By Kate and Henry
The Mariners have played nearly 50 games this season so far, and are progressing well towards the postseason. Nelson Cruz has 18 HR and ties for first in the MLB while also taking third in RBIs with 38. Cruz is also leading the AL designated hitter list for the All Star ballot. More recently, Cano has been in a slump, but is now beginning to head back on track with a hitting streak. His RBI singles in the the series opener against the Rays definitely helped open the opportunity for Seattle to seal their sweep. On the mound, Felix Hernandez has been on fire. He ties the lead in MLB pitchers in wins with a record of 8-2.
Though the Mariners are currently two games behind .500 with a record of 24-27, they have been struggling elsewhere in their lineup. Manager Lloyd McClendon was noticing weakness in the starting lineup and has decided to make changes. These have helped to dramatically improve our ability to get on base and score. In addition, Taijuan Walker has been struggling to get wins for the team. His record has dropped to 2-5 leaving room for potential replacement. In opinion, Roenis Elias (who has replaced Hisashi Iwakuma who is on DL) might have what Walker doesn't. Walker's recent start was a huge success but with a few more bad outings, it could potentially hurt his spot in the lineup and bring up Elias. In addition to Iwakuma, starting pitcher James Paxton joined the 15-day DL with a strained left middle finger. Mike Montgomery will be filling in temporarily for Paxton out of the Tacoma Rainiers.
We hope the Mariners have what it takes to make it to the postseason!Deflategate
By: Emilio
The NFL has suspended Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady without pay for the first four games of the season, fined the New England Patriots $1 million and taken away two draft picks as punishment for deflating footballs used in the AFC title game last January.
NFL Draft
By: Emilio & Nathaniel
WHEN: Thursday, April 30, 8 p.m. ET
ROUNDS: 1 (10 minutes per pick)
WHERE: Auditorium Theatre, Chicago.
HOW TO WATCH: NFL Network, (NFL.com). ESPN, (WatchESPN).
ROUNDS: 1 (10 minutes per pick)
WHERE: Auditorium Theatre, Chicago.
HOW TO WATCH: NFL Network, (NFL.com). ESPN, (WatchESPN).
Tonight is the NFL draft. In the NFL draft all the teams pick the top prospects from all over. Each team gets seven picks with ten minutes in between each pick to choose your pick. The team with the worst record last season picks first.
With the first overall pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are almost unanimously expected to draft Jameis Winston. And I agree. It's a perfect match all the way down to that Jameis lives there already (In Florida).
Other prospects receiving hype are Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon. Leonard Williams, DT, USC. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama. All are amazing football players. All expected to be high picks.
Our Mock Draft:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Jameis Winston
2. Tennessee Titans-Dante Fowler Jr.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars-Amari Cooper
4. Oakland Raiders-Leonard Williams
5. Washington Redskins-Marcus Mariota
6. New York Jets-Kevin White
7. Chicago Bears-Trae Waynes
8. Atlanta Falcons-Bud Dupree
9. New York Giants-Brandon Scherff
6. New York Jets-Kevin White
7. Chicago Bears-Trae Waynes
8. Atlanta Falcons-Bud Dupree
9. New York Giants-Brandon Scherff
10. St. Louis Rams-Ereck Flowers
11. Minnesota Vikings-Devante Parker
12. Cleveland Browns-Danny Shelton
11. Minnesota Vikings-Devante Parker
12. Cleveland Browns-Danny Shelton
13. New Orleans Saints-Vic Beasley
14. Miami Dolphins-Kevin Johnson
15. San Francisco 49ers-Arik Armstead
16. Houston Texans-Breshad Perriman
17. San Diego Chargers-Todd Gurley
18. Kansas City Chiefs-Cameron Erving
19. Cleveland Browns-Melvin Gordon
20. Philadelphia Eagles-Damarious Randall
21. Cincinnati Bengals-Malcolm Brown
22. Pittsburgh Steelers-Byron Jones
23. Detroit Lions-Andrus Peat
15. San Francisco 49ers-Arik Armstead
16. Houston Texans-Breshad Perriman
17. San Diego Chargers-Todd Gurley
18. Kansas City Chiefs-Cameron Erving
19. Cleveland Browns-Melvin Gordon
20. Philadelphia Eagles-Damarious Randall
21. Cincinnati Bengals-Malcolm Brown
22. Pittsburgh Steelers-Byron Jones
23. Detroit Lions-Andrus Peat
24. Arizona Cardinals-D.J. Humphries
25. Carolina Panthers-T.J. Clemmings
26. Baltimore Ravens-Marcus Peters
27. Dallas Cowboys-Landon Collins
28. Denver Broncos-Jake Fisher
29. Indianapolis Colts-Cedric Ogbuehi
30. Green Bay Packers-Denzel Perryman
31. New Orleans Saints-Randy Gregory
32. New England Patriots-Dorial Green-Beckham
26. Baltimore Ravens-Marcus Peters
27. Dallas Cowboys-Landon Collins
28. Denver Broncos-Jake Fisher
29. Indianapolis Colts-Cedric Ogbuehi
30. Green Bay Packers-Denzel Perryman
31. New Orleans Saints-Randy Gregory
32. New England Patriots-Dorial Green-Beckham
The Saddest Superbowl Ever
by Henry and Emilio
This past Sunday the Seahawks played the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. After a hard fought game, the Patriots reigned victorious. With a devastating play for Seahawks fans and a miraculous play for Patriot fans. rThe score was close all game. After the first quarter the Patriots and Seahawks were tied 0-0, and Russell Wilson had 0 completions. In the second quarter the Seahawks and Patriots traded off touchdowns ending the half 14-14. In the third quarter the Seahawks received the ball and drove for a field goal putting the Seahawks up 17-14. and then scoring a touchdown while holding the Patriots to 0 points ending the quarter 24-14. At the beginning of the fourth and final quarter, Seahawk players and fans alike were all pretty confident this game was over. Then the Patriots started driving and scored a touchdown making the score 24-21. The Patriots were only down by a field goal.(3) Then all of sudden another touchdown, 28-24, the patriots had taken the lead. 2 minutes to go, the Seahawks were driving down field. On second down Wilson threw a deep pass to Kearse. The ball was tipped and then hit Kearse's leg which then bounced into his outstretched hands. A couple plays later the Hawks were on the 1 yard line and it was 1st&goal. The offensive coordinator then called a passing play which was then intercepted by the rookie Malcom Butler. Although Lynch has only gotten 1 touchdown from the 1-yard line all season, many people would have thought to hand it off to him. The Seahawks still had a chance to win though, Patriots had gotten the ball on the half yard line and were pushed back into the end zone, if they had taken a knee it would have been a safety and they would have to punt it to the Seahawks. Then Michale Bennet jumped offsides and sealed the win for the patriots. It was another great year for the Seahawks but most Seahawks fans wish ended in a win.
Super Bowl 2?
By: Emilio & Nate
After a very suspenseful game, the Seattle Seahawks came out with a win after the perfect pass to Jermain Kearse, amazingly holding on to the ball. The Hawks made history, becoming the first reigning Super Bowl Champions to win a playoff game the next year. For the Seahawks second Super Bowl, they will be playing the Patriots. The Patriots dominated against the Colts in AFC championship and moved on to the Superbowl. During the game Wilson had 4 interceptions all of them targeting Kearse.. Offensively, the Hawks struggled throughout, but their defense did the best that they could. The two key plays were when Brandon Bostick did not catch the onside kick and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix not making a play on the 2-point conversion. If Bostick had caught the ball the game would have been over and if Clinton-Dix had knocked down the pass they would have won by two points. We give props to the Hawks for coming back from one of the biggest comebacks in playoff history!
By: Emilio & Henry
The NFL playoffs have been narrowed down to four teams: The Seahawks, Patriots, Packers, and the Colts. The Seahawks will host the Packers and the Patriots will host the Colts. The Seahawks demolished the Panthers and stayed classy by not running up the score. Chancellor and Sherman both had an interception and Chancellor returned for his first ever career touchdown. On the offensive side, Russel Wilson had a good game connecting with Luke Wilson and Jermain Kearse many times. Luke Willson with two touchdowns on two amazing plays and Kearse had one hundred twenty nine yards including his one handed catch. Lynch didn't really have a good game but is looking to pound it hard against the Packers weak run defense.
Our predictions for the Conference Championships:
Green Bay Packers 24-17 Seattle Seahawks (Emilio's only)
New England Patriots 45-27 Indianapolis Colts
By: Emilio and Henry
Seahawks have been in the playoffs for the third straight year, last year winning the Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos. This year they finished the season with a 12-4 record leading to home field advantage throughout the playoffs, beating out the Packers and the Cowboys. Marshawn Lynch had one of the best seasons of his career.
The playoffs have gone pretty much as expected with the exception of the Ravens beating the Steelers 30-17. The Panthers won 27-16 while putting on a defensive clinic while statistically having the best defensive game in NFL playoff history. The Cowboys undeservingly made an amazing comeback with a good pass interference call redacted to beat the Lions 24-20 with a fumble recovery in the final 45 seconds. As expected, the Colts beat Bengals 26-10.
Here are our predictions for the playoffs:
Patriots 31-17
Seahawks 24-10
Green Bay 28-24
Indianapolis 21-17
Away Goals Sink the Sounders
By Christopher Frost
2 goals a amazing performance from goalkeeper Stephan Frei weren't enough to keep the Seattle Sounders in the playoffs. A lone goal from Glaxaxy midfielder Juninho was enough to secure a berth in the finals for the Galaxy. The way the playoffs work is each team gets a game at home. They combine the scores of the two games, which is called aggregate. If the score is tied after the second leg, the series is decided on away goals. This is what doomed the Sounders. They held the Galaxy to 1 goal in LA, but weren't able to score themselves. This wasn't a bad result, but they had to score 2 goals at Home.
In front of 45,000 fans in Century Link Field, the Sounders came out attacking. Early on neither team could break the tie, and neither team could gain an advantage. Around the 30th minute Clint Dempsey chased a ball to the sideline. And played a slow bouncing ball across the middle. The keeper and defenders had chased Demsey, and the slow rolling ball across the middle fell right to Brad Evans feet. Evans tapped it in to tie the series 1-1.
Just a few minutes later right back DeAndre Yedlin played a low cross across the middle. The Galaxy defenders cleared it, but it fell right to Clint Dempsey. His shot took a little deflection and trickled past the Galaxy keeper, giving the Sounders a lead on aggregate. Unfortunately the Sounders couldn't hang on to the 2 goal lead and Galaxy midfielder Juninho's shot glanced off the post and went in. On aggregate the score was tied, but on away goals the Galaxy were ahead.
The Sounders needed one goal to win, but they just couldn't get it. The game ended 2-1, but the Sounders lost on away goals. It was a depressing end to amazing season. Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey led an attack that led the MLS in goals, while Chad Marshall won defender of the year while improving a defense that struggled greatly last year.
6 years and no MLS Cup. The Sounder have won every of trophy in MLS. The Open Cup 4 times, and the Supporters Shield. Every year the Sounders have had a winning record and made the playoffs, but every year they fall short. They have the talent, they just haven't been able to put it all together. They has never been a shortage of talented players in Seattle, with Freddy Montero, Eddie Johnson, Blaise Nkufo and Mauro Rosales to name a few. They certainly have the stars now, with Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey and Osvaldo Alonso. They finally seemed to have the chemistry and supporting players needed this year, but they fell short once again. Maybe next year will be the year, maybe the year after, nobody knows.
FIFA Corruption
Seattle Mariners Miss Postseason by One Game
By: Emilio & Luke
Corruption. Normally that word might be associated with politics, but soccer? In fact this has been going on for a while. It is widely known that the governing body of the soccer world is extremely corrupt. Controversy follows FIFA everywhere it goes, including World Cup bids. For each World Cup, any country interested in hosting the tournament tries to convince the 24 members on the FIFA executive committee to vote for them. Now FIFA has years to make decisions, so if a country is interested in hosting the tournament they have plenty of time to pitch their argument to the committee. But there have been many, many reports of bribes and other illegal ways of obtaining votes for countries.
FIFA has just finished an 18 month investigation into the scandal. Russia and Qatar had bribed World Cup delegates. The officials accepted and voted for their country. Russia had used a Picasso painting to convince the officials. Qatar is no longer being held responsible as England is now facing charges for bribery. Mohamed Bin Hammam- Banned from soccer for life after being accused of paying bribes to win votes during doom 2011 Fifa Presidency Bid. Amos Adamu from Nigeria was banned for three years after being caught by the Sunday Times trying to sell his vote to undercover reporters, denied his chance to vote in 2010. There will not be a re-vote as there is not enough evidence. Along that it has been under investigation for over a year.
Home Field Advantage
By Luke and Chris
Marco Papa only needed 15 minutes to score 2 goals and seal the Sounders home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Papa entered the game late in the second half, but he quickly showed his worth. The Sounders went into the game needing a win or a tie to gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Galaxy needed a win, and we're pushing for a goal throughout the game, but the Sounders stood strong. Center defenders Zach Scott and Chad Marshall had fantastic games, with Marshall earning MLS Team of the Week honors. While goalkeeper Stefan Frei played one of his best games of the season.
While the defense looked solid all game, they were helped out by the absence of Galaxy striker Robbie Keane. Without Keane the Galaxy attack looked stagnant most of the game. Landon Donovan and Gysai Zardes couldn't muster anything, even though they have had great season. Landon Donovan was playing his last regular season game of his career, but he failed to make an impact. He had an early chance, but his shot was right to Frei. The Galaxy was also missing US National Team, defender Omar Gonzales, but their defense was solid until the last ten minutes.
Throughout the entire first part of the game neither team could score. Possession was about equal, and the game was a standstill at 0-0. The Sounders attack of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Matins couldn't get anything going, but that changed when Papa came on. After 2 goals in 15 minutes, he secured a first round playoff bye, and home field advantage throughout the entire playoffs. With the Emerald City Supporters behind them throughout the playoffs, who knows what can happen
Hunt for the Post Season
By Luke and Chris
Marco Papa only needed 15 minutes to score 2 goals and seal the Sounders home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Papa entered the game late in the second half, but he quickly showed his worth. The Sounders went into the game needing a win or a tie to gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Galaxy needed a win, and we're pushing for a goal throughout the game, but the Sounders stood strong. Center defenders Zach Scott and Chad Marshall had fantastic games, with Marshall earning MLS Team of the Week honors. While goalkeeper Stefan Frei played one of his best games of the season.
While the defense looked solid all game, they were helped out by the absence of Galaxy striker Robbie Keane. Without Keane the Galaxy attack looked stagnant most of the game. Landon Donovan and Gysai Zardes couldn't muster anything, even though they have had great season. Landon Donovan was playing his last regular season game of his career, but he failed to make an impact. He had an early chance, but his shot was right to Frei. The Galaxy was also missing US National Team, defender Omar Gonzales, but their defense was solid until the last ten minutes.
Throughout the entire first part of the game neither team could score. Possession was about equal, and the game was a standstill at 0-0. The Sounders attack of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Matins couldn't get anything going, but that changed when Papa came on. After 2 goals in 15 minutes, he secured a first round playoff bye, and home field advantage throughout the entire playoffs. With the Emerald City Supporters behind them throughout the playoffs, who knows what can happen
Hunt for the Post Season
By Christopher
With one game left in the regular season the Seattle Sounders are sitting tied for 1st in the Western Conference. The Sounders play the L.A Galaxy at home on Saturday to decide their season. If they win, they have sole possession of 1st place and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. If they lose they finish second, and a tie puts them tied with the LA. But LA would get home field advantage thanks to goal differential. Home field advantage means the second game of a two game series would be played in Seattle. This is good because the Sounders would have their crowd behind them, and know what they need to do.
This season has had it’s ups and downs, but overall it has been a good season. The partnership of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins has finally come together, and they have scored a combined 32 goals in MLS play. They have also combined for 21 assists. Lamar Neagle and Osvaldo Alonso have been key continued to be key contributors this season, while new signings Marco Pappa and Gonzalo Pineda have been very nice additions. They have contributed goals, assists and added to the quality of the team. Chad Marshall has also been a key addition for the Sounders. While he has missed a large amount of games due to injury, he has helped tighten up the defense. Young right back DeAndre Yedlin has been another key contributor. He has signed a deal with Tottenham Hotspur in England, but he will stay with the Sounders until the end of the season. He has been a constant attacking threat down the right side, and his speed has also allowed him to play good defense.
The game on Saturday will decide the outcome of the Western Conference, but there are other implications too. It is Landon Donovan's last regular season game, as he is retiring after this season. It may be the last chance fans in Seattle will get to see him play, and it is certainly the most meaningful game of the season. If the Sounders can somehow pull out a win, it would be a massive advantage. It won’t be easy though, as the Galaxy have a very strong team. Stars Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes and Landon Donovan give them a deadly attack. While US World Cup defender Omar Gonzalez tightens up their defense. With stars and playoff implications this game is shaping up to be a thrilling one.Seattle Mariners Miss Postseason by One Game
The Seattle Mariners season just ended missing the AL wild card by one game, being eliminated by the Oakland Athletics after the A's defeated the Texas Rangers 4-0. The Mariners took out their ace Felix Hernandez after 7 innings to get the AL ERA record with a 2.14 earned run average, just barely beating Chris Sale on the Chicago White Sox with a 2.17 ERA.
Even though the Mariners swept the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, they needed the Texas Rangers to win two out of three games against the A's. So the Mariners had to play them in a one game tiebreaker to move on to play the Wild Card game. Sadly this did not work in the Mariners favor and they were eliminated from the post season when the A’s won. However, the M’s did finish with their first winning season (87-75) since 2009. Could this be a sign that the Mariners might be in the playoffs next year or will it be the old below .500 Mariners?
Looking ahead to next year the Mariners might acquire a few players in the offseason. In July this year the Mariners were thinking about trading for Troy Tulowitski on the Colorado Rockies. They could get him during the offseason depending on how much they have to pay him. There are ten very good 2015 Free Agents that, depending on the Mariners salary cap, they might be able to get. Max Scherzer(Tigers), Jon Lester(Athletics), James Shields(Royals), Hanley Ramirez(Dodgers), Pablo Sandoval(Giants), Victor Martinez(Tigers), Yasmani Thomas(Cuba), Melky Cabrera(Blue Jays), Russell Martin(Pirates), and Nelson Cruz(Orioles). But then again, there is a chance that the Mariners might not get any of them because they are paying Robinson Canó $240 million for ten years and Felix Hernandez $130.5 million for five years.
No matter what it will be a good season next year and this year was a sign of things to come. The big question is could the Mariners be even better next year or will it be like their last winning season in 2009? We'll find out in 2015!
NBA Playoffs
By Chris and Kenji
As the NBA Conference Semifinals come to a close, two series have already been decided (Spurs and Heat won). In the other two series the Thunder and Pacers both have a 3-2 lead over their opponents.
So far in the playoffs thing have gone very normally, with the only upsets being the five seeds beating the four seeds. But both of the one seeds went down 3-2 in their series, but battled back to win. In the first round the Thunder, who are one of the favorites to win the whole thing, were struggling mightily against the Grizzlies. Even though the 6 seed Nets, beat the 3 seed Raptors, that isn't really seen as an upset because of the way the Nets have been playing.
Even though the Nets were playing very well, they were eliminated in 5 games against the Heat who are, once again the favorites to win the title. In the other Eastern Conference semifinal, the Pacers are up 3-2 on the Wizards. In the West the Spurs have dominated another series, winning in 5 games over the Portland Trail Blazers. This was a huge disappointment to the Northwest, considering the way the Blazers have been playing, but the Spurs were just too good and experienced for them. In the other Western Conference Semifinal the Thunder are up 3-2 on the L.A Clippers.
#Upset
Mariners Race to the Postseason
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by Henry and Chris
Its been a great year for Seattle sports. The Seahawks are Super Bowl champs, the Sounders have the lead in the MLS, the Huskies are undefeated so far, and the Mariners are FINALLY in a playoff race. It's been a very long ten plus years for the Mariners, but they finally have a chance to end the misery.
It may look very grim right now, but there is a tiny chance that the Mariners could still make the playoffs. They are two games back of the Kansas City Royals with six games left in the season. The chances may be slim, but a 5-1 record to close the season would give them a good chance. Even if they do finish strong, the more likely possibility is a tie with the Royals for the last wild card spot. If this happens they would play a one game playoff against Kansas City and the winner would play another one game series against the Oakland. IF they won both of these games they would play a series against one of the division winners. Although this may happen, the Mariners season does look close to being over. All the hard work, and tough games will only be a step in the right direction, not a playoff appearance.
Earlier in the season the Mariners signed super-star,Robinson Cano on a 10 year contract worth 240 million dollars. Everybody thought the Mariners overpaid for him but they wouldn't be in the same position without him. Even with the addition of Cano their offense has been ok at best and their pitching has carried them through the year. They have done that with the best bullpen in baseball and a team earned run average of 3.18 which is one of the best in baseball.
Even if the Mariners don't make the playoffs, they have proved that they have potential to be a championship contender. But that doesn't mean they haven't given up hope. Manager Lloyd McClendon is confident is his team and if they can finish the last six games strong, there just might be a chance of making the playoffs. The Royals have faltered down the stretch in recent years, and any Royals loss right now, will give the Mariners a glimpse of hope.
If the Mariners do make the playoffs, they will have to play a single game against the other wild card team to get into the playoffs. They have one of the best pitchers in baseball in Felix Hernandez, so they have a chance if they can get there!
By: Emilio and Kenji
Are you kidding me!? Almost everybody's 2014 NCAA men's tournament bracket has been ruined by UCONN and Kentucky making it to the championship along with UCONN winning it all. This is the upset of the century. Shabazz Napoer had an amazing game with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals at the ending the game Shabazz . Overall it was an amazing game by Napier and for Kentucky, a devastating loss. James Yoing had 20 points, and 7 rebounds for the Kentucky Wildcats. UCONN took an early lead, but then it seemed like Kentucky was coming back. It was like this all game almost. During the whole game Kentucky never lead. UCONN consistently kept a 3-6 point lead. After that game the 2014 UCONN Huskies became the national champions
March Madness Update
By: Owen, Emilio, and Chris
There are no more perfect brackets left in the tournament, no one is getting one billion dollars and even the people who have the best brackets, have at least four games wrong. This in part because there have been upsets that less than 3 percent of people predicted. 11, 12, 13 and 14 seeds have all won, beating basketball powerhouses like Syracuse, Duke and Kansas. Many people thought these teams had a chance to get to the final four, or even win the national championship. With teams like Dayton, Harvard and North Dakota State winning against all odds over traditional powerhouses, this years tournament has been very exciting.
Some of the favorites to win are still in the tournament, but others, such as Wichita State, Creighton and Syracuse have been knocked out. With so many upsets and great games, we have experienced the madness of March once again. Our next update will be after the national championship game.
March Madness
By Christopher, Owen and Emilio
College basketball conference tournaments are just starting, and we all know what comes next, March Madness. For those of you who don't know what this is, this is the the 68 team tournament to determine this years national championship. A lot of people think it is 64 teams, but there are 4 play-in games that usually determine two 12 seeds and two 16 seeds. Some of the favorites to win are Duke, Kansas, Syracuse, Arizona, Wichita State, Florida and the reigning champs Louisville. A dark horse contender could be Virgina, they were good all year, and after beating Syracuse they may be set for a title run. Although these teams are favorites, there is a possibility any of them could get out in the first or second round. That's the madness of March!
Last year Louisville won the championship vs Michigan. They narrowly beat Wichita State in the final four. There were two major upsets last year, Florida Gulf Coast, a 15 seed made it to the sweet sixteen, beating number two seed Georgetown. Wichita State, a nine seed made the final four, beat Pittsburgh in the first round. Luke Hancock, a small forward from Louisville was named tournament MVP. Gonzaga was the only Washington team to make the tourney, they were a one seed, but were eliminated in the second round.This year it looks like Gonzaga will be the only team from Washington to make the tourney, unless Washington wins the PAC-12 conference tournament, considering WSU didn't even make the tourney.
This tournament is going to be very exciting with stars like Andrew Wiggins(Kansas), Jabari Parker(Duke), Cleanthony Early(Wichita State), Julius Randle(Kentucky), C.J Fair(Syracuse), Doug McDermott(Creighton), and Russ Smith(Louisville). College basketball has been very competitive this year, with many team that have been ranked #1 and lots of upsets. With so many stars and very competitive teams this should be a very exciting tournament.Barclay's Premier League
source: http://www.sports-logos-
By: Owen and Andres
In Great Britain they call soccer football and it's a lot bigger deal than it is in the United States. Barclays Premier League, the league in Great Britain, is one of the top leagues in the world and has been since it started. The BPL is the highest level you can play in. There are several leagues below it. The top teams in the last ten years have been Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool. This year Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool are still in it for the title race. It is a very close race with there being only 6 points between the first place team, Chelsea, and the fourth place team, Liverpool.
The EPL has many outstanding players, like Steven Gerrard, Mesut Özil, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, and Jack Wilshere, who are the best midfielders in the league. Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, Robin Van Persie, Luis Suarez are the best strikers in the league. Vincent Kompany, John Terry, Kyle Walker, Ashley Cole are the best defenders. Petr Cech, Joe Hart, Hugo Lloris, and Tim Howard are the best keepers in the league.
Also currently going on in the English Soccer League is the Champions League, where the best teams from Europe, like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Bayern Munich fight for being crowned as the champion of that year. The winners also get a chance at winning the Club World Cup. The Champions League is full of surprises, for example Olympiacos, a team from Greece beat Manchester United, a team known for being really good. As the season ends we suggest that you stay tuned in on the results as the exciting race comes to an end.Aksel Lund Svindal
http://swanygloves.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/klaus-kroell-aksel-lund-svindal-and-erik-guay-all-skiing-well-as-mens-world-cup-downhill-looms-in-lake-louise/
By Emma and Aisha
Aksel is a Olympic medalist in skiing, who has been very successful in many races. Svindal was born in December 26, 1982 in Kjeller, Norway. His first gold medal was won in 2009, for Super Combined. In 2010, Svindal won a gold medal for Super-G. He has also won a silver medal for downhill skiing. Svindal has won many other races too. He has received 10 medals from the world championships, five of which were gold. However, in 2007 Svindal had a big accident in Beaver Creek Colorado. He crashed during the training run for the Birds of Prey downhill race. He broke many bones and had to heal for the rest of the year. He came back for the Vancouver Olympics and won a total of three medals. Although he was expected to be a star this year in Sochi, he had to drop out of super-G due to severe allergies. He placed 4th in downhill, 8th in Super Combined, and 7th in giant slalom. Maybe he will do better in the next Olympics!
NFL DRAFT
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source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130716/steve-spurrier-jadeveon-clowney.ap/
by Emilio
The 2014 NFL draft starts May 8th and ends May 10th. I have interviewed five people about their opinions on this years draft. I asked Owen, Christopher, Henry, Kenji, and Blake for their prediction for the first five picks of the draft. I have also listed my top five. I will explain my picks and why.
First five picks draft order; 1. Houston Texans
2. St. Louis Rams
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Cleveland Browns
5. Oakland Raiders
Owen: 1. Johnny Manziel
2. Teddy Bridgewater
3. Jadeveon Clowney
4. Jake Mathews
5. Sammy Watkins
Chris: 1. Teddy Bridgewater
2. Jake Mathews
3. Johnny Manziel
4. Blake Bortles
5. Sammy Watkins
Henry: 1. Teddy Bridgewater
2. Johnny Manziel
3. Jake Mathews
4. Sammy Watkins
5. Blake Bortles
Kenji: 1. Johnny Manziel
2. Teddy Bridgewater
3. Jadeveon Clowney
4. Blake Bortles
5. Michael Sam
Blake: 1. Jadeveon Clowney
2. Jake Mathews
3. Teddy Bridgewater
4. Greg Robinson
5. Blake Bortles
Emilio: 1. Teddy Bridgewater
2. Sammy Watkins
3. Johnny Manziel
4. Blake Bortles
5. Jadeveon Clowney
I chose Teddy Bridgewater for the Houston Texans because the Texans are in need of a quarterback and Teddy will fit into their playing style and might make them a playoff team. Hard to determine before the first few games of the regular season.
I chose Sammy Watkins for the St. Louis Rams because the Rams don't have many good wide receivers. Really, they only have Tavon Austin and he is decent. Sammy was amazing this past year and will give a healthy Sam Bradford another weapon to throw to.
I chose Johnny manziel for the Jacksonville Jaguars because Jacksonville is in need for a quarterback. Johnny Manziel is a great mobile and pass quarterback and will bring Jacksonville a couple more W's and eventually, maybe, a playoff spot if they build around him with other good players.
I chose Blake Bortles for the Cleveland Browns because they are also in need in a quarterback while switching quarterbacks all through the year. Blake will have two great weapons with Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron. I do not know much about Blake Bortles but I have heard he is great.
I chose Jadeveon Clowney for the Oakland Raiders because you never hear how the Raiders defense is amazing and all that. The Raiders are lucky to get Clowney at the fifth pick. Probably the only reason that Clowney is available is because the teams before the Raiders have no need for him. The Raiders will hopefully build around Clowney and go back to that rough and tough defense they used to be.
World Cup 2014
http://worldsoccertalk.com/
http://worldsoccertalk.com/
By: Owen Tabbutt and Andres Lopez
With everyone getting excited for the World Cup this June and the top countries fighting for the trophy, we decided it was a good idea to go around the school asking people for predictions on who will finish in the top four and how the U.S.A will finish. The World Cup is not only a cup for soccer, it also unites countries from all over the world and bringing joy to everyone.
There are many teams that are favorites for winning the 2014 World Cup, like Germany. Germany has won the cup three times and has finished in the top four many times. They are one of the favorites because their lineup is the strongest in the world. Their midfield is also probably the strongest, with Mesut Özil, Tomas Müller, Mario Götze, Marco Reus, Bastian Shwiensteiger, and Samir Khediria.
Another possibility is Brazil. A big reason why is because they are the home country and home field is always a big advantage. They have won the cup the most out of any country in the world and always have a great squad. This upcoming World Cup, they have a very young team with their best player, Neymar, who is only at the age of 20. The most recent cup they were in was the Confederations Cup. They beat Spain in the final 3-0. Although they do not have a lot of players on their team who have a lot of experience, the young talented players might just push their team to their 6th World Cup title.
Spain is also a favorite to win. With Spain being the reigning champions of the 2010 World Cup, they will come into the tournament with loads of confidence. They have a great midfield but their weakness is a point striker. Their best option is either Fernando Torres, Alvaro Negredo, or Robert Soldado. None of them are a clear choice, but hopefully for the Spanish fans, their midfield can win them a second straight Cup.
The U.S also has a great qualification for the tournament, finishing first in the CONCACAF region. They had a great year going on their longest ever winning streak, of 12 games in a row, beating Germany. The U.S also has a great coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, who became the manager in 2011. The Americans are headed in the right direction and hopefully will surprise a lot of people this summer in Brazil.
Below are the prediction from some people at Westside of who will finish in the top four and how the U.S will finish.
Glyn:
1: Brazil
2: Spain
3: Germany
4: England
U.S.: Reach the round of sixteen
Chris:
1: Spain
2: Germany
3: Brazil
4: Argentina
U.S: Will get knocked out of group stage
Kenji:
1: Portugal
2: Spain
3: Brazil
4: Germany
U.S: Not get out of group stage
Blake:
1: Spain
2: Brazil
3: USA
4: Portugal
U.S: 3rd place
Emilio:
1: Spain
2: Germany
3: Brazil
4: Argentina
U.S: Reach the round of sixteen
Andres:
1: Germany
2: Spain
3: Brazil
4: Argentina
U.S: Will not get out of group stage
Owen:
1: Brazil
2: Germany
3: Spain
4: Argentina
U.S: Reach round of sixteen
Opinion Piece: Richard Sherman Right or Wrong?by Emilio
source: http://ladyblitzfootball.blogspot.com/2013/09/2013-win-loss-predictions-nfc-west.html
There is still a lot of hype on the interview Richard Sherman gave right after the Seahawks vs. 49ers game two weeks ago. People are calling him names all the way from a thug to a disgrace. Personally I think people are looking at it the wrong way. They think he is all full of himself, which he kinda is, but not as much as people think.
When I first saw the interview I was thinking the same exact thing. Then I realized that everybody is overreacting. I thought of all the emotions going through him in that moment, he was excited. What else would you expect, for him to be calm? His team was going to the Super Bowl all because of him and the hustle from Malcolm Smith! Why would he not reply like that? After the play, he went to go Shake Michael Crabtree's hand but Michael Crabtree pushed him away and acted like a jerk. Sherman is angry and should not be judged by that interview. Richard Sherman graduated from Stanford and is extremely smart.
He is not a thug or a disgrace, he is a good football player. 
By Luke and Henry
After playing the 49ers in a tight game, the Seahawks pulled out on top last Sunday! Tension rose to an unbearable level in 4th quarter. The 49ers kept driving closer and closer to the Seahawks end zone, but with twenty seconds left in the game, and the score 23-17 the 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick lofted the ball into the 49ers endzone. As the ball soared in the air towards Michael Crabtree, Richard Sherman, a Seahawks cornerback, jumped up and swatted it away. Instantly Malcolm Smith intercepted and threw himself to the ground to insure he didn't lose the ball. The Seahawks are headed to the Superbowl in two weeks to play the Denver Broncos.
