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(04/04/07 12:00pm)
Hofstetter, Cody Marley, Rich Ragains, Elliot Steingart and Chris Strait
This year's NCAA tournament is expected to pull in more than $500 million in TV advertising revenue. The NCAA hasn't seen that much money being tossed around since Chris Webber. Wow, $500 million. That's almost as much as it costs to go to USC.
Major League Baseball mandated each team watch a film on the dangers and consequences of steroid use. In an interesting twist, the film was projected on the back of Barry Bonds' head.
LeBron James has acquired a minority ownership of Cannondale, a manufacturer of high-end bicycles. It's nice to see James will have something to fall back on in case this whole basketball thing doesn't work out. James has been advised to invest wisely, so that when he retires, he will be able to put gas in all eight of his private planes.
At the world swimming championships, the United States won four gold medals and set three world records. The United States has the second most powerful swimmers in the world, just behind Tom Brady.
And inspired by his brother's performance on Saturday Night Live, Eli Manning will begin working with a comedy troupe: the Giants minicamp. Eli also proposed to his girlfriend of five years this week which frustrated Giants fans: they are still waiting for Manning to come around. Congratulations, Eli - this is probably the only ring in your career.
National Lampoon Sports Minute (Or So) is a humorous look at the sports world, written by five comedians and edited by Sports Illustrated humor columnist Steve Hofstetter.
For more info on the Sports Minute (Or So), visit minuteorso.com
(04/04/07 12:00pm)
Tom Hare, a 2006 alumnus of the College, passed away on April 1. Hare, who had epilepsy, suffered a seizure. A viewing is scheduled for April 6 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Bradley & Son Funeral Home in Summit. A second viewing is scheduled for April 7 at 11 a.m. at New Providence Presbyterian Church in New Providence.
(03/28/07 4:00pm)
This week in Around the Dorm, we have a tight race between the usual suspects: Signal managing editor Lauren Kohout, Signal nation & world editor James Queally and Signal sports editor Brandon Lee. The debate this week focuses on the Mets and Phillies, Jeff "Robocop" Garcia and the two personas of Kobe Bryant. Signal sports assistant Justin Jez takes his usual place as the ref.
1) Excluding the Yankees, which area MLB team will end the season with more wins, the Mets or the Phillies, and why?
LK: Without being biased, I'll have to say the Phillies. They have a stronger, younger lineup that stays consistent throughout the season, whereas the Mets have some guys out of their prime like Paul LoDuca. Not even David Wright could stay strong toward the end of the season for the Mets. Then you have guys like Carlos Beltran choking at the plate in the playoffs. The Phillies have a returning MVP in Ryan Howard, a hitting-streak threatening Chase Utley and an outfielder just arriving at his prime in Shane Victorino. Charlie Manuel knows what he's doing (even if he looks weirder than George Bush in a press conference). Once he is done rattling the Phils' cages this preseason, there will be no stopping them. Sorry, Mr. Met.
JQ: As a New Yorker, this is hard for me to write, but I do believe the Phillies will win more games than the Mets this year. The Mets' injury-riddled and aging pitching rotation is enough to give any New York sports enthusiast a headache and a half. Tom Glavine and Pedro Martinez both battled nagging injuries for a good portion of last year. They've got all the right weapons in their lineup, but we know that pitching wins games in the major leagues. Unfortunately, the dangerous mixture of power, consistency and speed that comes from a batting order including Wright, Carlos Delgado, LoDuca and Jose Reyes will be negated by a crippled pitching staff. The Phillies have dangerous bats with 2006 NL MVP Howard and Utley, coupled with a solid pitching staff led by Freddy Garcia. Hey, maybe this is the year Kohout can snag a pennant after all.
BL: The Mets will be the more successful team because of their all-star filled lineup. The lineup from top to bottom can devastate any pitcher. There is speed, power and timely hitting at every position. The heart of the order - Beltran, Delgado and Wright - is as good as any in the league. Yes, the Phillies have Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Howard, but they really have no other proven players. In the Mets' lineup, Beltran is protected by Delgado. In the Phillies lineup, who protects Howard? After his breakout year, Howard will be treated like Bonds and will constantly be walked. Both pitching staffs are shaky but the Mets get the bullpen edge because of Billy Wagner and Duaner Sanchez, who was lights out before his taxi accident.
JJ: 3 points to Queally and Brandon. Both identified the importance of pitching, and Brandon made a great point about how there is no one to protect Howard. Kohout, I like the comment about the aging Mets, but Beltran in the playoffs has no effect on the regular season and their number of wins - 2 points.
2) After helping the Eagles reach the divisional championship game, Jeff Garcia was not re-signed. Were the Eagles correct in letting Garcia go to assure Donovan McNabb of his spot?
LK: Darn right they were. Garcia is 37 years old and would have no chance in carrying a team for 16 games plus playoffs. Sure he did well when he came in and gave the Iggles some wins, but it wouldn't have lasted. McNabb got injured. You don't lose a starting position just because of one injury. McNabb is still an icon in Philly. Garcia could have won the Super Bowl last year and McNabb still would have had his starting position back when he returned. All I have to say is good luck with the Bucs, Garcia. Have fun trying to squeeze out more than five wins with that team.
JQ: When McNabb is healthy, he's easily one of the best quarterbacks of the past decade. However, the question the Eagles have to ask themselves is, "When is McNabb going to be healthy again?" Unless somebody can guarantee me that McNabb is going to be 100 percent for the 2007 campaign, I can't see any reason why in the hell Philly would let go of Garcia. Garcia stepped out of McNabb's shadow and saved 2006 for the Eagles, leading them to an NFC East Division Championship and a playoff victory over my beloved Giants. Sure, he's older, but the guy's got at least two or three good seasons left in him, which he is now going to waste in Tampa Bay as part of the Bucs' psychotic five-man quarterback rotation. If McNabb goes down again this year, who is going to save the Eagles, A.J. Feely? The Eagles need to pick up a solid backup quarterback immediately or they need to start issuing their offensive linemen handguns to make sure McNabb never gets hit this season.
BL: This move gives McNabb some peace of mind. Garcia was definitely a perfect fit for Andy Reid's system, but can a 37-year-old quarterback last an entire season? McNabb is the face of the franchise. It would be like getting rid of Michael Vick to keep Matt Schaub. Not happening. McNabb is the Eagles' superstar and took them to the Super Bowl in 2005. It would have been nice to keep Garcia as a backup but that would have just put pressure on McNabb if he started playing in a funk. Just look at Eli Manning; he has no quarterback competition and just has to work on throwing the ball to the right team.
JJ: Queally takes this round with 3 points. If McNabb goes down the Eagles will be kicking themselves next year, but I don't know if NFL players need more firearms. Kohout and Brandon receive 2 points each - Brandon for saying the decision reassured McNabb and Kohout for pointing out injuries don't lose positions.
3) Sporting a new number and a new basketball identity, Kobe Bryant has made a conscious effort to get his teammates more involved. Which Kobe is better for the Lakers: scoring Kobe or passing Kobe?
LK: Scoring Kobe has three championship rings. Passing Kobe has none. However, scoring Kobe had Shaq to back him up. Without Shaq, Kobe would have to score twice as much. Oh, wait, he is! We're talking about a man who has scored 81 points in one game and has had 50 points or more in 19 games. Phil Jackson told Kobe the Lakers can't win if he doesn't score. He scored 50 points in four games straight. Only Wilt Chamberlain has been able to match that feat. Passing Kobe, ha! That's about as useful as free-throw-shooting Shaq.
JQ: Scoring Kobe is the short-term answer, but passing Kobe is the longterm solution. The Lakers have won four straight games with Kobe scoring 50-plus points. Aside from that, Luke Walton and Lamar Odom will create scoring opportunities for themselves both off the glass and moving without the ball, even when Kobe is lighting up the place. However, if the Lakers want to develop some of its younger stars like Jordan Farmar and Andrew Bynum, then Kobe needs to think pass first and shoot second when he gets double- and triple-teamed. At the moment the Lakers are seeded sixth in the West and that is probably where they will finish. Looking ahead to likely series against powerhouses like the Spurs, Suns and Mavericks, I wouldn't fix it since it ain't broke, and let Kobe try and take down those juggernauts with a little help from his supporting cast. But sooner or later, Kobe is going to need to get the rest of his younger teammates involved if there is to be a future in L.A. after he's gone.
BL: Passing Kobe is better for the Lakers because basketball is a team game (cough, cough Gilbert Arenas). When Kobe looks for his teammates, the Lakers play a more balanced offense. If he is double- or even triple-teamed, he can easily find the open man. How else will the rest of the team have any cohesion if Kobe takes 30 shots a night? Passing Kobe finds the open man and can look for his shot. This Kobe is balanced, just like yin and yang - which keeps Zen master Phil Jackson in perfect harmony with his star.
JJ: Brandon gets the 3 points this round. The Kobe that best helps the Lakers is the "balanced" Kobe. Kohout gets 2 points. Everyone wants to see scoring Kobe, and if he is hot, the game is over. Queally, I had to make you the low man this round - 1 point. The young guys will develop regardless of Kobe, and he has the ability to beat any team by himself, i.e. the Suns last year.
With a score of 8-7-6, Brandon wins this week's title.
(03/28/07 12:00pm)
Selkow performs its acoustic, hip hop and funk hybrid at WTSR's coffeehouse last Tuesday in the Decker Main Lounge. Drinks and snacks were provided for the audience and Selkow provided Rockstar Energy Drinks. There was also a game of musical chairs with prizes from the Princeton Record Exchange. Jon Irizarry and Brian St. John, Leo Mahaga, Pat Lavery and Jeff Rupert, The Three Shells (comprised of Greg Miller, Chris Kubak and Jeff Rupert) and Postmark Twain (Jim Gaven and Dave Sanchez) also performed.
(03/28/07 12:00pm)
By Steve Hofstetter, Keith Alberstadt, Adam Hofstetter, Cody Marley, Rich Ragains, Elliot Steingart and Chris Strait
Don't expect Bob Knight to retire anytime soon. A few minutes after losing to Boston College, the Texas Tech coach was already talking excitedly about the new batch of recruits he'll get to choke next season.
Boxing promoter Don King secured an audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican this week. Apparently, King wanted to know where to get a hat that big.
44-year-old boxer and possible nutcase Evander Holyfield defeated Vinny Maddalone with a TKO. After the fight, Holyfield said he would reclaim his heavyweight title and "I wonded."
ESPN has agreed to carry the USA Rock Paper Scissors League Championship. It was either that or hockey.
In football, former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter allegedly punched Bengals offensive lineman Levi Jones at a Las Vegas blackjack table. Porter could face a year in jail or worse, finish his career in Miami. Police immediately arrested Jones because he's on the Bengals.
Peyton Manning hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend. It's nice to see that Manning is finally getting some television exposure.
And Michael Vick opened a new winery and restaurant that is the first of its kind to serve marijuana residue in a water bottle. Though it's known as "The Tasting Room," we prefer to call it "Bongs N' Beaujolais." Vick admitted he was reluctant to get involved with the restaurant business, but in the end he simply couldn't pass.
National Lampoon Sports Minute (Or So) is a humorous look at the sports world, written by five comedians and edited by Sports Illustrated humor columnist Steve Hofstetter.
For more info on the Sports Minute (Or So), visit minuteorso.com
(03/28/07 12:00pm)
Dear Kayy,
I've always been somewhat self-conscious about the way my vagina looks, but I never felt worried about it until I actually watched a porn video as a joke with my girlfriends. I noticed that I look very different than the girl in the video. I've never really looked at my own vagina up close or with a mirror, but I'm definitely aware of the fact that my labia are bigger and one side is a little bit bigger than the other. Is there something wrong with me? I'm really self-conscious and can only hook up with the lights off, and even then I'm worried that he'll notice that I'm weird or different. Am I strange? Is there any way to fix this?
Help!
Vaginaconscious
Dear Vaginaconscious,
Worrying about the shape or size of your vagina because of watching pornography is like comparing your breast size to those actresses. Although I do not believe there is anything inherently bad or damaging about pornography (and to delve into this topic would be a whole column in and of itself), it certainly is a hypersexual display of inaccurate and unattainable body images.
Although many people have a lot to say about pornography, these displays are not very different from music videos, television or movies. Although pornography is much more detailed and graphic in its sexual content, women's (and men's) bodies are impossible to achieve. I mean, you're not looking at the genitals of actresses on primetime, but their 5-foot-11, 110-pound bodies and cosmetically altered facial features are enough to make any beautiful real world girl feel inadequate.
Anytime you compare your own body to that of someone who is paid to be on film, you won't feel totally satisfied. I mean, props to any person who still feels confident when compared to supermodels. But these people are chosen for these jobs because they are the closest to perfection that can be found, and if they aren't, they are altered to look this way, especially in the time of the advanced technology that can airbrush or digitalize any flaws away.
Porn is no different. Take the whole picture into account: two (or more) people, often having just met recently, experience perfect orgasmic bliss with little to no effort in good lighting on silk sheets. Now how often does that happen? You can't seriously compare your own sex life or body to these films. If and when your partner watches these films, he probably thinks he doesn't compare to the actors as well. The average penis size is somewhere around six inches, and the average penis size of a male porn star is . well, a lot bigger than that.
Okay, enough porn talk. Your problem is bigger than watching a random sex flick. As you mentioned, you were uncomfortably aware of your nether regions previous to that viewing. The issue at hand is that many women feel uncomfortable about their anatomy - not just their weight or nose shape, but the shape of their vaginas, color of their nipples and the fact that their breasts are not exactly the same size.
This could be due to any number of reasons besides the unrealistic proportions of porn stars. If we are fortunate enough to get a sexual health education, it is extremely rare to talk about the nitty gritty details of things like penis or labia size - mostly because it would make people feel uncomfortable. So we're left in the dark. What is it supposed to look like? What is more sexually attractive? Should I be worried?
Your biggest worry should just be about physical comfort. Having larger or longer labia might make exercise, tampon use or intercourse uncomfortable or even painful. Women who have ridden horses or bikes or been in accidents may have this condition, and it can be treated from underwear choice (spandex helps contract the labia for easier moving around) to small-scale surgery.
Labioplasty is a cosmetic procedure that is relatively simple and painless using local anesthetics and done in your OB/GYN's office. While I don't suggest getting this costly procedure unless the size of your labia is affecting your daily life in an extreme way, it is an option.
Keep in mind that you have no real reason to worry about your health. It is just as common to have uneven labia as it is to have two different sized breasts. Your concern should not be about infections or cancerous growth but about self-esteem. I'm a big proponent of the mirror procedure to heighten comfort with the body - using a mirror to inspect all the different angles and aspects of your vagina. This could also be good for your health, as being aware of the natural state of your vagina could help you notice any growths, abnormalities or changes.
Inspecting your vagina could definitely make you more at ease in sexual situations. One of the biggest components of attaining sexual pleasure is comfort level, and locating your clitoris is quite obviously important during masturbation and play with others. If you're freaking out in bed about what you look like, you'll be too stiff and nervous to really enjoy yourself.
The more you see something, the more comfortable you are with it. For instance, I feel that the more time you spend naked, the more okay you will be with how you look and the better you'll feel about yourself. I don't suggest walking around on campus pants-less, but spending alone time like reading or watching TV naked isn't a bad idea. A rise in self-assurance will definitely show when you're with a partner; they will be blown away by your self-confidence.
Keep in mind that there are as many different labia shapes and sizes as there are women, and just because the pornography in our culture aims for small and hairless vaginas, that doesn't mean that's what all men want.
Chances are your partner doesn't even notice the size because he's been with real women and not just watched pornography. And did you know that in some cultures, women actually wear weights to weigh down and lengthen their labia to be more attractive to mates?
Don't worry about perfection; celebrate your body.
Kayy*
(03/28/07 12:00pm)
Senior Week veteran: fight for your rights
What ever happened to student dissent? During my four years at the College, my friends and I endured several ludicrous penalties for violating school policy.
One friend was placed on probation after committing an arsenal of ghastly offenses including watching TV with his door open (noise violation), drinking alcohol in the presence of minors (alcohol violation) and placing a drawer above his bed (some sort of strange furniture-propping violation). One more and he would have been removed from campus.
As students, we never complained or questioned the policies even though they were a nuisance. After all, the College's sprawling suburban campus has never been a hotbed for social discourse and, frankly, it wasn't worth the hassle.
So last week, when the College's seniors were forced to cancel Senior Week because of low signup, I was hardly surprised or offended. My mood changed, however, after reading about the student body's reaction in an article last week in the Trenton Times. I know: What reaction?
One quote by Gabe Alonso, a senior class representative, stuck out to me. "I'm disappointed, but sometimes that's the way democracy works," he said. What is this "democracy" Mr. Alonso speaks of?
As I recall, the College has never shown much respect for tradition or student input. In the past few years, logos, meal options, housing plans, and even the College's name were all changed without student consent. And who can blame them when the student body is growing increasingly complacent?
It is important that students see the danger in these policies. As a public school with a reputation for admitting New Jersey's best and brightest, it is appropriate to voice your concerns to an institution that has shown a blatant disregard for your opinions as students.
It starts with asking "Why?" Why is it punishable to drink alcohol in front of a minor? Why doesn't the College (a public school) have an alcohol policy that matches the State of New Jersey's? Why are you paying thousands of dollars for a diminishing say in your social fate?
Once again, you are paying for a service. Are you satisfied?
I love the College. During my time there, I served proudly as a College Ambassador and school spokesman. I even lived there over the summers and worked for guest services. I've gone on to get a masters degree using the skills I learned there.
And, in case you were wondering, yes I drank alcohol during Senior Week. I partied in Atlantic City and danced at Bar A in Belmar. My classmates and I sang crappy pop songs on the long bus rides and one night, we even cut my friend's bangs. I caught up with old friends and made new ones. But mostly, we stayed up late and reflected the good times that four (or more) years at our beloved college brought us. And when the week was over we walked (well, some of us stumbled) onto the football field to receive our degrees. That was college. That was Senior Week.
It was a great time, and I'm saddened that the seniors this year won't have the memories that I will continue to cherish. The rest of you, however, still have a chance. Speak up before it's too late.
Eric Holland Johnson
Class of 2004
Conservatives invoke slurs for attention
Most opinions written in The Signal lack substance. Usually, it seems, they are written just to piss people off. Keith Lucas, for example, seems to find a new way to say "capitalism is great, and I don't like poor people," every week.
And usually, it is just as easy to ignore the authors as childish ideologues looking for attention. Terence Grado's article last week, "Coulter stepped over the line, but her critics followed," is unusually difficult to dismiss. He seems to too easily ignore, manipulate and make up facts.
He writes in defense of Ann Coulter. Ms. Coulter, among other offensive remarks, has said of Sept. 11 widows, "I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much."
Mr. Grado's article is about her recent use of the gay slur "faggot" to describe Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. Grado writes, "the term 'faggot' does not necessarily refer to a homosexual negatively anymore."
Reasonable people can disagree about many issues, but it should be universally understood that calling someone a "faggot" solely for political gain is offensive, not only to the person being described, but also the entire gay community.
You cannot blame Coulter. She has admitted she makes provocative comments to get attention. I blame her sponsors - for example, the Conservative Political Action Conference that Mr. Grado attended. Established organizations only demean themselves when they invite bigoted speakers such as Coulter.
My contempt for radical pundits, who make ridiculous statements for attention, extends well beyond Coulter. Mr. Grado mentions Amanda Marcotte. He goes on to say that she makes more ridiculous comments than Coulter and, "get(s) free passes from lefties."
The implication that liberals never criticize other liberals is not ridiculous - it's wrong by any standard of objectivity. Liberal blogs and pundits love to criticize everyone from Hillary Clinton to George Bush. Conservatives, by contrast, are much more hesitant to criticize their own.
But my disdain for the assertion that "liberals do not criticize liberals" stems not from its factual inaccuracy, but from its stereotyping. Just like "conservatives," "liberals" are not one united body of people who speak with one voice at one time. Some liberals, just like some conservatives, are intelligent enough to reject the divisive politics of both Coulter and Marcotte.
Mr. Grado writes, "to claim Coulter and many other Republicans secretly hate gays is a spit in the face." She called someone a "faggot" merely to insult him, so either she hates gays, or more likely she wants attention.
But either way, people who endorse offensive, bigoted statements solely for the purpose of getting attention for themselves are doing a disservice to democracy.
Bill Conlow
(03/21/07 4:00pm)
We're heading into the stretch run for the end of this semester. For our first Around the Dorm after Spring Break, we predict the winner of March Madness, Lions spring sports and the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. The contestants this week are Signal sports editor Brandon Lee, Signal nation & world editor James Queally and correspondent Adam Mamawala. Signal sports assistant Justin Jez takes his usual place as ref.
1) Forget all your March Madness brackets and concerning yourself with all 64 teams. Who is your pick to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship? Why?
BL: Ohio State will win the tournament. Greg Oden is Greg Oden, while Mike Conley Jr. is fifth in the nation in assists. Ohio State is a very young team but it proved itself by winning the Big 12 Conference. Oden will deliver in the clutch and dominate the low post on both sides of the ball. He denies penetrators and slashers, leaving the opposing team with jump shooting. Defense wins championships. I don't care what type of basketball it is, but a team can only rely so much on jump shooting.
JQ: I hate going with No. 1 seeds, but after the way they handled themselves in the Big 10 tournament, I can't find any reason to bet against the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas is playing in a relatively weak West region, where the No. 2 and 4 seeds (UCLA and Southern Illinois) are unlikely to get any further. Continuing with the "bracketology," Kansas will likely play Florida in the Final Four, a team it beat on the road earlier in the season. Florida is ranked No. 1 overall in the tournament, meaning Kansas has more than proved its worth against the nation's best. The Jayhawks are led by sharp-shooting forward Julian Wright (12.2 ppg), one of the nation's best clutch players in Mario Chalmers and veteran coach Bill Self. Kansas will reach the NCAA Finals where it'll narrowly defeat either Ohio State or Georgetown.
AM: I am going to take Kansas over Georgetown in the finals. Kansas is the most complete team in the tournament. Behind leader Brandon Rush, it has four players averaging double-digits in scoring. Ohio is a great team, but I don't think the young Oden, who is prone to foul trouble, can carry the whole team. Likewise, freshman Kevin Durant cannot put the team on his back. Unless you are Michael Jordan, one-man shows don't work. Florida is lacking certain intangibles in comparison to last year. In the later rounds, it will not be able to duplicate its run from last year.
JJ: Close call, but seeing as how I have Kansas atop my bracket, I have to give the edge to Queally and Mamawala. Queally gets 3 points. I agree with your identification of the weaker region Kansas is playing through. Mamawala picks up 2 points. Although I like Kansas, I do not agree that freshman studs cannot carry a team. Just look at Carmelo Anthony. Brandon, pretty good analysis, but you played it safe with the consensus favorite - 1 point.
2) There are a host of the College's spring sports teams looking to take both the NJAC and Division III National titles this year. Which team has the best shot at taking home a national championship this year?
BL: The baseball team has the best chance at winning both championships this year. They have two All-Americans, a record-setting pitching rotation (which is still intact from last year) and senior catcher Gerard Haran. Haran can arguably rake with the best in the nation (that includes Division I players). The only shaky position on this team is the outfield. However, the new-look outfield will receive tons of help from the College's pitching staff. Many of the other Lions teams do not have the strong upperclassmen returning like the baseball team. The runner-up would go to the lacrosse team, even though it lost Lauren Dougher and Bridget Bigley. Head coach Sharon Pfluger and junior midfielder Karen Doane will make it another successful postseason.
JQ: After getting off to a red-hot start, it would appear that the baseball team has the best chance to bring the college a Division III National Title this year. The team won six straight to start the year before Macalester College stopped them on March 15. Over that six-game streak, the College outscored its opponents by nearly 50 runs. Keep in mind, the Lions are also returning a pitching staff that set the school record for the lowest ERA in school history a year ago. The Lions also retained two All-Americans in first baseman Blake Bullis and Haran. Haran, who is the all-time leader in home runs here at the College, will lead a powerful lineup that will provide run support for the Lions' equally dangerous pitching rotation. The Lions have shown what this one-two punch can do, beating Keystone College 16-3 and Denison University 17-4 earlier in the month. The Lions will run through the NJAC and make a serious run at a national title this year.
AM: Even though men's tennis does not compete in the NJAC, I think it has the best chance at taking home a national championship. Last year was a year they thought they could put it all together. It ended up being a season plagued by injuries, especially to key player Roger Mosteller. The Lions have a deep lineup, better than any other Division III team I've seen. It's going to be tough for people to compete with them. Michael Klimchak is also playing out of his mind right now, sporting a 12-1 combined record in singles and doubles. The addition of freshman Jeremy Eckardt should give them the extra firepower they need to make a push for the title. The only thing they lack is the addition of Adam Mamawala (who is not even No. 1 in club tennis) who feels as if he can contribute to the varsity team. Contact info: mamawal3@tcnj.edu.
JJ: 3 points go to Brandon and 2 points for Queally. You guys presented pretty similar arguments, but Queally gave more stats and Brandon gave me that coveted inside info. 1 point to Mamawala. For extolling the underrated men's tennis team, I give you credit. However, your shameless self-promotion and the fact that baseball trumps tennis cost you this round.
3) Pretend you are Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. With a glaring hole at quarterback, which promising young player do you take with the No. 1 pick: JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn?
BL: Although Russell is a physical freak, I'd take Quinn. You can be the most athletic person in the world but not make it in the NFL. Russell showed up to the Combine out-of-shape and overweight, while Quinn benched 225 pounds 24 times. That's pretty good for a 232-pound quarterback. Russell still needs to work on his decision making The stuff he did in college just won't cut it in the pros. Michael Vick still needs to work on his decision making; that's why his team didn't make it to the playoffs this past season. Quinn is smart and was tutored by Charlie Weiss, who also helped Tom Brady go from sixth-round pick to future Hall of Famer. Quinn reminds me of Matt Leinart: a smart, accurate passer that makes good decisions. You don't need a howitzer for an arm in the NFL; you need to make good decisions.
JQ: I think Quinn is the obvious choice for the Raiders. Quinn led Notre Dame to a 10-2 regular season before a collapse in the Sugar Bowl against LSU, and his numbers are very impressive in their own right. Quinn had a 148 passer rating in his senior year, along with 37 touchdowns and over 3,000 passing yards in the final two years of his Notre Dame career. I believe the fact that Quinn played at Notre Dame, one of the most storied football schools in NCAA history, will help him adjust to the NFL spotlight much quicker than Russell will. Quinn is going to be living under a microscope in Oakland, where he'll be trying to lead a franchise that used to strike fear in the hearts of NFL teams back from an abysmal 2-14 season. Tack on that Russell was described as looking "soft" at the NFL Combine, where he didn't even throw a football. Russell will become a formidable quarterback in the NFL, but Quinn has the aura of a leader about him, and that is what Oakland truly needs right now.
AM: I have to go with Russell. He is more proven in big games then Quinn. Case in point: Russell's 350 yards of total offense and 3 TD's in his Sugar Bowl performance against Notre Dame in a huge 41-14 win. With the ability to avoid the rush and throw an accurate deep ball, Russell is the better all-around quarterback. When comparing the two, Russell is more of a franchise type player whom you could build a team around. Quinn would fit in well with an established team, but not one like the Raiders. Russell is more like Vick and Donovan McNabb, players who came into bad situations and became the focal point of the team.
JJ: Brandon takes this round - 3 points. I was for Russell and your case that Quinn has the right tools made me reconsider. Mamawala gets 2 points this round. I do think that Russell has the Vince Young- like quality. Queally, you made a case for Quinn and mentioned the 41-14 whipping Russell gave Quinn in the Sugar Bowl. Plus I don't think just playing for Notre Dame gives Quinn an edge - 1 point.
With a score of 7-6-5, Brandon wins this week's title.
(03/21/07 12:00pm)
Students who visited Brower Student Center when they returned from Spring Break found that seating was limited by caution tape after one of the panes in the glass ceiling collapsed under the weight of snow and ice over the weekend.
(03/21/07 12:00pm)
The Signal invited a few of John's friends from his floor, Wolfe 4, to write about their perspectives one year after his death. The responses encompass a wide range of emotions, from hope and recovery to anger and regret.
I had never known pain or grief or numbness or friendship or family or love until March of last year. I'm not sure most of us did. This "us" I refer to includes the members of Wolfe 4 last year. It seems not only right but necessary that I write in terms of them as well as myself when I write about the person that changed all of us for the better.
I have come to realize many things in the past year - one of the most important of these being that no event, no emotion, no human experience can be explained to anyone else. Words simply cannot do it. Never, when I have tried to convey my feelings to family, friends, lawyers, detectives or strangers, has my language ever done me justice. So this will be a vague attempt to express only as much as words can allow me.
Since last March, I have walked around with a weight on my chest. A constant pressure that has scarred me and reminded me that the world is full of sadness, death, unanswered questions and missed opportunities. The only thing that lifts this weight is the people I have in my life. Sometimes it just takes looking at one of my friends and seeing a reflection of my own feelings in their eyes. Sometimes it takes crying or laughing. And even after a year, we are left in the same place. The human mind wants facts, information and answers. And we have none.
Sometimes when I think about the last year, it feels like it lasted for 10 years. Other times, it feels like 10 days. Sometimes I can hear his laugh and feel his arms hugging me after coming back to school from a break. And sometimes it feels like it has been ages since I have seen his crazy curls falling over those blue eyes.
John's impact on my life has been tremendous. In his life and death, I have found love and sorrow alike. I have seen my family and friends for the first time. I have truly realized how much people need each other. I have realized I am loved, and realized how much I can love. Because of John, I listen more closely. I look at people. I study their features and the way they carry themselves. It scares me to death to know that any of them might disappear and I will only be left with pictures and not be able to enjoy the amazing pleasure of seeing them in front of me or hearing their voice. These gifts are truly God-given and something most of us take for granted almost every minute of every day. But John won't let me make that mistake. His life and death have made me who I am. Yet looking back, I would give up who we have become and everything we have learned to give this amazing boy back to his family.
This is what overwhelms me the most. When I think about the Fiocco family, I sometimes am so overwhelmed that I think my heart might burst. If I can hardly handle the heartache I feel, I can't even begin to imagine what they experience every moment. I wish that I could take their pain from them - these wonderful people who gave us a friend who made us laugh so hard we cried, was always there when we needed him, and whose life has inspired us to be better people. I would give anything for them to have their son again. That is what encompasses my thoughts and is the main source of the weight on my chest. Mixed in with their sadness, I am equally overwhelmed by the circumstances of John's death. How can his family be left with nothing? No answers, no reasons, no simple fact to dwell upon. The frustration and nothingness is perhaps the most overwhelming of it all. Yet what are we to do? I choose to leave these answers to God.
John's life and death is not about you or me, or this college, or the news we see on TV, or the investigation or the policies that have arisen since last March. It is about his mother, his father, his brother and his sisters. Perhaps we can make their weight a little less heavy if we all remember that simple, simple fact.
I am still at quite a loss. It's been a year since John's physical presence has graced my life. He lives on in me, undoubtedly, and I find myself doing things and making decisions because of him and what he believed and shared with me. I am blessed to have been able to become so close with John after only seven months. People have asked me how I can consider myself one of John's closest friends, only having known him for this "short" time. "A moment is only as long as you hold it." That is one of my favorite quotes. We didn't waste the seven months we were given. A year, seven months, one week, one day, one minute. It is up to us what we make of it. A year has helped me realize I cannot bring John back to his family and those who love him. But until I see him again, I take what he has given me and use it every minute and make the best of the time I am given. It is all for him now, and I love that I have him with me. Sometimes when something good happens, I smile and say, "Thank you, Johnsy." And if I know John, he gives these little moments to his family every day. A year later, that is what is most important. I will be eternally grateful to the Fiocco family for having given us this amazing person. I have to live every day knowing John won't be there when I open my eyes. All I can do is love every minute I am given and love everyone around me. That is what John has given me, what more could a friend ask for?
- Julia Carey
This past year has definitely been a learning experience full of life lessons and sadness, but it also involved remembering all of the happy times that I shared with a person whom I will never forget. Things will never be the same as they were my freshman year, but I hope people realize that not everything has changed for the worse. Now I know that I have a guardian angel who is always looking down on me and many others, and that gives me a sense of closure and happiness every day. Without John, I would not be the person who I am today. His kindness, generosity, humor, talent and caring personality taught us all how to be a good friend, and it constantly reminds us about what is important in this world and to live life to the fullest. One of the things that I have learned from this is to only let those people with something positive to add to your life influence it. I experienced disappointment from many people who were completely ignorant to the whole situation but had negative things to say about John and his friends. The more time I spent dwelling on these things would only make me more upset. Instead, I eventually learned to appreciate those who helped me, such as my family, friends and the campus community. The most important thing to realize is to never think of John as anything other than the great person who he was and how he impacted those close to him. It's the little things that get you through each day.
- Lauren Maull
Even as I sit here and type the words, it pains me to write. How do you begin to put in writing an event that partially defines who you are? What words do you use to describe something that changed your outlook on life?
This is the task I've been handed, one that still has me searching for answers one long year after.
After all this time, I still have no idea what to say. Again, I find myself at a loss for words, at a loss for meaning, just like I was last spring when we lost our dear friend, John; last spring, when we lost a part of ourselves in the whirlwind that followed.
This isn't about us or me and what happened in the frenzy that followed John's disappearance.
This is about how I feel a year later, how the scars are still very real and the process we all go through, some slower than others, in order to cope every day with his memory and the remainders of that terrible period of time.
More than anything else, I feel guilt; the tremendous burden of "what if?" It is said that once you start blaming yourself for another's death, it's a slippery slope that ends in an age of wandering and wondering. I question myself every day if I'm at that point.
We were all there that night, all of us under the same roof as John before he disappeared. I was two rooms away from the last place any of us saw him. His life was stolen from us, right under our noses, and, personally, there will always be the hanging question of what I didn't do to keep him alive.
A day doesn't pass where I don't think of John and, usually, it's accompanied by an unfathomable feeling of personal failure and guilt. The scars are still very real, even one year later. Time heals, but the lingering doubts caused by the unknown will stay with me a lifetime.
For a month John's life hung in the balance - a month of not knowing where he went, what happened to him or if we'd ever get to sit down and just have a conversation together again. That's what I miss most, I think: the conversations.
The waiting was really the worst part. We were all bracing ourselves for the worst case scenario which ended up becoming reality; all of us hardening our hearts for the news that, at times, almost seemed like inevitable. Hope was a valuable commodity during those times. You sometimes needed an abundance of it just to get through the day.
During times like those is when you get the opportunity to see some of the most perverted things humanity has to offer. Reporters tailing you to class to get the story and dressing up as students in TCNJ gear to sneaking up to our floor just to get a soundbite or a quote. Having the police accuse you, point blank, of murdering one of your best friends. All this we experienced and coped with while John's life hung in the balance.
I used to be a journalism major. A reporter said to me one day, "Journalism is fun, but it doesn't pay. Get out while you can." I couldn't agree more. Hounding people in pain just to get a quote isn't worth it for me. After seeing "modern journalism" in action, I quickly switched. Like I said, experiences like that stick with you. They change you.
Before I end, please don't mistake this column for something overly pretentious or melodramatic. Understand that what happened was, at its core, a tragedy and, inherently, was filled with a wide range of human emotions.
As I finish this piece, I'm still unsure if I said anything of substance; if I just rambled on for a page or conveyed feelings that resonated and affected people.
I said earlier that I still have no idea what to say. After writing this, I know that's not entirely true. I have one thing to say and I hope it's heard: John, please forgive me.
- Ray Lodato
One year. A common word for the date one year after an event is an "anniversary." Unfortunately an anniversary sounds more like a celebration. It's most commonly associated with happiness and joy. March 25 of this year is going to be anything but happy. It's going to be a public reminder of what a close group of friends can't forget. I as well as many others live every day thinking about the tragic events of last year. Unfortunately, looking back I don't feel like much has changed, like much was accomplished.
I look at the events of last year and I get angered. I see errors made on the part of investigating parties that resulted in the loss of many possible clues to what happened to John. The police know as much about this event today as three days after it happened, and from my point of view it's their fault. I watched on, frustrated, as the close group of friends who were trying to cope with the loss of their friend had their lives put under a microscope. I'll never forget what that was like.
It was like living in a nightmare that never ended, every day woken up by detectives. You go from the hall full of detectives to the window and see dozens of news vans parked along the back of the building. You couldn't escape it in your room. You would sit in class, and hear the people around you talking about the rumors they heard, or pretending like they had some inside information. I often sat there, quiet, hiding the fact that inside I was hurt knowing my friend was missing, and quite possibly dead. No matter where you turned, it was in your face, and more importantly, in your heart. The only people you could turn to were your friends on Wolfe 4 who were going through the same thing.
John was here at TCNJ seven months to the day, and I lived with him every day. It felt like more. I didn't just know him for seven months, I lived with him. I spent countless hours playing video games or watching movies with him. I spent plenty of time simply killing time in friends' rooms. We became a tight group of friends on that floor, everybody trusted and respected each other, and everybody was comfortable enough to leave their doors open virtually all day. However, seven months just wasn't enough. I've spent countless times wishing for one more day; wishing for "one last good time" with John and the Wolfe 4 crew.
Since then I've had to move on with my life. I've made new friends, found a new roommate for this year and continued with college. But the one good thing I've seen come out of this tragedy has been the bond built between myself and my friends of Wolfe 4. We still live with it every day. I'm not talking about the bracelets we wear, it's in our hearts. We never forget John. Not one day goes by that I don't think about him, and not one day goes by that I don't miss him. I'll always remember John and I'll always love him as a friend that I was lucky enough, if only briefly, to get to know.
- Mike Merkowsky
(03/21/07 12:00pm)
By Steve Hofstetter, Cody Marley, Rich Ragains, Elliot Steingart and Chris Strait
Boxer Omar Nino Romero became the first fighter ever to be suspended by the Nevada commission for methamphetamine. Although Romero was given the chance to defend himself, he could not sit still long enough to do so.
Allen Iverson said he wants to finish his career in Denver and "go out like Reggie Miller." Which is perfect, because Miller also didn't win a championship.
Boston Globe sportswriter Ron Borges was suspended two months for plagiarizing. I'm hoping that no news organizations already used that same sentence.
New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas received a contract extension for coaching the Knicks all the way from the cellar to the basement. Minutes after the signing, MSG Chairman James Dolan checked into rehab. Thomas should be glad he doesn't coach in the NFL - he'd have been fired five times by now.
A new study has revealed that just 10 percent of Ohio State's basketball players received degrees at the school between the years of 1996 and 1999. On the positive side, only 10 percent of UNLV's basketball players actually graduated high school.
AT&T has unveiled an exclusive agreement with Giants outfielder Barry Bonds who said he'd be open to the prospect of extending his contract until 2008. The pharmaceutical industry is thrilled.
A 3-foot-long reptile unexpectedly slithered through the press box during the fourth inning of an Indians game. It's believed to be the slimiest creature to cross paths with the Tribe since Albert Belle.
National Lampoon Sports Minute (Or So) is a humorous look at the sports world, written by five comedians and edited by Sports Illustrated humor columnist Steve Hofstetter.
For more info on the Sports Minute (Or So), visit minuteorso.com
(03/21/07 12:00pm)
Dear Kayy,
I am a foreign exchange student and I'm not used to this environment and the culture of America. My parents have told me that when boys and girls get together, things happen. They never told me what kind of things they were talking about and none of my new friends want to explain because they don't take me seriously. Can you please tell me what things happen?
Confused Indian
Dear Confused Indian,
I want to start off by saying that I am by no means criticizing your parents or your culture - in fact, I have a lot to say about American culture as well. I'm not an expert on India but I do know a lot about what it's like to grow up in America.
The truth is that since a lot of parents in America are immigrants or only second or third generation American-born citizens, they take cues from how their more conservative home countries address issues like sex and sexuality. Many parents here, some religious and some not, have been socialized in American culture for centuries and still refuse to inform their children about the realities of sex. So you can't really blame your parents for your lack of information, as many other adults make the same decision to not inform their kids.
The answer to your question, what these things are that happen when boys and girls get together, is rather simple. Those things are anything from kissing, to "hooking-up" (what our generation has termed anything from fondling to oral sex), to sex/intercourse. I'm sure your parents would gasp at this comment - but keep in mind that sometimes when boys and boys get together or girls and girls get together these "things" happen as well.
The implications of your confusion are much more complicated. I don't know what kind of sexual health information was given to you in India, or if schools even mentioned these words at all.
I know that my own sex education was decent but lacking in certain areas, covering topics from masturbation (only in terms of males partaking), sexual violence (only in terms of women being victims) and all of the different diseases out there and how to avoid them (from condoms to abstinence).
The way it works in our country, with this administration, is that "abstinence-only" education, in which completely abstaining from all types of sex is presented as the only way to avoid pregnancy and disease and where contraception is not even discussed, is given priority. Schools that offer these programs get all sorts of tax breaks and incentives, keeping people in the dark about their own bodies, feelings, desires and realities - not to mention all of the private or religion-based schools that can teach whatever the hell they want.
In American culture, sex is quite literally everywhere. A person of any age can view television programs that leave very little to the imagination of how sex happens, or music videos where grinding, half-naked bodies are the norm. R-rated movies that almost earned NC-17 status due to sexual violence or nudity are targeted to young teens.
So from a very young age, we are aroused by images we don't and "shouldn't" understand, and it is not explained to us at all. We are socialized into thinking things like sex will make us sexy, sex will make us well-liked, and sex in general is a good and popular thing to do.
Meanwhile, virtually no repercussions are shown, safe sex is seen as boring and not worth filming and all we see are gyrating bodies. We're not told how sex actually occurs, what goes where and how it feels.
So why is this dangerous? Because we are pumped with all these images and soundbites, but are given no realistic sexual health information. That's where parents should come in, according to some abstinence-only advocates. They claim that sex should not be in the schools and that parents can inform their children however they want. Unfortunately, most parents feel uncomfortable with these topics and won't tell their kids.
So what do we do? We fumble awkwardly in the dark, trying desperately for our minds to catch up with our bodies. Biologically, we can (and often want to) have sex much earlier than seen as socially acceptable.
I'm not advocating that children have sex at a young age or that we show them descriptive pornographic materials. But the fact of the matter is, we start having sexual feelings much earlier than they are explained to us, which leads to a lot of confusion.
Sex is often addressed in terms of unwanted pregnancy or deviance, rather than something to be enjoyed in a healthy way. We are not told anything about non-penetrative sex, the female orgasm, romance or how to handle relationship issues. Sex is a dangerous, risky and exciting thing for young people who don't know the first thing about it.
These are literally matters of life and death. At the end of 2003, there were almost 1.2 million people living with HIV in America, with more than a quarter of them not even knowing. I checked out the stats in India, which told me that 5.7 million people were living with HIV in 2005.
Being uninformed and too embarrassed about our bodies makes us less likely to be assertive in sexual situations - asking our partner to use a condom or being able to buy condoms from our local grocery store. This makes us more at risk for disease.
This was certainly a very long answer to a short question, but sex is never a simple thing. I hope I didn't confuse you any more and I've led you in the right direction. For those of my readers who know from experience what these "things" are that happen between two sexually attracted people, I hope I got you to think about the implications of teaching ourselves and others the dangers and pleasures of sex.
Ciao!
Kayy
(03/07/07 5:00pm)
This week's Around the Dorm features retired NBA stars making a comeback, an NFL off-field policy and the NHL trade deadline. The contestants this week are Signal managing editor Lauren Kohout, Signal sports editor Brandon Lee and WTSR station manager Greg Miller. Signal sports assistant Justin Jez returns as the referee after being a contestant last week. Have a great Spring Break!
1) Former NBA stars Scottie Pippen and Reggie Miller are attempting to make a return to the league. Can these guys still have an impact? Which teams do you see taking a chance on them?
LK: Are you kidding me? Pippen said he felt great enough to play to which Charles Barkley responded: "That's because you haven't played in three years." The only type of impact these players will make is on a team that needs a leader with experience. The only teams that will need guys like these are probably the ones in the bottom of the pack who need direction and guidance that their coach can't give them. Maybe Miller should smack around Allen Iverson for the Nuggets and tell him to pass the ball before dribbling away over half of the shot clock.
BL: Shooters are always needed in the NBA and Miller can probably hit the three-ball with his eyes closed. However, he probably can't shake defenders and run off screens like he used too. He might come out of retirement for an NBA Championship but he'll have a minor role. I don't see him or Pippen having an on-the-court impact. Both would be a great defensive liability, although they could provide some veteran leadership and mentor young players on a championship-level team. Wouldn't it be sweet if Reggie came back to the Knicks? Just kidding. I really don't see anyone really needing Reggie's services but I do see Pippen on the Lakers. He knows Phil Jackson's offense and can help out youngsters such as Luke Walton and Andrew Bynum.
GM: Unlike other sports, basketball demands a lot from a physical standpoint and gets more difficult to play as age starts to wear players down. Even though these guys are in phenomenal shape compared to the average American, I don't think that they would be able to make a major contribution to any of the current contenders in the NBA (Phoenix, Dallas, etc.). That doesn't mean that they couldn't come back and play at a level worthwhile for them to come out of retirement. I just see them doing it more for themselves and less for the team they are playing for, at least in Pippen's case. Pippen, 41, has six rings and more money than he can hope to spend. One team that has shown interest is the Lakers, who would be able to use Pippen's defensive prowess (the career steals leader at the forward position) to provide some bandaging to their anemic defense.
JJ: I like Brandon's answer the best because he identified that both players would be defensive liabilities and that Pippen already knows the triangle offense - 3 points. Kohout gets 2 points, although I don't think either of these guys want to play for a non-contender. Miller, you had a good answer, but you said that Pippen could still play defense. I disagree.
2) Amid numerous off-field indiscretions by NFL players, a discussion has begun about creating some code of conduct. The idea of the NFL adopting an MLB-like three-strike policy has been mentioned. What kind of policy changes do you envision for the NFL?
LK: Even the players want this kind of policy so these kind of things don't happen as often. A couple times is understandable, but three or four acts of lunacy are a bit too much for fellow players to cope with. Instead of using a baseball term with the three-strikes policy, maybe they should try giving players four downs to make up for things that may be out of a player's control (like throwing over 80 grand on a bunch of strippers and then realizing that it's a hell of a lot of money and trying to take it back - honest mistake). That way you can really say that a guy went three and out and had to bail the NFL on his fourth mistake. They have to do something, otherwise no stripper will ever get their money's worth from Pacman Jones (insert Pacman noise here).
BL: The NFL should have a three-strikes you're out policy, or in this case, three and out. Guys like Pacman should be banned from the NFL. He should feel lucky to be a player in the NFL and should set an example for college and high school players. Pacman wastes his money by showering strippers with thousands of dollars for a visual effect. The NFL should suspend those who disrespect the game with those kinds of actions.
GM: Rae Carruth. This name may not be familiar to most of the readers, but this was the former Carolina Panthers receiver who hired a hit man to murder his girlfriend and unborn child. Although this was an extreme case, the NFL is no stranger to players having run-ins with the law. Case in point: Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals had more arrests (nine) during the season than victories (eight). Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson needed an Illinois judge to grant him permission to play in the Super Bowl because of his ammunitions charges. Enough is enough. The policy change is a simple one. A player's first arrest is a $100,000 fine and a game suspension, regardless of the offense. Harsh, yes, but sometimes, deterrents to crime must be drastic to get the point across. Second offense is a four game suspension and each additional offense results in a year suspension. Commissioner Goodell wants to show he was the right man for the job; this would be a good place to start.
JJ: Miller, 3 points for giving me a fair policy for dealing with behavior issues. Kohout, indeed strippers deserve better from young NFL talent - 2 points. I have to give Brandon 1 point since it was not in-depth enough. However, I really like your point that a policy is needed for these players to set a better example.
3) The dust has settled after an eventful NHL trade deadline. Which organization improved itself the most? Which significant player(s) now have a better shot at holding a Stanley Cup after being dealt?
LK: I have to say the Flyers are in great position. Not only did they get a replacement goalie for Shittymaki and Esche, but they got enough draft picks to get all the Sidney Crosbys and Alex Ovechkins they need. Peter Forsberg has a great shot at holding up the Cup since he went to Nashville, who at the time was the No. 1 team in the league. But then you have to think, if something ain't broke, don't fix it. However, I will still stand by the fact that he now has a better chance of holding the Cup because he came from the last place team. Those aren't just better odds, those are quadrupling your odds. No one else made that kind of transition. Go Predators!
BL: The San Jose Sharks improved its team the most by trading for Bill Guerin and Montreal defenseman Craig Rivet. Guerin will pair up with defending Hart Trophy winner Joe Thorton for a devastating duo. With the trades, San Jose has a shot at the Stanley Cup. The St. Louis Blues were falling out of playoff contention and decided to trade its best player. Guerin now has a better chance of winning a cup with the Sharks.
GM: I don't believe any one team made itself significantly better than they already were. However, if I were forced to pick a team, I would have to say the Atlanta Thrashers provided the most improvement. They added some punch to both sides of the ice by adding center Keith Tkachuk from St. Louis, left winger Pascal Dupuis from the New York Rangers and defenseman Alexei Zhitnik from Philadelphia, but had to give up five draft picks and two young players to do so. San Jose also helped its cause by adding Guerin to its offensive juggernaut of Thornton, Cheechoo and Marleau. As for which player put himself in a better position to win the cup, I'd say Forsberg because with a healthy Forsberg, Kariya, Arnott, Sullivan and Vokoun (just to name a few), this year's Stanley Cup has Nashville written all over it.
JJ: Kohout gets 3 points. I guess Forsberg did exponentially increase his chances, and the Flyers actually accepted their mistakes and stockpiled draft picks. I also like Brandon's answer - short and sweet. He gets 2 points for his legit picks. Miller, you gave me too many names and teams - 1 point.
With a score of 7-6-5, Kohout wins this week's title.
(03/07/07 12:00pm)
It is extremely rare for a school to have championship expectations for all of its varsity sports during a season.
But this is the case this season, as the College looks to join the Division III elite.
Now is the time for the spring teams to establish their place among the College's all-time greatest.
With teams led by junior Mike Klimchak, junior Christina Lizzi, junior Karen Doane, freshman Jackie Shtemberg and senior Gerard Haran, it's championships or bust.
Behind a talented group, the College's baseball team is poised to improve upon a record-setting 2006 season.
Repeating as New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Champions last season, the Lions set a school record for wins (38), earned run average (2.92), runs scored (468), doubles (124), triples (34) and total bases (959).
At one point the No. 1 team in Division III, the Lions earned their 16th bid to the NCAA Division III Championships and came within one win of the College World Series after dropping the regional tournament title game.
The 2006 squad featured three players who earned All-America honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA): senior catcher Gerard Haran, senior first baseman Blake Bullis and shortstop Mike Bruschini, who graduated last year.
Outfielder Charlie Iacono signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers after his impressive season.
Other key players that have gradudated are outfielder Chris Wilson, third baseman Rich Kropp and pitcher Ryan Casey.
Returning for the Lions are five starters, including two-time All-Americans Haran and Bullis. The entire pitching staff, who set a school record for lowest ERA, remains intact.
Haran will look to continue his dominant college career behind the plate as he enters his final year. The reigning Rawlings-Division III ABCA Player of the Year anchors the lineup as the College's all-time leading home run hitter with 35 and counting.
Most of the infield positions are still up for grabs for the Lions' younger talent.
At second base, the starting role comes down to seniors Andrew Cosgrove and Matt Zonies. Cosgrove has been a regular starter for the past two years at the position and Zonies started 15 times in 2006, sporting a .321 batting average.
Third base and shortstop is wide open coming into the season. The host of players vying for those starting roles consists of sophomore Vince Mazzaccara, junior Dave Mebs and sophomore transfer Jeff Toth.
Bullis will be moving to the outfield this season, leaving his position open for junior Bill Kropp, senior P.J. Anzelone and sophomore John Maloney.
Bullis' move to the outfield will help lessen the blow of losing NJAC All-Stars Wilson and Iacono to graduation. Senior Jeff Botti remains a staple in left field. Others looking for a place in the outfield are transfers junior Steve Turise and sophomore Mike Manges. Also competing for the position is junior Andrew Camelotto.
With two returning All-Americans and a record-breaking pitching rotation, the Lions enter the 2007 baseball season with their eyes on a third consecutive NJAC Championship and look to make another run at an NCAA Championship.
- Justin Jez, Sports Assistant
Softball
With nine returning seniors, head coach Sally Miller's softball team looks to improve upon last season's 25-16 record. The Lions are predicted to finish sixth in the NJAC Coaches' Poll.
The College went 8-10 in conference play last year, including sweeping the season series against Kean University, Rutgers University-Newark and New Jersey City University. They also held NCAA Division III national champions Rutgers-Camden to one and three runs in both contests between the teams.
All-conference senior pitcher Julianne Lajiness returns to the mound for the Lions this season. Lajiness posted a 2.08 ERA with 70 strikeouts in her junior campaign, going 8-7. Her .323 batting average was second on the team and she led in stolen bases with 22-of-23 attempts.
All-conference senior outfielder Kristin Boyer is also back for her final season. Boyer posted a .302 batting average by knocking out 31 hits in 102 at-bats. All-conference junior outfielder Christina Lizzi also returns to the lineup. Lizzi was second on the team in hits with 35 and led the College with nine doubles.
The team opens its 2007 season at the College of Staten Island on Tuesday, March 13, before traveling to Salem, Va., for the Ferrum Invitational March 16-18. The Lions open their NJAC schedule on March 31 at Ramapo College.
- Michelle Martin, Staff Writer
Lacrosse
Ranked No. 1 in the Division III preseason poll by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), the Lions prepare for another playoff-bound season.
Having won back-to-back national titles the past two years, the Lions will be the team everybody is gunning for. Even with this accolade and an impressive track record, head coach Sharon Pfluger prepares the team the same way every year.
"My main concern is getting the team ready for our first game and staying focused so we improve on a daily basis," Pfluger said.
Pfluger is also aware that the team will not be without its challenges this year. It lost several key players due to graduation, including goalie Megan Marquardt, defender Meredith Spangler and All-American midfielder Bridget Bigley. The biggest loss for the team is two-time Division III Midfielder of the Year Lauren Dougher.
The departures leave voids in the lineup, but Pfluger is confident that the seniors this year are up to the challenge. Seniors Jess Lacontora and Kate Neese are expected to make a big impact on the field this year, along with juniors Karen Doane, Toni-Anne Cavallo and Christine Cavallo. Sophomores Katie Reuther, Kelly Mitchell, Rachel Gordon and Breane Scullin are also players to watch.
Pfluger will rely on the speed, solid fundamentals and the heart of her girls to gain success.
"I think the greatest thing that we can do as a team is grow as one cohesive unit," Pfluger said. "I look for the girls to develop quickly and challenge each other every day."
Pfluger and her staff are very excited about this season and want to take it one game at a time. But in the back of their minds, the team shares one goal: proving to everyone that for the third year in a row, they are the best team in Division III.
- Chris Pine, Correspondent
Men's Tennis
Ranked No. 10 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Region, the College's men's tennis team continues to dominate on the courts this season, carrying an undefeated 5-0 record overall.
The team has high hopes for the remainder of the season as the success it has experienced in the spring season has not been a surprise. The team displayed many impressive performances in the fall season as well.
Junior Michael Klimchak made a name for himself at the Swarthmore College Invitational by winning the Flight A singles title. He defeated the University of Delaware's top player, freshman Austin Longacre, in the finals. Since then, Klimchak has continued to put up impressive numbers, claiming his 50th career win as a Lion last week.
Freshman Jeremy Eckardt made a name for himself at the ITA Northeast Region Championships at Vassar College by working his way to the singles semifinals before bowing out of the tournament with a loss to champion junior Mukhail Gurevik of New York University.
Since then, the Lions have proven they have been working hard by remaining perfect on the season. The Lions hope to make a championship run, and if past performances give any indication, that should not seem out of reach for the talented group of players.
"Based on this fall and the five matches we had so far this spring," Klimchak said, "our team expectations are to not only make Nationals, but make a statement once we are there."
- Kevin Gilligan, Correspondent
Women's Tennis
The women's tennis team entered the year with high expectations from across the league as it was picked by the coaches to once again win the New Jersey Athletic Championship (NJAC).
This fall, the team fulfilled its expectations, extending its NJAC Championship streak to a 24th consecutive year. The team has held the conference crown since the inception of women's tennis as a league sport in 1983, with this year's championship bringing their NJAC match record to 116-0.
At the University of Delaware's Tri-Fecta Tournament in September, freshman Jackie Shtemberg immediately caught the attention of many as she compiled a record of 3-1, losing only to Susan Pollack of Delaware. Shtemberg also took first place at the ITA Regional Championships. Since then, Shtemberg has continued to show her dominance, leading the charge in the Lions' championship efforts.
In doubles play, the College's No. 1 pair has been Shtemberg and junior Christina Contrafatto. The two are extremely talented as a pair, proven by the 2006 ITA Regional Championship title they hold for doubles play. Their confidence gives them high expectations heading into the championship season this spring.
"We both know that we work well together," Contrafatto said, "and if we can continue with the confidence we have, then we can truly beat the top teams in the area."
The team's next match is against Ithaca College on March 9 at the Student Recreation Center at noon.
- Kevin Gilligan, Correspondent
(03/07/07 12:00pm)
On March 3, Earth's shadow totally covered the moon for the first lunar eclipse in three years. This picture, taken in Stedman, N.C., shows the eclipsed moon next to a star in the night sky. Here on campus, stargazers gathered on the roof of the physics building to view the eclipse through telescopes.
(03/07/07 12:00pm)
Amy Winehouse
"Back to Black"
4.5 out of 5 stars
By now maybe you've heard of Britain's Amy Winehouse - coming to an American music store near you March 13. In case you haven't, I'll clue you in before her award-winning 2006 album, "Back to Black," finally hits the States.
Her first sold-out New York City performance attracted the seal of approval from artists like Jay-Z and Mos Def. The 5-foot-2-inch 23-year-old sassy white girl has big hair, a punkish style and the unexpected huge set of pipes that run as deep as Etta James' last breathtaking note in "At Last."
She's become known for her risqu? and witty lyrics and a soulful voice that mirrors Motown-era artists. "Back to Black" is much edgier than the jazz/neo-soul turn she took with her 2003 debut album, "Frank."
In the up-tempo, retro-infused track, "Rehab," Winehouse stubbornly refuses to clean up her lifestyle. In "Addiction," she prefers marijuana over sex.
Winehouse's softer side comes into focus on tracks like "Love Is A Losing Game," and title track, "Back to Black," both focusing on the excruciating pains of love gone wrong. Winehouse is a '60s girl group member gone solo who is trapped in the 21st century.
Key Tracks: "You Know I'm No Good," "Rehab," "Love Is A Losing Game"
-Monique Reuben, Copy Editor
Jesse Malin
"Glitter in the Gutter"
3.5 out of 5 stars
The last 15 years have been a long and somewhat sordid journey for New York City's East Village icon Jesse Malin. He first made a name for himself as the front man for glammed-up punk revivalists D Generation, but after the band's demise in 1999, Malin went back to the drawing board. Re-emerging in 2003, his first solo album was an acoustic-punk mix of Steve Earle and Neil Young.
His latest solo record presents a shift in sound that could be considered a return to form for Malin. It has a more commercial pop feel, partly because this album, unlike his last two, was written primarily on electric guitar.
Longtime fans of his solo work won't be fooled by this shift; the singer-songwriter's signature narrative writing style is still very much present along with his easily recognizable vocal delivery. Behind this are instantly catchy pop-rock melodies that should appeal to both new and returning fans. Also notable for this album is the list of guests, including Ryan Adams, Jakob Dylan (Wallflowers), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and Bruce Springsteen.
There are a lot of crappy singer-songwriters out there, but Malin definitely isn't one of them.
Key Tracks: "Don't Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day)," "Lucinda," "Prisoners of Paradise"
-Chris Kubak, WTSR Music Director
(03/07/07 12:00pm)
By Steve Hofstetter, Keith Alberstadt, Adam Hofstetter, Cody Marley, Rich Ragains, Elliot Steingart and Chris Strait
Manny Ramirez reported to Red Sox training camp six days ahead of his anticipated arrival. He was actually only three days early, but that's still six days ahead of when we thought he'd get there. Ramirez admitted he only stumbled upon training camp accidentally while looking for Supercuts.
In football, the Philadelphia Eagles gave backup quarterback A.J. Feeley a three-year extension. The only person more surprised than Jeff Garcia was A.J. Feeley. Donovan McNabb was thrilled, as there's no chance Feeley will outperform him.
Ohio State's basketball team credits its top ranking in part to a motivational speech by Buckeyes football coach Jim Tressell. Expected in March is Part 2 of the lesson, entitled "Coping with Postseason Disappointment."
On the same night, Kobe Bryant hit 21 free throws and Shaquille O'Neal passed the 25,000 point mark. Kobe said he is looking forward to 25,000 career points and Shaq said he is looking forward to 21 career free throws.
Wrestler Rulon Gardner sidestepped death for a third time after a plane crash. We're hoping Gardner will be just as lucky later this week when he has drinks with Howard K. Stern.
And the famous 1909 Honus Wagner tobacco card sold for $2.35 million, just $2.35 million more than a Walt Weiss rated rookie. The buyer paid $1 million more than the card is allegedly worth, so he was immediately hired by the Texas Rangers. The card was co-owned by Wayne Gretzky, who sold the collector's item so his wife wouldn't lose it in a poker game.
National Lampoon Sports Minute (Or So) is a humorous look at the sports world, written by five comedians and edited by Sports Illustrated humor columnist Steve Hofstetter.
For more info on the Sports Minute (Or So), visit minuteorso.com
(03/07/07 12:00pm)
Students wait on line in Brower Student Center to purchase tickets for George Carlin's performance. The comedian is coming to the College on April 20.
(03/07/07 12:00pm)
Stop complaining and take action
We all have something to complain about. Whether it is about something as trivial as our roommate waking us up with their alarm or as awful as three exams on one day, we all do it. Life happens, we complain and then we deal with it. Some things are just out of our control.
Yet when you complain about something that you could actually change and not do anything about it, this is where I see a problem.
Last week's Opinion article entitled "Dining hall quality is spiraling downward" (Feb. 28) is something that really grinds my gears. I myself am a vegetarian, and sometimes it is hard to find a satisfying meal on campus, just because I am tired of eating the same things.
Yet I have to deal with the fact that the majority of my peers do not share my same diet and therefore eat meat. I believe that the reason no one eats veggie burgers (which have always been available in Eickhoff) is the blatant fact that vegetarians on our campus represent a minority.
The response that you will get from a Sodexho manager is that if the meatless burgers are defrosted and prepared just in case one student comes by and wants one and the rest are not eaten, they will be tossed in the trash.
The vegetarian menu is still posted outside of Eickhoff, and vegetarian options haven't gone anywhere. I constantly want more meals with tofu, but it is an uphill battle since not many people will eat them!
I am in the Student Government Association (SGA) as a senator at-Large, and my main responsibility and interest is Dining Services. I serve as the Dining Services Liaison, attending the bi-weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. which are open to everyone and anyone.
What really gets me is that I don't know where the idea that our dining hall quality is deteriorating comes from. The only major changes I have seen have been improvements based on student input, and it is impossible to please every single person who eats on campus.
I am confused as to why the writer of this article did not choose to send her complaints and gripes about Sodexho and Eickhoff to either Sodexho themselves, or find a way to reach the organization on campus that works to make the lives of students at the College a little better (I'm talking about SGA, by the way).
So open your eyes to what opportunities there are to actually change what you dislike about the dining program. Nothing will ever get done if all we do is complain and complain without taking action.
So if you are dodging flying latex gloves while attempting to eat, let an SGA representative, or better yet a Sodexho manager, know!
The meetings are publicized on the Dining Services Web site, which can be accessed through the College's main page or directly at tcnjdining.com. You can attend a meeting or, if you'd like a written reply, send in your comments, concerns, complaints, etc. to Sodexho at sdhugg@tcnj.edu.
If you don't feel comfortable doing so, concerns can always be sent to sgasodex@tcnj.edu. Or if that is too hard to remember, just send comments to sga@tcnj.edu and they will be forwarded to me. This is a sure way of knowing your issue will be addressed at the next Dining Services meeting by one of your own peers.
Meagan Terry
Dining Services Liaison
Vegan food choices avoid animal cruelty
I could understand the frustration students feel about the lack of vegetarian and vegan options at the College ("Dining hall quality is spiraling downward," Feb. 28). Students go to school to be informed and apply their knowledge to the real world.
Who really wants to wake up every morning knowing they are going to pay for animals to be crammed into cages, beaten and then bled to death? When young people learn that more than one million animals are slaughtered for food every hour, they understandably want to avoid being part of that violence.
Animals on modern factory farms are deprived of everything that is natural to them and they are treated in ways that would warrant felony cruelty-to-animals charges if the victims were dogs or cats.
The animals are confined to crowded, filthy warehouses and dosed with powerful drugs to make them grow so quickly that their hearts and limbs often cannot keep up - they frequently become crippled or suffer from heart attacks when they're only a few weeks old.
Is it too much to ask conscientious individuals to eat a healthy, humane diet and put a stop to all this violence?
The good news is one in four college students feels vegan options are important for reasons ranging from cruelty to animals, environmental protection and better health.
Colleges are rapidly increasing their vegetarian-friendly options because of student demand for healthy meals that do not contribute to animals' suffering.
From faux BBQ "ribs" and soy cheese pizza to vegan cheese cakes, vegetarians can eat all the delicious food they want without supporting practices such as confining animals in tiny cages or slaughtering them.
If you visit peta2.com/college, you can see the full list of peta2's "Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges" and get tips on compassionate consumer choices. Peta2.com is the youth-oriented division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Pulin Modi
College Campaign Coordinator for peta2.com
Hackett is wrong, but not alone
I would just like to take a moment to defend Brian Hackett, something no one ever seems to do.
While I never agree with what he says, the color he brings to The Signal is beneficial for both the paper and the campus it serves.
It is nice to read a very liberal opinion and then turn the page to find Hackett ranting and raving. He provides a balance not previously seen in the Opinions section, and I for one appreciate it.
Now I'm not saying that he's right in his opinions; for example, I don't like Bush, the Republican Party or his constant focus on "liberal hypocrisy."
He pointed out a democratic senator who was a Klansman, when I'm sure there are plenty of ignorant politicians on the other side of the aisle who belong to the same organization.
What I am saying is that Hackett is not the only "overly biased" person who writes for the paper, as Samantha Negravel so eloquently put it in her letter last week. Nearly every week Tom Stone, the liberal equivalent of Brian Hackett, writes his politically charged pieces on how America sucks and Bush is a moron.
Personally I'm sick of reading both columnists' work; it gets very repetitive . "Blah blah imperialism" . "Blah blah liberals." But I suppose that if you are going to have one such biased viewpoint in the paper, you may as well have an equally biased perspective from the other side included as well.
All I'm saying is that if we are to condemn Hackett for being overly biased in his conservative opinions and not those of writers such as Tom Stone as well, then we ourselves are being biased.
Patrick Bieger
(03/07/07 12:00pm)
Each week, we'll be profiling different ways to waste your time. They'll range from videos and online games to physical activities and ways to decorate your room.
1. Watch Chris Bliss' interpretive juggling routine at chrisbliss.com. It'll make you want to learn how to juggle, if you don't already know. Click on Video Press Kit and watch the Amazing Juggling Finale. Watch the rest, too, if you want to kill more time.
2. Play miniclip.com's Anagrammatic. It consists of you and some random person playing against each other to find the longest word in a group of letters. It's like Boggle but without the hourglass. Trust us, it'll make you feel smart and it's still fun.
3. Daydream. You do it anyway (kind of like masturbation). Spring Break is right around the corner; let your mind go on vacation a few days early.
Procrastinate some more and send your favorite time-wasters to signal@tcnj.edu.