Category Archives: Sports

NFL athletes kneel as a protest against President Trump

Β By: Elora Nicholas / Staff Writer

Β  Β  Β NFL players throughout the past week have been dealing with the wrath of President Trump. Trump has been giving speeches and has been speaking his opinion about the kneeling of the players.

Β Β Β Β The first player to kneel during the national anthem was Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick has said he sat and kneeled during the anthem because he refuses to show honor to a country that oppresses black people and people of color. His action caused much controversy among fans and others not impacted by the NFL.

Β Β Β Β In recent news, players have started doing this action again for the same reasons stated before. This past Sunday the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and many other teams showed their stand against their right.

Β Β Β Β Throughout the league, players, coaches and owners decided what was best for the team.

Β Β Β Β Trump took to Twitter to say the kneeling was unacceptable.

Β Β Β Β President Trump has been expressing his viewpoint towards the players’ behavior. He believes players who disrespect the flag should be fired from their team. However, he supported those players who chose to lock arms due to the showing of β€œsolidarity.”

Β Β Β Β The Oakland Raiders offensive line is the only line in the NFL made up entirely of African-American players, all chose to kneel during the national anthem joined by their team. The team hosting, Washington Redskins, chose to link arms on their side of the field. The act was shown as one of the strongest visual display of a protest today.

Β Β Β Β Coach Jack Del Rio of the Raiders said the players would have rather stayed in the locker room, but it would have likely delayed game time.

Β Β Β Β All protests were a viewing of solidarity against the criticism of President Trump.

Β Β Β Β The players within each team had their own personal view of why they knelt during Sunday’s game. Most of their opinions all looped back around to their disagreeing with the president. Each player felt that if they would have stood, it would have shown support towards Trump.

Β Β Β Β Some players even chose to celebrate a touchdown in a certain way. Odell Beckham Jr. raised his fist after scoring, a protest done by black athletes dated back to the 1960s.

Β Β Β Β The controversy of this situation continues to expand day by day, what will our president say next? Will the players continue these actions? Viewers will see as the season continues.Β 

Bulldogs shoot season off with momentum

The boys varsity basketball team had their home opener against the Wadsworth Grizzlies on December 9, 2016Β in the James G. Tyree Gymnasium. The Bulldogs coming off a big win vs Kent prepared hard for Wadsworth who was coming off a win on a game winning shot at the buzzer.

Both teams were 1-0 going into the matchup, so that meant one team was bound to get their first loss of the season. Stow started off extremely slow letting Wadsworth get an early 11-0 lead in the first quarter. After a Bulldog timeout, they closed the gap to only be down by one. In the second quarter, Stow took the first lead of the game by senior guard, Logan Lindsay making two free throws to put them up one.

At halftime the Grizzlies led 29-28. Head coach, Dave Close, came into the Bulldog locker room and talked to the team to get them pumped up to go out and win in the second half.

It was Stow ball to start the second half, and they ran a play to get an easy layup to give them the lead. They then got a stop on defense goingΒ on a 8-0 run to give them the lead, 36-29. The Grizzlies fought back thoughΒ makingΒ it interesting. At the end of the third quarter, it was still a tight game withΒ Stow leading 45-42.

There was only eight minutes left in the game for the Bulldogs to hold their lead. The fourth quarterΒ was a physical one. There were many points scored and also many fouls committed. Both teams were in the bonus, which means they get to shoot up to two free throws with any foul. Stow only missed five free throws the whole game making 22 out of 27.

Stow ended up pulling out the victory by a score of 71-69. Β Senior guard, Nick Kollar, was Stow’s leading scorer with 14 points. Kollar made some very important shots that put the Bulldogs upΒ when they needed it most. Fans hope the Bulldogs will carry this momentum with them throughout the rest of the season.Β 

Cavs fans look for playoff hopes from new pickup

Β Β Β Β J.R. Smith’s current right thumb injury has caused much uncertainty and taken one of the starting five out of this season’s lineup for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Β Β Β Β According to si.com, on January 5, 2017 the Atlanta Hawks were finalizing a deal to send shooting guard Kyle Korver to the Cavaliers. This would be a quality pickup for the Cavaliers with Korver stepping into the missing spot of Smith for the time being.

Β Β Β Β According to cleveland.com, the Cavaliers have not been greatly effected by Smith’s absence with a record of 7-2 without him. Smith is only shooting 36.2 percent from behind the arc disappointing many fans who were expecting him to be shooting better than eight other Cavalier players this season.

Β Β Β Β β€œKorver is a great pickup because he is a sniper from 3 point range and he’s a 51 percent shooter from the corners. This will distribute the scoring across the floor and give the Cavaliers options in game planning,” junior Jacob Feldman said.

Β Β Β Β Korver, who has been one of the leading three point scorers for the Hawks hopefully will fit into the Cavaliers lineup smoothly because of the amount of three point shots a game the team takes. According to stats.nba.com the Cavaliers average 33 threepoint attempts in a game. They are also averaging close to 85 shot attempts total, making close to 39 percent of their shots three pointers.

Β Β Β Β Korver is also ranked the twenty fourth best three point shooter on ESPN’s top three point shooting players of the season. He is shooting 40.9 percent from behind the arc which is over 4 percent better than Smith.

Β Β Β Β Korver also will be vital to the Cavaliers during the playoffs as he has been in the NBA for 14 seasons and has made the playoffs 10 times. Korver will bring experience and a possible spark that the Cavaliers might need in order to win back to back championships.

Β Β Β Β β€œHe will be a key role player off the bench, providing explosive scoring when our starters are resting,” Feldman said. β€œThis will give Cleveland the ability to score more consistently, allowing rest for key players even in big games. It is a solid move for Cleveland, looking to defend their NBA champion throne this season.”

Β Β Β Β The Cavaliers pickup of Korver may have some uncertainty about his effect on the team, but fans like Feldman hope he will become a valuable asset for the rest of the season, during playoffs and ultimately during another NBA Championship. Β Β Β Β 

Indians lose a close World Series

The 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series were between the National League champions Chicago Cubs and the American League champions, Cleveland Indians. Β Β 

The games were played between Oct. 26 to Nov. 2.

It has been 68 years since the last time the Indians have won the World Series. Last time they were in the MLB championship was in 1997, when they were defeated by the Miami Marlins in game seven.

The Cubs have not been in the world series since 1945, losing to the Detroit Tigers in game seven 9-3. Β 

The Indians took control of game one when there catcher Roberto Perez, who had not hit good in the postseason hit two homeruns. Jake Arrieta, starting pitcher for Chicago, threw close to a no-hitter. His performance led to Chicago winning game two and tying the series up 1-1.

Game three was an exciting and close matchup. Clevelands pitcher Andrew Miller, who won the MVP of the ALCS, held Chicago scoreless in the 6th inning. The game was tied up until the top of the 7th inning when left fielder, Coco Crisp’s pinch-hit brought in a run to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen came in and finished the Cubs off with a final score of 1-0. Cleveland was now up 2-1, taking the unexpected win at Chicago.

In game four the Cubs took an early 1-0 lead, when first baseman Anthony Rizzo batted in a run. Then the Indians pounced and scored 2 runs. Corey Kluber held the Chicago Cubs until the bottom of the sixth. Kipnis hit a homerun to right field bringing in Crisp and Rajai Davis, making the score to 7-1. Indians were in the lead with a 3-1 record in the series.

Game five was an important game for the Cubs. If they did not pull out a win, the World Series would end, however the Indians took a loss in game five. Cleveland held Chicago 1-0 until the bottom of the 4th when they scored 3 runs, making the score 3-1. The game ended with a closing score of 3-2 Cubs, progressing the series into game six.

Addison Russell, starting shortstop for the Cubs, started game six by contributing to two out of the three runs scored in the first inning. Later in the game Russell hit a grand slam to center, making the game 7-0 by the top of the third inning.

The Indians had their work cut out for them trying to come back from being down seven to nothing. With the help of Arrieta striking out nine Cleveland players, the Cubs took game six sending the series to the deciding game seven.

Dexter Fowler, center fielder for the Cubs started off game seven with a leadoff home run making it 1-0. Crisp then ran into home plate, tieing up the game 1-1 at the bottom of the 3rd.

Kris Bryant, third basemen for the Cubs tagged up and scored. Right after Bryant scored, Willson Contreras who was 1 and 18 during the series for batting, slammed one to the wall bringing in Ben Zobrist and making the score 3-1 Cubs.

The first pitch into the fifth inning, Javier Baez hits a homer to right center making the score 4-1, forcing the Indians to take out starting pitcher Corey Kluber and put in Andrew Miller.

In the bottom of the fifth a wild pitch was thrown to Chicago’s catcher, David Ross and with the time it took him to recover the ball Carlos Santana and Kipnis brought in two runs for the Indians making the score 5-3 Cubs. Ross recovered in the next inning by hitting a homerun to center field. By the 8th inning, the Indians Cubs were tied 6-6. In the 10th inning, Chicago scored two runs, which was enough to hold off Cleveland who only brought in one run.

The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series since 1908 in the 10th inning of game seven with a final score of 8-7.