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By Mark Molz
Sports Reporter With less than ten games left in the Premier League Season it seems as though nobody will catch Manchester City who are in top form at the moment, but the race for top four and a coveted spot in next year’s Champions League is still open. Manchester City are the top team in the Prem and it looks as though they will go on to win their third season title in the last four years. City is currently 14 points ahead of town rivals Manchester United who are in second, and it would truly take a catastrophic ending to City’s season for them to lose their substantial lead. On their way to the top this year City has also scored the most goals this season with 64 and have the most clean sheets with 16. Although City appears to be running away with this year's title, it will be a tight race between Chelsea, West Ham United, Liverpool, Everton, and Tottenham as they fight for fourth place on the table. Only a mere six points separate Chelsea, who is fourth, and Tottenham, who is eighth, but with Chelsea hitting their stride at the right time it might be hard for the teams that are currently behind to catch up. So, who will be in the top four at then end of the season? Let’s take a look at the teams who have a chance. Chelsea Since former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel was appointed to Chelsea in January after the sacking of Frank Lampard, The Blues have gone on to win or draw their last ten games and have posted clean sheets in their last four. Although they are currently only three points ahead of West Ham United they appear to be in top form, and well on their way to finishing in the top four. It is hard not to see Chelsea taking one of the top four spots in this year’s premier league season as Tuchel seems to be the perfect fit for this young Chelsea squad. On top of their recent surge in the Premier League they recently just moved past Atletico Madrid in the current Champions League Season and are on their way to the quarterfinals. West Ham United West Ham has surprised most premier league fans this season by hanging around in the top half of the table this late into the season. Finishing sixteenth in the table last year, just a mere five points above the relegation zone, they have made a substantial jump from previous years. Instead of fighting to stay in England's top league, they are competing for a spot in one of the most difficult competitions in the soccer world. One of the Hammer’s most notable moments this year was the acquisition of Jesse Lingard on loan from top tier squad Manchester United. Since joining the Hammers Lingard has appeared in six games while finding the back of the net four times. But, although the signing of Lingard has helped the Hammers they have currently dropped points in two of their last three games and moved out of the top four. While the Hammers still have a very viable chance to make the top four and find themselves in the Champions League, it is hard to see them out playing Chelsea who are currently three points ahead. Liverpool While the defending champs are only five points back from a top four spot, they have been struggling to stay afloat in this year's season. Dropping six out of their last eight games, with one of those losses handed to them by soon-to-be relegated Fulham, it does not seem as though The Reds will finish this year in Champions League contention. Through 29 games this season they only have 13 wins and have a total of nine loses. Through the same amount of games in the season prior they were well ahead of the rest of the league in points and had only accumulated one loss and one draw. While Liverpool has struggled to match their form from last season, it is important to point out that injuries have decimated their backline, including one of the top defenders in the world in Virgil Van Dijk. And as the Premier League continues, it seems they will put most of their energy in winning the current Champions League Season in which they recently advanced to the quarterfinals. Everton Right in the thick of things with 46 points, Everton is making a push to make their first Champions League since 2005. While they are doing their best to make the top four they have recently dropped four out of their last seven games including a 2-0 defeat to Fulham, who also beat Liverpool in their recent struggle for success. Dominic Calvert-Lewin currently is third in the league in goals scored with 14 and has the most on this Everton side. If Everton wants any chance at making the Champions League next season, they are going to need Calvert-Lewin to continue to perform at a top level in these final games. Tottenham Jose Mourhino’s Spurs are on the outside looking in as this season is coming down to the end. Sitting eighth in the table with ten games left for the Spurs squad, this is definitely not where they imagined themselves at the beginning of the season. With players such as Gareth Bale, Dele Ali, Son Heung-min, and Harry Kane, who has the second most goals scored in the Premier League this season, many would have expected Tottenham to find themselves in the top four for the most of the year. But, Mourhino has appeared to have his struggles managing this squad as the season has progressed. While The Spurs still have a chance to make it into the top four, it doesn’t appear they will have what it takes to get them there. Author’s Note https://www.worldfootball.net/winner/eng-premier-league/ https://www.premierleague.com/stats premier league table https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/4/Chelsea/results https://www.premierleague.com/players/4337/Jesse-Lingard/overview https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4301278/manchester-uniteds-lingard-signs-for-west-ham-on-loan https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/10/Liverpool/results?co=1&se=274 https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/when-was-the-last-time-everton-qualified-for-the-champions/10soy9vpiec361uc2pnjazqjrm https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/21/Tottenham-Hotspur/squad https://www.premierleague.com/stats
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Saint Mary’s basketball coach Danielle Mauldin reflects on transitioning from a Saint Mary’s student athlete to a Saint Mary’s coach, and the lessons she hopes her athletes learn about growth, and commitment.
By Mark Molz Sports Reporter Former stand-out Saint Mary’s basketball star Danielle Mauldin has just finished another year of coaching at the same place she graduated from back in 2014. Mauldin is wrapping up her third year as an assistant coach for the Women’s basketball team, and during her time here she has used her platform to not only address on-the-court issues, but issues off-the-court as well regarding social justice. Mauldin was born in Vallejo, California, before moving to Benicia, and living all over the Bay Area in her early life. Prior to becoming a coach for her alma mater Mauldin found herself coaching at Diablo Valley Community College a few miles up the road, and up north at Eastern Washington University for a season. Mauldin has been around basketball since the age of seven and has continued to find passion in the game today. Mauldin attended Saint Mary’s College High School right up the road in Berkeley, and when it was time to choose where she wanted to play next she looked right up the road to Saint Mary’s. Saint Mary’s followed Mauldin during her high school years and since it was close to home it made it an easier decision when deciding where she would attend. “I wanted my parents to be able to attend a lot of my games and not have to travel all the time to see me play,” Mauldin stated. “Being close to home made it feel like an easier transition.” In high school Mauldin knew she had a knack for finding the ball, rebounding, and knew Saint Mary’s College had a system she could thrive in. Once arriving on campus in her freshman year, Mauldin would spend her next four collegiate years becoming one of the best players in Gaels history. Mauldin would graduate Saint Mary’s as the best rebounder in WCC history with 1,282 boards, and holds the record for most rebounds in a season with 427. She also holds the record for most free-throws made and attempted in Saint Mary’s history, along with having played the second most games ever with 131. “I had a good support system around me and I liked how I was offered the opportunity to be able to play a lot of minutes, starting out freshman year.” Mauldin continued, “that helped boost my confidence a little bit, having supportive teammates, to help me be successful really was key.” Along with being able to play early minutes as an incoming freshman, Mauldin also credits her success to her teammates and support system that surrounded her throughout the years. Having the support from her family, friends, and teammates around her by staying in the bay was key in helping her become a better player overall. When reflecting on her time as a student, one her favorite memories are the relationships she was able to build on and off the court. Outside of basketball Mauldin was able to get involved in organizations like the Black Student Union here on campus and valued the relationships she was able to build with fellow students. Being able to connect off the court helped her find an identity outside of basketball. “Giving me that outlet to express myself enriched my experience completely,” Mauldin stated. “And like I said, that's how I was able to meet more people and who I have connections with to this day. You never know when you are going to call somebody or need somebody in the future, so building those connections during that period of time was so awesome.” After graduating Mauldin wasn’t entirely sure that she wanted to be a coach, or at least so soon after her playing career was over. But, after hearing stories about student-athletes, traumatic experiences regarding mental health, and their athletic experiences throughout college she began to give it more thought. When reflecting on her decision to coach Mauldin stated, “I want to enhance or make somebody else's experience so much better.” She continued, “so when they reflect back on their years of being coached or being in a space like that, they reflect on those years with the utmost admiration.” As most student-athletes probably feel, practice is a love-hate relationship. As a player Mauldin always loved the games, but as she has transitioned into coaching her appreciation for the practice has only grown. Being able to see the process and her players grow over the course of a season is something she has grown fond of and is one of her favorite parts of her coaching experience. “I'd say my favorite thing now is just getting able to work with student athletes on the court and in practice,” Mauldin stated. “I love development, I'd say that's the thing that I've grown to love so much more.” On top of being able to watch her players develop, Mauldin enjoys being able to build relationships with her players even after she is no longer their coach. Stating that she keeps in touch with a handful of her past players she has been able to coach over the years. Within the team environment Mauldin also likes to generate conversation away from basketball and focus societal issues regarding race, gender, and social justice. When asked if she has been able to attend Saint Mary’s 44-days event on campus she said she has been unable to due to the time commitment of the basketball season. But, she mentioned she has been leading her team through a nine-month diversity conversation, where each month she invites her team to sit-down and discuss topics of race and gender, giving them an outlet to speak on these issues. “I know student athletes and just college students in general have so much to say.” Mauldin continued, “it's been nice to hold those means to hear people's voices and what they think and their ideas about certain topics. So that has been awesome.” Whether the conversations are through presentations from different players that highlight historical black figures in society or just group conversations, Mauldin believes it is important to give her players an opportunity to reflect on the world around them because they don’t always get the opportunity to do so. Mauldin noted that engaging in difficult conversations about social justice in an environment like this is important to bring awareness to all individuals and can enact change now and in the future. “I think it's so vital, it's important to continue to at least check in or do something once a month regarding this stuff,” Mauldin stated. “Because that's what's going to enact change in the future when you go out into those workspaces and you are aware, I think it's the awareness i’m trying to build in each of us and even myself, like awareness of my biases and my things and my stuff.” On top of these conversations Mauldin has acknowledged that she has been the only Black woman on her coaching staff more than once which can be difficult to navigate at times. Being the only Women on Color on her coaching staff she notes it can be challenging to not feel alone during certain moments in time. But, along with two other coaches in the country, Mauldin has created a group for coaches to meet and share their experiences, titled Young Coaches of Color. Mauldin started Young Coaches of Color to create a community of resources for individuals to support one another and build connections with coaches in similar institutions and situations as her. Through her group Mauldin looks to create an environment for coaches to talk with one another and help them feel less alone wherever they may be. “I definitely see diversity just in general, and especially in the coaching world of NCAA athletics could be a lot better.” Mauldin continued, “I feel like just knowing or seeing that you have somebody who looks like you around just offers a level of comfort in knowing that you can go out and carry out your job.” Outside of her career and proactive steps into creating a more inclusive environment here at Saint Mary’s and other schools as well, Mauldin hopes to continue to serve in her future, whether that be coaching or not. She hopes she will be able to inspire others, help them grow, and achieve their goals. Authors’ Note: For more information regarding Coach Danielle Mauldin please follow this link: https://smcgaels.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/danielle-mauldin/246 NBA Spring season brings new changes, spotlighting old stars, teams out for revenge, and rookies out to create their own trails.
By Mark Molz Sports Reporter The second half of the NBA season is underway and with the MVP race up for grabs and the path to the finals wide open, here is what you need to know before the next half of games get started. MVP Race Lebron James: It is no surprise that Lebron is in the MVP conversation for yet another year. And let's be honest with ourselves, Lebron could win it every year and probably should have more times than his already respectable four MVP Trophies. At the age of 36 Lebron has continued to silence the ones who doubt him and excel in a league filled with 20 year old superstars. Boasting an impressive statline of 25.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 7.8 APG, all in his 18th season is nothing short of spectacular. Lebron currently has the defending champs seeded third in a loaded Western Conference, and is only three-and-a-half games behind the first place Utah Jazz. Joel Embiid: Meanwhile, on the other side of the league, Joel Embiid is leading his 76ers to win after win. Currently first in the Eastern Conference, Embiid has the Sixers ahead of two very impressive teams in the Bucks and Nets. Averaging an impressive 30.2 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 1.2 STL, and 1.4 BLK, Embiid has taken his game to a whole nother level this year. As much as NBA fans want Lebron to win another MVP, it looks as though Joel Embid is well on his way to winning his first. NBA Finals Matchup Western Conference This is an interesting one to think about as a handful of teams are currently playing at a championship level, but do we really think Lebron is going to let anyone from the West have a chance at winning it this year? Los Angeles Lakers: It would be too easy to pick Lebron and the Lakers to make it to the finals and beat the lucky team that decides to give it their best shot out of the East. While the Lakers are currently third in the West, it is hard to imagine an NBA Finals without Lebron James in it, especially when he is playing at an MVP level. But, just for fun let's have a look at a few other teams from the West that just might have a shot at getting past Lebron’s Lakers. Utah Jazz: Currently first in the West coming out of the All Star break, the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert led Jazz squad are currently running through teams with ease. The Jazz, at the moment, currently look like Final’s contenders without a doubt. They even beat the defending champion Lakers by a solid 25 points leaving no doubt they are the top team in the West at the moment. But, we usually know how that narrative goes when you have Lebron in your conference, so I won’t get into that too much. Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers are the other team who have the best chance at giving the Lakers a run for their money. Favored by a handful of analysts to beat the Lakers last year before blowing a 3-1 lead to the Nuggets in the bubble, the Clippers will be looking to redeem themselves in this year's playoffs. With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading the team, they currently hold the fourth seed in the West and will be looking to make a push once the All Star break comes to an end. Eastern Conference Brooklyn Nets: With James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Iriving leading your team, it is hard not to pick the Brooklyn Nets as favorites coming out of the East. With all three of them currently averaging over 25 Points Per Game, their offense has had the highest offensive rating in NBA history to start the season. But, on the other side of the ball their defense has lacked the ability to actually stop the other team, giving them the worst defensive rating in NBA history to start the season. Will the Nets offense be enough to get them to the mountain top or will their defense let them down? Philadelphia 76ers and Milawaukke Bucks: These are the only other two teams that have a chance of getting past the Nets and making it out the East. And while former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and current MVP frontrunner Joel Embid are trying to make a strong case to be Eastern Conference favorites, I just don’t see them being able to take their team past one of the best scoring trio's in Brooklyn. Rookie of the Year Lamelo Ball: Ball is currently the overwhelming favorite to win this year's Rookie of the Year and there is nothing that is going to slow him down. The 19 year old is currently averaging 15.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 6.3 APG. He has taken on the NBA by storm with his dazzling passes and ability to score from anywhere on the court. He is surpassing expectations and is well on his way to becoming a house old name. Author’s Note: https://www.nba.com/player/2544/lebron_james https://www.nba.com/stats/player/203954/ https://www.espn.com/nba/game?gameId=401267657 https://www.nba.com/nets/stats https://fansided.com/2021/01/31/brooklyn-nets-best-offense-worst-defense-nba-history-james-harden-trade/ https://www.oddsshark.com/nba/rookie-of-the-year-odds https://www.nba.com/player/1630163/lamelo_ball A senior ready to step-up and fill the shoes of the ones before him.
By Mark Molz Sports Reporter A senior from Simi Valley, CA, Nick Lapinid is the starting goalie for a top tier Saint Mary’s squad. Before his collegiate career, Lapinid was the starting goalie for Royal High School and played club soccer for the LA Galaxy Conejo Valley. Coming out of high-school, Lapinid was a late commit, receiving offers from SMC and from a Division II in Fresno Pacfiic University. When asked why he ultimately chose Saint Mary’s, Lapinid stated, “there was more opportunity, I liked the area more than Fresno, and I wanted a good academic school.” Since arriving in the fall of 2017, Lapinid has been patiently waiting for his opportunity to make his mark on the field. He took a redshirt year in his first season with the Gaels, and in both his sophomore and junior year he learned from then Saint Mary’s starting goalkeeper Remi Prieur, a goalie now in the minor league system of Major League Soccer. Lapinid would make his first appearance on the field in his junior campaign, where he played 40 minutes against Portland, making three saves en route to a 5-1 victory over the Pilots. “Watching guys like Remi play and the way he controls the game definitely would help me during practice.” Lapinid continued, “it was something I tried to model my game after so when it was my turn I was ready to play.” His goals when arriving at Saint Mary’s were simple, “I just wanted to play and have fun,” Lapinid stated. He appreciated learning from Remi because of the experience he had and the willingness he had to help Nick learn and give him advice during certain situations when he got in the game. When reflecting on his career at Saint Mary’s thus far his favorite memory is winning the WCC championship in back-to-back years and making it to the sweet 16 in 2018, where they lost in a penalty shoot-out to a strong Stanford side. “It was a really cool experience, the whole stadium was packed, filled with students and fans,” Lapinid stated. “It was awesome because we haven’t made it that far since 2011 and to be a part of that team was special.” Now in his senior year, he is ready to play and lead the team to another WCC title much like his predecessors before him did. And when asked about this team compared to the previous years he has been here, he thinks this squad is ready to compete at the same level. “We lost a lot of our goal scorers from the previous years, but a lot of the freshmen are stepping up and playing really well right now.” In his first full year as the starting goalie for Saint Mary’s he has led the team to a 2-0 start while posting two clean sheets, with a total of eight saves across both matches. Outside of the pitch, Lapinid plans to graduate with a BA in Allied Health Science, with aspirations to be a coach or physical therapist one day. Author’s Note: For more information on Nick Lapinid and the mens’ soccer team follow the links below: https://smcgaels.com/sports/mens-soccer/stats/2020-21/pacific/boxscore/8803 https://smcgaels.com/sports/mens-soccer/stats/2020-21/santa-clara/boxscore/8813 https://smcgaels.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/nicholas-lapinid/1330 Saint Mary’s soccer player Mubarak Haruna shares his experiences moving to the U.S. from Nigeria, and being a part of the Saint Mary’s community as a transfer student athlete.
By Mark Molz Sports Reporter A lifelong resident of Nigeria, Mubarak Haruna is now a Gael striving towards his goals each and every day. Haruna is a Junior forward for the Gaels soccer team, transfering from Merritt Community College in Oakland a few miles up the road from Saint Mary’s. During his two years at Merritt, Haruna was able to excel on the soccer field, which ultimately led him to one of the best programs in the country here at Saint Mary’s. In a total of 20 games for the Thunderbirds he was able to find the back of the net 12 times, while adding five assists to his resume. In his sophomore campaign, Haruna was named to First Team All-Conference. Haruna graduated from Merritt with an AA in Mathematics and is now at Saint Mary’s continuing to study Mathematics along with a concentration in Computer Science. Haruna has only been in the States for a total of three years and since arriving a short time ago he said he has enjoyed the experience, and although he misses his home country he stated, “I am here for a purpose. To gather knowledge and help those in my community back home.” Haruna chose Saint Mary’s because of the welcoming feeling the school generated from the start, the world class education, and great athletic programs. Among other choices such as Yale, UC Santa Barbara, Berkeley, and Irvine, to name a few, he was attracted to Saint Mary’s by the home and small feel environment of the school. "SMC, unlike any other school in the world, provides a basis in many things,” Haruna said. “I see this university more than a citadel of higher learning but an institution where students can grow in all aspects of life, becoming individuals who want to make a real impact in their communities and enrich the lives of people in those communities and the world at large." Haruna has very much enjoyed his time as a student athlete in his first year with the Gaels. Although soccer has been a lot more challenging moving from a Community College to a Division 1 he has loved the environment that Saint Mary’s has produced. Haruna has appreciated the work ethic of his teammates, the winning mentality the coaching staff possesses, and the willingness everyone around him has to help him reach his goals. Although his first year as a Gael has been interrupted with COVID-19 he is thankful for the school and their precautions in order to keep everyone safe. The team has had to practice in pods and participate in non-contact training during the fall in order to ensure they would have a season, which already had been pushed back once to this Spring. Along with being a Student-Athlete, Haruna is a member of the Black Student Union, Muslim Student Association, and is a student Advancement Ambassador here at Saint Mary’s. Haruna finds it extremely important to participate in organizations outside of his athletic focus. He has been able to build connections and interact with individuals outside of the team who share the same ideals and values he holds. He enjoys being a member of the BSU and appreciates the thriving culture of the organization at Saint Mary’s.. He enjoys being a member of the Muslim Student Associaiton becasue it gives him the opportunity to interact with the small Muslim population on campus. And he is proud to be a student ambassador because it is a great experience that allows him to network and represent this amazing school to raise scholarship money for other students. Although he has enjoyed his short time here, and has come more accustomed to the culture and diversity of the different places he has seen, he still misses his family, friends, food, and culture of his country. Being far away from home is a difficult task, especially given the time we are in, but Haruna knows it is all worth it in the end in order to raise another WCC trophy like the team has in the past. Author’s Note: Special thanks to Mubarak Haruna for his participation in this article. To learn more about Haruna and the Saint Mary’s mens’ soccer team follow the link below: https://smcgaels.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/mubarak-haruna/1456 By Mark Molz
Sports Reporter Tom Brady did it, again. With his seventh Super Bowl win on Sunday, February 7th, Tom Brady has officially solidified himself as the Greatest Quarterback of All Time. In a game where superstar Patrick Mahomes was leading what seemed to be the invisible Kansas City Chiefs team, Brady led his first year Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl win in franchise history. Brady not only beat Mahomes for the second time in the playoffs, with the first one being in the AFC Championship game back in 2019, he took home the Super Bowl MVP giving him his fifth total MVP award in the biggest game of the year, a record that will most likely never be broken. Brady finished the game with a total of 201 yards on 21/29 passing and three touchdown passes. Mahomes on the other hand finished the game with a stat line very few individuals were expecting. He finished with a total of two interceptions, zero passing touchdowns, and a mere 270 yards. Mahomes was scrambling all night trying to make throws backwards, his body parallel to the ground as he released it, and with Bucs defenders running full steam at him not allowing him to create anything special, as he normally does. With Brady beating Mahomes many people have deemed the GOAT debate out of reach. Although Mahomes is only 25 years-old and has already appeared in two Super Bowls, while winning one of them, his one to Brady’s Seven seems all too little. With a win against Brady many would have dubbed this game as the passing of the torch from one old great to a new young one headed towards the mountain top. Now it feels as if Mahomes will be living in the shadow of Brady for his entire career, not unless, of course, he reaches the unthinkable eight Super Bowls. To put in perspective at just how impressive Brady’s tenth Super Bowl appearance and seventh win is, here are some facts (if you haven’t already heard them):
So what’s next for Timeless Tom? Although Brady has reached the pinnacle of success time and time again he doesn’t seem to want to step away just yet. At age 43 Brady seems to be on an unprecedented rate of success that will only continue to grow in the future. In his post game interview Brady stated, “We’re coming back. You already know that.” You would think someone who has more Super Bowl wins than any other franchise in the history of the sport would step away from the game while he has seemed to accomplish everything, but Tom isn’t ready yet. With aspirations to play past his 45th birthday, we could see him dominating the NFC for years to come. Mahomes will be waiting for the day he can run the league all by himself, Rodgers is praying he can win more NFC championships than Brady, and every other team in the NFL is simply waiting for the day Brady decides to hang them up. For now we can only appreciate the greatness of Tom and the dominance he brings to the league. Author’s Notes: For more information regarding the research of this article please visit the links below. https://www.espn.com/nfl/game?gameId=401038850 https://www.nbcboston.com/news/sports/nbcsports/tom-brady-wins-fifth-super-bowl-mvp-award-after-buccaneers-beat-chiefs/2296478/ https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=401220403 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxrxvgVHBNw https://www.statista.com/statistics/266516/number-of-super-bowl-wins-by-nfl-team/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJytEcLIOLU https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/super-bowl-2021-tom-brady-admits-hell-play-football-past-45-years-old-on-one-condition/ By Mark Molz
Sports Reporter The MLB season is around the corner and with that comes a plethora of off season acquisitions and trades that you might have missed. This article highlights just some of the big moves that have shaken up the MLB before the 2021 season. Lindor to the Mets The Subway Series just got a little more interesting this year. The Met’s just landed one of the biggest deals in baseball this offseason by getting Francisco Lindor from the Indians. Lindor and teammate Carlos Carrasco will be heading to the NL East this season hoping to bring home some hardware for the Mets, who have long been behind the Yankees for the best team in New York. Meanwhile, the Indians received a total of four players in the deal including infielder Amed Rosario. Springer to the Jays Landing a 6-year, $150 Million dollar deal to leave America is not half bad. The young Blue Jays just added a new lead-off man to their line-up in former All-Star George Springer. Springer, who is coming off some solid years with the Astro’s, is getting the money he deserves. Yeah, so the Astros cheated and he was a member of the team during that whole thing. Doesn’t mean Springer isn’t one of the best outfielders in the game. Springer will join a line-up filled with young stars Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, and more. Watch for the Blue Jays to make a splash in AL East this upcoming season. Corey Kluber to the Yankees The former two time Cy Young is headed to the Bronx as the Yankees are making their push for World Series favorites before the season begins. Kluber signed a one-year deal with the Yankees after missing the entirety of the 2020 season due to a shoulder injury. The Yankees are hoping Kluber can reach his Cy Young form again as he returns from injury. Liam Hendriks to the White Sox Arguably the best reliever in the game of baseball is on the move. Liam Hnedricks, a now former Oakland A, is taking his talents to the windy city to join an already loaded White Sox team. The White Sox roster contains the best catcher in baseball right now in Yasmani Grandal, and with Tim Anderson and Nick Madrigal in the infield they are definitely a contender to make it all the way in the 2021 season. Hendriks signed with the Sox on a four-year, $54 million dollar deal. Blake Snell and yu Darvish to the Padres This offseason the Padres have loaded their rotation with star power to go with their already stacked line-up. The Padres have recently added Blake Snell, who is coming off a phenomenal performance in last year's World Series, Yu Darsvish, last year's MLB wins leader, and Joe Musgrove who was in the Astros rotation during their 2017 World Series run. These three stars will be pitching alongside Padres ace Dinelson Lamet and young gun Chris Paddack. While the Padres are making their push to be the best team in the league they still have to compete with the Dodgers who are the top team in baseball and not to forget to mention, in the same division as them. Jon lester and Kyle Schwarber to the Nationals The Nationals appeared to be in their World Series slump during the 2020 season. Finishing last in the NL East, they are looking to bounce back this season and regain their place on top of the podium. Lester will join a pitching staff with two of MLB’s top starters in Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. Schwarber will be adding his bat to a line-up that consists of the young superstar Juan Soto, slugger Josh Bell, and Trea Turner. Schwarber and Lester both signed one-year deals. Author’s Notes: For more information regarding the research of this article please visit the links below. https://www.mlb.com/news/francisco-lindor-mets-trade https://www.mlb.com/news/george-springer-deal-blue-jays https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30719373/corey-kluber-finalizing-deal-join-new-york-yankees https://www.mlb.com/news/liam-hendriks-white-sox-deal https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1352327375250477062/photo/1 https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-power-rankings-to-begin-2021 https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/01/18/washington-nationals-sign-jon-lester-to-a-one-year-deal-plus-a-mutual-option/ https://www.mlb.com/standings Sports Reporter Mark Molz provides tips for readers about making personal fitness a New Year's Resolution, and how to stay committed to this goal throughout the year.
By Mark Molz Sports Reporter New Year’s resolutions can be hard and if you are like me, exercising more and working on eating better always seems to be one of the resolutions I find myself thinking about as the calendar turns. Your health is extremely important and as we are still living in a COVID-19 world where going outside can be daunting, it may be difficult to get the exercise you want. Your physical and mental health are both things that you should be aware of and by reaching goals you set for yourself weekly or even daily can help you during these times. Here are some tips and ideas to hopefully help you get out of the house and stay active: 1. Find a Gym Right now a lot of gyms are closed and the thought of working out next to a bunch of people that have been who knows where is not the most ideal situation. But, there are gyms who have moved their services to the outside and with a mask requirement in place it might just be enough to help put your mind at ease to get out there and start lifting weights again. 2. Make Time to go on a Walk/Run There have been plenty of days where I find myself getting locked on the computer screen for hours on end and it isn’t until late that I realize I haven’t made time to get some fresh air. Setting aside 20-30 minutes of your day to step outside and go on a walk or run (with a mask on) is a great way to get your steps in. Leaving behind your phone and electronics to get some much needed sun and exercise is a great way to clear your head and work on your fitness. I have found myself going on many more walks since quarantine began and have made them longer as the days have passed. 3. Create a Meal Plan Not everyone has time in their day to go to a gym or get the exercise they would have liked. But, if you can’t find time to get outside and move around it shouldn’t stop you from eating healthy. The food you eat is just as important (maybe even more) as your exercise. Finding the right meal plan can be difficult if you don’t know where to start, but it is not as hard as you might think. You don’t need to just eat vegetables or fruit or cut out carbs to eat healthy. The web is filled with videos, articles, and information on proper nutrition and by doing just a little research every day you can find healthy and good foods that work for you. 4. Track Your Progress As you begin to workout and eat healthy don’t forget to keep track of how far you have come. Find an app that tracks your food intake, how long you exercise, and more. Setting goals for yourself and tracking them as often as possible is a good way to keep track of what you have done as the year begins. --------- These are just a few ideas to get yourself ready for the new year. When setting goals for yourself or thinking about your New Year’s resolutions it is important to be realistic. Set goals that you know you can accomplish and ones that help you stay dedicated. By Mark Molz
Sports Reporter The NBA season has officially begun and while the Lakers are coming off their title win from only two months ago, other teams outside the bubble haven’t played in an NBA game since March. With all 30 teams in competition for this year’s Larry O’Brien Trophy and COVID-19 complications still looming over the heads of everyone, the league and its players will be put to the test with a full 72-game NBA season ahead. Just a few weeks in, here are some accomplishments we all should be looking out for: 1. Lebron James Fifth Title With Lebron coming off his fourth NBA championship in his storied career, inching him closer and closer to the all-time GOAT, he will be looking to add a fifth to his trophy case. If Lebron is able to reach number five he will tie Laker great Kobe Bryant and officially be one behind the six-time NBA champion and long-time GOAT, Michael Jordan. If Lebron is able to win back-to-back championships in his 18th year many people will believe that he will finally have enough accolades to surpass Michael Jordan and be the all-time GOAT of the NBA. 2. Stephen Curry Three-Point Record Curry is currently sitting at 2,527 career three-pointers. He is 446 from the all-time record set by Ray Allen. The most ever made in a season is 402, which was set by Curry back in the 2015-16 season. While 446 threes might seem a little out of reach for the 2x MVP his splash brother Klay Thompson will be out all season due to a torn ACL, so you never know how many threes Curry will put up as the season continues. If Curry doesn’t get it this season you can almost count on him claiming the all-time record during the course of next year. 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo Back-to-Back-to-Back MVPs Antetokounmpo just locked up his second MVP in back-to-back seasons. Being the first one to do this since Curry in 14-15 and 15-16. This year Giannis will look to be the fourth player in NBA history to win the MVP three years in a row. The last player to accomplish this was Larry Bird in the 80s while playing with the Boston Celtics. While it is not very common for this feat to be accomplished, Giannis is currently second in the NBA MVP odds for the 2021 season, with Luka Doncic just ahead of him. 4. Russell Westbrook All-Time Triple-Doubles Leader Sitting at 150 all-time triple-doubles, Westbrook is currently 31 away from being the overall triple-double king. In 2016-17 Westbrook was able to reach 42 total and in 2018-19 he had 34. The record and current king Oscar Robertson is very much in threat and can easily be accomplished this year (especially if he is playing for the Wizards). 5. Most Points in a Game Since Kobe - 81 While scoring is at an all time high 81 points in a game still might seem like it is out of reach. But, with players jacking up threes at an almost overwhelming rate it seems more likely than one might think. The NBA season is just a few weeks in and we already have two players who have scored 60 points or more (Bradley Beal and Stephen Curry). The closest player to reach 81 was Devin Booker who managed to tally an incredible 70 back in 2017. I wouldn’t put Kobe’s 81 point game as unbreakable just yet as there is a lot of basketball still left to play. Author’s Notes: For more information regarding the research of this article please visit the links below. https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg3_career.html https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg3_season.html https://www.nba.com/history/awards/mvp https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2923193-2020-21-nba-mvp-odds-luka-doncic-giannis-stephen-curry-favorites-for-award https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/trp_dbl_career.html https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/who-has-the-most-triple-doubles-in-a-season https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cre-GqTe3lQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSs4yUZhb-I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pan_1zX0RPE Tony Gonsolin’s pitching helps the Dodgers clinch the MLB World Series.
By Oliver Collins Sports Reporter Two outs, top of the ninth and the Rays are down to their last out. The pitching rotation looks on from right field as Julio Urias, the young hard throwing left hander threw the last pitch to Willy Adames. “Strike Three” the umpire called as the ball flew through the inside corner of the plate. The players charge the mound, the pitching rotation rushes the field led by Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Tony Gonsolin the three aces. A site to see for Dodgers fans and the first world series win for the organization in almost 30 years. For Tony Gonsolin, it was almost surreal. Tony Gonsolin was born in Vacaville, California on May 14, 1994. From a young age Gonsolin showed tremendous upside for his arm in the outfield, it wasn’t until his time in the Saint Mary’s baseball team that his pitching potential was finally realized. For Gonsolin, pitching came almost effortlessly after a long time in the outfield and he immediately showed potential with his high velocity and fluent wind up. Quickly after an excellent final collegiate season he entered the MLB draft where he was selected 281st overall. This wasn’t exactly the pick he was looking for but he flew up the minors ranks and entered a Dodgers rotation that needed a reliable pitcher. While Game 2 didn’t exactly go how Tony Gonsolin wanted it to, it was a big moment for him and I’m sure his family too. An excellent showing throughout the year was capped off by most young ball players dreams, a world series ring. Gonsolin will look to continue to shine throughout the next few seasons and maybe even win another world series ring with the Dodgers organization. We will look to spotlight Gonsolin going forward and track his progress as he climbs through the stages of what it means to be a major league baseball player. |
AuthorsVictoria Vidales '21, Archives
March 2021
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