Feature Story Steph Curry

   
 The road to the NBA was not an easy one for the 6'3, 185 lb. Carolina native, who had to battle many significant difficulties along the way. It all started the second he took his first ever breath in the brave new world. To many, he was a prodigy in the making to star 3 point shooter Dell Curry, who happened to be the all time leading scorer for the Charlotte Bobcats, now the Charlotte Hornets. His silky smooth jump shot was his signature mark for his prestigious Hall of Fame career, and even had his number retired as a result of his success. Every time he stepped onto the court, he was sure to entertain. He was by definition of an old school player, who scored hard nose basketball each and every night, and spread the floor a few inches further with every single shot he made.
       Throughout his life, Steph Curry faced a difficulty that denied him the opportunity to prove himself after high school. As a sophomore at Charlotte Christian School, he stood at an extremely small height of 6'0. Another striking attribute was his emaciated body, made other colleges refrain from offering a scholarship. "He's too small," stated Roy Williams, head coach of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, "At the time, there were many things I did not like about Stephen's game. He lacked the size to cover bigger defenders, thought about his lack of body structure and how large the difficulty would be to absorb contact and finish baskets." Similar responses were mentioned about Steph, who was never given a chance to show out for many larger Division 1 schools. Although, the schools that were made available were smaller division 1 schools, who were willing to take a chance on the fiery high schooler from Charlotte. These teams included  Davidson, VCU and Winthrop. All schools expressed interest, but Curry ultimately decided to commit to Davidson, to start his own career, and prove those who doubted him, wrong.
    After verbally committing to Davidson, Steph found himself every single night, from morning to dusk, working on all aspects of his game to help him against better competition in the future. He developed a strong bond with his brother Seth, who continually worked with Steph to fix his jump shot so he wasn't shooting from the side of his body, which is what many young athletes start to do at a very young age. Lack of weight attributes to the bad mechanics, but to see a high school athlete still shooting from virtually his side hip was a major problem and would take a lot of time to perfect. "You could tell he was distraught," exclaimed Seth Curry, Steph's brother. "I thought he was gonna give up and realize that he was everything the college coaches said he was. But he was different. He used it as motivation."
      His first game with Davidson was a rough one. He only managed to score 2 points but turned the ball over 9 times in the first half. He was doubted again netherless, but in the next few games he got over the freshman struggle and picked up his scoring average and also reduced the number of turnovers he committed. The highlight of Curry's career however came in the NCAA tournament during his sophomore season. As a sophomore, he led the nation in scoring with 32.7 PPG and helped Davidson make it to the sweet 16. In his first game of  the tournament, Curry scored 40 points against Gonzaga, and hit 5/7 from behind the arc. In his next game, Curry came back with 30 points against Georgetown. "After 10 days, it went from Steph being Dell's son, to Dell being Steph's father." (Seth Curry). He later declared that he would  enter the NBA draft following his remarkable run. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 7th overall pick in the first round.
      Injuries got the best of Steph when he entered the league. Following his rookie season, Steph was out for 2 years after it was discovering a problem in his right ankle. Although he returned to form in a big way in 2012, and set the all time record for most 3 pointers made in a season, which ultimately led to the unanimous decision of being named to his first career all star game. He was poised for greatness, and made a case to be considered the best shooter in NBA History, behind the great Larry Bird.

NBA is Back

The NBA season begins with the San Antonio Spurs vs the Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs are coming off an unbelievable run against the Miami Heat last season, and won the NBA Championship. As the new season begins, many story lines arise around the league. Starting with the Spurs, their keys to success for another run is for the "Big 3" to remain healthy under coach Greg Popovich. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili are no doubt near the end of their careers, but still have some gas left in the tank. This is partially due to the system set in place in San Antonio, that other teams are starting to implement, which undoubtedly plays a role in the playoffs. By subbing out older players, especially if they are a franchise player, and make them sit for longer periods of time. The Lakers could use this method this season on Kobe Bryant, since they aren't in any position to contend, and hopefully try to preserve him for one more year.
     Another story line is the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Lebron leaving South Beach in the off season, the Cavs put themselves in a great position to contend for an NBA Championship. Not to mention an arsenal of weapons that were not available to him in Miami. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will also contribute mightily around Lebron, but both are injury prone and could go down at any time. Lebron also has 2 teammates that he played with once before. James Jones and Mike Miller signed 1 year contracts and provide outside range, that could no doubt determine games. New coach David Blatt, former overseas coach for Maccabi Tel Aviv, will have a tough season building a connection with Lebron James, which could determine his future in the NBA. 
       The Cavs are not the only team to make major offseason acquisitions. The Chicago Bulls have developed into one of the most intriguing up and coming teams in the NBA. With the addition of Pau Gasol, the culture of the Chicago Bulls play-style will most likely change from a defensive team to one of the most lethal offenses in the league. The triangle offense could be effective with 2 of the best big men in the league, and the shooting of Doug McDermott could easily pull defenders away from the paint. The Bulls could easily make a major post season playoff run, but they can only do this if the team stays healthy and develops strong chemistry. Each player must respect the roles on the court and if all players understand, than the Bulls can win games against tougher opponents.

Recent Seattle Shooting Raises Major Questions

After reading this article, the case is solidified that gun violence still remains a major problem in the United States. It is not acts of terrorism, not acts of hate, just average every day Americans suffering from mental illnesses. Some are born with it, some get it due to post dramatic stress, or other traumatic events that have impacted their lives negatively. But in the end, they are able to kill because they are given a weapon of mass destruction. Just a few days ago, a high schooler, ended his life and 2 others, after he decided to open fire in the middle of a cafeteria full of hundreds of people. Many questions arise following the event, although one that significantly stands out to me is how was he able to go to school with a gun? Typically, guns are easily misused, but since the gun was owned by the parents, how did they not know their gun was missing, before their child left for school?  Guns alone have contributed to over 30,000 deaths per year. Whats even more shocking that this number has increased since just a decade ago, and is one of the leading causes of death in humans.   
     One ongoing problem that presides with owning guns are the increase of shootings in colleges and other public schools. Each time, America seems to be prepared, although school shootings are happening more frequently. The preparation that takes place to prevent school shootings still have little or no effect, and doesn't complete stop shootings from happening. One factor that leads to school shootings could be linked to physiological stress and bullying that takes place within school boundaries or on social media. Before, this was not a problem, because people didn't have to rely on social media to perform daily tasks, when back then people mostly relied on work to get them through the day.  
       The rise of shootings lately makes me question the second amendment. Although it is lawfully stated, "The right to bear arms," I was under the impression that guns can only be used for protection, not for the un-civil slaughtering of normal Americans. Many people now a days bend that right, but it definitely should be an amendment that should be revised by the government.

How Facebook Revolutionizes the Future of Writing

With the world now in a technology age, many experts agree that the age of journalism will never be the same because of the way many people interact with the internet compared to regular books. The only problem is, what will happen to those who provide the manual labor that goes in to create news stories that fulfills customers needs and demands. The idea created by the author is computers will soon be programmed to have a mind of its owned. Although, change is likely, but it would be too soon to get rid of people capable of creating thoughtful news stories. By creating advanced computers, humans would lose the ability to contribute to the work force. In other words, something as little as newspapers online, is hurting the economy because it is eliminating job opportunities for many companies that create newspapers by just using a simple printing press.
      Although an argument can be made that Facebook and other online social media outlets can make a positive impact. By generating news through numerous "feeds," social media makes the connection between users that helps understand news a little bit better. A comment section provides insight, as well as views on both sides of a topic. That is one difference that sets social media apart from newspapers. With newspapers, you are forced to read one editor or author's point of view, without being able to take away from the article. Plus social media doesn't cost any money. As a reader, you can get the same amount of information on social media compared to newspapers that cost money.

Charles Barkley Sounds Off On Russell Wilson

Following the Seattle Seahawks defeat over the Carolina Panthers, Charles Barkley weighed in on the turmoil in Seattle. One year off of a super bowl win, Seattle has had numerous trust issues that has led to the trade of Percy Harvin last week to the New York Jets, and the rumors within the locker room indicate a possible trade of Marshawn Lynch, prove that Seattle has no confidence in their struggling offense. On top of this, many are now considering Russell Wilson a mediocre quarterback because of his race and ethnicity.
      It was rumored that Russell Wilson was not favored enough in the locker room because he is not black enough. Although many teammates forget that he did lead them to a super bowl victory over the Broncos last season. "There are a lot of black people who are unintelligent, who don't have success," Barkley said. "It's best to knock a successful black person down 'cause they're intelligent, they speak well, they do well in school, and they're successful. It's crabs in a barrel. ... We're the only ethnic group that says, 'hey, if you go to jail, it gives you street cred.' " Barkley's statement is very true considering that society has evolved in a complete 180 degrees from where athletics first started. The prejudice regarding race plays a major role in athletes to the point where fans base one athletes career on race, and not on athletic skill. 
     The point is, Russell Wilson's teammates need to understand his potential on the field and not what he does off of it. Russell Wilson puts himself on the line many times, and even when he gets hurt, especially last season, toughens up, and continue to play the game. It's not because he is too black or too white. He shows heart on and off the field every single day, and just because the season isn't going well right now doesn't mean you put down your teammates.    

Steelers Defeat Colts Behind Roethlisberger's Historic Performance

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon, with a score of 51-34. The game was historic in many ways, and both teams seemed to be firing on all cylinders, every quarter of the game. Offense played a major role in the game as both teams had combined over 1000 yards of total offense. In perspective, the lack of defense allowed the large number of yardage, although, key injuries on both sides allowed many offensive production throughout the game. For the Colts the lose of Arthur Jones at defensive tackle prevented the Colts from blitzing when they wanted to, and put more than enough strain on the Colts' defensive backs. Going into the game, the Colts were ranked 15th in the league, and gave up only 352.2 total yards per game.

The Steelers gained control and never looked back the whole game. Big Ben connected with multiple targets in Heath Miller, Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton, and Antonio Brown. He threw 2 TD's to Martavis Bryant, who started his first NFL game last week. He now provides the offense with another liable target to an already resurgent and deadly one. The receiving core has lit a flame under the Steelers, who are now 5-3, and atop of a very difficult AFC race. As for Big Ben, his 522 yards is tied for 5th all time for most passing yards in a single game, and fell short of getting the record by 35 yards. His 6 passing TD's is another feat. He is now the only QB in Steelers history to throw 5 or more touchdowns in a single game.

UNC Academics Scandal

Earlier this week, it was discovered that the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill committed a severe offense after lying about academics. Apparently, this scandal has been going on for 18 years, and the University covered it up to make money off of substantial athletic events that occurred. The investigation was started after a report was released by educators who discovered fake paper grades and higher grades to keep student athletes eligible for their respective sports. Implications from the investigation resulted in firings of 4 employees and 5 others were disciplined for their roles.
        As a result of the academic fraud, UNC's reputation goes down the drain. They are no longer the ideal place to play sports and no longer have the appeal over other schools. The sports that could be most affected by the UNC scandal will most likely be Football, Men's Baseball and Men's Basketball programs because it was discovered that most players enrolled in fake "paper classes" belonged to these programs. In order to win championships, UNC declared athletes struggling in school eligible, so their highly rated sports programs can remain successful. This was a poor decision on UNC's part, because one possible penalty that could be handed down from the NCAA could be less scholarships, hefty fines, and playoff ineligibility. Not only this, but any previous NCAA championship won by the school in the past 18 years could be taken away also. This penalty is strictly directed towards Men's basketball, who has won 3 NCAA Championships in 1993, 2005, and 2009. 
        The report has also created much hypocrisy in the scandal, and many coaches find themselves blaming that the teachers of the student athletes were being "too hard." The paper classes were created by assistant Debbie Crowder, of the African American study program, out of pity for students who were not the most "brightest students." Classes were set up as GPA boosters, but were not classes recognized by the NCAA. In other words, North Carolina cheated the Academics aspect of college, and decided to cover it up to help storied programs remain successful.
        Another problem UNC will encounter after the initial investigation is completed is getting higher ranked athletes to commit to their school. They will lose the appeal as a result of the investigation and a reduced number of scholarships means less money that can be given to athletes to go to school. UNC will also lose out on current players, who may decide to leave the college because they see no need to stay. This scandal may be the worst academic scandal ever, and a strict penalty is ensured by the NCAA, to prevent other schools from committing the same offense. No doubt the NCAA is sending a message to other colleges that cheating academics will no be tolerated and not treated lightly.

World Series

The 110th MLB Fall Classic begins as two foes look to chase history by winning the coveted World Series trophy. For the Giants, they are seeking to become the 1st team to win 3 World Series in 5 years. This would be the most successful run by any team in MLB history. Not only is winning the series important for San Francisco, but also for manager Bruce Bochy. Another World Series trophy would secure his spot in the Major Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. For the Royals, they are looking to win their first World Series trophy in over 27 years, which is one of the longest droughts by any team in Major League Baseball.

KEYS TO THE SERIES

The Giants face the inevitable task of playing against a team filled with speed. The key for the Giants is controlling the base paths by allowing little base runners to advance. The emergence of Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas has allowed Kansas City to test the opposition’s mentality on the mound, and ensures that the pitcher must be perfect to get through each inning. Moustakas is batting .241 with 4 homeruns and 5 RBIs this postseason. His placement in the lineup is very pivotal to the Royals success, and provides another quality left handed batter in the lineup. Hosmer has 2 home runs and 8 RBIs this postseason. Both provide a 1-2 punch, and are always dangerous to the opposition. Another key for the Giants is winning on the road. The Royals have home field advantage, and are forced to play big on the road. True teams win big games on the road, not just at home.

The Royals have to face the Buster Posey and the big bad Giants. Their key is making Buster Posey chase bad pitches, and get him uncomfortable at the plate. He is the gateway to the heart of the Giants order, and have the ability to make you pay if you leave guys on base. Royals need to have quality innings from their starters so they can get to their dominate bull pen and the three headed monster, aka Greg Holland. Sticking to Royals baseball will win the series and not by playing with the crowd. The fans are inevitably the Achilles heel to most home teams, and if the Royals lose, it will be a major disappointment to an already struggling franchise.

Predictions

Winner- Kansas City Royals in 6 games

MVP- Eric Hosmer with 2 homeruns in the World Series

Hard To Sleep

Many people wonder, can too little sleep play a role in the development in younger children? Of course, the hours of sleep in many teenagers have gone down primarily in teenagers, although, this is partially due to technology. Technology plays a role because often social media attracts the attention of many kids, and have the ability to manipulate their minds. In a new age of technology more and more kids are becoming too dependent on social media, that they lack in other areas and missing out on numerous activities.
      With this being said, sleep remains a problem in children and young adults around the country. Lack of sleep affects health and academic potential as well. According to a survey taken by the National Sleep Foundation in 2006, states that less than 20 percent of adolescents get the optimum 8 hours of sleep on school nights. But with phones and other devices playing a significant role in this age of society, the percent of those who gets sleep is significantly less.
       After reading this article, I am not surprised by the survey results. Society has let technology take over their lives and ruin the development needed for a successful life. I feel that sleep will lead to higher grades in school because sleep helps rest neurons in the brain. Neurons stimulates the senses and help the body develop. One change that could lead to more sleep is possibility extending the school day. Although school would get out at a later time, a longer morning would allow students to get their full rest and do better in everyday life.
“Sleep is not optional. It’s a health imperative, like eating, breathing and physical activity,” (Dr. Judith A. Owens 1). Her statement is very true because lack of  sleep could ruin someone's life. Lack of sleep can impair judgement, which could lead to uncontrollable outbursts and actions, mood swings and irrational decisions. 
     Some changes that are suggested to increase sleep was a technology curfew. Although reducing usage is a bit extreme in some cases, but will definitely show improvements.

Oscar Pistorius Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

This morning in a South African courtroom, Oscar Pistorius was found guilty by the judge for killing his girlfriend last year on Valentine's day. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison, but may only have to serve 10 months in federal prison and serve the rest of the sentence on house arrest. He may also have to serve community sentence as well.
Based on the jurisdiction given down, I believe that Pistorius got off too easy for his crime. He was basically charge for a misdemeanor, although in reality he committed murder. The charge that he was given for his crime was copable homicide, which is equivalent to manslaughter in the United States. I feel like this punishment didn't give this case any justice because while the case was going on, Pistorious had the ability to still live in a luxurious lifestyle, instead of rotting in a prison cell. His crime was intentional, and I feel that the punishment should be more extensive for covering it up. Like Howard Baker once said, "It is almost always the cover-up rather than the event that causes trouble."
Pistorious presented himself as a miracle in the 2012Olympics, for winning several medals for his leg blades. He inspired others to live the dream, and to strive hard to make your dreams come true. Although his off the track actions, has ultimately ruined his career forever. His career started when he was very little. He was born without shin bones, which ultimately helped his success in the paraolympics as well as the regular olympics. He was called the blade runner because of his carbon fiber blades that propelled him down the track and across the finish line. With success brought Pistorious fame, and a time he owned several ferraris, a stable of thoroughbred horses, two African white tigers, and exuberant amounts of money, that eventually was taken away from him after one stupid mistake. 

Peyton Manning Breaks TD Record

This week, Peyton Manning surpassed Brett Favre career touchdown mark with his 509th. The legendary touchdown went to Demaryius Thomas in the first half of the game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos were dominate each game and never looked back once they scored in the first quarter on a 3 yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders. 
      With the record breaking touchdown pass, Manning is now 135 touchdown passes ahead of the next active quarterback in Drew Brees. It has now been 3 years since Manning came off a devasting neck surgery, and many people thought his career was over. He was cut by the Colts, but was signed by the Broncos as a second chance. He had plenty of options that wanted his service, but felt he had to revive Denver's organization and possibly bring home a trophy. 
      Manning's touchdown mark is simply historic because he is now #1 on the all time list in most touchdowns in a career. He is on a list of hall of famers, and soon to be hall of famers, and this was one record that Manning wanted to get under his belt. 
     "I certainly think about how grateful I am for all the teammates and coaches that I've played with and played for throughout my career, not only here in Denver -- in Indianapolis and all the people who have helped me along the way.'' In his career, Peyton Manning has been known for his numerous audibles before the play, and his famous "Omaha" that draws defenders over the line. He has always been around an arsenal of wide receivers and tight ends, who have benefited behind a leader. When he was with the Colts, Manning created a bond with wide receiver Marvin Harrison, connecting with 112 career touchdowns. He also helped Reggie Wayne catch 67 career touchdown passes, and Dallas Clark with 44. When he joined the Broncos, in just 3 short years, he established a large target with Demaryious Thomas and connected with 29 touchdown passes. 

Winston Under Fire

This week, the NCAA announced that they will look into the accusation made against quarter back Jameis Winston relating to illegal profit off of autographs. Winston is accused of the same crime as Todd Gurley. Gurley profited after selling autographed memorabilia earlier this week and was suspended indefinitely. The similar fate arises for Winston, although this penalty could be significantly worse. In just 7 weeks into the 2014 college football season, Winston had a target on his back since he wont the Heisman trophy last season. The first case Winston was investigated for was his misconduct in a grocery store. He stole several crab legs without paying and this led to numerous questions regarding his maturity. It seems to be a growing theme the past two years. Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston both found themselves in trouble with the law. 2 straight Heisman trophy winners.

Jameis Winston ran into police a couple more times after the crab leg incident. A few weeks after, Winston was being interrogated for a possible sexual abuse case that dated back last season. It turned out that insufficient evidence protected Winston from a severe suspension. However, it bent his reputation. Another case occurred in the classroom where Winston screamed sexual explicit expletives that led to a full game suspension against Clemson in early September. The list goes on and on for Winston, who’s rap sheet increased after winning the most coveted Heisman trophy.

As Florida St. prepares for a matchup against #5 Notre Dame this week, many seminoles fans are expecting another suspension to be handed down from the NCAA. Through just a handful of games played this season, Winston has a passer rating of 159.5 and has thrown for 1605 yards, 11 passing touchdowns and 5 picks. Not to mention a 70% completion rate. Although Winston’s numbers are down, his play has him on the outside looking in on the Heisman watch thus far. For Florida  St., losing Winston would be a huge blow to the Seminoles offense that mostly relies on Winston at the helm. A lack of leadership hasn’t deterred Florida St.’s record as of yet, as they are riding a six game winning streak and remain 6-0.

Sayreville Hazing Scandal http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2014/10/sayreville_hazing_scandal_time_passes_but_wounds_for_bullying_victims_remain_politi.html

Domestic abuse has been an issue for the America in recent weeks, and is now a time to reflect on the past for many people in Sayreville. The school is under fire for covering up their football program from accusations and claims that older students harmed younger students in the locker room after practice. What bothers me is the fact that the coach wasn't doing his job. He was so dis-coherent to the rumors that was going on throughout the school about the bullying that was taking place, and was the last person who seemingly found out what was going on.  It is believed by many experts that the bullying has went on for 10 days in September, without getting caught by a coach or higher official.
     Now athletes involved in the hazing are now punished for their mistakes. They deny wrong doing and feel like based on personal experience, that it was "ok to bully other students because they went through it when they were a freshman." In a way, Sayreville reached out to many readers who read the NJ.com article. It isn't right to bully younger players just because they are defenseless and alone. Seniors and Juniors feel as though bully is acceptable in society and on the field, even though the main idea taught in schools is not to bully and to accept others. Apparently, Sayreville didn't get the message.
     According to NJ.com, about 1.5 million high school students are still being hazed each year. There is a point to be made about that the consequences are higher for many kids that bully because of the widespread awareness that bullying brought around the country. The chilling thing to know is in the 50's and 60's punishments associated with hazing was much worse than it is today. Many factors played in to bullying with the main thing back then was racial divide which led to unreasonable punishments.

Mississippi St. and Auburn

Not only are Mississippi St. and Auburn rivals, but  they both had a large amount of success this season. Going in week 7 of the 2014 NCAA football season, both teams are 5-0. This is the best start ever for Mississippi St. and are currently 3rd in the AP standings. Auburn is currently ranked 2nd, after a loss for Alabama and 4 other teams in the top 7 AP ranks, allowed the Tigers to move up.

Mississippi St.’s success can be attributed to their new offensive scheme established by head coach Dan Mullen. Their QB has emerged as a star this season, in an offense geared towards the spread. Their offensive scheme consists of a double RB set, and at times a three wide that extends to the side lines. The theory is to create openings so Zak Prescott can make his own decisions, as well as utilized strengths within the offense. He is comparable to Peyton Manning because he has the ability to make the right throws in the pocket and has made very few mistakes this season.

As for Auburn, they are coming off an Iron Bowl win after defeating Alabama in comeback fashion. The Tigers defied the inevitable by returning a field kick attempt the length of the field. One play determined the fate for both teams, but for Auburn it was a victory, and for Alabama it was a trip to the showers.

Auburn high flying offense is tough against Mississppi St.’s defense because they utilize the height advantage of their wide receivers against the corners. Their agility allows them to burst through the seams and their height allows them to catch the higher thrown balls in the air. But what really makes a name for the Auburn Tigers is their defense. They have only allowed an average of 14.4 points per game compared to a Mississippi defense that have allowed much more.

Some keys to the game are the Auburn Defense against the run, Mississippi St. holding onto leads, and for both teams, the amount of total turnovers. Turnovers are the deciding factors in games, and is very well the topic of concern for both teams going into this game. In this early season, Auburn has been impressive against the run, but a double duo of runners could be a problem to the Tigers.

To start the game, Dak Prescott completed a 34 yard bomb to De’Runnya Wilson for a TD, which gave Miss. St. an early 7-0 lead. The next scoring drive was led by the Bulldogs defense who recovered a fumble for  a touchdown making the score 14-0. The next drive led to yet another Bulldogs score with Prescott being a recipient this time. He over powered the defensive line of the Tigers, and powered in for the score. 21-0 Bulldogs over the Tigers. Tigers get on the board after a 21 yd field goal for 3 points. Another field goal and touchdown by Auburn made the score 21-13. With the Tigers with momentum with 5:00 left until halftime, Prescott was able to capitalize on his second rushing touchdown today, was able to extend the lead to 28-13, going into the half. Out of the half, the Tigers were able to score a TD on a pass by Nick Marshall, and pull Auburn within 8 points of Mississippi St. Miss. St. countered with another score, with a FG. 31-20 Mississippi St. with a large amount of time left in the game. One final touchdown sealed the deal in Davis Wade Stadium and is another statement victory for Mississippi St. who now improves their record to 6-0. This win was very pivotal to their season, and now has the chance of becoming undefeated, and remains in contention of a playoff birth in the new playoff system created this season.

Major Trouble For Heisman Hopeful Todd Gurley

Georgia this week has suspended Todd Gurley for an indefinite amount of time after he was caught for illegally selling merchandise. He had a dealer that distributed apparel and autograph memorabilia for personal profit. The investigation dates back to last spring, after he signed 80 pieces of memorbilia for a total of $400.  He now faces criminal charges and loses his early Heisman vote as well. Losing Gurley is a huge blow to the Georgia offense, who is averaging just 170.2 yards per game through the air. Gurley was a huge force in the running game, which is 13th in the FBS.

Gurley was a large contributer in the offense with 772 yards and 8 TDs through 6 games. He was the type of physical back needed to get extra yardage, with a mix of speed and agility to get down the field.Georgia now has to rely on Nick Chubb and Sony Michael to pick up the bulk of the work with the absence of Gurley. In order for Georgia to be a contender, they must focus on the defense to step up. Each game, the points against Georgia builds up and eventually become too much to overcome.

This was supposed to be Gurley’s final year before entering the NFL Draft. He is 3rd in school history in rushing yards and Rushing TD’s and seventh in total carries. He was projected to go Mid First round in the 2015 NFL draft, and could’ve been a suitable fit for many teams in need of a strong running back. Now, one mistake cost him his chance of going pro.

“He’s been my Heisman choice since the season started,” Georgia cornerback Damian Swann said after the Tennessee game. “I’m pretty sure he’s about to put one heck of a campaign together.”

This is not the first time this type of allegations was focused on Georgia. WR AJ Green, now a star WR for the Cincinnati Bengals, was suspended for 4 games after admitting to selling his Independence Bowl Jersey in 2010. The question now focuses on the NCAA. The possibility arises of a change in policy from the NCAA regarded the sale of memorabilia for profit. Many people argue that college athletes deserve to get paid like the pros, even though receiving a scholarship is very similar to an average paycheck. The only difference is scholarships can’t be turned into personal profit, just the ability to get an education for free or very little. If athletes got paid, all NCAA policies on illegal selling of equipment for profit can be erased, because players wouldn’t have to go to desperate measures to make ends meet. For many players, college is their final chance of finding work, and many struggle to find jobs after college.

The Not So Super Dodgers Fall Behind Kershaw's Strong Pitching Performance http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/boxscore/MLB_20141007_LAD@STL

The Los Angeles Dodgers season came to an end Tuesday night after losing Game 4 of the NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2. Los Angeles tried to ride on momentum, and bank off a strong performance but Clayton Kershaw, but St. Louis proved to be too much for the Dodgers. The game starting even for both teams, as no offense occurred the first 6 innings. It was a pitching battle, and Kershaw was able to strike out 8 batters in that stretch. Carl Crawford led off the scoring with a 2 run shot to deep left field, which held off pressure from Kershaw’s shoulders. He was virtually un-hittable, that is until the 7th inning. The heart of the Cardinals lineup was Kershaw’s Achilles heel last time he pitched, (Game 1), and this game seemed to repeat Kershaw’s previous start. Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta reached on singles, before Matt Adams connected with a home run of his own. His home run was a punch in the gut for the Dodgers, which has seen many disappointing losses over the last few years. They had a CY Young pitcher in Clayton Kershaw but consequently let the game go through their fingertips. The loss now opens the door for the San Francisco Giants, their biggest rival, the chance to win 3 World Series Championships in the past 5 years. Dodgers had a chance to make a remarkable run, but too many distractions left them short of contention. With the season coming to an end, Yasiel Puig has one last thing to say,”I want to thank the fans for coming out and supporting the Dodgers.”

The Possibility of Colleges Migrating to A "Division IV" http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11008001/sec-ponders-potential-move-division-iv-ncaa-provide-autonomy

For many years, the NCAA and leagues within the NCAA debated whether or not to allow power conferences to break away from Division 1 to form a Division 4 conference. The importance of a Division 4 is to allow teams to better care for a player, by being allowed to use attendance revenue to treat athletes health and well being.  The only way the SEC would consider to move, is if the NCAA won’t allow the power conferences to follow their own “bylaws.” This division change would apply to all sports, not just football. The protection of the student athletes should be the first priority by universities, but they can’t be protected if money is not available to smaller schools.

The SEC is the first division to consider the possibility of switching divisions because TV and attendance sales would be used to compensate athletes if they were to get injured in a game or practice.

“It’s not something we want to do,” Slive said on the final day of the SEC meetings. “We want to the ability to have autonomy in areas that has a nexus to the well-being of student athletes. I am somewhat optimistic it will pass, but if it doesn’t, our league would certainly want to move to a Division IV. My colleagues, I can’t speak for anybody else, but I’d be surprised if they didn’t feel the same way.” (Slive 1)

Many officials have stated, that a possible move wouldn’t change championship formats, although, some adjustments must take place to make sure playoff systems aren’t lob sided. Take a minute and look at the BCS system that was recently changed in NCAA football. Teams switched divisions, teams got better, and many teams that didn’t deserve opportunities to get into a BCS Bowl game got in.  Teams with over .500 records got left out of the conversation and under .500 teams made it in. Although this scenario doesn’t quite compare to Division IV, but if a change would occur, there should be an equal balance of teams that switch so each team has an equal chance of getting into the playoffs.

Throw Out the College Application System http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/opinion/sunday/throw-out-the-college-application-system.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A17%22%7D

I agree the college application system IS BROKE. Students should be able to perform daily tasks without worry about 1 test grade hanging over their head. Now a days, kids are pressured to do well in school to get into a good school, but once they get in chances are they flunk out because they didn't have the ability to know what it's like to be accepted. What I mean by this is kids who stress about their grades all the time are missing out on opportunities that end up helping your life in the future. All though many don't appreciate after school activities, clubs or sports allow you to be yourself and follow your own path that will help you get through college. It allows you to connect with your personal interests as well as meet new people you can connect with. Through sports, playing in games should be the greatest moment of your life. All those years of hard work should be left out on the field, and although grades are needed for college, should be the true focus in your young life. 

       Grades are meant to rate you on your performance. The only problem is, one bad test score can ruin your chances of getting into an Ivy league, or even a large Private school with limited admission. Colleges today fail to look at overall success in the outside world as well as athletic potential and other areas of life that can't be measured by the SAT scores. I agree with the author and believe that student applications to assessment centers could help those struggling in school, but express strength in other areas. Another problem about standardized tests is the array of questions that are on the test. The rigorous brain training just to prepare for the test is simply to much and shouldn't just be based on academics. Its an unfair advantage to many individuals, and colleges should consider other options.     

Marriage Equality http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/opinion/one-step-closer-to-marriage-equality.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0

Legitimate marriage has finally been made legal in 5 states since last June, but the supreme court made the right decision by refusing to reject same sex marriage. After the decision was handed down, couples began to take advantage of the opportunity and began to wed. I feel like this was a bold move by the U.S. Supreme Court because they could have easily accepted the proposal of banning same sex marriage but instead they rejected it and allow couples to legally get married. This was the most humane decision possible because it's now a breakthrough in United States history. After the ruling, District of Colombia and 30 other states could allow same sex marriage. These states hold about 60 percent of all Americans. What I don't understand is the scheme behind the whole ruling by the Supreme Court, and why it took over 2 years for this decision to occur. It's evident that our country each and every day is starting to tolerate gay marriage, and its just another problem the government has to get over. We were put on this earth to be happy, and should not be limited to who we should be allowed to marry.
Of course, the United States evolved as a country in the past decade. In 2004, over a dozen states banned the idea of same sex marriage, and didn't even publicly recognize same sex couples. They weren't considered registered as a couple but now after large protests and the change of heart by the United States, now allows some couples to get married in the United States. Many Americans now support the right for same-sex marriage, which is now at 80 percent compared to just 25 percent in 1996.

Confederate Flag Bryn Mawr https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/10/06/confederate-flag-causes-controversy-bryn-mawr

The debate beyond the confederate flag goes way beyond respect. It was guided to send a message to the leaders at the all-girl college, but also show the big picture about the problems that are currently going on around the U.S. I feel like this was an irrational way to get the point across because they relied on action instead of thinking about ways to solve the problem. Many minorities felt like their voices weren't being heard, which is true considering that women's rights were not valued for a lot of U.S. history over time. Male dominance ruled society and still does today, so to be considered equal is a major accomplishment.
At Bryn Mawr, minorities feel like they don't have an equal say to the council at the college, so they decided to protest and voice their oppinion. The only problem, as stated before, was the hanging of the flag with neon tape to represent the Mason-Dixon line. Not only this, but after the flag was taken down many were angered about the issues of race that continued to appear throughout the campus. Mary Osirim sent an email,  "Asking faculty members to be patient with students who might be missing class or turning in assignments late due to the “great deal of stress” caused by the flag and related issues of race on campus."  According to reports, most confederate flag debates show up in the Southern region of the United States, but in a Philadelphia all girl college, the culture of race did not start in this area. Racial tensions started in the south, although over time race progressed upward towards the northern region. Although some cases relate to race, it is mostly the rights of women that are often questioned through protest and disputes.

Tom Brady and The End of An Era

The 2014 NFL season is one to forget for Tom Brady. As the young season looms on, Brady sees his offensive rankings hit rock bottom in practically every statistical category. Through 4 games, Brady has only completed 81 passes on 137 pass attempts, which is equivalent to 59.1 completion percentage. There is no doubt that Brady is sputtering into a dark hole, but the Patriots lack of offensive support is the biggest reason why he is struggling. His primary target, Rob Gronkowski, is coming off a season where he had a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, and his durability over the past few seasons is a cause for concern. Since his rookie year, Gronkowski was sidelined for significant time, and ruined the Patriots passing scheme that involves 2 TE’s. Without Gronkowski, Brady had to rely on inexperienced receivers who have recorded under 250 catches in their careers. Even with the weak receiving core and the Wes Welker-less offense, Brady was still able to lead the Patriots to AFC Championship game, before losing to the Denver Broncos.

Now the early question for the 2014 season is will the Pats continue their success on  continue to lean on the future Hall of Famer’s shoulder. He is now 1 year older and plague with fatique of a 14 year career. No experience in the receiving core, and an offensive line that is getting weaker by the minute. No Logan Mankins means no weak-side protection for Brady and the number of sacks will increase as well because of the lack of protection.

Not only is Brady regarded as one of the best QB’s to ever play the game, but he is also leaving behind his partner in crime for 14 remarkable years. Together, Brady and head coach Bill Bilicheck have won 3 super bowls, and Brady currently holds the record for most playoff wins by a quarterback with 18. The dominance by the Patriots lasted for over a decade, which was mostly contributed to the historic performances by Tom Brady.