runswick ChronicleThe

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!"#$%&'()&*+,!"#$%&'"(Obama Commits Troops

By Drew McMahon (P. 1, 12)ClimateGate Scandal

By Johnny Erdman (P. 1, 12)

)*+,'$-.*,'(/&01Blindside Movie Review

By Sean Forester (P.2)Interview with Arnie Welles

By Bobby Pollak (P. 3)GA‐Wick IMBL Challenge

By Gus Ruchman (P. 5)

.*,'(/&01-23+*4(5)*4(Collapse of the Knicks

By Mike Forester (P. 4, 5)Jeter Sportsman of the Year

By Willy Fein (P. 6, 7)

24,$"'46$&4+*&#%(57"/(!"#$%&'(()*&+,&-"%By Addison Bennett (P.8)Top 10 News Stories

By Holden Fett (P.9)Use of Food Stamps

By Spencer (P.10)Online Ticketing Debate

By Harrison Oztemel(P.11)

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!"#$%&'#()(*+,-#.//01*22#3%41&%

Obama Commits Additional Troops

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!""#$/01123,#-)."#45

President Obama announced on December 1 that he

would send an additional 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan, to bolster the already !"#$"%&'($)&*+&presence in the country, a presence it has felt since 2001. This decision came after three months of heavy debate within the administration on how many additional troops, if

any at all, should be sent to Afghanistan. In front of the cadets at West Point, Obama

outlined a strategy that ,-./0&!11&)21&%&3!)&,(41&-5 &)3--6!&71"$#&!1$)&"$&)21&%&3!)&months of 2010, and the full 30,000 reaching Afghanistan

within six months. The troops will be focused in the areas with the highest 8(/"7($&"$9&.1$'1:&;("$/<&

the Kandahar and Helmand Provinces in Southern Afghanistan, where Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders have been holed up in the mountains since the original

invasion. Obama will give US forces eighteen months to prevent the Taliban “cancer from once again spreading through that

ClimateGate Scandal

An anonymous computer hacker has done the

unthinkable. He has put a dent in the once unquestionable global consensus on climate change, that the earth is warming and that humans are the cause. The scandal, dubbed “ClimateGate,” arose from the theft of emails and data from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia. The stolen emails reveal that CRU researchers corresponded with other researchers from

institutions all over the world, manipulated data, and suppressed evidence that contradicts global warming. The data from the CRU is one of the underlying sets used by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the Nobel Prize with Al Gore in 2007, and is at the foundation of the current consensus on global warming. The emails show how researchers tried to manipulate data to “hide the decline,” as in the following, excerpted from an email: “I’ve just completed Mike’s

Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years [from 1981 onwards] and from 1961 for Keith’s to hide the decline.”

In addition, it appears that the Climatic Research Unit destroyed emails to suppress evidence, and even destroyed much of the raw data in question, which removes any possibility of competent peer review moving forward. The data destruction puts the researchers’ denial of any wrongdoing in further doubt. Nevertheless, some members of the House and Senate appear more inclined

Around Brunswick

89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

/*=&#:

Editors-in-ChiefDavid Blumenthal ‘10

Alex Jonokuchi ‘10Oliver Sall ‘10

Staff Writers and Photographers

Faculty AdvisorDr. Brian Freeman

!"#$%&'()*+!,#&'-.The Brunswick Student’s News Source

?*00-)@1#AB+&8&"#C>;D@99E#/@""*F#C>;?*1F#G7%"&))#C>;H-F&#,@0&)+&0#C>>GI&17&0#6*%"#C>>60&(#H7H*%@1#C>>J*0+&0#K@%1)@1#C>:!LL-)@1#D&11&++#C>:

!

Managing EditorGus Ruchman ‘10

The Blind Side: a Review

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The Blind Side tells the uplifting tale of the high-school boy from

downtown Memphis who uses his physical size and the strength of his heart to propel him to unexpected heights. The movie stars Sandra Bullock, who plays the mother of the family who takes Michael Oher in one day when he has no place to stay. The Tuohy family takes “Big Mike” into their family as a son, while son S.J. and daughter Collins accept Michael as a brother. Sean Tuohy, played by Tim McGraw, is the father of the family, and comes to be in charge of Michael’s recruiting letters and visits.

If you look at Michael Oher, you might get the sense from his 6’4, 310-pound frame that he might well be a dominating force on the offensive line. Football scouts have never heard of “Big Mike” until his senior season, but during that season, Michael exceeds expectations and receives offers from powerhouse football programs like Tennessee, LSU, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. Based on the novel by Michael Lewis, this true story is depicted well on the big screen, providing viewers with a seemingly accurate account of Michael Oher’s story.

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of the movie is Michael’s newness to the sport of football—in fact, he had played in a league since eighth grade. The movie also focuses excessively on mother Lee Ann Tuohy, essentially spotlighting the talent of Sandra Bullock. Truthfully, while Lee Ann plays a key role in Michael’s rise to the top, she is not as central a character as the movie portrays her to be.

821&%&/;&016"')!&)21&academic struggles Michael faces at his new private school. Big Mike’s 0.6 GPA going into his sophomore year has to be raised to a 2.5 in order for him to receive a college scholarship, a factor which forces Michael to work incredibly hard to raise his GPA. Increasing his average from the D-range to the >?@($#1:&A"'2(1/B!&%&$(/&CDE&turns out to be 2.52, barely enough to earn a scholarship.

After playing four years at left tackle for Ole Miss, Michael Oher was the 23rd pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Michael now plays for the Ravens as a rookie, having started every game for them (though most games he has started at right tackle, which is different from his natural position of left tackle).

This very successful movie is on track to make over 200 million dollars. >1'(.!1&")&5./%&//!&(//&-5 &)21&

necessary stereotypes of a cheesy, feel-good, underdog sports movie, The Blind Side was initially typecast as such. But viewers soon realized )2()&)2"!&1F'1//1$)&%&/;&,(!&not simply a tacky football movie. Reviews from critics and viewers have been exceptional across the board, which has prompted more and more people to see the %&/;G&821&;-4"1&'(6)"4()1!&audiences with sporadic bursts of humor and a desire to see Michael the underdog protagonist rise to glory. Viewers are also surprised by the prowess of pre-teen actor Jae Head as the youngest child of the Tuohy family. Playing S.J. Tuohy, he does a phenomenal job showing his

idolization of Michael, while also providing comic relief.

While The Blind Side enthralls its audience by telling an astounding tale with enthusiasm, humor, and a refreshingly positive outlook, what separates it from other movies of its type is that the escapist qualities of the cookie-cutter Disney storyline stem from reality. Not only does the movie encompass all that is too good to be true—it also happens to be true. But unlike other sports movies based on true stories, when the movie ends, football fans can watch the happy ending unfold in real time.

The hero is there on the television screen, at right tackle for the Ravens.

H*++%&(#G*M-++#C>:H*++#J*))@"-#C>:K*F&#H*++%&()#C>:.-""E#,&-1#C>N?@"L&1#,&++#C>N

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/&+&0#6P!=@)+-1@#C>N

Around Brunswick /*=&#N

89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

Twenty-one Questions with... 

Arnie Welles!"#!,<<"#=,>>*?#./@A-1&%B4&'&% uglier?

AW: Yeah, everyone looks cooler if they wear sunglasses, and everyone also looks uglier in glasses—I mean, just get contacts, ya know?

BP: What’s the biggest turn‐off in a girl?AW: One who complains a 

lot. Urghh, I hate that.

BP: Will are you? AW: Will am I? Oh I don’t know, a house I guess…

BP: If you could meet one person from the past or future, who would it be, and what would you do?AW: Probably—Megan Fox, ‘cause… I mean, she’s pretty hot.

BP: If I took a look inside your refrigerator, what !"#$%&'&()*%+&AW: Vegetables, milk, and candy. 

BP: What are you hiding?

AW: I mean… I take tennis lessons sometimes? 

BP: Can you think of a particular incident that made you “LOL”?  AW: Mr. Potter was showing us—like, he was pretending he was eating a baby in class, and that was hilarious…

BP: If you could speak to any animal, which would it be, and what would 

you say? AW: A cockroach… I would say, “Hey Mr. Cockroach, get out of my house!” 

BP: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? Want to do? AW: I once swam next to a nurse shark. It doesn’t bite and isn’t dangerous at all, but I mean, I don’t know... I haven’t done too many crazy things.

BP: If someone wrote a biography about you, what would its title be? AW: As Well ’cause it’s $),-.&/0&()123&4*%&/)%%$-&

initial, and then my last name. My middle name is Sumner, by the way.

BP: How many times would you say you’ve opened a door? AW: Probably 500,000 times. 

BP5&6-()*-5&7438AW: Uh, uh—a feline. Uhh—an animal people have sometimes. A cat. Yes…

BP5&6-()*-5&9#234:;-8AW: Facial hair on your chin… or uh, facial hair on your face. 

BP: Would you be willing to reduce your life -<=-:34*:0&>0&()?-&0-412&if you could be extremely attractive? Ten years? AW5&6-()*)3-$0&*"3&()?-&years—I want a long life. I don’t know about ten. Maybe, but probably not.

BP: Which vegetable do you most resemble? AW: I guess a carrot. Yeah. 6-()*)3-$08&

BP: Would you mind being haunted by Michael Jackson?AW: No, I wouldn’t. I mean, you’d get to hear cool songs, so… 

!

BP: If you could be a type of salad dressing, which would you be, and why? AW5&6-()*)3-$0&74-241.&because I would love to rule an empire.

BP: What would you do if you had a time machine? AW: Go back in time to when I had a test, and like, study longer for it or something.

BP: How much money would it take for you to eat this pencil right now? AW: Five dollars. 

BP: If you had to pick your theme song, what would it be, and why? AW: Don’t Stop Believing, ‘cause to be an actor, you have to persevere and you just can’t stop believing. Ever. 

BP5&@;):;&()*A-1&)2&0"#1&favorite? Least favorite? AW: My thumb is my favorite, because it’s my /"23&="!-1B#$&()*A-18&My least would be my =)*,)-C&*".&)*%-<&()*A-1.&because it just sits there and doesn’t do anything.

BP: Does wearing sunglasses make you look cooler? Does wearing eyeglasses make you look 

The Collapse of theNew York Knicks

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89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

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When Isiah Thomas was named President

of the New York Knicks on December 22, 2003, it was widely thought that the move would bring the Knicks back to prominence in the NBA. Lenny Wilkens, the winningest coach in NBA history, was brought in, and Stephon Marbury was acquired from Phoenix. Things started off well with Marbury, but Thomas made a surprising move in dealing away Keith van Horn, with whom Marbury worked very well. The Knicks stumbled to a 39-43 season and were !,16)&"$&)21&%&3!)&3-.$0&-5 &the playoffs by the Nets. The next season, Wilkens resigned halfway through the <1(3:&7.)&)21&H$"'I!&%&$"!210&with a record of 33-49. Thomas’s promising start was soon forgotten, and Knick fans were beginning

to get angry. Coach Larry Brown signed a 5-year $50 million dollar contract in the offseason, which brought another big name coach into Madison Square Garden. Again, things were looking up for the Knicks going into

the 2005 season. But that’s when everything began to unravel. In the summer before the 2005 season, Thomas began to make some questionable player personnel decisions. He traded away veteran Tim Thomas and Michael Sweetney, the Knicks 2003 %&3!)&3-.$0&03(5)&6"'I:&5-3&Eddy Curry, a raw and unproven center with medical problems stemming

from his heart. With the trade, the Bulls also gained )21&3"#2)&)-&!,(6&%&3!)&3-.$0&picks with the Knicks in 2006. Curry has had one productive season with the Knicks in 2006-2007, but has otherwise been a massive

disappointment. The Bulls did swap picks with the Knicks in 2006, where they selected Lamarcus Aldridge, who thus far has had a productive NBA career. The Knicks had the highest payroll in the NBA that season, at $130 million, but they limped to a 23-59 record, second worst in the NBA. Larry Brown was %&310:&($0&2"!&'-$)3(')&,(!&bought out for $18.5 million. Before Thomas was

%&310&"$&J-41;713&KLLM:&he made many other highly criticized trades and signings. On multiple occasions he brought in expensive players who did not produce, like Steve Francis. The Knicks were forced to buy out his

contract for $30 million dollars when they traded him in June 2007. Jerome James signed (&%&41?<1(3G&$30 million dollar deal in 2005, but he was out of shape and frequently injured; James was called Thomas’ biggest gaffe in terms of player signings.

During the summer before the 2007 season, things somehow got worse. Thomas was found liable for a sexual harassment lawsuit %&/10&(#("$!)&2";&"$&KLLN:&and the jury hit MSG with $11.6 million in punitive damages. The Isiah Thomas era came to an end after the Knicks went 23-59 in the 2007-2008 season, when he ,(!&%&310&(!&O1(0&P-('2&7<&recently-signed President

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89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

GA-Wick: IMBL Challenge

Sra. (Mrs.) Brodeur-Sassi, the Greenwich Academy Junior Class Dean and head of Greenwich Academy intramural basketball, recently walked across the court of a shocked MiniDome to deliver a bold message: “The girls would like to play you.” Renowned for its rough-and-tumble style, witty commentary, and unadulterated entertainment, Brunswick’s IMBL has grown exponentially in recent years. Before this season commenced, Director of Athletics Mr. Tim Ostrye and IMBL Commissioner/IMBL News Editor-in-Chief Mr. Mike Harris jointly declared the program to be at maximum capacity. Seniors, juniors, and even sophomores from all corners of the Upper

!"#CD;#ED)+8*-./@(*-*F4-F#6741,% School are eager to partake

in some “good action,” and try their luck at IMBL glory. After all, what could be more exhilarating than a forty-minute no-holds-barred showdown between the Big Ass Fan Company and the She-Man-Tweener Haters Club? Also seeking to participate in the recreational diversion are the Greenwich Academy girls. In an effort to provide non-Varsity athletes with more varied winter sports options, the GA Athletics Department has initiated its very own IMBL. The inaugural GA IMBL is limited to seniors, which Brodeur-Sassi sees as a positive. “I feel like we have had some senior bonding and team bonding for girls who haven’t participated in a while on a team.” Although the

Brunswick community has been abuzz with speculation about such basketball powerhouses as Hank “The Tank” Schless, “Rockin’ Robin” Malloch, and Jason John, among others, the Gators remain optimistic about their chances of !.''1!!G&QAC&"!&!"F?%&41&and unstoppable. Plus, she swears really well in Deutsch,” claims Brodeur-Sassi. “No technical foul if the ref doesn’t understand Deutsch.” More than the gender barrier will be broken when the schools come face to face. The clash in playing methodology will be ferocious when the all-out somersaulting spectacle 1F1;6/"%&10&7<&+(;&Q>(;&Bam” King meets an approach to basketball that >3-01.3?+(!!"&'/(!!"%&1!&as “very cerebral.” With rising levels of both tension

and trash-talk, rumors of sabotage are circulating. A true promoter of sportsmanship, Brodeur-+(!!"&(5%&3;!&)2()&Q!(7-)(#1&is contra ‘ad ingenium faciendum.’” Exact details of the match, such as who will play and who will referee, are !)"//&2(R<G&SA>T&(%&'"-$(0-!&should check the Brunswick IMBL News, posted for the reader’s convenience above every urinal on Maher Avenue, for more information as it becomes available. Until then, athletes on both campuses will be training hard so they may prove themselves worthy of competing in such a historic meeting. According to the GA IMBL team, only one question remains: “Wait…. Who’s skins?” Check, please!

“Knicks,” Cont.

Donnie Walsh. Walsh hired Mike D’Antoni to be the coach on May 13, 2008. Knowing it would be a long re-building process, fans were forgiving when the Knicks went 32-50 last season. Walsh’s main focus had been clearing cap space for the 2010 summer, when there will be multiple superstar free agents, including LeBron James. Dwyane Wade, Chris

Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, and Dirk Nowitzki will also be available. However, fans are growing tired of the futility—they want results before 2010. Through December 6, the Knicks are 6-15 and third to last in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks have been a poor team for almost a decade now. Ever since they went to 48-34 in 2000, they have endured 8 straight losing seasons, and this

season does not look any better. But, not all is lost for this once-proud franchise. With a strong young core of Nate Robinson, Chris Duhon, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and David Lee, all the Knicks need is one or two more good players to make them Though much ado has been made about potentially signing LeBron James in 2010, this is not absolutely necessary. The Knicks have cleared the cap space to sign two big name players, so a

one-two punch of Chris Bosh and Michael Redd ,-./0&01%&$")1/<&71&6-!!"7/1:&and could make the Knicks a great team. The future could very well be bright for the H$"'I!:&7.)&")&,"//&71&0"5%&'./)&for fans to forget what has happened to their team in the past ten years. That collapse is attributable to Isiah Thomas, the man who supposed to be the savior.

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89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

Derek Jeter: Sportsman of the Year

2009 has been quite a year for Derek Jeter.

On November UL:&V1)13&,(!&)21&%&3!)&Yankee to be named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year. This year, the Yankee Captain did more than play at his usual high level. While he once again won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, his biggest achievements of 2009 can be broken down into two numbers, 2 and 7.

Just 26 days prior to his selection, Mr. November helped the New York Yankees win their 27th championship, the all-time record of any major sports franchise. Ever since he arrived in New York, Derek has been the most consistent player in the lineup and has grown into something of a legend in the eyes of Yankees’ fans. This year, he built upon his legacy with hit number 2,722. On September 11, Jeter became the all-time 2")!&/1(013&-5 &)21&63-/"%&'&franchise in sports history. Derek Jeter is and always will be a Yankee, for the team and its captain share a connection that spans over three decades.

*$)"/&21&,(!&%&41:&

Derek Jeter lived with his grandmother, a die-hard Yankee fan, in Pequannock,

New Jersey. He then moved with his family to Kalamazoo, Michigan and brought with him his inherited love of the New York Yankees. In Michigan, he played in three different little leagues before entering high school. As a freshman, in 1989 Jeter earned a spot

on the Kalamazoo Central High School varsity baseball team. As a senior, Derek

batted above .500 with 23 RBIs in 23 games. He was the American Baseball Coaches Association’s High School Player of the Year, the Gatorade Athlete of the Year and USA Today’s High School Player of the year. Always Yankee fans, Jeter and his family could not

have been happier when the New York Yankees picked Derek with the sixth pick in

the 1992 MLB Draft.After being

drafted, an 18-year old Jeter attended the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship. He did not stay long though; in 1993 Derek became a professional baseball player. His %&3!)&<1(3&"$&)21&A"$-3&Leagues, Derek was an All-Star while playing at Class A Greensboro. He was also voted the league’s Best Defensive +2-3)!)-6:&>1!)&S$%&1/0&Arm and Most Exciting Player along with the “Most Exciting Major League Prospect” award. 1994 wasn’t very different as Jeter was the Minor League Player of the Year as reported by Baseball

America, The Sporting

News, USA Today Baseball

Weekly, and Topps. Derek made his MLB debut on May 29, 1995 when Yankees shortstop Tony Fernandez was injured.

W131I&31'-3010&2"!&%&3!)&2")!&($0&%&3!)&3.$&-$&A(<&UL:&7.)&Fernandez’s injury was not serious and Jeter did not play long. In 1996 things changed. The Yankees new manager, Joe Torre, decided to start Jeter on opening day. V1)13B!&%&5)2&"$$"$#&2-;1&3.$&

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Around Brunswick /*=&#S

89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

“Jeter” Cont.%16*'67"8#901(#-)."#<on Opening Day marked the beginnings of an illustrious career.

In a hotel room as a rookie, Jeter told his father that he wanted to start a foundation. Charles Jeter, who has a Ph.D. in Sociology, cautioned his son, telling him that there were many ways to help that would be easier than trying to start a foundation. “No.” Derek told him, “This is what I want to do.” That year, Jeter began the Turn 2 Foundation. In its %&3!)&<1(3&)21&5-.$0()"-$&raised $300,000, and today, it has awarded more than $10 million in grants. The foundation, run by Derek and his family, encourages kids to “turn to” a healthy lifestyle and turn away from drugs and alcohol.

In 1996, a new chapter of Yankees history was written. Led by veterans like Paul O’Neill and with the help of newcomers like Torre and Jeter, the Bronx >-;713!&,-$&)21"3&%&3!)&X-3/0&+13"1!&"$&-413&%&5)11$&years. The Yankees were champions again in 1998, 1999 and 2000. In 1997, V1)13&31'1"410&2"!&%&3!)&AYD&votes. The next year, Jeter ;(01&2"!&%&3!)&-5 &)1$&E//?+)(3&game appearances while his team won a Yankee-record 114 games. Jeter was both the All-Star Game MVP and the World Series MVP in 2000, as he won title number

four.Everywhere he has

played, Derek Jeter has been a leader. He has been a role model not only to the fans but to his own teammates. MLB commissioner Bud Selig wrote a letter to Jeter thanking Derek for “[representing] the sport ;(#$"%&'1$)/<&)23-.#2-.)&[his] Hall of Fame career.” Derek’s leadership was acknowledged on June 3, 2003 when he became the 11th captain of the New Z-3I&Z($I11!&($0&)21&%&3!)&since 1995.

From 2003 to 2008, Derek Jeter was the only constant in a series of disappointing New York Yankees teams. Scandals came and went, and while it seemed as if every other Yankee had been exposed negatively, there was Jeter with his untarnished image in the center of it all. Rodriguez, Clemens, Pettite and Giambi were all connected to steroids and still Jeter remained untouched by the scrutiny of the New York media. To this day, Jeter’s resume remains unblemished. Eight years after winning the 2000 World Series, it seemed as if the Yankees were falling from grace, but in 2009 the captain would jumpstart his team once again.

V1)13B!&%&5)11$)2&season was one of his best. He batted .334 and led the Yankees back to the

World Series. Like in 1996, a new infusion of players combined with veterans to make the Bronx Bombers world champions once again. D132(6!&)21&;-!)&!"#$"%&'($)&moment of the season came in the third inning of a virtually meaningless game against the Baltimore Orioles. Derek was at bat and saw a pitch he could hit. He turned on the inside pitch and sliced it down the /"$1&"$&3"#2)&%&1/0G&821&7(//&!2-)&6(!)&)21&%&3!)&7(!1;($&($0&"$)-&)21&-.)%&1/0G&S$&)21&scorebooks, this hit was a simple single. But with hit number 2,722, Jeter passed Lou Gehrig to become the Yankees’ all-time hits leader. The game was stopped and the hometown crowd gave Derek a standing ovation while even the opposing players applauded. Everyone in Yankee Stadium knew what they were witnessing. Derek Jeter, the Yankees fan from Kalamazoo, a World Series champion, was now a legend.

Sports Illustrated wrote above their Sportsman of the Year article that, “[i]t is not so much what he accomplished at 35…as how he arrived at his iconic place. Being the ultimate team player and role model synonymous with winning” has brought him this award. His unrelenting competitive drive has served him well—Derek now has enough X-3/0&+13"1!&3"$#!&)-&%&//&2"!&right hand.

If you ask Jeter,

he will immediately credit his parents, Dorothy and Charles Jeter, for his success. They still receive a phone call from their son after every game. After Game Six of the World Series while the Yankees clubhouse ,(!&%&//10&,")2&[.7"/($):&champagne spraying players and families, Derek was outside with his parents. “I always like sharing things with my family,” said Jeter. “They’re the reason why I’m here. They’re as much a part of it as I am.” Perhaps the reason Jeter has become New York’s beloved hero lies in the fact that parents want their children to be Derek Jeter just as much as the kids want to be him.

During an age in which egos and individualism dominate sports, Derek Jeter is a reminder of what sports are all about. Jeter has been able to maintain an incredibly high level of play 5-3&%&5)11$&<1(3!&,")2-.)&ever asking for a huge contract or holding out for a trade. He has never been connected with steroids, or scandal of any sort, and his Turn 2 Foundation is helping children all around the country stay on the right path. Derek Jeter’s commitment to his team, his family, and the greater community is the perfect example for any aspiring athlete. Character and his athleticism made Derek Jeter the 2009 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

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Student Editorials /*=&#T

89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

The Tiger Woods Affair!"#G774;,-#!&--&11#./H01*22#3%41&%

There’s been more than enough media coverage of Tiger

Woods’ recent car crash, his alleged affairs, and his subsequent silence. Everyone from Hollywood

Tonight to SportsCenter has spent hours of coverage on Woods’ recent 2:30am car crash outside his Florida Home. It was later revealed that Woods allegedly has had extramarital affairs with multiple women, potentially the cause for his understandably angry wife to chase him out of the house with a nine iron.

The Woods scandals have been more than just media stories; the situation has become a media obsession. However, one comes to wonder whether sports fans actually care about Woods’ personal life. The only reason the story has become so important to the public is that ESPN has told us it’s important.

The impact of Tiger’s misdoings has yet to be seen in the eyes of his fans, the only ones who are likely to stick by him regardless of what happens off the golf course. In an ideal world, fans would forget about the double bogeys of Woods’ personal life, and continue to focus

on Woods’ performance in the realm within which he can do no wrong—and doesn’t have to drive anything to boot.

Woods’ outstanding performance on the golf

course has not been the only factor that makes Woods a golf icon. In a recent interview with ESPN, sportswriter Rick Reilly called Wood’s demeanor on the course “immature,” citing his audible swearing and club-throwing. However, Tiger’s so-called immaturity has made him a hero to whom young fans can relate. Tiger does exactly what other young golfers do, whether you consider it to be immature or not. It remains to be seen whether his image has been tainted at all.

Tiger broke dramatically with his

past history of keeping his private life private by releasing a statement last week. In this statement, he apologized for his “transgressions in judgment,” but he never

63-4"010&($<&!61'"%&'!G&821&most important part of his written statement was when he admitted being “not without faults and far short of perfect.” Although we have come to expect perfection out of Tiger, he has let us down in the past: for example, in the 2008 Masters, he played horribly ($0&!)"//&%&$"!210&!1'-$0G&Still, far short of perfect for Tiger may be nearly perfect for everyone else.

821&'2($'1&)-&%&$(//<&get inside Tiger Woods’ personal life was too good to pass up for the media. His perfect image has been badly wounded, and they have

swarmed around him like hungry piranhas as the little pieces of scandal have been torn off, bit by bit. Perhaps Tiger has been too guarded for his own good; the small down-turnin his reputation has attracted the media en masse to tear into that private life he has worked so hard to protect.

For now it’s too early to know how much this incident has tarnished Woods’ public image. Unless even more dirt comes out about him, his best course of action is silence. The fans have always respected Tiger for his reluctance to speak with the media, and many will expect it from him now.

If there is anything to learn from this debacle, it’s that not even the most seemingly perfect man in the world can be perfect. Whether his performance on the course will change remains to be seen as well. Judging from his history of extreme mental toughness, the answer is: probably not. We will likely see the same Tiger on the course when he returns to the PGA Tour in January. His toughness is what made him such a good golfer to begin with, so it shouldn’t be too long before we forget about his private life, and again worry about what really matters about Tiger: golf.

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Student Editorials /*=&#<

89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

Top 10 News Stories of 2009!"#I,>7&-#:&11#./901*22#3%41&% The CDC says there could

be 40% more infected Americans and the WHO says there could be around two billion infected people in the next two years alone.

4. Death of Michael Jackson—JuneThe death of “The King of Pop” was one everyone remembers. Whether you listened to his music or just though of him as just plain creepy, his impact on American culture over the years is undeniable. He died in UCLA Medical Hospital in Bel-Aire, CA. It was later found he died of a heart attack and there has been $-)2"$#&'-$%&3;10&5.3)213&than that as the reason for his death. People have speculated he was poisoned by someone else or he over dosed on drugs, but his family has denied both.

5. Yankees Win World Series—NovemberThe New York Yankees were on top of the world again 5-3&)21&%&3!)&)";1&"$&$"$1&years. The Yanks beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the World Series at the new Yankee Stadium on November 6. The MVP of the series was Hideki Matsui. This was manager Joe C"3(30"B!&%&3!)&'2(;6"-$!2"6&as the Yankees’ manager and his fourth overall.

6. Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize—October

Though very controversial, on October 9th Obama won the Nobel Prize for Peace. Obama said he was surprised and deeply humbled for earning the award, but later would go on to say that he did not feel his current résumé warranted it and would take it as a call to action.

7. Rio de Janeiro Selected for Olympic Games—OctoberRio de Janeiro became the %&3!)&+-.)2&E;13"'($&'")<&to host an Olympic Event. The Brazillian city beat out Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo. Although it was said Rio and Chicago were the two front-runners and that Chicago had the edge, Chicago was eliminated with Tokyo in the %&3!)&3-.$0&-5 &4-)"$#G&

8. White House Intruders—November What was called “gate crashing” was the biggest security breach of the White House of the decade. Michaele and Tareq Salahi were seen attempting to enter the White House but were denied at a gate. Later, they were seen going through two secret service checkpoints, one that required photo ID. This was a blunder the White House Secret Service dubbed “concerning and embarrassing.”

9. Tiger Woods Scandal—November

Although very little has 711$&'-$%&3;10:&)2"!&"!&-$1&of the biggest scandals of 2009. Tiger was leaving his house at 2:30 am on November 27, and struck a %&31&2<03($)&($0&(&)311G&821&back window was smashed out by his wife and he was taken to a local hospital. There have been reports that he was cheating on his wife and that she became enraged and chased him out of the house. Alcohol was ruled out by police, and Tiger has apologized for his “trangressions” and has requested privacy from media coverage.

10. Michael Vick Reinstated—August When Michael Vick was cleared to play in the NFL again, there were mixed feelings. Some people thought he deserved to be "$&[("/&5-3&2"!&0-#&%&#2)"$#&scandal, while others thought this was his rightful second chance. He signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on August 13, though none of the money is guaranteed. Later that week, he was cleared to play beginning in Week 3 of the NFL season. He recently went back to Atlanta to play the Falcons—there were many wearing his Falcons jersey in support, with an equal amount of people booing and “barking” at him.

A quick rundown of ten of the biggest stories this past

year, in case you spent 2009 in a coma or a stupor or were otherwise severely incapacitated:

1. Inauguration of Barack Obama—January=$1&-5 &)21&;-!)&!"#$"%&'($)&events in our nation’s history, Barack Obama became the %&3!)&E53"'($?E;13"'($&)-&be elected President of the United States. The election has been taken to symbolize the progress of a gradual erosion of racial barriers in America. Obama was sworn in on January 20.

2. Dow Breaks 10,000—OctoberThe Dow Jones Industrial pierced the 10,000 level on Wednesday, October 14, for )21&%&3!)&)";1&"$&-413&(&<1(3G&This gave many investors '-$%&01$'1&)2()&)21&31'1!!"-$&was over. The markets continued to rise for the rest of the week and people assumed increased buyer '-$%&01$'1&6/(<10&(&/(3#1&role.

3. Swine Flu—June (Declared Pandemic)821&+,"$1&\/.:&%&3!)&discovered in the United States in April, was declared a pandemic on June 25. As of the beginning of December, there have been over 2,500 recorded deaths.

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Student Editorials /*=&#>;

89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

America’s Increasing Use of Food Stamps

As another reminder to E;13"'($!&)2()&)21&%&$($'"(/&crisis is far from over, the use of food stamps has increased dramatically during the recession. Upwards of 36 million people are currently dependent on food stamps to supply them with such basic necessities as bread, milk, and cheese. Although it was almost terminated a decade ago, the program now helps to feed one of every eight Americans and one of every four children. During the 1990s, several conservatives made a strong push to abolish the issuing of food stamps, establishing several bureaucratic roadblocks to discourage many of the desperate from seeking government aid. However, during the Bush Administration, the program was revived, relabeled “nutritional aid,” and made easier to apply. In the current economic crisis, the number of people currently using food stamps is growing at a rate of 20,000

!"#0J&-)&%#$*+>#.//01*22#3%41&% people per day.

Even in conservative, “blue-collar” areas that normally scorn government spending, Americans have been forced to rely on this !;(//&71$1%&)&)-&;(I1&1$0!&meet. The use of food stamps has risen throughout the country, both in poverty-

stricken counties and in towns where foreclosure or unemployment rates have climbed swiftly. Wealthy citizens have seen their assets dry up quickly, often leaving them with no choice but to rely on food stamps for sustenance.

While many Americans blush at dependency of any kind, the program provides a way for those in need to ride out the current recession. Many

wealthier areas have seen food stamp usage rise due to the lagging real estate market of the past year and a half. Because fewer people are buying houses, construction workers and real estate agents are being forced to turn to food stamps. And while the unemployed are

generally the hardest-hit, people who have managed to retain their jobs are also increasingly turning to the government for aid as budget-conscious executives !/(!2&6(<'21'I!&($0&71$1%&)!G&Desperation for food has overridden much of the discomfort toward receiving government aid.

The elderly have not been spared either. Once-healthy retirement accounts

plummeted with the stock markets, and within a two-year span, many people have come face-to-face with a suddenly uncertain future.

Food stamps can provide a reliable source of income to help ease the strain on households feeling the strain of the recession.

Monthly food !)(;6&71$1%&)!&average about $130 per individual per household. With no end in sight to the current economic struggles, the cost of the program is bound to increase, causing (&!"#$"%&'($)&03("$&-$&)21&%&$($'1!&of a government without money to spare. There is little discussion of how the

government can afford such an extensive program, but it is essential to the survival of many Americans today. While the government may appear unable to pay for the cost of providing food stamps, it certainly cannot afford to let hard-working Americans starve. Like so many problems facing the government today, there is no clear solution.

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Student Editorials /*=&#>>

89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

Online Ticketing Controversy!"#I*%%4;,-#KL1&8&>#./@01*22#3%41&%Online ticketing ranks among the greatest innovations of the past two decades. The convenience of this Internet Age phenomenon is perhaps its greatest strength, but just as with other great concepts, the possibility of corruption

lurks within. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, tickets for concerts and events were primarily sold at the respective venues. Thus, to get tickets, fans would need to wait in line, sometimes overnight, and hope they had arrived early enough

to secure their seats. Soon after the mass popularity of concerts swept the nation, companies like

Ticketmaster were born. In 1976, a team in

Arizona started the company, which offered to supply tickets over-the-phone. This was a breakthrough in sales as many more concertgoers were able to purchase tickets in the convenience of their

own home.Ticketmaster has

since been the staple of Q-5%&'"(/]&-$/"$1&)"'I1)"$#G&S$&February 2009, Ticketmaster merged with its rival company, Live Nation, gaining a monopoly on the industry. The merger has had great success thus far, but not without its fair share of criticism, most famously

from Bruce Springsteen, who responded to the outcry of his fans regarding Ticketmaster’s policy of directing concertgoers to broker sites reportedly selling )"'I1)!&()&-413&̂ _L`&"$9&()"-$G&Springsteen held out a good percentage of tickets for

proper sale at a set rate.Once tickets became

more readily available, ticket brokers joined the scene.

Brokers acquire excess tickets to events and sell them at an "$9&()10&63"'1a(&63(')"'1&-5 &questionable legality. Brokers cheat the system. Using “ins” with the venue or with the event host, these brokers sell off their tickets at /(3#1/<& "$9&()10&63"'1!G&821!1&brokers have been accused of obtaining tickets with little effort and selling them -55 & 5-3& (& !"#$"%&'($)& #("$& )-&

desperate fans. According to a local ticket broker, these are unjust accusations. A majority of the time, he says, people sell their tickets to these brokers. If a season ticket holder is unable to go to a game, these brokers will pay face value

for the ticket and market the tickets at an adjustable increase. Their other source of tickets stems from years of business and relations with big name companies. The effort may be there, but regardless, it is a shady

business. Perhaps the biggest downfall of ticketing is companies such as StubHub. StubHub is essentially

an example of an online scalping site. Tickets are promised with a money-back guarantee, but come with a huge mark-up for this security. On StubHub, anyone can sell tickets at any price. This leeway opens the

door for legal scalping. Aside from the !1//13!B& 01!"31& 5-3& 63-%&):&StubHub adds insult to injury by laying claim to 25% of all sales. This spikes up prices from sellers to compensate for this “convenience” tax. Plenty of times, it is obvious that some people (perhaps brokers) will buy tickets for the sole purpose of selling them at an absurdly escalated price. There are no

restrictions. Other resale sites, such as Craigslist, have no restrictions whatsoever. What is effectively a online '/(!!"%&10& (0!& !1')"-$& -5 & )21&newspaper, Craigslist has no control over what gets sold or for how much; a scalpers dream. There is no money-back guarantee, no security, but rather a place where once can assume that honesty

and fair resale will be respected (as seen from

the peace-sign logo). Most bands have now adopted a zero-tolerance policy regarding the resale of tickets for over face value. One band, using the ticket site Music Today, issued the following warning about

resale: “Tickets made available through this site are intended only for fans who are actually planning on attending the shows requested. It is strictly prohibited to resell any tickets obtained through for more than the purchase price. If you are found to be reselling, trading or brokering tickets that you purchased through -.3&!")1&5-3&63-%&):& may at its discretion cancel your ticket order and all other pending

orders in your name.” While it seems inevitable that the corrupt system that is online ticketing will persist in its thievery, it is worth noting that legal action is in fact taking place in regards to

63"'1&"$9&()"-$G&

Student Editorials /*=&#>:

89"-.*,'(/&01-:9*+'&0%"December 2009

“ClimateGate,” Cont.

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to investigate the actual theft of the emails rather than the determining the credibility of the underlying science. ClimateGate has serious implications in the coming months. At the Copenhagen Climate Conference (ending December 18), President Obama and other world

leaders will likely support some sort of carbon tax/trade agreement to try and combat climate change. But, now that some of most widely used data to support the consensus on climate change is in doubt, some wonder whether such ambitious plans will be put in place given recent events. Believers in climate change

say that the emails and data don’t take away from the contention that global warming is already proven, “settled science.” Because much of the climate change consensus is based upon data from computer models, in light of ClimateGate, some argue that the global warming debate should be revisited.

It is very likely that ClimateGate will have an impact on the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, and at the very least, revive debate over the issue of climate change in the coming months.

“Troops,” Cont.%16*'67"8#901(#9016*#2)." the Afghan security forces to

ensure Afghanistan’s security now and in the future. The third part of President Obama’s strategy is a strengthened military and civil alliance with Pakistan. With much of the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces falling back into Pakistan, it is up to the Pakistani military and government to deny them a safe haven. Without their !.66-3):&)21&%&#2)&"$&Afghanistan could be a lost cause. Thus, Obama outlined the new American strategy in three points, “a military effort to create the conditions for a transition; a civilian surge that reinforces positive action; and an effective partnership with Pakistan.”

However, even with a struggling economy, Obama acknowledged that this venture would not be cheap, putting the cost at bUL&7"//"-$&5-3&)21&%&3!)&<1(3G

This new strategy

came as a middle ground between two opposing sides. On one side, the American commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, advocated a greatly increased troop presence and a

counterinsurgency strategy, with his request of 40,000+ troops. On the other side, Vice President Biden and the Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry (the former commander in Afghanistan), argued for a smaller troop increase, with troops operating under a counterterrorist strategy, which would use fewer troops to target only key Taliban and Al Qaeda personnel, train Afghan forces, and carry out a wider range of civilian developmental projects. President Obama’s decision did not come lightly. He had to consider the consequences of a major troop increase, and weighed the pros and cons for three months before coming to 2"!&%&$(/&01'"!"-$G&O-,1413&uncertain the outcome of his new strategy is, one thing is certain: 30,000 families will be saying goodbye come the New Year.

country,” as the President said in his speech. After that time is up, in mid-2011, the withdrawal process will start, and all US troops will begin to leave the country. President Obama addressed the Afghan government, calling on it to step up efforts to control the country and “pursue a more effective civilian strategy.” He directly addressed the government: “The days of providing a blank check are over… going forward, we will be clear about what we expect from those who receive our assistance. We will support Afghan ministries, governors, and local leaders that combat corruption and deliver for the people.” Obama also made it clear that the government must do its 6(3)&)-&21/6&"$&)2"!&%&#2)&($0&support its own people. In addition, President Obama pledged aid to strengthen

%16*'67"8#901(#9016*#2)."