Randy Moss. Give me the likelihood on a scale of one to 10 that this ridiculousness actually happens (assuming that there is an NFL season next year).
HW: Randy Moss playing for the Jets? Hah! He’s not even happy playing for the Titans. Back in March he said he would love to play for Bill Belichick again if anything. I’d say there is a 30 percent chance, or a three on a scale of one to 10, that Moss will play for Rex Ryan and the Jets. The Jets lost two players at receiver after last season, so they are in need of someone with Moss’s skills, but I am hoping and praying that Moss returns home to where his heart is in New England.
BO: When I first read this, my initial reaction was, “Yeah, that’s about right.” It seems like the Jets show interest in any “misunderstood” superstar, and honestly, it has sort of worked out with Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. That being said, both of those guys, and X-factor Brad Smith are all free agents once the lockout lifts, and the Jets can’t afford to keep all of them. I’m going to give this a seven, as Rex Ryan has talked highly of Moss and even though he is a bit of a basket case, he is still a dangerous receiver, especially opposite Holmes and/or Edwards. This sounds like a “oh, look what the Jets are doing now,” move, but it doesn’t seem to be that unrealistic. Moss was on three teams last year — maybe New York will be his new home.
CR: Will Randy Moss always be a bargaining chip and constant traveller in the NFL? Probably, until he gets an attitude adjustment. This will not work. I’m going to rank the likelihood of this happening at a four (because stranger things have happened). But Moss and Rex Ryan working together? Ha. Don’t make me laugh. The Jets are a team that operates as a team with no huge egos getting in the way (Mark Sanchez is a pretty humble guy, after all), and Randy Moss will completely screw that up. Would he help them? Possibly. For about a year until he starts to hate it in the Meadowlands. This should not happen, and I don’t expect it to.
AW: Bobby gets the sweep for pointing out that the Jets have a good history with misguided receivers. Carrie gets 2 for pointing out that the Jets have a delicate locker room chemistry. Hilarey, I think you’re looking for an excuse to bust out the Moss jersey, thus 1 point again.
(04/14/11 2:53am)
Awareness Bingo, hosted by the Residence Hall Association, provided prizes and broadcasted facts about autism throughout the evening of Friday, April 8.
Beginning on Saturday, April 2, College organizations united for the school’s first Autism Awareness Week. With the slogan “Together we can connect the pieces,” the week aimed to raise awareness through various activities — panels, games of bingo, movie screenings and lectures.
A campus-wide “blue out,” where the student body was encouraged to wear the color blue to increase awareness, took place on Friday. Eickhoff Hall even served blue Rice-Krispie Treats for the occasion.
All of the proceeds collected over the course of the week will be donated to Autism Speaks, which, according to autismspeaks.org is “the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorder; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.”
(04/14/11 2:42am)
Anthony Green, lead singer of Circa Survive, performed an acoustic set at the Rathskeller on Tuesday, April 5. The Wakey!Wakey! concert originally scheduled for Tue-sday has been canceled and will not be rescheduled, according to Col-lege Union Board’s Facebook page.
(04/14/11 2:29am)
In Week 2 of the Around the Dorm playoffs, the “Ref,” Bobby Olivier, challenges News Editor Hilarey Wojtowicz, Sports Editor Brandon Gould and Correspondent Chloe Fama to answer questions about whether the Cleveland Indians or Pittsburgh Pirates will have a better season, if the New York Knicks will make a deeper run than the Philadelphia 76ers and if the Barry Bonds trial matters.
1. Much to my entertainment, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays have both had terrible starts to the season, but even more odd is that the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates both have winning records. Which team has a better chance of having the better season in 2011?
HW: The Indians definitely have a better chance at a better season. Although they started out with two losses, they have been consistent with wins ever since, and are now 6-2 on the season. The Pirates have been so inconsistent with their wins so far, winning and losing to the same team in a three-game series. The Indians also beat my favorite team, the Red Sox, and although that hasn’t seemed a hard feat for any team this season, it is definitely an accomplishment for them. The Indians are going to go farther than the Pirates this season.
BG: The last time the Pittsburgh Pirates were anywhere close to being good I was coming out of the womb. The Pirates usually have a decent collection of talent, but that talent hasn’t been able to get it done over the majority of the last two decades. The Indians haven’t had much success historically either, but they were a playoff team a few years back. The Indians have four players with at least six RBI at this point, and once outfielder Shin-Soo Choo — who I think will be the Indians most productive player this year — slips out of his slump, the Indians will have a lineup that is stacked from top to bottom.
CF: The Cleveland Indians have the best chance of the four listed teams of having the better season. Their 7-2 record has them off to a great start, and they seem to be on a winning streak. They are first in the AL Central Division, and unless the Red Sox and Rays have some miraculous turn around, success is looking good for the Indians.
BO: Brandon gets the 3 for giving me the most legitimate answer. Hilarey, you are a Red Sox fan, therefore you get 2 points. Chloe, I think you misread the question — 1.
2. New York Knicks or Philadelphia 76ers. Who goes further in the playoffs? Why?
HW: The Knicks have been good, but they make me nervous with their six-game winning streaks and then a five-game losing streak, so I am going to go with the 76ers. They’ve got Elton Brand who will help them win the games they need in the playoffs. The Knicks have Carmelo Anthony, but he hasn’t been enough to help them so far, so I
doubt they’d be able to get any further in the playoffs. The 76s will definitely go further this year in the playoffs.
BG: The New York Knicks are my team to bet on when the playoffs start. The 76ers will be lucky enough to finish the season over .500, and they just don’t have a guy who can take over a game and carry his team. While the 76ers are lacking in that department, the Knicks are thriving. The Knicks have two players who can steal the show on any given night in Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. Stoudemire and Anthony are currently two of the top five scorers in the league and are a threat to go off for 50 points any time they step on the court. Add in veteran Chauncey Billups, who knows a thing or two about the playoffs, and you’ve got the formula for a playoff run. The Knicks didn’t have a great regular season, but if they start to click in the playoffs, they could be very dangerous.
CF: The New York Knicks. Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are key aspects of this team and can win any given basketball game. New York will play either Miami or Boston in the first round of playoffs, making for an easy first win. Miami seems like a more favorable match-up since they lack inside defenders where Anthony and Stoudemire do most of their damage. Boston has been playing uncharacteristically bad but will probably bring its A-game to the playoffs. The 76ers may be focused, but any team they verse in the playoffs will be a better basketball team, resulting in early elimination.
BO: Brandon wins round two — 3 points for a solid answer. Chloe, I don’t know if Miami or Boston would be considered easy wins, but who knows, maybe the Knicks will pull an upset — 2. Hilarey gets 1.
3. On a scale of one to 10, 10 being that you care the most, how much do you care about the Barry Bonds perjury trial? Should it get as much prominent coverage as it does?
HW: I honestly care about a three on a scale of one to 10. But, it is something that deserves coverage because who knows what other players have been using steroids and enhancement drugs to do better. There has always been that discussion of steroids when it comes to professional baseball players, and the trial with Barry Bonds just shows how important it is to check for these things. Who knows who else has been using them? There might be more trials like this in the future, so this one deserves coverage. But, I still don’t really care that much.
BG: Can zero be an option? Because I really don’t care at all. I understand that Barry Bonds is a public figure, so the details of his life are going to be covered like this, but honestly I’ve forgotten about Barry Bonds and I’d like to keep it that way. The year he hit 73 home runs I was the biggest Barry Bonds fan out there. I loved the fact that his godfather was Willie Mays, but once I started hearing all the steroid talk, my interest started to fade. Bonds never liked the media coverage, and if he had it his way there would be no stories about him. Right now, I’d like to have it his way.
CF: Honestly, I give the trial a one. I feel as if it is just another case of a successful athlete trying to lie his way out of trouble. Sure, we should all hear the message that cheating and lying are unacceptable behaviors, and he should be punished for his wrongdoings, but the government has more pressing issues to be worrying about. It has been more than three years since he was first charged with lying to a grand jury when he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. The trial is a waste of time and money, and at this point who really cares if he lied.
BO: Brandon sweeps the leg … and the game. Hilarey and Chloe, honestly both of these answers were not very strong. Hilarey, there hasn’t always been steroids talk in baseball. Chloe, I wouldn’t say the trial is a waste of time, many people care about this — 1 point for both.
Brandon sweeps this week’s AtD, 9 - 4 - 4.
(04/14/11 2:20am)
Kristen Kubilus (left), president of Ed@TCNJ and columnist for The Signal, directed a discussion with Tammy Tibbetts (right). At the “Time to Shine: Networking and Jewlery Event,” co-hosted by Her Campus: TCNJ and Ed@TCNJ, on Sunday, April 10 in Bliss Hall, Tibbetts, an alumna of the College, shared stories of her career path and provided advice to aspiring journalists. Tibbetts serves as the social media editor at Hearst Magazines and is the founder of She’s the First, a not-for-profit that, according to its mission statement, “sponsors girls’ education in the developing world.”
(04/14/11 1:49am)
(04/07/11 1:00am)
In Week 1 of the Around the Dorm playoffs, the “Ref,” Bobby Olivier, challenges Staff Writer Krystal Spencer, Editor-in-Chief Caroline Russomanno and Sports Assistant Alex Wolfe to answer questions about who is the favorite to win the American and National League so far this year, how important Derek Jeter’s move to the No. 2 hole is and what the best sports video game of all time is.
1. Opening Day is finally upon us. I give you the ridiculous task of predicting which two teams will make it to the World Series this year. Feel free to be creative.
KS: The New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. Let’s face it, people, this is the only World Series that makes any sense to people in New Jersey. After last year’s debacle, this would generate so much buzz and revenue and would really put the MLB in the forefront of sports in October. But in all seriousness, Philadelphia really can make it. Cliff Lee’s back where he belongs, making them one of the best squads on paper this season. And the Yankees are the Yankees. They’ll always make the post season so they always have a chance of advancing to the World Series.
CR: As much as I know I should be saying the Boston Red Sox, the Yankee fan in me actually made me hit the backspace button and type, “The New York Yankees!” Yes, yes, I know. But I really think the two biggest differences for the Yanks this year are a) Jorge Posada moving to the DH spot and two-time All-Star Russell Martin catching instead and b) A.J. Burnett finally rising to his true potential. It’s too soon to tell, but I think this is Burnett’s year. With the help of a new pitching coach, he’ll be more consistent and show New York City what he could have done all along. As for NL, I’m going to say the Atlanta Braves. Their loss in the divisional series was tragic last year, but now that Bobby Cox has retired, with new leadership and Dan Uggla’s added bat and defense, they have their first shot in more than 15 years.
CF: I’m going to go with the Brewers in the NL. The Brew Crew have no problem producing runs, and with five players returning from last year’s team that had over 20 homers and 80 RBI on the year, they have perhaps the most complete top-to-bottom lineup in the NL. The biggest difference for this year’s Brewer team, though, will be Zack Greinke. C.C. Sabathia proved a couple years ago that when you put a solid starter on this team, they have the potential to be dangerous. I have Boston coming out of the AL (sorry Yankee fans). They made some serious moves this offseason, picking up Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres and signing Carl Crawford and Bobby Jenks in free agency. Add that to the players on this team that already have a championship pedigree and you have a team that could very well return to the promised land this year.
BO: Alex gets the 3 here for growing a pair and picking the Brewers to come out of the NL. If they pull it off, I owe you a beer, sir. Carrie gets 2 for mentioning the addition of Larry Rothschild to the Yankees, which I agree will help A.J. Burnett. Krystal gets 1.
2. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter will be batting second in New York’s opener. Does this matter? Why or why not?
KS: I don’t know that much about baseball to really answer this, so I’m just going to say no. Derek Jeter is Derek Jeter. Does it REALLY matter where he is? Is there some
statistic that says the Yankees have won every World Series when Jeter bats second? No, it doesn’t. Only Yankees fans and pundits care. The rest of us just want to see the Yankees fail because they’re the most successful team.
CR: This doesn’t matter in the least. People seem to forget that Jeter batted second for years, most recently behind Johnny Damon (and they were a killer one-two punch). Plus, his average is exactly the same in the No. 2 spot: .313 batting both one and two. This way, when the Yanks are facing a righty, Brett Gardner can work his 2010 best OBP, steal some bases and Jeter can move him over or drive him home. Against lefties, it’ll basically be the same with Jeter at one and Gardner at nine. Hey, if it doesn’t bother Jeter, it shouldn’t bother us.
AW: In the grand scheme of things, this shouldn’t end up being a big deal. Jeter is familiar with the second spot, considering he has spent a decent amount of his career there, and Brett Gardner proved last year that he is both an efficient hitter and a solid base runner. Both guys have shown to be durable, as each of them played in 150 games or more last year, so substituting Gardner doesn’t expose the Yankees to having to shuffle lead-off hitters through the year due to injury.
BO: You all said pretty much the same thing, that it shouldn’t matter, but Carrie gave the most solid answer. I agree that if Jeter doesn’t care, neither should anyone else. Alex gets 2 for mentioning durability. Krystal gets 1.
3. Name the best sports video game of all time. It can be a franchise or an individual game. Go.
KS: “Mario Kart 64.” I DARE you to fight me on that. While gaming has reached heights we never imagined would exist in 1998, this game is STILL relevant! People obsess about how recent games have crystal clear graphics, but nothing beats the crappy graphics of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis. And sports games are more popular with males, especially hockey and golf, but “Mario Kart” is popular with everyone over multiple generations. Besides, “Mario Kart” has spawned multiple games over many Nintendo platforms and even a viral video of a French man on a go-kart in the streets of Paris. (Remi Guillard…YouTube him.) All I know is that I can’t eat a banana in a car without getting the urge to throw it out the window. “Madden” has never given me the urge to tackle every person I meet.
CR: So, being handicapped by not having a gaming system until I was 14, my answer will be limited. I think the best sports game right now is “Wii Sports.” So, OK, I know that the graphics aren’t that great, and the handling can be iffy sometimes, but it is truly a game that brings the whole family together and that absolutely anyone can play, including my 82-year-old grandmother. I’ve had more fun mocking people’s bowling skills or getting my ass kicked in tennis by my 8-year-old cousin than should be allowed. A game for everyone that is also loads of fun and great at parties? The winner. And seeing my grandma boxing? The winner times 1000.
AW: I’m giving the final nod to “NFL Football 2K5” because it was one of the most creative sports games ever. It had everything from first-person football to Chris Berman (yes, Chris motherfucking Berman!) doing the post-game reports, complete with his signature “Bwap!” and “He could … go … all … the … way!” Also, the killing off of this game series by EA Sports (the makers of “Madden”) took away the only competition that “Madden” had, and every subsequent “Madden” since that year appears to have less and less effort put into it.
BO: My housemates and I could not agree more with the “Mario Kart 64” call. We play this game excessively – literally almost everyday. FOUR points for this answer. I like Alex’s answer, as I was a big fan of “NFL Football 2K5” and its before-its-time game play – 2 points. Carrie, sorry, I like “Wii Bowling” too, but not that much – 1 point.
Alex wins this week’s AtD, 7 - 6 - 6.
(03/30/11 10:12pm)
(03/30/11 7:15pm)
(03/30/11 7:10pm)
In Week 10 of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Krystal Spencer, challenges News Editor Hilarey Wojtowicz and Correspondents Joshua Fidler and Chloe Fama to answer questions about how the lockout and recent rule changes will affect the NFL’s popularity, if Derrick Rose should be the favorite to win the the league’s MVP award and whether or not MLS is starting to grow in the United States.
1. With the National Football League locking out its players and multiple changes in rules and regulations (such as moving the kickoff closer), is the league poised to lose some off their loyal fanbase this season?
HW: Definitely not. If anything, the new 18-game season and the closer kickoff will have fans more excited than ever to have football season start. Football season is always my favorite and I was sad for it to end. Having it be longer will only make fans happier. Actually, I feel bad for the MLB fans because, once again, I bet a regular season football game will get more fans viewing it than a World Series game in the fall.
JF: Whenever there is a lockout, the sport always suffers greatly. The best example of this is the baseball strike and lockout in 1994. Baseball lost a lot of fans because of that year, and some believe that the lockout caused baseball to be overtaken by football as the nation’s most popular sport. The 2004 hockey lockout also devastated the NHL, and they have had a hard time recovering ever since. The rule changes themselves are not drastic enough for the NFL to lose fans over, if there is a season.
CF: I would like to say that no matter what, a fan is a fan, and the NFL’s supporters will always be there to cheer on their favorite teams and players. Yet, with threat of a lockout, this leaves no players and teams to be supported. The NFL’s Competition Committee seems to be doing all they can to change the sport of football, and ultimately, it will lead to some aggravated fans. Many “old time” loyal fans watch the sport because they love the game; the excitement of a kickoff run, back from the goal line, or the beautiful blitz that pushed the offense 15 yards back. By drastically changing these rules, you are changing the sport. Football fans want to watch football. If the sport they know and love is no longer what’s being played, why are they going to watch?
KS: Hilarey gets 3 for saying the sport will not lose fans and that football is better than baseball. Chloe gets 2 because the rules aren’t drastically changing, they’re just annoying to those who enjoy seeing a 102-yard kickoff return. Joshua gets 1 because the NFL won’t be as affected by a strike as the NHL or MLB was.
2. There are only a few games left in the regular NBA season. Is Derrick Rose a sure bet for MVP, or is there someone else in the running?
HW: Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is definitely the No. 1 candidate for MVP. He is so humble about his playing and his team, and I think that really does help him play
his best on the court. After leading the Bulls to the top of the Eastern Conference, Rose is still playing with an edge that is helping his team win and regaining fans. He’s a sure thing for this year’s MVP.
JF: What Derrick Rose has done this year is very impressive. He has the Bulls in the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. He did this without having Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for a large amount of time. He is averaging over 20 points and around eight assists a game. I think to say that he is a lock with games remaining, though, would be foolish. There are other people out there, including Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, and I think that when you do MVP voting the league is forced to include Kobe. My personal vote would go to Stoudemire.
CF: It seems as if the race is over and everyone expects Derrick Rose to win MVP, but honestly I don’t think he is deserving. Being the Most Valuable Player means that you are critical to how well your team does. Sure, he is the best player on the top seeded Chicago Bulls, but what makes Chicago great is its defense, which Rose is not an integral part of. Personally, I think LeBron James should be a very strong MVP contender. Two-time defending MVP and on one of the top teams in the league, he is putting up fantastic numbers again. He is clearly the most valuable Heat player and most definitely deserving of another MVP title.
KS: Hilarey gets 3 for commenting on the effect of Rose’s character and refreshing the Bulls franchise. Joshua gets 2 for reminding us that Rose has been a one-man wrecking crew without Noah and Boozer. Chloe gets 1 for naming LeBron James as an MVP contender, when Wade should be the only Heat player considered for the top honor.
3. Major League Soccer unveiled two new expansion teams this year, the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. Is soccer in America growing, or is the MLS making a desperate attempt to build a nonexistent fanbase?
HW: The MLS is making the right moves by bringing in two more teams for the league, and I really do think soccer is growing because of it. Teams from these cities and others in the north are helping to generate a feeling about soccer like that in Europe. There is more energy, more knowledge about the teams and it is growing. Of course it is no where near the popularity of the NFL or MLB, but the MLS is making its way up. All it needs is more advertising, and Americans will soon be hooked.
JF: I just want to make one point first:Vancouver is not in America last time I checked. But I do believe that soccer is growing in the U.S. With these two new teams, you really have to wait until the second year of their existence to see if they will be profitable. The first year the team is a novelty, the second year is where fan attendance really counts.
CF: Trying to make soccer grow in America is like trying to keep a fish alive out of water. It’s just not going to happen. Sure, there are always going to be devoted supporters who will get excited at the idea of the creation of new teams, but, in reality, America doesn’t care about soccer. No matter how many teams we create, the country as a whole is not focused enough on the sport to neither create a half-decent team nor care about watching the games.
KS: Hilarey gets 3 for understanding soccer’s limited audience but being optimistic. Chloe gets 2 because the U.S. National Team at the World Cup this summer really gained the interest of the country. Joshua gets 1 for not only forgetting that Seattle had more fan support in their first year than most teams combined, but for not realizing that for American soccer to grow, it needs to take a cue from international fans, including Canada.
Hilarey sweeps this week’s AtD, 9 - 5 - 4.
(03/23/11 10:17pm)
In Week 9 of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Staff Writers Krystal Spencer and Kevin Lee and Sports Editor Brandon Gould to answer questions about which team is the favorite to run the table and come out of March Madness as the National Champion, whether or not Jim Tressel’s extended suspension is sincere and who the best player in the year’s NBA draft class is.
1. It’s tourney time, and everyone in the country now believes they’re a certified bracketologist. So the obvious question is, who’s going to win the tournament, and why?
KS: Well after the University of Pittsburgh was upset, who knows? I don’t know if a No. 1 team will take it. My bracket says Ohio State University. I said in a previous AtD that they would be a No. 1 seed in this tournament, and I still think they can take it all. Ohio State has already beaten many of the teams that advanced to the Sweet 16, something that bodes well for them. Plus, Ohio State just has to play basketball. The University of Connecticut has to prove themselves as a No. 3 seed. Kansas State University has to redeem themselves after last year. San Diego State University and the University of Florida have to remind the country why they were given No. 2 seeds. Duke University has to pull off a repeat. The Buckeyes have proven to us time and time again that they know what to do and how to do it. This is their year, hands down.
KL: Kansas University will win the NCAA Championship. The Jayhawks have a ton of experience within their players and coaching staff. Kansas’ top four scorers are composed of three juniors and one senior, which are led by Maurice Morris with 17.3 points per game. In addition, Bill Self is one of the best coaches of our generation and led the Jayhawks to a national championship in 2008. Finally, Kansas has an extremely favorable bracket. They have three teams that are ranked as No. 10 seeds or higher. The combination of experience, talent and an extremely favorable schedule gives Kansas the best shot to win it all.
BG: March Madness is all about emotion, so I’m going with the team who has the player who brings the most emotion to the table. That team is the University of Connecticut and that player is Kemba Walker. Walker is averaging over 20 points a game and has played his best on the biggest stages. The Huskies have been able to handle both their opponents so far and don’t seem to be slowing down. The Huskies will have to go through Duke University, but if the Blue Devil’s performance against the University of Michigan is any indication, that game will be a toss-up at the least. This team goes as Walker goes, and if the junior guard brings his A-game, the Huskies will be cutting down the nets when it’s all said and done.
AW: Tough question to judge because of the depth of the tourney, but Krystal gets 3 because OSU has been the best one seed so far. Kevin gets 2 for pointing out how many low seeds Kansas gets to face. Brandon gets 1 because if Walker has an off day, UConn might not be around much longer.
2. Jim Tressel, the Ohio State University football head coach, recently imposed an additional three games on his recruiting violation suspension, lengthening it to five games (matching the suspensions given to his players). Is this honorable or just an attempt to save face?
KS: It’s honorable. While he made a mistake, it’s his way of showing his loyalty to his players (and possibly to future players). I don’t think the offense was so scandalous that he brought so much shame to Ohio State University, so it’s not really to save face or his job. At the end of the day, Ohio State Football is formidable, and Tressel’s dedication to his players only strengthens the program. If they can get suspended together, then they can win together too.
KL: Tressel’s move to lengthen his suspension to five games is an honorable move. The move is honorable, but I believe Tressel made a calculated decision to extend his suspension. This move definitely makes Tressel a “player’s coach,” and the players will respect Tressel and trust him much more. As a result, the Buckeyes will play better and more inspired football once the five game suspension is up. Tressel also knows that the first five games of the season won’t be as competitive as the last five games, so having his players play inspired football then is much more valuable.
BG: Tressel deserves to be suspended for the whole season. The kids made mistakes and that’s fine because they’re just kids, but Tressel is a grown man in a leadership role. It’s hard to catch every little thing that players do off the field, especially when you’re in charge of so many of them. However, this issue was brought to Tressel’s attention and he failed to address the situation. Maybe it was because he didn’t think it was true or maybe it was because the information he received was about two of his best players — quarterback Terrelle Pryor and wide receiver DeVier Posey. Whatever the case, Tressel messed up big time on this one.
AW: Brandon gets 3 for pointing out that Tressel knew what was going on, but didn’t address it. Kevin gets 2 for pointing out that Tressel’s move was probably well calculated. Krystal gets 1 because his violation wasn’t huge but lying to investigators was.
3. The NCAA tournament is a great showcase for some of the best talent in college basketball to prove to scouts that they’re NBA-ready. Who is the best player in this year’s draft class?
KS: I’ve never been a fan of freshman entering the draft. Raw talent doesn’t get cultivated after only one year in college. But regardless of my opinion, players like Kemba Walker and Kyrie Irving are going to probably enter the tournament, especially if their teams make it deep into the tournament. With that being said, Kemba Walker will probably be the best player in the draft. Not only does he have individual star power, but Walker is the definition of a team player. He gets everyone involved, and whenever he’s on the court, he makes everyone better. That’s something that I’d think NBA teams would be more interested in rather than just how explosive his dunks are.
KL: Sophomore Derrick Williams from the University of Arizona is the best player in this year’s draft class. Williams’ ability to score in any way is just scary. With his back to the basket, Williams will use his strength, along with long and efficient drop steps to create separation where he can score on turn around jumpers and touch hooks. Lay off Williams, and he’ll drain the three, which is evident by his ridiculous 61 percent from three-point land. Guard him tightly, and he’ll put the ball on the floor and attack the hoop, using his body to shield his defender, making it difficult to contest his shot. Defensively, his frame allows him to do a good job bodying up and defending the post. Williams averaged 2.5 personal fouls per game, which illustrates his high defensive IQ and understanding of defensive positioning. Oh yeah, his seven-plus foot wingspan will also be pretty useful in the NBA too.
BG: The best player in this year’s draft class is Duke University guard Kyrie Irving. The only reason this is even debatable is because the freshman missed most of the season with a toe injury. Irving played in the Blue Devils first eight games, where they went 8-0, and averaged over 17 points per game. His biggest performance came when he lead the Blue Devils with 31 points, six rebounds and four assists in an 84-79 win over Michigan State University. When it comes down to it, Irving is an elite talent and whoever wins the lottery will be getting one hell of a prize.
AW: Krystal gets the 3 because Walker has shown that he’s a much better passer, plus his scoring. Brandon gets 2 because Irving is clearly a stellar point guard ready for the next level. Kevin also gets 2 because Williams is a phenomenal talent.
(03/16/11 9:44pm)
On Wednesday, March 2, in the Library Auditorium, the College’s Faculty Senate Committee on Intellectual Community honored statistics professor David Holmes for his research on stylometry — the statistical analysis of literary style. Holmes’ presentation, “Who Was the Author? Using Statistics to Identify Authorship” allowed students to understand a different aspect of statistics.
(03/16/11 9:43pm)
On Thursday, March 3, in the Business Building lounge, Michael Rossi, an alumnus of the Political Science department, presented this week’s politics forum, “From Practicing Democracy in Being Democratic: The Role of Historical Narrative in Democratic Consolidation in Contemporary Serbia.” Politics forums run each Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the Business Building lounge.
(03/16/11 6:02pm)
In Week 8 of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Hilarey Wojtowicz, challenges Sports Assistant Alex Wolfe, Senior Editor Bobby Olivier and Editor-in-Chief Caroline Russomanno to answer questions about how successful Jake Peavy’s rehabilitation will be, whether or not student athletes deserve special privileges and if the Miami Heat will be able to use their emotion to earn more victories.
1. Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy’s surgery and rehab seem to have worked. Although his fastball reached 92 mph, do you think that Peavy can keep this up and possibly pitch a whole game again by the time the season starts?
AW: Injuries are generally pretty tricky, so I’m a little wary to say this, but I think that Peavy will make a full recovery. Perhaps the most ringing endorsement that there is hope is that his catcher, A.J. Pierzynski, said that he felt that Peavy was making strides. Nobody knows a pitcher better than his catcher, and so I’m more inclined to say that he will make a full recovery rather than that he won’t. However, it was a significant injury, and it was apparently an injury that has not happened much, if at all, in the realm of baseball. So there is a chance that he might not be full strength, but based off of his first couple spring starts (he looked great in his second), he looks pretty good right now, and I would be more inclined to say that he will come out and have a productive 2011 season.
BO: Despite his raw natural talent and relatively young age, Jake Peavy will not reach his former all-star self this season. He is coming off of a detached muscle in his back — a serious injury for non-athletes, let alone those who are paid to play. Just because his velocity is up to 92 mph in meaningless spring scrimmages, his health, or at least his luck, will not hold out for the duration of the 2011 season. Pitching in the American League, he will face difficult lineups every time he takes the mound in 2011, and just because the fastball is well, fast, that doesn’t help the fact that he needs his back to be at full strength to stabilize himself and locate his pitches. Sorry Jake, not this year.
CR: It’s hard to tell with Peavy, since his injury is so rare for a pitcher, and the muscle injured is one of the most essential in the wind-up and delivery. But Peavy rehabbed hard and seriously, and he has been the best pitcher for the Sox in the preseason. Honestly, I think it’s too early to tell how any pitcher will weather the season, but I think Peavy’s chances to get back to full strentgh are good. His catcher, A.J. Pierzynski, said his slider was the best it’s ever been, and he retired 11 guys in a row in last Wednesday’s outing, and he pitched even better in his next start. If the White Sox start him slowly and don’t overtax his arm, I think he will be able to pitch a full game a few weeks into the season. Better safe than sorry.
HW: Caroline gets 3 points for saying that if the White Sox start him off slow, he’ll be able to regain his strength and speed. Alex gets 2 for noting that whether he gets back to his old self or not, Peavy is going to have a productive 2011 season. Bobby also gets 2 for knowing that Peavy is going to need the back strength if he wants to keep up his 92 mph fastball.
2. Stanford University recently discontinued a list of classes that was offered to student athletes by the Athletic Academic Resource Center in order to help athletes get “easy A’s.” Do you think colleges should offer student athletes these types of privileges or should they be treated just like every other student?
AW: I believe that “easy A” classes don’t have a place in college athletics. A college athlete is still a student and shouldn’t be held to a lower standard academically than any
other student. I actually believe that it’s irresponsible on the part of colleges to let athletes get by without any work academically because if the athletic career of a student doesn’t pan out, they could be stuck with a degree in ballroom dancing. If the schools want to do themselves and their athletes a favor, they should make sure that all student athletes are required to take relevant classes that can lead to them getting a degree.
BO: Great question. I do not believe that a college or university should have to lower its standards for its student athletes, but I must answer this question in reality, not in an utopian institution. Unfortunately, it is too beneficial for large colleges — like Stanford — to allow its student athletes to skim by, and it is in the best interest of the college community to let this continue. This sounds horrible, but these athletes who have no interest in grades and perpetually waste professors’ time bring in huge chunks of money to the school through their physical accolades. That money can be invested in building better education systems for all attending. Let’s not kid ourselves. Let the one-and-done NCAA basketball stars slide through en route to millions of dollars. The end justifies the means, in the most twisted way.
CR: I understand that playing a college sport at any level, but especially Division I, is a real strain on a person and his or her schedule. But, come on, you’re going to college to learn, right? I think too many student athletes skate through school, don’t learn anything and then don’t go pro and end up working at McDonald’s. I think student athletes should be treated like anyone else. Maybe they can get extra attention with their classes, like tutors (which is something I know Seton Hall University does), as long as the tutors only help them keep up and don’t do the work for them. But they should have to take the same classes as everyone else, maintain the same grades and graduate with real degrees like everyone else. It may suck sometimes, but when the athlete isn’t in the one percent that makes it to the bigs, he or she will be lucky to have something to fall back on.
HW: Alex and Caroline both get 3 points for believing that college is college and whether a student athlete or not, you’re there to get a degree. Bobby gets 2 for stating NCAA schools need athletes, and they need them to pass their classes in any way possible.
3. The Miami Heat were “moved to tears” after a recent loss to the Chiago Bulls. Will the Heat continue to lose, or can they turn it around by the end of March?
AW: The Heat are not going to be doing much better anytime soon. They are currently in the toughest spot of their schedule and are in the process of being exposed by some of the better teams in the league. They lost to the Knicks, the Magic, the Spurs, the Bulls and the Blazers before winning against the Lakers. However, the Heat still have to face the Grizzlies, the Spurs, the Thunder, the Hawks and the Nuggets, all playoff teams, before they hit their cream puff last part of their schedule. The Heat will get it together right at the end of the month against some lesser teams and coast into the playoffs, but as far as completely getting it together enough to beat some of the best teams in the league come playoff time, they probably won’t.
BO: The Miami Heat just beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this season on Thursday, snapping the two-time defending champions’ eight-game win streak and their five-game losing streak. But, will the team continue to be in close games and lose some of them? Most likely. The Heat lack a dominant point guard in a conference that has several: Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose and Chauncey Billups to name a few. It is difficult to manage the clock and put teams away when the guy dribbling up the court wouldn’t be starting for many of Miami’s opponents. I don’t doubt that the Heat will be able tp maintain a No. 2 or No. 3 seed heading toward April, but I do have my concerns as to whether any of those games will keep Eric Spoelstra looking young on the bench.
CR: Oh, the Miami Heat. Anyone who reads AtD regularly knows how I feel about the Heat and Crack King James. I predicted this at the beginning of the season and I will say it again. I still don’t think the Heat have gelled as a team, even though I will admit their record is better than I thought it would be. But James is 0-4 in last minute shots, and the rest of the team is 0-13. That’s pretty sad. Their defense is falling apart. I think if the big three can start playing as a team they can turn it around, but their defense has to tighten and they need to make moves earlier in the game to avoid these last minute plays. And if they do have to shoot in a tight spot, how about this: Make the damn shot, LeBron.
HW: Alex gets 3 for knowing the Heat’s schedule and where and when they will pull through or not for the wins they need. Bobby gets 2 for pointing out that Miami just beat L.A., but if they can’t keep that up, will they really snag a No. 2 or No. 3 seed? And Caroline gets 1 for really just hating on the Heat.
Alex wins this week’s AtD, 8 - 7 - 6.
(03/02/11 11:21pm)
In The Signal’s coverage of the Feb. 16 Student Finance Board meeting, during which SFB approved the College Union Board’s request for funding for a lecture by Morgan Spurlock, it was stated that Spurlock would be giving the lecture and possibly a preview screening of his latest film in the spring.
It was later determined that there was no contract made between CUB and Spurlock. According to CUB, Spurlock has refused to appear at the College because The Signal’s article implied that a contract had been made and reported the cost of the event.
“When CUB presents to SFB for funds, there are never contracts or deals made prior,” CUB president Allie Binaco said in an e-mail. “CUB must always secure funds before moving to the contracting stage.”
While we regret the implication that a contract had been made, the reporting of SFB funding is an essential part of The Signal’s mission.
“CUB explained to Spurlock’s agent that funding information on our campus is considered public record ... However, Spurlock is still not willing to consider an offer from (the College),” Binaco said.
(02/24/11 3:16am)
On Saturday, Feb. 19 at approximately 1 p.m., a pine tree from behind 1918 Pennington Road fell across Metzger Drive, blocking traffic outside of the Phelps and Hausdoerffer apartments. Campus Police Services dispatch contacted College grounds personnel, and a grounds crew had the tree removed by 5 p.m., according to Emily Dodd, communications officer for media relations and marketing.
(02/24/11 2:08am)
In Week 6 of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Staff Writer Krystal Spencer, Correspondent Chloe Fama and Sports Editor Brandon Gould to answer questions about what uniform Albert Pujols will be wearing come 2012, which team will finish the season atop the NBA’s Eastern Conference and which college basketball team will finish the season at No. 1.
1. Albert Pujols may be set to pull a LeBron James this coming year after failing to come to terms with the St. Louis Cardinals prior to spring training. Pujols will likely command one of the most lucrative contracts ever this offseason, but what team will be the one to pony up and sign “The Machine?”
KS: Well, it definitely won’t be St. Louis. They played too many games with Pujols and now that the deadline is here, it doesn’t look like he’s staying. As to where he’ll go, I honestly don’t know. He’s like Carmelo right now — everyone can speculate, but it’s difficult to tell who’s being serious. He’s worth the money he’s asking for, and some teams need him desperately — like the the Chicago Cubs or Atlanta Braves — but just can’t break the bank. I know the Red Sox can afford him, but maybe we’ll see him on the East Coast in a few weeks?
CF: Regardless of everything going on at the moment, Albert Pujols will be playing with the Cardinals again next season. The team was built around Pujols, and there is no way that the Cardinals can just allow him to walk in free agency. Pujols is not obsessed with the cash. He just wants to be paid market value, even if that means asking to be the highest paid player in history. By paying him market value, too, the team is sure to expect nothing but the best from Pujols, as this is the only way to show them he is worth the money. The main reason why the Cardinals will sign Pujols again? He wants to stay a Cardinal. When both sides want to stay and the money is there, the deal will be made.
BG: Let me start by saying I really hope that Pujols signs a long-term deal with the Cardinals. That may not happen now with the discrepancies over the amount of years the Cardinals are willing to give and the amount of years Pujols wants, so it may be time to consider Pujols playing with another team in 2012. If that is the case, I think Pujols will be headed to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have lost most of their connections to what they were in the ’90s. Bobby Cox retired this offseason, and Chipper Jones is on his last legs. The departure of those two icons has left the Braves looking for a new face for the franchise. It could end up being Jason Heyward, but I think it would be better to pair that young talent with a superstar and franchise player like Pujols.
AW: I give the 3 to Chloe for bringing up the fact that Pujols said he wanted to be a Cardinal this past week. Brandon gets 2 because I don’t know if the Braves would be willing to dish out that kind of money. Krystal gets 1 because Pujols isn’t going anywhere in the next few weeks.
2. The Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks are all playing at a high level, but who will end up coming away with the No. 1 seed and home court advantage for the playoffs?
KS: I’d like to give this one to the Celtics. They’re like the Philadelphia Phillies of the NBA — stacked with talent in all departments with high hopes of continued success.
Besides, the Celts can win the crucial games against some tough opponents. They have the best chemistry out of the four teams, and let’s not forget, they have the greatest three-point shooter ever!
CF: The Boston Celtics are bound to be the No. 1 seed and have home court advantage. Yes, the Miami Heat has LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, but they haven’t proven that they can win in the past few games. The Celtics’ recent 85-82 win against the Heat gave the Celtics the confidence they needed and provided the Heat with the realization that if they do not beat Boston, the rest of their season meant next to nothing. Although the talent may be better on the Heat, the Celtics have a more experienced team, and, in the end, that is what makes the difference. The true competition is currently between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, and at this point, the Celtics are winning the No. 1 seed.
BG: The Miami Heat may have everyone’s attention, but the Boston Celtics will finish the season as the East’s top squad. The media blew up this whole Big-Three thing over the summer, but it has been done before — by the Celtics. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen came together to win a championship — which they accomplished — and have created a special chemistry on the court. Until the Heat develop that type of chemistry, they won’t be able to overcome the Celtics. The Celtics also have more depth than all the other teams. Besides their Big-Three, the Celtics have Rajon Rondo — a budding star — Kendrick Perkins, Glenn Davis, Shaquille O’Neal, Jermaine O’Neal and Nate Robinson. The combination of those players and the chemistry they have will ultimately prove to be the ingredients that get the Celtics the top seed.
AW: Boring field of answers, but Brandon gets 3 for pointing out the Celtics’ phenomenal depth. Chloe gets 2 for pointing out the Celtics’ record against the Heat. Krystal gets 1 for bringing up the C’s team chemistry.
3. The No. 1 team in college basketball has been a revolving door recently, with Ohio State University and Kansas University getting knocked off in consecutive weeks. March Madness is coming up soon, so who will be the No. 1 overall seed come tournament time?
KS: That’s such an impossible decision to make, seriously. While Ohio State University and Kansas University are formidable teams, college ball is so unpredictable. And let’s not mention that the ranking’s a matter of opinion anyway. But since I have to make a pick, I’ll give it to Ohio State because of their unbeaten run. For a team to lose and maintain their No. 1 ranking is rare. Clearly they deserve it.
CF: Come tournament time, the Pittsburgh Panthers are undoubtedly going to be the number one seed. Their recent victory against the University of South Florida lengthened their Big East lead to two games with only five games remaining on the schedule. With Ohio State and Kansas falling behind, Pitt is looking more and more promising. Pitt has six top 25 RPI wins, with two of those resulting from road games last week without their leading scorer. The Panthers are an extremely tough team, both mentally and physically. Although Pitt has made it as No. 1 seed the past few years and got shut out of the Final Four, I believe this year is their year to shine.
BG: Ohio State University may end up winning the tournament, but I think the No. 1 overall seed is going to be the University of Texas. The Longhorns were ranked No. 3 before Kansas University dropped to Kansas State University the other day, so they will already be moving up in the rankings. Another bonus is that the Buckeyes have to go on the road to face No. 11 Purdue University and then end the season by hosting No. 10 University of Wisconsin, who handed them their only loss. Meanwhile, the Longhorns do not play another ranked team for the rest of the season. Mix all those facts together, and you’ve got a pretty strong case that the Longhorns will finish the season on top.
CR: Although Pitt just lost a close one to St. John’s at the Garden, they’re the best team in the best conference and Chloe gets the 3. Krystal gets 2 for pointing out that Ohio State will likely be in the top spot once again. Brandon gets 1 because Texas has lost to some sub-par competition including Nebraska.
Chloe wins this week’s AtD, 8 - 6 - 4.