Who’s your columnist #10

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17 Responses to “Who’s your columnist #10”

  1.   Dechele Says:

    Basketball as a reuniting force

    By: Scoop Jackson

    In this article Scoop does not give opinion about a game or his opinion on what a particular team should do. Instead he tells the story of a family reuniting afters years with no contact.

    One of Scoops friends was in search of her uncle, a basketball player from P.R known as Corky. She called Scoop in hopes of being able to reconnect with her uncle.

    I really enjoyed this write up for several different reasons. Normally Scoop is writing articles about players, coaches, games, and so on. This week he told a story that was very touching and inspiring. Although he writes story like this here and there, I found this one to be by far one of my favorites.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/080327

  2.   ssokler Says:

    Before the Final Four games on Saturday, Bob Ryan wrote a column “Carolina’s Hansbrough is not beyond compare.”

    Ryan’s point is that Tyler Hansbrough, the national player of the year, is actually very much like a Carolina player from 30 years ago, Mitch Kupchick, who also played very hard, and went on to play in the NBA for 10 years with the Bullets and Lakers.

    Ryan goes to talk with Dick Vitale, who immediately agrees with the comparison. Ryan also speak with former Carolina coach Dean Smith, who are sees the similarities.

    As usual, there is some humor throughout.

    The link is http://www.boston.com/sports/college/mens_basketball/articles/2008/04/05/Carolinas_Hansbrough_is_not_beyond_compare

  3.   Elliot Says:

    “Orioles Making a Constructive Effort” by Tom Boswell

    In this article Tom Boswell writes about the upcoming challenges that the Baltimore Orioles are going to face. The have traded key players, building has left the once beautiful stadium not so hot, and the Washington Nationals have created a bigger fan base than even before.
    However, with predictions of a bumpy season, the Orioles are looking at the season in a positive way. They are not getting down about what is being said and what has happened in the off-season.
    The Orioles are facing years to come that are going be focused on reconstructing the teams roster.
    Boswell gets great quotes from the players and coach about how they think the season will be. He is able to acquire quotes from veteran players who have been in tough team situations before as well as young ball players who are just learning the ins and outs of professional baseball.

    To read more go to:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/31/AR2008033102840.html

  4.   Brittany Says:

    Favre not considering a comeback

    By: Peter King

    In this article King addresses the rumor that Brett Favre is not serious about retiring and the his agent was talking with different teams in the league to see if they would be interested.
    Favre said that this couldn’t be any further from the truth. He said he’ll miss the game on Sundays but not all of the other work involved off the field.
    He is also surprised that he is still the topic of discussion even though he is retired. He is spending his time working around his 465-acre property in Hattiesburg, Miss.
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/04/04/favre.denial/index.html

  5.   Robert Says:

    “Swisher, an unlikely source in an unlikely spot, has the Chicago White Sox looking good It all starts at the top,” By Chris De Luca

    In his latest article, De Luca focuses on White Sox outfielder Nick Swisher and his move to the leadoff spot.

    Swisher, who before this season never hit leadoff at any level of baseball, has thrived in his new role so far. De Luca pointed out that Swisher posted a .481 on-base percentage during the first week of the season.

    The White Sox initially planned for Jerry Owens to bat first in the lineup. But an injury to Owens left the White Sox searching for a solution.

    They apparently found it in Swisher, who was acquired this year from the Oakland Athletics. Swisher distinguished himself in Oakland by getting on base, a characteristic that serves him well in his current role as leadoff hitter.

    Here is the link:
    http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/882784,CST-SPT-deluca08.article

  6.   Will Says:

    There’s No Team Like Kansas

    By Jason Whitlock

    In journalism, one of the first things they teach you is to always be objective and in this week’s column Whitlock is anything but, and it’ great.

    Of course, the column is about Kansas winning the national title in men’s basketball.

    As a reader, you can see what a fan Whitlock is of this team and how genuinely happy he is that they won. It makes for a really fun read. He quotes Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” what else is there to say.

    If you want to read it yourself, go here:

    http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jason_whitlock/story/565753.html

  7.   Eric Says:

    Mitch flashback: Chris Spielman is obsessed with perfection

    By: Mitch Albom

    In this article Albom is explaining the length and determination of the Lion’s Chris Spielman.

    In the opening paragraphs it elludes to perfectionism with the reiteration of the film constantly being clicked through over and over again.

    Albom tell this story very well with much detail. It become evident how much information he can draw from an interview after reading multiple articles.

    Albom seemingly has great relationships with all of this subjects that he interviews, or atleast can find a way to have them devuldge all the pertainent information.

    Towards the bottom of the article, Albom, he transitions using a quote by the Spielman very smoothly.
    “This place has good food,” he says, pulling open the door. “You ever been here?”-Spielman.
    This gives an example of how Albom gets his interviews. He seems to follow the person around and maybe invite to treat that person to some food.

    Then he records some very interesting quotes and vital quotes for making his article the best he can through the interview.

    To read the article go to:

    http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080407/SPORTS01/80404082/1082/COL01

  8.   DannyU Says:

    Favre’s Star Power
    By: MICHAEL WILBON

    This article is about the larger than life Brett Favre. Wilbon talks about his career and how he defined the position for over 17 years.

    Immediately Wilbon refrences George Clooney in his typical pop-culture referencing when talking aobut Favre’s grey hair.

    The article itself is typical Wilbon, well done. He speaks about the Green Bay community and how Favre was truly a part of it. Describing visual images of Favre in the community without a huge entourage following him around brings you into not only the story, but into Green Bay.

    Overall a great article worth a read for all Brett Favre fans.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030503182.html

  9.   ambar Says:

    “At Stanford, the Tough Get Going”
    By Sally Jenkins

    I really enjoyed this article by Jenkins. In this article she talks about Stanford’s Women basketball team who have advance to the final round of the women’s NCAA tournament against Connecticut.

    Her main argument is how Stanford is a team that has been misunderstood as a “the little nice Stanford team that everybody knows.” Jenkins believes that in reality, the team is tough. She described Candice Wiggins, Stanford’s star player, as a cutthroat scorer, the only women’s player to ever rack up more than 40points twice in the same tournament.”

    For all that are interested here is the URL:
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/07/AR2008040702893.html

  10.   matt Says:

    With Every Triumph, Ochoa is More of a Major Player

    Leonard Shapiro’s latest column is about women’s pro golfer Lorena Ochoa. She’s dominating the tour right now and I’m not sure that many people are noticing. His column was about how she’s taking over and it covered her most recent win as well as discusseed all of her triumphs of the year. It’s a good article for a sports fan even if they aren’t a women’s golfing fan because she just seems like a person who deserves success. I personally think it’s interesting because Ochoa is doing all of these great things and the average person wouldn’t recognoze her if she had her name on her shirt. It’s good for her to get some exposure and Shapiro does a great job at that.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com

  11.   Nadia Says:

    Mario’s shot another miracle moment for KU
    -Joe Posnanski

    My Hometown. Kansas. I almost went to Lawrence. All of my friends are graduating from KU this year. Posnanski is writing about the first time KU has won National Champion in 20 years. Wow 20 years that’s nearly as old as I am.

    Posnanski describes he players with character. The way they are dressed, their actions. Its almost like a fairytale, and well it is.

    “No, of course not. That’s the beauty of youth. You don’t think. You play.” He’s telling a story. A Fairytale.
    http://www.kansascity.com/180/story/565754-p2.html

  12.   Dylan Cavalheri-Gaiteri Says:

    Self should ignore the dollars and stay at Kansas

    By: Gene Wojciechowski

    In his latest article, Wojciechowski writes about how Bill Self is much better off staying at Kansas instead of going to Oklahoma State for potentially more money.

    Although OSU is Self’s alma matter, Wojciechowski states that alma matters are overrated and that Self will be much better off staying at Kansas, considering that he will have a much better chance winning more championships there.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id;=3335480&sportCat;=ncb

  13.   Josh Says:

    You can hold on to your hair. At least for now, but the NFL owners meeting in May might change the rule. Clayton talked about the additions and rule changes that have been passed so far by the NFL and its owners.

    For instance, coaches signals are now permitted in the helmets of defensive players. Another addition which will have a lot of impact in football games is the mandatory 15-yard penalty for a face mask violation. In other words say goodbye to the 5-yard penalty.

    But since I am supposed to angle this comment, I will focus on the hair rule that could be passed in May. If players are forced to have a limitation on how long hair can be, what’s next?

    Hair is a completely legal way to tackle or bring down a player. Everybody who plays the game knows that. Are coaches going to be forced to cut their own hair. Is defensive coordinator Bob Ryan from the Oakland Raiders going to have to cut his hair?

    Let us all hope not.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3323895

  14.   Phil Murphy Says:

    The Mariners should sign Barry Bonds, ASAP

    By: Jim Caple

    With his admittedly bleeding heart for the small-market Major League Baseball club, Caple makes a plea for Seattle to sign Barry Bonds.

    He notes how the Mariners worked so hard to bolster their pitching in the offseason, but did nothing to filling the gaping offensive void in their lineup.

    Caple uses a very colloquial tone to emphasize how Seattlites’ desire to have a winning team will ultimately outweigh their ethical standards for Mariners players.

    They’d rather be watching two sports teams compete in October than have field overtly pure athletes that “smile and say nice things and visit sick kids in hospitals and establish charitable foundations,” but lose.

    Bonds is likely forever linked to steroid use, but he hit more home runs last season (28) than any Mariner did last year, or may this year.

    Caple stays away from his usual sarcasm and focuses on his point. But he does not avoid asking rhetorical questions that opposers may raise. Without starting a new paragraph, though, he fluidity negates each hypothetical point in order to bolster his position.

    However, Caple, predictably, tosses in a sharp-witted antecdote at the end of the column. He leads into it by undermining the consequence if the Mariners pursue Bonds and he falters.

    The team, he says, could always pursue Roger Clemens.

    URL: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080407&sportCat;=mlb

  15.   Carlos Says:

    Playoff upset memory fuel’s Brunette’s fire

    By Woody Paige

    In this Article Paige makes a bridge between the Avalanche’s only playoff experience against the Wild, where they blew a three game lead in game seven. Andrew Brunette made the game-winning goal but was playing for the Wild then, and is playing for the Avalanche now.

    Page makes Brunette laugh in the second paragraph after making the ambiguous question: do you want to get revenge against yourself?
    Not having thought of it that way before, Brunette said that he’d love to do a role reversal.

    I really liked this read because Paige carries momentum and rivalry right from the beginning, and makes a great comparison on how tough the Western conferences are this year for the NHL and the NBA.

    http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_8835318

  16.   Mike Coppinger Says:

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080404

    Extending an olive branch to NBA fans

    By Bill Simmons

    After NBA fans complained that Simmons did an MLB-only mailbag last week, he appeased his readers by doing an NBA-only mailbag this week.

    The questions range from the terrible New York Knicks, the horrid Milwaukee Bucks front-offie, who Simmons jokingly said he runs to be the GM, and the wild, wild, western conference.

    Simmons talks about his theory on dumping your team, when their front-office becomes such a mockey that the loyal fans can’t stand it anymore.

    I am one of those fans, as I am an avid Knicks fan. I simply cannot stand another season of ineptitude. Isiah needs to go. Hopefully Walsh is the savior.

  17.   Latonya Says:

    “Zab Judah wants potential to ring true”

    By Tim Smith

    I didn’t like the lead in Smith’s opening paragraph, “Zab Judah is one of the most talented boxers to come out of New York City. He has also gotten less from that talent than any boxer to come out of New York City.”

    I felt like this didn’t tell me anything. I think Smith could have been more specific. In a sense, I think he’s assuming that all of the readers know exactly what he’s referring to.

    I do however like the “what if” line to the story. I could tell he was thinking outside of the box on this one.

    We often say in class that we need to write our stories like we are talking to a friend, and I think this is a good example of that.

    Here is the link: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/03/26/2008-03-26_zab_judah_wants_potential_to_ring_true.html

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