How to Shoot a Basketball
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Some people think that soccer stats are boring, but I think that this is wrong. When you follow stats you can make charts, and you can make statements on who is better. My favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo, he plays for Juventus FC, but you probably already knew that.
In my opinion these are the top seven soccer players currently. Not to be biased but I think that Ronaldo is the best because he has the most goals in the champions league with 127 goals. He also has Five Ballon D’Or and he has also won the champion league more than four times. Number two I think is Messi because he has the second most champions league titles, also he has the most la liga goals ever with more than 400 goals. He is also very creative when it comes to soccer, especially the Messi/Suarez penalty kick. This was when Messi was taking the penalty, instead of shooting it like most players do, he passed it to Suarez and Suarez scored. Third is Mbappe. He has the fastest ever time recorded in Ligue 1 with 44.7 kmph! He is also the best player in the French Ligue 1. He is the fastest player to reach 100 goals in all of soccer. He is also the second teenager ever to score in a world cup. Fourth has to be Kevin De Bruyne. Have you ever seen his free kick? It basically goes up and then it just dips right in front of you. It’s C-R-A-Z-Y! Also he has sick and awesome skills. He was in a Nike phantom shoe commercial. He has a very good shot, and a wicked pass and cross. Fifth is going to be Neymar JR. people think he is a crybaby, sometimes that can be true but mostly not. Neymar is just a great all around soccer player he is the best player at the rainbow. He has created lots of soccer skills. He has this touch on the ball where he puts his right foot behind his left foot and then stops the ball. Sixth is Mo. Salah is a really good player, and his shot is even better. He once scored an incredible goal. It was against Chelsea. Salah shot the ball from outside the box…. it went in the top left corner. You should watch it! Salah plays for Liverpool Fc and on the egyptian national team. He is the best player on both of those teams. Seventh is probably Paul Pogba, he is the best player on Manchester United. He has a really hard and accurate volley. He can also use his skills to get around players and find the open shot to score a goal his best goal was for Juventus in March 5 2013. That is what I think the rankings are in my opinion. |
Sport Climbing Is Now an Olympic Sport
Stefan 10/11s
In 2016, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that sport climbing will be making its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Sport climbing will feature three different disciplines: lead, speed, and bouldering. In lead, the goal is to climb as high as possible. In speed, two athletes will face each other. Their goal is to get a faster time than their opponent. For both of these disciplines, the wall will measure at about 15 meters high. In bouldering, athletes must climb a series of routes without safety ropes. The goal is to climb the most routes in the fastest time. In this discipline, the wall will be shorter, measuring at about 4 meters high. Athletes will be scored on their total score in all three disciplines.
Canadian climber Sean McColl is a huge favorite. At 29-years-old, he is already a four-time International Federation of Sports Climbing (IFSC) champion. Janja Garnbret of Slovenia is also a huge favorite. She is expected to dominate the women's competition.
As the 2020 Olympics draws closer, the climbing community is getting more and more excited. Sport climbing has been gaining more and more popularity over the past few years, and will finally be getting its share of the spotlight this summer.
Sport climbing will feature three different disciplines: lead, speed, and bouldering. In lead, the goal is to climb as high as possible. In speed, two athletes will face each other. Their goal is to get a faster time than their opponent. For both of these disciplines, the wall will measure at about 15 meters high. In bouldering, athletes must climb a series of routes without safety ropes. The goal is to climb the most routes in the fastest time. In this discipline, the wall will be shorter, measuring at about 4 meters high. Athletes will be scored on their total score in all three disciplines.
Canadian climber Sean McColl is a huge favorite. At 29-years-old, he is already a four-time International Federation of Sports Climbing (IFSC) champion. Janja Garnbret of Slovenia is also a huge favorite. She is expected to dominate the women's competition.
As the 2020 Olympics draws closer, the climbing community is getting more and more excited. Sport climbing has been gaining more and more popularity over the past few years, and will finally be getting its share of the spotlight this summer.
United States Women’s Soccer Team files a lawsuit against US Federation Soccer
Colin and Annie 10/11s
Left to right: Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Meghan Rapinoe
Gender discrimination is a huge problem in the United States because men are paid more than women. One example of this is are the U.S. men and women’s national soccer teams. One thing that is unfair is that if they have away games, the men’s team gets a nice hotel, while the women’s team has to sleep in a motel. The U.S. Women's team has won more World Cups and titles than the men’s team, yet they still get paid less. The women’s team has four Olympic gold medals and four World cups. The men’s team has two Olympic golds, eight silvers, and one bronze. The men’s best effort in the World Cup was to make the quarter-finals.
Gender discrimination is a huge problem in the United States because men are paid more than women. One example of this is are the U.S. men and women’s national soccer teams. One thing that is unfair is that if they have away games, the men’s team gets a nice hotel, while the women’s team has to sleep in a motel. The U.S. Women's team has won more World Cups and titles than the men’s team, yet they still get paid less. The women’s team has four Olympic gold medals and four World cups. The men’s team has two Olympic golds, eight silvers, and one bronze. The men’s best effort in the World Cup was to make the quarter-finals.
U.S. women’s team after their 4th World Cup victory
The U.S. women's team has been quite aware of their unequal salaries and had not done anything politically about it until March 2019. On March 3rd, the team gathered in a meeting after practice to talk with each other before the big day when the women would file a lawsuit against U. S. Federation Soccer. After, soccer stars Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Carli Lloyd made the final decision to file a lawsuit to the U.S. Soccer Federation, even with the World Cup ninety days away. If U.S. Soccer Federation took this lawsuit the wrong way, they would take the U.S. women’s team out of the World Cup. The official lawsuit happened on March 8th, which happened to be International Women’s Day. The lawsuit was 25 pages long, and it stated how unfair their situation was. Carli Lloyd had earlier complained about the unequal pay, and she lost fans by the thousands. After a little while, she started gaining back popularity, and now her popularity is back to the same level as it was before.
Hopefully, this problem will change soon enough, and all of us need to work hard to fix this problem. We think that this is a huge problem and we believe that everyone should be paid based on their job and not on their gender. This is just one example of unequal pay in the world. Hopefully, the rest of the world can see this problem and fix it.
The U.S. women's team has been quite aware of their unequal salaries and had not done anything politically about it until March 2019. On March 3rd, the team gathered in a meeting after practice to talk with each other before the big day when the women would file a lawsuit against U. S. Federation Soccer. After, soccer stars Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Carli Lloyd made the final decision to file a lawsuit to the U.S. Soccer Federation, even with the World Cup ninety days away. If U.S. Soccer Federation took this lawsuit the wrong way, they would take the U.S. women’s team out of the World Cup. The official lawsuit happened on March 8th, which happened to be International Women’s Day. The lawsuit was 25 pages long, and it stated how unfair their situation was. Carli Lloyd had earlier complained about the unequal pay, and she lost fans by the thousands. After a little while, she started gaining back popularity, and now her popularity is back to the same level as it was before.
Hopefully, this problem will change soon enough, and all of us need to work hard to fix this problem. We think that this is a huge problem and we believe that everyone should be paid based on their job and not on their gender. This is just one example of unequal pay in the world. Hopefully, the rest of the world can see this problem and fix it.
Messi’s Career: Childhood to Professional Player, Alex and Ethan 10/11s
Messi, Barcelona and Argentina soccer player, has won his sixth Player of the Year Award and the Ballon D'or this year. He is probably going to go down as one of the best players of all time. Some people consider Messi to be the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) but he is not, because he is missing two major trophies: the World Cup and the Copa America. These two trophies are highly coveted by soccer players. Part of the reason he has never won either is because he doesn't have great chemistry with the Argentina national team. As of now the young Argentine team is doing well and Messi fits in perfectly with them. While with Barcelona, Messi has won six Ballon D'ors.
There is a chance that Messi could retire at Barca aka Barcelona. Messi still has a few more years left to play in his career as a current soccer player. Messi has 500 goals to his name. On Wednesday 11/26/19 Messi made his 700th appearance for Barcelona.
Messi’s childhood was a very hard one, he had to sacrifice many things. The main reason is because he had a growth hormone deficiency, a disease that makes you really short and could have killed Messi. Early on in Messi’s childhood his family’s insurance took care of paying for the medication he needed but only for two years. Once the insurance stopped paying for the medication, Messi’s club at the time, Newell's Old Boys, started paying for his treatments so he could keep playing with the club. However the treatments became too expensive for Newell’s. Messi’s family now had to find him a new club to play at that would also pay for his medicine. The Messi family started to look to the wealthier clubs in Europe. Messi and his father ended up flying to Spain and had dinner with the manager of a club. The club's name is Barcelona. They came to an agreement that Messi could try out for their academy team. Messi stunned the coaches right away. Barca was eager to sign him. Many other clubs such as Real Madrid and Espanyol were also trying to sign Messi. Desperate times call for desperate measures! The coach drew the contract up on a napkin and Messi signed it.
There is a chance that Messi could retire at Barca aka Barcelona. Messi still has a few more years left to play in his career as a current soccer player. Messi has 500 goals to his name. On Wednesday 11/26/19 Messi made his 700th appearance for Barcelona.
Messi’s childhood was a very hard one, he had to sacrifice many things. The main reason is because he had a growth hormone deficiency, a disease that makes you really short and could have killed Messi. Early on in Messi’s childhood his family’s insurance took care of paying for the medication he needed but only for two years. Once the insurance stopped paying for the medication, Messi’s club at the time, Newell's Old Boys, started paying for his treatments so he could keep playing with the club. However the treatments became too expensive for Newell’s. Messi’s family now had to find him a new club to play at that would also pay for his medicine. The Messi family started to look to the wealthier clubs in Europe. Messi and his father ended up flying to Spain and had dinner with the manager of a club. The club's name is Barcelona. They came to an agreement that Messi could try out for their academy team. Messi stunned the coaches right away. Barca was eager to sign him. Many other clubs such as Real Madrid and Espanyol were also trying to sign Messi. Desperate times call for desperate measures! The coach drew the contract up on a napkin and Messi signed it.
Barcelona has a reputation for developing young talent. As Messi was going through the Barca system he played with some other greats. Like Xavi, Andreas Inesta and Cesc Fabregas. This really shows how high the level of play is with Barcelona.Very quickly Messi made his case he should be on the senior team. Unlike most greats Messi’s first game with his team was a disaster. Messi didn't start but he got subbed in. Everything was looking good until Messi made a slide tackle and that was it. Messi got a red card. How time comes and goes. That's how Messi made his appearance to Barca. Recently in the Copa America Messi got only his second red card of his career.
These mistakes have just helped Messi grow and get better. This is how Messi has become the player he is today. This is the logo of Messi’s current soccer team.
These mistakes have just helped Messi grow and get better. This is how Messi has become the player he is today. This is the logo of Messi’s current soccer team.
Messi Wins Sixth Ballon d’Or
Stefan, 10/11s
Lionel Messi celebrating his record-breaking sixth Ballon d’Or.
On Monday, December 2, Messi was awarded his sixth Ballon d’Or, which is an annual award from FIFA that crowns the player of the year. Messi is the first player in history to win the prestigious award six times, which puts him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus for the most Ballon d’Ors of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and now, in 2019, Messi has done it again.
Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk was runner up for the award, and just behind him at third place was Christiano Ronaldo. At fourth was Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, at fifth was Mohammad Salah, also from Liverpool, and at sixth was Paris Saint Germain’s young superstar, Kylian Mbappe.
“A few years ago, I received my first Ballon d'Or in Paris," said Messi. “And it was unthinkable what I was living at the time. Now I have a sixth. It’s a different moment.”
Although Messi is nearing the end of his career, he is still an amazing player, with a few good years left. He and FC Barcelona are still one of the best clubs in the world, and Messi and Argentina hope to return in 2022 for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
On Monday, December 2, Messi was awarded his sixth Ballon d’Or, which is an annual award from FIFA that crowns the player of the year. Messi is the first player in history to win the prestigious award six times, which puts him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus for the most Ballon d’Ors of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and now, in 2019, Messi has done it again.
Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk was runner up for the award, and just behind him at third place was Christiano Ronaldo. At fourth was Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, at fifth was Mohammad Salah, also from Liverpool, and at sixth was Paris Saint Germain’s young superstar, Kylian Mbappe.
“A few years ago, I received my first Ballon d'Or in Paris," said Messi. “And it was unthinkable what I was living at the time. Now I have a sixth. It’s a different moment.”
Although Messi is nearing the end of his career, he is still an amazing player, with a few good years left. He and FC Barcelona are still one of the best clubs in the world, and Messi and Argentina hope to return in 2022 for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Lionel Messi scoring a goal for his club, FC Barcelona.
“I’m aware of how old I am,” Messi admitted. “And I enjoy these moments so much because I know that retirement is approaching. Time flies.”
“I’m aware of how old I am,” Messi admitted. “And I enjoy these moments so much because I know that retirement is approaching. Time flies.”
What Type of Team are the Rangers Going to be This Season? Ethan, 10/11s
A Rangers team that had mostly dominated in the last decade is starting to show signs of slowing down. In the last two years, the Rangers have not made the playoffs, since they lost in six games to the Ottawa Senators in the second round.This off-season great players were departing from all teams. The Rangers didn’t lose any big name players except for arguably the best player, Mats Zuccerello. Some key players stayed with the team, and they also signed a player that lifted all Rangers fans hopes, including and mine. The rangers signed Artemi Panarin, a born goal scorer and a pass master. A combination of Jeff Gordon, general manager, and David Quinn, head coach, signed Panarin to a seven year deal.
I’m pretty sure Panarin will stick around for long enough to hopefully have some New Yorkers see one of their teams win a championship. The Rangers have everything they need to fully rebuild their team around Mika Zibanajad, Artemi Panarin and their first round draft pick, Kappo Kakko.
With this young core of players New York could be a potential threat this season. Rangers fans are starting to get impatient so the Rangers better start winning or everyone in New York is going to go crazy.
How will the Rangers respond to their fans this season? By winning! The only problem with this is that the rangers can’t win a game as of right now. They are 10-9-2 with 20 points and in 14th place. This is going to change the way all Rangers fans think about their favorite team. Get ready Rangers fans - we have a long season ahead of us!
I’m pretty sure Panarin will stick around for long enough to hopefully have some New Yorkers see one of their teams win a championship. The Rangers have everything they need to fully rebuild their team around Mika Zibanajad, Artemi Panarin and their first round draft pick, Kappo Kakko.
With this young core of players New York could be a potential threat this season. Rangers fans are starting to get impatient so the Rangers better start winning or everyone in New York is going to go crazy.
How will the Rangers respond to their fans this season? By winning! The only problem with this is that the rangers can’t win a game as of right now. They are 10-9-2 with 20 points and in 14th place. This is going to change the way all Rangers fans think about their favorite team. Get ready Rangers fans - we have a long season ahead of us!
The Tragedy of New York Sports
Zeba 13/14s
When it comes to New York sports, some teams are dysfunctional, some are struggling to take strides, and some are just blatantly bad, but they all have one thing in common: the astounding ability to lose so miserably. All our New York sports teams are tumbling down a cycle of failure, caught up in a habit of loss, and it doesn’t seem this streak will ever end.
FOOTBALL
The Giants and the Jets are competing for the lesser record, with both teams caught in a rampant losing streak. The Jets currently occupy the bottom pit of the AFC East, and although the season is fresh, the Jets’ chances appear bleak. They continue to try and salvage a team from the slivers of skill that remain, but every attempt to rebuild seems to crash down even harder. The Giants also suffer from failure fatigue, as they have barely surpassed the Redskins, and even that small advantage isn’t solidified. Their chances continue to slip away as their losing streak grows, and it feels as if their season was over the moment it began.
HOCKEY
Like the majority of New York sports teams, the Rangers are stuck wandering around the rear of their division. The Islanders, however, stray from such a path and surpass New York standards, holding the notable position of second in the Metropolitan Division. This is similar to their prior season, in which they wound up second in the Metropolitan Division, but ultimately were overthrown by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Second Round of the playoffs. If the season continues on its current trend, we may see a similar outcome to its preceding one, in which failure is consequential.
BASEBALL
The Mets barely skimmed the top of the NL East before solidifying a position out of the playoffs, and although the Yankees got further up the hierarchy, the defeat at the hands of the Houston Astros was only more agonizing and vexing. As the season came to a close, the Yankees had mostly healed from the sporadic loss of several major players which had started off their season. Still, they were forced to rely heavily on their minor league all-stars to steer the team towards victory. Unfortunately for the multitude of Yankees’ fans boasting of the Yankees’ success, the Yankees succumbed to the Astros’ intimidating bullpen and the strength of shorty José Altuve. The Mets, despite having Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and elite slugger Robinson Canó, are a dysfunctional disaster, somehow finding new ways to fail more spectacularly in each game.
BASKETBALL
Following the tradition of previous years, the Knicks are going to plummet swiftly. They’ve already initiated the season with a foreseen losing streak, and it can be assumed that this pattern of failure will continue for the duration of the season. The Nets don’t stray far from their Manhattan counterpart, as they can barely maintain a spot in the middle of the chaotic ranks. Even with the addition of adroit Kevin Durant and skillful Kyrie Irving, the Nets are struggling to make the major advancements required to hoist their team above their adversaries.
Despite the disheartening conditions we face as New York sports fans, we must persevere and continue to support our teams in their endeavors towards success. Whilst everyone is capable of failure, only New York teams can lose with such a lack of style and finesse, yet still retain the ample support of their fans.
FOOTBALL
The Giants and the Jets are competing for the lesser record, with both teams caught in a rampant losing streak. The Jets currently occupy the bottom pit of the AFC East, and although the season is fresh, the Jets’ chances appear bleak. They continue to try and salvage a team from the slivers of skill that remain, but every attempt to rebuild seems to crash down even harder. The Giants also suffer from failure fatigue, as they have barely surpassed the Redskins, and even that small advantage isn’t solidified. Their chances continue to slip away as their losing streak grows, and it feels as if their season was over the moment it began.
HOCKEY
Like the majority of New York sports teams, the Rangers are stuck wandering around the rear of their division. The Islanders, however, stray from such a path and surpass New York standards, holding the notable position of second in the Metropolitan Division. This is similar to their prior season, in which they wound up second in the Metropolitan Division, but ultimately were overthrown by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Second Round of the playoffs. If the season continues on its current trend, we may see a similar outcome to its preceding one, in which failure is consequential.
BASEBALL
The Mets barely skimmed the top of the NL East before solidifying a position out of the playoffs, and although the Yankees got further up the hierarchy, the defeat at the hands of the Houston Astros was only more agonizing and vexing. As the season came to a close, the Yankees had mostly healed from the sporadic loss of several major players which had started off their season. Still, they were forced to rely heavily on their minor league all-stars to steer the team towards victory. Unfortunately for the multitude of Yankees’ fans boasting of the Yankees’ success, the Yankees succumbed to the Astros’ intimidating bullpen and the strength of shorty José Altuve. The Mets, despite having Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and elite slugger Robinson Canó, are a dysfunctional disaster, somehow finding new ways to fail more spectacularly in each game.
BASKETBALL
Following the tradition of previous years, the Knicks are going to plummet swiftly. They’ve already initiated the season with a foreseen losing streak, and it can be assumed that this pattern of failure will continue for the duration of the season. The Nets don’t stray far from their Manhattan counterpart, as they can barely maintain a spot in the middle of the chaotic ranks. Even with the addition of adroit Kevin Durant and skillful Kyrie Irving, the Nets are struggling to make the major advancements required to hoist their team above their adversaries.
Despite the disheartening conditions we face as New York sports fans, we must persevere and continue to support our teams in their endeavors towards success. Whilst everyone is capable of failure, only New York teams can lose with such a lack of style and finesse, yet still retain the ample support of their fans.
The Evolution of Superteams in the NBA,
Theo 11/12s
The term superteam in the NBA refers to a team with two to three superstars, usually in or close to their prime. These superteams sometimes win a ton of games, and some completely defy expectations and lose way more games than they should. Teams have gone out of their way to build these superteams. They have taken over the league, affecting style of play, strategic signings, and amount of competition. I will talk about the effects a superteam has on the league and other teams. I will also address how the superteam era has progressed in the 21st century. I hope you enjoy the article!
It all started in 2004, with the formation of the ‘Big Three.’ The San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and legendary point guard Tony Parker went on to win four rings together. In 2009 the Golden State Warriors drafted Stephen Curry seventh overall. In 2011, they drafted Klay Thompson. Thus, the ‘Splash Brothers’ were created. The Warriors also drafted future All-Star power forward Draymond Green in 2012, and then a year later, they signed future finals MVP Andre Igoudala. On July 7th, 2016, the Warriors officially destroyed the league by signing Kevin Durant. That same year in the East, a Lebron-less Cleveland Cavaliers became a Lebron(yes!) Cavs with Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. The Cavs seemed to suddenly turn into a legitimate title contender overnight. Now, in 2019, we seem to have maybe even four superteams. The LA Clippers have it all: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Lou Williams and Pat Beverly. The LA Lakers have LeBron, Anthony Davis, and Danny Green, who is looking impeccable right now. The Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets, while it may be a stretch to call them superteams, look pretty good. The Nets have Kyrie Irving, Jarret Allen, DeAndre Jordan, and they will have KD in 2021. The Rockets have James Harden and Russell Westbrook. How do these superteams come to life? Are these superteams good for the league? What are the consequences of building a superteam? In this article I will give my best answers to these tough questions.
How do these superteams come to life?
In my opinion, superteams come to life over many years through the draft, or in a flurry through free agency and good trades. Take the Clippers. They signed Kawhi Leonard and traded for Paul George and Maurice Harkless. They also re-signed JaMychal Green and Pat Beverley. The Clippers went from a team that just barely squeaked into the playoffs to a one or two seed team. The Warriors, were a team that used the draft. Three of the five who started the 2016 NBA Finals were drafted by the Warriors.
I think that if you use free agency you are really going for it. You won’t have enough money to sign big players to really big time contracts, and superstars play well together or they don’t. If you use the draft, you’re really going for a dynasty. A long lasting title winning team. This worked out pretty well for the Warriors, evidently.
But the draft is a slow build. On the other hand, it lasts longer than free agency flurries. The Raptors went for it - big time. They won a championship, but they lost everything in the off-season. Should teams go for it, or build for the future?
Are these superteams good for the league?
I personally do not think that these superteams are good for the league. They lower the level of competition in the league. They also make players feel a lack of motivation when they know a superteam is going to swoop in and destroy the competition. This lowers the level of play and the excitement of watching an NBA game. Also, when superteams like the Cavs and Warriors were in their prime, the level of fan interest in spiked downwards. Here are some viewer ratings based on television statistics from 2012 to 2018.
In my opinion, superteams come to life over many years through the draft, or in a flurry through free agency and good trades. Take the Clippers. They signed Kawhi Leonard and traded for Paul George and Maurice Harkless. They also re-signed JaMychal Green and Pat Beverley. The Clippers went from a team that just barely squeaked into the playoffs to a one or two seed team. The Warriors, were a team that used the draft. Three of the five who started the 2016 NBA Finals were drafted by the Warriors.
I think that if you use free agency you are really going for it. You won’t have enough money to sign big players to really big time contracts, and superstars play well together or they don’t. If you use the draft, you’re really going for a dynasty. A long lasting title winning team. This worked out pretty well for the Warriors, evidently.
But the draft is a slow build. On the other hand, it lasts longer than free agency flurries. The Raptors went for it - big time. They won a championship, but they lost everything in the off-season. Should teams go for it, or build for the future?
Are these superteams good for the league?
I personally do not think that these superteams are good for the league. They lower the level of competition in the league. They also make players feel a lack of motivation when they know a superteam is going to swoop in and destroy the competition. This lowers the level of play and the excitement of watching an NBA game. Also, when superteams like the Cavs and Warriors were in their prime, the level of fan interest in spiked downwards. Here are some viewer ratings based on television statistics from 2012 to 2018.
You can see that as the years went on, the ratings got lower. You can see that these ratings for the regular season dropped dramatically in the 2013-14 season, just as the Warriors added Andre Igoudala to their extraordinary lineup stocked with superstars. These superteams are not good for the league, in terms of competition, entertainment, and in fact, they even hinder the league economically!
What are the consequences of building a superteam?
There are many consequences of building a superteam, but I think that lack of depth off the bench is the most consequential. A good example of this is the 2017 Cavs bench, which consisted of Kyle Korver, Deron Williams, Iman Shumpert, Channing Frye, and Derrick Williams. These players are all way out of their prime, and getting up there in terms of age, and also, they’re just not that good. With Lebron’s contract expiring, along with a majority of his supporting cast, this is not the kind of bench you want to have.
Let’s now take a look at the 2018 Cavs starting lineup. It consisted of Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, George Hill, Cedi Osman, and Channing Frye. The quality of this lineup is astonishingly bad. Bench depth would have saved the Cavs from complete obliteration in free agency.
I do not think that the superteam era is coming to its end, I think it’s only just beginning. Superteams have multiplied over the past couple decades, and I think they will only continue to do so.
What are the consequences of building a superteam?
There are many consequences of building a superteam, but I think that lack of depth off the bench is the most consequential. A good example of this is the 2017 Cavs bench, which consisted of Kyle Korver, Deron Williams, Iman Shumpert, Channing Frye, and Derrick Williams. These players are all way out of their prime, and getting up there in terms of age, and also, they’re just not that good. With Lebron’s contract expiring, along with a majority of his supporting cast, this is not the kind of bench you want to have.
Let’s now take a look at the 2018 Cavs starting lineup. It consisted of Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, George Hill, Cedi Osman, and Channing Frye. The quality of this lineup is astonishingly bad. Bench depth would have saved the Cavs from complete obliteration in free agency.
I do not think that the superteam era is coming to its end, I think it’s only just beginning. Superteams have multiplied over the past couple decades, and I think they will only continue to do so.
Why NYCFC really lost to Toronto FC
Ethan, 10/11s
What you are about to read are some of the reasons NYCFC couldn’t win against Toronto FC. The main reason NYCFC lost to Toronto is because of sloppy play. Other reasons they lost are because they had a long three week break before playing in the conference semifinals. That three week break made them into the habit of being more relaxed and messed them up when it was game time. Here’s how they lost.
They played badly the whole game. Toronto came out on the front foot and was attacking from the start. Being a NYCFC fan I wanted them to win but from the opening kick I knew they had no chance. In the first half Sean Jhonson was forced to make many saves all of which he saved. The second half started the same way as the first toronto got the ball and pushed up the field then came the problem one player, Ronald Matarrita, headed the ball to another player, Alex Ring, who headed it to another player, Maxime Chanot, who tried to head it back to Sean Johnson but it was intercepted. By a player on toronto named Alejandro Pozuelo and the score was 1-0. I say it was sloppy play but why in your right mind are you heading the ball back to your goalkeeper?
After that NYCFC started playing with a bit of urgency and scored a goal.Then they stopped playing urgently and went right back to playing horribly. Then in the last Two minutes of the game NYCFC gave up a penalty and again Alejandro Pozuelo scored. NYCFC tried to rally but failed and Toronto won and advanced to the conference finals. In my opinion there was never a chance for NYCFC to win the match. Hopefully next season they'll learn from their mistakes and win.
They played badly the whole game. Toronto came out on the front foot and was attacking from the start. Being a NYCFC fan I wanted them to win but from the opening kick I knew they had no chance. In the first half Sean Jhonson was forced to make many saves all of which he saved. The second half started the same way as the first toronto got the ball and pushed up the field then came the problem one player, Ronald Matarrita, headed the ball to another player, Alex Ring, who headed it to another player, Maxime Chanot, who tried to head it back to Sean Johnson but it was intercepted. By a player on toronto named Alejandro Pozuelo and the score was 1-0. I say it was sloppy play but why in your right mind are you heading the ball back to your goalkeeper?
After that NYCFC started playing with a bit of urgency and scored a goal.Then they stopped playing urgently and went right back to playing horribly. Then in the last Two minutes of the game NYCFC gave up a penalty and again Alejandro Pozuelo scored. NYCFC tried to rally but failed and Toronto won and advanced to the conference finals. In my opinion there was never a chance for NYCFC to win the match. Hopefully next season they'll learn from their mistakes and win.
The Madden Curse Strikes Again
Ravi, 12/13s
Once again the legendary Madden curse has struck. This time it is the second year sensation Patrick Mahomes. The curse has ruined players seasons, careers and lives. Many question if the curse is real and although it may seem absurd there is a surprising amount of evidence that supports the curses existence. First let's get into what the curse is and when it started.
In 1998 football legend John Madden and many others created a football video game. It would start one of the most legendary game sagas in the world, but it would also start a curse. The first player to brace the cover of Madden was 49ers running back Garrison Hearst. After playing college football at the University of Georgia Hearst was selected in the NFL draft in 1997. In 1998 he broke the 49ers record in rushing yards. He was set up for a bright future until he graced the cover of Madden. In the following season he played great, but in a second round playoff match he suffered a horrifying leg injury which caused one of his bones to die. He ended up missing the next two seasons in rehabilitation. After that Hearst was unable to ever play at the same level and ended his career as a forgotten player who had been struck by the curse. After this incident the incidents kept happening. Only six players have ever escaped the curse. 22 players have been on the cover. The six are Tom Brady, Odell Beckham Jr., Richard Sherman, Calvin Johnson, and Larry Fitzgerald. Although these players did escape the curse in the following season a few of them felt the effects later. You could argue that Odell Beckham Jr. was affected because he eventually suffered an injury and was then traded from the Giants to the Browns where he is not having a great season. Larry Fitzgerald was injured in the pro bowl, but came back fine and put up some good seasons after that so he pretty much escaped. Calvin Johnson ended his career abruptly, but is still a hall of fame receiver.
This year's player on the cover is rookie sensation Patrick Mahomes. After having one of the greatest rookie seasons anyone had ever seen he was put on the cover. Quickly he got injured in a Chiefs game on October 17th. This injury has been a big loss for the Kansas City Chiefs and they have had some trouble winning games with the loss. Last year’s player was Antonio Brown and everyone has been talking about him. After having a great 2018 season he announced that he wanted to be traded. Everything seemed fine and he was traded to the Oakland Raiders. Then came the helmet scandal. After being traded to the Raiders the team said that he couldn't wear his old helmet because it didn't mean safety protocols. He decided not to comply and threatened to retire from the NFL if he didn't get his way. Eventually this stopped, but then the news broke out that he had abused a team trainer. Then news broke that he had called the Raiders owner a slur. Soon he was released by the raiders and picked up by the Patriots. Eventually the Patriots realized that Antonio Brown was nothing but a troublemaker. He was soon released by the Patriots and as of now he has not been picked up by any team.
Nobody knows if the curse is real and nobody ever will, but with the evidence and odd series of events that has occurred there's reason to believe that the curse is real.
This year's player on the cover is rookie sensation Patrick Mahomes. After having one of the greatest rookie seasons anyone had ever seen he was put on the cover. Quickly he got injured in a Chiefs game on October 17th. This injury has been a big loss for the Kansas City Chiefs and they have had some trouble winning games with the loss. Last year’s player was Antonio Brown and everyone has been talking about him. After having a great 2018 season he announced that he wanted to be traded. Everything seemed fine and he was traded to the Oakland Raiders. Then came the helmet scandal. After being traded to the Raiders the team said that he couldn't wear his old helmet because it didn't mean safety protocols. He decided not to comply and threatened to retire from the NFL if he didn't get his way. Eventually this stopped, but then the news broke out that he had abused a team trainer. Then news broke that he had called the Raiders owner a slur. Soon he was released by the raiders and picked up by the Patriots. Eventually the Patriots realized that Antonio Brown was nothing but a troublemaker. He was soon released by the Patriots and as of now he has not been picked up by any team.
Nobody knows if the curse is real and nobody ever will, but with the evidence and odd series of events that has occurred there's reason to believe that the curse is real.
Why The Nets Are Not as Good as Advertised By Ravi 12/13s
NBA free agency was the most talked about topic in sports a few months ago. Big winners were the Lakers, Clippers, and the Nets. Well maybe not the Nets. Despite acquiring superstars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and role player Deandre Jordan the Nets will not go far into the playoffs. You may think what i’m saying is absurd, but there's a reason they will struggle.
Kyrie is better as a sidekick
Kyrie Irving is one of the best players in the league, but he will struggle in Brooklyn. After finishing a long stint with the Cavaliers he was traded to the Celtics where he was supposed to lead a superWhen he went to Boston and was at the helm of a powerhouse his numbers where better. In his first season in Boston he was injured and Boston won 55 games. They qualified for the playoffs and defeated the Bucks in 7 games. Then traveled to play the 76ers in the second round. After defeating them in 5 games they qualified to play the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals where they would lose in 7 games to the mighty Cavaliers. When Irving returned and played the next season the Celtics did worse and stumbled into the playoffs. They lost in the second round after doing far better than the year before. As you can see Kyrie is a much more valuable player as a sidekick to a superstar. Kevin Durant could be that player, but since he is out Irving will lead the team.
Durant will never be the same
Kevin Durant is one of the top players in the league if not considered the best in the league. Unfortunately for Durant this would change quickly. When the Warriors were playing the Rockets in the playoffs Durant tripped and injured his Achilles. This was a horrible injury for the Warriors who sidelined him for multiple games. After a couple of games Durant said to the Warriors front office that he wanted to play, the front office reluctantly let him play. Unfortunately for Durant and the Warriors he would re-aggravate his achilles and will now be sidelined for this upcoming season. The injury he acquired is serious and no player has ever come back the same. Durant will most likely return and be a fraction of the player he once was. Maybe he will be an all star, but certainly not one of the best in the league.
Deandre Jordan is too old
Despite putting up solid numbers with the Knicks and Mavericks his player value has declined over the years. Jordan is not the same rebounder and powerhouse in the paint as he once was. He will likely put up solid numbers again, but not enough to fill in for Durant being out and for the team to compete for a title. Also after acquiring Jordan this takes minutes away from young center Jarett Allen. Allen who has proven to be very good. Last year he averaged 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
All in all the Nets will definitely be a playoff team in a weak eastern conference, but will struggle in the playoffs and fail to bring home a title or a conference championship. They have a solid bench in fact maybe one of the best benches in the league, but bench players don't win you a title, starters do.
Kyrie Irving is one of the best players in the league, but he will struggle in Brooklyn. After finishing a long stint with the Cavaliers he was traded to the Celtics where he was supposed to lead a superWhen he went to Boston and was at the helm of a powerhouse his numbers where better. In his first season in Boston he was injured and Boston won 55 games. They qualified for the playoffs and defeated the Bucks in 7 games. Then traveled to play the 76ers in the second round. After defeating them in 5 games they qualified to play the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals where they would lose in 7 games to the mighty Cavaliers. When Irving returned and played the next season the Celtics did worse and stumbled into the playoffs. They lost in the second round after doing far better than the year before. As you can see Kyrie is a much more valuable player as a sidekick to a superstar. Kevin Durant could be that player, but since he is out Irving will lead the team.
Durant will never be the same
Kevin Durant is one of the top players in the league if not considered the best in the league. Unfortunately for Durant this would change quickly. When the Warriors were playing the Rockets in the playoffs Durant tripped and injured his Achilles. This was a horrible injury for the Warriors who sidelined him for multiple games. After a couple of games Durant said to the Warriors front office that he wanted to play, the front office reluctantly let him play. Unfortunately for Durant and the Warriors he would re-aggravate his achilles and will now be sidelined for this upcoming season. The injury he acquired is serious and no player has ever come back the same. Durant will most likely return and be a fraction of the player he once was. Maybe he will be an all star, but certainly not one of the best in the league.
Deandre Jordan is too old
Despite putting up solid numbers with the Knicks and Mavericks his player value has declined over the years. Jordan is not the same rebounder and powerhouse in the paint as he once was. He will likely put up solid numbers again, but not enough to fill in for Durant being out and for the team to compete for a title. Also after acquiring Jordan this takes minutes away from young center Jarett Allen. Allen who has proven to be very good. Last year he averaged 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
All in all the Nets will definitely be a playoff team in a weak eastern conference, but will struggle in the playoffs and fail to bring home a title or a conference championship. They have a solid bench in fact maybe one of the best benches in the league, but bench players don't win you a title, starters do.
How I Became a Hockey Fan
Myla, 13/14s
Out of all the sports that are out there, why did I pick hockey? Great question! All my life I have been surrounded by my brother and my father. Ever since I could remember I have heard the screaming at the tv and the complaining about how their hockey team is awful. They root for the Islanders, which is a NY based team. So how come after all these years of hearing their complaints, I finally decided to become a fan? Well the short answer is, I'm actually not sure.
I attended my first hockey game at 5 years old. I remember it pretty clearly. We were playing the Philadelphia Flyers and we won 6 - 2. Hockey can get pretty loud when someone scores, so when the buzzer went off I cried and covered my ears since the noise was too much for me. I went with my dad and my brother and we all went home very happy that day. My next key memory is when there was an Islander visiting the NHL store. My dad had heard that Mathew Barzal was going to be at the NHL store signing things for people to have. My brother, my dad and I all went to the store because my brother was excited to meet the player. We waited in line for a while and when we finally got to the front, we walked up to Barzal and he signed something for my brother and then we took a picture. I remember that my dad had a 5 minute conversation with him and I was nervous that people would get mad at us for taking up too much of the player’s time.
I attended my first hockey game at 5 years old. I remember it pretty clearly. We were playing the Philadelphia Flyers and we won 6 - 2. Hockey can get pretty loud when someone scores, so when the buzzer went off I cried and covered my ears since the noise was too much for me. I went with my dad and my brother and we all went home very happy that day. My next key memory is when there was an Islander visiting the NHL store. My dad had heard that Mathew Barzal was going to be at the NHL store signing things for people to have. My brother, my dad and I all went to the store because my brother was excited to meet the player. We waited in line for a while and when we finally got to the front, we walked up to Barzal and he signed something for my brother and then we took a picture. I remember that my dad had a 5 minute conversation with him and I was nervous that people would get mad at us for taking up too much of the player’s time.
After that, years went by and my dad continued to try to get me invested in hockey but to no avail. He would take me to games and I would have a good time eating the arena food and hanging out, but I didn’t truly care about the game going on. I would always see my brother come home from games either super happy or his mood was completely ruined. That always told me whether or not they won, but after that split second of knowing if they won or lost, the thought completely left my mind.
That all changed this year. Now, I get excited to go to games and to watch them on tv. I love watching the Jumbotron and seeing all the intermission games that are played. I love the feeling of seeing all of the fans around me cheering on their teams. I don’t know why it has taken me this long to become a fan. But I am so glad that I have a new interest and passion as well as that there is something that I can bond over with my dad and my brother.
That all changed this year. Now, I get excited to go to games and to watch them on tv. I love watching the Jumbotron and seeing all the intermission games that are played. I love the feeling of seeing all of the fans around me cheering on their teams. I don’t know why it has taken me this long to become a fan. But I am so glad that I have a new interest and passion as well as that there is something that I can bond over with my dad and my brother.
Basketball Poem
Cash, 12/13s
How are they
So tall?
I wonder
These basketball players
All 6 to 7 feet.
And then there is me
I'm only 5’5”.
I always hope for
My body to grow
So I can play
Like everyone
Else down in the stadium.
All the players
Shooting threes
Making them so
Often.
But then there is me
Still trying to get there
Where I can make all my shots.
Where I can be good.
The players
Dunking in the
Game.
Doing all these
Tricks.
And then making their shot.
Then when I try
I just fumble around
And only every now
I make them.
In the game
I barely score
But sometimes
I score a good shot
And the team cheers
But even so, after all of this
I still love
This game.
So tall?
I wonder
These basketball players
All 6 to 7 feet.
And then there is me
I'm only 5’5”.
I always hope for
My body to grow
So I can play
Like everyone
Else down in the stadium.
All the players
Shooting threes
Making them so
Often.
But then there is me
Still trying to get there
Where I can make all my shots.
Where I can be good.
The players
Dunking in the
Game.
Doing all these
Tricks.
And then making their shot.
Then when I try
I just fumble around
And only every now
I make them.
In the game
I barely score
But sometimes
I score a good shot
And the team cheers
But even so, after all of this
I still love
This game.
Memories of Kobe Bryant
Cash, 12/13s
As we approach the four year anniversary of Kobe’s death, I would like to talk about some things to remember about him. First of all, Kobe was one of the best basketball players of all time. Kobe’s mindset was very strong and no one could stop it. Kobe was also a phenomenal basketball player. He would always show up one to two hours before a game so that he was ready. By the time he got to the court none of the lights were on and he was there even before the camera people.
When Kobe first joined the NBA he was just like everybody else and would barely score any points in a game. But after some time, Kobe was making way more shots and destroying everybody on the court. On Kobe's last game he scored 60+ points. His last game before he retired was a standout, Shaq told him to get 50 points but he actually scored 60. The video here shows Kobe scoring those amazing shots one after the other. Kobe remains a basketball legend and the sport isn’t the same without him.
Click the image to watch the video:
When Kobe first joined the NBA he was just like everybody else and would barely score any points in a game. But after some time, Kobe was making way more shots and destroying everybody on the court. On Kobe's last game he scored 60+ points. His last game before he retired was a standout, Shaq told him to get 50 points but he actually scored 60. The video here shows Kobe scoring those amazing shots one after the other. Kobe remains a basketball legend and the sport isn’t the same without him.
Click the image to watch the video:
Lionel Messi: The Greatest of All Time
Ethan, 13/14s
As Messi calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net during the penalty shootout of the world cup final, many knew there was nothing more he could do. Quite simply, he had taken Argentina as far as he could. Then as they won the game teammates surrounded him and for almost all it was clear: Lionel Messi was the greatest soccer player of all time.
It all started when a 7 year old boy was brought to play with his older brothers and completely dominated. Every moment since has contributed to his resume as the greatest footballer to ever walk the pitch. The only argument anybody could make against him was the ever illusive World Cup. Fans everywhere knew he could perform at the club level yet it was never replicated for his country: Argentina. In 2001 when it all started Messi quickly rose to stardom and became a star. Ever since, he has played for Argentina. After the heartbreak at the 2014 World Cup, as well as the 2015 and 2016 Copa America defeats, many thought he would never play again for Argentina. Then he came back and finally won the Copa America in 2021. Messi had seen generations come and go through the team yet none of them had been able to capture a great trophy like this one. Videos were shown of Messi crying after this win and it truly demonstrated how much this meant to him. Even a player at the highest level enjoyed a new level of love for the game after winning this ever elusive trophy. While this win was widely celebrated it set up an enormous World Cup for this year. In the lead up to the tournament, so many questions were asked of Argentina yet they remained favorites in the eyes of many. Then after four years of anticipation came the tournament.
After a rough start, Argentina were able to put together two consecutive wins and finish first in their group, largely due to Messi’s two goals and two assists in the group stage. Even after a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, Messi picked up his team and guided them to victory. Then came the knockout stages. In a nervy game with Australia, Argentina barely scraped by but managed to make it to the quarter final. Following that game, Argentina had a narrow win against Netherlands on penalties before easily beating Croatia in the semi-finals. Then it was clear, Messi would have his date with destiny, a final opportunity to put his brilliance on display for all to see and take home the elusive World Cup trophy. When all the lights were shining down, Messi wound back the clock and put together a world class performance. After so many times where he let the pressure drag him down, he finally overcame this challenge to achieve national glory. After years of struggle, Messi had done what millions said he couldn’t and won the World Cup.
Messi’ individual stats are some of the greatest ever and set him apart from so many others. His club success is unmatched. His prowess to make those around him better is on another level. His skill is the greatest we have ever seen. His vision is something of ridicule. This trophy, however, was not about any of those things. It had nothing to do with his skill level but rather his legacy. How will people remember Lionel Messi in 50 years? WIll he ever live up to Maradona and Pele? Will Messi choke again when the lights shine brightest? Now, all those questions have been answered and the answer is clear, Messi is the single greatest football player to ever play.
It all started when a 7 year old boy was brought to play with his older brothers and completely dominated. Every moment since has contributed to his resume as the greatest footballer to ever walk the pitch. The only argument anybody could make against him was the ever illusive World Cup. Fans everywhere knew he could perform at the club level yet it was never replicated for his country: Argentina. In 2001 when it all started Messi quickly rose to stardom and became a star. Ever since, he has played for Argentina. After the heartbreak at the 2014 World Cup, as well as the 2015 and 2016 Copa America defeats, many thought he would never play again for Argentina. Then he came back and finally won the Copa America in 2021. Messi had seen generations come and go through the team yet none of them had been able to capture a great trophy like this one. Videos were shown of Messi crying after this win and it truly demonstrated how much this meant to him. Even a player at the highest level enjoyed a new level of love for the game after winning this ever elusive trophy. While this win was widely celebrated it set up an enormous World Cup for this year. In the lead up to the tournament, so many questions were asked of Argentina yet they remained favorites in the eyes of many. Then after four years of anticipation came the tournament.
After a rough start, Argentina were able to put together two consecutive wins and finish first in their group, largely due to Messi’s two goals and two assists in the group stage. Even after a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, Messi picked up his team and guided them to victory. Then came the knockout stages. In a nervy game with Australia, Argentina barely scraped by but managed to make it to the quarter final. Following that game, Argentina had a narrow win against Netherlands on penalties before easily beating Croatia in the semi-finals. Then it was clear, Messi would have his date with destiny, a final opportunity to put his brilliance on display for all to see and take home the elusive World Cup trophy. When all the lights were shining down, Messi wound back the clock and put together a world class performance. After so many times where he let the pressure drag him down, he finally overcame this challenge to achieve national glory. After years of struggle, Messi had done what millions said he couldn’t and won the World Cup.
Messi’ individual stats are some of the greatest ever and set him apart from so many others. His club success is unmatched. His prowess to make those around him better is on another level. His skill is the greatest we have ever seen. His vision is something of ridicule. This trophy, however, was not about any of those things. It had nothing to do with his skill level but rather his legacy. How will people remember Lionel Messi in 50 years? WIll he ever live up to Maradona and Pele? Will Messi choke again when the lights shine brightest? Now, all those questions have been answered and the answer is clear, Messi is the single greatest football player to ever play.
Who will host the 2030 World Cup?
Stefan, 13/14s
While the World Cup ended little over a month ago, some are already looking forward to the next World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. And some are looking even further to the World Cup in 2030.
Multiple bidders have already emerged to host the 2030 World Cup. These include a bid from Morocco, as well as joint bids from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile, and Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine. Other countries are rumored to bid, but have yet to confirm so. One rumored bid in particular—a joint bid between Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia—could, if chosen, make history as the first World Cup to be held in three different continents. Below are all of the countries rumored or confirmed to bid for the 2030 World Cup.
CONFIRMED BIDS
Morocco
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation confirmed their intention to bid for the 2030 World Cup in June of 2018. However, this is not the first time Morocco will be bidding to host a World Cup. They have already had five unsuccessful bids—in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, and 2026.
Morocco would be the second Arab nation to host a World Cup since Qatar this year, and the second African nation since South Africa in 2010. There is also the prospect of Morocco joining a joint bid between neighboring Tunisia and Algeria.
With a history of unsuccessful bids, could 2030 finally be Morocco’s year? Or will they add yet another failed World Cup bid to their tally?
Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine
Initially an Iberian bid between Spain and Portugal, they have since been joined by Ukraine. The tournament would be primarily hosted by Spain, with eleven venues in Spain and three in Portugal hosting matches. It has not yet been determined how many venues in Ukraine will host matches.
However, many question how Ukraine could possibly host a World Cup in its current, war-torn state. While there is the possibility that Ukraine’s conflict with Russia will end before 2030 rolls around, it may take years for Ukraine to rebuild in time for the tournament.
While Spain and Portugal are neighboring countries, Ukraine lies in Eastern Europe and is nowhere near geographically, creating another problem. This will make it difficult for teams to travel between venues. And with Ukraine hosting only a few matches, many question the point of including them in the bid at all.
Is this bid destined to fail? Or, after a devastating war, will a World Cup be what Ukraine desperately needs to lift its spirits?
Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay
Uruguay have joined Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, for a joint South American bid. Many in Uruguay argue that this World Cup is rightfully theirs, as it will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup, which they both hosted and won.
Out of these four countries, Argentina has hosted the World Cup most recently, in 1978. Paraguay is the only country of the four to never have hosted the tournament, with Chile having hosted a World Cup in 1962.
POTENTIAL BIDS
Asian bids
Only two World Cups have ever been hosted by an Asian country: the 2002 World Cup, in Japan and South Korea, and the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar.
While an Asian country may not host a World Cup until 2034 according to FIFA rules, an exception could be made for a joint bid between North and South Korea. Proposed in 2017 by then-president of South Korea, Moon Jae-In, it has been argued that a Korean bid would improve relations between the two countries.
Australia (a member of the Asian Football Confederation), China, and Japan have all expressed interest in hosting the 2030 World Cup.
Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia
A cross-confederation bid between Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia is rumored but not yet confirmed. If the rumors are true, though, this bid would break ground as the first World Cup to be held in three different continents. Saudi Arabia has long expressed interest in hosting a World Cup, but have never been successful in obtaining the rights to do so.
Some, though, have objected to a Saudi-hosted World Cup for many of the same reasons they did the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Saudi Arabia, like Qatar, has a very poor record when it comes to human rights. The country’s authoritarian regime is oppressive towards women and minorities, and has been known to abusively treat migrant workers. Torture, mulitilation, and execution are also common criminal punishments, with around 137 executions having taken place in 2022 alone.
Does Saudi Arabia deserve to host a World Cup? Will FIFA once again ignore blatant violations of human rights in deciding the host of the 2030 tournament, as they did in 2022?
Sources:
https://theathletic.com/3656183/2022/10/05/2030-world-cup-host-options/
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/2030-fifa-world-cup-host-countries-bid-europe-africa-america/vb9n2t2h70fnwfiprrlk3qus
Multiple bidders have already emerged to host the 2030 World Cup. These include a bid from Morocco, as well as joint bids from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile, and Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine. Other countries are rumored to bid, but have yet to confirm so. One rumored bid in particular—a joint bid between Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia—could, if chosen, make history as the first World Cup to be held in three different continents. Below are all of the countries rumored or confirmed to bid for the 2030 World Cup.
CONFIRMED BIDS
Morocco
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation confirmed their intention to bid for the 2030 World Cup in June of 2018. However, this is not the first time Morocco will be bidding to host a World Cup. They have already had five unsuccessful bids—in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, and 2026.
Morocco would be the second Arab nation to host a World Cup since Qatar this year, and the second African nation since South Africa in 2010. There is also the prospect of Morocco joining a joint bid between neighboring Tunisia and Algeria.
With a history of unsuccessful bids, could 2030 finally be Morocco’s year? Or will they add yet another failed World Cup bid to their tally?
Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine
Initially an Iberian bid between Spain and Portugal, they have since been joined by Ukraine. The tournament would be primarily hosted by Spain, with eleven venues in Spain and three in Portugal hosting matches. It has not yet been determined how many venues in Ukraine will host matches.
However, many question how Ukraine could possibly host a World Cup in its current, war-torn state. While there is the possibility that Ukraine’s conflict with Russia will end before 2030 rolls around, it may take years for Ukraine to rebuild in time for the tournament.
While Spain and Portugal are neighboring countries, Ukraine lies in Eastern Europe and is nowhere near geographically, creating another problem. This will make it difficult for teams to travel between venues. And with Ukraine hosting only a few matches, many question the point of including them in the bid at all.
Is this bid destined to fail? Or, after a devastating war, will a World Cup be what Ukraine desperately needs to lift its spirits?
Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay
Uruguay have joined Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, for a joint South American bid. Many in Uruguay argue that this World Cup is rightfully theirs, as it will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup, which they both hosted and won.
Out of these four countries, Argentina has hosted the World Cup most recently, in 1978. Paraguay is the only country of the four to never have hosted the tournament, with Chile having hosted a World Cup in 1962.
POTENTIAL BIDS
Asian bids
Only two World Cups have ever been hosted by an Asian country: the 2002 World Cup, in Japan and South Korea, and the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar.
While an Asian country may not host a World Cup until 2034 according to FIFA rules, an exception could be made for a joint bid between North and South Korea. Proposed in 2017 by then-president of South Korea, Moon Jae-In, it has been argued that a Korean bid would improve relations between the two countries.
Australia (a member of the Asian Football Confederation), China, and Japan have all expressed interest in hosting the 2030 World Cup.
Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia
A cross-confederation bid between Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia is rumored but not yet confirmed. If the rumors are true, though, this bid would break ground as the first World Cup to be held in three different continents. Saudi Arabia has long expressed interest in hosting a World Cup, but have never been successful in obtaining the rights to do so.
Some, though, have objected to a Saudi-hosted World Cup for many of the same reasons they did the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Saudi Arabia, like Qatar, has a very poor record when it comes to human rights. The country’s authoritarian regime is oppressive towards women and minorities, and has been known to abusively treat migrant workers. Torture, mulitilation, and execution are also common criminal punishments, with around 137 executions having taken place in 2022 alone.
Does Saudi Arabia deserve to host a World Cup? Will FIFA once again ignore blatant violations of human rights in deciding the host of the 2030 tournament, as they did in 2022?
Sources:
https://theathletic.com/3656183/2022/10/05/2030-world-cup-host-options/
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/2030-fifa-world-cup-host-countries-bid-europe-africa-america/vb9n2t2h70fnwfiprrlk3qus
Sign Stealers. Scandalists. Cheaters. Champions, Ethan, 13/14s
In 2017 the Astros won the World Series, one of the most prestigious championships in all of sports. It was celebrated greatly, and the win was coveted for years, yet they won for all the wrong reasons. A few months later it was revealed and later confirmed that they had been sign stealing for the entire season. This basically means that when a pitch was made they knew what it was and therefore that made it far easier for players to know what was coming and get a hit. They maintained this the entire season and somehow were able to not be found out in such an obvious scheme. This was a shock to all of baseball and was something no one had expected. A team who had cheated all the way to a World Series? It was unheard of. This was hollow ground for a league that had already been in existence for over a hundred years. In response, the MLB suspended the manager and the Astros entire organization went through an investigation and they experienced great turnover throughout the actual team and its upper executives. This was a dent on the league that they will never forget as they allowed for a team to cheat and win unfairly.
Fast forward to this year, 2022, the Houston Astros have made the postseason for the sixth year in a row. They swept their first series against the Mariners making their sixth American League Championship Series in a row and having to face their fiercest competitor, the New York Yankees. This was where the Astros had stalled out the previous five years, in either the ALCS or World Series. Finally they won, emphatically beating the New York Yankees and advancing to their fourth world series in the past six years. This time it was different though, The Astros won, cementing their legacy as a dynasty and washing away all the memories of the season in which they cheated. After a dominant regular season and an even better postseason it culminated in beating the Phillies and closing out the world series. The team that had once been considered a disgrace to all of Baseball finally had their moment to shine and won the right way, playing by the rules.
Fast forward to this year, 2022, the Houston Astros have made the postseason for the sixth year in a row. They swept their first series against the Mariners making their sixth American League Championship Series in a row and having to face their fiercest competitor, the New York Yankees. This was where the Astros had stalled out the previous five years, in either the ALCS or World Series. Finally they won, emphatically beating the New York Yankees and advancing to their fourth world series in the past six years. This time it was different though, The Astros won, cementing their legacy as a dynasty and washing away all the memories of the season in which they cheated. After a dominant regular season and an even better postseason it culminated in beating the Phillies and closing out the world series. The team that had once been considered a disgrace to all of Baseball finally had their moment to shine and won the right way, playing by the rules.
Fake Snow at the Olympics, Sadie 12/13s
Did you know that the 2022 Olympics in Beijing were chosen to take place at Yanqing Alpine Ski. It is mostly unnoticed that most of the snow is fake! The organizers were trying for a very long time to find the perfect kind of fake snow. You might have noticed that the men’s giant slalom competition was delayed due to a huge snow storm. Before that storm, it was almost fully fake. The snow was very beneficial to the skiers, but also it can cause worse injuries.
“The snow in the Olympics makes it easier for worse injuries to transpire. Do you think they should change the snow or keep it?” Katherine asks, I think they chose to put the Olympics in Beijing and they chose to put it where it was and they use a lot of fake snow and it doesn’t affect how people get injured. If it is causing the injuries then they should find a better solution. The skiers are supposed to be able to ski in any condition and if they are unable to ski in the conditions it is more a problem with their skiing and not with the fake snow. Priya C. states that they should change the snow because it would be ethical to keep the skiers safe. There are definitely more pros than cons to changing the snow as well as it being an ethical decision. Julia thinks that skiing is dangerous enough as it is and they shouldn’t produce something to make it even more dangerous.
The snow is also misplacing thousands of people from their homes to get the water to make the dangerous snow. “How does this affect your opinion on changing the snow?” If they have a more efficient way they should change it, but I don’t think there would be an efficient way to do it, say Katherine from the 12/13s.
What do you think? Should the Olympics have changed the snow, or kept it the same?
“The snow in the Olympics makes it easier for worse injuries to transpire. Do you think they should change the snow or keep it?” Katherine asks, I think they chose to put the Olympics in Beijing and they chose to put it where it was and they use a lot of fake snow and it doesn’t affect how people get injured. If it is causing the injuries then they should find a better solution. The skiers are supposed to be able to ski in any condition and if they are unable to ski in the conditions it is more a problem with their skiing and not with the fake snow. Priya C. states that they should change the snow because it would be ethical to keep the skiers safe. There are definitely more pros than cons to changing the snow as well as it being an ethical decision. Julia thinks that skiing is dangerous enough as it is and they shouldn’t produce something to make it even more dangerous.
The snow is also misplacing thousands of people from their homes to get the water to make the dangerous snow. “How does this affect your opinion on changing the snow?” If they have a more efficient way they should change it, but I don’t think there would be an efficient way to do it, say Katherine from the 12/13s.
What do you think? Should the Olympics have changed the snow, or kept it the same?
Just one week ago the legendary Tom Brady announced that he is retiring from football. He had a legendary career in football including winning seven Super Bowls and playing for 22 seasons. He played College football at Michigan State University from 1996 to 1999. In 2000 he was drafted by the New England Patriots, with whom he played for 20 seasons. Being drafted to the Patriots people say was the “best drafting steal ever.” After playing 20 seasons for the Patriots and winning them 6 Super Bowls, Tom left and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with whom he won one Super Bowl. He was declared the best football player of all time. After the Buccaneers recently lost the world championship game, which declares who is going to the superbowl, to the Cincinnati Bengals he declared he will be retiring. At 45 years old Tom Brady retired but left his mark on the world of football.
Non-Binary Representation in Sports
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Most people had similar opinions, but the details differed. The first question I asked was “How do you think the separation of sport between male and female could affect someone who is non-binary?” Most people answered saying how the separation of sports by male and female could cause a non-binary person to feel out of place, and feel that their gender isn’t valid. An anonymous source that I interviewed said “I think because there is a women’s league or a men’s league which puts a non-binary person in an uncomfortable position. They shouldn’t have to make that choice.” This is a great point, for a lot of people, this choice in any situation can be difficult.
The second question I asked was “What do you think people can do to make sports more inclusive?” This question was where answers started to differ more. While some people thought there should be a separate team for non-binary people, others thought that non-binary people should have the right to choose their own teams. The third idea was to have teams be based on skill level rather than gender. These are all unique and interesting opinions but one of my favorite statements was from Sadie (7th Grade). She responded with “Make a non-binary category, let anyone go on any team they want to if they are non-binary.” I then asked her a follow up question about what she would say to those who believe that teams should be based off of biological sex. She responded “I would say that's not an issue. If somebody doesn’t identify as fitting in the gender binary then they don't belong in that category.” I think that what she talked about is important if we want to create more inclusivity in sports.
With the final question I asked, I tried to tie it back to school, and how this issue affects kids our age. I asked people “How could this issue be solved, specifically in school sports?” Most people answered with the idea of Co-ed teams. While a lot of people may argue against this, it seems that the general consensus of those I interviewed was that Co-ed teams would be quite beneficial. Priya (7th Grade) however had a different opinion. She said “I think that there should still be a non binary team or teams should not be labeled boys and girls teams.” The part I would like to address is the part where she says the teams should not be labeled boys and girls teams. This is interesting because it brings up the idea of whether teams should be based on sex, gender, or something else.
After the interviews I can now say that this issue is much more complicated than I initially thought. There are many solutions to this problem, all of them with different pros and cons. While this issue isn’t as pressing as something like climate change, it is still something that needs to be talked about more than it is. While this issue can be ignored for some people, others are greatly affected by this.
The second question I asked was “What do you think people can do to make sports more inclusive?” This question was where answers started to differ more. While some people thought there should be a separate team for non-binary people, others thought that non-binary people should have the right to choose their own teams. The third idea was to have teams be based on skill level rather than gender. These are all unique and interesting opinions but one of my favorite statements was from Sadie (7th Grade). She responded with “Make a non-binary category, let anyone go on any team they want to if they are non-binary.” I then asked her a follow up question about what she would say to those who believe that teams should be based off of biological sex. She responded “I would say that's not an issue. If somebody doesn’t identify as fitting in the gender binary then they don't belong in that category.” I think that what she talked about is important if we want to create more inclusivity in sports.
With the final question I asked, I tried to tie it back to school, and how this issue affects kids our age. I asked people “How could this issue be solved, specifically in school sports?” Most people answered with the idea of Co-ed teams. While a lot of people may argue against this, it seems that the general consensus of those I interviewed was that Co-ed teams would be quite beneficial. Priya (7th Grade) however had a different opinion. She said “I think that there should still be a non binary team or teams should not be labeled boys and girls teams.” The part I would like to address is the part where she says the teams should not be labeled boys and girls teams. This is interesting because it brings up the idea of whether teams should be based on sex, gender, or something else.
After the interviews I can now say that this issue is much more complicated than I initially thought. There are many solutions to this problem, all of them with different pros and cons. While this issue isn’t as pressing as something like climate change, it is still something that needs to be talked about more than it is. While this issue can be ignored for some people, others are greatly affected by this.
Messi Leaves Barcelona, The End of an Era
Ethan, 12/13s
Messi had been at Barcelona since he was 13 years old. He had come to the club seeking to make their first team and for the club to pay for his injections to help him grow. In his first few years with the club he was one of many superstars on the team including legends, Ronaldihno, Samuel Eto'o, and Deco as well as fellow La Masia graduates Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol and many others. Messi was brought into a team that already was the best of it’s time making them even stronger. From there he went on to win four champion’s leagues, 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa Del Rey and an astounding six Ballon D'ors’, making him one of the most decorated soccer players of all time. In his following years with the club he accomplished many more feats that have cemented his legacy as one of the best players of all time.
On Thursday, August 5th, Barcelona shocked the world by announcing that Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, would be leaving the club. After weeks of negotiation between Messi and Barcelona over a new contract it seemed like Barca’s longtime talisman would re-sign. A deal had been agreed upon by Messi and Barcelona before the club was informed by the La Liga board that they did not have the funds to sign Messi. This meant Barca would be losing their number 10, after all. As he left everything came to an end. Seventeen years, 778 games, 672 goals and 305 assists, 48 hat tricks. 38 trophies. Six balloons d’or. Barcelon, and LaLiga will never see anyone like him again. Then on Tuesday August 10th PSG announced their new club record signing, Lionel Messi. Following Messi’s departure from Barcelona, PSG had become frontrunners to sign the superstar. Messi signed a contract for two years in which he will earn about 35 million euros a season, more than any other player in the world. One of the main selling points for Messi to go to the Parisian club was to reunite with his Brazilian friend Neymar who left Barcelona 4 years ago. Messi will also join his international co-parts, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes.
This transfer will forever mark its place in LaLiga and the soccer world.
On Thursday, August 5th, Barcelona shocked the world by announcing that Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, would be leaving the club. After weeks of negotiation between Messi and Barcelona over a new contract it seemed like Barca’s longtime talisman would re-sign. A deal had been agreed upon by Messi and Barcelona before the club was informed by the La Liga board that they did not have the funds to sign Messi. This meant Barca would be losing their number 10, after all. As he left everything came to an end. Seventeen years, 778 games, 672 goals and 305 assists, 48 hat tricks. 38 trophies. Six balloons d’or. Barcelon, and LaLiga will never see anyone like him again. Then on Tuesday August 10th PSG announced their new club record signing, Lionel Messi. Following Messi’s departure from Barcelona, PSG had become frontrunners to sign the superstar. Messi signed a contract for two years in which he will earn about 35 million euros a season, more than any other player in the world. One of the main selling points for Messi to go to the Parisian club was to reunite with his Brazilian friend Neymar who left Barcelona 4 years ago. Messi will also join his international co-parts, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes.
This transfer will forever mark its place in LaLiga and the soccer world.
For many years now, New York sports teams have been absolutely horrible. Since the Yankees and Giants of the early 2000’s, New York sports teams haven’t fared well compared to the rest of their leagues, but now things are finally looking up. In New York there are eight major teams, across four different sports. Since the Mets made the 2015 World Series, New York sports teams have been on the decline with: none of them having made deep playoff runs. Six years later New York sports teams finally look like they stand a chance.
In baseball, the Mets have elected a new owner, Steve Cohen who is worth up to $13 billion. In the offseason he showed that money can talk. The Mets made a mega trade for Francisco Lindor, a four time all star, and Carlos Carrasco, one of the most consistent pitchers of the last few years. This was only one of the many deals that the Mets made during the offseason, they also signed many support players to help fill their roster and to be backups in case their starters get injured. This shows that they are ready for business and seem to want a second chance at that World Series ring. Although they had some difficulty coming to an agreement with Lindor over a contract extension they already are past that and playing their best, sitting atop the NL east. On the other hand the Yankees have been playing fairly well over the past few seasons and even made the American League championship two years ago. Now they are struggling a bit more and are yet to get into form but are still a very strong team nonetheless with Aaron Judge, Gincarlo Stanton, Garrit Cole, and Gleyber Torres leading the way. It doesn’t seem like they are going away for a long time. With the signing of former Cy Young winner Corey Cluber it seems like they are ready to get back to the World Series. Maybe there will even be a subway series!
In basketball, the nets have been awful since 2013 when they made a trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, two aging players who were bound for the hall of fame. Neither lasted two seasons in Brooklyn and that created disaster amongst their team for years. They had to give up many first round draft picks that could have set them up nicely for the future. Last summer the Nets made three mega signings; Kevin Durant who had torn his ACL while playing for the warriors, Kyrie Irving who had been plagued with injuries since signing for the Celtics to get out of Lebron James’ shadow, and Deandre Jordan who is one of the best center’s of the modern era but is past his prime. Without Kevin Durant they did not do very good last season but they did make the playoffs and make it to the second round, a significant improvement from the previous seasons. Then this season they made a mega trade, With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving meshing very well the Nets pursued James Harden, who had previously requested a trade away from the Houston Rockets. They succeeded in this trade but ended up giving away some of their young core including Caris Levert and Jared Allen. Ever since James Harden has played perfectly with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and co. It looks like the Nets are well on their way to challenging for the NBA title, especially with the help of new signing Blake Griffin. Many rumors have come out surrounding how the Nets still have cap space but, to the people of New York, it doesn’t matter.. On the other hand you have the Knicks, who did the opposite of the Nets and decided to rack up high draft picks and build a team. They have done just that under new coach Tom Thibodeau, sitting in sixth in an underachieving eastern conference. Thibodeau has implemented a new system that focuses on defense as a team. This system has worked perfectly as the Knicks are sixth in the eastern conference following Julius Randle’s lead.
In football, there are two main New York teams, the Jets and the Giants. The Jets are still bad, Sam Darnold the number 3 pick in the draft a few years ago was a bust so now they look to this year's draft. Even if the Jets can use this pick well, one player, a rookie nonetheless can’t carry an entire team. It seems likely that the Jets will look to draft Zach Wilson, a QB out of BYU. Since they traded away Sam Darnold to the Panthers, drafting Wilson now seems more and more like a self fulfilling prophecy for the Jets. In coming years the Jets might seem like more of a contender but just not this season. The Giants, on the other hand, went big this offseason so far signing Kenny Golladay, Kyle Rudolph to bolster their offence and give young QB, Daniel Jones’ receiving targets. They also signed Zach Fulton, an offensive guard, and cornerback Adoree Jackson. All of these signings show that the Giants are ready to reinstate themselves at the top. Along with the 11th pick in the draft these signings seem like the start of a new era for the Giants.
In the fourth sport of hockey, the Islanders sit tied with the Capitals for the lead in the eastern division. When John Tavares, the Islanders franchise player, left in 2018 it seemed like all hope was lost. The previous season though a young star had emerged in center Mathew Barzal. He finished the season with 85 points while playing on their number one power play unit, when John Tavares left, the Islanders to Barzal looked to help them continue their path to the top. WIth the Islanders also signing new coach Barry Trotz fresh off of winning a cup with the Capitals, the Islanders seemed ready to finish the rebuild. This year they have come out stronger than ever, after the previous two seasons losing in the second round, and the conference finals respectively in the playoffs. Anders Lee the captain did end up with a season ending injury but that hasn’t slowed down the Islanders one bit. At the trade deadline they made a move for veterans Kyle Palmeri and Travis Zajac, with these to addition they seem like even bigger favorites to win the east division. On the other hand you have the rangers who have been very lucky over the past few years. It all started when they drafted Kaapo Kakko in the 2019-2020 NHL draft with the number 2 pick overall. Then they signed superstar Artemi Panarin to a seven year deal. Then after losing in the first round of the NHL’s return to play plan in the playoffs they won the draft lottery for the number 1 pick in the draft. They then picked one of the best prospects of the past few years, Alexis Lafreniere. Since then the expectations have risen tremendously for the rangers in the 2020-2021 season. At the beginning they struggled, and ended up in 6th place. Their coaching staff then was sidelined for many games but with the interim coach from there minor league team in Hartford they impressed and have been great ever since. With 15 games to play they may make a playoff run but it doesn’t seem likely. Maybe next season they will live up to the hype!
So, maybe New York sports teams aren’t amazing but they seem much better than a mere six months ago. Next time you are asking yourself why do I even put up with these teams? Just remember, there are a ton of other people who live in New York and follow sports too!
In baseball, the Mets have elected a new owner, Steve Cohen who is worth up to $13 billion. In the offseason he showed that money can talk. The Mets made a mega trade for Francisco Lindor, a four time all star, and Carlos Carrasco, one of the most consistent pitchers of the last few years. This was only one of the many deals that the Mets made during the offseason, they also signed many support players to help fill their roster and to be backups in case their starters get injured. This shows that they are ready for business and seem to want a second chance at that World Series ring. Although they had some difficulty coming to an agreement with Lindor over a contract extension they already are past that and playing their best, sitting atop the NL east. On the other hand the Yankees have been playing fairly well over the past few seasons and even made the American League championship two years ago. Now they are struggling a bit more and are yet to get into form but are still a very strong team nonetheless with Aaron Judge, Gincarlo Stanton, Garrit Cole, and Gleyber Torres leading the way. It doesn’t seem like they are going away for a long time. With the signing of former Cy Young winner Corey Cluber it seems like they are ready to get back to the World Series. Maybe there will even be a subway series!
In basketball, the nets have been awful since 2013 when they made a trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, two aging players who were bound for the hall of fame. Neither lasted two seasons in Brooklyn and that created disaster amongst their team for years. They had to give up many first round draft picks that could have set them up nicely for the future. Last summer the Nets made three mega signings; Kevin Durant who had torn his ACL while playing for the warriors, Kyrie Irving who had been plagued with injuries since signing for the Celtics to get out of Lebron James’ shadow, and Deandre Jordan who is one of the best center’s of the modern era but is past his prime. Without Kevin Durant they did not do very good last season but they did make the playoffs and make it to the second round, a significant improvement from the previous seasons. Then this season they made a mega trade, With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving meshing very well the Nets pursued James Harden, who had previously requested a trade away from the Houston Rockets. They succeeded in this trade but ended up giving away some of their young core including Caris Levert and Jared Allen. Ever since James Harden has played perfectly with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and co. It looks like the Nets are well on their way to challenging for the NBA title, especially with the help of new signing Blake Griffin. Many rumors have come out surrounding how the Nets still have cap space but, to the people of New York, it doesn’t matter.. On the other hand you have the Knicks, who did the opposite of the Nets and decided to rack up high draft picks and build a team. They have done just that under new coach Tom Thibodeau, sitting in sixth in an underachieving eastern conference. Thibodeau has implemented a new system that focuses on defense as a team. This system has worked perfectly as the Knicks are sixth in the eastern conference following Julius Randle’s lead.
In football, there are two main New York teams, the Jets and the Giants. The Jets are still bad, Sam Darnold the number 3 pick in the draft a few years ago was a bust so now they look to this year's draft. Even if the Jets can use this pick well, one player, a rookie nonetheless can’t carry an entire team. It seems likely that the Jets will look to draft Zach Wilson, a QB out of BYU. Since they traded away Sam Darnold to the Panthers, drafting Wilson now seems more and more like a self fulfilling prophecy for the Jets. In coming years the Jets might seem like more of a contender but just not this season. The Giants, on the other hand, went big this offseason so far signing Kenny Golladay, Kyle Rudolph to bolster their offence and give young QB, Daniel Jones’ receiving targets. They also signed Zach Fulton, an offensive guard, and cornerback Adoree Jackson. All of these signings show that the Giants are ready to reinstate themselves at the top. Along with the 11th pick in the draft these signings seem like the start of a new era for the Giants.
In the fourth sport of hockey, the Islanders sit tied with the Capitals for the lead in the eastern division. When John Tavares, the Islanders franchise player, left in 2018 it seemed like all hope was lost. The previous season though a young star had emerged in center Mathew Barzal. He finished the season with 85 points while playing on their number one power play unit, when John Tavares left, the Islanders to Barzal looked to help them continue their path to the top. WIth the Islanders also signing new coach Barry Trotz fresh off of winning a cup with the Capitals, the Islanders seemed ready to finish the rebuild. This year they have come out stronger than ever, after the previous two seasons losing in the second round, and the conference finals respectively in the playoffs. Anders Lee the captain did end up with a season ending injury but that hasn’t slowed down the Islanders one bit. At the trade deadline they made a move for veterans Kyle Palmeri and Travis Zajac, with these to addition they seem like even bigger favorites to win the east division. On the other hand you have the rangers who have been very lucky over the past few years. It all started when they drafted Kaapo Kakko in the 2019-2020 NHL draft with the number 2 pick overall. Then they signed superstar Artemi Panarin to a seven year deal. Then after losing in the first round of the NHL’s return to play plan in the playoffs they won the draft lottery for the number 1 pick in the draft. They then picked one of the best prospects of the past few years, Alexis Lafreniere. Since then the expectations have risen tremendously for the rangers in the 2020-2021 season. At the beginning they struggled, and ended up in 6th place. Their coaching staff then was sidelined for many games but with the interim coach from there minor league team in Hartford they impressed and have been great ever since. With 15 games to play they may make a playoff run but it doesn’t seem likely. Maybe next season they will live up to the hype!
So, maybe New York sports teams aren’t amazing but they seem much better than a mere six months ago. Next time you are asking yourself why do I even put up with these teams? Just remember, there are a ton of other people who live in New York and follow sports too!
He gets paid 350,000 dollars a week to go to training sessions and drive around England in his car. Let’s go back to the beginning and see how this really came to be.
Mikel Arteta had just been appointed coach of Arsenal. In his first press conference, he was questioned on his stance on playing Mesut Ozil. He responded, “I look forward to getting to know him and get him into the side as a regular starter.” This was reassuring to many Arsenal fans after the many rumors that he would not be played under Arteta’s reign as coach. Following that statement, Ozil’s form improved and his game picked up as Arsenal began to show promising signs. Then the pandemic hit and paused soccer. At this point Mesut Ozil had been starting every game for Arsenal and been showcasing his best footballing form in years.
The pandemic kept players off the fields for a few months and then finally premier league soccer resumed July 11th. Arsenal played in just the second match of the restart against Manchester City. Mesut Ozil did not travel to the stadium. This started a stir of rumors that Arteta disliked Ozil, and many others spread throughout the soccer world. As a result, after the match in Mikel Arteta’s post match press conference, he said that Mesut Ozil was unfit to play and was left out of the squad. This same trend happened for the next few weeks, when Arteta released a statement that Ozil would not play under his reign as the Arsenal manager. Immediately following the end of the match, Ozil posted on social media that he was still loyal to the club and wanted to continue playing for them. As the season came to a close Ozil was not featured in a single game.
This fall he was left out of the Arsenal squad in Europa League and Premier League. This means that he will not be able to play in an Arsenal jersey until Arsenal deals with the issue and puts his name on the squad list. So as for now, Ozil will continue to make $350,000 a week to drive around England in his car. This is probably irrelevant, but Ozil has joined another soccer player named Marcus Rashford in donating money to help give kids meals. If there is one thing that you should take away from this story about Mesut Ozil it is that being rich does not always mean good things happen for you.
Mikel Arteta had just been appointed coach of Arsenal. In his first press conference, he was questioned on his stance on playing Mesut Ozil. He responded, “I look forward to getting to know him and get him into the side as a regular starter.” This was reassuring to many Arsenal fans after the many rumors that he would not be played under Arteta’s reign as coach. Following that statement, Ozil’s form improved and his game picked up as Arsenal began to show promising signs. Then the pandemic hit and paused soccer. At this point Mesut Ozil had been starting every game for Arsenal and been showcasing his best footballing form in years.
The pandemic kept players off the fields for a few months and then finally premier league soccer resumed July 11th. Arsenal played in just the second match of the restart against Manchester City. Mesut Ozil did not travel to the stadium. This started a stir of rumors that Arteta disliked Ozil, and many others spread throughout the soccer world. As a result, after the match in Mikel Arteta’s post match press conference, he said that Mesut Ozil was unfit to play and was left out of the squad. This same trend happened for the next few weeks, when Arteta released a statement that Ozil would not play under his reign as the Arsenal manager. Immediately following the end of the match, Ozil posted on social media that he was still loyal to the club and wanted to continue playing for them. As the season came to a close Ozil was not featured in a single game.
This fall he was left out of the Arsenal squad in Europa League and Premier League. This means that he will not be able to play in an Arsenal jersey until Arsenal deals with the issue and puts his name on the squad list. So as for now, Ozil will continue to make $350,000 a week to drive around England in his car. This is probably irrelevant, but Ozil has joined another soccer player named Marcus Rashford in donating money to help give kids meals. If there is one thing that you should take away from this story about Mesut Ozil it is that being rich does not always mean good things happen for you.
Recapping the top 5 picks in the NHL draft
Ethan, 11/12s
Last Tuesday, after an epic and unexpected end to the 2020 NHL season crowned the Tampa Bay Lighting world hockey champions, the draft for top tier hockey players commenced. The field was packed with some amazing young stars and Alexis Lafreniere topped them all as the projected number one pick. He had been regarded as one of the best players of this generation. Many have compared him to fellow Canadian Sydney Crosby, who has been one of the best players of the last decade.
All eyes turned to Jeff Gordon the New York Rangers general manager at 7:15 Tuesday night. The Rangers got this draft pick from winning the draft lottery of the teams that were eliminated in the first round in the playoffs. This was one of the rules put into the NHL’s return to play plan that was devised so that the NHL could resume hockey in August, despite the pandemic.
After five minutes of the Rangers being “on the clock” they finally selected Alexis Lafreniere with the number one overall selection. The following pick was made by the Los Angeles Kings. They selected Quintin Byfield, one of the strong candidates along with Lafreniere to compete for the number one pick. The third pick went to Ottawa who had traded for the pick and gotten it from the San Jose Sharks. Paired with their own number five pick, it could make for a super duo of two youngsters. The first of the two picks that were made by the Senators was Tim Stutzle. Following the Senators pick of Stulze, the Detroit Red WIngs decided to take Lucas Raymond who has been regarded as “one of the best young talents out there” by many hockey reporters. To close out the top five, the Senators took their second swing at it selecting American born Jake Sanderson--the first American player selected in the draft.
That wraps up the top five picks in the 2020 NHL draft. Hopefully, you now know a thing or two about the first few picks in the NHL draft!
All eyes turned to Jeff Gordon the New York Rangers general manager at 7:15 Tuesday night. The Rangers got this draft pick from winning the draft lottery of the teams that were eliminated in the first round in the playoffs. This was one of the rules put into the NHL’s return to play plan that was devised so that the NHL could resume hockey in August, despite the pandemic.
After five minutes of the Rangers being “on the clock” they finally selected Alexis Lafreniere with the number one overall selection. The following pick was made by the Los Angeles Kings. They selected Quintin Byfield, one of the strong candidates along with Lafreniere to compete for the number one pick. The third pick went to Ottawa who had traded for the pick and gotten it from the San Jose Sharks. Paired with their own number five pick, it could make for a super duo of two youngsters. The first of the two picks that were made by the Senators was Tim Stutzle. Following the Senators pick of Stulze, the Detroit Red WIngs decided to take Lucas Raymond who has been regarded as “one of the best young talents out there” by many hockey reporters. To close out the top five, the Senators took their second swing at it selecting American born Jake Sanderson--the first American player selected in the draft.
That wraps up the top five picks in the 2020 NHL draft. Hopefully, you now know a thing or two about the first few picks in the NHL draft!
As baseball season resumes there will be changes to the rules, Ethan 10/11s
Over the last few weeks, the owners of the 32 MLB teams have talked and come up with some changes to the rules due to the Coronavirus pandemic. These new rules are to help try to keep players safer. Some of them are to keep the players more socially distant. Some are to limit the amount of people at games. They hope to limit the chance of players getting Covid 19 anyway they can.
One of the main one new rules being that the MLB season will be shortened to 82 games, half of the regular 164 game season. Another new rule that has been interesting is that the National League will now have a designated hitter. A designated hitter is a player who will bat but not field. This will be a change for the National League since they have never had a designated hitter. This rule will only be in place this season to keep players more socially distanced. The owners of the MLB also have decided to expand the playoffs adding two more wild card teams to make it so more teams have a chance at winning the world series. As well as these new rules the MLB has reduced the team’s rosters to 30 people to prevent the chance of players getting Covid 19. Even though there is a 30 man roster they are still making it so that only 20 of those 30 players will be eligible to play in and travel to the games. These are some of the main changes for the MLB going into this season.
One of the main one new rules being that the MLB season will be shortened to 82 games, half of the regular 164 game season. Another new rule that has been interesting is that the National League will now have a designated hitter. A designated hitter is a player who will bat but not field. This will be a change for the National League since they have never had a designated hitter. This rule will only be in place this season to keep players more socially distanced. The owners of the MLB also have decided to expand the playoffs adding two more wild card teams to make it so more teams have a chance at winning the world series. As well as these new rules the MLB has reduced the team’s rosters to 30 people to prevent the chance of players getting Covid 19. Even though there is a 30 man roster they are still making it so that only 20 of those 30 players will be eligible to play in and travel to the games. These are some of the main changes for the MLB going into this season.
This is a picture of a baseball game in China with no fans in attendance.
As well as using new rules, the MLB owners and officials also expect that they will lose $640,000 per game played. This is just one sign that the coronavirus pandemic is taking its toll on sports leagues just as much financially as emotionally. Players have taken a 50/50 revenue split to help keep the league up and going, while avoiding a major financial crisis for the league and losing the sport of baseball altogether. Losing this type of money is a bad thing for the league, and the players may have to take even more pay cuts if necessary. This shows how difficult it is for the owners to make decisions going into this season.
So when baseball season resumes in July I hope you have some insight into some of the new rules for the league.
As well as using new rules, the MLB owners and officials also expect that they will lose $640,000 per game played. This is just one sign that the coronavirus pandemic is taking its toll on sports leagues just as much financially as emotionally. Players have taken a 50/50 revenue split to help keep the league up and going, while avoiding a major financial crisis for the league and losing the sport of baseball altogether. Losing this type of money is a bad thing for the league, and the players may have to take even more pay cuts if necessary. This shows how difficult it is for the owners to make decisions going into this season.
So when baseball season resumes in July I hope you have some insight into some of the new rules for the league.
Soccer is Back
Alex, 10/11s
This week the first games of soccer are returning. You might have heard that the Dutch league, French league and the Belgium league have all been canceled. Now this also means that the team that was in first place is automatically winners of the league.
It has been about two months since the last games of soccer were played. It is pretty cool how Soccer is returning during quarantine.
There is only one league that will start soccer games again which is the German league.
These are the games that will be happening at that time and day.
Saturday May 18
Sunday May 19
Monday May 20
Hopefully in June the English league,Italian league and Spanish league will return.
The english league is set to return in three weeks.
The spanish league is going to return on june 11.
The results:
The biggest upset of this week's game was how RB Leipzig who are contenders for winning the league title drew the first game back since march. At the very end of the game Freiburg scored a second goal which would have meant that Freiburg won the game but the goal was disallowed. I expected Leipzig to win the game. Now Leipzig are in fourth place. The best game of the week was Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke 04 which Dortmund won 4-0. You may not know this but this is the Revierderby which is the best derby in all of Germany. A derby happens when two teams from the same city face off in a game. This was my review of all games.
Currently today Thursday May 28 Bayern Munich is at first place and Borussia Dortmund is in second place seven points behind Bayern. With only seven more matches for both teams left in the league it looks pretty clear that Bayern will win the league.
It has been about two months since the last games of soccer were played. It is pretty cool how Soccer is returning during quarantine.
There is only one league that will start soccer games again which is the German league.
These are the games that will be happening at that time and day.
Saturday May 18
- RB Leipzig vs SC Freiburg 9:30am
- Hoffenheim vs Hertha Berlin 9:30am
- Dusseldorf vs Paderborn 9:30am
- Augsburg vs VFL Wolfsburg 9:30am
- Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke 04 9:30am
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Monchengladbach 12:30 pm
Sunday May 19
- Koln vs Mainz 05 9:30pm
- Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich 12:00pm
Monday May 20
- Werder Bremen vs Bayer Leverkusen
Hopefully in June the English league,Italian league and Spanish league will return.
The english league is set to return in three weeks.
The spanish league is going to return on june 11.
The results:
- Rb Leipzig drew against Freiburg 1-1
- Hertha Berlin won against Hoffenheim 3-0
- Dusseldorf drew against Paderborn in a goalless game 0-0
- Wolfsburg won against Augsburg 2-1
- Borussia Dortmund won against Schalke 04 4-0
- Borussia Monchengladbach won against Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1
- Koln drew against Mainz 2-2
- Bayern won against Union Berlin 2-0 though it should have been 3-0
- Bayer Leverkusen won against Werder Bremen 4-1
The biggest upset of this week's game was how RB Leipzig who are contenders for winning the league title drew the first game back since march. At the very end of the game Freiburg scored a second goal which would have meant that Freiburg won the game but the goal was disallowed. I expected Leipzig to win the game. Now Leipzig are in fourth place. The best game of the week was Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke 04 which Dortmund won 4-0. You may not know this but this is the Revierderby which is the best derby in all of Germany. A derby happens when two teams from the same city face off in a game. This was my review of all games.
Currently today Thursday May 28 Bayern Munich is at first place and Borussia Dortmund is in second place seven points behind Bayern. With only seven more matches for both teams left in the league it looks pretty clear that Bayern will win the league.
The Top Five Sports Games to Rewatch During Your Quarantine
Matthew, 10/11s
While some of you sports fans are sitting there with no games to watch live, there are some competitions that you can rewatch, and have fun with. These games consist of college football, college basketball, and games from the NFL and the NBA.
5. College Basketball 2019: Stephen F. Austin vs Number 1 Duke
In the first half, Duke went out to a big 20 point lead. In the second half, Steven F Austin came back to tie it up 78-78. The Game went to overtime, and with 5 seconds left Steven F Austin stole the ball and made a layup to win the game. This was the first time ever Steven F Austin beat a Number 1 team.
Link to the game (Game start 45 seconds into the video)
4. College Football 2016: Michigan (3) vs Ohio State (2)
The game started off with Michigan leading the whole first half, and going into the locker room leading 10-7. In the second half, Michigan went off to a 17-7 lead, and Ohio State sadly came back. I am THE biggest Michigan fan in the school, so I was pretty mad. In overtime, it was pretty even, so the game went to double overtime. In the second overtime, Michigan made a field goal, and they probably would have won the game if the refs called pass interference on the prior play. Finally, Ohio State had the ball, went for it on fourth down, they got it (well not really), and then on the following first down (well really fifth down which is not allowed) scored a touchdown, and won the game. I was extremely mad at the refs, and if they had made better calls, Michigan would have won.
Link to the game (Game starts at 6:30 minutes into the video)
3. Eastern Conference Finals 2019 Game 7: Philly vs Toronto
This game was pretty even throughout the course of the game. In the first half, the largest lead was only 4, and the 76ers led at the half 55-53. In the second half, it was still pretty even but at the end it was an ending that is in the books. With 5 seconds left, Khawi Leonard made a 3 not only to win, but to advance to the NBA finals. My friend Reuben said he memorized what the commentator said on this play.
Link to the game (Game starts two minutes into the video)
2. College Football Week 6 2015: (14)Michigan vs (8)Michigan State
The game started off with the first half being pretty even, and Michigan went into the locker room with a 10-7 lead. In the second half, Michigan led for the whole half, and at least tried to punt the ball when they were leading 23-21 with 10 seconds left. When they tried to punt, the punter dropped the ball, and The Spartans recovered, and then Jalen Wills-Jackson returned the fumble for a touchdown to win 27-23. Even though this game was in Michigan’s hands, Michigan State found a way to win.
Link to the game (Game starts right away)
1. Week 14 NFL: Patriots vs Miami
The game started off with the Patriots taking a first half lead, and went into the locker room leading 27-21. In the second half, the Patriots scored an early touchdown. Later, the Dolphins scored a touchdown, then got the ball back. They had the ball on their own 27 yard line, and with a few seconds left, got a winning touchdown. This was not just luck, the Patriots put a few of the wrong players on the field; they even put an offensive player on the field.
Link to the game
5. College Basketball 2019: Stephen F. Austin vs Number 1 Duke
In the first half, Duke went out to a big 20 point lead. In the second half, Steven F Austin came back to tie it up 78-78. The Game went to overtime, and with 5 seconds left Steven F Austin stole the ball and made a layup to win the game. This was the first time ever Steven F Austin beat a Number 1 team.
Link to the game (Game start 45 seconds into the video)
4. College Football 2016: Michigan (3) vs Ohio State (2)
The game started off with Michigan leading the whole first half, and going into the locker room leading 10-7. In the second half, Michigan went off to a 17-7 lead, and Ohio State sadly came back. I am THE biggest Michigan fan in the school, so I was pretty mad. In overtime, it was pretty even, so the game went to double overtime. In the second overtime, Michigan made a field goal, and they probably would have won the game if the refs called pass interference on the prior play. Finally, Ohio State had the ball, went for it on fourth down, they got it (well not really), and then on the following first down (well really fifth down which is not allowed) scored a touchdown, and won the game. I was extremely mad at the refs, and if they had made better calls, Michigan would have won.
Link to the game (Game starts at 6:30 minutes into the video)
3. Eastern Conference Finals 2019 Game 7: Philly vs Toronto
This game was pretty even throughout the course of the game. In the first half, the largest lead was only 4, and the 76ers led at the half 55-53. In the second half, it was still pretty even but at the end it was an ending that is in the books. With 5 seconds left, Khawi Leonard made a 3 not only to win, but to advance to the NBA finals. My friend Reuben said he memorized what the commentator said on this play.
Link to the game (Game starts two minutes into the video)
2. College Football Week 6 2015: (14)Michigan vs (8)Michigan State
The game started off with the first half being pretty even, and Michigan went into the locker room with a 10-7 lead. In the second half, Michigan led for the whole half, and at least tried to punt the ball when they were leading 23-21 with 10 seconds left. When they tried to punt, the punter dropped the ball, and The Spartans recovered, and then Jalen Wills-Jackson returned the fumble for a touchdown to win 27-23. Even though this game was in Michigan’s hands, Michigan State found a way to win.
Link to the game (Game starts right away)
1. Week 14 NFL: Patriots vs Miami
The game started off with the Patriots taking a first half lead, and went into the locker room leading 27-21. In the second half, the Patriots scored an early touchdown. Later, the Dolphins scored a touchdown, then got the ball back. They had the ball on their own 27 yard line, and with a few seconds left, got a winning touchdown. This was not just luck, the Patriots put a few of the wrong players on the field; they even put an offensive player on the field.
Link to the game
Napoli beats Liverpool in a Close Champions League Match
Colin and Alex, 10/11s
Fernando Llorente in action
Match day 1:
Champions League is intense this year because of so many great teams. Today, we are going to highlight a match that we thought was particularly insane. One huge upset was Napoli vs Liverpool. The game ended in a 2-0 win for Napoli, which was a big surprise because Liverpool is doing so well in the Premier League this year. They are undefeated in the Premier League, leading it with sixty-seven points, with the second-place team sixteen points behind. They also won the Champions League last year. Meanwhile, Napoli is holding tenth place, not doing well, which is a shock considering how well they are doing in the Champions League. One reason Napoli isn’t doing well is that in the period between the last group stage game and the round of sixteen, they lost their star players Mertens and Koulibaly to injury. In the match, both teams had great chances, and the match could have gone either way. One thing that helped Napoli win was their goalkeeper Meret. He was making exceptional saves and saved the game multiple times. One thing that Liverpool had that was against them was that their starting goalie, Allison, couldn’t play, so their back up goalie Adrían. The one thing that changed the game was when, in the eightieth minute, Robertson made a late challenge on Callejon, one of Napoli’s strikers. Dries Mertens took the penalty and sent it into the left-hand corner. Adrían got a hand to it, but his effort wasn’t enough to keep the ball out of the goal. Then, in the 90th minute, Virgil Van Dijk, one of the world’s best defenders made a mistake, which Llorente converted over Adrían.
This match proved that even the best make mistakes sometimes. Virgil Van Dijk made a mistake which shocked the players, fans, and coaches because he isn’t known for making mistakes. He changed the way that Liverpool was treating the Champions League. They went into it thinking it was going to be a piece of cake, but when they lost to Napoli, they came out scared and worried. Also, after Liverpool’s loss, they stopped playing their best players during the Premier League so players could start saving their energy for Champions League. And that’s how one game can change how a whole team acts.
Match day 1:
Champions League is intense this year because of so many great teams. Today, we are going to highlight a match that we thought was particularly insane. One huge upset was Napoli vs Liverpool. The game ended in a 2-0 win for Napoli, which was a big surprise because Liverpool is doing so well in the Premier League this year. They are undefeated in the Premier League, leading it with sixty-seven points, with the second-place team sixteen points behind. They also won the Champions League last year. Meanwhile, Napoli is holding tenth place, not doing well, which is a shock considering how well they are doing in the Champions League. One reason Napoli isn’t doing well is that in the period between the last group stage game and the round of sixteen, they lost their star players Mertens and Koulibaly to injury. In the match, both teams had great chances, and the match could have gone either way. One thing that helped Napoli win was their goalkeeper Meret. He was making exceptional saves and saved the game multiple times. One thing that Liverpool had that was against them was that their starting goalie, Allison, couldn’t play, so their back up goalie Adrían. The one thing that changed the game was when, in the eightieth minute, Robertson made a late challenge on Callejon, one of Napoli’s strikers. Dries Mertens took the penalty and sent it into the left-hand corner. Adrían got a hand to it, but his effort wasn’t enough to keep the ball out of the goal. Then, in the 90th minute, Virgil Van Dijk, one of the world’s best defenders made a mistake, which Llorente converted over Adrían.
This match proved that even the best make mistakes sometimes. Virgil Van Dijk made a mistake which shocked the players, fans, and coaches because he isn’t known for making mistakes. He changed the way that Liverpool was treating the Champions League. They went into it thinking it was going to be a piece of cake, but when they lost to Napoli, they came out scared and worried. Also, after Liverpool’s loss, they stopped playing their best players during the Premier League so players could start saving their energy for Champions League. And that’s how one game can change how a whole team acts.
UCL Round of 16 Preview Tomo, 12/13
After an enthralling group stage of the UEFA Champions League, half of the teams have been eliminated, leaving only sixteen star-studded teams in the competition. The Round of 16 is often filled with surprises, and that is expected more than ever this season. Expectations are high, room for error is low, and this round, starting on February 18th, is set to be one to remember.
Best Game in the Round One game that really stands out is Manchester City vs. Real Madrid. Although not necessarily the best teams, they have a rivalry for the ages. It will be the Man City manager’s return to Real Madrid, and he is among the most hated at the club. During his four years at Barca, Real Madrid’s rivals, he won 14 trophies and became the most illustrious coach in Barca’s history. Both these teams started the season poorly but have really picked up their game since, and this is set to be a tense and high-quality game.
Prediction: Man City 5 - Real Madrid 3
Easiest VictoryThis one was as easy to choose as it will be for Juventus to beat Lyon. Juventus have won their league every season since 2011, while Lyon is currently sitting in seventh place in a league that is considered worse than Juventus’ league. Juventus is also the home to global superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, while Lyon’s main star is injured. Juventus also has a marvelous defense, with a superb combination of experience and youthfulness. Their world-class attacking fullbacks also perform up to standard defensively. Unfortunately for Lyon, the draw wasn’t on their side this time around, and they might as well just say goodbye to Champions League soccer before embarrassing themselves. Prediction: Juventus 5 - Lyon 1
Potential Upset: A potential upset in this round is Barca vs. Napoli. Although Barca has many more memorable players and has been known as a global superpower practically since their creation, they have a history of disappointing results in the round of 16, especially against Italian teams. Barca has been embarrassed in the round of 16 before, and they won’t get this win without a fight. Prediction: Barca 4 - Napoli 2
Surprise Package: Tottenham vs. Leipzig is likely to have the most drama due to the deadly attacks and weak defenses. Jose Mourinho’s recent appointment at Tottenham had the purpose of making more defensive stability, but it’s had the exact opposite effect. Since Mourinho’s first game in charge, Tottenham has had unseen sparks of creativity, as well as shameful defensive errors. Leipzig has also been having a very successful season as they are currently sitting second in the Bundesliga, and this is mainly due to their world-class attackers. This one’s destined for goals, and despite not being the best teams, goals are what entertain us the most. Prediction: Tottenham 3 - Leipzig 6
Best Game in the Round One game that really stands out is Manchester City vs. Real Madrid. Although not necessarily the best teams, they have a rivalry for the ages. It will be the Man City manager’s return to Real Madrid, and he is among the most hated at the club. During his four years at Barca, Real Madrid’s rivals, he won 14 trophies and became the most illustrious coach in Barca’s history. Both these teams started the season poorly but have really picked up their game since, and this is set to be a tense and high-quality game.
Prediction: Man City 5 - Real Madrid 3
Easiest VictoryThis one was as easy to choose as it will be for Juventus to beat Lyon. Juventus have won their league every season since 2011, while Lyon is currently sitting in seventh place in a league that is considered worse than Juventus’ league. Juventus is also the home to global superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, while Lyon’s main star is injured. Juventus also has a marvelous defense, with a superb combination of experience and youthfulness. Their world-class attacking fullbacks also perform up to standard defensively. Unfortunately for Lyon, the draw wasn’t on their side this time around, and they might as well just say goodbye to Champions League soccer before embarrassing themselves. Prediction: Juventus 5 - Lyon 1
Potential Upset: A potential upset in this round is Barca vs. Napoli. Although Barca has many more memorable players and has been known as a global superpower practically since their creation, they have a history of disappointing results in the round of 16, especially against Italian teams. Barca has been embarrassed in the round of 16 before, and they won’t get this win without a fight. Prediction: Barca 4 - Napoli 2
Surprise Package: Tottenham vs. Leipzig is likely to have the most drama due to the deadly attacks and weak defenses. Jose Mourinho’s recent appointment at Tottenham had the purpose of making more defensive stability, but it’s had the exact opposite effect. Since Mourinho’s first game in charge, Tottenham has had unseen sparks of creativity, as well as shameful defensive errors. Leipzig has also been having a very successful season as they are currently sitting second in the Bundesliga, and this is mainly due to their world-class attackers. This one’s destined for goals, and despite not being the best teams, goals are what entertain us the most. Prediction: Tottenham 3 - Leipzig 6
LA Galaxy sign Chicharito, Stefan 10/11s
The LA Galaxy have signed Mexican superstar Javier Hernández, better known by his nickname, Chicharito. Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, Chicharito is one of the best players in the world.
Chicharito started his career at the Mexican club Guadalajara. Since then he has played with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Leverkusen, West Ham United, and Sevilla. Chicharito has spent most of his career in Europe, so coming to play in North America is a big change for him.
Chicharito knows that the prime of his career is over, calling his move to Major League Soccer “the beginning of my retirement.” Chicharito knows that, at thirty-one-years-old, he is not as good of a player as he once was, nor will he ever be.
The LA Galaxy hopes Chicharito can replace Zlatan Ibrahivomich, who signed with AC Milan earlier during the off-season. Chicharito will also have a big impact on the MLS as a whole; the MLS needs a new superstar to be the face of the league.
“It was the right time, the right opportunity,” Chicharito said.
Chicharito started his career at the Mexican club Guadalajara. Since then he has played with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Leverkusen, West Ham United, and Sevilla. Chicharito has spent most of his career in Europe, so coming to play in North America is a big change for him.
Chicharito knows that the prime of his career is over, calling his move to Major League Soccer “the beginning of my retirement.” Chicharito knows that, at thirty-one-years-old, he is not as good of a player as he once was, nor will he ever be.
The LA Galaxy hopes Chicharito can replace Zlatan Ibrahivomich, who signed with AC Milan earlier during the off-season. Chicharito will also have a big impact on the MLS as a whole; the MLS needs a new superstar to be the face of the league.
“It was the right time, the right opportunity,” Chicharito said.
How are the top Rookies in the NBA doing? Rookie reports on all lottery teams’ draft picks, Theo 10/11s
New Orleans Pelicans
#1 pick: Zion Williamson: We are still waiting for this real star to make his long anticipated NBA debut, but he has impressed in the summer league and in pre-season.
Pick #17: Nickeil Alexander-Walker: the Canadien shooting guard out of Virginia Tech has not been a breakout star, but he has not disappointed. He has averaged 7.5 PPG (points per game), and 2.6 APG (assists per game), while only playing a mere 16 minutes a game.
Pick #8: Jaxson Hayes: The big man has been a dark horse secretly shining the whole season. The 6’11 center out of Texas has had some very impressive performances. Check out this thunderous block versus the Golden State Warriors
Memphis Grizzlies
Pick #2: Ja Morant: The high-flying point guard out of Murray State has yet to disappoint. He leads the team in APG and PPG, while leading a Grizzlies team coming off a very disappointing free agency.
Pick #21: Brandon Clarke: Morant’s counterpart, Clarke, has shined, averaging 12.3 PPG, and he leads the team with his free throw percentage of 64.
New York Knicks
Pick #3: RJ Barrett: The Canadien guard has not been bad, but he has been overshadowed by a coach who doesn’t seem to remember how to coach good basketball. Barrett has averaged 15.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG (rebounds per game), and 3.8 APG.
Atlanta Hawks
Picks #4 and #10: Deandre Hunter and Cam Reddish: I love the promise that this duo shows. The forwards out of Duke and Virginia were very impressive on both sides of the ball, but have struggled to adjust to the new league environment.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Pick #5: Darius Garland: As a loyal Cavs fan, I’m naturally biased, but Garland has been pretty good at times, and also pretty bad. His astounding dribbling skill has been noticed, but his ability to shoot consistently has wavered.
Pick #30: Kevin Porter Jr.: On the other hand, Porter Jr. has been great off the bench, becoming a fabulous playmaker Some people are even calling him the sleeper of the draft.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Pick #6: Jarret Culver: Culver is a player with a lot of potential, but he has struggled adjusting to his new team in this new playing environment. He has consistently got many minutes, and has failed to take advantage of them.
Chicago Bulls
Pick #7: Coby White: The point guard out of North Carolina, has shown to be a very promising player and has adjusted very well to the NBA. He has averaged 13.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 2.3 APG while playing 25.1 minutes a game.
Washington Wizards
Pick #9 Rui Hachimura: The Japanese power forward out of Gonzaga has been very impressive. He is currently the starting power forward for a Wizards team with little depth at forward. While I think this is a stretch, some have even called him a ROY (Rookie of the Year) candidate.
Phoenix Suns
Pick #11: Cam Johnson: The forward out of North Carolina has yet to shine, but he has definitely not been a disappointment. He has averaged 9 PPG, 3 RPG, all while playing 18.5 minutes per game.
Charlotte Hornets
Pick #12: PJ Washington: I really thought that the decision to draft the forward out of Kentucky by Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak (try saying that ten times fast) was a smart move. He has not disappointed. He is now one of the Hornets’ starting forwards, and he has put up 11.2 PPG and 5.2 RPG.
Miami Heat
Pick #13: Tyler Herro: I always think it’s annoying when a team gets a lottery pick and then in free agency, goes and signs a superstar, for example; the Heat and Jimmy Butler. The Heat really took advantage of their lottery pick though. Herro has been a key point in the Heat’s hot start. (See what I did there?) The guard out of Kentucky has been anything but disappointing, some are saying he could be a rookie of the year candidate. He has put up 14 PPG, 4 RPG, and 2 APG.
Boston Celtics
Picks #14 and #33: Romeo Langford and Carsen Edwards: The Celtics rookies have yet to make an impression on the league yet. With their lottery pick Langford out injured and yet to make his NBA debut, and second round pick Edwards getting very little time to prove themselves, I can’t say much about these draft picks.
This year’s draft was slated to be a 3 player draft. Ja, RJ, Zion. That’s it. But the beginning of the season has proved it was so much more than that. I think this rookie class will only continue to impress.
#1 pick: Zion Williamson: We are still waiting for this real star to make his long anticipated NBA debut, but he has impressed in the summer league and in pre-season.
Pick #17: Nickeil Alexander-Walker: the Canadien shooting guard out of Virginia Tech has not been a breakout star, but he has not disappointed. He has averaged 7.5 PPG (points per game), and 2.6 APG (assists per game), while only playing a mere 16 minutes a game.
Pick #8: Jaxson Hayes: The big man has been a dark horse secretly shining the whole season. The 6’11 center out of Texas has had some very impressive performances. Check out this thunderous block versus the Golden State Warriors
Memphis Grizzlies
Pick #2: Ja Morant: The high-flying point guard out of Murray State has yet to disappoint. He leads the team in APG and PPG, while leading a Grizzlies team coming off a very disappointing free agency.
Pick #21: Brandon Clarke: Morant’s counterpart, Clarke, has shined, averaging 12.3 PPG, and he leads the team with his free throw percentage of 64.
New York Knicks
Pick #3: RJ Barrett: The Canadien guard has not been bad, but he has been overshadowed by a coach who doesn’t seem to remember how to coach good basketball. Barrett has averaged 15.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG (rebounds per game), and 3.8 APG.
Atlanta Hawks
Picks #4 and #10: Deandre Hunter and Cam Reddish: I love the promise that this duo shows. The forwards out of Duke and Virginia were very impressive on both sides of the ball, but have struggled to adjust to the new league environment.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Pick #5: Darius Garland: As a loyal Cavs fan, I’m naturally biased, but Garland has been pretty good at times, and also pretty bad. His astounding dribbling skill has been noticed, but his ability to shoot consistently has wavered.
Pick #30: Kevin Porter Jr.: On the other hand, Porter Jr. has been great off the bench, becoming a fabulous playmaker Some people are even calling him the sleeper of the draft.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Pick #6: Jarret Culver: Culver is a player with a lot of potential, but he has struggled adjusting to his new team in this new playing environment. He has consistently got many minutes, and has failed to take advantage of them.
Chicago Bulls
Pick #7: Coby White: The point guard out of North Carolina, has shown to be a very promising player and has adjusted very well to the NBA. He has averaged 13.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 2.3 APG while playing 25.1 minutes a game.
Washington Wizards
Pick #9 Rui Hachimura: The Japanese power forward out of Gonzaga has been very impressive. He is currently the starting power forward for a Wizards team with little depth at forward. While I think this is a stretch, some have even called him a ROY (Rookie of the Year) candidate.
Phoenix Suns
Pick #11: Cam Johnson: The forward out of North Carolina has yet to shine, but he has definitely not been a disappointment. He has averaged 9 PPG, 3 RPG, all while playing 18.5 minutes per game.
Charlotte Hornets
Pick #12: PJ Washington: I really thought that the decision to draft the forward out of Kentucky by Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak (try saying that ten times fast) was a smart move. He has not disappointed. He is now one of the Hornets’ starting forwards, and he has put up 11.2 PPG and 5.2 RPG.
Miami Heat
Pick #13: Tyler Herro: I always think it’s annoying when a team gets a lottery pick and then in free agency, goes and signs a superstar, for example; the Heat and Jimmy Butler. The Heat really took advantage of their lottery pick though. Herro has been a key point in the Heat’s hot start. (See what I did there?) The guard out of Kentucky has been anything but disappointing, some are saying he could be a rookie of the year candidate. He has put up 14 PPG, 4 RPG, and 2 APG.
Boston Celtics
Picks #14 and #33: Romeo Langford and Carsen Edwards: The Celtics rookies have yet to make an impression on the league yet. With their lottery pick Langford out injured and yet to make his NBA debut, and second round pick Edwards getting very little time to prove themselves, I can’t say much about these draft picks.
This year’s draft was slated to be a 3 player draft. Ja, RJ, Zion. That’s it. But the beginning of the season has proved it was so much more than that. I think this rookie class will only continue to impress.
What’s wrong with Arsenal right now? Tomo, 12/13
Arsenal, a soccer team that’s generally considered as one of Europe’s finest, seems to be losing that elite status quite instantaneously. Having gone eight games without a win, all Arsenal fans are asking the same question: What’s wrong with Arsenal right now?
Former manager Unai Emery was sacked last Thursday, but it doesn’t seem like the problems have been put in the past yet, after interim manager Freddie Ljungberg’s first game resulted in a disappointing 2-2 draw against relegation contenders Norwich City.
Most fans agree that defence is Arsenal’s main issue, as it has been for quite a while now. In a press conference after Ljungberg’s first game in charge, he stated that the biggest problem defensively was the pace of the center backs, and that “we let them (the center backs) get into situations where it was just a sprint,” and later going on to say that “we want to stop that.”
The pace of the center backs clearly was at fault for both of Norwich’s goals, as they were both from counter-attacks that started from a long ball to their quick Finnish striker Teemu Pukki, who scored the first goal and played a major part in the second. Fast center backs are especially important these days because most striking teams have converted from a front two to a front three, which involves two wingers. Wingers are generally the fastest players on the field, so you need fast players to guard them. You could say that that’s why the fullbacks should stay further back, but attacking fullbacks have become almost necessary in tactics for attack, and last season both of the players with the most assists in the Premier League were fullbacks.
Fullbacks also need to be incredibly fit as they still have critical defensive duties, that specifically the right backs don’t fulfil. The main right back, Bellerin, is injured, while Maitland-Niles, who played right back for most of last season, isn’t really a right back, and he has had an increased dip in form since the new season started. The right back against Norwich, Calum Chambers, is actually a center back, so his pace wasn’t good enough, and many counter-attacks were started on his side while he was still forward.
Although the defence wasn’t up to standard, there were some positives from the game that the team lacked under Emery. The team played attacking-minded soccer with a great attitude towards the game, and for the first time in a while, it looked like the players actually wanted to be playing. It was a very dominant performance, and great attacking prowess was shown, but that leads to another issue. Arsenal are undoubtedly too reliant on their star player, Aubameyang. Yes, he is their star player, but this is a bit extreme. Since his acquisition in January 2018 for a reported 56 million euros, 62 million dollars, he has been directly involved in 44 goals, and he has scored six out of the seven away goals that Arsenal have scored in the Premier League this Season. He is also tied at second top goal scorer in the league, and, sure enough, he scored both of Arsenal’s goals against Norwich. The Gabonese 30 year-old, although currently in the best goalscoring form of his life, is set to decline in his goal scoring ability eventually, and these days, when you are clearly too good for the team you are playing on, you will get bought by another team that is better. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are rumored to be interested in buying him for 70 million dollars. If he left or his form got worse, Arsenal’s elite status would certainly be gone until his long-term replacement is found.
A change in Arsenal’s fortune is necessary for finishing in a decent position in the league, and where they finish has so many further implications than just a number. Arsenal, being on a three year drought of Champions League soccer, (the elite competition in Europe) have a fanbase in need of something to cheer for, and nowadays, when improving teams is so reliant on money, Arsenal need to play in the Champions League to accumulate enough money to make major changes. The competition of the big six is also lowering, and becoming more a two team race every year.
Things have gotten better since Emery’s departure, but they are far from the expectations, and even farther from impressing. In a couple of years, Emery’s time as Arsenal’s manager will only be remembered by his infamous “good ebening,” but hopefully Ljungberg and his potential successor can turn around the club’s fortune, and make them the wonderful club that they once were. Arsenal face Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday, December 5th, in Ljungberg’s second game as caretaker manager, and hopefully that's when the tides will turn in this world-renowned club.
Most fans agree that defence is Arsenal’s main issue, as it has been for quite a while now. In a press conference after Ljungberg’s first game in charge, he stated that the biggest problem defensively was the pace of the center backs, and that “we let them (the center backs) get into situations where it was just a sprint,” and later going on to say that “we want to stop that.”
The pace of the center backs clearly was at fault for both of Norwich’s goals, as they were both from counter-attacks that started from a long ball to their quick Finnish striker Teemu Pukki, who scored the first goal and played a major part in the second. Fast center backs are especially important these days because most striking teams have converted from a front two to a front three, which involves two wingers. Wingers are generally the fastest players on the field, so you need fast players to guard them. You could say that that’s why the fullbacks should stay further back, but attacking fullbacks have become almost necessary in tactics for attack, and last season both of the players with the most assists in the Premier League were fullbacks.
Fullbacks also need to be incredibly fit as they still have critical defensive duties, that specifically the right backs don’t fulfil. The main right back, Bellerin, is injured, while Maitland-Niles, who played right back for most of last season, isn’t really a right back, and he has had an increased dip in form since the new season started. The right back against Norwich, Calum Chambers, is actually a center back, so his pace wasn’t good enough, and many counter-attacks were started on his side while he was still forward.
Although the defence wasn’t up to standard, there were some positives from the game that the team lacked under Emery. The team played attacking-minded soccer with a great attitude towards the game, and for the first time in a while, it looked like the players actually wanted to be playing. It was a very dominant performance, and great attacking prowess was shown, but that leads to another issue. Arsenal are undoubtedly too reliant on their star player, Aubameyang. Yes, he is their star player, but this is a bit extreme. Since his acquisition in January 2018 for a reported 56 million euros, 62 million dollars, he has been directly involved in 44 goals, and he has scored six out of the seven away goals that Arsenal have scored in the Premier League this Season. He is also tied at second top goal scorer in the league, and, sure enough, he scored both of Arsenal’s goals against Norwich. The Gabonese 30 year-old, although currently in the best goalscoring form of his life, is set to decline in his goal scoring ability eventually, and these days, when you are clearly too good for the team you are playing on, you will get bought by another team that is better. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are rumored to be interested in buying him for 70 million dollars. If he left or his form got worse, Arsenal’s elite status would certainly be gone until his long-term replacement is found.
A change in Arsenal’s fortune is necessary for finishing in a decent position in the league, and where they finish has so many further implications than just a number. Arsenal, being on a three year drought of Champions League soccer, (the elite competition in Europe) have a fanbase in need of something to cheer for, and nowadays, when improving teams is so reliant on money, Arsenal need to play in the Champions League to accumulate enough money to make major changes. The competition of the big six is also lowering, and becoming more a two team race every year.
Things have gotten better since Emery’s departure, but they are far from the expectations, and even farther from impressing. In a couple of years, Emery’s time as Arsenal’s manager will only be remembered by his infamous “good ebening,” but hopefully Ljungberg and his potential successor can turn around the club’s fortune, and make them the wonderful club that they once were. Arsenal face Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday, December 5th, in Ljungberg’s second game as caretaker manager, and hopefully that's when the tides will turn in this world-renowned club.
Playing in Madison Garden, Chase 11/12s
Playing Madison Square Garden in the Knicks vs. Bulls game on October 28th was a very good experience and I would play there again if I could. When I first stepped foot on the court, I thought, “This court is good for running and walking on.'' The court was very bright and the rims looked broken, but they looked better than most rims, and for once it was not a double rim.
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This is me at the game waiving to my aunt
The court did not feel very big, and people might say I am crazy for this, but an NBA three pointer which is a part on the court which is a little bit closer to half court than the free throw line did not feel that far, I even took a three pointer.
The reason I was there was because I was selected to have this special opportunity with nine other kids from my team, the Dyckman Bulldogs. In the end, we were sadly not able to meet any of the Knicks or Bulls players. At first, before halftime, we tried to take a picture, but someone came in and said, “Guys, let’s go, we have fifty five seconds before we start!” So we hurried and ran through a little tunnel-like entrance to the court, and we immediately started playing. I did the jump ball, but incredibly lost it because I noticed my teammate in the same second as the referee threw the ball up.
Before all of this happened, we stood by the merch shop. My friend’s cousin worked there and gave him a RJ Barret jersey. We came two hours early and played video games and watched the players practice. Once we got there we got popcorn and soda. Before halftime the Knicks were losing and then in the end of the game Knicks won their first game because Bobby Portis hit a back-to back threes and RJ Barret hit some free throws. This might have been the greatest day in my life ever and one day when I will make it to the NBA it will happen again.
The court did not feel very big, and people might say I am crazy for this, but an NBA three pointer which is a part on the court which is a little bit closer to half court than the free throw line did not feel that far, I even took a three pointer.
The reason I was there was because I was selected to have this special opportunity with nine other kids from my team, the Dyckman Bulldogs. In the end, we were sadly not able to meet any of the Knicks or Bulls players. At first, before halftime, we tried to take a picture, but someone came in and said, “Guys, let’s go, we have fifty five seconds before we start!” So we hurried and ran through a little tunnel-like entrance to the court, and we immediately started playing. I did the jump ball, but incredibly lost it because I noticed my teammate in the same second as the referee threw the ball up.
Before all of this happened, we stood by the merch shop. My friend’s cousin worked there and gave him a RJ Barret jersey. We came two hours early and played video games and watched the players practice. Once we got there we got popcorn and soda. Before halftime the Knicks were losing and then in the end of the game Knicks won their first game because Bobby Portis hit a back-to back threes and RJ Barret hit some free throws. This might have been the greatest day in my life ever and one day when I will make it to the NBA it will happen again.
How good are the Knicks going to be this year? Ravi 12/13s
How many wins will the Knicks have?
The Knicks could win 30 games, but most likely 27. They have seasoned veterans Marcus Morris Sr., Julius Randle, Bobby Portis and Elfrid Payton. These players may not be all stars, but they are all solid players. The Knicks also bring their young core including Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Frank Nilikina and of course lottery pick R.J Barrett. The rest of the team has some solid players like Alonzo Trier. Despite the lack of superstar talent the Knicks don’t have a horrible player. Most sources, including ESPN, predict that the Knicks will win around 27 games, but the team has the potential to win 30. Obviously the Knicks are not a playoff contender, but they are a hardworking team that will be fun to watch and with R.J Barrett's great start in the league.
Who has been the best player for the Knicks so far?
Marcus Morris has definitely been the most impactful player for the Knicks. He has averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. R.J Barrett is a close second. The only reason why he is not first is because of his free throw woes. Barrett has been terrible from the line, but it’s not something to worry about. Free throw shooting is something a player can easily learn and Barrett is already an impressive shooter from three point range.
Have the Knicks been competitive this season?
Yes, although the Knicks may be viewed as the worst team in the NBA., but have played great basketball in most of their games, and they are just losing close games. One of those games was the game against the Celtics. In the fourth quarter, the Knicks were losing 99-102. R.J Barrett had the ball, and he drove down court for a layup. The ball trickled out of the rim, and the game looked over when Kevin Knox somehow grabbed the rebound. He quickly tossed the ball to Marcus Morris who drained a three pointer, tying the game. On the ensuing possession, the Celtics Jayson Tatum hit a game winner with two seconds left. This would win the game for the Celtics 102-104. Most of their games have been very close games, like the one against the Celtics. The Knicks may not be the greatest team, or even close to being good, but there's a bright future for the Knicks and their young core.
Are the Knicks a playoff team?
There is no way that the Knicks are a playoff team. They may have a solid team, but they’re still bad. They have no superstar talent and even thought R.J Barrett may become a superstar he isn’t there yet. Without a leader, you can’t be a good team, and the Knicks have no true leader.
The Knicks could win 30 games, but most likely 27. They have seasoned veterans Marcus Morris Sr., Julius Randle, Bobby Portis and Elfrid Payton. These players may not be all stars, but they are all solid players. The Knicks also bring their young core including Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Frank Nilikina and of course lottery pick R.J Barrett. The rest of the team has some solid players like Alonzo Trier. Despite the lack of superstar talent the Knicks don’t have a horrible player. Most sources, including ESPN, predict that the Knicks will win around 27 games, but the team has the potential to win 30. Obviously the Knicks are not a playoff contender, but they are a hardworking team that will be fun to watch and with R.J Barrett's great start in the league.
Who has been the best player for the Knicks so far?
Marcus Morris has definitely been the most impactful player for the Knicks. He has averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. R.J Barrett is a close second. The only reason why he is not first is because of his free throw woes. Barrett has been terrible from the line, but it’s not something to worry about. Free throw shooting is something a player can easily learn and Barrett is already an impressive shooter from three point range.
Have the Knicks been competitive this season?
Yes, although the Knicks may be viewed as the worst team in the NBA., but have played great basketball in most of their games, and they are just losing close games. One of those games was the game against the Celtics. In the fourth quarter, the Knicks were losing 99-102. R.J Barrett had the ball, and he drove down court for a layup. The ball trickled out of the rim, and the game looked over when Kevin Knox somehow grabbed the rebound. He quickly tossed the ball to Marcus Morris who drained a three pointer, tying the game. On the ensuing possession, the Celtics Jayson Tatum hit a game winner with two seconds left. This would win the game for the Celtics 102-104. Most of their games have been very close games, like the one against the Celtics. The Knicks may not be the greatest team, or even close to being good, but there's a bright future for the Knicks and their young core.
Are the Knicks a playoff team?
There is no way that the Knicks are a playoff team. They may have a solid team, but they’re still bad. They have no superstar talent and even thought R.J Barrett may become a superstar he isn’t there yet. Without a leader, you can’t be a good team, and the Knicks have no true leader.
The 2019 World Series In Review
Ravi, 12/13s
This year’s World Series was unforgettable for numerous reasons. The Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros in seven games to win their first title in franchise history. This world series was also eventful because it was the first time the away team won every game. This means that the team that was not in their home stadium won every single time. Usually when you are the away team you have the disadvantage because your not as used to the stadium and the home crowd is not behind your team. Here are each of the games in review.
NATIONALS @ ASTROS
In game one the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals opened up the world series. It was considered one of the most lopsided series that the MLB had ever seen in 10 years. Early in the game the Astros looked like the superior team when they scored two runs in the first inning off of Max Scherzer. The Nationals stormed back and scored one run in the second inning and one in the fourth. With the score tied the Nationals pulled ahead by scoring three runs in the fifth inning and now lead 5-2. However the Astros would storm back and scored one run in the seventh and one in the eighth. The score was now 5-4, and Houston had a chance to tie the game, but came up just short.
WASHINGTON LEADS 1-0
NATIONALS @ ASTROS
Houston was not fazed by this loss. They had lost to the Yankees in the first game but came back to win the series in six games. Plus these were the measly Nationals. How could of team like that go ahead on a team as good as Houston. The Nationals showed them as they scored two runs in the first inning, but the astros responded in the bottom half of the inning tying the game at two a piece. The scoring resumed in the seventh when the Nationals scored six run to blow the game open. The would proceed to destroy the Astros in the following innings and won the game 12-3.
WASHINGTON LEADS 2-0
ASTROS @ NATIONALS
If the Houston Astros lost game three they would have almost no chance of coming back in the series. The Astros struck for a run in the second inning and then another in the third. Houston lead 2-0, but the Nationals were quick to strike and scored a run in the fourth inning cutting the Astros lead to one. The Astros scored runs in the fifth and the sixth inning to extend the lead to 4-1. This was enough to beat the Nationals 4-1 and take their first game of the series.
WASHINGTON LEADS 2-1
ASTROS @ NATIONALS
If Houston could win this game they would even up the series and have a very good chance of winning. The Astros had Jose Urquidy who had pretty much never pitched in a big league game let alone the World Series. The Astros struck quickly in the first inning giving them a 2-0 lead in the first. Jose Urqiudy proceeded to shut down the Nationals Offense, and when they finally did score a run the Astros lead 4-1. The Astros would then score four more runs off of a good Nationals bullpen and would win by a final tally of 8-1.
SERIES TIED 2-2
ASTROS @ NATIONALS
If the Nationals lost this game, they would most likely lose the series unless some miracles happened. Unfortunately, the Nationals didn’t have their best pitcher Max Scherzer. So they had to start average pitcher Joe Ross. Ross’ weaknesses showed early, and in the second inning the Astros scored two runs giving them a 2-0 lead. Again in the fourth they scored two more and now the Astros were leading 4-0. The Nationals would score in the seventh, but the Astros blew the game open in the eighth and ninth innings and won the game 7-1.
ASTROS LEAD 3-2
NATIONALS @ ASTROS
The Astros could win the world series in game six and were looking to do so in front of the home crowd. The Nationals scored a run in the first, but the Astros countered with two more and took the lead 2-1. However in the fifth inning the Nationals scored two runs and now lead 3-2. Then in the seventh inning they scored 2 more and broke the game open. The Astros needed to score, but were unable to and lost by a final score of 7-2. There would be a game seven and everyone knew it would come down to the wire.
SERIES TIED 3-3
NATIONALS@ASTROS
The Nationals were able to force a game seven and now both teams hard work had come down to this very moment. This was what both teams had been working towards for the entire season and one teams dreams were about to come true. The scoring began in the second inning when the Astros scored one run and grabbed the lead early. They extended their lead in the fourth inning and now lead 2-0. The Astros seemed like they were in control, but veteran batter Howie Kendrik gave the Nationals the lead with a three-run home run. It was a close game until the Nationals added three more runs in the eighth and ninth innings. The Nationals would defeat the Astros 6-2 after Nationals reliever Daniel Hudson recorded the final out. The home fans watched as the Nationals stormed onto the field and celebrated the victory.
WASHINGTON WINS 4-3
NATIONALS @ ASTROS
In game one the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals opened up the world series. It was considered one of the most lopsided series that the MLB had ever seen in 10 years. Early in the game the Astros looked like the superior team when they scored two runs in the first inning off of Max Scherzer. The Nationals stormed back and scored one run in the second inning and one in the fourth. With the score tied the Nationals pulled ahead by scoring three runs in the fifth inning and now lead 5-2. However the Astros would storm back and scored one run in the seventh and one in the eighth. The score was now 5-4, and Houston had a chance to tie the game, but came up just short.
WASHINGTON LEADS 1-0
NATIONALS @ ASTROS
Houston was not fazed by this loss. They had lost to the Yankees in the first game but came back to win the series in six games. Plus these were the measly Nationals. How could of team like that go ahead on a team as good as Houston. The Nationals showed them as they scored two runs in the first inning, but the astros responded in the bottom half of the inning tying the game at two a piece. The scoring resumed in the seventh when the Nationals scored six run to blow the game open. The would proceed to destroy the Astros in the following innings and won the game 12-3.
WASHINGTON LEADS 2-0
ASTROS @ NATIONALS
If the Houston Astros lost game three they would have almost no chance of coming back in the series. The Astros struck for a run in the second inning and then another in the third. Houston lead 2-0, but the Nationals were quick to strike and scored a run in the fourth inning cutting the Astros lead to one. The Astros scored runs in the fifth and the sixth inning to extend the lead to 4-1. This was enough to beat the Nationals 4-1 and take their first game of the series.
WASHINGTON LEADS 2-1
ASTROS @ NATIONALS
If Houston could win this game they would even up the series and have a very good chance of winning. The Astros had Jose Urquidy who had pretty much never pitched in a big league game let alone the World Series. The Astros struck quickly in the first inning giving them a 2-0 lead in the first. Jose Urqiudy proceeded to shut down the Nationals Offense, and when they finally did score a run the Astros lead 4-1. The Astros would then score four more runs off of a good Nationals bullpen and would win by a final tally of 8-1.
SERIES TIED 2-2
ASTROS @ NATIONALS
If the Nationals lost this game, they would most likely lose the series unless some miracles happened. Unfortunately, the Nationals didn’t have their best pitcher Max Scherzer. So they had to start average pitcher Joe Ross. Ross’ weaknesses showed early, and in the second inning the Astros scored two runs giving them a 2-0 lead. Again in the fourth they scored two more and now the Astros were leading 4-0. The Nationals would score in the seventh, but the Astros blew the game open in the eighth and ninth innings and won the game 7-1.
ASTROS LEAD 3-2
NATIONALS @ ASTROS
The Astros could win the world series in game six and were looking to do so in front of the home crowd. The Nationals scored a run in the first, but the Astros countered with two more and took the lead 2-1. However in the fifth inning the Nationals scored two runs and now lead 3-2. Then in the seventh inning they scored 2 more and broke the game open. The Astros needed to score, but were unable to and lost by a final score of 7-2. There would be a game seven and everyone knew it would come down to the wire.
SERIES TIED 3-3
NATIONALS@ASTROS
The Nationals were able to force a game seven and now both teams hard work had come down to this very moment. This was what both teams had been working towards for the entire season and one teams dreams were about to come true. The scoring began in the second inning when the Astros scored one run and grabbed the lead early. They extended their lead in the fourth inning and now lead 2-0. The Astros seemed like they were in control, but veteran batter Howie Kendrik gave the Nationals the lead with a three-run home run. It was a close game until the Nationals added three more runs in the eighth and ninth innings. The Nationals would defeat the Astros 6-2 after Nationals reliever Daniel Hudson recorded the final out. The home fans watched as the Nationals stormed onto the field and celebrated the victory.
WASHINGTON WINS 4-3
How Great are those Bank Street Soccer and Volleyball Teams! Ethan 10/11s
The Bank Street sports teams are off to a good start this year! The volleyball team has won most of their games. They have been victorious in winning all but one of their games thus far. Not a huge surprise considering they went undefeated last year. The games have been good wins cruising to victory in almost all of them. The volleyball team has performed well, and will hopefully continue their winning streak.
The bank Street soccer season is also underway. So far they have won two games lost one and tied one. The team is starting to play better and better each week. So in their next game it is looking like they have a strong chance. The team has a few games remaining and will most likely end their season with a solid record. On the other hand, the varsity team hasn’t had much to celebrate. Playing four games and only winning one. They are a strong team but have been playing some hard teams. They could get back to their winning ways if they can get a win in their next game.
We hope that all these teams can finish the rest of the season strong!
We hope that all these teams can finish the rest of the season strong!
The Most Valuable Statistics in Baseball
Ravi 12/13s
Many baseball fans ask the same question over and over again. How do I tell who the best player in baseball is? Baseball has been around for hundreds of years and has been deemed America’s national pastime, but modern statistics have only been introduced very recently and many statisticians are still coming up with new formulas to determine the best player. For most of baseball history players skill level has been determined by the triple crown stats. For hitters these stats are runs batted in, home runs, and batting average. Runs batted in or otherwise known as RBI is when a run scores because of that at bat, and the most common examples of this are run-scoring hits their are other ways to receive RBI’s, but that’s for another article.
Home runs are when you hit the ball in fair territory out of the ballpark. A player can also hit what is called an inside the park home run when you score on a ball hit inside the park. The last statistic of the hitters triple crown is batting average. This stat calculates the amount of hits you get in your number of at bats. There are also triple crown stats for pitchers and those are wins, strike outs, and earned run average. A win is when a pitcher has allowed less runs than his or her team has scored in a certain amount of innings. Wins is one of the oldest and most commonly used stats throughout the first century of baseball. Strikeouts is when you throw three strikes to a batter before they get a hit or a walk. The third strike cannot be a foul ball, but first and second strikes can be. You might ask what all that was for, and although it might seem unnecessary I was explaining the triple crown stats to you.
To determine the best player you have to look at the many statistics that players receive. Not to long ago if you had the best batting average and the most home runs you would be viewed as the most valuable player. For pitchers wins where the most important statistic. Although this holds true today there is one stat that has become more important than all of them and that statistic is WAR (wins above replacement). This is said to be the most accurate description of a baseball player’s true value. Instead of judging a player by using the triple crown statistics which can be affected by how good your team is, WAR is calculated by using stats like OBP (on base percentage) and other stats that are generated based on a players personal achievements. The higher your WAR is the more valuable a player you are. This statistic is known as an accumulative stat which means it is judged by the amount of games you play.
For Example:
Player A: .545 Batting Average, .615 OBP, .636 Slugging, 0 Home Runs, 4 Games, 7 RBI’s, WAR = 0.1
Player B: .263 Batting Average, .404 OBP, .483 Slugging, 17 Home Runs, 140 Games, 47 RBI’s
WAR = 4.4
As you can clearly see Player A has the lead in many of the main categories, but because Player B played many more games and was more consistent they have a higher WAR. If you played half a season and you had very good statistics you could simulate the players statistics to the end of the season. Although the Player may have performed the rest of the year with the same statistics they could have played worse. Because of this possibility WAR is based on the amount of games you play. You have to play a good amount of games to have a very high WAR. Some of you may think accumulative statistics make no sense because a player should always be judged by their performance no matter how much they play. However let's say you only play 20 games out of the maximum amount of 162. In those 20 games you have very good stats. Since you only played 20 games no one knows if you will have a great season. Although you could play just as good for the rest of the season there is an equal chance you will play worse and your stats will decrease. Their will never be a perfect statistic, but WAR is the closest anyone has ever gotten.
To determine the best player you have to look at the many statistics that players receive. Not to long ago if you had the best batting average and the most home runs you would be viewed as the most valuable player. For pitchers wins where the most important statistic. Although this holds true today there is one stat that has become more important than all of them and that statistic is WAR (wins above replacement). This is said to be the most accurate description of a baseball player’s true value. Instead of judging a player by using the triple crown statistics which can be affected by how good your team is, WAR is calculated by using stats like OBP (on base percentage) and other stats that are generated based on a players personal achievements. The higher your WAR is the more valuable a player you are. This statistic is known as an accumulative stat which means it is judged by the amount of games you play.
For Example:
Player A: .545 Batting Average, .615 OBP, .636 Slugging, 0 Home Runs, 4 Games, 7 RBI’s, WAR = 0.1
Player B: .263 Batting Average, .404 OBP, .483 Slugging, 17 Home Runs, 140 Games, 47 RBI’s
WAR = 4.4
As you can clearly see Player A has the lead in many of the main categories, but because Player B played many more games and was more consistent they have a higher WAR. If you played half a season and you had very good statistics you could simulate the players statistics to the end of the season. Although the Player may have performed the rest of the year with the same statistics they could have played worse. Because of this possibility WAR is based on the amount of games you play. You have to play a good amount of games to have a very high WAR. Some of you may think accumulative statistics make no sense because a player should always be judged by their performance no matter how much they play. However let's say you only play 20 games out of the maximum amount of 162. In those 20 games you have very good stats. Since you only played 20 games no one knows if you will have a great season. Although you could play just as good for the rest of the season there is an equal chance you will play worse and your stats will decrease. Their will never be a perfect statistic, but WAR is the closest anyone has ever gotten.