sports & clubs
HOMECOMING SOCCER:
PHOTOGRAPHIC TIMELINE
IMAGES & CAPTIONS BY JEVEN HORTON
OCTOBER 28, 2015
OCTOBER 28, 2015
It was October 15th, 2015 that the soccer team took on a very tough and determined Bradley Tech team at South stadium. Here is a photo-by-photo recap of the enticing, final game for the Huskies!
It all started at 6:50 on the dot, with some warm ups and a little fun.
As the game was over, the team grouped up one last time as this team. This Huskies Varsity unit that played until the last minute and had the crowd cheering and hoping for more hustle plays and enjoyable dribble moves. It was a heartbreaking end for the homecoming game, but this moment captures that this team is/was no Cinderella team. They were the cohesive unit that struck and defended with the best of them in the city. With that, we say farewell to our Boys' Soccer team for the season and wish the seniors on the team the best of luck in the future.
Reagan’s 4N6 Team
WRITTEN BY ABIGAIL CLARK
OCTOBER 28, 2015
Ms. Baker is Reagan’s Forensics coach. “I have been coaching at Reagan since I started working here in 2008,” she said. Though she’s been coaching at Reagan since 2008, she has been coaching forensics since 2000.
“In Wisconsin, high school students may compete in up to 20 different categories. We have everything from poetry reading, to play acting to persuasive speech writing. We can find a category that fits you! Some students are strong actors and do an amazing job interpreting literature through their vocal inflection and movement. Other students are really analytical and can write and present a great persuasive speech,” Ms. Baker said.
“High school forensics is really competitive, but through this competition, you are prepared to compete with others in the 'real world’ when you graduate,” she said. “We have a really great team that has sent freshman to Nationals 2 of the last 3 years.”
The most popular categories in forensics include: Duo, Solo Acting, Prose, Poetry, Farrago, OIL and Oratory and Four Minute. Less popular categories include: Moments in History, Storytelling and Play Acting. “The more popular categories are often more competitive, but each category has it’s own level of difficulty.”
Forensics begins rehearsing in November with a Team Mock Tournament in early January. “You cannot compete on the team until a coach sees your piece performance ready. The team begins competing in late January with the State Tournament in early April. Students who qualify for Nationals continue practicing until the National Tournaments in either late May or mid-June.”
OCTOBER 28, 2015
Ms. Baker is Reagan’s Forensics coach. “I have been coaching at Reagan since I started working here in 2008,” she said. Though she’s been coaching at Reagan since 2008, she has been coaching forensics since 2000.
“In Wisconsin, high school students may compete in up to 20 different categories. We have everything from poetry reading, to play acting to persuasive speech writing. We can find a category that fits you! Some students are strong actors and do an amazing job interpreting literature through their vocal inflection and movement. Other students are really analytical and can write and present a great persuasive speech,” Ms. Baker said.
“High school forensics is really competitive, but through this competition, you are prepared to compete with others in the 'real world’ when you graduate,” she said. “We have a really great team that has sent freshman to Nationals 2 of the last 3 years.”
The most popular categories in forensics include: Duo, Solo Acting, Prose, Poetry, Farrago, OIL and Oratory and Four Minute. Less popular categories include: Moments in History, Storytelling and Play Acting. “The more popular categories are often more competitive, but each category has it’s own level of difficulty.”
Forensics begins rehearsing in November with a Team Mock Tournament in early January. “You cannot compete on the team until a coach sees your piece performance ready. The team begins competing in late January with the State Tournament in early April. Students who qualify for Nationals continue practicing until the National Tournaments in either late May or mid-June.”
The World's Most Dangerous Debate Team: Q&A with Mr. Silva and Mark Suminski
WRITTEN BY MARC CRUZ OCTOBER 28, 2015 Debate is defined as a formal consultation on a specific topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposite arguments are put forward. Reagan's debate team, who call themselves The World's Most Dangerous Debate Team, is ran by Mr. Silva, an English and Literature & Performance teacher. Mr. Silva explained that Reagan’s debate team is primarily focused on policy debate, in which is they are given a topic for the entire year and they have to look at all sides of the arguments.
This year is about domestic surveillance, whether or not the government should be able to surveil us. Also, they’re debating to what extent and how much should they be able surveil us. They are looking at it from multiple perspectives. This year, they are looking at the National Security Agency, the surveillance on war on drugs, and surveillance on immigration. The debate team contains students of all grades, genders, races, and religions. The team is very diverse and welcoming. To further knowledge about Reagan's debate team, Mr Silva was asked questions regarding what debate essentially is. Senior Mark Suminski, debate team member, was asked the same questions for a comparison of answers. Here are their responses. |
MR. SILVA
What is debate? Mr. Silva: What is debate? It’s not what you think where you just have two people and you say ‘here's a topic go at it’. It’s very structured, so everybody has information regarding a topic. And you never know what side of the argument you're going to be following, but you will know the topic. So you have to prepare yourself and you have to learn how to argue both sides and know multiple perspectives. Debate in essence, is the art of argumentation with the improvisational skills of acting because there is role playing. What is really required for a student to join debate, or necessary skills a student should have to participate? Mr.Silva: Honestly, just an open mind because this is not easy. It's technically another class, like you're seeing now. There's people doing research, they are organizing, they are ensuring that that are talking to each other to make sure they are finding every single root and plan. So what is required, really just have an open mind. We can take of your reading skills and we can take of your confidence, but just trust that the tactics that all of and our varsity members and myself, it's all planned. Slowly we integrate to this and it can be scary, so most importantly an open mind. Why should a student join debate? Mr. Silva: Honestly, the confidence factor. The reason I love debate, is because look at all these students, how many of them are going to play some type of sport, how many of them are going to be super involved with the school. Without debate I'd say very few of them. And so who ever they are, how ever they are labeled outside of this team, when they're in here, they have- they gain confidence, they feel like the man, they feel like that person that is confident. So the reason that I tell people to join is because I think the analytical skills, the communication skills, the teammate build, the collaboration skills, they're learning here. You can't duplicate outside of this and we have a lot of fun. That's the best part, you hear there's music, there's people working. We work hard, we play hard. What benefits come into play when a student joins or participates in debate? Mr. Silva: On paper, of course colleges love this. People that come out of debate, there are article written and forums about it, they're running companies, they are the CEO, they are directing or managing, they are learning. Obviously it’s going to help you in your English classes, specifically in your English classes. When you learn these skills, it teaches you how to construct an argument and your essays write themselves. And once again the confidence, I can not let that go. These kids learn how to have fun and be confident in who they are. You can see how diverse we are. There's everybody, there's every type of person from the athlete to the nerd, black, brown, purple, red. How long have you been a part of debate? Mr. Silva: This is technically my second year. I was interim coach three years ago, but this is my second year. Did you debate as a teenager or in high school? Mr. Silva: No, no. Let me tell you a story I have, it was really weird. I was walking down the hallway and Mr. Miller, who was the coach three years ago, said, “Hey do you want to coach debate?’ and I was like, “Okay’. And he was like just come by and I’ll show you what is like and ever since then I just stuck around. Why do you like debate? Mr. Silva: I like these students. Now when we’re in here, yeah we are working hard and doing research and having a lot of conversations. We’re just having fun and connecting with individuals that I wouldn't get to connect with. We see all these freshmen, because almost all of them are freshmen and the tree of debate is getting bigger. I really like the environment that we created, I like the people. I mean Mark (Suminski) is my buddy now, I met him by chance because Mr. Miller asked me if I wanted to join. So I really like the individuals that we attract. All positive energy, not one ego in this room, not one person thinks they're better than anybody else. So you're seeing the true collective, and not just because we’re Reagan students. I love, I LOVE going into the suburban schools and beating them. They hate us and I love that. |
MARK SUMINSKI
What is debate? Mark S: Well, I picked up debate my freshman year. My dad told me on the first day of school that if I didn't come home signed up with an activity, he was going to walk me into the office, hand in hand, and sign me up for something. First day comes around, don't do anything, second day comes around don't do anything. Third day, Mr. Miller the old debate coach, brings up in class that he's looking for people to sign up for the team. So I’m like okay, I sign up and I go to the meetings. It really struck a chord with me, because it’s really everything I was looking for it to be. Let me say it this way; being smart in debate helps, but you really don't have to be smart. Like I’ve been a fairly decent student throughout like school. But what it took for me to excel at debate was to learn how to analyze things beyond what the words are just saying. You know it goes beyond words on a page and applies to people that you see, and you see on the news and how all that mixes together. So what debate really is for it's just an experience to understand how arguments work and why opinions differ, and how they can get resolved through constructive criticism. So that what I really like about debate. What do you think is required for a student to debate? Mark S: I touched on it earlier, but it's just, it helps to be smart, but you don't have to be smart. It's a lot about the eloquence of speech. It helps to develop the context, sure, but you learn how to say certain things to push your agenda forward to get the judge to think a second and say ‘Wow, that makes sense. Why haven't I thought of that.’ And you really just get to develop your own sense of how do I look at the world. It's just a lot of interaction between opinions and people. So for the requirements, I would just say work ethic. You're not going to pick up everything on the first day. It’s not easy, but it's not that it's not fun. It’s not that you don’t get anything out of it. You gotta come here ready to just get down and dirty. Why do you think a student should join? Mark S: I think the reason I joined was that I was looking for something to do. In debate, sure, it's something to do, but it's something beyond that. So after I got into the first couple of meetings, the reason I kept coming back was because it was teaching me to just do different things. It kicked me out of my comfort zone. I didn’t like public speaking, I didn’t like writing essays because they're just hard. But you know you sign up for debate and it teaches you all these things. Not in a classroom setting, but in an actual competitive scenario where you're going against other people, and they're miles ahead of you and you're just clawing to catch up. But when you get to that point, you are way ahead of the game in terms of just knowing what you stand for, and how to write, and how to speak so people can find out what you're saying. What benefits come into play when participating in debate? Mark S: Obviously collage. Both for admissions and for scholarships, because colleges all across the country have debate teams that are constantly looking for new members to join. So that’s a really physical and tangible thing that comes out of it. I think the more important thing is that you develop a sense of individual competence. You learn to trust in yourself because if you're putting in the work, you're going to see results, and that's what it comes down to. So if you can learn how to appreciate and understand the weird game that we play with our words, it really does take you miles into not only your school work but your self confidence and what you perceive your abilities to be. Why do you like debate? Mark S: I like debate because it really just is a game. It’s like people like to chop it up to some anxious way. Like people get really anxious when they go into rounds and they just get really nervous. But it's not really like the words that you say, it's just how you choose to say them and when. It's really just like I have an argument here, can the other team refute my argument and make it better. It's just like a constant battle back and forth on who can say the best things and who can take them beyond what they're saying on the page and abid them to the world that we live in. |
College sports Madness: #Make Your[M]arq(Marquette)
WRITTEN BY MACKENZIE KONKEL
OCTOBER 28, 2015
OCTOBER 28, 2015
Planning on playing a sport in college? Ever wonder how managing all the college work and practice? Some people would think it’s impossible, but it has already been done! College students all over the United States play sports during their college careers. According to statistics on NCAA.com, 38% of high school students in the United States say they will play basketball, football, soccer, and many other sports in college. Even though it's less than half, it is still a lot when you think about how many high school students there are in the U.S. going off to college each year.
There are also scholarships given by colleges that have an interest in a high school athletes sportsmanship. The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program gives 1,000 graduated high students scholarships. The sport someone plays can determine what college you have an interest in. By playing a sport in college, you can be drafted into the NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and the MLS. So find a sport and practice, and maybe one day you'll be playing with the pros. Some athletes get into the big leagues through scholarships.
Let's talk good Madness...
Marquette Madness is one of Marquette's best events. This event is like a pregame ritual to get fans excited about the upcoming seasons. Also, to promote the games to get more people supporting each team. This event takes place a few weeks before the women's basketball season starts. It is free to all Marquette fans no matter the age or where they come from. At this event, fans line up to get their wrist bands so they can get into the epic game between the women's basketball team and men's basketball team. It's good to be early, the early fans get a special privilege; fans that get the yellow wristbands get to sit in the lower seats by the basketball court. For the fans who come later, they get a wristband, just not one for the the lower seating.
There is also a block party event that poses as a pre-game party. At the block party, fans get to play basketball with both the women and men's basketball teams. Free merchandise is given out, such as t-shirts, sunglasses, basketballs, and posters. The players sign autographs and chat with the fans. There is also great food! After the block party fans get to go into the Al McGuire center to have the real college basketball experience!
There is also a block party event that poses as a pre-game party. At the block party, fans get to play basketball with both the women and men's basketball teams. Free merchandise is given out, such as t-shirts, sunglasses, basketballs, and posters. The players sign autographs and chat with the fans. There is also great food! After the block party fans get to go into the Al McGuire center to have the real college basketball experience!
O'Captain my Captain
Makayla Yentz, number three on Marquette University's women's basketball team, is the captain of the team. Yentz is from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. She is a junior at Marquette University. She majored in biomedical science. Being close to home was one of her guidelines for finding a college. Yentz said,"Marquette was a better fit for me; it’s smaller."
Yentz's inspiration for basketball is her family. Her family played basketball, so it "felt right" she said. Her parents influenced her greatly she explained. She said her parents are, “amazing,great role models, and genuine people. They amazingly raised five kids!"
Her Dream Team
Her Dream Team
A “dream team” is a group of people who support what someone believes in, no matter what. On the Yentz dream team, there are her siblings, in which she is the second oldest, and her parents. She explains how close her and her siblings are. They helped and encouraged her a lot.
High school & College
Yentz went to high school in her hometown (Sun Prairie,WI). She describes her high school career as "awesome”. Yentz played varsity basketball in high school as a freshman! She was one of the only freshman on the team. She also played volleyball freshman and sophomore year. She was also a part of the National Honor Society. The best years of high school for her was junior and senior year because she got to spend time with her friends.
"College is going really well," Yentz said, "now that I'm in junior year." Yentz described her freshman year in college as a "huge adjustment from high school." She also says everything balances out from classes and basketball. "When you're in class, you don't think of basketball; when you're in practice, you don't think of class."
Yentz has come over many obstacles throughout her high school and college career. She faced the decision of what college to go to, the pressure of college was also one. The adjustment from a high school athlete to a college athlete was another obstacle she faced. She has now overcome these obstacles and is on a tremendous journey to overcome her next obstacles that come in her way.
Words of Advice and words of Encouragement...
“Make study time for sure!" Yentz emphasizes. “ Plan ahead of procrastination and be efficient.” She stressed how much this can help in the future. Sometimes, tell friends no because you have a test tomorrow, or you need to get the “gist” of something.
Yentz expressed that you should always be yourself, and be the best you can be, as her Coach Boggess always says. Yentz explained how she became captain in an inspirational way. "I didn’t become captain just because I am a junior. I became captain because I put the work into it.’’
She is just like many students today, in college on a sports team. They manage their work, then play a sport. The following question was asked, ”Would you rather go with the cliche 'Ball is Life' or something else?’’ She answered,’’ It’s not the sport in general, it’s what I get out of the sport - like teamwork, and perseverance.’’ This basketball player keeps her head in the game and in the books. So as Yentz said, plan out and do not procrastinate and you can make it through college as she is doing now.
The Real MVP
The most valuable players aren’t even players; they are the coaches! The coaches help their players with their emotional and physical beings. They can also be someone to talk to for advice. A coach from from Marquette University was interviewed and gave heartwarming answers.
Coach Jenny Boggess, assistant coach of Marquette’s women basketball team, has been coaching for 13 years. She said, “[I] just love it!” Throughout her career, she has coached at Kennesaw State,Hofstra University,Jacksonville University, and Columbia University in New york. At Hofstra, she coached the team into a remarkable twenty six wins in that season with Hofstra’s team.Even though Coach Boggess has yet to win a conference with her team, she still loves her job tremendously.
Boggess is from a small town in West Virginia. Her coaching career has took her to many places throughout the years, such as Florida and New York. Boggess played basketball in high school, which led her to a scholarship for college. She wasn’t always sure of the coaching job, but that all changed her in her senior year of college. She got a coaching job and that is when she fell in love with the job she says.
Her Dream Team..
Once again, a dream team is made of people who encourage a person no matter what. Boggess explained how there are so many people on her Dream Team, or “too many to describe,” she stated. One of the most influential people in her life was her high school coach. “I wouldn’t be the person I am today without her, ” she said. “ Another person that influences me is my first Boss, Colby Tilley. Thus was when I about patience and communication and all the life skills that I use today.’’ Now think about the influential people that inspire you to do what you do.
Coaches have a choice of whether or not to help their team manage their time. Coach Boggess actually spends most of her time helping her team manage their time. If a player gets behind on too many classes then they won’t be able to play in the following games. The players have to maintain a G.P.A of a 2.0 to stay on the team. Last season Boggess and her team traveled to France and played 4 basketball games. “We always have a great time. There is always laughing. We are close like a family,’’ she said.
Words of Encouragement
As the interview went on, words of encouragement filled the air with positivity. The question, “ What inspired you to you to be a coach?” was posed. Boggess said, “ I always say be who you needed when you were younger.” This simply means be someone who wasn’t there for you when you were younger, like a sister of brother. Another extraordinary quote Boggess said was,’’Be the best you can be.’’ This may seem cliche, but she points out a remarkable point behind it. “Don’t just clock in and clock out; actually achieve something in that time.’’ Most people agree to what coach Boggess says, because we all live to try to achieve something.
This may have been inspiration for you. Everyone takes something as an inspiration and for this coach and player it was basketball. Everyone knows life can be hard sometimes. Obstacles might get in the way of a dream, but something can always be done to overcome those obstacles. Find out the people who are influences you the most, and who is on your dream team.
HERE and back again: Milwaukee Bucks
WRITTEN BY JULIO GARCIA
OCTOBER 28, 2015 October is full of fantastic events, colors, and festivities. This includes change of leaves, the brisk wind scratching your face, and all the pumpkin flavored goodies you can devour; however the end of October can also mean something else - basketball. With the National Basketball Association beginning, the Golden State Warriors look to defend their Larry O’Brien trophy from 29 other teams. One of those teams striving to end the Golden State Warriors reign are from Milwaukee, and hold the slogan “Fear the Deer." For a long time, the deer weren’t that fearful, though. They were third in their division a season ago; one lead by the Eastern Conference. |
|
Champs- the Cavaliers. With the Cavs at 53 wins, the Bucks didn’t even place second. Coming in second were the Bulls with 50 wins on the season. Then came the Bucks; third in a tough spot. Even with the improvements it’s going to be tough to fight against two of the top teams of the Conference. The Bucks are looking to make an incredible stand for the title, and they might have a strong case;however, being realistic, the youthful Bucks (age of starting five players ranging from 20-25) have a really tough outing and face serious competition. With the promising work of Coach Kidd,the Bucks are beginning to look serious.
Last Season: 41-41
Last season was one of great triumphs and losses. Having an exactly .50 win percentage, the team wasn’t exactly good nor bad. The young Bucks are struggling through the growing pains that every young team faces. The leading scorer being a two year vet, Michael Carter-Williams led the bucks with a miniscule 14.6 points per game; not the numbers you want for your go-to scorer. With the highest scorer in the league last season being Westbrook with 28.1, the Bucks lacked that go-to scorer that every team needs. That’s a difference of 13.5 points per game from Westbrook to Carter-Williams. This is an unfair comparison since one player doesn’t make a team, but the rest of the Bucks struggled scoring too. The average for the Bucks was 97.8 ppg. To put that to average, the Warriors scored 110 points per game, and the leading Cavs scored 103.1 points. If you don’t put the ball in the basket, then you don’t win the game.
Last season was one of great triumphs and losses. Having an exactly .50 win percentage, the team wasn’t exactly good nor bad. The young Bucks are struggling through the growing pains that every young team faces. The leading scorer being a two year vet, Michael Carter-Williams led the bucks with a miniscule 14.6 points per game; not the numbers you want for your go-to scorer. With the highest scorer in the league last season being Westbrook with 28.1, the Bucks lacked that go-to scorer that every team needs. That’s a difference of 13.5 points per game from Westbrook to Carter-Williams. This is an unfair comparison since one player doesn’t make a team, but the rest of the Bucks struggled scoring too. The average for the Bucks was 97.8 ppg. To put that to average, the Warriors scored 110 points per game, and the leading Cavs scored 103.1 points. If you don’t put the ball in the basket, then you don’t win the game.
One way they can improve scoring is three point shooting. The Bucks only attempted 18 three pointers a game. Of those 18, they only managed to make 6.6 a game. The abysmal 36.3 three point shooting comes from the lack of threat that they have on the perimeter. Carter-Williams - a known slasher (i.e. someone who attacks the basket when on offensive) - doesn’t pose a threat on the three point line only shooting 23.5% from the three point line. With the leading scorer not shooting from beyond the arc, the highest shooter is swingman Khris Middleton shooting 40.7% beyond the arc. That’s good, right? Well, the deception of numbers show that he only attempted 3.4 threes a game. With Middleton not shooting, Carter-Williams not being able to shoot, this leaves the load to others. Others include Antetokounmpo - the best name in NBA - Parker, and the likes of Jerryd Bayless and Jared Dudley. Injuries struck Parker, and with the other two being role players the three point arc looked really lonely in Milwaukee. Something they look to improve on.
|
Milwaukee was a very healthy team last year. The occasional rest days came for the older players including Zaza Pachulia; they were able to manage pretty well though. It does help that the team is incredibly young and youthful. The main injury however, was the second overall draft pick in the previous draft, Jabari Parker. The three letters that every athlete dreads - ACL - was the reason for the shortening of his season. Only playing 25 games, the people of Milwaukee didn’t get to see what he really could do. Parker was a special player. Only 25 games in and he was front runner for the rookie of the year award. Averaging around 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists he was an overall player; one that the people of Milwaukee are excited to see in the upcoming season.
With a 41-41 record, the Bucks weren’t bad nor good. They had some not-so-good periods, but they had incredible bright spots. One bright spot was their defense. The teams they played only average 97.4 points and shooting 47.8% throughout the court. To give comparisons, the worst defence allowed 106.5 points a game while allowing the other team to shoot 53.7% throughout the court. These numbers show great strength for the Bucks who were ranked 8th in defence throughout the entire season. Another bright side of the Bucks was that going into the season their average age was 23.7. This makes sure that the Bucks had great room for improvements. Antetokounmpo was only 19 going into last season, and so was Parker. Not to mention Carter-Williams who was 23. This counter balanced the older players on the team including Zaza who was 30 last year. With the younger people on the squad, they got a great experience by pushing for the playoffs and entertaining the very dynamic Bulls team. Despite the tough losses the team got really good experience in the post season; experience they’ll use for following seasons.
This Season
2015 brings great promise to the Milwaukee Bucks. It all started with the offseason and free agency. Free agency being a time where people not under a contract can sign with other teams for an agreed sum of money, and a desired length. Also, in free agency all 30 teams get an equal chance to sign players to make their team better. By equal, that means big market teams in New York show their big city and crazy fans. Or Los Angeles shows their titles they won 50 years ago and brag of their history. Milwaukee doesn’t have this advantage. Milwaukee only raised a single championship banner won in 1971. Despite the fact, we all have an ‘equal’ chance to sign players.
2015 brings great promise to the Milwaukee Bucks. It all started with the offseason and free agency. Free agency being a time where people not under a contract can sign with other teams for an agreed sum of money, and a desired length. Also, in free agency all 30 teams get an equal chance to sign players to make their team better. By equal, that means big market teams in New York show their big city and crazy fans. Or Los Angeles shows their titles they won 50 years ago and brag of their history. Milwaukee doesn’t have this advantage. Milwaukee only raised a single championship banner won in 1971. Despite the fact, we all have an ‘equal’ chance to sign players.
Going into free agency, the major spot the Bucks needed was a big man - one that can score and rebound. They needed one that can anchor the team, and brings something that Zaza couldn’t. So with the first swing, Milwaukee chased big time center and anchor, Tyson Chandler. Tyson was everything that the Bucks needed - he offered great scoring, defense, and rebounding. He even offered leadership, being 33 he would most likely have to lead the Bucks and play the older brother role. However he didn’t feel MIlwaukee was right for him. In his defense, it really wasn’t. With the lack of spacing in the team, it would’ve been hard for him to create offense for himself in the paint, or in other words, close to the basket. Also at 33, he would want the best chance to end his career with a spot he feels more comfortable with. Fair enough, however the next name the Buck's chased was one of success.
On the other side of Lake Michigan, Detroit had something special. Nonetheless they couldn’t piece the parts together to create the machine they wanted to create. They had Drummond, Smith, and Monroe all in the same area of the court. It was obvious that the man from New Orleans - big 6’11 Greg Monroe - would leave. At the age of 25, Monroe was able to put up good numbers. With around 16 points a game and 10 rebounds, he’s a double-double machine. All of this while sharing the ball with Drummond. The sharing really hindered the growth of both players in Detroit and ultimately forcing Monroe to the free agency. The guy is a tank and generated major hype for the teams looking for a major centerpiece.
Well, look at that, Milwaukee needed a good centerpiece - but so did New York and Los Angeles. LA and New York are the two biggest cities in the United States. They have that ‘it’ factor that most other cities don’t have. One of those cities - Milwaukee - doesn’t have that ‘it’ factor. However ,when making a decision Monroe had three choices: Los Angeles, New York, and Milwaukee. LA has kobe, the stars, and the dreams they sell in Hollywood. New york has the stars, beautiful Manhattan, and very expensive hot dogs. Milwaukee, well, Milwaukee doesn’t have any of that. Be that as it may, Milwaukee had the better team of the three. With being the better team, the Bucks were able to lock up the steal of the century by signing Monroe. Being a small market team, the Bucks celebrated a huge victory beating the higher cities. Beneath is an in-depth article that looks at how Milwaukee really persuaded Monroe with their presentation to come, and all the steps they took to acquire the star.
Greg Monroe in Milwaukee
It didn’t stop at acquiring Monroe either; Milwaukee took it to the draft and got young and brash Rashad Vaughn. The rookie out of University of Nevada, Las Vegas who can score from anywhere was a huge pick up especially with the offensive struggle. They also added Greivis Vasquez and Chris Copeland, both who can put the ball in the basket with ease. With the key additions, the Bucks now have a solid bench. This is crucial because of rest days in the schedule, more depth in the team for the spread of minutes, more players who can play different roles, more weapons on the offensive end, and more of a chance to compete with the bench of the other teams.
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, though. With the loss of key veterans - Ilyasova, Zaza, and Dudley - the team lost great leadership. Leadership that can’t really be replaced due to the lack of experience on the team. The team is youthful and very athletic, and without a clear direction they might crumble. They also do not have the go-to scorer in the clutch. If you flash back to the first round of the playoffs last year, the Bucks beat the Bulls on a trick inbound play to Dudley whom scored an easy lay up. The lack of a killer scorer will hurt this team in the long run, resulting in losses that they should clearly win.
They not might make a huge jump since last year, and that’s okay. With the age of the starting five guys - ranging from 20 to 25 - the team should make great noise in the East for years to come. Join the bandwagon before it’s too late and help Milwaukee #OwnTheFuture.
hOMECOMING FOOTBALL:
PHOTOGRAPHIC TIMELINE
IMAGES & CAPTIONS BY JULIO GARCIA
OCTOBER 28, 2015
OCTOBER 28, 2015
Should sports teams be allowed to use Native American mascots?
WRITTEN BY BASHIR ADEN
OCTOBER 28, 2015 In 2013, Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins, told USA Today, "We'll never change the name... NEVER". Subsequently came a survey from Sports Illustrated, which named Snyder “The Most Hated Owner in the NFL”. The controversy over the Redskins name has become quite heated from offended Native Americans. Much of the Native American community is outraged and claim the name is “disrespectful” and “mocking their heritage.” While, others who do not agree, say, “The name is not meant to be offensive,” and “is a part of their history." |
In a 2014 survey by USA Today, 79% of the public think that Native American mascots are not offensive and shouldn’t be banned. However, another 2014 survey showed that 86% of the Native American Community thought that the mascots were offensive.
However, this controversy is not only with the Redskins, the Cleveland Indians “Chief Wahoo” has been widely discouraged as well. And Florida State University’s Osceola and Renegade mascot, has been hated by much of the university’s Native American students.
In fact, there are many cases similar to these. There are the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Atlanta Braves to name only a few, but the controversy isn’t whether it is offensive or not, but if the sports’ teams’ names and/or mascots should be changed or not.
In fact, there are many cases similar to these. There are the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Atlanta Braves to name only a few, but the controversy isn’t whether it is offensive or not, but if the sports’ teams’ names and/or mascots should be changed or not.
The cornerstone of the argument is that many sports teams in the U.S have mascots that are caricatures of Native American culture. This is offensive to Native Americans in the country due to the horrific mistreatment of Native Americans in the past.
Unfortunately, a national survey does not tell us what those at Reagan think about this controversy. Thus, over 25 Reaganites were surveyed from different grade levels and different ethnicities what they thought. Out of the 25 students surveyed, 18 said that sports teams should not be allowed to use Native American mascots.The remaining said that it was never intended to be offensive and they shouldn’t have to change it. “I think if they feel like their culture is being disrespected, it should be removed,” stated Lisa T., a freshmen here at Reagan. While, the argument doesn’t directly affect Reagan, students here have very opposing views on the controversy. |
|
Checkmate at Reagan
WRITTEN BY SIERRA THOMAS
Reagan’s very own chess team is entering their seventh season. If you are interested in joining the chess club, but you don’t know how to actually play chess, that’s perfectly fine! There have been previous members who have had limited knowledge about the game and took the time to learn how to play chess. “It depends on the person - someone can learn how to play chess right away or take a couple day to learn,” said Kamal Abdulloahi, assistant coach. “It takes a day to learn, but a lifetime to master,” said Mr. Wood, head coach. If you do know how to play chess, but want to improve not only can you get extra practice at the meetings, but you also can practice online. “Some who want to excel more practice on Chess.com or Chess Tempo,” said Kamal Abdulloahi. |
|
Even if you decided to play chess for one season, “[you] still gain something from the chess team and that’s how to play chess.”
Kamal Abdulloahi believes that the chess team’s biggest accomplishment is “having a good, reliable, fun [team]”.
Not only is this a chance to play competitive chess, but you get the chance to be a part of the team.
Kamal Abdulloahi said, “Everyone has a good relationship with everyone; we’re like family.” If you’re interested in playing chess as a sport, then Reagan’s chess club the team meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 267.
Football: An American Tradition?
WRITTEN BY JEVEN HORTON
OCTOBER 28, 2015
OCTOBER 28, 2015
As baseball enters the pinnacle of its 162 game season and basketball is beginning to kick into high gear once the season starts, many people are fixated on and captivated by America’s new game of the week: Football. It’s a sport that has an interesting stigma and sense of camaraderie that applies to those who appreciate the game. Those who do not view the sport as such, blow it off as a “huge waste of time” and call it “not a sport.” However, to those who do, passionate or not, they are beginning to call this America’s Game. It’s an interesting growth and transition to the sport that is often the debate for various serious topics and controversies in America. The sport has its flaws; however, it deserves acknowledgement. In order to fully understand the magnitude of just how big football is, compare it to the other sports in America. In 2014, a year in which the 2014 World Cup and the 2014 Sochi Olympics were going on, football continued to dominate the US TV ratings. Football amassed a viewership of 37% across the United States, while the Olympics and World Cup combined totaled for 11%. It did not stop there, as the top 50 most watched sporting events are still dominated by football who holds the spot for 40 of the 50 events, as well as the top spot, being the Super Bowl. Grandiose events like the Olympics and World Cup are being pummeled in the States by football. To further its dominance, as illustrated in polls, football’s growing popularity has led it to become the most popular sport in the States. It’s leading at a strong and healthy 35% followed by baseball, which is at a declining 18% and basketball, rapidly growing 13.3%. This 20% difference shows that, even though football had its worst season riddled with concussion problems, off the field issues, and on the field scandals, it has got a lot of room for mistake before any other sport compares to it ratings wise. Its continuous ascension at the demise of baseball is one that could have the overall approval rate of watchers up to 40 percent by 2020. Meanwhile, its greatest threat, basketball, has a while to go to fully capture the viewership and distribution ability that football currently has. Not only is it the most popular sport to be ingrained in our society, it has led to the most important moments and remembrance of important moments in the country. The first being the announcement of John Lennon’s death during Monday Night Football game between the Dolphins and the Patriots. For many viewers, it was moment many do not forget as it was a tragic event in itself. However, for it to be broadcasted during the game allowed football to become a sport that was truly for putting humanity and news first and making entertainment second. The next moment was a huge one for the United States and allowed football to become a sport many admired. Following the disastrous hurricane, Hurricane Katrina that ravaged most of Louisiana, the New Orleans Saints allowed those stuck in the city of New Orleans to stay in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for shelter. |
With athletes going into the Dome to aid and help comfort those affected by the trying storm, the Saints and NFL were seen as beacons of hope to what little aid was being given to them at the time. This showed how the team and the league viewed their fans by doing their all to try and avoid any more losses and tragedies that could have befell on the community they treasure so much. The most infamous moment that ingrained football as a comfortable niche was the first game in New York following the 9/11 attacks. The country was struck with grief at the unforgettable sights that befell on the nation and the clearest distraction and most comforting thing for the nation was football. Although, the game was filled with raw emotion and extreme nationalism such as: players, fans and coaches crying during the national anthem, every player running out of the tunnel with American flags and a special dedication to the firefighter and workers’ whose lives were lost in the attacks. These moments have allowed football to transcend itself as a sport and make it a part of personal and collective history for the US and all who inhabit it. Football has led to big moments in history in a grand scale, but it also allows people to connect on a much smaller basis. The Thanksgiving games have become a staple for many families in the United Sates to watch as the reconnect with their family for those who celebrate the holiday. It’s the most watched televised event in 27 markets and continues to grow in popularity. This tradition shows that football is peaking at the right moment and is in the final stages in establishing itself in America’s “culture” and becoming a welcomed fixture. For football to be an “American thing” is true to an extreme degree. The relationship that the sport and its vast amounts of viewers have is one that can only be matched by the rest of the world and soccer (the other fútbol). Its expansive reach, imprint on the how people live their lives and plan their days has made football something more than a sport. It has become second nature habit to watch it, talk about it and be immersed in it. That is only going to get bigger and more rich as time goes on as any tradition does. References: Most Watched Sporting Events of 2014 MLB Ratings Plummet, NFL is more popular John Lennon's Death Announced During Pats/Fins MNF MMQB: New Orleans Saints & Hurricane Katrina Anniversary NFL Thanksgiving TV Ratings |