Who’s your columnist #9

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You must include the URL of the column so that your classmates can read the column, too. Let me know if you have any questions.



13 Responses to “Who’s your columnist #9”

  1.   bmurphy6 Says:

    Brendan Murphy
    Communication 371-001
    Sports Reporting/Klein
    Who is your columnist #9?

    In this article Michael Wilbon discusses former Wizard’s guard, Roger Mason Jr. Mason is currently with the San Antonio Spurs making a name for himself around the NBA as a big timer shooter. The article provides a behind the scenes look at Mason’s hard work that is paying dividends in his recent success. Mason has hit several game-winning shots, including last-second conversions against the Lakers and Celtics. I took interest in the story because I was upset the Wizards traded him to the Spurs this past season. However, Wilbon demonstrates an in depth knowledge of Mason’s path to the NBA. I found the article to be very informative and enjoyed reading it.

    Below is the link:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/21/AR2009022101820.html

  2.   Sara Ronken Says:

    In his most recent column, Harper writes what appears to almost be a feature story on Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia. He discusses Sabathia’s baseball history and the challenges he is currently facing. He quotes teammates who clearly admire the pitcher. Harper is obviously a fan of Sabathia as well, calling him endearing and a “team guy.” Overall, this week’s column is much more lighthearted than the columns from the last few weeks, most likely due to subject matter. Harper’s writing is informative, insightful and mildly humorous, and is very enjoyable to read.

    Harper’s most recent column can be found at:
    http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/03/11/2009-03-11_for_yankees_cc_sabathias_workload_over_l.html?page=0

  3.   Andrew Says:

    Cotsonika’s article for the week…

    http://www.freep.com/article/20090323/SPORTS01/90322043/1049/Troy+Aikman++Matthew+Stafford+is++genuinely+excited++about+possibly+coming+to+Detroit

    In this article, Cotsonika lets the quotes do all the work for him. Over half of the article are direct quotes from Troy Aikman.

    Cotsonika makes Aikman’s quotes tie in to the Lion’s recent history with Joey Harrington. Cotsonika asks the reader if they think that if the Lions draft Matthew Stafford, will he be the next Joey Harrington or the next Troy Aikman.

  4.   Ben Libby Says:

    Ben Libby
    Comm 371-001
    Sports Reporting

    Columnist #9?

    In Bob Ryan’s most recent article, he touches upon Pitt’s run to Boston for the East Region’s Sweet 16. He notes how he thinks the Pitt Panthers are a very lucky team to be moving on.

    “Pitt coulda – no shoulda – lost to East Tennessee State Friday. And Pitt woulda lost to Oklahoma State yesterday if the Panthers’ stars had not asserted themselves at the right time.”

    They very well could’ve, but they didn’t.

    Ryan continues on to speak of the play of Pitt’s three stars (Blair, Fields, and Young), and how without them they wouldn’t be heading on to Boston.

    While everyone across the country speaks about how ugly Pitt’s wins have been as of late, Ryan puts things in his own perspective.

    “Levance Fields has read the Jim Valvano NCAA manual, and he’s correct. Pitt has survived. Pitt has advanced.”

  5.   Ben Libby Says:

    Link to Bob Ryan’s recent column on Pitt:

    http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/mens_basketball/articles/2009/03/23/degree_of_difficulty/?page=2

  6.   Mike Foss Says:

    RIck Reilly finally comes out of his formulaic-tearjerker-story mode this week and gives us an op-ed piece with a bold statement and thesis. Don’t get me wrong, I think Rick Reilly is a talent. But after literally two months of reading character pieces that are supposed to tug at my heart strings my heart and it’s strings can’t take it anymore.
    So enjoy reading why Reilly thinks Tiger Woods will end up not becoming the greatest golfer ever.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3993612

  7.   Evan Says:

    Bill Plaschke adds a video of himself postgame in Philly following the UCLA Bruins’ gut-wrenching loss to Villanova 69-89.
    In the video and subsequent article, Plaschke rehashes, in every depressing tidbit, exactly how TERRIBLE a loss this is for UCLA.

    Reasons include:
    1. The 20-point loss in the worst of coach Ben Howland’s era (2003-).
    2. The Bruins has previously appeared in three CONSECUTIVE Final Fours.
    ….
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-plaschke-ucla-basketball-2009mar22,0,7905659.column?page=1

    (Everyone should be pleased to knowt that Bill is now on Twitter)

  8.   Grant Paulsen Says:

    I found out today why I picked Tom Verducci. I think he became my columnist because I agree with almost everything he says.

    Verducci wrote about why he thinks Curt Schilling is a Hall of Famer. He pointed out that while his 216-wins are pedestrian, he has the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.38)of any pitcher who has started at least 200-games. Verducci’s point is that Schilling’s ability to mix power with control is what makes him special.

    Schilling has also been brilliant in the playoffs. Verducci wrote tht the three-time World Series champion was the best big-game pitcher of his generation (along with John Smoltz).

    Verducci also pointed out that ‘Schill’ was an outspoken leader. That’s something that I think will help him a bunch. And Verducci agrees.

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tom_verducci/03/23/schilling.qanda/index.html

  9.   Eric Vitoff Says:

    First of all, as much as I can’t stand Curt Schilling as a person, I agree with Grant that he should be in the Hall of Fame.

    Anyway, last week, Simmons did a bunch of podcasts in lieu of a column. Two were on the topic of the NCAA tournament, one was on the NFL offseason, and the last one was about A-Rod.

    Simmons believes that the podcast is eventually going to kill satellite radio (psst, don’t tell Grant…). I think that I tend to agree with him. Once people have Internet access in their cars, which we can all agree is not too far down the road, why is somebody going to listen to satellite when they can have whatever programming they want on-demand?

    I love his podcasts. I listen to them as I stroll about the lovely campus of George Mason University. Like his columns, Simmons’ podcasts go on for a long time, and stay consistently entertaining and humorous. I’m glad I picked him to follow this semester — because now when I listen to him, I can feel like it is actually for work, not just for fun and information.

  10.   Kevin Healy Says:

    Woody Paige’s most recent article (http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_11980843) once again focuses on the Jay Cutler fiasco in Denver. In his column, Paige calls out coach Josh McDaniels for his recent comments in which he stated “Yes, he [Cutler] is our quarterback. This after McDaniels was reportedly shopping the pro bowl signal caller to the Chiefs for former pupil Matt Cassel. Paige asks McDaniels if Cutler will be the quarterback on draft day? On the first day of mini camp? On opening day?

    Paige also criticizes owner Pat Bowlen for refusing to get involved in the situation after an off season in which he fired the second longest tenured head coach in the NFL.

    Paige ends by telling the story of Chris Simms, the Bronco’s backup quarterback. Simms led the Tampa Bay Bucaneers to the 2005 playoffs. The next season he ruptured his spleen in a game against Carolina, and upon returning in 2007, had a falling out with coach John Gruden. Simms was cut, and Gruden fired a year later. Paige suggests that the Broncos organization learn from Simms experience instead of repeating it.

  11.   Chris Brooks Says:

    In Gary Parrish’s Mar. 23 column, “And your Sweet 16 Cinderella is … Arizona?” Parrish discusses how there are no Davidson or George Mason-type teams that made it through the first weekend.

    The lowest remaining seed in the tournament just happens to be the team that has made 25 consecutive appearances, the Arizona Wildcats.

    Gary Parrish breaks down the Sweet 16.

    “The Sweet 16 consists of four No. 1 seeds, four No. 2 seeds, four No. 3 seeds, two No. 4 seeds, one No. 5 seed and No. 12 Arizona. It’s all BCS-affiliated schools except for the three — Memphis, Gonzaga and Xavier — who refuse to be limited by an inferior conference affiliation, meaning from here on out we’ve got nothing but big boys vs. big boys, powers vs. powers and Goliaths vs. Goliaths.”

    Parrish then says the games he can’t wait to see and some weird facts and figures for the remaining schools.

    There is a rematch of the regular season though. Kansas will play Michigan State once again. MSU beat KU on Jan. 10 75-62.

    Also, Louisville won five games against the field of 16 this season. Gonzaga went 0-3 and UNC (3-0)and Arizona (2-0) were undefeated.

    Georgetown, which won 17 games this year, had four wins over the teams still in it. Not too bad considering they played the toughest schedule in America.

    Parrish hits the nail on the head with this statement: “All the Davids will be at home watching. With broken sling shots. And shattered dreams.”

    http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11540007

  12.   Colin Fitzgerald Says:

    Colin Fitzgerald
    Comm 371-001
    Sports Reporting
    Who is your columnist #9?

    This week I am covering Sally Jenkins, as Len Shapiro is undoubtedly working on some golf related article. Sally writes about ‘the other post-season tournament’, the women’s NCAA tournament. While the men’s tournament gets all the attention, Sally argues that the women don’t view college as a stepping stone to getting rich in the pros, and that they are as relient on talent as they are execution. She brings up some interesting points to the merits of the women’s game. Oklahoma center Courtney Paris has pledged to repay her scholarship if she doesn’t deliver a national championship. That type of selflessness is not often seen in men’s NCAA basketball. Sally also goes on to recount the trials that women faced to be able to play basketball. While the men’s game may feature more high-flying action, Sally argues that there is more satisfaction in watching a more ‘innocent game’.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/18/AR2009031802354.html?sub=AR

  13.   Diana Friedman Says:

    Diana Friedman

    Tom Boswell took a firm stance on how he feels about Alex Ovechkin in his most recent article.

    Even criticizing the beloved coach, Bruce Boudreau, for chastising the young star’s celebration antics.

    His candor and admiration for Ovechkin again places the fan in his eyes, he takes on the position of the angered/opinionated fan who has the privelege to write about it.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032003813.html

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