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Learn to Grip a Golf Club Sports and Academics Irresponsible Athletes

Fantasy Football: Good for the Game?

Interview with

Lampros Kontogiannis

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December 09

Contents

COLUMNS 4

The Problem With the Playoffs

8

Sports and Academics

10

Fantasy Football: How It’s Killing the Game

12

Irresponsible Athletes

FEATURES 14

“Student” Comes Before “Athlete”

16

Life With Soccer

18

The Transition

20

A Player’s Dream

HOW TO 7

22

Impress Your Friends: Learning to Throw a Forehand How to Grip a Golf Club

WORLD’S BEST 24

Top Fifteen National Soccer Teams of all Time

26

Top Ten Soccer Players...2009 \\SCORE 3

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Thomas M. Thomas, like his groupmates, attends the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas (where he was born). Thomas enjoys soccer most of all, but ultimate frisbee is also a hobby of his. Thomas loves University of Texas sports, and can’t wait for the upcoming national championship. His favorite passtime is definitely playing soccer for his school. He loves being in the student senate her at LASA. He also the freshman president of the student senate here at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. \\SCORE 4

Thelma M. Thelma, attends the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Tx. She has lived in Austin eight years. She loves soccer and enjoys playing it as well as watching it.Her favorite teams are Santos Laguna and Houston Dynamo. Her least favorite team is Club America -->. Her favorite soccer players are Fernando Torres, Giovani Dos Santos, and Sergio Ramos along with others.

She is really excited for the 2010 World Cup and hopes Mexico and Spain do well.

STAFF Elizabeth M. Elizabeth, also goes to the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas. She has lived in Austin for seven years. Her favorite sport is soccer and unklike Thelma her favorite team is Club America. Elizabeth’s least favorite team is Santos Laguna.

Her dream is to meet Guillermo Ochoa and Lionel Messi. Her favorite movie is Goal: The Dream Begins. She will spend her summer watching the World Cup. She wants Mexico or Spain to win the World Cup.

Alejandro O. Alejandro, currently goes to the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas. He was born in a small town, Weslaco, Texas.

His favorite sport is golf and he is always in a good mood to go out and go play or practice. His favorite subjects are Math and Computer Science. His favorite thing to do when he is bored is to stay inside and play a good video game. He is on the LBJ golf team and the captain of the Varsity team as a Freshman. He Loves to play video games and espesialy play sprorts games on his game systems. \\SCORE 5

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The problem with

The Playoffs \\SCORE 6

By: Alejandro O.

The problem

The problem is that the current format of the playoffs is not fair enough to all the players who try to make a comeback during the four playoff tournaments.

The end of the FedEx cup season is approaching I feel that there is no point in watching the Tour Championship because only one of my favorite golfers has a fair chance at winning the FedEx which is Tiger Woods. The top five golfers are basically the only ones who have control of who wins the FedEx cup. This year the top five golfers are (in order by standings 1-5 place): Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, and Heath Slocum. These are the players that have control of their own fates in the FedEx cup and shall determine who will be the third FedEx cup Champion (ever).

My opinion in this topic is that they should change the style of how they format the playoffs to a format that anyone has a almost fair chance at winning the FedEx cup by the last tournament (The format that the current playoff system is that over the reg-

ular season the players gain FedEx cup because the top five golfers are being repoints by winning tournaments and at the end of the warded for suddenly playing well in the end of the year. year the top 125 players Phil Mickelson now is really get into the playoffs. There far back in the FedEx cup are four tournaments and race even though he won after each tournament the two tournaments early on in field of 125 players are cut the season. He was first in down to 100 than 70 than the race and now he is elevthe last tournament is only enth in the 30 players and This year the top five golfers are (in order race for the FedEx whoever by standings 1-5 place): Tiger Woods, cup. has the Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, I didn’t most and Heath Slocum. like what points had hapat the pened last year either and end of the tournament that player wins the FedEx cup). I felt that if and when they I want the format to be one change the format that they don’t go back to last years that the person who is in the lead can’t win automati- format. Last year Vijay Singh of the islands of Fiji cally by winning the first was leading the FedEx cup two events like last year when Vijay Singh (who lead going into the playoffs, but only a few points. Then he the FedEx cup going into wins the first event “The the playoffs) won the first Barclays” and stretched two events and clenched his margin of a lead from the title at that point. I want to have a fairer format the field. He then won the second event the “The for all the players.

I feel that they should Deutsche Bank” and then it was announced that even change the format of the \\SCORE 7

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the player in second place (Camilo Villegas) could not when the FedEx even if he won the last two events (which he did). I feel that last year they had a bad format, but it was still only the second year of the FedEx cup (ever).

I think that because of this format the player in thirtieth place is at such a disadvantage that they is almost no point in playing because for him to win he (John Senden) has to have a solo finish, Tiger has to finish in thirtieth place, Steve Stricker has to finish seventh or worse, Jim Furyk must finish fifth or worse, Zach Johnson must finish fourth or worse, Heath Slocum must finish third or worse and Padraig Harrington must finish third or worse for John Senden to win the FedEx cup and that is not fair for him. It may be difficult to make a fair format, but I know it can be done.

They’re many opposing ideas to this side of the topic I am taking in this argument, but I don’t believe they stand up to my arguments. Some people may say that the top five golfers should be rewarded for playing well and they should just not by giving them unfair advantages.

Not as many people may favor last years format, but they may say we should and it’s fair because if a player plays that well they should be able to steal the title with lots of early wins and I feel that is just not right doing that to the other \\SCORE 8

players trying to win in the the hole normally and whoend. Many people probably ever has the best score at favor this year’s format bethe end of the hole wins the cause they say that it is fair hole and has a 1-up lead and they say this because and can gradually grow to this a farther format lead.

I think that because of this format allows If both the player in thirtieth place is at play- such a disadvantage that they is al- golfers ers to most no point in playing have the make same up points fast at the end of score at the end of the hole the year and give them it becomes split between a shot at title which is what the two players as halved.

Tiger did and I say that is Whoever is in the lead or is not fair (even though I want up on his opponent at the Tiger to win) because in this end of the eighteen holes format John Senden who wins. If the players are tied is in 30th in the race and at the end of the eighteen is currently last place and holes they will go to extra almost has no chance at or playoff holes to deterwinning the FedEx cup. That mine the winner.) tournais why the format should be ment like the World Golf changed.

Championships-Accenture

I hope by reading Match Play Championship this article you will under(from www.Pgatour.com) stand that we should have and it will have a much a better and fairer format fairer style because anyone that any one has a chance can make it to the chamof winning the FedEx cup. pionship match. They can I feel really bad for John also have a point system Senden and the players just like the past two years and in front of him because they whoever is in the lead of too have almost no chance the point system will be in at winning the FedEx cup. the 1st seed and whoever is I feel that some one else in 125th place will be the in should win the FedEx cup the last seed and will play because Tiger can’t be a the first seed and then the monopoly of golf or the 2nd seed will play the 124th game is not fun any more and so on and that will be a if the same person always fair format. I believe this is wins when the pressures on a format that will be proven and that is unfair to the rest to work so that if you are of the field. ranked at 85th or any other

I think I have a solurank you still could have tion to this problem after all chance to get far enough to these reasons it should be contend for the FedEx cup. changed. I think that they If they change to a match should change the format to play format anyone can win a match play (match-play is and that is fair. a format that it is one-onone golf. Each golfer plays

Impress Your Friends: Learning to Throw a Forehand You may know how to throw a frisbee the standard way (backhand), but impress all your friends by learning to throw a forehand. By Thomas M.

Step One: The Grip To throw a good forehand, you need to hold the frisbee correctly.

To do this, place your middle and index fingers on the edge of the disc on the bottom. Place your thumb on the top half of the frisbee on the edge. If you don’t feel you have a stable grip on the frisbee, separate your index and middle fingers and point your index finger toward the center of the disc.

Photo from wikiHow

Step Two: The Wrist Motion In order to throw a good forehand, the disc needs to have a lot of spin to keep it in the air. To do this (making sure you have the correct grip), you flick your wrist and release the frisbee. Make sure you don’t swing your arm, but your wrist. Swinging your arm will result in a throw with virtually no spin, and this is not what you want.

Photo by kjadlen on Flickr

Step Three: The Throw Combine the grip and the wrist motion to throw the disc to a friend. Remember, don’t swing your arm, flick your wrist to get a throw with a lot of good spin.

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THELMA M.

Sports and Academics

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ports are very important in a person’s life, at least in my life they are. They are a way to keep me fit, to have fun playing the sport I love, and most importantly they keep my mind more focused on playing the sport rather than in peer pressure that teens my age get in school or anywhere else for that matter. They motivate me to do better everyday and to learn new techniques.

Many people would argue that sport playing students lack effort in school.

The question is, do sports keep your mind more focused on the sport and take up time

so much that you forget about how important school is? Many people would argue that sport playing students lack effort in school and grades because of the fact thatthey are more focused on sports.

They could argue that kids, in order to get to their games or to practice, rush through school work They also argue that is the only thing in their mind, making them not paying attention to their grades leading them to bad grades. That is not necessarily what I believe. Sports motivate me to work as a team, to do better and to try harder Students know that in school, in order to play sports you must be passing all of your classes, which if they really do love sports, they will try harder in school, and be motivated to get good

“Sports motivate me to work as a team, to do better, and to try harder everyday.”

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grades. That way when the season is over, they will already be accustomed and so used to doing the work and to try harder everyday.

Students know that in school, in order to play sports you must be passing all of your classes, which if they really do love sports, they will try harder in school, and be motivated to get good grades. That way when the season is over, they will already be accustomed and so used to doing the work and to studying, that in that case, why stop if your already doing good. Its also true that even if the students might be passing, their grades are lower than those of atudents not enrolled in sports.

In school, I chose to play soccer because I love it, there’s no real pressure that is put on you, so you don’t really have to stress over it. While you do want to be one of the best, its still kind of an activity you do for fun and that being said, its not as stressful as if you were being forced to play.

Being forced to play any sports means to be worried and stressed over it , but that, that would be a whole ‘n other story.

The key is Education. You can’t do anything without an education, and sports are not the exception.

In order to become a professional you need skills and to obviously to be good at the sport, but without and education ,you cant really get that far. In order to get that far, you go through college, play in college and other teams, and then get noticed. Well at least that is the case for most people, with the exception of those who get drafted out of high school. But that only happens when the athlete is especially good at that age which might not be the case for most people. So with

that in mind, everyone has to realize how important getting an education is, even though what you want to be doesn’t really include any academic related requirements. That could push anybody, like me, farther in getting an education and then as their major achievement for all their hard work and perseverance, become a pro like they have always wanted.

One problem though, which I myself have had, is that when soccer season, or any other sport season begins, it requires a lot of my time. I love the sport so I am more than willing to dedicate my time to the practices and to the games, trying hard to also make time for my schoolwork, but following the practices and the games, are the consequences that you don’t have enough time to do your homework or enough time to attend tutoring, if needed. That is one excuse that many teachers get when they need a student to stay after school, “I have football practice” or “ Oh i can’t make it that day.”

In order to have time for academics and sports, which to me are equally important, you need to know how to balance them.

What I do to balance soccer and academics, is to either finish homework before soccer practice if possible, or if not, after soccer practice , keeping in mind that those are the requirements I have set for myself in order to keep playing soccer.

While soccer is very important to me and it is something that I love and that I would much rather do than studying or than doing homework, I have to keep in mind that most importantly, I am a student.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/noodlefish/3124380173/

Fantasy Football

Photo by Rex Hammock

How it’s Killing the Game

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By Thomas M.

his year, according to Colin Cowherd of ESPN, over 27 million people are participating in a Fantasy Football league. Since the rise of the Internet, this fascinating game has gripped the nation. Choosing any players you want, granted no one else has picked them yet, is very appealing to all kinds of football fans, young and old.

But something has changed in the way fans are watching football. I myself have noticed that since I started playing Fantasy Football last year, I began paying less attention to my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, and more attention to the players who were getting the big stats on Sunday. This year, I’m not watching the Dallas game, but instead making sure I know how Drew Brees and Frank Gore

are doing. And it doesn’t matter the biggest, most famous face to what team they’re from or what put on a franchise. As the saying division they’re in, as long as I goes , it’s all about the Benjacan beat this week’s opponent in mins. Fantasy Football is taking my league. Fantasy Football is my favorite team away from me, killing what football is all about, and people need to recognize that and we must not this is happening to be blind to this. Football is turning them as well before

This tragit gets out of hand. edy is happen- into something it Media empires ing around the like ESPN, Yahoo, nation. Every- should not become, and the NFL itself where, people may say that Fanare slowly drift- and was never tasy Football is to ing from their enhance their viewfavorite teams ers’ experience. meant to become. in exchange for However, it has players who may become obvious make them some extra bucks, that all they care about is getting won from their buddies. Football more hits on their site, which in is no longer a sport just meant for turn makes them money. Even pride in your team and your city, websites that have nothing to but teams are being transformed do with sports, such as Faceinto player-based organizations. book, have seen this opportuFootball isn’t a game of who has nity to make some extra money the best team, but who can be and seized it. Football is being Photo by “wstera2” on Flickr

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Photo by Keith Wills

turned into a quest for money, remember the days of Walter and it has taken me a while Peyton or Roger Staubach. to see this disturbing truth. But as I hear my parents talk Football is turning into ing about how they positively something it should not be- bawled when Tom Landry come, and was was fired, I happened realize that never meant to What become. No one football used seems to care to the days when to be someabout the team thing more as a whole any- football was about than money. more, and FanIt used to be tasy Football pride in your city, more than inis contributing dividual playto this horrible or your favorite ers dominatmentality. Fantaing the game. sy Football takes team?

Football used the game, and to be about the strips it down to Steel Curtain, a form that doesn’t care what about players working together team a player is on. Players to be the best in the nation. If might as well be on the same we continue to allow websites team, and honestly, it wouldn’t to commercialize our game, it make much of a difference if will never return to the way it they were. Yes, every great used to be, where teams domireceiver needs a quarterback, nate the game, not players. but that receiver is his own Next season, I’m not player, and the quarterback going to participate in Fantasy gets no points for his success. Football because I don’t want to

What happened to the contribute to what is happening days when football was about to our game. I’ll be reunited with pride in your city, or your favor- what football is all about. I’ll ite team? Being young, I don’t be watching my favorite team.

Top five Commercializers (Fantasy Football Sites)

1.Yahoo!

2. ESPN 3. NFL 4. FOX-MSN 5. CBS Sports Online

Photo by Ben Moser

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Elizabeth M.

Irresponsible Athletes People love sports.

They love anything that has to do with them. So, why did some people give up on them? The answer to that question is the players. Older people that I’ve talked to, like my dad, seem very disappointed by the way athletes act now. He says that when he was a teenager the only thing you heard about them were good things. Now, you hear about them getting drunk, getting arrested and committing criminal offenses. The worst thing is that they can pay people and be forgiven.

I think every person in the world has had an athlete role model.

I’m not sure they realize what some of their \\SCORE 14

“idols” do outside of the field. Now, I’m not saying all athletes are like this but there are some that support my idea.

Take Giovanni Dos Santos, a National Mexican player, for example. He was starting his career as a National player when he was caught partying and completely drunk.

He had some extreme consequences. He was kicked out of his current team, Barcelona; and was also told that if he did not control his behavior he would not be allowed to

“Those aren’t the sort of transgressions that lead to probation and community service. It’s the kind of behavior that results in punishment, and the punishment will be jail time.” be play in the first division. After being kicked out of Barcelona he signed a contract with he English team,Tottenham, but was loaned to Ipswich Town (second division) in order to gain more experience.

This is very disappointing for a person who has tasted success at an early age.

Another example is Michael Phelps. Everyone had him at the top of their best athlete list. He had just won eight gold metals at the Beijing Olympics in August 2008.He had also become the youngest and only person to ever win so many gold metals in the history of the Olympics. However, less than two months later a picture of him using a pipe used to inhale illegal drugs was published. That was an extremely disappointing moment for everyone. Another athlete that was talked about for quite some time was Michael Vick. His latest “incident” was that he was charged with animal abuse. This happened after a dog-fighting ring was found in his Virginia house. Of course he denied at first but ended up pleading guilty and was given the least amount of time in jail. Quoting ESPN, “Those aren't the sort of transgressions that lead to probation and community service. It's the kind of behavior that results in

punishment, and the punishment will be jail time."

Another thing that really bothers me about athletes acting like that is that some of them don’t get punished. They just go around like nothing happened after paying a jail release fine that sometimes isn’t enough for what they did. In Michael Vick’s case, if a normal person had done that they would have gotten some of years in prison. The kind of animal abuse that he commit-

ted was horrible. In one case he witnessed one of his ‘loved dogs’, like he called them, beaten to death after a loss. If he really loved them so much, why did he not stop this horrible event?

Since that was not the case and it was an athlete in trouble they just ignored and kept on with their lives. He was not judged like he should have because the least amount of jail he could have had was six years

but he was only given twenty-three months of jail time.

I think people should not forget athletes as easily just because they’re famous. They might be well known but they are still human beings and we all make mistakes. The difference between them and us is that they have the money to pay their way out of almost anything.

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By Thomas M.

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“Student” Comes Before “Athlete”

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t’s a windy day, but that doesn’t stop Ismael S. from heading outside for a 6-hour Ultimate Frisbee tournament. The conditions aren’t ideal for the sport, but with Ismael’s speed and agility, he can overcome this obstacle.

T h e

disc is flying through the air, and Ismael comes streaking down the field after it. Partly due to his long basketball background (he still plays basketball for his high school), Ismael is able to take an impressive leap, and he comes down with the frisbee in the end zone.

Ismael is involved in sports, but being an athlete is not the only thing that is important to him. Ismael attends the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas, a magnet high school that accepts highachieving students from around the Austin area. It may surprise people that athletes like Ismael excel in school, but emerging studies are showing that student\\SCORE 16

athletes tend to get better grades than students who don’t participate in sports.

Jacquelynne Eccles, PhD, and Bonnie L. Barber, PhD led a study following

For example, if their parents are already abusers. We have had that problem, but not on a large-scale basis.” So studentathletes are more likely to suffer from substance abuse, but that doesn’t mean they don’t perform above average in the classroom.

Different students have differStudent-Athletes

ent motivations get better grades than for doing well. But their non-athlete people looking for an explanation for counterparts. student-athlete success speculate that 1,259 students for 6 high-school athletes get a lot of years beginning in the motivation from No Pass, No tenth grade. The study Play Laws. Since 1984, many was investigating the states have kept students who do effects of sports and poorly in a class (a 70 or below other extracurricular at the end of the grading period) activities on students’ from playing sports or participatbehavior. While the ing in any other extracurricular study suggests that activities. Many say that these athletes were more laws are what keep athletes from likely to have sub- doing poorly, but Ismael isn’t stance abuse prob- convinced. When asked about lems, the study also the Laws, he simply says, “ I’m showed that students not too worried about those.” who participated in But Ismael definitely sports had higher says that sports help him get betgrades in school. ter grades. “ I guess I managed

When asked my time better if I had something about the first aspect going on after school because I’ll of the study (substance abuse), usually procrastinate if I get home Coach McNeil, football coach first thing after school, and after at LBJ High School, said, “Cer- practice, it seems like I have more tain members of society are things to do.” So for Ismael, it’s more prone to substance abuse. the time crunch after school that

Ismael gets ready to lay the ball into the basket.

Photo By Becky Gdula

keeps him focused on academics.

And not only do student athletes do better in school yearround, but studies are showing that they do especially well during their athletic season. “ I was getting low grades, then basketball started up, and my grades went up. I was trying harder…”

Ismael says. And we can look back to his last statement to see why. Because of the rushed atmosphere created after school for student-athletes, they feel as though they have more things to do, and they don’t procrastinate.

In other words, having less time to do homework forces students to adopt good time management skills, which helps them do their assignments and excel in school.

The study of Eccles and Barber shows that students that play sports get better grades than those students who don’t play sports. The study also shows that sports make student-athletes more prone to substance abuse. But according to Ismael, having practice after school gives him a sense of urgency to do his homework because he feels he has less time to do all the things he needs to finish.

Sports may not have all positive effects, and kids may be passing their classes for all sorts of reasons, but students and studies agree that athletics help student-athletes excel in school. \\SCORE 17

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Life With Soccer

BY THELMA M.

“

We played in the streets, wherever we could actually,” he remembers.They had no choice but to play wherever they could if they wanted to do what they loved. It didn’t matter for them though; anywhere was good, as long as theygot to play.

They didn’t have much to play with either, and they used sticks and rocks to mark the corners.

They played with anything that might have resembled a ball, mostly bottles, they could find them anywhere. The shoes were a problem too, being that he and his family came from a large family without much income, they had to share shoes and take turns to be able to play soccer, but that was no problem either. The only thing they didn’t have to worry about were the people they played with. Their friends, neighbors, basically anyone who wanted to join. Even if there weren’t enough people, all they wanted to do was feel like they were playing as if they had everything they needed with no worries.

Miguel Martinez has played soccer all his life, since he was 6 years old.

It was not necessarily what his father wanted

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him to play but he approved. He wanted him to play baseball and although he actually did try it, it just wasn’t for him.

“Because soccer is in my blood. I had the opportunity to play both soccer and baseball, but I chose soccer because I felt for it more.” he said.

He grew up with soccer all around him, eight of ten of his siblings, which were male played soccer, which fed his love for soccer even more.

They were his inspiration, not a famous soccer player like most kids look up to, but his brothers. He looked up to them more than anybody.

His friends, siblings, and him kept on playing in the streets for fun until they were old enough to join a league. He won many titles while playing in the leagues, of the include winning state championships. He was in about 3 or 4 different teams, winning championship titles in all of them. He went through all the positions in soccer. First as a forward, then a midfielder, a defense, then finally, a goalie, the last and final position, the right position. “ When one’s young, you always think about scoring goals, but as you grow, your coach sees other qualities in you and

puts you in positions according to those qualities, until you find your ideal position” Miguel said recalling his experiences.

From his childhood on he never stopped playing soccer, up to this point in his life. Now he has a family to take care of and work to attend, but somehow he finds time to keep on playing, to not give up his love for the game. “ I still play the sport because I love it, but now I have other priorities, my family and my work.” he said. “On Sundays, when I have days off, I go and play in a league” After all those days of working, he still finds time, even if he is tired or has other things to do. He makes sure to have all other duties done and then he goes on to play soccer. Kind of like how it was when he was a kid, sort of like a reward.

And even though he couldn’t get much far past the amateur stage, he does need it. “ Soccer is enjoyed even in the streets, in the backyard, anywhere, as long as you play it. You don’t have to be a pro in order to enjoy it.” he says.” I enjoy playing with my kids, watching them play, watching soccer, as long as you have fun.”

Of course he has always dreamed of playing pro

and still does, but he never got a chance to get noticed. Since his family lived in a small town in Coahuila, Mexico, no one ever went to see them play. “I always played an amateur, and still do to this day.” he said.

There have been some obstacles, but to him, the only thing that really gets in the way is work, it is the main obstacle but it is his main priority. He has had injuries before but they don’t stop him, he broke three of his fingers as a result of being a goalie, but they have never stopped him from playing. They have never interfered with his love for soccer. “When you love a sport, you do everything possible to play, and when you don’t play it, you

feel uncomfortable, you are left wishing you could have gone and played” he said. “ But if you just like it then you might not be willing to make that many sacrifices for it.”

Miguel, Goalkeeper, running after a ball.

Miguel and and his his son sonMiMichael after after aa rainy rainygame game in which they won . in which they won.

One of his teammates scoring a goal.

Miguel and his current team posing during half time.

Miguel Martinez wearing number 22.

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The Transition Rene Sanchez, Michael Scaccia and their college days BY ALEJANDRO O.

Sports connect many of us to one another and that is what connected Mr. Sanchez, Mr. Scaccia, my dad, and I. I remember one time when all of us were playing out at River Place Country Club, a beautiful golf course with a mountainous landscape in the hill country. Mr. Scaccia was telling me about how he used to play on his high school team and how he loved to play the game and glad to have picked it up.

One thing I always used to notice when my dad and I would play golf with Mr. Sanchez is, he would always wear his Notre Dame cap still supporting the Fighting Irish. Mr. Scaccia told me about when he played rugby all the guys on the team would have nicknames. His was Scorsese and there was one guy whose name was Wingnut. Mr. Scaccia said, “I would always hangout with the guys, but some of them I didn’t even know their real names. There are many good golfers and many good baseball players in America, rugby there is not, so that is why I was able to make the Rugby team and love it.” That quote is what gave me that insight I really needed to step up my game to compete with all those good golfers.

Some of the educational staff you see here at LASA may have been great athletes in their day. They were once kids like us playing sports for their high schools and colleges. These people are ones that can help us in more than just our schoolwork. They can give us the tips to help us take our game to the next level. Mr. Rene Sanchez (principal of LASA high school) once played for Notre Dame on the college baseball team. He was a very good baseball player \\SCORE 20

in his day and now he is a strong golfer. He was also the team captain for his high school baseball team. Mr. Michael Scaccia played college rugby and baseball. He teaches freshman level English at The Liberal Arts and Science Academy. He is also an amazing golfer who could probably play on the pro tour of golf with a little more practice. These educators are people you may see almost everyday attending LASA, and these people experienced a change when they went to college.

“It was a big difference for me,” Mr. Scaccia said.

He said it was because he was the team captain for his high school golf team and the best on the team, but when he went to college he couldn’t make the team. He was still the only golfer on the high school team ever, so far, because he just found out that he is going to be inducted in to his high school’s hall of fame.

He had similar troubles with baseball, too. “I was probably one of the top guys on my baseball team,” Scaccia said. But when he went to college he did get on the baseball team, but “I was like the third string catcher for my team,” Scaccia said.

The thing that he hadn’t played before, but picked up in college was Rugby. “I was above average,” Scaccia said. He was still able to excel at the sport and love it, but “I got a lot of injuries,” Scaccia said.

I also talked to Mr. Sanchez, principal of LASA high school, about his college days.

“I was the captain of my team,” Mr. Sanchez said, showing he had a lot of talent for the game when he was in high school. “It was extremely difficult than being in high school,” Sanchez said. The transition for him was just as difficult as it was for Mr. Scaccia.

“When I was younger I didn’t know the differences of division 1 and division 2, so I didn’t know what to expect when going to college,” Sanchez said.

Both of them were surprised when they went to college, and shows that a high school student does not really know what they need to work on to be able to excel after high school. “I was a walk-on. I had to practice a lot to get better to really compete,” Sanchez said. That is what many freshman have to do once they get to college to catch up to be able to compete with the upper level students in college.

“It was extremely difficult than being in high school,” Mr. Sanchez said. This shows that many high school athletes need to work harder if they want to continue their sports career.

Mr. Sanchez and Mr. Scaccia have a lot to teach to the students of LASA and even more about the sports they love.

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Elizabeth M.

A player’s dream

Lampros Kontogiannis and his struggle to become a professional soccer player.

B

eing the new guy is always hard. “Especially if you’ve never played professionally,” Lampros Kontogiannis said. Lampros had only been in Club America camp for a couple of weeks.

Everything about this soccer camp seemed different to him. This was not a local team anymore. It was the first division, the highest level of soccer in Mexico.

“Hey, new guy!” someone said, “I think you’d better go and get the ball.” Lampros was tired of always being ordered around. “My name is Lampros,” he said, “and I think you can get it yourself.” The guy ignored him and turned around to get the ball. A couple of other guys turned and smiled at him. That night his roommate told him why the players were acting the way they had. “They only treat you like a ‘new guy’ until you stop \\SCORE 22

acting like one,” his teammate said. He liked the way he was being treated after the “ball” incident; it made him feel like part of the team, everyone seemed to look at him differently.

Lampros Kontogiannis is a professional soccer player.

He plays for one of the best teams in Mexico, Club America.

“When I was a little kid my favorite sport was baseball,” Lampros said. He did not think he would ever play soccer professionally. In fact, he didn’t even like soccer that much. Most of

“They only treat you like a ‘new guy’ until you stop acting like one.” the time he would only play because he had to or because people needed an extra player.

He started playing a lot more because he knew that soccer was the most common sport in Mexico. Lampros’ love for soccer grew every time he played it. There were even some times when he could not wait to get out of school and start playing. Lampros decide that he wanted to play soccer professionally. The more he thought about it the more he convinced himself. The only problem now was telling his mom.

Lampros’ mom did not like the idea of him playing professionally. She knew that a lot of athletes, especially soccer players, have to travel a lot.

They also have to move to the city where their team’s camp is in. The closest soccer club was a couple of hours away. She did not like the idea of Lampros leaving because he was still young. “even though she was did not want me too leave her, I told her that I was doing this so that we could live a lot better,” Lampros said. Lampros did whatever he could to convince her and she finally said yes. “ I convinced by her I told her that soccer players get played a lot and that I would try to come home every time that I could.” Lampros said.

She said that it was fine as long as he signed up for a local team first and thought about his decision for some time.

Lampros did what his mom told him and it wasn’t that long after he had signed up for Los Picudos, a professional team in Manzanillo, Mexico, when he was asked to play for Chiapas FC. Lampros was so excited and decided to try out for their main team. He was there for some time but he did not feel like he was putting his best effort. He want back home and soon after another team, Salamanca FC. The same thing happened so he decided to go back home and get a lot more practice.

One day he was at home and he received a call. “When I was told that I could play for

club America I could not believe it,” said Lampros. He could not believe that after all his tryouts he was finally going to play for the team of his dreams, Club America.

Lampros did not give up on soccer. Even though he was told to keep on practicing and try again later he never gave up. “Every time I was told to get better I would do what they told me and it actually helped,” Lampros said.

“Sometimes you have to pay attention to the advice that people give you, they don’t always criticize you because they are being mean. Sometimes they’re just trying to help you.”

Left to right: Omar Cummings and Lampros Kontogiannis.

Top row (left to right): Guillermo Ochoa, Lampros Kontogiannis, Armando Sanchez, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Ismael Rodriguez, Salvador Cabañas.

Bottom row (left to right): Enrique Vera, Enrique Esqueda, Jose Joaquin Martinez, Alejandro Arguello, Andres Chitiva.

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How to grip a golf club

Here in the first step you must get your golf club.

With your right hand take the club and have it come across your right palm

By Alejandro O. to show just like in the picture. If you are leftThe grip is the start of handed do these steps, a good golf swing. Use but with the club going these tips to be on your across your left hand just way to a great golf swing. like the second picture

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2 Here in step two you must get the golf club and it has to go across the palm of your left hand just like with the first step and like in the picture. If you are lefthanded have the club go across your right hand, just like in the first picture.

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3 Once you have both of your hand with the golf club going across both of your palms, you must get you right pinky and your left index fingers and interlock like in the third picture. If you are left-handed inter-lock your left pinky and your right index finger.

4 When you have your grip on the club, you must have your right thumb pointing straight forward towards the head of the club. If you are left-handed have your left thumb pointing straight towards the head of the golf club.

If you follow these steps you sure will be on your way to a great golf swing.

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Top Fifteen National Soccer Teams Of All Time THE BEST SOCCER TEAMS AS RANKED BY RANKOPEDIA.COM

COMMENTARY BY THELMA M.

2. Italy Italy follows close behind with 4 world cup titles, including the most recent one in 2006.

1. Brazil The Brazil national soccer team is one of the greatest soccer teams of all time. It has a history of victories and great players. Brazil has been world cup champions 5 times, having the record for the most world cup wins. Brazil won world cup in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and in 2002. Their team consisted of many good players including Pele, who is one of the most recognized players in the world, and Garrincha.

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3. England England won World Cup in 1966 in which they hosted the final. They did well again in 1990 getting to semi finals.

4. Argentina The Argentina soccer team has won two world cup titles along with having a history of graeat soccer players including Maradona.

5. Germany Germany national soccer team is one of the oldest around. They obtained 3 world cups out of 7 world cups they attended.

6. France This team is one of the oldest in Europe and even though it hasnt done very well in the world cups, with only having 1 world cup title , it has had very good players and good soccer.

7. Holland From 1950 to 1970, they wither did not make it in World Cup or did not qualify. But when they did qualifty in 1974 and ‘78, they reached finals, although they lost both, they won a World Cup title in 1988.

8. Spain “The Furia Española” as they are called, have not won a single World Cup title, although they do have one of the strongest teams, which have gotten stronger and strongert through out history up to this point, having qualified as one of the strongest teams in World Cup 2010.

9. Portugal The Portugeese did not start off well playing on a national level. They Did however begin to get better and better during the 1966 World Cup qualifications wher e they beat defending champions,Brazil.

10. Uruguay Uruguay started off as a noticeably strong team..

They have appeared in 10 world cups, but missed out on 8. They were the first world cup champions which was in 1930.

11. Mexico The Mexican national soccer team had a rough start having done really bad in the1930 World Cup. Their best performance came in the 1970 World Cup, in which they were the hosts. They began to show their true potential throughout the 1986 World Cup in which they the hosts once again.

12. Ireland In the beginning, there were two teams, Irish Free State and Northen Ireland. There was some rivalry but, in the end, they chose people fromboth teams to represent one team. As of then, they became a stronger united team.

14. Czechia Croatia has a strong team in which they were runners- up in 1934 and 1962. Although those two were achieved when they were still czechoslovakia.

Czechoslovakia existed until 1993when it was split into two teams the Czech Republic and Slovakia..

15. Croatia Croatia’s National Soccer team was formed in 1990, after Croatia’s independence from yugoslavia. Croatia is known to be the most succesfull ‘small ‘ country in soccer.

13. Australia The Australian national soccer team was formed in 1922 in order to perform a tour through New Zealand. They have only been to two world cups, in 1974 and again in 2006.

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Goalies: 10.gianluigi buffon birth date:january 28, 1978 birth place:carrara, italy current team: juventus (italy).

9. petr cech birth date: may 20, 1982 birth place: plzen, czech republic current team: chelsea (england).

8.edwin van der sar birth date: october 29, 1970 birth place:voorhout, holland current team: man.utd (england).

7.iker casillas birth date: may 20, 1981 birth place: mostoles, spain current team: real madrid(europe).

6.guillermo ochoa birth date: july 13,1985 birth place: guadalajara, mexico current team: club america (mexico).

Top Ten Soccer Players... 2009 By:Elizabeth M.

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5.Ronaldo de assis moreira “Ronaldinho” Birth Date: March 21, 1980 Birth Place: Porto Alegre, Brazil current team: AC Milan (italy).

4. Ricardo Izecson dos Santos “Kaká” Birth Date: April 22, 1982 Birth Place: Brasília, Brazil current team: Real Madrid (Europe).

3. Fernando José Torres Sanz “El Niño” Birth Date: March 20, 1984 BirtPlace:Fuenlabrada, Madrid current team: Liverpool(England).

2.Cristiano Ronaldo Birth Date February 5, 1985 Birth Place Madeira current team: Real Madrid (Europe).

1.Lionel Messi

Birth Date: June 24, 1987 Birth Place: Rosario, Argentina current team: Barcelona (Europe).

Lionel Messi recently won the Golden Ball award which is given to the best European player of the year.

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